Mr. Dexter migrated to the town of Charlestown, which at that point was Boston's leather epicenter. He married Elizabeth Frothingham, a wealthy woman who had recently lost her husband. And he prospered in his business and entered into speculation in various ways. In one case, he bought public securities when they were selling at about 40 cents on the pound.
It is perhaps the wildest story yet. The story of a man who did everything wrong but somehow came out even better every time
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