Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-04-02
THE LATE GEORGE PARTRIDGE.
Sketch Of His Life Written by Him.
self Shortly Before His Death.


self Shortly Before His Death.
The following sketch of the late Mr..
Partridge was written by himself some
months before his death for publication
in this paper, to which it has been for
warded from San Francisco by his son, J..
K. Partridge. 1t will be read with pecu-
liar interest by the old friends and ac-
quaintances of his native town, for which
he ever cherished the affection of a loyal
son.
George Partridge, president of the
Pacific Coast association of Vermonters,
was carried to his last resting place in
beautiful Cypress Lawn cemetery, San
Francisco, on the 18th of March, passing
away on the 18th, peacefully, in his sleep,
of heart failure.
Mr.. Partridge was born in Randolph
Center, son of Oramel Partridge, in 1929.
When boy of sixteen, for diversion, he
made printing press, and all the appur-
tenances of printing Office, though he
had never seen one, and published the
Autumn Leaf and the Enterprise for fif-
teen months, probably the first boy pa
per in the United States. He was gradu-
ated at Amherst college in 1854 with the
degree of A. B., receiving later the degree
of A. M. He then spent three years in
Alabama teaching; then studied law in
Madison, Wis, and was admitted to the
bar of that state. Climatic reasons led
him South again, when he was principal
of Houston academy, in 1859 settling in
st. Louis as lawyer. During the war,
he was assistant provost marshal general
under General Fremont, having charge OF
thousands of nondescript prisoners in
Gratiot and Alton prisons and ranking
third in the department under Generals
Fremont, Schofield, Halleck, Rosecrans,
Curtis and Ketchum. As attorney of this
department, he probably administered
more oaths of allegiance than any other
officer in the United States.
After the war, he became interested in
the petroleum industry, sinking eight oil
wells in Kentucky, West Virginia and
Ohio. He was the first to introduce oil
on the railroads, being derided at first,
and the Vermont Central was the first
railway to try it. He was the pioneer
wholesale oil merchant in st. Louis,
where he remained until 1885, when he
removed to California for the health Of
his wife, and had been in the oil and bar
rel business till his death.
In 1860, he married A. Augusta
a Sunday school leader of national fame,
inaugurating that department at Chau-
tauqua the first two years, and being the
speaker there when General Grant was
present. During his Southern sojourn,
he was a regular correspondent of the
Springfield Republican, and was well
come contributor to oil and mining
journals. He was an early investor in
Leadville, COL. and in San Francisco ed
tied the oil and mining journal, "Pick
and Drill" for some years.
Mr.. Partridge came of distinguished
family, being cousin of Capt. Alden
Partridge, founder of Norwich UNIVERSE
ty, and first superintendent of West
Point, and a cousin Of the present Sena-
tor Dillingham; and in earlier days had
relatives. In San Francisco he was large
ly instrumental in securing chapter of
the Psi Epsilon fraternity for the Univer-
sity of California, of which chapter he
was the oldest member.
In politics always Republican, in reli
gion Presbyterian and a loyal son of
Vermont, cherishing memories of the
Green mountains which he longed to re-
visit, and keeping in touch with YER
mont's current events through the Her
aid and News, and the Vermonter.
He left four daughters, Jennie K. Par
fridge, Mrs. Grace Partridge Hays, Alice,
who married Senator Taylor of Hender-
son, Kentucky; and Nellie M. Partridge,
the others residing in San Francisco, 3142
Twenty-first street.