The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-02
4 REMARKABLE MAN
Who Owned a Great Estate on the
Savannah River.

| Savannah River.
The Hon. James Edward Calhoun, who's
death was announced in the MORNING
NEWS yesterday, was one Of the most re
markable men In South Carolina. Up tc
within short time Of his death he pos
sessed perfect health, his intellect was I'M
dlmmed, and his memory as fresh as wher
In the prime Of life He had never used
eye-glass9s. and read with ease by the light
OF an ordinary kerosene lamp. At home
his favorite exercise was to mount his horse
and ride over his immense estate. His
career was no less remarkable than the
wonderful preservation Of his health.
Mr.. Calhoun was the youngest son of the
distinguished lawyer, the Hon. John E.
Calhoun, who died in the prime Of his life
in 1902, and while serving a term in the
United States Senate. At the death of his
father Mr.. Calhoun came into the possession
of large fortune, but his taste for advent
ure led him to seek the seas, and he entered
the navy in 1916. He was at that time the
richest man in the service. His disrin-
guished brother-in-law, John c. Calhoun,
was at that time just entering upon career
which gave him a worldwide reputa-
ton. The young midshipman added to a
handsome person and most pleasing address
more than ordinary ability. He possessed
especially great aptitude for languages,
and during his travels acquired a
familiarity with over sixteen tongues. His
chief object in enlisting in the navy was to
see the world and seek adventures. and he
lost no opportunity of throwing himself
into those positions in which he could best
accomplish these ends. His wealth. position.
influence and ability euabled him to
crafty his tastes. He Joined many :ex-
petitions, and visited nearly every quarter
of tho Olnho a with he 81
Long expedition. which explored the great
northwest, at that time an unknown wilder
ness, and visited the spot where Chicago
now stands long before it had been thought
of as site for city.
In early manhood Mr.. Calhoun married q
Miss Smkins of Edgefeld, but his wife died
many years ago, leaving no children.
Mr.. Calhoun resigned from the navy in
1888 and returned to his estates in Able
vile county. These consisted of several
plantations situated on the Savannah river
at point then known as "Trotter's Shoals -
For more than half century he has led the
life of hermit, his time being devoted to
the building up of his estate, adding this
year a plantation and the next year an
other, until at his death he was the owner
of over q, 900 acres of land on both sides of
the Savannah river and with water front
of over twenty-five miles. On his estates.
1t Is said, there is the finest water power
in the south. In addition to the splen-
did homestead of Is, 900 acres Mr. Calhoun
owned over 1850 acres of land in the
mountain sections Of Pickens and Oconee
counties.
While Mr.. Calhoun has lived alone he has
always taken a keen interest in passing
events and public men and measures. In
his youth he was thrown with many s.
tinguished people, not only in this country
but abroad. His recollections of such we'll
known characters as Clay, Webster, Ron
dolph. Jackson and many others, and his
vivid and suggestive manner Of taking
made him one of the most interesting con-
verstionsalists in the state.