Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-24

from an attack of acute indigestion, from
which he rallied and was thought to be
much better. He sat out on his verauda
early Tuesday evening and chatted with
people passing. Later he thought to take
a bath before retiring. and it was while in
the bath that the sudden change came over
him and he was soon past all human aid.
His death was undoubtedly caused by some
obscure heart lesion.
Charles Jacob Amidon was born in Ches
terrified, April %, 1927, a son of Otis and
Nancy Cook Amidon. The Amidons
traced their descent from Roger Amidon,
the Huguenot, who, escaping from the
siege Of Rochelle France, went to England
and subsequently coming to America set
tied in Salem, Mass, in 1886, and was one
Of the original proprietors of Rehoboth,
Mass
Roger Amidon's great grandson, Jacob,
a student in Harvard college when the
Revolutionary war began, joined the army
in time to fight at Bunker Hill, was cap
tured by the British and confined afterward
on a prison ship in New York harbor He
settled in Chesterfield in 1852 and died
there in 1899, aged st years. His son,
Otis Amidon, merchant and farmer, was
an influential man of Chesterfield, repre-
sented the town repeatedly in the legisla-
ture, aui was honored with many local
offices.
His son. Charles Jacob, the subject of
this sketch. received his education in the
common schools Of the town and at the old
Chesterfield academy, in that day consid-
cred one Of the best academic schools in
the state In early manhood he was a sue
cessful school teacher, but in lS49 formed
a partnership with the late Henry O. Cool
idge, afterward Of Keene, the firm going
into business as merchants at Chesterfield
Centre In 1851 Mr.. Amidon moved to
Hinsdale and went into business as a mer-
chant with the late George w. Holland
| likewise a native of Chesterfield, and con
| tinued in mercantile pursuits until 1862,
when he entered the firm of Bishop K Boy
| den, wooden manufacturers, the firm name
| being Bishop, Boyden 81 Amidon.' As
the years went by death claimed the two
elder partners, but Mr.. Amidon continued
/ the business up to the time of his death, as
sociating with him as partners his two sons,
/ Philip +. aud William o.. under the firm
name of &C. J. Amidon x Sons who also
! operate wooden mill at Wilton, where the
! elder son resides. The product of these mills
|
found ready market, and the firm has
| been very prosperous financially even dur
ing the hard times.
Mr.. Amidon married May II, 1852, Mary
]. Harvey of Chesterfield, and there have
been four children, Philip Frank, Mary
| Elizabeth, Esther Maria, and William Otis
Amidon, of whom the wife and sons only
are living. OF the daughters, the young
est, Esther, died in early childhood: while
the elder daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Ami
don Whitredge, a woman of unusual beau
ty and varied accomplishments, was a vic
tim of consumption in later years, and thi:
was one of the greatest griefs of the faith
er's life.
Politically Mr.. Amidon was first a Wing
but early Joined the Republican party and
soon became influential, not only in loca
but in state politics. He was postmaster al
Chesterfield in 1890; postmaster of Hins
dale from 1861 to 1872; state bank com
missioner from 1855 to 1887; representa-
tive,to the state legislature in le6l-64, 1876
and II, and in 1888; state senator in 1875
1879 and 1880, besides being president Of
the Hinsdale savings bank, associated will
banks at Brattleboro and Keene as director
and holding at different times all the variou
town offices. There is no doubt that NOR,
than once the highest Office in the gift o
the state was at his disposal if he would
have consented to accept the honor and re
sponsibility.
In 1889 Mr.. Amidon was appointed on
of a committee of five to draft plans an,
make estimates and suggestions for tn
new state library at Concord. This ediic
was dedicated in 1895, the plans of tn
committee, in formulating which he tool
an active part, being accepted by the legis
lature without alteration. Though no
seeking political honors for himself, Mr.
Amidon was powerful aid and ally in aid
ing others to attain offices of preferment
He it was who more than 40 years ago frs
presented the name of William Halle TO
governor of New Hampshire and it wa
largely through the formers efforts tina
Mr.. Halle was elected. He likewise ha
no small share in bringing forward late
the name of the late United States senator
j. W. Patterson, then a Dartmouth pre-
lessor, as member of Congress, and in Sc
curing his election. But in al his politics
work he sought no ignoble or servil
methods, but as has been well said of hin
good Judgment directed by an honest pun
pose gave him power that commanded un
versal respect and esteem. In every put
lie position he has filled he has been fore
= most in influence, and his good commo
sense has attracted attention"
p, Widely known as was Mr.. Amido
throughout the county and the state, it
here at home among his own townsme
that he will be most missed. Easily th
most influential citizen, his sole end an
aim was for the best interests of the tow
along the lines of general improvement
(, and higher education. He was a cha
ter member of Golden Rule lodge of FRI