Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-07
NEWFANB.
George w. Underwood.

Mr.. Underwood was a sufferer from
asthma for years, and for year or two
had been failing under complication of
ailments. He attended to business more
or less until this winter and, indeed, was
about the house to some extent until about
the last. Last week he showed more de-
cided symptoms of speedy failure, and on
Sunday morning life passed quietly away
without a struggle.
Mr.. Underwood was born in Putney in
1885, one of four children of Phineas and
Fanny Reade Underwood In 1857 he
married Charlotte l.. Whitney and contin-
ued to live in Putney as a farmer and man
ufacturer of toys till 1881, when he en-
gagged in the steam mill business here with
the late c. n. Davenport, who for years
led the Windham county bar. The firm
bought several farms and wood-lots for
their lumber product and appeared to do a
thriving business. After Mr.. Daven-
ports death the manufacture of chair ma
terial was continued a few years by Mr..
Underwood. He received the appoint
ment of county jailer in the fall of 81, sue
ceeding Charles Bowles as keeper of the
County House. As a landlord he was gen
ial and bountiful provider. The domes-
tic management of the house in all these
years has been excellent, and altogether it
has been a popular public house Mr.. and
Mrs. Underwood reared family of seven
children who have mostly been with them
under the home roof to this day. A mar
ried son, with his family, lives near by and
the youngest daughter, Mrs. Walter Wheel
er, resides in Williamsville. A marked
characteristic of Mr.. Underwood was his
fondness for his family and love of having
as many of them as possible about him.
His death was the first break in the family
for 40 years. Mr.. Underwood was gem
erous man, a kind neghbor and as a citi-
zen was interested in public improvements.
His father in early years had store in
New York city, and developed financial
faculty. Because of failing health he
spent winters in Florida, sometimes 80
miles from a white man. He traded
with the Indians and at one time made
canes from orange wood. Later he lived
near the plantation owned by Harriet
Beecher Stowe. He finally retired from
New York business and came to Put
ney, where he acquired a valuable farm
property, which he left to his two surviv-
ing sons, John l.. and George, the former
of whom still resides at Putney. Phineas
Underwood was prominent supporter of
the Congregational church of Putney, and
his brother, Joseph, was one of the found
ers of the Methodist church there.
The funeral of Mr.. Underwood was
largely attended at the County House on
Wednesday. Judge Walker of Grafton,
High Sheriff Gordon, and Sherffs Starkey
ofBrattleboro and Melendy of Londonderry,
were present as friends and county Off
cials. Rev. Smith Norton officiated very
appropriately Rev. c. d. r. Meacham of
Townshend responded with special fitness
to the invitation to assist by remarks, and
Rev. Mrs, Norton read by request COM
forting lines under the title of "Some-
time" The singing of quartet, with Mr..
Sergeant as organist for the occasion, was
in tender harmony. Among the profu-
sion of flowers was a bunch of nine Gala
lilies, with one broken stem. The funeral
cortege wound its way to Putney through
East Dummerston and was met half mile
from the cemetery by the Masonic lodge of
Putney, of which deceased had been
member for many years. The Masonic
burial rite was observed at the grave. At
tentions there bestowed upon the mourning
friends have been gratefully mentioned.