The Press., 1896-06-18

1872. Ephraim
 Ex-Lieutenant Governor Ephriam H. Hyde, of Stafford, died this morning at 1.30 o'clock, at his home. In this short sentence is contained sad news for many people. Owing 10 his public life and his prominence in state affairs the news of his death will bring regret to wide circle of acquaintances. In his own town, where he was so we'll known, and so thoroughly respected and loved; among his neigh bors, who have the remembrance of a thousand kindly actions, and years of hearty and agreeable intercourse; in the church, where of late his steps have been feeble, but the spirit of brotherly love as strong as ever; among the farmers whose interests have been his; in all these cir cles, the news that MT. Hyde has passed away will cause 8 keener sorrow and 8 feeling of direct personal loss. The fC- neral will be held at the Universalist church, Saturday, at 1 p. m.
 Ephraim H. Hyde was born at Stafford on the 1st day of June, 1872. He married Hannah Converse Young September 27th, 1886. Six children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy, another, Teresa, at the age of four years, and the other two, Ellen E., wife of Ernest Cady, and E. H. Hyde, Jr., are now living at Hartford. His wife died February 26th, 1862, and on October 18th, 1869, he mar ried Mary s. Williams, who now survives.
 Attendance at the district school in his native town, and about six weeks of study at the academy in Monson, Mass, con- prised his entire school education. His boyhood was passed in the manner com mon to the boys at that time. Work on the farm, accompanied by general service in an Old-time hotel connected with the farm, and known as the halfway stage station between Worcester and Hartford. and about four months as a stage driver between Stafford and Sturbridge, filled up the years between school and the con- mencement of his active business life.
 Entering a country store as a clerk in his eighteenth year, he became proprietor of the same in his twenty first year, and from that time on he has been closely identified with the business interests of the town. He was interested in a blast furnace business for about eight years !; he was the chief promoter in his twenty ninth year of the cotton mill at Stafford Springs; he was for many years interest ed in the business of manufacturing Sati- nets as one of the firm If Converse &Hyde :; and he has been actively engaged in many other industrial enterprises. His energies have been devoted principally, however, to promoting the agricultural interests of the state and to breeding blooded stock.
 About the year 1842, having become the owner of two or three large farms, all of which he retained until within few years, and most of which he still owns, he commenced the careful breeding of stock from imported and native cattle, and then entered upon 8 course that was to make his name familiar as household word to the leading agriculturists through out the country. He began with DevOns, and afterward eXperimented with Ayr shires, Durhams and Jerseys; but be- lieVing the DevOnS to be best adapted to this pa1t of the country, he applied him. self to the scientific selection and breed ing of that class and as a result he great lJ of rare beauty and excellence, the winners of many sweepstake and prize. He will be known in the years to come as the pathfinder for DevOns in this country. Animals from his herds have gone to all parts of the country, and it can be said with truth that the improvement in the stock of his native state is owing in a large measure to his care and wisdom as a breeder of pure blOOded DevOns.
 He early became concerned in the gen. eral agricultural interest of the state, and has been an active and jealous partici- pant in all movements for it's protection and advancement. Fully comprehending the needs of the farmers, and also the necessity of arousing them to realiza- tion of the benefits to be derived by the adoption of more intelligent and scientific methods of farming, he zealously devoted the best years of his life to the interest of agriculture, giving his time, money and talents without stint, and bringing to the service an indomitable will and energy that prosecuted it's aims with patient industry that was untiring. It was large ly owing to his influence and enterprise that the Holland County Agricultural So- ciety was organized in 1859. He was it's pE0SIu0ul 1EOIu 1GS OIShulAdGIOn to lSOU, and again from 1864 to 1868, and Hyde Park at Rockville was thus named in his honor and in recognition of his services to the society. He was president of the Connecticut State Agricultural Society from 1858 to 1881; vice-president of the New England Agricultural Society from it's beginning; vice-president of the State Board of Agriculture from it's organiza- tion in 1866 to 1882; chairman of the Commissioners on Diseases of Domestic Animals for thirty years; president of the American Breeders Association from 1865 until it resolved itself into sections for each breed; president of the Connecti- cut Valley Agricultural Association, com prising Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont; vice. president of the Dairymen's Association; chairman of the committee to publish the first vol ume of the "American Herd Book; pres ident of the Holland County East AgricuI- tural Society from it's organization in 1870 to 1876; and one of the trustees of the Storrs School. He had long been in favor of school in which the science of agri- culture should be taught, and he was one of the first to whom the Storrs brothers suggested their project of establishing the school at Mansfield. The scheme met his approval, and that the plan was finally adopted, and that the school has been able to maintain itself against the numer- Ous attacks that have been made upon it by friends and foes alike, is largely ow- ing to his indefatigable efforts and earnest support.
 He has also been called to numerous other offices by the citizens of his town and state. He was county commissioner for Holland county in 1842-3; member of the house of representatives from Staff ford in 1851-52; a delegate to the nation al democratic convention at Baltimore in 1852; a state senator and president of the senate in 1876 and 1887; and lieutenant rrorrn,.ror in 1QR7 nnd 1QRQ Whilo ooo,,