The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-15
WAS WITH TROOP S
At HARPER 'SFERRY
Interesting Career Of Major
Clay Drcwry; Who Died
Here Yesterday,
WROTE STORY OF HIS LIFE
Has Been Leading Citizen and
Business Man Of Richmond
for Many Years.

In tn death of Ma jor Clay Drewry
which occurred yesterday afternoon
at $50 o'clock at his home at lle9-A
West Franklin Street aged seventy
seven. Richmond lost q citizen whose
interesting personal career and bust
ness prominence made him a leading
resident. He mas been in i'll health for
some time, and his death was not I'M
expected
During the past few years the firm
of Drewry Hughes Company has been
reorganized, and at his own request
MajorDrewry was relieved OF RESPONSE
billy. but he, as Its president, was in
daily attendance al his Office and gave
such Of his time that he could.
Wrote Own Obituary.
An exceedingly Interesting fact is
that Major Drewry wrote his own ac
count OF his life, which The Times
Dispatch has the privilege OF repro
ducing. 1t sets forth some OF the stir
ring events Of the earlier career Of tho
deceased, including his part In quel-
ling the John Brown raid. his war re-
cord and short account of his bust
ness life.
The funeral services Will be conduct
cd at noon tomorrow at Grace Epis-
copal Church. The list of pail bearers
has not as yet been selected.
Major Drewry married Miss Jane
TAYLOR Birchett. Of Vicksburg. Miss
who survives him with i've children
Clay Drcwry, Jr., a. II. Drewry, Mrs
Adophus Blair, Mrs e. L. Benson and
Mrs. Charles C. Bowe, all OF whom
live in Richmond, with the exception
of 4. II. Drcwry, who resides In Glou-
cester county. lie also leaves ono
sister, Mrs. st. George Tucker Coulter
His Own Story.
Tho story Of Major Drewry's life is
best told by himself. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Clay Drewry-Born ut Brandyw!ne,
King William county. Virginia, 9th OF
August. 1888. Went to an old field
school in the neighborhood. taught by
NJ NJ, Manquin. from 1S43 tor 1915 Then
went 10 Rumford Academy In 1916 and
studied there till 1851 under John H.
Peters. principal. who with competent
assistants furnished one OF the best
preparatory schools in Eastern Vir-
ginia In February. 1851, entered the
wholesale dry goods house OF willing
ham 6: Elicit. Richmond. Va, with
which firm I remained till January.
1856, when I formed q partnership
with James G; Brooke, William Boil.
Richmond +. Waller. Andrew l., Elicit
and James T. Pace, under the firm
names OF Bell Brooks. Pace & Co.
New York. and Elicit. Waller. Drcwry
a. Co. Richmond. ! staying with the
Richmond branch.
In July, 1858. withdrew from the
above connections and formed Il part
ncrshfp with Andrew J.. Elicit under
the firm name OF Elicit 4 Drewry.
which firm continued until tho civil
War. ] volunteered in the service Of
the Southern Confedcracy in May, 1851
and III conjunction with RenjatninNII.
Nash raised and equipped a volunteer
company and was mustered into active
service on the Goth OF May. 1861, Ben
jamin r. Nash. captain. and as first
lieutenant. Was ut once ordered to
Norfolk. Va, and there assigned to tho
Forty-first Va. Infantry as Company b.
but the original name Of my company
was Confederate Grays." John r.
CONTINUED on Ninth PagaO