The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-09
Uermumt 6Mattbman.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1896.
A Historical Sketch,

Our venerable townsman, Hon.
John Lynde, who died August 3, 1896,
at the age of eighty-six, was the young
est son of Judge Cornelius Lynde,
who came from Williamstown, Mass,
in 1856, as one of the original proprie-
tors of the township. Before coming
to Vermont, the father had been a
student in Harvard College, which he
left to enlist in the Continental army,
and serve in the Revolutionary War.
The first postmaster, and the first
town clerk, of our place, he was also
justice of the peace, and an
associate judge for two years. From
1871 to 1895 he served as town rep
resentative, and was, also, at one
time, member of the State Council.
His worthy wife was the eldest daugh-
ter of Colonel Jacob Davis of Mont
pelier. The subject of this sketch was
born in 1910. Mr.. Lynde's education
was obtained in our common schools,
and, at the age of sixteen years, he be-
gan to teach in winter, while working
on his fathers farm in summer. A few
years ago, we had an interesting inter-
view with MIR. Lynde, in which we
sought for some facts in his early life
and the early history of the Judge
Paine neighborhood, in which he was
born and reared. The first of his ma
terial possessions, the GA" of the al
phabet that afterward followed, was a
eve lamb that his father gave him,
which " increased and multiplied " till
its successors were transformed into a
horse. When about nineteen years of
age, he rented his fathers farm, in the
best part of our town (since known as
the Hopkins farm) for one year. 1t
proved famous year for farmers who
had sheep, being the year in which the
government adopted high tariff. and
wool was selling for sixty.five cents a
pound. Altogether, the year was 80
successful his father was not willing to
rent the farm longer, and 80 the son
was hired by the father for $3.50 year,
and the keeping of horse. Just here
it may be said that Mr.. Lynde was
born with San iron will" an abund-
ance of " clear grit" great capacity
for hard work, and great endurance.
In latter-day parlance, he was "born
hustler" When about twenty-one
years OF age, he married Dolly, daugh-
ter of Captain Abiel Smith. Incident
to the event of his marriage, he re-
lated to us an anecdote that NAV be
thought characteristic by those who
recall certain later experiences of
his with horses. Some ten or twelve
years before, his father had pur.
chased one of the three first bugeies
brought to the place. II had neither
springs nor thoroughbraces,-the BODY
having been bolted to the hind axle. and
a rocker IN front and the seat without
the luxury of cushion. But a new
day was dawning, and the coming mar
rlage was to be celebrated with the
buggy 80 far transformed as to be
equipped with thoroughbraces in one
OF our village shops. AS Mr.. Lynde,
however, was returning with it from
the shop to his home, kicking horse
had partly demolished it, and it was
again a subject for the wagon-maker.
For many years after his first marriage.
IN which twelve children were born to
him, Mr.. Lynde lived on a farm. his
diligent hand and good Judgment,
meanwhile, securing him competency.
With the public life of his town, county
and state, Mr.. Lynde had long been
largely identified. Beside the filing of
many minor town offices, he repre-
sented the town in five sessions of the
legislature, between 1854 and 1854.
In 1900 and 1856 he served as associate
judge of Orange county, and, in 1875.
was county senator in the legislature.
Originally a whig in politics, he was
not ashamed, later, to be known as an
aDolltlonist. Later still, his political
fortunes were identified with the re.
publican party, of which he ever after
ward remained staunch adherent.
Leaving his farm in 1865, Mr.. Lynde
associated himself in the mercantile
business with his brother-in-law, the
late Calvin Ainsworth, selling out to
his son, j.. K. Lynde, in 1887. With
the Northfield Bank and the National
Bank OF Barre, he was identified for
years as director. In 1881. Mr..
Lynde united with the Congregational
church, and to the end of life was a
helpful, loyal supporter of it,-dving
IN its faith. The strong, marked, in.
herited traits of his character, of which
we have spoken, and which are, doubt
less, ever the glory and peril Of their
possessor, served him a noble purpose
in life, while, at the same time, we
doubt not, they cost him many hard
fought struggle with self, and many
lamented failure. But he never gave
DER the battle, and his last days were
days of increasing patience, and char
ity, and vital interest in the best things.
" He grows old beautifully" has lately
been remark Of some who have seen
him in the quiet and intimacy of his
home life in these last days. Having laid
aside the earthly of his life, may we all
who knew him cherish a tender men,
DRY OF his services to the world, while
STRIVING TO emulate everything of worth
in his'character and life. His first wife
dying in 1881, he married, in 1882.
Laura B., daughter of the late Mr.
Norman Davis, who, with nine children
by the previous marriage, survive him.
G. A. A.
WilliamstoWn. VT. Sent. 9 1905