Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-20
Hon. Hiram Jones.


citizens Of the town Of WaitsGed, who
had enjoyed in a remarkable degree the confidence
of his own townsmen, as well as that Of the PEG.
pie of the county. We refer to the Hon, Calvin
Fullerton Last week we made the simple an
nouncemcnt Of the sudden death Of another Of
the prominent and respected citizens Of the same
town-HoN. HIRAM JoNEs-who was suddenly
stricken down in the midst Of his usefulness
while in the discharge Of public duties to which
he was so often called by his fellow townsmen,
and for which he was so well qualified. Not Of
ten is it our duty, within 80 short time, to
record the death Of two men from the same town
whose loss will be so deeply felt by the commu-
nifty in which they lived, and who enjoyed public
confidence to a greater degree. The same paper
announcing the death Of Judge Jones, also con-
tanned the intelligence Of the death Of Judge
Buckley Of More,own, Col LOOMS, native Of
Thetiord, and Capt. Idle Of Calais all Veterans
in public service Mr. Shedd Of IIardwiek and
MIR. Marsh Of Brandon, stricken down in the
prime of manhood and in the midst Of their use
iulness, and young Dwinell, cut of in the flower
Of his youth More truly than ever may it be
said that " in Tie midst Of life we arc in death.
Ma. JoNrs was born in WaitsGed, VI, June
90, ls0s, and was therefore, in the sixty-iourth
year Of his ace wien lie died on the 9th OF
March inst lle was the eldest son Of Capt
Matthias s. Jones, one Of the earliest settlers Of
the town. md ;;as the Oldest Of four brothers, -
Matthias S. jones, Jr., who died in Waitsfeld in
1859, at the age Of I9 DR.. Edwin A. Jones, who
died in STAFFORD, Vt, in 1854, at tie age Of 20 :;
and Loren W Jones' the youngest and only sur
wing brother the junior partner Of the recent
firm Of Storrs & Jones Of Montpelier
His attachment to home, and to his native
town was so strong, that he found his greatest
pleasure among the familiar hills Of his own
State. and among kindred aud friends, rather
than in any attempt to make for himself new
home among strangers, and in strange land.
He was, therefore, after attaining bis majority,
Immediately identified with the history Of the
town Of Wa;sheld and during the last forty
years of his life we find but a single year in
which be did not hold some Office Of honor and
trust in his native town. And whenever, in the
strife Of day, either from political or local
causes, his name fails to appear more prominent
ly in the list, his townsmen did not fail to ac-
knowledge their mistake in subsequent elections
Receiving in his youth only such educational
1I'a'''sr, u" w., a"''e'u ~ .'' Vo",uio"
profied by the means within his reach, is mani
tested bv his election IN tho office If s,norr,er.
don, NJ common schools If flo ,o,,, - W..
field in the year 1893, being the first public Office
he ever held, and, if we mistake not the first
time tho ,eice If s,,rerin,cndert n sol,o,ls 49,.
neors ON tho town records In teqe to 60. -
iec,ed nc ono or tho cor,,,;,,eo d, s,,.,.,. -,
from Waitsfeld to Granville. which at that time
was considered work of no small magnitude
In 1910 he was elected tovn reprosent,ti,e- flo
first time that the Wbio. had sufficient .trs,,,l,
to elect their man and this was in ma little de,reo
attributable TO the populnritv or tleir candidate
and so acceptably did he serve his constituents in
the Legislature that he wos re- elected the two
succeeding years by increased moiorities Tins
holding the Office of town representative for three
successive years-an honor enioyed by no one Of
his fellow townsmen in previous or snbsoopert
years, it We except Benz. Reed who has since
held the Office five wears but only tro voors j.,
succession at any time. Tie next three vears-
1873 5-during the triangular politicoi souab.
BILE in the State between the Who's Democrats
and Free Sellers, the town was unrepresented in
the Legislature.
In ls4i he was frs, elec,,,,os .r,h. 81.
men and from tb.t limo 10 tss1to -.
continually identified with Tho oe.os ~ ,r.-. :.
tovn In 1917 bo;oo a.. g., r. - -.
ton bv the peo,e we find his ro,,o orao,,,. 49,,
justices Of Peace elected and Win tho e,ceS,io,,
of three or G,pr wars he continued % IA No.,
Office nm N tho ,;,ne ,f bis do.,h
In 1884 10 ,ro. o,cc,ed ,..,.,.., III,
Washington County Court which nosi,ior no
continued to hold by re.electi,n in ls55 d,rirc
which time. being ex-oHicio Justice Of the Peace
his name does not erpear in the list or .Ins,;ces
but in 1856 it is again returned IN tho list drop-
ned in 1857. IS. 80 and go and amin q, near.
in 1851 and remains in the list until ,be time If
his death. In 1857 he was elected Countv Com.
missioner under the State Probibitory Iiouor
Law, and was reelected in 1898 the digicrl,
duties of which office he DISCHARGED with urea,
fidelity. and with norticnlor GOOD i,d,,,o,t ,,,d
acceptance to the friends Of law and order 1t
was while holding tie Office Of County Commits
sioner that the opponents Of the pr0hibitory law
succeeded in displacing him from town Office. So
that in 1859 his name does not appear among the
list of town officers elected-the first and only
year from 1888 to the time Of his death, in which
he did not hold some public Office But even that
was an exceptional year, and is to be placed to
his credit as indicative of faithful officer in the
midst of heated excitement The excitement Of
the hour having passed, his name again appears