The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-04-24


not necessarily fatal"
Charles T. Graves.
This community was shocked Monday
afternoon to learn of the sudden death OF
Mr.. Chas. +. Graves one of its prominent
business men. He was found uncon-
scious in his bed late in the morning, and
medical aid was Immediately summoned
but it proved unavailing and Mr.. Graves
died about 2:30 as stated. The cause of
death is pronounced by the physicians to
have been an overdose of morphine, evil
IDENTIFY taken to allay pain. During the
past months Mr.. Graves had at times
suffered severely with what he called
rheumatism in his back, probably lum-
bago resulting from a kidney difficulty,
and it is thought this led to
his taking an opiate from the effects of
which he never awoke. 1t is known that
he had been better for some days, but
that his back had begun to trouble him
again on Saturday evening. Yet he was
out to church as usual Sunday, visited
the home of C. c. Kimball in the even
ing and retired to his room about nine
O'Clock Sunday evening. 1t is also now
known that at times Mr.. Graves was
victim of insomnia, and that he had tax
EN- opiates before to allay both the pain
in his back and to woo sleep.
Everything was done for his relief that
medical skill or science could suggest,
but it was too late to be of any avail
Deceased had been resident of Ben
nington village about twenty years, COM
ing here from North Bennington to work
at his trade. He had previously been
engaged in that village for time, coming
there from his home in Albany, n. Y.
Mr.. Graves finally succeeded to the bust
ness that had for some years been carried
on by Grover & Walker locating in the
old store in the new Noyes' Block. For
more than fifteen years he has carried on
his business successfully, adding to the
lines from time to time until his stock
consists of hardware, paints, builders
materials, as well as the goods usually
kept in tin, stove and hollow ware
shop.
Mr.. Graves was in his tifty-secOnd year,
and his wife died, as will be recalled,
only six months ago. He was a prOmi-
nent and useful member of st. Peter
Church-a long time vestryman, and for
three years treasurer and collector of the
parish. 1t will be a difficult matter to
fill his place in that church.
His army experience was a fact to
which he always pointed with commend
able pride. He was member of Co. b. |
Second U. s. SharpshoOters (Berdan's)
and served during the war. Last year
Mr.. Graves attended the unwilling of the |
SharpshOOters' monument on Gettysburg
field and spoke with great deal of salts
faction, both of its location and design. |
He was one of the brave sharpshooters |
who kept back one column of the enemy
while, as is now known, the Union forces |
rallied and were thus enabled to win the |
battle, as stated i'll the BANNER of few |
weeks ago. Mr.. Graves was naturally |
prominent in &. A. r. circles. He had
held Office in the National Council of Adj |
ministratiOn, was Past Senior Vice |
Dept Commander of Vermont, Past |
Commander of the local Post &C.. A. Gus |
teri, and present Assistant Inspector
General on the staff of Gen. Alger, Com
mander-in-chief of the Grand Army of |
the Republic.
He had for years been a member of the |
Masonic fraternity, and belonged to all
brances, including the Scottish Rite. He
was past officer in several of the divi- |
siOns of FreemasOnry.
f,,r II I
yesterday at If 80 from the church. Mrs. |
Geo. W. Keeseman presiding at the or
gan. The Grand Army and Masons at
tended in body and the Knights Temp
lar acted as escort in full uniform. Dele
cations from all these bodies went to AL
bany with the friends in special car
provided by Col. Bennett, and will re-
main until the obsequies there are ended
to-day. The Albany services will be held
this afternoon from the residence of Mr..
Graves's father, SO Madison Avenue at
o'clock, and the remains will be laid at
rest in the family lot in Rural Cemetery.
We learn that many of his Old-comrades-
in-arms from Troy and Albany will be in
attendance this afternoon. They met
the funeral cOrtege yesterday at the
depot and presented elegant gifts of
flowers, among which we noticed a floral
cross covering the elegant purple casket.
The services were conducted by the
Rev. VIM. Bogert Walker. The bearers
were furnished by Custer Post, Col. n.
NJ. Puffer, commander, as follows: John
W. Williams, A. G. Patchen, Robert j.
COffey, Dennis NJ. Blackmer, William L.
Murphy, Thomas. A. Hutchins. The
Knights Templar were commanded by
j. A. n. Williams, +. c.
As a business man Mr.. Graves will be
greatly missed in this village. In frater-
nifty circles, also brother has gone on
whom it was always safe to rely to fulfill
well his part. 1t is not of course known
what disposition will be made of the
business, but it is an excellent oppOrtu-
nifty for some one to take and acquire
fine business and good will of trade.
There is life insurance of 5000, three
thousand in the Bay State and like sum
in two policies in the Northwestern.
Mr.. Graves has a father and one sister
living in Albany, n. Y. A brother John
Graves( is located in Buffalo, and sister,
Mrs. Robert Hannah, lives in South Nor
walk, Conn.
In addition to the delegations, above,
a large number of our citizens are in Al |
bany to-day attending the interment of
Mr.. Graves's body.