Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-10
TIMOTHY VINTON.

country. He began as master paper
maker in 1923 and had bean in business in
Brattleboro since 1S47-his period Of bust
ness life in Brattleboro being longer than
that of any man Of his time with a single
exception-that Of Mr.. Bethuel Ranger who
began in 1913
Mr. Vinton was born in South Reading,
Mass, now Wakefield, Jan. 9Th 1903. He
had thus just completed 81 years Of life on
the very evening of his death When two
years old his parents moved 10 Shirley,
where he lived till he was twenty years of
age His education was s UGH as could be
had in the common schools Of that day,
and one term in Groton academy. He had
also been employed in cotton factory and
paper mill up to this time, when he went
to birmingham and gave two years time
to finish the trade of paper making by
hand. He then removed to Leominster
and worked at his trade for several years
In November, 1928, he was married to
Caroline Woodcock, who bore him FIVE
children, three sons and two daughters, Of
whom the only survivor is a son, VIM H .
Ninton, in whose family the closing years
of his life have been spent, che death of his
wife having taken place in April, 1878.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Viuton
hioNSA " iiNtHuuikt MASS anu LueTe was
engaged in the manufacture of paper with
the late Alvah Crocker. of wide repute in
the trade, until 1913, when the mill was
burned In 1915 he moved to Pepperill,
Mass, where he was engaged in the same
business for two years, when in 1S47 this
mill was also burned. He then removed
to Brattleboro and in company with his
brother in law, the late Nathan Woodcock
became the owner of the paper mill in 1854
the firm being Woodcock & Vinton In
this business he continued till his death,
and until az late a date as last August he
maintained a careful daily oversight Of the
main details, although the general manage
ment had been for some years in the hands
of his son, VIM. H Vinton.
The origin of the old mill dates back u
1911 when it was built by what would now
be known as a syndicate of leading
Brattleboro citizens The first mill was
burned in 1916 and its successor was burn.
cd in 1891 three years after it came into
the hands of Woodcock * Vinton The
present building was erected in 1859 AT
the time Mr.. Ninton took charge of the
property the daily product was 500 pounds
day. At present, and for some years
past the product has been 5000 pounds a
day.
Mr. Ninton's devotion to the order Of
Odd Fellows and love for its principles and
work are well known. The following
sketch of his history as AN Odd Fellow wa.
prepared under his oversight for a paper OF
the order published at Albany n. Y and
is undoubtedly correct:
He became an Odd Fellow in 1916 being
initiated into Groton lodge, No. II, of Gro
ton, Mass. In this lodge he passed tn,
chairs OF secretary, vice grand and nobl,
/ grand, and on his removal TO Brattlebor,
he Withdrew therefrom to become a mem
Der Of Wantastiquet lodge, No. g. He wal
| elected a member Of the latter lodge. Feb
ruary 2S lS4s. The following June he wa
elected vice grand, and before the tern
ended lOct. -, the noble grand having beer
absent three meetings, the lodge declare,
/ the chair vacant and elected Mr.. Vinton t,
| that office. In January. lS4g. he was elect
/ ed one Of the trustees, which Office he hel,
/ for many years From that date unit
within two or three years he constant,
/ held some position IN his lodge as inside
| guardian. warden, conductor, chaplain OF
secretary, always serving cheerfulv All,
with ability in all positions he was Gale,
upon to fill As recording secretary h,
served - terms, and as permanent score
tary nine terms. The office of chaplain h.
held for nearly or quite p terms, or unit
about the year 1888 He was also inter
ested in other branches Of the order H.
was one of the charter members of Oasi
encampment, of which he was past chic
patriarch, and assisted in organizing tn
| grand encampment of Vermont, aud 70
several years was its grand treasurer Fo
thirty five years he was a member of tn
grand lodge Of Vermont and in 1861 wa
ITS grand master. In 1870 he served a
representative to the sovereign grand lodge
In the dark days of the order in this stat
Mr.. Ninton did much by his example an,
work to keep the order alive In August
1868. at the meeting of the grand lodge
there were only five lodges in the state. an,
only two of these were represented at thi
session, there being present seven brothers
The other three lodges, being discouraged
had voted to surrender the charter of tn
grand lodge. Sewall Morse, grand master
and Timothy Ninton, two of the seven, sal
there must he no surrender" and BEGAN
responsible for the assessment Of the gran
lodge, carried the day and saved the orde
in Vermont.
The institution, or reorganization, of Can
ton Palestine of uniformed Odd Fellows. O
which Mr.. Ninton was a member, has take
place since the sketch thus quoted from wa
prepared.
As a citizen Mr. Vinton was a man q
strony, determined convictions, of homes
and sincere purposes, and of unbemishe
repute in all the relations of life. He seem
ed to have IN him, in his sympathes an
interests, the fountain of perennial youth
and he carried with him gracious and kindl
ltfNr " iah IN. biu 1atar l.,
been like benediction to the younger me
as they have met him on our streets, or i
business or social relations He was ma
of the strictest temperance principles, an
an earnest believer in and supporter of tn
Universalist faith. In middle life he too
an active interest in public affairs, and wa
a member, with the late John W. BurnaJ
of the board of selectmen which laid OF
and built Elm street and the first Elm stree
bridge, opening direct communication b,
tween Elliot and Canal streets. He was
lister for several years. and served as jui
tice of the peace for a term of years
The funeral of the venerable man too
place on Tuesday morning at the Univel
salist church, when the local organization
of Odd Fellows, including the Rebeka
lodge, attended in body, Canton Palestiu
doing escort duty and performing the fin
rites at the grave, this being the first occl
sion where the Canton has been called on fC
this service. After the services at ii
church, where the Rev. F. w. Sprague of
ciated, and on arrival at the cemetery, ii
carriages remained outside, and the Canto
and subordinate lodge formed at the Ell
trance and stood at present while the ca
ket was carried through Proceeding
the burial, the banner was stationed at IL
head of the grave, with the commander
the foot and the chaplain in front of ii
banner, while the lieutenant commando
formed the Canton around the grave in IL
form of a crown with the subordinate lodg
outside. Commander Timson then read ii
opening portion of the service and deposi
ed a crown of evergreen upon the caske
the chaplain offered prayer, and each che,
alier then advanced TO the grave in turl
came to present" deposited a sprig
evergreen on the casket, saluted and r
turned to ranks, the members of the lodg
following afterward, and the band playiI
dirge while this impressive ceremoni
was in progress. On the conclusion of Il
service the ranks were reformed, and hea,
ed by the band, the members of the ord,
took up the line of march back TO their hal
The Past Grand Masters collar, presen
, ed to Mr.. Ninton by Dennis Rebekah lodl
several years ago, was buried with him
his request In addition to their other te
timonials of respect To his memory, the Ca
ton contributed the evergreen crown, and
sheaf of wheat and sickle, Rebekah lod,
Gates Aiar, and Wantastiquet lodge ii
three links
The members of the order were unremi
ting in their attention to Mr.. VintC
: throughout the weeks aud months of weAI
ness before the end came so peacefully.
is within a short time that they caused
life size photograph to be made of him
the full regalia of Past Grand Represent
tive.
} The famous motto mo Surrender. inse