DEATH CLAIMS BENJ. D. HEATH
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Was Leading Charlotte Business Man and Financier.
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Funeral Will Take Place at Hawthorne Lane Church This Afternoon.
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Benjamin Dawson Heath, a leading Charlotte business man for a quarter of a century and one of the city's wealthiest men, died yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock at his home, "Heath-cote," on Central avenue, from heart trouble. Mr. Heath had been in poor health for a number of years, but his condition had been considered serious only for the past two weeks. Had he lived until July 26, he would have been 70 years old.

Mr. Heath was widely known as a cotton mill owner and financier. Beginning life without advantages, he fought all obstacles in the way of success and was reported to be rated at more than $2,500,000 at the time of his death. Mr. Heath was of a philanthropic nature and made many gifts to deserving causes. Among them was a donation of $20,000 to the Methodist orphanage at Winston-Salem, and the property on which the Hawthorne Lane Methodist church and the parsonage are located. He was a steward in Tryon Street Methodist church for over 20 years, and was one of the organizers, a few years ago, of Hawthorne Lane church.

Until the death of his brother, O.P. Heath, he was a member of the cotton firm of Heath brothers. Since 1912, Mr. Heath has devoted his time to his extensive cotton mill holdings. He was president of the Charlotte National bank for 15 years.

FUNERAL THIS AFTERNOON
Funeral services will be conducted at Hawthorne Lane Methodist church this afternoon at 5 o'clock. Dr. T.F. marr, the pastor, and Bishop John C. Kilgo will officiate. Interment will take place in Elmwood cemetery.

Mr. Heath was born in Lancaster county, South Carolina, July 26, 1849. He was the son of Moses Chappel and Mary Morrow Heath, and was one of a family of 15 children. Mr. Heath's mother came from the fighting Morhows who hold an improtant place in the military history of America. Heath is an old and aristocratic name, borne in early Norman days by William atte Hethe, John de la Heathe and in later times by Robert Heath. The Heaths settled in Northumberland county, Virginia, in the late seventeenth century, and founded Heathville, the present county seat. The Heaths were among the first to receive land grants in America from Charles I.

Saved to Go to School.
Benjamin Dawson Heath spent his boyhood days attending country school and assisting in farm work at home. In 1867 his father died, and a year later young Heath embarked in the mercantile business and opened a general store at Waxhaw, N.C. He realized the importance of a business education, and as soon as his savings permitted, took a commercial course in Baltimore. After graduating he immediately returned to his business at Waxhaw, which occupied his attention until 1874, when he opened a general mercantile, cotton and banking establishment at Monroe, continuing this business until 1891. Mr. Heath then removed to Charlotte, where he has resided since, and where he soon became a leading factor in the business and civic life.

He was senior member of the cotton and banking firm of Heath brothers until 1897, when, with others, he organized the Charlotte National bank. He was president until 1911, when succeeded by Julian H. Little, who later was succeeded by John M. Scott, the present president.

In 1912 Mr. Heath found it necessary to devote his entire attention to his industrial enterprises which included the Manetta Mills, at Lando, SC; Jackson mills, Monroe, and the Newton mills, at Newton, of which he was president and general manager. Other concerns of which he was president included the Edgemoore & Marietta Railroad company; Stock Mutal Life Insurance company, of Greensboro; Piedmont Realty company, of Charlotte; Oakhurst Land company, of Charlotte. He was vice president of the Piedmont Insurance company, of Charlotte and a former president of the Cliffside railroad company and Cliffside mills. He was a prominent member of the National Irrigationn association of America. In each of these numberous enterprises, Mr. Heath displayed the tireless energy which characterized his life.

Was Twice Married.
He was twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1870 at Cureton's Store, S.C., was Mary Jane, daughter of Hugh and Adelin Nisbet Wilson, member of a prominent South Carolina family. She died in 1892. To them were born nine children, of whom seven survive: Benjamin Ward Heath, Charlotte; Henry Bascom Heath, Charlotte; Mrs. Charles D. Jones, of Lancaster, S.C.; Mrs. J.C. Montgomery, of Charlotte; Mrs. John Crawford, of Lancaster, S.C.; Gilbert Brown Heath and William Joseph Heath, the latter two of Monroe.

Mr. Heath's second wife, who survives was Miss Nettie Morgan Haley, of Columbia, Tenn, a daughter of John Francis Haley and Perneacy Morgan, decendants of distinguished Maryland and Virginia families. this marriage took place March 12, 1895. Seven children were born of this marriage, all of whom survive: Mrs. C.C. Bassett, Jr., B.D. Heath, Jr., Wesley Tyler Heath, Francis Jackson Heath, Lucy Chappell Heath, Lee Heath and Morgan Heath, all of Charlotte.