Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-02
| MISER'S MILLIONS.
Death of an Eccentric Recluse Whose
Wealth Was Enormous.
AN ESTATE OF $25,OOO,OOO LEFT.
The Love Romance Of His Youth That
Darkened His Future Life.
QUEERFREAK TOWARD THE GRAND ARMY
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPArcH.I

TgPECTAI, TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPATCH.l
NEWPORT, Oct. I'm q modest villa
residence on Narragansett avenue lie the re-
mains of Edmund H. Schermerhorn, citi-
zen of Newport, whose wealth far exceeds
that of any other man who had legal resi-
dence here in the history of the city. He
was a recluse and a miser. He has not been
out of his house for years, the last occasion
being when he went to Memorial Day
celebration.
Mr.. Schermerhorn was of the old Knick-
erbocker family of that name, and inher-
tied great deal of wealth. He has prop
erty scattered all over the city of New
York, it is said, besides apersonal estate OF
many millions in the best of bonds. Men
who knew him as we'll as it was possible to
know him say that his estate cannot be
worth less than S25, 900, 000
He came to Newport some 35 years ago,
and it is not believed that he has missed be-
ing here single summer since. Nearly 26
years ago, when the rate of taxation was
considered worry high in the city of New
York, he decided to become permanent
resident and voter of this city, and here
he has been ever since.
A LOVE ROMANCE IN IT.
Mr.. Schermerhorn was not always a re-
cluse and miser. Many years ago he fell
in love with beautiful New York girl,
member of an old Knickerbocker family.
Her relatives wanted her to marry the head
of another Knickerbocker family, and they
had their way. 1t is said that the disap-
pointment in his love affair caused melan-
cholia, which increased with years. He told
some of his intimate friends that he would
never marry, and he did not.
He rarely went out INTO society, and finally
withdrew from outside life altogether, and
became practically a recluse. It is this
phase of his life that made him at times the
most talked-about man in Newport. His
house on Narrngansett avenue has been for
him sort of selfselected prison, for he has
not left his room for long time. The last
occasion was some years ago on Memorial
Day. 1t came about in this way:
INTEREST IN TILE GRAND ARMY.
In the autumn previous he sent for one of
Newport's ex-Mayors, who used to transact
some business with him, and nearly took
away his visitors breath by the announce
ment that he desired to do something to
show an interest in the Grand Army and its
work. He had been thinking this thing
over, he said, and had come to the con-
clusion that he would buy large lot in the
Island Cemetery and thereon erect a monu-
ment that would be worthy of the memory
of the Newport patriots who went hence to
serve their country during the civil war.
From such r man as Schermerhorn the
offer was considered Il marvellous one. For
weeks and months he had Grand Army Of
flcials dancing attendance upon him. By
and by the local reporters were told to pre-
pare for an extraordinary piece of news, and
it took the form OF the announcement of
what Mr.. Schermerhorn intended to do.
NO MONUMENT FROM HIM.
He bought o small lot and people began to
snicker. He gave it to the Grand Army, but
he never gave them monument and is be-
lieved to have expressed regret that he
could not get the lot back. The few hun
dreds which he gave for It were too much
for his miserly mind. He never came out of
the house again. His house Is plainly fur
nished. Every crack and crevice were
closed as tight as drum until sometimes
the servants had to sit out of doors for bit
Of fresh air even in the dead of winter.
He did everything by rule. Alta certain
hour in the evening, never varying min
ute, he would wind his watch. He was so
methodical that lie did precisely the same
thing a the same time every day. OF late
years Mr.. Schermerhorn appears to have
bent what energies he possessed. to the
piling up of great wealth, and he has sue
ceeded. How he has disposed of 1t is not
known, but his attorneys, Strong & Cad
wallader, of New York. made his will.