Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-01-22
WILLARD ARMS.

Mr.. Willard Arms, one of the best known
and most prominent of the older residents
of Brattleboro, died at his home in the
West village on Wednesday morning after
a short illness from pneumonia. Mr.. Arms
came of distinguished ancestry in the early
history of Brattleboro, and was the last
survivor of that family, with the exception
of his sister, Mrs. Atwater, now living in
Phelps, n. Y. Mr.. Arms's great-grand-
father was Maj. John Arms, one of the
earliest settlers of this town. Mr.. Willard
Arms had in his possession the commission
given to his great-grandfather by Sir Hen
ry Moore, governor of New York, as "Ma-
ior of the Regiment Foot i'm the said Prov
ince, whereof Thomas Chandler Esquire,
is Colonel At the time John Arms re-
ceived this commission he kept a tavern
which stood at the foot of the first descent
i'm the road a few rods north of the present
site of the asylum, and he owned what
are now the asylum meadows. He died
about 1870, and his burial was i'm the old
cemetery above Centrevile. DR.. Willard
Arms, grandson of Mai. John Arms, and
son of Josiah Arms, was one of the early
and prominent physicians of Brattleboro.
He studied medicine with DIR. Williams of
Deerield Mass, married Susan Arms of
Deerlield in 1903, and settled in Stukey,
Canada, returning to Brattleboro however,
after a year, to settle the estate of his
father. DR.. Arms remained here for II
years, building during that time the n. b.
Williston house, now owned by Prof. Will
liston w. Walker. Selling his Brattleboro
practice DR.. Arms removed to Mortified,
Mass, remaining until 1888, when he re-
turned and settled in the West village,
spending there the remaining 30 years of
his life, his death taking place in Septem-
her, 1868, at the age of about 50 years.
Willard Arms was born i'm the village of
East Brattleboro in the year 1906, about
two years after the return of his parents
from Canada. He was probably born in a
house where f. p. Carpenters house now
stands, living here until the removal of his
father to Mortified, as above stated. He
received good education in the schools of
the time, and in his early manhood became
a clerk in a store at Warwick, Mass. Pre-
viOus to his coming to West Brattleboro to
live with his parents he married his first
wife, Gracia Liscom of IInsdale. He soon
after became a clerk in the store of Orlin
Pratt of West BrattlebOTo. where he re-
manned for a considerable number of years.
OF this marriage two children were born,
one of whom died in infancy. The other
grew to womanhood, but died several
years ago, leaving one son, George Mills of
Ansonia, Conn, who is Mr.. Arms's only
descendant. Mr. Arms's second wife was
Mrs. Diantha Cobleigh, who survives him.
He was a man of excellent education, in
telligently interested in public affairs, and
served the town as selectman for several
years. He was a good accountant, and
was often called upon as referee in disput-
ed cases Almost to the time of his death
he wrote a remarkably handsome round
hand of the old school. He was of a gen
ial temper, and had a ready wit which
made him always an interesting compan-
ion. He had been for many years faith
full member of the Congregational church.
The funeral is to be held at the church this
afternoon. Mrs. Arms is now critically
i'll. Mrs. Atwater arrived yesterday to at
tend the funeral