The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-09-21
Stephen r. Colby Fatally
Stricken While on Way to
Train This Morning
WAS FOUND DYING
ON POSTOFFICE STEPS
For Nearly 80 Years He
Had Been Conductor on
Barre Branch

Stephen R. Colby, the veteran con-
ductor on the Barre branch of the Cen
trail Vermont railroad, died suddenly at
! his home on Summer street in Mont
pelier where he had been taken imme-
diately on being found dying on the
postotiice steps at Montpelier at an
early hour this morning, he having been
on the way to the Central Vermont sta
/ tion to assume his duties for the day.
He breathed but few times after being
taken to his home
| He was discovered on the postoffice
steps by Officer Connolly of the Mont
peler police force. who heard man
gasping and rushed to investigate. At
once DIR. w. R. Harkness was summoned,
and Officer McAvoy was sent for a cab
to take the dying man home. The end
came at about o'clock about half an
hour after Mr.. Colby was found. Heart
trouble, aggravated by acute indigestion,
was given as the cause of death. Re-
Gently he had not been in the best of
health and only last week he experienced
dizzy spell. Last evening he ate quite
heartily, the food including some corn.
This morning at O'Clock he was called
by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Arthur
Colby, so that he could begin his days
duties on the Barre branch train. 1t
is thought that he might have hurried
somewhat in order to get to the station
on time, thus putting an additional
strain on his heart.
Mr.. Colby was born in Berlin on Oeto-
ber l ls4S, and thus was just a few
days short of 66 years of age. He was
the son of Levi and Mary Colby His
early life was spent in the town of
Berlin and later he entered Barre acad-
emy. He was scarcely more than a mere
boy when he enlisted in the Union army,
becoming member of the Sth Vermont
regiment On the close of his services
with the army, he went to railroading
on the Wabash railroad, having employ
ment in Missouri.
Nearly 40 years ago he returned to
Vermont and began work as brakeman
on the Central Vermont railroad, later
becoming a conductor on the Montpelier
& Wells River railroad. Little short of
80 years ago, he returned to the Central
Vermont as conductor ON the Barre
branch of that system, and with it he
had been employed ever, since, being
perhaps the CentraFs oldest conductor in
point of years of service "Steve" Colby,
as he was known to the patrons of the
road, almost grew up with the Barre
branch, having entered its service not
many years after the road was first
operated.
While employed on the Montpelier &
Wells River r. r., he was married to
Miss Nora Clark of Marshield, who died
in 1905 of heart trouble. Two sons sur
vive, Arthur L. and X. Raymond Colby,
both of Montpelier; and also grand
daughter, Madelyn.
MIR. Colby was a 32d degree Mason
and was past officer in all the lodges
except the council. He had frequently
represented these lodges in state con-
yentions and also at national conven-
tions. He also belonged TO the Eastern
Star. as we'll as Brooks G. A. r. post
of Montpelier.
During his long career as a railroad
man, Conductor Colby went through sew
era wrecks, his most recent being on the
branch, when part of the
train plunged down the embankment
near the Barre transfer. In that wreck
he broke one leg, the same member which
he had broken at Richmond many
years ago.
The funeral arrangements have not
been concluded, but it is probable that
the funeral will be held at the Church
Of the Messiah in Montpelier Wednesday
afternoon at O'Clock.