National Republican., 1883-07-27
THE RICH DEAD.
A Partial List OF California Cr@suses who
Died During the Past Decade.
an EranciscO thrONirIl

san Francisco Chronicle.
Considerable interest has lately been cree
ated in England by tho publication of tables
showing the number of millionaires who
died during the past ten years. The London
Spectator presented list showing that during
that time thirteen men left more than
$1,000 900, fifty-six more than $2,50O0OO,
and l05 more than $1,25OOOO each The num-
Der is thought to be small, tho opinion being
that it ought to be twice rs large. Evidently
the rich men of England are not dying OFF as
rapidly as their heirs desire. The same may
be said of the Caliiarnia millionaires. all of
whom were poor men twenty-five yaars ago
and mostly earning their daily bread with
pick and shovel. The exact number of
millionaires in this state is n matter of doubt,
but il is certain that they are dying at a rate
which appears cSasperatingly slow to those
who expect to enjoy tho shekels which they
must needs leave behind. An afternoons
search among the records disclosed that at
least thirty millionaires, all of whom made
their fortunes in California, were separated
by death from their hard or easily earned
money during the past ten years
The list commences with James de Laveaga,
whose estate was valued at $3000,O00 for pro-
batting purposes aud who went to his fathers
in the spring of 1874. Laveaga made his
money in speculating in commercial stocks,
holding large amounts of gas and water
stock at the time of his death. In the sum-
mer of the same year w. b. Bowen, worth
$1,000, 900, made in mining enterprises, found
that wealth would not give happiness. He
was found dead, with a bullet in his brain.
In the following year w. C.. Ralston gave up
the pursuit of money under sad circumstances.
The next millionaire who went the way of
oil fesh dying in his bed, was r. G. CrocSer,
Al. HI.
Charles. He left S3,500,000 for his weep
ing heirs, illustrating the old maxim,
''to them as has more is given"
After him came John s. Manson,
man who valued his wealth at even
100000. He died in April, 1876 having
spent his life in dealing in real estate. Tho
next millionaire whom death selected as a
shining mark was tho late lamented James
Lick, who bequeaths to posterity several mil
lions of dollars and five Lick trustees, who
have since been ealously guarding the to be
distributed millions, for the Insignificant sal
ary of 500 month. After that came Mark
Hopkins, with money enough to furnish
dozen millionares All will remember his
money, but fewer the day of his death, which
was the twenty ninth of March, 1873. Hop
kins did not make his money. The govern
ment the state, the counties and the towns
donated it to him. Having broken in upon
the railway quartet, death within one short
month also visited the mining magnates. He
pitched upon w. S. OBrien rs the most eligi
Bile man, regardless of the Sl0O0O,000 anchor
which bound the departed to the sordid con-
Germs of the world.
In July, 1878, Michael Reese took leave of
his millions in California He died far away
in Bavaria. His local monuments are some
of tho worst looking shanties which ever
adorned the architecture of this wooden
city. II. b. Woodward, the proprietor of the
al ot toNiQG nnlla laH IN
Aug. %, 1879, in due course. He was a
man who in his own way had contributed
much to the happiness of mankind, and who
never obtruded his wealth except in the pur
chase of some new curiosity. He prepared
the way for Edward Martin, treasurer of tho
100000 in hard cash. all of which
he left behind. He died in May,
1880. In Feb, 1850, Henry L. Robin
son died at Norfolk, Va. He was worth
nearly S2,0O0,000, one-half of which was in
California where he acquired his wealth. He
thought enough of the poor of the city to
leave $4,000 for their benefit. 1t is we'll to
repeat that his bequest was made because the
poor, who have never yet received one mill of
the money, might forget the fact In De-
cember of the same year Oakland contributed
one to the millionaire congress in the man
sions beyond the skies. This was j. Mora
Moss, whom cruel death tore away from 81
began with the death of William Meek, q
millionaire land owner. OF all his possessions
he kept only 6 by 2 foot lot Andrew j..
Pope, twice n millionaire, and all his life long
lumber dealer, next went over to the silent
majority.
Louis Strauss, a prosperous merchant, with
accumulated wealth worth at least a million,
was called to his fathers in February, 1881,
and in July, 1881, his competitor just across
the street, William Sahlein, left this vale of
tears. He, also, was classed among our
millionaires. The names of the last-named
two may both be found on the credit side of
the cash books of several charitable institu-
tIons. In 1882 California lost four million
aires. Theodore lie Roy died in March, leav-
ing Sl500,000, an unsigned will, a house,
keeper who claimed to be his wife, and n
chance for the lawyers to earn fat fee H. NJ.
Newhall, worth 81, 100000 died in April. Daniel
Murphy, the wealthy San Josean, followed in
October. He was large landholder. Then
came Daniel, the brother of Seth Cook. The
month of October was fatal, also, to him. He
left ~ 900, 900, young widow, an infant child,
and several disappointed spectators in Alta
| stock, The current year has been more dis
astrous than any preceding one to our mil
lionaires. The first to go to Kingdom come"
was ID. j. Tallant, the banker, u man whose
drafts on earth were always honored. The
second was Hugh j. Glenn, the farmer king,
who was hurried into eternity by the bullet
of an assassin. The third was ii. b. Tichenor,
a lumber dealer, who left an estate worth just
81 100000. The fourth and last is Thomas b.
Blythe, over whose remains and $5,00O000
half dozen widows are now weeping. Not
having the the gift of looking into the future,
the list must stop here, though it is certain
to be increased, many of our Crgsuses being
ripe for the sickle.
THE LATE JUDGE ROBINSON.