Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-05-31
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL.
WILLIAM S. sTEARNs.

There was regret throughout the
community Monday afternoon on
learning of the death of William S.
Stearns at his home on Williston
street. Mr.. Stearns had been suf-
fering for year past from a form
of progressive paralysis, a malady
hereditary in his family. An only
surviving sister, Mrs. Abbie French
of Grafton, died last Friday after
long suffering from this affection, as
the mother had done before her.
Mrs. Stearns went to Grafton as soon
as she learned of the death of Mrs.
French and attended the funeral on
Sunday, returning home Monday af-
telnOOn. Mr.. Stearns lad been in a
cheerful frame of mind of late and
had felt so much better than during
the winter that he had begun to re-
sumo some of the work which he for
merly did. He was about the streets
last Saturday and spent a cheerful
day with his friends on Sunday.
When his daughter Maud returned
home from the High school Monday
afternoon at / o'clock, she did not
find her father and. fearing something
might be wrong, informed her uncle,
Albert w. Rockwell. On going to the
house Mr.. Rockwell found that his
brOther-in-law had ended his life by
hanging in the attic. There was no
immediate cause for the act other
than noted, and it is evident that
consciousness of what lay before him
in the way of lingering illness and Ill
innate hClplessnCss had made life
seem too much a burden to bear.
William S. Stearns was born in
Grafton July ;. 1857, and was the son
of Reuben Stcarns who died at his
sons house a wear ago last April He
grew up in Grafton. and after leav-
ing there worked for time in Bel
lows Falls. He came to Brattleboro
upward Of 20 years ago and had been
employed by the Estey Organ com
panY, by the Carpenter Organ COM
pany, and in various other ways. For
several years past he has acted a
portion of each year as a solicitor anu
collector for The Phoenix. doing eff
cieft work in this way and establish
ing a general acquaintance through
out the county He had also done
similar work for papers in Spring
field and Ludlow. so that he had a
wide acquaintance in Windsor coun-
ty as well. He was of genial tenn
per, of tireless diligence and activity.
and absolutely faithful and devoted
to every trust committed to him. He
united with the Baptist churcn while
living in Bellows Falls, and his mem
bership was transferred to the Brat
tleborO church after his removal to
this village. Mr.. Stearns's domestic
relations were of the happiest kind.
He married Ella Ruth Rockwell in
pril, 1882, and is survived by her
and ny a daughter, Edith Maud. aged
16. He was the last member of his
fathers family. The funeral was
held yesterday morning at II o'clock
Rev. Dr. Marble officiating.
CONGREGATIONAL CONVENTION.
County Sunday Schools Will Meet in
Westminster West Next Tuesday,
the Program.
The annual convention of the Con
gregational Sunday schools in Wind
gregational church in Westminster
West next Tuesday, beginning at 10
o'clock 1t is desired that each
cussion will follow each paper or ad-
dress. COLLATION. will be on the bas-
ket plan. The ladies of the church
in Westminster West will furnish cof-
fee. Following is the program
Praise service.
Organization.
Reports of Sunday schools.
Address, Christ as a Teacher"
Willis T. Sparhawk, Putney
Paper, Children and the Church."
Mrs. George F. Chaplin,
SaXtons River
Praise service.
Paper Some Impressions of a New
Worker
Walter A. Gilbert, Brattleboro
Paper, THE Boys of the Sunday
School"
Mrs. Marshall w. Downing.
Bellows Falls
Address, The Sunday School as a
Substitute for the Church Ser
vice" Luther NJ. Keneston.
West Brattleboro
Question Box.
George II. DeBevOise
Westminster