The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-27

during the day but returned home in
the evening with a severe cold. His
condition did not improve during the
week, the right lung became infected
with pneumonia and his heart which
had previously shown indications of
weakness, was unable 10 stand the
strain. Last night a specialist was
summoned from Troy by the attend
ing physician and in the early even
Ing the case OF the patient was pro-
nounced to be serious II not hopeless.
Alexander Kenneth Richie was a
native of Perth, Scotland, and had he
lived until the 10th day OF May would
have been so years OF age. He came
to America when 81 years OF age and
entered the employ of A. B. Wallace,
a dry goods merchant of Pittsfleld,
Mass, who is now a member OF well
known firm OF Springfield. From
Pittsneld Mr. Richie went to War
rem. Mass, where he established him
self in the dry goods trade. He re-
1 turned TO Plttsheld and formed a
partnership In the same line under
the firm name of Richie & Martin.
This business was sold 2S years ago
and Mr.. Richie came to Bennington.
His first location was in a small
store on the site of that portion of
the Putnam House now occupied by
the Western Union telegraph Office
The building now occupied by Charles
Adams as a hardware store was con.
structed by w. d. Newton with the
understanding that Mr.. Richie was
to occupy the store and the business
was moved there from the Putnam
block. Following ten or twelve years
at this location Mr.. Richie purchas.
ed the property on Main street occu.
pied by him at the time OF his death
removed the buildings and construct
ed the three.story brick block now
standing on Main street al the head
OF School street.
Outside of his retail business Mr.
Richie was identified with other n
nancial interests. He had long beer
connected with the Bennington Coun
~ National bank as stockholdeI
and director and upon the death oil
the late John S. Holden, four years
ago, was elected president. He was
one OF the original stockholders oil
the Bennington Gas company anc
when that corporation was re-organ
lied was made treasurer OF the new
corporation, the Bennington Gas
Light company Recently he had &C
qulred controlling interest In tn,
Rutland Dry Goods company anC
was In charge OF that business a,
manager at the time OF his death.
Mr.. Richie was too actively en-
gagged In business to devote mucl
time TO public matters but he was en-
Enthusiastically interested In the nj
fairs OF the community. He had sery
cd the town as one OF the selectmel
and was for time a member OF III,
board OF trustees and was largely In
=. strumental In institutlng the presen
p financial policy that has resulted II
/. a steady reduction OF the village deb
/. and an economical administration o
4 village affairs. His resignation iron
% the board, owing to pressure o
business, was received with genera
regret by his colleagues who realiEe
that he had applied to the affairs Q
the village the same vigorous metl
DDS employed In his business an
who knew that results for the bette
/. were being obtained.
e Mr.. Richie was a man OF exception
y ally keen intellect, sound judgmen
e and untiring energy, and his deaf
will be a distinct loss to the bushes
h and financial circle OF the communlt,
r The surviving members OF the fan
II lily are a widow. who was Mrs. r.
h Boeckel Of Philadelphia. previous |
n her marriage to the deceased aboi
'e three years ago. and two sons ar
e two daughters by previous maria,
Ie Kenneth p, II. McGregor and Mr.
Harry w Tobey OF PlttsHold. Mas