The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-08-25
Passed Away at $50 O'clock
Saturday Night at His Home
On East Main Street, Sur
rounded by Relatives.
WAS LONG IDENTIFIED
WITH LOCAL BUSINESS.
Formerly Was Head of the
Hoosier Drill Company and
Owned the WeStcott Hotel
---FuneraI Not Arranged.

While sitting in his chair Saturday
night about $50 o'clock talking TO his
near relatives. John M. Westcott
lapsed into unconsciousness. and few
seconds later the life of one OF the
most prominent business men of Rich
mond came to an end. Mr.. Westcott
appeared greatly improved over his
condition of the past two weeks and
ate hearty supper. His death had
been expected for some time but came
as surprise Saturday night. Near
relatives were at his side when tho
end came.
For the past week the mind OF Mr.
Westcott had been wandering and rel
atiyes realized that his worlds battles
were nearly ended. The relatives were
all summoned to Richmond some time
ago.
Mr.. Westcott's most recent Illness
covered period of about eight weeks.
although he has been i'll on various oc-
casions for the past two years.
Bright's disease was responsible for
his death. He was 73 years of age.
Biographical Sketch.
John M. Westcott long had the dis
tinction of being Richmond's foremost
manufacture and his business sagacity
was not alone applied to the manage
ment of factory interests. or late. he
had not taken an active interest in his
business enterprises, but even in his
enfeebled condition his relatives who
now have charge of his concerns, often
sought his advice on questions OF mo-
Mr. known
i'm the business world by his connec-
tion with the Hoosier drill works. the
Westcott carriage company, the Vest
colt hotel and the Union Loan ana
Trust company.
Native Of Indiana.
Mr.. Westcott was a native or Ind
lana having been born I'm Union coun-
ty in 1894 His education was secured
in the public schools of the county and
was not extensive. His first business
enterprise was as a dry goods mer-
chant. and later in the grain and feed
business. In 1862 he removed to Rich
mond where he continued as a grain
merchant for ten years. At the end
of that time he went to Milton, Ind,
where he secured the controlling in
terest in the Hoosier drill works. then
located at that place. The Hoosier
plant remained at Milton but six years
under Mr.. Westcott's control and was
then brought here. The company pur-
chased property on North Il street, be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth. and
the plant has been added to from time
to time until it now occupies nearly
two solid blocks.
Joins the Combine.
At the time of the formation OF mo
American Seeding Machine combine
the Hoosier became a part Of IL. James
w. Carr. a son-in-law of Mr.. Westcott.
is now general manager Of the Ameri-
can Seeding Machine company, and
Fred Carr, husband of Mr.. Westcotts
grand child, is general manager of the
Hoosier Drill while Burton Westcott
a son. is treasurer of the Seeding ma
chine combine.
The Westcott hotel. one Of the fin
est hostelries in the state, was built
largely by Mr.. Westcott, he having
invested $4,000 in the building alone.
Mr.. Westcott helped organize the
Westcott Carriage company but had
very little to do with it's management.
He was the owner Of real estate both
in this county and i'm Kansas and Cal
ifornia. The Union Trust company.
which makes nothing but large loans
and finances big enterprises, was
formed by Mr.. Westcott and Omar Hol-
his son-in-law. The West
colt square wherein is located Mr..
westcott's residence and those he
built for his three sons-in-law, Is the
finest residence district in Richmond.
For a long time the square was occu-
pied by none but Mr.. Westcott and his
relatives. but of late others have come
to own homes there.
Mr.. Westcott was a member OF the
Methodist Episcopal church and OF
lodge No. Al, !. o. o. F.
The men in Mr.. Westcott's employ al
ways had the greatest respect for him
as he was kindly in his treatment and
made nearly all of his employees his
personal friends. He always remem-
bered them handsomely at Christmas
time and other holidays. He helped
maintain a fund for sick and injured
employees.
In 1855 Mr.. westcott was married
20 Carrie Mitchell, OF Warren county.
Ohio. To them were born seven child
-en. Alice c. Hollingsworth, Lucilla B.
Carr, Jennie NJ. Wilke, Charles @.
Burton Westcott, Harry NJ.
Westcott and Maude Evelyn Devices.
NJ Westcott's second marriage was
10 Mrs. Grace G.. Carter Of Indianapo-
is, six years ago. There are no child
zen as a result of this union
Funeral arrangements have not yet