St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-04-09

on his coat and hat, evidently intending
to go to dinner, he was taken with an
apopectic shock and fell to the floor.
L. F. Gaskill in the Mystic club rooms
above, hearing some one groaning as if
in great agony, came down, followed the
direction of the sound and discovered
Mr.. Pike. He was in an almost uncon-
scious state, just able to say when asked
where he wanted to CO. take me home"
Help was summoned and he was taken
to Brantview, the residence of his sister,
Mrs. Rebecca Fairbanks. He continued
in an unconscious state until 4 o'clock.
when he died.
Avery D. Pike was born in Waterford
50 years ago, the eldest son of Dennison
and Hulda Uohnson) Pike There were
seven children in the family, Avery being
the second. Mr.. Pike received his educa-
tion in the district school of his native
town, and after his fathers death in
1914, came to st. Johnsbury Mrs. Pike
shortly afterwards followed him here
with the remainder of the family.
When about 16 or II years old Mr..
Pike secured a position in the scale shops
and shortly after that was employed
by the late Gov. Erastus Fairbanks
doing odd jobs about the place.
December 4, 1855, Mr.. Pike married
Laura Carter, a daughter of Euoch
Carter of East Lyndon. He stayed in
East Lyndon awhile, carrying on his
wife's fathers farm, and from there went
to Lyndon Corner where he ran a
grocery store for a short time. From
Lyndon Corner he came back to st.
Johsbury and went to work driving a
team for the bakery firm of Thayer &
Fairbanks doing business at the time of
the war. This was the same bakery
owned by George H. Cross on Main
street. Mr. Pike continued with the firm
until they sold out and then went back
to the shops, where he was given a posi-
ton in the sealing department. He was
there at the time of the big flood on Oct.
4, 1864, when he injured himself in the
side while struggling with the rest of the
help to save some property. This was
the worst floodin the history of the town
and damaged the scale shops to the
/ extent of about $4,000.
Soon after this flood Mr.. Pike finished
work at the shops. The next position
we find him in is constable and collector
for the town OF St. Johnsbury and soon
: after also for the village. This position he
, held up to last July, when on account of
| i'll health he resigned. AS a collector
there have been none better. His 20
e years or so OF service in that office more
e than vouch for the efficiency with which
] the work was done. 1t was impossible
! to elude him and he has collected many a
e poll tax where Others would have missed
7 them. He was viglant and faithful in
the performance Of his duties and made a
careful study OF the work OF his office.
He was leniert with the poor and the un-
4 fortunate, never pressing them for their
t taxes, but gave them plenty of time and
e let them pay dollar when they could.
S His method made him immensely popu-
= lar as a collector and year after year he
a was reelected. Other men made loud
t bids for the Office, but it was of no use,
t for the people were with Mr. Pike. from
: whom experience had taught them they
could expect faithful service.
Mr.. Pixies wife died very suddenly OF
heart disease in 1892. Heleaves one son,
>. Charles, OF Chicago, who will be here at
a the funeral. He leaves one brother,
] Luther of Danbury, Conn, and two sis
y ters, Mrs. Rebecca Fairbanks and Mrs.
: d. D. Webster, both of ST. Johnsbury.
b Funeral services will be held from
S Brantvew, Saturday afternoon at
: o'clock, Rev. w. S. Smithers of Hard
S wick officiating.