The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-17

Last issue of the WATCHMAN. Had this |
sad event occurred some months ago,
the community outside of the place of
his residence would have been prepared
for intelligence that came as a sho * to
them week ago. Some two years
since, DR.. Jones was seriously ill with
la grippe, and like many another victim
of the malady was left by the disease in
precarious state of health. 10 the
spring of 1890 his death seemed near.
He rallied, however, and through the
summer and fall slowly improved. He
passed the winter without serious retro
erosion, and during the last summer
and fall had reappeared at his place of
business and attended TO his affairs quite
actively. About December he began
to fail again, and had steadily declined,
till, on February 7, he became suddenly
and alarmingly worse. From that time
till when the end came, on the afternoon
of the h inst, his sufferings were in.
tense, but bravely and manfully borne.
DR.. Jones was born at Waitsfeld, July
81, 1910. His father, Hon. Hiram Jones,
was prominent in town aud county
aft airs. His mother, Laura Carpenter,
was daughter of Hon. Jason Carpen.
ter, also man locally prominent. His
boyhood and youth were spent upon his
fathers farm. He received his primary
education in the schools of the town
and fitted for college at Barre Academy.
In the fall of 1861 he entered the Uni
versity of Vermont, but was obliged to
leave in his sophomore year on account
of i'll health. He afterwards studied
medicine and was graduated from the
medical college at Berkshire, Mass, in
1865. He practiced his profession for
short time at Fabius, n Y and after
wards in his native town. November II,
1869, he married Miss Elvira M. Bush
nell, daughter of the late Dea. Jedediah
Bushnell. Two sons were born to them
Matt B., now in Dartmouth College, and
Walter E., a student at St. Johnsbury
Academy. In 1868, in company with
others, he bought the somewhat ex-
tensive mercantile business of his uncle,
L. w. Jones. This soon after came
into his hands exclusively, and he re-
linquished the practice of his profession
and devoted himself to business pur-
suits. Under his capable management,
and through his strict integrity and rare
good judgment, he soon did the largest
commercial business in town. He was
actively identified with town affairs.
He had served continuously as town
auditor since 1873. He had been chair
man of the board of town school direc-
tors and acting superinten of
schools from 1875 to 1886, and to him,
more than to any other, or possibly all
others, is due the great improvement
and enviable reputation of the schools
of Waitsfield From those who saw
less clearly than he, strong opposition
was sometimes encountered; but in the
end his judgment was indicated and
his wisdom acknowledged. He was a
leading and consistent member of the
Congregational church, and had its in
terests always at heart.
DR.. Jones represented his town in
the legislatures of 1880 and 1882, serv-
ing each term as chairman of the grand
list committee. In this office, in the
new and important tax legislation of
those years, his capacity for affairs, his
industry, his clear mind and unerring
judgment, were of great value to the
state. No more important work for
many years has been done by any legis-
latures than by those of which DR..
Jones was a member, and no man bore
a more prominent or decisive part than
he in the important work of those ses-
sions. He won and held the i'm
plicit confidence of his compeers by the
clearness of his mind, the soundness OF
his judgment, the integrity of his pur-
pose and the almost judicial impartiality
of his course in all matters referred to
him for consideration, or in which he
was called upon to act. He held mod.
estly but firmly to his own matured con-
victions, was ever temperate in discus
sion and considerate of those to whom
he was opposed. He was not frequent
speaker, but whenever, in public hear.
ings in the committee rooms or on the
floor of the house, he took hand
in debate, he spoke with such cali
dor and with such convincing force
and clearness that he invariably
carried conviction to minds thai
were open to reason. In consulta
ton he was free without intrusiveness
firm in his adherence TO what he be-
lieved to be right, good for counsel and
wise in rendering judgment. He studied
questions carefully, informed himself
fully, gave good reasons for his convic'