Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-29

fill his place in this regard. The death of
such an individual is OF Solemn interest"
to our commonwealth. 1t has been truly
said in the article herewith published,
"He was without peer after the death of
Pliny Fl. White" in the more particular
field of historical inquiry and biographi-
cal "reminiscences.
We can hardly realize the fact that our
two genial and faithful friends and CO.
laborers have passed on before us to the
shadowy land. We treasure their labors,
their friendship and their memories amid
the happiest and the brightest recollec-
tions of life, and may kind Providence
raise up for our commonwealth noble sons
who shall follow their example, and make
good, so far as is possible, the places they
leave vacent.
The sketch we publish does ample JUS
tice to the life and services of our friend
and eo-laborer, and our feelings will not
allow of more extended comment, for
ADLER hands will undoubtedly perform
that duty at the coming anniversary of
the Vermont Historical Society.
Mr.. Houghton's death viii be widely
lamented. We were started by its first
announcement-itc came so suddenly, when
we supposed that he was in the highest
vigor of body and mind, and we looked
forward to long array of years for him.
There is one less of the kindly spirits
whom we were accustomed to meet 10 our
path, and the feeling at the loss of one
whose mind is 50 blended with that of the
public as to form much of it's strength
and grace, his removal by death, in the
strength and activity of his faculties, af-
fects us with a senee of violence and loss.
We feel that the great fabric of which we
form part is shattered by it. He left us
in the mid strength of his intellect, and
his soul unweakened by the disease which
brought low his frame amidst the loved
who stood around him. When the hour
of its divorce from the material organs
had come, calmly as if in sleep he retired
behind the veil which hides from US the
world of spirits
The following Is the sketch referred to,
taken from the st. Adams Messenger:
Sudden deaths are always shocking, es-
peeially such as result from no appalling
accident, for they seem to come like
thunderbolt from a clear sky. No death
has occurred for a long time which 50
startled this community as that of Geo.
f. Houghton, which occurred at this
rooms at the fremont House sometime
between the hours of five and seven last
evening. Though suffering for year or
more with infrm health, which none SO
well as his more intimate associates uu-
derstood, he yet kept about, and at times
appeared in such a fine flow of spirits
it would seem good health alone could
give. Yesterday morning he called at his
office appearing even better than usual,
and we now recall the heartiness with
which he joined all present in laughing
over something that was read. Later IN
the day he complained of little pain III
his stomach, baE after taking some pep
permint he expressed himself as relieved
and sat down TO reading.
In this way he was last seen alive by
his wife, who, on returning from making
calls In the afternoon, found him at
o'clock lying as if asleep, bptcold IN death
upon the bed. There was 10 evidence
that he died in pain, but on the contrary
he had the appearance of having lain
down to rest and through some sudden
cause ceased almost Immediately 10
breathe. Doctors Fassett, Wood ward and
Hall We're called and it was their unaui-
nous opinion that heart disease had taken
h he 80,
favor this theory mUre IMAM any other,
and it Is in Il degree strengthened by the
statement which he had more than once
made within few months to Mr.. Dixon
of this journal, to the effect that the
action of his heart had of late grown ir-
regular and at times painful.
The death of a man 80 widely known
and SO identified with the literature of
Vermont, is an event of solemn interest
far beyond the limits of this neighborhood
alone, for he counted his friends abroad
even more numerously than here. In a
certain way he has been known for years
as sui genertS and in the more particular
field OF historical inquiry and biographical
"Reminiscences he was without a peer ever
after the death of Pliny II. White. 1t
was this turn of miud which made him one
of the founders of the Vermont Hisuori-
cal Society and always one of its most
painstaking promoters. He delighted TO
garner records and more than once have
we found his musty treasure house, always
SO obligingly opened, of iucalcu.abie ad-
vantage in the preparation OF a sketch.
Alas no one had done the same for him
that he so devetedly did for many Others,
and the thought suggests the wonder Up
on whom his mantle shall now fail.
Mr.. Houghton was a man of fine ner-
vous temperament, sensitive alike to pleas
ure and to pain, and possessing most de-
licate sense of personal integrity and pub
lie honor. He had fine physique and
affable and courteous address. He also had
keen sense of the mirthful and the ri
diculous, and a faculty of imitation
which made his caricatures and ironical
and satirical representations of the most
lively and vivid kind. Cordial in hi-
friendship, he was equally hearty in Ifs
animosities. Sometimes be assailed with
undue impetuosity, and pursued with I'M
relenting vigor, but time and ref ction
were almost sure to set him right IN every
such case, and he had the manliness to
forgive if he bad not the self-interest to
conciIiste. He was the friend of e3uca-
ton, the promoter of Christianity, and the
advocate OF Sood morals, and though IN
more active pursuits he might have ae-
complished greater material results, he
has left memory that will occupy no oh |
scure niche in Vermont's gallery Of origi- |
nal and native men.
George Frederick Houghtou was born
in Guilford, VT, May 31st, 1920, and was
the son of Mr.. Abel Houghton, of this
village, for many years cashier of the St.
Adams Bank, and who, with Mrs. !
Houghton, two brothers ard a sister, sur
vive him. After completing a prepare
tory course of study in 1887 at the Epis-
copal Institute at Burlington, then under
the direction of Bishop Hopkins, he was
admitted to the Sophomore class of the
University of Vermont, where he was
graduated in the class of 1889. Among
his classmates were Rev. DR.. Shedd OF
New York, Rev John Henry Hopkins