Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-02-04
DEATH OF E. M BRUCE.
He Was the Estey organ CumpRny's
Agent In Philadelphia More Than 40
Years.

He Was the Est-y organ CumpRny's
Agent In Philadelphia More Than 80
Years.
A telegram was received at the office of
the Estey Organ company this morning
announcing the death of +. NJ. Bruce of
Philadelphia, for many, years the partner
of the above company in the organ and
piano trade.
Mr.. Bruce was born in Wilmington about
70 years ago. He was a son of Rev. Mans
field and Grace &c Jddard) Bruce. In his
young manhood he went to New York,
where he was employed at his trade, which
was that of a painter. After a short time
he W, mt to Illinois and occupied the posi-
ton of school teacher for few years.
During his sojourn in Illinois he sold few
Estey melodeons, and on one of his visits
to his native town Jacob Estey arranged
with him to make short trip to New Jer-
sey to look after some special business,
stating that he would not probably be &C.
cupied more than three months.
This trip to New Jersey proved the be-
ginning OF very intimate relations between
Mr.. Bruce and Mr Estey, and he gave up
his school teaching and ever after that was
| connected with the marketing o the Estey
melodeons and, later, the Estey organs.
In a short time he moved to Philadelphia
and for 40 years or more has been prom
nent figure in the music trade of that city
In his earlier days the business was car
ried on in his own name, but for many
| years he has been a partner OF the Estey
| Organ company in that field.
Mr.. Bruce was a man Of singularly pure
and upright life, Christian gentleman in
every sense of the word. A man whose
sole aim in life seemed to be not the accu-
mutation of property, but the benettting Of
his fellow men. He has always spent a
! considerable portion of his time in direct
religious work. Al one time he made
quite an extended trip to the Pacific coast
in connection with Evangelist ii. G. De-
| Witt. and was an interchangeable worker in
that direction as well as in his business.
For many years he held religious services
| in the Pennsylvania State Prison at MOya-
mensiug, every Sunday afternoon and dur
ing that time was very greatly interested in
various schemes for the smelioration OF
the condition of prisoners when re-
leased from their incarceration. AT one
time he bought and carried on farm near
Philadelphia, and on this farm he used 10
keep more or less of these unfortunate peo-
pie. OF course, he met with the same rX-
periences that philanthropists always do
namely, the imposition of some of these
people, but the ultimate results of the
work were very gratifying. In later years
his health has not been good enough tC
warrant the continuation OF these various
phlanthropic measures, and he has grad
ually withdrawn from them, devoting HI,
time principally to business
The relations between him and the Brat
tleboro company have always been of tn,
most familiar character, and Of late year
have assumed great tenderness. His tax
ing away CONES in the nature of yer!
severe personal bereavement.
The surviving members of Mr.. Bruce
family are his wife. and two daughters
Mrs. Stafford, and Mss Birdie Bruce, hi
son-in-law, Captain Stafford, and TIVE
grandsons. Mrs. Bruce was Harriet, daugh
ter of Daniel and Catherine (Moorr) SNOW
of Wilmington. Their golden wedding
was celebrated Sept. u, 1898. The funera
will be held in Philadelphia Tuesday after
noon at two o'clock.