Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-02-24
Death OF MIR. BENoN1 WHEAT

DEATH OF Mr.. BENoNI WHEAT
Mr.. Renoni Wheat, who had been seri-
| ouslv i'll tt bis home Ia this city for the
mast monGn or two, died about one
o'clock this afternoon. The deceased
was a son of the lsts BsDopi Wheat,
and was born 10 this city 7S years ago
! and since early manhood had been a
1 prominent, successful and useful
citizen. Shorty after attaining bis
majority be vita his brother, the late
Jordan w. Wheat, continued the
mercantile bus ness so long conducted
by their fstaer, the store being situated
on the northwest corner OF King street
and the Strand, the premises now oc
cupied by Messrs Chilly & Bro. 10
addition to the commission merchant
business the drm operated mill on
the river front between Queen and
Princess streets. The firm OF Wheat &
Bro. was known throughout all this
section of country, they having been
agents for the old Baltimore steamer
Columbia from the time she was pus on
the river up to 1875. when she was
Withdrawn. Some years ago the firm
went out of business, and MIR. Jordan
w. Wheat having deceased, the suit
iect OF this notice devoted himself to
other pursuits. He was president OF
tae Citizens National Bank (tne last OF
the original board OF directory and the
Alexandria Water Company at the
time of his death. For several years
Mr.. Wheat was q member OF the Com
mon Council from the FRS. ward, and
during his iDcumbeDcy he was q mem
Der Of the finance committee, render
ing valuable service to the city at
time when Its affairs were being
brought out OF the chaos OF the civil
war. He had also been President OF tue
Board OF Fire Wardens. He had
nearly ell bis life been consistent and
active member OF church, and
at the time of bis death was q
commu meant OF st, Psul's Church.
lie was regarded as the true
type OF q Christian gentlemsn and
exemplary citizen. He leaves widow
aud two childrea-s son and daughter.
Mr.. Wheat entered the sere and yellow
leaf OF life we'll preserved, the result OF
following q methoaical course OF life.
Aftr having passed the three-score
and tso mark he continued to enjoy
comparatively good health up to about
two years ago, when bis vital powers
began to wsne. he recuperated, how
ever, and eventually moved about
again. 1t was, however, but the begin
ming oil the end. Serious organic
trouble developed and be gradually
weakened until ne was no longer able
to leave his room. His con-
dition huctuated until this after
noon when the end came. Mr..
Wheat was one of q committee OF three
who were selected TO purchase monument to
be Ierected over the remains Of the seven
firemen who lost their lives OF the FIRE ON
lower King street November IL, 1866. In
1 S72 he was made president Of the Alexan-
dris Ferry Company and for thirty years was
president OF the Alex andria Fire Insurance
Company. He was the lsst president OF the
Alexandria Canal Company and was one OF
FIVE who purchased the lot row known as
the Bethel Cemetery of which company he
was the first and only president. On Novem-
Der 1, 1853, he married Miss Matilda Talia-
ferro Fitzhugh, daughter OF william @. and
Matilda Fitzhugh, OF the Grove" Upper
vile, Fsuquier county, to whom seven chill
dren we're born, Harrie Fitzhugh and Alice
Maud being the only two surviving. On
October IA, 1890, he married Miss Eliza Ad-
Olson Hester, daughter of the late James
William and Eliza I'd lson Hester and grand
daughter of Thomas Bell Addison, Of George
town, DC ,Ils funeral will take place from
St Psul's Church on Wednesday afternoon.