The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-01
DEATH OF JOHN DEMERITT.

In the death of the venerable John Demer-
lit, which occurred last Monday morning
at his home on Vine street, unique char
acter and one OF the old landmarks of the
business life of Montpelier is removed. Mr.
Demeritt had been sick only about two
weeks, and the cause of his death was in
hammation of the lungs and general de-
bility.
He was born at Madbury, N. H., Decem-
Der 6, 1909, on the Hopley Demeritt farm,
where seven generations OF that name are
buried. Deceased was Of the sixth gener-
alton from Eli Demeritt, who was one of
the earliest settlers of Dover colony, which
includes the present townships of Dover,
Madbury and Durham.
Mr.. Demeritt spent most Of his youth in
Pelling-nOw Woodstock N. FL. He came
to Montpelier in 1929, when his father pur-
chased the farm about two miles from this
city, on the road to Middlesex Center,
called the John Spaulding place, now owned
by Hon. Homer W. Heaton. Here he built
a shop and began the cutlery business.
was first in the Willard block, at the head
of State street. Mr.. Demeritt never served
under a mechanic, but gained his knowl-
edge and skill by his own efforts. He &C.
quired national reputation, receiving or
ders from different parts Of the country and
from Canada. Only a few weeks ago he
received an order for 100 dozen knife blades
from Connecticut.
From a maker of knives and razors he
extended his work to the manufacture OF
dental instruments. He was also known
as a gunsmith, having made excellent rifles
and pistols to some extent.
AS recreation he has made twenty mine
violins, each of which is something of relic,
because they contain timber taken from
historic buildings, namely-from the Cad
we'll house, from the Davis house, at the old
Jail, the first frame dwelling in Montpelier
nj fnrf of fhn nfron nfG Con Eror niOpn
Bay, an old church in Madbury, and the
garrison house in Dover, N II. Many of
| these violins have been given to friends and
| relatives. One was sold to the Swiss Bell
ringers, who sold it in Bos ton for 500.
In the winter Of 1S49 Mr.. Demeritt went
| to California in search of gold. Here he
met with an accident which confined him to
| his bed Tor six months. For several years
| his sign was the oldest on the streets OF
Montpelier. AS q mechanic, in his line he
| had no superiors in this section. Unsolic'
| tied praise often came to him of which he
took little or no advantage. Not long ago a
wealthy resident of Chicago offered Mr..
| Pitkin of that city, who formerly lived in
East Montpelier, $25 for his Demeritt razor,
| but the offer was refused. L. w. Wood, the
artist, who knew Mr.. Demeritt from boy.
hood, and who has made several portraits OF
| him, one of which included his shop-which
was a museum-once said to one of Mr.
Demeritt's sons Your father il genuine
artist, for he works for the love he finds in
| it,"
For a time during the Civil War Mr.. De
merritt was chosen by the governor to act as
state armorer, to keep in order the guns OF
the Vermont troops on the Potomac. He
also assisted in the work at the national
armory at Springfield, Mass, where he was
| recog nized as an expert.
He married Amra Jordan of Moretown
who died three years ago. He had five
| children-Rev. j. p. Demeritt OF Exeter, N
H.; Martha A., who died in 1869; Lauretie
wife OF James b. Riker of New York city
Julia A., wife Of Horace Flanders of Port.
land, o., and Charles Edward Demertt Of
Montpelier, with whom he has passed his
declining years.
His funeral will be held from the house al
four o'clock this afternoon, Rev. j. Edward
Wright officiating, and the burial will bt
beside the remains of his wife in Greer
| Mount Cemetery.