Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-07-21
Obituary.

Roswell NJ. Field, Esq, formerly of YER
mont, and lattcrly a resident and eminent
practitioner of law in St. louis No, died
at the latter place last week, after IN illness
of several weeks. He was a brother of Hon.
Q. X. Field of Brattleboro, and a son of the
late Gen. Martin Field of Newfane.
We take the following notice of Mr.. Field
from the St. Louis Democrat :
Our community, and the members of the
bar throughout the Union, will read with
regret the announcement of the death of Ros-
we'll NJ. Field. He died at six O. clock yes
terday afternoon, at the Sisters Hospital. He
was 60 years of age, and leaves two sons.
For several years he had been suffering from
debility, produced by disease that for years
had been undermining his constitution, and
about two weeks ago he went to the Sister s
Hospital to obtain the benefit of the superior
skill and attention of the nurses of that ex-
cellent institution.
Mr.. Field was born in February, 1907, at
Newfane, Windham county, Vermont, and
came to St. Louis in 1899. At the age oil
fifteen he graduated at Middlebury College,
and when only nineteen was admitted to the
bar lie obtained a high distinction in his
profession IN his RSstah5frr ssiai to NJ srS vel ra as il
Reid, a relative of Chester W. Pomeroy.
Mr.. Field was a finished scholar. and read
Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian and
Spanish, besides having an extensive acduain-
lance with English literature and general
science. But it was as a lawyer that he won
distinction. When he came to St. Louis he
had to contend against such men as Benton.
Gamble, Spaulding, Scott, Leslie, &c. To
no one OF these was he second in legal attain
ments, sound Judgment and keen foresight.
Ills requirements were of that solid charac-
ter that were always ready upon an emergen-
cy. There was nothing superficial about him.
bis first distinction at the bar was in the in
~tricate old Spanish claims. which he thorough
y mastered at an early day. lie was, beyond
dispute, the ablest lawyer at the bar. His
opinions always had weight in the higher
courts, and he WIS regarded by many of the
younger lawyers as an oracle. He freely
gave advice 70 all young lawaers who sought
his counsel, and he took pleasure In lending
u helping hand 10 men OF talent struggling
with adversely.
In his social relations, Mr.. Field had few
intImates, and he mingled but little, latter
ly in general society. To the few who
enjoyed his personal friendship he was a
most genial and entertaining companion
Unsurpassed as a conversational, he delight
ed in making witty and sarcastic observa-
NARL 1AA CHA2AdnANlC Sentences. 10 the
mere acquaintance he appeared morose and
misanthropic, and it is true that he had
tasted his iull share of sorrow, which had rem
dered him reserved, not morOse.
Mr.. Fields mind remained u~nimpaired in
its vigOr aud clearness to the day Of his
death. He WAS conscious of the approach
of death, and received the visit like a philoeo
pher- To a warm personal friend who visit
cd him a day or two before his death he ex-
pressed his conviction that he would not
last long. 4" am not long for this world, =
he said q" know that | shall soon 20. The
flesh goes first, and then the muscles, and
then the vital forces. Ny flesh is gone, my
muscles are going, and my vital force will
SOL give way. Ny friends call here and say
TO me that | look better, bat / know how It
is. am prepared" Tie died calmly and
peacefully, us a man sinks into a gentle SUM
Der.
There will. Of course, be a meeting Of the
bar, and appropriate enlogies vii be pro-
nOunced upon the deceased, We can cnlyl
~~y su~s vile vrignsest intellectual hight IN
all the State has been extinguished, and it is
fitting that the community should mourn FOR
the great loss they have sustained.