Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-01
William Jarvis.


and protecting these, he gave his talents by
pen and speech. BY his great knowledge,
unfinching courage, and steady persever-
ance, he became not merely notable man,
but really one of the most influential of his
day in the State. Though holding no POI
sitiOn as a state official, membership in
constitutional convention excepted, he yet
was a leading counsellor among the men
who controlled politics and legislation. The
life of such man should be known, both
to honor his memory and furnish good
example for those who are hereafter to be-
come rulers in public affairs. The compar-
atively few, who knew him and remember
him well, will thank us for an outline of
that life and we are sure the young men,
who have hardly heard of him, will find in
it excellent lessons. For many years, Mr..
Jarvis was accustomed to address the pub
lie through the columns of the Vermont
Waterman, thus becoming an educator to
us and to many who are still its patrons
so it is fit that we should take upon our
selves this labor of love.
Mr. JARVIS was born in Boston, Feb. 4,
1870, received his primary education from
Boston teachers, and completed his studies
at academies in BordentOwn, New Jersy,
and in the city of Philadelphia, his entire
course being far from equal to that now ac-
corded to the poorest child i'll Montpelier
Union School and Academy. He was
good at spelling, reading, penmanship and
figures, and that was the intent of his schOl-
arship; but he had acquired a taste for
reading substantial books, and thus was he
fitted for self-education as opportunities
occurred. BY improving these well, he be-
came learned in history, political economy
and politics-pure politics we should say
to distinguish him from the corner grocery
politicians of these days, who reverse the
good old Principles, not Men" In
a word, he became in that way a power
among men; and that is the first good eX-
ample.
At the age of sixteen, he entered q store
near Norfolk, Va, as a clerk, and at eigh-
teen became boOk-keeper for a merchant at
Portsmouth, in the same State. One nota-
BILE event here was that, on being thrown
somewhat off his balance by conforming to
the Virginia customs of Christmas, he de-
termined never to taste of any kind Of liq-
uOr before dinner, at which in manhood he
drank light wine moderately; and he never
tasted of any kind Of ardent spirits till it
was recommended by physician in his old
age This is another good example, at least
for his fidelity to the pledge however short
it was of the teetOtal standard. At twenty,
he became a partner in the business, and
after year which was profitable, he return
ed to Boston, and at twenty-One he estab-
lished himself as Il merchant there In
this business he was successful, but by en-
dorsing for others, he found himself obliga-
ted Cor S38, 600. Immediately he paid ev-
ery dollar of his own debts, and then ten
dered all his remaining property to the
creditors of the firm for whom he was en-
dorsed. Another and a noble example
He was arrested for these debts of his
friends while at dinner, but the officer per
mitted him to finish his dinner, and retired
on an assurance that Mr.. Jarvis would re-
port himself at the Jail. He did so, and
was obliged to wait an hour or two for the
! TAILOR to commit him who, however, offer
ed to take bail, and did so. The failing
house had assets, and promised to pay {
large portion of their debt, but Mr.. Jarvis
preferred not to wait III uncertainty and pro-
posed to pay Sl4.500 in five annual install
ments for the discharge of his obligation
every dollar of which he was vet to earn
since at twenty-siX he was bankrupted by
others. His offer was accepted, and then
turning sailor and trader, by a series of re-
markable voyages and adventures for five
years, he earned the money and returned
| to America and paid the last dollar Of hi:
Indebtedness as an endorser. An example
of shrewdness, energy and honesty that i.
worthy of all praise.
Through the knowledge gained in com
mercial adventures abroad, and a declara
! ton by President Jefferson that he would
appoint Americans as L. :. Consuls wher,
foreigner then held the office, Mr.. Jarvis
wrote to a friend that he would take tn,
office Of consul at Lisbon, if it were offer
ed. but little expecting to receive 1t, how
ever. He was therefore surprised to find
on his return to America, that on hi
birthday. Feb. 4, 1902, he had been com
Imissioned, not simply as consul at Lisbon
but as Consul-General Of Portugal, ant
Charge d. Afiaires at Lisbon. He modest,
demonstrated with the then Secretary OF
State, Mr.. Madison, declaring that he tel
himself unfit for the Office; but Madison
expressed strong confidence in his ability
"and begged him to 0bige him by acting a
charge" We reproduce this incident 70
its rarity, not having the faintest hope tina
in these days an office-seeker will be trou
bled by modesty, or a Secretary Of Stat
compelled to beg an acceptance Of office q
a personal favor From this modest begin
ming, Mr.. Jarvis became a very efficient o.
fcer, and after nearly nine years service
he received from the then Ex-Presider
Jefferson the assurance that ''the zeal an
intelligence with which they were rendere
placed him pre-emineatly among the taithfI
, of public servants" Mr. Jarvis closed b
esty with which he began it, for he decline
to receive any compensation as Chang
: d AfIaires, on the ground that his cOuntr
/ was just entering upon war with England
, and needed the money more than he dix
Nor in the day of his country's prosperit
did Mr.. Jarvis present this just and propt
= claim, preferring the honor of gratuitol
service to the money which he did not neet
This, too, we can commend as an eXcellaI
example, but one most unlikely to be 70
: lowed
, This long residence and public servit
abroad were the occasion and preparatiO
4 for his valuable service to the farmers G
Vermont and the Union, in introducing tt
best sheep in the world to this countr
: Indeed it determined largely his futul
+ and very useful life, because this supply {
= the finest wool in the world led him to h
persistent, Jealous and effective labOrs
a establishing and protecting the manufac
4 ure of the best American cloths. 1t w
q thus that he became the best servant of
country, working out on her peaceful hill
, and valleys greater achievements than vi
e tories in war, and emitting him to honor
n BILE remembrance among all his cOuntrymt
- as great benefactor This was indeed Il
Il great work of his life, which was spent {
S most exclusively in Vermont after his I
turn from Europe.
V His entrance to Weathersfield with
i lected merinos, Dutch cattle, Portugue
u swine, goats, donkeys, and fine English al
Virginia blOOded horses with a Spani
shepherd and shepherd-dogs, must ha
created a sensation among the farmers
y the Connecticut valley, and the gibe al
d the laugh undoubtedly came in frequent
d An elegant and courtly gentleman, ri
% and accomplished and lordly in manner,
E was reckoned as an aristocrat, and
- question undoubtedly was how quickly
a would wilt even in the shade of Ascutnt
But he did not wilt, he succeeded, a
quickly the people of that region learn
to esteem him as their greatest benefact
Is and friend. The dwelling of the Verne
IN farmer who preceded him was good enou
for Mr.. JARVIS, but he added barns ann
J. sufficient to protect his stock, and out
~ careful and skillful management as farm
IS and stock raiser, his fortune grew apa
10 and it was used to bless and never to
r press his neighbors. He became in fac
~ banker for his section of the State, but n,
Is or took ucurinuc interest nor loanad q n