The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-08-04
Death of Arthur Tappan,


Arthur Tappan, for many years on,
OF our best known citizens, died yester
day morning al New Haven, Conn, il
the cightieth year Of his age. lie wa
born ct Northampton, in 1895, and wa
the brother Of Mr.. Lewis Tappan, Of thi
city, and Of Judge Benjamin Tappan
who succeeded Thomas Morris as Unitet
States Senator from Ohio. Abou. fort,
years ago Mr.. Tappan was leading
merchant in this city, and was at tLC
head OF the house of A. Tappan & Co.
lie was also distinguished as a prominent
abolilionist, and jealous member of one
the most popular churches in the Pres.
byteran denomination.
lIo took u vivid interest In the aboli.
sion of slavery in this State, and when
the national anti-slavery movement was
begun, was among the foremost in taking
part in it. When William Lloyd Garri.
son was imprisoned in Baltimore Jail for
his overture account OF the domestic
slave trade, Mr.. Tappan paid his ex.
penses and obtained his release. From
that time he became target for pro-
slavery assaults from one end OF tho
Union TO another, and one OF The South.
ern legislatures set price on his head
AT the grea! abolition riot in this city In
1884. he was specially marked out for
violence by the mob. His house was a. /.
tackled, but he menagod to escape. The
residence OF his brother Lewis was also
mobbed and dsmantled, and the furni.
ture carried in the streets.
Ills store was destroyed at the great
lire OF Dec, 1886. So popular were the
Tappans with tho despised class whose
cause they SO fearlessly advocated. that
large party Of colored men were indie.
iatigable in their exor,ions at this time 10
save their goods. The store was re built,
the contract for that purpose being made
on the ground while the ruins were burn.
ing. but tho financial crash OF 1887
swept away the greater part OF their cap.
ital. Being too far advanced ia liio TO re.
sumo business, the intercs, was taken by
the firm subsequently, known to the "con-
servative" public as the house OF Bowen
& McNamee, who sod goods and not
prinebplcs, who seem TO have kept up the
anll'slavery reputation. OF their prede-
cessors.
Mr.. Tappan was an active laborer in
every benevolent enterprise; and his great
executive ability contributed often more
than his liberal contributions to their
presses. lie gave freely 10 religious en-.
terprlses, and was one OF the strongest
supporters Of the Tabernacle church in
the days Of its unpopularity. Several of
our religious journals were kept from go.
ing down by his efficient aid, and he aid
ed largely in sustaining !he anti slavery
papers which were published prior to
1887. For many years he was Presi-
dent oi the American Anti Slavery Soci.
ely, but withdrew about the time of the
organization Of third political partly
Az angry controversy followed, and the
bitterness Of feeling was not assuaged for
many years. Since his retirement from
business Mr.. Tappan continued his inter.
est in public and religious enterprises,
never tagging till his physical strength
gave way. Notorious in tho days of his
great wealth for the obloquy that was
hcnped upon him, he was equally popu.
lar where he was known ms n public ben.
eiactor; and since tho cigh.ieth year Of
his ago, just before yielding to tho haHd
OF death, he was "slill in harness" ~.
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