The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-21
Obituary.

ident born in the town of Poultney, died
on Saturday, January 10Th, at the adj
vanced age of 90 years. The family of
Hosfords were among the early settlers of
that town. Three brothers-Reuben,
Aaron and Isaac-came together, Reuben
settling in the north part, Aaron and Isaac
In the east part of the town. Reuben
married Anna Thomas of Connecticut,
whose father was an officer in the revolu-
tionary war. Philo, the eldest child, was
born April /, 1884 lie married Anna
Lynch.
Five chill lren were born to them. Reu-
ben, Anna, wife Of Danforth Petty, of
Detroit, Michigan Maria. wife of Olcott
Sherman, esq, of Poultnty; Polly, wife
of Charles II. Dustin, of CuttiDgsvllle, and
Henry Hobart Mrs 1osford died IN 1872
All the children have deceased except Mrs.
Sherman. He leaves, however, six grand
children, among whom are Mrs. Henry
Clark, of Rutland, Scion Sherman and Mrs.
Henry Crittenden, of East Poullney. Mr..
Hosford was the last male representative of
family which but few years since
was quite numerous. His grandson, VIM.
w. Hosford, prominent citizen Of Now
Britain, Conn, died a few months since.
William left three sons, who are the only
male representatives of the family.
The subject of this sketch was born in
log house, on the farm on which he spent
most of his life. Until within few years
he retained many incidents of his early life
and gave interesting narratives Of the early
history and inhabitants of the town. He
lived the life of an ordinary farmer and
carried on the tillagc of his own land until
about the year 1870. He was man of ex-
tensve reading and held many town offices,
and was for series Of years justice of
the peace.
He was prominent and devoted mem
Der of the masonic fraternity. He united
with Morning Star Lodge at Poultney,
at the age of twenty-one years-and at the
time of his death was probably the oldest |
mason in the United States, having been
connected with the institution for seventy
one years. He was in the grand lodge of
Vermont as representative in 1926, 1927
and 1928. He was member Of all branches
of the institution up to and including the
Knight Templars.
He was man of remarkable vitality and
endurance Within the last three years
he has several times walked distance of
ten or fifteen miles. At the time Of his
death he had no gray hairs, and within a
fortnight, had read for hours without the
use of glasses. For several years, how
ever, his mind was in wandering condi-
ton, and he was unstable and unsettled,
which was a source OF great anxiety and
perplexity to his immediate family, who
desired to do what they could for his COM
fort, but he refused all offers of assistance
from them. He, however, became settled
within the past year, and at the time of his
death retained his consciousness and reason
to the last, breathing out his lite as one
falling into gentle slumber.
His funeral was attended on Tuesday,
January 18Th, under the auspices Of Morn
ing Star lodge No. 81 of Poultney, the
Masonic ritual being the only service, the
Rev. d. B. Mckenzie of the Methodist
church, acting as chaplain, with brief
address by Henry Clark. The Masonic
ritual was gracefully and solemnly render
ed by Mr.. Scion l.. Ward, master of the
lodge.
At the conclusion Of the services he was
borne to tomb which he erected many
years agl upon his own farm.
Samuel Wood of Fairhayen II. f.
Kidder, Of Castleton; Fourose Farewell,
of Hampton, New York Z. Dewey,
James Bullock and F. w. Whitlock, of
| Poultney, acted as pail bearers.
The general direction of the funeral was
in charge of b. G. Rice, as marshal.