In Memoriam.

1891.

Erastus J. Bassett,

HARTFORD, CONN.

General Agent of the Aetna Jusurance Company.

DIED JULY 26, 1891.

ACED 71 YEARS.

to-morrow evening. There may be some misunderstanding in regard to this. The members, the field men at least, of this Association, are requested to enter their names to-day if they intend to be present to-morrow evening. There will be no cost to them in the matter. The committee desires, however, that the names of all who intend to participate on that occasion be recorded as early as possible. The list is now getting so large that the banquet may have to be held in the large dining-room.

Mr. De Camp

I wish to move a rising vote of thanks to Mr. Crosby, not only for his able paper, but for the compliment he, as President of the New England Exchange, has paid this Association, in coming so far to attend our sessions. I therefore move him a rising vote of thanks.

The motion was unanimously carried.

Mr. Fox

Before adjournment, which seems to be imminent, I think it proper to take some notice of Mr. Bryan's address, and see what action, if any, this body may choose to adopt, or outline, in conjunction with the Word's Fair committees; whether any plan can be formulated by this Association which will lead to results that will add to the glory of the West and Chicago in that connection.

The President

I will remind the gentleman that in my remarks there was some allusion to that subject, and the address has been referred to a committee, which will make a report and perhaps some suggestions upon that point.

Mr. Fox

I think it should be acted upon, Mr. Chairman, before our adjournment sine die.

Mr. T. H. Smith

The Committee on the President's Address is ready to report at any time, at the pleasure of the Association.

The President

I think we can take that up early this afternoon.

Mr. Hine

If it is the pleasure of the Association to listen to the report of the Committee on the Memorial of Mr. Whiting, it is now ready, and the committee prepared to report.

The President

Our meeting this morning, Mr. Hine, has been very interesting, but very lengthy, and as I see an inclination on the part of many members to adjourn, I would suggest that the reading of the memorial be deferred until our afternoon session when a larger number will be in attendance.

Mr. Fox

I move that the reading of the memorial of Mr. Hine's committee be postponed, and next, that Mr. Smith's report on the President's address and the discussion on Mr. Hine's paper be taken up early this afternoon.

The motion was carried.

On motion of Mr. J. O. Wilson, the convention adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M.

SECOND DAY.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

2 o'clock.

The President having called the meeting to order, announced that the Committee on the Memorial of Mr. Jacob Peetrey was ready to report.

Mr. L. J. Bonar, chairman of the committee, submitted the following report:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE DEATH OF MR. JACOB PEETREY.

There is a reaper whose name is death,

And with his sickle keen

He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,

And the flowers that grow between.

February 14th, 1837, and May 24th, 1891, are the boundary lines marking the length of, in some respects, a remarkable life, which was

widened out into a range of personal experiences that lifted the man out of the ordinary channel up to a plane above the common level.

Between these dates of birth and death-between the morning sunrise of joy and the evening sunset in one common sorrow, lie, as we measure time, fifty-four years, three months and ten days, which comprise what we call the life of our departed friend, Jacob Peetrey.

Friend after friend departs.

Who hath not lost a friend?
There is no union here of hearts,

That finds not here an end.
Were this frail world our only rest,
Living or dying, none were blest.

Commencing his business life with a clear mind and a strong body, and with such an education as the public schools of London, where he was born, had afforded him, his merit became the ladder by which he ascended to different positions of honor and responsibility without the aid of either wealth or influential friends. At the age of sixteen, and during the three succeeding years thereafter, as a clerk in a dry goods store in his native place, he laid unconsciously the foundation of his future business career.

A vacant position in the old Franklin Bank at Columbus attracted him thither when only nineteen, but three years later he returned to the home of his boyhood to engage as a partner in the dry goods business-an occupation that proved unsuited to his tastes, and which, within a few months, he gave up in order to accept a commission from President Buchanan as postmaster at London.

It was while occupying this position of honor and trust that he was married to the girl of his choice, Miss Frances Vethake, of New York, each surrendering self for the pleasure of the other, and sharing together thereafter to the fullest extent the joys and sorrows of life, making their home a model of family love, devotion and affection.

During the year 1862 his fellow citizens honored him with an election to the office of county auditor, which he surrendered at the expiration of the term in March, 1865. Three years later, the Home Insurance Co. of Columbus, in recognition of his abilities as its representative, promoted him from the position of Local to that of Special Agent, and again during the following year to the office of General Agent, which position he filled with such satisfaction that in the year 1872 the Board of Directors set the seal of their approbation to his official acts by electing him to the office of secretary of that company.