Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-27
IN THE LOCAL FIELD.
The Late Colonel II. l.. Hart.

The funeral of Colonel Hubbard L. Hart |
of Palatka, Fla, a native OF Gui!ford who |
was killed on the 18th inst. by a street-car |
accident in Atlanta, occurred Dec. H. 1t !
was more largely attended than any previ- !
GUS occasion of that kind in the city of
Palatka-nearly the whole population of
the city. both white and colored including
many friends and relatives from the North,
being present as mourners. The embalmed
remains lay in state in the family mansion
five DAYS before burial, and the nearly con
slant stream of visitors attested their deep
regard for the deceased. Services by the
Masonic society and by the Veterans OF
the Blue and Gray were conducted at the
cemetery, a voley being fired three times
over the grave and bugles played. The
deceased was one of the most widely known
of men, and for his uniform kindness to
those in need. genial manners and retiring
disposition, his friends in the whole coun-
try are very numerous. There is to be
seen in one OF the principal streets of the
city of Palatka, skirting the st. johns
river, a fine large corner lot, covered with
large orange trees, and having good resi-
dence. which was a gift by him to one of
his colored servants named George Wash
ington, when he had become incapable of
faithful service This is but a sample of
the kindness and generosity of the deceased.
The coloIed people of the city have es-
pecial cause for mourning. When the war
of the Rebellion encased the inhabitants of
the South Colonel Hart's varied property
interests and his life were in jeopardy; for it
was well known that he had been raised in
Vermont, and that his sympathies were
with his native state and relatives, and
against secession. In his situation it be-
came necessary for the safety of his prop
erty and life to adopt a seeming adherence
to the South and when Palatka was Occu-
pied by the Union forces his residence was
used by the Union generals, his cattle and
horses. furniture, and st. Johns river
steamboats, were taken away and conhs-
Gated. Colonel Hart, with his wife and
daughter with one small steamboat saved,
made a camp on one of the bluffs OF
the Ocklawaha river where they reside !
until the close of the war. Many acts of
bravery are Interestingly related of him in
his efforts between the contending armies
to obtain supplies for the poverty-stlicken
inhabitants. The fine flavor of the oranges
from the Hart Groves coupled With his
wonderful endurance and business capabil-
ity, enabled this pioneer of the Florida or
ange industry to rapidly extend the bust
ness, and gave him the name "Orange
King
His early rising and industrious habits
of business were admirable object lessons
to those about him. A large part of hi;
property, including a large hotel which ht
had erected, was destroyed by fire in the
great Palatka contlagration; but this anC
his many losses by the business failures OF
others did not dishearten him, aud III
continued when other men would hav,
stopped He had for long time argued
strongly in favor of the total abstinenc'
theory on the temperance question.
His residence and Office in summer TO
ten years past had been in Boston, the for
mer home of his second wife, whose nam,
was Thompson.
He was perhaps more widely know
from his great work of preparing for navi
cation the tortuous Ocklawaha River
through its whole length of nearly thre
hundred miles, on which he built and uset
a fleet of six steamboats,, and annually pro
vided a most weird and interesting trip OIL
this unique river to thousands of the elit
of this and other countries. When Gener
al Grant visited Florida he became a CUES
of Colonel Hart at his residence, and upo
the Oclawaha River.
About ten years ago committees of bot
political parties, well knowing his popular
ty, and disposition to candidly weigh polit
cal questions, urged him strongly to acceI
the position of candidate for the Office c
governor of the state of Florida, but hi
business engagements, and retiring natur,
precluded his acceptance.