The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-22
Elisha Payne Jewett.

We sometimes read of 1.-THE city fathers"
The country has its fathers" too, equally
worthy of honor; and our readers will ad-
NIT that the term may well be applied in it's
broadcast and noblest significance to the
venerable man whose decease last Sunday
noon we are now called upon to chronicle.
No man among us had been so long iden-
titled with the interests of Montpelier as
had Colonel Jewett. Whether in active
business or out of it, he was ever, to the
last week of his life keenly alive to all
that concerned the town which had been
his home for almost ninety years; and as
his counsel was sought in all important
matters pertaining to the public welfare
when he was man of affairs, so he was
consulted in such matters in the very last
year Of his life, with the confident expecta-
ton that his judgment would be, il not in
fallible, yet we'll worthy of careful consid-
GRAFTON. When the construction of the
Vermont Central railroad was under dis
cussion, he was one Of those who were most
efficient in pushing the enterprise to sue
cessful issue. When it was question
whether Montpelier should continue to be
the capital of the state, Colonel Jewett's
powerful personal influence, backed by his
guarantee OF abundant financial aid, was
large element in determining the balance in
our favor. When hotel worthy of the
time and the place was demanded here his
contribution to assure it was among the
largest When churches were to be built,
|
He may not have approved every novel
measure that was introduced among us.
He looked with some distrust upon men
who often pressed upon public attention
new projects. AS age advanced he nat
urally felt less and less OF the hopefuness
and venturesomeness of young manhood;
! and he sometimes seemed to lose faith in
the good time coming" and to question
| the usefulness of many of the efforts TO bring
on the millennium that others advocated.
| tha, h,,n ~
determined his act, and won for the cause
that promised good his valuable assistance.
His townsfolk say their " farewell " with
many a tender grateful thought of him
who, since the Hon. Daniel Baldwin passed
away, has been our Nestor.
Born in Lebanon, n. H., in 1901, he came
to Montpelier with his parents in 1907, aud
at the age of fifteen began hisOercantile ca
reer with Judge Baldwin. Having served
his apprenticeship of some six years with
him, in the general country store " of that
day, he entered into partnership with his
brother-in-law, Chester Hubbard. Later
the firm became Jewett & Howes; and the
business, conducted in the corner store now
occupied by George e. Taplin and others.
having been fairly successful, was relin-
quished by him in 1912. Mr.. Jewett was
then engaged for number of years as the
| responsible contractor in building consider.
able sections of the Vermont Central and
the Great Western railroads. He was one
peler, OF which, under its different char
ters, he was director for more than forty
| years, and for some six years he was its
president. He was state treasurer in
1861, represented the town in the legisla-
ture in 1855, and in 1872 was presidential
elector-at-large, and was selected to bear
the electoral vote of the state for Grant and
Wilson to Washington. Politically, he was
originally whg, but early joined 1.-THE re-
publican party, and ever after gave that
t,~l
no desire for political preferment, and was
no office-seeker, but maintained steadily an
intelligent interest in political affairs, which
was unabated even in his last days. He
was one OF the first board of commissioners
of Green Mount Cemetery, and served in
that capacity twenty-one years.
One of his greatest pleasures lay in i'm
proving the face of nature, and in making
two blades of grass grow where only one
grew before. This enjoyment, together
with desire to give worthy men employ
ment, has led him to lay out far larger sums
than a mere desire for gain would justify, in
beautifying and making more productive
pieces of land in and near our village which
he has bought from time TO time And
another Of his chief qualifications was the
exercise of an open-handed hospitality.
After his marriage in 1861 to Miss Julia
kellogg Field daughter of Hon. Charles
X. Field of Brattleboro, their home was
often the scene of happy festive gatherings
especially during the sessions of the legsla-
ture at which the cordiality of host and
hostess left nothing to be desired. And
| Colonel Jewett's heart retained to a mark ed
degree its youthfulness and its interest in
the young, who were always made to feel
welcome under his hospitable roof. With
out the exuberant flow Of spirits enjoyed by
some, his demeanor was characterized by a
genial grace and friendly courtesy which
attracted all. The loyalty of those in his
employ-one Of whom, Patrick Slattery
has served him twenty-nine years-gives a
two-fod testimony. 1t attests not only
their 6delity and atfectionate regard of
him, but also his considerateness and kind
ness to them.
In his prudence and sagacty, his honesty
and usually wise conservatism, he has been
for many years conspicuous among those
who have established Montpelier's reputa-
ton among business men. wherever it is
known, for mercantile integrity and tinan-