The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-08-18
DEATH OF HORACE HAND.
Greatly Esteemed Citizen of This
Place Passes Away.

eight O'Clock on Monday morning,
August 10, 1909.
MIR. Hand was born on May 2o,
1890, at Windham, Greene county,
New York, and was the Oldest son
of Ezra and Catherine (Chapman)
Hand. In the following year his
parents removed to Honesdale,
where his father engaged in the
mercantile business, in partnership
with Daniel p. Kirkland and Isaac
=. Foster. y year later, the latter
retired, and the business was con-
tinued by the others under the firm
ward of thirty years.
Mr.. Hand received his education
at the Honesdale Academy (Which
filed the place subsequently oc-
cupied by the High SchooD sup
plemented by attendance at the Mont
rose Academy and the seminary at
Bloomfield, n. j. His first expert
enoe in business was gained in the
store of Hand & Kirkland In 1S4S
he entered the Honesdale Bank,
then a State institution, as clerk.
He was subsequently appointed tel
Ter, and held this position until
1864. The bank minutes of that
year contain the following entry:
March II, 1864, the cashier laid
before the board the resignation of
Horace G. Hand, as teller of the
bank (after service as clerk and
teller of nearly sixteen years., to
take effect March 81, to enable him
to enter into an active business,
which resignation was accepted with
regret by the board, and with ex-
pressions of appreciation of the
faithful and valuable service rem
dered by Mr.. Hand"
MIR. Hand succeeded Hand Il Kirt-
land in the mercantile business, and
j. c. Delezenne was associated with
him in the enterprise. In less than
two years, however, he decided to
retire from it, and on doing this he
resumed the position of teller in
the bank-which meantime had
been chartered as the Honesdale
| County Saving Bank, which had been
chartered in the preceding year,
as a State institution, was organized,
and opened for business on No
vember /. Mr.. Hand accepted the
| position of cashier. He continued
in this position until January, 1905,
when he was elected President He
| held this position until his death.
The administration Of the affairs
of the bank, on the part of Mr.
/ Hand, was characterized by spirit
OF enterprise and progress, breadth
| of view, accuracy of Judgment,
general business qualities of a high
order, and absolute integrity. Its
! operations and interests were
marked by steady and safe expan-
sion, and it has been largely due
to his sagacity, and the confidence
| which he commanded, that it has
! become recognized as one OF the
most successful financial institutions
! in the State.
Mr.. Hand possessed most pIe2s-
ing personality, and occupied a high
place in the esteem of all who knew
him. lie was unassuming and sin
cere, with earnest convictions, and
OF a deeply religious nature. From
early life he was member of the
Presbyterian church, and for more
than thirty years was an elder, a
trustee and treasurer, and also a
teacher in the Sunday school. lie
was treasurer of the Honesdale Wa
ter Company from its organization
in 1868, until its merger with the
Consumers Water Company, in
1905. In every position in which
he was placed, he performed its
duties faithfully and with adequate
ability.
On October 3, 1854, Mr.. Hand
married Miss Charlotte Niven Stone
daughter of Henry w. Stone, OF
Honesdale,, who survives him
Their children were Charles W.,
Alfred c., and Henry S. Alfred en-
tered the ministry of the Presby-
terian church, and died several
years ago.
For several years preceding his
death, Mr. Hands health had been
declining, from the infirmities in
! clueHI 10 MS advanced years. fOl
the greater part of the past year
he seldom walked alone from his
house to the bank; this, however
was not wholly from failure OF
strength, but was largely due to a
serious impairment of his eyesight
The last time he did this was in De-
cember, 1908. He went to the
bank for the last time April 16
1903, in a carriage. His mental
faculties remained substantially un'
impaired. For about twenty-foul
hours previous to his death he was
unconscious.
The funeral services will be held
at his late residence at three O'CLOCK
on Thursday afternoon. Rev. DR.
W. II. Swift will be the ofIlciatins
clergyman. The active pallbearer,
will be selected from his nephews
The Directors OF the Savings Bank
the Session Of tive prpSbVtpriaI