The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-03-27

A SINGULAR FAAILY.-MOre than Tor
ty years ago a msn by the name OF vii
helm, ever e Eighty years of age. died neal
Salisbury. in Somerset county, PenDsyl-
vania. He was considered a wealthy
man in his day and generation, leaving
valuable farms and large sums of the dol
lars OF our fathers" some OF which are
supposed to still remain in their ancient
place OF deposit at the old homestead.
some years before the death of this old pa
triarch the two elder daughters married.
Those marriages gave great dissatisfaction
to tie whole iamily-so much so that the
three sons, Abraham, Benjamin. and
Peter, and three daughters entered into q
covenant that they would never marry.
After the death of the father each OF the
brothers took a sister to keep house for
him and settled down upon a separate
farm OF adjoining lands. In this way
these people lived harHoniously and pros
perously ioI more than a generation. By
their joint labors and frugality they accu-
INFLATED a large estate in land, property
and money, which were held and treated
pretty much as in common But in time
they grew old, and commenced paying the
debt of nature, one by One and With ell
most the same precision aud order with
which they had lived. Abraham was the
first to depart, some fifteen years GO; then
q sister, and after her Benjamin; next
another sister. and lastly, on the 18th in
slant, Peter Wilhelm died. after a brief
illness, aged SO years. There still re
mains another sister, ripe for death-high
up in eighty. Ali OF them have lived be-
yond their four-score.
True 10 their arrangement none of
these unique persons ever married, and as
their number diminished, their posses
sions concentrated.
Though very close and worldly In one
sense. in others they were generous aud
confiding. Many thousands of dollars did
they lose by extending a helping hand to
those unworthy of it. Never a dol
lar did they make by speculation. All
must and did come to them in the regular,
old-fashioaed way but q good deal left
them in the modern ways of getting at the
confiding.
In latter years their minds and actions
took q benevolent and religious turn.
They had near kindred, but did net care
to divide much of their fortune with them. |
Abolt ten years ago they made known |
TO their neigkbors that they had resolved
a fine church should be erected on one of
their farms, for the benefit OF the people.
The community was asked to contribute
what they could, and the Wilhelms would
foot the balance. The result was the
finest church ediice lReformed) by far in
county, with an organ and equipments
ia full keeping. It was understood that
this was only the beginning OF the benevo-
and charities which they intended to
bestow In their last years.
None OF the family had any education,
and the men especially in their latter
Years Eel, the deficiency keenly. They
10 do something for the spread
Of education and religion, but untortun-
Peter, the last Of the male part of
the family. who had this matter most at
heart. postponed his good intentions too
long. On the 22d of February last he
made his will, disposing Of what is said TO
be the largest estate in his county. Its tull
contents are not yet known. but il IS un-
that a bequest OF $50 900 was
made TO the community in his county
which would contribute the larg-
est sum 10 this gift for educa-
tional purposes. No doubt there were
donations, but all have come to
naught in consequence of the will not
been made sooner. By a statute Of
Pennsylvania no requests Of This kind can
effect unless the will is made one
month before the death OF the tes,ator.
The time in this case was eight days too
short. No doubt some forgotten heirs will
profit by this procrastinsting act OF an old
man.
Soon another death, and then the well
known name of Wilhelm will be extinct
for the first time in a hundred years 50 tar
As this family is concerned, but it will not
be forgotten.-"B., in Cumberland Daily
-Nees.