The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-01-21
lAE COTTON sls x l!3SG.
yApIAN WHO CttLTfyATED sEytSNTEf.S
THOUSAND AQSslSs OF LAND. *,


THOUsAND AgSiSs OF LAND. x,
2he Ronarknble Career of Colonel Rich.
ardson--Eo Rises IRON, N Poor hoy to bo
thelNtohest Planter In the World. "a 81
Tho death of Colonel Edmund Rioll-
ardsoD, the cotton king of tic world,
which occurred at Jackson, Miss, on
Monday night. was not unlike that Of
William I'll. Vanderbilt in its sudden
!, hess and general character. lie loft
jackson the Sunday before ona visit to
Vicksburg,> and his son, w. B. Rich
ardsOn, who was with him there all dav
Monday, says he had never seen his
farther in better apparent health or in
finer spirits. Od h is return trip to
Jackson his fellow travellers comment
cd on his extreme jocularity. ITo ar
rived at Jackson at little before 10
O'Clock Monday night and went 10
supper in tho Edmunds House rcstau-
rant. Ho intended taking the 1880
night 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-
plUyed. A few moments later his
cd ut tho door Of Nelson Potter, n COL
orcd man who lived next to the Euro
peau House. A cDlored woman opened
the door and Colonel Richardson
feobly staggered in and sank in q chair
before the fire. The frightened woman
ran into tho street for help, but before
it came he had fallen to tic floor dead,
Tho breaking of blood vessel in the
brain-apoplcXy-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 10 spend the holidavs with
her son, and died on the cars lust be-
fore reaching her destination.
Col. Richardson was reported to be
the richest man in the South lie was
certainly the richest man in this sec
ton OF the South. Many years uyo he
was n large planter in Mississippi, but
lost nearly all hispropertl by the war.
lie afterwards established the firm of
Richardson " May, in New Orleans,
which became the largest cotton
house in the world. 1t is said to have
handled 10000 bales of cotton wear,
ana It's aggregate dealings were put a.
over SlO,OOO,OOO per annum. Co..
Richaresom's personal fortune is csti-
mated at between $5,000,000 and So
100000.
Col. Richardson was the most cx;cn-
slve planter of cotton in the world.
He haC seventeen thousand acres undcr
cultivation, and his average harvest
was twelve or thirteen thousand bales.
lie had, besides, large area planted
In corn, oats and millct. In all, he
had 2O,O00 acres of land ,:udrr cultiya
ton. 10 the practical planter, fami-
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 plantiIg opera
tons.
Col. Richardson was born in Cas-
well county, North Curolina, six miles
from Danvillc, Va, then only II vii.
lage, on June %, 1918. His father,
James Richardson, was a country
merchant aud planter, and died in 1926,
leaving widow and seven children,
When about ten years Of age Young
Richardson was sent to What was
called an sold field school" When
tho boy was fourteen years old his
mother obtained Tor him n situation in
Danvllie ut $50 Il year and board.
Tlat mother mnSt have been u woman
OF great force and character; SD anxious
"ah Kho that her boy should be able TO
save his salary that she had his clol
spun ana woven at home. She fur
nlshed hin with money Tor candy and
other boylsh neceSsarics Of existence
anu for an occasional visit 10 some
passing circus. "And how auch," he
once asked, edo YOU suppose ! saved
out of that salary? Why, just $50"
9 After having remained in Dauville
Iour years he removed to Clinton.
Miss, when he obtained a position at
%|oa month. In Years time he
again returned to Virginia and OBJ
tanned position in Brandon, and in
ehe following fall went into business
on MS own account. II" soon sold
OUT, however, and moved to jackson,
Miss, where he worked rs a clerk
untli 1910. In that year the executor
OF ms mothers estate settled with him.
turning over to him $500 in money
ana q few negroes. lie then cstah-
iished himself ia Il merchant and con-
unucd in business at jackson until
1913. Bv that time he had made abont
$4,000, which in those duvs was
1
may or that year he married Miss
Patton, of Huntsville, Ala, a sister Of
ex-Governor ROoert Patton of that
state, and engaged in planting. In
1850 he agaid went into business at
Jocyson with hiss brother and John
w. Robinson as partners, and opened
Oranch stores at Brandon, Canton,
Morton and Newton. In 1852 no
entered the cotton commission busi-
ness IN New Orleans, retaining his
plantation and country store interests
nntil 1860, ,when he sold them.
III person Col. Richardson was of
commanding presence, over six feet in
heieht and stout in proportion. In his
domestic life he was fortunate and
happy, and he leaves behind him
widow four sons and daughter.
-~-------sSS----
Atlanta Mouths Open.
kl,,.