Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-12-05
DIR. G.. w. DUSTAN.

May IA, 1847, the son of DR.. Daniel
Dustan and Laura (Corbin) Dustan.
He began his education at Craftsbury
academy, going thence to Dartmouth
college where he studied medicine.
After graduation he was offered an
advantageous position as surgeon in
the British forces in Egypt, but pre-
ferred to settle as a physician in
Craftsbury, where he has continued
IN practice ever since.
At the age of 27, he married Hat
tie NJ. Lyon, who died in 1911. There
were five children of this marriage,
of whom four survive. In 1913 he
married a second time, Adelaide l.
M. Chamberlain, who survives him.
In 1890 he represented the town in
the Legislature, serving in the COM
mittees on public health and on
claims.
He was for years a trustee of
Craftsbury academy, for the exis-
tence of which, as well as for it's es-
Enlistment on q sound financial ba-
sis, he was largely responsible
It is not rare for a man to die
whose want is deeply felt by his COM
munity, but it is rarely indeed that,
to this feeling Of common loss, is
added a sense of personal bereave-
ment in almost every home in that
community.
DR.. Dustan has been so much a
part Of Craftsbury, has been so fam
liar a 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 su-
preme object Of ambition. It's well
fare, it's institutions, and the main
tenance there of the fine old spirit
of it's founders, were the work to
which he devoted his life. 1t would
which he has played in keeping alive
the traditions of unselfish surrender
to the common good, of large and
generous thinking and giving and of
neighborly friendship and kindness
which have made Craftsbury unusual
if not unique among the small towns
of the state.
But this was only natural to him.
He came, on both sides, from the best
Of the old blood. His mother, Laura
COrbin, was a niece of Gov. Crafts,
and a granddaughter of Ebenezer
Crafts, who gave his name to the
town. His father, DR.. Daniel Dus-
tan, was descended in direct line from
Hannah Dustan of the old Indian
days, and had our own doctor lived
but little longer he might have cele-
brated a full century of service, as
physicians, given by himself and his
father to his native town.
And what a service! No storm
was ever too severe, no place too re-
mote, no hour too late, no WEAKNESS
Of body too, extreme. He had high
calling, as he saw it, and he lived up
to the ideals Of that calling with fine
completeness and noble simplicity.
But not only so. He will be re-
membered for chat best portion of a
good mans Iife-his little, nameless,
aforementioned acts of kindness and
of love" In many place, not only
of physical weakness and pain, but
of discoura cement of soul and even
of mere want of necessities, the doc
tors coming has meant relief and
consolation. He carried with him an
atmosphere of grand optimism;
'Never doubted clouds would break;
never dreamed the right were worst
ed, wrong would triumph;" for he
kept in his soul an mistaken faith in
the goodness of God. He was, in the
best sense, that fine figure-a Chris
tian physician.
DR.. Dustan was not without his
peculiarities and even eccentricities
But of what a sort they were! New
er the peculiarities of feeble intel
lect, nor the eccentricities of a little
nature. They were such as human
ize and endear large spirits, and
many of us will love to remember
them, even with tears.
His was a large, out-of-dOor life,
and although he had rounded out the
full three score and ten years, it was
not possible to think of him as old.
His interests were as fresh, his intel
lect as acute, as ever; and even his
physical activity was little impaired.
His very thoughts still looked for
ward with many plans, many hopes,
and keen relish for the future.
Death came to him with merciful
swiftness, with his powers still whole,
his life still good to him, his service
still unended.
At special meeting of the Mems
club, North Craftsbury, Monday
evening, the following resolutions
were introduced, and accepted:
Resolved, That in the death of one
of our members, DR.. G.. w. Dustan,
both the club and the community
have sustained a severe and heavy
loss.
Resolved, That we desire to place
on record our deep appreciation and
high estimation of those qualities of
mind and heart which have charac-
terized our brother. We speak for
ourselves and the entire community
in expressing profound regret that a
relation SO exceedingly helpful and
harmonious should terminate so sud-
denly.
We remember with gratitude his
zeal for our club and the contribution
which he was ever ready to make
toward it's success.
We bow in humble submission to
the will of God in this affection know
ing that He is too wise to err and too
good to be unkind
Resolved, That we commend to the
youth of this community his example
and life service as worthy of their
emulation
Resolved, That we send with our