Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-23
PORTER EIINMAN.

death in our last issue. But the char
Hcter of the man, and the effect of his
death upon the community, seems to
us to require more than passing no
tice. When man dies who is so ex-
tensively connected with the social
aud business interests of community
as was Mr.. Hinman, moments retiec-
ton upon his life and death cannot
p, improbable. Being a descendant
O; the early settlers of Derby, "a son OF
the very first settler,} and consequently
connected with 9 large, but now some
what scattered family, gives the sub
ject more or less of general interest.
lie was born in Derby, January 90,
1912. and married TO Mary r. Wilder,
August 10, 1885. The circumstances OF
his fathers family at the time OF his
birth were somewhat peculiar. His
father was one of those who left their
bloody footprints in ths SHOWS of Val
ley Forge, and who in his lifetime had
been OF stern and regular habits, and
wa. a man of sterling worth, un-
compromising probity and dignity of
character. lie occupied positions of
trust. Among others, that of trial
Judge in the County Courts. But at
the time of the birth of the subject of
this sketch, solely through misfortune,
and stern refusal to take advantage
of circumstances by any questionable
means, he was victim to that cruel
law which permitted imprisonment for
debt. Under these circumstances, the
dawn Of Porter's life Was upon strug-
giles with misfortune and absolute
want. After struggling slopg with
llis father and mother until their death,
he began business in q small way, lily
ing in Derby for q time, then at Bebee
Plain, where his sister, Mrs. Stewart,
now lives; from there he removed
back to Derby, and soon after to
Charleston, where he actively engaged
in the mercantile business and farming.
lie resided in Charleston, with the ex-
eeptiop of a short time during which
he was engaged in business at Morgan,
until he removed to Island Pond about
the year 1866, where he Immediately
entered into business, taking the live
iliest interest in all the little village en-
terprises and industries connected with
our community.
looking along the line Of his work,
the eye is constantly passing from one
TO another of his enterprises back to
the old town of Derby, and scarcely
one is to be found with which he has
not in some way been connected. And
seldom is a man met on the route who
has not known him intimately and
had business relations with him. Ills
last enterprise was the completion of
the Stewart House in our village. lie
never owned place that he did not
improve and give to it an air OF COM
Tort, exercising the best judgment and
the strictest economy in respect to it.
Ills busy life bringing him in contact
with so many, 1t would be singular if
he escaped criticism from, some. But
nnder the circumstances, he was pecu-
liarly fortunate, escaping more differ
ences and controversies than most any
other man would in 50 busily travelling
the same road.
IIs was always accommodating. No
fian ever came to him in financial EN-
barrassmcnt to whom he did not lend
4 willing ear, and no man in the COM
munity was ever applied to more fire.
quen:ly in such cases. Imbibipg strong
puritanical and somewhat old fashion,
cd notions, he often ran counter to the
more modern style Of thought and life.
His education being limited, and being
very retiring and undemonstrative, his
motives were often lpisappreheqdei.
This made II fe Mt times hard. He new
er sought public promotion, but in his
diffidence and distrust in his abilities
to perform the duties Of Office, always
shrank from them. When elected by
the people OF this county to the Office
OF assistant judge of the County Court,
he hesitated about attending Court at
all. His success lay ip his strong COM
mon sense, and in the possession of q
memory seldom equalled.
His loss was not anticipated, but
is now felt. Scarcely, il ever, was
the active business men of our
community brought so near to the
shades Of the eternal world as now.
lie died-as most men would like to
die-in the harness. Nature was very
kind to him. In mercy she instantly
severed his connection with the world.
Trained In the school of adversely, edu.
Gated by a fathers fortunate example,
taught by mother Of remarkable pi.
ETY., and associated with wife of lin
firing devotion to his interests, and
constant supplications for his spiritual
welfare, he was brought from dark
ness to light, and about three years
since made public profession of reli.
gion; thus leaving to his companion
the richest inheritance she could posi-
bly, possess on oarth--the assurance
that 1t y well with him.
We may have given some erroneous
expressions Of bis life and character.
We have endeavored to speak of him
as he was. Whether we have or not,