So, chasing the Merton Dickinson family down through his brother-in-law, Homer D. Chase, who died at 31 years of age on 6 May 1912, of Typhoid Fever and pneumonia in Roxbury, Washington, Vermont:

From the Northfield News, May 7, 1912, front page:

Homer Chase aged 32 years, died last night at 11:45 o'clock at the home of his parents in Roxbury village, after a long and painful illness of typhoid fever and pneumonia.

Homer D. Chase was born August 19, 1880, in Roxbury the only son of Melvin E. and Emma Roys Chase. He received his education in the schools, and grew to manhood in his native town. He was a frail child from boyhood, which prevented him from entering into any profession, and he had always remained at the home of his parents.

He was taken ill seven weeks ago with typhoid fever, and after several weeks recovered from that and began to convalesce, but later he was taken with convulsions, and still later, pneumonia developed, which was the immediate cause of his death. He was a great sufferer but bore his pain with much patience.

Mr. Chase is survived by his father and mother, and by one sister, Mrs. Lena Dickinson of Keene, N. H., who has been at home assisting in his care. Everything possible was done to save life, that medical skill could devise, but of no avail and he gradually sank to his death.

The funeral will be held from his home Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. A. H. Webb officiating and burial will be in the family lot in Roxbury cemetery. The bearers will be some of his associates.