St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-11-15

Death of Arson s. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With Commodore Perry 10 Japan
Local News.

Local News.
MRS. w. S. Sanborn, Correspondent
Arson Mcdonald died very sudden
ly Monday, Nov. 6, at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Bert Graham at Win
chester, N. H, where he had been
Just one week. He was taken sick
Sunday. Nov. s. with what the doctor
called acute indigestion, but grew
worse rapidly and died early the fol-
lowing day. Arson S. Mcdonald was
the son of Alexander and Betsey (Tay-
lori Mcdonald and was born IN
Peacham April IS, 1885. He mar
Dried Lucinda Gould of Walden in 1853.
Five children were born to them,
John T., deceased, Mrs. James Steven
'son of Peacham; Abel Harry McDon-
\ aid of Texas: Mrs. Bert Graham of
Winchester, n. H., and Mrs. George
A Chamberlain of West Danville. Mrs.
Mcdonald died March 10, 1878 Mr..
Mcdonald had always been in excel
lent health and had lived alone in his
little home, going among his children
when it pleased him to do so. About
two years ago his eyesight failed and
in the early part of last winter he
suffered from a very bad toe which
developed into gangrene and on Feb.
putated nearly to his knee. At that
time he was stopping at the home of
This daughter, Mrs. George Chamber
lain. He survived the serious opera,
ltion very nicely and rapidly gained his
strength sufficiently to enable him to
get an artificial limb and walk very
well. His rapid recovery seemed to
everyone, at his age. something very
remarkable. Six weeks before his
death he went to visit his daughter,
Mrs. James Stevenson, at East Peach
am, where he stayed five weeks and
then went to his daughter, Mrs. Bert
Graham, at Winchester, N. H, to
Aspend the winter and there his sudden
death occurred. He is the last of q
family Of seven of which he was the
youngest Besides his daughters and
son he leaves II grandchildren and
two great grandchildren. In 1851 he
enlisted in the army but was soon
transferred to the navy where he went
into service under Commodore Foote.
AFTER being wounded he came home
ION a furlough and after that was dis
charged from service. He was prob
ably the only survivor of the famous
expedition of Commodore Perry to
Japan when Japanese ports were
opened to the world commerce in
1854. He had been around the world
three times in sailing vessels and
spent rs years on the sea, from which
events he had a rich and varied his
tory. The funeral was held on We'd
nesday, Nov. 8, at 1890 at the resi-
dence of Mr.. and Mrs. James Steven
son and was very largely attended.
The sermon was preached by Rev. T.
A. Carlson and Peacham male quar-
tet sang Crossing the Bar" and
Nearer My God to Thee" The funeral
was conducted by WI. Powers and the
bearers were James Stevenson, George
Chamberlain, Bert Graham and Wal
lace Powers. The G. A. r. was pres
'ent in a body and conducted their i'm
lpressive burial service. The casket
was draped with a flag. There was a
beautiful pillow with the WORD
"Grandpa" from the grandchildren
and roses from his children. The G.
A. r. and w. r. c. sent chrysanthe-
NUNS. Two of the children. Mrs.
Bert Graham of Winchester, N. H,
and Abel Harry Mcdonald of Texas
were unable to be present. The buriaI
was at Walden beside his. wife. Those
present from out of town were: Mr..
and Mrs. Herbert Cassidy of Walden,
Colan Cassidy of Springfield, Mass,
Bert Graham of Winchester, N. H.
Horace and Elmer Chamberlain Of
Ryegate, Mr.. and Mrs. Ezra Dickin-
son, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cooney,
Thomas Stevenson of Barnet. Alvin
Durgarr and Mrs. Carl Durgan of Cabot.
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Hatch, Henry
Hancock, Fleming Milligan, H. B.
Bolton, George Willie and Hiram
Hawkins of Danville, the last named
being the last one left in Mr.. Nc
Donald's regiment.
Bert Graham returned to Win
chester, N. H., Saturday accompanied
by his daughter, Miss Gladys Gibson,
who will spend the winter there.
Ernest Brown. who has charge of
the state road. surprised his men on
Saturday noon by giving them a treat
of an oyster stew at their camp.
Thirteen were present and the meal
was very much appreciated and en-
joyed. The gang have been work
ing together for the past 10 weeks
and the job is nearly completed, a
very nice piece of road and one that
will be appreciated by the travelling
public.
Winnifred Rogers and Miss Talbot,
the training teacher, have been SICK
the past week.
John Blampede of Columbus, Ohio,
has been visiting his sister. Mrs. John
Varnum.
Charlie Wheeler visited Iis sister.
Lena, at Walden recently.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Hartman of st.
Johnsbury were in town Wednesday,
William McLachlin of st. Johnsbury
was in town Tuesday to vote.
The ladies of the NJ. E. church took
in $11 at their harvest dinner on
town meeting day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Simeon Hobart and
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Hobart of West
Newbury were at E. J. Hobart's
Monday.
Rev. and Mrs. Carlson entertained
their Sunday school classes on Friday
evening. Eight new members were
added as follows: Misses Gardner |
and Besiegel, teachers at the acad- |
envy. Ellen Bayley, Miss Rust. Ellen |
Clark, Arlene Jennison, Edith Bell and |
Lou Stevenson.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Richardson
were at Groton Sunday.