Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-26
v. f. EDM0NST0N
DIES ON TRIP NORTH
Oldest Member of D. c. Bar
Was Former Head of
Title Company.

William r. Edmonston, IS years old.
oldest member of the District of Co
lumbia Bar Association and prominent
in financial and charitable activities
here. died at the home Of his daugh'
ter, Mrs. Benjamin D. Riegel, South
port, Conn.,, yesterday morning while
on a visit there. He had been in Ill
health for several years.
Mr.. Edmonston had resided at 1920
Massachusetts avenue for more than
40 years. He was q native of Wash.
ington.
Although he was best known for
his legal ability, Mr.. Edmonston de.
voted most Of his recent years to
charitable work and also acted az adj
visory counsel to the many business
organizations with which he was asso.
ciated for many years.
Head OF Title Company.
He was educated in the public
schools here and was graduated from
George Washington University Law
School. After being. admitted to the
bar. he engaged in active practice for
many years with the firm of Applebee
& Edmonston.
In 1887 Mr.. Edmonston became
president of the Columbia Title Insur-
ance Co. and few years later was
responsible for the merger of this
Estate Co. He remained at the head
Of this firm until 1920. when he re.
tired from active work and became
advisory counsel.
For 33 years he was treasurer of
the Washington City Orphan Asylum.
He was a member OF the Board of
Trade and Washington Chamber of
Commerce. and was long active as a
member of the Columbia Historical
Society.
He was vice president. president and
general counsel in turn Of the Cor
coran Fire Insurance Co., director
of the National Savings & Trust Co,
American Fire Insurance Co., Wash
ington Safe Deposit Co, and the
Washington Law Reporter. He was
also a member OF the American Bar
Association and was one OF the early
members Of the Chevy Chase Club.
Funeral on Wednesday.
Mr.. Edmonston is survived by one
brother. Upton Il. Edmonston, of
this city; two sisters, Mrs. Katherine
T.. Pearson, OF this city, and Mrs.
Mary r.. Dulaney, Asbury Park, n. j.;
three children. Mrs. Reigel. Southport.
Conn; Mrs. Frances +. Roliow, this
city. and Edgar u. Edmonston, Balti.
more, and q large number of grand
children.
The body will be brought here to.
night. Funeral services will be held
Wednesday afternoon at o'clock az
the Massachusetts avenue home, con.
Quoted by Rev. Jason Noble Pierce.
pastor OF the First Congregational
Church. Burial will be in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
A document written by Mr.. Edmon.
ston two years ago. and which he re.
quested should not be opened until
after his death, named the following
honorary pallbearers for his funeral:
James ]. Becker, William Spencer
Armstrong. Frank McCielland. Louis
r. Peake. Frank ]. Ridgeway, Irwin
b. Linton, Blair Lee. c. Clinton James
and George Francis Williams.
The following committee from the
District Bar Association will represent
that organization at the funeral:
Charles II. Cragen. William Spencer
Armstrong, Ralph Barnard, United
States District Attorney Peyton Cor.
don, Corcoran Thorn. John b. Larner.
Joseph A. Burkhart. George C.. Cert
man. Alexander II. Bell. Leon To-
briner. William G.. Johnston, George
Francis Williams and c. Clinton
James.