Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-10-24
The RICHEST Man in virginia.

something Id TeIdlioII w t''0
lin Virginia, and The Iargestslavehoiaer IL
the Union, and perhaps mihe woriu. un
less the serfs of Russia be consldere'
slaves; and the wish expressed IN YOU
paper, few days ago, to know whom
was so wealthy in Virginia, induces me
to write this now.
Samuel Hairston, of Pttsylvanla, Is
the gentleman. When was in his Sec
lion a wear or two ago, he was the owner
Of between | 500 and LOO slaves IN his
own right, having little while before Ia
ken a census. lie also has prospective
RICH, 10 about 1000 slaves more, when
are now owned by his mother -m-law'
Mrs. r. Harston, he having married her
only child. He now has the manage
ment of them. which makes the number
of his slaves reach near three thousand
They increase al the rate OF near l0O eve
ry year; he has to purchase large plan
tation every wear to settle them on. A
large number of his plantations are IN
Henry and Patrick counties, Virginia. lie
has large estates in North Carolina. HIS
landed property in Stokes, alone Is asses
sed at $500, 600. His wealth is ditier.
emily estimated al from S3,0OO,0oo 10
5000 900; and should think II was near.
er the latter. You think he has hard
lot, but assure you Mr.. Hairston man
AGES all his matters as easy as most per-
sons would an estate of $4,000. He
has overseers who are compelled TO give
him written statement of what has been
spent on each plantation, and his negroes
are all clothed and fed from 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 IL
self.
And now for his residence. ! have
travelled over fifteen States of This Union,
and have never seen anything compare
BILE TO his yard and garden. except some
of them in the Mississippi delta, and none
Of them equal 10 it. Mrs. Rsirs'on has
been beauliiying i, 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
friend who had visited Washington city
for the first time, remarked that "lhe pub
lie grounds were nearly as handsome as
Samuel Hairston's. He is plain un-
assuming gentleman, and has never made
any noise in the world, though he coulu
vie with the Bruces, the McDonough 5
and Astors; and ii is strange, that while
their wealth is cO-PXtenslve with the u
mon, lie is not known 100 miles from
home. | believe he is now the wea!thlcsi
man in ,he Union, as VIM. b. Astor is
only worth about $4,000,000 and the
estates OF city people are vastly oveirated,
while Mr.. Hairsion can show the prop
ertv tina, will bring the cash at any mo-
ment
MIR. Hairslon was raised within few
miles Of where he now lives in Henry
county. He has several brothers who are
pretty well 10 do in the world. One of
Them, Marshall Hairslon. Of Henry owns
more than 700 slaves; Robert Hairston,
who'now lives in Mississippi,near 1000;
Harden Harslon, who has also moved TO
about 600 slaves. George
II airston,of Henry, has given most all OF
his property 10 his children, reserving on.
Iy about 80 slaves for his own use.
This, believe, is correct statement Of
the circumstances OF the Hairston family.