Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-13
Death of John Gregory Smith.

| Htdlln lOI year past Ills utdtn at tHlS
time was a surprise to all except his imme-
diate friends. Last February he took a
severe cold, which was the beginning of a
long period of confinement to his house.
ID uring the summer months he was able to
be about and resumed in part his official
duties, and at the time of President llar-
rison's visit to Vermont he was handsomely
entertained by Gov. Smith at his st. Albans
residence. Two weeks later another period
of decline began, which proved to be final
John Gregory Smith was born in st.
Albans July 22d 1918. He was the Oldest
son of Hon. John Smith, who came to
Vermont from Barre, Mass. in 1900. His
father was a leading lawyer of his time,
was for ten terms a member of the legisla-
turc. was three times speaker of the house,
and a member of Congress in 1899 to 1871.
! The father was also a leading promoter Of
! the earliest railroad enterprises in his sec
ton of the state. The son was graduate
| of the University of Vermont in the class
| of 1912. He then studied law in the Yale
| law school at New Haven. Conn, and after
HIS auhilssloll W IIle oai oeS"ii 'lo Pl"''i''
of the law with his father at st. Adams.
The story of Gov Smiths career, as
law-maker, governor and railroad president,
is briefly told in an editorial in the Bur
| lington Free Press, doubtless from the pen
of Hon. G. B. Benedict. from which we
| quote:
He first became prominent IN Vermont politics in
1855, when he represented is county in the state
senate. He was an influential member of that
senate and reelected To- the senate of 1889. In
1850 when the war cloud Of the rebellion was
about to'hurst. he rel presented 81. Abaus in the
hous. ana was reelected ia ls6l. That legislature
comprised in its two branches such men John
W. Stewart, Fred +. Woodbridge George f Ed
muUds Charles W. Willard. Paul Dillingham; b.
d. Harris. Thomas +. Powers, Harmon Garfield.
\. B. Gardner, \. L. Miner. Alvah Sabin, George
W. Hcndee stephen Thomas, A. p. Hunter Ry
! land Fletcher, Hugh Henry. Dudley c. Denison
aud others who have filled a high place in the
state and national councils In this able body MIR.
Smith had a leading place as chairman Of the lu-
dietary committee. and his efforts ia the support
Of the government and III the maintenance ot the
honor and standing OF Vermont IN the great ma
uonal struggle were OF the highest value He
was returned 10 the house IN 1867 was elected
speaker 10y vote oi TWO 10 one Tor hon a b.
Uardher' anu as beiore' MS voice ana vote were
never wanting in favor Of the most generous ap-
preparations and most energetic measures Tor the
support OF our troops in the field and for the de
fence OF the Union
| The year following he was nominated 10y accla-
nation Tor governor ana III OCTOBER 1903 he EN-
t-n'd upon his duties as chlef magistrate OF our
commonwealth. In that office he displayed the
high executive ability which was eNemplihed IN
such marked degree m all his subsequent career
| The war had theh reached stage wheh Voiun-
| teers 70 fill our regiments had ceased TO be plenty
and when enlistments Jagged. Gov smith was
met at his accession to the governorshp by
| fresh call OF President Lincoln for $4,000 men,
and r'quisItlon from the President Tor $SOO men
from vermont 10 make good the existing dehclen-
| cy under the draft OF three months previous The
demands upon the time, energies and resources
mental and physical OF an efficient war govern
or, IN those days. can hardly be understood or APP
! preclated now. but Go'. Snlth was tully equal
T. the emergency. Largely as the result of his
| own high spirit and unconquerable energy, our
| Green Mountain state met every call upon her
| filled every quota with surplus to her credit;
and did her iull part in the restoration of the ma
! tional unity and authority
Gov. Smith was reelected governor in 1854, by
larger majority than before; and during his ad-
ministraton had the proud satisfaction of seeing
| the complete triumph of the national arms and
| of reviewing our troops in the grand reviews
| which preceded the final disbanding of the army
! of the Union. To the Vermont soldiers Gov.
Smith greatly endeared himself by his strong per
! sonal interest and care for them. He visited
them in their camps: he cheered them by his
presence in the hospitals, and did all that or
governor could do for their care and support. His
conduct, especially in May. 1864. when a thousand
wounded VermonteIs were taken 80 Fredericks
burg from the bloody battlefield of the Wilderness
will be forgotten by any Vermont soldier. Or
| dering thther 20 of the best surgeons in Vermont
| to assist the hospital surgeons he also went at
once in person TO Fredericksburg devoted himself
night and day to the care of the men; sent those
who could be moved 10 Vermont, and did every
thing possible for the comfort of the rest.
In civil life Gov. Smiths fame largely rests on
his ability, success and prominence as railroad
lanaerr anu nlnEna'e ms o.slial interest IN "a
were. NV inheritance, His father was one Of the
original directors of the Vermont Central railroad
company ana with Joseph Clark OF Milton and
I Was ;,' e's DA,oe, oi
the connecting link between the Vermont Central
and the Grand Trunk and ogdensburg roads. OF
the Vermont ana Canada Jon smith was the
% IL, a., T,,,,t t''o ,,S nSl -
take possession of the Central in default of rent
and interest upon the Vermont and Canada lands,
guaranteed oy tne central Inc vermont ana
int crest ON the deorh Of Iohn smith in is5s
John Gregory succeeded him as president of the
Vermont and Canada, and trustee of the first
mortgage boiuholueIs ana from that on ne ne