The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-03-03
WILLIAM W. OOROORAN

WILLIAM ". OUhOUhhN'
! WASHINGTON, ID. e., Feb. ~ - Mi
W. w COrcoran died at . 80 thIn
morning.
, William Wilson CorcOrau was born
in Georgetown, ID. g., December ~,
1898, his father beng a native OF
ireland, who removed To Georgetown
in 1887, and was for many years mayer
OF the town. Mr.. Corcurau first en-
| gagged in the dry goods business, and
aftGrward became u commission ner-
chant. From 1923 to 1886 he was in
charge of the real estatc business of the
Bank OfColumbia, and of the branch
of the United States bank at Washing
ION He then entered business as
banker and broker, ia which he re-
manned until 1854. Ia 1910 he took
the late George W. Riggs into business
with him. When the Mexican war
! broke out, the government had great
difficulty i'll inducing prominent nnan-
cGrS to float it's bonds. The firm OF
Corcoran u Riggs thereupon offered
! 10 undertake the work, and BY their
skill in accomplishing the task not only
laid the foundation of their subsequent
fortunes, but earned for themselves
high names in the financial world. In
1885 Mr.. Corcoran married the daugh-
ter OF Commodore Morris She died
live years later, leaving All only child,
Louise, who, in 1889, was married to
the Hon. Geo. Eustis, then = member
OF Congress from Louisiana. Mrs.
Eustis, like her mother, survived her
marriage only few years.
10 pnilin hQnaIani
and phianthropist that Mr. Corcoran
ii best known. HIS benefactions are OF
long standing. In lS47 he purchased
the site of Oak Hill cemetery. George
| town, expended about Sl20, 900 III
! improving it, and presented the ceme
! terry to his native town. The CorcOran
Gallery of Art he established IN 1857, =,
| spending about $500, 900 in fitting it up,
and, in addition, establishing an ell
| dowmeut fund nt nearly 81 ,0O0,OO0 for
its benefit. The war interrupted his
plans with respect 10 this structure but
ut its close he entered upon the work
with increased energy, and transferred
his entire collection of paintings, stat
uary and works of art to it. Another
of his large public gifts Is the Louise
Home, which he founded in memory OF
his wife. 1t is intended rs home for
aged women OF refinement and educa =
ton, who, by reverses OF fortune, have
been reduced from atfluence to poverty
This building cost about 5000 900, and
has all endowment fund in addition OF
$S00,000. Mr.. Corcoran has also made
large and valuable gifts to the Wash
ington Orphan Asylum, Columbian
University and many institutions IL
the south. He also gave 100000 to
the Church of the Ascension of this
city. To the University of Virginia he
has made gifts amounting to about
$500, 900, beside q library of 4,00C
volumes.
Mr.. Corcoran's private life has been
as pure and unostentatious as his pub
lie benefactions have been muniflcenl
and has made his name loved and re
spected in his native city and through
out the country.
During his illness many stories were
heard of Mr.. Corcoran, some OF which
: have never been published. In tht
disposition to be made OF his grea
, wealth to charity and other purposes
the "creedn he drew up tor his grand
children nearly ten years ago recited
To my grandchildren: As private
individual, inspired by I'll appreciation
of my relations 10 my fellow man.
have from early youth to old age en-
deavored to be just to all and gener
Gus to the deserving. Blessed by kint
, Providence with larger possession
. than commonly fall to the lot of man,
have regarded them as sacred trus
l for the benefit of knowledge, truth ant
! L. hao n
: proviul. conscience and the CRAFTY i'm
: appreciation OF many good and grea
men, whose testimonies | have pre-
. served in this volume for you. Man.
, of the letters in this collection affor'
= melancholy evidences of the instabilit.
:. Of human affairs; and perusal @
= them will suggest TO you the prophet
) OF endeavoriug to cultivate spirit pre-
: pared to bear with equanimity tn
=, vicissitudes of fortune which may aw al
= the most prosperous condition. Th
most valuable bequest can make 20
=, is good name, and feel assured yo
will cherish it, for its price is sbov
rubies. Your affectionate grandfather
, July l, 1878. w. w. CoRCoRAN
l The letters to which reference
! made were the bound private letters {
> Mr.. Corcoran There are fourteen c
Il these, each of which is nearly the siz
of dictionary. These contain letter
from Webster, CLAY Calhoun, Fillmore
;, Tyler, Buchanan, Amos Kendall an
u other noted men, and with these III
bound letters from the most note
, scientists and litterateurs. There al
y many private letters from Won Hum
. boldt among them. lie had been two
ii thirds OF century OH the most intimat
terms with presidents, senators, ,foreig
:, ministers and others, and there are fey
u noted men who have come to AmerIc
I whom he has not known well. Ii
{ valued the letters above money, an
. published number Of them in col
=. . nection with some "reminiscences
u These he gave at his death to hi
. grandchildren. Only 800 copies wer
u printed, and they are sealed up all
locked away. lie called it grand
u fathers legacy to his grandchildren.