The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-07-09
CHARLES 4. PROUTY
DIED At NEWPORT
Vermont Man Had Been Prominent
Figure in National Life for
Many Years.

Newport, July 9.-Hon. Charles A,
| Prouty died at his home in Newport at
1880 o'clock yesterday after an ILL
ness of several months. An autopsy
performed by Doctors H. L. Somsrs
! and III. s. Peabody revealed the cause
OF death as chronic peritonitis. Flu
neral services will be held Sunday aft
ernoon at 4 o'clock in the First Congre
gational church. Commissioner Hall of
Nantucket, Mass, will represent the
interstate commerce commission at the
funeral.
Charles AFRO Prouty was born Oct. Q,
1858, the eldest son of John AFRO
Prouty and Hannah b, Lamb. Mr..
Prouty's education began in the little
red schoolhouse near the farm where
he was born, in the Newport high
school and at st. Johnsbury academy.
He entered Dartmouth college at the
age of Is years and was graduated at
the head of his class in 1875, with The
highest honors.
When he was nominated to succeed
Judge Weazy'as member OF the inter
state eommefNe commission in 1896,
Gov, Black of New York, who was a
classmate, in speaking of Mr.. Prouty's
college days, said: HE was so brillis nj
4 young man that he easily took every
prize he went after and the rest Of US
were not in ii at any time"
During hig college course he deyel |
oped a passion for mathematics and
astronomy, His achievements in anil
academic way secured for him fine |
position as assistant TO Professor 5. |
p Langley at the Allegheny observe-
tory. The confinement Of this work i'm
paired his health and he returned 10
Newport and studied law with Theopl- |
ills Grout He was admitted to the
Vermont bar in 1877, served two terms
as states attorney and represented
Newport in the legislature in 1888 and
was that same year appointed re-
porter OF decisions of the supreme court
OF Vermont
II was while he was acting as gener
al counsel for the Rutland railroad and
attorney for the Central Vermont rail-
road that Judge Prouty went so deep
into the subject of railroad rates, the
OF marginal profits, percent
age of gains or watered stock and IN
TACT became familiar with all the in
.ricate details of railroad financing and
,ost of operation that he might have
he essential knowledge TO protect his
-lients at every point of law.
As a member of the interstate COM
nerce commission his wonderful prep
lration and his keen knowledge Of the
acts made him throw himself at once
nto the work of broader powers for
he commission. His place on the com
mission has always been that of a
esder and his opinions haveNbeen val
led by the administration regardless ,
4 party. As director of valuation of
his services have been invalu
bic. =
Besides his public interests. Judge !
'routy was mindful of his home af- ,
airs. He was president OF the Orleans /,
rust Co, owner of the Newport Elec- ,
ric Light Co. and President of the
bradford Electric Light Co. He was
$50 chairman of the board OF trustees
I the Goodrich Memorial library. Mr..
'routy loved his home town and Yer
iont, though he spent the greater part
I the year In Washington and had
lsny .fsttering offers TO change his
ssidence. He always insisted that his :
ONE on the banks of Lake Memphre- !,
lagog was the one spot in all the :,
orld where he wished to. spend the q
.st years of his life. When he was so q
in Washington this spring he was h
Stremely anxious 10 come home and y
n May he made the trip in the pri 81
ate car of one Of the high officials of =
he Pennsylvania railroad. =,
Mr. Prouty is survived by his widow, n
no was abbie Davis OF Lyndonville; /.
s two sons, Ward and John A. =,
routy; three grandchildren, Charles
yler Prouty, John A. Prouty jr., and al
ProutS; also one sister. Mrs. n
ellie Palmer Of Frami9gham, Mass, 81
I'd two younger brothers, Edgar j. or
-outy Of the firm of Prouty & Miller,
ID Willard r. Prouty, president of the q
ckmaR Lumber Co. Of Jackmsn, Me, $
'th Of Newport. In