Norwich bulletin., 1920-06-26

 the superior court here Friday morning at memorial services in which resolutions were passed and tributes were presented upon four former members of the New London county bar, the late John e. Averill and Seneca Sanford Thresher of l this city, Judge Wurtem A. Breed of . Stonington and Judge Charles W. But l Ter of New London. Major Hadlai A. | Hull conducted the exercises which were attended by many members of the bar and friends of the deceased The Late John c. AveriIl. l Ex-Mayor J. J, Desmond presented the l following memorial upon John C. Averill:
 John Chester Averill prominent in the professional, business; financial and social 1 life of this city, member of the bar of | this county and for many years clerk of it's courts, died suddenly at his home on 1 Broadway, in Norwich, on the 18th day Of August, 1919, in the roth year of his age
 MT AveriH was born in Salisbury, in | this state, on the 21st day of December, 1S49, the son of Roger and Maria (White) l Averill. His father was distinguished citizen of Danbury, Conn.,, an able lawyer, | and for four years, from 1862 to 1866, he | was the lieutenant governor of the state, | and in this position he gave strong and | loyal support to our great war governor, Buckingham.
 John C. Averll obtained his early edu-
 cation in the grammar schools of Dan
 bury and in Jacksons Military institute
 in the same city. Later he attended Will
 liston academy at Easthampton, Mass,
 and subsequently, Cornell university, from
 which last named institution he was gra-
 uated in the class of 1873. In the follow
 ing year he came to Norwich, where he entered the office of the late Jeremiah Halsey as a student, and on Sept. 18th, 1878, was admitted to the bar He re-
 mained in MT. Halsey's office, engaged in
 the practice of his profession, until July
 2d, 1881, when he was appointed clerk
 of the supreme court of errors for the
 Second judicial district, and of the supe- rior court for New London county, which
 positions he filled with unfailing fidelity and marked ability until June, 1901 when
 he declined reappointment. He was also e appointed clerk of the court of common
 pleas in 1886, and of the criminal court : of common pleas upon its establishment . in 1889, and these offices he held continu- h ously until March 22, 1915. when he re-
 signed to give his entire time to his duties t l as president of the Chelsea Savings bank s of this city.
 Court Clerk 26. Years.
 It thus appears that for the period o ,- 26 years our departed brother filled tht K important and axacting flee of clerk O
 the supreme and superior courts, and fol III the period of 29 years and 2s years re 10 spectively. the position of clerk Of tn, -. court of common pleas and of the crim inal court of common pleas of this coun
 ty. During this extended term of servic II MT. Averill naturally and necessaril,
 came into close and intimate contact witt l1o it1di inia aY1l 'i but stating fact we'll known to say tha
 he gave eminent satisfaction to both il 7' the performance of his duties With
 really remarkable grasp of detail low of order, system and methods and en e. dowed with a remarkably retentive mem n ory, he was especially well fitted for tn le onerous duties of his various offices an m although at times apparently brusque c | manner, he was at heart the kindest c rd men, and derived his greatest pleasure i . life from quietly helping others. Thi 70 may be testified to by many a membe
 of our bar, who, when young and iney
 perienced, was tided over some difficu
 obstacle by the wise and timely counst
 of the clerk
 at Whilst it is true that Mir Averin wa ,s best known to our fraternity as clerk ( ,d our courts and that his great worth wa = 1 mainly recognized in that capacity, l. iie FtI tiltleSS Indue HIS strong ana mel Il - influence felt in many other srheres , ,u action in a manner well worthy of no: Il here.
 " He was chosen corporatoc of th 7S Chelsea Savings bank in 1887. a rlirectc S' in 1893, a vice president in 1907. an l' president in 1915. To the duties of whc h. last mentioned position he was devctin 6' practically his whole time when he wa
 so suddenly removed from the scer.e ,o early labors
 ne From January 9th, 1901. to the time A. his death. he served on the board of I aeI rectors of the Thames National Ban rs one of the largest banking institutions ,lr eastern Connecticut. He was presidcr s- of the William W. Backus hospital co ,,. porator and trustee of the Norwich Frt ,a Academy; treasurer and trustee of u f Otis Library; Corporator and trustee M the Eliza Huntington Memorial Home ~ director of, the Aspinook company vii D. president, treasurer and a director
 the New London Northern Railway COT he pany; president and director of Il en West River Railroad company, and a Ii l.g trustee of the Buckingham Memorial. o1 He was also very prominent in the M ng sonic fraternity serving officially ,n- many of the Masonic bodies and recei av ing the signal distinction of having co les ferred upo,l him the honorary 33rd q io gree of this order.
 On June 9th. 1880, Mfr Averill " r., united in marriage with Miss Hat 1ro Clark of Danbury; three sons were bo to this union all of whom died in infa ,n cy Mrs. AverilI predeceased her hr band by only three weeks, and her dea ... no doubt hastened his end, as he " U" deeply devoted to his worthy wife a ": his home life was especially happy. u Shortly after coming to Norwich \ ah Averill became a member of the Broa
 way Congregational church, later ert United Congregational church and dt ert, ing his entire membership, which cc on, tinued to the close of his life, he was y's earnest, loyal and helpful worker.
 His early career was an active, wort ew and we'll spent life: and when he V on, called upon to take his last journey for the undiscovered country from wh'
 bourn no traveller may return, he neet .rs- to have no fear in rendering the accol age of his stewardship upon earth.
 sal John C. Averill, whilst quiet and
 served, and avoiding publicity, yet e Her met and discharged the important dut
 that came to him in a manly and s'
 sacrificing spirit To be fair and
 was natural to our lamented brother i;
 contribute encouragement and assista VIS wherever merit and circumstance co of bined to deserve it, had been a const rect practice of MT. Averih's and a neV at failing source of delight to him. wis His love of children was remarka vere and spontaneous and it often seen can that the wealth of his paternal lc