Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-15
EX.G0v. MEAD DIES
IN HIS 18TH YEAR
Soldier, Manufacturer, Business
Man and Philanthropist-Ac
tive Career Closed

John Abner Mead was born in Fair
Haven. April 20, 1871, and was the only
child of Roswell Rowley Mead and Lydia
Ann tGorham) Mead. His father was n
successful merchant in West Rutland
till his death in 1876
HIS ANCESTORS.
His great-grandfather. Col. James
Mead. was the first settler in Rutland.
and father of the first white child born
In the valley Of the Otter Creek. He was
the first moderator. and first selectman
OF the town and the first representative
from Rutland to the first Vermont Leg
islature. Col. Mead was among the most
active patriots Of his day. He was MEM
Der of the Dorset convention of Septem-
Der Is. 1776, and of the committee APP
pointed by the Windsor convention in
June. lit, to arrange with the comman-
der of Fort Ticonderoga for the frontier
defense. He was colonel Of the Ord reg-
ment of Vermont Militia and the Vermont
pay rolls contain the record of a payment
to Colonel Mead's militia for their tours
TO Ticondcroga in III. The States rec
ords for the same year show that Col.
Mead's regiment rendered efficient serv-
ice in scouting after Tories at sundry
times, and also in guarding the frontier,
o
battle. but also dealing with willy foe
in ambush. he was living illustration
Of the watchword of his ancestors. Sem
per Paratus.'
DESCENDED FROM PILGRIMS
ExGov Mead on the maternal side was
descended from John Rowland, who came
over in the Mayflower. Rowland was
known as the Beloved Pilgrim" of Ply
mouth and the last survivor Of that mem
orable body of men who endured hard
ships of great severity borne with heroic
fortitude The daughter of John How
land married Capt. John Gornam who
was killed in one of the Indian wars with
King Philip. The Gorhams belonged to
the nobility as their genealogical tree
and pictures of their baronial castle in
France bear evidence. Gov. Mead was
able to trace the line away back to the
time when William the Conqueror made
his excursion to France in 1851. down to
mother Lydia, daughter of Eli Gorham
Of Rutland.
John A. Mead was educated at the COM
mon school at Malone, ". Y. and at Mid
debury College. where he was graduated
in 1864. In 1868 he received his diploma
from the College of Physicians and
the medical department of Columbia
University. He was appointed house
physician in the Kings County hospital
at Flatbush, l.. l.. a position he held
for several years. He then removed to
Rutland where he practced medicine I'M
til 1883. At this time he was rendered
chair in the medical department of the
University of Vermont.
SERVED IN CIVIL WAR.
During the time when by hard work
and rigid economy he was able to COM
plete his studies at college. occurred the
struggle for the preservation of the I'm
ion. Mr.. Mead stood high in his class.
but periodically responsive to the great
war president he and several OF his
classmates enlisted in Company x, 18th
Vermont Volunteers, serving for period
of nine months participating in several
skirmishes, important battles and the 80
mile march after the battle Of Gettys-
burg. Upon being mustered out he re-
turned to Middlebury, graduating with
his class He was one of the trustees Of
Middlebury College, Norwich University
and the University of Vermont and these
three institutions conferred the degree
Of L. l.. d. upon him in 1911. In 1855 he
devote his entire attention to his increas-
ing business interests.
He had received. meanwhile, recognition
of professional abilities In the appoint
ment of medical director of the Vermont
State encampment He served as surgeon
general of the State G. A. r.. 1880, with
rank of brigadier-general on the staff of
Gov. Redfiald Proctor, as member Of the
board of pension examiners and as
medical superintendent of the House of
Correction, In 1881 he aided in the or
ganization of the Vermont association.
was chosen it's medical examiner and
director. and in the same year assisted
in organizing the State Trust company
and was elected its vice-president, later
becoming it's president.
REORGANIZED HOWE SCALE co.
In 1888 he reorganized the Howe Scale
company of which he became president.
and the phenomenal growth of that enter
prise is largely due to his energetic and
wise management. He had been connected
with several other large corporations: in
the old National bank Of Rutland. as
director and cashier, in the Rutland rail-
road as treasurer and director, the Baxter
National bank as president, and the John
A. Mead Manufacturing company, as
president He was a republican; senator
from Rutland county 1882; first mayor of
the city of Rutland. 1894 commissioner
to Worlds Columbian exposition, Chi
cago, 1898. by appointment of Gov. Fuller;
commissioner to Mexican National Ex-
position OF Industries and Free Arts. 1895.
by appointment of Gov Woodbury.; repre-
scented Rutland city in Legislature. 1906:
1908, and governor of
Vermont $780, delegate-at large to ma
tional republican convention, Chicago,
1912
In 1872 ex-Gov Mead married Mary
NJ, daughter of Honorable y. and Mrs.
Mary Nj. B. Sherman of Greenwich. r. |.
He is survived by his wife: one daughter.
Mary Sherman Hinsman. the wife of Carl
b. Hinsman. vice-presldent of the Howe
Scale company, and one grandson, who
bears the name of John Abner Mead
Hinsman.
Ex-Governor Mead occupied a high
place in political. professional and fra
ternal life, but undoubtedly he was best
known as head of the Howe Scale COM
pany of this city. which he reorganized
in 1888 and which, in it's present form is
the outgrowth of, and an enduring monu-
ment to, his courage. vision and enter
prise. Under his management the COM
pany grew until its plants now cover %
acres OF land, its employees number 600
persons and its production of scales
amounts to one fourth of all those made
in the United States. About four years
ago he disposed of his interest in the
Howe Scale company to New York
corporation. but he still remained in office
M nrasdent and chairman Of tho hoa rd