The Newtown bee., 1906-10-26

HOME NEWS.
OBITUARY.
RALPH N. BETT

RALPH N. BETT
 As the news of the death of pr BettS
 was passed to me, Saturday afternoon, in the Glen, as was driving into town,
 b. ter an absence of two days, the
 words of an old-faShiOned writer flashed
 into my mind, "Know ye not that
 there is prince and a great man fall
 en this day in Israeli" And to the
 writer it seems that these words are
 appropriate in speaking of the death of fellow citizen so generally respect Ted for his upright, Christian character,
 for his untiinch1ng honesty and for the large measure in which he gave
 his best strength and effort for every
 matter pertaining to the public good. And is not thls the real answer as to what constitutes greatness? It is true that in the learning of the schools this friend of whom l write was not counted great, nor was he the pOssessor of large wealth, but in patient, honest, loving effort for his family, the church of his best love and other large public interests, and in the cleanliness of his personal life, he has builded monu- ment more imperishable than marble and granite.
 Ralph N. Betts was born in Wood- bury, September 25, 1841, the son of Dr Ralph N. and Anna Plowman
 Betts. When about 16 years old he
 left school and the next two years he
 spent as a clerk in the store of MT
 Newton in Oakville. He then went
 to Waterbury and was employed in
 gentlemen's furnishing store, kept by
 a MT Lang. After four years he de-
 cided to enter the profession of den-
 tistry, for which he prepared by a
 course of study with his uncle, then a
 dentist at Mt Kisco, N. Y. At the
 located at Woodbury, where his busi-
 ness occupied his time for one week in
 a month, and soon after, in 1866, he established branch offices in Sandy
 Hook and Brookfield, this county, de-
 voting one week in month to each.
 His spare time was given to occasional visits to TOrringtOn and Waterbury, and in this way he spent about three years. His business at Sandy Hook becoming 8 substantially profitable one, he settled there and continued in practice successfully until 1893, when he became identified with mercantile life. During his 30 years of practice he gained an enviable reputation, his of territory surrounding Sandy Hook March 21, 1891, Dr Betts formed a partnership in the grocery and general store business with Mortimer B. Ter Till, undev the firm name of Terrill, Betts & Go. In September, 1902, he associated his sons with him in the business under the name of Betts & Betts, for carrying on the grocery and drug business, and was so engaged at the time of his death.
 His work for St John church stands f.. %o~ fc fn{k f,,1v December Is, 1879, he was made treas urer of the Diocesan Missions Associ- ation of St Johns church, and was made treasurer of St Johns s church on it's organization as an independent 1 parish, June l, 1880. This position he | confirmed to hold up to the day of his death.
 pr Betts took an active interest in Masonry. He was made Mason in King SolomOn's lodge of Woodbury, March 13, 1867, and the committal service over his remains at the grave in Woodbury was said by the brethren and officers of King Solomon's lodge. l He was regular attendant at the l active interest in it's prosperity. He was also member of Jephthah chap ter, O. E. s.
 On December "A, 1873, Dr Betts was married to Miss Mary Jane Elizabeth Hough, by whom he has had seven children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Ralph G., June L3, 1875; Charles E., September 28, 1876; James Milton, April 9, 1878;' William Ernest, February 4, 1881; Gustavus A., g, 1882; Anna May, May 5, 1886, and William A., February IT, 1888. All are yet living except William Ernest, who died August 21, 18s6.
 The funeral was largely attended, Johns church, Rev Otis o. Wright, the rector, officiating. A quartet com posed of MT and Mrs E. J. Hall, Miss Florence sWarner and H. c. Warner sang two hymns, "Lead Kindly Light" and IN carer, My God, to Thee" There were large number of beautiful floral tributes, Including a bunch of chrys- and ferns from St Johns church; roses, E.. w. Du Boise; chrys- Dr and Mrs W. H. Kier- nan; chrysanthemums, G. B. and B. 0. Betts, Bridgeport; white carnations, Miss Grace Betts; chrysanthemums N. Y.; chrysanthemums ard ferns, Taylor, Curtis & Co.,; wreath, Mir and Mrs w. E. Ackley; galax wreath and other flowers. The pail bearers were four sons, Ralph G., Charles E., James M. and William A. Betts. Among the friends present from out of town were George and Edward Betts of Bridge port, E. w. Du Boise of Brooklyn, N. Y., Henry D. Bristol and MT and Mrs William Taylor of Bridgeport.
 Dr Betts' illness came as surprise to the community. He was taken i'll, September 21, but continued about till the 18th. The cause of death was of the prostate glands, in uraemic poisoning. his intense suffering he was natient and uncnmnlaininp and 1