The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-21
W. NEYLE HABERSHAM DEAD.
DIED At HIS GRANDDAUGHTER's
HOME IN PHILADELPHIA.


Georgia Provincial Council and a
Grandson of the First Postmaster
General in WashinEtOn's Cabinet,
Representative of One of the
oldest and Most Distinguished
Families in the SOuth-His Remains
to he Brought to Savannah for
BuriaI-FuneraI Will Probably
Take Place Tomorrow.
Nj William Neyle Habersham, probably
the oldest native born citizen of Savan-
nah, and during his long life one of the
citys most highly esteemed residents, is
dead. He died at the home of his grand
daughter. Mrs J. A. P. CP.sfield, Mt.
Airy, Philadelphia a. O'Clock last night.
News of his death was received by mem
bers of the family here some time later.
The announcement was a surprise. as
well as a shock. Mr. Habersham appear
ed to be in unusually vigorous health
when he left Savannah for the North in
June, and, although letters We're received
giving information of an attack of heart
trouble about ten days ago later infor
nation was received that he was appar-
emily much improved.
Mr.. Habershams death literally removes
one of Savannah's old landmarks As a
worthy representative of an old and hon
ored name in Savannah's history. he had
long enjoyed the esteem and respect of
his fellow citizens without regard to class.
lie was a typical representative of the old
regime, and one who did honor to the
period in which his active life had been
spent. AS an old Savannahian of an old
Savannah family, he lived worthy of the
name he bore
The deceased was a great grandson OF
James Habersham, the last president of
the provincial council of Georgia, and act
ing Governor during the absence from the
country of Gov. Wright His grandfather
was Col. Joseph Habersham, prominent
IN revolutionary affairs in Georgia, and
first postmaster general OF the United
States. In the cabinet of Washington 1t
was Col Habersham who directed the
seizure of the gunpowder at Savannah
which was later sent North and used by
the patriots at the battle of Bunker Hill.
Maj. John Habersham, of the continental
army, was a brother of Col Habersham.
'NSHDAt AAobSlSAlhiAt NLG AdNll6I Oh NHG ne-
ceased, was one of Savannah's most prom
inent citizens and leading business men for
years.
William Neyle Habersham was born In
Savannah, July 25, 1917, probably at the
old Habersham residence in Orleans
square, where he lived until his marriage.
in 1870. when he removed to the residence
at Harris and Barnard streets, which he
occupied until his death. He graduated
from Harvard College in 1886, when 10
years of ago, and returned to Savannah
and entered business with his father uu-
der the firm name of Robert Habersham
& Son. This finn was founded in 174O, and
continued a successful business career for
nearly $50 years, a record probably un-
equaled in the commercial history of this
country. The decline of the rice business
after the war reduced the Importance of
the firm, though it has never been formal
ly dissolved.
The Understands founded the Upper
steam rice mills, one of the first mills of
the kind in this country, and continued to
direct the operations of the mill until its
destruction by fire in June, 1898, since
which time the properly has been sold to
the Central of Georgia Railway Company.
The mill was one of the historic buildings
of Savannah, and was the scene OF many
interesting events.
In 1910 Mr.. Habersham married Joseph
Inc Habersham, a daughter of DR. 10
seph Clay Habersham and granddaughter
or Maj. John Habersham Mrs. Haber-
sham died in November, 1898 at the age
of Y. BY this union there were twelve
children, of whom only four are living
Robert Beverly Habersham, Mrs. w. D
NIL i,e nd L n
vannah, and Mrs. w. w. Colquitt of At
lanta, Mrs. George Fenwick Jones. a
daughter of the deceased, died several
years ago, leaving three children, Mrs. J
A. T. Crisfield of Philadelphia, Miss Mary
Savage Jones and Mr.. G. Noble Jones,
both of Savannah.
The family of which the deceased was
a member was also a large one. there be-
ing twelve children, all now dead. of
THIS family several have passed away
quite recently. John Rae Habersham.
Mrs. Mary Elliott and Mrs Maria e.
years.
The deceased was never prominent in
public life, and held no political office.
While past the age for active service. he
was devoted to the cause of the Confeder-
acy, ana acted as an agent of the subsist-
ence department at Savannah during the
war, gathering stores and supplies for the
confederate government Two of his sons
Capt. Joseph Clay Habersham. aged %
and Private William Neyle Habersham
aged "a surrendered their lives on the
same field at the battle of Atlanta, July
2, 1864. monument in Laurel Grove
cemetery commentaries their sacrifice to
the cause, and the story of their death is
known to every Confederate veteran in
Savannah.
The deceased was unusually active and
vigorous for man OF his age For a
rumber of years it had been his custom to
go every summer to the province of QUE
bee, Canada, where he spent some time in
salmon fishing in the waters of the Resti-
gouche and the Metapedia, usually camp
ing In the woods alone with an Indian
guide. In spite of his advanced years he
made his usual fishing excursion 10 Cana
dian waters last summer. He was quite
an authority upon salmon fishing, and had
made study of psychology, having fur
nished several papers on this subject to
the American and Canadian governments.
Next 10 hiss love of fishing was his love Of