St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-01-14

morning his son, Col. T. c. Fletcher, spent
some time with him. talking over vaii-
Gus business matters.
1t was wonderful the way this remark
able man retained his mental faculties,
keen and alert until the very last, and his
physical faculties almost as long. When
he celebrated his S7th birthday it was
said OF him that he bore the burden OF
his more than fourscore years lightly,
and Of physical infrmities he has hardly
a trace. ASIDE from slight failure of
eyesight, which has only recently obliged
him to wear glasses. All his physical fac
ulties are as acute 4s those Of a mani in
the prime Of life. His hearing is I'm
impaired, his step is firm and vigorous
and, walking or driving, his tall, erect
figure impresses stranger as belonging
to an alert business. man'of so or 60
years." This was said of him on the day
he was 81 years old, and the same could
almost be said OF him year or so ago.
OF course the six years added to the 81
had made his step little less firm and
vigorous, his figure little less erect, but
his mental faculties were not changed,
they were strong and acute to the very
last.
Col. Frederick Fletcher was born in
Woodstock Nov. 2l, 1904 the Youngest
of IL children of James and Catherine
Fletcher. The family was notable one,
both for the longevity Of its members
and for the prominence they took in the
affairs of the time and for the success
they invariably achieved in whatever
they undertook. The father was born in
Chest, r6eld, N H., in. February. 1857,
the combined lives of father and son thus
covering span OF 140 years. The
mother was born May is. 1852. The
12 children were born as follows: Polly,
Feb. 6. 1880; Russell, Dec. II, 1871;
Sally, Sept. 7, 1884; Benjamin, ian. 25,
1887; James. March 81, 1889; Seth,
Aug II 1791 Perry and Paris, (twins)
March 81 1874; Joseph, March 20,
1897; Catherine, Oct. %. 1893; Thad-
deus R.. Nov. II, 1901; Frederick Nov.
81, 1904. The children all lived to be
very DID, with the exception of Perry,
who died in early lie James died at the
age Of 90 and Paris a. SO.
The family being large the Older chill
dren would leave home when they be-
came old enough to seek their fortunes in
other places. They were made of the
right material to work and succeed and
succeed they did. Paris Fletcher, at an
early age, went to Bridport, Addison
county, opened saddler's shop and then
a country store, prospered, and when he
died was the richest man in that county
Frederick and Thaddeus followed Paris
and there they laid the foundation of their
fortunes. Alter working for Paris year
or two and saving a small sum OF money
tney were reauy ior START alone with
something that promised bigger money
They decided to establish themselves in
the mercantile business in Jericho and
their brother Paris guaranteeing their
bills for small amount with a New
York wholesale house they started out
under favorable circumstances With
their business ability and industry it
was not long before they were transact.
ing large mercantile business. Their
business gradually but surely aud safely
expanded. They commenced to estab-
lish stores in different towns in the coun-
ty. In few years they had seven stores