Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-29
DEATH OF MR.. W. W. CORCORAN.
PEACEFUL CLOSE OF BEAUTIFUL LIF

PEACEFUL CLOSE OF A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.
GOOD MAN GONE TO HIS REwARD-THE
CAREER OF THE GREAT PHILANTHRoPIsT
his MANY CHARITIES AND BENEFAC-
TIONs.
We announced last week that W. w. Cor
coran, the distinguished philanthropist and
patriot, was quite ill, and, it was feared, was
near the end of his earthly career. These
fears were well founded, and he died at
his residence in Washington at half past 6
o'clock, last Friday morning, the Gath in
slant, in the Goth year of his age.
THE BEGINNING OF HIS FATAL ILLNESS.
The Washington correspondent of the
Bait. Sun says
The fatal illness of Mr.. Corcoran dates
back to last summer, when he had stroke
of paralysis. This affected one leg and an
arm. and he could move about only with the
aid of an attendant. Still his vigorous
vitality enabled him to avoid the more seri.
GUS consequences of such an attack. as had
been the case under other attacks several
times before in the course of his long life.-
He attended to his business as usual and re-
tanned his usual control and charge of af-
fairs. The only change was in the habits
of his life, which were regulated by strict
err regimen. AS he approached his eighty
ninth birthday he looked forward to the day
with good deal of Interest. The SUNDAY
| before, he attended divine service at st.
Johns Church. and after sitting through the
long service he went to the altar rail To
commune. While there his paralyzed LEG
slipped, and being weakened by the fatigue
| of the long service he was unable to control
his limbs and fell forward. He was helped
| to bis carriage and driven home. He soon
recovered from his fatigue, but expressed
| his modification that he should have made
such spectacle. 1t was quite shock to
to his pride, because he felt that he was
stronger and was confident that he could 90
out much as usual. However, he laughed
over the episode, and few days afterWard
be celebrated his eighty-nint birthday
This was in December last. During that
day he sat in his large chair in the library
and received everybody that came. He was
perfectly well and was in very good spirits.
His birthday was celebrated with as much
form as has usually been the case. A fow
weeks later, however, he was attacked by a
severe cold, which developed into bronchitis
and the ravages upon his strength by thai
disease terminated his life.
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED PHILANTHRo
PIsT.
| William Wilson Corcoran was born De
cember 81, 1898, in Georgetown, in this dis
trict. His father, Thomas Corcoran, came
to this country from Ireland in 1783 anG
after few years. residence in Baltimore
established himself in business in George
town in 1887, and was for many years may
or of the town. He was then widowel
and married in Georgetown. When but
nineteen years of age his son, W. W. Cor
coran, embarked in the dry goods business ir
Georgetown at the corner of First and High
streets. From that he went into the auction
and comm isson business with bis brother
Thomas Corcorau, carrying that on unit
1928, when the business failed, on account
of the financial pressure of the time. The
Indebtedness of the firm was compromised
but afterwards, in 1843, Mr.. Corcoran paiG
up every cent, with interest for twenty
years, which more than doubled the origina
debt. During the years running from 1926
to 1886 Mr.. Corcoran managed all the rea
estate business for the Bank of the United
States and the Bank of Columbia. In 1886
he married Miss Louise Morris, daughter
of Commodore Charles Morris. Shortly af
ter the marriage Mr.. Corcoran removed tt
Washington, where he has since resided
establishing himself in business on Pennsyl
vania avenue, near Fifteenth street. Ii
1841 be carried on all the financial affair
for the State Department, especially it
foreign transactions. Mrs. Corcoran diet
in 1910. leaving son, who soon died, ant
daughter, Louise, who afterwards married
Hon. George Eustis, and member of Con
gress and afterwards Senator from Louisi
ana. Mrs. Eustis, like her mother, survived
her marriage but few years. In 1842 Mr.
Corcoran entered into partnership with Mr.
Geo. W. Riggs, in the banking business
and the firm name, at first Corcoran & Rigg
and afterwards Riggs l& Co., was soon on
of the best-known in the country. Whel
the war with Mexico began Corcoran s
, Riggs we're carrying on safe and profitable
business. President Polk had selected Mr.
Robert J. Walter as Secretary of the Treas
ury, and authority having been given b,
Congress to the President in 1S46 to nego
tate loan to carry on the war, there wa,
general indisposition in New York and il
other great financial centres to take the loan
| and tue lowest bidders were Corcoran 6
Riggs. The task Of securing a loan O
S2U 600, 900 was therefore entrusted to them
Mr.. Corcorau went to New York and fount
himself unable to raise money there. H
embarked at once for London, and Their
placed the loan on such advantageous term
that the fortune of the firm was made
) Thenceforward Corcorau & Riggs were 70
long period the bankers of the Union
and all the ventures of Mr.. Corcoran pros
pered.