Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-17
pUoUAkER CIrY's RICH MEN.
wessrs WeiGhtman, Williamson, Jay
Cooke. Gibson, A. j. Cassatt, Charlie
,,,ga Tawer.A, Drexsl an d Others.

mango Tower. y. j. Drexcl and others.
From the Nslo York Star.
There is pu blished a long list OF Phila-
aolnbia millionaires by the Philadelphia
pass. During the course of the article 1T
Isstated that Mr.. William Weightman is
tho richest man in Philadelphia. They es-
tirate his fortune at 500 100000. He has
. hig frepr0of safe, full of little drawers
crowded with mortgages and other secu-
rites. Each drawer is tagged, and sonu-
,nerous are the securities, that Mr..
Waightman keeps a book of references TO
them alph abetically arranged. Whether
no ia first in the financial world or
not he certainly Is one Of the wealthiest
men in town. Besides, he is the archi-
tect of his own fortune. Every dollar he
has he made. He is one of the heads OF
The immense chemical works of Powers
& Weghtman-the largest, probably, in
inc whole country. He went into the es-
ta6ffshment years ago in a very small
capacity. and by pluck, skill, foresight
and industry he has brought himself to
his present commanding position. Per-
hans industry should have been placed be-
fore the other qualities. for work appar-
entIy. has alwaps been this millioGaire's
hobbv. He used to 90 to his office, Ninth
street.. between Brown and Parrish, be-
fore breakfast, coming back later for his
4rst meal. He takes breakfast before
starting out nowadays, but he takes it 80
early that his employees are Obliged to be
nm betimes to get to work as early as he.
He devotes special attention to the lab
0ratory and Is constantly making expert
ments. He goes around good deal with
a big check apron on, and they say tnat
when in this gulse nothing, not even
good solid days labor, gives him more
Measure than to have some visitor lottily
INQUIRE for MIR. Weightman, so that he
can answer II am Mr.. WeighJman, sir"
His Investments turn out marvelously
well, and his ownership of real estate
alone represents very large fortune. He
lived for several years in somber double
brown stone house on Franklin street,
above Paramount avenue, adjoining the
MaennerchOr Garden. 1t is related that
the shutters Of this dwelling were never
seen open, and that when workmen went
tothe house to make improvements or re-
pairs they were obliged TO perform their
labor wholly by gaslisht. He mas cOun-
try place at ScnOOl Lane and cottage at
Atlantic City. He is a widower, and en-
tertains very little, his tastes being alto
gether domestic. His son, however, DR..
William Weightman, Broad street, below
Girard avenue, who married Miss DIN.
viliers, and with whom the elder Mr..
Weghtman now lives, leads semi-fash
iOnable life, and entertains good deal at
his handsome residence. His son-in-law,
Congressman K. j. G. Walker, of Will
transport, where Mr.. Weightman has
large landed possessions, is also fond of
society, and devotes a good deal of
thought to his toilet.
The richest bachelor In the United
States lives in this city aud has lived here
for nearly 80 years. Besides being the
Wealthlest single man, he is also quite as
wealthy as any married man. His name
everyone who reads this and is IN any
way at all acquainted with affairs has
doubtless already OWNED it-Isaiah V.
Williamson. He is way past 70, but he is
still hardy, and one may see him in his eX-
tremely modest looking clothes, going in
and out OF banks and railroad offices al.
most any day. Like 80 many other men
who have achieved success. he was coun-
try bred. be was born near Falsington,
In Bucks county, and came down here
Just about the time he attained his ma
Jorlty. He went into 'dry goods" and
mas been member of two or three very
prosperous firms. He was farsighted and
also went into railroads as deeply as he
could. He was conservative and tenacI-
GUS, too, and held on to all that he mad in
his Investments. Investments, one may
sayWlth deliberations, because he doesn't
speculate at all. Although so rich, he
HVes very mOdestly, his expenditures tor
Ills own wants being less than So 500 a
year HIS charities, however, are wide
Out unostentatious. He has given way
TO educational and other institutions a
quarter of million dollars.
Mr.. Jay Cooke, who again ranks among
the Philadelphia milliOnaires, looks very
Drlght and cOntented, as well he may. Su-
peruclal observers say that MIR. Cooke, in
t1e slouch' hat that he has taken to
wearing, looks like farmer. He doesn't.
ne looks the quick and sagaciOus man of
analIs mat he Is, tritle negligent of
rigorous cOnyentlonalities. The rise
auu lall Of the house OF Cooke is O part of
the history of the town. The history
needn't be gone into again,
Mr. COOKIES rescue of himself from the
runs OF his old establishment hasn't
n nlsue so great stir, but it was an extra
TCiuInary achievement just the same. Mr..
TJooAe' although he lost money and pres
NY use III the crash of 1873, did not lose
el'per MS brains, his business knowledge
VI ", MS vim. Alter his failure he went
mesl' g0t an option for 80 days on the ia
nous Horn Silver mine of Utah. came
- La e6o ana sold it for $1,000, 900. making
ShVVV,OVO by the transaction. The mine
WTpaIlng the buyers dividends to-day, and
nii' Cooke IS turning his ample capital
O, rel anu over In profitable railroad and
OoueI enterprises. The Northern Pacific
''5 which he held on to also grew
S Sp IN NaIue, and he was enabled, alto
fsr .I VEL W pay on his old Indebtedness dol
TbirJ uollar' he Is again a power on
tnIu street, and his white felt hat. that
~ wears at all seasons. and loun0inD
walk, are familiar as of old to PhIIsdei,
p p unanclers. He has a place in the
GIV ~ quite equal to his old '.Ogontz."
eb io MS nome IN the broad sense. He has
rosou. some cottage at Beach Haven-a
interests. "HA0H ne mas large
IA ~ tne person Of MIR. Henry c. Gibson
via epIesented both large wealth and
tb e Si ouIIufe. de is admitted to be one of
bein,.ues1 men in the city, his fortune
n n0o ooc ated by conservative men at
lby,VOV' lie came into good deal by
MOI. tance and added largely to his patri-
msiyyoy MS own skill, application and
vsora foresight. He was for seyeral
Oh member OF the distilIlng firm of
in tSo moore ~ oinnot, one of the largest
Bic ' n Guy. lie sold out his interest to
Sptraaloulers, Albert II. Moore and Joseph
agren5 1O ~ ABOUT two years ago, 1t was
Az a. tnat be should receive a very
6nsSies sum, payable in installments. The
noms' ess continued to prosper so enor-
i'm mat the remaining mem bers OF the
Gibsdpns iu on the debt 80 fast that MIR.
noney NSs oeen put to it TO invest the