Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-03-09

ly formed partnership with his elder
brother. The little business enterprise
failed, however, in 1924. Mr.. w. W. Cor
coran, however, twenty three years after
ward, having become a prosperous banker,
paid in full, with interest, all the indebted
ness OF the old firm.
In 1887 Mr. Corcoran formed the bank
ing house of Corcoran e. Riggs. Two
yeats before this Njr. Corcoran married
Louise Amory Morris, the daughter Of
Commodore Charles Morris, a lady of
marked personal charms and accomplish
ments Mrs. Corcoran died in 1910. at the
age of %.
| In 1852 Mr.. Corcoran, having acquired
large fortune, retired from the banking
house of Corcoran g. Riggs and devoted
himself to philanthropy. The list of his
charities and his benefactions to public in
situations is a long one. Mr. Corcoran has
been a benetcent patron OF art and edu-
cation. The Colcoran Art Gallery, begun
in 1859, cost $600,000 Before the struct-
! ure was finished the war broke out. Mr..
Corcoran went to Europe, preferring, ii
is said, a residence abroad during his de-
clinlng years to remaining here in the
/ midst of civil strife His absence, however.
was construed as hostile to the Govern
ment. The Corcoran Art Gallery building
was seized and occupied during the war
by the quartermaster-g generals Office. Mr..
! Corcorans house would likewise have been
confscated, but the French minister pro-
tected it, claiming that he had rented it.
After the war, Mr.. Corcoran having re-
turned, the art gallery was completed. Mr..
collections, valued at 100000, endowed
the institution with 100000, and formally
presented it to the public on Washington's
birthday, 1872. Since then he has bought
from his private purse and presented to
the gallery many notable paintings and
sculptures. The gallery has, from its
munifcent endowment, an income of
| 100000 year. Mr.. Corcoran, about the
same time erected and endowed the Louise
home for ladies who have seen better days
Upon this institution he expended abou
$5GO,0O0.
Mr.. Corcorans domestic life was sad.
dened by the early death of his wife, anc
afterward by the death of his daughter
soon after she entered upon womanhood
In later years, however, his home has beer
frightened by the presence of his grand.
children, and the little circle about him
has been q happy one. His immediate
family consists Of two grandsons, one %,
the other % years of age, and a grand.
daughter 20 years old. These grandchil.
dren have lived with Mr.. Corcoran, hav-
my Uecu 1c0ACu u1!uCl tuO Cu4O VI uu huul,
Miss Eustis. He has nephew who is 6
planter in Arkansas, and niece who is
married to Mr.. G. N. Thorn. Another
niece is married to Mr.. G. NJ. Matthews.
and there is another. Miss Jones, who is
at present q member of his household. Mr..
Corcoran's nephew married daughter OF
Senator Beck. Mr.. Corcoran's sister. Ell
len Corcoran, married the Rev. Stephen
T. Hill. She died in May, 1879.
Mr.. Corcoran knew John Howard Payne:
the poet, we'll during the time that gentle.
man lived in Washington, and, it is said,
formed project years ago to have his re.
mains brought home to his native land.
The immediate cause Of his action, how
ever, has little touch of romance in it.
q AS Mr.. .Corcoran..was riding past one of the
city hotels one day in tie autumn of 1882,
lis ears were greeted with the
strains of "Home, Sweet Home" played
by the Marine Band, in honor of the sur
vivors of the arctic vessel Jeanette, who
had just returned to Washington. AS MIR.
Corcoran listened to the air he resolved tc
carry into effect at once the project he had
formed years before. After some CORE
spondence with the Secretary of State and
with the only surviving relatives of the poet
the body was exhumed from its grave in
Tunis and shipped to New York, where il
arrived March %, 1888. From there it was
brought to Washington; and buried in OAK
Hill Cemetery, June s, 1883.