Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-09

Joseph Pyle, president of the G. e. j
Pyle Go. died Sunday nigh, tabout Z. 80
o'clock at his residence, Cedar Grove,
Lancaster and Grant avenues, OF
paralysis. His health had been failing
for long time but notwithstanding
his death was great shock to his
family and large circle of friends.
Sunday morning he accompanied
his guest, William Reynolds Of Peoria,
ILL.,, superintendent Of organization Of
the International Sunday school Asso-
citation, to the sessions of the Sunday
schools of the Reformed Episcopal
Churches Of the Covenant and Re-
deemer and the Sunday school of Han
over Presbyterian Church. Previous
10 leaving home he was extremely
cheerful and apparently as well as
usual. He addressed all three schools
and made the concluding prayer ut the
session of Hanover Sunday school. He
next proceeded to the auditorium Of
Hanover Church, where Mr. Reynolds
delivered an address. Mr.. Pylo was
escorted to the PASTORS pew. While
the Rev. Lafayette Marks. ID. d., the
pastor, was introducing Mr.. Reynolds
and while the latter was talking Mr..
Pyle frequently mado responses When
Mr.. Reynolds was concluding his ad-
dress Mrs Marks, who sat next TO Mr.,
Pyle, noticed that he had become
feeble and at the conclusion of the
service she summoned several gentle
men who were in the immediate
vicinity. They thought at first that
hc was chilly and conducted him tn
chair adjoining register. but they
soon realized that he was seriously i'll
and assisted him to his carriage and
he was speedily conveyed to his resi-
.dence. During the early part of the
afternoon it was thought ho would
rally, but at o'clock hope of his re-
covery was abandoned and from 4. 80
O'Clock until tho hour of his decease
he was unconscious tIe had often ex-
pressed the desire that he might "die
in the harness. and it can truly be
aid that he did. His whole heart and
soul was in Sunlay,school work and il
seemed fitting that his last days work
should be in that department
Announcement of Mr.. Pye's death
was made in ST. Paulis NJ. u. Church,
of which he vas prominent member,
at the conclusion of Sunday nights ser
vice. While it was known that his
health had been failing, his death was
unexpected, and the announcement fell
like a thunderclap. A meeting of the
official mem ber5 was Immediately
called. S. II. Baynard and James j.
Wyatt were appointed committee to
draft resolutions expressing the feeling
Of the united olfciary Of the church
and Harvey HolIecker and Harry j.
Guthrie were appointed u committee
on behalf Of the trustees. These com
mittees, accompanied by the Rev. 4.
u. Terry, the pastor, waited upon Mr..
Pyle's family Monday for tse purpose of
performing offices that they might bo
hble. Each committee will prepare a
paper to be road at the funeral. 1t was
resolved TO drape the church in memory
of Mr.. Pyle and a committee composed
of William b. Smith, Jr., q. N. Nc
Kaig and DIR. George M. Shattuck was
appointed to arrange for draping the
church. 1t was also resolved to hold a
memorial service next Sunday.
Mr.. Pyle was born in Salisbury town
ship, Chester county, Pa, March 1lth,
1926. Up to the age of II he attended
the district school near Hockessin Ito
which place his parents removed when
he was an infant of three months) ;
going to school in the winter and work.
ing on the farm in summer.
In June, lS43, he was apprenticed to
mis- brother, TO learn the patent leather
publAtbH, 1T gov anu uOdIll DbT
and upon attaining his majority, four
years later, he found himself $50 in
debt for clothing. For several years
he worked at his trade at SO per
week, devoting himself assiduously
to his business and advancing by
industry, economy and perseverance,
from jouTneyman to superintendent,
until in 1861 he became full
partner, and in the organization of the
Pyle Patent Leather Co., he was chosen
president by the unanimous sutfrages
of the stockholders. Subsequently
the firm name was changed to the q.
a. j. Pyle Co. This firm, under MIR.
Pyle's presidency, has won u world.
wide reputation for the high charac
ter of its manufactures and it's trade
at home and abroad IS constantly in
creasing.
In 1916, while yet in his minority,
Mr.. Pyle invented machine fol
softening leather, which is patented
and is still in use in these works as Tho
best for that purpose
When not quite % years old he mar
ried daughter of the late Barney q
Harris, whose father, of Revolutionar,
times, was the pioneer shipbuilder il
Wilmington.
Mr.. Pyle was member of Keolul
Tribe, Imp'd. o. Il. NJ, Mechanics
Lodge, l. O. o. f., and Washington
Conclave Heptasophs, or Seven Wis,
Men. lie was great keeper of wampuu
of tho Great Council of tho United
States Imp'd 0. II. NJ, for man!
years He was ono Of tho oldest Rec
Men, in years of membership, in thl
Eastern part of the United States. III
was past great incohonee of the Grea
Council of the United States and grea
prophet of the Great Council Of Della
ware. For several years he was presi
dent of the Red Mems Hall Co. III
was past grand master of the Grant
Lodge of Delaware, |. o. O. F.. ant
past supreme archon of the Hepta
sophs. He filled all the importan
offices in these orders
In religious work he was alway
prominent. For about 35 years he wa
superintendent of ST. Paul's Sunday
school and class leader of st. Paul
Church. He was president of tn
board of trustees about 80 years. ii
was president of the board of trustee
of Wilmington Conference Academy an
a trustee Of Dickinson College. Ii
was member of tho Board of Churc
Extension, the Board of Education an
the Board Of Deaconesses' Work of vii
mington M. Il. Conference. He was
delegate to tho last General Conferenc
OF the NJ. Il, Church and there was
strong feeling TO send him to the mex
General Conference. He was chairma
Al. l.. l. Ill.,