News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-01
Samuel Flint Villas,

From the Plattsburgh, IN. Y.,) Telegram1
VII As.-Died at the Grand Union Hotel in New
York City, March "a, Samuel Flint Villas, aged
70 years.
On Friday afternoon, all that was NOR
tai of our esteemed tOwnsman, was ten
derly laid to rest by loving hands in Riv-
erside Cemetery. Only three brief weeks
have passed away, since, in apparent
health and full of bright anticipations of
rest and pleasure, he left Pittsburgh
with his eldest daughter, Mrs. G. Fl.
Beckwith, ON trip through the South
and promised himself this Journey
through the land of winter sunshine.
flowers and fruit. How buoyant and
happy he was in the thought of escaping
the sharp March winds of his northern
home. and of finding deserved rest and
peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of a
iaborious and successful life in the
genial climate where grow the orange
and the palm. Although he went as far
as Jacksonville, Fla; yet, in conse-
ouence of cold contracted in Wash
ington he was rendered unable to enjoy
ANYTHING. Most unselfishly he insisted
upon Mrs. Beckwith seeing whatever
usually attracts the northern visitor.
With great difficulty he was persuaded
to give up his trip further south and
on Sunday morning, March 81, he start
ed on his homeward Journey. He was
met by Mr.. and Mrs. Norton at Jersey
City, on Monday evening, and driven
to the Grand Union Hotel in New
York, where he had the best of medical
attendance and nursing. He was pecu-
| liarly cheerful and happy even to play
fulness during the last day of his life.
| He walked about his room within few
hours of his death, and appeared to be
at peace with himself and all the world.
About O'Clock Wednesday morning,
there was marked change in his res
piratlon slower, shorter, and at great
er intervals, he drew his failing breath
until at $50 A. NJ, his resigned spirit,
wreathing his countenance with happy
smile, winged its flight to the author
of his being.
| Few men in this section of our cOun-
try, few men indeed in any country, for
so long a period, extending even into old
age, in so many varied avenues of bust
ness, ever displayed such rare Judgment,
or achieved such marked and universal
success.
Mr.. Villas was born at Sterling, VT,
January 8, 1907. Although his father
was man of means, he paid him for
his time, from the age Of Is to his ma
jority and thus wholly without the ad-
vantages of inherited wealth, he COM
menced in earnest and manfully worked
out the problem of his own fortune.
For the last half century no man in
Northern New York has been more
prominent and influential in business
and finance. Settling in Pittsburgh in
1886, he has, during the intervening
fifty years, been, SO closely identified
with business and public affairs in this
community, that any extended sketch
of his life would include all the leading
events and epochs in the growth and
prosperity of the place.
He commenced the first and only
wholesale business carried on IN Clinton
County, embracing not only dry goods
and Yankee notions, but also the manu-
facture and sale of tinware upon an eX-
tensive scale-a business which he car
ried on for thirty years. About thirty,
five years ago, finding the business in
terests of the locality demanded bank
| ing facilities, he became private bank
er, greatly to his own profit and the
convenience of the public. In 1864 he
organized, and continued successfully to
operate until his death, the Villas Ma
tiOnal Bank. Possessed of means and
business energies beyond the require
ments of the Bank, he engaged more or
| less extensively in other branches of
business, such as wool, iron, lumber,
real estate and stocks, these always
prospered under his ever watchful care.
He was one whose judgment was al
ways sought as comprehensive, saga
cious, safe and far reaching. He ever
manifested and contributed to what
ever his judgment assured him would
advance the interest of Pittsburgh or
Northern New York.
Among other great enterprises mate
rally edby his counsel and means,
which have continuously contributed
to the prosperity and wealth of Platts-
burgh, may be mentioned the Saranac
River Plank Road Co., the Montreal &
Plattsburgh Railroad and the New York
& Canada Railroad; while the remarka-
BILE standing and success of the North
ern New DIRK Insurance Co., until its
dissolution, were due almost entirely to
his prudent management as it's Prssi
dent
Schools and churches have ever re-
| celyed their full share of the benefits of
his counsel and wealth. He was for
nearly half a century member of the
board of trustees of Pittsburgh Acade-
my, and considerable of the time
| trustee of the First Presbyterian church.
He leaves a widow, five children, and
seven grand children, who will miss him
more and more as the years roll on.
| One brother, Mr.. Harrison M. Villas, of
| Winooski, VT, the last of once large
1etullly tlOllo survives, anu dUUenQGQ his
funeral. Had Mr.. Villas lived to the 9Th
of August next, he would have cele-
brated his golden wedding with Harriet
Hunt, daughter of James Hunt, ESQ.,, of
Pinckney, Lewis Co, N. Y. His surviving
children are Mrs. G.. III. Beckwith and
Samuel I'll. Villas, of Plattsburgh Free
man M. Villas, of Holland & Villas, Buff
falo Mrs. E. A. Carpenter, of Cam
| bridge, Mass, and Mrs. BENJAMIN Nor
ton, of New York. These and five of
his grandchildren attended his funeral.
His remains were placed temporarily
IN the Platt vault, but will be removed
to his own new mausoleum as soon as it
| is finished.
His accustomed seat at the family fire.
side, and his Office chair, are empty
Grape hangs over the counter. and arches
the veStibule of the Bank which bears
his honored name yet in these retired
places memories of him will often come
to us, and his long-familiar form, hurry
ing through our streets, as though i'm
PEELED by master-will, will be missed
by all classes of our citizen.
Successful in life, happy in DEATH may
he rest in peace till the Heavens are no
more.
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth eer gave,
Await alike tn inevitable hour.
At meeting of the Officers and Di-
rectOrs of the Villas National Bank, held
at their banking house, March IS, 1886,
M n1xylNrr y