New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-08
DEATH OF i. ". WILLIAMSON
THE WILL OF THE PHILADELPHIA PHILAN.
THRoPIST NOT SIGNED.
THE FOUNDING OF THE TRADE SCHOOL ASSURED,
HowEvER-AN ESTATE on FIFTEEN


MILLIONS.
Philadelphia March Special. Isaiah vsnsant VIII
hanson died his homo, No. 1890 chestnut-st, at
o'clock this morning, age eightysx. He rallied onn
bis attach yesterday morning, bht toward evening be-
gan 10 sink again. ard lay In comatose ststo from II
p m until bis DEATH which painless and tranquil
Mss Mary Williamson. his second cousin. Drs Honry
and William j. burns, and the nurse were at his bed
Side when no died.
Mr. wilHamson's ancestors were among the earliest
settlers I'm this country, 100 ceres of land on the
south sde of the Heshaminy having been granted
Duncan williamson in 1e77. Mr.. William
son was born on his fathers farm at
FaIisington. Penn, February 3. 1903. Before
the soa ives tweuty.three years Of age he came to
phlisdelphia and started a smsfl dUgoods store 10
eanond-st above MaFini. From this he entered tho
Wholesale drygoods business With u. N burroughs,
now president Of tho Commercial National BANK and
made iarps fortune. Mr. Williamson finally sold
his interest," ia this house and became an active dguEc
in Jhir Street. buying ssochs snd bonds. always to ad.
vantage. Although he was never communicative
about his perscnal Affairs his fortune was estimated
At not lass than e15,ooo.o0o Tie never was married,
and penurfous In his personal affairs, although
for many years large contributor to charity.
BE was cold, calm and reserved. and hedged himself
about With seclusion that no man or woman had
over bean able to break GOWN
Mf.l Mtuf11uhon invested nB money largely IN COdi
and iron lands and was one OF The first TO realize
the advantages Of investments in Pennsylvania Rail-
road securities, Ia tho stocks and bonds Of which no
became one OF tbs largest holders. 10 December
1888, no also invested largely ia the Cambria Iron
Works.
At one time he was conspicuous In so
ctety, but suddenly abandoned II and de-
voted himself to building mp his great fortune. From
him the House Of Refuge received $4,000. and the
~ nj and
son College Hospital 100000 each He gave 100000
10 the BOARD Of Trade Fund for The assistance Of
fortunate merchants, and score Of other institutions
received lesser amounts.
Tho known act In Mr. wiIllamsons life was hts
recent contribution Of 100000 for the founding Of
the Williamson Free School Of Mechanical Trades,
which IS 10 DO built as soon a. site Is decided upon.
This benefaCtion ranks next TO the endowment OF
the Leland Stanford, Jr., University. Tho total value
Of George peabody's boncfactIons, divided among
many religious and phlanthroplc proisc b, was about
1000, 900, but Mr.. williamsons gift was concen-
trated upon one work and DO expressed willing
ness to than double that amodnt Il It should DO
found necessary.
The Board OF Trustees appointed BY him
to carry out bis plans and control the
school after It was opened were John Baird,
president; James W. Brooks treasurer Lemucl Coffin,
Edward Longstrcth, william c. Ludwig. Henry O..
Townsend and John wanSmaber. Mr. williamson has
about hfeen relatives living, among them hs broher
Jesse Williamson, Of Trenton, and two sisters, Mrs
Sarah Buchanan and Mrs. Moon.
It Is reported that Mr.. Williamson did without
signing his will, and that the sums set apart for the,
trades school werc in consequence, void There no
alarm felt among the trustees, however, who said this
evening that even Il the win not signed, the for
nation Of the school, originally proposed, would not
be iutcafeTed WITH This conclusion is reached owing
to tire aace that provision has already been made for
the payment Of the cost Of the ste snd the erection
Of the building although the school may rot receive
fhs additonal gifts intended by It's founder TheFs
at present on deposit with tho Pennsylvania Company
Cor Insurance On Lives and Granting Annuies stnoks
Of different corporations Of tho par yalue Of 81 $4,000
These securities were deposited months ago. a.
o tine when Mr. Williamson ives in fun possession OF
an his faculties and nothing hat might have occurred
''n pSs SIIsn nc oc~sS H. Wansons attorney ibis
evening confpned 30 TeVOn that tAe last VII or
took the win to Mr.. williamsons house 90 saiar.
day. and esked him 10 sign IT, He declined; however.
20 ts ~ ~ aS nls ever e ionssr In case any
additional beQnests 10 the school had been made In he
win and Che VII was not signed tnry Gays 0ei0e DO
death, these requests would lapse
WILLIAM MeGARRAHAN.
William MeGarrahan. who was for many yeats con.
nsescd with the city stat Of "hs EoWYOrk Heralds and
who was among the newspaper In the city,
ded suddenly yesterday morning In the restaurant Of John
Rogers No Park Place where no had come his
custom for years eat HIS breakfast lie said that he
was feeling better usual AMI asked for an orange
He just piece when he suddenly fell from his
chair ana died Heart disease was tho cause.
He was fortyhrce years old Born In Sligo. ireland,
no was educatedn local school, and In Csstenoek Col
lege County Dublin He began newspaper work on The
Dublin Morning News" which was owned BY A. NJ. Sui.
Ivan. n. p. since dead. He next became dramatic
critic OF "The Dublin Daily Express" and was Stervard
many years attached TO the star Of The dish Tines
in the city. He came 10 this county In 1872 and
nrst worked "he NeE.Yetk TimeA" Two years later
he became attached to "The Herald staff which eonnee-
ton he continued up 10 the time Of his death lie was
for time sporting editor Of 'The Herald" and
gsrded good descriptive writer in that line Of work
popular with all his brother newspaper &C
count Of his genial and modest manner.
special meeting of the Press Club. OF which he was
member, win DO held ct o'clock this afternoon make
arrangements for the funeral.
WILLIAM VAN o'LINDA.
william Van o'IApda. Of No. 800 PresidentEt Brook.
Ign, died yesterday from heart disease. Ho went 10
business IN NewYofk wednesday and appeared In HIS
ususl health His death occurred sucdenly. Mr.. Van
o'LAnda waa born in Waterford ~ r.. IN 1919 and