The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-08
OBITUARY.
ROBERT HALE IVES.


The above named gentleman died at his resi-
dence In Providence r. l., on the afternoon OF the
9th INST. With him passes away he famous house
OF Brown 4 Ives; which has been distinguished In
the commercial word for It's immense wealth and
pubic enterprise.
Robert Hale Ives was born September 10, 179s,
and was therefore nearly seventy-seven years OF
age. He amassed great wealth and was profuse
IN mis- benehctlons. He was one OF the most gen.
erous contributors TO the Butler Insane Asylum,
and was the chief founder OF the Rhode Island
Hospital, while be also made most liberal dona-
tons to Brown University. Public and private his
benevoence was unbounded, and his name Is en-
rolled among Rhode Islands most honOred clIl-
THE BATTLE OF THE HoUsEsn
IL Is only about a year ago that John Carter
Brown the senior member OF the nrm, died.
Both houses have been foremost In the list or
Rhode Islands most prominent and INFLUENTIAL
citizens, ana the death OF the remaining part
ner Mr.. Ives, carries with IL all the Drest &c
which caused the house to take leading posi-
ton IN AMercan business and the political
affairs OF Rhode Island Their influence could De
distinguished IN almost every business or
political movement oil prominence. and IN their
well known hostility to 1.-The other hOusen-tne
Spragues-lkened themselves and their rivals 10
she ''Montagues ana Capulets.n Each house had,
OF course, It's devotees, aud Tor number or years
there was butter war between them "Ine
great family ~ as the Brown and Ives party
were called, pressed the Spragues, and 90
intense was the warfare between The two Houses
from his seat In the Senate The latters exhibit
uOn OF nate ana denunclatlon only served TO
embitter the feelings OF his rivals, and matters
reached q crisis when the Brown ana Ives party
TOOK Open issue with the SpragueS, carrying
the controversy into the pubic prints The
former thought, early in the time OF the late war,
10 crush the Spragpes by refusing to accept their
paper but the latter, at mat time, had for hnan-
clal manager a very shrewd business man, in
the person OF Mr.. Lyman Il. Freeze, who at once
took steps to thwart the designs oil the Brown Il
Ives. he took the Sprague paper 10 New York,
ana, by giving the liberal Offer OF twelve and
eighteen per cent, secured money Sufficient for
all purposes.
This was turning the tables on "the great fam.
ily,n by taking the paper out or the Providence
banks, winch OF course, could have no other effect
than 10 cripple tine latter, so the house OF Brown
paper was taken at SIX per cent TINS
victory 1Or the Spragues, thanks TO
the far-seeing and sDrewd policy OF Mr.
PreiZe. Tine latter, in reality. was the manager
OF the Sprague AFFAIRS, SO much In fact that ne
was recognized as the leader OF the house, and
the SpTagues, thinking he was getting rather too
much credit l0r The management, put little
check on him ana came 10 the front themselves,
wishing TO have things In their own HANDS and
get whatever credit was due to the house.
But the Spragues did not manage so success
financially until they were once more at the
mercy or Brown b Ives, and their house
toppled over. The history Of the isll OF the
masters OF the field, and the Spragues set TO work
TO recover their lost wealth and standing.
The conflict between the two houses was really
q suicidal policy, Gripping the industries OF the
state and making the people so disguised with
their bitter feuds that they, like poor Mercuto,
were forced TO excla1m, "a plague on both your
houses
with the deaths OF Mr. Brown and Mr.. Ives dis.
appears, TO a great extent, the once formidable
strength OF the Great Family" and by good
management the Spragues may yet regain their
lost position in Tne business and politics Of Rhode
Island.