He was appointed Postmaster during the administration of President Grover Cleveland on October 30, 1894 and held the officer until June 30, 1899. He was the Superintendent of the Post Office Department and the city Post Office Building.
The Washington Post October 1, 1899
Willett. On Saturday morning, September 30, 1899, James P. Willett. Funeral from Oak Hill Chapel, Monday, October 2 at 2 o'clock PM. Interment private. Kindly omit flowers.
The Evening Star
Saturday, September 30, 1899
To Instant Death
Former Postmaster Willett Plunges Down an Elevator Shaft
Back Was Broken In Several Places
General Sorrow Expressed Over the Untimely Death
Sketch Of His Career
Ex-Postmaster James P. Willett fell through the open door of the elevator shaft from the fifth floor of the new post office building this morning shortly after 9 o'clock and was instantly killed. Many of the clerks entering the building saw the body as it fell, but no one was with him on the fifth floor. One lady was standing at the elevator shaft as the body struck and fainted from the shock. Several clerks were overcome and for several minutes the body lay stretched across the elevator car. Willing hands, however, soon disengaged it and carried it into the hall, while some of the workmen supported the head. Dr. J.E. Jones was near at hand when the accident occurred and was instantly summoned. He examined the body and found the back broken in several places and life extinct. Telephone messages were immediately sent to Mr. Willet's sons and intimate friends and the body was shortly removed to the house of a relative.
The accident is said to have been the result of the moving operations going on. While the moving of the department from its old home on F Street has been in progress the contractors have been permitted to use the middle elevator. This necessitated the removal of one of the elevator doors on each floor to permit the unloading of the car. This car was used exclusively as a freight elevator. There are two doors at each landing, which slide horizontally and when both doors are opened there is a space four feet wide. One of the doors, as stated above, was removed on each floor and the other one was pushed back. The one removed is temporarily hinged to the iron framework and when furniture is not being transferred is laid across the opening. Being only two feet wide, it is but little protection and it was an easy matter for a person in leaning over the small barrier to lose his foothold and fall. This is rendered all the more probable if the sliding door is slightly pushed to and the person leans upon it for support. After the accident watchmen were placed at each landing.
Particulars of the Accident
The tragedy occurred shortly after 9 o'clock. Mr. Willett entered the building about 9 o'clock and walked directly to the north elevator. He seemed abstracted and passed an intimate friend, a Mr. Riddle, without recognizing him, apparently. Entering the car, he spoke to the conductor and in response to a question said he wanted to get off at Mr. Beavers' floor. Mr. Beavers is Chief of the Salary and Allowance Division and has been a warm friend of the ex-Postmaster. Someone told him Mr. Beavers was not in his office and he paced up and down the hall. His condition having been weakened by previous illness, he was unsteady on his feet and his constant pacing attracted the attention of William H. White, a laborer engaged in sweeping the fourth floor. The latter hesitated and watched Mr. Willett intently, remarking to himself, as he afterward told a reporter of The Star, That man certainly must be sick. As he watched Mr. Willett, the latter suddenly stopped and went up stairs to the fifth floor, presumably with the intention of seeing the Postmaster General. White was standing near the elevator shaft and soon after Mr. Willett passed to the upper floor he saw a body shoot down. He ran to the door and peered over the ledge. Seventy-two feet below the prostrate form of Mr. Willett lay stretched across the iron beam at the top of the car and people were wildly calling for help.
At the time of the accident the men were loading the elevator and Conductor Queen was giving the command All aboard, preparatory to going up. Without any warning, they felt a shock and looking up saw the body suspended across the top of the car. The fall had jarred the car and it had been so severe that the gaiters of the dead man had been torn off. Peter Dayly, George Thorn and James Queen were in the car at the time and narrowly escaped being struck. As soon as they realized what had happened Superintendent Himrod was called for and with the assistance of the other men, succeeded in disengaging the body. Medical aid was summoned, but death had been instantaneous, the spine being broken in several places.
No one knows exactly how the accident occurred and but to the fact that the dead man's umbrella was found on the fifth floor, no one could tell from where he had fallen. It is presumed Mr. Willett in looking down the shaft, either became dizzy by reason of his weakened condition and fell or that he suffered a stroke of apoplexy and pitched headforemost down the shaft. Another probability is that he was looking down the shaft and the sliding door, upon which he had placed his hand, closed suddenly and threw him forward.
The New Spreads Quickly
The news of the accident spread with lightning rapidity and soon a considerable crowd had gathered about the prostrate form. Although there were several in the crowd who were friends of Mr. Willett no one recognized him and it was only after someone had looked in the back of his watch and found the inscription of his friends in the office who presented it to him when he left the service that they were fully convinced of the identity. Then loving hands removed the body to the room he had occupied when he was Postmaster and placed him near the desk at which he had so often sat. The features were calm and peaceful and there was no trace of suffering. The severe injuries he had sustained had not marred him and he lay as if asleep. Many of his warm personal friends visited the room and looked upon the features of their old friend, whose genial disposition had brought so much sunshine into the world and whose loyal friendship was his chief characteristic.
In a little while his two sons and his brother arrived and the body was removed.
A Prey to Disease
For some time past Mr. Willett had been ill and when he became convinced his ailment was Bright's disease he became morose. Soon after he vacated the Office of Postmaster he was taken with an acute attack and when he returned to business cares he was greatly emaciated and many of his old friends failed to recognize him. He was anxious to get back to work and was a frequent visitor at the Post Office Department, where he expected to be employed. When the removal of the old Post Office Department to the new building began Postmaster General Smith appointed Mr. Willett Assistant Superintendent to take charge of the moving. After working several weeks, the Treasury Department, in a letter to the department, acknowledged the appointment of Mr. Willett and gave officials to understand they considered it tantamount to the acceptance of the building and would immediately turn the same over to the Postmaster General. The latter, however, was by no means ready to accept the building and it became necessary to drop Mr. Willett from the rolls to avoid complications.
This was no reflection at all upon the latter, although it was a source of great concern. There was a disposition on the part of the post office officials to give Mr. Willett something and only last evening the first Assistant Postmaster General, Mr. Perry S. Heath, called the matter to the attention of Postmaster General Smith and the latter directed that Mr. Willett be forthwith appointed to a position in the unclassified service.
Was Greatly Depressed
Yesterday Mr. Willett visited the Post Office Department and had a conference with the official regarding a position. He was told he would be fixed at the first opportunity. He was greatly depressed over the situation, but smiled and expressed the hope that they would not forget him.
Mr. Willett leaves a family consisting of a widow, a daughter, recently married and three sons, the youngest being a mere boy. One of Mr. Willett's sons is employed in the custom house at Georgetown, while another was temporarily in the postal service during his father's term of office.
Sketch of His Career
Mr. Willett was fifty-five years of age, having been born in 1844, the year James K. Polk was elected to the presidency of the United States. It was on account of this coincidence of birth that the former postmaster was given the name of that chief executive. Mr. Willett was appointed to the Washington postmastership in December 1894, being one of the few native born Washingtonians honored with the office. He served under two different political administrations, to the entire satisfaction of his superiors and retired from the office June 30 last, with the very best wishes of the entire community and especially of the clerks and employees of the city post office, the latter presenting him with a magnificent gold watch and chain as a token of their esteem and the appreciation they felt of his labors for them and their welfare.
Before entering the government service as postmaster Mr. Willett had been engaged in business, having been just prior to his appointment senior member of the firm of Willett & Ruoff, hatters, since dissolved. Thus Mr. Willett brought to the office his years of business training and experience, resulting in more thorough systematizing of the work there. Complaints were few after he had been in service a short while. When they were made, however, Mr. Willett took pleasure in investigating them personally, so that he might find just where the error was made or where the service was at fault. This was done that a nearer perfection might be attained in post office affairs. From the beginning of his term he was most zealous in working for the improvement of the District postal system and service, his labors bearing quick and lasting fruit. Under him the city post office rapidly increased its efficiency. In 1894 there were 179 regular and substitute letter carriers, while the force now numbers 277. In the same time the number of substations increased from sixteen to forty-two.
Established City Railway Service
Another improvement noted during Mr. Willett's tenure of office was the establishment of the street railway postal service now in successful operation. It was under his direction also that the collection of mail by a wagon manned by distributing clerks was inaugurated, this affording the quickest of facilities in gathering the mail and dispatching it throughout and from the city. Mr. Willett gave his undivided attention to post office work and was ever looking to the improvement of the office itself and the greater convenience of the people so directly interested in the postal service.
While not instrumental in the building of the new city post office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Mr. Willett was the first Postmaster to occupy it. He directed the moving of the effects from the old place, the Union building on G Street, to the new granite structure. Then, for the convenience of the many business interests and department buildings in the vicinity of the old site, he secured the establishment of substation G, now in the Union building.
The growth of the business of the city post office during Mr. Willett's regime was almost marvelous......
Tribute to His Memory
As a result of his efforts in their behalf, the employees of the post office who served under Mr. Willett held him in the highest regard. His death, coming, as it did, right in their midst, was a great shock and a deep grief to them. In speaking of the dead man, Major James E. Bell, Superintendent of City Delivery, who was with Mr. Willett during the latter's entire term, said:
No postmaster serving in Washington ever had the great regard of the men working under him as did Mr. Willett. He lost no opportunity to advance the interests of the men and succeeded in obtaining greater allowances and consequently raised more salaries in the office than any two of his predecessors. Mr. Willett was very considerate of his clerks and when he went out of office we were only too glad to present him with as handsome a testimonial as we could possibly afford. His untimely end has affected us deeply and is felt the more severely as a result of the sad accident taking place in our building.
Major Bell's sentiments are echoed by every clerk and employee in the post office.
He was appointed Postmaster during the administration of President Grover Cleveland on October 30, 1894 and held the officer until June 30, 1899. He was the Superintendent of the Post Office Department and the city Post Office Building.
The Washington Post October 1, 1899
Willett. On Saturday morning, September 30, 1899, James P. Willett. Funeral from Oak Hill Chapel, Monday, October 2 at 2 o'clock PM. Interment private. Kindly omit flowers.
The Evening Star
Saturday, September 30, 1899
To Instant Death
Former Postmaster Willett Plunges Down an Elevator Shaft
Back Was Broken In Several Places
General Sorrow Expressed Over the Untimely Death
Sketch Of His Career
Ex-Postmaster James P. Willett fell through the open door of the elevator shaft from the fifth floor of the new post office building this morning shortly after 9 o'clock and was instantly killed. Many of the clerks entering the building saw the body as it fell, but no one was with him on the fifth floor. One lady was standing at the elevator shaft as the body struck and fainted from the shock. Several clerks were overcome and for several minutes the body lay stretched across the elevator car. Willing hands, however, soon disengaged it and carried it into the hall, while some of the workmen supported the head. Dr. J.E. Jones was near at hand when the accident occurred and was instantly summoned. He examined the body and found the back broken in several places and life extinct. Telephone messages were immediately sent to Mr. Willet's sons and intimate friends and the body was shortly removed to the house of a relative.
The accident is said to have been the result of the moving operations going on. While the moving of the department from its old home on F Street has been in progress the contractors have been permitted to use the middle elevator. This necessitated the removal of one of the elevator doors on each floor to permit the unloading of the car. This car was used exclusively as a freight elevator. There are two doors at each landing, which slide horizontally and when both doors are opened there is a space four feet wide. One of the doors, as stated above, was removed on each floor and the other one was pushed back. The one removed is temporarily hinged to the iron framework and when furniture is not being transferred is laid across the opening. Being only two feet wide, it is but little protection and it was an easy matter for a person in leaning over the small barrier to lose his foothold and fall. This is rendered all the more probable if the sliding door is slightly pushed to and the person leans upon it for support. After the accident watchmen were placed at each landing.
Particulars of the Accident
The tragedy occurred shortly after 9 o'clock. Mr. Willett entered the building about 9 o'clock and walked directly to the north elevator. He seemed abstracted and passed an intimate friend, a Mr. Riddle, without recognizing him, apparently. Entering the car, he spoke to the conductor and in response to a question said he wanted to get off at Mr. Beavers' floor. Mr. Beavers is Chief of the Salary and Allowance Division and has been a warm friend of the ex-Postmaster. Someone told him Mr. Beavers was not in his office and he paced up and down the hall. His condition having been weakened by previous illness, he was unsteady on his feet and his constant pacing attracted the attention of William H. White, a laborer engaged in sweeping the fourth floor. The latter hesitated and watched Mr. Willett intently, remarking to himself, as he afterward told a reporter of The Star, That man certainly must be sick. As he watched Mr. Willett, the latter suddenly stopped and went up stairs to the fifth floor, presumably with the intention of seeing the Postmaster General. White was standing near the elevator shaft and soon after Mr. Willett passed to the upper floor he saw a body shoot down. He ran to the door and peered over the ledge. Seventy-two feet below the prostrate form of Mr. Willett lay stretched across the iron beam at the top of the car and people were wildly calling for help.
At the time of the accident the men were loading the elevator and Conductor Queen was giving the command All aboard, preparatory to going up. Without any warning, they felt a shock and looking up saw the body suspended across the top of the car. The fall had jarred the car and it had been so severe that the gaiters of the dead man had been torn off. Peter Dayly, George Thorn and James Queen were in the car at the time and narrowly escaped being struck. As soon as they realized what had happened Superintendent Himrod was called for and with the assistance of the other men, succeeded in disengaging the body. Medical aid was summoned, but death had been instantaneous, the spine being broken in several places.
No one knows exactly how the accident occurred and but to the fact that the dead man's umbrella was found on the fifth floor, no one could tell from where he had fallen. It is presumed Mr. Willett in looking down the shaft, either became dizzy by reason of his weakened condition and fell or that he suffered a stroke of apoplexy and pitched headforemost down the shaft. Another probability is that he was looking down the shaft and the sliding door, upon which he had placed his hand, closed suddenly and threw him forward.
The New Spreads Quickly
The news of the accident spread with lightning rapidity and soon a considerable crowd had gathered about the prostrate form. Although there were several in the crowd who were friends of Mr. Willett no one recognized him and it was only after someone had looked in the back of his watch and found the inscription of his friends in the office who presented it to him when he left the service that they were fully convinced of the identity. Then loving hands removed the body to the room he had occupied when he was Postmaster and placed him near the desk at which he had so often sat. The features were calm and peaceful and there was no trace of suffering. The severe injuries he had sustained had not marred him and he lay as if asleep. Many of his warm personal friends visited the room and looked upon the features of their old friend, whose genial disposition had brought so much sunshine into the world and whose loyal friendship was his chief characteristic.
In a little while his two sons and his brother arrived and the body was removed.
A Prey to Disease
For some time past Mr. Willett had been ill and when he became convinced his ailment was Bright's disease he became morose. Soon after he vacated the Office of Postmaster he was taken with an acute attack and when he returned to business cares he was greatly emaciated and many of his old friends failed to recognize him. He was anxious to get back to work and was a frequent visitor at the Post Office Department, where he expected to be employed. When the removal of the old Post Office Department to the new building began Postmaster General Smith appointed Mr. Willett Assistant Superintendent to take charge of the moving. After working several weeks, the Treasury Department, in a letter to the department, acknowledged the appointment of Mr. Willett and gave officials to understand they considered it tantamount to the acceptance of the building and would immediately turn the same over to the Postmaster General. The latter, however, was by no means ready to accept the building and it became necessary to drop Mr. Willett from the rolls to avoid complications.
This was no reflection at all upon the latter, although it was a source of great concern. There was a disposition on the part of the post office officials to give Mr. Willett something and only last evening the first Assistant Postmaster General, Mr. Perry S. Heath, called the matter to the attention of Postmaster General Smith and the latter directed that Mr. Willett be forthwith appointed to a position in the unclassified service.
Was Greatly Depressed
Yesterday Mr. Willett visited the Post Office Department and had a conference with the official regarding a position. He was told he would be fixed at the first opportunity. He was greatly depressed over the situation, but smiled and expressed the hope that they would not forget him.
Mr. Willett leaves a family consisting of a widow, a daughter, recently married and three sons, the youngest being a mere boy. One of Mr. Willett's sons is employed in the custom house at Georgetown, while another was temporarily in the postal service during his father's term of office.
Sketch of His Career
Mr. Willett was fifty-five years of age, having been born in 1844, the year James K. Polk was elected to the presidency of the United States. It was on account of this coincidence of birth that the former postmaster was given the name of that chief executive. Mr. Willett was appointed to the Washington postmastership in December 1894, being one of the few native born Washingtonians honored with the office. He served under two different political administrations, to the entire satisfaction of his superiors and retired from the office June 30 last, with the very best wishes of the entire community and especially of the clerks and employees of the city post office, the latter presenting him with a magnificent gold watch and chain as a token of their esteem and the appreciation they felt of his labors for them and their welfare.
Before entering the government service as postmaster Mr. Willett had been engaged in business, having been just prior to his appointment senior member of the firm of Willett & Ruoff, hatters, since dissolved. Thus Mr. Willett brought to the office his years of business training and experience, resulting in more thorough systematizing of the work there. Complaints were few after he had been in service a short while. When they were made, however, Mr. Willett took pleasure in investigating them personally, so that he might find just where the error was made or where the service was at fault. This was done that a nearer perfection might be attained in post office affairs. From the beginning of his term he was most zealous in working for the improvement of the District postal system and service, his labors bearing quick and lasting fruit. Under him the city post office rapidly increased its efficiency. In 1894 there were 179 regular and substitute letter carriers, while the force now numbers 277. In the same time the number of substations increased from sixteen to forty-two.
Established City Railway Service
Another improvement noted during Mr. Willett's tenure of office was the establishment of the street railway postal service now in successful operation. It was under his direction also that the collection of mail by a wagon manned by distributing clerks was inaugurated, this affording the quickest of facilities in gathering the mail and dispatching it throughout and from the city. Mr. Willett gave his undivided attention to post office work and was ever looking to the improvement of the office itself and the greater convenience of the people so directly interested in the postal service.
While not instrumental in the building of the new city post office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Mr. Willett was the first Postmaster to occupy it. He directed the moving of the effects from the old place, the Union building on G Street, to the new granite structure. Then, for the convenience of the many business interests and department buildings in the vicinity of the old site, he secured the establishment of substation G, now in the Union building.
The growth of the business of the city post office during Mr. Willett's regime was almost marvelous......
Tribute to His Memory
As a result of his efforts in their behalf, the employees of the post office who served under Mr. Willett held him in the highest regard. His death, coming, as it did, right in their midst, was a great shock and a deep grief to them. In speaking of the dead man, Major James E. Bell, Superintendent of City Delivery, who was with Mr. Willett during the latter's entire term, said:
No postmaster serving in Washington ever had the great regard of the men working under him as did Mr. Willett. He lost no opportunity to advance the interests of the men and succeeded in obtaining greater allowances and consequently raised more salaries in the office than any two of his predecessors. Mr. Willett was very considerate of his clerks and when he went out of office we were only too glad to present him with as handsome a testimonial as we could possibly afford. His untimely end has affected us deeply and is felt the more severely as a result of the sad accident taking place in our building.
Major Bell's sentiments are echoed by every clerk and employee in the post office.
Family Members
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