The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-29
ADRIAN ISELIN DEAD AT ST.
FOUNDER or BANKING HOUSE
AND CHURCH BENEFACTOR.

| Though Not q Catholic lie ana His famli(
Gave q Million 20 Catholic Institutions
Pope Praised Him - His wealth
Used Also 10 Beneft New Rochelle
Adrian Iselln died at 10 O'Clock last NIGH
at his home. - Madison Square North ir
his eighty-seventh year, Of no specific
disease, but Of old age.
Earlier In the evening It had been said al
the house that his condition had not changed
for several days and was not thought 10 be
critical, but a little after O'Clock a num-
Der Of the children who had not been In the
house were summoned, and shortly after
! 10 o clock Mr.. Iselin's death was announced
Adrian Iselin was the son OF Isaac Iselin,
a Swiss, who came to the country early In the
last century as the American representative
Of leading silk and glove firms In France
and Switzerland, and was associated with
Henry c. Dc Rham. Adrian Iselin was born
In Scotland while his parents we're maxim g
a tour Of the British Isles. He was edu-
Gated abroad and afterward, with his
brother, William Iselin, engaged in the
importing business.
His success as a fnancier encouraged
Mr.. Iselin, after the death Of his father,
who was drowned In Lake Geneva on a
visit to Europe in 1897, to establish the
banking house Of Adrian lselin Co. He
retired from the Arm some twenty years
ago, leaving its direction to his elder son,
Adrian Iselin, JT. The late Mr.. Iselin's
wealth has been variously estimated at from
$40 Oo0, 900 10 $50 900, 900.
Mr.. Iselin and his family have made gifts
aggregating nearly a million dollars TO the
Roman Catholic Church in this country,
and his generosity has been warmly COM
mended by the Pope. The gifts were made
mainly from the respect that Mr.. Iselin
had for the religion Of his wife and family
He was originally a Swiss Protestant and
30 far as Is known never became a COM
municant Of the Church Of Rome.
Mr.. Iselin was married in Baltimore in
slS to Miss Eleonora O'Donnsll, daughter
OF Columbus O'Donnell OF that city. Miss
O'Donnell was related TO John Carroll, the
first Roman Catholic Bishop Of the United
States. For forty years they and their
family made their principal home at New
Rochelle. Ten years ago Mrs, Iselin built
st. Gabriel's Church at New Rochelle, one
Of the most picturesque church edifces
on Long Island Sound The church is
model ed after that OF San Marco in Venice
and has a beautiful chime Of bells. To-
gether with a rectory and home for the
Sisters Of Charity, 1t is said to have cost
nearly $4,000.
The couple celebrated their golden we'd
ding on Dec. H. 1895. Their seven children
and twenty grandchildren were In attend
ance, and the occasion was commemorated
by the children by the unveiling in st.
Gabriels Church Of a memorial window
representing the espousal Of Joseph and
the Virgin. The children are Adrian lselin
Jr., c. oliver Iselin William f. Iselin.
Columbus O'Donnell Iselin. Mrs Delaney
Aston Kane, Mrs. John @. Beresford and
Miss Georgihe Iselin The children have
since added a complete set OF memorial
windows in memory OF their mother Mrs.
Kane has given the church a marble bap-
tismal font 10 commemorate the conversion
Of Der husband TO the Catholic faith.
Another gift was made when the family
transferred its gymnasium property in
New Rochelle 20 St. Gabriel's parish FOR a
school for children. The Leland Castle
In Residence Park there, owned by Columbus
0'DQnnell Iselln, was also transferred to the
church by It's owner for a nominal sum.
and Is now an academy Of the Ursuline
nuns.
Since the death Of Mrs. Iselin, in 1897,
the banker and his family have continued
to make costly gifts to the Church. They
contributed largely to the building Of st.
GATHERINGS Church In Pelham and TO
churches in the coal regions and last year
Mr.. Iselin gave a $50, 900 church and reCtory
to the Italian Catholics Of New Rochelle.
The latter gift greatly pleased Pope Plus X.
when he heard OF Il. He expressed his
appreciation Of the magnanimity which
would prompt Protestant gentleman to
make such a splendid gift 10 his Italian
fellow oountrymen in a foreign land
Two years ago the bankers youngest
daughter, Mise GeorgiRnna Iselin, gave a
home for convalescents 10 the Church.
II was built at Scarsdale, Westchester
county, and named st. Eleonoras Home,
in memory Of her mother Mr.. Iselin was
also liberal TO other denominations. For
years he bad been a benefactor in New
Rochelle He gave Neptune Park to the
city thereby ahording the boatmen and the
public free access 20 the Sound at all times.
Mr.. lselin obtained a great deal Of en- joy-
ment in the improvement Of the New
Rochelle water work. Of which he was the
owner. He purchased or condemned all
Of the available watershed in New Rochelle
and adjoining towns and enclosed Il with
stone feno's % prevent pollution. He
then Constructed lakes ard drives AID
tn CIV them open 20 the pubic on certain
da Of the week. BY his emo Is the city 4
New Rochelle has al abundant ppiy Il
tbs purCst wat or Ia Yves Oh sstsr count.
He took pride in his greenhouses and had
one Of the finest collections OF chrysan-
themums In New York. All his properly
in New Rochelle was kept in model con-
dition.
Mr. Iselln was one Of the incorporators
Of the Museum Of Natural History and Of
the Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty
TO Animals. He was a member Of many
clubs, a box holder In the Metropolitan
Open House and a stockholder and direc-
tor In many banks trust companies and
railroad corporations. Besides his seven
children he leaves nearly a score Of grand
children and eat-grandchildren.
For twenty-five years Mr.. lselin was Con-
sui Of the Swiss Republic here.
Obituary Notes.
George h. TurTell died at his home on