The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-27
FORMER GOVERNOR
PROCTOR DIED
EARLY TODAY
Was One OF vermOnts Foremost
Citizens
WAS ILL FOR TWO MONTHS
Vermont Marble Company Under His
Management Was Largest Manu-
featuring Enterprise in State

Proctor, Sept 27-Ex-Governor
Fletcher d. Proctor passed away at
his home here at s o'clock this morn
, ing. He had been i'll of endocarditis,
an affection of the heart caused by
overwork since the middle OF July and
for some weeks there has been not
the slightest prospect that he would
recover.
Fletcher Dutton Proctor was the
son of the late Senator Redfeld
Proctor and Emily j. (Dutton) Proc
tor and was born in Cavendish No
vember Z, 1860. He was educated at
the Rutland military institute, the
Middlebury high school, Middlebury
college and Amherst college, gradua-
ting from the latter institution in
1882. He learned the trade OF ma
chinist in the shops of the Vermont
marble company, progressed through
different positions with the company
and in 1885 became superintendent.
In 1889 he was elected president of
the company and held that position
at the time of his death.
Since he became president of the
company the business of the corpora
ton has been expanded by the pur-
chase of other marble properties in
Rutland and Addison counties until at
the present time 1t is by far the lar
gest single enterprise In the state,
employing a large number OF men
with branch Offices in several of the
large cities.
He became identified with the nat
ional guard in 1884, resigning when
first lieutenant of Company A of Rut-
land Later he held the position Of
inspector of rifle practice on the staff
of Colonel Greenleaf. In 1883 he
was elected the first permanent col
onel OF the Vermont division of the
Sons of Veterans and the organiza-
ton showed a remarkable growth I'M
der his direction.
Mr.. Proctor served numerous terms
as selectman both In the towns of
Proctor and Rutland In 1888 he was
appointed secretary OF civil and
military affairs by Governor Ebenezer
| ]. Ormsbee OF Brandon. He repres-
ented the town of Proctor in the leg
islatures OF 1890, 1900 and 1904. He
was senator from Rutland county in
1892 and presided over the house as
speaker in 1900.
He was elected governor in 1906
and gave the state one of the most
thorough business administrations in
its history.
Mr.. Proctor was married In May,
1886 and is survived by a widow who
was Minnie f. Robinson, daughter OF
Asher c. and Erminie Robinson Of
Underhill and son, Mortimer, and
a daughter. Emily.
The death of Former Governor
Proctor will be recognized by all
classes of men In Vermont as the
greatest calamity of its kind that
could have befallen the state. His
business and political career had been
a remarkable one, but in the world of
affairs he had. at the age OF so, only
begun upon that period Of life in
which men Of extraordinary ability
are at their best He had inherited
from a New England ancestry those
sturdy characteristics which have
been the source not only of the ma
terial progress OF the state and ma
ton but which have been the most
important foundation OF whatever Am
orleans as a people have accomplish
ed in the direction OF civic liberty and
progress.
He had been honored by the people
OF the state and in turn, through his
conscientious administration OF every
trust placed in his hands, had placed
the commonwealth largely In his debt
This obligation was so generally rec
ognized as was likewise his fitness
Tor the position that there was n
common understanding that he should
succeed United States Senator Page
when the present junior member
from Vermont In the upper house OF
congress should see tit to retire from
public life.
Governor Proctor did not make his
way into public favor and recognition
without n struggle, but his career as
governor was so able and so eminent.
ly fair to all, regardless OF political
affiliations, that Il can be stated with
out the slightest risk OF contradiction
that no public man OF the present gen.
Grafton In Vermont was more gener-
ally liked or more highly respected
While II was In his political life
that Governor Proctor came in clos
est touch with the people OF Vermont
and while his record as governor Will
make lasting impression, II was
really as the head OF great business
institution that he best demonstrated
his strength. Under his direction the
Vermont marble company, establish.
cd by his father. the late Senator Red
field Proctor has become the greatest
marble quarrying and manufacturing
establishment In the world. From
small beginnings Il had been added
to and enlarged until 1t handled half
the marble output OF the world.
Governor proctor's personal char
acteristlcs are perhaps best shown
by the fact that he was idolized by
every employe Of the great company
of which he was the head. These In.
olude men OF score Of races, of
nany churches and representing all
parties and factions, yet they were
TO man, loyal friends of Fletcher
Proctor
Although a lifelong Republican and
marty leader In many contests, he
uas ai,vava iuat "A highly esteemed