North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-02-15
RICHEST MAN IN VIRGINIA..

Correspondent of the Richmond Wing gives
the following sketch of the richest in Virginia
GENTLEMEN-I have thought, for some time.
would write to your paper something IN relation to
the richest Vrginid, and the largest savehol-
der in the Union and, perhaps. in the world, unless
the serfs of Russia he considered slaves; and the
wish in your paper, a few days ago, to know whom
it was so wealthy in Virginia, Induces me to write
this now. Samuel Hairston. of Pttsylvania. is the
gentleman. Wnen was in his section yer or two
ago. he was the of between sixteen and seven
teen hundred slaves in his own right. having but
little while before taken census He also has pros
pective right to about one thousand slaves more,
which are now owned by his mother-in-law, Mrs.
Ruth Harston, he having married her only child.
He now has the management Of them, which makes
the number of his slaves reach three thousand
They increase the rate of one thousand every
year, and he has to purchase large plantation every
year to settle them on. large number of his plan
talions in Henry and Patrick counties, Virginia.
He has large estates in North Carolina. His land
ed property in Stokes alone, is assessed at six hun
dred thousand dollars. His wealth is differently es-
tmated at from three to five millions, and should
think it was nearer the latter. You think he has
hard lot; but assure you Mr.. Hairston manages all
his matters easy most persons would an es-
tate of $4,000. He has overseers who are COM
PEELED to give him a written statement of what is
made and spent on each plantation, and his negroes
are all clothed and fed from his own domestic manu-
facture and raising, leaving his Tobacco crop, which
is immensely large, much clear gain every year,
besides his increase in negroes, which is fortune
of itself.
And now for his residence. I have travelled over
fifteen States of this Union, and have never any
thing comparable to his yard and garden, except
some of them in the Mississippi Delta-and none of
them equal it. Mrs. Harston has been identifying
it for years-and good old Minister, in preaching
near the place, and describing Paradise said
as beautiful Mr.. Hairston's - friend who
had visited Washington city for the first time re-
marked that 'the public grounds nearly hand
some as Samuel Hairston's.' Mr.. Hairston is a
plain, unassuming gentleman, and has never made
any noise in the world, though he could vie with ne
Bruces, the McDonoghs and the Astors; and it is
strange, that while their wealth is co-extensve with
the Union, he is not known 100 miles from home.
believe he is now the weathiest man in the Union,
as VIM B. Astor is only worth about 81 900, 900 and
the estates of city people are overrated, while Mr..
Harston show the property that will bring the cash
at any moment.
Mr.. Hairston was raised within few miles of
where he now lives, in Henry county. He has sew
eral brothers, who pretty well to do in the world
One of them, Marshall Harston, of Henry, owns
more than 700 negroes. Robert Hairston. who now
lives in Mississippi, near 1000; and Hardin Hair
ston, who has also moved to Mississippi about 600
slaves. George Hairston, of Henry, has given most
all of his property to his children, reserving only
about $50 for his own use.
This, believe is correct statement of the cir
cumsances of the Hairston family; and, for further
particulars and the truth of the statement refer you
Ito the present delegate from Henry.