Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-09-13

but his health not affected to an
appreciable extent. on Saturday after
noon he went to the railroad station to
meet the school teacher for his district
and went to the schoolhouse to do some
repairing, which was the last work he
diu. While at the schoolhouse he be-
,-gsh to feel i'll and went home and called
DR.. A l. Miller of Bratteboro about 8
o'clock. After that he felt relieved, but
later became worse and DR.. Miller was
summoned again, but Mr.. Houghton died
before the doctor could reach the house.
Mr.. Houghton was born April 20, 1874,
in the ell part of the house in which he
died The ell at that time was the
main part He was of Revolutionary de-
scent and his ancestors lived in Putney.
His grandfather Henry Houghton, died
there and his father, Don a. Houghton,
moved from Putney to the house near
the old slate quarry in the spring of
1874, remaining there until his death
in May, 1884 Mr. Houghton was the
Oldest of seven children and the only
son of Don a. and Emily (Miller) Hough-
ton. He attended the Dummerston
schools and Deertield academy and in
his younger days was a carpenter and
builder, acquiring a competent knowl-
edge of the trade. He built the Con-
gregational parsonage in this town and
did carpentry work for many of the
farmers and other citizens of the town.
In 1870 he built what has since been the
main part of the Houghton homestead.
On May 2l 1870, Mr.. Houghton mar
ried Ella L. Coombs, daughter of Ben
jamin 7. and Eliza (Jefts) Coombs of
Townshend, who had been employed in
the family of John F. Stearns in Dunn
mersfon. They lived on the home farm
seven years and then went to Brattle-
boro and carried on the Eli Sargent
place, where George w. Walker now
lives. Then they conducted a farm in
Vernon going from there to the Rich
ardson farm on the old Guilford road
in Brattleboro, and six months later re-
turned to the home place, after being
away four years. That was 81 years
ago. For some time after that Mr..
Houghton drove to Bratteboro daily and
worked as a carpenter and builder. At
the time of his death he owned the
home farm, which consists of over 100
acres.
Mr.. Houghtons sisters were Emma,
who married Henry Frost of Newfane
and died in Springfield. Mass, last jan
uary; Miss Ada Houghton, who died in
Brattleboro; Bertha, deceased, who mar
ried Fred c. Clark of Brattleboro; Miss
Ella Houghton, who in recent years has
lived in Brattleboro but for the past
year had lived with her brother: Anna
widow of Fred NJ. Waite of Bra ttleboro,
and Jennie, deceased who married Fran
els w. Nichols of that town.
Three children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Houghton, all of whom, with their
mother, survive. They are Luther, who
has position in F. c. Clark's grocery
store in Brattleboro George, a builder
and contractor in Springfield, Mass, and
Don A., photographer in Norwich,
Conn.
At the time of his death Mr.. Hough-
ton was chairman Of the board of school
directors, position which he previously
held, also first auditor and first constable
In the latter capacity he presided at the
freeman's meeting last week Formerly
he was chairman of the board of select
men, chairman of the board of listers
and held various minor offices. He was
thoroughly competent to fill the various
positions of responsibility to which he
was elected and was one of the most
efficient school directors the town ever
had, giving general satisfaction. He was
an excellent workman, and had a thor
cugh knowledge of how to handle tools
and was always willing to give his
neighbors the benefit of that knowledge
He was n devoted husband and father,
possessed a kind and sympa thetic ma
ture and was always soicitous for the
, welfare of those who were sick or in
trouble. He was well informed and had