The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-07-11
The Achison Globe Suggests That Opening Blinded Soldiers
CHARLES A. PRouTY
DistinDuif#oed. Nerraonter. Died Last
Week At Newport Home

Charlesl Aaro Pronty, who died
Thursday iat his hine lin Newport,
was born AOctober~9. 1853. the eldest
son of Jpla AFRO Prouty and Hannah
B. Lamb. Mr. IFeaty's FetludatiSn De-
gan in the littlc red school house near
the farm where he was born, in the
high school and at st. Johnsbury Acad-
'emyssySHe 9pteEed Dartmouth College
at the age OF IS and was graduated at
the head of his class In 1875, with
the highest honors.
When he was nominated to succeed
Judge Veazy as member OF the Inter-
state Commerce Commission in 1896.
Governor Black of New York, who was
a classmate, in speaking Of Mr..
Prouty's col eye days. said, He was so
brilliant young man he easily took
every prize he went after and the
rest OF us were not in 1t at any time. -
During his college course, he de-
veloped passion for mathematics
and astronomy His achievements in
an academic way secured for him a
fine. 20 itlon as assistant to Prof s.
p. Lahg'ey at The Allegheny observa.
tory The confinement of this work
impaired his health and he returned
to Newport and studied law with Theo
phius .Grout.f He was admitted to
the Vermont bar in 1877 served two
terms as States attorney and repres.
ented Newport in the Legislature in
1883 and was that same year appointed
reporter OF deci ions OF the supreme
Court OF Vermont. Ya1l s}@ 3t.r
Il was while he was acting as gen
erali counsel for the Rutland railroad
and attorney for the Central Vermont
railroad that Judge Prouty went so
deep into the subject of railroad rates
the economies OF marginal profits.
percentage OF gains of watered stocks
and in fact became familiar with the
intricate details OF railroad financing
and cost OF operation that he might
have the es iential knowledge to pro-
tect his clients at every point OF law.
AS member OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission his wonderful pre-
paration and his keen knowledge Of
the facts made him throw hmself at
once into the work OF broader powers
for the commission. His place on the
commission has always been that of a
'eadnr aud his opinions have boon val.
u,d by the administration regardless Of
party A dirctor OF yaluat on OF
railways, his servlces have been in
vauab' e. tN'
Besides his public interests, Judge
Prouty was mindful OF his home az.
fairs. He was president of the Orleans
Trust company, owner OF the Newport
u ectric Light company and pro iident
OF the Bradford Electric Light com
nany. He was also chairman or the
board OF trustees of the Goodrich Mem
orIal library MIR Prouty loved Yer
mont though he spent the greater
part OF the year in Washington and
had many hattering offers TO change
his re-, idcnce. He a ways insisted
that his home on the banks Of Lake
Memphrena cog was the one spot lh
all the world where he wished TO spend
the last years OF his life. When he
was so III in Washington this spring
he was extremely anxious to come
home and on May he made the trip
in the private car Of one OF the high
officials OF the Pennsylvania railroad.
Mr.. prouty IS survived hv his widow.
who was Abbic DAVIS OF Lvndonvllle;
his two sons. Ward and John A.
Prouty: three grandchildren, Charles
Tyler Prouty John A. Prouty. Jr.. and
Genevleve Prouty; also one sister,
Mrs. Nellie Palmer OF Framngham,
Edgar ]. Prouty OF the firm OF Prouty
Mass. and two younger brothers
president OF the Jackman Lumber
and Miller. and Willard II. Prouty-
company OF Jackman Me, both OF
Newport, 1'