1896
As all living members and all the families of deceased members of '96 have been advised the bequest of Guy Richards is for student aid. Descendants of members of our class are given preference in the granting of this aid.
The first recipient is the grandson of Nathan Jenks who entered in September from San Diego, Calif. The aid granted, with a job waiting on table, will cover his expenses.
His mother is a widow with four sons. Without this aid it is not probable he could have gone to college.
Who can measure the good our bequests will do!
A Brief Sketch of the Career ofRev. William F. Whitcomb
William Francis Whitcomb was born in Claremont, N. H., October 16, 1873, on the family farm. He graduated from Stevens High School, Dartmouth '96, and Hartford Theological School; and was ordained to the ministry in the Congregational Church. He held pastorates in Dublin and Surry, N. H., and in Westminster, Vt. At about the time his father died, he was offered a pastorate in Concord, but he felt he had but one mother and his duty was to her.
Following the death of his father, he returned to the family farm located at the foot of Bible Hill, Claremont, which he operated for many years. During this period he supplied pulpits at Croydon and Cornish, serving in Cornish until a week before his final illness, intestinal cancer.
He was highly respected in his home city. In addition to running a rather large farm and supplying in several churches, he held various offices. He was a member of Claremont School Board for three years, 1918-1921, Representative in the New Hampshire Legislature 1927 to 1931, State Senator 1933. He was chairman of a special committee entrusted with the building of the County Home at Unity, N. H. He was also secretary and moderator of the Sullivan County Association of Congregational Churches, director and treasurer of the Sullivan County Farmers' Exchange, and a member of the town finance committee.
He lived a busy and useful life. He passed away in April, 1935. His funeral in the Congregational Church was largely attended.
The Whitcomb Family
Mrs. Whitcomb was Minnette E. Washburn. She and Bill were married October 22, 1899, about the time of his first pastorate. She is about 83 years of age, slight and frail of body, but keen of mind. She writes an excellent letter. She now lives at the Tolles Home for elderly ladies at 44 Sullivan St., Claremont. She has sent your Secretary these lines:
"In Memory: He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, loved much, gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children, who has always looked for the best in others and given the best he had, whose life was an inspiration, whose memory a benediction."
Anyone could be proud of this. She has alsosent me a little and touching poem, "MyOne Little Room."
My friends do not know when they call and sit In my One Little, Room Of the peace and the rest and the quiet so blest, That I find in my One Little Room There is my table and a chair right there and a lamp to brighten the gloom, The world hurries by I never ask why, In the peace of my One Little Room.
The Whitcombs had a son and a daughter.The son is Vernon Francis Whitcomb, whomarried Dorothy Kent. They have two daughter Mrs. Robert Landry and Mrs. Donald Wall ('46). The daughter is (Vera) Mrs. Clyde J. Bailey. The Bailey's live in New Hampshire but their mail address is R. D., Windsor, Vt. There are in all seven great grandchildren: three girls and four boys. Your Secretary had a very pleasant visit with Mrs. Whitcomb and the Landry's.
A salute to one of the fine men and to one of the fine families in our '96 group.
Mrs. Arthur Thad Smith, widow of our classmate, died August 15 in the Greenwich Hospital of cancer, after a long illness. She leaves a son, Arthur Thad Jr. '31 of Denver, a daughter (Jeannette), Mrs. Edward G. Egan of Riverside, Conn., and several grandchildren.
IN COLLEGE AND AFTER: The late Rev. William F. Whitcomb '96 whose career is described this month, is shown as he was in his later years and in College.
Secretary, 159 Park Ave., Arlington, Mass. Treasurer, 21 Forest Rd., Cape Elizabeth, Me.
