Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-03-03
DEATH OF JOSEPH D. REDWAY.
Supplied Retreat with Beef Many Years
Former Commission Merchant.

Joseph Denzil Roadway, 81, of Grove
street died in the Brattleboro Memorial
hospital Wednesday night, failing to re-
cover consciousness after undergoing an
operation for strangulated hernia. Mr.
Roadway was taken i'll Tuesday night with
a recurrence of a trouble which had
bothered him at times, and a physician
was called the following day. The case
demanded immediate attention, and Mr.
Roadway was taken to the hospital. He
was a man of large physique, but on sew
eral occasions he had shown indications
of heart weakness. In his active bust
ness life he was widely known in this
section of the country, and in his death
Brattleboro has lost a citizen who was
the embodiment of honest integrity.
Mr.. Redway was born in Putney, in
that part of the town known as West
hill, May 25, 1926, and was one of five
children of Joseph Thurber and Chloe
(Wilson) Roadway. The only survivor is
a brother, Frank A, who lives on a farm
near the Brooklne bridge in Newfane.
Another brother Edwin, died in Will
mngton a few years ago. There were
two sister, Minerva, wife of l.. d. Reyes
of Putney, and Laura, wife of Scion
Fisher of Washington, d. c. During his
young manhood Mr.. Roadway was in the
commission business, dealing in farmers
produce in Putney and in Bocston. At
one time he was an attendant at the
Brattleboro Retreat, but his connection
with that institution was principally as
buyer of beef for the food supply
After his return from Boston DR..
Rockwell the superintendent, engaged
him to buy beef, and as his father had
been a drover Mr. Roadway was well
equipped for the task. DR.. Rockwell re-
lied wholly upon his reputation for square
dealing, never requiring him to work UNI
der contract and never questioning his
IT. 1,
under DR.. Draper and later under DR..
Lawton, the present superintendent, his
engagement covering a period of about
40 years.
Previous to 1870 Mr.. Roadway lived in
Newfane, his home being situated at the
| head of Newfane street. For a time he
ran a meat cart to Townshend each
week In 1869, before the freshet of that
year. he bought the Longmeadow farm
| on the river road to West Dummerston,
| moving there in the spring of 1870. For
many years his work of supplying the
| Retreat with beef was conducted on that
| farm Longmeadow farm contains 100
acres and extends along West river three
| fourths of a mile, the lower end being
| about three miles northwest of this viii
! lage. When Mr.. Redway bought the
| farm 40 acres were covered with small
| trees which were little more than UNI
| dergrowth 1t was sold four years ago
| on account Ol lne the WOoulttllu
| having become a fine forest of pine and
| hemlock. with some oak and other hard
wood. The sale included two sets OF
| buildings, one set being owned by Mr..
and Mrs. Clarence d. Whitman. now OF
Fishers Island. N. Y Mr. Whitman, Mr.,
| Redways son-in-law, assisted him from
1877 up to the time he retired and then
carried on the place until 1901. Several
years ago "A fire destroyed the main barn
with large number of hogs.
In April, 1907, the farm was sold and
Mr.. and Mrs. Redway came to Brattle-
boro to live in the Mrs. Addison Brown
house on Grove street which Mrs Red
way bought. Last year, when Haley's
comet was visible, Mr.. Redway recalled
| the fact that he saw the comet when he
was a boy of nine years. He also re-
called the delegation who went from Put
ney to Stratton mountain in 1910, to hear
| Daniel Webster speak In the William
Henry Harrison "hard cider" campaign
While In Newfane Mr.. Roadway served or
the board of selectmen, but he was not
a seeker after office and was not mem
Der of any organization, although at one
time he Joined Protective Grange, He
was a member of the Congregational par