The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-04

Lane was the owner and operator of mill
in Plainfield, and there he first conceived the
idea of improving the machinery then in
use for setting logs in position for successive
cuts of the circular saw. The Lane patent
lever-set saw.mill, which is now in very
general use throughout the world and has
no superior, is the result of his studies and
labors in this direction. The demand for
these mills so greatly exceeded the capacity
of Mr. Lanes shop at Plainfeld that in
1868 he moved to Montpelier and bought
the foundry and machne-shop upon the
site of those now owned by the Lane Manu-
featuring Company. Two or three years
later General p p Pitkin and Mr.. J. w.
Brock became partners of Mr.. Lane. Thus
was formed one of the strongest and most
successful business corporations ever estab-
lished in Vermont, and under its manage
ment and that of the Lane Manufacturing
Company, formed in 1873, Improvements
were made upon the original mill and
new inventions brought out by Mr.. Lane
which have earned for the company a
reputation second to none in its line of
manufacturing and will prove the most en-
| during monument to the inventors name.
| Mr.. Lane had held various town and viii
| lage offices in Planfield and Montpelier,
| and in his oversight of public affairs had ever
manifested the same care and discretion
| with which he guarded his personal inter-
! ests. He had represented Plainheld in the
| legislature, and at the time of his death
was serving his fourth term as selectman of
|
civil authority. In 1880 he was made d-
rector of the Montpelier Savings Bank and
Trust Company. Besides being a heavy
stakeholder of the Lane Manufacturing
Company he was largely interested in lum-
! Der business at LanesbOrO and an extensive
owner of real estate The latter he had
done much to improve and among his ten
ants he had reputation which other land
lords well might envy. OF his p ty for, and
interest in, the poor more substantial evil
! 1pppp had bppO piVpp than will ever he ful1V
known. His benefactions were numerous,
| but always without ostentation, and he is
believed to have been the author of many
deeds of charity of his relation to which
there is no positive proof. In his home he
was kind and generous, and only those who
have lost such husband and father will
be able TO form any conception of how great
| is the bereavement which has come to those
of his household. The immediate family
circle at present consists of her who had
been his companion for forty-four years, of
two daughters-Jennie, wife of Oscar G. Bar
ron of White Mountain hotel fame, and
Hattie E., wife of Thomas S. Brophy of
Montreal-and of two sons, Albert D. and
George L., both of Montpelier.
REDFIELD.-Hon. Timothy p. Redfield of
Montpelier died in Chicago on Tuesday
evening, March 27. He had been in failing
health for several years, and when he went
to the West last fall it was hardly expected
by his friends that he would live to return.
Timothy Parker Redfield was born in Cow
entry, Vermont, November 3, 1872, and
was one of the twelve children of DR.. Peleg
Redfeld noted physician of Orleans
county. With scanty means he fitted for
college and entered Dartmouth College.
By teaching at intervals he paid the ex-
penses of his course, and in 1886 graduated
with honor. Immediately after leaving
college he began the study of law with his
brother, Isaac F., and taught for time at
Brownington Academy. In 1888 he was ad-
mtted to the bar and opened an Office in
Irasburgh On February 6, 1910, he mar
ried Helen w. Grannis of Stanstead, p O.,
who survives him. Four children were
born to them, of whom Mrs. A j. Phillips
of St. Louis is the only survivor. In 1S4S
Mr.. Redfeld was senator from Orleans
county. In 1913 he removed to Montpelier,
where he afterwards resided He was en-
ployed continuously in the practice of his
, profession until he was elected a judge of
: the supreme court in 1870, He was success
lively reelected until the fall of 1884, when
, he declined a reelection In 1888 he visited
Europe in the vain endeavor to regain his
, health, and on his return he felt compelled
! to seek absolute rest. In politics Judge
, Redfield had always been a democrat He
l l had the honor of being elected to the bench
by republican legislature. In 1884 he was
the democratic candidate for United States
senator against Hon. Justin S. Morrill,. He
, was a man of scholarly tastes and was well
versed in historical and general literature.
panion. For many years he had been a
worthy communicate of the Protestant
! Episcopal church OF Judge Redheld's pro-
! fessional and judicial career we extract the
, following appreciative words from Hon l..
II. Thompson's comprehensive sketch in
the " Biography of the Bar of Orleans
l County" From the outset of his profess
sional career he commanded the respect
and confidence of the people of his native
; county and soon became one of its leading
] From n 1870 he nrAptipal
-, constantly in the courts of Orleans, Gale
. donia and Washington counties, being en-
. gagged in many of the most important
= trials. Possessed of an excel
lent memory, sound judgment, fine reason
: ing powers, judicial temperament and a
most subtle intellect he was safe counsel
and most dangerous adversary. A man
= once his client usually was always his eli
= ent. When he left the bar for the bench
Il but few lawyers, if any, in the state had a
:, larger clientage than he. AS a practitioner
+ at the bar he was self-possessed, cautious
e skillful, clear-headed, quick to discern the
i weak points III his adversarys case and tC
= grasp the strong ones in his own, thus being
K an opponent who required constant atten
u tion. AS an advocate he was not
: surpassed by any lawyer in the state. He
: impressed the jury with his dignfied bear
= ing, his apparent fairness and candor. His
e face was like a benedction to an or
g dinary jury. He knew them and theil
= fathers before them, and his jury arguments
y abounded in anecdotes in which they ol
/ their ancestors had taken creditable part.
II Thus he quietly insinuated himself into theil
Il good graces until they We're ready to believe
|. that so genial and pleasing lawyer must
It be on the right side. He had the happy
e faculty of marshaling the facts in his favor
/ and supporting them by cogent reasoning.
}, When arguing a case his manner was usu
d ally easy and quiet and his tone converse
It tional, but when thoroughly aroused he wa'
IS earnest in manner, spoke rapidly, and in
+, ringing, ncisive tones, His skill and power
l. as an advocate unconsciously clung to hin
Vt after he became Judge and at times mani
o tested itself in his charges to the jury or IL
l. rendering a judgment OF un
n questionable integrity through all hi
Is life, such was the confidence of the people
IS of Orleans and Washington counties in hi
+ honesty and sound Judgment that when h'
n commenced holding courts in these coun
q ties the jury in many cases were inclined
e to render verdicts in accordance with wha
Is they deemed 10 be his views as TO just dis
posal of the case. His reputation as a law
e yer, so far as the bar is concerned, will
d probably rest largely upon his judicia