New-York tribune., 1895-01-11
OBITUARY.
WILLIAM STURGlS.

William Sturgis one OF the Oldest retired dry
goods merchants In this city, died at MS nome. NO
145 East Thirty nnth-st.. yesterday. In the eighty
ninth year OF his age. after an Illness OF only four
days Prior to this illness. though feeble in body.
he intellectually active, and only one week
before his death he went downtown to attend
meeting OF the Board OF Directors of the Home
Fire Insurance Company, No ll9 Broadway, or
which he a member The immediate cause OF
death was heart failure. following sudden COL
lapse. brought by the nfrmities OF old age.
Mr. Sturgis born IN Barnsable Mass, on
September /, 1906 and a son Of well-known
sea captain. who rendered conspicuous service as
leader in repulsing a British raval attack In the
War OF 1872 and was also selected by General
Washington to bring to this country from France
the Marquis de la Motier. the young son OF Lafay-
cite, who believed 10 be In danger OF violence
at the hands Of his fathers political enemies.
Young Sturgis received the ordinary common
school education OF the NewEngland boy OF his
youth and when fourteen years old was employed
in the drygoods store of Merrick, Lee & Co.. in
Boston. When only twenty years old he formed a
partnership with Edward Wight, and began TO Inn
port goods from Europe under the firm name OF
Wight, Surgs e Co. making frequent voyages to
England for that purpose HIS transatlantic hnah-
clal connections we're with his cousin. Joshua
Bates then and for many years the head OF Bar
ing Brothers, the London bankers. In 1887 the firm
of Wight Sturgis & CO., which had moved TO TINS
city was consolidated with that Of Litteheld q
Shaw under the style OF Wight, Sturgs Shaw,
the last. William Shaw. being member OF the
merged firm of Lttlefed & Shaw. Wight. Sturgis
& Shaw and their successors. Sturgis Snaw &
Co.. allied prominent place In the drygoods I'm I'M
porting trade of this city for many years: MI Mr:
Sturgis retired from active business twenty-five
years ago. , ,,. In
surance Company. No ol Was,; Wa was dractors
lie continued to serve actively IN me b1tru % %
Directors til his death period OF % 0ssr tbe h.yuTy ony
survivor OF the original board and vas the idr 3d.
tho Home Fire Insurance Company was organized
he was elected az OF its directors. and when
he died 81 he J was bean m for seVera Oy yeaT its Oldest
member. He lived an honorable career on N, over
hf hall ooG fenqrg m ind nd sovened COVE By high
ard OF business honor ana personal laoesf! W. M
England merchants who have done so much TO
build up the business interests o 5ne e,topTs h p
lie was stan,n nrpOal arrelv al" toward eauppng
several regiments from this state.
In 1881 Miss Elizabeth HinckIey daughter OF
and sister OF Isaac Hinckley, president Of the
Phsdephs wilmington %f ana TbeS hnd sevea cRI
dren. five Of whom survive VIZ Nrs: IS, Me"'Obo ho
@o@Pany Sna M I@ sse e" formerly Of
living in Cheyenne; Thomas sturgIs. president OF
the MARYLAND lee compsny or Satm1rs IN rbcaso ana
and Frank X sturgis. OF the firm OF Work. strong
& CO.. bankers and brokers. No. 35 Broad,st who
?T tns Stock 1st sSnssse t%S His We died in @ He
married again. his second wife being Miss Gather.
Boston. who died in 1868 They had two children
a son and daughter who survive ~. 80
East Thirty-ninth-st.. tomorrow. will be private
The Rev Or. Robert Collyer pastor Of the Unita,
burial viii be in the ancestral family plot. in the
cemetery at bingham. Mass.