The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-14
A Remarka BILE Parallel.
Huntington Free Press


burlington Free Press
W. recently called attention to the
noteworthy loss of brilliant and dis
finguiShed sons Of Vermont in vigorous
young manhood and promise in the per
sons OF Clarke C. Fits, joseph A De
t5oer, Fletcher ID. Proctor and Geore
u. Bickford. Another son Of the
Hrern Mountain state who passed
away about the same time as MIR.
Fits, was equally distinguished but
his name was not 50 familiar to ou
readers owing to his selection of q
held of usefulness outside the state
| The life OF Ora +. Buttcrtield. who was
/ long close friend of Mr.. Fits. af
4 fordS striking parallel to that of the
/ latter. He was born in Brattleboro in
( 1870. and after his graduation from
/ the high school Of that place he tool
q course in the Chids Business eel
4 lege III Springfield, Mass. He then laid
( the foundation for q diversified and
successful career by service III trust
/ company office in Grccly, Colo, afte.
which he entered the law department
of Michigan university He graduated
2lst birthday aud was admitted to the
practice OF low en- the dat he reacheF
ma ioritv-a truly remarkable record a.
WAS that of Mr.. Fits.
An admirable sketch of MI Butter
field prepared for the Vermont bar Sc
ries by superior Justice Frank l.
= Fish Of Norgenncs, also nativa Of
Nindham county, gives the details OF
the remarkable parallel between tn,
lives of the two men, speaking first o.
Mir. Butt rtield, as follows:
5 He soon attracted the attention o.
e the Michigan railway officials and wa.
p engaged by them in legal work. I'll.
advancement was rapid and within :
. few years he was made general coun
sci Of the Michigan Central, which,.
y controlled by the New York Contra
system. Fer several years he lived il
I Detroit, but the New York Contra
b wanted him for important service anc
. he was called to New York and place,
in charge of the rate work of that svs
tenn and of other matters in which az
pCarauce before the interstate com
mcrce commission was necessary Hi
IA title was that of general solicitor. hi
C position being one of the highest frou
il g legal standpoint in the Offices of TIN
company.
= 1t is . strange coincidence tina
: the two ablest men 10 enter the lega
profession from Windham county dur
), ing their generation should have Ia,
4 50 many things in common They wer
+ born the same year and in the sam
+ county. The graduated together from
the Brattleboro high school when the
were sixteen years OF age. They wer
? admitted to the bar the same year an,
5 each rs soon as he was twenty-onC
s Each achieved brilliant success in hi
$ profession. Each had deep religion
convictions. MIR. Butterfeld was a
enthusiastic supporter of the Univel
salist church. once serving as vice
i president of the Universalist genera
3 convention. the most important lay
l. men s position in the denomination
IF Mr. Fits was a member Of the Congrr
10 gational church, an earnest and Ell
d. cient helper and a teacher in the Sar
dav school The two men were stricl
~ On at about the same time with til
- same fatal malady, cancerous infet
n tion of tho gall bladder and pancrea
In Each was operated on during the sam
10 month, and while the friends of NJ
=, Fits were assembling to attend ii
sad rites over his decease Mr.. Butte
- field passed away. His funeral o
Il cured at Brattleboro two days lat,
he and the mortal dust OF each was place
# at rest in the Brattleboro Prospect Hi
II. cemetery
The two distinguished sons Of We
mont, whose lives thus ran in so clio,
a parallel as to birth, habitation. cd
~ cation, profession, important dates
OF career, brillianey of attainment, su
l., cess in life, religious strength, diseas
- Surgical operation and date of deaf
=" arc not seoaratcd, as is entirely fittin
NJ in their final sleep in the baautif
ID. VALLEY of their nativity.