Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-01-11
COL. lLSlEY DEAD
Continued from Page y

WlBnl Nv up hullc VI Iopllln loI Hlh en-
elusive purpose, and this was done
When he had finally closed up his bus
mess in Brooklyn in March 1901 Col,
llsley came back TO make his permanent
residence and last home in these apart
ments, which he beautifully furnished
on the second floor corner of the hotel,
overlooking Addison House Park, His
only absences from Middlebury from
that time on were his occasional visits
to New York to look after his invest
ments, for he had turned his wealth
into stocks and bonds and so ex-
tensive were his interests that until re-
Gently he had maintained an office at
l4l Broadway,
He also, during his early days in Mid
dlebury, made an annual fishing pill
grimage to Charleston Lake in Canada.
Notwithstanding that Addison County
offered good trout fishing, the Canadian
lake was his fayorite, and every first of
May he INDUCED in one of his fayorte
pasttimes. In later years he had given
up this and centered his pleasure en-
tirely on fine stable of horses,
Ga Washington Jtfetl htie he Dullt a
line stable and for years quartered there
half dozen of the best driving horses
he could procure. His interest in the
horse naturally led to his attraction to
the Addison County Fair, Though long
established and successful institution
it was at that time laboring under some
financial difficulties. Colonel llsley be-
came virtually its life saver But first,
properly, comes his interest in the
church. for he had identified himself
with that from the time of his first ar
rival here and for one thing or another
had given literally toward its mainten-
ance aud improvement. He was never
appealed to in behalf of the church but
what he himself suggested doing more
than had been proposed, and when
finally it came to the consideration of
some extensive alterations in the old
Baptist church on Merchants Row (the
building now used as the Grange HalD
the Colonel proposed that he would
build at his own expense fine memorial
church in memory of his father, and
present it to the Larish, together with
parsonage and an ample endowment
to the Middlebury Baptist society.
Accordingly, August |, 1905, ground
was first broken for the present mag
nifcent edifice on South Pleasant Street,
which was dedicated on June 10, two
years later. No detail was spared in
the appointments of the church and
Col. Ilsley himself took the keenest in
terest in all matters pertaining to it.
II is estimated that the church cost
him some $70 600, in addition to which
he had given large sums at various
times toward the maintenance of its
work. He was a constant attendant
when his health permitted and had oc-
cuped his pew up to few weeks ago.
He was usually on hand also at the mid
week prayer meeting and when it came
to the decoration of the church for
special services he always saw to it that
the best was had The same applies to
his interest in the music at the church
and he had recently prided himself par
ticuIarly in the choir of College boys
which had be IN engaged at his expense.
ConcldeutaIy, grew his interest in
the Fair and when some ten or twelve
years ago Silas Jewett, the then owner
of the Fair Grounds, threatened to cut
the property up for building lots. Colonel
llsley advanced S., 900 with which to
purchase the grounds. Having taken
this initial interest, he could not rest
without proposing further help, and he
finally bought additional ground, known
as the Wainwright lot, improved the
track and buildings, until finally Adj
olson County could boast Of one of the
finest Fair Grounds in New England. 1t
is estimated that he put $50, 600 into the
Fair Grounds and in return for this he
only required that the Agricultural
Society should pay him or Mrs. Ilsley
an annuity of $500 year for the rest
of their lives. However, in case the
FAR did not have prosperous year the
Colonel would refuse to take this sum,
as he did refuse to do this year on ac-
count of there being no fair at all.
The abandonment Of the Fair last fall
on account of the State Board of Health
edict during the prevalence of infantile
paralysis, was great disappointment
to the Colonel and his colleagues, who
had gone ahead with all the arrange
ments for better fair than ever. This
setback did not completely discourage
him by any means, and when the annual
meeting of the Agricultural Society was
held a couple of months ago it was he
himself who made the motion that the
Fair be held next fall and he set the
dates for it.
Colonel Ilsley's prominence as cap
itaIist naturally turned his interest
toward local banking affairs and after
six years residence here he was elected
October 9, 1907 as one of the directors
of the National Bank of Middlebury.
The following January he was elected
president, and he served as president
and director for over seven years, until
October Is, 1915, when he resigned
owing to i'll health The erection of the
present fine bank building was largely
due to his initiative, as a result Of which
Middlebury probably possesses one of
the most beautiful and best appointed
bank structures in northern New
England.
An imposing monument which stands
almost directly in front of the Town
Hall to the memory of Middlebury men
who died in the Civil War was a gift
from Colonel Ilsley to the town. 1t was
unveiled on Memorial Day in 1905. The
monument is of Vermont granite 80 feet
high, and located at each of the four
corners of the central die is a life size
statue in granite, each symboical of an
q nF fhng M