Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
'ROBT. P0RTNER GONE.
Oyertaken by Death at Ma.
nassas, Virginia.
WAS A NATIVE OF PRUSSIA
Successful in Business Here and at
Alexandria.
HAD BEEN ILL FOR TWO YEARS
Widow and Ten Children Survive
Funeral Tomorrow Afternoon
Names Of the Pallbearers.
WAS A NATIVE OF PRUSSIA
Had BEEN ILL FOR TWO YEARS

| Mr.. Robert Portner died yesterday after
noon at his country residence. ANNA
| burg" at Manassas, Va, of bronchial
| trouble. At the bedside when he passed
away were his wife and Children. Mr.. Port
ner had been i'll for the past two years and
! on Sunday May 20. decided that he would
| go to his country home. Soon after his ar
| rival there he took to his bed. His condi-
| ton gradually grew worse
The funeral will occur from ''Annaburg''
| tomorrow afternoon at $50 o'clock. The
services will be conducted by the chaplain
| of the Manassas Lodge of Nfasons with
| which Mr.. Portner was affiliated, that be-
| ing the only fraternal order of which he
| was member
The pallbearers will be the son-in- law,
Julius Koehier of ST. Louis, and the five
sons, Messrs. Edward Alvin Paul, Oscar
and Hermann Portner, of the deceased
Inc interment will be in the family burial
ground at Manassas
Born in Rahden, Prussia.
MI Portner was sixty-nne years of age,
having been born in Rahden, westphalia,
Prussia, March 20, 1897 His early
education was obtained at the Prussian
school at Annaburg, Saxeny. In 1858 Mr.
Portner came to the United States, and
about eight years later established a small
grocery business in Alexandria Va His
business tact and ability asserted itself and
soon he was able to start brewery bust
| ness upon small scale. At that time the
armies OF both the north and south pur-
| chased goods from him and the business
increased until In 1888, when the Robert
Portner Brewing Company of Alexandria
was Incorporated. Mr.. Portner afterwtard
helped to organize the National Capital
Brewing Company of this city and was It's
vice president. Mr.. Portner In 1873 con-
structed the first successful machine for ar
tifcial refrigeration with ammonia. He was
a great believer in the usefulness OF building
associations. and during his career founded
three such in Alexandria. The Alexandria
shipyards and banking company of the
same city, of which he was the president
at the time of his death, were founded by
Mr. Portner.
The Capital Construction Company of
this city was organized by him in order
| that his property interests here, including
the Portner. at 18th and q streets, and
the Logan, at 18th and Iowa Circle, could
be managed with less trouble by the
| owner. This corporation also took charge
of all the smaller pieces of property which
MIR. Portner owned.
Business Connections.
He was connected with many of the
financial institutions of this city. He was
interested in the American Security and
| Trust Company, the National Bank of
| Washington. the Riggs Fire Insurance Com
pany. the Virginia Midland Railway and
the National Bank of Manassas. Va. In
| 1880 he was elected to the Office OF prest-
| dent of the United States Brewers Assoc
citation. which office he filled for year.
| Mr. Portner in 1881 decided to reside In
| this city. The residence at 1410 18th street
| Is the home of the family. though all the
members are at present at Manassas. where
Mr. Portner died.
| The Portner home at Manassas is named
"Annaburg." in honor OF Mr.. Portner s
| early place of residence In Saxony. The
| estate consists of $500 acres and comprises
| the battlefield of Manassas, where many of
! the movements Of the Federal and confed-
| crate armies were executd. After purchaS-
| ing this historic tract Mr.. Portner con-
/ ceived the idea of building a large resi-
| dence similar In architecture to that of
| the feudal residences along the Rhine.
! Since that the family has resided there dur
| ing the summer and at the Washington res
/ idence in the winter
| In addition to Mrs. Portner ten children
| Mrs Alma Portner kohler of st. Louis.
| Mo. and Misses Eta, Anna, Elsa and Hill
| degard Portner, and Messrs- Edward. AL
| win, Paul. Oscar and Herman Portner-
| survive the deceased.
|