Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-14
cess in after life.
Takes q Partner.

AdAC6 q IIACI.
my father kept the hotel by himself I'M
til 1853, when he took his brother Joseph
in as partner. The brothers kept the hotel
until 1851, when they retired from active
hotel business and leased the property to
other parties until 1892. when my father
sold his half interest to his brother Joseph.
The present Occidental Hotel was, in war
times, occupied as a part Of the Willard
Hatel property. My father has been largely
identified with most of Washington's finan-
cial institutions, having organized in 1867
and been the first president of the National
Savings and Trust Company. My father
was vice president Of President Grant,
board of public works, which may be said
to have built modern Washington. He
was an intimate friend and adviser Of Gov.
Alexander r. Shepherd. For nearly six
teen years he was president OF the COLUMBIA
Railroad Company from 1873 to 1889, which
developed the northeast section Of the city.
He was the largest individual subscriber
to the building of All Souls Church, and
but for his financial support the, church
would not have been built. 1t was built
by his efforts and the contributions he So
licited He was for many years vice presi-
dent of the National Metropolitan Bank
up to 1898. He organized the Columbia
Fire Insurance Company, and was Its
from 1881 to 1882. With Mr.. Justice Miller
and Mr.. Reginald Fendall, he was one of
the incorporators of the Garfield Memorial
Hospital. He Is vice president OF tnat IN
stitution now.
From Puritan Stock.
my mother, to whom my fathers success
in life is largely due, also descends from
Puritan stock. She is a great-granddaugh-
ter on her mothers side Of Stephen Rowe
Bradley, who was Connecticut officer in
the revolutionary war. and consequently
strong advocate of the claims of Vermont
90 ly,IA dont OF tnh a fhroo
terms as one of Vermont's senators at
Washington. My father Is an active men,
Der and one Of the officers Of the Vermont
State Association: He offended the annual y,
rector in the American Security and Trust
Company, the National Savings and Trust
Company, the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company ana Inc Equltaoie LiIe
Insurance Company"
Intimately Associated With City.
The history Of Henry A. Willard Is init
mately associated with the business growth
Of Washington. He was the first OF five
brothers to come to the city from New
Hampshire. He had previously been In the
hotel business at Old Point Comfort, and
in 1s47 came to Washington and opened the
Willard Hotel in October Of that year. He
was then but twenty-five years Of age. Oc-
tober Of the present year will be the six
tieth anniversary of his entrance into busi-
ness here, and he plans to celebrate 1t by
another dinner. He was followed in bust
ness here by his brothers Joseph and Caleb
C. willard, the latter opening the Ebbitt
House. The family lived for years in a
building on 14th street that is now the site
of the Department Of Commerce and Labor.
While by no means a junior member OF
the party that gathered at his birthday
dinner Mr. Willard was by no means the
eldest There was one Of the guests VINO
had celebrated his one hundredth birthday
and severalswho were over ninety.
Those at the Table.
The list of those who were at the table
was as follows
Charles Allen, G. A. Armes, George w.
Arthur, William F. Brown, 8. w. Began, s..
Thomas Brown, Chaplin Brown, G. w. Bal
| loch, Sebastian Bauer, VIM. B. Britain, H.
NJ Burnett, VIM. H. Braund, E. Campbells,
George COLLISION, VIM. w. Chambers, Henry
N. Copp John Cammack c. G. Calvert, n.
v. Cotton, VIM. A. Clarke, Charles H. Cal
vert, D. T. Cissel, Patrick Cleary, John L.
Daily r. A. Dellinger, H. M. Dellinger, E.
F. Droop. F. x. Dooley. w, w Danenhower
VIM. H. Dennis. Jilson D'Entwisle, Oliver
c. Fisher, William Fl. Fuss, w. G. Gallant,
George Gibson, Adam Gaddis, ]. ]. Georges,
A, Grupe, Anthony Gaegler, Joseph T..
Howard, H. o. Hall, c. NJ Henley, Edward