St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-12-21
RECENT DEATHS.
Sargent.

The community was startled to hear
of the death of Cyrus Sargent early
Thursday morning, Dec. Is. as many
had seen him on the streets only the
Saturday before. The immediate cause
of his death was embolism, but for some
weeks there had been heart trouble and
other complications indicating a general
breaking down of an unusually vigorous
system. He was slightly over II years
of age having been born in July 1882 at
the old Sargent homestead" just west
of St. Johnsburv Center. He was one of
a family of six, three brothers and three
sisters. OF these there remains one
brother, Wesley, at the Center, and one
sister, Mrs. Martha Miles, of Washing
ton, D c. In 1857 he was married to
Sophronia Russ, who died in 1898. One
daughter was buried in infancy and the
other surviving members are Willis H., a
draught sman at the scale works, and
Miss Carrie B., who lives at home. Just
before his majority Mr.. Sargent LETT the
home farm and engaged for little time
in making bricks, both at the Center and
near the west end of Webster street in
this village. He began work for the
Fairbanks Scale Co. in 1858 and for 81
years has been continuously employed
tor the same company, in the same room
and practically at the same machine
During this time, however, he served
nine months under Col. Proctor in Co. K
of the 18th Regiment and at the time of
his death was a member of Chamberlin
Post. 6. A. r. He was also member of
Passumpsic Lodge, F. and A. M. In
1859 he joined the Methodist Episcopal
church and at the time OF his death was
next to the oldest member. For more
than IS years he had to do with the
care of the church property, position
which called for constant attention and
good judgment, and he has also been for
years a member of the official board.
He took great interest in the proper
conduct of public affairs, voted the
republican ticket, and held a number OF
local offices, bat never engaged in "prac-
teal politics.
" Unskilful he to fawn or seek for power
By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour"
During the Centennial year be was fire
chief and about this time it will be
remembered that there were several
severe CONGREGATIONS. The village of St.
Johnsbury Center was almost entirely
consumed, and the largest fire in the
history of the scale works took place Be-
trustees he was impressed with the help
lessness OF this village and with the need
of better fire protection and he took an
active part in the installation of the
present village pumping system. He
served for several years on the police
force, finally becoming chief, and during
this time because of his great physical
strength and his fearlessness be became
terror to evil doers. His particular an
tipathy was the illegal selling of liquor
and many dives were raided and great
quantities of liquor which he seized were
poured down the cutters during those
strenuous years of his lie. There was
another and softer side of his character
which manifested itself in bis love tor the
beautiful IN allure. His own grounds,
although planted with simple flowers
and inexpensive shrubs, attracted the
admiration OF all passerS and many
touches of his hand were seen in our
publicparks. About 80 years ago when
Spring and Cliff streets began to be built
up they were devoid OF shade trees, and
MIR. Sargent made a practice of collecting
small elms and setting them out at his
own expense. Some of these he would
dig up on the hillside, others he would
buy and transplant, until enough public
interest was aroused so that other trees
were furnished partly by the village and
partly by the property owners. but Mr..
Sargent set out most of the trees with
his own hands, working nights and
mornings, largely without pay. In the
death OF this man it seems as though the
Master Woodman had CONS into the
forest of humanity and had selected for
his use, not a sapling of untried fiber. but
sturdy oak of vigorous growth, tried
and tested by LIES winds and found
sound to the core.