Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-17
The Late Rev. !. II. woodward.

Vermont loses one of its oldest and most
faithful members the community true
man. and devoted Christian, his
county and State u well-known and
valued citizen and his country true
patriot. Mr.. Woodward was born in
Charlotte, Vt, March Z, 1909. He fitted
for college at Georgia and other acade-
mics and at Bangor, Me, and graduated
from Union college in 1884. he made
profession of religion at the age of l6
years, joining the Congregational church
in Georgia, of which he WAS IA member for
sixty years Deciding on the ministry as
his profession, he studied theology under
DR.. Worthington Smith of st. Adams and
Rev. +. II. Dorman, half brother, at
Swanton, and entered upon the ministry
at Cambridge, VT, in May 1896. In June
OF that year he was united in marriage
with Miss Emily Morehouse of Shelburn,
most estimable lady Mr. Woodward
remained in Cambridge one year, and then
went to Westford succeeding Rev. Simeon
Parmelee, in the pulpit of the Congrega-
tonal tchurch, which he filled for tlrcn-
ty-Sir years. At the outbreak of
the civil war, his earnest patriot
ism did not permit him to be con-
tent with aiding the cause of the country
by voice and vote merely, and upon the
organization of the First Vermont CAY
airy regiment in November, 1861, he of
fered his services as its chaplain. He was
at that time State senator from this
county, and left his seat in the Senate, to
| join the regiment. He was IA good and
faithful chaplain, who honored his sacred
profession, and was second to none in care
of the health and comfort as well As the
! spiritual welfare of the command But a
man of mis- fiery spirit and personal cour-
age could not be kept back in camp or
| hospital, when the regiment was under
| fire. If there was fighting on hand the
! chaplain was apt to be among the boys at
the front. He rode with those who
charged at Mount Jackson, Va. He cap
tured two prisoners at Port Republic
and by his presence and efforts
saved IL portion of the regiment
from being cut down by the fire
o. their friends, who took them for Il hos
tile force No expedition was too trying
or dangerous for him to accompany and
he became widely known IN the army as
| "the fighting chaplain of the Vermont
cavalry. With enfeebed health and
broken in spirit by the death of his gal
liant son, Capt. John w. Woodward of the
same regiment, who fell in battle in the
Gettysburg campaign, MI Woodward re-
signed the chaplaincv of the cavalry July
II, 1863, returned to Vermont and resum
ed the duties of the pastorate. He
preached in Irasburgh for eight years,
and was afterNard for II years pastor of
the Congregational church at Milton; re
| turned thither after labOrs in other fields,
and only laid down his charge under the
burden of years and growing intrmities
some two years ago.
TO Mr.. Woodward'S high character as a
man and faithful service of his Master
! ri vi as he II a,
memorial discourse, which we understand
| to be in preparation. We have space here
only to say that he was earnest and active
in every good cause. He was Il firm friend
of temperance, strong anti-slavery man,
| though never fanatical, a worker in the
cause of education, and able and willing
to do his share and often more than his
share of public service as a citizen. he
represented Westford in the Legislatures
of 1886 and 81, and Chittenden county in
the Senates of 1860 and 81. His health
had been iniirm for several years, and he
came near failing under an attack of
pneumonia last spring. On Friday last
he was stricken By return of
that dreaded disease under which he sank
rapidly, and passed away on Monday last.
| DR.. w OOdWard leaves one son, George,
who was also in the army in the Second
Vermont regiment and who now resides
at Los Angeles, Cal, and three daughters
Mrs. a. j. Downing, who resides in
! Washington, Mrs. H. a. Killam of St.
Paul and Mrs. ID. f. Quinn of Milton. He
| had made his'home with the latter since
the death of his wife in August, 1850
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral of Mr. Woodward was held
on Thursday afternoon. At 1870 o'clock
there was a brief service at the late home
of the deceased, conducted by the PASTOR
Rev. j. l.. Sewall. The service at the
church was at o'clock. The church was
suitably and tastefully draped in mourn
ing, and was filled to its utmost capacity,
many being present from the towns of
Westford and Georgia Appropriate
music was rendered by the choir of the
Congregational church, assisted by Mrs.
f. Barnum and Mr.. j. +. Wheelock The
prayer of invocation was offered by Rev.
j. f.. Bowen of the Milton Methodist
Episcopal church. Rev. j. l.. Sewall made
some appropriate remarks, and read the
selections from the Scripture, Rev. Aus
tin Hazen Of Richmond offered prayer,
Rev. j. II. Babbtt of Swanton and Rev.
c. w. Clark of Georgia also assisted in the
services. The other visiting clergymen
were Rev. W. ID. Williams of Essex and
Rev. j. q. Lorimer of Georgia Plains.
, Among the floral tributes was beauti-
full gates ajar" from the ladies OF the
Milton church and society. Many mem
i, bers of the First Vermont cavalry showed
their esteem for their old chaplain by
, their presence, among the number being
: Gen. William Wells, Capt II. o. Wheeler
Lieut.. W. H. Greeneaf and Comrade
q, Leach of this city, Capt. George T. Congel
and Sergeant Warren Gibbs of st. Adams
10 and others, who joined the q. a. X. Posi-
> in Milton, of which Mr.. Woodward was q
= member, in escorting his remains to The
= church and to the grave. Mr. +. T. Hol
{ brook had general charge of the arrange
ments
The exercises were interesting and i'm
pressive throughout and the large mum
Der present all of whom were mourners
bore testimony to the respect and aifec
ton in which the good citizen, the Draw
soldier, the able preacher, the faithful
X pastor and the good man was held 10y
those who knew him.
=, "reminiscences of the Late Rev. j.
= Woodward.