The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-20

no Is SeTlOuSly
Richard NJ. Scruggs. millionaire mer-
chant and philanthropist. is stricken with
pneumonia at his residence. No. S6l7 Olive
street. and his physicians nave very little
hope of his recovery. His condition is all
the more precarious because of his ad-
vanced age, he being 50 years old.
Yesterday afternoon he frequently
lapsed into a stupor. but revived when
addressed by his friends, all of whom he
Immediately recognized.
His two brothers,. G. A. and c. Q.
Scruggs, are constantly at his bedside.
1t was announced at the residence last
night that Mr.. Scruggs has been suffer
ing from a cold for the past two weeks.
Wednesday he insisted upon going to the
Worlds Fair, and spent the greater part
Of that day there. Returning home. he
complained of feeling i'll. and the follow
ing morning his condition was such that
the family physician, Doctor E. w. Saun-
ders. was summoned.
He pronounced the case pneumonia and
summoned Doctors Robinson and Moore
for consultation. These three physicians
have been in constant attendance since.
MIR. Scruggs was born February 10, lSs2,
In Bedford County. Virginia. His father,
Reaves S. Scruggs, was a planter and
prominent both socially and politically.
being a leader of his party and represent
ing 1t in the Legislature.
What little educational advantages the
neighboraood afforded Mr.. Scrugss took
advantage of and managed to secure a
rood English education.
When he was Is years old he entered a
store at Lynchburg as a clerk, remaining
with the concern for eight years. Subse-
auently he was promoted to the position
of confidential clerk and cashier.
In his twenty-ffth year he left his native
State to seek his fortune in a larger COM
mercial field. While employed in an e&-
ecutive capacity at Huntsville, Ala, by
a large New Orleans cotton house, he
made the acquaintance of NJ. v. $. Nc
Clelland, and in March. 1852. the two
young men established in st. Louis the
firm which is now known as the Scrusgs,
vandervort & Barney Dry Goods Com
many. The first name was McClelland,
Scruggs & Co.
In 1860 Mr.. Scruggs also established q
wholesale house under the name of Nc
Clelland, Pye & Co.
In consequence of the disturbances Of
The Civil War the wholesale establishment
was discontinued after i've years. and Mr..
Scruggs again assumed personal charge of
the retail business. Mr.. McClelland re-
tired from the concern in 1868 and a new
Premiership was formed under the present
corporate name.
10 fret location was al Fourth n
Charies streets, bat in 1883 the firm moved
10 its present quarters at Broadway and
Locust streets.
Mr.. Scruggs has ALWAYS taken an active
interest in public affairs. From 1888 to 1880
he was a member and president Of the
Board of Trustees of the Missouri School
for the Blind 1t was largely through his
efforts that the equipment of the school
was improved and enlarged. Another
prominent public charity with which Mr..
Scruggs has been connected is the Null
lanpliy Immigrant Relief Fund. of which
he was a member and president for five
years.
Mr.. Scruggs is probably best known in
charity circles through his connection
with the st. Louis Provident Association.
of which he. has been president for nearly
twenty years. His charity has ex-
tended to ali. regardless of color or creed.
and during the last few years most of his
time has been spent in spending large
amounts for the benefit of the needy.
In no part of his career has he been
mere thoroughly enlisted nor rendered
more signal service han as a lay church,
man of the Methodist Episcopaf Church.
South. He IS at present a member of the
Cook Avenue NJ. Z. Church. South. and
takes a general interest in all matters
that pertain to that denomination in this
city.
1t is not an unusual thing for Mr..
Scrugss to volunteer at a meeting of the
Church Extension Society to bear the bur-
den of some INDECENT church. frequently
giving as much as 5000 a night for the
cause of religion.
He has frequently been selected TO rep
resent his church at the General Confer
ence, The church. work which has al
ways been Mr. ~Scruggss greatest pleas
IRE is that Of the Sunday school, in which