Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-11-07
M A DI 5 On,
BORN MARCH 16, 175l.
DIED JUNE 2s, 1886.
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The appearance of the work will commend it
TO the favorable consideration of every one who
may chance 10 visit the spot. When erected its
appropriateness and beauty seemed to strike ev-
cry behoder. 1t is simple substantial and grace
full, and in strict keeping with the quiet of the
country burial place, and the character of the
great man whose grave it covers. A more pre-
tentous pile would have been quite out of char
acer and been mean and tame in view of the
eternal hills which encompass the domain. 1t
IS the memory OF departed greatness which hal
lows the grave yard, and gives something of sane
tity to the grounds and mansion at Montpelier,
and no labored monumental pile was needed to
keep that memory green. All that was desira-
BILE here was memorial stone, to mark The pre-
else spot where Madison was laid when life's ac-
ysa assa s fie spad aoP o gra
will hand down the spot TO remote generations.
In digging for suitable foundation it became
necessary to 90 below the coffin, which was con-
sequenily exposed 10 view. The boards placed
above the coffin had decayed, but no earth had
fallen in upon it. and everything appeared to be
as when the coffin was deposited there, except
that the coffin lid was slightly out of place, al
lowing partial view of the interior. As there
was no fasenings to prevent, the part of the lid,
covering the superior portion of the body, was
raised, and several gentlemen present looked in
upon the r'malns of the great Virginian. The
coffin itself, of black walnut, was in perfect pres
ervaiion, and the interior was nearly filled with
a species of moss, which adhered pertnaciously
to the wood. Beneath this and partially hidden
by IL, were a few Of the larger AMI harder bones.
The lower jaw had fallen away, the bones of the
brea'. and rbs were gone, and the only parts of
the skeleton which remained were the skull and
portions of the cheek bones, the vertebre of the
neck, the spine and the large bones of the arms.
All else of the upper part Of the body had re-
turned to the dust from whence it was taken,
and in few years more every trace Of the body
will disappear, until the trump OF resurrection
shall reunite the scattered particles. The body
has been inferred Just twenty-one years.
On reaching sufficiently firm ground the foun.
daton was commenced and built up as two walls,
one on either side of the coffiu until proper
height was gained, when it was arched over the
coffin, and then built up solidly 10 the surface
thus forming a vault, within which rest the re-
mains of Madison, and precisely beneath the
centre Of the monument The foundation was
made of hard surface stone gathered on the
Montpelier farm from within short distance of
the graveyard.
The monument was erected by Messrs Michael
Ryan and James McCauey, of Richmond, who
deserve much praise for the manner in which
they finished the work. They kept strict watch
thar no accident or mischance should befall the
undertaking, in which they we're ably seconded
by Mr. Miles Lipscomb, of Orange, who remov-
ed the monument from Orange court house to
Montpelier.
The courtesy and kindness of the officers and
managers of the Virginia Central Railroad Com
pany and the Gordonsville and Alexandra Rail-
road, who forwarded the monument over their
respective roads free of cost, deserve an acknowl-
edemenl, evincing as it did laudable desire to
render all the aid which it was in their power to
afford