The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-24
A FORTUNE FOR NEGROES.
Georgia Planter Bequeaths Half Million
to His Colored Mistress.
Sparta tGa.) Special.

Sparta tGa.) Special.
The jury in the case of the natural heirs YER
sus the legatees Of the will of the late David Dick
son, in which he left $500 900 to his negro concu-
bfne and child, returned verdict last night sus-
tanning the.will This makes Amanda and Julia
Dickson the richest negro women in the country
MIR. Dickson died on the 18th of last February
1t was found that he had left will and it was
opened about three weeks after his death. There
were requests of S., 900 each to four children of
his sisters. To five or six others were requests
of 50 900 each, and to half dozen others 81 900
apiece was given. Besides providing for these
and few minor requests, he directed that the
executors of his will, Charles M. Dubose and j. r.
Warthen, should receive So 500 each for their
services These items amounted to considerable
sum aggregated, but were small portion of an
estate worth 100000. The great bulk of this
superb property was bequeathed to Amanda
mulatto children. The fortunate 1egatee is
about forty-fve years old. Mrs Dickson had
eded to herself and her mother a handsome
property before his death. They had been slaves
of his and had lived on his plantation for many
years under circumstances which did not elevate
MIR. Dcksons social standing, or exalt the re-
gard in which his neighbors held him. He lived
twelve miles from Sparta, in the center of an en-
ormous plantation, covering about three thou
sand acres of land. Until he was over sixty
years old he was bachelor, and man of soil
tary habits. He seldom went to Sparta, and
the chief break in the monotony of his life was
his annual visit to Augusta. He attended regu-
iarly the Georgia railroad convention in
that city, because he was one of the earliest
subscribers to that road, and one of the largest
stockholders in it,
In 1870 he married Miss Clara Harris, of this
county She lived as his wife for about two
years, and died childless Mr.. Dickson, though
little known personally to many of the citizens
OF his own county was famous as the most sue
cessful farmer in Georgia. Many years ago he
wrote book on farming, which is still regarded
as an excellent work. He began to accumulate
land when a young man. His steady success
ana shrewd business sense enabled him to be-
come while yet young one of the largest planters
and slaveowners in Georgia Just before the
negroes were emancipated he owned over five
hundred of them. The result of the war Grip
PIED him badly. but he was still left rich, and at
once began to farm his lands on the tenant plan.
The disastrous seasons of 1883 and 1884 entailed
severe loss on him. In the first of those years
he is said to have lost 100000. His cotton crop
never fell short of 1000 bales, but he raised
plenty of corn aud meal. The estate as he
left it consisted of 100000 in money.
bonds. and stock, and 10000 acres of
fine farming land in Hancock Warren and
Washington counties. He had spent large sums
In improvements on his plantations. His resi-
dence was big wooden structure which from
time to time had been added to and changed I'M
tll 1t had become an architectural conundrum.
Inc farm buildings were all erected in the most
substantial style He expended over $40, 900 in
- N""Si uo'iOo VI ponoS oooue MS Aome' anu
took pride in the culture of fish. He acquired
for small sum some lands near Fort Worth,
Tex, soon after the war, and they rose so rapid
ly In value that when he decided them away to
nephew, q few years before his death, they were
worth over $500
The morning he died he called for his favorite
saddle-hOrSe, and rode several miles over his
plantation. On returning to his house nc COM
planned of pain in his side. and, lying down on
his bed he expired in few minutes. BY his
own direction he was buried in his garden, with
an open white silk handkerchief across his
breast, gold tooth pick in his right hand, and
penknife in his pocket. Soon after his death
Amanda Dickson, her mother, and her sons,
moved to Augusta, where they now reside in
house of their own. AS soon the will was
offered for probate, notice of a contest was
served upon the executors by some of the chill
dren of Mr.. Dickson's brothers and sisters, who
would have inherited his property but for his
extraordinary will