River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-19
DEATH OF A. E. B0RIE.
The Ex.Secretary Of the Navy Under
General Grant Dies Peacefully.
Philadelphia Times. Feb. 0.

LA~CCNt Va ~ Nf"'J AhNNa
General Grant Dies Peacefully.
Philadelphia Times, Feb. Q.
After short and comparatively pain
less illness. Adolph L. Borie, ex-secre-
tary of the navy, died yesterday morn
ing at half-past three o'clock, at his
residence on Sprague street, below
Eleventh. He had really been i'll with
no disease; it was gradually wasting
away, and after long and honored
life his vital powers slowly failed and he
passed away peacefully. His journey
abroad with General Grant had not
benefited him as it was hoped it would,
and since Christmas day he gradually
failed in health and strength. 1t was
thought on Wednesday that he would
be able to rally, lit after midnight the
change came and he rapidly sank until
he died. Mr.. Borie was the son of
John Joseph Borie, who came from
Bordeaux to this city III the early part
of the present century and engaged in
mercantile pursuits, IN which he was
very successful Adolph E. was born
in Philadelphia on the 25th of No
vember, 1909, and was educated at the
University of Pennsylvania, from which
he graduated in 1925. He afterwards
went to Paris, where he studied IN some
of the most prominent schools, and
made tour of Europe, returning to
this city in 1928. His father had in-
tended for him the profession OF law,
but this project was abandoned, and,
soon after his return from Europe, Mr..
Borie entered upon his long and sue
cessful business career. He became
associated with his father as a
member of the firm OF j. j. Borie
& Son, under which style the firm
was continued until 1888, about three
years after his fathers death. Then he
became associated with the late Gen
eral Bohlen, under the name of Borie
& Bohlen. in 1871 the style of the
firm was changed to B0rie u Trott, and
subsequently to that of Mexican, Borie
& Co., of No. 153 Dock street, as general
importers, engaged in the Mexican,
West and East Indies and Canton trade.
In 1913 Mr.. Borie was elected president
of the Bank of Commerce, but re-
linquished the position in 1860 to take
trip to Europe for the sake of bis
health. In his business relations, by
display of tact, judgment and BUSH
ness capacity, he succeeded IN amasslng
large fortune. He was for many
wears connected with numerous bust
ness organizations in Philadelphia, be-
ing a director of the National Bank of
Commerce, a member of the board OF
trade, manager of the Philadelphia
Savings Fund Society and liberal
contributor to various benevolent as
sociations.
Shortly after the outbreak of the late
var Mr.. Borie, with few other pomi-
nent citizens, organized the Union Cub,
which was afterwards merged in the
Union League. He was the first vice.
president of the League, and retained
the position until his death. During
one of General Grants visits here,
previous to his election as president, he
m ct Mr.. Borie and contracted great
friendship for him, which eliminated
in Mr.. Borie being invited to take seat
in Grants first cabinet as secretary OF
the navy. Mr.. Borie had never held
any political office of any description,
either local, state or national, and his
chief active connection with the
republican party had been in the way
of repeated efforts to correct the
abuses which had long prevailed in the
primary elections of the party. Mr.. B0rie
reluctantly accepted the secretaryship
of the navy, and entered upon the
duties of the office on the Sth day Of
March, 1869. The duties of the position
however proved uncongenial, while his
great business affairs demanded his
constant attention. So, against Presi-
dent Grants earnest protest, he resigned
after holding the Office less than four
months, retiring from the cabinet on
the 25th of June, 1869 He was sue
ceeded as secretary of the navy by
George M. Robson, now III ember of
congress from New Jersey.
In 1872 Mr.. Borie's name was placed
at the head of the Republican electoral
over the electoral college and cast the
vote OF Pennsylvania for General Grant.
He paid visit to Europe IN 1872, Miss
Nellie Grant, the Presidents daughter
being a member of his family party.
They returned to the United States In
October. The last occasion on which
his name was brought to the attention
of the public was In connection with
Ex-President Grants remarkable tour
around the world. Mr.. Borie accepted
from the ex-president an invitation to
accompany him on his tour through
the East. He left Philadelphia III jan
uary of last year and joined General
Grant at Paris, but left the party at
Shanghai on the 31st Of May, and cross
ing the Pacific to San Francisco, came
home overland, reaching Philadelphia
on the Oath of June, greatly, but as 1t
proved, only temporarily improved IN
health.
Mr.. Borie was gentleman Of cultl-
waited tastes, and his collection OF mod
ern paintings was one of the finest in
the city. His gallery was at all times
open to admirers Of art, and he con-
tributed largely to the various loan ex-
hibitions given here. He leaves
widow, but no children.
The rumor that Mr.. Borie's close
friendship for General Grant had been
attested by bequest of million dollars
was not founded in fact. One OF MIR.
Borie's near relatives, who was much
trusted by MIR. Borie, and who is look
ing after the arrangements for the
funeral, says that the will of the deceas-
ed was opened yesterday for the single
purpose OF seeing whether it contained
any directions as to the funeral. Il was
read hastily to ascertain this particular
point, bat he thinks that any clause
leaving y legacy of such amount would
have been remarked. He says that
there was no such legacy and he thinks
there was no legacy at all to General
Grant.