The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-21
C. STRATFORD DEAD
Prominent Manufactures Pass
es Away at His Home
in Greenville.

George Stratford the millionaire oakum
manufacturer of this city, and President
of the Jersey City Paper Company, died
last evening at nine o'clock at his home,
at Garfield avenue and Armstrong place.
Death was due to heart failure. Mr..
Stratford was seventy-two years old and
for the past two weeks had been seriously
i'll. Specialists were called in yesterday
but it was then found that there was 10
hope for the patient. The end came when.
all the family We're around the bedside.
Mr.. Stratford was conscious and receg-
nized all.
No arrangements have been made as yet
for the funeral but services will he held
in st. Johns Episcopal Church on Summit
avenue. Mr.. Stratford had been mem
Der of that church for over a quarter os.
a century Only two weeks ago he was
elected senior warden of the vestry. have
ing served as junior warden for many
years. The Rev. E. l.. Stoddard. Ph.D..
and the Rev Elmer Forbes, will officia:e
at the services, which win probably be
held Wednesday morning.
Mr.. Stratford came to this country from
England when boy. His early life was
struggle and the employment he secured
paid very little. He worked for the Davey
Oakum Company for several years and
then secured place with the Government
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. where he
superintended the manufacture of oakum
for many years. Returning to this city
he entered into partnership with an oak
um manufacturer, and, with his knowl-
edge of the business, the firm prospered
and enlarged its plant. Mr.. Stratford be-
came the sole owner after a number OF
years and since then his business has
grown to gigantic proportions. His was
said to be the largest oakum establish-
ment in the United States if not in the
world. He had business in France,
Germany, Russia and England.
1t is over forty years since Mr.. Strait
ford began the oakum business in this
city. In all that time he has been in
charge of the business. His two sons,
George and Herbert, were associated with
him
Several years ago he had the business
incorporated. His two sons were given
shares. This was done in order to pre-
vent the firm from being dissolved at his
death. He always expressed an earnest
wish to have the business continued after
his death. The management Of the firm
will deyolve on Herbert R. Stratford, who
is a member of the Board of Education
from the Seventh Ward.
The fortune of Mr.. Stratford is said 10
be one of the largest in the city. The es-
tate includes several blocks of real es-
tate on the Heights Mr.. Stratford has
been president of the Jersey City Paper.
Company for over twenty-five years His
unusual business ability served to in
crease the business of that firm and today
is numbered among the most prosperous
of any in the State.
Mr.. Stratford never took any interest,"
in public affairs. He always said thai
he never cared to meddle in these mat
ters because he was too busy looking af-
ter his business He was very religious
man and a constant church attendant.
Mr.. Stratford was married twice. His
second wife, two sons and several oaugh-
ters survive him