William Addison Dusenbury (II)
September 24, 1879 - June 10, 1942
September 24, 1879 - June 10, 1942
W. A. Dusenbury, Bank President, Taken By Death Following Illness
William A. Dusenbury, president of the First National Bank of Olean and one of the most prominent
business men in this section, died Wednesday evening (June 10, 1942) at his summer home, Hilltop,
near Richburg, following a long illness.
William Addison Dusenbury was born in Newton Mills, Forest County, Pennsylvania, September 24,
1879, the son of William Addison and Helen Truesdell Dusenbury. His father was engaged in the
lumbering business in Pennsylvania, and after his death at Tidioute, Pa., the family removed to
Portville, N. Y., in 1892.
ATTENDED PRINCETON
Mr. Dusenbury received his education in the Portville School and at Lawrenceville Academy
preparatory to entering Princeton University. He was graduated from Princeton in the class of 1902
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
After a year spent in travel, he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Olean in 1903. On
July 11, 1911, he was made a director of the bank and its vice president, following the death of W.
E. Wheeler. On January 11, 1921, he was elected president of the bank to succeed his uncle, the late
Edgar G. Dusenbury.
Although Mr. Dusenbury spent the greater part of his time as the head of a growing banking
institution, he had many interests to which he brought his experience, his good judgment and his keen
analytical mind.
Hi grandfather, Henry Dusenbury, had come from Deposit to Portville in 1834 and had founded, in
partnership with William F. Wheeler, a lumber business which in time extended its interests into
several other states and eventually into California and the Northwest.
HAD MANY INTERESTS
To the direction of these family interests, Mr. Dusenbury devoted much time and energy. He was
throughout his life closely connected with the oil industry, which followed lumbering as the basic
industry of this region.
He was associated with many of the industries of Olean and vicinity and was an integral part of the
business life of this entire section. He was an officer in a score of companies and his advice was
much sought by those in positions of guidance in business and financial undertakings. He was for
some time a director of the Buffalo branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Among the many concerns of which Mr. Dusenbury was a director were the Messer Oil Corporation
of Olean, the Forrest Petroleum Corporation of Bradford, the A. Weston Lumber Company of Olean,
and the Fremont Lumber Company, Oregon.
Mr. Dusenbury’s interests extended far beyond those of banking, industry, and business. He was
always deeply concerned with the health and welfare of the people of the county generally and when
the County Health Department was established in 1923, he was chosen a member of the first County
Board of Health and served in that capacity for a number of years.
SERVED ON COMMITTEE
He was a member of the Crippled Children’s Committee, which had as its objective the correction of
physical disabilities among the children of the county. He gave much time and attention to the
Children’s Home at Randolph and was for many years a member of the board of the Olean General
Hospital.
Mr. Dusenbury served for several years as Mayor of Portville, and was responsible for a number of
improvements. He was in large measure responsible for the establishment of Pioneer Memorial Park
and was a director of Chestnut Hill Cemetery.
Among the many organizations of which he was a member were the City Club of Olean, Olean Lodge
491, BPOE, Bartlett Country Club, and the Portville Fireman’s Club.
He was a generous contributor to the Community Chest and other charities and was widely known as
the donor of private philanthropies.
Mr. Dusenbury is survived by his brother, Duncan C. Dusenbury.
(This obituary appeared in the Olean Times Herald Newspaper)
William A. Dusenbury, president of the First National Bank of Olean and one of the most prominent
business men in this section, died Wednesday evening (June 10, 1942) at his summer home, Hilltop,
near Richburg, following a long illness.
William Addison Dusenbury was born in Newton Mills, Forest County, Pennsylvania, September 24,
1879, the son of William Addison and Helen Truesdell Dusenbury. His father was engaged in the
lumbering business in Pennsylvania, and after his death at Tidioute, Pa., the family removed to
Portville, N. Y., in 1892.
ATTENDED PRINCETON
Mr. Dusenbury received his education in the Portville School and at Lawrenceville Academy
preparatory to entering Princeton University. He was graduated from Princeton in the class of 1902
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
After a year spent in travel, he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Olean in 1903. On
July 11, 1911, he was made a director of the bank and its vice president, following the death of W.
E. Wheeler. On January 11, 1921, he was elected president of the bank to succeed his uncle, the late
Edgar G. Dusenbury.
Although Mr. Dusenbury spent the greater part of his time as the head of a growing banking
institution, he had many interests to which he brought his experience, his good judgment and his keen
analytical mind.
Hi grandfather, Henry Dusenbury, had come from Deposit to Portville in 1834 and had founded, in
partnership with William F. Wheeler, a lumber business which in time extended its interests into
several other states and eventually into California and the Northwest.
HAD MANY INTERESTS
To the direction of these family interests, Mr. Dusenbury devoted much time and energy. He was
throughout his life closely connected with the oil industry, which followed lumbering as the basic
industry of this region.
He was associated with many of the industries of Olean and vicinity and was an integral part of the
business life of this entire section. He was an officer in a score of companies and his advice was
much sought by those in positions of guidance in business and financial undertakings. He was for
some time a director of the Buffalo branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Among the many concerns of which Mr. Dusenbury was a director were the Messer Oil Corporation
of Olean, the Forrest Petroleum Corporation of Bradford, the A. Weston Lumber Company of Olean,
and the Fremont Lumber Company, Oregon.
Mr. Dusenbury’s interests extended far beyond those of banking, industry, and business. He was
always deeply concerned with the health and welfare of the people of the county generally and when
the County Health Department was established in 1923, he was chosen a member of the first County
Board of Health and served in that capacity for a number of years.
SERVED ON COMMITTEE
He was a member of the Crippled Children’s Committee, which had as its objective the correction of
physical disabilities among the children of the county. He gave much time and attention to the
Children’s Home at Randolph and was for many years a member of the board of the Olean General
Hospital.
Mr. Dusenbury served for several years as Mayor of Portville, and was responsible for a number of
improvements. He was in large measure responsible for the establishment of Pioneer Memorial Park
and was a director of Chestnut Hill Cemetery.
Among the many organizations of which he was a member were the City Club of Olean, Olean Lodge
491, BPOE, Bartlett Country Club, and the Portville Fireman’s Club.
He was a generous contributor to the Community Chest and other charities and was widely known as
the donor of private philanthropies.
Mr. Dusenbury is survived by his brother, Duncan C. Dusenbury.
(This obituary appeared in the Olean Times Herald Newspaper)
| The Portville Historical and Preservation Society |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Portville, NY 14770 |