Muhlenberg College - Ciarla Yearbook (Allentown, PA)

Page 14 text:

CHARLES ALLEN FON DERSMITI-li ' 53 HARLES ALLEN FON DERSMITH, son of Henry Clay and Anna Maria Burg Fon Dersmith, was born in Lancaster, Pa., July 24, 1846. When he was seven years old his parents moved to the borough of Columbia, Pa., and in the following eight years he attended the public and private schools of that place. He acquired a com- mercial education in his fatherls dry goods establishment. At the early age of eighteen years, Mr. Fon Dersmith responded to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. At the time of his enlistment he became corporal and returned a sergeant in Co. E, 195th P. V. I. When his term of enlistment was ended he returned home and was promptly offered the position of messenger in the Columbia Bank, and two years later became a regular clerk. A little later he was promoted to the responsible position of receiving teller. His attention to his duties, together with his efficiency as an all-around assistant, made his promotion rapid. In February, 1869, Mr. Fon Dersmith accepted a position in the Farmers' National Bank, Lancaster, as discount clerk and receiving teller, which position he held until March, 1882, when he resigned to become cashier of the newly-organized Fulton National Bank. I Under his careful direction the bank received the powerful impetus which later carried it forward with such marked success. In December, 1886, he returned to the Farmers' National Bank as cashier of this the oldest, and largest bank- ing institution in the county, which, in 19o4,was converted into a Trust Company, and Mr. Fon Dersmith was elected its first treasurer. In this capacityhe served until calledfaway by death Easter Monday, April I2, 1909, not having been permitted to see this volume of the CIARLA, which he had .kindly :permitted us to dedicate to him. His unex- pected departure, therefore, obliges us to dedicate it to his memory. F L, Mr. Fon Dersmith's training as a iinancier was most thorough, he having filled every position from general utility boy to the responsible one of. cashier and treasurer. He enjoyed the distinction of being the best known banker in Lancaster County. For more than forty years he had been in close contact with the most influential men of finance and trade, and few have exercised a greater inliuence on both. His general personality and alTa- bility won for him a wide circle of friends and universal public esteem. He was one of Lancaster's foremost men in everything that related to public interests, and no citizen of that place ever acquitted himself more creditably in carrying out the tasks imposed upon him. - 4

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Q v Q, 6 t e ue tuomue , A X ffio the memory ot Qlbarles Zllllen .Yon Eetsmitb, , s v ' honest, upright, ano puhliuspirtteh xv, as astitiseng -3 , , earnest, faithful, ano consistent ,f x as a Qlbristiang Iopol, generous, uno oehoteo as a trieno 5 Aofjhhublenherg Qlollege. P R

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By education and by preference, Mr. Fon Dersmith was always in hearty communion with the Lutheran Church, and she, in return, bestowed her lay honors upon him. He was afmember of the Vestry and a Trustee of Trinity congregation, of Lancaster, a member of the Board of Home Missions of the General Council, and a member of the- Board of Trustees of Muhlenberg College. As a Trustee of the College he showed his deep interest in the welfare of Muhlenberg by equipping, at his own expense, the Very comfortable gymnasium now so greatly enjoyed by the students, by thinking and planning for the progress of the College, and by being ever among the first to con- tribute to the needs of all the departments. C In the death of Charles A. Fon Dersmith, Muhlenberg College has lost aiwarm friend and a liberal supporter. - i 5