The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-14
J. w. MELENDY DIES
SUDDENLY IN HOME
South Londonderry Man Stricken with
Apoplexy-Had Held Many Posi-
tions of Responsibility.

Jonathan Washburn Melendy, 60, dep |
uty sheriff, undertaken, one of the pro-
prietors of the Melendy Telephone |
Co, which operates 600 instruments, for |
mer senator, former town representative |
and man who had been especially promi- |
nent in the upbuilding of his home village, |
South Londonderry, died suddenly in his
home Saturday night at 100 O'Clock of
apoplexy. Mr.. Melendy retired in his
usual health, but awakened at IL o'clock.
Ten minutes later he complained of diff
Guilty in breathing and before anything
could be done for him he had expired.
Mr. Melendy was born, in South Lon
donderry, a son of Emery and Jerusha
(Pierce) Melendy, Nov. Is, 1915. He
attended the public schools of his town
and in the West River and Saxtons River
academies and later engaged in the black
smithing business with his father, from
whom he learned the trade during boy
hood Later he turned his attention to
agriculture and with his brother, E. Web
ster Melendy, conducted the home farm
to the time Of his death. In this, as in
all other things, he kept abreast of the
times and was constantly installing inn
provements.
His ability brought to him a succession
of elections and appointments to Office in
town and county. He was twice elected
first constable and collector and was Sc
lectman Of the town for nine years, during
six of which he served as chairman of the
board In 1879 he was made town rail
road commissioner and was very instru-
Imental in the building of the Brattleboro
t& Whitehall railroad At the time of his
death he was president of the railroad
company, which has been perpetuated al
though the property has been decided to
the Central Vermont Railway Co
He was appointed a deputy sheriff in
1871 and was successively reappointed
until 1878, when he was elected sheriff,
Idischarging the duties Of that office six
years. His successor appointed him a
deputy again and he served continuously
as such until his death. In 1890 he was
elected state senator from Windham
county and served on the committee on
claims and was chairman OF the commit
tee on fish and game. In 1904 he was
elected town representative.
! Mr.. Melendy appreciated the value Of
Telephone service in his community and,
with his brother, in January, 1901, con-
istructed a telephone system which now
has nearly 600 instruments and connects
South Londonderry with surrounding
towns He was vice president of the Ja-
maica Savings bank. He often was called
upon to settle estates.
/ Mr. Melendy was a member of Anchor
lodge, No. 80, F. and "A NJ, of South
| Londonderry, in which he was a past
master. He also was a member of Adon-
IRAN chapter, No. Il, r. a. f., Of Man
chester.
He married, Nov. 26, 1868, Carrie L.,
daughter of David and Lydia (Bailey)
Arnold of Londonderry, who survives with
one son, Representative Emery A. Mel.
endy. He also leaves one brother, E.
lWebster Melendy, all of South London
derry.
The funeral viii be held Tuesday after
noon at o'clock in the Baptist church
in South Londonderry and will be Ma.
Isonic funeral, both Anchor lodge and
West River lodge of Londonderry attend
ling in a body Rev w. E. Goodwin will
Iofiieiate, assisted by Rev. A. G. Enright
THE burial will take place in South Lon
donderry.
:. Mr.. Melendy was a man of especially
Happy and congenial temperament, making
friends everywhere, and in his business
dealings he manifested peculiar aptitude
always discharging with credit the obliga
ltions which were placed upon him He
was a man of prominence in this part OF
the state.