Church review . equent-ly turned his attention to mining, and,making a lucky investment in the cele-brated Ophir Mine, added largely tohis wealth. Then he came east andbought an extensive tract of land inWestchester County, which he namedthe Ophir Farm, after the mine fromwhich he had drawn such a large pro-portion of his millions. On the highest ground of his vastestate Ben Ilaliiday built his castle,and entered upon a manner of livingthat was at once magnificent and sav-age. The Halliday family occupiedonly a part of the great building. Hiswife is said to have been a remarkablyhandsome woman
Church review . equent-ly turned his attention to mining, and,making a lucky investment in the cele-brated Ophir Mine, added largely tohis wealth. Then he came east andbought an extensive tract of land inWestchester County, which he namedthe Ophir Farm, after the mine fromwhich he had drawn such a large pro-portion of his millions. On the highest ground of his vastestate Ben Ilaliiday built his castle,and entered upon a manner of livingthat was at once magnificent and sav-age. The Halliday family occupiedonly a part of the great building. Hiswife is said to have been a remarkablyhandsome woman, with social aspira-tions that were never realized. Hissons and daughters shocked the littleQuaker settlement at Purchase withthe wild, free manners of the rode about the country mountedon fiery mustangs, in buckskin hunt-ing suits and broad sombreros—thegirls with their long hair streaming inthe wind—snapping their pistols atevery barnyard fowl they passed intheir mad career. In the fields and. OPHIR FARM.—CASTLE OF WHITB LAW RBID. THE CHURCH REVIEW. woods about the castle herds of deerand buffalo roamed, and it was whis-pered among the neighboring farmersthat even bears and other formidablebeasts had been turned loose by theWestern nabob in the preserves he hadset apart for hunting. Ben Halliday had started life as astage-driver on the plains on the mailroutes established by Major Chorpen-ning. It is said that he took advantageof his employer, during the latters ab-sense in the East, and succeeded, byrendering the majors mail contractswith the United States Governmentvoid, and afterward securing them forhimself, in superseding him in the busi-ness. In this way he laid the founda-tions of the vast fortunes he afterwardacquired. If this story is true, BenHallidays treachery met with a de-served retribution. He had not enjoyed his splendid es- day, and was now a retainer in theservice of John Roach, was sitting bythe fire in the parlor of the gatehouse,when h
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