Evening star., 1909-02-15

Funeral services Tor Jonn III. small, one
Of the pioneer florists of Washington,
who died at his country residence on the
Brentwood road yesterday afternoon at
the age of eighty-two years. will be held
from the chapel in the Oak Hill cemetery,
Wednesday afternoon at $50 O'Clock,
Rev. Randolph Mckim, rector of the
Church of the Epiphany. officiating. In
terment will be in Oak HILL
Mr.. Small was the founder and presi-
dent of the local firm of florists, j III.
Small & Sons. About ten years ago he
suffered stroke of apopleXy, which
caused his retirement from the active
business, which he relinquished to his
sons He is survived by his wife and
nine children. who are j. Fl. Small. jr..
president of the Board of Trade. who Is
in charge of the Washington store: Albert
Small, in charge of the New York end
of the business: Archibald Small of
Montgomery county, Md; Mrs. Charles
w. Richardson. Mrs. Grace Berry. Mrs.
Mary Dalgleish. Mrs. J. T. Grove of
Bramwell, w. Va: Miss Janet Small and
Miss Sidney Small.
Native of England.
John H. Small. Washingtons pioneer
IN floral decoration, was born at Wat
ford, England. in 1896 and from both
lines of his ancestry inherited the horti-
cultural taste which distinguished his
work in this country. His paternal grand
father for many years was the lessee of
the famous estate of Clivedon. now owned
by William Waldorf Astor, and on part
of il conducted nursery. He also owned
and conducted another nursery at Coin
brook England. His maternal grand
father, Roberts, was a Welsh landscape
gardener and an authority in his profess
Stny1 hi do I.n J.
adviser of the first Duchess of Marlbor-
ough when Blenheim was planned.
Mr.. Smalrs early training in his profess
sion was had under the guidance of his
grandfather Small. and his course was
completed at Frogmore, Windsor and the
Kew Gardens. He had vivid recolections
of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo and
while at Frogmore saw much of the early
married life of the late Queen Victoria
and the childhood of the present King of
England
With the intention of devoting his life
work to landscape gardening. Mr.. Small
came to America in 1S4S. While in Phil
adelphia he learned that a Mr. Linthi-
cum of Georgetown was in search of a
landscape gardener. Communicating with
him. he soon secured the position and
remained therein until 1854 when he went
into business for himself.
Many of the gems of landscape archi-
lecture in and about Washington were
the handiwork of Mr.. Small during the
capital. But. as the field for landscape
gardening was so limited in those DAYS
Mr.. Small decided to combine horticulture
with his other vocation, and so entered
the retail florists business.
II is said that to Mr.. Small belongs the
credit of having been the first floral dec
orator TO introduce natural flowers for
use in table decoration in this country
II came about when Lord Lyon was Brit
ish minister to the United States LORD
Lyon was social leader and a lavish
entertainer.
For the decoration OF his table, how.
ever he always used feather flowers and
wax fruits. II was at the earnest solici-
tation of Mr.. Small that he abandoned
this practice and used instead the flowers
of the garden and Observation-Disclosures
bossoms-aS had been done in the ole
country in the days OF old English sim
plicity.
Began Business in GEORGETOWN.
Mr.. Smalrs business during his earl,
career was located in Georgetown. bu
its great growth and development ultf
mately demanded a more central location
and in 1861 he removed it to 18th anc
G streets northwest. where il has re
manned for forty years. During this lonl
time Mr.. Small WAS brought into intimat,
personal contact with most of the celebri
ties who have visited or made the Ma
tional capital their home. In time as hi
sons grew TO manhood, they became asso
ciated with him in business and tel
years ago ne turned its activities over I,
them and withdrew to his country plac
on the Brentwood road where he con
tinued his devotion to horticultural pur
suits. but in more limited and les
exacting way. About that time he suf
fered a slight stroke of apoplexy, which
for a period incapacitated him for ac
tive pursuits. From that day he ha
been more or less of an invalid.
Those who knew Mr.. Small, and hi
circle of friends and acquaintances wa
indeed a wide one, knew him as a genia
man of sunny, lovabe disposition kin,
and charitable TO all. extending a helpin,
hand to those in misfortune whenever i
lay in his power