New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-29
LOVED ONLY PRINCETON
TO All Others Isaac c. Wyman
Was Indifferent.

Salem. Mass May IS (SpeciaD.-1saac C.
Wynan, the millionaire recluse who died
last week leaving all mis- property 10
Princeton University, loved only once ana
constantly That love was for his alma
mater. He was cold, Indifferent to pow
erty and suffering Notwithstanding the
unsubstantiated stories of secret benefac-
tons. and had cynical distrust OF his fell
low man which made ordinary intercourse
with him distasteful to the majority; but
a Princeton man who could give all the
latest gossip about the university was al
ways welcome. and the reserved old man
would wax eloquent and enthusiastic while
his favorite subject was under discussion
Isaac Wyman's great-grandfather John
Wyman, of Salem. impoverished himself by
giving his entire fortune to General George
Washington for the Continental cause. II
came in the midst of the dreadful winter x
Valley Forge. and John Wyman followed
up the giving of his fortune by enlisting as
a common soldier under Washington's
standard One of the cherished possessions
of Isaac Wyman was bit oe coarse script.
tattered and timeworm, which read as
follows:
Roxbury, Jan. l. 1875.
Received of John Wyman, of Salem the
sum of $4,000. the same to be devoted 10
command GEORGE WASHINGTON.
General commanding Continental Army, IN
Camp before Boston
Mr. Wyman was left an orphan at the
age of seven with a fortune estimated at
$50 ooO at that time a large amount of
money, in which his brother, William, did
not share The first money Mr.. Wyman
earned was while a student at Princeton.
He persuaded careful guardian that there
was money to be made II properly invested
in sugar and the necessary amount was
advanced. The profits were large, and the
guardian received a fair share, according
10 previous agreement.
In 1861 after a successful general practice
Mr. Wyman suddenly decided TO quit the
law which he had entered after a course
in the Harvard Law School. Asked for an
explanation. Mr.. Wyman replied briefly:
THE most | could make In tlle law bust
ness is $4,000 year. and such an income
as that will never do for me-" He then
started TO purchase real estate. and added
to his already generous estates left by his
parents so greatly that when he died 1t was
said that he owned land in every state of
the Union.
When he wanted 10 talk to one of his
tenants or a real estate agent, Mr.. Wyman
would send for him and have him call at
the little cottage, No. 46s Lafayette street,
the old family cottage. and would admit
arranged signal
He had little Office on School street,
Boston. but he only visited II for an hour
a ti-Yla M a he
obliged to 20 there on business in the dead
of winter he would never allow fire to
be built there, as it costly and would
encourage visitors to remain longer than
the time it was necessary to transact their
business. Tenants in the same building
tell with great relish of Wyman being
stormbound in this city in 1907, and rather
than pay out money for hotel accommoda-
tons he had the janitor break up some
wooden boxes and start a meagre fire in
the office. where Wyman stayed until the
following day.
twenty years ago Wyman who never
gave to philanthropic projects during his
life, induced woman of wealth In Salem
10 leave substantial bequest 10 the Lynn
Hospital. AS a result Wyman was made
member of the board of managers He
never attended a meeting and. as ne never
answered a letter and, it is said, made
ungracious replies when other members
asked him to come, he was soon dropped
from the board. At one time he was Sresi-
dent and trustee OF Drummer Academy.
at Byfeld; president OF the MarbIehead
National Bank, member OF the New
England Historic and Genealogical Society
and the Essex Institute, of Salem.
During his life Wyman continually re-
ferred with Impotence to the poverty of
certain OF his neighbors and poor people
in general, saying that there was unlimited
wealth 10 be gained by all by using good
judgment and common sense IN any bust
ness dealings