Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-02-22
RICHEST MAN IN VIRGINIA.

correspondent of the Richmo,d P,ou;.
Ie' 'oFnishes The following account Of the
Richest man in the old Dominion
Gentlemen.-l have thought for some time
would write 10 your paper something in re-
la'ion 10 The richest man IN Tirgtnia, and the
largest Shareholder in the Union, and per.
haps, in the world, unless The serfs of Rr.si,
be considered slaves and The wish in vour
paper few days ago, TO know whom il was
80 wealthy in Virginia, induces me TO write
tins now. Samuel Hairston of Piusyvania, is
the gentleman. When was in his section
year or two ago, he was the owner of be
tween sixteen and seventeen hundred slaves
IN his own right, having bu. little while
before taken census. He also has pros
peclve right TO about one thousand slaves
more, which are now owned by his mother
in-law, Mrs. Ruth Hairston, he having mar
RED her only child. He now has the man
agement of them, which makes the number
oil his slaves reach near three thousand. They
increase at the rate of near one thousand ey-
cry year, and he has to purchase large plan
ta:ion every year 10 settle them on.
A large number of his plantations are in
Henry and Patrick counties, Virginia. He
has large estates in North Carolina. His lam
ded property in Stokes alone, is assessed at
SIX thousand dollars. His wealth is differ.
emily estimated at from three TO i've millions
and should think it was nearer the latter
You think he has hard 10, but | assure
you Mr.. Hairslon manages all his matters az
easy as most persons would an estate of SIO,-
uoo lie has overseers who are complled TO
give him written statement of what is made
and spent on each plantation. and his negroes
are all clothed and fed from his own domes-
tic manufacture and raising, leaving his To
bacco crop, which is immensely large, as SO
much clear gain every year, besides his in
crease IN negroes, which is a fortune of
itself
And now for his residence | have travel
led over fifteen States of this Union, and have
never seen any thing comparable to his yard
and garden, except some Of them in the Mis-
slssippl della-and none of them equal it.
Mrs. Hairsion has been beautifyiug it for
years--and good old Minister, in preaching
| near the place, and describing Paradise, said
at was as beautiful as Mr. Hairston's.n or as
friend who had visited Washington city for
ihe flrst time, remarked that "the public
grounds were nearly as handsome AS Samuel
HairSon's." Mr. Hairslon is plain, unassu.
ming gentleman, and has never made any
noise IN the world, though he coould vie with
the Buces, the McDonoahs and tho As,ors
and 1t is strange, that while their wealth is
co-extensve with the Union, he is no, known
100 miles from home, believe he is now
the weallhiest man in the Union, as VIM. B
As'or Is only worth about $4,000, ,OOO and
The estates OF city people are vastly overra.
led, while Mr.. HaIrSion can show the prop
eriy that will bring The cash at any mo-
ment.
Mr. Harson was raised in few miles of
where he now lives in Henry courty. He
has several brothers who are pretty well TO
do III the world. One of them, Marshall
Halrslon, OF Henry, owns more than seven
hundred negroes Robert Harston, who now
lives IN Mississippi, near 1000 and Hardin
HaIrS'on, who has also moved to Mississippi,
about 600 slaves. George Hairston, of Henry,
has given most all of his property to his chil.
dren, reserving only about $50 for his own
use,