Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-27
Ham, HarziIIai Davenport


grateful heart, as well as duty 10 cher'
~ bis memory and make honorable men
4;or Of the good services which he has
performed, especially when the individ-
nal has been worthy and active mem
Der of the social body. A long life spent
in the midst of community, and whose
active years were devoted to the service
of the public, is one of its treasures.
Sucb a life has Just been terminated
among us, after having been extended by
the favor of Providence far beyond the
usual term assigned as the limit of human
life upon the earth.
Hon. Barzillai Davenport died sudden
" at the residence of his son-in-law, Hon.
William M. Field, about Z o'clock on
Monday morning, at the age of 80 years.
He was taken i'll on Sunday night with
spasms, such as he had frequently been
accustomed to, and after the usual RENE
dies had been applied became quiet, and
his family were not alarmed at the symp-
toms An attendant remained during
the night, and while he was sleeping
quietly he went out to attend to his or
binary duties. On returning about the
hour for breakfast, he went to his room,
and found that the sands in the hour
glass of life had ceased to run, and death
had closed all earthly scenes without a
warming. He was found quietly lying
in his bed in a natural position, indicat-
ing that death had come without a
struggle.
Mr.. Davenport was born Mt Dummers.
ton, in the county of Windham, Jan, ID,
1889. At the age of five years be re-
moved with his parents to Williamatown,
where spent the earlier years Of his life.
He studies law with Hon. John Lynde, of
Wiliamatown, and was admitted to the
Orange county bar, and in 1892 removed
to Brandon, where he commenced the
practice Of the law. He resided at Bran
don As years, Al of which he was town
clerk. He was frequently the recipient
of public trust from hi4 fellow citizens.
He was Justice of the peace for % years
He represented Brandon in the Legisla-
leagues from Rutland county in 1854
were Chester Spencer, G. s. Rumsey, Jo-
seph Adams, w. D. Marsh Nathaniel Fish,
John B. Page, VIM. L. Furnam. He
served az chairman of the committee on
military affairs In 1855, besides those
mentioned AZ his colleagues, the previous
year were DR., A. G.. N. Smith and Fred
erick Ruggles, Edwin MartindAle and
Nielsen Paul. At this session he was sec
ond on the Judiciary committee also
chairman of select committee, on so
much of the Governors message az relat-
ed to the grand list; and was alEo mem
Der of a select committee to take into con-
sideratiou the suggestions of the message
of Governor Royce on the subject of tenn
perance. He was delegate and a useful
member of the general assembly, and
held in high esteem by his associates. He
was one of the assistant Judges OF the
Rutland County Court in 1855,
1856 and 1857. He received the honora-
ry degree of A. NJ, from Middlebury
college in 1896. Under the old military
organic atoms Of the state he was colonel
of the militia: commissioned by Cover
nor Crafts This il brief memoranda of
the public positions held by Mr.. Daven-
port during period of forty years, and
show the estimate in which he was held
by his fellow citizens in the prime of his
life He had, during his life, been iden-
tilted with the democratic, free soil and
republican parties; having boon always at
heart AN anti.slavery man.
1t WAS on another aud more quiet field
thun the political arena that Mr.. Daven-
port achieved his greatest honors. He
early in life identified himself with the
Masonic fraternity to which be remained
steadfastly and devotedly attached to
the hour of hi. death. He was one of
those who imbibed and practiced the true
teachings of the institution. He was in
this respect model and examplAr. He |
held nearly all the highest Offices in the
gift of the fraternity in Vermont, and
ever acquitted himself with credit and
dignity in all the relations he assumed.
He hid been Master Of St. PAuPs Lodge
and Farmers Chapter, and Deputy Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Vermont
for six years, from 1858 to 1859. In this
position be was the associate and council
lor of the late Philip G. Tucker, in whose
regard he ever held high place. He
was Grand Scribe of the Grand Chapter
Of Vermont in 1857, Deputy Grand High
Priest in 1869, and High Priest in
1860, 1861 and 1862. He was also Grand
Commander of the Grand Commandery
in 1859 In all these relations he ac-
quilted himself with rare fidelity and
honor, and would have continued in
these positions but the increasing infrm-
tiles of advancing years compelled him
to decline longer service. He was the
worthy successor in Masonic Office of such
men AS John Cephas Smith, Isaac Tiche.
nor, John Chapman, Charles X. Williams,
Joel Clapp, Silas Bowen, Nathan B. Has
we'll and Philip G. Tucker.
His ardent love for the institution OF
Masonry was fully indicated by his life
and public utterances upon the subject
In all stations in which he had been called !
to labor, he has shown himself Jealous,
prompt and faithful in the discharge of
all his Masonic duties. He lived during
the time of the anti-Masonic persecution
which ragged and, as he said, "disgraced"
our Green Mountain State, when its
howliugs were heard in the halls of JUS
tice-in the Legislative halls-in the
jurors box, and when the faithful minis
ter of the Gospel was driven from the
LILY nltnr fnr hia hnnna Eui III nral a.IaaL |