The Portland daily press., 1886-04-08

deceased and himself had long been ac-
ouaintances and friends The first impress
sion Mr.. Hersey made on an acquaintance
was one of kindness, atfability and cour-
tesy. He was a true gentleman. The next
impression was that of the delicate state of
his organization, and of his health. All will
remember his fragile figure and the pallid-
ness of his countenance, but these were de-
ceptive, since beneath them prevailed the
true spirit of manhood; the force of will, en-
ergy of character and spirit of enterprise,
which enabled him to do the work of the
strongest and bravest. We have all seen
him when driving out, under one of his pro-
tracted attacks of illness, when it seemed
from his death like appearance as If he
must succumb, yet how quickly he always
rallied and took up again the battle of life.
In reading over the obituaries of Mr.. Hersey
he was astonished to see in how many OF
the business and charitable organizations of
Portland he had been the protector, orga-
nicer and founder. / think, therefore. said
the speaker, that the place left vacant by
Mr. Hersey is one that will not soon or cas-
lily be filled, and l would move you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that committee of three be appointed
to draft proper resolutions of respect to the
deceased
The chair appointed Hon. w. W. Thomas,
Jrs, Hon. w L. Putnam and Hon. S. }. An
derson the committee, and later they re-
ported the following resolutions, passed by
rising vote:
Whereas, The Board of Trade of Portland has
learned with profound sorrow OF the deatn OF
Theophilus Gushing Hersey, one of the founders
of the Board and for nine years its president;
therefore be it
Board has lost one of its most valued members,
Portland one of her best citizens, and the poor
and needy of our community one OF tnelr most eI-
Resolved, That the life and career Of Mr.: Hersey
present a worthy example OF self made man.
He was the architect of his own fortunes. Com
ing to our city an unknown lad he worked his
own way upward until he stood in the front rank
of the citizens of Portland. Inheriting delicate
constitution, and not unfrequently an invalid, he
yet accomplished the life work of a strong man:
Of an originating mind, he became the founder OF
many of our business and charitable Institutions
and in all the enterprises in which he embarked,
he was a leader. not follower. Many Of our
most useful public charities will long miss his
active and helpful guidance and support In COM
| mon with all classes of our fellow citizens, we
mourn his loss and feel that a void has been Gre
ated in our ranks that cannot easily be filled.
ReseJUed That we tender to the widow and chill
dren of our ate associate our heartfelt sympathy
| in this hour of their deep afdiction.
While the committed were out, Hon. Geo.
| P. Wescott gave the account of the death OF
| Mr.. Hersey, which differs from the special
| dispatches which were printed at the time.
| 1t appears that Mr.. Hersey was walking in
The corridor of the third story of the hotel
| He was cheerful and brighter than at any
| time since leaving Portland. There was a
| low window open at the end of the corridor
| Mr.. Hersey always required great deal OF
| air, and never more than during his illness
| The nurse was in an adjoining room, and
| saw Mr.. Hersey as he passed the room, walk
| ing in the corridor. Nothing further was
| known until word was received stating Mr..
| Jersey had fallen out of the window. Evil
| IDENTIFY he went to the window for air, lost
| his balance and fell
| Ex-President George W. Woodman said he
had been associated with Mr.. Hersey for
| over half century. He was one of his ear
| lest acquaintance in Portland. He was as
| ISOLATED with him in the formation OF this
| Board of Trade, and for the whole fifty years
| their relations had been most agreeable, and
| that he could pronounce him merchant and
| man.
| Mr. M. N. Rich, secretary of the Board,
1 Was DTODdDly, uuIluS GnS pdob bWShUy OdA %
| as intimately acquainted with Mr.. Hersey as
| any one Mr.. Hersey was constant, steady
worker for the Board, rarely missing a
meeting even if his own business engage
| ments suffered thereby. The deceased al
| WAYS felt the Importance of the relations of
| this Board with the National Board, and
when he could not get delegates to the Ma
| tional Boards meetings he went himself and
| assumed all the expense. He was always
striving to originate something for Portland s
/ benefit, and he thought the way to gain adj
vantages for Portland was through the
Board of Trade. 1t would be difficult to find
a man who would so sacrifice his time and
| business to the interests Of the Board.
Hon. Charles Mclaughlin said the Presi-
| dent and Mr. Thomas had said all one could
| say, in regard to Mr.. Hersey. He would
| like, however, to raise his voice in respect to
| his memory. When he commenced as boy
| in Portland, in business, Mr.. Hersey was a
| prominent merchant, and he had grown up
| with him. His good points unbalanced all
others. His death will be great loss to our
| business and benevolent institutions. He
was liberal beyond his means. The Board
suffers from his loss severely, but not more
| so than these other associations. He would
make the following motion:
Voted That during the funeral OF I. O. Hersey,
Thursday afternoon April Sth, the places OF pusi-
ness of the city be closed. out of respect to the
| memory of the deceased
The vote was unanimously passed.
Capt. j. S. Winslow said he came to Port
| land in 1856, the master of a vessel consigned
| to Hersey, Fletcher & Co. Since then he
had been associated with Mr.. Hersey and
| found him an upright man.
Collector Anderson wished to add word
| in regard to his knowledge of Mr.. Hersey, an
| educated merchant and man of affairs. He
| had acted with him at meetings of the Ma
tional Board of Trade and there, when ques-
lions were discussed that affected the trade
| of the whole country, Mr.. Hersey was always
prepared to speak and to act. Among the
| old members of that board, who assembled
year after year, Mr.. Hersey was held in great
esteem and occupied high place. AS long
| as the Portland Board held place in the
National Board Mr.. Hersey was a vice-presi-
dent. He was a student of all questions that
might arise at the sessions of the Board al
fecting the trade of the whole country. He
was not only practical merchant, he was
an excellent theorist. At the great meeting at
Detroit, where the question of reciprocity
with Canada came up, MIR. Hersey surprised
all and had their earnest attention, by the
arguments he advanced. His speech on that
occasion gave him national reputation. In
other matters he was always faithful, self
sacrificing and unselfsh.
Mr.. Eben Corey said his knowledge OF MI
Hersey extended to 1929, when they were
both clerks in Portland. He felt that In the
death of Mr.. Hersey Portland had lost one
of her best business men. In all charitable
and business enterprises he occupied the nrst
rank. The speaker especially referred 10
Mr.. Hersey's relations to the Mercantile IL
brary, the Fraternity, and Home for AGED
Men, and repeated what Mr.. Hersey said in
regard to the latter institution, which was
published in the PRESS. Mr.. Corey said the
| death of Mr.. Hersey had affected him greatly.
Charles E. Jose spoke of the conspicuous
position which Mr.. Hersey had occupied in
the business of Portland for half a century.