New-York tribune., 1880-02-19
OBITUARY.
JAMES lENOX.
IINVAs
A CAREER or ACTIVE BENEvOLESCE-THE GREATEST
MnNrnFNT I'D Ills MEMORY.

A CAREER or ACTIVE BENEvoLESCE-THEG GREATEST
MONUMENT To HIS MEMORY.
James Lcuox. the we!l-known founder of the
Lenox Library. and the benofactOr Of many worthy
charities, died Tuesday evening at his house. No.
53 Fifth-ave., in the oghtieth yoar of his age. He
bad beon III for about two months. He was at
tended by Dr. William II. DraDer.
Mr.. Lenox WIS an only son of Robert Lenox.
Robert Lenox began business in New-York in 1888.
lie was very successful merchant, and inherited
Tue prudence and sound judgment of his Scotch an
cestors. Born in Scotland. be came first to Phila-
delphia. and soon afterward to this city.
He married daughter Of Nicholas
GARNER. yestryman Of Trinity Church, and they
had SIX chdren-James and fivo daughters. Until
the War Of 1912 the business Of Robert Leuox
ilourishcd and he became very wealthy After this
date he gradually withdrew from active mercantile
pursuits and devoted himself to the care of his
property.
TO his son, James LenOx he left at bis death in
1899 a farm Of about thirty acres on Fourth and
IIfth-aves IN the neighborhood Of Seventy second
st. Mr. Leuox held this property until 1864, when
it was divided into city lots For forty years Mr..
Leuox lIyc1 "A retired life, deyOtng himself to
the collection of rare books and works OF
art HE benevolencc has made HIM widely
known. HIS gifts TO the Presbyterian Hospital, the
Philips Memorial Church. the Presbyterian Home
tor AGED Women, and to the Lenox Library have
amounted t. over S2,OO0000. He was a regular
attendant at the Rev. Or. ". n. Paxton's Church,
the First Presby tcran Church. at FIfth-ave. and
Eleyenth-st.
Mr.. Lenox seemed TO have an aversion 70 society,
yet his conversation was pleasant and agreeable.
, and his politeuoss and easy. unaSsuming manners
were marked characteristics. in 1880 Mr.. Lenox
tod, ,ff Chamber of Com
-Four of his sisters married David Kennedy. James
Donaldson, Mr.. Banks and Mr.. sheafe; one never
married.
ST.. Leuox used 10 spend the Summer at Newport,
hut Of late wears he preferred To remain in New
York. Robert Lenox Kennedy. nephew Of the
dead man, said yesterday t!Iat in accordance with
tho wish Of Sir. LenOx there would be no public
funeral. The body. therefore, VIII be buried
privately.
Perhaps the most conspicuous act Of Mr.. Lep0x
WIS The founding nnd end0wIng Of the LenOy
Library. she building stands on Fifth-ave., facing
Central Park and occupies the whole Of the block
between Seycnieth aud Seyenty-hrst-sts. ~ an
act of the Legislature, passed IN January, 1870
the government of the library was vested III pine
trustees, among whom. bc-dcs hlr LenoX, we're
Hamilton Fish, Alexander Van R'usseaer ana tho
late iilam II. Aspiuwall. Inc ste Tor the library
j. regarded as the finest Tor tins purpose "a bo
found ~ the southern ceura part Of tie island
The huilaiug stands Oh solid rock aid Is hfe-prool
Tie materials used ia It's construction were Oflck,
iron and stone. be main building - 30 feet
above the ground. The library portion OF The build
ing consists Ol three hoOrS m tho man Dulld-
iug and two stories IN The wings above
the basement. It's dimensions are III feet deep
bv 200 front, containing four spacious reading
rooms or Libraries. a gallery for paintings and
another for sculpture TIE value II the gyOurd aud
the cost of the rddicc were more than Sl,oOO,OOO
Tie collections oi manuscripts. books engrayngs
and maps. statuary, paintings. drawings
in tb. land The works on early
American History. Biblical autobiography. and
III zabrthan literature are especially nOtewor,
fby. iu complete folio Cdl iou5 aud IN old
Bible. aud in parts thereof tho collec-
tion rs superior TO that of the British Museum
The library is endowed with permanent fund Of
S2JOOOO. The picture gallery vuuf ans nearly 100
pIcturo.. MAINLY modern. by Amer. All and foreign
artists There are nIuetccn pieces OF sculpture
The library 's open on tuesdays ard Fridays IRON
II M urtll p. ~. Owing to the death Of Mt
Irnox the library VII be closed until further no
/