The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-07-16
JOHN J. EDISON,
CIVIC LEADER;
DIES At 80

Washington today mourned the
loss of one Of its most outstanding
and beloved citizens, John Joy
Edison, who died late yesterday
at his home in the 1900 block Of
Sixteenth Street N. W.
The 89-year-old philanthropist,
financier and business and civic
leader, had been i'll seven weeks.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday at the Swedenborgian
Church of the New Jerusalem, Six
teenth and Corcoran Streets.
His was the story of an obscure
farm boy who began working as
q farm hand at Is cents a day,
ran away to join the Union
ranks in the Civil War, came to
the National Capital to work
with the Government when the
war was over and rapidly worked
his way to prominence and q
respected place in the eyes Of
man.
He was born May IT, 1846, in
Jefferson, Ohio.
Founded Association
He was admitted to the D. C..
bar in 1869, one year after his
graduation from George Wash
ington University. He practiced
patent law in the District for
six years and in 1879 founded
the Equitable Cooperative Build
ing and Loan Association, of
which organization he was presi-
dent at his death.
He served on presidential inau-
guration. committees from the
time of President HarriSon'S inau-
guration through the first Wilson
Inauguration.
For many years he was treas
urer of the National Geographic
Society and was treasurer of the
Associated Charities from 1879 to
1929. He was treasurer of the
Board of Charities from 1900 to
1925, after which he became chair
man of the new Board Of Public
Welfare.
One of the oldest living mem.
berS of the alumni of George
Washington University, he was
treasurer of that school from 1917
to 1929, and was president of the
National Homeopathic Hospital
from 1889 to 1905. He also was
president of the John Dickson
Home for old men from 1913 to
1881.
Greatly HOnored
Meanwhile, Mr.. Edison was
president of the Board of Trade
for the term beginning 1900.
President Theodore Roosevelt
appointed him a member of a
prison commission which made
numerous helpful recommends
tons for aiding the penal inStitu
tions of the country.
During the World war, Mr.. Ed
son served on the Selective Serv'
Ice Appeal Board, and he was a
delegate to the Pan-American FL
nancial Congress here in 1915 to
1919.
Mr.. Edison declined a D. C. Com
miSsionerShip in 1893.
He was chairman of the citizens
executive committee which enter
tanned the first G. A. r. reunion
in Washington in 1892.
He was a member of numerous
clubs and societies. Among them
we're: Cosmos Club, University
Club, National Press Club, Mon
day Evening Club, Columbian
Historical Society, National Geo.
graphic Society, Archaeological
Society of Washington and the
United States Chamber of Com
merce.
Fractured Skull
Several years ago he suffered q
fractured skull in an automoblIe
accident and doctors at that time
gave him up for dead, but he raj
lied and weeks later walked out OF
the hospital, his head swathed IN
bandages, but otherwise recovered
During the past year he has
been ailing and the last few weeks
of his life found him unable to
leave his bed. He lived in the 1900
block Sixteenth st. N. w.
He is survived by daughter,
Mrs. Bessie Eaton, Of Washington,
six grandchildren and seven great
grandchildren.