Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-16

Ridgeield, Aug 16.-Hon George H LOunsbury, who was governor of Con necttcut in 1899 and 1900, and who for many years was one of the most distinguished men of this state. died at his home in FaImingville to-day. He had been ill for considerable pc rlod of time, complication of dis eases some weeks ago indicating that the end was approaching. For the past fortnight death was expected al- most hourly.
 By Mr Lounsbury's death the whole state shares with Ridgefield in the loss of a citizen whose kindliness and uprlghtness had made him a shining figure in social. civic and private life. He was a native of Pound Ridge, Westchester county, N. Y, being the fifth child of the late Nathan and Della Scofeld Lounsbury. Though born out of the state he was virtually native of Connecticut, as his father and all of his immediate ancestors were natives of Stamford, and he, when only a few months old, came to Ridgefeld to the farm which for over sixty years had been his home His early education was that of a district scnool, thorough common school English education which has been,
 
 in the hill district of the state. At the age of IT he began to teach in the public schools, an occupation which he followed for three successive win ters, while he worked on his fathers farm during the summer. Self pre- pared, he entered Yale college at the age of 20 and was graduated there from in 1863 with the reputat ation of brilliant scholarship and distinguished hOnOrs. MT Lounsbury having become an EpiScopalian in his religious ten dencies, entered the Berkeley school and was graduated in 1868, and for a year had charge of the Episcopal par ishes in Sufield and Thompsonville After taking deacon's orders he de. clned to take the vows of priesthood owing to throat trouble which at that time threatened to become chronic and which would have prevented the de- livery of sermons and public address es. He embarked in business with his brother, Phineas O. Lounsbury, who afterwards also became governor, and since that time manufactured boots and shoes, the firm being that of Lounsbury, Matthewson & Co at South NorWallk. For upwards of twen, ty six years the subject of this sketch devoted his entire time and energy to his business, repeatedly refusing to allow his name to be used for any political office. Tn 1894 in the leisure which came with an acquired com petence, he accepted the nomination for senator for the twelfth district and was elected by over 1900 majority. In the legislature of 1895 he was chair man of the committee on finance, a committee which was so distinguished AOr.i ite n hiIifxr fhof Hnfh oE lln legislature accepted without dissenting vote its reports on the finances of the state. In 1896 he was reelected sena- tor by over 2, TOO majority He was chairman of the committee on hu- smane institutions of the legislature of 1897 and again so guided his commit tee that it's ability and it's clearness Of comprehension in its reports shone out conspicuously. In the fall of 1898 MT Lounsbury was elected governor on the republican ticket Since the retirement from that office MT LOuns- bury had lived quietly on his farm two miles east of this village, taking interest in state affairs only in an ad- yisory capacity. He was president and director of the Ridgefeld Na- tional bank and stockhOlder in the savings bank.
 MT Laounsbury was married in 1894 to Mrs Francis Josephine Whedon, who survives him. Late in the spring MT Lounsbury. who had been i'll for some weeks, went to camp in the Adirondacks in the hope of receiving benefit from 8 change of air. He was accompanied by his nephew, George Lounsbnry Rockwell, who was as a son to him, having been brought up in the governors home. 1t was while he was in the Adirondacks that the people of the state heard of MT IsounsbIry's serious illness. He re, turned to his home in the early sum- ,mer and failed steadily from that time. Arrangements for the funeral are being made