Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-05-23
THOMAS II. PRENTIS.
UNITED STATES CONSUL WHO LOST
HIS LIFE Al ST. PIERRE.

| Had Filled Many Foreign Positions Under
the Government-His Civil War Record
Two Sons Alone Remain of Family OF
Six.
The Hon. Thomas Theodore Prents
who, with Mrs. Prentis and their two
daughters, May and Christine, lost his
life while at his official post in ST.
Pierre, Martinique, was born in Royal
Oak, Mich, June Il, 1911. He was a
lineal descendant of John and Priscilla
Alden.
His father returned with his family to
Waitslield, VT, during the childhood of
the consul. He lived the uneventful
life of farmers boy until Nov. 2S, 1868,
United States sharpshooters, serving
with this company at the front during
the war of the rebellion until Sept S,
1861, on which date ne was discharged
for disability (heart disease), contracted
in the service. During this time he was
in the battles of the Wilderness, PO
river, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Toto
potomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and
Deep Bottom.
After his discharge from the army, he
engaged in the hotel business, and was
office clerk and manager of hotels in
Vergennes, Mlddlebury and Rutland, Vt.
In the latter city he was with the late
Hon. John w. Champion, his affabiity
and successful management making him
many friend among men prominent in
business and politics.
Through the influence of Senator
George F. Edmunds, he was appointed
Dec 10, 1871, by President Grant,
United States consul at Mahe, Seychelles
islands. which Office he held until March
20, 1850, when he was promoted to the
consulship at Port Louis, Mauritius.
Prior to his appointment to Mauritius
he had married Miss Louisa Frye.
daughter of James Frye, retired Amer
can ship captain, settled in that island.
The consul was in Maurtius If years,
during which time occurred the great fire
which almost completely destroyed the
city of Port Louis, and a terrific hurri-
cane which devastated the whole island.
During the latter part of his consul
ship at Port Louis, it was his fortune,
seconded by an American man-of-war,
to conduct TO a successful conclusion a
diplomatic correspondence with the Sui
tan of Johanna (Comoro islands,, in
vOlving the claim of an American citi-
zen.
Consul Prentis was man of earnest,
straight forward character, and his
genial disposition and kindness of heart
secured him host of friends. On
ha Of ho
in Washington after the date of the con-
sul's appointment to Maurtius appears
the entry, ''retired, June. 1891" mildly
indicating that he was removed for po-
litcal reasons.
In 1891 Mr.. Prentis, with his family,
returned to the United States, and re-
mained in enforced idleness or engaged
in such light business as his health
would allow for six years, residing most
of the time at Merose Highlands,
Mass. Jan. IL, 1900, through the
influence of Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge, President Mckinley appointed
Mr.. Prentis consul at Rouen, France.
This was understood to be only tenn
porary appointment, as a tropical eli
mate was better suited to his health.
and he was transferred May II, 1900, to
Batavia, Java. He made the long voyage
from France with his second son.
Thomas, only TO find a cablegram from
the State Department informing him that
this consulate had been filled prior to his
own appointment, and asking him to in
dicate what he would like in place of it,
Leaving his son in the office of the
Standard Oil Company at Batavia. Con-
sui Prentis returned to the United
States. Oct. 10, 1900 he was appointed
to the consulate at st. Pierre, Mar
Unique, and proceeded with Mrs. Prentis
and their two daughters to his new sphere
of duty. There they have remained
until the terrible volcanic eruption of
Mt. Pelee destroyed the city of st.
Pierre and annihilated its inhabitants
on the morning of May S.
OF his immediate family, there are
now living his eldest son James f. of
Chicago, married and engaged in the
employ of the Dominion steamship line,
and his second son, Thomas, in Bata-
via, Java. Thomas was formerly stu
dent of Middlebury College, class of
1898.
MIR. Prentis has many relatives residing
in Waitsfeld, Williamstown and Middle
bury, VT, and Greenfield, Mass.