Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-05-31
Tribute to George E. Plumbe.

With the death of George E. Plumbe,
Austin, lost one of her landmarks. In
1871 Mr.. Plumbe took up his residence
here, and since that time almost contin-
uously this has been his home. Last
weeks Austinite contained a sketch of
DR.. Plumbe's activities. 1t remains to
give some account of the funeral service
of last Friday afternoon, April 26, at
the First Presbyterian church. The
abundant and beautiful flowers gave the
casket setting prompted by respect
and love. Miss Adams at the organ
and Miss Freeman and Mrs. Ongawa
rendered appropriate music. The pastor
of the church of which Mr.. Pumbe has
been a member since 1884, conducted
the service.
The following notice of the death of
George E. Plumbe, and tributes to that
worthy character, appeared in the Chi
cago Commerce, weekly publication
issued by the Chicago Association of
Commerce:
early on Wednesday morning, April
"a, George Edward Plumbe, LII. D.,
librarian and statistician of the associa-
ton. died at the Garfield Park sani-
tarium. Mr.. Plumbe, stopping work on
April 6, went to the hospital for an OPP
GRAFTON made necessary by the con-
sequences of an injury received while
riding a bicycle a few years ago.
His age and the complications of his all
ment finally forbade his recovery. Mr..
Plumbe's residence was 238 North Park
avenue, Austin, whence his remains
were taken today to the First Presby
terian church of Austin for memorial
service, thence for interment to Forest
Home. The men who bore the veteran
to his rest were chosen from his bust
ness associates, namely, Edwin S. Con-
way and W. w. Buchanan of the civic
industrial committee, and w. R.
Humphrey, H. c. Barlow, Henry Stew
art and William Hudson Harper of the
association official staff.
1.-THE funeral services were conducted
by the Rev. Robert H. Beattie, pastor
of the First Presbyterian church of
Austin where Mr.. Plumbe in his later
years had come into spiritual assurances
which had illuminated his life. A sim
pie and fitting eulogy was pronounced
over the sleeper environed with the
many floral offerings of association and
other friends. Hymns which had been
the consolation of millions were sung,
namely, Crossing the Bar and Lead,
Kindly Light Then amid all the prom
ises of new life the dead was laid away
in Forest Home.
"Mr. Plumbe's death removes from a
class which might be called the elder
wise men of the city, a learned and care
full workman, a forceful and lovable
character. His knowledge was broad
and accurate. strengthened and enriched
as it had been not only in fields of work
above mentioned but also in his law
course at the University of Albany in
1868, his experience in the postal SER
vice between 1877 and 1880, in his con-
of the National Council of Commerce,
in his functions as Chicago secretary of
the Lakes to- the-Gulf Deep Waterway
association, and in extensive miscellane-
Gus literary and statistical work done
between 1901 and 1906.
Coming to the employment of the
association in 1906 his knowledge and
constructive skill as statistcian and
writer found opportunity in the various
publications on the industrial character
istics of Chicago put out by the civic
industrial committee, and latterly in the
collection of matter for the senior coun-
Gil as it takes up its study of the neces-
sites of Chicago as a city Intellectually
operating without its own charter
"Mr. Plumbe's last work before his
fatal illness was completion of the new
industrial handbook of Chicago about
to be issued by the civic-industrial COM
mittee, to which committee he had been
valued assistant. 1t will be book of
IA pages and the most informing work
yGl vi SIlNdSO DO OH lliOho II idl
fact
"Mr. Plumbe was married to Clara P.
Russell at Middlebury, VT, in 1868. He
is survived by his daughter, Jennie, a
skilled teacher of the deaf and dumb,
and by his adopted son, George. His
touch with college friendships was pre-
served through his distinguished connec-
ton with the graduates of Middlebury
college through his presidency of the
Chicago Alumni association.
"Mr. Plumbe leaves with his asso-
ciates the memory of a man of kind
ness, thoroughness, patient industry,
and courageous and independent
thought. Such men seek truth fear
lessly and as fearlessly proclaim it.