St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-01-02
RECENT DEATHS.
Willard.

his home on Spring street Tuesday
evening, being in his 18th year. Mr..
Willard was sitting in chair about
half past five reading. His wife was
occupied in the next room. Hearing
slight noise, like some one attempt
ing to blow out candle, as she ex-
pressed it, she looked into the room
where her husband was sitting and
saw his head was dropped and he
was gasping. She ran into another
part of the house for help and when
she returned life was nearly if not
quite extinct. Mr. Willard had some
years ago premonitions of apoplexy,
but he was in usual health up to the
minute of his death. His life went
out with the old year.
Mr.. Willard was born in Lyndon
in 1915, was admitted to the bar in
1913, removed to st. ,Johnsbury in
1853, where he practiced law for
many years, but for several years
past he has been III rather delicate
health and in no active business.
Mr.. Willard was states attorney for
this county from 1865 to 1867, be-
sides holding at various times town
Offices He became early identified
with the Passumpsic savings bank
and was an officer in this institution
for many years, at one time being
its treasurer. He was a prominent
member of the Methodist church and
was steward in the church in this
place 1t the time Of his death. His
sudden death was great shock to
his wife who was alone with him at
the time Mr. Willard was an older
brother of the late Charles w. Will
lard, member of Congress from the
second district and editor of the
Montpelier Freeman, and besides his
wife, leaves four sons-ChaEles and
Stephen in Minneapolis, w. ]. in Bos-
ton, and Herbert Willard, the young
est son, in a bank in Maine
Ritchie.
James Ritchie of Greensboro died
Sunday after short sickness. Mr..
Richie was born i'll Ayrshire, Burns
county, Scotland, in 1910. He re-
moved to this country in 1911 and
bought the farm in Greensboro where
he has since resided. He leaves
daughter, Mrs. George Stuart of
West Barnet, and four sons Robert
A. lives on the home farm in Green's
boro and has cared for his father in
his declining years; A. c. Ritchie lives
in West Barnet; and John T. and
James Richie in this place. Mr.
Ritchie was a typical Scotchman,
bright, industrious and frugal. He
won and held the esteem of all who
knew him and his death is alOss that
his town can i'll afford
HOLIDA Y YREMEMBRANCES.
Michael Mccormick of Cliff street,
was very kindly remembered at
Christmas by three of his sons, A. J.,
b. H., and c. w. Mccormick, who
all live in Massachusetts. They sent
him a beautiful French clock and
pair of gold-bOwed glasses. They
also sent his wife tea-set, and their
two sisters were handsomely remem-
bered by some choice gifts. The sons
have good positions and are all do
ing well, two being at Fitchburg and
one at Lynn.
E. H. Blossom, assistant superin-
tendent of the Lake road, was the
most completely surprised man i'll
this vicinity Christmas morning. A
large number of the employees of the
road purchased a beautiful gold
watch and beguiled Mrs. Blossom to
place it in his pocket the night previ-
Gus. All this was successfully accom-
plished. Mr.. and Mrs. Blossom
spent Christmas with his sister in
Canada, and in the morning when
his sister asked him to time the boil
ing of the eggs he reached for his
time piece and drew forth the new
and beautiful watch. He was COM
pletely surprised, and it was some
minutes before explanations made
matters clear as to just what had
transpired.
DR.. ]. l.. Perkins of this place re-
ceived a Christmas present that has
an interesting history. The article
is a simple cane sent him by his
brother who lives on Cape Cod The
stick is of live oak, taken from
the wrecked ship Somerset, and the
head is made of a whales tooth
The Somerset was British man-Of-
war ship which took part in the
Revolutionary war and stOrmed
Boston on the morning of the day of
the battle of Bunker Hill. After
wards she was wrecked on Cape Cod
and for one hundred years her broken
hulk has been under the sand and
waves. Within the last two or three
years the waves and relic-hunters
have unearthed these timbers, and
from one of them this walking-stick
of the doctors was made
Y. VI. C. A. NOTES.
Prof. s. H. Bracket gave an adj
dress at the mems meeting last Sun
| day afternoon.-W. l.. Raub of Am