The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-22
AN ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE.
some OF the houliar Personal Traits OF
Isnlah v. Wliamaon of PhiladelphIa.

Some of the houlinr Personal Traits OF
Isaiah V. williamson of Philadelphia.
Isaiah V. williamson, who has given
one-sixth of hisfortune Of S15, 900, 900 to
establish the fle school of mechanical
trades and intens to double his gift if
the money shallNe needed, has been one
of Philadelphia'l most energetic CAPT.
talists and philanpropists for years, says
the Record of thatiity. Old merchants,
who have known I'm for half q century,
do not know wher,to find him. If he is
not at his dingy lite office at 30 Bank
street.
lie has remaineda bachelor all his
life, and now in his S5th year he has
founded an institution, which, like
Girard College, will llways remain an
enduring monument b his princely lib.
erality and the high nrpose for which
1t was founded. Mr.Wiliamson is of
Quaker origin, and was born in Bucks
County in 1903. His faher was hard
working farmer in that ection, and the
son in early life became imbued with
those economical principles that in
later years enabled him o roll up his
immense fortune. 1t is sail of him that
the guiding principle in his money
making ventures has beenuot to do q
thing to-day that can just rs we'll be done
tomorrow. To this he Attitudes his
success in the commercial worl.
He used to be fond of rationl amuse-
ments, and tor twenty years sent every
summer at Saratoga. Thougl an old
man he was passionately fond ofdancing,
and was always on The floor at tie fash
ionable balls and hops at that famous
watering place. He was never 4 n loss
for partner, for he was known toevery-
body at Saratoga as "the rich bachelor
from Philadelphia" Many wen the
adroit little schemes concocted by am
bilious mammas with marriagable
darlings to rescue the old gentleman rom
bachelorhood, but they all failed, as he
object of their attentions slipped through
their hands.
To this day, in the sunset of his lif,,
the aged philanthrophist delights TO go.
sip with his ever-narrowing circle of &C
quaintances-for he makes but few new
friends--about the gay times he used tc
have at Saratoga. Long ago, quarter
of a century, perhaps, he drove good
team, but he dispensed with his carriage
aud horses because he grew tired OF
them.
A gentleman who has known him for
forty years said yesterday of this peculi.
arity: ut was easier for Mr.. Williamson
to give away $4,000 than to purchase a
suit of clothes for himself. He has car
ried the same umbrella for fifteen years
or more, and stuck to it because he says
he likes it. He moves about frequently
and generally stays at the house of rela-
tive. He has no furniture to speak of,
and can move about at his pleasure. He
does not care to have many people know
where he lives, and the city directory
only gives the location of his Office on
Bank street.
He is not and never has been a mean
man, and the browning act of his life
the establishment OF the proposed
school-has been undertaken with view
of re-establishing the old apprenticeship
system, which hourished so extensively
in his youth and manhood.
In personal appearance Mr.. William
son is rather small man, weighing
about 1870 pounds. He has q very pleas
ant face, and some people say his fea-
lures are somewhat of feminine cast.
He has bright eye and his whole coun-
tenance is suggestive of firmness and de-
cisive character.