The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-03-13
Death of Mrs. Caroline Donovan.

We announced last week the death o
Mrs. Caroline Donovan, at her residence
in Baltimore, which occurred on til,
morning of the 9Th INST. She had visited
her nephew, Capt John ID. Crowle, o
the Virginia Hotel, in this place, on sew
eral occasions, and is kindly remembered
by some of our people, who were cogni
zant of many of her acts of charity
Capt. Crowle and Mrs. Crowle attended
the funeral, which occurred on Satur
day last
Referring to the death of Mrs. .Dono-
van, the Baltimore San of the 9th has
the following notice:
Mrs. Caroline Donovan, whose gift of 100000
to found chair of English literature at the
Johns Hopkins University has made sher name
well known in Baltimore literary circles, died at
her residence, at Catonsville yesterday morn
ing at ) O'Clock. She was in her eighty seventh
year, and her death was the result Of gradual
wearing away of her system, and mot by anv
\ disease or sudden Illness. She enjoyed during
her Whole life remarkable good health, and il
was not until within the last year that she
showed signs of failing health that indicated to
her physician that her end could not be far off.
until about thirty days ago, after which time
she did not leave her room. Her mind was clear
and active to the last, and Tuesday she con-
ferred with Mr.. j. ii. Harvey, who has always
mad charge of her estate, about making her will.
1t was drawn up about O'Clock in the after
| noon, and although she had made several deeds
OF trust at different periods, this was her first
VIII. With no apprehension whatever of her
| approaching death Mrs. Donovan made an APP
pointment with Mr. Harvey for Tuesday night
With regard to arranging the conveying of some
stocks to different persons, and he and her ply
sicians, Dr.. Chas. G. w. Magill, left her at late
hour in the best of spirits Her niece, Miss Car
RE NJ. Crowle, who has resided with her for
nearly fifty years, was with her during several
hours of the night, and toward four or five
O'Clock went to her bedside, and was about to
put additional coverings on her, remarking at
the time, Il am afraid you will take cold to-
night Aunt" when she found that she was still
sleeping. Noticing some change i'll her face,
however, She became alarmed, and sent imme
diately for Mr.. Harvey and DR.. MacGill. They
reached the house at ) O'clock and Mrs. Dono-
van passed peacefully away in her sleep just at
the time of their arrival
Mr.. Harvey came to town Immediately and tel
egraphed the news of her death to her relatives
Her funeral will be held Saturday morning
TERED in the family vault at Greenmount. The
funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Dr.
Joseph +, Jennison, pastor of the Presbyterian
Church at Gainesville, and the all-bearers will
be ex-MayOr LatrObe, Professor Ira Remsen, Mr..
}. IL. Harvey, Mr. John s. Cuttings, Col. Albert
Richie and Mr.. Hugh Caperton.
Mrs Donavan was born in Baltimore Deem
Der 20, 1903, and her maiden name was Caroline
soulsby. She was of a Maryland family, and
spent the greater part of her life in her native
city. Her husband, the late Joseph Donovan.
who was merchant during the early part of his
life, died in 1861, leaving her estate, which by
her good judgment and business ability she in
creased more than fourfold. She was noted for
her sound, practical mind in attending to her
estate, and until the time of her death took an
active part i'll its management. She lived for
many years on the corner of Lombard and Paca
streets She afterWard built a pretty little villa
on Linden avenue extended, beyond the boun-
dairy, with about four acres of ground. This
property she afterward sold, and purchasing the
estate at Gainesville, Paradise Station, of
10 acres, she took up her abode in the commodi-
GUS and picturesque cottage about nine years
ago, and continued to live at ''Winston,' as the
property called, until her death, her niece,
Miss Crowle and maid being the only other
occupants of the house. Mrs Donovan led
quiet, retired life, more interested in her
domestic duties than anything else, but
doing charitable acts and giving material
assistance to many i'll unostentatious
way. Even i'll her young life she was never a
devotee to society, and during her residence
at winston" seldom left her home She was
devoted to her home life, and and heard
little of outside life excepting through the pa
pers. Throughout her life her daily occupation
i'll the morning was to read the San One year
q COS 10 m 10 q of tl11Ct uohN Mr. uar
vey, to her nieces and nephews,a and second one
four months ago. In her bequest of 100000 to
the Johns Hopkins University, she stated that it
was her desire that the money should be used to
establish chair of English literature, but this
was not obligatory. Her request will be carried
out, however. She expressed very decided views
that sound, practical knowledge of English
was Of greater value and would be more bene-
fetal than the exclusive attention to classical
scientific education, for which it should at least
be made the ground work
She had at first intended leaving this money
to the Washington and Lee University of Lex
ington, Va but decided, after mature debera-
ton, that it would be better to encourage the
home Institution, particularly as at that time
the finances of the Johns Hopkins were not i'll a
very fiOuriShing condition. She had a great re-
gard and admiration for General Robert E. Lee,
and expressed her intention of leaving him
SluoOOO II ms deaUn hau not prevented the car
rying out of this design. Among her requests
was the sum of $4,000 to the Washington and
Lee University. She also left block of ware
houses on Charles and Camden streets, valued
at about $s0,OOO, in trust with eX-DIayor Latrobe
and Mr.. j. H. Harvey, the income to accrue to
the Colonization Society of Liberia. A bequest
made to the Little Sisters of the Poor. With
the exception of a dwelling house on Eutaw
street, in which her niece will reside, the
mainder of her estate will be sold and will be
divided equally among her nine nieces and
nerhews as she leaves no brothers and sisters.