Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-06
DEAD AT ACE OF 81
Passing of Henry A. Willard,
Pioneer of Washington.
AMONG FOREMOST CITIZENS
Funeral Services to Be Held Wed.
nesday at Walpole, N. H.
MAN OF STERLING QUALITIES
Prominent in the Business Life Of
the Capital City for Sixty
Years.

Funeral services for Henry A Willard,
former proprietor of WIZARDS Hotel and
one of the pioneer business men of Wash
ington, who died at Walpole. n. H., Sat-
urday night, will be held there Wednes-
day afternoon. The interment will be in
Westminster VT, where Mr.. Willard was
born eighty -seven years ago.
Mr. Willard, who had been in feeble
health for some time. went to Walpole
directly after the funeral of his wife, at
Westminster, one month ago. His son,
Henry X Willard. was at his bedside
when he died. DIR. Reichelderfer, the
family physician, was summoned to Wal
pole Saturday, but reached there after
Mr. WIZARDS death. DR.. ]. c. Boyd, L.
S. N, who married a niece of Mr. Willard,
will attend the funeral
One of the Foremost Citizens.
In the passing of Henry Augustus Will
lard the District of Columbia has lost
one of its foremost citizens and the state
of Vermont one of it's sturdiest sons.
He was not only living landmark of
old Washington, but an encyclopedia of
the old and the new city
He was intimately associated with the
city fathers-those pioneers of a past
century whose impetus gave this coun-
try it's present magnificent capital.
When he came to Washington sixty-two
years ago he found the place a sort of
struggling town. the present concreted
streets being but roads of clay and sand,
and the buildings anything but imposing
in appearance. He also found here
citizenship as sturdy as that he had
just left in Vermont. and he joined its
ranks and became one of the foremost of
no fric ahlliI m
he saw the city grow through the sue
cessiye stages until it reached its pres
ent twentieth century splendid proper
tons, with a population that is making
toward the haIf-million mark.
Throughout the growth OF the District
the handiwork, the brains and the di
rection of Henry Augustus Willard are in
ample evidence. He was gratified when
Alexander r. Shepherd with far-seeing
perspective, undertook the task of rails
ing Washington out of the mire and be-
ginning the work which has since made
it city magniticenh He joined hands
with Gov. Shepherd and became his adj
wiser and supporter when others were
criticising his unselfish labors for the
veal of the District and its people. 1t
was the encouragement and active sup
port of such men as Henry A. Willard
that gave Shepherd encouragement to
undo the old and begin the new.
During his long citizenship here Mr.
Willard was associated with practically
every movement in the uplift of Wash
ington. He was officer in many of
the cty's most substantial financial and
other institutions A practical Christian
he was ever assisting in the work of
ma king for better citizenship. His
advice and experience counted for much
and were sought by those who have the
interest of the District at heart. As a
friend he was loyal and true. AS bust
ness man his word was his bond. In
his family circle he was ndulgent and
lovable and believed that the best char
acters of men are nodded about the fire
side of home. \ descendant of the Pu-
rtans. he possessed all the sturdiness
of mind OF that stalWart sect.
AS vice president of the Association of
the Oldest inha bitants of the District of
Columbia. Mr.. Willard found much pleas
ure in his associations with those
sturdy pioneers. In the looking ba edward
ks that are sometimes features of the
meetings and always of the reunions of
the organization he found much of inter-
est concerning the old days and the
folks of yore To him the Washington
of yesterday possessed remembrances that
were dear, just the Washington of to-
day possessed bright hopes for the flu
ture.