Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-12-26

extended extracts from the Kalamazoo Wing, are
given, with great pleasure for the satisfaction of
the numerous friends of the deceased.
DIED, Nov. 8, 1888 at his residence in
Kalamazoo, Mich, EZEKIEL Ransom,
aged Is years.
In the death of this venerable man, not
only have numerous family circle lost a
husband, a father. and friend, but this
whole community have lest most valued
citizen. When a good man dies, it not
only affords sweet consolation, but 1t is
profitable to recall him to. our remem-
brance, and to dwell for while upon the
exceIlencies of his character.
Ezekiel Ransom was born in Colches
ter, Conn. on the LIST Oct. 1853. He was
the Youngest of twelve sons, and had two
sisters Younger than himself, one of whom
is now the sole survivor of them all.
While yet boy his father removed to
Shelburn, Mass. and was residing there
with his family at the commencement of
our Revolutionary struggle for Independ-
ence.
Shortly after the close of the war, he
went to reside at Townshend, Vermont,
and on the 26 of May 1871 was married
to Lucinda Fletcher, daughter of General
Samuel Fletcher of that place. With
that lady he lived nearly fifty years, and
reared up family of twelve children
(six sons and six daughters ); and it is
remarka BILE fact that until his own decease,
no death has ever occurred in his family
circle. He continued to reside In YER
mont until his recent removal to this State,
and was actively and usefully engaged in
public affairs. He was several times elect
ed to represent his town in the State Leg
islature, and filled other offices of trust,
with credit to himself, and to the satisfac-
ton of his constituents
In the Spring of 1885 Major Ransom
removed with his wife from Vermont to
Michigan, and selected this village as his
residence. At the time of his death, ten
of his children were living in his neigh
| borhood, some of them having preceded
and others having followed their venera-
BILE parents in their emigration 10 this new
State. 1t is only here that the writer of
this brief sketch was acquainted with
him bat this short acquaintance was
enough to convince him that he was no
common man. Although he had passed
the boundary of three score and ten, and
the vigor of manhood was changing into
the comparative inactivity of old age, it
was of the physical man merely. not the
moral. Although bending under the
weigh, of years, he kept pace with the
Improvements of the age, and was as much
interested as any of his juniors in all that
was in progress to deveiope the resource
es of his adopted State, and was at the
same time the practical friend of all the
| benevolent objects of the day. For more
than twenty years he was professor OF
the christian religion, having united with
the Baptist Church in 1917; and with
him it was not a mere naked profession
having acknowledged the Lord as his
master before men, and having professed
his faith in him as his Savior and his Re
deemer, he proved his faith by his works
and acted out his profession in his daily
walk and conversation; and during his
whole residence here, it may be truly
said, that in imitation of his Masters ex
ample, 4" he went about doing good" AL
though attached to the Baptist Church
,, and consistent believer in its peculiar
tenets, he was liberal and enlarged in hi:
: views, and could hold sweet communion
with christians of other denominations
and cordially united with them in such
measures as tended to christianize thu
,. world or benefit his fellow men.
The subject of education was near tc
| his heart; and much of his time and o
f his influence was expended in advancin!
the interests of the rising generation
, The Kai. Literary Institute, located il
this village, was indebted more to hin
than to any other individual, for its estab
:; lishment. AS chairman of the Executiv,
0 Committee he superintendent its concerns
and aided efficiently in removing the diff
a cultles incident TO such an undertaking
Y and he has had the qualification of wit
Messing the institute in successful opera
e ton.
\ The temperance cause, also, receives
Y his cordial support. He was consisten
member OF the temperance society; h
not only taught by precep:, but his Who'll
=. HE was lesson by example, Of the bene
! hts resulting from temperate living. A
all the meetings of the society, this venel
d able man was found in his place, incitin
h his brethren to more rigorous action. an
e inviting the wavering to enlist under tn
: banner of temperance.
But the friends of human rights in thi
county have sustained loss in his death
l from which they will not soon recover.
q Himself freeman. and lover of free
n dom, he wished all others to be free :, an
# when the first efforts were being made t
! emancipate the Slave, and to let the car