The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-23

which he would accept. In 1874 he was
elected to represent the town in the general
assembly, and had been prominently mem
toned for state senator from Windsor
county in 1886. He had also been director
of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance
Company for Windsor county several
years. Mr.. Watson leaves two brothers.
Major A. B. Watson of Grand Rapids, Mich,
and DR.. o. l.. Watson of West Topsham,
vt. Also two sisters-Mrs. N. II. Caswell
of Washington and Mrs. j. A. Hadey of st.
Johnsbury, vt. They are all honored men,
bers of society and mourn his loss, together
with other relatives and friends, who will
ever hold him in kind remembrance for his
many good qualities But the grief falls
the most heavily on his family-a wife be-
reft of loved companion, the children of
was staunch republican and lifelong
reader of the WATCHMAN, having taken
this paper fifty-six years.
NEwELL.-Miss Eliza Uamiliarly known
as Z" Ida " M. Newell, only daughter of Dea-
con and Mrs f. H.Newell of East Brook
field died November 18th, in her nineteenth
year, after most distressing illness of four
months. Not very long before the organiza-
tion of the Congregational church in East
Brookfield she felt that she had found the
Savior, and in her JOY the familiar hymn,
" I've found the pearl of greatest price, was
often sung by her, as expressive of her new
experience and happiness. She entered this
Congregational church at the time of its
formation, to remain beloved member Of
it during her short life. She loved the Sab
bath-school, and in her last years was a
teacher of an infant class, for which she
seemed to have some special qualifications.
But whatever of affectionate regard she
won in the outside world, best of all she was
known in the home as an affectionate,
kind-hearted daughter and sister. During
her last very painful illness the writer fire.
quently saw her, to be impressed with the
worth of the religion of our Lord Jesus
Christ in such season of sorrow. Always
trusting her Savior we seemed to find her.
" But for this" she would say, " she could
not have borne the sickness 1t was given
her, however, to feel that it was all for the
best, otherwise it would not have been per-
mitted." Perhaps the bitterest ingredient
of the cup given her to drink was the thought
of separation from her friends, whom she
so dearly loved, but we may trust that grace
came finally to conquer. That she fell asleep
in Jesus, and that now she is I" before the
presence of his glory without blemish, in
exceeding joy" is the unspeakable comfort
and joy of those she has left behind. A.
FLETCHER Governor Ryland Fletcher
of Cavendsh died from heart disease, Sat
urday, at the age of eighty-six years. He
had been in his usual health until within a
few weeks, and his case had been consid-
cred dangerous only two or three days. He
was the son of Asaph Fletcher, and was
born in Cavendish in 1893. He received
the education of the period, and in later life,
by reading and observation, remedied the
defects of his earlier training. He chose the
vocation of farmer-a pursuit which he fol-
lowed with intelligence and skill until adj
t him to desist from labor. His first appear
, ance in public life was as an anti-slavery adj
=. vocate. He espoused this cause with great
energy, and met with trmness all the de-
, rision and unpopularity cast upon the aboli.
tionists of his day. He was also one of the
leading members of the American party in
the state. He was elected senator from
) Windsor county and proved himself an eff
cient legislator. In 1854 he was elected
lieutenant-governo on the ticket headed
by Judge Stephen Royce, and served unit
1856, when he was elected by the free sol
t party the twenty-sixth governor of Yer
mont and served until 1855 He was sue
ceeded by Hiland Hall. He was a repre-
sentative from Cavendish from 1861 to 1864
, and took prominent part in the Legislation
g OF those years. He was frequently honoreC
S with official position in associations and so
: cieties, and in 1864 was republican presi
/ dental electOr. He had been vice-presiden
, of the American Anti-slavery Society. ant
o ETY. and the Vermont Baptist State Conven
: tion, and was for many years a member o
the Baptist church in Cavendish.
r HALL-Hon Hiland Hall, ex-governor o
> this state, died very suddenly at the resi-
u dence of his son, Charles Hall, in Spring
@ in his usual health up to the time of hi
d death. He was born in Bennington Jul,
/, Goth, 1875, and the record of his public lif
l. shows that he was admitted to the bar il
:, 1919, elected to the state legislature in 1897
T. was member of congress from 1888 to 1913
IF state bank commissioner from 1S43 to 1916
}, was four years judge of the supreme court
ii in 1850 was appointed second comptroller O
e the United States treasury, from 1851 to 1876
was land commissioner for California, wa
;, governor of Vermont in 1859 and 1860, sue
ceeding Ryland Fletcher of Cavendish, VIII
)f died the Goth. Governor Hall was delegate t
n the peace congress in February 1861, wa
president of the Vermont Historical Societ
:, for twelve years, and was the moving spiri
10 in the Bennington Battle Monument AssC
~ citation. He was vice-president of the Ne,
~ England Historical and Genealogical Sc
~ ciety for twenty-five years, and was tn
y author of history of Vermont. Governo
- Hall maintained his remarkable vigor c
: mind and body to the last. His protes
>, against the Phelps plan for the Benningto
- monument, published during the preser
= year, is striking testimony to the remark
able endurance of his intellect. At nnet
years of age he thought and wrote with til
vigor and precision of a man of fifty.
m HYDE.-Colonel Russell Hyde, the oldes
n inhabitant of Bellows Falls, died last weel
W Mr.. Hyde was born in 1899, was soldier i
iv the war of 1872 and spent the greater part
"a 10 his life in that town. He was proprietor {
"a the Bellows Falls House for number ,
lf- years ana a1terward engaged IN mercantl
v. affairs He was postmaster from 1873 to 1877