Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-03
Germans Start NelD Offensive at Various Points on Fror

: In the local banking world Mr.
Branch will be remembered by the
present generation of bankers as tho
man whose commanding influence. more
than any one other factor. kept Rich
mond banks from suspcndinc specie
payments during the gloomy days of
1907, when one city after another took
to clearinghouse certificates and scrip.
\ dozen leading Richmond bankers
recall! the panicky day I'm 1907 when the
national banks of New York suspended
specie payments and the tremor that
shook the financial structure OF the
country as the result OF that act. They
recall a council of local bankers that
met the same night in the library OF
John p Branch. al West Franklin
street. to determine the course that
Richmond should pursue in the crisis
with which the whole banking world
was threatened.
MEETING AT Ills HOME
MADE HISTORY FOR RICHMOND
That meeting. mt the home of MIR
Branch, was prolonged until o'clock
in the morning 1t made history for
Richmond There were present men
who saw IN the suspension OF specie
payments the only hope of safety. MIR.
Branch took the lead in urging the
local bankS to cling To the currency
basis, and IL was largely to his COM
mahdinr Influence and 20 the confidence
that other bankers had in his sound
judgment that the meeting voted after
"A stormy all-nicht session To keep Rich
mord Ia the specie basis column
Richmond was among the few i'm.
portar; cities In the country that had
no recourse to scrip during the entire
1907 panic period. This was a rock
upon which the city proceeded To build
tho banking pre- cminence which be-
came its share in recent years. and
which contributed in no small degree
to the strength OF the city's claim for
prCferment i'm the recent competition
for the Federal reserve bank
Wi:LL-KNOWN FIGURE IN
DOWNTOWN DlSTRIt'r
Tail, drnifed and gray. John l..
Branch was familiar and wcll-k known
figure III the downtown district that
houses the city's big financial institu-
tons. For years his daily trip to the
Merchants National Bank in big linz
CUISINE was as much part OF the bank
ing districts life as the daily meetings
of the clea house. Newsboys knew
him by sight. and Tough, for the privi-
rious profit, and portcrs watched for his
coming.
His reputation rs n lover OF his &c,
l>wman and as philanthropst OF
open hand, brought TO hiS office con-
slant stream Of men and women with
pleas for help for every Imaginable OBJ
jcct. Few OF them went away empty
handed. II. was leading spirit IN the
movement that led 10 the establishment
of the Virginia Home and Industrial
school for Girls. at Son Air, and was
the treasurer of the Spring Street Home.
in this city
TOOK ACTIVE PART N
WORK or CHURCH.
member Of the Methodist Church
at the ago ot thirteen. Mr. Branch UNI
II! the last took deep interest in the
various activities Of this denomination
IN Virginia. He attended the sessions
Of the first General Conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church. South.
held in Petersburg In 1916. With
others. he formed the Market Street
Methodist Church In PETERSBURG, his
native city, III which he spent his
Young manhood The church was or
Gani2ed By Rev. John T. Edwards.
whom Mr.. Branch accompanied on a
trip 10 Europe in 1856
IS "a citizen. Ar. i}rAnch took a deem
interest IN municipal affairs. although
he was never a -ncmbcr of the ritv
council lie was PARTICULARS Interested
IN the heiierment of living and housing
conditions, in the Improvement Of
streets and sanitation and i'm ,ba
progress and development OF tho mn.
h'cip"! Health.i. l'cparimcnt Ills bcs,
known charita - Nl!s field was th.. os-
adjustment at his expense OF the pub
NC paths which bear his name.
SPENT MANY SUMMERS AT
THE WHITE SuLpHIR
III has more active days. MIR Brarch
travelled extensively IN this country and
III EUROPE. For years he was in ~.
""oi' OF spending three or four months
~ WHITE sulphur Springs. ". Va ,yhAr.
'' was FAMILIAR hgure 20 the visitors
'i' guests OF this famous watering
mace Win his return from WITT
sulphur last autumn. his health hoy,,
70 ta!i rapidly eliminating in IN.
acute Illness of the last three reeEs
which resulted In his death
40 meeting OF bankers ana bpsipass
men concerned with ono ot tho r.tor
problems or interests of tho c;,,. -.
regarded as complet" yvithou, bis 80
ehce. one of his most recen, ,,,l,,,,
"hpearanccs WAS a. thu djrro- ,.,,,,
w 'ocai bankers at the jefferson rt,,,,,
'ast autumn In honor % Tho 49,,
directors o. tho Richmond Federal -.
Ss'N" hanh The area banker 60
Sa!isH upon for speech. ana sno,o
'''e"E oil E"nmouds pre-oin!n.nca ay
st,,..t ~ hhance ana Of tho rcspon-