The Newtown bee., 1894-05-04
Affairs About Town.
DEATH OF WILLIAM PLATT.

eu away, last week trlddy, at the ripe age of 70 years. The death of William Phtt occurred at Middletown, where h. was undergoing treatment. A shattered boly and mind is at rest, and those who knew him in his best days could but re- gret that his declining years should be olOuded by a failing mind. MT Platt had always been known somewhat for his eccentricties, but they did net assume a violent form till 1889, when he was taken to Middletown for treatment. All that patience and love could do for a man, was done for the late Mir Platt in his home, by his wife and son, and not till it seemed urgent, was any action taken. He remained at Middletown the first time only three months, when ais mind clt ar ed up, and he came home and remained nea ly year, when his illness again as- sumed a serious form. He again was sent to MiddleGown and after three months of treatment, again came home, remaining less than year, when 1t was necessary to send him again for treat nent. Death brought sweet release this time, as he passed away after being there some more than six months. Prof Platt, the son Of the deceased, received an in- tercstug letter from his father, only the Monday previous to his death.
 The subject Of this sketch was a native of Washington, born November l3, 1915. lis fathers name was Levi PlaJJ, who conducted a store and grlst mill in Wash ington. The only surviving member of his fathers family Is Mrs Elizabeth Weed of New Haven, d sister of the deceased. Mir Platt entered Yale college, when a young man, for q course of study, but he only remained a year, owing to poor healGh, Mir Platt's father later resided at Stony Hill.
 Mir Platt began his married life at Dan- bury, taking for his bride Miss Fannie sherman of Stony Hill district, who sur wives him. There were born to them five children, Fannie, who died at the age of three; Roger, who passed away aC the age of IS; Frank, superintendent of Plume & Atwood's, Waterbury, who died at about 3S; Emily, who died at the age of 90; and Prof Charles B. Platt, of this town, who survives him.
 Mir Platt first embarked in the button business with brOtherat Danbury. He came to Newtown about lSt4, starting in the button business at Cold Spring, which proved q financial success from the start. He carried on business there for num- Der of years alone, wheA he formed q partnership with Elliott Peek and Oliver Summers. But this did not long Contin- ue, and he again conducted the business alone. He manufactured hoOf buttons, employing perhaps 20 hands.
 MT Platt at first lived in the house where Patrick keane's father now lives. He afterward built the large house where Patrick keane now resides.
 About 1869 he baught the land where his late residencSfs situated, beautiful hilltop overlooking the valley and New town Street. He moved to NewtoWn at this time, but returned to Cold Spring a few years later, and occupied his old home for a season or two, selling out in 1877 to MT keaue.
 Mir Platt now became pAssiJuately in- terested In the fruit business. He set out perhaps 1900 peach trees ani hundreds of apple trees. He also raised many straw berries and small fruits, and he gained quite reputation throughout the state as n horticulturi~t.
 After his removal Co New town Mir Platt became connected with the Stepuey Baptist church and was elected deacon. He was a liberal supporter. Over some matter that arose In the church he became di-gruntled, re- signed as deacon and lost his spiritual in- terest in the church. From that time he assumed an attitude of hostility to the church, speaking of the clergy as unnec- essary, costing a million dollars daily" being Q favorite expression of his. He carried his hobby to the extreme, having GOnLTdGb WlLH StNtTdl utWeDhDGTS, LII t BEE, Ddnbury News, etc., for regular ad- vertising space in which to present his views. His contributions were not sought after by the publishers, but he seemed to have passionate fondness for editors, and sought their sanctums early and of ten. During the pastorate of Rev Dr Marble and Rev Il. B. Smith here, he of ten preached in the open air and some times in schoolhouses. Mir Platt's par II. be enlarged upon, but sample para graph Is here given of the kind he fur. ntshed the newspapers:
 eNothing is right that is not fair." "Plat form lectures nre never lair, and they are it direct opposition 10 Chrlst's plain teaching ''tio and tell him his tault between thee ant him nlono. A person will receive reprOo with thankfulness from another when the two arc alone. which if administered in tho pre- enco of q third uerson or n crowd would excit anger; and further, the party reproved ma! have eonsciousncss that his actions were no subject to censure, and Justly deems himsel miatrented when reprtmanded by htreltng before whom he can make no explanation Q vindientiou without being an offender ot tn common law, II platform preaching or lee turcs were ever allowable, they are not need ed now, tor the printer has placed the lecture hands of all" "No toll gates on the way [ Heaven"
 Mir Platt was a man terribly sincere il his religious views. He really imagine
 
 forth his ideas to his fellow men. II was so firm that even the earnest advic of his dearest friends was not noticed This seems strange, when at the sam time his views on almost any other sut iect were clear and sensible. In bus ness aiiaira, he was wise and prudent vet when it came to religion his view were cratic and disconnected.
 Another hobby with the late MT Plat which he carried to excess, was walking He called it ''Stepology." He pride himself on his ability to walk. At or tune he covered the distance betwee New York and Newtown. He ofLe walked to Waterbury one day and bac the next. while he made frequent trips Daubury to see his friend, the late Editt Bailey, with whom hr had contract ft advertising his crusade against the cle gy. Mir Platt claimed walking was cure for almost every disease. He woul walk in the night time, and in this, G In his later years) WAS seen the result { falling powers.
 While student ar Yale college, Platt was complimcnted by his professs for his ability in elocution and readiui and this in hls late years was subjr he was deeply interested in. He won visit the Newtown schools frequentl dropping In without invitation, and wou af once give n lesson in reading. The X no doubt bnt>~hat he did gbnd wol In this line In the last year of his Ii hr became very dccp interested n th subject and sought to have local coliel graduate form V class in elocution at u