New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Jas. Stillnan.
Banker, Dies
At Age of 81
Genius of National City
; Bank Victim of Heart
Disease

James Stillman. controlling genius Of
the National City Bank and we'll known
in financial circles throughout the
world, died last night of heart disease
al his home, 8 East Seventy second
Street. He was sixty-seven years old.
He had only recently become active
again in finance, taking charge Of the
great banking institution when Frank
A. Nanderlip, the president. went to
Washington g few months ago to run
the Thrift Stamp campaign.
Mr.. Stillman was president of the
bank in 1908, when he retired. and one
of the worlds richest men. 1t was in
August of last yea" that he again be
came active in its affairs on his return
from France. where he had lived sew
eral years. Wall Street rumor at that
time had 1t that serious controversy
had arisen as to the banks policy.
Mr.. Stllman was born in Browns
Vile, Tex, of old English stock that
had been III this country since the
seventeenth century. All four of his
great -grandfathers fought in the war
to
commissions.
His father was a successful shipping
merchant OF high standing. who re-
turned to the North shortly after the
birth of his son. The young man
passed his early years in New Eng
land, living in Hartford. Conn. and at
tending the Churchill School at Os-
sining.
Entered Cotton Business
After leaving school Mr.. Stillman
entered the employ of Smith e. Dun
j., ming, cotton commission merchants,
and within few Years became a mcm-
bcr of the firm, the name Of which
was changed to Smi,h. Woodward &
Of James Smith, the senior partner,
the name Of tho firm was changed to
Woodward & 2tllman, which it re-
manned until September. 1914. when it
was dissolved at the end of the part
nership agreement
Mr.. Stilman's genius for business
was soon manifested and he early won
an influential position for himself in
the financial world by his readiness
restless energy, which enabled him to
carry through a great number of varied
| enterprises.
In 1891 Mr.. Stillman succeeded Percy
r. Pyne as president of the National
City Bank, and under his management
the institution obtained a commanding
position in the financial world His
executive capacity was shown in the
banks internal pachinery and the
worldwide connections. which enabled
it to facilitate the transmission of
the nations treaty obligations with
Spain without disturbing the local
money market.
One Of the first proofs of his ability
as banker was shown in the liquida-
tion of the Third National Bank in such
way as to bring to the National City
I Bank nearly 80 per cent of the Third
, Nationals deposits, which totaled
nearly s1O,00OO00. The National City
/ Bank became both a city and govern
nent depository, and had among it's
other depositors some of the largest
ard wealthest corporations in exist
cncc.
Large Financial Transactions
1t became identified with large finan-
cial transactions, notably in connection
with the United States Treasury and
the Union Pacific Railway. In 1898 it
subscribed, on behalf of itself and GUS
toners, for $i00,000,000 of the 3 per
cent government loan. Even ten years
ago the bank had the reputation of be-
ing the heaviest lender on call in Wall
! Street, its loans being said to average
nearly 100000, 900 daily.
Mr.. Stlllman was interested in the
Union Pacific Railway, the Baltimore
& Ohio, the Northern Pacific Railway,
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, the Hanover Bank, the Delaware
& Lackawanna Railway and the United
He married Miss Elizabeth Rumrill
and they had five children: Elsie, who
married William G. Rockefeller; James
A., Isabel Goodrich Charles Chaunccv
and Ernest Goodrich Stillman
lie was actively interested in yacht
ing, being at one time commodore of
the New York Yacht Club, and being
associated with Oliver II. Payne, Au-
gust Belmont and others in building
the cup defender of 1901.
He gave Harvard University in the
same year 500 900 to establish an in
hrmary and hospital for the Students
: and in 1905 made two gifts of like
amounts for the promotion Of art. One
was for the maintenance Of the Amer
lean Academy of Fine Arts. in Rome
and 100000 was given as fund for
, prizes to the School Of Fine Arts, in
Paris, in recognition of the facilities
/ given by France to American art stu
dents. Two years later he was made
, a chevaicr Of the Legion of Honor BY
the French government.
Mr.. Stllmans social activities were
as broad as his financial interests, anc
. found expression in Il number of clubs
the list Of which almost rivalled list
F, of the corporations in which he was 8
= director or trustee.
M VXy.1