The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-01-20
1hb UVIlUN KING.
A MAN WHO CULTIVATED SEVENTEEN
THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND.

IMAM WHO CULTIVATED
THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND.
rho Remarkable Caroer of Colonel Rich!
nrdson--He Rises from n Poor Boy to BIO
tho Ric host PlHntor In tho World.
Tho death of Colonel Edmund Rich
ardson, the cotton king of tho world,
which occurred at Jackson, Miss, on
Monday night. was not unlike that of
William Fl. Vanderbilt in its sudden.
hess and general character. He left
jackson the Sunday before on visit to
Vicksburg, and his sou, w. B. Rich
ardson, who was with him there all day
Monday, says he had never seen his
farther in better apparent health or in
finer spirits. On lis return trip to
Jackson his fellow travellers comment.
ed on his extreme popularity. lie AZ
rived at Jackson at a little before 10
O'Clock Monday night and went TO
supper in tho Edmunds House restau-
ramt. He intended taking the 1880
nj iht train for New Orleans. After
supper he crossed the street to see
to some persons who were making
clothing for the convicts which he en-
ployed. A few moments later his
cries for help wero heard. He knock
ed at the door of Nelson Potter, Il col
ored man who lived next to the Euro.
pean House. AcOlOred woman opened
the door aud Colonel Richardson
feebly staggered in and sank in a chair
before the fire. The frightened woman
ran into the street for help, but before
it came he had fallen to the floor dead.
The breaking of a blood vessel in the
brain-apoplexy-is ascribcd as the
cause.
Several years ago the mother of Col.
Richardson, then ninety years old,
was ON her way from North Carolina
to Jackson TO spend the holidays with
her son, and died on the cars just be-
fore reaching her destination.
Col. Richardson was reported to be
the richest man in the South. He was
certainly the richest man in this Sec
ton of the South. Many years ago he
vas a large planter in Mississippi, but
lost nearly all his property by the war.
He afterwards established the firm Of
Richardson " May, in New Orleans,
which became tho largest cotton
house in the world. lis said to have
handled 10000 bales of cotton a year,
and Its aggregate dealings were put at
over $4,000, 900 per annum. Col.
Richardson's personal fortune is esti-
mated at between $4,000, 900 and &c..
O00, 900.
Col. Richardson was the most extern
sive planter OF cotton in the world.
He had seventeen thousand acres under
cultivation, and his average harvest
was twelve or thirteen thousand bales.
He had, besides, n large area planted
in corn, oats and milIct. In all, he
had 10000 acres of land under cultiva-
ton. TO the practical planter, fani-
lar with the difficulties OF cotton plant
ing, these figures speak volumes. No
one else can appreciate the executive
ability requisite to conduct success
fully snch immense planting opera
tons.
Col. Richardson was born in Cas-
we'll county, North Carolina, six miles
from Danville, Va, then only a vii
lagc, OH June 2S, 1918. His father,
James Richardson, was q country
merchant and planter, and died in 1926,
leaving d widow and seven children,
When about ten years of age young
Richardson was sent to what was
called an cold field school," When
the hoy was fourteen years old his
mother Obtained for him a situation in
Danville at $50 a year and board.
That mother must have been a woman
va INV CIhi uCtCl 81 tilAlOuS
was she that her boy should be able TO
save his salary that she had his clothes
spun and owe at home. She fur.
nished him with money for candy and
other boyish neccssaries OF existence
ami for All occasional visit 10 some
passing circus. "And how much" he
once asked, "do YOU suppose | saved
out of that salary? Why, just $50"
After having remained in Danvillc
four years he removed to Clinton,
Miss, when he obtained a position at
$75 month. In a years time he
again returned TO Virginia and OBJ
tanned a position in Brandon, and in
the following fall went into business
on his W account. He soou sold
our, however, and moved to Jackson,
Miss, where he worked as n clerk
until 1910. In that year the executor
of his mothers estate settled with him,
turning Owe to him $500 in money
land a few negroes. He then estab-
lislIed himself as Il merchant and con-
tinued in business at jackson until
184S. Bv that time he had made about
S3O,OOO, which in those days was
thought to be a fine start in life. In
May OF that year lie married Miss
Patton, of Huntsville, Ala, n sister OF
1tooSi tpltoH " tDdl
State. and engaged in planting. In
1850 he agaid went into business at
JACKSON with hiss brother and John
w. Robinson as partners, and opened
branch stores at Brandon, Canton,
Morton and Newton. In 1852 he
entered the cotton commission bust
ness in New Orleans, retaining his
plantation and country store interests
until 1860, when he sold them.
In person Col. Richardson was of
commanding presence, owe six feet in
height and stout i'm proportion. In his
domestic life he was fortunate and
happy, and he leaves behind him a
widow, four sons and a daughter.
Atlanta Mouths open.
Blk months ago wo had no demand for
BIB. b., but now Our retail demand is such
that we are forced t. buy In gross lots. We
attribute the ranid and anormnna dnn,nnd