Deaths
[A listing of deaths of which word has been received within the past month. Full notices may appear in this issue or may appear in a later number.]
Colby, James F., '72, Oct. 20. Aldrich, George T., '81, Sept. 6. Mirick, Hiram M., '92, Oct. 8. Benfield, Amon 0., '96 Chesley, Alfred R., '00, Oct. 27. Freeman, Rose M., '02, Oct. 6. Griffin, Michael B., '07, Oct. 19. Hunt, John E., '12, Nov. 5. Gibson, William M., '13, Oct. 19. Fletcher, Carleton D., '15, Oct. 8. Hallett, Edward B., med. '87, Nov.
Necrology
1881
GEORGE THOMPSON ALDRICH died suddenly of a heart attack September 6, 1939, at his home, 891 Ocean Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
The son of George and Mary Jane (Guild) Aldrich, he was born in Walpole, N. H., July 22, 1855, and prepared for college at Kimball Union Academy. In college he was a member of the Glee Club and won the second prize for Latin ode. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi.
After graduation he went to New York City, where he taught in a private school for boys from 1881 to 1889. He studied law at the same time, and graduated as LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1885. From 1889 until about 1915 he was in active legal practice in the city, being counsel for the Manhattan Railway Company from 1890 to 1897, deputy assistant district attorney for the county in 1897, and counsel to the appraiser of merchandise, port of New York, in 1898-9. His first wife, who was Charlotte P. Purser of Yonkers, N. Y., died July si, 1930. March 24, 1933, he married Anna Hanson, who died about two years since. There were no children.
1884
TRAVIS D. WELLS died in his apartment at 307 East 44th St., New York City, July 1, 1939, of a heart attack.
He was born in Chicago, Ill., June 26, 186O, the son of Stephen A. and Jennie (DeShon) Wells. His father at first was a minister, but in the latter part of his life was engaged in business.
He entered Dartmouth in sophomore year, but remained only one year. Returning to Chicago, he entered newspaper work as a reporter on the Chicago Tribune. Later he went to New York and was with the Times in the business department until 1896. He was then with the World for 17 years, part of the time as assistant editor of the Sunday magazine section and for several years with the Evening World.
After the World War he entered the real estate business with the Laurenmac Corporation, but continued his association with newspaper men, attending dinners of the Silurians, an organization of those who had been in newspaper work in the city 25 or more years.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Margaret Wells, and a son, Travis Jr.
WALTER TAYLOR FIFAD died suddenly at his home in Hinsdale, Ill., August 18, 1939.
He was born in Hinsdale, February 21, 1861, the son of Horatio N. Field, who was engaged in insurance business in Chicago. He prepared for college at the lowa College Public High School and was a member of his Dartmouth class for two years, transferring then to Amherst College, where he graduated in 1883. While at Hanover he was popular with his classmates and took part in most of the literary activities of the College. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi.
Mr. Field was an author of national prominence. He had been connected with the publishing houses of S. C. Griggs & Co. of Chicago and Harper and Brothers of New York. He had been associated with Ginn & Co. since 1890, for which firm he wrote several series of textbooks for the teaching of reading and instruction in English and American literature. He was the author also of volumes entitled "Rome," "Eight O'clock Chapel," and "Finding the New World." His last book was "Psalms of the Modern Life," published in 1939. Although he had retired from active service in the publishing business, he had continued his literary work at home until a few months before his death.
He was a trustee and treasurer of the University Congregational church of Chicago until his removal to Hinsdale in 1906, since which he was connected with the Union Congregational church of that city.
Surviving Mr. Field are his widow, Sara, and one son, John Stanley Field.
1892
HIRAM MILTON MIRICK died at his home in Lyons, N. Y„ October 8, 1939.
He was born in Lyons, August 29, 1867, and entered the Chandler School, but remained only one year. He became a member of the Vitruvian fraternity, now Beta Theta Pi.
On leaving Dartmouth he returned to Lyons and entered the contracting and malting business, in which his family had long been engaged. He was eminently successful in these lines, and was well known in New England, particularly through his connection with the Frank Jones Brewing Company of Portsmouth, N. H. When prohibition came in he retired from business and devoted himself to the service of his city and local interests. No near relatives survive him.
1899
THEODORE WOOLSEY CHASE died suddenly at Franconia, N. H., on October 11, 1939. He was on a routine business trip and was found dead in his automobile, which was just off the traveled way with ignition turned off but gears engaged.
He was born at Hanover, N. H., March 21, 1876 the son of Frederick and Mary (Pomeroy) Chase. His father, a former lawyer in New York and Washington, was judge of probate for Grafton County and treasurer of Dartmouth College.
He attended the public schools in Hanover and prepared for college at Worcester Academy. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and Casque and Gauntlet. Through his entire college course he was an active participant in athletics and outdoor winter sports, the hurdles being his specialty.
Planning to become a physician he entered Harvard Medical School, where he remained for two years, leading his class in the freshman year. He found his strength not sufficient, so gave up the idea of becoming a doctor and spent a year in Colorado. Returning East in 1902, he purchased an interest in the Passumpsic Fiber Leather Company, of which his brother Stephen Chase was the other owner. The mill burned in 1905 and was rebuilt on a larger scale, being the first instance of re-inforced cement foundation in that vicinity. Because of his special knowledge of cement construction he supervised the construction of a large mill near St. Louis, Mo., for the International Leather Co. In 1908 he purchased his brother's interest and continued the business as sole owner, changing the name of the company to Chase Fiber Co., Inc.
In the great flood of 1927 the entire plant at Passumpsic was destroyed except the foundation, he being the heaviest individual loser in Vermont from the flood. He found it impossible to rebuild, and in the summer of 1928 became agent for the New England Mutual Insurance Company, later maintaining an office in Hanover. He was a loyal member of the North Congregational church of St. Johnsbury and the Passumpsic Lodge of Masons.
On December 22, 1908, he married Julia Agnes Scott, who survives him. Their three children, all living, are Mary Lee of St. Johnsbury, Vt., Theodore W. Jr. of Schenectady, N. Y., and Elizabeth L., who is a student at the Wheelock School in Cambridge. He also leaves three brothers.
"Tedo" Chase was devoted to his home. He made friends everywhere by his courteous and genial manner, and his indomitable courage was recognized by all.
His classmates Benezet, Clark, Hawkes, and Kendall attended the funeral services at St. Johnsbury October 15. Burial was at Passumpsic, Vt.
GEORGE HILL EVANS died at Somerville, Mass., October 12, 1939, after a long illness. He was born at Conway, N. H., May 6, 1872. His ancestors were pioneer settlers there and in Fryeburg, Maine. Evans Notch gets its name from them. He prepared for college at Brewster Free Academy, Wolfeboro, N. H.
Always interested in librarianship as a vocation he spent several years at Hanover as classifier and cataloger in the College Library and studied at the State Library School at Albany, N. Y. He served as branch librarian in Brooklyn, N. Y., 1904-9, librarian at Woburn, Mass., 1909-17, and Somerville, Mass., where he remained twenty years, retiring May 1, 1937.
He was much interested in historical subjects, especially the early history of his native town, and was the author of many articles which were the result of careful original research. His latest book, "Pigwacket or Old Indian Days in the Valley of the Saco," was published in 1939.
During the World War he was stationed at Camp Devens and at Hampton Roads, Va.
He was a charter member of the Somerville Rotary Club; a member of the Somerville lodge of Masons; vice-president and treasurer of Brewster Free Academy of Wolfboro, N. H.; an incorporator of the Somerville Savings Bank; a member of American Library Association, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Puddingstone Club; and a deacon of the Somerville Congregational church.
He married Irene Jeanette Wood of Bangor, N. Y., December 21, 1904, who died February 10, 1907; and later, on September 27, 1909, married Louise Priesing of Dedham, Mass., who survives him. Their only child, Elizabeth, died in 1910. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Mary Buzzell of Jamestown, N. D.
George was a loyal classmate and an active participant in all class functions, serving as class agent from 1934 to 1939. Always cheerful and possessed of a keen sense of humor, his passing will be deeply felt by all his friends.
His funeral at Somerville was largely attended, and the floral tributes were many and beautiful. His classmates Beal, Donahue, HobbSi Hoban, Rogers, Kendall, Lynch, Osgood, and Sleeper attended the services at Somerville, and Silver and Speare attended the burial at Conway.
1900
DR. ALFRED ERVAN CHESLEY died in Lawrence, Mass., on October 27, 1939. Some two years ago he had suffered from a severe heart attack, but had recovered sufficiently to resume his practice on a somewhat restricted scale. At the end his death came very suddenly from a shock, while examining a patient in his office.
Chesley was born in North Andover, Mass., on January 31, 1876, the son of Evan E. Chesley. His preparatory work was done in the high school of his native town and, after graduation from Dartmouth in the class of 1900, he attended the Bellevue Medical School, from which he received the degree of M.D. in 1904. He settled at once at Lawrence, where his entire professional life was spent.
His specialty was surgery of the eye, ear, throat, and nose. For thirty years he had been on the senior medical staff of the Lawrence Hospital and was a member of a number of medical societies. He was also a Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows. While quiet and unassuming, he was highly valued by his patients and by his colleagues in the profession.
Twice married, he is survived by his second wife, Geneva (James) Chesley, by a son of the first marriage, Ervan S. Chesley of Brooklyn, N. Y„ and by two children of the second, a daughter Barbara and a son Norman, now a junior in Dartmouth.
The funeral, held at his home, 324 Ames St., Lawrence, was attended by Rankin, Prescott, and Mahoney of the class. Burial was in the Bellevue Cemetery.
1912
REV. JOHN EUGENE HUNT died suddenly at his North Rochester, Mass., parsonage on the night of November 5, 1939.
John graduated from the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1910, and came directly to Dartmouth College, where he graduated with the class of 1912. His first job was as pastor of the Congregational church of West Lebanon, where he served from 1913 to 1918. He was with the Y.M.C.A. during the war from February to August, 1918, and then became pastor of the Fort Fairfield, Me., Congregational church. From 1921 to 1926, he was pastor at East Millinocket, Me., from 1926 to 1930 was pastor of the church at Machias, Me., and from 1930 to 1939, of the church at Mexico, Me.
This year, he had been transferred to Rochester, Mass., where he was minister of the Rochester-Lakeville larger parish, and preached to the day of his death. His new pastorate made very large demands on his strength.
John married at Sangerville, Me., August 27, 1913, Celia Bertha Leland, and they have had two sons, Leland Otis, born in 1914, and Mansfield Laurence, born in 1916. Leland was Dartmouth and Middlebury '35, and Mansfield, Bowdoin '37.
John was born in Sherman, Me., June 9, 1886. He was a Mason, a member of the Commandery, and active in Boy Scout work. He loved to hike and tlimb mountains with the boys. John got a great deal out of life, and contributed as much. He will be greatly missed.
1913
WILLIAM MARTIN GIBSON died suddenly on October 19, 1939, in St. Johnsbury, Vt.
He was born on September 20, 1890, at East Ryegate, Vt., the son of Martin H. and Mary F. (Clark) Gibson, and prepared for college at St. Johnsbury Academy. Bill played two years on the varsity football team, was captain of the basketball team; president of the class his senior year; a member of Palaeopitus, Phi Delta Theta, and Casque and Gauntlet. He graduated in 1913 and was in the Thayer School the greater part of the following year.
At first he was associated with his father in the lumber business at East Ryegate, and then became a farmer on his own 300-acre farm at Barnet, Vt. During the war he served with the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. Later Bill entered the engineering division of the Vermont State Highway Department and has been an efficient district highway commissioner for the past sir years. He made his home in St. Johnsbury until he recently moved to South Ryegate. His wife and one daughter survive him..
September 27, 1925, he was married to Mary Louise Goodwin of Lyme, N. H., who survives him, with a daughter, Gloria Clark. Charles E. Gibson '10 is a brother.
1914
BRYANT FRANK POLLARD of Proctorsville, Vt., died suddenly September 24, in the Mary Hitchcock Hospital at Hanover, where he was operated upon two weeks previous. He was expecting to return home when a blood clot caused his death.
Bryant was junior partner in the Pollard General Store, said to be the largest in Vermont.
He was born in Proctorsville, August 14, 1893, eldest son of Mrs. Lois Pollard and the late Fred D. Pollard. He attended local schools and Black River Academy in Ludlow, graduating in 1908. In 1911, after a year at Dartmouth, he entered the store and was taken in as a partner in 1923, after he had amassed one of the most valuable stamp collections in New England under the firm name of Bryant Pollard Stamp Company. He also conducted an insurance business as agent for several firms.
He served in the first World War in the Ordnance Department, Sergeant Headquarters Division, of the 20th Field Artillery at Spartansburg, S. C.
Bryant was a second cousin of the late Calvin Coolidge. He is survived by his wife, Millie V. Brobst, whom he married in New York City June 12, 1925; a daughter, Victoria; son, Fred D. Pollard 3d; and his mother, Mrs. Lois Pollard; two sisters, Miss Mary V. Pollard of Greenway, Va., and Miss Erminie L. Pollard of Proctorsville and Hartford, Conn.; two brothers, Roy of New York City and Rowland of Rangoon, Burma.
DR. FRED WELLS GRANGER died August 22, 1939, in a hospital at Houston, Texas.
He was born at Brockton, Mass., September 26, 1890, the son of Dr. Fred Wells (Dartmouth 1884) and Mary E. (Briggs) Granger.
After graduation he remained at Hanover, taking the two years' medical course, in which he graduated in 1916. He then continued his medical studies at Yale, where he received the degree of M.D. in 1918. He at once entered the Navy Medical Corps, in which he served continuously until his death, having attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He had been connected with the recruiting station at Houston for over a year, having gone there from lona Island, N. Y.
1915
CARLETON DUNBAR FLETCHER died October 8, 1939.
The son of William Our and Hattie Louise (Dunbar) Fletcher, he was born in Hingham, Mass., March 14, 1893.
He was a member of Sigma Nu and Phi Beta Kappa.
After graduation he became secretary of the Knickerbocker Mail Order Co., and continued with that organization until 1920, except for the time between September 1917 and March 1919, when he served in the U. S. Air Service, being most of this time overseas. In 1920-2 he was an accountant with E. A. Ashdown & Co., in 1928-9 office manager and auditor for Davis & Quick and their general accountant and auditor in 1929-30. Since that time he had been in ill health.
January 31, 1920, he was married to Elizabeth T. Giezendanner of Brooklyn, N. Y., who survives him, with two daughters, Anne Louise and Margaret Our.
1924
The death of ROY ALBERT VOFEEI in Chicago, Ill., January 29, 1937, has been reported.
He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 6, 1902, the son of Charles John and Angeline C. (Macy) Vofrei, and prepared for college at Monroe (N. Y.) High School and MacKenzie School. He was in college only during freshman year, and his history since leaving has not been ascertained.
The death of NORMAN EDGAR RUMMEL, which took place June n, 1937, has only lately been reported. The place is presumably Buffalo, N. Y. He apparently died suddenly of heart trouble. His classmate Boyce Butterfield was unable to find any relatives, both Mr. and Mrs. Rummel having died previous to Norman's decease.
The son of Herman and Maude (Sweeney) Rummel, he was born in Buffalo, May 12, 1899, and prepared for college at Hutchinson Central High School. He was a member of the class only during freshman year.
He was a teller in the Commercial Trust Co. of Buffalo, but that bank was closed in 1933, and nothing has been learned about his activities since.
MEDICAL SCHOOL
1887
DR. EDWARD BANGS HALLETT died in Gloucester, Mass., November 8, 1939. He was born at Yarmouthport, Mass., February 20, 1864, the son of Edward Bangs and Ellen (Gorham) Hallett.
After graduation he served as intern at Chelsea Marine Hospital, and in 1888 began private practice in Gloucester, where he remained for the rest of his life, and was at the time of his death the oldest practicing physician. He was a former president of the Edison Gilbert Hospital, and until five years ago was port doctor for the U. S. Public Health Service. He took an active part in civic affairs, and served as a member of the school committee.
December 1, 1892, he was married to Mary L. Alley of Yarmouthport, who survives him, with a daughter, Alice Gorham (Mrs. Temple A. Bradley). A son is not living.
1891
Information has only recently been received of the death of DR. WILLIAM DILK DEUSCHLE, which occurred in Columbus, Ohio, November 21, 1928, of arteriosclerosis.
Dr. Deuschle was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, October 12, 1864. As he received the degree of Ph.G. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1885, it is a fair inference that he practiced pharmacy before beginning the study of medicine. For many years he practiced medicine in Columbus and was a member of the staff of Mt. Carmel Hospital. Specializing in nervous and mental diseases, he held for a long period a professorship of that branch of medicine in Starling Medical College, connected with Ohio State University. At one time he was president of the Board of Education of Columbus.
His wife, who was Jessie Field, survived him, and a son, William Field.
HONORARY
1909
REV. HARRY NELSON FIFER, who received the degree of A.M. in" 1909, died June 25, 1939, in a hospital at Oakland, Calif.
The son of George and Elizabeth (Leupold) Pfeiffer, he was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 3, 1876. From the age of eight years his home was in Brooklyn, N. Y., and he graduated from the University of New York in 1899, while there having been a member of Zeta Psi and leader of the Mandolin Club.
In 1901 he was ordained to the Congregational ministry, and was pastor at Howells, N. Y., in 1901-03, and at Oriskany Falls, N. Y., 1903-5. He then studied theology at Oberlin, graduating in 1906. In 1907-8 he was pastor at Meriden, N. H. He held other pastorates in New Jersey and California, but the details are not at hand. His final work was as chaplain of the Fairmont Hospital at San Leandro, Calif., where he was for seven years from June 1, 1932.
In 1901 he was married to Eva Gertrude, daughter of Martin Herr and Lydia (Blank) Foulk of Brooklyn, N. Y., who survives him, with a daughter Dorothy (Mrs. W. Wright Henderson) of Sacramento, Calif. Another daughter is not living.
