WILLIAM DEAN

BUSINESS MAN, PROMINENT MASON, AND RELIGIOUS LEADER

Born February 24, 1863, near Ferrisburg, Vermont; grew up on his father's farm; graduate of Haverford College and student of photography in Philadelphia; leading photographer in Harrisonburg from 1887 to 1925; member of Harrisonburg school board and treasurer of the board 21 years; master of the Harrisonburg Masonic lodge; steward of the Methodist Church; founder of the men's Bible class in the Methodist Church, now named for him; died in Harrisonburg, December 24, 1925.

William Dean was an excellent business man, but much more. He was one of the outstanding civic and religious leaders of Harrisonburg, where he was as honored resident for nearly 40 years. After finishing high school in his native Vermont town, he attended a college preparatory school near Glens Falls, N. Y., and then entered Haverford College, where he graduated. After a course of training in a school of photography in Philadelphia, he came to Harrisonburg in 1887 and opened a studio in the L. H. Ott building on South Main Street, where he built up a substantial business, with a patronage extending throughout the state. He received four medals and first prizes from photographic conventions.

The Dean family has long been prominent in New England. Thomas Dean, born in South Chard, Somerset County, England, came to Massachusetts in 1634 and settled at Concord. His children and their descendants have lived in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. William Dean's grandfather, of the same name, was a Quaker minister. William's father, William Lindley Dean of Vermont, was a graduate of Brown University and taught Latin in that institution for some years. He married Mary Houghton Paige of Weare, N. H., and had children: Anna (Mrs. Sweet of Muncie, Ind.); William, of Harrisonburg; and Joshua Judson, of Andover, Mass.

On November 12, 1889, in Roanoke, Mr. Dean married Miss Martha Bower, daughter of James R. Bower, of Bedford County and Roanoke, and his wife, Mary Scott Shands of Harrisonburg. Of the marriage there are eight children: William Shands, Rockport, Mass.; Mary Rives (Mrs. Willis), Cape Charles, Va.; James Lindley, Andover, Mass.; Anna Martha (Mrs. Clarence Crist), Harrisonburg; Henry Bower, Glendale, Calif.; Edward Paige, Andover, Mass.; Virginia Mitchell (Mrs. Hague), Wilmington, Del.; and Sarah Rives (Mrs. Farley), Cranford, N. J.

Mr. Dean was a member of the Harrisonburg Rotary Club and exemplified the highest ideals and practices of that organization. He was a 32d degree Mason and a Knight Templar. Twice, in 1897 and 1898, he was Master of Rockingham Union Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., and filled all the chairs of the order with distinction. He was ardently devoted to service to his country, his home, and his fellowmen. On the Harrisonburg school board with Dr. John H. Neff, Dr. T. O. Jones, Captain James L. Avis, Mr. George O. Conrad, and others, Mr. Dean gave the community diligent and efficient service. For 21 years he was treasurer of the board. He was an active and devoted member of the Methodist Church and for years served on the board of stewards. One of his special interests in the church was the Brotherhood Bible Class, which he built up from a few men to several hundred. His good teaching and his inspiring influence were given a fine response in the love and loyalty of the men under him, who have honored his memory by adopting the name, "The William Dean Bible Class."

Source: "Men of Mark and Representative Citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia : portraits and biographies of men and women" ⁷⁰⁷