Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-14
A MILLI0NATRE'S PECULIARITIES
He Grows Elm Timber for His Own Cof.
fin and Those of His Friends.

He Grows Elm Timber for His Own COT.
fin and Those of His Friends.
A Bridgeport, Conn, dispatch says.
Mr.. Joseph Richardson, of this city
probably the wealthiest man in Con-
nccticut, was born in England seventy
two years ago. He remained in that
country long enough to become imbued
with the spirit of its ways and social
amenities, and with a fair education
came TO this country with his father,
after whom he was named. The father
was immensely wealthy, and his prop
crty was divided between three chill
drcn-two son and Il daughter. Mr..
Richardson seems to have POSSESSED
the happy faculty of turning everything
he touched into money, and what i'm
the way Of transformation failed him
he has made good by accumulation
through, patient waiting. His resi-
denco in North Bridgeport is at the
corner of Il large farm which for %fertil-
lily has no equal in the country. Forty
years ago he sent to England for an
elm sapling. 1t reached him in
March. and in the following
month he planted 1T with care near
his dwelling 1t grew and developed
into n mighty tree. During the
thirty three years it was growing Mr..
Richardson often called the attention
of his friends To the fact that in his
native land among the educated classes
it vas the custom for men, by way of
showing special regard for their per-
sonal friends, TO present them with elm
timber for their collins, and that this
tree had been planted and fostered with
that end in view in his case. He often
talked about the tree, and would never
allow the pruning axe to be applied.
Mr.. Richardson's great wealth has
brought him into association with the
best people in the country, and only
among those who failed to be honored
with his intimate acquaintance is he
looked upon and pronounced pcnurious.
Through life he has abhorred all that
savoreG of display, and in all his bust
ness %counsels he has taken pains to in
culcatc the Importance of economy.
IN the matter of funeral ceremonies,
in which, it must be admitted, there is
more cheap ~gorgeousness sometimes
than genuine sorrow for the departed,
he has emphatically declared that the
money thus expended could have been
put to better use. Some six or seven
years ago Mr.. Richardson took Il final
view of his elm and resolved to put in
form the resolution he had adopted re-
speeding the tree more than a genera
ton preceding. The tree was fclled.
the best part of the trunk taken to IA
mill and sawed into planks. From
these sufficient material was selected
for three collins. TO make his own
coffin he engaged the services of Il Mr..
Judd, of this city, who was instructed
to practice economy. This artisan
dovetailed the ends of the planks, there
by rendering the employment of iron
screws unnecessary. When the coffin
was delivered MIR. Richardson pro-
nounced it perfect in every part and
had it packed away in his garnet TO
await the owners final call for It's use.
In reply to a friends question, he said:
mo, there will be no engraved plate.
1t costs too much. and is not essential.
have had my old brand-iron. display
ing