National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-20
DEATH OF JAMES woRMLEY.
sketch of the Life of the Noted Hotel
keeper.

Keeper
The remains of the late James Wormlcy, who
died IN Boston on Saturday, arrived In this
city yesterday afternoon accompanied by the
members of his family who were present at
his death. Mr.. VIM X. speare met them at
the depot with hcarsc and carriages, aud the
family were at once taken to their residence,
corner Of fifteenth and II streets northwest,
where the body was also removed, after first
being conveyed to Mr. speare's establishment,
where 1t was prepared for embalming.
Mr. Wormlcy was one Of the best known
residents of this city, and his connection with
the hotel which bears his name had giycnhim
national reputation. His father was owned
by a wealthy gentleman at Charlotte, Va,
named Cleo, whose Slaughter, handsome
and accomplished girl, conceived an attach
ment for her fathers slave and ran away with
him, bringing him to this city, where she kept
him concealed for year aud day. when he
received his freedom and she married him.
Five sons and one daughter were the result of
this union, viz. William, samuel, John,
James, Andrew and Elizabeth The deceased
was the last surviving sou, but the daughter,
Mrs Brown still lives Mt No. lil6 | street,
where she has resided for over thirty years.
James WOrmley was born on III street. in
little house that sat back from the street, aud
was shaded by hanging willows, just beyond
| the ladies' entrance 10 the present Arlington
hotel, lie commenced business life by driv
| ing hack for the late Allison Naior,
| who subsequently set him up In business by
| selling him carriage and pair of horses. CIV
| ing him his own time to pay for them. Young
| NOrmlcy was prompt to discharge his oblign.
tions as he became well known to the travel
| ing public, and derived good deal of custom
| from the Indian Queen, now the Metropolitan
hotel; Gadsby's, the present National and
| Fuller's now known as WillHrd's, lie finally
LEFT that, business aud went as a steward, first
on board United states vessel commanded
| by the late Allan McLane, and aiterward on
| other vessels.
ON his return home he became steward OF the
| Metropolitan club on It's organization, Its first
| location being In the building now occupied by
| the signal office, on G, between Seventeenth and
| Eighteenth streets. The club subsequently
| removed to the building on Fineenth.nnd-a-
half street, which was made listoric first by
the Sckes.Key tragedy and later by the at
| tempted assassination of the late Secretary
| Seward, Mr. WOrnley remained as steward
| Ol the club until he commenced business for
himself, having purchased some. ground on |
street northwest. Just west Of what was then
| Kings grocery store, at the corner o. Fifteenth
street. on which he built one and aflerward
| two other houses. He moved into the first
| house In 1886, and Gen. Winfield Scott was the
| first guest who slept In the new dwelling. His
| reputation as n caterer soon became widely
| known, aud his restaurant was as famous be-
| ore the was as war WeCker's subsequently.
| Among his former patrons were such noted
| sOuthcrners as Wigflll, Slidcl, Howell Cobb,
Jefferson Davis, Trescott, and Floyd. During
| the war Mr.. WOrmleys houses were the re-
| sort of nearly all the union generals from Gen.
Mcclellan down, and his business so increased
| that he rented two houses on the opposite
side of / street, which were constantly filled
| with guests,
| is,er to England Mr. Wormly went with him
| to serve up terrapin for the palatcs ofthe noble
| Britons, spending about two months on the
other side of the Atlantic. On his return he
hntt hn land az a. ni
| II streets, but finding that he was unable to
erect n suitable building Tor hotel he sold
| the properly to the late Representative Hooper,
| of Massachusetts, on the condition that that
gentleman would put up the hotel. This con-
| diton was carried out and ON the lst OF De-
| cenbcr, 1871 Mr.. Wormley opened the MOTEL,
| which he so successfully conducted up to the
| time of his death.
Mr. Wormley met and secured the respect
| and esteem of many public men, ana between
| himself and the late senator sumner there was
warm girlcndly feeling. 4 handsome gold
| headed cane, the gin of Mr. Sumner, was
| highly valued by Mr.. Wormlgy.
| The deceased was of Il generous, charitable
| nature, ana every Christmas would send pres
ents of -four, hams, turkeys, and every kind of
groceries 10 all the orphan asylums OF the city,
| us well as to numerous poor families, both
| white and cOlored, whose distress appealed TO
his sympathies. His strict integrity and
| punctuality gained for him the confidence OF
all with whom he held business relations, and
the late George Riggs and Mr.. w. w. Corcoran
were among his warmest friends.
Prior to opening the present hotel Mr..
| Wormley catered extensively for private par
ties and furnished many notable dinners. He
served the dinner at the white house ON the
day of Gen. Grants first inauguration AS presi'
dent and also furnished thc supper at the
Inauguration ball that night in the north wing
of the treasury department.
| When tho remains arrived yesterday q large
number OF prominent persons called TO expres:
their sympathy with the family, among them
being Admiral Leroy, Commodore Rodgers
ex-Mayor James G.. Berret the TuTkih minis
ter, Hon; ,. K. Bruce, McssrS;; Wm Henry
host Of others. The body is placed in what Ii
known as the Summer parlor,sfr from the fac
that all tine furniture in that room was pur
chased by Mr.. Wognley from the residence o
the Massachusetts senator after his death. !
large number of beautiful hOral tributes al
ready decorate the parlOr.
The deceased had been suffering from cal
culus for about eighteen months, and iinall!
went 10 Boston where an operation was per
! formed by Dr., Henry j. Bigelow He bore th
operation well, but peritonitls set in and III
died after three days of intense suffering. a
sons 1 uYnH his daasRter @ MS s Cole % two S grand @
daughters, and one grandson. He leaves be
sides his immediate family above mentioned
twenty.four grandchildren. His temperate
habits, business sagacity, and careful eGonom
| were such that 1t is estimated he Will leave
fortune of about 100000
The funeral will take place at his late resi-
G dence tomorrow afternoon at O'Clock
While all the arrangements are not com
pleted ii isprobable that the pallbeareTs will b
as follows: Active-John i. Cook, John I. .Giyer
: Isaac Lands, Wm. NJ. Gait James G. Berret
, Gleayes. Honorary-T. L. Roessle, c. W. Spo
ford, c. G. Willard, o. y. Staples, Frankll
Tinney, Theophile Felter, George S. Krall
+, and Wm. Henry Smith.
All of the city hotels had their flags at hal
', mast yesterday in respect to the memory {
4 the dead hotel keeper.