Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-07
AN ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE.
some of the Peculiar Personal Traits OF
Isaiah Y. Williamson OF Philadelphia.

Isaiah Y. Williamson, who has given
one-.iXth Of this fortune of $l5,00O,000
to cstahlisha free school of mechanical
trades and intends to double his gift
if the money shall be needed, has been
one OF Phiadeiphia's most energetic
capitalists aud philanthropists for
wears. saws the Rec1rd of that city. Old
merchants who have known him for
half a century do not know where TO
find him if he is not at his dingy little
office nd 80 Bank street. He has re-
manned bachelor all his life, and now
in his eighty-iifth year he has founded
am institution, which, like Girard coll
legc, will always remain an enduring
monument to his princely liberality
and the high purpose for which IL was
founded Mr.. Williamson is of Quaker
origin and was born in Bucks county
in 1903. His father was Il hard-work-
ing farmer In that section and the son
ID early life became imbued with those
economical principles that in later
Year, enabled him to roll mp his inn
moa-a fortune. 1t is said of him that
The guiding principle in his money
malug ventures has been not to do a
thing to-day that can Just as we'll be
duuc tomorrow. 10 this he attributes
", success in the commercial world
Hr used To be fond of rational amuse-
ment, and tor twenty years spent
every summer at Saratoga. Though
an old man he was passionately fond
vi dancing, and was always on the
Aoara fashionable balls and hops at
taa. iuuou, watering place. He was
never at a loss for a partner, for he
was known TO everybody at Saratoga
as the .Tlch bachelor from Philadel-
paa. Many were the adrot little
schemes coucocted by ambitious mann
ma. with marriageable darlings to res
o1e Cine old gentleman from bachelor
hood but they all failed. as the object
of iier attentions slipped through
their hands. To this day, in the sun
Sc. Of his life, the aged philanthropist
delights ~ gossip with his ever-nar-
rowing circle of acquaintances for he
makes but few frieuds--abOut the gay
Tunes he used to have at Saratoga.
Long ago, a quarter of a century, per-
hap, he drove good team. but he
dispensed with his carriage and horses
because he grew tired of them
q Gentleman who has known him
t'r forty years said yesterday of his
regularity: lit was easier for Mr..
williamson to give away $4,000 than
l.Farchasea suit Of clothes for himself.
III has carried the same umbrella for
-ieaa years or more, and stuck to it
Aaeaase he says he likes it. lie moves
a9", frequently and generally stays
d. iAe house Of a relative. He has no
furniture to speak of, and can move
a.'a. at bis pleasure. He does not
SAN 70 have many people know where
ne aes. ana the city directory only
-f Tie location Of his office on Bank
street, Ho is not and never has been,
De man. and the browning act Of
%. the establishment Of the free
s.4au.-has been undertaken with the
Of re-pstablishing the old appren-
..e.1Ip system which nourished SO ex-
"n'y in his youth and manhood.
Il lersonalap appearance Mr. William
s.a rather a small man, weighing
aosat $50 pounds. He has a very
peasant face and some people say his
GESTURES are somewhat Of "a feminine
1a>a lie has a bright eye and his
whole rountenance is suggestive of
-.4La,s and decisive character.