The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-03
Joseph D. Roadway.

Joseph DtUlI htuNd9s o. ultu AZ wv
Memorial hospital about o'clock Wednes
day evening following an operation FOL
strangllated hernia. He suffered the at
tack during the day and was taken to the
hospital about six o'clock. The operation
had been performed and arrangements were
being made to remove him to another room
when he suddenly expired. Mr. Redway
was born on west hill in Putney May %
1916, and was son of Joseph ThurbeI
and Chloe (WilsonD Roadway. At the age
of three years he was allowed to visit the
district school and his education may be
said to have begun at that early date in
his life as he continued TO attend school
as a visitor and pupil until his studies
We're completed in early manhood. In the
district where he attended school there
were 90 pupils while today but one family
is TO be found in a territory that was once
one of the most populous of any in this
part of the county.
With his parents he went to Newfane
to live when a young man and there
became expert in buying cattle and other
livestock, inheriting the integrity and busi-
ness acumen of his father who was a
drover. For many years he operated a
meat cart through the towns surrounding
Newfane and while thus engaged became
connected with the Brattleboro Retreat
as the purchasing agent, and for 50 years
bought all the beef, mutton and poultry
that was used at the Retreat. His period
of employment in this capacity extended
through the administrations of DR.. w. H.
Rockwell and DR.. Joseph Draper and into
that of DR.. 5. +. Lawton, the present SUI
perintendent. 1t was with considerable
pride that Mr.. Roadway referred to his
long connection with that institution du-
ring which he never had any contract or
agreement under which he should make
purchases for the institution. He was told
at the outset of his employment that he
would be expected to buy good meat and
pay fair prices That was all of the in
structions he ever received and each sue
ceeding superintendent never questioned
his methods, the quality of the products
he bought or the prices he paid
He moved to Brattleboro in 1869 and
bought the farm on the West river road
which is still known as the Roadway farm
and which he sold when he moved into this
village in 1906 and bought the Colonel
Dunton house at II Grove street wnere
he has made his home since. The last few
years of his life had been those of a retired
farmer and he spent them quietly and
happily with his wife, Though he never
held any public Office during his long res
idence in this town he held several posi-
tions of trust in Newfane and as one of
the selectmen of that town in 1863 was
largely Instrumental in securing the quota
of men for that town and escorting thenf
TO Windsor to be enlisted in the J1ion
cause during the civil war; For many
years he was strong in INSTRUMENTATION of
secret societies and dofing the anti Masonic
period in the history of Vermont many
times ralRed his voice against that fra
terpi'y, However. later he became mem
bel of Protective grange and for number
OF years took an active part in the work
of that order. Though he was not men,
Der of any church he attended the Con
gregational church at Newfane in his early
manhood and upon coming to Bratteboro
was an attendant at the Centre church.
He was always found ready to contribute
to the support of the work of the church
and it has been said that many taIter,
ing contributor had been induced to aid
by the earnest and sincere solicitation of
Mr.. Roadway
Mr.. Redway was married three times
His first wife. whom he married in the
early SOS and who died Aug. 2S. 1858
was Rosetta Goodnow of Nottingham For
a short time they lived in that town and
two daughters were born to them. Sarah
j., who married Clarence D. Whitman and
lives with her husband in Fishers Island
N. Y, and Hattie NJ, who married Willis
j. Ray of Dummerston and died on the
first anniversary of her wedding His