The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-09-02
CHELSEA
The Late Herbert 0. Bixby Was One of
Towns Leading Citizens.

During the noon hour on Friday
Aug. q, Herbert 0rville Bixby, one OF
our best known and highly respected
citizens. passed away, following an i'll.
ness of inflammation of the heart
which had confined him to the house
for about four weeks, the last two OF
which he had been confined to the bed,
gradually losing strength and vitality
but retaining consciousness to the end.
While our people had known of the
seriousness of his condition, the unanl.
nous hope had obtaines that he might
recover and be able to enjoy again and
contact that enjoyment and pleasure
| of life's activities agreeable to one of
| the strong innate propensities OF his
makeup, and Notwithstanding the
grave fears which had been enter
|tained, the news of his death came as
| : great shock and cast a decided gloom
ever the entire community, which will
linger long in the memory of all who
knew him.
Mr.. Bixby was the only son Of Capt.
|0rville and Frances (Willsl Bixby, and
| was born in South Royalton on Oct {,
1861. At the outbreak of the Civil war
his father responded to the first call
flor three month men, and before his
regiment had been sent TO the tAld
came the call for three year men, and
|he re-enlisted as a second lieutenant of
Go. Z, I'd regiment, VT. volunteers.
In due course he was promoted to cap
|tain, but refused majors commits
sion, and made the supreme sacrifice
|at the Battle of the Wilderness on
May 6, 1864, while CALAMITY leading
|his regiment as acting colonel
After Capt. Biyby entered the serv-
pee, Mrs Bixby and Herbert returned |
TO the home of her father, the late |
|Perley {. Wills, on the west hill, since |
(which time Chelsea has been his home |
He was educated at Chelsea acad- |
fmy and Goddard seminary and in 1888 |
entered the employ of f. r. Hyde &
GO. in the old Union store which oc-
fupied the site where the National |
Bank of Orange County now stands. |
there AS a clerk after the
business was taken over by the late
John B. Atwood, who was then post
master, Mr.. Bixby serving as his as
distant The Union store burned in
| s92, after which he was employed in
Springfield for time in clerical work
hnd in 1893, under President Cleye
lands second term, he was appointed
postmaster at Chelsea. which position
(Ie filled with universal satisfaction
until the Republican party again came
into power and he was replaced by a
Republican appointee. After retiring
from the office of postmaster he en-
gagged in the mercantile business until
1918, when he was appointed postmas-
or by President Wilson and had held
+he Office up to the time of his death
As citizen, business man, town
'r federal office holder, by his geniality,
integrity and universal courtesy he had
andeared himself to all with whom he
anne in contact, and leaves an unusual
v large circle of friends who unite in
pne common feeling that in his I'M
timely passing they have sustained a
Teal and substantial loss
He was always deeply interested in
whatever pertained TO the welfare and ;
,plift of the town and was a loyal sup
'orter of every project that tended {
oward social and civic betterment. In
raternal life his memory will no doubt
'e most sacredly revered in the Sons
# Veterans, since the history of the
rider shows him to have been the pio-
leer in this town and vicinity, he hav-
ng acted as commander of the Sons
4 Veterans at the Chelsea centennial .
CELEBRATION in 1884, and in 1865 he or
anized the II. +. X. Hall camp, Sons
( Veterans, of this town and was its d
rst captain and it is due TO his abid
ng faith and keen interest that this a
amp has retained its organization and
! one of the strong camps in the di- h
ision to-day. As captain of the camp
e was three times reelected and in r
500 he was elected commanding Off :
Frs of the division with the rank of
olonel, and it was during his incum-
ency as colonel that the division
.ached its highest attainment.
As member of George Washington
'dge, No. 81, +. and A. NJ he had
lied with honor and credit many of b
he offices, including that of worship p
n master and for a long term of y
ears was one of its most efficient
,cretaries. Y
In political life he was a staunch
always loyal, consistent and
sourceful, with that pleasing person
ity which made his counsel sought
I'D strength felt in the party, and for n
number of years was an influential 7
ember Of the Democratic state com h
ittee until he refused longer to serve IA
that capacity by reason of his APP
,intment to federal Office. II
Away back in the esly SOS he be- 81
me the local correspondent from this o.
wn to the Herald and News and in NJ
's7, through his efforts, the publ Il
tion of local edition, since known
the Chelsea Herald, was established. !.
I'd he had served as its local editor !.
, to the time of his death. covering :.