Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-16

ed in his own town, in which he took
great pride and whose welfare he had
always at heart.
William Henry Dubois was born in
Randolph, March "a. 1885, He received
an academic education in his native
town and while engaged in his studies
he worked more or less in his brothers
store and was afterward employed as a
clerk for q year in another store in the
village In 1862 he procured a situation
in a store in Randolph. Mass, and
from there when he was but IS years
old he went to Boston and entered the
wholesale boot and shoe store OF his
uncle, Wales Tucker, as bookkeeper. In
1856 he was admitted as a partner into
the firm of James Tucker & Co., OF Bos-
ton His health becoming impaired he
came to Vermont and remained until
1867 when he went to New York city and
became a partner in the shoe firm Of
Dubois, Magovern & Co., on Broad
way.
In 1872 he retired from active mercan-
tile life and occupied the next two years
in building a residence in this village.
where he had ever since resided and
actively interested himself In local i'm
provelnent and educational matters.
He was largely instrumental in esta-
blishing the Randolph graded school.
After its establishment has was on the
board Of management for many years
and was treasurer OF the district for
30 years. He was also treasurer OF the
village of Randolph from Its incorpora-
ton in 1876 until the time of his last Ill
ness
I'D to 1875 the town of Randolph had
never had any organized banking nstitu
ton and seeing the great need of banking
facilities he procured a charter and or
ganized the Randolph National bank May
3. 1875 He was chosen president of the
bank at it's commencement and held the
office continuously until the time of his
death He had also been for many years
an active member Of tho board of water
commissioners.
In politics he was always firm republic
can In 1876 he was elected a member Of
the general assembly from Randolph. In
that Legislature he served on the Commit
tee on banks and education and on the
toint special committee on State expenses
The same years he was appointed inspec-
tor of finance by Governor Horace Fair
banks and reappointed by Governor Red
field Proctor In 1873 and again by Cover
nor Roswell Farnham in 1880, holding the
office for six years, when he was elected
| State treasurer in 1882. which ONCE he
| held continuously until 1880,
Mr.. Dubois was the first State officer
| to recommend to the Legislature a direct
| tax on corporations IN Vermont. In his
report as inspector of finance to the Leg
!slature of 1878 he recommended that a
tax of one half OF one per cent. be levied
upon deposits in savings banks. Governor
Proctor In his message to the same I-egis-
lature, commended his suggestion and
such a law was passed, This manner OF
taxation has by laws since enacted, en-
larged the number and kind of corpora
tons taxed, become the settled policy OF
the State.
In 1892 he was elected senator from
Orange county serving as chairman OF
the committee on finance and on Joint
standing committee on state and court
expenses. and a member OF the railroad
committee and several special committees
Governor Fuller appointed him inspector
of finance In 1892 and he served two years
Since 1894 he had attended to the
ordinary pursuits OF his rife, attending tc
his duties at the Randolph National bank
and doing many works of trust In his
capacity as administrator of estates,
He married January /, 1862. Anne
Eliza Gilbert who died May 81, 1857. Nine
children, four of whom died in infancy
constitute the issue Of their union. Mr.
Dubois was again married June g. 1883 &c
Alkaline Lucy Moulton, who survives him
He Is also survived by five children, Miss
Mary S. Dubois. an assistant teacher If
the Randolph high school, Charles G., o.
Chicago, with the Western Electric com
pany, Mrs Homer Bell and Miss Anne l.
Dubois of Randolph, and John Henry
Dubois, who Is in the insurance bushes:
| in this place.