The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-01-31

have kept great helper in town ana let
the lazy 0afrrs adrift instt ad, But Gibson
felt so abused that he bought the old Capt.
John Miller farm in NeWbury, near SCUM
Ryegate, and there built valuable set OF
buildings, some six or eight rods over the
town line, and made it his home until burnt
out But what was Ryegate's loss was
Newbury's gain
June IL. 1873 Hugh G. Gibson was chosen
an elder in the U. p. church in Ryegate but
would not accept His father and b0th
grandfathers had been elders His pay Tor
himself and family for minister's salary IN
1880 was $50, and after going to South Rye
gate he joined the Reformed Presbyterlans
and paid for the same late years Sl00. he
had a fine new house nearly completed on
the site of the burnt one. lie was taken
sick this winter at his old home IN Ryegate
and died ia luary IA, 1896, aged 80 years, Z
months and Is days, and had been church
members some 81 years.
EDWARD MILLER.
Ryegate, Jan. 20, 1896
Recent issues of the Springfield Repu6
Jicnfl devOtes several columns to the llfe
and public services of the late Hon. Will
liam S. Shurtleff, judge of Probate for
Hampden County Mass, who died sudden
ly at Langmeadow January 18th.
Judge Shurtlef was native of NeWbury
and was born, probably in the old Spring
Hotel, Feb. II, 1880. He was not RELAXED
to any of the present families of this town
that know of. His mother was somewhat
of an invalid and found the sulphur springs
beneficial. The family spent considerable
time here during several years, and it was
upon one of these sojOurns that their son
was born. He was educated at Yale col
lege and Harvard law school. and admitted
to the bar in Springfield in 1857. When the
war broke out he enlisted as private IN
the 46th Massachusetts. He was soon pro-
NOTED to be lieutenant and in few
months became Colonel of that regiment.
After his discharge he was appointed by
Governor Andrew, Judge of Probate and
Insolvency, for Hampden county, which
contains many wealthy towns and tie
cities of HoyOke and Springfield, an Office
which he held until his death, period OF
more than thirty-two years. 1t is the best
record of his ability that only one or two of
his decisions we're reversed by the supreme
court. He also held many other public
positions and found time to contribute to
newspapers and magazines in both prose
and verse. He delivered the ode upon the
250th anniversary of the founding offspring
field the address at the dedication OF the
soldiers monument, and the Grafton at the
opening of the Fltchburg public library.
In 1868 and on three later occasion he WIS.,
tied Europe.
Judge Shurtleff was remarkably fond of
nature, and seldom failed to allot portion
VI HIS NdCdtlOu W tuS VI oohiD
part of the Connecticut valley. In company
with friend he once walked the entire
length of the river from Long Island Sound
to Canada, meeting with all sorts of adven
lures by the way. Although he was hardly
more than accidentally a native of New
bury, he several times revisited his birth
place and was familiar with all the region
about here Many who have met him on
some lonely road with no other company
thar his dog "Dan," have wondered who
that remarkably handsome and courteous
gentleman could be.
Judge Shurtletf married in 1851, Miss
Clara Dwight who survives him, with one
daughter. Another daughter Mrs. Mabel
Bowles, died few years ago, and he leaves
brother, Roswell G. Shurtleff, a well
known artist, who was not, think, ma
tive of Newbury. f. P. W.