The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-02-15
Death of Governor Washburu.


We announce with unaffected sorrow
the death of Governor Washburn, which
took place yesterday morning at 4 o'clock,
at his residence in Woodstock
His Excellency, PETER THAcnkR WASH
BURN, the 2sth Governor of Vermont
and the first that was ever removed byl
death while occupying the gubernatorial
chair,-was born in Lyme, Mass, Sept
4th, 1914, and was consequently in the
56th year of his age at his death lie
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1885,
chose the law as his profession, and es.
tablished himself in its practice at Wood
stock, in 1874, in company with Charles
p. Marsh, Esq, of that village. The
partnership thus formed was the Oldest
one in point of duration in the State, hav-
ing been in existence for twenty-five
years, when thus Dissolved by death
Mr.. Washburn early took position as
an active and prominent member Of the
Windsor County Bar. He represented
Woodstock in the Legislature in the
years 1854 and 1855, and left the record
of an industrious, influential and prudent
legislator.
While all WAS peace and quiet in Yer
mont and the nation when the State
Militia had been disbanded in the gener-
al belief that wars and fighting had about
ceased among men, Mr.. Washburn's mill
tary tastes induced him to accept the
Captaincy of an independent Militia
Company in Woodstock, which was raised,
we think, largely through his influence,
and which had the reputation Of being the
best drilled Of the independent companies
in the State.
When the war broke out he was among
the first to tender his services to the State
and the country. The Woodstock Com
pany formed part ofthe First Vt. regi-
ment, formed from the existing militia
companies. The regiment was organized
with Col. john W. Phelps as Colonel,
and Mr.. Washburn as Lieut. Colonel, and
left for the South on the 9th of May,
1861. He served with his regiment at
Fortress Monroe and at Newport News,
and commanded the detachment of the
regiment which took part in the battle of
Big Bethel The three months term of
service ended. he returned with his regi-
ment to Vermont, and in the fall of that
year was elected by the Legislature, Ad-
jutant General of the State, which Office
he held continuously through the war and
until 1867, when he declined q re.elec-
ton. Of the enthusiasm, industry and
efficiency with which he executed the re-
sponsible and laborious duties of that Of.
fee during the war, it would be hard to
speak in terms Of too high praise. Under
his able and energetic direction, Vermont
promptly filled her quota Of every call for
troops, had always balance to her cred
it in the account of men furnished for the
war, and at its close stood credited on the
books of the War Department with a
credit, over the aggregate quotas under
all calls, of fifteen hundred and thirteen
men. His system of accounts and books
of record were adopted by other States,
as models, and of the thirty-fve thousand
men sent into the country's service by
Vermont, every man finally stood account
ed for on his lists, save rs, the rosters
showing the entire military record of each
officer and man. as to all material facts
The invaluable services rendered by Ad.
jutant General Washburn were appre-
ciatedby his fellow citizens, and in rec
ognition of the same, and of his high per.
sonal qualities and fitness for the place
he was with great unanimity nominated
for Governor by the Republicans at thcil
State Convention at Rutland, last June
and was elected in September, by ma
jority Of 20,353. He received the oatl
Of Office from Judge Ashel Peck, of til,
Supreme Court, in the Hall of the Hous'
Of Representative on the 18th of October
and delivered his first message in person
He had thus at his death held the ofhc,
/, of chief magistrate of this commonwealth
/ three months aud twenty-five days.
Upon the incorporation of the Vernon
: Agricultural College in 1864, Gen. Wash
burn was elected by the Legislature II
one Of its trustees. Upon the union O
. the Agricultural college with the Univer
sity Of Vermont, he passed into the boar
Of trustees of the consolidated institution
= = and was reelected in 1867 for term q
} six years. As member of tho corpora
tion he took strong interest in the welfar
Of the University, and his clear judgmen
and strong will were more than once G
signal service to the institution.
), The project for Il railroad, to conneC
Z Woodstock with the roads which meet q
II White River Junction, found its MOI
!. ! earnest advocate in Gen. Wasfburn, an
J. upon the organization of the Woodstoc
X. X. Co., he was made its presiden
!" To the raising Of the stock and manage
ment of its affairs, he gave the energy, III
tiring exertion and watchful care whic
! characterized his support ofany enterpris
: : which enlisted his full interest. The rs
). sulting anxieties and labors in the effol
!. to push the road to completion with mac
equate funds and under some resultin