Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-12

We condense the following sketch of Dr.
Thomas E. Powers from the Woodstock
SGadard
thomas h. Powers, the son of DR.. John
ID. Powers. and grandson OF the first resi-
dent physician in Woodstock. was born in
Woodstock November IA, 1908 His carly
eduction he obtained chiefly in the district
school and at the academy in Royalton.
lie entered the Dartmouth Medical School,
graduated in 1927 and went into his fathers
Office AZ Il partner The practice OF medi-
emo was not agreeable to him, and be
gradually withdrew from it, till in the
latter par: of his life he had given it up
altogether. Other fields Of activity 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 a member of the
House, he was elected speaker, and justified
the choice OF his supporters 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 Standard. In
the year 1857 he was appointed by the
Governor to superintend the rebuilding OF
the State House at Montpelier. In 1862 he
was appointed by the United States Govern
ment Assessor for the Second District of
Vermont AMI remained in this Office nine
years, this being the last public trust OF
any kind which no held. DR.. Powers died
in Woodstock, in an cpileptic fit, December
81. 1876.
Endowed thus by nature WI great abil-
tiles that fully made up for lack Of edu-
cation, DIR. Powers possessed q intellect
ual force that must needs be /. t wherever
and however he moved. men have
been so Influential as he in IL popular as
sembly. Here, indeed. was the field in
which he most delighted to display his va
rious energies, and he found not many
among his associates and rivals who cared
much to meet him there. Fertile in expe-
dents, swift to see the best point of attack.
self-reliant. with physical strength to back
up all the forces of his mind, it is no won
der he was formidable in debate and held
such sway over the popular mind. Yet this
res0lute will, and the lavish exercise of it
in oil the transactions of life wrought one
untavorable result for DR.. Powers, that may
be named here. 1t caused the rough fea-
lures of the man to appear too constantly
before his fellow citizens. twas sometimes
whispered. indeed, that within this harsh
outside was hidden after all, a kindly heart;
that many were his charities done in secret
Tho Woodstock Age says of him /:
In tho last year of his life no exercised
considerable charity in the way Of small
gifts to the poor of the vicinity, but he had
no charity for the Woodstock Railroad, and
never saw the cars although living within
half mile of the depot for nearly two
years. Of late years be did nothing but
watch his bonds. of which he left some
$50, 900 or more. without will, which, ac-
cording to law, will be divided between his
two brothers and sister. Robert. John D.,
and Mrs. Charles g. Eastman.