Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-30

H. W. HILL new TRUSTEE
Encouraging Progress in Raising
of Endowment Fund Re
ported at the Annual
Alumni Breakfast.

mont commencement program was
given up to the alumni, who during
The day paid tribute to the memory
Of John II. Converse, trustee and
hcnefactor Of the college. and McKen-
dreo Petty, Cor many years professor
of mathematics 1t was announced
that Senator Henry W. Hill of Buffalo,
n " was tho choice OF the alumni to
succeed Mr.. Converse as trustee. and
encouraE ing progress in raising the
centennial endowment fund was re-
ported.
Alumni day at the University Of Yer
mont began with public meeting of the
trustees held at nine o'clock Tuesday
morning In the Billings library at which
resolutions on the death Of John II.
Converse We're offered by Darwin P.
Kingsley of New York, and brief re-
marks were made by president Buckha III,
Robert Roberts and G. p. Smith.
President Buckham presided, sitting un-
Der q picture, draped IN mourning, Of
Mr.. Converse, and opened the meeting
with a few Introductory words.
Mr.. Kingsley then moved the approval
and adoption of the following minute
md resolution;
"ln the death of John Heman Converse
this University has lost one of her most
illustrious sons; the corporation has lost
WISE efficient and useful member.
Mr.. Converses connection with the
University dates from 1S5-. In his service
to the institution there was break
from the day of his entry as a student
TO the day of his death. lie became a cor
2orator in 1855 He continuously gave 70
!
conscientious devotion which character
lied his every activity.
The roster of the University covers
one hundred and six years With military
precision class has succeeded class, u nd
each has entered in turn on that age
long struggle which maturity brings tc
me efficient man. The record of the cen
hurry is an honorable even IA dlstinguis he'd
one. The University through her sons has
zone the state some service. High on the
list Of her most distinguished sons. stands
and will remain the name of the mar
whose life and memory we honor to-day
In business. Mr.. Converse was a grea,
leader and master In civil affairs, where
be trusted few men ever are. he
iabored unremittingly for the bettermen
IF his adopted city and state. In the re
ached. he was regarded as the most emf
nent and distinguished layman..
His benefac actions covered a wide fielC
md involved donations whose reCorde,
amounts are startling. HIS beneficenct
Included. in addition, that higher qualit,
which adds to he mere giving Of none,
personal effort and large sacrifice o
line and strength.
no Tr1fI. CT - of mt ho h,aa,
for many years prominent amongst tn
Institutions 10 whose advancement Mr.
Mr. Converse not only contributed money
but labor and anxious thought and coun
sci which arc above price The evidence
Of his loyal interest stand all about Us
No worthy appeal on behalf Of the Uni
versity was ever made to him which die
not meet with an instant and generous
response.
We mourn that in the operation of Ma
lures immutabe laws, John IIema,
Converse has passed into that myster!
which we call death; but our mournin,
has In it a note Of solemn pride because
of the intimate relations which long ex
listed between this University and a citi
zen so distinguished and SO useful. W
take comfort IN tho fact that Mr.. Con
verso at all Zines found that in the his
tory, the work and the ideals of the uni
versity which commanded his respec
and loyal adherence
To the University he was and will al
Ways remain a distinguished son; TO tn
. corporation lie wise and respecte
counsellor; to both he was a frienc
md benefactor
Resolved, therefore, in evidence of tn
respect felt by this University for the de
ceased and as an expression of tina
feeling Of reverence which insures hir
lasting place in the history Of the nstl
tuition, that the foregoing minute an
this resolution be suitably engrossed an
forwarded by the secretary OF the cor
porauon to Mr. Converse's family"
Mr.. Kingsley then said:
The city Of Burlington has an unmis
taxable right to be proud OF John u. Con
verse Tie was born here, prepared 70
college In the public schools of this city
and graduated from this university +
1851. HIS business career 10 a certain dc
gree, took shape here. His first position
then being a boy of only fourteen-wa
that Of q telegraph operator at Esse
Junction. Afterward he was station ager
And telegraph operator at Waterbur.
He became so expert as stenographf
that before he took his degree he acte
as reporter for the state IN the Vernon
Legislature.
Mr.. Converse then became cornecte
With the Burlington Daily and Week.
Times, which subsequently, merged wit
the Free Press. He took up every varlct
Of work from writing editorials an
gathering news to the actual work
printing and publishing the paper. II
ability to express himself In simple an
graceful English was unquestionabl
benefited and advanced by this expel
fence,
At the close of three years. Mr. Coz
verse had to decide between the call
the west and the work he was doin
He went West There no b'
came associated with DR.. E'
ward II. Williams, a railroad ma
Through DIR, Williams he came In touc
with John Edgar Thompson, then pres
dent of the Pennsylvania railroad; lat
on, going with his chief he moved to A
toona, where he came into associate
with Alexander j. Cassatt, William Pa
ton. Robert Pitcairn, Andrew Carnegi
Geo. Westinghouse, and others. 1t IL n
strange that In an association with su
men Mr. Converses business powers we
developed to the highest degree.
Nina vAArA altar hia graduation