The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-03-27

Mr.. William s.. Mcleod, who was at the
time IA widower with three chill 1ren. He
was the second son of Captain David Me-
Leod of Boston, Mass, II well-kuown sea-
captain, who assisted at the famous BIOS
ton Tea Party, and was a staunch friend
of the colonies during the American Revo-
luton. Mr.. William 5. Mcleod was n man
Nof Rentlemanly bearing, and was at various
ktimes and places engaged IN the manufac-
ture of boots and shoes. He started the
first shoe manufacturing establishment in
the State, at Woodstock, rs early as 1902,
which he conducted for several years, but
was not Il successful business manager or
tinancier, being in advance oil the times for
| ready-made work of the kind. Mrs. Nc
Leod had more skill and better judg-
ment in financial matters than her hus-
band. 1t has been well said that she
< could draw up a deed, or lease, or any or
binary pushes document as well and rs
NcArefully as a lawyer. She became the
mother of ten children. The training and
education of them, together with her three
step-children, she attended to with care.
Two of them received IA collegiate education
and graduated at Middlebury college. One
them was the late DR.. William McLeod of
Poultney. and the other is Lawyer Thomas
III. Mcleod of M~iddlebury, who is the only
surviving child,
Mrs. McLeod's husband died, after II lin
gering illness. in 1888, at Elizabethtown, N,
i .. where llt1 TtElNltu VI II lew 1tdIS. III
where, about 1925, she joined the Congrega-
tional society. In 1866, when seventy-six
years of age, she was confirmed by Bishop
Hopkins in st. Stephens Episcopal church,
Middlebury. 1t is worthy of mention. in
this connection, that chiefly through the eff
forts of her father the first Episcopal SER
vices were held in this place in 1904, by
Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, brother of Gov.
Thomas Chittenden of Vermont. She was
then about fourteen years of age. and the
services were held IN a hall in her fathers
house. She was the last remaining link
connecting these first services with the pres
ent generation, and the only one living
through the entire existence of the Episco-
pal church of this place.
Though the oldest person in town at the
time of her death, her mind was active and
strong, and no one was more cOnversant
with the early history of the village than
herself. She was IA woman OF great strength
of purpose. When once fully determined
upon q plan of action. it must he accom-
plished if 1t took years to bring it to com
pletion. Her preiudices were correspond
ingly strong. One other quality deserves
special mention, that of her Conversations
powers. She had the rare gift of putting
her guests entirely at their ease, drawing
out of them in an easy way that which was
pleasant to them to tell, or else saying the
pleasing thing At the right moment. Let
one instance suffice. 1t happened one morn
ing Wueu Ill the prime OF lie. S0e Ddu rs
callers, all at the same time, three persons
whose tastes must nave been entirely diff
ferent. One was the governor of the State,
another a negro peanut vendor and the
third some one occupying an intermediate
station. let another, who Glanced to step
in, found all three quite at their ease, while
she. equally at ease, was carrying on a sep
arate conversation with each, and at the
same time taking good care that her own
household tasks should not be left undone.
Years ago. when Middlebury was especially
famous for her lawyers and statesmen, she
had, as attentive listeners. some who ranked
among the best.
The funeral service of Mrs. Mcleod took
place at st. Stephens church Sunday after
noon, March %, Rev. A, f.. Carpenter, the
rector, officiating, She was buried in the
Middlehury cemetery on the very spot she
herself had selected many years ago. Y.
MRS. RHoDA K. sTEwART.
We take the following from the Barring
ton (Ill.) Herald of February 81:
Rhoda +, Williamson was born at Corn
wall, Addison county. Vt, Sept. 25. 1881
where she resided until her marriage to
Chauncey H. Stewart, Feb. PC, 1881. From
1851 to 1858 Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart resided
in Weybridge, VT, from 1858 to 1867 in Pal
atine, Ill, since then at and near lndepen-
dence, Iowa.
Mrs. Stewart died at Independence Feb.
IL, 1907, o. utdTl ulScdSb. dprl % years, 4
mouths, and was buried at Palatine, Feb
Is, beside the grave of her sainted mother
She leaves surviving. her husband, Il
daughter, 4 brothers tone of whom is JudgS
K. s.. Williamson of Palatinel and one sis.
ter, besides II large circle of mourning
friends.
In the year 1853, in the Palatine NJ. +
church, the deceased gave her heart tC
Christ, and ever bore consistent Christian
testimony in word and deed. She was 4
faithful laborer in church and Sabbath
school She was, during II greater portion
of her Christian life, a member of the Bap-
tist church.. and will he greatly missed in
the church with which she was last con
neCted.
She was thoughtful of others even to the
last, and to spare her husband "A shock, had
not spoken to him of expecting death, but
said to her physician that she was perfectly
resigned to the will of God, and ready TO g
if He should call.
Testimony Ms to her Rodly living is given
by all who knew her, and no one doubt,
that for her to die was gain.
The funeral services were held at the res
ldence of Judge Williamson, conducted 10y
the pastor of the NJ. +. church: The ser
mon was from I'd Cor, 8: 3. Willing rath
er to be absent from the body, and to be at
home with the Lord"