The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-12-20

was respected by the entire community.
died yesterday afternoon in the home
OF his daughter and her husband. Mr..
and Mrs. George W. Briggs. He had
been failing several weeks and the end
was not unexpected. The funeral will be
held tomorrow In the Methodist church
Luther ALBANIAN Whitcomb held a
prominent place in the esteem Of his
toWnspeople. Pleasing in personality,
kindly toward all mankind. a man of
unquestioned character and principles.
his record is clean and like an opep
book. He received the unanimous vote
OF the Republicans OF the town for rep
tesentatlve in the legislature in 1924.
serving ON the public buildings commit
tee, and for more than 50 years was a
steward of the Methodist church and a
trustee of its funds He had been a
member Of that church since 1919. 1t
was never his ambition to hold office.
but in addition to the positions mem
toned lie 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 wears
ago be 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 1s44 for Henry CLAW.
who was defeated by James X Polk,
Democrat. lie had voted at every
presidential election since then. identi-
flying 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. Il, 1899. His father was
Luther Whitcomb and his mother Pol
ly Hazelton, aud 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 4 soldier in the Revolution. after
wards a pensioner, and was buried in
Newfane. Polly nazelton is said to
have been the first white girl born in
the town of Jamaica. Her husband
the elder Luther Whitcomb, was d
cloth dresser and worked four wears
learning his trade in cloth dressing
mill in Williamsyille, 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 Luz
Their Whitcomb was six years old the
family moved to farm in South
Windham. \ 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 a day
ahead of the rest of the family and
travelled about = miles on foot, driv-
ing two old hogs, 10 pigs, a pair of
yearling steers and one COW.
The boy learned farming in South
Wardsboro, and the family lived near
the old Oscar Doolittle place in the
south part of the town when the Young
man married, March 25. 1916, Aurilla
Smith, daughter of Gardner and Annie
(Kenney) Smith. The young couple
then moved to the old Samuel Kennev
farm. The bride was a granddaughter
of Samuel Kenney, an ensign in the
Revolution.
Five children We're born to Mr.. ana
Mrs. Whitcomb, of whom three are liv-
ing. They are Lizzie f., wife of Lot
E. Barber Of Townshend; Edgar A.
Whitcomb, who lives with the family
here, and Annie B., wife of George W.
Briggs, . well-known merchant of this
place A son, Frederick Kenney Whit
comb, was born in 1850 and died in
1880, and another son, Lester Luther
Whitcomb, was born in 1855 and died
in 1868. Mr.. and Mrs. Whitcomb OBJ
served their silver wedding anniversary
in 1871 Mrs. Whitcomb died on the
Kenney farm June IS, 1880. and since
then the daughter, Mrs. Briggs, has
made a home for her father and broth
er.
Mr. Whitcomb lived on the Kenney
farm 50 years, lacking two or three