Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-01-09
MARTIN T. SKINNER.

MARTIN T. SKINNER.
When a man who has filed large place
| in the public eye on account OF his wealth.,
position or social qualities passes away, he
rarely fails to receive all the public notice
he deserves from the press, friends and
admirers, but when one as deserving, per-
haps more worthy who has lived a quiet,
transformations life, discharging his daily
duties faithfully unknown except to
the comparatively few who are honored
by associations with him, passes away, the
world takes little note OF his departure,
very little is said OF his character and
work. This may be more in keeping with
his modest life. Yet that life has really
accomplished far more for the high est
| good Of others, more that 10 truly worthy
| OF remembrance and commentator
than the life which has been more promi-
nent and received more praise. From II
some instructive lessons may be learned,
lessons alike for the encouragement OF the
middle aged and the guidance OF the
young. 1t deserves special notice from
surviving friends. Such life was that OF
Martin Tuller Skinner, who without the
slightest warning was suddenly taken
from his earthly home and earthly tolls to
the home and reward OF the blest on the
evening of December 18th while engager
| in the regular duties of his farm work.
Mr.. Skinner, the ninth child OF Calvin
and Sally Billings Skinner was born in
Royalton, March 9, 1921. When eighteen
months old his parents moved to the farm,
a mile south of Royalton village, which
was his home the remainder of his mortal
life His parents OF sturdy, Puritan stock,
trained their children in "the good old
ways" Martins youth was uneventful.
1t was passed quietly on the farm with
such advantages for education as the town
afforded. Reared under such influences
| he arrived at mans estate thoroughly
grounded in right principles and Wen
| equipped for the duties OF his VOCATION:
He was genial, kindhearted and social
and soon established for himself reputa-
| ton for sterling integrity and sound Judg-
ment eminently worthy the condolences oil
his associates. That these qualities were
genuine and highly appreciated by those
who knew him best is evident from the
fact that he was trustee OF the U. 5. surplus
fund seventeen years, selectman six years,
Justice of the Peace eight years and three
| times chosen to represent the town in the
state legislature. These offices were not
sought by him. They rather sought him
on account OF his well known fitness for
them. One well acquainted with town az
| fairs says "He would have been in once
much more had he been willing to accept.
He had no relish for such Things, The
quiet of his farm life suited him better,
still he discharged the duties OF every po-
sition he accepted with rare hdelity ana
retained the confidence OF the people so
that il has been repeatedly said since his
death ~ don't think Mr.. Skinner had an
enemy in town. The State distinguish
ed for her men of character has too few
such men and any town is the poorer when
one is removed Mr.. Skinner was too
ready perhaps for his own good to help his
friends. Hence, though mot slothful IN
business" his toll was not rewarded with
San increase OF goods" as that OF many
less diligent, so that he died poor man.
Yet one intimately acquainted with him
saws ellis good qualities Will well make
up for his Ill luck financially" Mr.. Skin
ner took an intelligent interest in main
tanning school and was a warm friend and
supporter of all those influences which
help train the young for efficiency and
usefulness in life. He was from its earli-
est years trustee OF Royalton Academy
and was active in sustaining it. Mr.. Skin
ner never made public profession of re-
ligion but he was brought up in the faith
of the Congregational church from which
he never departed. Until the last tive
years when circumstances beyond his con-
troll seemed to him to make it Impossible
and for which he frequently expressed
| sincere regret, he was regular, inter-
ested attendant on the public worship OF
the Sabbath and not infrequently found
his way TO the prayer meeting. his Bible
was not an unread book. Those most in
timately acquainted with him, TO whom at
times he revealed something Of his inner
life are confident that he did experience
the great change he believed necessary y
salvation and that he was a humble foi-
lower OF the Saviour. Mr.. Skinner was
never married, still he had apleasant, hos
pitable home where his friends were al
ways welcome and no one had greater en-
ioyment in their society than he. he out
lived his four sisters and all OF his five
brothers but one, DIR. Calvin Skinner OIL
Malone, n. Y. He was deeply interested
in and warmly attached to his many neph-
ews and nieces and it was beautiful to no.
tice their tender regard for "Uncle Mar
tin" The large number OF personal
friends and townspeople who attended has
funeral at his late residence on the after
noon of Saturday, Dec. 21st, testify to the
high esteem in which he was held by those
among whom he had always lived and
who knew him best. Certainly in his case
the words, "a prophet is not without hon
! or save in his own country, and among
his own kin, and in his own house" wert
reversed. To have lived well nigh thres
J score years and ten among the same peo-
pie, to be prominently connected with &c
I varied interests public and private, con.
stantly under the keen eye of a critical and
intelligent constituency and yet to wiz
and hold the esteem and confidence of al
is to pronounce the highest eulogy. "Ths
memory of the just is blessed "a good
. name is rather to be chosen than great
riches and loving favor rather than silver
and gold y