Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-07
History ola Wealthy Man.

RICHMOND, Va Feb. l, lS72.-The suit
now pending in the Circuit Court of this city
in the case of Samuel Miller s executor vs.
The Board Of the Literary Fund of Virginia,
and Robert W. Davidson and othersvs Samuel
Miller's executor, is attracting much attention
here, in consequence of the immense amount
of money involved, about one and halt mil
hon dollars. The object of the defendants in
the suit is to recover from the estate all sums
not specially bequeathed in the will.
The will provides that after the allotment tor
certain legaces mentioned i'll detail, the residue
of the estate shall be placed IN trust to the
Board of the Literary Fund Of Virginia tor
the founding OF an agricultural college or
school in the county Of Albemarle for the edu-
cation of INDECENT white children. The estate
OF Mr. Miller is valued at over two million dol
lars. After giving several legacies, amounting
to about three hundred thousand dollars, the
residuary bequeSts to the Literary Fund
amounted to about one million dollars. This
Request was limited upon the event OF certain
contingencies occurring to his iilegitlmate chill
dreu by woman named Mary A. Davidson,
and these claiming that the contingencies have
happened, bill has been filed asking that the
subject Of the residuary bequest be paid over
to them by the executor. Another bill has
been filed by the executor, asking the Court to
construe the WILL and to settle several impor.
tanr questions involving the redemption and
satisfaction of some of the legacies, among
them the legacy of $l50,000 to the Lynchburg
Female Orphan Asylum. 1t is insisted that
these legacies are specified, and were advanced
by the testator in his lifetime by the sale OF
stocks which formed the subject OF the bequest.
Asylum was satisfied by gift to that institu-
ton by the testator in his lifetime, and after
the execution of his will, exceeding in amount
the value of the legacy. II these legacles shall
he held specific and advanced it will increase
the residuary bequest.
The testator being man Of rather remarka-
Bile history sketch of his early life would
probably prove interesting. Mr. Samuel Mil
fer was born iu Albemarle county, in locality
known as Ragged Mountain, in the year 1871.
He bore the name Of his mother. He was
born pauper but, through years OF patient
economy and industry, accumulated an I'M
mense fortune, and at his death left an estate
worth over s., 100000 At an early age he
the capacity of clerk in country store tor
few years, when he went to Lynchburg and
engaged in mercantile life with B. and j. Per
kins. In 1915 he commenced business on his
own account in buying and shipping tobacco,
and continued prosperous until 1920, when the
financial panic succeeding the war OF 1872
swept over the country and he failed. He,
however, managed to maintain his credit, and
commenced purchasing stocks and securities, IN
which he was very successful and In one year
alcne his speculations amounted to over one
hundred thousand dollars. He conducted most
all his business through agents IN whom ne had
confidence, and although he was good judge OF
human nature and one Of the best informed
merchants in the country, being thoroughly ac-
ouainted at all times with the markets In this
country and in Europe, he knew nothing OF
law, and entrusted all such matters to his coun-
sci. He was of a nervous and excitable tenn
permanent, and exhausted his physical system
by overwhelming himself in business and yet
20 converse with him on business seemed to be
unpleasant to him. He much preferred to at
tend to everything through correspondence,
and then in brief and pointed manner One
of his peculiarities was to obtain all the lntor-
nation he desired to secure with as few lnqul-
ries as possible MIR. Miller possessed an in
domitabe will and, though confirmed dys.
peptic, living on the simplest diet, he devoted
every thought to the accumulation OF wealth
and riches; and, though his commercial transac~
tions were vast and complicated, yet he never
profted by the misery of others in his specu-
latious. He was, as his birth would indicate, an
uneducated man, and stunned society and even
social intercourse with men, and having through
his whole life neglected to cultivate social and
moral qualities and, being Indifferent to public
opiuion he became euanlored with Mary u.
Davidson, young girl of respectable parent
age and at that time (about eighteen years
since) beauty, sixteen years Of age Although
himself about sixty, he effected, it is said,
through the efforts of her mother, an intimacy,
which existed until his death H er father,
who was poor, but honest, and a man OF good
character, became mortified, lost caste in soci-
ETY. and ended his days by drinking and dlssl-
patton Miss Davidson resided on the same
plantation with Mr.. Miller. He had for her
accommodation house near his own, and al
though six illegitimate children were the result
OF their intimacy, who were born and grew up
in sight of his own home, they were never per-
mited to sit at his board or shelter under his
roof: yet he provided for their wants and was
as recluse from them as all the outside world.
He did not forget them in his will, and lett
legacy to each, and to the mother $40, 900.
Within few years previous to his death ne
sent the boys off to distant schools and located
them elsewhere He did not desire them to
remain in the vicinity of their iegitimate birth,
and the more effectually to accomplish this
purpose he directed that all property there
should be sold. He removed from Lynchburg
about twenty years previous to his death to his
farm about four miles distant from that city,
where he led secluded life and seldom ever
LETT his premises and certainly never visited
the scene of his previous active operations
more than once or twice during that period,
aud, although he rose to high tinancla: posi-
ton, he preferred seclusion, alleging as his rea-
son at times that he desired to prevent annoy
ance from those who desired favors, and sought
and appreciated him only for hiswealth. Early
disappointment in matrimonial alliance IS SAID
to have been the cause of his profound distrust
Of society, and his want of appreciation for the
genial friends and domestic circle that constl-
tute the true happiness of life.
He was precise in his dress, and when en-
crossed in financial schemes could always be
found in an upstairs room, scantily furnished,