St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-07-29
RYEGATE.
The Late John Stark Cameron a Ma
tive of This TOWn-LOcals.

/
tive of This TOwn-LOcals.
John Stark Cameron, who died in
Woodstock, VT, July 81, was born
in this town March 2S, 1841, being
the youngest of the four children of
John and Jane (Gray) Cameron. He
was educated at the district school
and at McIndoes Academy and the
old Newbury Seminary. He was grad
uated from the Chandler scientific
department of Dartmouth College in
1868. While pursuing his education
he taught occasional terms of school
both in this town and Newbury and
the older ones testify to his success
as a teacher. At one term of school
in this town he had 65 scholars of
all ages, and so anxious was he to
give them all a chance that he
taught the higher grades in the eve
ming. In 1862 he enlisted in the
Rhode Island Cavalry, serving with
his college mates in the so-called
Dartmouth Squadron" Though this
was only a four months service it
was full of adventure. This troop
with some of the infantry were at
Harper's Ferry when it was sur
rounded by the Southern forces. The
infantry were captured and sent to |
SAAOCA SOANAAAOS Oul IAS cavalry OS-
capped by a wild night ride, capturing |
in their flight Gen. Longstreet's am
munition train. After graduating |
from college he entered the engineer
ing corps of the old Boston, Hartford |
& Erie railroad, which later became |
the New England road and is now
part of the New Haven system. In
1865 he went West and for the next
20 years was an active and construc-
tive force in the development of some
of the great transcontinental lines. He
was for two years locating and con-
structing engineer of the Chicago,
Burlington e Quincy railroad. In
1867 he was appointed chief engineer
of the Burlington & Cedar Rapids
railroad, completing the construction
of that line. He was for several years
secretary of the Board of Railroad
Commissioners of Iowa. Later he
became connected with the Union Pa
cific railroad where he not only SUI
perintended the construction of new
lines but arranged for the purchase
Of feeders to that great system. When
he left this road he held the respons- ,
ible position of assistant to the presi- ;
dent Charles Francis Adams of '
Boston. In 1890 he turned his at {
tention to the construction of street
railways, building at Salt Lake City s
One of the first electric lines in the \
United States This afterwards be- I
came the Salt Lake Rapid Transit
railroad and when he sold this prop I
erty in 1901, he was president and {
principal owner of the corporation. S
He retired from active business at
his time, taking up later his resi- {
lence in Washington, d. G. Since '
hat time he has been an extensive ]
but his love for Vermont
JAILED him back every year and his !
annual visits to his native town were
one of the most delightful memories s
Of his life. Mr.. Cameron married '
On Jan. 4, 1876, Sarah M. Palmer 1
Of Burlington, Ia, who died in 1881. {
Donald P, and Miss Sarah p Gamer |
On, and a sister, Mrs. Frank Will |
Jams of San Francisco. A memorial
service was held at the United Pres {
Dyterian church on Sunday after :
noon which was largely attended by ]
friends and relatives from the sur {
towns. The service was in |
charge of Rev. Donald Fraser, pastor I
Of the Congregational church at =
Wells River. He spoke most appre-
of Mr.. Cameron's long and |
useful life, and particularly of his
fondness for his native town. Two ,
solos were rendered by Mrs. Peach ,
Of Wells River. The ashes were de- {
posted in the cemetery near the
church with a brief burial service. ;
w. H. jeffrey of East Burke win
speak at the church Sunday at 1900 s
D o'clock on the subject of 1.-THE Bible {
in the Public Schools" At one ]
o'clock he will talk on the same sub
iect in the Harvey meeting house. s
There will be a social in the vestry j
Of the United Presbyterian church
Wednesday evening.
A meeting of the Ladies' Mission
airy society will be held in the church
parlors Thursday afternoon.
Rev. Walter Hartman of Barre
preached in the United Presbyterian