Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-03
HIS DEVOTION TO RICHMOND.


HIS DEVOTION TO RICHMOND.
How He Contributed to the City's
Development.
Major Ginter's chief object in life was
to build up the interests Of the city OF
Richmond as far as he possibly could.
He gave employment TO more people than
any one who ever lived here. Nearly
1000 people were fed daily by wages
earned from his cigarette factory. He
often was heard to say that he had
made all his money IA Richmond and in
tended to spend II here The largest Of
all his plans was the erection or the
jefferson, which has become Worid-
famous as one of the finest and most
beautiful hotels known to the travelling
public. Some years ago, when President
ingalls, of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road was talking OF building SO,oU
hotel here, Major Ginter wrote, Offering
TO subscribe $50 900 TO the stock, saying
that If he were ten years younger than
he was, he would have built one NM
self. The desire to see fine hotel mere
was born as a result of his extensive
travels. and the wide complaint that the
hotels of Richmond could not compare
with those of other cities. His principal
idea seems to have been to attract the
tourist and others who, while appre-
ciating the many points OF interest apou.
the city Night also learn OF Its great
natural advantages.
HIS PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
In person Major Ginter was rather De
low the average stature, compactly Dullt'
with naturally a quick, active movement
indicative of purpose and energy.
His countenance was strongly ex-
pressive. both OF intelligence ana p0
nightly. His conversational resources
when drawn out, were rich ana very III
structive. for on subjects not techi,ic~
his knowledge was both varied and mo
rough, In one thing hs was pre-eminent--
that is. his rigorous punctua!ity TO ell
gagements, springing from his acute sense
OF Justice to others. He would IoD no
man. no more so OF his time than or MS
money. He was never behind the hour
appointed for an engagement, nor ola 10
linger after the business was accom-
plished.
The GROWING excellence Of major Gia-
ter's character-that which gave II at
once its strength and beauty--was tho az
solute supremacy OF the moral SENT
msntS. one OF MS OlutSl liiNAOS iNAi'
ed the 9th. n day that he never heard him
utter profane or an unchaste word.
Another trait which none who knew hin
can ever forget, was an memorable sense
o. duty. which allowed no concession 10
Incidence or self-indugence, no discrlml-
nation between one class Of duties and
another, which knew no grades in obliga-
lions 1t did not spend itself In occasional
acts of conspicuous heroism to duties
with which even common nature may be
inspired, but II was evidenced equally In
an UNMARRIED attention TO the dry routine
exactions of daily life. A life of such
noble aims, so filed with benevolent Ia
bors and generous self-sacriiices, could
have drawn it's inspiration and sustaining
power from no other source than a deli
cate sepsbility OF all claims springing
out OF his relations to others. and the
conditions of life around him-the claims
OF affection and friendship; OF sympathy
with weakness and with sorrow, and
with necessity; OF charity and good will
To all men. To all such just claims upon
his sensibities ho had a heart keenly
susceptible, and as needs be. hand al
ways responsive; although of his feel
lngs and beneficences he was not demon
strative to public observation. Formal,
but not severe stately without pomp,
dignihed without severity, formidable In
its self-relance and reticence, individual
positive, scrupulous, and exact, but neither
aggressive nor caustic, the personality
Of Major Ginter although 1t impressed
many OF his acquaintances as exclusive
and cold was sincere. manly. gentle. and
even tender He had strong convictions. |
He was uncompromising. He never fiat
tered anybodys and he never assumed a
cordlality that he did not feel.
HE WAS EVER CHARITABLE.
one of his oldest friends In this city, |
when asked TO recall some of the strik |
ing incidents of his association with |
Major Ginter, said their friendship had |
been marked by thousands such. He was |
always the same kindly. charitable. un
selfish man that he has been known 10 |
be of late years. The beautiful charities |
we hear OF now distinguished him |
among his acquaintances fifty years ago. |,
Every one knows of his muniflcence. lie |
never talked about his own affairs, even |
to his friends. and was particularly re-
ticent about his charities. When he was
not counted "A rich man he used TO edu- |
cate the children OF poor people He |
was never ostentatious In his charities |
but would contribute on every PROPOSE |
ton He gave literally to the widows |
OF his deceased friends. and helped TO |
educate their children. He Is known TO |
have had a pension roll, which included |
many old soldiers and the names Of |
thirty people TO whom he made an al
lowaace of $50 a month. Upon one &C.
casson. when the daughter OF a poor,
widow woman wrote to him that her |
mother was going distracted because
their home was mortgaged for $500 and |
the obligation was about to fall due and |
they were without money to meet 1t, he
sent his lawyer to investigate the case
The attorney found the woman after
some difficulty. for the name OF her first
husband had been given and she had |
been married twice. She was almost al |
her wits enc with distress. and the
mortgage was for 500. Upon learning
the facts of the case Major Ginter paid