Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-09-20
Obituary..
DEATH OF GEN. Z. b. CHASE.

| We learn through the Lyndon Union of the
! death of Gen. EPAPHRAs b. CHASE, of Lyndon,
on the 10th inst, in the 18th year of his age.
His disease was very slow decay of the
muscles 1t attacked him in 1860, gradu-
ally paralyzing his limbs, and finally reach
ing the vital organs caused his death. He
retained his mental vigor, and his strong
mind grasped and acted upon all that came
within its scope, as in it's best days, while
his physical organization was hour by hour
losing it's power Of effort. We have read
somewhere of a dungeon of such ingenious
structure that the prisoner confined in it
found each morning the walls around and the
roof over him nearer than the night before
until finally he was caught and crushed in
their fatal embrace and Gen. Chase's dis
ease. like this dungeon. gradually closed in
upon the sources of vitality, until finally it
seized and arrested the breath or ne
| Gen Chase has been a resident of Lyndon
! for forty years the larger part of his active
| life He came to that town from Cornish,
n H. He was born in Bradford this State,
and, we believe, married there. After the
age of fourteen he began to take care of HIM
self, and at eighteen years of age he had his
father. mother and sisters to support Since
his residence in Lyndon he has been a most
important and vital portion of that commu
nifty man of indomitablc purpose and
untiring energy, he associated himself with
every enterprise which he deemed for the
advancement of the town; but as he was
somewhat inpatient of opposition, and dealt
but little in honeyed phrases of speech, he was
never what would be called popular man.
Years ago he was especially active in politics,
being Democrat of tho old school, and
Lyndon was then a Democratic town. He
was one Of the most active men in buildin <
the Pa>sumpsic Railroad, especially in ex-
tending it from st. ,Johnsbury to Newport,
and was, latterly at least, an influential diree
tor of that corporation. He was also of
the originators of the Lyndon Bank "a sound
financial institution its president
until his decease He was one of the largest
and most successful farmers in Caledonia
County, and always took interest in
State fairs and all agricultural matters, and
we have often heard him insist that Lyn don
We have not seen Gen. Chase for m any
years hut he was man who impressed him
self Enthusiastically upon the memory of every
one who knew him even a casual acquaint
ance. and much more upon those who were
his townsmen and neighbors. We remember
his stalwart. almost giant frame. massive.
muscular, and well-built, making him n re-
cognized model in every physical proportion
and one who would anywhere have been
chosen leader and champion in all manly ex
ercises. And his physical and mental vigor
were well matched, constituting him alto
| gcther marked character, strong, energetic,
! self-willed not in it's bad sense,-and with
resolutc determination that seldom Welded
/ to any obstacle. These qualities not only
l made him a recognized leader in whatever nc
undertook. but secured him great measure
of success. Like all men Of strong viii and
} positive opinions Gen. Chase had large per
; sonal influence vet such character, in all
: persons, is something like the magnet, it has
opposite poles, and repels some while it
attracts others and while Gen. Chase had
great personal influence, his positive, reso-
lutte and uncompromising qualities repealed
some who were too democratic to recognize
any leader As he was in his strongest days.
he would have made magnificent general OF
an army for real service and not for holiday
: parade.
During his last illness he to be a
i close student of the Bible, and made public
= profession Of his faith in Christ. One who
!. knew him intimately says - Since then
: his highest delight has been in the contem-
e plation of the future state, and the relation
of man to his Maker. He was especially So
icitous for those who were without the light
of the Gospel, and last March gave some
: 80 900 to the Missionary Societies, the most
r of it to the Foreign, and the rest of it TO the
Domestic Society" fri end writes in
i private letter - The close of his life. the
last two years, would do the world good
!, could it be known generally. never saw sc
= marked a change from things earthly to things
It spiritual. His business earnestness was car
ried in full into his religion We can only
, regret that life SO full of power could not
9 earlier have been added to the forces which
are ever doing battle against evil. for the
church needs such achievements. His in
: iuence and his cordial support were, how
e ever, always given to the Congregations
d Church and Society in Lyndon.
Gen Chase leaves widow, two sons, anC
several daughters. He loved to have hi
family about him, and his children all reside
" we believe, in Lyndon.