The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-27
RICH MISER DIES.
Owner Of "IsIandn at Silver
Lake Victim Of Pneumonia.
His Fortune Is Estimated at
About $4,000.
LIVED IN A DUGOUT.
Has Been a Recluse for Many
Years.
n. l. CnuphIin of T0naka Ia
LIVED IN A DUGOUT.
T. J. Coughlin, Of Topeka, Is
Appointed Executor.

William Perry, for tflirty-two years
a recluse who made his home on the
island" at Silver Lake and aecumu-
lated a fortune worth fifty thousand
dollars. died Friday night ofpneumonia
at the Silver Lake hotel where he was
taken by persons living in the vicinity.
The old man had lived continuously in
the dug out which he built for himself
when he first pre- empted land upon the
island. In the neighborhood of Silver
Lake he has long been known as an
eccentric but harmless character who
Kept his affairs to himself and, while
friendly. maintained an aloofness which
forbade prying curiosity. He was about
20 years old.
It is believed he had come directly
from England to this country in the
early 70's when he settled upon the is
land which is formed by the river
channel where it now flows and the
old river bed which forms a horseshoe
and is called Silver Lake. This island
has an area of about 800 acres. Besides
this Perry owned about 700 acres in
the river bottom adjoining. All of it
Is valuable ground. Bank deposit GER
tificates found in his dug out show that
he had considerable money in Topeka
banks. The exact amount has not yet
been ascertained by T. J. Coughlin, who
mas been appointed administrator of
Tie estate. rank 9STTy, a carpenter
of Topeka is q nephew of the dead man
and has resided in this county for IS
years, but in that time has had scarce
ly any association with his relative.
It is understood that there are other
relatives in New York state.
Frank Perry brought his family
from New York state at the request of
his uncle and expected to settle upon
part of the old mans property. Will
liam Perry had built a substantial
frame house upon the island but it
had stood unOccupied for several years
prior to his nephew's coming. The
nephew proposed that he move his
family into it but the old man objected.
He wanted the younger man to live
in the dug out as he had done. On &C
count of the difference of opinion the
nephew moved to Topeka and has been
here ever since.
| While niggardly as to his own condf-
| ton Perry was not a miser. He loaneC
money freely and upon little security
AS a result he lost considerable quaint
| ties of it by injudicious investments
/ To his neighbors he was always friend
| ~ but was never sociabIe with any
one, He did all his work by himsel1
and kept considerable stock and poul-
try. His only companions were a pacl
| of dogs which inhabited his dug ou
and ate and slept with him. In the biz
flood of the Kaw river last June the
| island was covered deep in water, bu
besides running the standing crops il
did little damage to his property. He
/ got out in time to save himself.
During the present winter Perry ex
| perienced a severe attack Of grip bu
had almost recovered when heSwas ia
| ken three days ago with pneumonia
| He was discovered by a neighbor ant
was yesterday removed from the dug
out to the hotel at Silver Lake. HI
resisted the proposal to remove hin
from his dingy dugout and had almos
to be overpowered before he could b.
taken away. He refused to recognize
his nephew who had been called from
Topeka to look after him.
T. J. Coughlin, who formerly resided
at Silver Lake, has been put in charg'
of the property and will go to Silve
| Lake in a dav or two to examine it.