Daily Republican., 1881-12-31
DEATHS WORK.
sudden Death OfCOl. Henry \. Nc
Comb-He Dies 1t tho West End
Hotel in Philadelphia-A Brief
Sketch OF his Ltfe-Bow no Rose
FrO0 Poverty q Am aence.

/ FrOm Poverty i0 Amaeace.
Seldom II ever has the public mind
| Wilmington been no suddenly al
deeply stirred TO its utmost dept
: than 1t was yesterday afternoon VIII
} the sad news of the death of Colos
Henry s. McComb at the West III
Hotel, in Philadelphia, reached th
city. The Colonel was never in bett
health than when he left this city ye
terday morning to attend banquet
be given last night in Newark, N. j
to Hon. Mr Frelinghuysen Secretary
the United States.
He left this city yesterday morniu
on the 2 O'Clock train, having carried O
a friendly social conversation with
number Of friends and acquaintance
before he entered the cars. Arriving
the Broad and Prime street depot, Phil,
delphia, he took a Fifteenth street ca
and proceeded to the West End Hote
sixteenth and Chestnut streets, wher
he was to meet some persons on bus
ness, and about l21l o'clock, while tall
ing with some friends, he was suddenl
seized with apoplexy and fell to til
floor Medical assistance was summon
ed Immediately and everything wa
done that it was possible to do unde
the circumstances, but to no avlil, a
he died in about ton minutes after tn
attack. HIS family and friends wer
immediately teiegraphed to in this cit
and in response quite number of per
sonal friends rutto Philadelphia. Tn
body was brought to this city. at Ill,
O'Clock, accompanied by George w
Bush, George u. Bates, Esq, and Mr.
Wilson, the funeral director. The re
naius, which we're in the forward car
were taken to the coach and driven t.
his home where were gathered tn
family and friends.
In the death Of Colonel McComb,
Wilmington sustains great loss-Jn,
which cannot easily be filled, and so in
terwoven with large business &C
tions had he become, that his death i,
really a national loss. Having beef
successful in business far beyond tht
lot OF the great mass of human mortals
ne was not unmiodful that he owed a
portion Of his wealth to the poor, hence
he was charitable, kind hearted and
benevolent. No appeal in behalf of a
worthy cause, was ever made to him
in VAN, and there are hundreds OF
the humble poor of the city who survive
him to bless his memory.
Henry S. McComb was born in this
city about the year 1925, of poor and
humble Irish parents, but honest and
respectable. His father was black.
smith who had enough to do to make
enough by his labor to make family
ends meet, without spending it in the
education of his son, who, at that time,
was making the best OF what little edu-
cation he could pick up at the common
pub!ic schools, which were not in such
an advanced state of efficiency as they
are now. Being compelled to do some
thing to help his parents along, he filed
the office of errand boy in several posi-
tions, b-ing at vne time, when about II
years Of age, in the office of the Della
ware State Journal, then a semi week y
paper. Finally his parents apprenticed
him with Israel Pussy, to learn the
trade of a leather currier.
The young apprentice went to work
with such vim and energy, evidently
having love for the business that he
soon mastered it aud gained the es-
TEEN and confidence of his employer. 1t
was customary in those days for APP
prentices to purchase their freedom If
they had mastered their trade before
the expiration of their term OF service.
The idea of buying his freedom was the
one thing utpermost in the mind Of
young McComb, but how was lie to do
it? A custom of MIR. Pusey at that time
was to give the young apprentice all the
loose scraps OF leather lying around the
shops and these were used to such ad-
by the boy that at the age of
10 he was able to purchase two years of
his apprenticeship. MIR. Plsey often
remarked that he believed young Nc.
Comb made more money out of the
scraps than he made out of the good
eatntr.
Being now free and full tledged
le hired himself as a journeyman to
James and Benjamin Webb, who were
n the leather busin, 81 at the southeast
,or er of Fourth and Orange streevs,
". re the Western hotel is now located.
Al ar working with them year he
his employers by Offering to
Juy them out, a proposition which was
inally acceded to aud Mr.. McComb
hen went iuto business for himself.
During all the time of his apprentice
ship Col. McComb did not neglect his
mental culture, but at nights and morn
ngs he studied over Greek, Latin and
French text books until he got such a
practical knowledge of each that it
proved of great benefit to him in after
lle. Col. McComb was as mindful OF
his moral az his business training and
while All apprentice he was a ber
If the Sunday School of Hanover Pres
byterian church, his exemplary conduct
attracted the attention of such men as
the late Hon. Willard Hall, Enoch
Roberts and Samuel Floyd, who were
sver ready afterwards to help him
along and took the greatest pleasure in
doing so.
He was successful in business from
he start and soon bought the property
IN Third street midway between
orange and Tatnall, and afterwards by
purchases he extended his
, tablishment to Orange street and sub
luently he added two stories to the
leight making it five story building
Colonel McComb married Elizabeth
Bush, daughter of Charles bush, ,ofthe
irm of Bush and Lobdell, car wheel
Mr.. Bush being killed
" an accident his son.in-law Mr.. Nc
jomb settled up his estate and by this
means he got some insight into rail-
oading and his quick active mind took
n the whole scope of the railroad field
evolving millions Of dollars. 1t was
lot long before Col. McComb was active
Y eng agd in purchasing railroad stock
much Of which he got from the Bush X
.obdell firm. and which mad been TAX
n in exchange for Car wheels. BY
his means he got hold of the mississip-
il Central railroad which gave him
he nucleus tor larger railroad specula-
ions afterward.
Mr.. McComb made much of his mon
' during the rebellion when he got
lrpe con racts from the Government
,r makiug knapsacks, and gave almost
very man, woman and child in Will
,;,1t.,n a,nnIovmant who wanted to |