Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-06-07
Death Of Madam Ralestler.

The death of Madam Caroline Starr
Wolcott Balestier occurred at Beechwood.
her well known summer home about
three miles from this village. Tuesday
morning. When Mrs. Balester came to
Brattleboro from New York a month ago
her strength was not equal to the Jour
hey' put she was so anxious to reach what
was to her the dearest spot on earth that
She insisted on attempting it. She had
been in critical condition since her ar
rival and her death was not Unexpected
Mrs. Balcster was born in Nliddlebury.
conn., IN 1918 and was a adughter of
Alexander and Mary Ann Wolcott-com-
ms from one of the foremost Connecticut
families of that time. She was married
to the late Joseph n. Balestier in Chi
cage IN 1881, her acquaintance with him
having been formed during a visit to that
city while Mr.. Balestier had charge of
the Indian reservation at hat point. Mr.
Balestier bought the well known Bales
tlner farm in 1865, and this was his home
from that time until his death, which &C.
currred in September, 1885, OF the seven
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Balestier,
three died in infancy, Wolcott Balestier
died in 1890, and three sons survive: Rob-
ert of Unadilla, n. Y, John a. of New
York city, and Joseph n. of Philadelphia.
one of whom is Mrs. Rudyard Kipling,
and six great grandchildren.
since the death of her husband, Mrs.
| Balestier's winters have been spent in
| New York, but she has always returned
| gladly to her summer home at the coming
| of spring and remained until late in the
| fall. She was a devoted member of the
! Unitarian church, and her funeral was
| held from that church at two o'clock
| Thursday afternoon. The church was
! beautifully trimmed with white flowers
| for the occasion. Rev Frank L. Phalen,
| n former pastor, came from Worcester,
Mass, accompanied by Mrs. Phalen, to
| assist Mr.. Osgood in the services. In
| his brief and simple address on the occa-
sion Mr.. Phalen voiced the feeling of
| all who had known Mrs. Balestier when
! he spike of her strong and winning per-
sOnality, of her loyalty and devotion, OF
her active and helpful interest, main
tanned to the very end of her life, in the
| Brattlehoro community, in the church
and in every good thing in the world al
| large. Mr.. Phalen recalled the fact that
! one of the first offices when he became
| pastor of the Bratteboro church was tc
| hold the last services over the body OF
| Mrs. Baestier's husband, and he said she
then made him promise that if he was
| alive when the time for like service
came to her, he would perform it, He
came in loving fulhlment of that prom
| Use, not to pronounce a euogY-for hel
own faithful life was its best eulogy-
but to unite with others in paying this
last tribute of affection.
1t is recalled. as typical Of Mrs. Bales
tiers character, that during the war fol
the Union she performed self-denyinl
service for the soldiers in the work of tn,
Sanitary Commission. Rev. DR.. Herr!
w. Bellows, the pastor of All Soul!
church in New York, with which Mr.. anC
Mrs. Balestier were prominently identi
fed was the head of the Sanitary Com
mission and on one occasion called TO
| volunteers. Mrs. Balestier was one of tn
women who responded, and for tw'
months or more was at the front in Nir
gnia caring for the sick and WOUNDED
soldiers in the field hospitals and on tn
government transports
| The burial will be in the family lot II
Greenwood cemetery, New York, wher
j. n. Balestier was buried.
Mrs Balestier left a will which will b
filed in due time, Judge j. NJ. Tyler bein
the executor named in the will. 1t ap
pears from the probate records that tn
will of Joseph n. Balestier, filed at tn
time of his death in 1883, gave to Mrs
Balestier the use of Beechwood durin
her life, the personal property there an
an annuity of $4,000. The will provide
, further that at Mrs. Balestier's death tn
estate should be divided into four shares
one share to be given to John ~ Bales
tier. one to Mrs. Anna S. Balestier, tn
widow of Wolcott Balestier, and her chi
dren. and the other two shares in trust I
Robert s. and Joseph n. Balestier' jr'