Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-02-09
Watohman s. Journal.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY o, 1870.
Death Of Governor Washbnrn.

Ills Excclency, PErm I. WAsuwURN, was born
in Lyme, Massachusetts,. September :, 1914, and
died ut Woodstock, Vermont, February Z, 1870,
aged ffty-fye years and five months His father,
Reuben Washbur, settled in Cayendish, Wind
sor County, Vermont, in 1917, and entered the
bar Of Windsor County, subsequently removing
20 Ludlow in the sane county. The father was a
scholar and lawyer Of good reputation, and the
son was fitted for college under bis direction.
Peter +. Washburn entered Dartmouth College
in 1891, and graduated with good rcputo in 1885
In 1889 he was admitted to the bar of Windsor
county and entered professional business at Lud-
low, remaining there until 1915, when he became
a resident of Woodstock In 1853 and he rep
resented that town in the Legislature and ranked
among the abcst men of TINT body. On the
breaking out Of the rebellion, he was the first
man in Vermont who undertook to raise troops
and to him is the credit chiefly due for the organ
ization of the first Vermont regiment, with which
he went to the field as Northumberland. In
October, 1861, he was appointed Adjutant and
Inspector General of Vermont, and that Office he
held until October, 1866, when he submitted his
final report of the organization, history, and dis
charge of all the military bodies raised in Yer
mont for the suppression Of the rebellion. 10
this service, General Washburn proved himself
to be in every way a model officer, and his cleo
ton 10 the chief Executive office in September,
1862 was publicrocognit Of the value Of his
military services Governor Washburn's rcputa-
ton rs a lawyer is well known TO the profession
through his labors for a time as Reporter Of the
decisions Of the Supreme Court, and author Of a
Digest Of the Decisions Of that Court. lie has
recently prepared another volume Of the Digest
for the press.
Gov. Washburn was always ready 10 assume
heavy burdens, and his temperament was such as
would not permit any division Of responsibility
with others However weighty the burden, he
must bear il all however great the labor, he
would unhnchingly take it all as his own, and
admit no aid except under his own personal direc-
ton and supervision and in the discharge oil
every duty his fidelity was thorough and bis in
dustry indelatigable The labors and anxietie.
OF his services for sz years in the military depart
ment, covering his work in the field and in the
Adiuant Generals Office, heavily taxed all his
powers, and these were succeeded by other ankle
ties and labors which equally Interested him. We
refer now to his position as President Of the
Woodstock Railroad Company. That Office, vi
are confident, was the one burden too much, un'
der which the strong man has fallen.
As Governor, Mr. Washhurn has served through
only one term Of the Legislature, but it wa
enough to prove that his memory graspei th'
whole existing legislation Of the State, all it
statutes and policy, and that no infringement
upon settled questions Of policy and no encroach
inent upon public or private rights could escape
his notice 40 Goyeror has ever used the vet
power So freely, and none more wisely In ever.
instance his action was checriuly acquiesced in
Thorough in his knowledge, quick and accu
rate in Judgment, and self reliant even to obstin
acy when neediul, his executive powers wer
both great and good. Vermont has not had {
more faithful and efficient public servant.