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

Isaiah V. Williamson, the venerable mill
ionaire philanthropist, and probably the
richest bachelor in the United States, died
few days ago in Philadelphia.
Mr. Williamson was born at Penns Manor.
Bucks County Penn, eighty year;
400 He was the son of poor farmer, and
worked on the farm in summer and attended
the village school in winter AT Twelve
years he entered a country store at foranS
ham, Bucks County, where he remained un'
IN he was about twenty years old, when ne
concluded to come to Philadelphia to seek his
fortune After Il varied commercial ex
perience he became a member OF the nrm OF
Williamson, Burroughs u Co, who carried
on the dry goods business. dc was very
successful, and retired from active WORK
many years ago with an lmhehse ioiIuho'
aggregating millions.
After retiring from the dry soods busl-
ness Mr. Williamson became an active figure
in financial circles. His fortune grew rap
idly under his judicious investments, anu at
the time of his death b was Regarded as the
| richest man in Philadelphia. Nr. Nllilam-
| son never married. His economical habits
| acquired in early youth stuck to him IN later
years, and as he grew older he nppea.odd; ~, W.
| have an increasing aversion to spending
| money upon himself. He carried one um'
brella for over fifteen years, and was always
seen wearing clothes OF ancient cuo ana
! faded and threadbare appearance. ,
Mr.. Williamson was q Shsriataslss r 40 man a. al
| hCiGf, anu enJOlneu secrecy as To the giver
! upon many institutions that were benefitte /
| by his bounty. The House OF Refuge re-
coiyed $780, 900 from him, and the University
OF pennsylvania Hospital and the jefferson
| College Hospital, $4,000 each. He gave
$loO,OJU to the Board of Trade fund for the
| assistance of merchants who had sustained
reverSes ami werc without means for makin..
livelihood. Whenever he sent a contribu.
ton to any object lie simply signed his
initials and few persons know how much he
mas given away anonymously
The crowning act of Mr.. Willamson's
philanthropc life was the gift of 81 800, ,OOU
Tor the founding of the Williamson Free
School of Mechanical Trades, which is to be
built as soon rs location is decided upon The
AFFAIRS OF the project are now in the hands
OF II board OF trustees selected by him. AL
though he gave awny Il great deal OF money
in this and other ways, Mr.. Williamson, it il
said provided well for his relatives The
nearest of these are Il sister aud brother liy-
ing in Bucks County, and Il brother in Ken
tucky. His younger brother, who died some
time ago, left four daughters, two married
and two single.
Mr.. Williamson always led a life of tn,
greatest secluSion, and kept himself as much
as possible out Of tue public eye
Owing to the fact that no will is known to
have been made 10y Mr.. Williamson, some
doubt has been expressed regarding his be-
quests
Franklin b. Gowan, who was for MANY
years the private counsel ot MIR. viii.
hanson, said that tho effects of tn,
dead man were in such = condition that his
plans and ideas regarding the proposed in.
dustrial school would hs fully carried out: hs
said that the trustees now had in their posses.
sion, by legal deed, over 8, 900, OOO and that
Mr.. Williamson had SO fixed things that
whatever may he the shape of his will, there
can be no interference with thes school pro
iect. A truStes stated that the iieL of the
school had long been considercd by SIR Will
iamson, and when the plans were made pub.
lie the arrangements had been completed for
the actual transfer OF the property and ST.
curities, and this was done Il soon as the
Board of Trustees selected and that
thore could not possibly be any interference
with the project.