The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-10-05
Hiram Atkins Dead.


The death of Hiram Atkins, whose illness
has been frequently referred to, occurred at
his home at Montpelier, last Saturday even
ing at twenty minutes past eight O'Clock.
His Illness was of several months duration,
and during the summer months he spent the
greater part Of the time at Camp Watson on
Lake Chanplain. He was obliged TO take
to his bed in the latter part of August On
September 3 he was brought to his home in
this place, and since that time he had been
gradually failing The disease from which
| he died was cancer of the liver.
Mr.. Atkins was born in Esopus, Ulster
! county, New York, December 21, 1881. and
was the oldest of the ten children of John
S. and Margaret s. Atkins He worked on
a farm and went to school up to the age of
fourteen years. His parents in the mean
time had moved to Poughkeepsie, and there,
at fourteen, he began work as a clerk in a
dry-goods store, continuing at this business
four years He then entered the office of
the Eagle at Poughkeepsie as an apprentice,
but soon after went to work for the Jour
nal, at Kingston, n. Y, In the Office of
which he remained until 1858 Soon after
completing his apprenticeship, he, with
Daniel Cady, began the publication of
democratic paper called the Battle Ground
at North Bennington, this state. Mr.
Atkins and his partner were not entirely
harmonious in their views, and in October
1858, the former purchased the plant of the
Republican Standard at Bellows Falls,
changing the name of the paper to the Bel
lows Falls Argus. He remained at Bellows
Falls for ten years, and his newspaper was
success.
1t was in 1863 that Mr.. Atkins came to
Montpelier, having purchased the Vermont
Patriot, which at that time was edited by
Charles G.. Eastman. The two papers were
united under the name of the Aryus and
Patriot. The course of Mr.. Atkins during
the war was not calculated to make his lot
one of unInixed pleasure. He was op-
posed to the war, and his opposition was so
pronounced and offensive that his office
was nearly mobbed on one occasion by the
soldiers in town. Before, during and after
the war, he was strong democrat, and for
many years he was regarded as the " boss "
of the party in this state. About the time
of his removal from Bellows Falls to Mont
pelier he became member of the state
committee and in 1873 he was chosen chair
man of the organization. He had been re-
elected continuously since that date, often
in the face of the most bitter opposition.
The exciting struggle at the state con-
vention last May will be recalled, the is
sue at the time being wholly in reference
to the chairmanship of the committee.
When Bradley B. Smalley was appointed
collector of customs for Vermont under Mr..
Cleveland, Mr.. Atkins succeeded him as a
member of the national democratic COM
mittee, but he had since withdrawn in or
der that Mr.. Smalley might again take the
position. He had not been an ofce-holder
| W any t&btnbs dlJuOuI0 he
was postmaster at Bellows Falls from 1857
until 1861, and was superintendent of the
construction of the public building at Mont
pelier. He attended every national con-
vention of the democratic party from 1860
until 1892, inclusive, except that of 1872
In 1880 he was prominent in advocating the
nomination Of General Hancock. At his
! death he was an alternate member of the
Worlds Fair commission for Vermont and
: was auditor OF the Columbian commission
f.r ntat NJ Is ytya
Episcopalian and he contributed literally
: to his church.
, The deceased had been married twice his
first wife being Maria Abul, daughter of
: John |. Dewitt Of Catskill, N Y, by whom
he had three children, two of whom-Miss
Kate Dewitt and Elizabeth Dewitt, wife
of Captain o. d. Clark of Montpelier-sur-
| vive. Miss Atkins is at home, and in poor
r health. Mrs. Atkins died in 1859 In 1864
Mr.. Atkins married Julia NJ, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Ezra f. Kimball of Bellows
. Falls, whose sudden death occurred on the
day of the May convention at which Mr..
Atkins was reelected member Of the state
committee This tragic event undoubtedly
affected to some extent the health of the de-
) ceased. Several brothers and sisters of Mr..
Atkins are still living These are George
Atkins of Montpelier, Captain Alfred At
, kins of Roselle, n. j., Oliver S. Atkins of
Poughkeepsie, N Y, Misses Lsle, Maria
Dewitt and Jeanette B. of Poughkeepsie.
and two other brothers.
The funeral was held this afternoon, from
Christ church. L. p. Gleason and Charles
! Dewey took charge. The officiating clergy
: t. men were Rev. Howard f. Hill of Concord
q the former beloved pastor and friend, Rev.
: A. n. Lewis, and Rev. L. II. Hardy of Bur-
: lington. The church was filled with rela-
; tves and friends of deceased, including
. many prominent members of the legislature
q and well known democrats from all over
: the state. The Business Mems Association
| attauIa1 in q ho1y q did tha dro1 apn
' ployes and other local printers. The bear.
= ers were Captain Alfred Atkins of Roselle
n. j., Oliver s. Atkins of Poughkeepsie, and
o George Atkins, brothers Of deceased, and
7 Fred, Frank and Morris F., nephews. The
1 solemn phrases of the Episcopal burial SER
: vice, the music and the flowers, the October
s sunshine filtering through the staned-glas
Q windows, combined to make scene that
s stirred the tenderest emotions Of those
Q present. Men who had worked and fought
g with Hiram Atkins for years, as well as
men who had fought against him, united in
q paying the last tribute of respect to a man
i who, whatever his faults had many virtues
5 not the least of which was his kind heart
e and hospitable nature.
4 Among the prominent men present from
9 out Of town were Thomas Keefe Of Wind
: sor, w. b. Wall of West Randolph, DIR. w
o b. Mayo of Northfeld, ROLLS 5. Childs OF
: Brattleboro. H. F. Brigham of Bakersfield
:, DR.. j. ID. Hanrahan Of Rutland, G. II. Cross
: of st. Johnsbury, Judge j. j. Deavitt, G
w. Burleson, G. d. Watson, George G.
. Story of ST. Albans, A. NJ. Dickey of Brad.
v ford.
/, Colonel B. B. Smalley was unable to get
r away from his business in New York to be
Q present. Elisha May of st. Johnsbury, in
j letter regretting inability to be present,
4 wrote: "This means much to the democ-
v racy of this little commonwealth. One OF
t the greatest men in our party is gone from
: us, His enemies will not speak words OF
y praise about him, whom they feared while
Q living. You and knew him. 1 appreciate
a his sterling qualities of mind and heart.
1 Bear to the family my warmest, tenderest
i sympathes." A letter OF deep sympathy
1 was also received from ex-Mayor Seneca
Y Haselton of Burlington, who was confined
: in that city by law case.