Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-02

senior member of the firm of Wood
ward & Lothrop. Inc. and for nearly
half century leader in the business
and civic life of Washington, died sud-
denly at s o'clock last evening at his
summer home at Stockbridge. Mass.
Mr.. Woodwards death was unex-
pected and was shock to the COM
munity in which he has been such an
active factor for many years. News
of Mr.. Woodward's death was received
here early this morning by a long dis
tance telephone message from his son,
Donald Woodward, of Washington, who
had left this city yesterday for his
fathers summer home and was inter-
cepted in New York by a telegram In
forming him of his fathers death.
Funeral arrangements have not yet
been made. The body will be brought
here for burial at Oak Hill cemetery,
the family burying ground, and his
pastor, Rev. DIR. Samuel H Greene Of
Calvary Baptist Church, who is now in
Troy, VT, has been informed of Mr.
Woodward's death.
Wife Died June S.
Though Mr.. Woodward was in good
health physically he had not recovered
from the shock of the death of his wife,
June 5. He is survived by four chill
dren. of whom Donald Woodward. asso-
ciated with his father in the conduct of
his business here. is the youngest
His other surviving children are Mrs.
Luke /. Wilson of Evanston, ILL.,; Mrs
B. w. Parker, 3734 Oliver street, Chevy
Chase. and Mrs John Tyssowski Of
woodward in Oak Hill cemetery are
two other children. Mrs. Melville D.
Church. daughter. who died about two
years ago. and Walter Woodward. a
son, who died nearly twenty years ago
while in Paris. Other surviving mem
bers of Mr.. Woodward's family are Mrs
Isabel n. Olcott of Washington. a sister,
and two brothers. Frank E. Woodward
of Boston and Fred z. Woodward of
Washington.
Mr.. Woodward was a figure of ma
tional note in the mercantile world. He
was born in Damriscotta. Me-. Decent
ber 13. 1s48. After receiving his early
education in the public schools of Maine
he obtained employment with Gushing
& Ames. dry goods merchants of Bos-
ton, Mass. He learned the details of the
business rapidly and thoroughly and
was rewarded with repeated promo
tions.
In 1870 Alvin NJ. Lothrop, another en-
terprising young man, took employment
with the same firm. and the two soon
became fast friends. In 1873 the two
for themselves. and open a dry goods
store in Chelsea, Mass. under the pres
ent firm name Of Woodward & Lo-
throp. They realized that the small
city had it's limitations and they looked
for a broader field
Started Business Here in 1880.
In February 1890 Mr. Woodward
and Mr.. Lothrop started the Boston
Dry Goods House at 705 Market space,
in Washington. and in the following
summer opened an additional buildin z
at 7o9 in the same square The business
grew rapidly and they were obliged to
move to 921 Pennsylvania avenue. and
in 1887 to their present location on F.
street. Their success was marked and
today the firms store occupies prac-
tically the entire square bounded by F.
G., 10th and llth streets. the center of
Washington's shopping district. At this
location the name of the Boston House
was abandoned. and the firm name of
Woodward & Lothrop. Inc, was used
But Mr.. Woodwards activities in
Washington have extended far beyond
the conduct of his business. He has
bestowed thousands Of dollars upon
charity He has been greatly inter
ested in and actively connected with
the Young Mems Christian Association.
both local and international. From
1900 to 1910 he was president of the
Washington association. Prior to that
he had served for many years on the
board OF directors. and since 1910 he
had been a member Of the board of
trustees. In 1907 Mr.. Woodward at
tended the international conference of
the Y. NJ c. A. in Japan. The beauti-
full home of the Washington associa
ton Is due largely to his benefcence
and he contributed generously to the
erection of the associations building in
Kobe. Japan.
Active Church Member.
For nearly forty years Mr.. Wood
ward had been an active member of
Calvary Baptist Church. serving on its
board for many years, and at one time
he gave $4,000 toward the erection nf
the Sunday school building. one of ,ba
largest. finest and most compIe,ei,,
equipped in the world. which honoa.,
the largest Sunday school in the CAM
tai.
Mr. Woodward was a charter men,ho
of the Board of Trade and the Cbs,,,
| ber of Commerce. He served on 81.
1886 and 1897 was its president M
also represented that body, unti, ~
! Gently, in the Chamber of Commerce %
! the United States of America. Trnan
| learning of Mr.. Woodward's death
/ day, f. C. Brandenburg, president y,
| the Board of Trade, paid him the 10,
lowing tribute:
THE death of s. w. Woodward
a distinct loss to the city The bd,t,
standard on which he conducted ~
business has always appealed to our