Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-07-02
PERSONAL.

Deacon Luther Poland died at the resi-
dence of his son, Joseph Poland, i'll Montpe
lier, June 16th in his 9lst year, He was
the last of family of seven brothers and
sisters. lie was born IN North Brooktield,
Mass, May II, 1870, and married Nancy
Potter OF that town, February &c, 1913. In
the Fall of 1914, with his wife and one child,
he removed to Chittenden county, Vt, where
he lived, mostly in Uuderhill, until the
| Spring of 1921, and then went to Waterville.
where he lived until 1913, when he removed
to Morristown, and in 1850 to Montpelier.
In 1871 his wife died, and in 1S43 lie mar
ried Martha Read of Rutland, Mass, who
died in Montpelier in 1860. He was made a
deacon in the Congregational church when
first organized at Waterville in 1925, was the
first representative of the town in the Legis-
lature, and filled other Offices there He was
the father of four children, all of his first
marriage, and al are now living-Mrs. JEFF
ferson Martin of Montgomery, Luke P. Po-
land of St. Johnsbury, Joseph Poland of
Montpelier, and Luther Poland, Jr, Of
Omaha, Ncb.
The trustees of Wesleyan University have
elected Rev DIR. j. W. Beach of the class of
1S45, president, TO succeed Rev. DR.. Foss,
recently elected Bishop Of the Methodist
church. George l. Seney, president of the
Metropolitan bank of New York, has given
81 nnn - 10 Il, f,t,,1 in, addition,
to $4,000 previously given by him. The
fund now amounts to $500, 900
John Augustus Sutter, the first dIscoverer
of gold in California, died in Washington,
Friday night. Mr.. Sutter was born at Kan
dern, Baden, February 15, 1903. Emigra-
ting TO America in 1894 he became trader
at Santa Fe. in New Mexico. In 1898, he
crossed to the Pacific coast, visited the
Sandwich! Islands, whence he returned to
Alaska, and while voyaging down the coast
was stranded in what is now known as the
Bay of San Francisco. This was in the
Summer of 1889. Making his way into the
the interior he received a grant of land from
tuc pONClIliilCul VI lCfL
built fort and established a settlement
which he called New IIelvctia The city of
Sacramento now occupies the site. The first
discovery of gold was made while he was
enlarging the race to his saw-mill, the exca-
vations revealing the precious metal. Ills
laborers now deserted him, gold-diggers
overran his lands, and he was never able to
recover them. The State of California sub
scquently allowed him -, 900 year on ac-
count Of his claims, and a; the last session of
Congress a small appropriation was made in
his favor. He left California in 1913, and
took up his residence in T-itiz, Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania.
George Merriam, senior member of the
publishing house Of G. & c. Merriam for "a
wears. publishers of Websier's Dictionary,
died Tuesday, after brief Illness aged II
years. He was 4 native of Worcester, and
had been resident of Springfield since 1881.
He was one of the most benevolent of men,
and was constantly giving money in unos-
tentatious WAYS. OF the six children who
survive him. George s. was formerly assist
ant editor of the Christian Union. James f.
was the Indian Orchard pastor, whom
Congregational council refused to install be-
cause he could not declare his belief in the
Ioctrine I OF e;erha' punishment anu Ed"aru
- tut pu'',''ei VI ''0" uO"'i'''''g
nav a SIn'o'" "'.i III "'''.
~ '.'' e"ai' Vi i-'s','h i'''e, a'u'e 'H '"'
,"'''h o0'ie9e ''ciiia'e) III ->of'n"hii''0"'
Hon. Leonard Sergeant, late OF Manchester,
i:ol a, H. ;ioo "A H. l,l,o - JoL,e