The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-02-18
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IaE PllIT.

alE FaAIi'
Msssrs Efiiors :--l dem i, hiahly
proper, aud -, ome Instances eAposlseni,
10 lyircsh tie memories Of the survivors,
and recall ,be lives anl acts q Ibese Ro-
fables a ho have departed and lcls The stage
u nejion. wtose traits ol character wh'ie
Ia lie deserve commrmarmion. or were
porily Of imitation, IL lhis class ] IN
clude and consider As worthy of note, our
former townsman. joel prsu, E-q, ~ho
was distinguished rs man Of a 'lear,
we'll cultivated mind, as we'll as Of
mild and aniuble temper and DISPOSE
ton, but rcsoute in purpose and although
lie possessed talents 10 command respect,
tlie letter part % his character consisted
10 modest, un0bInsye unstlii,hness,and
q pla.aat open aud frank demeanor IN
hi. communication with others, and a con-
slancy and iailhulucs, 10 his irieGds which
commanded their loyc affection and cs.
.lcem, aud rendered him popular with all
who knew him. And although le was
retliag in his natural deposition, and
songht not Office, lie was designated and
chosen to many important offices, which
he sustained to universal satislaclion.---
Thus he held the Office Of Town Clerk for
tweuty-seven years in succession. throush
all the changes OF party, and until he ut
,ery declined, or rather refused H. So,
also, he held the office Of Clerk of the
County and Supreme Court for The period
Of twcnly-six years. lie WAS also JUS
tice Of tie Peace for about the same length
Of time, or probably two or three years
longpr; but tie precise length Of time |
am nol able 10 ascertain. lie represented
the toWu in tie General Assembly for the
years 1908, ., 10, II, -, and II, and pos
sibly one or two more, but often reiii ed
bis assent to be candidate but when
run, WAS ueyer distanccd. Besides the
above offices, be was general Arbitrator,
Auditor and Referee in almost all eases
Of those descriptions which arose in the
vicinity, and many abroad and also often
appointed Commissioner TO settle claims
aud estates OF deceased persons. lie WAS
also applied 10 aud solicited by his friends
10 consent 10 he held as candidate for
Representative TO the U. $. Congress; hut
from his modesly and ,iilidence, he wholly
/ declined to be a competitor ~ the case
/ il he had consented 70 run, there is little
dout, IRON his great popularity, llai he
/ would have succeeded in The contest. He
was al-o appointed by the Legislature Of
this State, in the fall Of the year 1872, as
one Of three Commissioners from this
State, 10 juin like aunber from the State
Of New York, to run the division line and
etabli.h boundaries between the two
States, and set up suitable monuments
thereon; which was accordingly effected
/ by them during the ensuing year But
on or about the year 1929 or 1880, all the
above. as well rs all other Offices and hon
ors Of Il public character, he resigned, de-
Glued. and utterly refused, for the purpose
Of reliripg on to . farm, aud from public
to pritmc life, rs being more congeii.l to
his quiet spirit and retiring nature, and 10
dc,oliug himself lis time and talents, TO
the cultivation Of the earth and agriculu-
raj and domestic pursuits and eijoymcnts,
aud which he stdulou8ly aud deyotediy
pursued during tie remainder of hs lie,
is lis sole object aud pursuit, AMI which
he ever after appeared 70 cnj,y 10 prefer
cncc TO the bnstles, brols aud contentious
Of public life, aud pursuits 70 which he
had previously been accustomed aud sub
jec,cd.
lie was born at Spenccrtown. (tlen
callcd.) but now Auslerliiz, in Columbia
county, n. Y, Oh tie 18Th LAY Of March,
l775, aid IN early life, in or about the
y, az 1872, he came TO Manchester and
T served as a cleik in The store Of Colon
, Scott, at the ilage which is now called
Factory Point, or shat was ilien callrd
Meals Mills and afier a While, bGf prob
ably about the time Lc became Of agc, il
pot before, lie purchased the goods in lie
. store and commenced trade by himfelf
Bur .oori alter. he cllisied into a large
l8nd speculation in TIC rorihern part O
tLe State Of Penasylvlnia, which proved
: unfortunate, and caused lis failure IN busi'
: mess for the time being. about which time
in The latter part of The year 1896 Or 'ors