The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-05-26
A GRAND TRIBUTE.


lesion last week, a man known
throughout the country as the
s'tea man." samuel II. Wilson. In
life he had the reputation Of be-
ing exacting in business, and in
fact stingy. nevertheless he put
his money as well as his faith in
Charleston Investment. 1t was
known he was q, rich man, and
many wondered what would be.
come of his wealth that be appar-
emily boarded. His will has been
probated, and the estoryis so beau
tifully told in Mondays News and
Courier we reproduce it for the
purpose of stimulating the youth
OF the land to greater endeavors,
by showing to them what can be
accomplished by proper effort.
SAMUEL H. WILSON.
Samuel q. Wilson died last week. He
was one Of the most useful citizens OF
this community, closely identified with
all its activities and deeply Interested in
its welfare. he had few intimates, and,
so far as we know, few enemies. For
more than thirty years his place Of bus
mess in King street has been one OF the
landmarks OF the town. He was just in
his dealings, having ''jast balances, just
weights, p just ephah and just bin, "
and so it came to pass that his custom
ers and his neighbors had faith in him
and in his promises. What he had was
his own. made by his own hands and ac-
cumulated by years of unremitting toll
and after struggles with poverty and
want that would have discouraged a less
self-reliaDt soul. He did not talk to
many persons about himself and his ex-
periences with the world, but they were
full of encouragement to those who
would succeed against apparently lnsur-
mountable conditions. SAN" Wilson,
the boy eating a loaf of bread on the
sidewalk in the city of New York be-
cause he had nowhere to 60 and only
himself and kindly Providence, IL
whom he never lost faith, to depend up
on for work for his ready hands: "Sam"
Wilson driving delivery wagon ior a
New York grocery house and serving
it's customers on Staten Island, was the
same who in later years and by virtue
of his never-failing industry became one
OF the chief retail merchants of Charles
ton, President of the Dime Savings
Bank, Vice President and managing di-
rector of the Charleston Consolidated
Company. President Of the Charleston
Bridge Company, one OF the principal
owners 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 Go in any mat
ter affecting the interest OF this town.
He was Treasurer OF the South Carolina
Interstate and West Indian Exposition
Company, and one of 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 frem a ruin
Gus receivership about ten years ago, it
was in time OF financial stress that ne
used his own resources for the good OF
the community, and in none OF his work
did he seek the applause Of men. He did
better; he merlted their confidence, and
diving he left behind him good repu-
tation for square dealing, for intelli-
gent industry. for careful regard OF the
rights of others, for sincere loyaly to his
town and it's people. More than this and
better than this, in his last Will and tes-
tament, which was probated on Satur-
day, alter providing in a modest way for
the comfort of some of his relatives, he
leaves all the residue and remainder of
his estate, which at the time the will
was made was estimated to be worth
abouts250, 600, 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 investments in outside Sc
curities, but in this benefaction the
heart OF the man is opened for the first
time to the world.
If there are any here who did not
think that Mr.. Wilson was as generous
as they thought he ought TO be, lit is re-
markable how easy it is for those who
have nothing, OF who hold on to what
they possess, to give away other peo-
ple's money, they would doubtless like
10 have him come back so that they
nigh tell him how ''taller he seems in
DEATH" His gift will enable the manag-
ers of this splendid institution to help
yet other friendless boys to become
what Samuel Wilson was successful
merchant, good citizen, a generous
friend.