Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-30
GEN. RICHARD HOX|E
EXPIRES IN FLORIDA
Veteran of Two Wars Was
Identified With District
for Many Years.

prominently lQenLlueQ WIFI TIE GoN'
eminent of the District of Columbia fol
many years, died at his Winter hom'
at Miami, Fla, yesterday, following
long illness. He was So years old.
Gen. Hoxie was a member Of the ole
Board of Public Works of the District
of Columbia and engineer for the Dis
trict from 1874 to 1878 and, subse'
quently, under the new form Of govern
ment here, served as assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner from 1878 tx
1883. He was identified with several Of
the leading clubs and other organiza'
tons of this city. He had resided here
at 1882 K street the greater part Of the
time since his retirement In August
1908.
After preliminary funeral services al
Miami. the body will be brought to thi'
city for burial, at time to be fixec
later.
Advanced on Retirement.
Gen. Hoxie, who was a colonel in the
Engineer Corps prior to his retirement
was advanced to the grade Of briga-
der general when placed on the retired
list, due to his distinguished service ir
the Civil War.
Richard Leveridge Hoxie, the son Of
Joseph and Jacqueline Barry Hoxie
was born in New York on August z
1874. He was educated in Italy Q851'
1859, Iowa State University 1883
1861, was appointed from Iowa anc
was graduated at the United States
Military academy in 1868.
When a boy of II years he enlisted
as a private and became a bugler, later
a corporal in Co. F, LIST Iowa Cavalry
serving during the Civil War. And II
was after this service, in 1864, that he
entered the Military Academy.
Gen. Hoxie's career at West Point
was conspicuous In many ways. His
ideals of personal honor were the high
est and he was always ready to fight
to maintain them. The esteem with
which he was held by his West Point
comrades was life long. Gen. Horatio
Gates Gibson, before his death a few
wears ago, said, "Hoxie was the whitest
man I ever knew, from West Point
down." -
Grant Trusted Him.
Among his comrades IN the Military
Academy was Fred Grant, son OF Presi-
dent Grant, who, although in lower
class, was an enthusiastic admirer OF
his code of ethics and talked about him
so much at home that President Grant
became interested A few years later,
when charges of graft and corruption
in the engineering department OF the
District of Columbia made change OF
administration advisable, Gen. Grant
sent for the list of Army engineers
then in the District. Looking it over,
he Immediately selected Gen. Hoxie's
Hoxie and can trust him. II there Is
any dishonesty he will find it and have
it stopped"
The time when Gen. HoXie served as
engineer of the District Of Columbia
was one Of the most important in the
of Washington for the city
had then outgrown all of its previous
plans for public utilities. He established
new sewer systems which were SO well
constructed that they are FIJI good con-
dition today. One of his most i'm
portant works was the planning Of the
water supply system for the City Of
This included the great
plants. His design called tor
the building. OF a large underground
aqueduct, which was original. This
the New York Water Commission in the
of its Croton River project.
He laid out part Of Rock Creek Park
also many of the most important streets
and public squares In the city.
After leaving Washington Gen. Hoxie
was placed in charge Of rivers and
harbors for the Southern district, with
headquarters in Montgomery Ala.
While in Washington it was said that
he gave positions to more Southern
officers than other officials. This fact
together with his tactfulness during a
difficult period In the South won for
Confederate sympathizers.
Was Astronomy Teacher.
For some years Gen. Hoxie was pro-
lessor of astronomy and other sciences
at Willetts Point, the postgraduate
school for Army engineers. He held
many important posts in different parts
of the country. Immediately after grad
uation from West Point he was as
sistant on Western explorations under
Lieut.. Wheeler. He did some daring
and important exploring. In Utah he
discovered creek which still bears his
name. His engineering activities in
cluded the construction OF defenSes,
VI al doSiO4OAA
to improvements of rivers and harbors.
During the Spanish American War
Gen. Hoxie was in charge of fortifica-
lions along the New England coast
down to and including New York City,
which was considered the most i'm
portant area liable to attack. He was
always an indefatigable worker, fire.
quently overtaxing his strength, as he
was never a robust man. Just prior to
his retirement from active service in
1908, In conformance with the law, he
was practically doing the work Of three
men, being in charge of Offices in Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington,
spending part Of every week in each
place. Three Engineer officers were re-
quired to fill these vacancies caused by
his retirement.
Acted as Advisor.
Although physical limitations pre-
vented his taking active duty during
the World War, he gave valuable serv-
ice in an advisory capacity. AS Gen.
Hoxie was an expert on Notifications
and in touch with all work of that
kind from Maine to Savannah, he was
called into consultation frequently, at
one time going to Washington from
Iowa at his own expense to give advice
requested.
In 1878 he married Winnie Ream, the
talented sculptress, who died in 1914
leaving one son, Richard Ream Hoxie.
Gen. Hoxie was married the second
time in 1917 to Mae Ruth Norcross.
Since his retirement Gen. Hoxie had
divided his time between his Washing
ton residence, his boyhood home In
Iowa City and Miami, where he had
spent the Winter months for a number
of years. He was close friend and
adviser of Henry M. Flagler, pioneer
developer of the Florida East Coast.
Gen. Hoxie is survived by his widow
his son, two nieces, Mrs. j. Harrison
Smith of Philadelphia and Miss Marie
Louise Harrison of New York City.
Gen Hoxie was a member of thu
American Society of Civil Engineers