St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-05-21
RECENT DEATHS.
SOper.


an old resident of this place, died at
the Mary Fletcher Hospital, Burling-
ton, last Friday morning. He went
there about three weeks ago and
had a cataract successfully removed
from one eye and was doing well
when an artery inside the eye rup-
tured and destroyed the sight. He
had also been afflicted with Bright's S
disease, which was in its last stages
and was the immediate cause of his
death.
Mr.. Soper was born at Plattsburg,
N. Y, in 1888, but was a resident of
St. Johnsbury several years prior to
the outbreak of the war He enlist
ed in Co. A, 18th Vt. VOL, August Z,
and was mustered into the United
States service Sept. 1, 1862, with
rank of corporal. He was promoted
sergeant in January, 1864, and
again 1st sergeant in April, 1865.
Sergeant Soper was in all the actions
of the 18th Regiment and escaped
unharmed till the last engagements,
the battle of Petersburg, April 2.
1865. On the morning of that day
the front ranks of the rebels on the
south of Petersburg were assaulted
by our forces and carried and the
rebels were pursued. At a point
some three miles from their works,
Sergeant Soper and three others
were taking from barn some rebels,
whom they had pursued and caught,
when they were fired upon by their
own comrades who mistook them
for rebels. A musket ball struck
Sergeant Soper in the left ankle,
shattering the bone, and the same
day his leg was amputated about
four inches above the ankle
At the battle Of Weldon railroad,
June %, 1864, when so many of Co.
A. were captured, Sergeant Soper,
with a few others, escaped by rum
ming a gauntlet of musket balls.
They flew around him like hail
stones, but by lodging and running
he made his escape. At the battle of
Charleston he fired $50 rounds and
at Fishers Hill 900 Hewas muster
ed out of the United States service
at David's Island, New York harbor,
Sept. IA, 1865. After the war he
returned to St. Johnsbury and was
for many years gate-keeper at the
scale shops. A few years ago he re-
moved to Morrisville, where he resid-
ed at the time of his death.
Mr.. Soper was prominent in the
6. A. r. post here and was an honor
ed member of the Masonic fraternity,
belonging to Passumpsic lodge of
this place and being Grand Tyler of
the Grand lodge of Vermont. He
was also a member of the North
church in this place. He was uni
versally respected wherever he has
lived, and large circle of friends and
acquaintance mourn his death. His
wife and daughter survive him and
were with him to the last, Civ
ing him their undivided attention
during his illness.
His remains were brought to st.
Johnsbury and the funeral was held
~, S,pJoy n + +1,a ,-aei1a,oa of ZJ;11,o -,
H. Harris. The services were con-
Quoted by Rev. c. M. Lamson. The
burial was conducted by Chamberlin
post, 6. A. R., and Passumpsic lodge
of Masons, the Palestine command
cry acting as escort. Extra trains
were run from Lyndonville and Nor
risville and there was large attend
ance of Masons and other friends
flom LynIonvillc. Danvillc, Norris
vile. Wolcott and elsewhere.
DarIin.:.
StcIhe a. Darling died at his
ing of scrofula. Mr.. ID ,rlimS WAS
born at Catnpton. y. H.. i'll 1860.
He came to St. Jollnslurv in 1881
and has since made this village his
lone He worked in the scale shops
about two years. Later he drove Il
job team, and since his health failed
about Il year ago he has been in the
employ of y. l.. Bailey as travelling
salesman. He had typhoi fever
eight weeks ago and it le him in a
wife and a son scvcI years old,
who have the sympathy of all i'll
their berca yemcnt
Palmer.
Miss Annie d. Palmer. former