The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-03
SONS OF VERMONT.
A SON of GuilGOrsl.

GEORGE A. Packer, one of the most
prominent citizens of Troy, MY. who
died June IL, was boru in Guilior d 60
years ago. He went to Ohio at nm ear.
~ age, and while there attended n
school taught by James A Garfield
AR, Packer enlisted in the Goth New
York regiment rs second lieutenant.
ana rose to the rank of colonel He
participated in 20 battles. After the
war Mr.. Packer moved from Elmira.
y. L.. to bennington, where he mar
RED Adelaide G. Boardman. For the
past "A years he has been member
on the firm of Peterson a. Packer of
Troy. Tie was director of several large
companies and president of the Van
Ieusen laundry company of Troy,
lie was governor of the Marshall in
Urinary He was also member vi the
committee of public safety, and he
devoted much time and service to the
civic reform OF Troy, besides giving
large sums for phllanthropic purposes.
Son of Weston.
Christopher II. Smith, insur apce
commissioner of Minnesota and a IA
tive OF Weston, died at his home on
Thursday, June IS, at the age of SO
lacking less than month. His ia
ther, Stephen'Smith, an attorney at
law, was from the state of New York.
His mother, Sarah Glazier, belonged
to pioneer family in Vermont. Both
OF his great grandfathers were partic
ipants in the revolutionary war. and
his grandfather, Christopher Smith.
was in the military service during
the second struggle with Great Brit
ain. Mr.. Smith received an academic
education at Chelsea and Twinsburg
y. lie learned the trade of bricklayer
and plasterer in Burlington in 1851 and
1852 In 1854 he removed to Cuyaho-
ga county, Ohio, where he taught
school and worked on farm until
April 1856, when he went to Rlchland
county, Wisconsin, where he farmed
and taught school until 1860, when Ike
was elected county clerk, holding the
Office for two years and Immediately |
afterwards the office of county treas |
urer for six years. He also during this |
time engaged in the real csta te bust
ness, continuing in that business un-
til March, 1872, when he removed TO |
Window, Cottonwood county, Mime
sofa, being one of the early settlers of
that town. In June, 1874 he was ap-
pointed county treasurer of Cotton
wood county, and was elected to the
same office IN November, 1874. He !
continued to hold this Office until |
March, 1881 when he was elected to the
lower house of the Minnesota legis-
lature, and in 1877 to the state senate,
securing one term liz each body. In /
March, 1881, he was appointed by Pres
ldent Garfield receiver Of the United |
States land office atWorthington, MINI,
which position he held until Septem-
Der, 1885. In August, 1881. upon the
death of ex Gov. Miller, Mr.. Smith was
appointed his successor as field agent
of the land department of the st.
Paul and Sioux,City and st. Paul rail
roads. He WAS appointed insuranc
commissioner by Gov Merriam of
Mime sofa, January >, 1891, and entered
upon the duties of the office January
~. 1891, which position he held until
his death.
Chauncey r. Baxter of Fergus Falls,
MINI. has been elected one of the del
egates at large from that state to the
national democratic convention. Mr..
Baxter is a native of this state, and his
parents have resided in Castleton over
half century, having been married
over 60 years. Mr.. Baxter went West
when young man and has filled
many positions of trust and honor. He
is now one of the supreme court jus
tees of Minnesota.
Hon. William Sessions, a native of
Brandon, fell dead at Lakewood,
jamestown, on Thursday, May o. He
was ~ years of age and had been
prominent in the Republican party of
New York for the past 30 years. He
served several terms in the Assembly.
between 1850 and 1861 State senator
three terms between 1860 and 1870, and
three terms member of Congress,
from 1870 to 1890. He was appointed
by Gov. Flower member of the New
York Worlds Fair commission. He
leaves three children one of whom is
Mrs. Edith Sessions Upper of lit
erary tame. s
The death of Charles W. Billings,
for many years well known resident
If Troy, N. Y, occurred at the Troy
hospital Sunday night from diabetes.
The deceased was native of Royalton !
and was born about 80 years ago. j
Early in his life the family removed '
10 Troy. The father. Z. A. Billings, ,
because prominent business man, {
owning slate quarry at Hydeville !
and operating marbleized slate man
tel manufacturing industry at the cor
ner of Hutton street and North Third
street on Sixth avenue, in Troy.
Charles W. Billings. on the death OF !
his father many years ago, succeeded /
20 the business, which he had sue i
,essfully continued, was prominent in l
Masonic circles and had attained the 4
ID degree in that order. He was /
genial, kindly man and pos 1
;essed many friends. During his life
ne was steadfast Republican. DIR
George H. Billings of Cohoes. n y, !,
whose death occurred few years ago, :
vas a brother of the deceased. He is
survived by sister, Mrs. Daniel W. b
Ford of Rutland, and a brother resi- o
ng in the state of Washington.
News has been received of the death s
# Highlands, Col, of Mrs Ge.- ge W |
Kennedy, wife of George W Kennedy,
principal of the Fairhaven +
1igh school. She was "a years old.
She is survived by husband and one
.hild, daughter, four years old. The
,emains we're taken TO Rupert.
The Republicans of the Saith New