Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-29
EDWARDF. DR00P DEAD
WeII-KnoWn Citizens Career
Comes to an End.
A PIONEER PIANO DEALER
His Long and Active Life in This
City.
HIS MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES
Was Member of Oldest Inhabitants
Association and Identified With
Local Financial Affairs.
HIS MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES

After an illness extending through the
past six weeks, Edward f. Droop. found
err and president of the firm of Edward
F. Droop 81 Sons Company, and one of the
best known citizens and business men OF
the District of Columbia. died yesterday
afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock at his home. 14oo
Harvard street. Since early In Decem-
Der Mr.. Droop'S health had not been of
the best, but he regained much of his
vigor soon after the beginning of the new
year. and he was able on several occa-
siOns to visit his various places of bust
ness. On January % he made what
proved to be his last trip to the music
house of which he was the presiding
genius. at 90 Pennsylvania avenue, and
that day he replied to several queries
that he was feeling lust fine Scarcely
had he reached his home. however, when
he was stricken with the illness which
ultimately caused his death. He took
to his bed on that evening and never left
it.
Mr.. Droop was attended during his last
illness by Dr. G. N. Acker and DR.. L. A.
Selhausen, and they were at the bedside
when the end came yesterday, in company
with all members of Mr.. Drops family.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
been completed, but the service will prob
ably be held Monday afternoon at the
late home of the deceased, with interment
afterward in Oak Hill cemetery.
His Active Career.
Edward Frederick Droop was born in
Osnabrueck, Hanover, Germany, January
4, 1887. His early education was re-
ceived in his native town and. in his early
sale grocery house, learning thoroughly
ho lie of hot hpS haf
for America.
Father Droop," as he was affection
ately known, came to Washington soon
after landing in this country, and his first
position was with the music house of w.
G. Metzerott, which at that time stood at
the corner of 18th street and Pennsylva-
mia avenue on the site of the present
post office building. AT the present time
the music house which Mr.. Droop founded
Is the largest of its kind in the south,
and until a short time before his death
he was associated with almost countless
enterprises which his energy and wide in
terests forced upon him.
He was a founder of the Traders Ma
tiOnal Bank and was one of its directors
from the beginning. Among the many
organizations of which he was also a di-
rector were the Corcoran Fire Insurance
Company, the National Metropolitan Fire
Insurance Company and the Washington
Safe Deposit Company. His interest in
the Masonic order was shown by the fact
that he was a charter member of Arminius
Lodge, the only German lodge in the city.
The charm of Mr.. Droops personality
and the untiring energy of his will. even
as an unknown young stranger. won him
many friends in his young manhood, and
success came rapidly. He won the conf
deHce of his first employer, Mr.. MetzerOtt,
and the latter took a close personal inter-
est in the young mans attention tc
business and by successive stages grant
ed him promotions until he had attained a
partnership in the business. 1t was not
until Mr.. MetZerotts death, in 1854, that
Mr.. Droop went into business for himself
at 925 Pennsylvania avenue, and at the
time of his death he was probably the old
est merchant on that great thoroughfare.
From the small beginning at that loca-
ton the Droop establishment progressed
steadily and the new departments were
added at frequent intervals. until at the
present time it requires the entire space
on all floors of two big four-story stores.
Took His Sons Into Partnership.
In 1897 success having attended Mr..
Droops efforts, he took into partnership
his two sons, Edward H. and Carl A. The
rapid growth of the business caused a
reincorporation in 1904 under the title of
E. F. Droop g. Sons Co.. and Mr.. Droop
was made president of the organization.
MIR. DroOp was one of the citizens OF
the DlStTlCt VINO In a volunteer capacity
under Civil Engineer William c. Gunnell
went, out to defend the city at the time
of Early's raid in the civil war. He was
always interested in physical activity
and his feats of strength and of endurance,
are still the IT, emes of many anecdotes
among his friends. His friends always
said that Mr.. Droop's prime object in life
was to make others happy. and proba hi,
none of his habits was in better illustra
ton Of this fact than his annual custom
at Christmastide of presenting cigars tc
every motorman. conductor. policeman
and fireman all the way along the line of
his travels down 18th street and thence
to Pennsylvania avenue to his business
place.
Probably Mr.. Droop had wider ac-
uuaintance among the professional ar
lists of the world than any one else in
the city While Alexander r. Shepherd
was governor of the District Mr. Droop.
was intimately associated with him, and
it is probable that this friendship in
spired him 10 be a prime mover in many
of the improvements toward the develop
ment of the city.
Mr. Droop was member of the Con-