The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11
DEATH OF R. G. DUN.
He Expires After an Illness OF Long
Duration.

NEW YORK. Nov. 1o.-Robert Graham
Dun, head of R. c. Dun & Co., died at b S
residence. PSI Madison Avenue. early to-
| day, after an illness of nearly twelve
years. Mr. Dun had been suffering from
a complication of diseases, which, while
| not combining him TO his house, has kept
| him continually under the care of ply
! stefan. Cirrhosis OF the liver and heart
| failure were the immediate cause of
death. Early last spring. after a con-
| sultation between Drs. Janeway. Smith,
and Ferris, he was removed to villa
| Dummere. his country seat, at Nara
| gansett Pier, where he slowly recupera-
! ted.
He returned TO this city in September
and had been ill ever since. Beside his
bed when the end came were his wife and
physician. Mr.. Dun had no children.
The funeral will be held ON Tuesday
morning at his late residence, the serv-
ices being conducted by the Rev. DR..
| Husk, assistant pastor of St. Thomas
Church. The interment will be at Wood
| lawn.
| Robert Graham Dun was born in Chilli
| cothe Ohio, in 1926. He was of Scotch
parentage on both his father and moth
| er's side. His father was educated for
the ministry, while his grandfather was
the Rev. James Dun, minister OF the
Free Church of Scotland, at Glasgow.
MIR. Dun took advantage of such means
for educating as were afforded him, and
at the age Of sixteen began his business
career in a country store at 4 salary of
50 week
By reason of his application to business
his energy and thorough going practical
ways he soon became one of the partners
in the business. A few years later he sew
cred his connection with the firm and came
to New York. where he secured employ
ment in the Mercantile Agency, then con-
ducted by Tappan G. Douglass. In 1854 he
became partner of Mr. Douglass under
the firm name of B. Douglass & Co. Five
years later he bought Mr.. Douglass in
terest, realizing that there must be but one
head to make the enterprise successful. He
has continued as sole proprietor ever since.
During the past twenty-five years he has
been assisted by his nephew, Robert Dun
Douglass.
The mercantile agency of Tappan &
Douglass was the first enterprise Of the
kind ever organized. II established under
Mr.. Dun's guidance branches in Boston,
Philadelphia. Baltimore. Cincinnati. st.
Louis, and Louisville. There are altogether
$50 branch Offices now in existence includ-
ing those in Europe Australia Havana and
the City of Mexico The growth of the
mercantile agency is one of the most phe-
nomenal developments in connection with
American business history. The organiza-
tion has under salary several thousand en-
ployes as managers. travelling reporters. or
clerks. and has as its patrons under yearly
subscription the leading manufacturers,
wholesale and jobbing houses, and bankers
in the United States and Canada.
The reference book published by the
agency is to be found in a majority of
the wholesale and jobbng houses. in The
counting rooms of manufacturing con-
Germs and in the Offices OF banks and hank
ing houses The book contains the names
of more than thirteen hundred thousand
persons and firms.
At the age of twenty-five Mr.. Dun made
a business deal with Erastus Wiman. who
controlled Canadian agency, and secured
the control of that concern under the
name of Dun. Wiman & Co. Ir 1895 the
partnership between himself an. Mr.. WI
man was dissolved, Mr.. Dun continuing
the business.
Mr.. Dun has been in failing health for
the past twelve years. 1t has been his
custom TO SPEND the early fall and winter
in New York and the midwinter in Cali
fornia, the South or Europe. His favorite
pastime In the spring has been salmon
fishing in the waters of the Grand Cas-
capedia. Canada, where he held under
leasehold from the Canadian Government
forty miles of river. The late President
Arthur frequently accompanied Mr.. Dun
to his fishing box. Mr. Dun also owned
a villa at Narragansett Pier.