New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-13
Commanded New York Ma
tional Guard Under
Governor Morton
Head of Boy Scouts
Prominent Republican Was
Tobacco Merchant and
Hotel Builder

General Edwin Augustus McAlpn
died yesterday Afternoon AT his coun-
try home, Hillside, near Ossining. as
result Of q cerebral hemorrhage which
he suffered SIX days ago he was
sixty-nine years old.
Ills life was niled not only with
commercial activities. but with various
public and social duties. lie received
his title in 1898, when Governor Nor
ton appointed him adjutaat general OF
the State Of New York, with the rank
Of major general. In later years he
was best known as the head OF the
American Boy Scouts.
General McAlpin was born IN New
York City June Q. lStS. He was
son Of David II. McAlpin. who founded
the tobacco firm which bore his name.
The general was president Of TINS firm
in which the bulk Of the McAlpn
millions were made uuti a few years
ago. when the business was sold to the
American Tobacco Company.
Ran Away TO War
having received MS iulliNfAl Gun
cation IN the public schools Of the city
General NcAlpin wont 20 Phillips Acad-
envy. Andover. Mass. He was graduated
in the early years Of the Civil War, but
By the time ne was seventeen years old,
the war had ended Twice the boy had
run away and Joined the Union colors
a. drummer. only 20 be sought out
and brought back on account OF his
youth by his father
Entering the tobacco business, the
general worked mp from clerGShip
under his father 10 be the head OF the
firm. His desire for military life ne
gratifed in 1859. when he enlisted as a
private in the eth Regiment. In 1873
he resigned from the Eth to take a com
mission as first lieutenant i'm the list.
After eighteen years Of service, during
which time he reached the rank OF
colonel, he retired.
Il was shortly after his retirement
that he was made adjutant general, and
it was he who naugurated the present
system Of field work and maneuvres.
His system received the acid test in
1898, when seven New York regiments
were ordered across the river to pre-
vent trouble during the Brooklyn
streetcar riots. 1<ere was no delay
in modifying the troops, and the saw
ing Of life and property was though
due in large measure to the efficiency
Of the adjutant generals Office.
On October p, 1870. McAlpin married
Miss Brandeth. daughter of Dr.. Ben
jamin Brandeth. the manufacturing
chemist Of Ossining Eight years later
-he General established summer home
near the town and has been interested
in its civic affairs since that time. He
was its first postmaster. and later thI
mayor.
A prominent Republican
! In politics. General McAlpin was
strongly Republican. He was one OF
the leaders in the League Of Republ.-
can Clubs movement and was president
of the New York State League from
1889 to 1892. In 1875 he was elected
president Of the National Republican
League.
General McAlpin was member of
many purely social clubs and CONNER
cial organization. among them the
York Athletic, Republican. Lotos. Army
and Navy. Sons Of Colonial Wars, CO.
lumbia Yacht clubs. and the st. An
drews Society. Among his financial in
terests have been the Hotel McAlpin,
McAlpin Tobacco Company of Toronto.
the Manhattan Hotel Company, the
Hygeia Distilled Water Company the
Ossining Electrical Railroad Company.
the Sixth National Bank. the State
Trust Company, and the Eleventh Ward
Bank.
Five sons survive him They are
Colonel Benjamin b.. Edwin A.. ir.,
David II. ID. Thomas r.. and J. Rod
erick McAlpin. His wife died nine years
ago.
Funeral services will be conducted
from the First Presbyterian Church. OF
Ossining Sunday afternoon at $3.50. The
interment will be in the family mauso-
Ieum in Vale Cemetery