Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-02-23
DEATH OF JOHN A. MCCALL.

Former President Of New York Life In
suranee Company Expired at Lakewood,
N. j., Sunday.
John A. Mccall, until recently president
Of the New York Life Insurance COM
pany died Sunday afternoon at Lake.
wood, N. j.. where he was taken three
weeks before I'm the hope that the change
might benefit his health. Death was due
to enlargement Of the liver He broke
down about two months ago, and for
several days before the end came 1t was
evident that there was no hope for re-
covery His wife and seven children were
with him at the time of his death. He
was born in Albany, N. Y, OF Irish par
entage. He had but few early advantages.
AS a boy he was employed as clerk In
the Albany state currency asserting
house. He then entered the employ Of
the Connecticut General Life Insurance
company In Albany. At the age Of 20
he was appointed clerk in the state in
worked his way to the important post
Of examiner of companies. Four years
later he was advanced to the office of
deputy state superintendent He held
that Office through two Republican admin
istrations, although he counted himself
n
tention through his exposure Of graft and
crookedness in fire and life companies.
For seven years he kept indefatigably at
this work, exposing a scandal OF huge
proportions. AS a result Of his efforts
~ fire insurance companies were driven
out of business, and is life insurance COM
panies of New York and Is Of other states
were forced to stop issuing policies.
In 1888. at the age Of 33, he was APP
pointed by Gov. Grover Cleveland to the
head of the insurance department
of New York state. He declined a re-
appointment from Gov. Hill in order that
he might accept the office of comptroller
of the Equitable Life Assurance society
of New York at a salary Of 1000 year.
In 1892, when the president Of the New
York Life Insurance company was under
cloud of charges of mismanagement,
Mr.. Mccall was selected as his successor.
and was hailed as the man to reorganze
the company and inspire confidence. His
work as the executive in charge OF the
company's great financial interests was
notably successful. His salary was at
first $4,000 a year and afterward 800. 900.
Mr.. Mccall. in the course OF his testi
mony at the recent insurance investiga-
ton. conducted by the committee OF the
New York legislature. declared: II am
not wealthy. Under oath. l am not
millionaire. and II / should die tomorrow
the largest part of my estate would be
my life insurance" However. he main
tained during the last years Of his life
palatial home at Long Branch, n. J.,
which he called Shadow Lawn" but
which his millionaire neighbors knew as
THE white house by the sea" It is es-
timated that the place cost him not less
than 100000. In New York city he had
a handsome brownstone house magnifi-
Gently furnished. and elaborate stables
| for his horses.
A short time ago Mr.. Mccall was COM
PEELED first to mortgage and then to sell
his handsome country place at Long
| Branch, in order to repay to the New
! York Life Insurance company S235, 900
on the Andrew Hamilton account, Mr..
| Hamilton, the legislative agent OF the
company. having made no accounting for
this sum. He realized in all something
over 100000 for the property, only one
| half its original cost.
1t is said that Mr.. McCails estate will
not amount TO more than $4,000 net.
and that his wife's share will be about
| $40, 900.