CHARLES HERBERT DEANS, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E. [3]
[3] Memoir prepared by Emil Diebitsch and Edwin S. Jarrett, Members, Am. Soc. C. E.
Died March 7th, 1909.
Charles Herbert Deans was born in Chester, Delaware County, Pa., on November 30th, 1863, and died at his home in Phœnixville, Pa., on March 7th, 1909.
His father, Charles Woodbury Deans, was prominent in educational work, and was active in the early organization and in the popularization of the Common School System of the State of Pennsylvania.
On his father's side Mr. Deans was descended from the Deans and Sterling families, who, immediately following the War of the Revolution, emigrated from Connecticut to Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties, Pennsylvania. His mother was Priscilla Lyons Williams, of Chester, Delaware County, Pa., who was descended from the Lyons family of New Jersey and the Williams and Pennell families of Pennsylvania.
From both his father and his mother Mr. Deans inherited a taste and aptitude for study. His youthful environment was among books and in an atmosphere which naturally encouraged the desire he early formed to fit himself for a professional life.
His education was begun in private schools, but later he attended the public schools, and was graduated from the High School at Phœnixville, Pa., in 1881. He spent the next four years in practical work, learning business methods, becoming an excellent and accurate accountant, and familiarizing himself, in the works of the Phœnix Iron Company, with mill and shop methods and practice, and the metallurgy of iron and steel.
In 1885, Mr. Deans entered Lehigh University, well prepared in his studies, with a mind ripe for the absorption of further knowledge, and a temperament for enjoying to the utmost the four years of University life before him. He was a good student, standing well up in the first quarter of his class. He was elected a member of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, was one of the Editors and Assistant Business Manager of the college Annual in his Junior year, and Business Manager of the Engineering Journal in his Senior year. He was graduated in 1889 with the degree of C. E.
As a boy Mr. Deans was fond of games and all healthy outdoor sports. He was a lover of Nature and of animals, fond of fishing and hunting, and was never happier than when roaming the beautiful woods and mountains of his native State. With such tastes it was natural to find him, in his college days, a participator in, and an enthusiastic supporter of, athletic games.