Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-11-12


stronger than sometime previous. He was
as well and widely known, perhaps, as al
most any man in the state, both on ac-
count of his political eminence and his
connection with the railroad interests of
Vermont.
Coy. Smith was born in st. Albans, on
July %, 1918, his father having come there
at an early day from Barre, Mass. The ell
der Smith was quite prominent in public
affairs, held many offices OF trust, and from
the beginning was identified with the rail
road interests of Vermont, being one of
the directors and the first president Of the
Vermont Central road.
John Gregory was educated in the pub
lie schools of his native town, then grad
uated from the u. v. M. in 1S41 afterwards
from the Yale law school, and became as
sociated with his father in law business.
His fathers experience as a railroad man
ager placed the younger Smith in way
to acquire much information and practice
in railroad matters. In fact he may be
said to have grown up a railroad man.
When his father died in 1855 Gregory
was appointed his successor as a trustee
of the Vermont Central and Vermont &
Canada roads. From that time on for 80
years the history of the roads and OF the
man have run closely parallel. Mr.. Smith
had political as well as a railroad career.
In 1858 to 1860 he was senator from
Franklin county. Afterwards he was rep
resentative from st. Albans for three sue
cessive years, speaker OF the House in the
session 1861 and '62. He was nominated
for governor in July 1868, and received the
election by an overwhelming majority,
was reelected governor in 1864. He was
known as one of the great war governors
of the North and along with Gov. Andrew
of Mass. was often summoned to Wash
ington by Pres. Lincoln to confer upon
matters connected with the prosecution
of the war. He pushed forward the rails
ing of troops and made no uncertain
movements as to his purpose to do his
part in the suppression of the rebellion.
He always took an interest in the welfare
of the troops and did what he could for
their comfort in camp and hospital. Since
the war he has served as delegate at large
from the state to several national conyen-
tions, and has not infrequently presided
over our republican state conventions.
That he was not anxious for political pre-
ferment appears from the fact that he al
ways declined to be a candidate for Con-
gress, and twice refused the vacant Sena-
torship, once upon the death OF Solomon
Foote and again upon the retirement Of
Senator Edmunds.
But whatever part he may have taken in
our political affairs, there has always been
a feeling that he was strong, reliable
man, and could be turned to as leader
and counselor should any great emergency
arise.
1t was as a railroad man, however, that
he was best known. And his position was
no sinecure. He was kept closely bound
to his duties, getting away for only such
brief periods OF recreation as health SEEM
ed to demand, and sometimes, even, max
ing seasons of refreshment occasions for
business. We have not space to give to
the history of the controversy between
the Vermont Central and Vermont q Can
ada roads, For the first twelve or fourteen
years of his trust there was very little lit
igation, then troubles began to come and
unlimited abuse was heaped upon the
Central management. Suits of all sorts
and kinds were brought in the state and
federal courts. The enemies of Governor
Smith who was the head and front OF the
offending in these matters as they figured
them out, subjected him TO unlimited a.
buse, but after long and searching inves-
tigation of the trust management in which
no little hostility and even vindictiveness
was manifest, the committee of investiga-
tion reported to the Legislature unanim-
ously, that the charges were disproved,
and that Gov. Smith and his associates
were vindicated. In the suits brought
against the trustees from 1872 to 1884, the
federal and state courts invariably sustain
ed them.
Under the hand of Gov. Smith and his
associates there has grown up a system in
the State worthy of notice. When he was
appointed a trustee in 1858 the property
consisted only of line of road, loo miles,
running from Windsor to Alburg, and this
was not much of a road, and did but little
local business and not much else. Then
commenced the growth of the present sys
TEN, the burden of it resting mainly upon
Gov. Smith. The Vermont & Canada was
extended to Burlington and Canada line.
In 1869 the Missisquoi road was built from
st. Albans to Richford, 2s miles. In 1870
the Rutland road was leased for 20 years,
which was renewed in 1891 for 999 years.
A controlling interest in the Ogdensourg
& Lake Champlain was acquired IN 1886.
The New London & Northern extending
from So. Vernon to New London, Conn.
was leased in 1871. Through the activity
of GOV. Smith other facilities for freight
traffic have been secured through short