Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-01-20
From the Vermont Record and Farmer
Hon. Stenhen u. Flagg.

Hon. Stephen Il. Elagg
Mr.. Flagg, whose death, on December "a
was announced in the last RECORD, was ioI
so long a period identified with the interests
of Windham County, and 50 generally known
and respected throughout the State, that i
fuller notice of him seems required, thah hs
yet been given
He WAS born in Wilmington, We, req
%. 1906. and received such education as the
common schools of his town afforded. lie
eagerly improved all the advantages within
his reach, and, when quite young, advanced
to the position of school-master. lie was
from bOyhood, passionately fond of music, to
the requirement of which art he devoted
much time and study, and while yet IN Ms
teens taught singing schools with good sue
cess. in the principal towns OF NlndhaHi'
Bennington, Rutland and Addison Counties.
For more than forty years he led the choir
in the Congregational Church in his native
town. When leading a choir of his own Sc
lection, he was in great exattatIon ms
voice had great sweetness ana volume, anu
be had such power TO inspire the others;
that, for him To . lead was to insure good
singing. Former residents of Wilmington
often rccounted, as among the delights oil
rcvisiting their old town, that of attending
the old church and again hearing Preston
Flagg' sing. never heard the man sing
who could send such a thrill through the
audience as he and | am told that lie never
sung with greater clearness and sweetness,
or with more animation, than on n Sabbath.
about three weeks before his death. This
may seem n trifling matter, but | deem 1t
worthy Of notice that q man Of his ability
and position should thus for So Tonga period.
have lent his rich voice in support OF public
worship.
l. II. T.C. l.. Ill a 4.-+o f.w fLa mill.
tary, and at the age Of 2l he was com
mis-ioned Lieut.. of Cavalry in the militia
regiment formed in the western part Of
Windham County, and was soon successfully
promoted 10 the Adjutancy, Lieut.. Coloneley
and Colonelcy of the regiment, and IN 1872
was commissioned n Brigadicr General, then
the Youngest officer of his rank in the state
In 1890 >, was married to Miss Lucinda
Brown of his own town, who died IN lcJ1.
leaving him FIVE children, who are all living
the oldest, James II, as North Adams,
Mass, John H., an attorney at Bennington,
who, for five years past has been Clerk OF
the Vermont House of Representatives, "
young lads and the daughter, Mrs. Hall. at
Miss Eunicc Chaplin of Barnardstown, Mass i,
who survives him.
He was a selectman Of his town in the
years lS33-4 Town Agent TO prosecute
and defend suits from 1871 TO 1864 Town
Treasurer from 1910, Justice of the Peace
from 1898, Town Clerk from 1890. and
Treasurer Of the Wilmington Savings Bank
from its organization in 1874. which four
last Offices he continued u hold until his
death. He was n member Of the Constitu-
tional Convention in lSjG~ a member Of the
House in $3.50. lS6I-2, and a member
Of the Senate in lo65-6. lie was scrupu-
| 49, H. Is--r.--. & III --LH..
duties. and in these days OF corruption IN
office. it can be truly said Of him, that no
man ever questioned bis fidelity OF integrity
in the performance of any public trust
When about 80 years Of age he began %
be employed. in his own and neighboring
towns, as trial Justice II was a time when
the . 70 long credit system prevailed. which
was prolific of law suits, and | find the
records of suits tried by him in the next few
years to be quite vOluminous- Being thus
called upon to decide questions of law, he
applied himself u study the science, and
for years before he was admitted u practice,
he was a we'll read lawyer. There was
nothing superficial about him, either in
study or practice, but be always aimed to
discover the legal principle upon which each
cazn OF subject depended lie loved BLACK,
stone for his yigJr Of thought. and simplicity
of style, and regarded his Commentaries a-
cDuucIdtlnZ the fundamental lrluclVle OF tut
law, while he was as conver,aut with them
as with household words His delight
was in the common law system of special
pleading, and As a special pl-ader he cNceiled
lie possessed a clearness Of perception and
compass of mind. that enabled him To CONE
prehcul the relations and principles Of %
given case with surprising quiekurss, and
when he had learned IA thing he never forgot
il. Ills vocabulary was not large, but well
chosen, aal he had power % express his
thoughts with great precision and force. 4
master in the science Of law, logical in de
duction of principles, clear and iorciblc in
expression, his brici and arguments were al
ways regarded with respect by the bar. and
with consideration by the Court.
In private life he was unprctenIinS in
his manners. stcadfast in his friendships and
loved his native town and its history, his
home and its associations. OF a peculiarly
sensitive nature, he felt every disappoint-
ment in life kccnly, and was often dcspond-
ent over what seemed to others mere t%rifcs.
Like other men, he had faults and failings,
but to know him intimately was to honor
him.