CLASS OF 1873
Rev. Nathan Tirrell Dyer, who died in Dorchester, Mass., January 20, was born in South Braintree, Mass., January 1, 1852. His father was a boot manufacturer. Nathan was the sixth of eight brothers. Two sisters, the youngest of the family, died early in life. He prepared for college at Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass. In those days the six weeks' vacation, extending from Thanksgiving till after New Year's, with another six weeks of absence granted by the College, enabled students to teach a full term in some district school without being compelled to make up their studies. As he was obliged to support himself in great measure, he taught school sophomore winter in Groton, Mass., in junior winter on Cape Cod, where the muscular young fishermen often made life trying for the teacher, and in senior winter on Cape Ann. He was one of the early members of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity at Dartmouth.
In the fall of 1873 he entered Andover Theological Seminary, and graduated in 1876. He was fond of music, and during his seminary days he was a member of the Lockhart Glee Club. He had pastorates over Congregational churches, as follows: at Middleboro, Mass., 1878-85; at North Dighton, Mass., 1887-90; at Medfield, Mass., 1890-7; at Ashburnham, Mass., 1897-1907; at Deep River, Conn., 1907-11; and at Byfield, Mass., 1911-16. During all these years he labored with earnestness and success, in spite of frequent attacks of inflammatory rheumatism, which at length left him permanently crippled. Through all these years of suffering he labored on uncomplainingly, ever showing a cheerful face. The causes of education and temperance found in him an ardent champion and a zealous worker. In Middleboro he served a four years' term on the school committee of the town, and for a part of the time was chairman of the board.
Retiring from his pastorate at Byfield, he looked forward to a quiet period of retirement in Dorchester, where his daughter lived. Only a short time before his own end, the daughter died, leaving a husband and a little child. The shock of her death completely prostrated her father, and when soon after he himself was taken ill with a severe attack of pneumonia, his system, weakened by years of constant suffering from rheumatism, and unnerved by the bitter sorrow over the death of his daughter, was an easy prey to the disease.
Mr. Dyer was married June 4, 1878, to Harriet Mann of Franklin,, Mass., who survives her husband. At the funeral services, held on January 23, the class was represented by Bradley, Hall, Ladd, Putney, Willoughby and his wife, and Adriance. The last named assisted at the service, offering prayer and reading a brief sketch of the life and faithful service of the deceased. The burial took place at Middleboro, Mass.
