New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-07

The genius as a great organizer that
made him famous did not show itself In
the life OF Robert Curtis Ogden until he
was Of middle age. but then made itself
felt throughout the country. Mr.. ogden
achieved equal praise as an educator OF
the illiterate thousands throughout the
South. The late Rev. Wallace Buttrick.
associated with Mr.. Ogden. once said,
IT would rather be Robert O. ogden
than any other man on the footstool OF
God"
As small boy. very small boy. in
deed. Mr. Ogden's life was uneventful,
for while other boys OF his age played
strenuously NJ their games. young Og-
den. a none too strong hoy. studied
"grown-ups' books" and when not so
engaged. ran errands for a local hard
ware dealer during his holiday season
II is recorded that the boy, though he
had been unable to And the work he was
fitted to DO became a dreamer Of dreams.
He tried his hand at verse and for hours
pondered over Sir Walter Scott, up in
the dusty garrett OF his fathers house
When but fourteen years Of age young
ogden became clerk in drygoods store
in Philadelphia and soon rose to a posi-
ton Of trust and Importance.
Mr.. Ogden was born in Philadelphia on
June 20. 1895 a son OF Jonathan Ogden,
and received his education In various Sc
lect schools in that city. His father a
small storekeeper. moved TO Brooklyn.
where he became a partner OF the cloth
ing firm OF Devlin g. Co. New York Soon
young Ogden Joined his father and be-
came a partner in the same Arm. He. like
his father, also lived In Brooklyn. where
ne married. on March /, 1850, Miss Ellen
Elizabeth Lewis.
In 1885 M. Ogden was asked By John
Wanamaker TO join his Arm in Philadel-
pha. He did. and again became resi-
dent OF that city
His success in managing the wholesale
end OF the business was so pronounced
that Mr.. Wanamaker asked him TO go 10
New York to take charge-tu! charge-of
the old A. T. Stewart store, at Broadway
and 10th street. He was warned that his
task would be a hercuean one. but he
succeeded so well that the business soon
outgrew the building and quite filled the
new and larger extension on the south
side OF 10th street. His methods OF or
ganization have frequently been described
as based upon close attention 70 details.
II appears that nothing escaped his ever
watchful eye.
His educational work throughout the
South. following his retirement from the
Wanamaker firm, on March 81, 1871
gained him as great fame as did his
twenty-eisht years OF mercantile life. He
Immediately became known as philan-
,hropist. and, indeed. he was The late
Julian Ralph once said Of him In that
connection:
He Is a trained and a great organizer
and the talents he displays in business
are the same which made him hit upon
this az the best way a man OF his COM
narrative small means could help the
greatest and most sacred movement now
beginning 10 stir this nation
Beginning in 1901, Mr. Ogden took
orouns OF educators from the North 10
Southern conferences every year oy spe-
cial train. hired at his own expense /.
was his habit TO make NUMBER OF
sneeches while on each trip. He also pre-
sided at the conferences
Tho machinery that soon grew out OF
tho conferences is q monument TO MY
Oeden's genius. The greatest or those
machines was the General Education
Board TO which John ID. Rockefeller gave
40 900 600 the greatest single amount ever
given to the cause Of education.
Mr.. ogden received the degree OF A. NJ.
from Yale in 1870. that Of LII ID. from
Tulane University In 1903, and l. n. ID
from Union College. New York. In 1903.
He was a contributor TO magazines nnd
the author OF various booklets, such as
Samuel Chapman Armstrong; Founder
Dav Address" Pew Rents and the New
Testament; Can They Be Reconciled!
and SUNDAY School Teaching" He was
also a member Of tho Union League. the
Century. and the National Arts clubs, OF
New York. and the Union League Of Phil
adelphia.
Mr. Ogden was a member OF the JOINS
town Flood Relief Commission, president
Of the directors OF the Union theological
Seminary, New York; trustee OF Tus-
keRee Institute. president OF the southern
educational Board, a trustee of the Cen
sral Educa Ion Board. and was appoint
cd a member OF Mr.. Tafts commission
10 Liberia In 1909.
His wife died in 1903. Two married
daughters survive him.