Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-09
ISAAC BURNETT TAFT.
Death Of a California Forty-Nner Who
Was a Prominent Farmer in Brat
tleboro Many Years.

tleboro Many Years.
Isaac Burnett Taft, n, for years one
of the most prominent farmers in
Brattleboro, died Saturday at his home
in district No. 6, beyond the Brattle-
boro Retreat Mr.. Taft was the son
of Caleb and Mary Burnett Taft, and
was born in Newfane, April 2S, 1924
Later his parents moved into the hotel
at West Dummerston, where the old
stage horses were changed on the trip
from Townshend to Brattleboro. This
property was owned by Mr.. Taft at
the time of his death. He had two
brothers, Edison, who died in 1890, and
Charles, who died in 1866. One sis
ter survives, Mrs. Lydia Pratt of
Greefield, Mass.
Mr.. Taft married Miss Harriet
Champion at her home in Hartford ia
1852, and on bringing his wife to this
town they settled on the farm now
owned by Daniel M. Barber. They
had five children. Frank died Scptem-
her 25, 1899 Mrs. Taft and four chill
dren survive. John OF West Dummer-
ston Burr and Mrs. Nora Pratt of
Norfolk, Neb and Guy of this town.
Mr. Taft was known as real forty
miner He and his brother Charles,
Started for the famous gold fields in
California in 1S49. They went in a
sailing vessel called Barque Rochelle
around Cape Horn, long, tedious, and
somewhat perlous journey, and they
went through the hardships incident
to life in a new country surrounded
by all classes of people. Mr.. Taft re-
NAMED there three years and five
months and was glad to return to civ
ilized life.
Mr.. Taft was a pleasant, accomodat-
ing neighbor and a successful farmer,
and in his earlier days could drive his
work by taking hold himself, as he had
great physical strength and tireless
energy.
He was a man of excellent business
capacity, as was shown by his we'll
titled acres, and in connection with his
duties as director of the Grange store,
in which organization he served until
after the store was moved to its pres
ent site. Mr. Taft was a charter
member of Protective Grange and also
of Windham County Pomona Grange,
and he had held several offices in both
societies. He did much for their ad-
vancement from the very first by his
words of wisdom and encouragement
Mr.. Taft had not been strong for
some time, but he drove daily to the
village, making a familiar figure on the
streets. His genial manner. and his
quaint, witty speeches, coupled with
his good sense made him an agreeable
and welcome companion wherever he
went. While on his last trip to town
several weeks ago he sustained
slight stroke of paralysis which rem
dered him somewhat helpless, and
few days later he had a fall, injuring
y his hip badly, and from that time he
failed rapidly until death came.
The funeral was held Wednesday af-
ternoon, Rev. II. R. Miles reading the
= service. Selections were sung by E.
H. Miller. The burial at West Dunn
merston was conducted by large del
egation of Changers. The rain ceased
before the grave was reached and the
sun came out bright and clear. The
bearers were Dwight Goodenough of
Springfield, Mass, John Liscom,
Dwight Mather, Warren Banks, George
w. Pierce and Oscar T. Ware. Messrs.
Goodenough, Liscom and Mather were
charter members of the Grange. Aus
tin Roel, the chaplain, repeated the
burial service. Mrs. Fremont Ham
ilton also read appropriate selections
and Mrs. Edythe Chamberlain sang.
Burr Taft of Norfolk, Neb., arrived on
Tuesday Mrs. Lydia Pratt, the sister,
and her husband and son of Green
field, Mass, were also present at the
funeral.