Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25
OBTTUAR Y.
ALMOST SIMULTANEOUS DEATH OF THE TWO
OLDEST TX GOVERNORS OF VERMONT.
RH.Gox. INLAND Hall.

OLDEST TX GOVERNORS OF VERMONT.
RX-GOv. IHiIand Hall.
Hon. Hiland Hall, one of Vermonts most
illustrious and venerated * governors, died
on Friday last at the residence OF his son,
Charles Hail. in Springfield, Mass at the age
Of 80 years and Ave months. He was born
on farm in bennington, July 20, 1895, and
WAS admitted to the bar in 1919. Elected TO
the state legislature in 1921 he was subse-
quently states attorney several years, and was
a representative in Congress from 1881 to
1Sl3
His congressional service was chiefly nota-
BILE for his flaying of Congressman Gillner Of
Virginia, the agent for fraudulent revolution.
ary claims, whose true nature Hall exposed
after an investigation and a fight lasting two
sessions. Though this was his most charRc-
teIistic, II vas by no means his only valuable
work. His chief force was spent on commit
toes, but he spoke against President Jackson's
withdrawal of the deposits from the United
States bank, in favot Of distributing school
funds to the states, and against the attempt
to suppress the pamphlets which the slave
holders considered ''incendiary documents"
in the South. He was next appointed bank
commissioner Of Vermont, and for four years
was judge OF the supreme court was ~ cond
controller Of the United States treasury in
1850, aud in 1851 land commissioner to settle
the disputed titles OF the settlers and the Mex.
leans in California. He was sent ~ a dele
gate to the first National Republican conven-
tiOn at Philadelphia in 1896, and in 1858 was
elected governor by the new party, succeed
ing Gov. Fletcher OF Cavendish.
Gov. Hall was delegate to the peace Con.
Rress in February, 1861, was president of the
Vermont historical society for ~ years, aud
vice president of the New England historical
and genealogical society for % years. He
paid particular attention TO early Vermont
history, and prepared various historical pam
phiets, which we're followed by his Early
History OF Vermont" work of 500 pages,
published in 1868, which showed an historical
research and accuracy that made him an au-
thority on local history. He was the cham
pion Of Ethan Allen, aud believed in the ma.
tional Importance Of the battle of Bsnnng-
ton, and the closing work of his life has been
in connection with the commemoTation Of
that event He was one Of the movers in se-
curing its celebration at Bennington in 1877,
and influential in obtaining the Vermont ap-
preparation to the battle monument fund.
His protest against the Phelps plan for the
monument, published during the present year,
is striking testimony to the remarkable vigor
and endurance of his intellect At 30 years
Of age he thought aud wrote with the vigor
and precision of a man of 30.
Iu his professional practice Gov. Hall was
a safe lawyer rather than a brilliant advocate.
He married, in 1878, Dolly Tuttle Davis Of
Rockingham, who died six years ago. He
had eight children, of whom four sons sur
vive him-Henry ID. and John N. of Ben
niugton, Nathaniel b., of Michigan, and
Charles, q merchant of Springfield, Mass.
with whom, of late years, his winters have
been spent. Among the d, ceased daughters
was the wife of Trenor W. Park, the Ben.
nington millionaire. The funeral was held
on Monday at North Bennington.
EX-Gov. Fletcher.
EE Governor Ryland Fletcher died at his
home in Cavendsh at four O'Clock Saturday
morning, of heart disease, in the s7th year of
his age. He was born in Cavendish Feb 1S,
1893, and belonged to family prominent in
Windsor county.
Gov. Fletcher first came into prominence in
the state at large during the temperance and
anti slavery excitement before the war, into
which reforms be entered with zeal and ef-
fectiveness. He was sent to the state senate
from Windsor county at the time the prohibi-
tion question came up; in 1854 was elected
lieutenant governor by that temperance fac
| tion Of which Tom Powers of Woodstock was
the leader and great force was reelected in
| 1885, and in 1856 was made governor and re-
elected 10 1867. While governor he took es-
pecial interest in the revival of the state mill
tia, and the famous Brandon muster, held
upon his invitation, had powerful effect in
the revival OF the military spirit in Vermont
and the organization of 10 much of body
81 .NaN. 4 H..
| the war broke out.
Governor Fletcher held no important pub
lie Office after his retirement from the COVER
norship, and has for the last 20 years lived
| quietly at his home in Cavendish. He had
become quite infirm of body and mind, and
his death had been anticipated as liable TO oc-
cur at any time. He was a man OF great ear
nestness, patriotism and warmth of feeling. a
thorough Vermonter, proud of and devoted
to his state-sn honest man and worthy citi-
zen.
The funeral services we're held Tuesday
afternoon.
The Burlington Free Press of Monday,
commenting upon the death of these two
prominent men of our state, says;
The death within three days of each 9TH
| or, OF two ex-governors of Vermont-the two
| oldest and most venerable of their number
| is a noteworthy circumstance. The death Of
Gov. Hall, especially, removes the living link
| which connected this generation with the
public men and events of the previous half
| century. When he began his public life, as
a state legislator in 1927, John Quincy Ad-
ans was President of the United States.
When he entered Congress Andrew jackson
was President. He was the contemporary
and associate in Congress of Webster, Clay
and Calhoun of Prentiss, Crafts, Horace
Everett and William Slade of our own state.
| Siuce he became familiar with public men
and things nearly thirty governors have held
office, besides himself Yet he retained his
interest in and to good degree his inhu-
ence upon public matters and he never, for
a day, throughout his long aud honored life
lost the confidence and esteem of his fellow
citizens Few men in the history of our
state have been more trusted and esteemed
than he His life ends rs he would have
asked that it might, quiet, peaceful, useful Ia
the last, and he will be held in honored men,
ory by all who ever knew him, and by thous.
ands who we're not honored with his personal
acquaintance and friendship. Gov. Fletcher
had less prominence his public life was
shorter he has left less to keep his name
alive az statesman, scholar, writer and lead
or, but he was good mau aud worthy oit
zen, a warm friend, true patriot, and he ID
gathered to his fathers after a long and use
full life. The oldest living ex-governor Of
Vermont now is Hon. Frederick HolbToOk Oi
Brattleboro."