Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-01-14
MRS. ABBF g. RANGER.
Body Was Taken to Springfield for
fermentation = Was Widow of Be-
tliuel Ranger, Jeweler.

Mrs. Abby s. Ranger, So, for about
So years resident OF Brattleboro and
a woman of exceptional mentality for
a person of her advanced age, died
shortly before clock Saturday af.
tcrnoon in her honc on Merose street
in West Brattieboro. Death was
caused by q general breaking down.
Mrs. Ranger had been failing since
spring and for number of weeks was
in critical condition. She was the
widow of BETHEL Ranger, one of
Brattleboro' IS longtime merchants and
jewelers. formerly of the firm of Ran.
ger & Thompson, who died Jan. IA,
1895.
Mrs. Ranger was born in Bronze,
Province of Quefcc, Sept. g. 1927, one
of six children of Austin and Charlotte
(Knowlton) Wheeler. Two brothers
and sister still survive. They are
Thomas w. WHEELER of Bronze, George
X. Wheeler of lGlenwood, MINI, and
Mrs. Charlotte Wheeler, wife of George
II. Wheeler of West Brattleboro.
In her girlh{od she came here to
learn the tailoTs trade, which was fol-
lowed by many young women of her
day. She went back when she was
about Is years old, but she had met
Mr.. Ranger hefe and their friendship
ripened into marriage June 26, 1851.
Her home had hTsen in this town ever
since, in this village until November,
1914. At that time she moved from
Williston street TO a house which she
had had erected for her on Melrose
street in West Brattleboro, where she
lived alone.
Her husband came here from Michi-
gan at the age Of ii to learn the Jew
eler's trade of Deacon d. d. Thomp-
son, grandfathsr of Alfred S. Thomp-
son, the present proprietor of the old
Ranger & Thompson store. The store
originally was in u onestory wooden
building on the present site. When
fire threatened il in 1912 it was torn
down and the business was established
in Halls long building" after
wards the Fisl building where the
Hooker building now stands. In 1851
the store was moved to its present To-
cation. At the time of his death, while
associated with the late II. II. Thomp.
son, Mr.. Ranger had a record of So
years of active life here and was not
only Brattleboro s veteran business
man but the oldest matchmaker and
jeweler in active service in New Eng.
land.
After her marriage Mrs. Ranger
lived on Elliot and Green streets and
then for 40 years on Williston street
She had no children. She was a mem.
Der of St. Paul's Episcopal church in
Knowlton, p. O., but had been com.
municant of st. Michael's Episcopal
church here over since its organiza.
ton.
Mrs. Ranger was n very interesting
and well informed person. She had
some knowledge of languages and art
and formerly executed some creditable
oil paintings. She was a very kind
hearted, and thoughtful woman and re
tanned her ffa6llties~ to a remarkable
degree. She ihade a trip to Florida
alone only few years ago. She hvec
in the period when the most notable
changes in Brqttleboro took place, and
she recalled Il &c time when Walnut
street, Terrace, street and the land to
Che north wei included in tract OF
pasturage and ,hen the land where the
Haskins, Child, Cabot and nearby
residences on Terrace street are now
located was used as a circus ground.
The funeral was held Monday at the
house on Melrose street. Rev. Mel
son Kellogg, pastor of ST. Michael Is
Episcopal church officiated. The body
was taken to Springfield, Mass, Tues
day for cremation.