Evening journal., 1915-04-22
SAMUEL BANCROFT. JR
Was President Of Bancroft Company, Newspaper Pub
Usher, Member Of Park Board. and Interested in
Railroads and Banking Institutions

Death this morning claimed Sam
uel Bancroft. Jr.. aged IS years. presi-
dent of the Joseph Bancroft and Sons
Company. whose plant along the
Brandywine is one Of the largest tex
tile finishing plants in the world
president OF Every Evening Printine
Company. and actively identified with
railroad companies, banking institl-
tions and member Of the Park Com
mission.
Mr. Bancroft. who was widely
known throughout the business and
financial world, died at the Hahne-
mann Hospital. Philadelphia. at 92O
O'Clock this morning. he having sub
mtted to surgical operation two
, days ago and supposedly being on the
way 10 recovery. He had been unwell
for some time and about three weeks
ago went TO the Hahnemann Hospital
for careful observation. with the view
of undergoing an operation. if his
condition seemed 10 warrant IT, The
observations of the surgeons gave no
occasion for apprehension. and a pre-
limnary operation resulted success
fully. On Tuesday. the main opera
tion was performed. and the succeed
ing conditions we're fairly promising
until this morning. when sudden
change occurred. and he expired in a
short time. News of Mr. Bancroft's
death came as a great surprise TO his
friends.
Mr.. Bancroft is survived by his
wife, Mrs. Mary r. Bancroft, one son.
Joseph Bancroft. and one daughter.
Mrs John B. Bird He was a brother
of William p. Bancroft, president Of
the Park Commission.
Samuel Bancroft. Jr.. was born jan
uary 81, 1910. at Rockford. which is
now part OF Wilmington. He was a
son of Joseph and Sarah Poole Ban
croft His father was native Of
Manchester. Eng, and a member Of
the same family from which the great
American historian was descended
His maternal ancestors for three gem
erations were Delawarcans. the fourth
having been Pennsylvanians. After
receiving education two years al the
school OF Samuel Alsop and
two years at the classical acad-
emy OF r. Clarkson Taylor. in VIII
mington. Mr.. Bancroft entered the
cotton mills OF his father al Rock
ford, and there worked for several
years in the various mechanical de-
partments.
In lS59-60, when the bleaching and
finishing departments were added TO
the mills, he took sole charge Of
them. In 1865 he was admitted TO the
firm. which then became Joseph Ban
croft and Sons. Al present the busi-
ness is owned and conducted by the
Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company.
formed in 1889. of which Mr. Bancroft
was president up 10 the time OF his
death
In 1866 Mr.. Bancroft was elected to
the House of Representatives OF the
General Assembly from New Castle
county on the Republican ticket. be-
ing resident of Christiana hundred
He served during the session of 1867
He was candidate for reelection in
1868, but the entire Republican
ticket was defeated in New Castle
county at that election. On each oc-
casion he ran largely ahead of his
ticket. Afterwards he left the Re
publican party. he not having voted
for its candidates for President or for
Congress since 1868. he differing
from the policy of that party in rela-
ton 10 the tariff and other public
questions. especially in regard to the
constitutionally reserved rights OF
the States and the question OF legal
tender
( Mr.. Bancroft was the Democratic
nominee fer Congress in 1894 but
was defeated by jonathan s. Willis.
the Republican candidate. the State
going Rcpublican that year
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