Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-04
GROWN SUDDENLY RICH,
WILL RETURN TO PULPIT
Unexpected Wealth and Unregener-
ate at His Door Call Retired
Methodist Minister.
ROMANCE OF DU PoNT CITY
Rev. Daniel Day Buys $1,1OO Farm
on Which to Spend Declinig Days.
Town Sweeps Up to His Property,
and He Sells Part for $4,000.
Especial to The Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times Dispatch
DC POINT CITY, VA. July 3.-Declar-
Ing that he has been given a call by
,he sudden riches which have come to
him and that the growth of n com
munity OF the unregeneratc at his door
Rev. Daniel Day. Of Du Pont. a retired
Methodist minister, is about to return
= to the pulpit.
Six years ago Mr.. Day bought
Z" farm OF 100 acres at this place for
Si,loo. Last October, broken I'm health,
ne retlred TO the farm, expecting to end
his days as q small farmer in this COM
munity Vigorous outdoor work in his
cofnhelds has greatly restored his
health.
Shortly after he arrived. several
units OF the 100000 Du Pont pow
der plant. half mile from his farm,
were completed. and the factory be-
gan TO employ a great force Of men,
Tie army Of men increased to 10000,
and then TO nearly $4,000. 1t suddenly
dawncd on a number Of people that n
new city OF 10000 or $4,000 people was
forming on the peninsula near the
Junction OF the James and Appomattox
Rivers.
small tract OF land near Mr.. DAYS
farm was cut up into city lots. and
sold In day at prices averaging 5000
n lot. This was early in May. An un-
precedented boom ensued, and these
buildings. with lots selling from $4,000
to $4,000
TIDE OF BUILDING
SWEETS UP TO FARM
The tide OF building swept up TO the
edge OF Days farm and for blocks be-
yond. Offer after offer was made the
aged minister for his property. but ne
a Chicago syndicate followed the min
lister about for two weeks, literally
clanhing bag OF gold at him. One
day his patience ran out
He that maketh haste to get rich
shall not 70 unpunishcd Get off nv
land nc shouted Tho representative
OF tho syndicate left
Meanwh!l" the minister had become
acquainted with young engineer who
was surveying adjoining lands for a
Washington realty company. The en-
gincer had many chats with the old
man, and finally Mr. Day contided 10
him that he had decided 10 sell 100
acres Of his land, retaining his farm
mouse and nine acres of land Through
IN" engineers principals deal was
Immediately closed for $4,000
Mr.. Day was born in MARYLAND and
educated NJ Westminster, Md. He was
Tor ny" years pastor OF a Methodist
church NJ Greenwich. Conn. and has
preached in Ohio, Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. lie was stationed at Zanes
and tanned b. his outdoor work FOR
tho past several months. and now looks
more Ike the farmer than the pull
pitecr.
although the new city has sursed
IN 10 him, and despite his $4,000 OF
unexpected wealth, Mr. Day is still
working at keeping down the weeds in
his ninc-acrc patch OF corn surround
ing his house
III had not come here last fall.
hE1
now" he said The winter climate
here Is splendid, and these rolling lands
are very h"a!th:ul. helicvc now that
this section viii become one Of the
great industrial centers OF the coun-
try
STUNNED ny WONDERFUL.
CHANGES OF FEW WEEKS
II have been stunned by the aston
ishnS changes which a few weeks
have made here. Sec those automobiles
going by? y few weeks ago one or
Two hogan running. Then more and
more came, and now there are 200 OF
them making ten or more trips past
mere every day. ] never saw anything
like II. They must carry three or four
thousand people past here daily.
didn't want 10 sell my land at first.
think more than 1000 men came 70
see me about selling. tried TO avoid
them, and am afraid I was little
harsh with some OF them But Anally
] felt that the voice OF the Lord was
calling ME, and so ] sold and am go
ing back 20 preach the word.
II have not fully decided where
shall preach. but this community OF
10000 or more souls appears TO have
been set at my door as a call, and I
believe I shall be needed here more
than elsewhere. l have preached from
time TO time 10 the Methodist commun-
ity NJ City Point There Is already
Presbyterian church in the new city,
and think ] shalt find work to do
there. II does not seem wicked place
considering It's swift growth. Nearly
all OF the inhabitants are men, but
their families are beginning 10 come
In. now that homes are being provided
for them. The women Will help to or
EaniZe the churches"
Mr.. Day went back TO his wedding.
This corn has n fine start" he said.
Il must work hard to keep the weeds
down. ! never saw better soil or a
better growing climate. I hope still
TO spend much of my time here, but
there IS other work 10 do in the vine
yards OF the Lord"
Mr.. Day Is about sixty years old. He
runs n cultivator and swings a hoo
with the viSor Of n young man. But
when he straightens up and looks down
over the busting city that has grown
TO his door, tho light OF the zealot fills
his eyes. i. He knows there are souls
as we'll as corn that need cultivating.