Biographical Notice - Arthur B. de Saulles

In the death of Major A. B. desaulles at South Bethlehem, Pa., on Dec. 24, 1917, the Institute lost a valued and esteemed member, one of the last few of those who, in May, 1871, at Wilkes-Barre, attended the first meeting of the Institute, in response to a call that had been issued by R. P. Rothwell, Eckley B. Coxe, and Martin Coryell. Major desaulles was born Jan. 8, 1840, at New Orleans, and was the son of Louis and Armidc Longer desaulles, each of French descent. As a boy he was privately tutored in the South, and then schooled in New England to enter the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was graduated with honors in the class of '59. Following his graduation he studied in France and Germany for two years, returning to New Orleans in 1861 to enter the Confederate Army, in which he served with distinction as an engineer throughout the Civil War, rising to the rank of Major and the command of his Corps. After the close of the war he pursued his studies abroad for another year, returning to New York in April, 1866, when he became engineer for the New York & Schuylkill Coal Company, and remained at its plant near Wilkes-Barre until October, 1871, when it was sold to the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Company. He then returned to New York where for several years he was engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1869, he married Catharine M. Heckscher, daughter of Charles Heckscher of New York City. Mrs. desaulles survives him. In 1876, Major desaulles became superintendent of the Dunbar Furnace Company in Fayette County, Pa., with which company he remained until 1883. As a feature of the Pittsburgh meeting in May, 1879, Major and Mrs. desaulles entertained the members of the Institute at dinner at Dunbar on the occasion of the Institute's visit to Dun-bar furnace. In 1883, he took up the formation of the Oliphant Furnace Company in that county, of which he became and remained the head for five years. He was then called to the superintendency of the New Jersey Zinc Company at South Bethlehem, Pa., in which position he remained until his retirement,from active service in 1911, maintaining, however, hi.; keen interest in the metallurgy and smelting of zinc, in collaboration with his son Charles, a member of the Institute and a Director of the American Smelting and Refining Company. From 1888, until his death, he resided in South Bethlehem, a prominent and highly respected citizen of that progressive and stirring community. Major desaulles was a member of the Protestant Espicopal Church, and at the time of his death was a vestryman of the Church of the Nativity at South Bethlehem. He was president of the Men's Club of the Church of the Nativity. His kindly nature led him to take an active interest in the promotion of healthful sports among young men. He was ever active in all things pertaining to the general welfare and uplift of his fellowmen. In his death the profession has lost a distinguished engineer and mctallurgist and our country a patriotic able citi-zen and man of affairs—one greatly beloved by those whom he honored with his friendship, and respected and looked up to by all who were privileged to know him.