Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-03-02
A HEADVILLE MISER.
Death of addison ROUldnd- Thou
sands Of Dollars and other Valu-
ables found an his Miserable
Shanty-IHe Story Of
HIS Llte.

Ofthe early life Of Addison Rowland,
whose death occurred in his miserable
shantv in Meadvile lately, the Mead
Vile papers contain conflicting accounts.
The Republican says his exact age,
the first few years Of his life, and the
place of his nativity are facts unknown,
but our citizens know him as a man
who has resided here for more than
three-score years and whose life has
ever been one of hard work and miser-
ly boarding of all his earnings. By
trade he was shoemaker, but with
this he combined the business of pawn
broker and landlord, and the success
which attended his labors is SHOWN by
the result of the search made by those
who took charge of his estate at the
time of his death.
The officers took charge of the shan
ty, and under their direction search
was instituted, which had most sur
prising results. The shanty is little
two-roomed building and to one igno-
rant of the nature of the tenant, con-
tanned nothing of value save few dol
lars worth of poor furniture. But in
old clocks, bureaus, pots, kettles, box
es, under stacks of books and in every
unlocked for place was found watches,
coin, greenbacks and other valuables,
that together formed an aggregate
which would be competency for many
a family The coin was found stored
in tobacco pouches, pocket-boOks, old
stockings, patched and time-worn
leather bags, cigar boxes, tin cans, and
under great pile of books was un-
earthed a four-gallon crock over half
full of dimes, nickles and coppers. The
coin embraces almost every issue of
United States mints and many foreign
nations, and contains great prizes for
coin collector Much of it was mildew-
ed, showing that unlike other misers
he did not count over and over his
gains, but that once stored in safe pa-
ces it had lain for years without hand
ling. Quite an amount of the green
backs were eaten by moths, and so
torn and disfgured that but little of its
first value will he realized In addi-
tion to the greenbacks and coin was a
sum of old fractional currency, from
three cent pieces up to half dollars, and
much of it was badly worn and torn.
There We're two dozen of silver watch
es and half dozen Of gold ones, most
of them very old-fashioned. and a ma
jority of the old bulls eye" form. One
very substantial package was made up
of County orders, but those in charge
have not as vet figured up the amount
represented by them. There was very
little jewelry, few cheap rings, breast
pins, old buckles and chains, compris-
ing the entire stock. Aside from these
valuables there was little worth any
thing in the shanty, but it was cram
med full of old furniture, guns and Ut
terly valueless articles.
Those who knew him best say that
during their remembrance be has lived
in the most miserIy and parsimoniOus
manner. His meals the simplest that
could be procured, and his bed always
like the one he died on, mere pallet
of straw. Often be would deny him
self, for a day at time, any kind of
food whatever, that he might be able
TO add to his store of treasures, and
during his last illness it is more than
probable that physician could have
saved him. He clothed himself very
poorly, dressing in style to suit his
manner of living, and few nights pre-
to his decease be had narrow escape
from freezing to death.
| We clip the following from the Mead
vile IdeT:
The money and other valuables were
removed to the Meadville Savings
Bank, and as but portion has been
counted, only an approximate estimate
can be given of the amount, which will
reach Sc, 900 or 1000 as follows:
Bank Bills .................. ''.s2'6S2 oO o0
Gold tom. ...-....... 800 w
| Silver and Nickles, about. ......... 1000 90
| Fractional Gun ency.... .......... 10 90
In addition to this there were six
gold and twenty-four silver watches, a
silver bowl and cup, 100 pounds of
copper coins of all dates, many very
valuable, package of county notes and
a package of notes, the values of which
cannot even be estimated. He also
owned house and four lots on Arch
street and several acres of land in
Meadville, and is reported to own sew
eral other houses and lots in the city
and vicinity His last years passed in
wretchedness and squallor, and the
name of miser must always be associa-
ted with that Of Addison Row'an
Yet with the prejudice which this name
inspires, his good qualities should not
be lost sight of, for they were many
while his vices were few. No child
ever received aught hut good advice
| from him, and his shop has ever been a
| favorite resort with the children, and
when on their good behavior" they
were always made welcome. He never
profanity, and it was only when his
pocket was filed with oats in place of
shoe pegs by some lover of joke, and
which his failing eyesight would not
discover for a time, or some equally
wild prank was played, that he gave
way to his feelings Then he relieved
himself with the most touching profan-
ity.
Until his removal to Plum Alley his
shop was kept in neat condition, but
here, as old age came over him, he
grew more and mere careless and the
two rooms which he occupied present
ed most squalid appearance. His
money was carefully saved, penny after
penny adding to the hoard, and his
r putation as miser became well
known. Every morning he was up
at daylight and walked into the coun-
try, travelling each day some three or
four miles, and this he kept up for
years. He was a member of the Epis-
copal Church and his funeral was held
from Christ Church on Monday.