Darlington, Joseph G.

JOS. G. DARLINGTON HAS PASSED AWAY

Well-Known Business Man and Former President of Union League Dies at Haverford.

JOSEPH G. DARLINGTON, one of Philadelphia's most prominent and active citizens, died yesterday morning at his country residence, Roselyn, near Haverford. He was sixty-six years old and his death was due to a complication of diseases.

While best known to the general public by reason of being the head of he firm of Joseph G. Darlington & Co., at 1126 Chestnut street, he also gained much prominence by reason of the part he played in the building up of the Union League. For four years he was president of that organization, a record only equaled by one other man.

During his presidency Mr. Darlington, by a series of receptions to the prominent officials of the country and various notable foreign visitors, not only brought the club constantly in the public eye, but also gave it an influence in national affairs that it had never before attained.

Potent Factor in Business.

In addition to his connection with the Union League, he was a potent factor in the business and life of the city and also took much interest in all matters for the advancement of the welfare of Philadelphia.

He was a director in a number of financial institutions, was a member of numerous historical and social organizations. He was a veteran of the Civil War.

While he has been in poor health for some time, few of his friends were aware that his condition was at all serious, and therefore the announcement of his death yesterday came as a distinct shock. He withdrew came as a distinct shock. He withdrew from active management of his store last October, but it was not until a week ago that he became so ill that he had to remain in the house.

Union League to Act.

As soon as word was received at the Union League that the ex-president and life member had passed away, the large painting of Mr. Darlington which hangs in the main corridor was draped with black and a meeting of the board of governors was called to take action upon his death. This meeting will probably be held today. It is understood the board of governors of the club will attend the funeral in a body, being accompanied by many of the members of the club. A special train will be chartered by the club to go to the funeral.

The store on Chestnut street will be closed today and will not be opened until Monday morning.

The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30. Services will be conducted at the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, by Bishop William Nelson McVickar, of Rhode Island, who was a close friend of Mr. Darlington's; the Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, rector of Holy Trinity Church, and the Rev. James Haughton, rector of the church in which the services will be held. The interment, which will be private, will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Joseph G. Darlington was born in Pittsburg in 1842, but was brought to Philadelphia by his parents when only a few months old. He was the son of Samuel P. and Caroline Weston Darlington. On his father's side he was descended from good English Quaker stock, while the blood of Revolutionary heroes flowed in his veins on the side of his mother, who was a Seymour, of New York. His maternal great-grandfather was Captain Horace Seymour, one of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati, who received his commission from General Washington. The genealogical tree of the family dates back to 1630.

Mr. Darlington was educated at the Friends' High School, Walnut street above Sixth, in this city, after which he served his apprenticeship with the house of Dale, Ross & Withers, the largest silk importers in the country. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Darlington was one of the first to respond to the call for volunteers, enlisting as a private in the Hamilton Rifle Corps. Among his comrades were N. B. Brown, Clarence H. Clark, Colonel Henry M. Dechert and other well-known Philadelphians.

His regiment being mustered out in the spring of 1863, Mr. Darlington re-enlisted abut the first of June, this time in the Thirty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, and served until the end of the war. On returning to Philadelphia he entered the employ of John W. Thomas, father of George C. Thomas, senior partner in the banking firm of Drexel & Company. Young Darlington was so successful in promoting the interests of the house that Mr. Thomas took him into partnership, and when Mr. Thomas retired from business, in 1873, Mr. Darlington succeeded him as the head of the house, which is not conducted under the name of Joseph G. Darlington & Company. This store holds a unique postion[sic] in the mercantile world, as it is not only one of the oldest houses in the city, having been founded in 1830, but is also the only large retail establishment doing a strictly dry goods business.

Mr. Darlington was a member of he Cincinnati, Sons of the Revolution, Colonial Society, Geological Society, Historical Society, the Saint Nicholas Society of New York (on account of being a descendent of the old Knickerbocker stock); was president of the New England Society, and belonged to the Art Club, Penn Club, the Radnor Hunt Club and the Union League. He was governor of the Merion Cricket Club, a member of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, the Merchant's Fund, Merchants' Beneficial Society and many other organizations. he was a director of the Franklin National Bank, a trustee of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, and one of the Philadelphia directors of the American Surety Company of New York.

For nearly thirty years Mr. Darlington was an active member of the Union League and was long a trusted member of the Finance Board and the Real Estate Advisory Committee. In 1892 he was elected secretary of that organization and later made vice president. In 1898 he was elected president.

Ten years after his joining the club, in 1891, Mr. Darlington was elected one of its directors, in which capacity he served two years. He was elected secretary in 1892, and three years later was honored with the vice presidency of the club, which position he filled up to the time of his election as president. Since 1896 he was chairman of the House Committee, and during the campaign of the preceding year he was made chairman of the Finance Committee. In the same year, 1896, he was nominated for president, but he then declined the honor.

In 1896 the club inaugurated the real estate advisory board, which passes upon all improvements of permanent character contemplated by thee institution. Nine members form its personnel, five of whom are appointed by the Board of Directors, the appointees then electing the remaining four members. Mr. Darlington was one of the original five, and, at the board's first meeting he was unanimously chosen as its head.

During his presidency Mr. Darlington won the reputation of being one of the best executives the club ever had. He was unsparing in giving his time, energy and money and never let slip a chance to increase the prestige of the organization and extend its influence as a potential factor in national politics. His terms as secretary and vice president had familiarized him with the internal management and made him acquainted with a large majority of the 2400 members.

Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA 19 Mar 1908