OLD GRADUATES FROM MANY PARTS OF COUNTRY TELL OF THEIR DESIRE TO ATTEND I. S. N. U. HOMECOMING, as published in The Vidette (Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois) Wednesday, November 2, 1927, page 1 --
. . . One of the most interesting of these letters received by Miss Cooper was the one from Mr. H. J. Dutton of Springfield, Mo. The letter is as follows:
“Dear Madam:“Yours of the 6th inst. at hand and contents noted. In reply I desire to say that while I thank you very sincerely for your kind invitation to attend the Normal Homecoming, believing that I should very heartily enjoy meeting even the very few who may remember me as a Normal student, the meeting comes too late in the season for me to attend for more reasons than one.“Had the date been a month earlier I should have been strongly tempted to attempt the trip, notwithstanding my fourscore and ten years.“Because of the uncertainty of favorable weather and the further fact that on the date mentioned I have planned to be on my way to Florida where I have been spending the winters of late years. I am constrained to deny myself the pleasure of meeting with you.“I do, however, send most cordial greetings to any and all who may remember me. Should be very glad to receive an account of Homecoming. My Florida address, is: Zephyrhills, Florida.“Very truly and sincerely yours,“H. J. DUTTON.”“P. S. I deem it unnecessary, for a person of my age to make any apology for using pencil.”
The writing in this letter was legible and consistent. Mr. Dutton was graduated from this institution in 1861.
Of the letters the university Homecoming Committee received, this was the only one they decided to publish in full. He would pass away only two months later, at his winter home in Zephyrhills, Florida, at age 91. Harvey James Dutton (1836-1928) was my 2xg-granduncle on my Father's paternal side.
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