Martha Bower and William Dean

WILLIAM DEAN was born February 24, 1863 in Ferrisburg, Addison, Vermont,⁷⁰⁷ and died December 24, 1925 in Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia.^{707, 5335} He is buried in Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia.^{2606, 456}

He married MARTHA BOWER on November 12, 1889 in Roanoke, Bedford, Virginia,²²¹⁰ daughter of MARY SCOTT SHANDS and JAMES RUFUS BOWER. She was born February 26, 1869 in Roanoke, Bedford, Virginia,⁵³³⁵ and died January 24, 1948 in Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia.⁵³³⁵ She is buried in Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia.^{5335, 456}

• Descendant Reports
  • William Scott Descendant Report (Ancestor of Martha Bower)

Children of MARTHA BOWER and WILLIAM DEAN:

1. WILLIAM SHANDS DEAN, b. August 26, 1890, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia;⁸ m. GARNET LEONA BALDRIDGE on January 17, 1914 in Muncie, Delaware, Indiana^{1818, 1675}; d. June 15, 1952, Rockport, Essex, Massachusetts.^{56, 3935, 5819}
2. MARY RIVES DEAN, b. February 17, 1892, Rockingham County, Virginia; m. CLAYTON SEABROOK WILLIS on December 31, 1913 in Harrisonburg Methodist Church, Rockingham County, Virginia¹⁸¹⁷; d. April 25, 1967, Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, Virginia.⁵³³⁵
3. JAMES LINDLEY DEAN, b. January 4, 1896, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia;⁸ m. MARION E. MELLOR on June 15, 1921 in Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts⁸⁹⁵²; d. November 23, 1973, Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts.⁷⁰⁸
4. ANNA MARTHA DEAN, b. December 23, 1899, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia;⁵³³⁵ m. CLARENCE FOSTER CRIST on June 3, 1920 in Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia⁸⁷⁹²; d. October 16, 1955, Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia.⁵³³⁵
5. HENRY BOWER DEAN, b. October 14, 1903, Virginia;²⁵⁰ m. CATHERINE SMARTLEY; d. February 2, 1977, Santa Clara County, California.²⁵⁰
6. EDWARD PAIGE DEAN, b. October 29, 1905, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia;¹⁰⁸⁵⁶ m. JANE CROWE SHANNON on June 10, 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^{2599, 2601}; d. June 13, 1981, Greenwood, Greenwood, South Carolina.¹²¹⁷⁰
7. VIRGINIA MITCHELL DEAN, b. April 9, 1912, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia;⁴⁵⁶ m. DONALD LANDMANN HAGUE on June 15, 1935 in Massachusetts²⁶⁰⁵; d. April 18, 1991, Martin County, Florida.⁹⁹
8. SARAH RIVES DEAN, b. April 20, 1916, Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia;^{168, 56} m. EUGENE DODSON FARLEY on September 9, 1939 in Shawsheen Village, Andover, Essex, Massachusetts^{2588, 2589}; d. December 30, 2002.^{56, 168}



Personal Information

William Dean

• graduated from Haverford College, Delaware County, Pennsylvania⁷⁰⁷
• was a photographer⁷⁰⁷
• was a member of the Rotary Club, Harrisonburg, Virginia⁷⁰⁷
• was a member of the Rockingham Union Lodge #27, Freemasons⁷⁰⁷
• was a member of the Methodist Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia. ⁷⁰⁷

Marriage Announcements and News

Roanoke Daily Times, November 13, 1889²²¹⁰

A marriage license was granted yesterday to William Dean and Miss Mattie Bowers, and the two were subsequently married by Rev. Mr. Mead. The groom is from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Rockingham Register, November 15, 1889²⁶¹¹

Wedding Bells.

Dean-Bowers.

Mr. William Dean, one of Harrisonburg's most popular young men and Miss Mattie Bowers, also of this place were married at Roanoke City, the home of the bride's father Tuesday morning the 12th inst. They immediately took the Shenandoah Valley train northbound, and arrived in Harrisonburg late Tuesday evening, where they are now domiciled in the Eskridge property on East Market street. This bride is a niece of Elverton Shands, Esq., and is highly esteemed by many friends in Harrisonburg, where most of her life has been spent.

Newspaper Articles

Harrisonburg Daily News, November 6, 1913²²¹¹

Mrs. William Dean and a daughter, Virginia Dean have returned from a visit to her son, William Dean, Jr. and other relatives in Muncie, Indiana.

Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, September 2, 1926²⁶⁰⁷

Mrs. Kate S. Willis and Mr. and Mrs. James L. Dean, of Lawrence, Mass., and Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Willis of Cape Charles, are visiting Mrs. William Dean, on Campbell street.

Obituaries

Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, December 26, 1925²⁶⁰⁶

WM. DEAN FUNERAL AT 3.00 P.M. TODAY; CLASS TO ATTEND

LEADING BUSINESS MAN AND CHURCHMAN TO BE BURIED IN WOODBINE.

SERVICES METHODIST CHURCH

Dr. Copenhaver and Rev. Rives to Officiate—Masonic Escort and Burial Rites.

The body of William Dean, generally regarded as Harrisonburg's most beloved citizen in all walks of life will be laid to rest with Masonic rites in Woodbine this afternoon, after funeral services held from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at three o'clock. Dr. J. C. Copenhaver, of Baltimore, recent pastor here, and Rev. J. J. Rives, the present Methodist pastor will officiate.

Active pallbearers will be Dr. Charles E. Conrad, George N. Conrad, H. S. Dwyer, John P. Burke, I. B. Ewing, Ed. C. Martz, C. H. Mauzy and Grattan Price.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. E. D. Davis, Dr. E. S. Miller, Dr. W. T. Lineweaver, Dr. J. S. Garrison, W. H. Keister, Tom Reilly, ernest Helrick and Dr. J. H. Daverie.

Members of the brotherhood Class will attend in a body.

Died Thursday Morning

Mr. Dean, photographer and actively engaged in all community and religious activities and prominently identified in business here since coming from New England in 1885, was a victim of a sudden heart attach at 12:20 o'clock Thursday morning after a day of rejoicing that his children had come home for the Christmas season. He suffered a first heart attack about a month ago and was supposed to have been well on the road to recovery when the fatal attack came without warning.

One may walk the streets of Harrisonburg for days and talk to every man, woman and child and never fin an unkind word said of William Dean, the man—that is the tribute of the man on the street which well expresses the sentiments of the community for the deceased.

Smile For Everyone

In religion, business and civic affairs William Dean always was there and never found wanting. He was an ideal citizen who took an active, if not leading, part, in every worthwhile project. He was always optimistic, smiling, had a cheering word and smile for everyone under the most adverse conditions. It was that remarkable personality that made William Dean so endeared to the community.

This is all the more remarkable and speaks even greater for Mr. Dean when it is considered that he, as a New Englander, came to this Southern community at the time when all of the animosity over the War Between the States had not disappeared, entered right into the life of the community and at once made everyone feel that he had been here all the while. Perhaps it was his Quaker disposition—his father was a minister in the Friends Church—that made him so that his friends and associates feel that his place in life never can be filled by another.

Born in Vermont.

Born in Vergennes, Vermont, in 1863, Mr. Dean was of English origin, his family being one of the first to settle in Vermont. His father, a Quaker minister, had his son educated at Union Springs Academy and Haverford College. At the latter institution he was president of his class. In Philadelphia, Mr. Dean studied the art of photography and came here in 1885 to open a studio.

In 1889, Mr. Dean was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Bower, who with eight children survive. He leaves one brother, J. J. Dean, of Winchester Mass., now in Florida, and a sister, Mrs. Charles W. Sweet, of Muncie, Ind.

Methodist Leader—

Affiliating with the Methodist Church about 1890, Mr. Dean immediately became one of the most devout and active members of the congregation. For the past 35 years, he was teacher of the Men's Bible Class which at first bore his name and later was merged with other classes into the Brotherhood Class. The wonderful influence of Mr. Dean over the lives of the hundreds of men he taught in Sunday School can plainly be seen. He was one of the most untiring members of the official board and was an active worker on the committee which had charge of the construction of the present handsome Methodist edifice.

He was one of the most active members of the Cadle Crusaders and recently served as assistant secretary of that organization.

Mr. Dean was president of the Board of Directors of the Newtown Giant Incubator Corporation. He served in a similar capacity when the predecessor of this concern, the old Fravel Sash and Door Company, was organized and the plant moved from Broadway. mr. Dean also was a stockholder in numerous other concerns here, he never failing to contribute his part when it came to the development of the community.

21 Years on School Board

That his church and business affairs did not occupy all the time of this busy man is shown by the fact the he served for 21 years as a member of the Harrisonburg School Board. He was secretary of the board for years and was prominent in the activities of the trustees when the present high school building was erected. Scarcely any civic movement went by that William Dean did not enter into it with all his energy. He was a builder and in latter days, a booster.

He served too on the board of trustees of Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

As he was in other activities, Mr. Dean was a worker in the Masonic fraternity and attained the highest places of honor in its orders, serving as worshipful master of the Blue Lodge, high priest of the chapter, and commander of the Knights Templar. He also was a Shriner.

Mr. Dean was a member of the Harrisonburg Rotary Club, one of its most loyal and untiring members. He was chairman of the committee which looks after the sending of flowers and words of cheer to the sick, and was always there to present a rose upon the birthday of each member.

The children surviving are:

William Shands Dean, of Muncie, Ind.; Mrs. Mary Dean Willis, of Cape Charles, Va.; James L. Dean, of Lawrence, Mass.; Mrs. Anna Crist, of Harrisonburg; Henry Bower Dean, student at Massachusetts Tech; Edward Dean, student at Phillips Andover Academy; and Virginia M. and Sarah, at home.

A Tribute

William Dean, Christian, gentleman, citizen, friend of man, is gone.

Not only those who were near and dear to him, but also everyone who had the privilege of his acquaintance, will miss his cheery smile of greeting, his manly personality, his splendid comradeship and fellowship.

Although we have known him for many years, it has been during only a few of these years that we have learned of the sterling qualities of one of the most devout men we have ever known. Day after day, month after month, year in and year out, William Dean's encouraging words and his inspiring life have been an inspiration to those of us who are mere babes in Christ.

Life brings dark periods to all, it is true, but to those of us who need possibly more encouragement than men of his character, he has been a constant bulwark to hope and trust.

Someone remarked, "William Dean has meant more to me than to any other man in Harrisonburg." The fact that there are many of us who think likewise is evidence of what his companionship and counsel have meant to those who were privileged to know him.

Free-hearted, and with each gift the blessing that only those who give enjoy, he will be missed by all. Sympathetic, understanding, appreciative, loveable—how we shall miss him!

Harrisonburg has lost one of its best citizens; his church has lost a member whose devotion to and untiring zeal for religious activities will never be surpassed. Those of us who knew him so well—and to know William Dean was to love him—are saddened by the loss of one who was ever appreciative of the opinion of others, constantly eager to assist those who sought his guidance, ever mindful that he was, indeed, his brother's keeper.

William Dean is gone, but the sweet fellowship of his Christian life shall ever be an inspiration to us. No greater tribute can we pay to him than this: "He was a good man."

We shall ever strive to pattern our life after that of this friend of ours; and we hope that when His final call comes to us that we, like him, may face it in the same calm, peaceful, cheerful, Christian manner, and hear, as he has heard, those words which are the hope of every devout man, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; . . . . enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

Census Records

Date	Location	Enumerated Names
June 24, 1870721	Otter, Bedford, Virginia	James Rufus Bower Mary Scott Shands Martha Bower
June 10, 1880720	Rockingham County, Virginia	William Shands Annie Taylor Smith William Shands Martha Jane Smith Sarah Rives Shands Elverton A. Shands Martha Bower Mary E. Smith
June 27, 1900713	Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia	William Dean Martha Bower William Shands Dean Mary Rives Dean James Lindley Dean Anna Martha Dean
April 30, 1910712	Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia	William Dean Martha Bower William Shands Dean Mary Rives Dean James Lindley Dean Anna Martha Dean Henry Bower Dean Edward Paige Dean
January 19, 1920714	Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia	William Dean Martha Bower Henry Bower Dean Edward Paige Dean Virginia Mitchell Dean Sarah Rives Dean
April 14, 1930715	Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts	Martha Bower Virginia Mitchell Dean Sarah Rives Dean
April 10, 19402608	Andover, Essex, Massachusetts	Martha Bower