The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
AN ORPHAN BOYS STORY.
THE HUMBLE PAST or A GREAT
MILLIONAIRE OF PORTUGAL.

MILLIONAIRE OF PORTUGAL.
Taken from an Orphans Home In Toronto
Less Than Twenty-Five Years Ago
Friends Seeking of His Parents Found
Millionaire Uncle who Made Hin.
From he Toronto Globe
William Michael Gallwey of Cintra, Portugal
is a gentleman OF wealth and distinction, whose
earlier life, spent in Canada, was marked by hard
ship and misfortune. The story was recalled
lately by letter from Mr. Gallwcy TO gentleman
in this city who had bericnded him. and in which
the writer proposes n trip around the world at his
expense To day Mr. Gallwey enjoys rightul
possession Of vast estates and great wealth. years
ago he was an inmate Of the Orphans Home on
George street. in this city. and later worked as n
farmland in Congwood township. Fortu-
natcy for himself persons who did not dream
that he was an heir TO millions, or was anything
but what he appeared TO be, friondloss and desert
cd. became interested in him. and through their
devotion he attained his own. The circumstances
leading up u this happy result were nothing less
than remarkable. and were obtained for tho O. obs
as the result Of inquiries made in this city. Col
lingwood township and Grey county
In March 1875 n Colingwood township farmer
offered to adopt one Of the boys at the George
street home. The offer was accepted, and tho
farmers choice was William Michael Gallvey
bright, handsome little fellow, then eight years
Of age, who had been placed in the home of Rev.
Mr.. Cartwright Of Ancaster. The lad who had
always displayed the greatest fondncss for horses,
was delighted at the prospect of living on farm.
and once settled in his home this paray
developed to degree remarkable in one ~ young
Between school terms he proved Of great assistance
to his adopted parent, and at ten years of age
could handle horses well n man who had
spent his whole life on the farm. He also dis.
played great desire to master tho details of aEri-
cultural machinery. This trait Of his nature cost
him dearly, his left arm being SO badly CRUSHED
while he was attempting to oil IA horsepower
thresher that it had To he amputated. DR. Hunt
OF Clarksburg since deceased, performed tho
operation. and after the arm was heated the lad
returned to the George street home. He was
then eleven years old.
E&Mrs Hunt who had been very kind 10
the little fellow during his illness, persuaded
her husband 10 give him Il homo with them. This
was done, and William was well treated. being
sent TO school, and lacked nothing Of the essen
tiais necessary for the welfare Of healthy grow
ing boy. lie was bright and intelligent, and
a great favortc with all who knew him. Not
long after his adoption by the Hunts, namely,
in the year 1878. Mr.. c. W. Hartman now pri-
vatc banker Of Clarksburg, commenced business
as chemist at that place Mr. Hartman was
Mrs. Hunts brother and consequently often
visited his brothcr-in-laws home Here he met
young Gallwey, and, like every one else who
had come in contact with the lad, grew TO be fond
of him. Mrs Hunt died in 1879, after short
illness Before death she asked her brother
10 make an earnest effort TO find allweys parents,
II living. his relatives. She said he had unco
or twice told her that he could remember living
in beautiful home with his parents who seemed
To have everything that money could buy. Mr..
Hartman promised to carry out his sister S wishes,
and after her lpath tn hicn b,,,
in Ancaster. New York Philadelphia Cuba and
Lisbon Portugal and slowly, the whole story Of
II appeared that his father. the favorite son OF
Portuguese family, whose forcfathcrs came from
Ireland, had married Protestant lady against
the wishes Of his people whose religion was Roman
Catholic lie was given portion OF the family
entering a business venture in that city Wild
was not successful and by which he lest consider
able money. Following this experience he came
to Toronto and taught classics in q school here,
residing in the meantime with his wife and two
children the boy b William and gTl on Church
a. New York was made, where however. she died.
The children in the meantime Ind Ecen left with
the parents for long time, consulted the Rev.
Mr. C"rtwrght, with the result that the 10y wGs
near Guelph. ON reaching womanhood. Miss
Gallwcy married well known Guelph business
after lis VIE death Mr. Galwey went To CnbM
and accepted a position with an owner of n large
sugar plantation lie seems To have met with
considerable success in this work. hut when up
parently on the high road TO fortune was brutality
murdered by one OF the lahorcrs on the plantation
Having gone so far, the efforts Of those engegcd
in making the search seemed 10 he hafilcd Sew
eral apparently correct stories were traced 10 their
source without result Then Mrs, MCKay re-
called the name Of q Philadelphia lawyer whom
Mr. Gallwey had mentioned 10 her as being a
friend of his family. MIR Hartman was notified
Of this and wrote the lawyer who replied. stating
TINT Mr. Gallwcy had come from Lisbon. Portu-
gal, and had a wealthy uncle there. To this gen
temnn MI Hartman wrote, giving as clearly as
possible the facts OF the case and enclosing a
certificate OF Mr.. Gaweys death which had been
forwarded from Cuba. In return, the uncle after
a few further inquiries, sent To Mr.. Hartman q
check for $50, with the request that the lad le
properly educated and cared for. and tho promise
that more money would be forthcoming at regular
intervals This promise was kept and the request
was complied with. The uncle died in 1859.
leaving the boy heir 10 estates in Cintra, Lisbon
and elsewhere in Protugal. valued at 81, 600 600:
q large portion of the Island of Tenerifie. one of
the Canary Islands. besides several millions in
cash and bonds, old family plate, diamonds &c.
William Michael came into possession Of the estates
at once He visited America and Canada several
times since then and has always kept III constant
communication with those who befriended him
in his early days In 1890 he was married TO a
Chicago lady