The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-26

the presence of many distinguished
men of the state, the monument erected
at Williston in memory of Thomas
Chittenden, the first governor of Ver-
mont, was dedicated last Wednesday.
The day was all that could have been
desired, and the people of that part OF
the state within radius of twenty
miles poured into Willston by every
form OF conveyance until by the time
the procession started Cat one o'clock,
crowd estimated at 1900 people had
gathered in that quiet village.
The First Battalion of the First
Regiment, N. G. V. (Major o. d.
Clark, commanding, squadron of the
Third Cavalry, under command of
Major Louis 7. Morris, the Montpelier
Military Band aud First Light Battery
were present and assisted in the eX-
ercises of dedication.
The procession formed at one o'clock,
in front of Town Hall, under the leader
ship of General w. l.. Greenleaf as
marshal, in the following order:
Squadron of Third Cavalry, Major
Louis 7. Morris, commanding; First
Regiment Band, V, N. g., T. r. Mer.
rill, leader; Battalion of First Regi-
ment, V. N. g.; First Light Battery,
V. N. G., Captain Fred T. Weld, COM
handing; carriage containing Governor
Woodbury., Lieutenant Governor Man
sur and Adjutant-General T. S. Peck:
carriage containing Quartermaster Cen
eral w. II. Gilmore, Judge Advocate
General E. L. Bates, Surgeon General
j. n. Jenne and Colonel H. w. Allen;
carriage containing Colonels G. w,
Doty, r, J, Coffey, A. b. Chandler and
II. w. Hall; carriage containing ex-
Governor j. l.. Barstow, ex. Governor
j, w. Stewart, Rev. j. E. Goodrich.
Mayor II. S. Peck and Hon. G. G..
Benedict; carriages containing Rev. B.
W. Atwe!l of Shelburne and repre-.
sentatives OF the press; carriages con-
tanning Ex-Governor 4. j. Ormsbee and
other distinguished Vermonters, resi-.
dents of Williston and others.
On arriving at the cemetery the dis.
tinguished gentlemen named, together
with other invited guests, occupied the
platform that was built Just east of the
monument. Ex-Governor John l.. Bar
stow of Shelburne, as president of the
day, made few Introductory remarks.
Prayer Was offered by Professor j. E.
Goodrich of Burlington, chaplain of the
day. In presenting the monument to
the state, through Governor Woodbury.,
Governor Barstow said, in part:
One of the most timely, patriotic and
creditable acts of the legislature that as
semDled under your widely. commended adj
ministration was the one that provided for
monument to the memory of Thomas
Chittenden. The people of Williston hay
ing determined upon public dedication of
the monument, the commissioners appointed
by law for its construction desire to avail
themselves OF the opportunity to transfer
their work, so far as possible, to the State
OF vermont Upon the passage of the law
the town OF Williston promptly placed the
required sum in the hands Of the commits
sion, the income thereof to be devoted to
the care of the monument and of the
grounds. Henry Root, one of the commits.
sioners "a native of Williston, but a resi-
dent OF San Francisco gave the grounds
upon which the monument stands, and has
contributed in other ways most literally TO
its completion-in all over $1,000. Edward
A. Chittenden was also a liberal con-
tributor. The design was made by j. G.
White OF San Francisco under the direction
of Henry Root and was accepted by
majority OF the commission. The material
Is OF vermont granite, and its construction
was entrusted to Messrs. Mari & Gordon
of Barre, and has given satisfaction to all
concerned. am directed by the commits
sion, within the limitations OF the law, to
now transfer to the State of Vermont,
through you, as governor, this completed
monument, to honor and perpetuate the
memory of Thomas Chittenden, our first
and longtime governor-a man who lived
not alone for his time and generation, for
all through his writings and public adj
dresses we find that he had an intense de-
sire mat the form OF government and insti-
buttons which he had so large share in
forming, and that the spirit of patriotism
which animated him and his associates,
should be handed down TO posterity, even
to the latest generations. Could he be with
US to-day, he would see his fondest aspra-
tons realized"
Governor Woodbury. responded as
follows:
Governor BarSto,o;-In obedience to the
desire OF the people of this state that some
fitting recognition should be made OF the
long and distinguished services OF Thomas
Chittenden, the first governor of Yer.
mont, the legislature of 1894 made
suitable appropriation for the pur-
pose OF erecting monument near his last
resting-place. The duty of selecting the de-
sign for and erecting the monument was
committed to five commissioners, of which
You are the honored chairman. How well
the commissioners have performed the duty
assigned them those who now behold this
beautiful structure will gladly testify. In
the monument and thank the commission
ers for their loving and highly-satsfactory
services. To no one more than to Governor
Chittenden are we indebted for the goodly
heritage that we possess to-day. But do
not propose to speak of his services; that
will be done by more eloquent tongue
than mine. To myself is assigned the
simple duty (Which l do now, as governor
of the state of Vermont and in behalf of the
people, to receive this monument and de-
clare it dedicated to the honored name and
memory of Thomas Chittenden. May it en-
dure as long as the granite hills from which
1t was taken lasting tribute from a CRATE
full people,"
After a selection by the band, Miss
Bessie B. Chittenden of New York,
representing the descendants of Gov
ernor Chittenden, unveiled the monu-
ment amid the applause of the as
sembled crowds. Stationed in the
field just south of the road was the
First Light Battery, and salute of
seventeen guns was fired at this time.
In happy manner Governor Barstow