The Washington times., 1917-01-10
CALLED IDEAL CITIZEN
John Joy Edison Prominent In
Many Lines.

John Joy Edson Prominent In
Many Lines.
Washington's most useful private
citizen"
This term 10 said to have been an
piled to John Joy Edison, who to:
day retired from the presidency Of the
Washington Loan and Trust Company,
by the late President William Nc
Kinley after Mr.. Edison had declined.
for the second time. to accept appoint
ment as a Commissioner Of the District
Of Columbia.
"One OF the ideal private citizens of
the nation. whose usefulness is greater
than that Of ten public officials and
whose influence extends to every Sec
ton Of the country"
This is what the late Senator Hanna
Of Ohio said about Mr.. Edison when
President McKinley's euIoEy was re-
ported to him.
"A typical citizen Of the District of
Columbia, an upright Christian gentle
man who practices the broadest hu-
mainly and who feels that his highest
duty Is 70 share his success with his
neighbors In as large proportion az he
can get them 70 accept #.
Lauded for Social Service.
This was the eulogium delivered By
one Of the best known social service
workers Of the country on the occasion
OF Mfr. Edson's selection for the post of
chairman Of the Board OF Charities of
ihe District at the time Of fits creation.
90 many Of the men who have
closely identified with the bust.
49, and social and educational de.
Velopment of Washington. Mr.. Edison
is not \ native of the District. but
came here from another State. He was
born in Jefferson, Ohio, May II, 1915.
He moved to New York when q lad,
however, and received most Of his
education there IN the public schools
Of the city. He was fifteen years OF
age at the outbreak Of the civil war
and Immediately enlisted for service
with the Sixty-first New York volun
teerG.
Being under age. Mr.. Edson's par
ents obtained his discharge from the
army on the ground that he was toe
young, and had not secured their con.
sent to his enlistment. He protested
against being discharged, and argued
80 earnestly with his parents that
they finally withdrew their objections
70 his serving with the army. Mr.. I'd.
son re-enlisted and served until he
was discharged at the old Armory
Square Hospital. about where the
present Fish Commission building is
located.
During his service in the army Mr.
Edison was engaged in a number of
severe battles in the Army of the Pc
tOmac under Generals Mcclellan,
Hooker and Burnside, among them
being the battles OF Antietam and
fredericksburg.
The residence of Mr.. Edison in
Washington practically dates from
his discharge from the army. He was
appointed to q clerkship IN the Treas
ury Department and served in the Of
flee OF the Comptroller OF the Treas
ury. He studied law at Columbian
University during the time he was a
Government clerk, and as soon as he
was graduated, in 1858, he resigned
from the Government service and i'm
nnediateiy entered upon the practice
OF law.
The one position Mr.. Edison had in
the Treasury Department which en-
sbled him to study his profession, Is
the only Government office with a
salary attached he was ever prevailed
upon TO ascept. With his brother, J.
X. Edison. he. became engaged In the
patent branch OF the legal profess