Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-11-08
OBITUARY.
DEATH OF DIR. PUTNAM.


The news that the death of DR.. A. D.
Putnam, the veteran dentist, had taken
place soon after IL o'clock yesterday, came
as a shock to many people, as it was not
generally known that his condition was
critical, although he had been confined TO
his bed the past three weeks. The doctor
had been a familiar figure on oar streets
for nearly half a century, and he had the
distinction of being the oldest dentist in
the state and one of the first who ever
settled here for regular practice.
DIR. Putnam was born in Sharon, \. Y,
Jan. IL, 1916. He was one of the seven
children of Josiah and Susan Willard
Putnam, of whom the only survivor is Mrs.
Beda Prouty of this village. DR.. Putnam
was great grandson Of John Arms, whose
son was Brattleboro's first postmaster more
than 100 years ago. DR.. Putnam attended
the public schools in Sharon until he was
IA. when his parents moved TO Charleston,
n. Y, where the father worked at his
trade, that of saddler and harness maker.
The family moved to Brattleboro in 1888
and settled on the old Dickerman place,
about y miles from the village, near what
is now Matthew McNeigh's farm. For
three years the young man assisted his
father on the farm and attended the acade-
my at the West village. In 1896 he began
to learn the tailor's trade with Minot d
King of this village. He went to West
Brattleboro the following year, and was
married there Nov. >, 1887, to Miss Abb
gail c. Crosby, daughter of Watson Crosby.
Mr.. and Mrs. Putnam worked at the tailor
ing business in West Brattleboro for two or
three years, and then, Mr.. Putnam's health
having failed, he was Obliged to retire from
active employment for two or three years.
he went to Greenwich, y. Y, in June,
| 1912, where he began the study of dentistry
with DR.. J. B. Crosby. He returned TO
West Brsttleboro to practice his profession
there and in adjoining towns. He opened
an Office in June, 1916, in the East village
hail. a long building on the east side Of
Main street. When Squire Mead went
into the bank near the Congregational
church DR.. Putnam moved his office to
the south end of Halls block, where he
remained until after the great fire of 1868,
and the erection of Crosby block, when he
moved his Office and home to that building,
where he has ever since lived. DR.. Put
nam Joined the Center Congregational
church by letter from the West Brattleboro
church, Nov. :, 1S47.
DR.. Putnam's father, and his uncle, Har-
vey Putnam, congressman from New
| York state, were born on what is now
| Henry Clark's farm. The doctors cousin,
| james o. Putnam, was consul to Havre
under both Lincoln's and Johnsou's ad-
ministrations.
Maj. Childs, in a sketch of DR.. Putnam,
| published in the Springfield Republican in
| 1898, relates this incident: "For three or
| four winters before the breaking out of the
war DR.. Putnam was accustomed to 60 to
| Florida, thence to Nassau, where he found
| lucrative employment while recuperating
his health. 1t was a common thing TO re-
ceiye 500 in gold for what is now fur
nished by ali dentists for $40. His last
| trip south was in the winter of lS60 when
the excitement incident 10 the war was at
fever heat. The doctor was in Georgia
on his way home when Fort Sumter was
attacked, and he took the advice of a
friend to embark on a north-bound steam
er, first exchanging his money for a New
fork draft, which fortunately he secured
after sitting on the bank steps in Savannah
for two hours or more before the hour of
opening. Two days after the doctor
sailed the last steamer for many months
left Savannah"
DR.. Putnam is survived by the wife who
has been his faithful helpmeet for So years.
| Auclt BOlucu HcuuluEf CclcDEaNcu clSul
years ago this present week, was a notable
event which many remember. DR.. Put
MANS last surviving brother, John Put
nam, the aforementioned keeper of the
Connecticut river toll bridge, was then liv-
ing. Three sons were born to DR.. and
Mrs. Putnam, but none are now living.
The funeral will be held at o'clock to-
morrow afternoon, Rev. c. o. Day officiat-
! ing.