The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-08
The I.are Alvin Adams.

The funeral Of the founder OF Adams tx
press Company took place in Watcrtown, a
suburb of Boston. on the 5th instant. We
copy the following brief account OF them ::
Although the services were OF private
and unostentatious nature they were at
tended by several hundred Of the intimate
friends OF the deceased, many OF them from
distant cities, and including among the num-
Der some OF the most eminent businessmen
in the country. Not only were there dele
cations present from such neighboring local
tiles rs New York and other easily-acccSslbie
points, but from the far West and distant
South there were those who came to show
their regard and affection for their distln-
ruishcd friend. All branches OF Boston
commerce were represented among the
mourners, and there were also present at
the solemn services numerous representa-
tiyes OF the national, State, and city gov
ernmcnts. The attendance OF men who
have passed the allotted thrcc-scorc-and-ten
was particularly noticeable, including such
US the venerable Colonel Greene, Charles
Theodore Russell, Charles Levi Woodbury.,
Moses kimball. and Mayor Prince. Pro-
badly not less than four or five hundred
were present altogether.
The services, which were very brief and
simple, were conducted by Rev. j. f. w.
Ware, pastor OF the Arlington-Strcet (Uni-
tarian) church, in Boston. They consisted
first OF the reading OF appropriate passages
OF Scripture, and were then concluded by a
short prayer. These and nothing more
were the funeral rites OF one OF the most
distinguished businessmen OF generation
now fast passing away.
The features OF the deceased. which
seemed as natural as in life. were then
viewed by the assembled friends, and then
the remains were conveyed to their final
resting-place in Spruce avenue, Mount Au-
burn.
The officiating pall-bearers were William
3. Dinsmore, president OF the Adams Ex-
press Company; +. S. Sanford, of New
York: Ex-Governor James E. English, of
Connecticut; Colonel James N. Thompson,
Of Springfield: S. NJ. Shoemaker, OF PhiIa-
delphia: John Hoey, Of New York; Alfred
Gather, Of New York; Henry Sanford, OF
New York; G. Spooner, OF the Adams En-
press Company; and II. B. Plant, president
of the Southern Express Company.
The New York Herald thus concise!y
sketches the history of this remarkable
man:
The founder OF a great business system
which extends over the civilized portion OF
the globe was yesterday buried with simple
ceremonies, but with due honors, at Mount
Auburn. The obsequies Of Alvin Adams
were honorcd by the presence OF hundreds
OF eminent men of all professions, who
wished to pay respect not only to depart
cd friend. but also to the memory OF one Of
those great representative businessmen
who impress their ideas upon their time.
As the organizer Of the express system,
which will be always identified with his
name, Alvin Adams facilitated by methods
almost wholly new the trade OF the
continent. Forty years ago, when he
began the express business, neither
he nor the few persons he employed
dreamed OF the magnitude it would assume,
but it followed the development OF the rail-
road and the steamship till not only the
United States, but Europe. Asia, and Aus
tralia were included in the network OF its
agencies. 4 few years ago Mr.. Adams said
that always in some quarter OF the globe
the sun was shining on his namc-a nobler
boast than that OF England that the roll OF
her drum followed the sunrise round the
globe.
Beginning life poor and unknown, MI.
Adams, by intellect, honesty, and industry,
achieved fortune and fame, and will be re-
membered as one of those great men OF
business who in this age and in this coun-
try have been largely instrumental in build
ing up the national prosperity.