Willard Dickerman, Straight 1880-1918.

Willard D. Straight was born on January 31, 1880 in Oswego, New York. His father died in 1886; the next year Straight and his family moved to Japan. In 1890 his mother died and he returned to Oswego. He attended Bordentown Military Institute in New Jersey, 1896-97, and majored in architecture at Cornell University, 1897-1901.

In November 1901 he was appointed to a position with the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service, and from 1902-04 he was personal secretary to Sir Robert Hart, Inspector General of the Service in Peking. Also in 1902, he illustrated VERSE AND WORSE for J.O.P. Bland. In June 1905 he was appointed Vice-Consul under Edwin V. Morgan in Seoul, Korea.

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