Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-03
JOHN P. BRANCH
| PASSES AWAY At
RIPE OLD AGE
Was Leader of Richmond's
Financial World for Past
Generation.
HAD BEEN PROMINENT
IN CHURCH AND STATE
Gave Public Baths to City and
Buildings to Randolph-Ma-
con College.
HELPED AVERT PANIC IN 1907
Midnight Conference at His Home
Kept City in Specie Pay
| ment Class.
HELPED AVERT PANIC IN 1907

John Patteson Branch, banker and
philanthropist, died at T:4o O'Clock last
night at his residence, / West Franklin
street, after an illness extending over
a period of three weeks. Hc was in
his eighty-hfth year. With the excep-i
tion of one or two brief intervals, the
aged banker had been unconscious for
last peacefully without rcgaining con-
sciousness.
In the State OF Virginia there was
perhaps no better known figure than
John T.. Branch, known the length ana
breadth of the Commonwealth as tho
dominating spirit of ono OF the States
best-known banking institutions. as the
foremost layman of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Virginia and as n
humanitarian of wide interests and
broad charity. In the city OF Richmond
he was known personally and by repu-
tation to every man. woman and child.
FAMILY At HIS nEDsIDE
IN HIS LAST MOMENTg
With him in his last momenss wdr q
Ids son, John Kerr Rranch; Ibis daugh-
ters, Miss Ellie Kerr Branch, or this
city. and Mrs. Arthur Graham Glas-
gov. OF London, and his son-i law. Mr..
Glasgow. The only other living child
Is the eldest son. Blythe Walker Branch.
who lives in Paris. France, and who
could not reach Richmond In time to
be present at the end.
Besides the children named. Mr..
Branch Is survived by brother, Mel
Vile ]. Branch. of Georgia; sister.
Mrs. Emily B. Cunningham, and a half
sister. Mrs. Barton II. Grundy, both oy
this city. These and other members OF
the FAMILY were present when the end
came. Although no arrangements for
the funeral had been made last night.
1t was announced that the burial Will
De IN Hollywood Cemetery. this city.
at the time OF his death, Mr.. Branch
was president OF the Merchants Ma
tional Bank. an institution that ranks
twelfth on the honor roll OF national
banks In the United States. He was
elected to the presidency of this insti-
tuition In 1881. succeeding his father.
Thomas Branch, who, as founder OF
the bank. was it's first president.
RECENTLY ELECTED HEAD OF
CLEARINGHOUSE ASSOCIATION
he was also at the time Of his death
mead or the firm of Thomas Branch g.
20, bankers and brokers, and president
OF the Richmond Clearing House Asso-
c'ation--a position to which he was re-
Gently elected. succeeding President
John B. Purcell. OF the First Nationa,
Bank. He had been for years a mem
ber Of the New York Stock EXCHANGE
Although his interests in numerous
other companies and corporations were
extensive, he took no active mart !,
their administration. holding no direct
ihs or Official positions with any com
pahies except those named Most OF
MS business interests were centred I'm
tichmond. where he was known as I,
hoidcr or much valuable real estate
lie was also largely interested in Tho
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and in
the development OF cotton mills i'm tbe
south. he was regarded as among tn,
Two or three wealthiest men in viz
ginia.
HAD GRADUALLY WITHDRAWN
FROM ACTIVE; BUSINESS
I'm recent months Mr.. Branch had
gradually withdrawn from active dire.
ton of the big banking business with
winch he was indentihed, leaving tho
management to younger members of
lhe FAMILY associated with him in IN.
business Ills visits To the bank grew less
frequent last autumn with the multipIt
cation or approaching infrmities and
gradually ceased altogether For tbs
past three weeks lie had been confined
TO his bed with what was described ,s
an attack OF bronchitis.
The most skilled medical attcnt,o,
that the city afforded failed TO arrcs,
the bankers growing weakness. Amor,
the physicians who attended Mr.. Branch
In his last illness were DIR. Edward
Mcclure. who was in charge; DR.. Stuart
Mcclure, Dr.. Il. G. IIobson, Or. IL
bullock and DR.. Barker, of Johns Hon
kins Hospital. Baltimore who was called
In for consultation. Infrmities due to
old age were assigned as the Immediate
cause OF his death
CHARITIES UNOSTENTATIOUs.
BUT MOST EXTENSIVE:
While Mr., Branch. in recent wears
mad given himself up more and moro 10
religious and philanthropic interests.
his charities were unostentatious In
character. and their true volume and
extent were known only TO himseif.
Such business as he transacted In his
banking office during the three or four
months preceding his final illness had