The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-11
AN H0NORED LIFE
COMES TO CLOSE
Major Richard M. Ven
able Dies in Balti-
more Home.
a
FOR DAYS END
WAS EXPECTED
A Native Of Virginia, Major Ven
able Had Enviable War Re-
cord-Also Widely Known
as Lawyer and Scholar.
Joined Howitzers at Out
break of Civil Strife.
Especial to The Times -pispatch.l

Especial to The Times -DispatchJ
Baltimore, Md. July 10.--Major Rich
ard NJ. ,yenable. Confederate soldier and
lawyer, died at 1920 o'clock this morn.
ing at Roland Park, where he had been
living since he left Johns Hopkins Hos
pital about two weeks ago.
Death was NOT unexpected. For sew
eral days Major yenable condition had
been such as to cause grave alarm, and
his attendants were constantly at his
bedside. 1t was considered to be only
a matter OF brief time to the end
Native OF Virginia.
Born on farm in Charlotte county.
Va. on February 8, 1893, Major Ven
able attended Hampden Sidney College.
lin that State, and in 1859 and 1850 was
a student at the University of Virginia.
When the war broke out he enlisted
In the Richmond Howitzers, an artil-
lery company. and took part in the
battle OF Big Bethel and other engage
ments In 1863 he was transferred to
the Department of the Trans Missis-
sippi. under General Kirby Smith. In
the meantime ne had been transferred
from the artillery to the Engineering
Corps. and back to the artillery. He
was promoted to major, and when ths
war closed he tried to escape from
Texas into Mexico, but was captured by
the Federal forces and sent to New
Orleans He was thence taken to New
York. from which place he was al
lowed to return to his home in Vir-
ginia.
AT this time his personal wealth con-
sisted of $5 in gold His first post
himself was in the capacity of instruc-
tor of engineering in the University of
Louisiana. near Baton Rouge. Later he
taught mathematics in Washington and
Lee University reading law at the same
time. Then, four or five years after
the close OF the war. he came TO BAL.
tinore and hung out his shingle.
Forms Law Partnership.
In 1871 the law firm OF yenab BILE &
Packard was formed and 1t lasted
twenty-one years In 1892 the part
nershlp was dissolved in order to give
Major Venable opportunity to devote
most of his time to the legal affairs OF
the Safe Deposit and Trust Company,
of which he was counsel and vice.
president as we'll. Five or six years
later he formed a partnership with
Edwin G.. Baetjer and Charles Nc
Henry Howard. under the firm name OF
Venable. Baetjer g. Howard. He with
drew from this firm last year on ac-
count OF impaired nealtn.
For many years Major venable was
a professor at the law school of the
University OF Maryland. real estate and
constitutional law being his special
ties.
In politics Major venable was an
independent Democrat, and as such
took part in most of the reform cam
paigns led by Severn Teackle Wallis
and John x. Cowen. He was not a
seeker of Office. but during the admin
tstration of Mayor Hayes, and after
the new city charter had been adopted.
he was persuaded to serve as a mem
Der of the Second Branch of the City
Council.
Creates Park system.
On September IS, 1903 Ma jor venable
was appointed president OF the Park
Board by Mayor McLane, and in this
capacity he became the creator of the
modern park system of Baltimore. He
enjoyed the highest reputation for pro-
bity and honorable dealing, and though
he possessed pronounced peculiarities.
Won a great number of warm friends.
He was never married