Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-03-01
A Remarkable Career.

w. w. Corcoran, the distinguished
philanthrophist and public benefactor,
died at his home in Washington on the
morning of the oath. A sketch of MIR.
Corcoran's life could not fail to be inter-
esting and helpful as an example OF
what may be accomplished by one man,
solely by industry, integrity and high
purpose. For any extended account of
his career, we have no time; but we note
q few facts. He was born in 1898, the
year before Washington died. aud has
been personally acquainted with every
President of the United States since
Washington. This fact suggests, as per-
haps nothing else would. how brief has
been our existence as an independent
nation, when the span of one mans life
can almost cover it. For two-thirds of
a century Mr.. Corcoran has been on the
most intimate terms with Presidents,
Senators, Foreign ministers, and there
are few noted men who have come to
this country whom he has not known.
Distinguished men all over the world
have paid their honors to Mr.. Cercoran,
not as q statesman, scientist, philoso-
pher or litterateur, but as a great-souIed
philanthopist. His large bcnefactions
are many; but the innumerable smaller
charities, of which the world knows
nothing. have won for him the love aud
gratitude of thousands who now sin
cerely mourn his death. He led in ey-
cry public movement. In 1847 he pur-
chased the site of Oak Hill Cemetery,
Georgetown, expended about $4,000
in improving it and presented it to his
native town. He took hold OF the
Washington Monument, and being
elected President of the Association
when all others were discouraged with
the work and hopeless of ever seeing
the great shaft completed, carried it
to the end Unaided, he re-
covered the remains of John Howard
Payne, author of Home, Sweet Home. "
who was filling an unhonored neglected
grave in Tunis, and brought them to
this country to be properly inferred at
Washington. His greatest work, how
ever, was the endowment and establish
ment at the national capital of the Cor
coran Gallery of Art, at the corner of
Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventeenth
street. The grounds, building and con-
tents, including Mr.. Corcoran's private
collection of paintings and statuary.
valued at $780, 900. and endowed with
5000. 900, was a free gift to the public
1t is Incorporated by an act of Congress,
and ranks with the White House and
Capitol building as an object of interest
to strangers. He also founded and
maintains Louise Home, refuge for
poor women, and also the beautiful Oak
Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. The
Louise Home was tribute TO the men,
DRY of his wife, Louise. who died in 1910.
Of late years his life was devoted to dis
pensing private charities. 1t is stated
that he has dealt out in charities, public
and private, more than S6,000,000.
These facts show that though success
full beyond most men in money making,
that was only used rs means of accom-
plishing the higher aims of life. The
name of w. W. Corcoran. simply as a
man of enormous wealth, would soon
be forgotten. The name Of the man who
used his millions for the benefit of knowl-
edge. truth and charity. will live for
ever. Few can dispense such lavish
charities, but it is within the reach of ev-
oryone to give in smaller ways to those
who are deserving and needy. if only
gracious and encouraging sympathy,
and all virtue is immortal.