St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-11-27
VERMONT NEWS.
death Of FaithfnI official.

George T., Johnson, Tor many years
clerk of the United States courts for the
district Of Vermont, died at his home in
burlington, Wednesday evening after a
long period of ill-health, aged 65 years.
He was born in Huntington January
18th, 1912, and spent the early years of
his life there. In March 1868, he was
appointed postmaster at Huntington
and from that time until 1891 he held
also the offices of town clerk and
treasurer. He then removed to Bur
lington where he engaged for short
time in clerical work, after which he re-
ceived the appointment of clerk in the
revenue office. In 1872 Mr.. Johnson
was appointed deputy clerk OF the United
States circuit and district courts, hold
ing the Office until 1885, when he was
promoted to the position of clerk, which
he held for % years, his resignation be-
cause of i'll health taking effect Septem-
Der /, last He was appointed United
States commissioner in 1880, and held
the office at the time of his death.
Mr.. Johnson was member OF the
Masonic fraternity, member and one
of the founders of the Algonquin club,
and had been its secretary since its
organization. For Is years he was secre-
tary for the Ethan Allen Engine com
pany from which the Ethan Allen club
was formed. He took keen and active
interest in religious affairs, being clerk
and treasurer of the Unitarian church for
many years. On January IS, 1864, Mr..
Johnson married Martha Torrey Clark
of Pawlet, who, aside from distant rela-
tives, is the only near survivor.
Burglars Get Currency.
A band of burglars, well-equipped with
explosives and safe breaking implements,
entered the Main Central station at
Beecher Falls some time during Friday
night, dynamited two safes and escaped
with more than $1,000 in cash, and
without leaving any clew to their
whereabouts or the direction in which
they fed 1t is believed however. they
crossed the Canadian boundary. One
of the safes blown open was the property
of the railroad and contained money re-
ceived from the sale of tickets and from
freight receipts. The other safe belonged
to the American express company. The
doors had been blown off in a skillful
manner, and the work had been per-
formed so well that no one in the
neighborhood had been aroused by the
defamation, although there must have
been two separate explosions. The
interior of the station was badly wrecked
by the force of the explosions. In
another part of the station was large
safe belonging to the U. S. government
containing customs receipts, Beecher
Falls being port of entry. The burg
lars ev IDENTIFY overlooked this safe or
were frightened away before they had
time to open it, as apparently no
attempt had been made to force it.
Miss Benson Rural Carrier.
Miss Anna Benson of Rockingham has
just completed her Is months as rural
delivery mail carrier without being
absent except for the annual vaca-
ton single day. She lives four miles
from the office in Bellows Falls, over
which she drives every morning and
night, besides driving 251a miles over her
trip, making 33 miles day. She is an
excellent reinsman and keeps three good
horses, which she uses to make the trips
necessary, as one horse would soon wear
out. Miss Benson is graduate of the
Bellows Falls high school in the class OF
'O3. She is also graduate of a normal
school in Northampton, Mass. She
taught school since graduating until a
little more than year ago, when she
was appointed rural carrier, and has
performed the duty so faithfully since
that the neighbors set their clocks by her
because she is so punctual. She usually
makes the trip in five hours.
Life Insurance Men Meet.
The annual meeting and banquet OF
the Vermont Association of Life Under
writers was held at Rutland last week.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year: President, S. w.
Hindes of Burlington first vice presi-
dent, l., S. Norton of Bennington; second
vice president w. E. Aver of Windsor;
secretary, +. L. North OF Burlington;
treasurer, s S. Ballard of Burlington;
executive committee. 6. F. North of
Burlington,S. L. Ketchum and H. c.
Farrar of Eutland About 80 delegates
attended this meeting. 1t was decided
to renew connections with the National
Association of Life Underwriters after
some discussion and addresses upon the
subject.
Old Stage Driver Dead.
Lewis S! Higgins, aged 80 years, one
of the last of the old time stage drivers
in Vermont, died at Memorial hospital,
Brattleboro, Wednesday. Mr.. Higgins
was born in Newfane and lived in New
fame, Brookline, and Townshend, going
to Brattleboro 60 years ago. He drove
stage between Bellows Falls and Will
ming1on, also from Brattleboro to Keene,
N. H and Greenfield, Mass, before the
daysof railroading, in that section. He
was best known to the younger genera
tomas a liveryman, which business he
soldfve years ago. Formerly he played
thekiolin and prompted at dances for
mills around. He was twice married.
Appointments by the Governor.
Gov. Fletcher D. Proctor has reap
pointed Principal John l.. Alger of Yer
mont Academy, Saxton's River, as
MEMBER of the board of normal school
commissioners for the full term of three
Years beginning December /. Mr.. Alger
was originally appointed to fill out the
unkpired term Of Robert H. Ford Of st.
Adams, who resigned.
Governor Proctor has also reappointed
Ms. Elizabeth H. Winslow of Brandon,
all member of the board of library COM
nhssioners for the full term OF five years,
kginning December /.
Ayeteran Printer.