The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-03
Mrs. Emily ID. II. Willard.

The death of Mrs. Emily d. Il. Willard in
Boston on the 18th of January, of which
brief mention was made in former issue,
came to this community with great shock,
from which it has scarcely recovered Her
nus bands former prominent position in pub
tic affairs and her own strong individuality
mad made her conspicuous figure in the
social life of this village and state, and caused
her loss to be deeply felt beyond the imme-
diate circle of her intimate acuuaintances
Her death was the more startling from the
fact that few of her friends knew at the
time the news of II came that she was away
from home, and that up to the time Of her
departure, a few days before, she was to all
appearances in her usual health and strength,
and was giving herself with her usual inter-
est to her domestic and social duties
Emily Doane Reed Willard was the
daughter of Hon. Hezekiah Reed of this
place, and was born in Montpelier in 1880.
Old residents, by their own memory, and
newcomers, by tradition, will recall Mr..
Reed as one of the most prominent and pub
lic-spirited citizens of Montpelier of former
generation His children were five in num-
ber-Mary, who married Professor n. G..
Clark and who died in early womanhood,
Eliza and Emily, twin-sisters, and Cornelia
and Gertrude, both Of whom died in early
life. Mrs. Willard's s twin-sister, Eliza (now
Mrs. May of Milwaukee), it will be seen,
is the only survivor of the family.
Mrs. Willard was most carefully educated
from her earliest years-frst under govern
ess and afterwards at st. Johnsbury Acad
emy and at Mrs. Willard's famous school at
Troy, n. Y. In 1855 she was married to
Hon. Charles w. Willard of Montpelier
representative in congress from 1869 to 1876
and one of the most eminent and widely es-
teemed citizens of the state. Their married
life was ideally happy and to an unusual
degree Mrs. Willard entered into all his
pursuits, and by her influential social gifts
supplemented his wide and elevating in
tiuence in public affairs. Mr.. Willard died
in 1880. Since that time Mrs. Willard had
! ypet the additional duties which devolved
Upon her in a way to add new dignity to her
character. In the interest of the education
of her younger children, she went with
them and her oldest daughter to Ger
many in October, 1888, and remained
there experimenting their education till
June, 1885. Since her return she had en-
tered more largely into social life than her
domestic circumstances had permitted her
to do of late years, and made her influence
felt for good on every hand. Though she
had some reason to apprehend that her life
might not be long extended, she did not suf-
fer the fact to cast a cloud over her own
cheerfulness or that of her family and
friends, but rather made it reason for en-
tering with increased interest into the duties
of the present. She was drawn with new
affection to the church of which she had
been a member from early life, and her
| BdbHeTluS Wllu utT ltllOW-DeUeNtTS 10 Une
observance of the communion of the Lord s
| Supper presents to her friends, in looking
back, apleasng symbol of the heavenly com
munion for which she was being prepared.
Her last days were without shadow of
suffering, and her life of singular happiness
closed as in quiet sleep.
In looking back upon her life as whole,
| 1t is seen to reproduce some of her father s
strong characteristics. 1t was marked with
the same independence, and energy, and
persistency of purpose. Mrs. Willard was
a woman of great public spirit. She took
great pride in Montpelier and in its hospi-
tality, and exerted herself to maintain its
reputation in this, as well as its good in all
ways Her recent interest in, and exertions
for, the public library, now about to open,
will be recalled by all. She was of extra
ordinary unselfshness of character, and was
possessed in high degree of moral ear
nestness. Her character was also distin-
| guished for great sincerity and loyalty to
| her friends. To her strong and attractive
moral traits she added the graces of a wide
culture and fine presence. Her character
istics made her personality impress itself
upon the community in a remarkable degree
She presented striking picture of elevated
womanhood,
"Nobly planned
To warn, to comfort and commando;
being breathing thoughtful breath,
a traveller between life and death.
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength and skill"
AS such picture, she will long remain in
the minds of many, who join with her i'm
nediate friends in mourning her loss.