The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-09-22

NlEssRs. EDIToas TT was with pro-
found sorrow that learned of the sudden
death, on the first inst, of our highly es-
tecmcd friend and fellow citizen, JoHs NJ.
WEEKS, Esq, Of Salisbury. Being so
welI acquainted with him, and cling, in
common with so many others. his loss so
deeply, felt it my privilege, to address
you this short letter concerning him,
Mr.. Weeks parents were among the
early settlers of the fertile valley of OF
ter Greek, having moved from j. sralield,
Coma. about seventy yeHrs %, when the
subject Of this AZ youngest of his
fathers children, was V ~ small child.
At the death of bis father and mother,
John NJ. Weeks retained the possession Of
the old homestead, ON which no has ever
since lived and on which he died---That
homestead has long been the center Of one
Of the largest family connections it has
seemed the nucleus around which, all the
relations were glad to gather. and how Of
ten have We heard those within the cir,le
of his relations say, on visiting the old
homestead and participating in the genial
Inequalities which were always rendered
them there, that they felt as if they had
returned to their home. Mr.. Weeks was
very social man no one was more glad
to see his friends than he, and none did
better appreciate the quiet sympathy of
goodly friendship--He has always lived
in some retirement, yet ho was widely
known, and his influence has been long
and widely felt. Few young men about
him have not sought his advice to their
good, and few men of his own age have
not taken counsel with him.
II was one Of Mr.. Weeks characters
tics to do we'll and thoroughly whatever
he undertook. His works as an agricultur-
ist, rs an apiarian, ard as an author, DEM
onstrated this. For many years he was the
patient student of the nature aud habits
Of the honey bee, study which resulted
in Manual on Bees, and the Vermont
Bee Hive which was patented in 1886.
His was reflective mind and we'll filed
with common sense,-he undertook moth
ing which had not the appearance at least
Of success and reasonableness his farming
was done 10 q systematic aud scientific
manner his experiments in agriculture
we're the result Of knowledge and rehec.
ton, rather than of any freak or notion;
the productions Of his pen on the different
branches of agriculture were well known;
he has long been a contributor to the
best agricultural papers in New England.
| He was a most patient student in matters
Of Science and History was never fatigued
when working forsomo desired facts which
should appear in contribution to paper,
or which were to be Incorporated in the
two Histories which he wrote-I refer to
the History of the town Of Salisbury and
Of the Indians of Addison County. Both
of these works are finished, are now in
manuscript, but, as il hoped,it will soon be
in print. Both were written with great
labor, such as none with less enthusiasm
than Mr.. Weeks possessed in making his
toric research, ever would have had the
patience to undergo. Said he, in strange
ly prophetic language, but few days be-
fore his death, in answer to the interrog.
atores of friend in relation to the com.
petion of his Histories, I" l have finished
my work."
Dir. Weeks was . man Of excellent
judgment and of sound, practical COM
mon sense, whichj qualifications, united
with the incest sense ofhonesty, rendered
him person peculiarly fit for Offices of
trust. It has been the lot of but few men
to have charge of the settlement of so
many estates as he. He delighted to settle
little differences on principles OF equity. 1t
WIS his wont 10 advise estranged friends
to mutual forbearance, and again bring
about unity by mutual compromise. He
was always a man Of religious habits,
Although born and bred Congregational
.ist, in after years his convictions led him
into tho Episcopal Church, in which he
lived for many years consistent member
ana in its communion he died, and of him
We believe it may truly be said, He
Kept the faith"
He has gone to his rest and to his re-
ward, and we believe His res, is sweet"
We are thankful for the rich Legacy he
has left us in his instructions. in his judi
cious and friendly counsel, in his ever
stimulating ana encouraging examples and
in his blsmeless life. II. -