The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-10
Michael Reese.
DEATH OF A CALIFORNIA HEBREW WHO !
SAID TO HAVE LEFT S10,000,000 TO CHAR

L EA
| SAID TO HAVE LEFT $4,000, 900 TO CuARI-
TY.
| A dispatch from Wallenstein, Germany,
announces the death at that place Of Michael
Reese, the San Francisco millionaire, who is
rcported to have left an estate worth S10,-
OO0. 600. Mr.. Reese was reputed to be the
richest Jew in the, United States, and, with
the exception OF Senator Sharon, the largest
real-estate owner in California. He was also
known as a great miser and most eccentric
man in many respects. Born in Germany
about 1870 he cmi.rated to America at the
age OF twenty-five, with o capital OF some
S30, Zoo, intending to go into business. After
specializing in merchandise in the southern
States for few years he settled in Rich
. mond, Va. and berane noted slave-owner.
| He made considerable money in this busl-
nesS, but sustaining heavy losses by some
unfortunate speculatons he left Virginia,
and with the remnant OF his fortune went
in 1850 to California. There he speculatcd
in merchandise and stocks with remarkable
success. Seeing, with almost phophetic
sight, the future destiny OF California, he
invested all his money in land and fire.
quently bartered merchandise for real
estate, which was then OF very little
value. Land soon began to rise in
price, but he would not sell except ut
got his price he would immediately invest it
in more land. All this time, too, he was
carrying on sort Of stock-and-n
business; indeed bis friends said that his
business was money-making, pure and SIM
pie; that he would go into any legitimate
business to make money. and that money ne
WAS bound to make in any business nc un-
dcrtook. Certain it is that few years after
settling in San Francisco Michael Reese had
the reputation OF being millionaire. and.
almost up to the time Of his death, his for
tune was steadily OH the increase.
Mr.. Reese was one Of the first men to go
into the bonanza stock speculations, and he
was one OF the most successful OF the specu-
lators. His Judgment m all matters per-
tanning TO stock and real-estate investments
was considered infaIlible, but No one but
himself ever proited by it, for the reason
that he never would give a "point.' "lf l
have points, he would say, " will use
them myself Points are my fortune. Why
give my fortune away"
Michael Rcese's miSerly habits were for
many years the talk Of San Francisco. HE
would 60 to the most absurd lengths TO
avoid having to pay for Il meal. Dining
with n friend, he would if his friend left
any bread by his plate, ask his permission
to take it, so that he might be spared the
EAl)CuSG VI vi IAioA y, IVA ~ 'N- N
immense eater, and he usually patronized
one dollar table Ghote restaurants, where
he ate three or four dollars worth at
meal On one occasion, it is related, the
rcstaurant-keeper begged him not to patron
ize him any more, "for," said he, ii you
go on eating like this either you will bust
or I SHALL" Mr.. Reese's lawyer and most
intimate acquaintance was Mr. FELTON,,
recently dead. One day Mr.. Reese aston
ished him beyond measure by inviting
him to dinner ut well-knoWn restaurant,
and asked him 10 bring five or six friends
with him. Mr.. FELTON, could not believe his
ears, but Mr.. Reese repeated the invitation,
and it was accepted. The same day Mr..
FELTON,, six friends, and Mr. Reese went to
the restaurant and dined sumptuously, cat
ing the most expensive dishes, and drink
ing the choicest wines. Mir. Reese was not
seen to pay the bill, however, and it after
wards turned out that he had obtained
Judgment against the rcstluranFkeeper,
which the man was unable to pay. having
nothing in the world but his stock. So
Mr.. Reese was constrained, AS he expressed
it, to ':takc it out in eating" This was
the only time that he was ever known to
treat anybody to anything.
At the time CT the great excitement in
San Francisco over the Limantour suit Mr.
Reese made himself somewhat conspicu-
,, ously unpopular. It will be remembered
that Lmantour claimed the greater part OF
the city Of San Francisco under an alleged
Mexican grant, and began suit to get pos
;, session OF the property. When the case
, came up it was charged that Limantour had
forged certain documents, by virtue OF
which, he made his claim. Criminal pro-
cecdings were instituted against him, and
he was arrested and put under 100000
bonds. No one would 60 bail for him, and
Mr.. Reese came forward, signed his bond,
and he was released. There was believed
, to be some mysterious reason for this action,
, but nobody ever discovered what it was,
and Limantour afterwards withdrew his
! claim.
About twenty years ago woman of
doubtful position sued Mr.. Reese for $4,000
, damages for breach OF promise Of marriage,
1t was universally believed that the suit was
, only trick to eXtort money, but the jury,
. nevertheless, seeing that it was the wealthy
, Reese who was defendant, gave her vcr-
:, dict for 5000. From that time Mr.. Reese
. :. was as much afraid Of womankind as old
Mr Weller himself was OF ''the vidders."
Mr.. Reese was never known to keep a
,, , horse unless he got it accidentally in trade.
.. He would wait ten minutes alta street corner
before getting into 4 Street-car, in the hope
OF meeting an acquaintance who would pay
his fare When tainted by friend in re-
, gard to his misery habits, he said: "WelI,
| can't help it.; know its foolish, but its a
disease 1've got" In all matters not con-
Aected with money he was man OF great
!, Intelligence and liberal views. In appear
> ance he was very distinguished, being about
six feet two inches tall, of fine figure and
! broad forehead.
l. is believed that Mr.. Reese has left all or
. . the greater part Of his fortune to the Jewish
charitable institutions. It. is known that
when he was in New York recently he
promised MIR. Jesse Selgman to leave $780,
900 to the Hebrew Orphan Asylum OF New
> York, and other bequests to the amount OF
. $4,000 are reported. His only known
relatives in this country are his sisters, Mrs.
Rosenfeld and Mrs. Rosenberg, Of Chicago,
> the wives OF the senior members OF the
wealthy firm OF Rosenfeld. Rosenberg Co.,
, OF that city, and Mr. Frank, wealthy mer-
,, chant of St. Louis, the son OF dead sister.
!, A friend OF the family said yesterday that II
it turns out that the Reese fortune has been
|. left altogether to charitable institutions
there may hea contest over the will, though
it is not likely that the relatives will object
. il only part OF the fortune IS left to charity.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
i
'sWhat is a Junction, nurse?" asked
seYen-year-oid fairy the other day OF an
i elderly lady who stood at her side On rali-