The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-04-01
Obituary.
Ben D. Field

| Another of Searsmonts aged and respect
ed citizens has passed away. Mr.. George
Dyer, while visiting his daughter, Mrs. W.
O. Sargent in Belfast, suddenly expired on
the morning of March oath He had been
suffering from cold, or slight attack of la
grippe, but was feeling and looking bright
on the morning of his death, but his extreme
age had weakened the vital force, the heart
ceased to work, and Mr.. Dyer passed into
the life beyond, painlessly, leaving upon his
| features the peacefulness of good man at
rest. Mr.. Dyer was born at North Haven,
Jan /, 1915, and lived there until fourteen
wears of age, when his father moved to
Searsmont. Throughout the eighty two
years of his life he has been blessed with
health and that peace with the world that
leaves upon the person of age the bearing
and semblance of strong manhood. Those
years had not dmmed his eye, or whitened
the hair upon his head, and but slightly
tinged his beard with gray, so that in the
extreme of age he looked man bearing no
unusual burden of years. He was the old
est of ten children. eight of whom grew to
manhood and womanhood at the homestead
farm at "Dyers Mills, and then made
homes for themselves in different sections of
the country. two of the brothers going
| to the then great west" with the
many of their time who also left Sears
mont for that growing section of the coun-
try, the subject of this sketch alone of the
family remaining near his fathers home.
A sister, Mrs. A. H. Hodgman of Sandusky,
Ohio, aud a brother, Mr.. Alexander 2. Dyer
of Dyer, Nevada, are the only ones left of
that family circle. March -, 1915, Mr., Dyer
married Ruth Boardman, sister of Capt.
Isaac Boardmau of Belfast, who lived to the
age of SiXty-seven. She died July 9, 1890.
Her life was in harmony with her husband $,
making home that still bears its influence
in the love and union between the children
who survive them. Mr.. Dyer was man
universally respected and held in high es-
teen by his nelghbors and friends. His
! kind looks and pleasant voice will long
be remembered by all with whom he was at
all associated. happy illustration of the
| kindness of his look is recalled in the re-
mark Of a leading lawyer, a stranger to him
at the time, at trial in court. A special jury
was being impanelled and each side was
scanning the jurymen as they came forward
and took their places to measure their fit
ness to hear and justly decide the rights of
their respective clients. Mr.. Dyer was
| drawn, and as he took his place in the jury
box and looked towards the court, the law
| yer for the plaintiff remarked, 81 can trust
that man to do what he believes to be just,
mercifully." He was the father of nine
| children, five of whom survive him. George
B. and Charles E. of Searsmont, Mrs. E,
| Bicknell and Ed win X. Dyer of Lawrence,
Mass, and Mrs W. o. Sargent of Belfast.
The funeral services We're held Saturday
afternoon at the home of the deceased in
Searsmont.
Dexter w. Bennett, a prominent and high
ly respected citizen of Montvile, died at his
home iii that town March 23d, aged 50 years,
months and Is days. Mr. Bennett was a
son of the late VIM. H. Bennett of Mont
Vile and third in a family of eight children,
six of whom survive-Mrs. Lucy B. Harrng-
| ton of Boston, Mass. Nathan 2. Bennett of
! Montville; Barrila B., who resides in Colo
RADIO; VIM. A. of Newport Geo. L. and
| Fred l.. of Graniteville Mass. Mr.. Bennett
has held office in town and positions of pub
lie trust, having served as selectman, col
| lector of taxes and auditor of accounts, and
| he was member of the school board at the
time of his death. He served as census
enumerator in town in the year 1890 and what
is rema rkable and an evidence of correct
methods of procedure, Montvile was one of
four towns in the eastern district, embracing
the eastern part of Maine to which not sing
lie paper was returned for correction, was
reported in the newspapers of that time. He
represented his classed towns in the Legisla-
ture of 1895, serving on the Committee on
Elections and Military affairs. He served in
the war of the rebellion, being member of
Co. E., 81 Regiment Massachusetts Volun-
| teers. He was member of E. Fl. Bradstreet
| Post, G. A. R., of Liberty and also of the Ma
sonic fraternity of that place. He was mem
Der of Union Harvest Grange at Centre Mont
Vile In 1866 he married Eunice j. Ed
| wards of Liberty who with two daughters,
Florence H. and Lucy H.. wife of VIM. II.
| Norton of Albion, survive him. He was
kind and indulgent husband and father an
| obhging neighbor, q faithful friend and a
useful ctizen-ever ready to aid in any be-
nevolent service for others. The funeral
was from his late residence Friday at 10
O'Clock, and there was very large attend
ance. Evidences of sorrow on every counte
nance showed the estimation in which he
was held in the community, friends and
neighbors weeping as over a near and dear
relative. Mr.. H. NJ. Howard, lifelong and
intimate friend of the deceased, conducted
q al