Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-06

o, that we may all heed that dying
advice, and finally meet in Heaven. !"
DEATH OF JOSHUA SAwYER.-The
death Of Joshua Sawyer we have pre-
viously noticed. We gladly copy the
following sketch of his life and servi-
ces from the St. Adams Messenger 4:
ESQ. Sawyer came to Vermont
nearly sixty years ago and located at
what is now the village of hyde Park,
where he resided until his death. He
was member of the Legislature dur
ing the war Of 1912 and for many
years the youngest member. As a
member he at once took a high rank
and became the intimate friend of the
then rising young men of the State, of
whom the late VIM. G. Bradley was
one of the most eminent, and with
the exception of Esq. Sawyer, the
lCoI sui lfOl. 2
At later period, about 1895, he
was for several years a member, CO.
temporary with John Smith of St. AL
bans, who was speaker of the House,
and during the contest for tae crea-
ton Of the then new County of La
noble, of which movement be vas the
leader-the stories of his skill and
wit as debater, and his adfoitness
Of management are still current among
the elder habitues Of the Legislature.
1t was, however, as a lawyer, that
he acquired the greatest reputation.
He commenced his professional ca.
reer at the age Of twenty-one, and con-
tinued III active practice till within a
year OF his death. For forty years
his practice was one Of the largest in
the State, and he was probably en-.
gagged in more suits than any other
lawyer iu Vermont.
In his early practice he came to the
courts Of Franklin aud Chittendeu
counties, but his best field was in Or.
leans and Caledonia.
In those days the bar OF those coun
ties was the most brilliant in the State
There were Bell, Fletcher, Paddock
GriswoId and the two Mattock5es of
Caledonia, Cushman of Essex, the ell
der Baxter of Orleans, and, not least
In the circle of that brilliant society
was the scholarly anu accomplished
Samuel G. Crafts, ter many year,
Clerk of the Orleans Court. THAI
was a race of giants. Cushman wa.
probably the most accomplished ora
tor the State ever produced, as wei
as one OF the most court!y gentlemen
while Gov. Mattocks, or as be wa,
best known, "Jack Mattocks," was ,
wonder for massive intellect.
Without, perhaps, equalling the ell
oquence of the one or the logic of The
other Esq. Sawyer, by the fertility al
his resources as manager, and tn
brilliancy of his wit and his imperturb
able self possession i'll trials, fairl,
held his own as practitioner ant
commanded his full share of bushes
and success.
At later period in the early his
tory of LamoiiIe County he becam
associated with another circle o.
strong men, among whom were Samu
ell A. Willard, L. B. Villas, William
Upham, l.. ?. Poland, W. W. White
| D. A. SmaIley, the two Beardsleys an,
Paul Dillingham;. Here again, a
though distracted by pecuniary embal
easements, and fast approaching tn
decline of his life, he sustained hiu
self with credit, proving himself n
unequal match for the best of his con
petitors.
To the end of his days he was re
markable for an exhaustless fund o
anecdote, a readiness of repartee an
courtliness of demeanor, which mad
him a mostagreeable companion. Wit
him the garrulousness of old age ha
, little that was tiresome; his Storie
were seldom repetitions, and his vi
was as fresh and sparkling as th
youngest.
As he mingled with his younger al
sociate8 his erect form, straight to tn
last as az arrow, and his dignife
f carriage reminded one of an ancier
tree, standing above its surrounding
whitened by storms and Scared
lightnings, but yet king Of the fores
to the end.