New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-20
OBITUARY.
DARWIN r. JAMES.

Former Congressman Darwin R. James died
expectedIy at o'clock yesterday afternoon at MS
home. No. 22s Gates avenue. Brooklyn He had
been suffering for two days from nervous tndiges-
tion which it is believed affected his heart His
and six daughters were at his bedside His
Illness, it is said caused by worry over the
health Of his wife
Mr.. James born at Williamsburg. Mass. on
May Il. 1884. the son Of Lewis Lyman James and
Cerintha Wells James He educated at the
Mount Pleasant School at Amherst Mass and
went to Brooklyn with his parents when he
was thirteen years old. Mr.. James began his bust
ness career a clerk IN a wholesale drygoods
house in this city four years later and after seven
years formed a partnership with Mitchell y. Pack
ard In the importing OF spices, indigo and other
East Indian products This partnership lasted for
thirty'-four years until it dissolved in 1892
and the firm OF Darwin r. James & Bros
formed In 1868 Mr.. James travelled extensively
in India, China and the Philippines in the interest
of his firm
President Harrison appointed Mr. James to the
Board of Indian Commissioners He was one of the
organizers OF the Autobiography League in this
state and instrumental IN having the Stats
Board OF Railroad Commissioners created IN 1888
Mr.. James of the committee of one hun
dred that drew up the charter for the old city Of
Brooklyn and took an important part in the coun-
ellis Of the Republican party
For six years he served as Commissioner of Parks
IN Brooklyn and in 1882 he was the only sRepubIi-
can Congressman elected in New York or Brook
iyn lie served on several important committees
including the Coinage and Weights and Measures
Committee. It principally through M James's
energy that the famous free coinage" bill was
defeated in Congress Through his efforts in Con-
gress the land occupied by WaIabout Market, in
Brooklyn, acquired from the government. Be
cause Of the pressure of private business. Mr.
James declined a third nomination for Congress
One of Mr.. James's chief interests mission
school work, and three schools which he founded
have given place to many foUrishing churches.
With Seth Low and Alfred T. White he founded
the Brooklyn Board of Charities. and he was a
member of the Association for the Improvement
Of the Condition OF the Poor and of the advisory
board Of the Brooklyn Industrial School Associa-
ton.
For twelve years he a member Of the New
York Board of Trade and Transportation, and was
for time its president. Mr.. James a member
of the National Temperance Society the Presby-
terrain Board of Foreign Missions and the Brooklyn
League. He had been identified with almost every
movement for reform improvement OF public
conditions during the last thirty years. Mr.. James
was president of the East Brooklyn Bank, until he
resigned upon his retirement from active business
a year and a half ago He member of the
board Of trustees OF the Franklin Trust Company,
the Nassau Trust Company and the Commercial
Mutual Insurance Company and the Franklin Safe
Deposit Company.
Mr. James married Miss Mary E Fairchlld. at
>Stockbridge, Mass, in 1858 He a member OF
the Brooklyn, the Oxford and the Union League
clubs.