The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-27
Joseph A. DeBoer, President
of National Life Insur-
ance Co., Dead
FUNERAL TO BE HELD
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
He Had Been Ill for a Year
with Cancer Of the
Throat

The funeral of Joseph A. DeBoer, pres
ident of the National Life Insurance com
: lpany, who passed away at his home Il
Montpelier on Christmas morning, vii
be held at o'clock Tuesday Afternoon
from Christ Episcopal church, Montpelier
with Bishop A. C. A. Hall of Burlington
, officiating, assisted by the rector of Chris
church, DR.. II. A. Flint. Coadjutor Bish
Top g. Y. Bliss may also assist in the
services.
The death of Mr.. DeBoer followed 8
years illness with cancer of the throat
a hospital in Brookline, Mass, the first
two coming in quick succession last
March and the third following few
weeks later. He went to the hospital
shortly after the municipal election last
March when he placed James NJ. Bout
well in nomination for mayor of Mont
pelier His last public address prior to
| that was delivered before the Vermont
| Legislature, when he made a strong ap-
peal against the educational bill then
pending.
Ever since the first knowledge of the
presence Of the disease, the large number
of friends of Mr.. DeBoer feared for the
worst. Since the third operation his con-
dition had been failing gradually, and
two weeks ago he sustained a sinking
spell and his life was despaired of. He
rallied somewhat after that, but in all
the days intervening his condition was
critical. The end came at o'clock Sat
urday morning.
The death has caused general mourning
through the state, as Mr. DeBoer was
held in very high esteem as citizen and
as a man.
Sketch of Mr.. DeBoer.
Joseph Arend DeBoer was of Dutch
descent, having been born in Warfum,
province OF Gronngen, Holland, being the
son of John Arend and Anje Peter
tkuiperl Del3oer His early life was
spent in Holland, and in Warfum he be-
gan an elementary education OF the sort |
which was mapped out for the boys and |
girls of the Dutch community. But |
when Joseph was still mere child his 1
father died and his mother emigrated 20 |
the United States and located in the city /
OF Albany, n. Y. There Joseph continued 1
his education; and during his boyhood
days he began schooling himself in Amer
lean ways of finance BY selling news
II
In due course the young man entered
Albany high school and was graduated
in the year 1880. The fall of the same
year he crossed Vermont into Hanover,
\. H.. and matriculated as freshman
N Dartmouth college. -Four years later
ne received the degree of bachelor OF arts
rom that institution, and subsequently,
he was honored with the degree OF mas.
er Of arts tlss7l and doctor OF science
1900.
Well equipped through his college
curse and possessing great deal OF
latural ability, Mr.. Del}oer started his
areer az a school teacher, being chosen J
Master Of Holderness school al Plymouth.
!. H.. the year Of his graduation from
oiege. After one years service with
hat institution he was called TO Yer 9
mont 90 assume the prineipalship of the
nhlic schools in Montpelier In that
apacity be served four years. resigning
n 1889 10 enter a new field Of endeavor
be Insurance business. =
Il was with the National Life Insur- a
nee company, whose headquarters was I
I Montpelier, that Mr.. DcHoer east his c
4. becoming actuary in 1859. For more =
han a quarter Of a century he had been 2
ith that company. rising BY sheer force .
merit through the various grades Of 2
ositiOn. secretary. second vice president, q
rst vice president, 20 the place as presi- Z
mt. This last. aud highest. promotion
ss gained In 1902, and since be ss.
iincd the presidency the company has
lined rapidly IN patronage and solidity d
ntl It is recognized a. one Of the
rongest Of the smaller life insurance
lmpanies of the United States. Mr.. ltc
eBoer had during al that time been "
~ devoted 20 that institution. In lei
ed IL upbnilding vas bis life work ~
u De oftentimes had refused other 70 81
sons hecause # his interest IN the vel |th
re- Of the National Life. te
However. b. did find time 70 give 81
rtice to bic cify. MA county and his "a
urted state. He lad been president II -
= Moufrslift Bnard ~ T1ades hs Rad e.
rsTinhlv SERVED ns chairman 81 the 81
muissigu On the state T.ermanent vi
sool fund nnd aisc If the commission -,
] state nu8its b. Rad hesn nu saruest 81
rkef m behalf of reform ~ thf taxa
- hus ~ VERMONT. - represented ~
pnfpslisr IN tiss iFs legislature ard y
.lt wears Triaf ~ that sarties - vac -
rauntF srnatur AZ q frm believer - -.
Tutiiiesn rTinairias 10 N-ns rrasiaart -,
ti,e Young Menis Rsrrldican f1uh fur- n
fila Mrhnisr ean1ra izn anE - SERVED -.
ftrisrnsn - tiss Rsrut7iran state c,sn- tr1
sffon in 1910 fra
a sfeakef ~ rsrf rcrenrr 81 tluurtf =
farestui Ersaeaftstipn. NJ MaHusr ~
4 in umft hetusud 81 50 urntar. me -
81 n - rrn rtafs tut 81 mars gisfnrf -
ti1ns Fl 80 eauufrF. among erfissr- -,
y af llsrfnuEfh aiunni ir fuseFanar
ias nma iafurF tttsr furtFrftass arf -
Fns efrn1Hls - wHs 49, -
rtsr - Teruaart 1aF 81 ~ snrs.s a.-
rr FrF.asisisr = lFaT. harire Far tis t'sa
f
fCnrtinnsE - era fuesf a-s