Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-05

Philadelphia, Pa, March 3O-p.,
iamin Ii. Comegys, president NJ Il.
Philadelphia National Bank, A y
rector Of the Pennsylvania Rail,ol
Co. and member Of the Board q IN
Trusts, died shortly before y o'cIos,
last night at his residence, M NJ;
Walnut street. Mr.. Comegys had hs,.
III nut two days. He attended h n,
duties at the bank 10 the early ,ss
Of the week, and on "Wednesday M !.
stricken with pneumonia. Despi,e 4,
best medical skill, he grew steadi,
worse until the end came.
Benjamin B. Comegys was the son l
the late Cornelius p. Cumegys. VIM
was governor of Delaware fiom ls3Is
1871. and a brother of the late lossI
r. Comegys, who was Chief Justcs
Delaware from 1876 to 1883. He VA
born in the residential portion Of M
old Farmers Bank building at DOys
Of which institution his father M
president, on May 9th, 1919. When Il +
years of age, he went to Philadelphn
and found work In the house d
O'Brien. Dunbar & Co. After tbi. /
he was employed by the house OF Roes
hill & Co., at that time one Of mi
Oldest and best known of the MsrEa|
street dry goods houses. There MI
real business education was ACQUIRED
For about six years he was the con,
fidential bookkeeper of the firm. and
travelled extensively in the West col.
lecting.
He obtained situation in the Phih.
dephia Bank, and on May 1lth lSis
he entered the hank as assistant to th,
general bookkeerer and general clerk
A week later, his principal died, and
the changes which occurred 10 COO,
sequence put Mr.. Comegys into ID,
cashiers room as the cashiers clerk, /
position he held for more than three
years. This gave him advantages
through which he prepared himself
for the position Of cashier, which b.
came vacant August 28th, 1851, vhsi
Mr.. Comegys was elected cashier Of ths
bank. This place he held until 1851
when he was made vice president, hold.
ing the office of cashier al the same
time until 1871. when DIR. Chatham
was elected cashier of the bank, and
Mr. Comegys continued as vice.
president. In January, 1879, MI
Comegys was elected president Of tts
bank, and held that position up to ths
time of his death.
Notwithstanding the eyacting naturs
of Mr.. Comegys' duties in the bank,
he found time for usefulness in othsl
institutions of financial, religious and
charitable nature. For 10 years b
was director of the Pennsylvauis
Railroad Go. As a member Of ths
Board Of City Trusts, he took a deev
interest IN the affairs of Girard Col
lege, and often addressed the student
of that institution. He was also !
director of the Philadelphia Trust
Safe Deposit and Insurance Co., and
of the Western Saving Fund He wa
an elder of the Walnut Street Preshy
terrain Church, and took an ACTIN
interest In its Sunday school work
For more than 30 years, Mr.. Comeg
was a manager of the America
Sunday-school Union, and for severn
years was trustee of the JeffersoI
Medical College.
Mr.. Conegys was the possessor Of
valuable library. Not long ago he 70
marked to a friend: II go out i
society but little, and find all th
diversion that l desire in my books
which represent the work of a life
time" In reply to a question tho
was once asked him, elbow can bu;
man find time to give 10 subjects out
side his profession or business b
said: "There are few lives so bus
that some intervals cannot be found 70
the indulgence of taste for Al
science and literature. For most
my lifetime has been engaged ina
occupation laborious, sxacting and fu
OF responsibilities. But from my earl
youth l have beon lover Of books
AID though l make no claim to scholal
ship the cultivation of a taste II
general literature has been one of th
chief PLEASURES of my life. The CON
fanionship of cooks has been, and u
among my most cherished companior
ships, and love them as | love m
friends" +It
Mr.. Comeeys is survived by thre