Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-02-02
bHArmor PROFESSOR THOMPSON.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR THOMPSON.
Died, in Burlington, January l9ih, Rsv.
pror ZADocK THOMPSON, in the Goth year Of
his age.
Mr.. Thompson was born in Dddeewaier,
Vt. in 1876. lie WAS the second son Of Mr..
Barnabas Thompson, whuso father was one oi
the early settlers in that part Of the country
At an carly day Mr.. Thompson showed that
strong propensity fnr observing facts 10 natural
science and for mathematical applications which
became his distinguishing characteristic adef he
had arrived to manhood In biz youth, like
many others, he had to make bis uwn way up
the hill of science, through the difficulties which
attend narrow pecvniary circumstances. Such
obstacles made no substantial check iu his Prog
ress. and when he graduated 81 ihe University
Of Vermont 10 l523, be had already acquired a
reputation for solid altainmeuts in science which
went on increasing Us long as he lived. Though
he was ordained deacon IN the pruicsian, Epis-
copal Church in 1856, he found his health too
unstable to justify him 10 taking the charge OF
a parish, and his minisiraiions as a preacher
were only occasional. At different times he
occupied himself as a teacher Of youth, but his
chief employment was that Of independent in-
vesiigaiion, aud the labors Of authorship.
In all those relations Of life which most near
ly concern the daily iuiimacies Of family aud
social existence, the character Of M Ihomp-
sou was one 10 be appreciated 10 an eminent de-
gree. His kind disposition, his sterling good
sense, his sound judgement, his sngle-hearied
upriahiness, his unwearicd industry in the at
taiumeni and diffusion Of knowledge, joined to
a remarkably seda,e and christian simplicity Of
manner secured for him the respect Of all who
knew him. Such man could not fail to be
greatly endeared to the members ofhie own do
mestic circle; and by all those who we're wont
10 meet him from day to day, his death will be
felt as a severe and irreparahle loss.
Bot this loss is by no means confined to ih,
members of his own family and the people o
this town. It isa public one. Mr. Thompson
was widely known and greatly appreciate,
throughout the State, and beyond it. His writ.
ings are, perhaps, more familiar TO the peopl,
Of Vermont, than those Of any other man,
Saying nothing Of his smaller useful works, in
tended Tor schools, and his preparation Of the
Astronomical part Of iha calendar, with which
50 many thousands have been familiar for NOR,
than thirty years, his History and Gazetteer o.
the State is especially noticeable As early as
the year 1924, the year after he graduated, HI
published his Gazetteer, work which, thUugl
necessarily got up with haste, showed rcnarka.
bic industry, and contained large amount o
useful information. He continued to accumu
late facts pertaining to that subject. and in 1871.
published his large work on tie Natural His
tory Of the State, on It's Civil ard Political His
tory and that Of its various Institutions, follow
ed by an enlarged ard improved edition Of tn,
Gazetteer. A valuable appeadix was issued il
1853. The whole work is one highly esiima
ted at home and abroad 1t will always be
work Of authority, and will connect the name O
its author permanently with the Literature Of hi,
native State.
In 1853, the General Assembly ''anihoTized
and directed the Governor to appoint Prof Zad-
ock Thompson State Naturalist" and made il
his duty TO institute survey of the Stale, ant
to publish the results Of it, embracing its Phys
zeal Geography, Scientific Geology and Mine
ralosy. IFS Boiany. and General Zoology. On
this work Prof. Thompson catered with earn
ya:g,sd 49, n MI pI Ii 80
istry two years beiore,) that he nigh, devote
himself wholly 10 the work. His first endeav.
OF was TO get into an available shape If possible
the materials and Information which ia an at
tempt Of former years under another person, ha,
been gathered At the expense Of the State
This he som found to be a hopeless task IN iht
main, and he had 10 rely almost entirely on hi,
own resources. On all parts Of the subject h,
had been gathering information and materials
for years, and his labors TO perfect his knowl
edge by original observation, where ii was vi ant
ing, and to bring his work into meihodical shapl
were unweaned far beyond what his health and
strength at times would justify. His work wa
already far advanced aud could he have beel
spared to complete it himself, ii would hav,
been Of great value to the State and to Naiura
Science. As ii is, we trust it will not be los
10 the public.
The complaint Of which he died was an or
ganic affection Of the heart, which doubtless ha
been slowly in progress for many years. Con
scious as he was Of growing fcebleness Of bod,
he did not realize fully ill a few days before hi
death tina, his earthly work was drawing TO a clos
In reference to his public labors this conviction
was for short time painful one and that h,
might be spared to finish his work for the Stat
was his earnest desire. Bot he had lahore
faithfully, and he soon came TO feel that ii Co,
willed that he should leave the work unfnishe
it was his dnty to submit. He bore the distress
Of his last illness without murmurng, and whei
told that the moment of his departure was q
hand, he had but to say Gods will be done,
to take leave OF his family, and to commend hi
soul to Him in whom he had put his trust
The end of the good man was peace. Ere
Press.
GOVERNOR REEDER IN REPLY To