The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-06
WEST NoRTHFIELD, MASS
Sudden Death of r. D. Doolittle

Rodney Dexter Doolittle, -, died sud
denly Monday afternoon in his home here,
OF heart failure His death was shock I
to this little community, as he had been
out around earlier in the day, and seemed !
TO be about as usual.
Mr. Doolttle was born in Winchester, |
y. H., Dec IL, 1912, one of IL children !
Of Jackson and Mary Jane Howard Doc !
little When 4 boy of Is the family moved
to lIinsdalc, the south part, and lie at
tended school near where Dole Junction
now is. lie lived at home until he was
IS. then went To work for Elisha Alexan
der OF Mortified, who lived where the
d. j.. Moody place is.
In 1861 he went to North Hadley and
worked in grist mill, and on Sept TO-
1862 he enlisted i'll the 52d Massachusetts,
regiment. He was discharged Aug. II,
1868 He then went 10 Brattleboro and
worked in the asylum seven months, re-
turning then to the farm and helping his
father. In August, 1864, he went TO work
Tor jonathan Lyman of Mortified and
remained there until December
On March -, 1865, lie began work on
the old New York and Erie railroad as
brakeman and worked At this and bridge
| building until 1868. when he came here.
| For a short time he was in the WOODEN
mill in Ashuelot and then was car inspect
or. living in Brattleboro and working there
and in South Vernon. lie did inspecting
and repairing SO years lie was always
an industrious, hard working man, even
after he retired from the railraod.
| Mr. Doulittlc was a member OF Golden
Rule lodge of NIasons Of IInsdae and OF
II II. johnson post, c. \. r., and the
| Eastern Star chapter OF Mortified, also
the 4. q. L. w. Of keene.
lie was a fine singer and enjoyed singing
I'll" hymns and old-timc war songs. Al
way, pleasant personality, he was a
friend To all, especially the children. He
was interested in all things for the good
ot the town and was devoted to the church
here.
Mr.. Doolittle was married three times.
His present wife. who was Miss Josephine
II Merrill, he married here Nov % 1879.
She survives, a. does one son by the second
marriage. Miles Warner, who has been
employed rs switchman several years here
but lives in lln-dalc two grandchildren,
Richard and Olive Doolttle. and one sis
tor. Mrs Frank Elliott OF South Norfolk,
Va.
The funeral was held Thursday at |
pm in the church hero. Rev. George
Thompson officiating The AIasons and
C. \ L. post lad art in the service,
The burial took place in the family lot in
the south part OF Winchester.
4 number OF hunters are out this week
Mrs Alfred Holton is in the Farreu
hospital. Montague, and is convalescing
i. r. Buck OF West Springfield wa,
called here Monday by the death OF hi,
grandfather, r. ID. Doolittlc.
Miss Maudc Railway returned this wect
to her work at the post office, after tw,
months absence with illness.
DR. Harrison OF Mount Herman vii
preach Sunday at l04j in the Adven
Christian church: Sunday school at uool
and Loyal Workers meeting in the even
ing at :.
Miss Eta Raglan OF Springfield was a
her home here Thanksgiving; Mr. an,
] Mrs sam Martineau and daughter OF Ave
at the home OF his father. MIR and Mrs
: Ralph Gibson in Richford, Vt; Mr.. AM
I Mrs. George Day in Jamaica with his rela
tiycs; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stark anC
Laura and Lewis with his parents in DUN
IN, rston; Mrs, Joseph Delphy and childreI
al her home in Springfield
Cecil Wilson has finished work at IN
1 Rcldrng farm, aud all are sorry to hav
him leave town He has been here fiv
| years and has won the respect Of til
4 ncighborhood, always obliging and inter
csted in all work for the benefit Of tn
place. lie and his son Stanley. have gon
to NorthGeld TO the J A. Stebbins farm
WHORE he will be employed Miss Ev
Smart. housekeeper, is with her mother
Mrs Gates, Tor the present She ha
4 worked at the Bedding farm some tim,
Mr.. and Mrs Wallace Clark have take
their place at the farm
4 Biack-When young Sharper first cam
II 10 ,rnrL in thn hank he WIS hnshfnl