St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-26
HENRY B. HYDE.
A Biographical Sketch of the Founder
of the EQUITABLE Life,

Biographical Sketch of the FOunde
of the Equitable Life.
We are in receipt of a book from tn
DeVinne Press, one of ten thousand or
dered by the Board of Directors OF tn
Equitable Lie Assurance Society of tn
United States. A copy is in the Athe
naeum also. The preface says it lis not ;
biography, it is merely a gathering o
"reminiscences which might otherwise b,
lost"
1t sets forth the strong points in the
lie of a wonderful man. One who for
forty years gave his life to one definite
purpose, and who united with himself
some OF the master minds in business
and finance to the upbuildiug of the
Equitable, and left it in the hands of a
wise ard capable set of officers whom he
had educated to succeed and possibly
even surpass his own achievements, thus
demon trating his far reaching sagacity.
The Equitable is today even stronger
than when the master builder left it. He
died just on the eve of its lortieth ami
versary, having selected a successor, the
vice president, James w. Alexander, who
so ably conducts its affairs today. aided
by men who have grown up in its SER
vice, and among whom his son lanes H.
Hyde is a strong factor. Such a record
is remarkable and it is one for Young
men to study.
A young man barely 25 years of age
started out to found a life assurance
company that in forty years gathered in
ana held assets amounting to about
10000, 900 with $50, 100000 surplus,
and having returned to policy holders
nearly 1925 100000 with more than
81, 900 100000 of assurance in force
This was something unprecedented in
the business world.
We find on pages u and 1911 the
tribute to Mr.. Hyde by W. H. S. Whit
comb OF Burlington, who wrote his first
policy (NO. 949) in February 1861 for
the Equitable. The next agent now Ev- |
ing has written No. 954. Thus Mr..
is today the senior in point OF
service with the Equitable, and therefore,
after AZ years OF labor during which |
time he has educated several distinguish
ed underwriters he must be one Of the
longest in service among the insurance
men OF the United States, and perhaps
he senior of them all. Mr.. Whitcomb
began with delicate h, alth, suff, firing also
rom an intirmity that might well be
too great to allow the success
hat has attended his indomitable cour-
age and unceasing efforts. He deserves
al the success that his agency has secured
md the strong position he has gained
among the fraternity. The election
vice as president of the Vermont
Association OF Lite Underwriters, a dele.
,ate often to the National Association
md a place more than once on the
tandng committees in the national
Dody, now chairman Of it's membership
ommlttee, demonstrates the vigor and
purpose OF a man lmbued with the ideas
Vt his great leader, Henry B. HYDE. who
lad the rare faculty of enrolling men of
teadfast purpose to carry out his views.
- A''''OH Va A'ul III X lOD is now mere
n ST. Johnsbury and has been settling
ONE matured policies on the lives of our
ownspe ople. Mr.. Mason is also a
eteran in the service, is wei known to
1any Of our leading men, and is such a
ere shing variation from the strolinp
Insurance men, that it is a pleasure to
1eet him. He is a gentleman and thor.
ughIy knows his business. He has seen
generation of agents pass out since he
cyan the work, and yet he is the same
arrest, active gentleman that makes
be business respected and honored The
,quitable has no other kind in Vernon.
Young men starting in tor life work
eldom have greater difficulties to sur
lonnt and very few, if any, build such
lonument as the forty years OF business
te OF Henry B Hyde built in the Equita-
lie Lie Assurance Society of the United
tates. Any young man in Vermont
'lth ambition aud a determination to
ucceed in this work would be plac d
yell It he would engage with Mr.. Whit.
omb and prove his ability.