Evening journal., 1912-03-25

After an illness Of several months,
due, primarily, to infirmities OF age,
John Peckwith Almond, aged n
years, one of Wilmingtons Oldest and
foremost citizens, a former Mayor
and leading Mason, died yesterday
at his home, No. SO4 West street. His
condition has been serious for some
time, and his death, while a shock to
the members Of his family, did not
come as surprise.
Mr.. Almond was born in Brandy
wine village, now the Ninth ward. On
May 6, 1885, his ancestors having been
/ OF a long lived race Of French origin,
who settled early in the eighteenth
century upon extensive tracts of land
along the Delaware river between
Edge Moor and the Philadelphia turn
pike. His father was William All
mond, and his mother was Phoebe
(Jefferis) Almond Mr.. Almond at
tended the village academy in his boy
hood days and later Friends School.
He had great liking for the water,
aud when old enough. spent his SUM
mers on coastwise vessels, continuing
his studies in the winter. AT the
age Of II years he bound himself to
Gregg Chandler to learn the wood
turning business. He served but
three years. in which time he had
mastered the trade and in addition
to purchasing his remaining year of
4 apprenticeship from Mr.. Chandler,
bought out his employer. and at the
age of p years started out in life for
himself He instantly met with sue
cess, though at the end of year no
sold out and then started in the
grocery business. which he continued
I successfully for a number OF years.
Mr.. Almond secured the incOrpor-
alton in 1863 by an act of the Legls-
lature of the Brandywine Loan As
sociation, the object of which was to
enable men with small incomes to ac-
quire homes for themselves. This
association was a success. He also
was engaged for many years in the
brick and terra Gotta manufacturing
business with the firm name of Beggs
and Almond.
Mr.. Almond became a Mason in
1886. He was the oldest past master
/ of Temple Lodge. and was the Oldest
past grand master and past grand
secretary of the Grand Lodge of
Masons, of Delaware. He was one
of the most active men of those en-
gagged in the work of bringing about
the erection of the Masonic Temple.
The Legislature Of 1877 elected Mr..
Almond a member of the board of
construction for the completion of the
Cool Spring Reservoir.
In September, 1873. MIR. Almond
was elected Democratic mayor of the
citV of Wilmington hv LARGO mo-
jority. In the winter of 1881 his term
OF office and that Of the other city Of
hcers was extended by the Legislature
until July 1882.
Mr.. Almond was married June "a,
1856. TO Miss Sarah NJ. daughter of
Moses and Mary Palmer Of Brandy
vine village, prominent members of
the Society OF Friends The union re-
suited in ten children, of whom the
following are still living. Mrs. Frank
T. Turner. w. Stewart Almond. DR..
c NJ. Almond. Mrs b r. Gulick, of
Wilmington; Mrs. c. + Smalley. Of
Toledo, Ohio, and Mrs. John Hare, Jr..
OF Pennsgrove, n. J. He is also sur
vived by two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth
Miller and Mrs. Julia Barr. He had
eighteen grandchildren and one great
grandchild, who also survive him.
The funeral services will be held
at his late home, S04 West street, on
Wednesday afternoon. He will be
buried with Masonic honors The
members Of Temple Lodge and the
members of the grand lodge will take
part in the ceremony The members
Of Fairfax Lodge, I. o. o. +. will also
attend the funeral.