The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-04-27
OBITUARY.


1911. Like most dwellers upon the Maine coast
and islands he naturally "took to the water
and even before his teens had quite a seafar.
ing experience on coasting and fishing vessels
Two of his brothers, Fred, who died few
years ago in Searsport, and Frank, now ir
Porto Rico, became successful master mari
ners, the latter going from sailing craft ts
command of steamships in the Porto Ricar
trade. When II years of age Russell enlisted
in the us. navy, serving about two years in the
sailing bark Ethan Allen, of $50 tons, bought
by the government and equipped with guns
In January, 1868, then "a years of age, he en-.
tered The Republican Journal composing room
to learn the printers trade, and later was
given charge of the subscription list and books
in the Office. Thursday and Saturday after.
moons he was on the streets gathering loca
items, and when not otherwise engaged he
took up the composing stick. 1t will be read
lily seen that the collecting and printing OF
local news was not the business then that it is
| today. No attempt was made to cover the
county, and the local news, including the
towns-never more than two or three-rarely
| filled more than two columns. William H,
Simpson, then the editor, wrote many of the
locals. and had several talented contributors
Mrs. Augusta S. Frederick and Mrs Sarah F.
Meader wrote Local Lyrics which appeared
at the head of the local columns, and
"Our George" (Mr. George A. Quimby) J
contributed local hits and happenings under
the heading of "Shortcake.'' Mr.. Dyer was
out of The Journal Office for about year, dur
ing which he was employed local editor of
The Progressive Age, then edited by VIM M.
Rust. later returning to The Journal in a like
capacity. October L, 1880, The Republican
Journal Publishing Co. was organized with
VIM. H. Simpson, Charles A. Pilsbury and Rus
sell g. Dyer stockholders. Mr.. Simpson was
the president, Mr.. Pilsbury editor, and Mr.
Dyer local editor and business manager. In
1895 Mr.. Dyer left The Journal to take posi-
tion with the Dana Sarsaparilla company under
three years contract, but at the end of two
years extravagant management had wrecked
the concern and an effort to save it by change
of managers proving unsuccessful it went out
of business. Mr.. Dyer then returned to news
paper work as Belfast correspondent of the
Bangor Commercial and other papers, While
connected with The Journal he was twice
elected to the common council and chosen as
its president. He initiated the movement for
the first Belfast Board of Trade, and with the
aid of Joseph Williamson, Jr., now of Augusta,
brought an organization of that name into ex-
istence; but his work was not recognized by
even place on minor committee. While this
Board of Trade--organized for the promotion
of local interests and industries-was in eX-
istence The Journal issued what would today
be called a boom edition an Illus strated
write-up of Belfast, its industries, etc, and of
the attractions of its surroundings. No one
asked to aid the enterprise financially,
through advertising or buying copies for dis
tribution. Shortly after the board of trade
voted to pay an out of town publication 500
for similar write-up and proposed that The
journal should loan the illustrations it had
used. The journal stated the facts of the case
and the Maine newspapers generally comment
ed on it in terms not tiattering to the board
which soon after went out of existence.
Mr. Dyer entered the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows August 4, 1875, as member of
Waldo Lodge of Belfast. He soon manifested
great interest in the lodge and the affairs of
the order, of which he made painstaking
study and which proved the groundwork for
his future prominence. He went through all
the chairs of his lodge and was regular at
tendent at the annual meetings of the Grand
Bodies. He was elected Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge in 1890, and in the two following
years served his jurisdiction as grand repre-
sentative in the Sovereign Grand Lodge ses-
sions in st. Louis, Mo-, and Portland, Oregon.
In 1896 the failing health of Joshua Davis of
Portland, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge,
having incapacitated him from performing his
duties, Mr. Dyer called to Portland to take
the office of Assistant Grand Secretary. He
held this office until 1899, when Mr. Davis died
and he was elected Grand Secretary, and held
the office at the time of his death. He was
also Grand Scribe of the Grand Encampment.
| He was frequent contributor to Odd Fellow
publications and the literature of the order. His
most important work in this line was as assoc
late editor in preparing history of Odd Fell
lowship. Of his connection with another
branch of the order the Biddeford Journal
says:
Mr.. Dyer had many warm personal friends
in this city, more especially in Lacona and
Evangeline Lodges. He was one of the pro-
moters of the State Rebekah assembly and the
first meeting of the delegate body was held at
his home city in Belfast. Mrs. g. N. Wey
mouth of this city, who presided at that ses-
sion, had the honor of being nominated to her
position by Mr.. Dyer, who was her strong
friend and adviser during her term as first
president. Other members of Evangeline
Lodge and of Laconia Lodge have received
valuable office support from Mr.. Dyer, and no
State officer in Odd Fellowship will be more
strongly missed than Mr.. Dyer. whose pres
ence at the State assemblies and Grand Lodge
each year has been an inspiration to all.
Mr.. Dyer retained his membership and in
terest in Waldo Lodge of this city; a
member of Phoenix Lodge, F. & A. NJ, of
Palestine Commandery, and of Thomas H.
Marshall Post, G. A. R., all of this city; of the
Maine Patriarchs Militant, of the Maine Chari-
table Association, chairman OF the book COM
mittee of the Mechanics Library Association
of Portland, and was affiliated with several
other organizations, to which he had given
much time and service.
July 2, 1871 Mr. Dyer married Miss Hannah
Haugh of this city, Mr.. William H. Simpson per-
forming the ceremony in The Journal editorial
room, with ]. Y. McClintock, Esq, the only wit
ness. His wife survives him, with their only