Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-12
MR. W. l. COWARDIN.
DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT OF The
FIRE AND MARINE COMPANY.
gritty, and Honor-Account OF His
Last Illness.

Mr.. William L. Cowardin. known
throughout the State as the president Oh
the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance
Company. died at his homo in Hsnrico
county, near Oakwood cemetery, at $50
o'clock yesterday morning.
His illness was short, aud the announce
ment that his useful life is ended goes to
many friends mere in the city and elsewhere
who did not know of his sickness. and who
| had scarcely missed him from those Walks
of life where he was an active and promi-
nent figure.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mr.. Cowardin was born in Prince Ed
ward county April 3. 1918. lie was son
of John Lewis and Pollie Roads Co
wardin. formerly of Bath county. Va. HIS
! father was q son of Abraham Cowardin,
who married Lewis. daughter of Mrs;
Lewis. who owned the Warm Springs az
one time. and Of the numerous family OF
| Iewises in Virginia. of which Generaii
Charles Lewis and Mcriwether Lewis. OF
the Lewis and Clarke Rocky-dountain ex-
| piorers, were members.
| The mother of Mr.. Cowardin was On IN
structor of young ladies' and taught IA
/ Bath. Mbemarle, Amelia, Charlotte, Prince
! Edward, and PittsvlvanIa counties and tne
city of Danville, where she died in 1s3O.
BUSINESS LIFE.
| The deceased received good education
| and entered business as n drug clerk IN
Danvlle under old DIR. Graham. he came
to Richmond " 1896 and secured employ.
ment az bookkeeper. and during a part
| of the time was with Purcell Il Ladd
The Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance
| Company was organized In 1882. ana III
1sil Mr.. COwardin entered its service IN
| clerical capacity.
The company's clerks of those early days
were W. J.. COwardin. Thomas W. Andrews,
| William Willis. Jr., Newton Coghill. Charles
p. Madame. Edward VI. Alfriend, Robert u.
Richardson, and John McKernea, who
were however. employed at different
times. The Office of the company was first
| located on the west side of Fourteenth
street, between Main and Gary. long
| known a. the Penitentary store: thence u
was moved 20 the small brick building on
the east side of Fourteenth street. IInme-
| diasely in the rear Of the then business
stand Of Purcell, Iadd x Co.. thence TO
the Office next 10 the post-oilice under the
Exchange Hotel, and fronting on Four
teenth street thence across to the west
side of Fourteenth street, in the northern
| of two tenements on the corner OF Four
| teenth and Tobacco alley thon owned by
| Thomas Watson: thence to the Ballard
House on Franklin street; thence to the
eastern OF two small tenements on the
southeast corner of Main and Ihlrteenth
streets. then owned by Andrew Hetherton,
and next door TO what was long the Of
fee of the Richmond Dispatch. and from
this place TO its present location, No. 1913
| Main street. which site it purchased In lo5l
of the Bank of Virginia.
SECRETARY AND PRESIDENT.
In March, 1856, deceased was elected to
succeed Mr.. Thomas NJ. Alfriend as secre-
tary. In May, 1853. he again succeeded Mr
| Alfrienl as president, q position TO winch
he had ever since been regularly reelected
To the company's affairs he devoted the
greatest energies and the best years OF his
life, and no one will gainsay tnat TO ms sa-
gacity. prudence, and untirlng diligence
the success Of this great institution Is
largely due.
He had served also as president of the
| CITY Board of Underwriters, president OF the
| State Board Of Underwriters. and member
of the National Board, and was known far
and WIDE as p leader of thought in the in
surance business.
FAMILY.
Mr.. Cowardin's first wife was Miss Dehlia
Franklin, OF Richmond. Of this union
| there were four children born. of whom
only two, Alonzo and William survive.
His second marriage was 10 Miss Camilla
| A. Gary. who survives him with eight chill
dren-Dr. Lewis NJ, DR.. Thomas G. (who
lives in London. Eng.), Samuel y. GOT
Florence. Ala.), Mrs. ". W. Spratley. Miss
Minnie b.. Robert. Miss Alice, and Collin.
Four children by this union are dead.
Mr.. Cowardin was the brother OF the
late James A. COwardin. ESD. founder OF
the Dspaich. and was himself a member OF
the Board of Directors of the Dispatch
! COMPANY. Mrs. Miflin Ladd Is his sister.
THE GOOD CITIZEN.
The earth which is so soon to cover the
mortal remains of this deceased holds no
nobler gentleman. He was resolute IN his
opinions and pcrtinaciOus in the expression
OF them, and was bold to stand up for
! what he considered his rights. but ms mo-
/ tives were good. and he was sincerely de-
sirous Of being auseful member OF society.
| The general verdict will be TINT his ambl-
ton was gratified. He leaves TO his family
an unblemished name; to the company. he
served so long q record of untarnlshed
! loyalty, and TO the community the memory
of faithful and Jealous citizenship and
work well done in numerous public enter
prises.
MS SUBURBAN HOMES.
Mr.. Cowardin, though busy man in
! the city every day in the week, loved the
country, and for the most part OF
his life resided in Henrico within easy
drive of Richmond For many years he
! lived on tho Meadow-Bridge road. From
there he returned 10 the city, and several
| times afterwards moved back and forth 10
the country. His latest residence and the
place of his death was near Oakwood GENE
! te-y. at a point where Thirty-iifth and o
streets would intersect if extended. Here
he had commodious dwelling and ample
grounds, and it was the delight of his life
to attend TO his garden and indulge III anna
teur farming and stock-raislng.
sIcxEEss.
About ten days ago Mr.. CowaTdin had
what is commonly, but often enormously,
characterized as the grippe" and was in
bed dav or two without sending for doc
tor. Monday the Sd he gotup, notwithstand-
| ing the earnest prOtestatiOns of his wife and
children, saving he would come into the
city and would see doctor while here.
The physician gave him a prescription
and sent him straightway back home.
Twenty-four hours later pneumonia had
fully developed and thence onward there
was a vain but vigorous struggle for life.
Some years ago Mr.. Cowardin had an at
tack OF pneumonia. which seriously i'm
perilled his life, but he came ont of it vic
toriously, thanks to a strong constitution.
IN THE WAR.
At one time during the war the deceased
was a member of Captain HilZhimer's COM
pany of Colonel Danforth's regiment of To-
cal defence troops. in responding TO
duty's calls he was often in the trenches in
defence of Richmond and he rendered a
patriots service also in caring for our sick
and wounded men. man Of tender
heart and loving disposition no cry of dis
tress winch he was able TO alleviate ever
found deaf ears III hlm.
WRITER.
Mr.. Cowardin joined with his love for
agriculture and his devotion for the Vir-
GINA Fire and Marine Company great
fondness for contributing to the press. He
also wrote IA history Of his company, which
is not only valuable contribution TO our
local annals, but is full OF permanent worth
to the insurance interests of the country.
He kept we'll abreast OF the times, and
read great deal on all current subjects,
and much of his leisure he employed in
writing letters presenting his views on
these questions.
Dozens of our old citizens who died
within recent years found in him eulo-
glst, and while he wove about their tombs
the wreaths Of discriminating praise he
III Il ~ 4