The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-03-05
DEAD AT NAPLES.

Like a thunderbolt from clear
sky came the following cablegram
Tuesday morning to j. A. DeBoer;
Naples, March 4.
President Houghton died suddenly
today. Mrs. Houghton and the body
will sail on the steamer Common
wealth, March 6. Notify Grace.
James 7. Phelps.
Mr.. Houghton had not been well for
a year and a half. About month
ago he decided to try sea voyage for
the benefit of his health and three
weeks ago sailed from Boston for a
Mediterranean voyage, accompanied
by Mrs Houghton and James Il.
Phelps, general agent at Boston for
the National Life Insurance Com
pany. On the arrival of the party at
Gibraltar and again on their arrival
at Naples cablegrams were received at
Montpelier which gave Mr.. Hough-
toms friends every encouragement,
thus making the shock of the news of
his death all the more unexpected and
severe.
When the cablegram was received
by Mr.. DeBoer the finance committee
of the National Life was in session.
The heads of the departments were
hastily summoned and to them the sad
news was impaired. A few moments
later the entire force was called to-
gether. AS the cablegram was read to
them nearly every one present was
moved to tears. All work was at once
suspended and the Office closed for
the day. All tho general agents of
the company throughout the United
GNaN nk Hn1 hxrf nln
graph of Mr.. Houghton's death. 1t is
expected it will take about two weeks
| for the steamer Commonwealth tC
reach Boston from Naples.
To Mrs. M. e. Smile fell the pain.
full duty of informing Miss Houghtor
of the intelligence received
Before leaving Montpelier Mr.
| Houghton was examined by leading
local physician, and befC re sailing from
Boston employed a specialist to again
examine him. Both physicians as
sured him that there was nothing
in his case that would warrant the
fear that he would never return alive
and both advised the sea voyage.
James Clay Houghton was born il
Petersham, Mass, September 2, 1941
His father was Congregational cler
gyman who came to Vermont, settling
in Chelsea, and for many years was {
preacher of his denomination in this
State The son graduated from Am
herst college in 1862, and came tt
Vermont to begin life in the Greer
Mountain State. He was assistan
clerk of the House Of Representative
in 1862-63, was subsequently cashie,
of the Orange county bank at Chelsea
and in April, 1871, as cashier of thu
First National bank of Montpelier
took up his residence in this city. A
cashier of that institution - il
which he was also a director ant
as citizen, Mr.. Houghton became a
once very popular, both by reason o
his efficiency in matters Of bushes
and his engaging qualities as a man
His success in matters of financ
marked him for advancement to the
office of treasurer of the National Lift
Insurance Company in 1885, having
held the office of treasurer of the tow
since 1874. In 1886, a year of great polit
ical interest locally and in the Stat
at large, he was elected Representativ
of Montpelier to the General Assembly
Mr.. Houghton's appointment to tn
official corps of the National Lif
marked the introduction into that in
stitution of the new blood, followed b.
other similar appointments, that ha
given the company its present stron
and prosperous standing among SINH
lar institutions of the country. Il
1897 Mr.. Houghton was made vic
president of the company, and in 100
he was advanced to the presidency
his standing at the time of his death.
Mr.. Houghton had not been in goot
health for about a year and hal
past, and notably not in the week
Immediately preceding his departur
for the Mediterranean. The difficult,
under which he was suffering wa
pronounced defect in the circulation
and this, it is assumed, eliminated il
heart failure and death.
Mr.. Houghton married Miss Grac
r. Blackwell of Philadelphia, Pa, il
1869. Two children were born t,
them, Edward r. Houghton, nov
holding a responsible place in tn
publishing house of Houghton, Miffiil
& Co., Boston, and Miss Grace M
Houghton, of this city. For them, il
this sudden and unlocked for Attic
ton, the livliest sympathy is felt il
the place of their birth and child
hood.
The intelligence of Mr.. Houghton'
death was a grievous shock to tn
Montpelier community. 1t had beel
confidently expected that he woul
return from his European trip, restor
ed to his customary vigorous health
and that he would continue for man
years into the future to preside owe
the affairs of the institution to who's
prosperity he had been foremos
contributor.