St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-05
The Late G.. w. Dustan.

Dr. c. w. Dustan was born in
Craftsbury, VT, in the house now
occupied by Gov. Graham, on Nav
IA, 1S47, the son of DR.. Daniel Dus-
tan and Laura (Corbin) Dustan. He
began his education at Craftsburv
Academy, going then to Dartmouth
College where he studied medicine.
After graduation he was offered an
advantageous position as surgeon in
the British forces in Egypt, buf pre-
terrred to settle as. a physician in
craItsbury, where he has continued in
practice ever since.
At the age Of 81 he married Hattie
NJ. Lyon, who died in 1911. There
We're five children of this marriage of
Whon1 four survive. In 1913 he mar
ried a second time, Adelaide I. M.
| chamberlain, who. survives him. In
| 1880 he represented the town in the
Legislature, serving in the committees
on public health and on claims
| He was for years a trustee of
Craftsbury Academy. for the exist
ence of which as we'll as for its es-
adjustment on q sound financial ba-
sis. he was largely responsible.
1t is not rare for a man to die
whose want is felt deeply by his COM
nunity, but it is rarely indeed that,
to this feeling of. common loss is add
ed sense of personal bereavement
| in almost every home in that COM
nunity.
DR.. Dustan has been SO much q
part of Craftsbury; has been so IA
miliar figure; has had so large a
share in its life, that it is hard to
think of the town without him.
He had a splendid faith in his ma
tive place. 1t was to him the supreme
object of ambition. It's welfare, its
institutions, and the maintenance
there of the fine old spirit of its
founders were the work to which he
devoted his life. 1t would be diff.
cult to overestimate the part which he
has played in keeping live the tradi
lions . of unselfsh surrender to the
common good, of large and generou:
thinking and giving, and of neighbor
1y friendship and kindness which
have made Craftsbury unusual il no
unique mong the. small towns of the
state But this was only natural tt
him. He came, on both sides, from
the best of the old blood. His moth
er, Laura Corbin, was a niece of Gov
Crafts, and a granddaughter of Eben
ezer Crafts who gave his name to thu
town. His father, DR.. Daniel Dus
tan was descended in direct lin
from Hannah Dustan of the old In
J dian days, and had our own docto
Z lived but a little longer he nigh
. have celebrated a full century of ser
: vice, as physicians. given by himsel
and his father to his native town.
And what service. No storm
was ever too severe no place too re
, mote, no hour too late, no wearines
of body too extreme. He had higl
Calling, as he saw it, and he lived vi
. to the ideals of that Calling with FIN
completeness and noble simplicity.
r. But not only so. He will be re
( fmembered for "that best portion of
good mans life-His little, nameless
aforementioned acts of kindness an
of love" In many a place, not onl
of physical weakness and pain, blu
4 of disbursement of soul and eve
of mere want of necessities, the Doc
; tors coming has meant relief an
consolation He carried with him a
atmosphere of grand optimism; sNes
~eeA'
never dreamed, tho right were worst
ed, wrong would triumph for h
kept in his soul an mistaken faith
the goodness of God. He was, in tn
best sense, that fine figure-a Chrls
ian physician.
DIR. Dustan was not without h
peculiarities and even eccentricltie