New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-10

Levi Zelgler Letter father OF Lady CuTzon OF
Kedleston WAS born in 1884 in the town OF Letters
burg. Washington County, Nd founded by his an
ccstors He received a good education, and after
ward spent several years in a country store When
eighteen years OF age he became dissatisfied with
his surroundings and determined 10 seek wider
field for the exercise OF his energies. In lS5S ne
went 70 Springfield. Ohio. where he entered the
store OF Peter Murray. o merchant, and remained
one year This place not furnishing the desired
field he pushed on 20 Chicago arriving there in the
summer OF 1854. Here he entered the employment
OF Downs & Van Wyck, whore he remained unit!
January. 1850 when he entered the wholesale house
OF Cooley Wadsworth & Co. IN which he continued
through It's various changes until January 100.
when he ana Marshall Field. who had entered the
house al the same time and Who had also secured
TIE business. sold their interests TO
John V. Farweu and purchased controlling In
terest IN the business OF Potter Palmer. This was
continued for two years Field. Palmer * Letter.
and then as Field. Letter Co. until January
ISL In ISL Ar. Letter. having large real estate
and other interests. TO secure freedom from the
daily duties OF exacting business. sold MS IN
terests 10 his partners that he might devote more
Of his time 10 his family travel and TO his IL
brary one OF the best private collections in the
United States
Mr.. Letter never sought or held public Office.
but from bOyho0d was = diABeut student OF poll
tics. and he had a wide range OF knowledge con-
corning the principles OF government and Of Iegisa
ton which would affect the welfare and industries
Of our country. Tor many years he was director
OF the Chicago Relief and AID Society. and gave
much time and study 10 the wise distribution OF
charity; and he a liberal contributor when he
could Do convinced that money and time would
produce more good than harm The American sun
day school Union was one OF his favored instru-
mentalties Of good TO his fellow man
n the rebuilding OF Chicago after the fire OF 1871
Nh Letter was Of the most progressive and
Important OF It's citizens He had erected many
handsome Office and store blocks in the business
district, OF them being fine structure IN
Safest between Van Buren, and Congress SITS
In all which would advance the social and edu-
catioaaI as well as the business interests OF Chi
cago Mr.. Letter was a moving spirit. His means
as well as his business sagaciy were enlisted IN
many enterprises. lie was the first president OF
the Commercial Club, ana was leading member
Union. the Washington Park and the Union League
clubs. He took active interest in the reOrgani-
cation OF the chicago tIstoIlcaI society after the
great fire, and contributed literally TO its building
was also the president Of the Chicago Art Institute
in 1856. succeeding George Armour. its FIRST execu-
stockhoIder in the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank
He belonged TO the Larchmont and Mammalian
clubs, In this city In 1853 he built large house
OF each year. but he retained his home IN Rush-st.
Chicago IIl5 son JPsepA ens a1 the famous
a quantity in the Chicago Board OF Trade that he
history OF the grain trade When ne could no
longer carry II MS father went 10 his AID in the
elder Letter had great real estate and corporation
interests in Chicago He married 1866
Mary Theresa Carver and thew had four chill
dren. One Of them Miss Mary Victoria. mar
ried in 1895 10 the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon.
then Under Secretary OF state for Foreign Affairs
IN London, and who later was made baron and
became Niceroy and Governor General OF India.
Lady Curzon, Vicereine for India aided IN her
husbands management Of affairs in that great
colonial possession. and Of the most i'm
portant figures at the great durbar at Delhi IN
honor Of the accession of Edward VII. She and
her husband are in England The two younger
daughters Of Mr. Letter. Nancy l. c. and Mar
guertte, unmarried.
Mr.. and Mrs. Letter gave freely TO hospital funds
at the time OF the Spanish-American War. and
fitted up the CraWfish Springs Hotel at Chicka-
manga, for hospital use by the troops encamped
there. at their expense