The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-04

T. ,. TldSSiNs ,hpAaiil w. GOIupil
NcCabe.
Active--Thonlas b. McAdams. Fred
;. Campbell Carter g. Grundy. c., G,
Pinckney. q. f. Nanderslice. Robert q.
Naben, Ruford Scott. Coleman Wor-
than, James T. Sloan. w. +. Buford.
Many Express Regret.
During Yesterday hundreds OF ex-
preasions of regret at the passing of
the man who had for wears been one
Of the foremost movers in the develops
nent OF the better things for Rich
mond were heard and many OF those
who nave been directly and indirectly
associated with Mr.. Branch in the many
activities. civic, social anu religious, in
which he had been identified. called at
the late home to express personally
their sympatbics with the members Of
the bereavcd family
In every quarter, and from people
IN every walk of life who had known
Mr.. Eranch--many OF whom had been
henefeiaries OF his philauthroptc and
II ifryr-gr were To be
these felt personally that great loss
had been sustained.
Clearing House PASSES RESOLUTIONS,
The Clearing House Association of
Richmond Of " hich Mr.. Branch at the
beginning Of the present year was
elected president at its meeting yes
terday afternoon. adopted resolutions
"f respect ANA giHinS expression of
regret O. his passing. Man, of the
banking houses. and not Il few of The
business houses of the city, during
the daN made arrangements for paying
tribute to his memory when the obse-
qHies are held today
The activities Of Mr. Branch ex-
tended var beyond banking ana
finance. He was. perhaps. best
known TO the community at large for
his splendid contributions to the wei
fare of it's people. There are IN Rich
mond at least two big institutions OF
much benefit to the people of the
city that stand as monuments to him.
hese are the Branch public baths,
one of which is located on East Broad
Street. near EiShteenth, and the
other near Monroe Park. lie gave as
sistaAcc . scores of institutions and
To- hundreds Of families ana 70 mum
erous individuals, az well, hut many
of these gift were SO quietly and un-
ostentiously made that few outside
the immediate circles Of the bene-
ticiaries have knowledge Of them.
Among these his remory will i've
through the generation.
Monument to Libcraiits
Another institution that will stand
as a monument to him is that AT Ash
land. the Branch dormitory at Ran
dolph-Macon College. Mr.. Branch
had for years taken great interest in
the work of the institution and in
the students welfare. He WAS in
1883 elected to membership OF the
Board of Trustees OF the institution
succeeding his father Thomas
Branch Mr.. Branch contributed
largely financially to the. institution
For many years he gave one dollar
for every two given by others TO the
endowment of the in ititution. He
gave $4,000 to establish. In memory
Of his Wife, the Mary Louisa Merritt
Branch Students Loan Fund, for the
purpose of aiding young men and mo-
men seeking education.
His interest in business and civic
affairs advancing the development of
Richmond was large and he was an
attendant, often taking active part and
letting his voice be heard when called
upon for inspiration or advice.
His Last Public Address
His last appearance In public was
At the conference for trade expansion
With Central and South American
countries held by mnuacturers and
jobbers of the. states in this section.
under the auspices OF the Richmond
Chamber of Commerce. At this meet
ing he was called upon, and speak
ing briefly. made the very interesting
statement that Petersburg was once
a larger city than Richmond and
shed some light on the peculiar ity of
the development III Richmond AT
sreater pace than that which Peters
burg attained.