St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-03-23
RECENT DEATHS.
willard

his WnOlS community was greatly
shocked and saddened to hear this news
Wednesday morning. as no one was held
in greater esteem and affection, whether
the friendship was an intimate one or
only a passing acquaintance. Some of
her friends knew that she had not enjoy
ed her usual good health the past winter
but no one anticipated her sudden death.
Agnes Fairbanks was the second of the
three daughters of Gov. Horace and
Mary E. Fairbanks and was born in ST.
Johnsbury, Aug. ~, 1860. The founda-
tions of liberal education were laid in
small private school so well taught by
Mrs. James K. Colby, wife of the first
principal of the Academy. She was
graduated from the Academy in the
famous class of '78, probably the class
having the highest average rank for
scholarship that ever graduated from
that institution. Her education was
completed by course in private school
in Boston, followed bv year in Paris
where she was in the home of a former
resident of this town.
On Sept. 10, 1883, she married Ashton
r. Willard of Montpelier, son of the late
Congressman Charles w. Willard. Since
their marriage they have lived in Bos-
ton, except during protracted absences
in Europe, and for the past few years
Pinehurst, where they have been most
cordially welcomed by a host of their
St. Johnsbury friends. Besides her hus-
band she leaves ore child, Theodore. in
her thirteenth year. Another daughter,
Isabel Fairbanks, died in infancy in
1894.
The funeral was held at Pinehurst,
Thursday afternoon A beautiful tribute
in which scriptural and poetic quota
lions were combined was paid by her.
cousin, Rev Edward T. Fairbanks, and
the prayer was offered. by her pastor,
Rev. George w. c. Hill. The interment
was in Mt. Pleasant cemetery, the bear
ers being Rev. Edward T. Fairbanks,
Arthur F. Stone, DIR. Arthur Fairbanks
of Boston, Joseph Fairbanks, Frank H.
Brooks and Chauncey A. Adams of 1ras-
burg.
Rarely, if ever, has this town mourned
the loss of a resident of another state
whose life was so inseparably connected
with its interests and institutions. Join
ing the North Congrega tional church in
1872 her love for the church was unfail-
ing and she was an eager sharer in the
support of its benevolent work. AS a
member of the board of trustees of the
Athenaeum, founded by her father, she
gave unstintingly of her time and her
money to this institution. She thus be-
came deeply interested in the wider
work of our libraries and only last sum-
ner attended the great gathering of the
American Library Association at Bret
ton Woods that she might be of still
greater usefulness to the library which
was soenear her heart. But her interest
in our institutions was not confined to
the Athenaeum for, it will be recalled
she gave the money to buy the slightly
lot on which Brightlook Hospital is
located, and she was always ready and
willing to contribute to any institution
or cause that would help the social up
lift in the town she loved so we'll
She was the flower of distinguished
family, inheriting the fine traits of char
acter that made her father and mother
so beloved by all, and the loss to this
community is irreparable. Those who
have shared her unbounded hospitality
in her Boston or St. Johnsbury home re-
call with keen pleasure her queenly and
gracious presence as hostess, while her
wide culture made her brilliant CONVEX
sationalist in any circle. To generous
nature was added a Sweetness of char
acter, combined with great strength and
depth, giving her a poise that was the
admiration Of ALL Possessed of wide
acquaintance there are many who will
treasure most precious memories of her
friendship-a friendship that was as
genuine as it was pure
Mrs. John Smith.
There died at Brightlook Hospital, ST.
Johnsbury, Monday evening, March IA,
a woman of sturdy Scotch descent, a
woman of character, that kind of
the affairs of our state, and helped to
make Vermont what it is today, an
honor to our nation.
Mrs. Abby Henderson Stuart Smith
was born in West Barnet in 1913, in the
ancestral home which has been in the
Stuart name for over a century, and there
she was taken i'll while called to attend
her brother Williams funeral. On the
following Friday she was taken to
Brightlook Hospital where everything
possible was done to relieve her suffer
ings. Death came after an illness of
only weeks duration.
In 1891 she. became the wife of
John Smith, a prosperous and influential
business man of Newburv, and for nearly
20 years was his faithful and helpful wife
A woman who identified herself with the
interests of her adopted town. Faith
fulness snd helpfulness are the two words
which especially come to mind if we must
try to put into formal words the qualities
which predominated her character. It
was part of her nature unostentatiously
to try to do what was right She
exceI1ed in her faithfulness this law of
duty as she felt its claims She was
faithful in her work, faithful to her
friends, faithful to herself and her ideals
She pursued her course with such quiet
ness, that she won for herself circle of
friends such as is one of the richest
possessions which a human soul can
have.
Her funeral took place Wednesday at
the Congregational church, Newbury,
and was largely attended. Rev. Charles
H. Shank of1ciated. The interment
was at West Newbury. She leaves a
husband, one sister and a brother,
George Stuart of St. Johnsbury
Batche1der.
Mrs. D. w. Batchelder, a former
resident of this place died at the home of