The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
MI. VANDIVER DIES
 IN MONTGOMERY Death Comes Without Warning
 While Victim Sleeps A PROGRESSIVE CITIZaN The Funeral Will Be Held at O'Clock This Afternoon-Deceased Had
 Been III Some Time, But
 Was Thought Better.
A PROGRESSIVE CITIzaN

Montgomery. December s-(Special) J. W. P. Vandiver, for S7 years a citizen of Montgomery, and for most of that time it's most progressive and pushing leader, lies dead at the. handsome family home on South Court street The end came at a. m. today out of peaceful sleep, and after day of visits down town. He remarked several times on Tuesday that he was much better than at any time in some months and he seemed to feel the thrill of returning health.
 The funeral will take place at 3 D. m. tomorrow, conducted by the pastor of the Court Street Methodist church, of which he had been for many years leading member and officer Dr. o. c. McGhee, the pastor, was called back from the conference at Greensboro to have charge of the obsequies Mrs. T. R. McCarty of Birmingham, sister, is the only im- mediate member of the family out of the city. She arrived later in the day to comfort the others. Another sister is Mrs. R. L. Thornton of Montgomery
 Came Without Warning.
 The end came without warning, the death angel taking his victim without waking him from sleep. Mrs. Vandiver was aroused by her companion gripping her tightly in his sleep She arose, saw his face and realized that the end was near. He never reused and was dead when the doctors and other members of the family, hurriedly summoned, arrived. Present, besides the weeping wife of 37 years, were his two sons, Merritt and Henry vandiver, and daughter, Mrs. L. B. Whitfield
 The deceased had been i'll for many months with a nervous breakdown that had affected his heart. He recently went abroad in search of health, and spent much of the past year in treatment at great eastern hospitals.
 Born in Georgia.
 William Franklin Vandiver was born in Ogiethorpe county, Georgia, October 5, 1850. When a child of six years the father of the deceased, Baptist preach CT, moved to Midway Ala., where the boy lived until 1871. The same year he married Sallie Merritt of Midway, who
 
 today survives him.
 Coming to this city in 1871 as a clerk, Mir. Vandiver accepted a position with LeGrand & Co.,, grocers. He quickly de- veloped his talent for commercial deal ings, and became so valuable to the house that at the expiration of four years he was admitted as partner. In 1879 Dr. LeGrand retired from business, leaving the affairs of the establishment in the charge of MT. Vandiver. In 1883 the whole sale firm of W. F. Vandiver & Co. was organized, and since the date of organiza- ton it has been one of the foremost wholesale establishments in the coun- try.
 At the time of his death besides being president of the establishment of his name on Commerce street, he was vice president of the Alabama Chemical com pany, vice president of the Alabama Bank and Trust company, chairman of the Montgomery Freight bureau Alabama vice president of the national rivers and harbors congress and director in other associa tions, business and social. Up to July of this year he was president of the Peoples Line of Steamers, which was recently sold to the Birmingham, Gulf and Navigation company. He was a de- voted member of the Methodist church, and was one of the commission having charge of the new Womans college pro- posed for this city.
 Mir. vandiver also organized the pres president up to the failure of his health