The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-01-04

one might disagree with him there
would never be the slightest doubt
about his sincerity of purpose. Inc
speaker then referred to the great gen
erosity of the dead man and the vast
amount of good that he had done al
WAYS without thought of reward. he
spoke of his modesty, his Kindly
interest in all men and his charitable
manner of speaking about everybody
closing with the statement that his was
life after which anyone might Wen
pattern. 80
Mr. Newton s long acquaintance with
Mr.. Merrifield made it possible for nm
to sneak with more than usual feeling,
and toward the end of his remarks the
sneaker g emotion visibly affected him
as it did everybody in the church, The
body was placed at rest in the village
cemetery, the bearers being Charles
Stedman, George Dickinson, &. D. La
zelle, Porter Thayer, Charles Hovey
and Allie Freyenhagen. Among those
who attended the service were Thomas
C. Cheney of Morrisville, speaker OF
the house at the recent legislative SEES
sion. Fred Hamilton of Salisbury, clerk
of the house, Judge J. E. Weeks of Mid
dlebury, Judge f. B. Pier of Rawson'
vile. Judge ]. L. Martin, Judge Il. Il.
Waterman, Judge E. w. Gibson, Judge
A. +. Schwenk, Attorney General Z. T.
Fits. Attorneys, F. d. E. Stowe, X. Z.
Bacon and A. p. Carpenter, o. Il.
French and s. A. Daniels, all of Brattle-
boro.
John Hastings Merrifeld was born
in Newfane, June u, 1917, and was
son of the late John A., and Louisa
(WilHams) Merrifeld His early edu-
cation was received in the public school
of his native town and in the Spring
field Wesleyan academy. During his
youth he worked on the farm of his
father and later conducted it. he be-
gan his business career few years
later by purchasing general merchan'
disc store in Williamsville conducting
it until 1881. The following year he
went to Grand Forks, North Dakota
to act as western agent for the Ver-
mont Loan & Trust company and held
that position for four years. He then
severed his connection with the com
pany and returned to Williamsvillf
where he had lived ever since. Soon
after his return he was made station
agent for the Brattleboro & Whitehall
railroad company at Willlamsvllle am
held that position until 1897 when he
was appointed clerk of Windham coun
ty, an office which he held at the time
of his death.
In 1874 and 1876 Mr.. Mortified act
ed as engrossing clerk of the Vermont
legislature and in the following elect
ion, which came in 1878, he was chosen
representative from the town of New,
fame He proved himself an able leg
islator and in 1880 was reelected H'
was second assistant clerk of the house
of representatives in 1882 and 1888
first assistant clerk in 1890 and clerl
in 1892, serving in the last named ca
pacity for two terms. In 1896 he wa
chosen senator from Windham county
In 1902 Mr.. Merrifeld was elected
representative from Newfane for thu
third time and was chosen speaker o.
the house. His work in that capacit,
was 50 noteworthy that he receive,
from his associates che sobriquet o
"Honest John" Again in 1904 Nh
Merrifeld went to Montpelier as. rep
resentative from Newfane and for tn
second time was chosen speaker. Hi
careful and painstaking work agail
won recognition throughout the state
and in the early part of the campaign
of the past year his name was mem
toned for the Office of lieutenant gov
ernor In his characteristic way MI
Merrifeld suppressed any organized
movement in his behalf, but the vol