Deaths

Alumni Notes

NECROLOGY

CLASS OF 1871

DR. CHARLES ALBERT FAIRBANKS, after a long period of failing health, died at the Wentworth Hospital, Dover, N. H., April 30, 1932.

The son of Albert A. and Lydia L. (Brock) Fairbanks, he was born at Portsmouth, N. H., December 17, 1849, received his preliminary education in the public schools of Dover, and graduated from the Chandler Scientific Department in 1871, being a member of the Phi Zeta Mu fraternity, now Sigma Chi.

He was employed as a draftsman for most of the time during the first two years after graduation, and was station agent for the Eastern R. R. at Dover from February to December, 1874. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. John R. Ham of Dover, and in the fall of 1875 entered Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in 1877. In October of that year he began the practice of his profession in Pall River, Mass., but returned to Dover the following March, and has since made his home there. From 1882 to 1898 he was city physician, and served as pension examiner from 1897 to 1913.

He was much interested in all educational matters, serving on the school committee from 1882 to 1917, most of the time as chairman, and was a member of the commission appointed by Governor Bartlett in 1921, whose report was made the basis of the present school law of New Hampshire. He represented Dover in the state legislature in 1907, and again in 1919, was for many years a member of the city and state Republican committees, and was most active in the interests of the party.

He was a member of the Dover Medical Society, the New Hampshire Medical Society, and the Strafford County Medical Society, serving as secretary and president of the last.

He was a descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks, who came from England in 1633 and settled at Dedham, Mass., where the famous old Fairbanks homestead is still a family heirloom.

October 21, 1884, he was married to Emma Bella Caswell of Dover, who died May 28, 1888. His only surviving relatives are cousins. A local newspaper contained the following editorial:

"A long life, a busy one with many friend- ships, is the story of the late Dr. Fairbanks. For three years he was mayor of Dover. He was prominent on the school board, and had a wide range of interests during his lifetime. His many activities in the city and state made for him a host of friends. He was a gentleman of the old school, with strong convictions, fine loyalties, and a determination to do the things he felt to be for the best interests of all concerned."

CLASS OF 1878

HENBY SWEETSEK DEWET diedjn Boston May 12, 1932. He was born in Hanover November 9, 1856, son of Major Israel Otis and Susan Augusta (Sweetser) Dewey. He prepared for college at Morris High School at Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi.

Being the son of a military officer stationed at intervals in various parts of the country, he had seen more of the world before coming to college than had most of the freshmen of that day, and in manners and dress he displayed rather more finish than most of them were accustomed to, but he took his part modestly and creditably in most of the student activities. He was captain of one of the two teams chosen for the football match of the semiannual athletic meet on . two occasions, one of them the first at which the Rugby ball was used. He was chief marshal at graduation, and in recent years declared that he prized that honor above all others that had come to him. He was one of the group arrested for the Parker Riot, although to many who were not included in the arrest he was no more implicated than they were. He took his A. M. at Dartmouth in 1881 and his LL. B. at Boston University in 1882, studying in the office of A. A. Ranney (Dartmouth 1844), then one of the leading lawyers of New England.

He entered at once upon practice in Boston and rose rapidly in his profession, being admitted to practice in the U. S. Circuit Court in 1885 and in the U. S. Supreme Court in 1889. In 1891 he became a member, and in 1895 chairman, of the board of bar examiners of Suffolk county, and in 1897 chairman of the state board of bar examiners. In 1896 he was appointed a special justice, and in 1899 an associate justice, of the Municipal Court of the city of Boston. In the latter position he gained a degree of notoriety and not a little popularity by a ruling as to acceptable evidence of drunkenness. He enlisted in the Massachusetts militia in 1880, and maintained active connection therewith for twenty-four years first as private, corporal, and sergeant in the First Corps Cadets, then as judge advocate of the First Brigade with rank of captain, as judge advocate general with rank of colonel, and finally with the rank of brigadier general, with which rank he was finally retired. Of this rank he was never unmindful in his later years, and he preferred the title of General to that of Judge, by which he had previously become known.

During all his active career lie was interested in political affairs. He was for several years a member of the Republican City Committee of Boston, was at various times a member of the Boston Common Council, representative and chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary in the state legislature. In 1905 he sought the Republican nomination for mayor of Boston and made a very active campaign therefor. He received a very flattering vote, calculated to encourage his political aspirations. Some of his speeches, however, were suggestive of a strange change in his personality, which his friends did not understand, and which for several years manifested itself only at intervals, and seldom in ordinary conversation. He presided at the reunion of the class on its 25th anniversary in 1903, and about this time formed a partnership with I. F. Paul, which, however, was of brief duration. In 1909 he ran for the governorship on nomination papers under the curious title of "Theocrat," which was again a hint of the change that was coming over him.

In 1911 he was committed to the Boston Hospital for the Insane, where he has since remained, a victim he has believed of malignant political persecution. He has worked prodigiously and written voluminously on his "case" against governors and other officials responsible for his "imprisonment." During all these years he has guarded his health prudently and husbanded his powers with a view to completing his campaign for vindication and his suit for millions of damages.

Classmates who have visited him have found him the same simple gentlemanly companion as of yore, interested in reminiscences and well posted upon affairs. As long as his attention did not turn to his "case" it was hard to believe he belonged where he was, and occasionally he would write an appeal that gained him advocates, but most of his writings were full of strange terms and strange theories about the nature of the state and the republic. They were written with evident mental energy of great intensity, in a clear and legible penmanship, the lines as close and as parallel as if done with a typewriter. Each letter, and often the envelope, was inscribed as one of a series written on a certain number (usually more than a year) of consecutive days, and certified to be true.

To all appearances he was happy in this occupation, and he did not turn against family and old friends, as is so often the case with persons in his malady.

He had been a member of the American Bar Association, the International Law Association, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the Revolution, the Algonquin, Athletic, University, and Curtis Clubs of Boston. He joined the Congregational church in Salt Lake City in 1873, and said he had joined no other, but had served as vestryman of an Episcopal church in Boston for several years. The Episcopal service was followed at the funeral.

The phraseology of his voluminous literary output during his confinement indicates that his mind ran somewhat on religious lines. He conceived of the Commonwealth and the Republic as theocracies.

He never married. Of his immediate family only his sister, Miss Annie H. Dewey of Brookline, Mass., survives. Classmates Parkhurst, Parkinson, and Sawyer attended the funeral, which was held at Waterman Chapel, Brookline.

CLASS OF 1882

It was not a surprise to those of his classmates who had kept in touch with him to learn that JOSEPH GILMORE CHANDLER died in Concord, N. H., on April 15, 1932, eight days before his 72d birthday. He had been in failing health for a good many years, and a patient in the New Hampshire State Hospital at Concord for several years. From there he had written to the Secretary not long ago:

"They take good care of me here; I hear from some of the fellows now and then, and have had a call from one or two Dartmouth men." He realized that he could not hope to get to the reunion in June (he did succeed in attending the one in '27), and that he should never recover his health. "Tell the boys 'Hello' for me," was his message.

Chandler was the son of the late Senator William Eaton and Ann (Gilmore) Chandler. He was born at Concord, N. H., and fitted for college at St. Paul's School in that city. After graduation from Dartmouth he struck West, and secured an appointment as receiver of public moneys at the Land Office in Yankton, Dakota; read law, and was admitted to the bar.

Later he came East, and became advertising manager for the Boston Record, then under the editorship of Hon. William E. Barrett, Dartmouth 'BO. From this work he graduated into the theatrical business, and for twenty-five years traveled all over the United States as advance agent for theatrical companies and lecturers.

His health becoming broken, he came back at length to Concord and to newspaper work, from which, as his strength failed, he retired to Bradford, N. H., where he managed a small store till he became altogether dependent on the care of others, when he entered the hospital at Concord, where he remained to the end.

He was married soon after graduation from college, and is survived by two daughters and other kindred.

CLASS OF 1906

CHARLES EDGAR PORRITT was born in Fargo, N. D., June 15, 1883, the son of Charles H. and Annie I. Porritt. His father was a pioneer settler of Fargo, the first engineer in the district, and the builder of the plant that first supplied the citizens of Fargo with water.

Charles was educated in the public schools of his native place, and after being graduated from the Fargo High School, entered Dartmouth with the class of 1906. He was affectionately known to his classmates as "Porky," and although he remained with us for only one year, he is most kindly remembered for his sunny disposition.

After withdrawing from college at the end of freshman year, he returned to Fargo as an associate of his father in the contracting business and in the management of various farming enterprises in which the family was interested. He never returned to Hanover, did not answer communications from the secretaries, and so far as can be learned never came into contact with any member of the class after leaving college.

In college he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and in later years was affiliated with the Elks and with the Masonic orders up to and including the Knights Templar.

Nine years ago he suffered a complete nervous breakdown, from which he never recovered. Accompanied by his mother, he went twice to California in the hope of regaining his health, and spent over a year in Texas and California in 1930 and 1931. The death of his father last year was a serious blow to him, and he was not so well during the past winter. In March his brother took him south, but he failed rapidly and died in Macon, Mo., on the twenty-third of that month. The funeral was held in Fargo on March 29, with Dean H. S. Brewster of Gethsemane Cathedral officiating, and the burial was in Riverside Cemetery at Fargo.

Charles never married. He is survived by his mother and one brother, Fred R. Porritt of Fargo.

CLASS OF 1910

JAMBS FRANCIS COLGAN Jr. was born in Brighton, Mass., March 16, 1887, the son of James F. and Mary (Barry) Colgan. Jim entered Dartmouth with the class of 1910 after having prepared at Boston Latin School and New Haven, Conn., High School. During his college course he was assistant cheer leader and member of the senior class executive committee.

Immediately after graduation he went with the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven in the wood stock department, to remain there until March, 1911, when he resigned to go to the Canal Zone, largely because of a "glowing letter from my old friend 'Obbie' Coleman," as Jim expressed it. Arriving there without a job, he wandered up and down the length of the canal for a week before he finally convinced those in charge that a man with a college education could do anything. He was put to work running a mixer and pouring concrete at the Pedro Miguel locks. Learning his work rapidly he soon became the most able foreman on the locks. One of his superiors said that his sense of humor was of great help to himself and everyone else who worked around him—and in those days it required something more than muscle to stick that place through. Shortly he was picked out to do a lot of rush work. He became a sort of a special man who was used to perform various jobs rapidly and well. Everyone became very fond of him, and his outfit could come in and replace any other without hard feelings. Men soon recognized his loyalty, and he had more friends than any other man on the job. He was the center of an exceptionally able group of young college men. Our own Art Gow was on the job there, and had considerable trouble with his mail—the postmaster confusing the "G" with "C"—Jim was the only man who could straighten this matter out. One day Jim got "Obbie" Coleman oh a platform suspended about 100 feet above ground. Without any warning to him, Jim signaled the engineer—and "Obbie" dropped to about six inches above the landing spot.

October 16, 1913, Jimmie was married at Colon, C. Z., to Helen Lawless, a fine girl from Brighton, Mass. On July 23, 1914, James Francis Jr. was born to them at Ancon, C. Z. Mrs. Colgan was stricken with the flu and passed away on October 18, 1918. This was a very severe blow to Jim.

Returning to the States in June, 1916, Jim spent the next two years as resident shoe buyer for Weinstock, Lubin and Co. From 1918 to 1923 he acted as a Knights of Columbus secretary, and on August 1,1923, he went with the Clark and Sanborn agency of the State Mutual Life Assurance Co., where he remained until his death. On July 29, 1926, he was married to Melverda Mary Hulse, and a son, Charles Edgar, was born to them on July 9, 1927. Their home life meant much to him. His wife and two sons survive him. He was a member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus.

Jim had a very severe attack of the grippe and flu about a year ago, and the combination left a heart trouble. He was laid up about two months and has had to be very careful ever since. While at the home of one of his relatives, he suffered a serious heart attack—so bad in fact that his clothes could not be removed for over twenty-four hours. He never recovered, and passed away early in the morning of Tuesday, April 5.

Funeral services were held in St. James' church, Arlington, Mass. He was buried at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, April 7. Ray Gorton, "Else" Jenness, Jim Everett, and George Sinclair represented the class. The world is the better because Jim Colgan' lived in it. He had his troubles and trials, but he met them with unflinching courage and concealed them from his friends. His genial, warm, and honest nature made him friends wherever he went. His loyalty to his friends, the class, the College, and his religion burned brightly and was always admired by everyone. He gave every man a break and asked none for himself. His last letter to "Spuddy" in July, 1917, contained a paragraph worth reprinting: "Goodnight, Spud, and good luck, old top. What you told me of your going to join the aviation corps the other day rather sunk in. I am sort of hoping that they will not accept you." Such expressions were characteristic of Jim when he was thinking of others.

The class of 1910 has lost one of its finest and most popular men, but his memory will linger long.

CLASS OF 1916

COPLEY MCPHERSON RUNDLETT died April 26, 1932, at the Portsmouth (N. H.) Hospital, after a brief illness.

He was born in Concord, N. H., April 22, 1893, the son of Louis John (Dartmouth 1881) and Carrie Belle (Copley) Rundlett. He prepared for college at Concord High School, took the Thayer School course in senior year, and graduated from the Thayer School in 1917.

After graduation from the Thayer School he was employed in the engineering department of the Abitibi Power and Paper Company at Iroquois Falls, Ontario, until his enlistment in 1918 in the engineer corps, U. S. A. He served with that corps overseas, and returned to America in 1919. Soon after he became connected with the New Hampshire State Highway Department, and remained with the department for the rest of his life, having his office in Portsmouth. He was a member of Concord Post, American Legion, the New Hampshire Good Roads Association, and the National Rifle Association.

His wife, Mrs. Beulah Rundlett, survives him, and two daughters, Shirley J. and Beulah V., also his father and a sister.

CLASS OF 1919

DONALD ANDREW MCCASIIN died at the Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind., April 4, 1932, from the effect of a cerebral hemorrhage.

He was born in Florence, Mass., June 16, 1896, the son of William and Anna Marie (Paterson) McCaslin, and prepared for college at the high school of Hopedale, Mass. During his senior year in that school he was captain of the baseball team. In college he was on the freshman baseball squad. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

The Great War brought the United States into it while "Mac" was in Dartmouth, and he decided to enter the navy. He enlisted May 20, 1918, and served until June 17, 1919, being promoted until he reached the grade of ensign. He served at Newport, R. 1., and Pelham Bay, and on U. S. S. Pensacola and Annetta. His sea service was mainly on transport duty between the United States and the West Indies. He was given his degree with his class.

After his discharge from the navy he returned to Hopedale, and worked for a time in the Draper Corporation plant. He then became associated with the Dennison Manufacturing Company of Framingham, and for the past eight years had been a most successful salesman for that company in the South and Middle West. Two years ago he was transferred to Indianapolis.

June 1, 1621, Don married Miss Doris Simpson of Hopedale, and from then until his death they were most devoted to each other.

He was a member of Montgomery Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Milford, Mass. One of the outstanding achievements of his life was the organization of the Walter H. Tillotson Post, American Legion, of Hopedale. With fine executive ability he led the unit during the first year of its life, being its first commander. His character and personality impressed themselves upon his comrades, and the past commander's badge given him upon retirement was always one of his most cherished possessions. The Post rendered military honors at the funeral service at Hopedale.

Thus has passed from the active life of his family and friends a man of refined character. Those he has left behind will deeply miss him, but the memory of his cheery smile and wonderful disposition will linger long with those who loved him. He was a great lad.

J. H. WILSON

CLASS OF 1921

Word has just reached us that MARION WILEY SHERWOOD, "Sherry" to 1921, died of heart disease March 20 in San Francisco, where he had been located since September 1, 1931, as export manager for the Sperry Flour Company.

Sherry was born at Helena, Mont., May 22, 1898, the son of James Webster and Clara (Hatch) Sherwood. He entered Dartmouth from the high school at Great Falls, Mont. Genial and whole-souled, he early made a wide circle of friends in the. class. He was elected to the Jack o 'Lantern board during his sophomore year, and he served on the staff of that magazine during his last three years in college. During his senior year he was manager of the Musical Clubs. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and of Casque and Gauntlet.

The fall after graduation, Sherry returned to Hanover to take the extra year at Tuck School, and on completing that course in April, 1922, he became connected with Montgomery Ward and Co. in Chicago, where he did survey work for the vice-president in charge of merchandising. He remained with Montgomery Ward until August, 1923, when he entered the milling game, in which he followed in his father's footsteps. His first connection was with the Royal Milling Cos. in Great Falls, and he was located in the home town of his undergraduate days until March, 1927. While there his position was that of territorial sales manager. In the spring of 1927 he was made a vice-president of the company and put in charge of the company's interests at Ogden, Utah. In July, 1929, he left the Royal Milling Co. and became connected with the Sperry Flour Company, being made a division manager of the latter firm with his headquarters in Los Angeles. The Sperry Company had advanced him to post of export manager a little over six months before his death. January 23, 1923, Sherry married Miss Charlotte Van Pelt of Chicago, who survives him. He was buried at Great Falls.

In a letter received during the past winter, Sherry expressed his great regret that he was unable to attend the Tenth Reunion last June, adding, "I just simply couldn't make it."

A loyal member of the class during his undergraduate days and in the years since then, a hard worker for Dartmouth at all times, a man who had made a real place for himself in the business world, a man who made friends easily—and kept them, Sherry takes with him as he moves on, the affection and respect of all who knew him.

CLASS OF 1923

PRANK SANFOBD ALMY died at his home in Fall River, Mass., April 13, 1932.

He was born in Fall River, June 10, 1900, the son of Capt. Theodore B. and Phanuel (Sanford) Almy, and prepared for college at the B. M. C. Durfee High School of Pall River and Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Va. He was a member of Sigma Nu.

In 1923 he entered the service of the United Fruit Company, and was sent to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, as assistant to the port superintendent. After three years his health failed him, and he went to Santa Fe, N. M. He carried on a losing fight with tuberculosis in New Mexico and Colorado for five years, and returned home in April, 1931. On May 1 he was sent to his bed, and failed gradually until his death.

He is survived by his mother, two sisters, and a brother, who is a member of the junior class at Dartmouth. A sister writes: "He was very much interested in ships, having been around them the greater part of his life. He was also greatly interested in literature and writing. At the time of his death he was endeavoring to complete a novel on life in the tropics, a project which he never finished."

CLASS OF 1927

GEORGE ARTHUR O'SULLIVAN died at his home in Milford, Mass., December 10, 1931. News of his death was not received in Hanover until recently.

The son of Edward Jordan and Mary L. (Dunphy) O'Sullivan, he was born in Milford, May 29, 1905, and prepared for college at Milford High School. In October, 1925, he was forced by ill health to leave college, and had spent most of his time since at Saranac Lake in a vain attempt to regain his health, returning to his home in Milford not long before the end.

The class of 1927 mourns the loss of its member, and extends its deepest sympathy to his family.

CLASS OF 1929

ALBERT MILTON STEM died of scarlet fever March 29, 1932, at the Isolation Hospital in Springfield, Mass.

He was born, at East Stroudsburg, Pa., August 1, 1908, the son of Clark M. and Maude (Albert) Stem. He attended the public schools of East Stroudsburg, graduating from the high school in 1925. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He majored in English, graduating magna cum laude, and was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa.

His first year after graduation he taught at the Stanton Preparatory Academy at Cornwall, N. Y. He was then intending to enter Harvard Graduate School in the fall of 1930, but the sudden death of his father caused him to change his plans, and he took a position at the Suffield School for boys at Suffield, Conn., which he held at the time of his death.

CLASS OF 1931

The mystery of the disappearance of NATHANIEL EVERETT JONES and a classmate of his in the Harvard School of Business Administration on January 31 has been partly solved by the discovery of Jones' body on the beach at East Providence, R. 1., on April 22. Death clearly resulted from drowning, probably on the day of his disappearance, but nothing else is yet known.

Jones was born in Billerica, Mass., February 2, 1909, the son of Nathaniel Royal and Edith F. (Hawes) Jones, and prepared for college at Howe High School, Billerica. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and the Glee Club.

Medical School

CLASS OF 1886

DR. HAROLD WENTWORTH PERKINS was born in Baltimore, Md., August 28, 1859.

For some years after graduation he was proprietor of a drug store in Red Bank, N. J., and then practiced medicine at Smithtown, L. I. He later served as surgeon on the Spokane and Colville Indian Reservation, and in 1897 returned to Red Bank as resident physician for the R. H. Kline Co. Failing health caused him to move to Arizona, and later to San Diego, Calif., where he has made his home since 1917.

On February 7, 1890, Dr. Perkins married Margaret Covert of Little Silver, N. J., and is survived by his widow and two children, Mrs. Frank Parker of Globe, Ariz., and John W. Perkins of San Diego.

He was the son of Rev. Aaron and Mary E. (Wentworth) Perkins. On his mother's side he was descended from Col. William Pepperell of Kittery, Me., and from Colonial Governor John Wentworth of New Hampshire. After many years of ill health he passed away from chronic myocarditis and carcinoma of the prostate at San Diego on January 30, 1932. He will be remembered by all who knew him as one of gentlemanly instincts and lovable character.