Evening star., 1926-05-17
JOHN JOY EDISON, 80, AT DESK
AS USUAL, WIDELY REMEMBERED
Flowers and Gifts to-
Banker Attest His
Popularity.
Luncheon Is Given for
Him by Press Club
Building Officers.

John JOY Edison. banker. philan-
thropist and civic worker. celebrated
his eightieth birthday anniversary to-
day by going to his offices at the
Washington Loan and Trust Co ana
working as usual. Although MI Eu-
son has not been in the best of health
for some time. he has refused TO
forego attending his affairs as chair
man of the board of the bank ana
the other enterprises with which ne
is associated. Mr.. EdsonS desk at
the banking institution was poWereu
with flowers. sent him by associates
there. while other floral tributes were
sent to his home, 1924 SlXteenth
street.
Five years ago tonight Mr.. Edsoh
was the guest of honor at dlnner
and recention arranged by his friends
on the occasion of his seventy-lllth
birthday anniversary. Although no
such impressive testimonial had been
arranged today, the esteem IN wnlch
the veteran banker, an outStanuins
figure in the civic and business lie
of the CAPITAL for more than 90 years,
is held was marked by the conRfatu-
lations he received and the tributes
that were paid as he passed the
eightieth milestone.
Offered High Position.
Mr. Edison was president of the
Washington Loan and Trust 60. from
1894 to 1917 when he resigned 10 oe
come chairman OF the board OF ulrec
tors. lie could have held the most
prominent political post in the Dls'
trict of Columbia had he so desired.
for on two occasionS-by Pfesldeht
Harrison in 1893 and by president
Mckinley in 190l-he was tenoered
,teC nf
District of Columbia, declining both
offers.
Always in the forefront of civic
affairs, Mr.. Edison long ago aligned
his interests and himself behind the
fight for suffrage for residents of the
District. He has frequently said, Il
want to vote before | die in this vote
less community
One of Mr.. Edson's later interests
that Of financing and arranging the
details of construction of the Ma
tional Press Club Building at Four
teenth and r streets--is we'll on the
road to completion. Directors of the
National Press Building Corporation.
the holding company for the National
Press Club. rendered Mr.. Edison
luncheon in the cabinet room of the
Willard Hotel at / o'clock this after
noon.
Hammond is Speaker.
John Hays Hammond, capitalist and
mining engineer. associated with Mr..
Edison in financing the building at
Fourteenth and F streets, spoke at
the luncheon.
A veteran of the Civil War, mem
ber of the District bar. a former Gov
ernment employe. associated with
movements for prision reform, and in
timately associated with the move
ment for reform in the civil service,
Mr.. Edison has had n long and dis
tinguished career in Washington.
Born in jefferson. Ohio. May II,
1876, Mr.. Edison enlisted in the 6lst
New York Volunteers in 1861, at the
age OF - years. and was mustered
out in March. 1868. with impaired
health and no longer fit for military
duty. He served in the Infantry in
the early days of the war. detailed as
an orderly at headquarters of Gen.
Sumner, and was employed in carry
ing messages at the battles of Antie-
tam and Fredericksburg.
He was appointed a messenger in
the Treasury Department in March,
1863 and shortly after became clerk
in the office of the controller OF the
currency, reSlgnlnS from the reuel di
service in 1875. While employed by
the Government. he attended night
school and Columbian Law School, be-
ing graduated in 1868. and was ad-
mitted to the bar of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia the
same year. With his brother, Joseph
r. Edison. he engaged in the practice
of patent law from 1875 to 1881, when
he withdrew from the firm. He was
secretary of several building associa-
tions until their shares matured, and
the associations wound up successful
careers. In 1879 he organized the
Equitable Cooperative Building Asso.
citation, acting as its secretary until