The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-28

MILLIONAIRE PHlLANTHROPIST
CREATES HIS OWN RELIGION
BY NEA Service.

BY NEA Service.
Mckinney, Tex, May 2s.-Gus Will
son, an 8O-year- old bachelor who
lives near here, has peculiar theory
of life. (Call it religion or creed If
you WILD
He would give the world the i'm
preston he is an unbeliever; that
he is uncharitable. But all the while
his deeds speak the contrary.
He'd deny heatedly that he gives
most generously. But the fact is
that in money and property he has
given outright one million dollars!
He would slam the door in your
face one minute and the next hand
you check for Sic, ,0O0--if you really
needed it.
The secrecy which A. Nj. Wilson
those are his initials. hut everyone
calls him Gus-throws about his
gifts makes it difficult 20 obtain II
complete list. These, however, are
known:
Twelve big houses, 90 autos, one
bungalow, many cancelled promissory
of land, and thousands of dollars in
cash.
Once thou sand acres of rich land
adjoined the crude. little log cabin in
which he lives. He has given all
away except $50 acres, which he
keeps for a tenant family living in
the hut with him. Gus has always
lived here; his father did before him.
He seldom gives when asked for
aid. He loves to surprise and play
Santa when least expected.
Not long ago, on his way to Nc
Kinney. he passed a farm house. The
entire family - father. mother and
children-was working in the field.
The day was sultry. Labor must
have been Il hardship. Wilson held
mortgage on that farm.
He saw all at a glance. Instead Of
proceeding to town, Wilson inn
pulsively turned his car and hur-
RED back to his little cabin. There
he seized the mortgage, marked it
paid" and drove back to the farm
|. Not willing to make n show of his
generosity, he edged his way into
the farmhouse unnOtlced, and placed
the Cancelled document under Il din
ner plate.
On another occasion he noticed a
crippled farmer in the field. Appar
emily he hadn't given the unfortu-
nate second glance. But when he
got to town he bought an auto and
sent it out to tina cripple with a
chauffeur.
An index to his strange character
was CLEANED when he donated q
chandelier to church. 1t was one
of the few times he gave directly
to house of God.
Wilson spent considerable money
on the chandelier, and had it in
stalled. Then, some time later, he
dropped into the church building.
There he found his gift had been
unused, and was covered with dirt
and cObwebs. He promptly tore it
down and took it home.
Despite his appearance, Wilson IS
rich. He has loaned much money.
at interest. But his policy regarding
these obligations is quaint. II man
is able to pay, Wilson takes the
money. But if he isn't he will cam
eel the note or mortgage.
Some call this loose business meth
DDS. But all his life he has worked
hard and saved and his gifts 60 only
to those unable to make both ends
meet.
Has this unusual man ever had a
romance? One of his oldest friends
say in Wilson's youth there was
girl. This maiden married another,
and thereafter Gus dropped all
matrimonial intentions. He still has
his old wedding suit.
If had my way" Wilson is
quoted as saying, "all women would
be sent to Africa, and all men some
where else. When they come to-
gether there's trouble"