The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-08-23
DEATH OF MRS. VIM. G. HORTON
A Woman Well Known in omitholog.
ical and Botanical Circles.

81, died at her home, 10 Brook street,
Sunday evening, after an illness of sew.
eral months with complication of
diseases. Mrs. Horton was a woman of
unusual intellect and possessed many
charming personal qualities. She was
born in Williamsville, Feb. IL, 1856, a
daughter of Alexander II. and Sylvia
(Timson) Davis. When eight years of
age she moved to this town with her
parents and had lived here ever since
She was a graduate of Brattleboro
high school, Her marriage to William
c. Horton took place March 10, 1874.
Mrs. Horton was widely known
throughout the state in pathological
and botanical circles, and was consid,
cred the best informed person in south.
ern Vermont in both sciences. She
was instrumental in founding the Brat
tleboro Bird club which was organized
in 1900 and was made president of the
society. In 1901 this organization be.
came branch of the national Audubon
society. The junior Audubon society
was organized and conducted under
Mrs. Horton s direction for some time
and has done excellent work in local
bird protection. The Vermont Bird
club, a state organization, is an out
growth of the local Audubon society.
Mrs. Horton was also a member of the
Vermont Botanical society and an as
soeiate member of the American Or
union. About 10 years ago
she became interested in public school
work and decided to teach. She stud.
led to fit herself for the work and
passed examinations giving her the
right to teach in any school in the
state, and had a special certificate to
teach nature study. For some time she
taught the school in district No. 10,
and in 1902 began her work in Brat
tleboro academy in West Brattleboro,
where she remained until Easter va
cation of this year, when failing health
compelled her to resign. She had charge
If the eighth and ninth grades, also
giving instruction in the sciences ana
N physical culture. 1t was partly
her efforts that the graded
,vstem was established at Brattleboro
academy. While in the academy she |
interested her pupils in bringing to
Ter dead birds, many of which she pre-
erved herself, as she had studied tax
dermy. The choicer ones she sent to
to be mounted. she mad
collection which is said to be the best /
n this section. For many years she
,ad fed hundreds of birds near her !
ZONE. Very often during her school /
SESSIONS she and her pupils would spend
day exploring the woods and hills,
developing her work in nature study.
In botany, Mrs. Horton specialized
IN ferns and had gathered complete .
Collection of every variety known IN
his state. During the summer of 1900
he discovered in this county new va
ietv Of the ebony spleenwort, when
vas wholly unknown at that time, and
,os been found in but few states since
hen. 1t was named Asplenium Eb-
mimi Hortonae in her honor. This fern
With over 100 other varieties, is grow
no on the terraces near Mrs, Horton
ate home. and a duplicate collection
was presented to the University OF
Iermont in Burlington by Mrs. Horton
Mrs Horton was a member Of the
3rattleboro Woman S club, Bingham
hapter. 0. E. S., Dennis Rebekan
odGe. and the First Baptist church, OF
which she became a member when 10
ears of age, and until recently haa
zen teacher in it's Sunday school.
BESIDES her work in the above men
toned organizations she had contrlp'
fed many valuable and interesting ar
icles to various bird magazines
She is survived by her husband a
anohter. Lula Belle, wife of Haroi'
NTH her mother, Mrs. Sylvia Davis,
nd a brother. John A. Davis, all OF
his town The funeral, which was
argeIv attended, was held at her iate
ome Wednesday afternoon at 2
lock. Rev. Geo. B. Lawson, pastor VI
he First Baptist church, ASSISTED py
Pow T. M. Keneston, pastor OF the
,irst Congregational church, were inc
f. seating clergymen. Burial was IN
Prospect hill cemetery. Inc pesi
,ere DR.. E. L. Davis, Sprlngnelu'
lass. M. P. Davis, Dwight u. Horton
E Orange. Mass, and W. G. Horton.
,ho ont of town relatives present az
hn funeral were Mr.. and Mrs. u. U.
T IiU and Mrs. Haus of Orange
r To- Mr., and Mrs. Milo G. Horton
nd daughter Mildred OF Bristol, w.
Y r. Adkins of New Haven, oohn'
nd Edward Timson of Boston.
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