Leather Man Plaque

This image was taken from a vintage postcard. The man is Jules Bourglay from Lyons France. He experienced an unfortunate business failure when speculating on leather, by which his marriage with a beautiful and wealthy woman was frustrated (her father being his partner in the failure). He emigrated to this country and became a wanderer through Connecticut and eastern New York, clad in a full suit of leather and living upon charity, though never asking for money. Was known in this character for many years, and was finally found dead in his cave on the Geo. Dell farm in Mount Pleasant (near Sing Sing), New York, on Sunday, March 24, 1889.