Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-26


Leicester lost one of its most aged and widely
known citizens. His great grandfather was
one of its first settlers, and lis own life was
spent almost wholly within its limits. The
ancestral name Of Southgate has continued
through him honorably prominent IN lis local
affairs. He was too marked man and has
left too many enduring memorials tojustily US
in emitting some notice OF him, however
imperfect it may be.
Unfortunately Capt Southgate in early life
was not subject 10 that kind, steady, whole
some discipline which all children should have
and which those especially need, wlo' Ike
linn, are Of highly nervous temperament
His opportunities Tor education during Inc
same period were also very limited NO
candid Judgment can be passed upon MN
without giving TO these mtoward circuh-
stances their just consideration. We ought
perhaps to add, also, in this connection, that
during many of the later years Of his lie he
has not known sound health. His age was 70,
having been born in 1882. He honoraby
earned competency, and in middle lie lie
married Miss Maria Webb of Windham, Conn.
She now survives him. universally respected
and honored. One child was born to them,
who died young, leaving void which time
never filled. Without entering mo detalls
which belong more to the family than the
public, we pass to that which mainly concerns
us in all history and biography-chaacter.
The first trait we shall name, was noble
public spirit. For fifty years there has hardly
been movement in the town, having In view
the general good, of which he was not, either
an active promoter, or silent contributor
Whether it was to beautify the village; I'M
prove its public buildings; elevate the charac'
ter of the town schools care for the poor who
were dependent on the town, or on private
charity repairing the old or preparing new
burial places for the dead in all these, and
such as these, the community did not look to
, him in vain. His will shows how deeply
rooted in his nature was this excellence, lie
leaves seven hundred dollars (S1OO) tor The
Pine Grove cemetery of the town. a corpora
0 ton OF which he was president for many
years, the interest Of five hundred dollars
:, which is TO be spent in preserving and orna
i. ment q its grounds, and the balance, tw'
hundred to be SO expended, as early as 1t
1t officers may desire. He, also, makes be
" quest of three thousand dollars as a permanen
:. fund. the income of which be directs to b
al distributed yearly to "indigeni maidens, wlo
le ows and orphans" whose legal residence Is j
nj Leicester And l order and epjoin' W
OF quote his words, 'tlIat all assistance rendere
H. in every case be made without Partially
distinction of party or sect lie wisely give
nh to its trustees a large discretion but he cal
th tions against wasting money in endeavorin
to help those "who do not help themselves.
The All such, he truly says, will, OF course, ia
m m upon the town for supportW
ted Capt Southgate was an honest man.
stV public rumor or private whisper ever que
ng toned that. The venerable DR.. Nelson wi
has known him in 50 many relations, pub
the and private, during nearly fifty years, at
&C. funeral bore testimony TO this: He I'm
.re whereof he affirmed he could name strki
md illustrations, were that the time and the place
Mr. "He could say what was no small praise
ne. any, he vas an honest man" Business pa
rot he'S iOi i'O'e ina"
the speak in terms as unqualified and honorab
ices This, too, we may add, is the universal vol
I'm What splendid tributes are these! Here til
s sHS ,oaS one of 'the nobest works Of Coda N
man of unsullied integrity.
ld's He scorned meanness in all its forms, q
ale' refused to be compromised by the acts OF othc
# If which even by possibility might be impu
mir to him. We remember that one of the LEI
pre- latures of which he was Il member voted
u Vi increase OF their own compensation. lie wo
"a not touch his share but as he could not /
city vent its being placed to his credit, he orde
the its distribution among all the Sunday sclC
az, ~ of the town. He was a frank, outspoken m
,;n,. What he thought he said, and what he said
Mr.. said to all. He was stranger to that care
l interested balancing known as non-commit
Dliis ism nor was he ever known to worship b
,ose good and evil, that he might be prepared tori
With contingency We can see his rapid gestic
per lions and the flashing Of his eye, while
H. iaS tongue uttered the contempt he felt for all
, he baseness 1t was not in him to conceal
ittee fact that those who did such things belon
A.. to their father the devil.
nv Cant he hated, in all its forms in the {
,e 50 eral, respecting religion reform, or poit
COM or, in the particular, taking the form Of priv
u ,',,' confession. Probably, nay, certainly he
eted prone to be too hasty in his conclusions,
m. pronounced that counterfeit which was &c