The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-04-05
Death of Hon Duguld stewart.

Stewart which occurred on Wednesday
morning, after short illness of lung few
er. During the day, Tuesday, the ply
sicians entertained little hope, but in
the night he grew rapidly worse and cx-
pired about 5 o'clock, Wednesday morn
ing, retaining his consciousness to the
last.
The news of his death spread rapidly
and brought mourning to the whole COM
munity. No event could have oppressed
the people with such sense of personal
bereavement. He had won the love and
confidence of every one with whom he
came in contact, and his death brings
deep sorrow to every heart, not only in
this community but to every one Of his
numerous friends in the state and else
where while to his own family and
immediate friends the bereavement comes
with crushing weight, with thoughts
and memories too sacred to be discussed
Dugald Stewart was son of the late
Hon. Ira Stewart, and was born the Goth
of September, 1921. His preparatory
studies were pursued in the schools of his
native town, and he entered Middlebury
College in 1887, graduating in 1912, He
was a fine scholar and took high rank in
his class. On leaving college he studied
law, and was admitted to the bar, but
never entered upon an extensive practice
of his profession. In the early history of
the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, he
was for several years connected with it
as Accountant and Paymaster, residing
for time at Burlington. lie represent
ed Mddlebury in the Legislature in 1860,
1861 and 1862. lie seldom if ever de-
bated any question, and was yet one of
the most influential members of the Leg
islature during those years. An easy and
forcible speaker, he might have taken
high position and gained reputation in
that direction, had he chosen but he was
utterly devoid of the ordinary ambitions
of the human heart and was content with
the simple performance Of his duties to
his state and his constituents
In 1855, he was appointed Clerk ofthe
county of Addison, in place of his brother,
the Hon. John W. Stewart, who had re-
signed the position. He held this Office
at the time of his death, and was a model
of correctness and neatness, to whom his
associates in the State looked for an ex-
ample. In 1864, he was appointed Au-
ditor of Accounts by Governor Smith, to
fill vacancy caused by the death of
Hon. Jeptha Bradley. Both those posi-
tons and all others which he was called
to fill, were given him without solicitation
on the part of himself or his intimate
friends At the succeeding Legislature
he was elected to the Office of Auditor,
and has annually been reelected. 1t has
been in the administration of the impor-
tant duties of this Office that he was more
Familiarity known to the people Of our
State Ills wise and judicious manage
ment, his careful investigation Of all
claims, and the courtesy with which they
were heard, have made him popular
oMcer. The military claims of the State
against the General Government, arising
out of the war, the adjustment of which
was made his duty by special act of Leg
islature, have been carefully prepared and
skillfully presented and he has been ena-
bled to secure large portion of them,
and had life been spared, would eventual
ly have made final settlement Long and
wearisome days and nights has he assid-
uously labored in behalf of the State in
the preparation of these claims, and his
long tarryings at Washington have been
of invaluable service
There is another relation he sustained
to the public which should not be forgot
ten. No individual was more sought for
as an arbiter in the adjustment of legal
controversies, or to find the facts and re-
port in law cases, than Mr.. Stewart. So
great was the confidence Of the parties
and courts in his accuracy, judgment and
impartiality, that all were willing to abide
his decisions and finding of the facts, and
his services were constantly in demand,
far beyond his ability to perform No
man ever questioned his integrity or i'm
Partially, and few if any have been able
to SO adjudicate between man and man
as not to have gained the enmity of one
or the other of the parties. He command
ed the universal respect Of all with whom
he came in contact in these relations, and
none ever heard disrespectful word
spoken of him, and he probably died with
out an enemy in the world. This is a
tribute which can be paid to few men
who sustain public relations to the State
or his fellow citizens
Tho frparal narauopiao nm Eri1av
ternoon were transformations but impress
sive, The various places of business in
the town were closed, and most of our
citizens assembled at the church to mani
fest their respect for the deceased. And
besides our own people large numbers of
prominent gentlemen from other town as
sembled here to pay their tribute of re-
spect to his memory. St. Adams, Bur-
lington, Vergennes, Brandon, Rutland
Manchester and other places were repre-
sented by delegations of the legal fraterni-
ty and other gentlemen of prominence.
The Addison county bar attended in a
body, and wore badge of mourning
Rev. DR.. Kitchel offered prayer at the
house and the procession moved to the
Congregational church where large as
sembly was in waiting.
Rev. Prof. George n. Weber read a
portion Of scripture, and gave brief adj
dress, in which he feelingly alluded to
the great loss to the family the commu-
nifty and the State, the exalted character
and services of the deceased, and the les
sons of the bereavement. After the sing
ing of an appropriate hymn by the choir
prayer was offered by Prof Webbor, and
the procession moved to the cemetery
where all that was mortal of Dugald
Stewart was laid in its final resting place
by the side Of his honored father and
mother, and other friends who had gone
heforn Among the trihutes of rnsnecI