The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-04
GLAD SURPRISE
FOR The POOR
OLD MANS MILLION MAKES
MANY HOMES HAPPY.
Servants Given Several Houses Each
and as High as $4,000 Besides
Many People Who Paid Their Rent
Promptly Are Presented with the
Houses They Live In Some Very
Practical Charity.
Philadelphia Record.

West Chester, Pa.-Just after his fu-
neral here today the remarkable philan-
thropic and joy-spreading will Of Mill
ionaire Benjamin Matlack Everhart,
the famous old bachelor {botanist, was
made public. Servants, tenants, friends
and neighbors of the man who owned
over one hundred West Chester houses
were made to rejoice in the rare bounty
OF his remembrances, and it is safe to
say that the scores of surprises evoked
by the reading of the testament con-
stituted West Chester as about the hap
piest, most grateful town of it's size in
the country.
], Many had specnlatively guessed that
spent SO much Of his life amid the
plants and flowers would endow one or
more big benevolent institutions with
his more than one million dollars; but
that his benefcence should strike into
so many homes and lift their varied
| financial burdens could never have been
dreamed, except !; by Mr.. Everhart IS
lawyers and the witnesses to his will. 4
| After the Funeral Was Over.
| Mr.. Everhart g funeral took place
this afternoon, from his late home on
West Miner street, Rev. w. r. Laird of
the First Presbyterian church conduct
ing the service. Then, when the mourn
ers had dried the tears of affection that
welled into their eyes beside his open
grave at Oakdale cemetery, many were
invited to Mr.. Everhart 3 home, to hear
his will read. His more than one mill.
ion dollars was distributed with lavish
hand, and altho not a dollar was left
to any benevolent institution, so-called
it is safe to say that he grasped the
purport of sweet charity s mission as
few other rich men in the world have
ever done. - c..a ~. =. IL i
| Many houses and lots were be.
especially to those. who had been
prompt in the payment Of their rent
while the old servants of the family
were munifcently remembered.
!; For instance, Bridget Carol, who has
served the Everhart family for many
years, was left $4,000 in cash ant
, three houses and lots.
, given $4,000 in cash and two houses
i and lots, and William Welsh, the coach
man, received two houses and lots.
To His Baker, Protector and Friends
t Mrs. Mary G.. Rocker, who conducts
bakery and had served the fa1nil,
3 for many years, was bequeathed: $25, 00(
4 in cash an tw Q houses adjacent to he
3 property, to the amount Of $4,000 am
d 81 400 respectively. ~,
r DR.. B. H: Warren, state dairy an
. food commissioner, who had been
, friend of Mr.. Everhart for many years
;, received in cash $4,000 and big piec
! of ground in West Market street.
- Chief Of Police Robert O. LETTERS
who was on intimate terms with tn
l. old gentleman and looked after his com
. fort and safety, was remembered t
. the extent Of $4,000 and house an
. lot. George D. Haines, who served tn
: family with groceries, was bequeathe
Il $4,000. ,-..., -. ..,:,, ''
o A. Cousins Splendid Legacy. ass
y Miss! Mary .Fawkes Lee, cousin
y was given the old ,Everhart mansio
9 on West Miner street. together wit
q all the contents thereof, the stable an
l. horses and carriages, besides $4,000 j
> stocks. and all his stock in the Nations
y Bank Of Chester County and the Firs
It National bank. 49,
4 Made Her Rich in Bank Stocks.
% Margueretta. Lee, daughter of th
= above, received house and lot, twent
g shares of Farmers and Mechanics M
y tional Bank of Philadelphia, sixt
IS shares Of the Harrisburg National Ban
% and twenty-five shares of the Unite
g Railroad company Of New jersey
the business Of the deceased oo was w as
a six houses and lots, and Lizzie Matlac]
% Emma Hammond and Mrs. Josep
Dicks receive two houses and lots eacl
"a Anna and Hannah Taylor, maiden
t. were remembered to the extent o
81, 800 each.
The following residents Of We
at Chester were each willed house an
lot: .
t. William E. Moore, Jane Warnoc
y y Levi T. Thomas, Ernest White, Thor
IN IN azine Mason, Mary P. Woodward, '
W. Woodward, John P. Woodwar
Fred W. Woodward, Roskill ,,Woodwar
Everhart Gheen, William s.. Haye
ak Jane McGrogan, Thomas Esworthy, E.
ward McFadden, Sarah Belle .Haine
~ Helen Fergus, Maria Fergus Jenn
M J. Cords and Richard Cloyde Lee.
II The remainder Of the estate was le
to Isaiah Everhart, cousin, of Scra
! ton, who was made executor, wit
Thomas w. Baldwin, Of West Cheste
as attorney, providing the latter
charges should not exceed $1,000. :.
H. . . { :