New-York tribune., 1920-06-19
George W. Perkins Dies
From Strain of OyerWOrk
Noted Financier Failed
to Recuperatc From
Nerv rvous Breakdown
of Several Weeks Ago
Former Morgan Partner
Took Leading Part in Civic
and Philanthropic Work;
Served Y. M. C.. A. in War

George Walbridge Perkins, fnancier,
phianthropist and publicist, died yes
terday morning at the Stamford Hall
Sanitarium, ct Stamford, Conn, whittier
he had been sent by his physicians
fortnight ago, for rest and recupcra-
ton. He had been much weakened by
severe attacks of influenza and pneu-
monia while serving with the Y. M.
C. A. in France during the war, and
their after effects we're aggravated by
the intense activity of his life after his
return to this country.
Week before last Mr.. Perkins suf-
fered a nervous break down and was
ordered BY his physicians to give up
all work and go into retirement. On
= Thursday his condition took sudden
turn for the worse, and at 2:15 O'Clock
yesterday morning he died from-as
professionally stated-"acute inflam-
nation of the brain. the result of COM
plete nervous exhaustion due to in
tense and continuous overwork." His
wife and children were at his death
bed. Funeral services will take place
at the Riverdale Presbyterian Church
tomorrow afternoon.
Funeral Tomorrow
The Rev. Robert Mackenzie will Off
ciate. The service will be restricted
to relatives and intimate friends be-
cause Of the limited capacity Of the
church, which can accommodate only
about $50. Interment will be in the
family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery.
The honorary rallbearers, as an
nounced last night, will be Cleveland
II. Dodge, Frank A. Munsey, Judge Ell
bert H. Gary, J. P. Morgan, George F.
Baker sr.. F.chard " Lindabury, LeW.s
l.. Deiaheld and Thomas A. Buckner.
The steamers of the Hudson River
Day Line will stop running for five
minutes at 80 tomorrow afternoon,
the time set for the funeral services.
Those of the crew whose duties permit
Will assemble on each steamer on the
main deck forward while the orches-
ira plays Lead, Kindly Light" and
"Nearer, My God, to Thee" The pas
sengers will be asked to join in this
token of respect to the memory of the
man who did so much to preserve the
beauties Of the Hudson River.
Born in Chicago in 1862.
Descended from Jacob Perkins, an
English colonist at Boston in 1881, and
the son of George w. Perkins, a ship
ping merchant at Buffalo and a pio-
neer in life insurance, Mr.. Perkins was
born in Chicago January 81, 1862, and
received his only academic education
In the public schools of that city. At
the age of fifteen he entered the en-,
ployment of the Chicago Office of the
New York Life Insurance Company, as
an office and errand boy. His salary
was S25 month, and his employment
was conditioned on his making no mis-
takes and doing faithfully all he was
told to do He fulfilled those con-
ditions, and so was not merely re-
tanned in that employment, but within
a year was promoted to a clcrkship at
S100 a month
In 1888 he was transferred to the
company's Cleveland Office as cashier.
Thereafter he was successfully a field
agent in the Far West, an agency di-
rector, and an inspector of agencies.
In 1892 he came to New York as third
vice e-president, member and chairman
Of the finance committee and, in 1908,
first vice ce-president at a salary of
$4,000 a year. He retired from that
company in 1905.
In the House of Morgan
Meantime his exceptional abilities
rs fnancier had attracted the atten-
tion Of j. Pierpont Morgan, who in
vlted him, on most flattering terms