Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-22

member of that church since 1S49. 1t
was never his ambition to hold Office,
but in addition to the positions men
toned he served several terms as high
way surveyor in district No. =, on East
HILL under the old highway system.
He always was in good health, and
since coming to this village 20 years
ago he had devoted himself to garden
ing and other light work
He was Wing until the Republican
party was formed, casting his first vote
for President in 1874 for Henry Clay,
who was defeated by James X. Polk,
Democrat. He had voted at every
presidential election since then, identi-
fying himself with the Republican par
ty since it came into being.
1t was in South Londonderry that
Mr.. Whitcomb first saw the light of
day, Nov. II, 1922. His father was
Luther Whitcomt, and his mother Pol
ly Hazelton, and they had eight chill
dren, of whom he was the only sur
vivor. His grandfather, Jonathan
Whitcomb, came from France, about
the time General Lafayette came, and
was a soldier in the Revolution, after
wards pensioner, and was buried in
Newfane. Polly Hazelton is said to
| have been the first white girl born in
the town of Jamaica. Her husband,
the elder Luther Whitcomb was a
cloth dresser and worked four years
learning his trade in a cloth dressing
mill in Williamsville, working at the
business in mills in West Townshend.
South Londonderry and Wardsboro,
which ceased to exist many years ago.
In the spring after the younger Lu-
Their Whitcomb was six years old the
family moved to a farm in South
Windham. A year later they moved
to South Wardsboro, and the father
and mother both died in this town. The
father and son, the latter seven years
old, came from South Windham day
ahead of the rest of the family and
travelled about - miles on foot, driv
ing two old hogs, 10 pigs pair of
yearling steers and one COW.
The boy learned farming in South
Wardsboro, and the family lived neai
the old Oscar Doolittle place in the
south part of the town when the young
man married, March %, 1916, Aurilla
Smith daughter of Gardner and Annie
(Kenney) Smith. The young couple
then moved to the old Samuel Kenney
farm. The bride was a granddaughter
of Samuel Kenney, an ensign in the
Revolution.
Five children were born to Mr.. am
Mrs. Whitcomb, of whom three are liv
ing They are Lizzie E., wife of Lot
T.. Barber of Townshend; Edgar A
Whitcomb, who lives with the family
here, and Annie b., wife of George w
Briggs, II well-known merchant of this
place. A son, Frederick Kenney Whit
comb, was born in 1850 and died il
1880, and another son, Lester Luther
Whitcomb, was born in 1855 and diei
in 1868. Mr.. and Mrs. Whitcomb oh
F. served their silver wedding anniversary
) in 1871. Mrs. Whitcomb died on thu
Kenney farm June IS, 1880, and sine,
then the daughter, Mrs. Briggs, ha
made u home for her father and broth
err,
Mr., Whitcomb lived on the Kcnne,
farm so years, lacking two or thre
weeks, working long and late. He in
p tended to get his cows to pasture b.
sunrise. Then he moved to the Widow
: Philena Holden place in the north en'
of this village and two years late
place near the hotel which has been hi
home Is years.
> With an interest which came iron
; vivid recollection, Mr.. Whitcomb en-
, ioyed relating experiences in tire
bear hunts on White hill, which lie
party in this town and partly in Do
4, yer. No organized bear hunt has take
; place there in the past 30 years, bu
bears still exist there and have com
mitted depredations very recently
Many years ago 200 stalwart men AM
youths of Wardsboro and Dover town
ships surrounded the hill and move
forward in search of a big female bea
and two cubs which had been doin
damage. The man at the right of MI
a Whitcomb shot one cub, but the mothe
Q and the other baby were not found
G While the second hunt was in progress
| soma RrattTphOrO men SliDDed in an