Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-07-16
From the Montpelier Freeman.l
Obituary.
THE LATE HON. d. z. THOMPSON.

>
The Honorable Daniel Pierce Thomp-
son, of this town, died at his residence,
on the 9th day of June, 1868, at the age
of about seventy-two years. For several
years past he had been in ill-health, hav-
ing had partial strokes of paralysis, which
had greatly impaired his health, and
which were but the precursors of the
final attack which proved fatal. His
former position as the editor of the Free
man, his official positions for some years
ton throughout his life, with our town
history, and his reputation as a novel
ist, warrant US in giving this sketch Of his
life.
Mr.. Thompson was born in the town of
Charlestown, Massachusetts,, October 1st,
1895, and after the death OF his grand
father, who was killed at the battle of
Leigngton, removed with his father to the
then new town of Berlin, in this State.
There his earliest years were spent in the
usual routine Of New England farm life
as it then existed. But soon, though
without means, yet with the energy and
determination of New England boy, he
left his home, and after some preparatory
studies, entered Middlebury College, where
he graduated in 1920. Several following
years Of his life were occupied in teaching
in Virginia, where he studied law
and was admitted to the bar OF
that State. He then returned to
this State, and commenced the prac-
tico of law in this town, and
here he has since resided. He was never,
however, extensively engaged in the prac-
tice of his profession, but almost immedi-
ately was chosen the Register of Probate
for Washington county, which office, in
connection with that of clerk of the
House Of Representatives, he held for sew
eral years. On the expiration of his term
of Office he was appointed clerk of the
county, and of the supreme court, and af-
ter, was chosen Judge of Probate, and
then was elected Secretary of the State of
Vermont, which Office he held until the
expiration Of the official year in 1855.
This was the last public office which
Judge Thompson ever held.
Widely known as he was to the people
OF our State asa public officer, his memo
ry will be most cherished for other rea-
Sons. He was the only novelist Vermont
has ever produced. During al the years
before alluded to, he gave much time to
the minute investigation Of the incidents
Of our States earliest history. Fond of
literary pursuits, he loved to embody in
his writings such "reminiscences Of old
times, ~ he could gather from record, and
from the recollection Of cd men, A lover
of old stories and traditions it was his
habit to converse with our Oldest citizens,
and he delighted to listen to the quaint
narrative they liked TO tell, and to en-
body them in articles for his paper, or
weave them into his works Of greater pre-
tension. He was won't to wander through
the country with his fishing rod (for he
was devout disciple Of old Izaak Wal
ton,) and by the roadside, or by some
farmhouse door, he would spend hours
converting with some old settler gar.
rulous Of the times when Ethan Allen ad.
minntered the Beech Seal" or when
Warner and Francis met the royal troops
at Hubbardton, or, still later, when the
farmers Of Vermont encountered the enc
my at Plsttsburgh. The fame Of Ethan
Allen. Of Seth Warner, Remember Baker,
Ira Allen, and the other noted founders
Of our State b greatly due to his pen; to
h4 industry and enthusiasm with which
b collected and placed before our people,