In Memoriam. There is no Death. What seems so is transition; This life of Mortal breath JOHN MCDOUGALL, President Hornellsville Gas-Light Co., Died November 2d, 1888. His voice is silent in your Council Hall forever. With what perfect truthfulness do these lines apply to our late member William Helme. Always bright, cheerful and cordial toward all with whom he came in contact; always ready to give from his ample storehouse of knowledge and experience such information as his younger brethren stood in need of, and always forward in giving from his purse amply toward every worthy cause presented to him. That his was a busy life only a brief recital of his many labors is necessary to prove. Born at Dumfries, Scotland, on the 25th of April, 1824, he accompanied his parents to Philadelphia, Pa., while in childhood, and acquired in this, the city of adoption of his parents, his education in the public schools. The trade he adopted was that of a machinist, serving his time at the works of the Baldwin Locotive Company. While he was still in the employ of that company, he was tendered the position of Superintendent of the Trenton, N. J., Gas Company; he accepted the office. After remaining in New Jersey a while, he went to Augusta, Ga., to erect gas works at that place. After completing the works he assumed the management of them, remaining in charge for some while. In 1853 he resigned this position, and engaged in the lumber and saw mill business. This business not proving successful, he returned to his former business and we soon find him erecting gas works at Winchester, Va., and later he put up the works at Atlanta, Ga., and he remained connected with this company to the time of his death. His management of this enterprise during most trying and troublesome times, was most successful and reflects great credit upon his business career and sound judgment. Prior to the war we find Mr. Helme engaged in the business of refining oil, in the City of Philadelphia; and later he became interested in a mining venture in Arizona Territory. In 1872 Mr. Helme entered the firm of Harris & Brother, meter manufacturers, the style of the firm being changed later to that of Helme & McIlhenny; Mr. Helme remaining the senior member of that firm to the time of his death. Mr. Helme was one of the original members of our Association, being present at the roll call at the Knickerbocker Cottage in New York City on the occasion of the organization meeting held April 16, 1873. There have been few meetings of our body where Mr. Helme has not taken a prominent part. His recognized good judgment always making his advice and counsel very welcome to his associates. Mr. Helme had been in poor health for some time prior to his death, but the final blow came while on his way to church, June 3, when he was attacked by a stroke of paralysis. He lingered for nine days, when he finally passed away in the quiet village of Stratford. JOHN C. PRATT. Born March, 1813. Died June 7, 1888. Mr. Pratt was in every sense of the word a Bostonian, having been born, brought up, educated within the Capital of Massachusetts, and there it was he passed all of his busy life, and there it was he breathed his last. It was in 1813 that the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day, and after receiving the education which so many Boston boys received, he, in 1833, entered the office of H. H. Hunnewell, of Wellesley. On the death of Mr. Hunnewell, Mr. Pratt became manager of both the Hunnewell and Weld estates, continuing in this position to the time of his death. Mr. Pratt considered himself more of a railroad man than a gas man, having been connected as President with several prominent railroads; at the time of his death he held the position of |