Joseph W. Atcheson
Joseph W. Atcheson died November 6, 1923. He lived most of his life in the
precincts of Pittsburgh, and was one of the oldest and best known of the deaf
residents of the city. He was
nearly 72 years of age. He
received his early education at the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf,
entering the school in 1865. He
was a classmate of Andrew Donaldson, who still lives here. He remained at the Philadelphia School
for the full allowable six year curriculum available to the deaf at that time]
As soon as he graduated he learned the trade of a bookbinder
and worked in that capacity for the firm of Johnson & Co., of Pittsburgh,
continuously for 44 years, leaving their service only a few years ago.
Mr. Atcheson was a member of
the Trinity P. E. Church of Pittsburgh, and took much interest in St.
Margaret’s Mission for the Deaf, managing its affairs for many years. He was also interested in mission work
outside his own church. He was a
staunch supported of the PSAD and its affairs, was a liberal contributor to the
support of the Home at Doylestown, and through him his brother John was led to
bequeath $50,000 to the Home as a memorial to their mother.
An active member of the Board
of Managers of the PSAD, Atcheson held the office of Vice-President for several
years. Mr. Atcheson had many friends and will be missed in Pittsburgh. At a recent meeting of the Pittsburgh
Branch of PSAD, the following resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, The All-Wise Father
in his infinite mercy hath take unto the life everlasting our friend and
co-worker, Joseph W. Atcheson, who in the fullness of health and cheerfulness
of spirit was ever ready to support the cause of right and to render
substantial aid to all charitable uplift and to constantly reveal unto his
associates a brotherly and cheerful spirit; therefore, be it
Resolved, That, we, the
Pittsburgh Branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf,
do hereby record our great loss of a sincere friend and a zealous co-worker,
but with the belief that what is our loss is His everlasting gain.
Resolved, That, this testimony
of our esteem be recorded in the minutes of our association as a memorial to
the friend, who has gone before and that a copy be presented to the niece of
the departed, Mrs. Mary Atcheson Walls.
Resolved, that, these
resolutions be published in the Western Pennsylvania, the Mt. Airy World, and
the Deaf-Mutes Journal.
Samuel Nichols
F. R. Gray
G. M. Teegarden, committee
Deaf-Mutes
Journal Vol. LII No. 49 December
6, 1923
Contributing:
Reginald L. Boyd, 1999
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