Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-10-13
DEATH OF JUDGE sTODDARD,

"
his home in Westminster Thursday morn
ing about II o'clock, at the age of 81 years.
His last illness was short, a fatal termina-
ton having been anticipated only since the
end of last week.
Judge Stoddard's ancestors on both sides
were among the early settlers of the town
of Westminster, where they reared large
families. About the year 1900 several of
their descendants removed to what is now
the town of Sutton in Caledonia county,
then called Billymead, where Feb. /, 1911,
Abishai StOddard was born. He was the
son of Ezra Stoddard and Jerusha Goodell,
and the youngest in a family of seven chill
dren. On the 2jth of June following his
birth his father was killed by the falling
of a tree, and his mother, left with only
sufficient means to bury her husband and
pay the claims against the estate, returned
soon after to her parents in Westminster.
The children, as they grew up, found
homes with relatives and other friends
Abishai lived with an uncle and cousin,
and led the life of a farmers boy until he
was 16 years old, when he went to Towns
bend as a clerk in his brother Abiars
store. While there he attended three terms
of select school which, with the instruction
of the common schools of the day, con-
stituted his educational advantages. At
the age of 10 he went to Grafton as a clerk
in the store of Lyman Burgess. When he
reached the age of u he entered into a
partnership with Mr.. Burgess in the MGR
camille business, which lasted three years.
He then moved to Ludlow and formed a
partnership in the same business with
Andrew Pettigrew. This was in 1885. In
December of that year he was married to
Emeline Stevens Cobb, eldest daughter of
Daniel and Lucy Cobb of Windham, who
died in October, 1888, leaving a little son
who survived her only few days. Soon
after this he sold his business interest to
his partner. In June, 1910, he was married
to Harriet Earle Stevens. The life of a
tradesman had never been quite satisfac-
tory to him. He had always had desire
to enter upon one of the professions, and
the circumstances were now such that he
became student in the law office of Hon.
James II. Phelps of Townshend. He
moved the next year to Grafton, devoting
his time as far as possible to the study of
the law. He worked under great diff
culties and with only slender means, but
loyal determination and aspiration carried
him through, and in 1915, when "a years
old, he was admitted to the bar and began
He represented the town of Grafton in
the legislature in 1874, 1S45 and 1916. In
the latter year he was appointed register of
probate, holding that Office for three years,
when, in lS49, he was elected judge of
probate for the district of Westminster, an
Office which he held continuously until
1886, period of 81 years. He moved to
Townshend in 1855, and represented that
in, ba IN
He was a member of the constitutional
conventions of 1850 and 1857.
By his second marriage Judge Stoddard
had three sons, Frederick A., Edgar w.
and James w. Frederick, the eldest son,
enlisted in the Second Vermont regiment
at the outbreak of the war and died in
camp at Washington the following July,
being one of the first, if not the first,
Windham county soldier to meet his death
in the service. The father went to Wash
ington and returned with the body of his
son, and profound impression was created
upon its arrival and by the public funeral
which was held. Edgar W. is a member
of the BrattebOro law firm of Haskins IL
Stoddard, and the register of probate for
this district. The other son is a farmer in
Townshend The mother of these children
died in 1881. Two years later Judge Stod-
dard married the widow of his brother, Syl-
vester Stoddard, a resident of Westminster,
and ever since his home has been with her
in that town.
No man has ever lived in Windham
county who was more sincerely respected
or who was more deserving of this respect
than was Judge Stoddard He was a man
of absolute integrity, of large native abil-
ity, of purity of life, of directness of aim,
and with these qualities there was an in
nate dignity, a gentleness and kindness
and perfect sincerity which impressed
every one who who knew him or met him.
As lawyer he was a good practitioner,
possessing great natural aptitude for this
profession, and proving himself strong
advocate in many cases. AS an influence
for good at the bar his personal life and
character were strongly felt He was one
of the first to practice strict temper
ance principles, and to discourage the use
of liquors upon all occasions. During his
long term in the probate judgeship he was
brought into intimate relations with
very many of the people in his district,
and won their love and esteem in
very marked degree. As citizen of
Townshend, of Grafton and Westminster
he will always be remembered as a useful,
helpful man. In the long struggle and the
hard work which preceded the building of
the Brattleboro & Whitehall railroad he
bore an active part. His connection with
the Baptist church had been lifelong, his
baptism into that faith taking place at
Grafton when he was 20 years old. His
denominational views were pronounced,
but there being no church of his faith in
Westminster, he entered heartily into the
life of the Congregational church in that
place, after his removal there. He has
maintained a good degree of health, and
since his retirement from the duties of the
probate judgeship has busted himself with
the affairs of his own home.
His has been a good life, peacefully end
ed, and he goes to his eternal reward amid
the reverent love of children and grand
children, and the profound esteem of the
friends of lifetime.
At noon today there will be prayers at
the house at Westminster, and the body
will then be taken to Townshend, where,
at 1890 tomorrow, the funeral will be
held in the Baptist church, Rev. c. d. II.
Meacham officiating.