Evening star., 1894-03-06
JOSEPH c. WILLARD ILL
At His Home on 14th Street in a Critical
Condition.
His Son and Brothers and Sisters at
His Bedside A Man of
Large Wealth.

Mr.. Joseph c. Willard is lying very i'll at
his residence, this city, 6l3 14th street.
Some days ago he had an attack of con-
gestion Of the lungs, which has left him
subject to periods of exhaustion heart
failure Last night he was thought to be
in an extremely critical condition, but to-
day he is said to be better. The attacks of
exhaustion are, however. liable to return
at any time, and his attending physicians,
Drs. George Byrd Harrison and L. W.
Glazebrook. are with him constantly. At
no time is he left without A physician be-
ing near at hand. Mr.. Willard is not an
old man in the general sense of that term,
although he has probably passed the
Scriptural limit Of three score and ten.
He is however, physically not strong
man. and it is feared that the weakness
which has manifested itself in the action
or the heart may terminate fatally.
HIS son, who has been with him during
the past week, returned to his legislative
duties In Richmond, but was hastily sum-
noned back to the city and is now with
his brother. Two sisters one from Cam
bridge Mass. and the other from the fam
lily nome In Vermont. and brother, who
also lives in Vermont, are here AS is
wsll known. he has two brothers living In
this city, namely. Mr.: Henry A Willard
and Mr.. Caleb c. Willard. The form ar
is at present in Atlantic City. where he
went several days ago for the benefit of
his health.
\ Quiet Life.
Mr.. Joseph c. Willard has led such a
quiet life for so many years that the con-
d.tion of his health is not generally
known. He Is. personally. perhaps. as
little known and by name as generally
known as any man in the CITY,
The majority Of people who know him by
ha hi,,, OLD
residents Of the city Mr.. Willard, perhaps
stands first in point of wealth. OF recent
years men have come to the city and made
their homes here who can perhaps write
checks of larger size than Mr.. Willard,
but 1t is said that there Is no one OF those
who may be termed the old residents Of the
city who can describe their fortune in
such large figures as Mr.. Willarl can. lie
Is the third or fourth largest taxpayer In
the District and In addition to his real es-
tate holdings he has large sums of money
IT is said. invested in securities. 1t is esti-
mated that he Is worth in the neighbor-
hood of S',00O,OO0.
Mr.. Willard has his peculiarities, and
among these is a disinclination to mingle
generally with people. He lives to a large
extent the life Of recluse. His house is
an old-fashioned residence on 14th street
the front windows of which and the door
are protected by green blinds, which are
never open. This has been Mr. Wizards
home for great many years. He has lived
there alone, with the exception. of course.
OF one or two servants. 1t has been shis
custom each day to spend a number of
hours In his Office. which he retains in the
second story of the old building fronting
en- Pennsylvania avenue just west of VIII
lards Hotel. which is one Of his real estate
holdings. His>colored man is generally sta
TONED at the door at the foot of the stair
case, and persons who wish to see Mr.. VII
lard present their cards to the servant
His ONCE is. perhaps. one Of the most Gu
rious places In Washington. He seems to
"a roll cd l.,.-
cles of all kinds which he has gathered to-
gether In the course of his long life. Some
OF them are merely curious; others are val
liable because they are connected with
history Of the past. for Mr.. Willard In for
mer years had a wide and extensive ac-
quaintance with public men.
Willard's Hotel.
He came to this city about the year 1850
fro n his home in Vermont, and in connec-
ton with his brother. Henry A. Willard,
he went into the business of hotel keeping
in the building where Willard's Hotel is
now located. Under the management Of the
Willard brothers the hotel increased not on
ly in business. but in the extent of the
building, and gradually reached the size
which 1t has today. Mr. Caleb c. Willard
was at one time associated with the broth
ers, but subsequently went to Fortress Mon
roe, and then returning to this city founded
the Ebbitt House.
MIR. Joseph G. Willard has been married
twice, and he has now but one child, a
son, VINO Is resident of Fairfax county,
virginia, and is one OF the best known and
most popular young lawyers in that sec
ton OF the country. Mr.. Willard, jr, is
only about twenty-seven years of age but
he Is member of the Virginia legislature
and is regarded as one of the brightest
members of that body
1t has been the habit Of Mr.. Joseph C.
Willard for years past to spend his time
almost exclusively between his Office and
his home. He has a pew in the New York
Avenue Church, and each Sabbath morn
ing, with great regularity, he is found in
his place. He was an attendant at the
church when Rev. DIR. Gurley was the pas
tor, and was strong friend of that min
lister.
His aversion to meeting people has grown
to be so strong that he Is sometimes seen
to step out into the street from the side
walk In order to avoid apparently coming
close to people who happen to be passing
aions. There are but few persons with
whom he is on terms Of even semi-intimacy
but those who know him speak of him as
a man of pleasant address AS the wears
have gone on IT Is evident that Mr. Villa -d's
s aisihciination to come In contact with peo-
pie has grown stronger. and so his life has
become more and more retired
Served In the Army.
1t Is perhaps not very well known that
Mr.. Willard has a war record. He served
two years from the year 1862 to the year
1864 in the Army Of the Potomac, doing
duty as an assistant Quartermaster Owing
to his residence in this city for so MANY
years he made the acquaintance of the va
rious Presidents Of the United States, the
members of their cabinets and other men
in public life, and 1t is said that he has a
large and valuable collection Of personal
letters from distinguished men. 1t Is well
known that his relations with his two
brothers have not Of late years been very
cordial and the fact Is often mentioned