Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-19
Obituary.
JAMES roTrINeHAM TnURsroN.


those who enjoyed the affection of hi,
home.
Mr.. Thurston was the son of Moses
Thurston and Hannah Bolton Thurston
and was born in Cambridge. Vt, Feb. 10
1918. His father was farmer, and the
education of which the son had the bene.
fit at home was only such rs 4 youth Of
quickneSs of intellect could obtain in the
common schools of the town, at time
when such schools could hardly be called
institutions of learning but only served
to give boys an acquaintance with the
rudiments of knowledge. He came to
Montpelier when he was fifteen years
of age, living with his brother-in-l law,
Henry W. Sabin, and serving part of the
time as his clerk, attending for two or
three years the district school during the
winter months. and possibly a term or two
at the academy. His after life, however,
served to show how little the fitness for re-
sponsble positions and ability to do well
everything that prominent business man
and citizen has TO do, depends upon the
learning of the schools. In 1888 he was
employed as clerk in the Vermont Mutual
Fire Insurance Company where he per-
formed his work so satisfactorily that in
1912 he was made treasurer Of the COM
pany. This position he occupied-with the
exception of q period of fourteen month,
in lSj0-5l, when he acted as secretary of
the National Life Insurance Company
| for thirty-two years. AT the time he was
made treasurer Daniel Baldwin was pres
ident of the company, and such men as
Joseph Reed, Joseph Howes, John Spald-
ing and George Worthington were active
directors. The company then, though
well established, was doing small bust
ness in comparison with what it afterwards
commanded, and no small share of its
subsequent success is due to the faithful
and intelligent labors of its treasurer. In
1874 Mr.. Thurston was made president,
succeeding Mr. Baldwin who had held the
office for thirty-four years. In 1877 he
resigned the Office on account of his in
creasing infrmity, which made even its
lightest duties severe tax upon his
strength.
Mr.. Thurston was, besides his connec-
ton with the Fire Insurance Company, a
director of the National Life Insurance
Company from 1852 until his death, and
for nearly the whole time a trusted and
continually consulted member of its finan-
cial committee. He was also director OF
the First National Bank OF Montpelier
from its organization, and his acquaintance
with men and affairs and his prudent
judgment made him valuable officer
He was at different times clerk, selectlnan
and lister of Montpelier, and latterly for
many years favorite presiding officer in
town and public meetings
In politics Mr.. Thurston was until 1861
a democrat and associated with such dem
ocrats as Paul Dillingham;, Daniel Bald
win, Chas. G.. Eastman, T. Z. Redfeld,
Chas. Reed, John A. Page, Stephen
Thomas and w. II. II. Bingham. lie was
the candidate of that party for state treas
urer from 1856 10 1860. Since the com
mencement of the rebellion in 1861 he has
acted and voted with the republican party.
He was not however either rs democrat or
republican a Jealous partisan, but always
held his opinions of public men and meas
ures subject to his intelligent estimate Of
their real worth without much respect for
their party labels.
Mr.. Thurston united with the Congre-
gational church in Montpelier, where he
had formerly worshipped, in 1858, was a
member of its communion ut his decease,
and regular attendant upon its services
when his health permitted, His religion
was Il matter of judgment rather than OF
emotion, a belief in the present value of
an upright life rather than in the saving
power Of ecstatic states Of mind or unreal
sonng faith in creeds in short, an intel.
igent, consistent, exemplary practical
christianity, a christianity that believes
the road to heaven should be travelled moi
on Sundays alone but on other days in
the week us well.
In 1913 Mr.. Thurston was married to
Fanny W. Witherell of Montpelier. who
died in 1865, leaving one son, John B.
Thurston, now a respected citizen o.
Montpelier. Afterward Mr.. Thurston
married Mrs. Sevira j. Currier of Mont
peler, who survives him. His home was
II delight to him and to those under its
roof, place to which he always turned
with fondness and longing when away. a
home now darkened by the shadow OF
death.
1t may Justly be said of Mr.. Thurston's
life that it was calm and steady, flowing
like the current of river that, between
even banks, keeps its quiet course to the
sea- He was a conservative rather than q
reformer, but conservative more in action
than in thought, as often happens with
men of temper seldom stirred by the
heats of passion or emotion; but no gen
uine reform that commended itself to the
sober judgment ever lacked his sympathy
or support. Rev. Mr.. Hincks, in remarks
at the funeral service, said that Mr..
Thurston was not aggressive in his re-
ligion; and he might have said with equal
Justice that he did not belong to the ag-
grcssive type of man. He WAS not of the
men who found states and conquer king
doms, but of the other equally valuable
men who hold fast the progress already
made, yet never refuse 10 advance when
new ideas open the way. He had lively
sense of humor, a rare appreciation of the
ridiculous, was II keen observer of men, en-
joyed good story and told one exceeding
ly we'll, and was genial and witty as well
as philosophic and thoughtful in CONVERSE
ton. He was quick to see the force of logic,