Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-22
PHILANTHRoPIsT REvERED ALL
OVER IOWA PASSES AWAY
Eli. TODAY IN BURLINGTON.
VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA
Man Whose Thousands of Dollars in
Gifts Have Brought Joy to Thous-
ands of Hearts Answers the Final
Summons - Sketch of His Career.

Burlington, Sept. 21.-(SpeciaD Il
Philip M. Crapo, well known through
put Iowa as philanthropist and capi--
talist, died at his home here this morn
ing after suffering for short time
from an attack of pneumonia. The|
arrangements for his funeral have not
RS yet been announced.
Sketch of His Life.
Philip M. Crapo was born in Free
town,near New Bedford, Mass, June
80, 1874. He traces his ancestry
through more; than two centuries.
Philip M. Crapo's father, Philip, was
born October IL, 1898, and was married
in 1923 to Hannah Crapo. Their son
enjoyed the benefits of an excellent
school system and was prepared for
college. His college plans were inter-
rupted by his enlistment as a private
soldier in the Third Massachusetts In
lantry. He served in the eastern de-
paItment with headquarters at New
berne, N. G. After the war Mr.. Crapo
went to Michigan, whence he engaged
as a civil engineer in the construction
of what is now the Flint and Pere
Marquette railroad. He afterwards en-
gagged in the state Offices at Detroit in
the preparation of the military history
of Michigan. While a resident of De-
troit, Mr.. Crapo occupied a prominent
social position, being a member of
many social, literary and military or
ganizations. In April, 1868, he came to
Iowa, and took charge of the business
of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insur-
ance company in the southern half of
the state. Subsequently his territory
was enlarged and he was made the
general agent of the company for
Iowa and Nebraska,to which he devot-
ed his attention for thirteen years. In
1882 he was appointed financial COR
respondent of the company, which po-
sition he has filed continuously since
that date. He has served the company
successfully and satisfactorily for more
than thirty-one years.
While Mr.. Crapo was always an
active republican, he was never an
Office seeker. He was chairman of
the republican congressional commit
tee in his district in the campaigns of
1886 and 1888, and in 1885 was county
chairman for Des Moines county. He
accepted the nomination for state.sen-
ator in that year, and, though he ran
very much ahead of his ticket, he
could not overcome the democratic
majority in the county. In 1889, his
friends supported him Loyalty in the
republican state convention for the
nomination for governor.
a.il. =
Mr. Crapo devoted much of his time
and was a liberal contributor to the
development of public interests. He
has been energetic in his endeavors
to bring railroad competition to Bur
lington. In 1887 he organized a com
pany and secured charter from con-
gress to build combination bridge
across the Mississippi at Burlington,
but after completing arrangements for
its use, and after the taxpayers had
expressed their willingness to vote a
large tax to aid the project, a major
ity of the members of the bridge
company declined to assume the re-
sponsibility and the bridge has never
been built. Mr. Crapo was chiefly in
fuential in securing the establishment
of the Soldiers Home, located at
Marshalltown, and delivered the ad.
dress ON behalf of the old soldiers at
its dedication. He has been active in
securing appropriations for the home
ever since it has been established.
Had Charge of Centennial.
Another important service which
Mr. Crapo rendered to his city and
state was the contribution of service
and money which he made to the
semi-centennial celebration of the ad.
mission of Iowa as state, which was
held in Burlington in1S96. Mr. Grape
was president of the board of commits
sioners appointed by Governor Drake
and was actively in charge.
The crapo Family.
This successful business man was
prominent in all matters affecting the
growth and prosperity of city ant
state, and especially in everything cal
culated to promote education and con
tribute to the health and happiness
of the people.
He was married Sept. 6, 1870 te
Ruth A. Ray. To them were born sew
en- children: Efith Ray, born Aug. 13
1871; Philip Ashley, born July II
1873; Chester Frederick, born, July
%, 1876; Clifford Maxwell, born Sept
6, 1878; Ruth Kelsall, born Sept. 2
1880; Lucy Rowland, born April z
1883, and William Mitchell, born July
"a, 1886. The Oldest son, Philip Ash
ley, was graduate of Phillips Exeter
academy and the Harvard law school
He has just began the practice of Law
In New York City when the Spanish
American war began. He left his bus
mess and came to Iowa to enlist il
Company F. Fiftfeth Iowa infantry. HI
ec...ri1,c, L.