Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-26

rHE LArE REN. oRleEy sNIrM

ordained and installed early IN January.
VVIImington.
THE LATE REV. ORfGEN SMITH.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE, WITH PARTICULARS OF
THE MANNER OF HIS DEATH.
Seldom has our community been so
shocked and saddened as it was last Monday
morning on hearing of the sudden death of
Rev. Ongen Smith. He had so long been a
resident of the town. knew its history 80 WELL
and had, with his ancestors, been 30 identified
with its interests, that the intelligence of his
death was attended with general sorrow.
Mr.. Smith was descendant OF Lieutenant
Samuel Smith, who emigrated to this country
from Ipswich, Eng, in the spring of 1884.
In hi Phineas Smith, of the fifth genera
ton from Samuel Smith, came from Hadley
to Wilmington, and was one of the original
settlers in town The farm purchased by him
was inherited successfully by three genera
tions. Rev. q. Smith was born in Whining
ton, April 2, 1872 was ordained May II, 1887,
and was for seven years a missionary to the
lses of Shoals. In 1852 he commenced
preaching to the church in E Ist Dover. He
served this church 20 years while living in
Wilmington, travelling the distance GO mllss)
each Sabbath, and for seven consectiye years
was absent but one Sunday. Daring his pas
gathered and meeting house aud vestry
were built After leaving Dover he was pas
tor of the church in Guiford six years, re-
signing in 1879, when he became pastor of
the Nottingham church, his field of labor
at the time of his death.
Mr.. Smith was a man Of strong convictions
and of firm principles, an earnest advocate OF
temperance, and in the days of the slavery
agitation, conscientious abolltonlst. he
possessed a keen sense of right, was judi
cious counsellor, genial friend, of winning
spirit and good pastor. His funeral was at
tended in the Baptist church on Wednesday,
Dec. "a, Rev A. w. Goodnow officiating He
was buried beside his wife in the village cem-
etery.
Since the death of his wife, some two years
ago Mr.. Smith had lived with his son and
only child, L o. Z, Smith in Brattleooru,
driving each week to his charge in Whiting
ham. For two weeks before his death he had
been absent in Philadelphia on visit. On
his last previous trip to Nottingham he had
driven Quit in a Sleigh but was obliged to
borrow blackboard to return with. Last
Saturday morning be set out at 10 o'clock on
his accustomed pastoral journey, driving up
on the buck board He was observed to pass
the Reed tavern stand in Halifax about II
O'Clock noon. Two hours later he was discov-
cred lying across the road at right angle
with the fore feet of his horse, insensible. II
appeared that his whihletree had broken in
ascending the hill, and that he had got out
and mended it with his halter. He was taken
back to Edison GAtes's DR.. Whiting was sum
moned, and everything possible done for him.
Word was sent to his son in Brattleboro, who
came on at once, accompanied by DIR. Con
land.
Mr. Smith did not recover consciousness,
and died on Sunday at noon. II was at first
supposed that he had received a kick from
his horse and that his death was caused by
conclusion of the brain. At the request of
the friends, however DR.. Holton made post
mortem examination on Wednesday morning
which proved that Mr.. Smith had been seized
with apoplexy. A ruptured blood vessel was
found IN the brain with very large clot of
blood. There were no marks on the
head, except those made by falling on the
frozen snow. The body, which was warmly
wrapped in furs, was not chilled or frozen.
The horse, high spirited animal, had not
moved from her tracks, though she WAS shiv-
ering with the cold when help came, and
showed by her whnneying and other actions
that she know something was wrong. About
two weeks before Mr.. Smith had complained
of serious head trouble, the foreboding,
doubtless, of what finally came.
The mercury stood 80 below zero S4tur-
day morning in the coolest place in town.
just snow enough for good sleighing.
Quite a quantity of maple syrup has been
shipped from town during the past fortnight.
A petition il in circulation to discontinue
the mail route from Wilmington to Hartwell-
willie and establish one to Readaboro to CON
meet with the railroad. By such an arrange
ment we could receive mail from New York
city the same day it is mailed.
A few families joined aud had a Christ
mas tree at Joel Graves's.
The Universaists had an entertainment,
with distribution of presents from Christ.
mas tree, Wednesday evening, and, notwith-
standing the stormy night, had full house.
Rev. H. F. Forrest aud wife are visiting
their daughter at Northampton, NJ Iss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrill and child, of New
York, have been at Schuyler Wares this week.
The fire at the school-house few even
ings since only burned part of a barrel con-
tanning ashes, but if it had not been discover
ed till later the consequences might have been
serious.
Miller Howe made a flying visit to town
this week
The agricultural meeting was adjourned
until d &c. 81, when the subject "Would
butter factory benefit tho town. ?" will b, dis
cu5sed.
MIR. L. II. Fisher will occupy the Univer-
salist pulpit next Sunday afternoon aud even.
ing.
The Congregational society had an enter
tainment aud Christmas tree at thsir church
last evening. Tn sre was Il crowded house
and many presents were distributed,
The marriage of Everett OOrbett and Co
ra Kingsbury took place at Mrs X ngsbucy's
on Tuesday morning, aud Immediately after
the ceremony the newly married pair started
for Bratteboro. Best wishes of all follow
them.
Joseph Bidlle of Ssarsburg and Attic
Clark of Wilmington were married at S1sr4
burg yesterday.
Who next?
The skating rink is getting to be favo-
rite resort two evenings in the week. Several
from West Dover and other adjoining towns
attend. II is pretty generally endorsed by
the people, and will continue to be 80 long as
the present good order is kept aud the rules
adhered to.