The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-05-01
ROBINSON MARKER
Tombstone OF vermont's Second Gov
ernor to be Replaced.

Tombstone OF vermont's Second Gov
ernor to be Replaced.
Editor of the Banner: About three
years ago several gentlemen In the
village became interested in having
the ruinous old tombstone Of Gov.
Moses Robinson In the old cemetery
at Bennington Center replaced with a
new one OF more durable stone The
old one was made from weathered
specimen of marble by. Watson
sculptor" In 1915. The marble was
shelly and full OF seams and In the
course Of time had faxed off in pieces
of some size and had dishtegratei 10
such an extent that In Il few years
the whole stone would have gradually
fallen In fragments to the ground.
The inscription was barely decipher.
able, and only word here and there
could be made OFT III the six-lne cpl
tarh. Ills seems 10 be utterly lost
for even after tie most diligeni search
a copy OF II CaIn0t &c found. PcrmIs
sion was obtained from the nearest
descendant of Governor Robinson to
remove the tombstone and replace II
with new one as near like the orig
inal in size and general appearance
as possible. The new one Is seven
feet long-20 inches being buried In
the ground--two feet and four inches
wide and four inches thick, and Is Of
the same dimensions as the old one.
except that II Is an. inch or more In
thickness. The lines bordering the
tombstone and the frame of semi
Greek pattern In which the inscription
is cut are the same as In the original,
but many Of the light scrolls, flower
work, curved lines and other designs
that gave an elaborate and rather fan
ciful expression to the whole were
obliterated In some places and so faint
In others on the crumbled face of the
stone that the whole design could not
be copied.
The work OF securing the money
necessary TO obtain the new monu-
ment was placed In the capable and
efficient hands OF Mr.. John V. ID. S.
Merrill. who announced I'm short
| time that prominent residents of Ben.
nington and other places had sub.
scribed enough 10 insure the success
Of the undertaking. Two of the ex.
Governors Of Vermont were among the
subscribers. The order for the new
stone was placed with c. NJ. Lambert
& Son, who produced a creditable du-
plicate. The monument was durably
set In cement yesterday. and the old
one was laid fiat over the old COVER
nor's grave where II will remain dur.
ing the summer that visitors may the
more easily compare the difference be.
tween the two monuments and TO see
the extent TO which the old one had
become a ruin.
The governor Is buried in the first
row of graves that skirts the side.
walk along Monument avenue and
the grave is In the very shadow Of the
Old First church. The inscription is
simple and reads:
Sacred to the memory of the Hon.
Moses Robinson, who died May 26th
1918, aged ~ years"
A roomy blank space Is left for the
epitaph II 1t should ever be found. The
grave is near that OF Landlord FAY
Of the old Catamount Tavern. OF Col
Samuel Robinson, of DR.. Jonas Fay
and of many other Revolutionary wor
thies.
A review of the life of Gov. Moses
Robinson would fill good sized vol
ume. Only the merest outline can b,
given here. From about 1882 to l79;
he was one of the central figures o.
Vermont and his name runs like ,
scarlet thread through the warp ant
wool of Bennington history. He wa.
a son of Capt Samuel Robinson, tn,
pioneer settler of the town, and Ii
early manhood rose 10 prominence
first showing the firm stuff of which
he was made when he was elected ;
member of the famous Council o
Safety.
Image tall figure in red cloak
the face clean shaver, dignitied ant
grave; on the legs black silk stock
ings with polished silver knee buck
les and around the neck voluminou
necktie. And withal the figure is
splendid specimen of the physica
man. The tones of his voice wer,
strong and earnest. The words wer,
spoken slowly as though every on,
was weighed before II was uttered
and this popularity was always note,
whether the speaker was moved {,
pleasantly or provoked to anger. Thi
is picture of Moses Robinson as h
commonly appeared on the bench o
in Congress near the close of the lStl
century. He was rich, his wealth be
ing estimated at $l50,000, which wa
considered large sum I'm those days
He first appeared In local affairs Il
1852 when he was elected Bennine
tons first town clerk. Then he wa
successfully elected town represen
tative, colonel of the militia, mem
! Der of the famous Council of Safety
Judge of the first Supreme court, gov
ernor and, finally. to Congress. II
died Of typhus fever, which had sprea
widely over the country Selling vic
tins by the thousand. He crossed tn
great divide on a beautiful May da
when all was blossom, fragrance an
song, but in the swift passing of tina
grim shadow that had swooped dow
, upon the town, every one felt In thi
death personal bereavement.
When such men as he die
Their places We may not well supply
: Though we among thousands try,
With vain endeavor."
II. G, Day.