The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-05
ROMANCE OF TIVE RAGGED MOUNTAIN.
Born a Pauper, Died a Mil
liOnnaire.
Strange History Of a Successful Spectator
MillerS Love Adventures.
STRUGGLE FOR A MISEa'S MONEY BAGS.


Board Of the Literary Fund of Virginia. ana Robert
w. Davidson and others VS.. samuel Mhler's execu-
tor, Is attracting much attention nere in conse-
quence OF the immense amount OF money involved
about one ana half million dollars. The object OF
the defendants In the suit IL 70 recover from the
tate all sums nor specially bequeathed IN the Will.
THE WILL
provides that after the allotment for certain legn-
cics mentioned In detail. the residue OF the estate
shall De placed In trust to the Board OF the
Literary Fund Of Virginia. for the founding or
an agricultural college or SCHOOL In the county
of Albemarle tor the education OF INDECENT whl.e
children Tie estate or Mr. Miller Is valued at over
two million dollars. Alter giving several iegacics,
to about three hundred thousand dol
lars the reslduarv peques;s TO the Literary Fund
amounted to about one million dollars This be-.
quest was limited upon the event of certain contin-
gencies occurring TO his tlegitImate children by q
woman pamed Mary A. Davidson. and these CLAIM
ing that the contingencies have happened, bill
has been FLED asking that the subject OF the resilu-
airy bequest be- paid over to them by the executor.
Another DILL has been filed by the executor, asking
the Court to coustrne the Will, and to several
important questions mvoving the Redemption aua
satisfaction ofsomo OF the lcgacics, among Them the
legacy OF $780, 900 TO the LyncnDurg Female Orphan
Asylum. 1t IL insisted that thess iegacies aro
specified, and were advanced by the restator IN his
lifetime by the SAFE OF stocks which formed the sub
ject Of the bequost 1t Is further insisted tna5 tbs
legacy to the Asylum satisfied by gilt TO thar
institution by the testat0r IN mis- lifetime. and alter
tho execution OF his Will, exceeding IN amount the
value or the legacy II these legacies shall he held
speclc ana advanced 1t will increase the residuaIy
bequcst.
The testator being q man OF rather
REMARKABLE HISTORY
asketch Of his early life would probably prove m.
terestmg. Mr. Samuel Miller was born in Albe-
marie county, In a locality known AS "Ragged
Mountain" III the year 1921, OF
UNMARRIED PARENTS.
He bore the name Of has mother. lie was born
pauper but, through years Of patient economy ana
industry, accumulated on Immense fortune, and ct
his death left an estate worth over $2,OOOOo0. At
an early age ne removed to Bedford county.
and remained In the capacity OF clerk in q
country store for rev years. when he went
to Lyncnburg ana engaged IN mercantile
lie with b. and ]. Perkins. In 1916 hs
commenced business on his own account In buying
and shipping tobacco. and continued prosperous
until $780, when the financial panic succeeding tho
war OF 1919 swept over the country and ne failed
lie, however. managed to maintain his credit. and
commenced purchasing stocks and securities, IN
which lie was very successful ana IN one year alone
his specuiatrons amounted 10 over Que hundred
tnonsand dollars lie conducted most all hrs basi-
ness through agents In whom ne had confidence,
and although he was good judge OF human ma
ture and OF the best informed merchants IN the
country, being Thoroughly acquainted AT all times
with the markets IN this country anu in europe, ne
knew nctning OF law, ami entrusted all sucn usttcrs
TO ms counsel He was OF a nervous excIabls
temperament anu exhausted his physical system
by overwhelming himself IN business. and yet ts
converse with hin on business seemed to ne ua-
pleasant 10 INN. lie mncn preferred to attend to
everything through correspondence. anu then III
Vna IN tatp dtislpe tn
secure with as few Inquiries as possiple. Mr..
Miller possessed an ndoinitabie wiil and. though
confirmed dyspeptic, living On the simplest diet, he
devoed every thought to the accumulation or
wealth and flcnes; and tioagh lls commercial
transactions were vast anu complicated, yet no
never pronted ythc misery OF othefs in has speCa-
lations. lie was, as nis birh wou't indicate an
social intercourse with men. aud having through
his whole lie neglected TO cultivate social and
moral qualities. aud, being indifferent to pubic
BECAME ENAMoRRD WITH
Mary d. Davidson, ayoung girl OF respectable pa
since beauty, sixteen years OF age. Althouan
himself about sixty ne effected, u is said. tnrcaea
iste1 until his dcarh Her father VINO was
POOR, But E0SEsT,
o sass IN sHSa and eSe s as
ing and dissipation. Miss davidson resided on Lns3
rs %' mean s ana at 20, "n,
SIX illee,inatc children were the resnt or tircir
intimacy, VINO were born and grew up IN sight or
his board or shelter under hf5 roof; yet ho
provided for their wants ann was a. recluse
from them as all the outside world, lie tl for
get them M fts viii, aud etts legacy 10 EACH ami
TO the mother $4,000. WITHIN fow years previous
10 hts death lie sentrhe boys or 10 distant schoOss
anu located them elsewhere. fic dd not deswe
nem to remain In the vicinity OF their iegitinlM0
birtn and the more e6cctuay 70 accomplish ttits
purpose he directed that AL property there should
be sold. lie removed from Lynchburs about twenty
years previous 70 ms death TO NJ, farm about four
lie and seldom ever len hrs premises, and certaiuly
never visited the scene OF his previous actve
operations more than once or twice during Thar
PERIOD and, aIthough ne rose 20 ih hnanc;nl posi-
ton. he preferred seciusion alleging az his
at times That ne desired 20 prevent annovsince rom
those who ciesircn iavofs, and sousnt anu apprc-
GATED MN only for his wealth.
Early DISAPPOINTMENT IN a
MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCE
Is sad to have been the cause OF profornd dis.
trust Of society, and ms want Of appreciation
genial TRENDS ana domestic eircie that constitute
the true happiness vi lie.
lie was precise IN his dress, ana when cngrossed
In financial schemes couit afways be found IN an
upstairs room, scantily frrnfsned aud seated al an
Old secretary, IN his STOCKING lect, on an uncar-
bonds and papers OF every description scattered
over the nOOr IN prOnsion. During The war q
man came To ms house and offered to secure
the stocks ana securities he neid IN sstern States
from coniscation subsequently, TRANSFERRED THAT mo
man was spy, and on hrs Information several hun
dred thousand dollars worth OF MIXERS bonds.
coupons and dividends were connscated by tho
United states government. When General Hunters
army was advancing ON Lyncnburg ne was advised
WITHIN THE 'CosfEDERATE LINES
but declined TO do so. His house was visited by the
soldiers WHO demanded his money ana handled
hun roughly, ami when they lett carried u large
amount OF valuable bonds, after taking the old
mans gold watch, spectacles and set OF teeth
Many OF the bonds, however, were recovered, found
strcwn along The road, and carpct-bag 1lled with
these valuaUles was found near LewIsDurg, West
Va, anu restored to their owner
Mr.. Jesse Miller OF Augusta county. cousin, was
ut one time employed by nim as an overseer, tn
whom he afterwards gave q farm on winch
to reside; but feeling want Of confidence
In his business capacity the legacy entaiied
ON him was only lie interest," IN
what was left his htmlly. After Samuel Milier's
death he brought SUIT on tue plea OF descend, AZ
the nearest living blood relative claiming all the
residue OF the estate except the special leRacies
enumerated IN the Will; ne claimed one hundrea
thousand dollars, but compromised on the payment
OF half tnat sum.
Tic intended for many years TO found Female
Orphan Asylum In the city OF Lynchburg, 10 com