The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-07-28
1eferreo Matter,
Obituary..


WARD.-When the hasty notice was made
of this mans death in Johnson, May 26th,
there was promise given of more ex-
tended review Of his life. But as the one
on whom, 1t seems, dependence was placed
to prepare the article went away immedi-
ately, the matter was delayed until now
Yet nothing is lost, for life that remains
savory in all memory will bear to be no.
ticed later on. Chester Wright Ward was
born in Duxbury, VT, September 10th, 1889.
He married Miss Amelia A. Joslin of Waits
field, VT, February 10, 1868, and located in
johnson as a merchant, after his boyhood
on the farm and at common school, academy,
and few years training in store in 1867.
He went quietly about his work, aiming to
do business safe for himself and all with
whom he dealt. In this few succeed as
well. The heartfelt tribute he paid to others
who were rivals in business and taken be-
fore him was sign of the honorable meth
DDS of his business and that he was above
envy. Five years ago the writer, on jour
ney in distant county, stopped for night
at hotel. After writing his residence in
the register, the landlord became very in
quisitive about the standing and success of
Mr.. Ward. At last he said; " Chester be-
gan in my store. He was boy. / soon
found that when he said he had cared for a
thing did not need to look after it. / ex-
pected the best things of him as a man. am
glad not to be disappointed" In Novem-
Der, 1880, he was forced to yield to a most
painful rheumatic disease that held him to
the last. Every known remedy was tried
in vain Words can give no expression of
his sufferings. A single joint dslocated
suddenly is painful. But let the process of
dislocation be going on for six years, with
no intermission for an hour, and let the one
joint be multiplied by scores, and we have
suffering that is agony. There must be sore
ness of the flesh and tendons that cringes at
the weight of a breath of air This may hint
at what he endured. Those who saw him
much had all their notions of the pain pos
sibe to a human being revised. The pa
thence he had was that of grace. He had no
desire for public life. But long suffering
public, who get tired of being bought and
sold by the otfice-seekers, will honor them
selves and public office, now and then, by
looking out some such man for places of
honor and trust. He had just been chosen,
when disabled by illness, to sit beside the
| Judge in county court. Other places of i'm
! portance and dignity must have awaited
him. His was largely the spirit that for its
| own safety must be in a republic namely:
! that all office must be candidate for the man,
not the man for the office. In society and
church, and the choir that loved him as its
| leader so long, he was one who saw what
needed to be done and saw the best way
to dot, leading off himself, often in way to
shun all notice. As head of family, he was
everything to them as long as life lasted.
Even when for months many and long he
could move no muscle of body or limb the
fraction of an inch, he thought out every
thing for his home and the community he
longed to serve. To say that such a man is
missed is utterly nothing of what is felt.
We say: How can we get along without
him?" Rather let us say: " How much
better can we get along now that he has been
with us to depend upon so longv' for every
child who knew him, as well as the three OF
his own home, can but feel and transmit
! tla inf &C hic pIa f,rr
must not murmur that he is taken, but bless
Almighty God, who alone gives and sus-
tains such quiet and retiring, but noble, lives
on this earth.-Hyde Park Ne,oS and Citizen