Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-23
EDGAR GEORGE AKERs
PASSES AWAY SUDDENLY
Former Railroad Commissioner OF
Virginia Dies at JohnstQn-
Willis Hospital.
PROMINENT IN STATE POLITICS
Managed Campaign of Claude \.
swanson for Governor OF Virginia.
Funeral This Afternoon From Cen
tcnary Methodist Church.

.. Edgar George Akcrs. Familiarity known
, to his friends as Ned" Akers, died sud-
denly ut Johnston Willis Hospital ycs-
terday afternoon at 5:3! o'clock SIM
DAY morning he complained of feeling
unwcll. and cOnfidcd to friends M
, Murphy's Hotel. whore he boarded. tbnt
nc would consult his physician Dr
Christophcr TompkinS, upon whom bc
, called soon after breakfast The physi-
clan Informed AIR. Akcrs that his heart
WIS aIccted' and ordered him to the
hospital immediately. Even so late as
yesterday morning the patient i'm
patiently dismissed the suggestion thot
he was seriously i'll. rose and dressed
and read tho morning paper. Tho end
came late. i'm tho afternoon before
relatives could reach the city from
LynchhUrg
Mr.. Akers was born in Lynchburc.
tho son Of Mr.. and Mrs John l.. .\kors.
and was educated in that city. Tie en-
parked carly i'll life in the railroad
business, and won rapid promotion vi;h
the Norfolk and Western He left ,hn
traffic department of that road to &C
ccpt the chief clerkship i'm tho orico
OF General james =. Hill, Railroad
commissioner for Virginia for many
years. and for time, following the
illness and death of General Hill was
In charge Of the Office as commissioner
In l?o2 tho now Constitution went into
erect, abolishing the office OF railroa Il
commissioner. the duties of which do
VOWED on the ncwly-crcatcd State Cor
poration Commission.
CONTINUED TO MAKE
HIS HOME IN RICHMOND
After retiring from Official life Mr.
AherS continued TO make his home in
Richmond. and maintained Intimate
contact with official and political of
fairs and pcrsonagcs. IT is to hc
doubted whether any man in Virginia
nad n larger acquaintance among pub-
ilcc men, and his Judgment was sought
and his advice consulted by lo.;slntore
ana candidates from Lee to Accomac
In old Murphy's Hotel his room on tho
thlrd noor was ms familiar to mem
ocrS oil Tn" General Assembly as tho
cioak-room Of the Capitol itself
Mr.. Akcrs. though not ALWAYS an
| pearinE publicly, actively assisted
friends in numerous campaigns. and
ms interest once enlisted. his was no
haif-hcarted support. He MANAGED
'lauue a. Swanson's successful cam
paiGn for Governor in 1906 when
SWansonS vote in tho primary was I'M
| wards of $4,000, as against 4 total for
Judge Mann and Colonel willard. on
posing candidates, of about A. 900
Subsequently, Mr.. Akcrs broke" With
Senator Swanson. and It is no secret
that in after years the onc-timc friends
were far apart. politically ut least.
FUNERAL WILL. TAKE
PLACE THIS AFTERNOON
! Until the very last Mr.. Akers appeared
TO be the very embodiment of rugged
health. He was Il large powerful
square-chinned, aggressive specimen of
manhood-a typical fighting man: i'm
patient OF restraint and intcntly in
earnest about achieving whatever en-
gagged his interest. The news of the
passing of so strong n pcrsonalitv-
the suddcnncss of twill come ms n
shock in many quarters of the State
Mr.. Akcrs is survived by ono brother
Eugene L. Akers. Of Lvnchbure. who
reached the city last night and hv ono
sister. Mrs. Jennie Dahney, of Lynch
burg. Ills mothers death occurred
about month ago
INC body was removed TO Rlilcy's nm
dertakinE rooms. where it will remain
until tho funeral. which will take place
from Centenary Methodist Church this
afternoon at o'clock
Tho pallbcarcrs will be: Active
Charles Il. Cooke. Alexander Forward.
Robert NJ. Lynn, David Cole. J. j. Nc
Gilvray, Joseph y Parker
iionorary-Sidney J. Dudley. Will
liam +. Rhea. John Murphy, C. Lee
Moore. y. w. Hartman u. Dr. Christie
! phcr Tompkins Dr. George Fen John
ston. +. c. Folkcs.