Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-03-01

ly formed a partnership with his elder
brother. The little business enterprise
e-ii~I, L----AUAr- in 1904 Mr.. w. w. Cor
coran, however, twenty-three years after
ward, having become 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 d Riggs. Two
years before this MIR. 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 & Riggs and devoted
himself to philanthropy. The list of his
charities and his benefactions to public in
stitutions is long one. Mr.. Corcoran has
been a benefcent patron Of art and edu-
cation. The Corcoran Art Gallery, begun
in 1859, cost $600,00 Before the struct-
ure was finished the war broke out. Mr..
Corcoran went to Europe, preferrinR, it
is said, residence abroad during his de-
clining years to remaining here in the
midst of civil strife. His absence, however,
S1Ns oonstsuad hostile tn the Govarn-
ment. The Corcoran Art Gallery building
was seized and occupied during the war
Corcoran's 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..
Corcoran' placed in it his own private art
collections, valued at 500, 200, endowed
the institution with 5000, 900, 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
muni6cent 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
$780, 900.
Mr.. Corcoran's domestic life was sad
dened by the early death of his wife, and
afterward by the death of his daughter,
soon after she entered upon womanhood.
In later years, however, his home has been
frightened by the presence of his grand
children, aud the little circle about him
has been q happy one. His immediate
family consists of two grandsons, one 20,
the other % years of age, and q grand
daughter 20 years old. These grandchil-
dren have lived with Mr.. Corcoran, hav-
ing been reared under the care of an aunt,
Miss Eustis. He has nephew who is
planter in Arkansas, and niece who is
married to Mr.. G. N. Thorn. Another
niece is married to Mr.. q. M. Matthews,
and there is another, Miss Jones, who is
at present a member of his household. Mr..
Corcoran's nephew married daughter of
Senator Beck. Mr.. Corcoran's sister, Ell
len Corcoran, married the Rev. Stephen
p. 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 a 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.
As Mr.. ,Corcoran,, was riding past one of the
city hotels one day in the autumn Of 1882,
his 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 Mr.. |
Corcoran listened to the air he resolved to |
carry into effect at once the project he had |
formed years before. After some corre- |
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 20, 1853. From there il was
brought to Washington, and b..led in Oak
Hill Cemetery, June 9, 1883.