Charles Gulden

popular name: Oliver Winchester

date_of_death: December 10, 1880

age: 70

cause_of_death: Long term illness

claim_to_fame: Business and Finance

best_know_for: Oliver Fisher Winchester was an American businessman and politician, best known as the founder of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut. Interesting to note that repeating rifles were used to some extent in the American Civil War. However, the United States Army at that time did not use many repeating rifles as they were expensive and too advanced for the outdated tactics used in the war. Repeating rifles were not widely used until after the war when they became increasingly popular with civilians. Military authorities concentrated primarily on perfecting breech-loading single shot rifles for many more years. With thousands of rifles in the hands of the average pioneer, the Winchester repeating rifles gained a reputation as "The Gun that Won the West". Oliver Winchester was also active in politics, serving as a New Haven City Commissioner, Republican Presidential elector in 1864, and as Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1866 to 1867.

popular name: William Andrews Clark

date_of_death: March 2, 1925

age: 86

cause_of_death: Pneumonia

claim_to_fame: Business and Finance

best_know_for: William Andrews Clark (1839–1925) was an American industrialist, banker, politician and one of the most powerful figures of the Gilded Age. Born in Pennsylvania, he moved west during the mid-19th century and first worked as a miner, trader, and banker in Montana Territory. Clark’s real fortune came from his investments in copper mining—he became one of the famed “Copper Kings” of Butte, Montana, amassing immense wealth as the demand for copper soared with the rise of electricity. His business empire expanded to include railroads, newspapers, and real estate, making him one of the richest men in America. Clark’s political career was marked by controversy; he served briefly as a U.S. Senator from Montana (1901–1907) after earlier attempts were tainted by accusations of bribery in the state legislature. Despite the scandals, he remained a prominent figure in business and society, known for his opulent lifestyle and philanthropy. He was instrumental in the development of Las Vegas, Nevada, through his railroad ventures, which helped establish the city as a key stop in the Southwest. Fans of the gilded age can visit W.A. Clark and his daughter Huguette at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

popular name: Leona Helmsley

date_of_death: August 20, 2007

age: 87

cause_of_death: Congestive heart failure

claim_to_fame: Business and Finance

best_know_for: Leona Helmsley began her career in real estate, rising from brokerage work to executive positions before meeting Harry Helmsley in the late 1960s. After Harry dumped his wife of 30+ years Leona married him in 1972. Having lost a major lawsuit that caused financial devastation and the loss of her real estate license, she took an increasingly important role in managing the Helmsley hotel empire. She became president of a chain of more than 20 hotels and gained a reputation as a highly demanding manager who closely supervised operations and marketing. As a couple, Harry and Leona expanded their holdings beyond office buildings into luxury hotels. Their empire included the Helmsley Palace Hotel, the Park Lane Hotel, and numerous other hotels across the United States. Their combined holdings were estimated in the billions of dollars. The Helmsleys' careers were overshadowed by a major tax-fraud scandal in the late 1980s. Investigators alleged that personal expenses related to their luxury residences had been improperly charged to business entities (that and she also refused to pay vendors for their labor). Harry was considered too ill to stand trial, but Leona was convicted in 1989 on multiple counts including tax evasion and filing false tax returns. She served about 19 months in prison after her sentence was reduced on appeal. She died alone at her mansion, Dunnellen Hall, at the age of 87. She was laid to rest at Sleep Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, NY.