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

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plication and hard work. These two
men possessed the qualities necessary for
such an enterprise and were soon rapidly
accumulating money.
They naturally took an interest in the
public affairs of their town. Thaddeus
became interested in politics and was
elected senator for one term, perform
ing the duties of the office to the satisfac-
ton of his constituents. Frederick took
an interest in the militia and concerning
this mention will be made later in this
article. He also established poor farm
which seven towns had access to and
which proved a great success in the care
OF the poor.
In 1S42, when Thaddeus was AZ and
Frederick 3S, the brothers decided to
close out their business and retire to
Burlingl on. Their mercantile businessin
in Jericho had been unusually successful
and each had accumulated snug for
tune. Thaddeus later became very rich
and his large fortune finally went to the
establishment of the Fletcher free library
and the Mary Fletcher hospital in Bur-
lington.
Col. Frederick Fletcher's reputation as
a man of great business ability at once
brought him to the front in Burlington
business circles. When the Farmers and
Mechanics bank was organized in 1884
he was made director. On becoming a
resident of Burlington he was elected
president Of the bank, holding the Office
for many years and guiding the affairs
of the bank with great ability. 1t is
needless to say that under his admin
istration the bank was success. Some
differences finally arising among the
stockholders of the bank the nstution
was merged into the present Merchants
bank OF Burlington. Some OF the stock
holders OF the bank were violent demo.
Gratis and thinking that no bank would
be able to prosper after the election of
Abraham Lincoln they made trouble
that resulted in the above change.
Frederick Fletcher, always iamiliarly
known as Col. Fletcher, derived this title
from his connection with the militia,
which he entered in 1926 as captain
He passed through thh subordinate
| grades up to a colonel ot'the 9Th regi
ment. He was prominent figure in the
! state militia until 1850, when he retired
He was the first man in Vermont to ado
; the now familiar brass band to regi
! ment on occasion of parg muster and
, other public occasions. When he was
commissioned colonel in 1888 the militia
: had just been reorganized and consisted
of.three divisions. nine brigades and 27
regiments. Silas H. Jennison was gov
ernor and commandern-chief. Gen
Stephen Dole OF Danville was commander
OF the second division and Gen. E. B
Chase OF Lyndon of the third division
while James Morse of Waterford and
James Gilkerson of Ryegate, bott
colonies, commanded the Caledonia
county regiments. Col. Fletcher was in
all probability the last OF the IL general:
and 27 colonies who commanded the
militia OF those days.
. Col Fletcher became resident of St
Johnsbury about SO years ago. His son
: Col. Truman c. Fletcher had already
established himself in business here. He
has since been one of st. Johnsbury'
most prominent citizens, evidently prefer
!, ring the climate Of this section of the
state to that about Lake Champlain
He was accustomed for many years tc
spend part of each summer on his large
farm in Shelburne, adjoining the magnif
cent estate of DR.. Seward Webb. On this
farm is a stately stone mansion. The
property was once owned by Congress
man Mech, a great man in early Yer
mont days.
. During his early residence in st. Johns
bury, Col. Fletcher was mainly instru
. mental in the organization of the Mer
chants National bank. He was it's first
president and its director for number
oi years.
Col Fletcher was first married in 1873
, to Maria Chittenden, who died in 1884
On Jan. IA. 1886, he married Beulat
Chittenden. sister of his first wife
| These two ladies were daughters OF tn,
| Hon. Truman Chittenden and grand
, daughters of the Hon. Thomas Chitten
. den. The Chttenden family is perhap.
J the most distinguished and ilustrion.
: family in the state. The founder oi this
r family, Mrs. Frederick Fletcher's grand
, father, was the first governor OF ou
commonwealth and great factor in il
establishment. Truman Chittenden wa
l a II )ted citizen OF the state for man,
years and the present head of the fa,nil,
+ is the honorable Lucius E. Chittenden O
: New York. 1t is a family famous tor it
ability and patriotism for many wears
, Mrs. Fletcher died March 16, 1868. a
the advanced age of 81 years. Of thre
children one son survives the father am
r mother Col. Truman c. Fletcher of ST
! Johnsbury.