John Joy Edson


John Joy Edson, was president of the Washington Loan and Trust Company, Equitable Co-operative Building Association, treasurer of the American Geographical Society, and Chairman of the Board and treasurer of the National Geographic Society.

Biography

He was born in Jefferson, Ohio on May 17, 1846.
He at 14, he enlisted in the 61st New York Volunteers, serving in the Civil War in
the Virginia and Maryland campaigns. He was a clerk in the office of the Comptroller of the Currency, from 1863 to 1875.
He graduated from Columbia Law School with a JD.
He practiced patent law from 1875 to 1881,
In 1879, he organized the Equitable Co-operative Building Association, serving as secretary, and president from 1898 to 1935.
He was vice president of the Washington Loan and Trust Company from 1889, serving as president from 1894 to 1917, and chairman of the board from 1917 to 1935.
He served on the board of Columbia National Bank, National Metropolitan Bank, and Potomac Fire Insurance Company.
He was president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade from 1901 to 1902, and Washington Bankers Association, and was treasurer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1912 to 1935.
He chaired the Citizens' Executive Committee, for the Grand Army of the Republic in 1892.
He was president of the Civil Service Reform Association from 1895 to 1907.
He was treasurer of the Associated Charities from 1903 to 1934, and was president of the District government's Board of Charities.
In 1928, he was hit by a car crossing F Street.
He died on July 15, 1935.