St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-03-25
RECENT DEATHS.
Paddock.

bury loses one of it's oldest and most
gifted citizens. He was born in this town
in March, 1920, and was the son OF
Huxham and Orris (Fuller) Paddock
He obtained his education IN the public
schools and in the Washington county
grammar school at Montpelier. His
father established the blast furnace and
machine shop on the Passumpsic river,
and that locality has eyer since been
known as Paddock village. In 1S45
Huxham Paddock died, and the business
was carried on by his brother and the sub
ject of this sketch under the the firm
name of J. c. and !. H. Paddock. About
1875 Mr.. Paddock gave up this business
oping his copper and other mining prop
critics in Lyman, N. H. For the next
eight years Mr.. Paddock worked this
mine, and during that period it ranked
next to the Ely mine in the production
ofcopper ore. His deep interest in metal
lurey led to the nven ton of the Paddock
dry concentration, a machine which is
still widely USED in the western mines for
separating the ore from the gang rock.
He had been interested in geology from
boyhood and was perfectly familiar with
every portion OF the northern part OF
both Vermont and New Hampshire by
many visits through the section. He
was recognized as an expert on mining,
and had made one tri p to Mexico, about
1880, inspecting mines in the interests of
a Boston syndicate. He was member
of the American Society of Mining En-
gineers, and was known by reputation
in mining circles in all parts of the United
States.
Mr.. Paddock was one of the leading
musicians in this section and never lost
his interest in musical affairs. In the
earlier days he was leader of the band,
organist and chorister of the North
Congregational church and everywhere
recognized as musical critic. During a
short residence in Montpelier in the latter
part of the sos he was organist of the
Old Brick church, now the Bethany
Congregational church, was a member
OF the band and tor time its leader aud
gave lessons on the organ and piano to
many of the young people. When the late
Charles Fairbanks had signi6e his inten,
tion to give an organ to the North
church the friends naturally looked to
Mr.. Paddock for advice, and he took a
great interest in securing for the church
one of the finest organs in New England
and arranging for the musical service
connected with its dedication.
During the civil war he was aid to
Gov. Erastus Fairbanks and made one
trip through the lines to give their troops
the state pay. His interest in the YER
mont troops never deserted him and
Grand Army men often called to ex-
change "reminiscences of those stirring
| days.
He married Julia, daughter Of Gov
Erastus Fairbanks, Feb. II, 1857, and
she died June 10, 1884. A few months
previous to her death Mr.. Paddock fell
on the slippery rocks at his Lyman mine
and broke his hip. He never recovered
from this accident and has been confined
to his house almost ever since. The 20
years of suffering that followed were
| horne with heroism that challenged the
admiration of all, and yet his patience
was no surprise to his intimate circle o
friends who knew the strength of his
character and his lofty ideals of lif,
During this period he stored his mind
with be best of reading and it is no ex
aggeration to say that he was TIE best
posted man in st. Johnsbury on all the
affairs of the day. 1t was a liberal edu
cation to be with him tor an hour and
listen to his conversation and old resi-
dents that came back to visit the scenes
of early days always included in theil
itinerary a visit to Mr.. Paddock.
Mr.. Paddock was very properly called
our most gifted citizen and his talents
were many. He hated hypocrisy ant
cant and was true to himself and hi
friends. Though limited by his environ
meut in his generosity he had for many
years distributed good reading into
mining camps and Southern schools
where literature was seldom seen ant
there are many today both South anc
West who have been greatly benefited
by his somewhat unique but practlca
Christianity.
The funeral was held at his late resi-
dence on Saturday afternoon and was
conducted by Rev. DR.. Edward T. Fair
banks. Six men served as carers who
had worked under him in his machin,
shop, some of them having learned the
trade OF him. The bearers were E. X
jenkins, Henry M Cheney, Romano
Balch, Lyman S. Hooker, John b. Todd
Charles A. Heyer. The interment was ii
Mt. Pleasant cemetery.
Rev. DR.. Fairbanks closed his remark
at the funeral by reading poem whc
was writ ten when Mr.. Paddock reache
his stventieth birthday bv his lifelong
friend, the late Horace X. Flint OF Phila
delphia. The poem appeared in the CAL
EDoNIAN of Dec. 4, 1890, and is here IT
printed as friends tribute to this rt
markable man:
no my Friend.
ON REAc HING THELIMIr SET BY THE PsALMIs7
Brave heart and true Undaunted, und
mayed.
Bearing its sorrows without vain regre
Bereft of all that most men value most,
It's solitary vigils keeping yet