St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-12
Oldest Voter In the State.
Incidents in the Hong Life of John
DuntOn of LyndOnVilIe.

correspondent of the Boston Globe
recently visited John Dunton at his Lyn,
donvilIe home and the Globe had the fol-
lowing interesting account of the visit:
When John Duntou on election day
walk, d to the polls, distance Of one
mile, and cast his vote tor William
Mckinley, it marked another milestone
in voting period which has extended
over term Of 76 years. Mr.. Dunton
cast his first vote at T0wnshend, in
the year 1924 tor John Quincy Adams,
and since that time has missed voting at
but one presidents al election.
Up to the time he present republican
party was organized Mr.. Dunton was
more or less of an independent in politics
but he entered the ranks OF the republican
party during its first campaign and has
adhered strictly to this political faith
ever since.
Mr.. Dunton was born at Townshend,
Sept. 8, 1903, and unil he had at
tanned his maj rity remained at home
and worked with his father on the farm
At the age OF 81 he went to New York
state, where he remained our years,
w ,rking on canal pprti IN OF the time.
Aside from three or four years his entire
lite has been spent in the Green Mountain
state.
He returned to Townshend and on
April IL, 1882. married Miss We tlthv
Over OF that town. In the same year he
brought his bride to Lyndonville, which
has since then been his home Upto 1876
be was actively engaged in farming, but
in that year he removed from his tarm
and has since resided in the village.
For one who has rounded out nearly a
century OF lite Nj Dunton is remarkably
active. During the past summer he spent
! considerable time at work n his garden,
| and the walk OF two NIL, on election day
was bv no means an unusual occurrence.
The Globe reporter found the aged m IN
comfortably ensconced by the kitchen fire
and spent very pleasant hour convers'
ing with him concerning events that oc-
| cured early in the century. 1t is nearly
! 80 wears since our second war with Eng
land began yet Mr.. Dunton remembers
pei fectly he stirring events OF that time,
J HIS father, who was a native OF Stur
| bridge, Mass, was revolutionary SOL
der and followed the fortunes OF the con
tinen al army for three years and ten
mouths, and OF course, into the boy
mind was instilled the spirit oil those
strenuous times
Mr.. Dunton tells a story concerning the
contingent OF yourg men who lett Town
shend to serve in the war OF 1912. He
remembers how his father. the rovclu-
tionarv veteran in giving advice to the
recruits, said: Face en-, face EN-; don't
turn your backs
One OF the young soldiers, Jesse Walker
who stammered somewhat, replied: Il
won't r,r-run; I'll ii lick EN-; I'll < e give
'em h h h. hell
The old man told the story in a vigor-
GUS way and laughed heartily at the re-
collection of the young soldiers rep'y.
Jesse Walker, the soldier of 1912 long
ago Joined he great majority, but the
boast he made So impressed the boy oil
nine years hat nearly century OF time
has not. effdced it from his memory.
In speaking of his school days he stated
without hesitation the names OF many OF
his schoolmates and recalls many circum
stances attending his early youth.
Mr.. Dunton life has been compare
tivelv uneventtui one. Of course, in his
young manhood he was member OF the
irregular militia of those DAYS and at
tended "June training" as all New Eng
landers did earlier in the century, but al
though he remembers well the four wars
OF the century he never served As a solid r
In 1912 he was too young tor the army
and 1861 round him a man ot So, too ole
to serve his country in the fell He fur
nished son, however, who served in Go
G, 15h Vermont volunteers. He was
the father of seven children, only two
whom are now living.
Mr.. Dunton has been remarkably wei
during his life. Until within f:w years
when he suffered severe attack OF pneu
monla, he has hardly ever seen a sicI
f day, and his activity and genera appear
ance indicate man Of p'rhaps 70 years