Evening star., 1909-08-29
AFTER LONG ILLNESS ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Iohn w. Boeer Passes Away Selection of Census Super
at the Age of 49, visor for Eighth District.
STRICKEN FOUR YEARS AGO NAME NOT YET ANNOUNCED
Had Been Confined Carn Says It Will
Since. Be Given Out Today.
FUNERAL SERVICES ELECTRIC LIGHTS POTOMAC
in Council Sign Contract with
Business Alexandria Company-Qu1et
Thirty Labor Day Expected
John w. BoteIer Passes Away
at the Age of 78.
STRICKEN FOUR YEARS AGO
Had Been Confined to His Bed Ever
Since.
FUNERAL SERVICES TOMORROW
Succeeded His Father in China and
Glassware Business, Which He
Conducted for Thirty Years.

John Wesley Boteler. who died yes
terday at his home, 1874 Riggs street,
was born in the District in July, 1881.
His father, Charles W. Boteler. was
born just beyond the District line IN
Maryland and in sight of the United
States Capitol, in 1928. His great grand
Prince George county. Nd, near this
city, in 1863.
Mr. Boteler was stricken with paralysis
about four years ago. and had been con-
fined TO his bed ever since. His wife.
who was formerly Miss Fanny Miller OF
Baltimore county. Md, and two sons.
Frank M. Boteler and J. Allen Boteler,
survive him. He was married in 1857.
The late Lieut.. Boteler, who was for
many years connected with the police
force, was his cousin.
MIR. Boteler became a member of the
Masonic fraternity i'll this city in 1855,
and was a member of Washington Com
mandery knights Templar.
The funeral will be held from the
Boteler home at o'clock tomorrow aft
ernoon Rev. DR.. Bicknell, rector OF ST.
Andrews Episcopal Church. will ofticiate.
The interment will be in the family
vault at Glenwood. where lie the remains
of his father, grandfather and other MEM
bers of the family.
Sixty-Six Years on the Avenue.
Mr.. Boteler's father established a china
and glassware business here in 1920 He
succeeded his father as head OF the
establishment in 1866, and retired from
an active business career in 1896. The
Boteler china and glassware store was
in continuous operation on Pennsylvania
avenue sixty-six years, most OF the time
being located at 923 pennsylvania ave-
nue..
Mr. Boteler was said to have been the
first Washington merchant to go abroad
and buy foreign goods. He was also one
of the first to introduce here ceramic
bric-a-brac.
John w. Boteler furnished china and
glassware for the White House from
the time of the administration of Presi-
dent Buchanan to President Cleveland s
last term. On many of the rare old
pieces now retained at the White House
as heirlooms may be found the name
'Boteler."
At the time of the occupancy of the
White House by President Hayes, Mr.
Boteler. by direction of Mrs. Hayes, sup
piled the mansion with the noted twen-
ty-thousand-dolla dinner set about
which so much was written and said at
the time of it's purchase The set was
made to order through Boteler & Son by
Haviland g. Co. of Limoges, France.
Upon its arrival in this country it was
placed on exhibition and attracted wide
spread attention.
Every piece of the Hayes set was hand
painted, and by particular direction of
Mrs. Hayes every subject was American.
For instance, the fish plates were deco
rated with fishes that are found in this
country. On the game plates and dishes
were painted American birds or other
game. On the big turkey dish was the
representation OF large wild turkey in
the act of taking flight. One piece that
was amusing to Mr.. Boteler was huge
green frog and pond lily on the bottom
of one of the soup plates.
Referring to this particular plate Mr..
BoteIer was wont to say with smile:
When the diner had finished eating his
soup he was confronted by the big green
frog at the bottom of the plate, picture
that was not at all suggestive of soup
Many of the Hayes pieces are said to De
vet in the china closet of the White House,
where they are regarded as some Of the
curios of the Executive Mansion and its
former distinguished inhabitants.
Lover Of His Home City.
Mr.. Boteler was great lover of Wash
ngton, his native city, and during his last
illness his great regret was that he could
not get about town and see the improve
ments that were in progress. After one of
his several trips across the ocean to the
old world. where he inspected the capitals
and the principal cities in Europe, he de-
ciared to his friends that Washington was
destined In the near future to be the hand
soonest city in the world.
In his last days and through the eyes
of another century Mr.. Boteler read
with interest and amazement of the ac-
complishments of the aeroplanes He
was interested greatly in the advance
uent bein- made in the flights through
the air and other twentieth century ac-
complishments and in his mind made
comparisons of the olden days of the
sIow-goins stagecoaches that were in his
youth the only means of land travel from
city to city.
He was a great admirer of Alexander
Shepherd and to him attributed the great
strides which have resulted in making
Washington a city beautiful.
Two of his valued possessions were an
age-yellowed book by an ancient author
and medallion in plaster of paris of his
father. The venerable volume, he often
explained, was all that was left of his
crandfather's property when his home
was burned to the ground many years
ago. The medallion was made by a young
man who was employed in his father 8
store as clerk. 1t was pronounced a
most 1ifelike reproduction of the profile
of the elder Roteler. The father ad-
Nised the clerk to give up the occupation
as store clerk and begin a career as a
sculptor. for which he was naturally
endowed. The young man followed the
advice given him and afterward became
renowned as an artist.