Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1894 — THE END OF ALL [ARTICLE]

THE END OF ALL

Death of America’s Greatest Philanthropist. goovg* W. Child*, of fhll»d*lp<H». mm End of a Long and Useful Life. George W. Childs, America’s greatest philanthropist, died at Philadelphia at 3:03 a. m.. Saturday, Feb. 3, ISM. Mr. Childs bad been STioualy 111 for some time, but hopes bad been entertained that he would recover. George William Childs was bora hi Baltimore, May 12, J 829. At the age of fourteen he removed to Philadelphia, nearly penniless, and became an errand boy In a book store. At eighteen he had saved ap sufficient capital to enter into business on his own acco int, and set up a very modest book store in the Ledger building, then at the corner of Third and Chestnut streets. In 1849, b ‘fore he had reached his lbgal majority, he entered the publishing firm of R. E. Peterson A Co., the firm name being shortly afterward changed to Childs A Peterson. Robert Evans Peterson, who later became Mr. Childs’s father-in-law. was, like Mr, Childs. a bookseller. In 1860 Mr. Peterson retired from the firm and Mr. Childs entered Into partnership with J. B. Lippincott A Co. It 1864 Mr. Childs purchased the Ledger, which was considered a very doubtful venture, bat by his own energy he made it a success la every way, and it brought to its fortunate ownera large fortune and a prominence fa the social world that brought him in eontact with people of the highest distinction. He became a warm personal fr.'ead of Gen. Grant anl remained as snch antfl the death of the great soldier. His relations with his employes were those ci a father to his children, and the devotion of those who were so fortunate as to obtain situations in his establishment has never had a parallel In the business world. It is almost as tmpostble to enumerate all the public benefactions of Mr. Childs as It is to record his private dced3 of charity. They were so numerous and of snch varied character that all record of many Is lost. A few, however, can be mentioned: A fountain to* the memory of Shakespeare at Stratford-on-Avon; a memorial window to Milton at Westminster; the Printers’ Home at Colorado Springs; monuments and memorials to Leigh Hunt, Edgar Allen Poe and Richard Proctor. Mr. Childs was a continual aud generous giver to almost every charitable object brought to his att ntion. The only public office that Mr. Childs could ever be induced to hold was the honorary one of President of the B >ard of Visitors to the Military Academy at Wert Point, which was conferred upon him by President Cleveland. There was no one of the thousands of deserving strangers who appealed to him and whom he could see his way to help that he turned away. No* even his closest friends knew the whole of his kindly acts. Only in another and a better world Is the record kept of hh kindly, charitable and helpful life.