Alexander
Anderson McKenzie
— "At the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Hanover,
New Hampshire on August 25, 1904, after an illness of over two years,
Alexander A. McKenzie, formerly of Burke, New York, aged 40 years
passed away.
Funeral
services were held at the Presbyterian church, Burke, on Sunday,
August 28th. Interment at the Burke Center Cemetery. He was born in
Burke, New York, January 20, 1865 and passed his youth in Burke and
Constable. He graduated from Franklin Academy in 1887 as
valedictorian
of his class. He entered Dartmouth College the same year, remaining
three years, when he went to Central America, where for three years
he was engaged on the Nicaragua Canal, after which he returned to
Hanover,
where he remained until his death. Of him Dr. Tucker, President of
Dartmouth College says:-
"Few
men have been identified with Dartmouth College in any capacity who
have called forth more confidence or affection from their associates
than
Mr. McKenzie has awakened in all with whom he had to do, within and
without the college. Everybody knew him as an honorable man,
entirely competent for his business, and interested in all his
relations with others. He was not over-much given to words but he
was generous to the last degree in personal kindness and service.
His unfailing patience, tact, good cheer and humor, always made him
welcome among his friends, just as his grasp of business affairs, his
ready invention and his courage in emergencies made him invaluable in
his work."
Mr.
McKenzie filled a unique position in the service of the college.
Every building within the more recent group has gone up under his
careful inspection. Leaving college at the end of his junior year,
he was employed in the surveys for the Nicaragua Canal. He was given
the degree
of Bachelor of Science in 1899 with his class of 1891. Returning to
Hanover from Nicaragua he was employed in the construction of the
reservoir
of waterworks for the supply of the college and the precinct. In
1895, he was appointed by the Trustees as inspector of buildings, the
position known afterward as Superintendent of Buildings. This
position
gave him charge of a large number of men in the employ of the
college, brought him into sight and in no small degree, the material
directions of the material growth of the college. It was largely due
to
his invention, as well as to his careful inspection that the heating
system,
introduced in 1898 has proved so great a success. He was so capable
an engineer that the ordinary plans for the extension of heating,
for electric lighting, and sewers, were made in his office. From
first to last he had the entire respect and confidence of the
trustees
of the college in all the service which he rendered.
But
as we recall Mr. McKenzie’s
work it is after all the man who comes back to us. He was made for
friendship as he was made for responsibilities in affairs. The
sagacity which characterized him as a business
man was equalized by his unselfishness and devotion as a friend. His
range of friendship was large. He had his intimates with whom he was
always "Mac". Quiet, sometimes reticent, but always the
soul of honor, kindness, and good cheer. Among men everywhere he was
the same honest,
straight citizen, as he was valued as an officer of the college. The
position which Mr. McKenzie filled was as has been said, unique but
no more so than the character which he has left behind him."
—
Obituary
in the Malone Palladium.
"Among
the many who were present at the funeral service of A.A. McKenzie we
notice S.G. Keller of Albany, Sam Hermon of Lawrenceville, N.H.
Enright of Moira, John McHardy of Athelstan, M.E. McClary and W.T.
Short of Malone and Wm. Wright of Westville. Members of the family
from abroad who were present are Miss Jessie McKenzie of North
Dakota, Rev.
Wm. Fraser and family of Champlain, Chas. R. McKenzie of Albany, Miss
Edith and Elizabeth and Chester Everett, Rev. a.c.
Salls
of Gullford
Center, New York who by special request of the deceased, preached the
funeral sermon, is taking a vacation and spending it with friends in
Burke".
—
Burke Notes in the Malone Palladium.
