Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-13
A DOUBLE FUNERAL
Death Of Mrs. Cornelia v. N. Under
wood.

Death OF Mrs. Cornelia v. N. Under
wood.
Intelligence Of the death Of Mrs. Corneia
Van Ness Underwood, which took place in
Brooklyn, n. Y, Monday, was brought
soon after to her daughter and other rela-
tives in this city, and came with sad
shock to many persons in our community.
Mrs. Underwood was born In Burlington
February 201S30, being the daughter of DR..
Thomas Chamberlain and Nancy Hyde
Corning. Her father was physician and
surgeon, who came to Burlington from
Fairfield, VT, in 1926 and was in successful
practice here for nearly thirty years until
his death in 1854. Her mother was the
daughter of Colonel Malachi Corning. She
was married June II, 1851, to Levi Under
wood, Esq, then a rising young lawyer,
later on one OF the leaders OF the Vermont
bar, and leutenant-g governor OF Vermont
for two terms, 1860 to 1862. Her home has
always been In this city and for many
years she presided over the household OF
Lieut.. Gov. Underwood, when their home
was the scene of an ample and elegant
hospitality and she was among the leaders
in Burlington society. Sad reverses came
to the fortunes of the family but they
could not break her high spirit nor did
they cost her the loss OF the many friend
ships she had formed She continued to
the last, brave, active in mind cheerful in
the result of an accidental fracture; inter-
ested in everything that was going on in
the city and State and world at large, and
fond of society and social pleasures.
She had a remarkable memory Of persons
and events; was an original and interesting
correspondent, and was exceedingly bright,
witty and entertaining in conversation.
She was a member Of St. Pauls Church.
She went to Brooklyn the week before
Christmas, to visit her daughter, Mrs. Ed
ward " Hoyt, Tuesday the Sd
inst, she went to New York to
spend n day with some friends. Return
ing to Brooklyn in the evening much IA
tigued she caught a cold, which developed
into pneumonia last Friday. and she
breathed her last at two o'clock p. m. Mon
day. Six children were the fruit OF her
union with Mr.. Underwood, Helen, who
died in 1879; child. Nancy. who died IN
infancy; Corncla c.: Levi, Jr.. who died
several years ago. Violet. now Mrs. Ed
ward V. Hoyt and Thomas c.
Sudden Death OF Hon. Levi Underwood,
xLieutenant- Governor Of Ver-
mont. at Brattleboro.
Ply strange and tragic providence. we
are called upon to chronicle the death Of
the Hon. Levi Underwood, which occurred
suddenly at Brattleboro. Tuesday after
noon a little more than twenty-four hours
after the death of Mrs. Underwo
Levi Under wood was born in Hardwick,
VT, December "a, ISL. He was the son Of
Silas Underwood, who was prominent
citizen of that town, which he represented
in the Legislature in 1888. and in which
he held the offices Of Justice of the Peace,
Selectmap for many years. and other local
office s. His mother, Mary Leslie, was
descended from family ri Scotch coven-
antcrs who's, later members emigratcd to
America. Mr.. Underwood gained his carly
led, 10, In, COL cob and tN.fr
boring academies. and studied law in
sMorrisville under the Hon Luke Y. Poland
afterwards judge of the Supreme Court OF
Vermont and United States senator. He
was admitted TO the bar of Lamoile
county at Hyde Park at the June term in
1Hc, and a Cow months later came tc
Burlington and commenced the practice OF
law in company with Is. ]. Tcnrey ther
in partnerships with enc of two other at
torneys. and later practicing alone His
vieor Of intellect. industry, and capacit!
in the preparation of his cases, and gifts
as a clear and forcible speaker, sooy
brought him a lucrative practice. In tn,
prolonged railroad litiestons Of a genera
ton ago, he was prominent as an attor
ney and counsellor; and he came to tt
,, recognized as one of the leaders of th'
Vermont bar. with a wide acouaintanC'
: ana large practice in this and ether States
He was also prominent in politics. Having
bttIt IL FTtt sou UClVCtTut, ne JOlneu tDl
Republican party when it was first or
eani2ed in Vermont. He was elected Stat
senator. as Z republican in 1856 and wa
an able and influential senator. In 1850 n
was elected lieutenant governor on III,
ticket with Governor Erastus Fairbanks
and was reelected in 1851. or the tickle
with Governor Frederick Holhrook
> He was appointed by the governor dele
gate from Vermont TO the famous peace
conference, called by the Legislature O.
Virginia. in January 1861. in a futile effor
to prevent the impending Civil War and HI
came home from that conference satisfied
that the issues between the orth and Soutl
could be settled only by the arbitramen
of war. AS president of the State Senat
and adviser to our first two war governors
he rendered important service in sustain
ing the honor and credit of the State an,
the cause of the government during tn
first critical and trying years Of the war
: and he was always earnest and patriot
in the cause of the Union. He was inter
: ested in town and local affairs. Upon tn
: organization of the city Of Burlington, h
was elected alderman for the north ward
: and his legal knowledge and judgment wer
= Of great service in the board. He was
director in the old Bank of Burlington I'll
l. 1t was merged in the First National bank
: and was director in the latter /
II 1865. He was a director in the Champlai
Mutual Fire Insurance company and wa
l. president OF the Burlington MANUFACTURER
= company. He was the president of tn
: Burlington board of trade for severe
y years.
II He ceased the practice Of law som
J. twenty years or more ago, and the las
seventeen years of his life were spent l
L Bratteboro. lie was cheerful and cor
tented in his surroundings there, occupie
<. much of his time in reading; was affabl
: in conversations, and on points of constitI
tional law or government. his judgment RI
l. manned good. His physical health ha
, shown signs of failing during the pas
year, and several fainting fits had indica
n ed trouble with his heart. He seemed a
IS well as usual, however Tuesday, and al
'e his dinner with his customary appetite; bl
soon after had a sinking turn, became III
4, conscious and at three o'clock passed ava
ID quietly and doubtless without realizin
that his end was at hand. His disease wa
s. fatty degeneration of the heart A con
, munication informing him of the death
'. Mrs. Underwood, arrived shortly before h
death, but had not been delivered to hin
II and he passed away without learning
3. her decease. The unexpected intelligence
e. Mr.. Underwoods death caused a pos
he ponement of the funeral OF Mrs. Undel
wood which was appointed for yesterda
n. afternoon, and the double funeral of hui
lie band and wife will take place at ST. Paul
Church in Burlington to-day at 2:S0 p. m
r
Or Buys the Pan American Exposition.
The Chicago House Wrecking Compar
II Itltr !, he. LOT Mol In Chnu