Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-12
WHO Is ADDIUKS

As this question has many times been
asked, the appended sketch may not be
uninteresting:
John Edward Addicks was born No
vember 2lst, 1S41, In Philadelphia. He
is a son OF John Il. Addicks aud Marpar-
retta n. Addicks. The father OF this
sketch was for many years q prominent
merchant OF Philadelphia, of the firm of
Addicks, Vandusen & Smith, wholesale
boot and shoe business, on Market street
above Third Mr.. Addicks, ST., retired
from business 10 the early part of 1857
with competency, intending TO 20 into
the banking business, but the panic OF
that year came before the affairs of the
firm were settled, so that Mr.. Addicb g.
money was swallowed up In the general
crash. He was for number of years a
prominent director OF the Penn Township
Bank. During the war Mr.. Addicks was
one OF the earliest members Of the Union
League, and president of the National
Union Club, and took prominent part
In raising troops for the Government. He
was a member OF the Governors military
staff; also member OF committee OF
Two or three, one Of which was a Mr..
Baker, who had lite headquarters at the
Oiu D'atc iiousei winch uau charge oil
paying he bounties TO the troops raised
In Philadelphia. Mr. Addicks, sr., at
the time OF his death, In January, 1887,
was Health Officer OF the Port OF The CITY
OF Phi ladelphia, and had been contInu-
ously for about fourteen years preceding
his death. For several years he was
chairman OF tho Republican City Com
mite, aud was president OF the Union
Republican Club At the time of his death.
Referring TO Mr. Addieks 5r., as a mem
Der OF the Constitutional Convention of
Pennsylvania in 1874 from the Second
district, Philadelphia, a newspaper clip
ping OF that date speaks OF Mr. Addlcks
as follows:
''IIe lie q native Of Philadelphia, where
he was born 10 1873, and where he has
spent his life in mercantile pursuits. He
IS an original Republican and an active
member OF the Union League, and as
President of the Union Republican Club.
was the FIRST 10 present the name of GEN
eral Grant for President. Formerly q
Wing, but more recently a thorough Re
publican, he has taken an ardent interest
In every political canvass through which
the country has passed. Governor Geary
appointed him health officer OF the city
and port OF Philadelphia. and having
served with eminent fitness and fidelity,
the present Incumbent of the Guberna
torial chair has re appointed him for the
ensuing term. He 10 member OF two i'm
portant committees: Constitutional Sane
tion and onr Public Debt and Sinking
Fund-and Is also chairman of the Com
mittee on House. As commit ee- man
his services, by reason of his experience
and broad, comprehensive views, are In
valuable; and In the House Committee
his administrative ability has achieved a
triumphant success. lie has q ilne head
very slightly bald. takes bold part in ali
the proceedings of the convention. but ia
most unobtrusige In the expression of his
views on public questions. He Ia an
atfable gentleman, and attentive to his
duties"
John Edward Addieks received his
education In the public schools of Phila-
de.phia, entering the high school at the
age OF -, number l in largo class,
which rank be retained until his gradua
ton.
Then he entered the dry goods bust
meas HI clerk with Jacob Regel u Co.,
and after few years accepted position
with Levi T. Knowles, and succeeded in
building up his business, which was the
jobbing flour bus ness, to very large pro-
| anu AT VIZ hEt OI 81 NthfH he
came n member OF the firm under the
title Of Levi Knowles 81 10. In 1866 Mr..
Addicks severed his connection with Levi
Knowles " Co., and embarked In the
flour business on his own account, and
succeeded in building up the largest job
blng flour business tnat had been trans
ae ed in Philadelphia up to that time. He
built the large warUhous, 1909 and igl 1
| Market street, tor the use OF his own
business. During the early part of the
7O's he constructed In different parts OF
the city some 900 dwelling houses.
mostly for the use of the lahurinR people
Ia the Nineteeth ward.
In 1851 MIR. Addicks raised between
two and three million dollars and built
the opposition gas works IN the city OF
Chicago, which was the instrument of re.
ducing the price Of gas to tue general
public In that city from $40 per thou.
sand leet to jus. half that amount, since
which time he has been successfully en-.
z iged In the consI uction OF gus works in
several important cities oil u 0 couatj-
Is OF untlring energy, and faithful to his
word in all his buslu' IS enterprises.
Mr.. Addicks has always been an ardent
Republican, being among the first 200
members who Joined the Union League
OF Philadelphia during the war, and Of
which cub he has ever since been MEM
Der.
MIR. Addicks married a daughter of the
large Wash ngton Butcher, who foi maj y
years was engaged in the wholesale provi-
sion business on North Front street,
Philadelphia, the firm being a very old
one, dating back from 100. Mr.. Blu cher
at the time OF his death was member oil
tho Board OF Directors of the Penns,l-
vania Railroad Company, president Of the
American Steamship Company, and a
director in the Girard National bank. In
the early part of 1877, Mr.. Addlcks re-
moved his residence from Philadelphia,
and became citizen of Delaware, taking
up his residence at Claymont New Castle
county, and has been identified with the
interests oil Delaware ever since, residing