The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-08-14
MaS. HOPElNS-SEARLES.
Death of the Richest Woman In the
United StateE.

Mrs. Mark Hopkins-Searles died
after long and painful illness at the
residence of her husband, Edward
f. Searles, at Methuen, Mass, July
25. She was nearly 70 years of age.
The wealth she left is reported to be
more than $40, ,000,0 600, making her
the richest woman IN the United
States.
Mary Frances Sherwood Hopkins
Searles was born in New York city in
1928. Mark Hopkins was her cousin
and when after a few years in Cali
fornia he had amassed a respectable
fortune he returned to New York and
sought her hand. They were mar
ried by the Rev. DR.. Spring on
September 20, 1854, and left at once
for the Pacific Coast, taking up their
residence at Sacramento. About
1875 the railway magnate began the
erection of the great palace on Mob
Hill. Before it was finished Mark
Hopkins died. That was on March
20, 1873 At this time the fortune
of the hardware dealer Of the fifties
had reached fabulous proportions.
| His associates estimated that in
houses and lands, bonds, stocks and
hard money Hopkins estate would
foot up in round numbers something
over $50 900, 900. All this vast sum,
including Hopkins interest in the
Central Pacific Railway aud the dozen
or more lesser corporations clustered
about, was left to the widow without
restriction as to her disposition of it.
Though of a markedly eccentric
character Mrs. Hopkins was fond OF
the associations and advertisements
which her great wealth placed within
easy reach. The house on Mob Hill,
furnished at a cost of no less than
81, ,250, 600, was thrown open to her
hosts of friends, and the social world
knew Mrs. Hopkins and her paIatial
home as rare hostess in house of
rare possibilities for entertainment.
Besides her love for society Mrs.
Hopkins had other traits which made
her presence felt in the community.
Her charitable deeds were many and
magnificent, and were characterized
by somewhat of her per.on4l cccen-
tricities in the manner Of their doing.
Perhaps the most striking mani
festation of the wealthy widows
eccentriclty was in her penchant for
building and buying fine residences.
Besides the magnificent house Oh
| California street she owned country
house at Menlo Park-Sherwood Hall
it is called-formerly the residence
of Milton S. Latham. Then there is
her palace at Great Darlington,
Mass, known as Kellogg Terrace.
This was her particular pride, and
on it she spent the railroad kings
millions with lavish hand. The
cost of the building was $4,000, 900
before stick of furniture or yard
of tapestry had been put in, and it
is estimated that the great stone
castle as it stands, furnishings and
all, is worth mucn more than 81, ,O00,-
600. 1t is built of dolomite blue
stone, as is the $4,000 stable, and
is furnished aud decorated through
out with materials and workmanship
of the costliest kind. One of its
features is the organ-room, on the
interior decoration of which $50, 900
was spent. Mrs. Hopkins had still
another house, a mansion at Block
island, built in 1890 at a cost Of
SI,5O0,000. This is considered the
largest and most expensive residence
at the great summer resort OF New
York millionaires.
1t was while the castle at Great Bar
rington was being built that Mrs.
Hopkins met A. j. Searles, young
architect, who, IN spite of the dis
parity III years, wooed and won the
rich widow. Many stories have been
told of the extraordinary manner of
Searles' courtship, and how it was
brought to climax by bold and
exceedingly-clever piece of finesse.
At any rate it was decided social
surprise when the belrothal of the
elderly widow with her many millions
to the young architect was announced.
The wedding took place on the morn
ing of November s, 1887, in Trinity
Chapel, West Twenty-sixth street,
New York. There was present a
large and fashionable gathering, and
the nuptials were celebrated with nc
little of the pomp and circumstance
of great wealth.
After her second marriage Mrs.
F Searles spent much of her time al
Kellogg Terrace, and in designing
with her young husband the Block
Island palace, of which, rumor said
they intended to make an inaccessi
bic retreat, with little accommoda
tion for guests. In March of this
wear Mrs. Hopkins Searles left finally
for til" East, and a few days later i
was made public that her big house
on California street was for sale, thu
bulk of the costly furniture and tap
estries having been removed to Kel
Iogg Terrace
Mr.. MAJ 5. Severance, HUSBAND
! of a niece Of Mrs, Hopkins-Searles
and who ,a. uad part of the man
agement of her property, said to al
interviewer: " Mrs. Searles had th'