News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-10-18
TERMS S1.5O.
Death of Gov. Bingham.


his home in Stowe last Friday morn
ing at nine O'Clock. after an illness of
several months. His death was not
unexpected. yet when il did occur
there were great expressions of sor-
row and grief, not only in the vicinity
of his home but throughout the en-
tire State, in all portions of which he
was highly esteemed. A detailed ac-
count of his life is given below.
The funeral took place from Unity
church Monday afternoon and was
largely attended. In addition to the
presence of immediateT relatives, neigh
bOrs and tOwnspeople, there were in
attendance: EX-Gov. Dillingham; of
Waterbury; Congressman Powers of
Morrisville; Collector Smalley and
Edward Wells of Burlington; Post
master Hanrahan of Rutland Supt.
Oaks and wife. DR.. j. D. Brewster and
F. W. Flint of Windsor; Chas. Dewey,
j c. HOughton, H. n. Taplin, A. j.
Sibley, F. E. Smith, E. D. Blackwell,
Geo. Atkins, j. T. Sabin, Geo. O.
Stratton, W. T. Dewey, H. D. Hop
kins, c. N. Arms and Fred Blanchard
of Montpelier; Col. E. C. Smith, Col.
S. W. Cummings, Col. Geo. T. Childs,
G. W. Writer'S, J. B. Fletcher, Peter
Willett, Col. F. S. Stranahan and j.
w. Hobart Of st. Adams; Col. E. B.
Sawyer, Hon. p. X. Gleed, r. w.
Hulburd, Esq, and States Attorney
Moody of the Lamoille County Bar;
Judge of Probate E. G. White and
County Clerk Waite.
A. c. Raymond had charge Of the
funeral and the services we're conduct
ed by Rev. S. F. Drew, assisted by Rev.
DR.. Booth. Music was furnished by
quartette composed of Mrs. A. G.
Raymond, Miss Nett Straw, A. C.
Lamson and A. Fl. Cheney, with Mrs.
A. A. Royce at the organ. After
singing REST Weary Head" scrip
ture selections were read and prayer
offered by Rev. Mr.. Drew. The choir
then impressively sang "Light After
Darkness" Mr. Drew made few re-
marks, taking for his text I'd Samuel
3: 50; Gen. 27 2. The speaker was
visably affected. He alluded to the
tenderness and affection the deceased
had shown to all people and touched
upon his many excellent qualities.
Rev. DR.. Booth then gave a brief re-
view of the life and services of the
Governor, after which the choir sang
NEARER My God To Thee" The cas-
ket was tenderly closed by DR.. L. NJ.
Bingham of Burlington, a devoted
nephew, and borne by C. L. Mcmahon,
Frank Burt, Lewis Raymond and G.
E. Burt, to the cemetery adjoining
the home where he had spent so many
happy years. In the halowed spot,
over which Mt. Mansfield keeps silent
vigil, and alongside of her whom he
loved so dearly and with whom he
had walked over half a century, were
deposited the mortal remains of him
whose kind voice and tender heart
went out in love and sympathy to SO
many. Requiescat in pace.
William Henry Harrison Bingham was
born in Fletcher, Vt, April 10, 1913. Elius
Bingham, father of W. H. H., was born in
Windham, Conn, July %, 1779. Moving to
Vermont in early life he married Martha
Robinson of Westminster. After some
changes he settled in Fletcher, and died there
June %, 1853, at the ripe old age of so
years. His wife followed him in death March
20 of the following year. Mr.. Bingham was
a prominent citizen of Fletcher and repre-
sented the town in the General Assembly.
William II. II. is the fourth child OF Elias
and Martha (Robinson) Bingham, and was
educated in the common schools of his ma
tive town and in the academy at st. Albans.
His youth was spent in useful home occupa-
of ha tn b,
legal profession, and in order to qualify him
self for it's practice began the study of prin-
clples and applications of law in the office of
o. W. Butler of Stowe. Admirably versed in
these, as also in the knowledge of legal his.
tory and literature, so far as opportun
admitted, his name was placed on the legal
roster of the Washington County Court at
the November term in 1885.
Subsequent to his admission to the bar he
opened an office in Stowe entered at once
upon active professional practice, and con-
tinued therein in the same place until 1877.
During this heightened period he had several
business partners in succession, after brief in
tervals of isolation. His local reputation as
a lawyer deseI vedy stands very high. His
judgment was good and many scores of
cases have been referred to him by the coun-
ty and supreme courts, as auditor, referee,
committee and master in chancery He was
appointed by the United States District
OOuTG dsSlRHee III nDdukTuplcN,d anu ulScnarPeu
well the duties of the office to the satisfaction
of the court. Mr.. Bingham was States At
torney for Lamoille county in 1924, 49,
81. Under the administration of President
Pierce he held the appointment of pension
agent. Besides these public Offices, he held
for many years the position of local agent at
Stowe for the Vermont Mutual Fire Insur-
ance company, a corporation of which he
was also director.
Such an experience as these facts Indicate
necessarily implies the requisite qualifca-
tions fer office of higher grade. Ia 1877 he
was elected president of the Vermont Mutual
Fire Insurance company. This post he con-
tinued to il by consecutive reflections for
ten years. Mr.. Bingham is Justly entitled to
a large share of the credit accruing from the
recent successes of the institution, of which
he for a long time stood at the head.
Mr.. Bingham has not confined his associ-
ated energies to the Vermont Mutual Fire
Insurance company, but has been director
of the National Lille Insurance company for
20 years, and for many years member of
it's financial committee. He has also been
and was at the time OF his death director in
the Waterbury National Bank, and OF the
Montpelier and Wells River railroad since
1877. For several years past the sphere of his
personal activity has been still further
enlarged by labor in directorate of the YER
mont Central railroad and as one of its
finance committee. sz
In public political life Mr.. Bingham was
conscientiously and persistently identified
with the national Democratic party. His
moral courage as thus related to an organi-
cation which in the Green Mountain State ia