Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-07
Dugald Stewart.


was dead. After brief illness of lung
fever, he expired at his residence in Mid
dlebury, Wednesday morning at o'clock.
He has passed away in the fullness of his
strength and usefulness We have long
known him, and as we write, sadly sweet
memories crowd thick upon US, and over
whelm our pen. Would we had been
spared this painful duty.
DuQald Stewart was son of the late
Hon. Ira Stewart, and was born Goth Sep
tember, 1921. His preparatory studies
were pursued in the schools of his native
town, and he entered Middlebury College
in 1888, graduating in 1S42, in the class
with Charles L. Allen, M. D., Champlin
M. Fletcher, Eber d. Munger, Columbus
Smith and Henry Watkins. We.have no
knowledge of his standing as a scholar,
but knowing his varied attainments in
after life, have no doubt he took high
rank. On leaving college he studied law,
and was admitted to the bar, but never
entered upon an extensive practice of his
profession. Iu the early history of the
the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, he
was for severa! years connected with it as
Accountant and Paymaster. He repre-
sented Mddlebury in the Legislature in
1860 1861 and 1862. In 1860 he served
on the Joint committee on the Library, a
position for which his varied learning and
rare good taste eminently fitted him. In
1861 and 1862 he was a member of the
committee on claims and associated with
him, were Homer E. Hubbell, Hugh H.
Henry, james d. Bell, Isaac N. Cushman
and Charles s. Dana. This was undoubt-
ediy one of the strongest committees in
practical good judgment and prudence
ever appointed in the General Assembly
OF Vermont, and in fact was so marked a:
to be often referred to in later years by
those who are conversant with legislation
for its ability. They were men WHO bar
rieaded the treasury against unjust and
unlawful claims That wise conservatism
yet courtesy and honorable dealing per-
vaded their deliberations that was charac-
teristic of each individual who composed
it. 1t was strong association of men in
any capacity and very rarely if ever were
there differences of opinion among them,
and no cormorant who sought to prey upon
the public treasury ever dared to appear
before this body of solid men with his un-
Just claims,
In 1866, he was appointed Clerk of the
county of Addison, in place of his brother,
John w. Stewart, who had resigned the
position. He held this Office at the time
of his death, and was a model of correct
ness and neatness, to whom his associates
in the State looked for an example. In
1864, he was appointed Auditor of Ac
counts by Governor Smith, to fill va
cancy caused by the death of Hon. Jeptht
Bradley. At the succeeding Legislature
he was elected to that office, and has an
nually been reelected. 1t has been il
the administration of the important du
ties of this office that he was more famil
iarly known to the people of our State
His wise and judicious management, his
careful investigation of all claims, and
the courtesy with which they were
heard, have made him a popular officer.
The military claims of the State against
the General Government, arising out oi
the war, have been carefully prepared and
skillfully presented for adjustment, and
he has been enabled to secure large pro
portion of them, and had life been spared
would eventually have made final set
tlement. Long and wearisome days and
nights has he assiduously labored in be-
half of the State in the preparation oi
these claims, and his long tarryings al
Washington have been of invaluable ser
vice.
The visitation of Death that has taken
the two officials of our Commonwealth
who fully understood these claims as nc
other individuals do or can, is remark.
able instance. No truer, more dilligent
or faithful servant has ever been in the
public service than Mr.. Stewart.
There ia another relation he sustained
to the public which should not be forgot.
ten. No individual was more sought for
as an arbitrator or auditor in the adjust.
ment of legal controversies, or to find the
material facts 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 facts, and his services were constantly
in demand, far beyond his ability to per.
form. No man ever questioned his integ.
rity or impartiality, and few if any have
been able to so adiudicate between man
and man as not to have gained the enmity
OF one or the other of the parties. He
commanded the universal respect of all
with whom he came in contact in these
relations, and none ever heard disre
spectful word spoken of him, and h,
probably died without an enemy in thu
world. This is tribute which can b,
paid to few men who sustain public re
lations to the State or his fellow citizens
We have thus briefly reviewed the lif
and services Of one of Vermont's most in
dustrious and useful citizens. 1t falls fa
short of the public estimate. His varied
and valued services are recorded in tn,
hearts of the people, rather than on th,
journals of the legislature, courts, or tn,
records of official life. He labored to pro
mote the good of the Commonwealth ant
its people, and laid down in death in tn,
prosecution of his labors. But his mos
eminent qualities are not to he found 1,