Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-03-11

n correspondent OF the hichmond Enqui-
rer furnishes the following account Of the
Richest man in the Old Dominion
Gentlemen,--I hare thought for some
time. would write to your paper something
in relation to the richest man IN Vfreinid.
and the largest Shareholder in the Union. and
perhaps, in the world, unless the serfs of Rus
STA be considered slaves; aud the wish in
your paper few days ago to know who it
was 50 wealthy in Virginia. induces me to
wlite this now Samuel Hairston, of Pitt
sylvania. is the gentleman. When / was in
bis section year or two ago, he was the
owner OF between sixteen aud seventeen hun
dred slaves. in his own right. having but a
little while before taken census. He also
has prospective right to about one thousand
slaves more, which is now owned by bis moth
erin-law Mrs. Ruth Hairston, he having
married her only child He has now the
management of them, which makes the num-
Der of bis slaves reach near three thousand
They increase at the rate Of near one tbous /,
and every year, and he has to purchase a
large plantation every year to settle them on.
A number Of bis plantations are in Henry
and Patrick Counties, Virginia He has
large estates in North Carolina. His land
ed property in Stokes alone, is assessed at
six hundred thousand dollars. His wealth
is differently estimated at from three to five
millions, and | should think it was nearer the
latter. You think be has hard lot; but
assure you Mr.. Hairston manages all as easy
as most persons would an estate of $4,000.
He has overseers who are compelled to give
him written statement of what is made and
spent on each plantation, and his negroes are
all clothed and fed from bis own domestic
manufacture aud raising. leaving his immence
Tobacco crop as SO much clear gain every
year, besides bis increase in negroes, which
is fortune ofitself.
And now for his residence. l have trav-
elled over fifteen States Of this Union, and
have never seen anything comparable to bis
yard and garden except some Of them in the
Mississippi delta---and none Of them equal it.
Mrs. Hairston has been identifying it for
years-and good old Minister, in preaching
near the place, and describing Paradise, said,
ut was as beautiful as Mr.. Ha:rston's:'' OF
as friend who had visited Washington CITY
| fer the first time, remarked that the public
grounds were nearly as handsome as Samuel
Hairston's." Mr.. Hairston is plain, un-
assuming gentleman. and has never made any
noise in the world, though be could vie with
the Bruces, the McDonougbs and the Astors
and it is strange, that while their wealth i:
co-extensive with the Union, be is not known
100 miles from home. / believe he is now
the wealthiest man in tue Union, as VIM. b
Astor is only worth about S4,000,000, ant
the estates of city people are vastly overra
ted, while Mr. Hairston can show the prop
erty that will bring the cash at any moment
Mr.. Hairsten, was raised in few miles 0
where he now lives in Henry County. HI
has several brothers who are pretty well t,
do in the world. One of them, Marshal
Hairston. of Henry, owns more than sever
hundred negroes. Robert Hairston,. VIII,
now lives in Mississippi, near 1000; and Har
din Hairston, who has also moved TO Mssis
sippi. about 600 slaves. George Harston
of Henry, has given most all of his propert,
to bis children, reserving only about $50 70
his own use. Af "'s+eg"