Deaths

Alumni Notes

NECROLOGY

CLASS OF 1877

CHARLES HOWARD HOLMES died at his home in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., February 10, 1931, of pneumonia, after less than a week's illness.

He was born in Saratoga Springs, December 30, 1854, the son of Ebenezer and Eliza Bellona (Westcott) Holmes, and fitted at the local high school for the Chandler Scientific Department. He was a member of the Vitruvian fraternity (now Beta Theta Pi).

The first year after graduation lie studied law, and then went into the undertaking business with his father, the firm being very successful. He retired from active business twenty-five or thirty years ago, and has since lived a quiet life.

As a young man he was an original member of the Saratoga company of the New York National Guard, and in those days was known as an accomplished musician, playing the organ in the First Methodist church.

March 7, 1882, he was married to Jessie Cherry of Saratoga Springs, but the union was early dissolved by divorce. One son survives, Stanley Holmes of Vancouver, B. C. Three sisters of the deceased, with one of whom he made his home, live in Saratoga.

"Infant" Holmes was a well-known char- acter in our college days, but he has been out of communication with the class during nearly all the years since, and we have had only the most fragmentary knowledge of him.

CLASS OF 1878

DR. GEORGE W. BLAISDELL died January 5, 1931, at his home in Manchester, Mass. Angina pectoris had compelled his retirement from practice a year or two ago, but had until recently permitted him to be about in a quiet way. Since about Thanksgiving time he had failed rapidly and had suffered much.

George Warren Blaisdell was born at South Hampton, N. H., March 14, 1856. The family soon moved to Haverhill, Mass., where he spent his youth. He was prepared for college at Haverhill High School. He did not enter until February of freshman year, probably for reasons of health, which was always delicate. He was even then afflicted with deafness, which grew upon him until in recent years it was almost total. He was always a gentle soul, and was one of the most lovable men in the class. He was fondly known among classmates and other college friends by the title of "Major." Perhaps the origin of this pet name is known to some, but certainly not to many.

Immediately after graduation lie attended a course of lectures at Dartmouth Medical School, and then, as was the custom for medical students in earlier days, studied in the office of Dr. Tucker of Ipswich, Mass., after which he entered and in 1881 graduated from Long Island College Hospital with the degree of M.D. In the fall of that year he entered upon practice in Manchester, Mass., where he continued until the end.

He was married in 1883 to Miss Mary E. Lee, who survives him, as do their three daughters, now Mrs. Abbott Hoare of Manchester, Mrs. Philip F. Sears of Reading, Mrs. John W. Harding of Braintree, Mass., and five grandchildren.

Dr. Blaisdell was always loyal to college and class. He attended the Boston dinner faithfully as long as health permitted, and was, at some risk, present at our fiftieth anniversary in 1928 with Mrs. Blaisdell.

His affection for classmates was often touchingly displayed.

Throughout life he contended with infirm health to a degree that would render many men chronic invalids, but he kept persistently, cheerfully, and earnestly at work, and carried his full share of every burden, public or private. The following, quoted from the local paper, indicates that Dr. Blaisdell was held among his neighbors much as "Major Blaisdell" was held among his classmates:

"For nearly half a century he had been the family physician of many of the people of Manchester and vicinity, always faithful, always cheerful, ready to respond to the call of the suffering by day and by night, and as such he was loved by those who had come to place so much of their dependence upon him for health and well being.

"It was not altogether upon his practice, however, that he was so much respected, for he was a man of the people and gave much to public service as his time permitted. He served for many years on the board of trustees of the Memorial Library Building Fund, also as chairman of the board of health. He was a valued member of Magnolia Lodge, I.O.O.F., and was a 32d degree Mason, being a member of the Boston, Salem, and Beverly lodges. He was also a member of the Manchester Elder Brethren, North Shore Horticultural Society, Club, and a director of the Manchester Trust Co."

He was a member of D. K. E. and of Phi Beta Kappa.

CLASS OF 1880

JOHN EDGAR HAM died January 15 in the Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, Mass., after an illness of four weeks with pneumonia.

He was stricken with the fatal disease while engaged in his work for the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. at Lowell, where he was temporarily stationed by the company. He was taken to his home in Attleboro, where he was very ill for three weeks, but was improving, and his family were confident of his complete recovery. Suddently the always treacherous disease attacked the right lung, which had not previously been affected. He was taken to the hospital for a possible operation, but the X-ray revealed a condition that rendered an operation inadvisable, and he died within a few hours. His wife and daughter were present when he passed away.

John came to college from Dover in 1876, and enjoyed four active and happy years in Hanover. He entered into the general activities of the College in those days. He was a good mixer, knew all the interesting spots and haunts in Hanover and vicinity, and visited them often with his chums, returning with the beauty of Hanover's environment in his soul and not always "empty-handed."

Walking was his favorite athletic sport— a sport apparently too slow for the present era—they run now. John made a record in the two-mile walk of 16 minutes, 451/8 seconds. I think that record has never been broken.

He was one of the two editors-at-large (Chummy Savage was the other) of the 1880 Aegis. He had a keen sense of humor, and his talent found an attractive field in the comics of that publication.

Soon after graduation he accepted a position in the signal service and train dispatching department of the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. and he spent practically his entire life in the service of that corporation. He was a faithful and efficient employee. He was awarded the green and gold "Safety-Efficiency" button for watchfulness in detecting and reporting breaks and defects in the rolling stock that passed his signal tower—defects which unnoticed and unreported would be likely to cause wrecks.

John was fond of fishing and hunting. He was a skillful angler and sure shot. He had a camp at Alton Bay where he spent most of his vacations. He and Pete Dame could entertain the boys at our quinquennial reunions with plenty of good fish and game stories. His daughter had a camp at the same resort, but her activities and sports were different from John's.

Ham had a distinguished and patriotic ancestry and named among them in "Chronicles of Fifty Years Later" Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts, Josiah Bartlett, a "Signer," and the first president of New Hampshire. Several ancestors fought at Bunker Hill, and one took part in the expedition of 1755 against Forts Du Quesne and Crown Point. But John was modest about his ancestry lest he be accused of bragging. He said, "I have heard people who scorned ancestry bragging about the pedigree of their dog."

John married Fannie Eva Clark June 7, 1884. They had one daughter, Florence E., born Nov. 20, 1885.

Mrs. Ham and her daughter live in their home in Attleboro, where'they have resided for twenty-five years. They have the heartfelt sympathy and cordial good wishes of every one of John's surviving classmates.

CLASS OF 1889

AMASA BURTON CLARK of New York city died February 1, 1931. Funeral services were held in Concord, N. H., February 5.

He was born in Canaan, N. H., November 2, 1863, the son of George Porter and Ellen P. (Bradish) Clark. He prepared for college at the Concord (N. H.) High School, and with a private tutor. He entered Dartmouth with the class of '86, but after two years, ill health compelled him to go West, where he spent three years in different places and in varied occupations. With health re-established, he joined our class in the fall of '87. The year following graduation was spent in the Thayer School, and in 1890 he received the degree of C.E.

He lived successively in Chicago, California, Louisiana, Philadelphia and New York city, which last has been his home for over fifteen years. In addition to his profession as an engineer he was a contractor, and from an article in the publication "Engineers of America," about 1914, it appears that he devoted much time to the "design, repair, and construction of foundations for buildings, bridges, stacks, and other structures. He has made a study of work in soft ground, and is the inventor of many methods and devices used in the construction of foundations. He has been consulted concerning many works in the United States, South America, and Mexico. To him is due the extensive use of steel piles in the foundations of buildings. Coupled with his work in this direction, has been the investigation of the behavior of iron and steel embedded in the ground." Later he became engaged in handling steel products for both foreign and domestic use.

Since coming to New York lie had been an active member of groups of Dartmouth men and had been particularly interested in helping the younger men, while they were prospective students, undergraduates, and recent graduates. He was present at our twentieth and thirtieth year reunions.

Unfortunately, no information about Clark had been received in recent months, but this note is sent without waiting for further particulars.

CLASS OF 1899

MAURICE DICKEY, Managing Editor of one of the great dailies of our country, president of a big corporation, chief executive of the New England Division of the Associated Press, exemplary citizen, leader in a city famous for its civic leadership, a wonderful husband and father, unselfish, devoted to the public welfare, forgetful of his own interests, and self-effacing almost to a fault. So stands the record.

He was born on October 29,1878, at Hampstead, N. H., where his father, Myron P. Dickey, Dartmouth '74, was in charge of the high school. He was prepared for college at the Nute High School at Milton, N. H., where his father was pastor of the Congregational Church. Dartmouth graduates were in his family. Maurice's great grandfather was a Dartmouth graduate, and his uncle, G. A. Dickey, is a member of the class of 1880. It was natural, then, that Maurice should head for Hanover.

It was not long after graduation before he had obtained a position as reporter upon the then well-known Worcester Spy, and here began his real career. There are certain men who seem born for journalism. They have a sense of news values, a loyalty to truth, and at the same time to public interests. They know how to present facts in such a way as to make them readable. They write in a style which others cannot imitate. The famous writers of the last century, Dana, Greeley, Murat Halstead, Watterson—were famous for their powerful and trenchant editorials. The twentieth century newspaper man is a very different type. He knows how to put together a front page which will sell, attract readers and hold them, and which will carry the conviction of sincerity and truth.

It was here that Maurice was great. He remained a reporter a very short time. He got his chance as night city editor of the Union in the year 1901. This place he held until the summer of 1907, when the BostonGlobe took him to fill a similar position. On December 20 of that same year he was married to Miss Marion Melius, a graduate of Smith College, who had been one of his co-workers on the staff of the Springfield.Union. For eight years he remained with the Globe, constantly rising in the esteem of his co-workers. In 1915 Maurice Sherman, '94, then Managing Editor of the Union, called him back to Springfield as News Editor. Promotions came rapidly. In a short while he had become Managing Editor of the paper, and when Sherman left to take charge of the Hartford Courant, he was elected president of the Union Newspaper Corporation. Last October he was made president of the New England Division of the Associated Press.

The funeral was held at Christ Church Cathedral at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon. The hour was chosen to suit the convenience of the newspaper men, for with them, as with actors, "the show must go on." The great church was crowded. The group of his employees alone seemed nearly to fill it. Seven members of the class of '99, Atwood, Bailey, Benezet, Clark, Drake, Greenwood and Skinner, were present, with Mrs. Elmer Barstow.

His oldest son, Robert, born on his father's thirty-first birthday, has been a member of the class of '3l at Dartmouth. He has announced that he will stay with his mother for the rest of this year, returning in the fall to graduate with the class of '32. Eleanor, a senior at Smith, will receive her degree there three weeks before her twentieth birthday. She has already made a name for herself as a reporter on her father's paper, working there in vacation times. Little Olive is in the sixth grade.

One of '99's great men,—so modest was he that few of the class knew how great he was, but one's fellow craftsmen are not easilydeceived. They do not give honor as they gave it to Maurice unless it is deeply deserved.

L. P. B.

CLASS OF 1903

FRED WHEELEK OSGOOD died at his home in Akron, Ohio, January 6, 1931, having been in declining health for about a year. The cause of his death was cancer.

He was born in Sullivan, N. H., November 13, 1875, the son of Henry Melville and Mary Melvina (Goodhue) Osgood. His home, when in college, was Fitchburg, Mass., and he fitted at the high school of that city. He was a member of the class of 1902 for three years, and then stayed out for a year to work, finishing with the class of 1903 and taking the course of the Thayer School. After another year at the latter, he received the degree of Civil Engineer in 1904.

Immediately after graduation from the Thayer School he went to Washington, D. C., and was employed on the city filtration plant. In 1906-9 he was in Philadelphia, Niagara Falls, and New York city on water waste studies, power development, and water supply work; in 1909-14 at White Plains, N. Y., on the Catskill Aqueduct work for the New York city water supply; and in 1914-18 at Cleveland, Ohio, on filtration plant plans and other developments. Since 1918 he had been with the water department of Akron, Ohio. He was a member of the Thayer Society of Engineers and the Akron Engineering Society.

September 7, 1912, he was married to Marian A. Lane, of Fitchburg, Mass., who survives him, with their two children, Carolyn, aged 17, and Seth, nearly 15.

The Secretary asked Perham to write some words of appreciation, and he says: "Fred W. Osgood, known to me and the class as 'Oz,' roomed at my home in Hanover. On graduating from the Thayer School, we both went to Washington and worked on the Washington filtration plant. We shared the same room, and certainly I knew the true man and character of 'Oz.' At this time my own health was not good, and I shall never forget how patient, sympathetic, and comforting he was to me. The last time I saw 'Oz' was over 25 years ago, but each Christmas came perhaps a card, more frequently a letter, wishing me the best and telling me what he was doing. This last Christmas as usual I sent my note, but Mrs. Osgood wrote his, stating he was seriously ill. Christmas afternoon I wrote a letter to him, which I hope he was able to read, as I tried to express to him the high place he held in my acquaintance. In one of 'Oz's' letters to the class secretary he wrote: 'I am not rich or famous, but have tried to make my life count in a worthwhile way.' Possibly he was without fame or riches, still an honorable, true Christian character was his at all times, and that is worth while. Early in life this was his, and I am sure it was his to the end. The class, and I, and his community have lost much."

CLASS OF 1904

MATHEW ROCK died suddenly of heart disease at his home in Bayside, L. 1., December 20, 1930.

He was born in New York city January 20, 1882, attended Berkeley School, New York, and Exeter Academy, and graduated with the class of 1904 at Dartmouth College. Shortly after leaving college, he married Miss Florence J. Coote of New York, and their oldest child, Mathew Jr., was the 1904 class baby, and incidentally he graduated from Dartmouth in 1929 at the time of the 25th reunion of the class. The other children are Florence, 19, and Catherine, 10.

After graduating from Dartmouth, he entered the merchant tailoring business with his father at 315 Fifth Ave., New York, and after his father's death, he carried on this business, and had been very successful in the business, which has grown to include a clientele which is country-wide. He was loved by customers and employees alike, and maintained a business whose reputation for fairness and fine work has grown with the years.

Next to his home, his greatest joys in life were Dartmouth College, his fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, and his senior society, the Sphinx. A Dartmouth gathering at any time without Matt is something hard to visualize, as he was always there, always enjoying the good times, and trying to make others enjoy themselves.

His clubs were many and included: New York Athletic Club, Huckleberry Indians, Stamford Yacht Club, Larchmont Yacht Club, Bayside Yacht Club, Knollwood Golf Club, Soundview Golf Club, Alpha Delta Phi Club of New York, and Dartmouth Club of New York.

In spite of his long list of clubs, it was his family that was his first interest, and a lovely family it is, Mrs. Rock being a charming woman and a delightful hostess, and the children reflect her graciousness as well as their father's lovableness. It was a crowning joy to Matt when his son graduated from Dartmouth on his twenty-fifth anniversary. They lived in Bayside, N. Y., a part of the greater city and still a suburb, and had within a few years completed a beautiful home there, overlooking the bay and Long Island Sound, and there, in this home called "The Rocks," hospitality was extended to a very large circle of friends.

He formerly played considerable golf, but in the last five years had spent much of his leisure on the waters of Long Island Sound in his motor boat.

"Dutch" will be greatly missed at reunions by his classmates, and the class wishes to convey to the family at this time their sincere expressions of grief at his passing.

CLASS OF 1917

On January 22, 1931, while undergoing an operation in the Aroostook Hospital at Houlton, Me., DR. LEON GEORGE BANTON passed away, his heart having given out from the shock of the operation.

"Bant" came to Hanover in freshman year from Bangor, Me., where he was born Dec. 14, 1894. He had a brother ahead of him in 16, and the two were very much together. Leon was a quiet fellow, an earnest student, and active in D. C. A. affairs. He entered the medical school, and after graduation completed his medical work at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in 1920. During the war he served over a year in the medical branch of the Naval Reserve.

Dr. Banton has lived and practised medicine at Island Falls, Me., since receiving his degree. He served as town health officer, and was active in the Aroostook County Medical Association. He was a member of the Masons, Elks, and Houlton Country Club. He is survived by Mrs. Lyda Mae Banton, a son, George, aged 10; and a daughter, Gail, aged 6.

CLASS OF 1919

FREDERICK LEE NOLAN died at his home in Milford, Mass., August 23, 1930, after an illness which followed a severe cold which he contracted over two years before.

He was born in Milford, April 9, 1898, the son of James and Mary Ann (Cook) Nolan, and prepared for college at Milford High School. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He received his degree with the class of 1921, but preferred to be listed as a member of 1919.

He was in the employ of his father in his cigar store until the latter's death, when he succeeded to the business.

He was an enthusiastic Dartmouth man, and was rarely absent from a football game in New England where Dartmouth participated.

He had not married, and is survived by his mother and a sister.

Medical School

CLASS OF 1870

DR. GEORGE FRANKLIN BALCOM died at his home in Keene, N. H., January 22, 1931.

The son of John and Jane (Kemp) Balcom, he was born in Groton, Mass., February 27, 1846, and received his early education in the schools of that town.

After graduation he went abroad, and studied in the hospitals of London and Edinburgh. In 1872 he began practice in Worcester, Mass., where he attained high rank in his profession, especially in the field of surgery. In 1905 he retired from active practice and removed to Swanzey, N. H., and in 1917 made his home in Keene.

When in Worcester he was physician for the Massachusetts Odd Fellows' Home and physician and surgeon for the Worcester Home for Aged Men. He had been for more than fifty years a member of Central Lodge, I.O.O.F., of Worcester, and of Trowbridge Methodist Episcopal church. He served six years as a member of the school board in Worcester, and for a like period in Swanzey.

Dr. Balcom had been quite active until the failure of his health about a year ago, and had unusual eyesight, needing glasses only a short time before his death.

December 12, 1872, he was married to Josephine Wright of Worcester, Mass., daughter of Wilder and Mary A. (Blood) Wright. She died August 30, 1921. They had two children, a son, Frank, who died in childhood, and a daughter, now Mrs. Fred C. Richardson of West Swanzey, N. H.

CLASS OF 1884

DR. JOHN FRANKLIN BENJAMIN died at his home in Kenduskeag, Me., January 19, 1931, of arteriosclerosis, after several months of failing health.

The son of Dr. John B. and Mary (Hopkins) Benjamin, he was born in Carmel, Me., June 24, 1857, and obtained his early education at Kent's Hill Seminary. His medical training was begun at Bowdoin and finished at Dartmouth.

After graduation he began practice at Gray, Me., but for 47 years had been at Kenduskeag. A newspaper notice says of him: "Dr. Benjamin was a physician of the old school, whose first thought was always the welfare and comfort of his patients. He held a high place in the affections of his neighbors, and his passing causes a deep regret throughout the Kenduskeag area. His standards were lofty, and his kindness and courtesy inherent in a character that was marked by his thoughtfulness for others and his desire for helpfulness. A good citizen, a community leader, and a genuine friend is lost to Kenduskeag by the passing of Dr. Benjamin."

June 30, 1889, he was married to Annie M. Simpson of Carmel, who died February 10, 1893. June 20, 1894, he was married to Josie E., daughter of Thomas M. and Olive (Pendexter) Gibbs of Glenburn, Me., who survives him. There is one daughter, Mrs. Robert E. MacLaughlin of Portland, Me.

CLASS OF 1896

DR. DANIEL LEO MCCORMICK was killed in an automobile accident on the state highway between Princeton and Trenton, N. J., November 27, 1930. He was returning from Trenton with Ms wife, son, and youngest daughter, who were all seriously injured.

He was born in Elizabeth, N. J., January 11, 1874, the son of Judge Thomas F. and Mary E. (Delany) McCormick. He attended St. Mary's Parochial School and Seton Hall College. His medical education was obtained at the University of New York and Dartmouth.

After graduation he practiced in Jersey City, N. J., for six years, and then removed to Newark, N. J., where he remained for the rest of his life. In 1915 he was appointed a member of the Newark board of health, and served two terms. He was treasurer of the medical board and chief of clinic at St. Michael's Hospital and instructor in pediatrics in St. Michael's Nurses Training School. He was visiting obstetrician at Newark City Hospital, and on the staff of Essex County Sanitarium at Cedar Grove and of St. James', Newark Maternity, and Presbyterian Hospitals in Newark.

In 1928 he was president of the Maternal Welfare Commission, and had been chairman of the Prenatal Committee since its organization. He was at the time of his death a councilor of the Essex County Medical Society, and was a member of the Academy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey, the Medical Society of New Jersey, and the American Medical Association.

February 17, 1909, Dr. McCormick was married to Sara A., daughter of Thomas F. and Jane Convery of Trenton, N. J., who survives him, with four children, Mary A., Carmelita C., Daniel L., Jr., and Jane T.