The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-06
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DEATH OF JUDAH Toupn

| rES3ucuce.
SsW oreaus has thus lost one of her best citizens;
Marry ona Of its sncerest devofees, and humanity
,ne of ils ruest friends. Mr.. Touro had attained
ne advanced age Of sevenfy-nine. Fifty of these
Yea,s were passed in New Oreans-and everv one
u that nffy was marked by some GOOD act Em
larking IN mercantile enternrises sbof the f;,re ~
ne cesslon OF Louisiana Mr.. Touro continued ner
everlngy and industrousy in the pur.uif IF ipde-
,endence until, by regular and legitimate accurnu-
alton. he became wealthy. and died Ieav;ng an ca
ate of over million - -
But, though earnest and successful i, t,,, rose
cution OF business, Mr. Touro was nryer ] sssffsb
" close man. On the contrary. be has ior many
wears been the foremost of rich men In All e,,
rributions to charitable objects Some az Me a..
nations haveheen a scale Of magnifcence anf, Tx
ralify which are scarcely paralleied in our cnnn
Try we may instance few OF these. Hearinp
some years ago, that the Bunker Hill p1onnp,en,
was retarded in its completion by the want Of tsre
thousand dollars, and that liberal citizen of
New England had offered TO unite with anv other
citizen IN giving ten thousand dollars for this object
ne sent MS check Tor the amount and the nonu-
ment was completed
For many years, Mr. Touro was the owner of
ne very valuable property next to the St Charles
Hotel. which was occupied by Mr. Clapp. as the
flrst Congregaflonalsf Church. Though the pro-
oerty was susceptible Of being made immensely
productive, being in the centre of the business DOR
ion of the city, he permitted Mr. Clam to canti
nue in possession of the church and in the eniov
nent OF the rents OF the pews, untlit DESTROYED
| =
lot, in more eligible location for church, and do
mated il to the congregation of Mr.. Clapp The
merits of this liberality will be more highly appre
rated when il is known that Mr.. Touro was of tile
Hebrew persuasion, and strict observer of that
ancient faith and worship. He was indeed one of
the great props of that faith in this CITY, The beau
tiful Synagogue on Canal street, is his properly
and was splendidly furnished and prepared by him
for the use of the Hebrews in this city. Besides
this, he has contributed largely to all the churches
| o,1 bo, Enr
many years sustained Synagogue, which was
erected at his expense, in his native town of New
port, Rhode Island for the use Of his brother Is
raeltes.
obtained, that OF all Mr. Touro's donations to char
table and religious institutions. But such record
will never be discovered; for he was, of all men
who ever possessed the means, most distinguished
for that charity which
"Does good by STEALTH end blushes to nd it fame
Ii there was to be any parade or talk about the
matter. he would decline all aid. He preferred to
administer his charity in his own fashion, and after
the dictates ofhi own heart and Judgment Thus
his acts unfrequensy had an aspect of eccentri
city We remember once being called on by some
Christian mis- sonaries from Jerusalem for the pur.
pose of directing attention to appeal which they
were making TO the American people for assistance
in supporting the prosecuted Christians in that re-
mote quarter. When asked to whom they might
present their appeal with the best chance OF libe
raj response, we answered, "Judah Touron .But
he is Jew; and it would be going far to ask Jew
to aid in the establishment of Christianity in the cap
ital of the Jews" was the reply Nevertheless, we
persisted In our Recommendation. The result con-
firned our judgment OF the good old man. He gave
ten times more than any Christian in the city to
aid the cause OF Christianity in the land of Jadea
Mr.. Touro's course as citizen and patriot was
consistent with his character as philanthropist
He ardenly devoted to his country: sincere
Republican Though no politician he had great
faith in the doctrine OF mans equality and capacity
TOR his own government. He knew no distinction
between men, and was ever the sincere friend of
the laborer, the artisan aud the poor man. His
hand was ever extended to aid and encourage
youthful energy and enterprise.
AS patriot he had suffered severely In the de-
fence of the soil and honor of his country On the
lst OF January 1875 while serving in one Of the mi
litia regiments OF the city under Jackson, he was
selected on account OF bis cool steadiness, aid in
carrying the cartridges from the magazine in rear
Of the lnes to Capt. Humphreys battery. While
thus engaged, with the balls OF the British flying
thick around him. Mr. Touro was struck on the
thigh by twelve pound shot, which produced
dreadful wound, tearing off large mass of flesh
He was taken up from the ground by his old friend
and constant associate for the last fifty years. {R
Shepherd.) and brought 10 the city In what was
believed to be dying condition; but after incredi-
BILE suffering, being confined to his bed for twelve
months, Mr.. Touro recovered, and though ever af-
ter slightly lame, enjoyedremarkable health. This
was due to his extraordinary regularity and sys-
y.
He never drank drop of spirituous or vinous
liquors in his lite, never omitted to rise with the
dawn OF day, and to retire at an early hour.
In his religious obseryances MIR. Touro was ex.
ceedingy exact and punctual.
There were eccentric traits in his character,
which, though of a perfectly innocent nature, were
quite remarkable. From the hour of his arrival
here in 1902, he had never passed beyond the limits
Of the ciy but once and then it was TO fight under
jackson in the defence of the city. He could never
hs adj n
death of beloved brother, who was Thrown out Of
a carriage in Boston and had his leg broken That
brother bequeathed him $500 000, which were de-
posted in one of the banks OF Boston. The money
was permitted to remain in the bank without inter
est and Mr.. Touro could never be persuaded TO re-
c.iye or use a dollar of it. The stands now to
his credit the books of the bank just as 1t was lett
by his brother. T ough he had New Englander's
fondness for ships, and owned some OF the largest
craft that into our port, and was passonately
fond of talking about ships their best mode OF sruc
ure and took great pride IN the beauty ana neat
ness of his own craft he could never be persuaded
himself by standing on the Levee, and viewing in
silent admiration the huge hulks, the taperng masts
and snowy sails OF his great cotton ships.
But our sketch has already extended beyond our
limits. It is not often community loses so yalua-
BILE citizen, society good man, as Judah Tou-
m OF all the ariabe traits of his character, none
we're more commendable and beautiful than his
modesty and simplicity He moved through the
STRUGGLING crowds of humanity with the noiseess
tread of one who seemed not wrapt in. The eager
pursuit of gain, of ambition, selfish pleasure but
as one who lived only 10 benefit humanity TO accu
uuate fund, from which might flow copious and
fructifying streams of charity and benehcence he
was the owner of splendid edifces and magnihcenI
store: but only retained one small apartment and
corner in an Office for himself Without any
blood relations or other domestic tief, he made all
humanity his family and lavished bis care and nd
eralify upon all who were in need and who were
deserving. e -,
Mr.. Touro was the last Of the four richest OF our
ct;zens who have died in this city during the last
tour wears without families John McDonogn, 90
senh Fowler Cornelius Pauiding, were the ofner
three The combined fortunes Of these iour cia-
zns reached the sum of nine millions, about one
s;ghfb Of the properly OF the whole cify ihfy
,,r all bachelors and lived to an extreme oid age
NJ McDonorh died at seyentytwo, mr. faniding al
sayan,y Mr. Fowler at sixtyiye, and Mr. Tonro at
They had all been constant residents
II New orleans, and enjoyed remarkable degree
~ health and vigor. Except Mr. Fowler, the short
a., lived of the four of them had ever left the
c;sy And now, by far the best OF them has just
sasa ga,hered unto Moses and the Prophets. May
,e virne and the goodness Of his life be required
hv The bliss OF that better world 10 which his soul
bss ascended, and may his memnry be ever cher
shed - that Of one OF the truest Of phlanthropis
N