Writer, Scholar, and Landholder
Dies on the Day His Last
Work is Published

LONG AND VERSATILE LIFE

First a Lawyer, Then a Promoter of
Viticulture in Ohio - Of Late Years
a Student, Writer and Authority
on Financial Questions

William Joseph Flagg, a scholar of extensive research, a writer of some note of fiction, and on scientific topics, an authority on financial topics, an extensive landholder, and closely connected by ties of blood and Marriage with persons of prominence in New York, Connecticut, and Ohio, died yesterday afternoon in his apartments at 80 Madison Avenue.

On the day of his death the first edition of a work upon which he had directed his energies for the last fifteen years, almost to the exclusion of other activities, was published. The excessive application to this work is thought to have hastened his death. The day of his death was also his eightieth birthday. He was the son of Henry C. Flagg, once Mayor of New Haven, who was the representative of a well-known Southern family, and had a residence at Charleston, S.C.

William Joseph Flagg was born in New Haven, reared and educated there, and entered upon his career as a lawyer. He early attained to a successful general practice. Removing to Cincinnati, he married the daughter of Nicholas Longworth, one of the early millionaires of CIncinnati. On the persuasion of his father-in-law, Mr. Flagg became identified with Mr. Longworth in the culture of the grapevine. Persistent application on the part of the young man brought a large measure of success.

In his endeavor to insure the success of viticulture in Ohio, Mr. Flagg made a trip to France about thirty years ago. He studied assiduously the growth of the vine there, and especially the ravages of phylloxeria. His observations and studies in this direction were so complete that he later published a book upon this subject.

His studies in France impaired his health, and when he returned it was as an invalid. He came to New York and established himself in the neighborhood of his late residence. He practically retired from pursuits of active business and devoted himself to study. For fifteen years proceeding his death he was engaged in writing a book treating the religions of all countries.

This work he named “Youga,” and it was published by Bouton & Co. of this city. His constant application in this direction appeared to be too severe for his health, and an ailment of the liver added to his discomfort, and, after an illness of several weeks, proved fatal.

Mr. Flagg’s sister was married to A. E. Gwynne of Cincinnati. Mr. Gwynne was the father of Miss Alice Gwynne, who is the present Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. Mrs. Flagg died after Mr. Flagg came to New York. There were no children of the marriage.

While in Ohio Mr. Flagg tried his hand writing fiction. “Woman Stronger” was one work. In Cincinnati Mr. Flagg became identified with State politics and was elected to the Ohio legislature.

During his later life in New York, Mr. Flagg was a deep student of financial questions and a contributors to the newspapers of this city. His business success in Ohio resulted in the acquisition of some ten thousand acres of vine lands on the banks of the Ohio River. He also had large holdings on the Island of Nantucket, and he was largely instrumental in developing Siasconset, on that island, as a Summer resort.

In New York he was part proprietor of of the large apartment house at 80 Madison Avenue. Two brothers, J. B. Flagg of 253 West Forty-second Street, and the Rev. E. O. Flagg, also of this city, are his only immediate surviving relatives.

New York Times, April 16, 1898

COD Jaundice
Parents Henry Collins Flagg and Martha Whiting Flagg
Interred with his wife Eliza. Only her name is on the marker ~Cinti Volun Admin