St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-06-26

The death of DR.. James D. Folsom, one'
of the towns oldest physicians, occurred
at his home on Cherry street late Wednes-
day night. He had been in failing health
for the past few years, and confined to
hishouse for number ofmonths. For the
past eight weeks he was unable to leave
his bed and his death was due to gen
eral breaking down of system that had
been active for 60 years in an arduous
and exacting profession.
DR.. Folsom was born in Wheelock July
8. 1928. When only few years old his
father moved to the Pope farm in Dan
vile, where the family lived for few
years, going from there to the old home
farm, now occupied by Charles Folsom
in Iyndonville. He was educated at
Lyndon Academy and was graduated
from the Dartmouth Medical College IN
1S49. Later he took a postgraduate at
Girard College in Philadelphia. He first
began practice in Guildhall, living there
about two years and moving from there
to Lancaster where he practiced about
10 years. In that town both DR.. and
Mrs. Folsom were greatly interested and
very helpful in musical circles, both being
members of the church choir of which DR..
Folsom was the leader. When the civil
war broke out he enlisted as surgeon IN
the 18th New Hampshire regiment, but
this regiment was never in active service
If was also in Lancaster that DR.. Gates
B. Billiard studied with him, and when
Dr.. Folsom came to St. Iohnsbury IN
1872 he was associated for a few yearsin
practice with DR.. Bullard. Sofor over 30
years DR.. Folsom has gone in and out IN
our homes, bringing good cheer into the
sick room by his genial presence and
health to his patients by his medical
skill. Like the other country doctors his
calls were often far from home, but he
obeved the summons and soon became
one of the best known and most success
full physicians in this section, He was
also active in the county and state medl-
cal societies and kept up in his PROBES
sion by constant reading and study.
He was married Jan. 6, 1850, at East
Burke to Miss Flora Newell who sur
wives him. Five children were born to
them, one son dying when only few
months old and Leila, wife of Edgar l..
Stanley of Brooklyn, dying few years
ago. The Others all live in St. ohns-
bury Irving, Nellie F., wife of Fred u
Bundy, and Flora F., wife OF DR.. Walter
|. Aldrich. He also leaves one brother
and one sister in Lyndonville, Charles
and Amanda Folsom.
The funeral was held at his late resi-
dence Saturday afternoon, Rev. Edward
T. Fairbanks officiating. Beautiiu
floral tributes were sent to the family, IN
Guiding pillow of roses and pinks iron
the St. Tohnsbury physicians, crescent
from Chamberlin Post, No. l, 9. A. H., o
which he was a member, and from many
friends friends here and elsewhere. ne
bearers were H. E. Folsom OF Lyndon
vile, Albert Stone of st. yohns6ury
Centre, Fred G. Bundy and Dr. W. J
Aldrich.
DR.. Folsom was also pension examiner
during the administrations of Presidents
HAYES, Garfield and Arthur, member 0
the White Mountain Medical Society
and one of the founders and first presi
dent of the St. Johnsbury Medical ant
Surgical Club. He was active IN tn
Masonic order, having been Master
North Star Lodge. F. "a. NJ OF Ian
caster and member of North Star Com
mandery, Knights Templar. He wa
also member of the Odd Fellows ira
ternity. In 1868 and ga he representa-
Lancaster in the legislature and was a
one time chairman of the Lancaste