Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-12-13
Simon Jennings, the Misor millionaire.

The death of this singular old man at Wells
vile, Ohio, has already been chronicled. The
Cleveland Leader gives some entertaining re-
miniscences of his life. The following Incl
dents were characteristic of the man:
A few years since Mr.. J. took occasion to
ride out in buggy to his extensive unculG-
waited lands in a certain county in Northern
Ohio. His hundreds Of acres were there
covered with virgin forest, and afforded the
best possible opportunity for making maple
sugar. On approaching his estate, one early
spring day, he saw a company of rough look
ing men busilY engaged in making sugar
They had not only tapped his fine naples but
even girdled them, 50 as to be sure to drain
the last drop of saccharine. Of course the
girdling was fatal to the trees, and the sight
Of the vandalism stirred the blood Of the
owner, but he smothered his wrath, being
intent on getting data for prosecuting the rob-
bers and destroyers. He approached, and,
personal stranger that he was, blandly told
them they ought not to girdle the trees, and
inquired whose property they were. "Oh
they belong to that -- old skinfint Sim.
Jennings; haven't you heard of the ID
old cut thrOat2" mo-" he had never heard
of him. Whersupon they enlarged upon his
"merrits, " thunder-scaring the said S. J. all
over with scathing expletives, which we
would rather not repeat. The strange hav-
ing heard them go over his own biography
enquired as to the amount of sugar they had
made. They took him into a rough inpover-
ished shed and showed him some three or
four hogsheads and several barrels full of su-
gar. He also ascertained the name and resi-
dence OF the parties, and then drove on to
the county sea-, and took immediate steps to
prosecute the whole gang. He made them
sweat immensely, and to his last days he told
with glee the story of his sweet revenge.
Our informant said he had an interview
with Mr.. Jennings, year or two since, when
the subject of the final disposition of his
wealth came up. He had never made his
Til, he said, but he had often wondered
What he should do with his property. His
quest administered truth to him in rough,
lectric shocks, telling him that every one
pated him, even his own relatives, who long
d to see the day of his death, when they
would seize upon his effects. After his death
lis memory would rot He advised him to |
make such disposition of his riches as to
insure him fame ard Immortality" and |
|ited the example of Girard. He seems to
AVE urged the case with eloquence, for Mr..
ennings was much taken with the idea Of
building himself up in some charitable insti-
Iution, and said, "Well, really, I never
hought of that" and often, in subsequent
required to the subject, as if
he ashes had been suddenly blown off from
he embers of his smouldering imagination,
evealing that he had yet little warmth of
luman sympathy and benevolence. But the
I'D nature or wrapping of habit was never
loughed; the glow Of mingled ambition and
.harity died out, and the old man dropped
lead off his chair, the other Sabbath day, and
ives in no monumental Asylum, College or
charitable institution of any sort.