New-York tribune., 1907-09-14

auv under DR. Whites nlinistratons. and TOT d
time his recovery hoped for and even eApee. I
but few days ago he began 10 l"i "-'
gradually until the end to-day
manic, willis James American mercnah' SnS
nbilanthropist was born in Liverpool hhela1 a.
AprI Is 1892 His father. Daniel James, ,,a VIM
in Beaconsfield. England. in 1876. began MS - :,
ufe as a clerk for Phelps & Peek. hieIo'i
It,, CONNER and iron in this city, rising TO d part
nership IN Phelps. Dodge & Co. which su'ee'''7'1
the original firm He made his periiai'e'''
dence in England in 1881 as member OF 'ie IL -
OF Phelps. James & Co. the LiVerpooI c'ii
eDts Of the New York house His wife was f-ll1
bs.b Woodbridge Phelps. daughter Of Anson stokes
PHELPS the founder and long the head OF the TWO
firms Their son. D Willis James. was the eideSO
Of five children, Of whom his sister. oilrla = INC
next in age became the wife of Robert Hoe jr.
D. Willis James early removed TO New YORK ana
entered the employ Of Phelps. Dodge co. OF
which firm he soon became a member.
Mr. James married 1884 Miss Ellen s. Curtiss,
Of this city and had SON Arthur Curtiss James
who - known for his keen interest in Yachting as
well as for his activity phil8nthT0pCal projects
In respect to the latter he has followed the example
Of his father large portion Of whose ample fort
une has been unostentatously bestowed IN char
fly and in the support OF public spirited movements
and enterprises.
The town house Of Mr. James is At No ~ East
seth street and he had a fine country estate at
Madison y. J. which he purchased IN 1855 Two
years later he bought Of land in the centre
Of Madison and made 1t into n park which he
gave the In the three years that followed.
Mr.. james spent more than $1,000 on public i'm
provernenrs in Madison. Among his Sits
handsome stone library and block containing
four stores. an opera house several Offices and a
spacious assembly room. the income from which
maintain the library and the park.
Few % Nr Jafnes's benefa ctions were Of so CON
spicuous a character a. those just noted. and as
rule shrank from all potoriety in the matter or
giving The Chdren's Aid Society was the object
Of numerous benefactions from him, and from 1897
to 1901 he its president one Of his most recent
published donations that OF 5000 to the Carl
Schurz memorial fund. He was greatly interested
IN the welfare of Amherst College, Of which his
son was a graduate and trustee. The institution
benefited largely from his generosity. and in 1892
conferred him the honorary degree of Master
Of Arts He was ever ready to aid in movements
for the promotion of scholarship and for Tire
couragement Of art and science and the elevation
of the popular taste.
He was a member Of and always took a lively
interest In the Metropolitan Museum OF Art. the
American Geographical Society. the American
Museum of Natural History and the National
Academy. contributing freely to their support He
was a member Of the Century Association and OF
the Metropolitan. Riding. Down Town. Alpha
Delta Phi. New York Yacht and National Art
clubs
In addition to his partnership in Phelps. Dodge
& Co. Mr.. James was largely interested in its
allied and other outside corporations lie was
president and director of the Golden Hill Corpora
ton and of the South Western Investment Com
pauy. vice. president and A director Of tho United
States Trust Company vice-presdent and director
OF the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Com
pany. third vice-presid2nt and a director of the
Northern Securities Company, and director the
Ansona Clock Company. the Commercial Mining
Company. the Detroit Copper Mining Company Of
Arizona, the FL Paso & Southwestern Railroad
the First National Bank. of the City of New York;
the Moctezuma Copper Company, the Morenc
Southern Railway, the Morrstown Trust Company
the Northera Pacific Railway Company and the
United Globe Mines.