The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-10-08

a Rich Old Man Makes Many People
Happy-A dispatch from West Chester, Pa,
to the Philadelphia Record, dated September
oath, says: "Just after his funeral here today
the remarkably philanthropio and joy.spread-
ing will of millionaire Benjamin Matlack
Everhart, the famous old bachelor botanist,
was made public. Servants, tenants, friends
and neighbors of the man who owned over 100
West Chester houses were made to rejoice in
the rare bounty of his remembrances, and 1t is
safe to say that the scores of surprises evoked
by the reading of the testament constituted
West Chester as about the happiest, most CRATE
full town of its size in the country.
MANY had speculatively guessed that the
kind.hearted octogenarian who had spent so
much of his life amid the plants and flowers
wonld endow one or more big benevolent in
stitutions with his more than 81 ,0OO, 900; but
that his beneficence should strike into SO many
homes and lift their varied financial burdens
could never havebeen dreamed, except by Mr..
Everhart,s lawyer and the witnesses to bis will.
'sMf Eyerhart's funeral took place this after
noon, from bis late home on West Miner street,
Rev. w. r. Laird, of the First Presbyterian
Church, conducting the service. Then, when
the mourners had dried their tears of affection
that %elled, into their eyes beside his open
,grave,at Qakdale Cemetery, many were invited
to Mr. Evefharts home, to hear his will read.
His more than 81 100000 was distributed with
LAVISH hand, and although not dollar was
left to any benevolent institution, so-called. it
is safe to say that he had grasped the purport
of sweet charity's mission as few other rich
merlsin the world have ever done.
MANY houses and lots were bequeathed to
tenants of his property, especially to those who
had been prompt in the payment of their rent,
while the old servants of the family were
muni6cently remembered"
The Mr.. Everhart alluded to above was the
last member of the family who owned the tract
of 500 acres of land located on the yoppa road
Just east of Sweet Air, in the 10th district. In
1914 the Everharts purchased this farm from
four sisters named Buchanan and from that
time to 1881 it was occupied by tenants. In
the latter year it was purchased by the late
Mr.. Caleb Marshall, of Chester county, Pa. and
part of 1t is now owned and occupied by one
of bis sons Mr.. D. Clinton Marshall.
In his will Mr.. Everhart bequeathed SIS, 900
in cash and three houses to an old family ser
want named Bridget Carroll. To other servants
he gave$5, 600 each. To q Mrs. Mary G. Rock
er, who conducts q bakery in West Chester
and served his family with bread, he bequeath-
ed $4,000 in cash and two houses. To the
chief of police of the same town hegave s., 600,
and to his grocer he gave 81, 500. To others he
gave from SIS, 900 to $25, 900, and to his cousin.
Mrs. Mary F. Lee, he gave the old Everhart
mansion together with all the contents there
of, the stable and horses and carriages, besides
$4,000 in stocks and all his stock in the Ma
tional Bank of Chester County and the First
National Bank of West Chester.
To twenty residents of West Chester he be-
aneakhed each a housa and LOT Among this