The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-01-01
WIDELY KNOWN TO old timers
Spent Boyhood and Young Manhood In
Kenosha and Local People Can Give
No Reason For Ills Part In
Strangely Interrupted Wedding.

New York, Dec. 29-Although Dr.
William Grey Vermilye, from his
bed in the Cumberland Street Hos
pital, Brooklyn, still had nothing
to say, " today. Mrs. William Grey
Vermilye, who says she is his wife,
expressed herself forcibly when in
formed Of the doctor S engage
ment'1 to Miss Ruth NJ. Keeney of
Monson, Mass The doctor was
scheduled, according to Miss Kee-
ney, to marry her Christmas Day
in Monson, but left her waiting
at the church. He was located
the following day in the hospital
awaiting a minor operation which
will be performed today.
The very ideal said the wom-
an who says she was married to
DR.. Vermilye twenty five years ago,
talking over the telephone from
Harrisburgh, Pa. "Of course, the
doctor couldn Il marry anybody else.
l am Mrs. William Grey Vermilye.
DR.. Vermilye spends most Of his
time at sea and when he is away |
make my home in Brooklyn with
son BY former marriage.
Older residents Of Kenosha were to-
day watching with lot of interest the
Developments in the strange case Of
iDr. William Grey Vermilye, who is
now in hospital in Brooklyn, the
central figure in one of the most un-
usual romantic stories ever known in
the country. Dr. Vermilye, a man Of
wide learning and a former naval sur
geon, according to statements made by
the relatives of the young woman in
the case, was to have been married to
Miss Ruth M Keeney of Monson,
Mass, at a church in that city. On
Saturday evening DR.. Vermilye gave
out ! statement in which he declared
that the first intimation he had Of the
coming wedding was when he received
an invitation to it in New York on
his arrival on Friday
DR.. Vermilye is now more than six
jty-two years of age, but many people
in Kenosha recall his residence in this
city where he spent all Of his boyhood
and much Of his young manhood. He
was member of one Of the most
prominent of the Kenosha families Of
| thirty-five years ago His father was
John III. Vermilye, who for more than
ten wears was cashier Of the First Ma
tional bank here. The father came
here from the east and was connected
with a family which had been promi-
nent in the financial life of New York
City for many years. He was not fl
lnancially interested in the Kenosha
bank but came at the call of the di-
rectors to act as cashier. During the
years that the Vermilye family lived
in Kenosha William Grey Vermilye
grew to manhood He was a boy Of
twelve years when the family ,ame to
Kenosha and he went from Kenosha
to Racine college to be under the tute-
lage Of the late DR.. DeKoven who was
close personal friend Of the older
vermilye. He entered Racine college
in 1884 and later was educated for the
profession Of medicine.
The Vermilye family was prominent
| in the social life Of Kenosha. During
the residence of the family here Mary
Vermilye, the only sister Of DR.. Vcr-
milye, was married to John R.nRedfield
!, who is now president of one of the
leading banks at Hartford, Conn.
When the late Gilbert NJ. Simmons was
made cashier of the First National
lbank Mr.. Vermilye left Kenosha and
later he became president Of one Of
! the Stock Yards Banks in Chicago and
he resided in that city up to the time
Iof his death many years ago.
So far as older residents can recall,
DIR. Vermilye has not visited in Ke-
nosha in recent years, but he is widely
known to many of the men of the city
who were prominent in the social life
of the city thirty five years ago. These
men today declared that there was
nothing in the early life of DR.. Vermi-
I've which might lead one to believe
that he might be subject to lapse Of
memory Many of them said that they
believed that the doctor was the vic
tim of an error OF some kind.
According to the marriage license is
sued at Monson, Miss Keeney is IS and
the doctor SO. Reports from the little
Massachusetts town said the bride was
Frustrated with worry and grief. She
had not heard from her intended hus-
band since telegram early last week
announcing he would arrive in Monson,
Christmas eve. Miss Keeney, daughter
Of one of the most prominent families
of the town, resigned her position as
teacher Of Spanish at Bucknell mi
versity, Lewisburg, Pa, last week, to
be married.