St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-03-29
PEACHAM.
Mrs. Marian Il. Merrill.

In Peacham on Thursday, March IA,
at the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Marian
E. Merrill, widow Of the late Hazen Mer-
rill, died of pneumonia after a short but
painful illness of one week.
Mrs. Merrill was the daughter of
Thomas Eastman and Lucy Gushing.
She was the eldest of seven children and
was born in Hawksbury, p. O., January
80, 1916. To educate their children her
parents moved to Peacham and here she
spent most of her life In 1856 she was
married to Mr.. Hazen Merrill. Since the
death OF her husband, in 1868, she has
made her home with her sister, Miss
Sarah M. Eastman, the only survivor of
the family. In many respects Mrs. Mer-
rill was a remarkable woman. Her
kindness OF heart and ready sympathy
were unbounded, and the universal es-
TEEN in which she was held was attested
by the large attendance at her funeral
and the many letters OF coincidence from
absent friends which every mail has
brought since her death. Although pos
sessing abundant means to live life Of
leisure, she believed it to be the duty of
everyone to work in some way not for
the purpose of misery boarding, but for
better development of character and
greater opportunity for generosity and
helpfuness Her public benefactions,
necessarily known to all, were numerous,
but her private charities and kindly deeds,
which apparently constituted her princ-
pal life work, will be known only in the
great hereafter when the "books shall be
opened" The institutions of the town,
the Congregational church, of which she
was member for more than fifty-hve
years, the Academy where she was edu-
Gated, the Peacham Juvenile Library
Society, of which her father was one of
the founders, and her husband warm
supporter, have been objects Of pride to
her, and to these she has rendered ma
terial aid. There is not a boy or girl in
town struggling under difficulties to OBJ
tain an education that has not met with
personal loss in her death. The poor
will miss her timely and substantial aid.
The sick will miss that unwearied SYM
pathy and unceasing help. Hers has
been an unselfsh life and her loving
thoughtfulness for others was manifest
to the last. God needed her and the
mansion prepared for her was ready.
During her hours OF pain her confidence
in her Saviour was mistaken. She
trusted in Him. To the sister to whom
for years she has so tenderly ministered
the heart of our community goes out in
sympathy in her loss of companion and
sister.
Rev. Mr.. Merrill of Newbury preached
at the Congregational church last Sab
bath in exchange with Mr.. Williams.
Miss Lizzie Clark is home from South
Hadley on her vacation.
Mrs. Idella Morrison, who has been at
Burlington for number of weeks having
a bad ankle treated, has arrived home
somewhat benefited.
Mrs. E. w. Clark has gone to Castle
ton to see her son, Edwin, who is sick
with pneumonia.
Mrs. T. G. Whitehill has sold her house
to Rev. Mr.. Maxam from the West,
who takes possession the first of June.
Mr.. and Mrs. Whitehill will live in the
rooms over their store.
Miss Lizzie Stevens went to Boston
last week.
Mrs. Albert Peak broke her wrist last
week.
There will be lyceum at the Academy
hall tonight friday
All of the sick people are doing we'll
with the exception of two or three.
c. L. Brown of East Peacham and
Miss Jessie Pennington of North Peach
am, who have been sick all winter, do
not gain as their friends would wish.
Mrs. Charles EMERSON is very sick with
pneumonia and is not expected to live.
The first flock of wild geese went North
Tuesday.
The Peacham Creamery Association
paid % cents for butter through the
month of February.