The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-21
Obituary.

Julia Carpenter Dillingham;, at the age of
nearly eghty-six years, passed out of this life
September fifteenth. from her home in Water
bury. She was afflicted with no disease, and,
though her vital power had been for sometime
failing i'll the natural course OF age, her mind
was clear to the last, and she died peacefully,
in the calm assurance which was the outcome
of her lifetime faith in God and in the reality
of the spiritual life. both present and future.
She is spoken of by many who knew her as
a remarkable woman. She was remarkable
for her long lifetime filled with the evidences
of sturdy Christian character, good works
and practical sense. Very many people will
remember always the picture of a peaceful
old age that was presented to passers-by as she
used to sit in her invalid's-chair on the piazza
of her home.
Her uprghtness, her patience, her sweet
courtesy and unassuming disposition, her de-
voted wifehood and her noble motherhood will
keep her name alive in the affection of hearts
through more than one generation OF those who
knew her and survive her.
Madam Dillingham's family connections
place her in close relationship with the early
and later history of the town and the State.
Her father, Dan Carpenter, settled in Water
bury in 1904, and was the first lawyer in the
town. His office was small structure which
stood in the lot now occupied by DIR. Minard's
residence. His house was the one in which
Fra Carpenter now lives. In the rear part
of that house Madam Dillingham; was born.
The front part was built in 1916; the old door
knocker bearing the name ID. Carpenter" is in
this day an object of much interest in the vii
lage. Paul Dillingham; came to Waterbury
from the Center, where his father, a veteran
of the Revolutionary War, had settled in 1904,
to read law with Mr.. Carpenter. That was in
1920. Julia Carpenter became his wife in the
year 1882.
OF her five children all are living except the
third in age, Major Edwin Dillingham;, who
was killed while leading the Tenth Vermont
Volunteers in the famous battle of Sheridan's
is the widow of the late Senator Matthew IL.
Carpenter of Wisconsin, residence in Milwau-
kee. Mrs. Carpenter, with her daughter, Miss
Lillian, came east in July and has been con-
stantly with her mother. Of Madam Dilling-
hams sons, Charles, whose home is in Houston,
Texas, was Northumberland of the Eighth
Vermont in the civil war; William, who has
always lived in Waterbury, is well known as
Vermont's Governor for the term '89 and 80,
his father having filed that Office from 65 to
'67; Frank, the youngest son, is now United
States consul at Auckland in New Zealand.
Madam Dillingham's connection with Meth
odism in Waterbury dates from its beginning,
in 1888. When the society became independ-
ent from that at the Center in 1871, Paul Dill
lingham was made steward, and was contnu-
ed in that office without break until his
death in 1891: The pipe, in the church
was given by Madam Dillingham; to comment
crate that half-century's service. Her own
labors and generous gifts emphasize her loss to
the society in which she was so deeply inter
ested to the last day of her life. Solomon's
characterization of a good woman is fulfilled
in her. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain;
but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be
praised: Her own works praise her"
The funeral services were held on Saturday,
September II, at four o'clock Rev. Leon
Whitman, her pastor and Rev. VIM. M. New
ton of Montpelier were in charge of the services.
The bearers were Edward, Henry, Fred and
Charles Wells, and Frank and William Car
penter, nephews of the deceased. A great pro.
fusion of flowers symbolized the beauty and
fragrance of the life that had departed. ="