The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-18
A USEFUL LIFE ENDED
Meath of Mr.. James II. Post, the Well.
known Architect, Yesterday After,

noon 4
The announcement of the death OF
James Francis Post will be a pain
ruI surprise to his numerous friends
and acquaintance. He had an acute
attack OF indigestion on Thursday |
night and passed away yesterday at !
ernoon al 8 o'clock at the residence OF
his son, Nj. James F. Post, Jr., 112
North Seventh street. While he had
been in failing health for the past
three months and practically had re-
tired from business for the past year
account of his advanced years, he
was able to be at his Office in the old
court house, ON Princess street, during
the first days OF the week.
James Francis Post was born Sep
TENDER "a, 1918, at Fairfield, near
Caldwell, N. j., and was in the 81st
year of his age. He went to New York
when a youth, and studied architecture
for five years. In 1841 he removed to
Petersburg, Va. where he engaged in
business as an architect and builder
for eight years. There he married Miss
Mary Russell and with her removed
to Wilmington in October 1849. He
has since done business in this city
as an architect and builder, and had
he lived till October would have been
a citizen of Wilmington for fifty years.
He came of a family of architects and
in 1910 designed the first residence built
in New York by John Jacob Aston, the
millionaire. The guished archi-
tect of New York, Mr.. Geo. B. Post,
designer of The World building, is his
relative.
The deceased has led a very active
life and his death ends a useful career.
He has done more than any other man
to beautify the city of Wilmington by
the hundreds of beautiful homes his
taste and skill have designed. Among
the more notable structures he de-
signed and in most instances built
were the city hall and opera house, the
splendid Bellamy mansion on Fifth and
Market streets, the William A. Wright
residence, on Sixth and Market streets,
many years the residence of MI. George
Harriss and lately purchased by Con-
g~ressman-elect Jno. d. Bellamy, all the
public school buildings in the city, and
numerous other homes and business
houses. He designed the First Pres
byterian church, st. Johns Episcopal
church and other houses of worship in
the city. He was also the supervisor of
construction of New Hanover county's
elegant new court house, and was the
first supervisor of construction of Will
mington's handsome brownstone post
office building. Indeed, there is barely
a street of our city that does not bear
evidence of his taste and skill. If no
monument is ever reared to his memory
the beautiful brownstone lodge at
Oakdale cemetery, designed and built
under his supervision, will be a last
ing testimonial of his useful career.
During his long business life he has
given more employment to labor than
any man in the history of Wilmington
and it may be we'll said that he was
the friend of the artisan and the Ia
borer.
Mr.. Post was one of the oldest citi-
zens of Wilmington, and although a
northern man by birth he loyalty cast
his lot with his adopted south when
the war broke out between the states
in 1861. Early in the conflict he VOL
unteered in the confederate service, and
served as a lieutenant in two or three
companies, notably Bunting's battery
of artillery. During the last two years
of the war he was in charge of con-
struction of the Notifications at Fort
Fisher and Fort Anderson, at the
mouth Of the Cape Fear, and those
strongholds which so stoutly resisted
the onslaughts Of the federal navy and
army till within a few months of the
fall Of the confederacy, were built
under his supervision.
In early life Mr.. Post was a Mason
and Odd Fellow but for many years he
has not affiliated in that connection.
He was a man Of very positive charac-
ter, strong in his likes and dislikes, and
was true in friendship and loyal to
those who had his confidence. He
passes away with a reputation for in
tegrity that is untarnished and that is
left as a heritage to his descendants.
He was an affectionate husband and
father, and was tender in his love to-
wards his sons and grandchildren who
revere his memory.
Inc utCedStu leaves d VIE oQI6eDloQ
by the weight Of 76 years and who
makes her home with their son, Mr..
James F. Post, Jr., under whose roof
the parents have spent the past twenty
years Of their declining life. They had
four children, but only two survive
our highly esteemed and useful citi-
Zens, MI. James F. Post, Jr., secretary
and treasurer Of the Atlantic Coast
Line, and Mr.. Thomas r. Post, cash
Ter Of the freight department Of that
system. Besides his sons and grand
children, the deceased leaves one
brother, Mr.. Thomas Post, aged 80,
and a sister, Miss Rachael Post, aged
Is years. both residing in New Jersey.
One Of his brothers died in New Jer-
sey in 1897 at the age of IS years. He
came of a long lived family, and de-
scended from ancestors who settled in
America in the reign Of Queen Eliz-
abeth. They located in the Dutch set
Element of New Jersey and the origi-
nal grant Of lands by Queen Elizabeth
to the great grandfather Of the de-
ceased are still in the possession of the