Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
The Late DR.. Thomas E. Powers.

We condense the following sketch 1.-THE late DIR.
Thomas l.. Powers from the Woodstock Standard
Thomas L. Powers, the son Of Dr. John d.
Powers, and grandson OF the first resident ply
stefan in Woodstock, was born in Woodstock No
vember 1itlI, 1903 His early education he OBJ
tanned chiefly in the district school and at the acad
envy in Royalton. lie entered the Dartmouth Medi-
cal School, graduated in 1927 and went into his
fathers office as partner. The practice OF medi
cine was not agreeable to him, and he gradually
withdrew from it, till in the latter part of his life
he had given II up altogether. Other fields OF ac-
tivity suited his temperament better. In 1850 he
was elected Representative from Woodstock to
Montpelier and received reelection for the two
following years. and again in 1855 and 1856.
Upon becoming member OF the House, he was
elected Speaker and justified the choice Of his sup
porters by proving himself one of the best presiding
officers the House ever had. During this time
also, and indeed for many years previous he gave
all his energies to the cause of temperance in this
state. and in connection Herewith in 1852 he took
in hand the editorial management OF the Vermont
Standard, then known as the Temperance Stan
ddrd. In the year 1857 he was appointed by the
Governor to superintend the rebuilding of the
State House at Montpelier. In 1862 he was APP
pointed by the United States Government Asses
sor for the Second District of Vermont and re-
manned in this office nine years, this being the
last public trust Of any kind which he held. DIR.
Powers died in Woodstock, in an epileptc fit,
December 9th 1876. Endowed thus by nature
with great abilities that fully made up for any
lack of education, DR.. Powers possessed an intel
lectual force that must needs be felt wherever and
however he moved Few men have been so in
fuential as he in the popular assembly. Here,
indeed was the field in which he most delighted
to display his various energies, and he found not
many among his associates and rivals who cared
much to meet him there. Fertile in expedients,
swift to the best point OF attack self-reliant,
with physical strength to back up all the forces
Of his mind, it is wonder he was formidable in
debate and held such sway over the popular
mind. Yet this resolute will, and the lavish ex-
ercse Of it in all the transactions of life wrought
one unfavorable result for DIR. Powers, that may
be named here 1t caused the rough features OF
the man to appear too constantly before his fell
low citizens 1t was sometimes whispered indeed,
that within this harsh outside was hidden after
all, kindly heart; that many were his charities
done in secret"
The Woodstock Age says of him; I" In the last
year of his life he exercised considerable charity
in the way of small gifts to the poor of the yicn-
ity, but he had no charity for the Woodstock rail
road, and never saw the cars although living
within half a mile Of the depot for nearly two
years. OF late years.he did nothing but watch
his bonds OF which he left some thirty thousand
dollars or more without a will, which, according
to law will be divided between his two brothers
and sister, Robert John d., and Mrs. Charles g.
Eastman"