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A Miserly Millionaire

A Miserly Millionaire image
Parent Issue
Day
30
Month
August
Year
1878
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Michael Reese, the California millionaire who recently died at Waïlenstoin, Germany, was reputed to be the richest Jew in the United States, and, with the exception of Senator Sharon, the largest ' real-estate owner in California; he was also a great miser and very eccentric. Ho bxought $30,000 to this country in 1835, and for fifteen years was a noted Richmond (Va.) slaveholder and speculator, heavy losses driviug hitu to the Paciflf! coast in 1850. He saw what was to be California's fnture and invcsted his all in land, which he would oniy sell at fancy prices and then to immediately invest the proceeds in more Hnd. Note and stook brokerage helped to swell his growing pile, which early gave him a miilionaire's reputation, and was inoreased by bis being aniong the first and very successfnl bonanza i tors. Mr. Reese was so miserly thatJ fco gratify his enormous appetite, when dining with a friend, he would ask for the bread left un bis frieud's píate, to i sparo the expense of ordering moro. Tlie only t;me he was ever known to ! treat auy one was wheu he invited liia lnwver, Mr. Felton, and six friiïnus to a i sumptuous dinner at a restaurant, i against whose keeper he could obtain a judgraent in no other way. He replied one day, to a friend who taunted him ' with his miserly habits, " Weil, I cen't help it; I know it's foolish, but it's a disíase I've got." In mattere net conuected with money, Mr. Reese was a man oí intelligence and liberal views, though he was afraid of women as old Mr. Weller of "vidders," espeoially af ter a jury gave a San FrmcÍHC0 woman of doubtful reputution $S,000 in a breach-of-promise case against him. The millionaire lftft all or nearly all his wealtii to Jewibh charities, as is lieved, his only known relatives iu this j country being two wealthy sisters in Ohicago, Mrs. Rosenfeld and Mrs. i Renberg, and Nophew Frank, a well-todo St. Louis merchant.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus