The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-06-07
The Richest Man in virginia.
Correspondence orths Richmond Wnigl

! .(C1rres3oniencs ol the Richmoa1 HhlSJ
Gentlemen: have thought. for some
time would write for your paper some.
thing in relation to the richest man in Vir-
GINA, and the largest slave holder in the
Union. and perhaps in the world, unless the
serfs OF Russia be considered slaves; and
the wish expressed in your paper, a few days
ago. to know whom it was SO wealthy in
Virginia induces me the write this now. il
Samuel Hairston, OF Pittsylvsnia, is the
gentleman When was on his section, a
year or two, ago he was theoWner of between
l, 900 and /, 700 slaves, in his own right,
having but a little while before taken CEN
sus. He also has prospective right to
about 900 slaves more, which are now
owned by his nother-in-law, Mrs. r. Hairs
ton, he hrving married her only child. He
now has the management of them, which
makes the number of his slaves reach near
three thousand. They increase at the rate of
near one hundred every year; he Las to pur-
chase large plnDtaton every year to set
tie them on. A large number of his planta.
tions are in Henry and Patrick counties, Viz
glnia. He has large estates in North Caro-
lima. His landed property in Stokes alone
is assessed at $6o0,00o. His wealth is
differently estimated at from $4,000, 900. to
5000 900; and should think it was near
er the latter. You may think he has hard
lot, but l assure you Mr.. Hairston manages
all his matters as easy as most persons
would an estate of $4,000. He has over
seers who are compelled to give him writ
ten statement ofwhat has been made and
spent on each plantation, and his negroes
are clothed and fed from his own domestic
manufacture; and raising his own tobacco
crop, which is immensely large, as so much
clear gain every year, beside his increase
in negroes. which is fortune of itself. ,ss.
And now for his residence have trav-
elled over ffteeu states of this Union. aud
have never seen anything comparable to
his yard ard garden, except some of those
in the Mississippi delta, and none OF. them
equal 10 it, Mrs Hairston has been beau
titying it for years; and good old minister,
in preaching near the place, and describing
Paradise, said, "it was as beautiful as Mrs.
Hairston's;" or, as a friend who visited
Washington city for the first time, remark
ed, that ''the public grounds were nearly
as handsome os Samuel Hairston's." Ho
is plain, usassuming gentlemen, and has
never made any noise in the world, though
he could vie with the Brnces, the Nc, Dom
oughs and Astors; and it is strange. that,
while their wealth is co-extensive with the
Union, he is not known one hundred miles
from home. believe he is now the veal
thiest man in the Union, as VIM. B. Astor
is only worth about $4,000, 900, and the
estates of city people are vastly overrated,
while Mr.. Hairston can 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 coun-
ty. He has several brothers who are pret-
ty well to do in the world. One of them,
Marshall Hairston, Of Henry, owns more
that 700 negroes; Robert. Hairston, who
now lives in Mississippi, near 1000, and
Harden Hairston, who has also moved to
Mississippi, about 600 slaves. George
Harston, Of Henry has given most all Of
his property to his children, reserving only
about SO slaves for his own use. This,
l believe, is correct statement of the cir
cumstances ST the Hairston family.