1909
An old directory of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of Chicago is the inspiration of this month's effusion. Published in 1911, when members of our class were struggling to get a foothold in the business world, it is referred to as a "museum piece" by George Liscomb '07, the guy who sent it to me. There were alumni listed as far back as the class of 1842. There were a number in the '50's and the '60's. The most active of those old grads, right up until the time of his death at 91, was Major Edward D. Redington '61, a classmate of our beloved Dr. William Jewett Tucker. Some day I'd like to do a piece on the Major. He was a grand guy.
The social life of the younger Dartmouths, in those days, was centered around the Dartmouth Chateau, located at the time at 5541 Madison Ave. on Chicago's south side. Here you found such characters as Charlie Fassett (famous for his Cohasset punch), Pat Hathaway, the guy with the golden voice, George Liscomb, Tom Perry, Dick Southgate, all '07. Mike Stearns was the representative from '08. He was a lad who went up fast in the ad- vertising business as a representative of GoodHousekeeping magazine. They used to speak of his income of 3,000 bucks a year with bated breath. That was a lot of clinkers in those days. Mort Hull, who graduated with our class but who has retained his affiliation with '08, was a resident, as were Jess Hawley and three guys from '10 —Jack Field, Russ Palmer and Big Boy Clarke Tobin.
When Hawley got a job coaching the University of Iowa he took George Liscomb with him as assistant coach, although it is doubtful if the latter knew much about coaching. So strong was the bond of friendship. Jess, then as always, had a rather sadistic sense of humor. He thought it was funny when he ripped the pants off Liscomb one time when they were in Hanover. At our fifth reunion he laffed and laffed when he caught me taking a shower in the Alpha Delt house and chased me outdoors in my birthday clothes about the time visiting dames were taking a Sunday morning promenade. Hawley, at the time this directory was published, was a bond salesman for the Chicago Savings Bank & Trust Cos. His earnings were meager, but he got friendly with a fellow by the name of Douglas Smith who was head of the Pepsodent Company, a young company at the time, but one which was coming along fast. Jess got their first financing for his bank and was awarded a finder's fee of $20,000. Hawley's colorful career carried him to top success as a football coach and to financial affluence. At the time of his death he was paying income tax on a million dollars a year, as sole owner of the Hawley Products Co.
Reports of Other '09ers
The other 'ogers in Chi at the time were Frank Bartlett who got into the investment business, worked for a time with the Chicago Savings Bank & Trust Co., and then organized his own firm of Bartlett & Gordon, the latter a Cornell man. Frank's present hangout is in Farmingdale, N. J. Merrill Follansbee, now in the real estate business and proprietor of a date ranch in California, was studying law at Northwestern Law School. Hal Foreman was associated with Foreman Bros. Co. in the banking business, later got to be president, is now retired and living in Glencoe, 111. StanGates was working on a financial newspaper, but soon left the Windy City for St. Paul, Minn., where he's in the investment business.
Another classmate who forsook Chicago for the sunny clime of California is Ed Martin. At that time he was a student at the Chicago Art Institute, but now he's an architect, living in Hollywood. Bill Patterson, an '08er who became affiiliated with our class, was an earnest insurance man with National Life. He had quite an experience over in the Philippines, as I recall, returned to the good old U.S.A., and is living in Menlo Park, Calif. Jasper Karl Mason, the basso profundo, was working for Western Electric, as was LyndeTucker. Jasper left that outfit and later engaged in the manufacturing business in Warner, N. H. He pretty near broke ArtSwenson's heart when he didn't show at the Boston banquet this year to supply the low stuff to the '09 quartet. Lynde stuck to his company until last year when he retired with 40 years of service. Fred Plummer was an assistant in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago. He continued his work as a geologist up until the time of his death in 1947.
Frank Solomon was in the wholesale clothing business then and has continued in that line his whole business life. At present he's vice-president of Joseph & Feiss, Cleveland. He's done all right for himself. JimmieTurner, who was with our class only a year, had a job with the Otis Elevator Cos. He was one of '09's two casualties during World War I. Just a week before the armistice was signed he was severely wounded by an exploded shell, refused to be sent back for treatment, and the next day he was instantly killed by shell fire while leading his platoon over the top. He was awarded a D. S. C. posthumously. Les Wass, who made a career of military service and was a Captain in the Marines, was killed in action on July 18, 1918.
Herm Walker was another '09er in Chi in those days, being associated with Sears, Roebuck. He spent a good share of his business life in the mail order and department store business, later went into semi-retirement, got to compiling books of anecdotes, and died suddenly on December 12, 1951. As for Childs, he was working out to the gas works in Evanston, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. His checkered career is of no particular interest.
This is the last shot before the close of the Fund Campaign. As you read these lines do a little soul-searching and see if you can't loosen up the purse strings a little more, if you have already contributed, or see what you can do about an investment in Dartmouth's future, if you have been remiss in doing your bit. There will be no more class notes until the October issue. So long, everybody.
Class Notes Editor, Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio
Secretary and Treasurer, Sandwich, Mass.
Class Agent, 18 Spirea Dr., Dayton 9, Ohio
