Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-04-06
VIM. M. CURRIER..

!. u Is.
WIN. M. CuRRIER,
son Of Amos and Lucinda Williams Cur
rier, was born in Brighton Dec. Is. 1892.
April III, lsGl, he enlisted in Co. d.. 3D.
Vt. Vols, and was promoted to sergeant.
September ~. 1852. he was promoted to
second lieutenant of Co. b., and Septem-
Der ,, 1868, he was promoted to first
lieutenant of Co. g.. and was afterwards
acting captain. lie was mustered ont
of service July -, 1864. After his re-.
turn from the war he constantly held
local Offices in town and was deputy col
lector of customs for II years. H. was
married to Sarah Smith of Wilmot. y.
H., July Il, 1861. \ daughter. Alice,
(Willoughhy) was horn October 80. 1864,
and a son, William Lester. was born
December /, 1872. Capt. Currier Was
the first male child born in this town
after it bore the name of Brighton. He
was the first enlisted soldier in the civil
war from this town, and the first repuh-
lican representative from this town in
the Vermont legislature. He was
member of Island Pond Lodge. F. & 4.
NJ, past master OF the lodge. and was
also prominent in Grand Army circles, a
past commander of ErastuS Buck Post
lie united with the congregational
Church in 1856, and at the time of his
death. which occurred March 81, 1900,
he was deacon of the church. position
held by him for several years. He was
member of one Of the oldest aud most
characteristic families in this town. He
married a woman like him in hospitality
and in doing for others. and neither of
them stopped short of impossibilities i'll
their attempts to relieve the suffering
and unfortunate.
The subject of this sketch was in hal-
moiy with his surroundings, although
his life was eventful in spite of his dis
position. What awaited him seemingly
through long years looks now like the
dream OF IA night. The hopes OF boy
hood and youth, the reality of life, the
formation and harmony OF domestic JOYS,
happily enjoyed as though they We're to
be everlasting, the enthusiastic expert
ence of war, the return and minghng in
busy, peaceful pursuits, are all gone
now; or rather are all merged into the
tender memories of virtuous, peaceful
life, and a rich military history; all Of
which may be truthfully summed up by
saying, "he was brave, and generous and
kind, and good"
Born in an incipient town or commu-
nifty, amid the undrveloped influences
and elements of New England, and ex
posed in infancy and boyhood to the fer.
vid memories of the revolution, which
were being repeated 10y the fathers, ard.
intensified by imagination and eXaygera-
ton, he was deeply impressed with the
duties OF citizenship. AS firmly as the
hills of his nativity were fixed in the
rugged soil of his country, and the roots
was he fixed in sentiment in the great
American community and every senti-
ment of his soul was woven into it. Ne
cessity developed his youth in the stern
activities of life and he early took on a
driving activity and responsibilities com
mensurate with his capacity. Connected
with a large family, noted for the probi-
ty of its members who possessed rugged
New England manners, custom. and
sentiments he was early enlisted in. and
absorbed by, active business. At the
same time, underneath all his absorbing
employments, he early developed and
constantly exhibited deep reverence
for Deity and a devotion to those grand
sentiments which cement and make so.
ciety strong and good. lie was vir.
tuously conservative in all his senti.
ments, BY impulse, instinct and reason
he was always on the side of law. orcle,
and morality.
The eventful year of 1861 found him
by training, habits, tastes and incina
tons fitted for the peaceful, industriou.
and contented life of New Enylant
yeoman. 1t also found in him senti
ments of devotion to country, patriotism
faith in God and the unity OF the loft
est and most generous sentiments ant
efforts OF men for the common GOOD. a
we'll as many other ingrained attribute
so essential to the development of
brave soldier. And so he was stirred t
life by the first sounds of war as if h