Evening star., 1925-05-19
DEATH CLAIMS JAMES F. OYSTER
AFTER LONG SERVICE TO CAPITAL
Commissioner Had Been Connected With Ciric A f.
fairs Orer Period of More Than so Years
Wife Died a Year Ago.

o'clock. do hereby record the deep
sense OF sorrow that we feel at the
passing Of Commissioner Oyster. who
was NOE only a Jealous public official
of high order OF integrity. but whom
many of US have known for years as
an admired associate and friend.
BE 1t further resolved. That as a
mark OF respect TO Commissioner
Oyster. this meeting do now adjourn
and that the board attend the OBJ
sequies in body
Tribute From Trade Board.
The high regard in which Commits.
sioner oyster was held by members
Of the Washington Board of Trade
was expressed in the following state
ment. issued by Arthur Carr. secre-
tary:
The Washington Board of Trade,
individually and collectively, sincere
ly mourn the loss OF Commissioners
James F. Oyster. Capt. oyster. as he
was familiarly called. devoted practi-
cally his entire life to the civic and
business advancement of Washington.
He served for a number of years
as director of the Washington Board
of Trade, and in the year 1920 was
elected president of the orga nization.
the highest honor which could be be-
slowed upon him.
ITO know Commissioner Oyster was
to admire him. He was a man of
iron will and determination, but with
1t all fair In every respect. The Ma.
tion's Capital has suffered a loss and
his legion Of friends mourn his pa ass.
ing"
Other officials who personally ex.
pressed regret at the death OF the Com.
missioner were Col. c. o. Sheriff.,
member Of the Zoning Commission:
Representative Frederick n. Zihlman,
chairman Of the House District com.
mittee. and TRAFFIC Director NJ. o.
EIdridge.
Francis Wells. president Of the
Blaine Invincible Republican Club,
called a special meeting OF the club
| today to adopt appropriate resolutions.
DR.. William Tindall. veteran official
or the District government, declared
that all who knew Capt Oyster will
| mourn his death.
Born In District.
Capt James F. Oyster was horn
| in the District of Columbia Febru-
airy Il, 1851, and had always lived in
| Washington.
He was son of George NJ. Oyster.
ST., and Rosa A. Oyster. and spent
his boyhood days on Capitol Hill. the
name applied to the neighbor hood
lying east of the Capitol Building.
capt. Oyster was still schoolboy
| when the States divided in Civil War
and, therefore, did not get an oppor-
! tunity to serve in the Army. He car
| ried with him into manhood, however
many interesting recollections of the
| stirring days OF the war in the Ma
| tional Capital.
i
| cation in the public schools of the
| District, he attended Rittenbous,
Academy In later. years he had the
distinction of serving as president of
the Board of Education for five years
beginning with 1906. While a mem
Der Of the school board the Commits
sioner won the support and friend
ship of the teaching force.
Joined Fathers Business.
Upon finishing school, Capt. Oyster
accepted a position in a downtown
| furniture establishment, where he
remained for four years. Then. in
| 1870, he joined his father and brother
| George NJ. oyster, jr., In the butter
and egg business. Later the father
retired, and the brother established
| a dairy. leaving Capt. Oyster sole
owner OF the butter and egg concern.
In 1886 the Commissioner married
Miss Emma Detweiler, daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick NJ. DetweiIer
Mrs. oyster was an accomplished So
| loist and for a number of wears she
devoted part of her time to service
in church choirs.
| Mrs. Oyster died in January. 1924
at the age Of 5S, following a linger-
ing illness.
Commissioner Oyster for many
years had been known as Cant. Jim, y
a title he acquired during his service
| as captain in the National Rifles
one of the military Organizations that
| existed in Washington prior to 1900
| The Commissioner always had been
proud of his affiliation with the Rifles,
He frequently INDUCED in reminis.
| cences of the competitive and exhibi-
tion drills he took part in while q
captain of the organization.
Long Active in Business.
Capt. Oyster had been prominently
identified with the business and civic
interests of Washington for halt a
century. He was active in mercantile
affairs back in the days OF the old
Business Mems Association, which
merged with the Jobbers' and Ship
pers' Association to form the Chamber
of Commerce.
He served at different times q,
president OF both the Chamber ei
/.