Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-04-21
MAIDSTONE.
BY HON. MOODY RICH.
HON. VOLNEY FRENCH

And here ten years later, when
unthought of things come to pass,
he could see for miles on the op-
posite side of the Connecticut river
the cars of the Grand Trunk railroad
as they passed to and fro from the
chief city of Maine to the chief city
Of Canada. Here he and his &C.
complished wife kept most hos pit
able home; and many have been the
times that acquaintance far and
near have assembled there to enjoy
such entertainment as no one else
could dispense, for the Doctor, be-
sides his Iiberality, had the manners
of an accomplished gentleman; and
he was also a man Of fine proportions
and presence. The stranger also
from city or country who might
chance to stop in the neighborhood
was sure to be invited to partake of
their Inequalities. And there was
no ostentation in this, but such gen
crosby was a characteristic. And
the poor never went hungry from
his door, many have been the
bagsfull and the basketsfull and the
back Dads with which the destitute
of his neighborhood have been load
ed from his stores.
DR.. Dewey was man of eXtraor
binary perseverance and great
energy of character. In politics he
was whig, and later a republican,
and it never was with half assent
that he supported and advocated the
measures of his party. | find for
certain that for II years he was a
member of the Legislature of Yer
mont, and as have not full access
to means of information, | am not
sure but that he was longer. His
first election was to the House III
1926, and his last to the Senate in
1851. He was also for several years
judge of the county court,a member
of the council of censors, and for
several years he received appoint
ments from the Legislature, such as
director of the state prison, &c.
The Doctor was able in debate, and
many of his speeches would be a
credit to any debater and worthy of
any Legislative body. But of these
nothing remains but in the memory
of hearers, as in those days-and it
is mostly so now-none of the de.
bates of that body were reported.
In the course of his business he &C.
cumulated in his hands a large
amount of lands, consisting of
many thousand acres in Essex
county and in the adjoining
county of Coos in New Hampshire.
To pay the taxes annually on SC
large an amount of unproductive
property absorbed quite an income.
To most persons it seemed that he
misjudged in his expectation that
these would some day become very
valuable. But the event has proved
the correctness of his judgment. In
the latter part of his business-life he
had met with mahy losses. But the
increase of the value of timber has
made these wild lands valuable, and
these were left to his family, and
make an ample estate.
DR.. Dewey entered into the sup.
port of the government with zeal tc
put down the rebellion, and lent
every aid in his power to that end
In a summer evening he rode tt
the house of a neighbor, where ir
course of talk upon political affairs
he became excited, not from opposi
tion(for in political opinion they die
not differ, and on his way home he
was attacked by a paralysis of The
brain, and when he arrived home h
was insensible, and was carried int,
the house and died the next morning
which was July IL, 1862.
No man in all the communit.
could be more widely missed. 1t i
always remarked how soon the com
munity adjust themselves to the los
of any individual, no matter hoy
great a space he may have occupie
in the business and affairs of his see
ii n of country. But to the famil
and near friends of such man tn
void does not close, and every da
those that depended upon him fee
that no one else can perform TO
them what he was accustomed to dt
nor make whole the circle broken b
L. L A,1K