St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-05-03
RECENT DEATHS.


many years prominent citizen of st.
Johnsbury, died in Kansas City Sunday
morning at the age of 70. He had
been in usual health up to April 1,
when he attended an Easter service in
crowded and overheated church,
where he contracted a severe cold
which finally resulted in his death. No
further details of his sickness are at
hand.
Charles S. Dana was born in Dan
vile, November Is, 1915. He came of
the best New England stock, his father,
Israel Putnam Dana, being one of the
early settlers of Danville and one of the
large land owners in that town, while
his paternal grandmother was the old
est daughter of Israel Putnam of Rev.
Olutionary fame. Charles graduated at
Dartmouth college, following up the
classical course with studies in law.
In his early manhood he was engaged
in general mercantile business in Dan
vile as senior member of the firm of
Dana, Weeks & Stanton. Later on he
was for eight years probate judge of this
county, a position he held with ac-
ceptance until 1856, and which gave
him the title of judge by which he was
ever after known. When the county
seat was removed from Danville to st.
Johnsbury in 1856 he became a citizen
of this town. In this same year he
was appointed county clerk, serving
until 1864, when he was appointed in
ternal revenue collector and so contin-
ued until 1882, when he removed from
ST. Johnsbury to Kansas City, making
his home with his only son, Israel Put
nam Dana, a lawyer in that place. He
was successful as business man, and
his last years were spent in compare
tive retirement.
An energetic and public spirited
man, Judge Dana was closely identi-
fed with the growth of this village and
town, and was frequently called to pO-
sitions of responsibility and trust. He
was staunch republican and in 1861
was elected representative to the leg
islature against nine competitors, and
the following year was reelected, re-
ceiving at that time all but 60 of the
votes cast; in 1854 he was elected SEN
ator from this county, doing good ser
vice in all these positions. In public
as in business life he was a man of un-
doubted integrity; his honesty of pur-
pose was never for moment question
ed. Those who can recall the early
days of the war will remember what
an indefatigable worker he was, on the
platform, in raising funds and in en-
listing troops for the coming contest
At the first public war meeting held
here after the fall of Sumter on the
evening of April 10th, 1861, he was one
of the most enthusiastic and vigorous
speakers. He drafted the resolutions
then passed, resolutions so character
istic of the man, whose loyal heart re-
fused to entertain any thought of com.
promise, that a portion of them will be
re-read with interest -
Resolved, The refusal to allow the
garrison of Fort Sumter to be provis-
toned was an act of inhumanity, al
cOwardly as it is infamous and de-
served, as it will receive, the condem.
nation of every patriotic heart.
Resolved, 1t is time to stop talking
about compromises until those who ar,
in open rebellion desire peace and viii
lay down their arms and consent tt
obey the laws of the land, and the issu,
is now to be met.
"There were tories in I76I and ther,
are tories in 1861" declared this sterl
ing patriot, who foresaw and declared
that "the tories of today will 60 dOwl
to posterity as did those of the revo
luton, n,-traitors." On the 22d anothe
rousing war meeting was held presid
ed over by Judge Dana himself wheu
~ men, the first to enlist in st. Johns
bury, were enrolled. May Sd he wa
appointed recruiting officer; the sam'
day 20 men were enlisted, before th'
end of the month the number had in
|
ny from this section was organized by
Judge Dana. A man of strong convic
tions and sterling character he exertet
great influence not only during TIN
: war period but throughout all his &C
tive life.
3 In social life he was held in equal,
high esteem, ever ready to aid an.
worthy cause by words and acts an
with an open purse. His affection fO
his friends was very strong. The re
l cent death of lifelong friend, Ex
l Gov. Horace Fairbanks, recalled an in
stance in point when Gov. Fairbanks
in 1876, received his first intimatio
;. that he was nominated governor in tn
t following telegram sent by Judge Da
:, ma from the convention:
p You are to be governor of Vernon
= in spite of yourself. Congratulation
n that words cannot express.
q Judge Dana never lost his affectiO
a for st. Johnsbury. Last summer h
Y visited friends here and in Danvillt
O and at that time frequently declare
n hims elf in better health than for man
+ years, though never very robust maj
n An active member of the EpiscOp;
= church, he was liberal contributor
4 the building fund of, and for man
= years a vestryman in st. Andrew
r church of this place.