Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-06-02
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SAMUEL H. WILSON.
A Successful Merchant, n Good
Citizen, Generous Friend.
&s (News and Courier)
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Samuel II. Wilson died last week.
he was one of the most useful citi-
zens of this community, closely iden-
tilted with all its activities and deep
~ interested in its welfare. He had
rev intimates, and, SO far as we
know, few enemies. For more than
thirty years his place of business in
King street has been one of the land,
marks of the town. He was just in
his dealings; having "just balances,
just weights, just ephah and just
bin,' and so it came to pass that his
customers and his neighbors had
faith in him and in his promises.
What he had was his own, made by
his own hands and accumulated by
years of unremitting toll and after
struggles with poverty and want that
would have discouraged a less self
reliant soul. He did not talk to
many persons about himself and his
experiences with the world, but they
were full Of encouragement to those
who would succeed against appar-
emily insurmountable conditions.
Sam" Wilson, the boy eating loaf
Of bread on the sidewalk in the city
of New York because he had no
where to go and only himself and a
kindly Providence, in whom he never
lost faith, to depend upon for work
for his ready hands Sam" Wilson
driving delivery wagon for a New
York grocery house and serving it's
| customers on Staten Island, was the
same who in later years and by vir-
tue of his never-failing industry be-
came one of the chief retail mer-
chants Of Charleston, president of
the Dime Savings Bank, vice presi-
deni and managing director Of the
Charleston Consolidated Company.
| president of the Charleston Bridge
Company, one of the principal own
ers of the Charleston Hotel, and an
| active force in the community to
which he was devoted with all his
| heart.
| There was never any doubt where
he stood and what he would do in
any matter affecting the interests of
| this town. He was treasurer Of the
South Carolina Interstate and West
Indian Exposition Company, and one
or the most liberal contributors to
the success Of that great enterprise.
1T was through the pledging Of his
personal fortune that the Consoli-
dated Company was saved from a
fuinous receivership about ten years
ago; 1t was in time of financial stress
that he, used his own resources for
the good OF the community, Ind in
none OF his work did he seek the ap-
plause of men. He did better-he
merited their confidence, and. diving
he left behind him a good reputa-
tion for square dealing, for intelli-
gent industry, for sincere loyalty to
his town and to his people. More
than this, and better than this, in
his last will and testament, which
was probated on Saturday, after pro-
| 'iNihS III I" hiooeSl way LOT the COM
fort Of some of his relatives, he left
2ll the residue and remainder of his
estate, which at the time the will
was made was estimated to be worth
about $25O,000, to the Charleston
Orphan House.
We do not know how much the
bequest will now amount to, because
there has been sharp depreciation
in the value of some of the invest
ments in outside secureties, but in
this benefaction the heart of the
man is opened for the first time %
the world.
If there are any here who did not
| think that Mr. Wilson was as gener-
Gus as they thought he ought to be,
cit Is remarkable how easy it is for
those who have nothing, or who hold
on to what they possess,to give away
other peoples money! they would
doubtless like to have him come
back so that they might tell him
how taller he seems in death" His
gift will enable the managers of this
splendid institution to help yet other
friendless boys to become what Sam
uel wilson Was-a successful mer-
chant, a good citizen, generous
friend.
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