The Portland daily press., 1875-03-01
RUFUS K. WOOD.
Remarks and Resolutions of Respect.

A large number of the prominent merchants
| of our city met at the Merchants Exchange
| Saturday noon to speak of the late Rufus e.
Wood, Esq.
The meeting was called to order by Hon. W.
| w. Thomas President of the Canal National
Bank, and on motion OF M. N. Rich, Esq, he
was appointed chairman.
Mr.. Thomas spoke of Mr. Wood as man
who would be greatly missed in the city, and
who had always done his best for its prosperity.
| He was a man who was beloved and respected
| by all who knew him. Mr.. Thomas asked the
merchants present for an expression of their
feeling in reference to Mr.. Wood.
T. c. Hersey, Esq, President of the Inter-
national Steamship Company, of which the de-
| ceased was director, and eX President OF the
Board of Trade, said that nearly every person
present was connected with Mr.. Wood in bust
ness, and all knew how to appreciate him. 10
know him was to honor and respect him. He
| was friend both in business relations ana IN
social life His purse always ready to aid the
peedv and he bestowed his gifts in such
oniet transformations manner that but few
| knew of it, His opinions were respected by
| every business man in the city. The speaker
| thought that if the suggestions of the deceased
were carried out, there would be no parade az
| his funeral. In closing he suggested that some
member of the Merchants Exchange be Sc
| lected as pall-bearer at the funeral
Hon. George w. Woodman, President of the
Board of Trade, was the next speaker He
| thought that the business men of the city had
| lost true friend He had known the deee ased
| intimately for the last thirty eight years and
he did not know a man who stood better
among the business men. In closing he said
that Mr.. Woods word was his bond.
CAPTAIN Cyrus Sturdvant, agent for the
Portland, Bangor and Machias Steamship Co.,
was glad to add word to what had been sal d
in praise of Mr. Wood. He had not been very
intimately connected with the deceased but he
could speak in regard to his benevolence. He
was always ready with his purse TO aid the
moor and at one time asked the speaker to
come to him when he met with persons who
needed aid. But short time before his death
he said to the speaker: 81 want you to take
care of your health long time, for want the
Allen Mission to prosper" lin the death OF
Mr. Wood" said the speaker, "the Mission has
lost a good friend, and 1 hope his mantle of
charity will fall on hundreds who walk the
streets of Portland
The next speaker was Mr. Fl. f. Furnish,
ESQ.,, ex-President of the Mercantile Library
Association. He said that he had had the good
fortune to board at the United States Hotel
with Mr.. Wood for number of years. He had
ALWAYS tound Mr.. Wood to be kind warm
hearted gentleman.
w. S. Dana, ESQ.,, ex-President of the Board
of Trade, thought that he could not add any
thing to what had been said, but he wished to
add his testimony in regard to the worth OF the
deceased Mr.. Wood would be sadly missed by
large number of the citizens of the city. He
He had known Mr. Wood intimately for
period of forty years, thirty-two years of which
he had been his tenant on Central wharf. He
had always found him perfectly upright and
honest in all his dealings. Mr. Dana narrated
the case of a business man who was sick, owing
to vexation caused by pecuniary embarrass-
ments. Mr. Wood went to his bed side and
told him to call ON him for money. The mer-
chant recovered aud was enabled to continue
his business. Mr., Dana moved that the mer-
chants of the city attend the funeral in body.
Mr.. Thomas the chairman. thought that the
funeral of such a man should be attended by
every business man ir the city.
On motion of 7. c. Hersey, Esq, Hon. w.
w, Thomas senior, was appointed pall-bearer
to represent the merchants on the occasion OF
the funeral and it was also voted that the
merchants attend in body.
On motion of NJ N. Rich, Esq, committee
of five, consisting of Hon. G. w. Woodman,
T. G. Hersey, Esq, w. S, Dana, Esq, Henry
Fox, ESQ.,, and Hon. j. b. Brown, were APP
pointed to draft series of resolutions to be
presented to the next meeting. 1t was also
voted that during the hour of the funeral the
stores and counting-rooms would be closed as
token of respect.
The following are the resolutions prepared:
RESOLVED, The members of the Merchants Elk
change desire their great grief at the death
of their associate, MI. Rufus E. Wool, their appre-
citation of his honorable reputation as merchant
Resotued, That during long and busy life our
deceased friend has deserved and won the esteem OF
his fellow citizens for his industry and integrity as
a man for his modest but uufagging public spirit
citizen and for his fequenG but anos1entatious
charities which will now be so sadly missed
RESOLVED, That this expression Of our sorrow and
our regard be published in the daily papers ana
communicated to the relatives of our deceased.
w. w. THOMAS, Chairman.
At meeting of the Directors of the Mer-
chants National Bank, held Saturday, the
death of Rufuse e. Wood, Esq, Vice President
of the bank having been announced to the
Board, the following resolutions were unani-
mously adopted
RosolUed That while the sudden death of our late
honored Vice President affects with profound sor-
row. but feel deep sense of gratitude Tor his
eminently useful life and his man virtues.
Rescued That the long and honorable connection OF
our deceased friend and associate with this Board his
wise counsel uniform courtesy and kindness, as well
as his strict fidelity duty, have impressed us with
the highest respect and regard and while we chorsh
and velierate his memory, we commend his example
as worthy of general imitation.
ResoIued That these resolutions be entered upon
the records of the Bank and copy OF the same pc
presented to the relatives of the deceased with the
assurance Of sympathy and heartfelt sorrow at
fine decease of our lamented associate and friend.