Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-05-17
nnAnu OLE 8. N. HBRRIOK.

SN. Herrick died at his home on MAN
s4root a few minutes before 4 o'clock last
saturday afternoon. The event was not
nnexpected, Mr. Herrick having been Ill
from Bright's disease for nearly two years
mast. and having failed rapidly during the
winter and spring. The Herrick family
was of Massachusetts origin, Jonathan
Herrick. the grandfather of S. n. Herrlck,
having come to Brattleboro from BeV-
erlv. Mass, in 1743. His sixth son, Seth,
who was a well-known Bratteboro farmer,
married Melinda Coughlan, and Seth N
Herrick was their second child. lie was
born Sept. 20, 1919, and grew up as farm
er's boy, receiving his education at the
school in district No. 10 and at the west
Brattleboro academy. In his early man,
hood he was himself successful scnOOl
teacher. Soon after his marriage TO mary
p. Miller, which took place in 1914 ne
settled as farmer upon his own account
on farm on the old Newfane road NoI
long afterward the buildings were burned
Mr. Herrick and his wife escaping with
only the clothing which they CHANGED 10
have on. After this misfortune, Whlch
left him penniless, Mr.. Herrick was en-
gagged for time in various occupations.
among others as a salesman OF straw ana
palmleaf hats for a concern in New YORK
city.
After his return to Brattleboro he was
in company with Hannibal Hadley IN the
meat business and was also employed Dy
Jonas Cutler then the village baker. HIS
perseverance, activity and business ability
began to be recognized, and during the re-
mainder of his life he was called TO serve
the public in many ways. For - years he
for a
deputy sheriff, holding that office at the
time of his death; for two years high sher-
iff: represented the town in the legisla-
lures of 1866 and 81; and for 20 years
managed the affairs of the town as chair
man of the board of selectmen. He was
an original corporator of the Bratteboro
savings bank, its treasurer for the first
three years, and always a member of the
| board of trustees. He had been director
of the Peoples national bank since 1850.
He had settled many estates and had held
numerous other offices of private trust.
For many years. and until his health
began to fail he was the leading and
favorite auctioneer in this section. He
was a man of excellent judgment in
business affairs, and equally good Judge
of men, He possessed in an eminent de-
gree the genuine New England quality of
! pluck which was shown not only in cop
ing with his own personal difficulties, but
| as an officer in executing the law. His
memory of names and faces was remarka-
bic. To the ordinary man it seemed little
| less than marvellous when at the town
meetings, of which Mr.. Herrick was many
times moderator, he used to take the bal
| lots as they were handed up, with great
| crowd thrOngiug about the box, calling
each voter by name without hesitation,
and rarely making a mistake either in sur
! name or initials. He possessed a cheerful,
! genial, sturdy nature, which people liked.
No resident of Bratteboro has ever been
| more helpful to a greater number of peo-
pie. He gave freely when occasion requir-
ed, but his real helpfulness was in the way
in which he made small loans to people in
any time of distress or scarcity of work,
| trusting solely to their honesty for pay
ment; and the genuineness and personality
| of the man were such that he made fewer
losses than one would think possible. 1t
is undoubtedly true that no Bratteboro cit
izen has ever enjoyed greater confidence or
received more loyal support than did Mr..
Herrick during all the years of his active
life. In his death not only men of his own
age and rank in life, but hundreds of work
ing men and women, and men upon the re-
mote farms, feel that they have lost a per-
sonal friend, and their grief in his death is
sincere.
Mr.. Herrick is survived by his wife.
They had no children. A brother and sis
ter by his fathers first marriage also sur
vive him. Newton and Susan E. Her
rick. Three sisters by his fathers second
marriage are also living, one of these be-
ing Ellen c., wife of A. w. Stowe of West
Brattleboro. The other two sisters. Mrs
Grout and Mrs. Tufts, live in Massachu-
| SETS
The funeral was held at the Congrega-
tional church Tuesday afternoon at 3
o'clock, the body lying in state an hour be-
fore the services and the face being viewed
by many people. Rev. c. O. Day paid an
earnest and beautiful tribute to Mr.. Her.
rick's character and memory. The Georg-
emalin quartet sang three selections. Bust
ness on Main street was suspended during
| the funeral, and in the attendance was in
! cluded that of many of the business men.
the selectmen, the officers of the Peoples
bank and the trustees of the Brattleboro
savings bank in body. The pall-bearers
We're Geo. 5. Dowley, Warren Z. Eason.
b. a. Clark, Geo. E. Greene, VIM. S.
Newton and Cyrus w. Wyman. The bur
ial was in Prospect Hill cemetery.