Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-18
Celebrating the Centennial of the
Philanthropist's Birth.
MEMORIAL EXERCISES IN PROGRESS
The MiIionaire's Career and Extent
of His Benefactions.
GRATITUDE OF THE SOUTH

PEABODY, Mass, February 1S.-The
town is today celebrating the centennial
of the birth of the noted philanthropist,
George Peabody. There is bunting every
where, and flags float from all the public
buildings, while the decoration of private
residences is general The school children
in Peabody Institute listened to an address
by Rev. ]. w. Hunt on George Peabody"
This afternoon in the town hall, the pub
lie exercises were continued with an ad-
dress by Mr.. Francis H. Appleton an ora
ton by Lieutenant Governor Walcott and
a poem, lone Hundred Years." by Rev.
Minot j. Savage.
Tonight there will be a big banquet, at
which distinguished guests from all parts
of the state are expected.
The house where Mr.. Peabody was born
is still standing On Washington street-a
spacious and substantial residence-and is
one of the notable landmarks of the town.
which is annually visited by thousands.
Sketch of His Career.
He was descendant of Lieut.. Francis
Peabody who enigrated from St Albans.
Hertfordshire, England, in 1885, and set
tied in Topsfield, then part of Salem. His
father was Thomas Peabody, and his moth
er Judith, daughter of jeremiah Dodge. He
received his education in the district school
of his native town, and it was while yet
by tending refreshment booth on day
of celebration. This was the nucleus of the
colossal fortune subsequently acquired ana
distributed. He was grocers clerk at the
age OF twelve, and SO marked was Ills bus-
mess ability that at nineteen he was ad-
mitted into partnership with Elisha riggs
of Washington, d. c., in the wholesale dry
goods business.
house soon took rank with the leading con-
Germs of the country. In 1897 he withdrew
from the firm Of Peabody, Riggs q Co.,
and, with others. formed the hrm OF George
Peabody & Co. money brokers and mer-
chants With Midas-ke touch he was able
to realize handsomely from his operations,
and fourteen years later he had accom-
plished the object of his life. so far as the
ac 1uisition of a great fortune was con-
cerned.
His Benefactions.
His benefactions aggregated sl2""ooo.
Among his princely gifts were over 3d.
uGOOoO to the southern educational fund;
s. 800 600 for establishing homes for the
deserving poor in London: SlGo.uc0 to the
Peabody Institute in his native town. and
to. the Peabody Institute in Baltimore he
gave in all 81. .pG,000
The town of Danvers was enriched before
his death by gifts amounting TO more than
S200,000. and his unparalleled generosity
was manifested in the establishment OF
libraries in Thetford, VT, and Georgetown,
his mothers birthplace. He provided the
means for fitting out the Advance, DR..
Kane's ship, for the arctic voyage in
search of Sir John Franklin.
Peabody Institute, Peabody: Peabody In
stitute, Danvers; Peabody Academy of
Science Salem, and the 100000 memorial
church in Georgetown are evidences Of
his generosity.
In the freproof recess in the Peabody
Institute in his native town is the por-
trait. valued at $4,000. presented by the
Queen of England to Mr.. Peabody, the
gold medal voted by Congress and other
testimonials of esteem which have been
called out from time to time by his superb
beneficence
Mr.. Peabody never married. Fe died No
venlber 4. 1869. and his remains now lie
in Harmony Grove cemetery, Salem, a
large sarcophagus Of granite marking the
spot. The obseGuies were held IN the
South Congregational Church and distin-
guished men We're present from all parts
of the country.