The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-03-22
A PHILANTHROPlST DEAD.
I. v. Williamson, the Million.
aire, Expires in Philadelphia.
His Great Bequest for a Mechani'
cal School in Jeopardy.

Isaiah ". Williamson, the venerable mill
ionaire philanthropist, and probably the
richest bachelor in the United States, died q
few days ago in Philadelphia.
Mr.. Williamson was born at Penns Manor.
Bucks County, Penn. eighty-seven years
ago He was the son of poor farmer, and
worked on the farm In summer and attended
the village school in winter. At twelve
years no entered q country store at Fordng'
ham. Bucks County, where he remained un'
til he was about twenty years old, when he
concluded to come to Philadelphia to seek bis
fortune After a varied commercial ex.
perience no became member OF the firm OF
Williamson, Burroughs & Co, who carried
on the dry gSS0ds s.psa eTcm active
many years ago with an immense fortune,
aggregating millions.
After retiring from the dry goods busi-
ness Mr.. Williamson became an active figure
in financial circles. His fortune grew rap
idly under his judicious Investments, and at
the time of his death he was regarded as the
richest man in Philadelphia. Hr. William
son never married. His economical habit
acquired in early youth stuck to him in Later
years, and as he grew older he appeared to
have an increasing aversion to spending
money upon himself. He carried one um
brella for over fifteen years, and was alway'
seen wearing clothes OF ancient cut ant
Mr.. Williamson. va. ssaheEitns .maa~a,
iicity, and apioipssi.sa3 x, pub.
BY his S l6(s. were e Rs,nsa Rssnsiittsd =
ceiyed $lO0,OO0 from him, and the University
of Pennsylvania Hospital and the .Jefferson
College Hospital, $4,000 each. He gave
100000 to the Boardo of Trade fund for tbe
assistance of merchants who had sustained
reverses and were without means for making
g livelihood. Whenever he sent a contribu.
ton to any object he simply signed his
initials, and few persons know how much he
mas given away anonymously
Ihe crowning act of Mr.. Williamson.
phllsnthropic life was the gift of 81. SOC, ,OO(
for the founding of the Williamson IRE,
school OF Mechanical Trades, which is to be
built as soon as location is decided upon. The
OF board of trustees selected by him. AL
though he gave away great deal of money
in this and other ways, Mr. Williamson. IL I,
said, provided well for his relatives. Tn.
nearest or these are a sister aud brother liy
ing in Bucks County, and brother in Ken.
lucky. His younger brother, who died some
time ago, left four daughters, two married
and two single.
Mr.. Williamson always led life Of ths
greatest seclusion, and kept himself as much
Owing to the fact that no viii Is known to
have been made by Mr.. Williamson, some
doubt has been expressed regarding his be-
quests.
Franklin B. Gowan, who was for manv
years the private counsel OF Mr.. Will
hanson, said that the effects of tho
dead man were in such condition that his
plans and ideas regarding the proposed in.
dnstrial school would be fully carried out; he
said that the trustees now had in their posses.
sion, by legal deed, over 81, 900, ,OOu, and that
Mr.. Williamson had SO fixed things that
whatever may be the shape of his will, there
can be no interference with the school pro-
lect A trustee stated that the idea. of the
school had long been considsfed' by Mr.. Will
Iamson, and when the plans were made pub
lie tho arrangements had been completed for
the actual transfer of the property and Sc.
eurities, and this was done as soon as the
Board of Trustees was selected. and that
there could not possibly be any interference
with the project