Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-05
NEWS OF VERMONT
More Important Events Grouped for
Free Press Readcrs-Oldest MethO-
dist Minister BOrn In Illness
burEh.

The Rev. Byron Alden of Streator, H.,
who celebrates his 18th birthday
to-day is the oldest Methodist minister
in the world, being eight months older
than the Rev Joseph Ayres of Sidney.
Ohio, who has been called the oldest
Methodist minister" The Rev. Mr.. Alden
is still forcble pulpit preacher. and
fills appointments occasionally. He spoke
at the Methodist conference held at Strea-
tor year ago, when his eloquence and
force and his firm footsteps were much
commented on. He was born at Hines
burgh, Vt, November s. 1906 He preach
ed in New York conferences a number
of years before going to Illinois. In
that State his first assignment was at
Woodstock where he remained ten years,
going later to Gardner and Verona. The
latter was his last regular appointment
and expired fifteen years ago. There
are curious coincidents in the careers of
the Rev. Mr., Alden and the Rev. Mr..
Ayres, the two Oldest Methodist ministers
Both were born in Vermont, each entered
on his first regular assignment in New
York in 1890, and each is spending his
last years with his daughter
AN ANCIENT BOOK CONTAINING
LOCAL VARIETIES.
Mrs. Clara Stevens of Essex Junction is
the owner of an interesting collection of
addresses, SERMONS, elC., printed III the
years of between 1896 and 1877 and at some
ancient date compiled into book form
one article in the book is entitled "A
Companion to the Altar" showing the
nature and necessity of a Sacramento
Preparation. This was presented for Am
brose Atwater in Burlington, by S. Mills
| in 1910. Another interesting article is an
account of the trial of Cyrus b. Dean for
| the murder of Jonathan Ormsby and Asa
| Marsh before the supreme court of judica-
ture of the State of Vermont, at
| special sessions begun and holders at Bur
| lington, Chittenden county on the 23d OF
| August, 1905. This was printed by Samuel
| Mills in burlington in 1908. This murder
| was committed in Burlington August g.
| 1865, several others being implicated in
| the crime. The judges were the Hon
| Royal Tyler Esq, chief judge, the Hon
| Theophelus Harrington and Jonas Gal
| usha, Esq'rs. assist judges one OF
| the witnesses speaks of the whole scent
| of action being near and upon the Onior
river (now known as the WinooskD anc
that a road led from Burlington village
to the river. The jury were John Brown
of Williston, foreman; Parker Talcott
ditto; Zacherah Hart. ditto; Joy bradley
Essex; Elisha Emmons, Jun, ditto; Jas
| per Griffith Jericho; Samuel Frencl
do; Jesse Gloyd, do; Benoni Thompson
Richmond Arnold Stephens. do Jasphel
Stephens Jr,, do Asa Moon, Hinesburgl
talisman. Counsel for the State were
States Attorney David Fay, Esq, Distric
Attorney and Cornelius =. Van Ness, Esq
and for the prisoner, Amos Marsh am
Bates Turner, Esqrs. Dean was sen
fenced ito be hung by the neck until dead
at the place of public execution on Fri
day, the 2Sth day OF October 1908. Their
is also an inaugural address pronounce
in Burlington July 26, 1915 by Samuel Aus
tin, ID. D., president of the University o
Vermont; also another sermon pgssche'