Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-10

at his late residence. Rev. Samuel H.
Greene, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church,
will officiate. Mr.. Detweiler was one of
the oldest members of the Masonic and
Odd Fellows orders in this city, and it is
possible that the exercises will De under
the auspices of one of the lodges to which
he belonged, but these arrangements have
not been completed. Interment will be
made in Glenwood cemetery.
The pallbearers have been selected from
among the personal friends of Mr.. Det-
weller. They will be William r. STAINS
bury, James D. Maher, John D. Bartlett,
Benjamin F. Queen, Charles kraemer and
Warning 3. Evans.
Mr.. Detweiler leaves a widow, Mrs. Nell
lie Detweiler; three sons-Frederick F. Det-
weller, John c. Detweiler and William T..
Detweiler; four daughters-Mrs. Charles w.
Simpson, Mrs. James F. Oyster, Mrs. G.
w. Miller and Mrs. George c. Boyd of
Philadelphia; stepdaughter Miss Helen
Detweiler, and numerous grandchildren.
The Typothetae of Washington, with
which Organizatio Mr.. Detweiler was con-
nected. today adopted a minute, as follows:
"Our former treasurer. Frederick May
Detweiler. died at his residence WedneS-
day evening, November 8. at $50 o'clock.
A special meeting of the Typothetae to take
action thereon Is hereby called for 10
o'clock. Friday afternoon. at the rooms of
the Washington Board of Trade, fifth floor,
Evening Star building"
AS tribute of respect to Mr.. Detweiler' s
memory. all the employing printers of this
city are expected to attend The notice was
signed by George Gibson. chairman board
of trustees.
His Start in Life.
Frederick May Detweiler was born near
Middletown, Pa, February II, 1880. His
father was at one time well-to-do farm
er, but through unfortunate business trans
actions was financially ruined, and died
soon after, leaving his wife, this son. then
an infant, and three other small children.
Their property consisted only of a home
stead, comprising about twenty-five acres,
and the family had to struggle for exist
ence. At the age of ten Frederick was
sent to relatives for a period Of four years,
to assist in the farm work and do chores
His compensation consisted of board and
clothes. He worked from sunrise to sun
set, but 1t was healthy employment and
served him in good stead later in life. At
the expiration of the four years he hired
himself out to another relative at the rate
of $3.50 per month, board and clothes. Here
he did a mans work the best part Of the
time, ploughing, narrowing, hoeing, sowing
and reaping.
This relative, however, took fatherly in
terest In the boy, and procured a place
for him devil in the printing office
Of the National Intelligence, at Harris
burg, Pa. 1t was with many misgivings
that Frederick packed his worldly belong
ings, red bandana handkerchief serving
as the receptacle, and started for his new
home and new life, for he had never seen
a printing office-in fact, scarcely ever
heard of one He had had practically no
education, except in the matter of reading
and writing he had picked up during the
winter months. But he knew his defcien-
cy, and tried to overcome it by strict appli-
cation to his new trade.
Worked for His Board.
salary and could only furnish the lad with
meager board. He had to clothe himself.
and this was difficult, with no money COM
ing in. Conditions grew worse and he was
forced to leave, finding a position in anoth-
er printery. Here he Jared no better, and,
in about n year, he went back to the
country. He turned to boating following
the example of President Garfield in his
boyhood, and made one trip from Mid
dletown to Reading.
At the end of the trip he concluded boat
ing was not to his liking, and he procured a
job in printing office at Lancaster, Pa.
where he worked for another six months
The salary here was no greater than he had
received at the other printing Offices and
the outlook was discouraging. One day he
complained about not getting any pay. and
his employer kicked him out the front door
A kind-hearted, motherly old lady heard
of his predicament. and took care of him
until he procured a place on weekly Bap-
fist paper, then printed in Philadelphia
| Here he lived with his employer At eight
cen years of age he announced himself a
| ful-fiedged journeyman printer. He knock
| ed around from post to pillar" working al
| Woodbury., N j., and at Burlington, and
| finally drifting to the Philadelphia daily
| papers, "subbing' on the North American
| the Ledger, the Sun and the News Then
| he went to New York city, and ''subbed' or
| the New York Herald. He also worked al
| Troys' and Benedict's printing offices, re-
| spectively.
Seeks an Education.
| The desire for a better education, how
| ever, induced him to return to his native
| town, where he attended an academy fol
| four months Progress was difficult, and he
had little money, consequently he gave uy
| the idea of schooling and returned to his
| trade. He was getting $50 day for ter
| hours work-the best pay offered In those
| days-but the printers got together and In.
| augurated what was probably the first
strike of the craft for higher pay. Employ.
| ers were stubborn. and Detweiler found
himself out of "a Job again. This was in DC
| tober. 1850.
| In December Of the same year Detweilel