The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-06-02
Ex-GOy. Pingree. Civil
War Hero, Died Thursday
(Cotniued from Page u

race French of West Lebanon, n.
II. Capt. French is the last sur
vivor of the commissioned officers
of Co. F, Bird Vermont. Col.
Pingree attended everyone Of
these reunions but one. On one
of these visits his good wife, in
speaking of her honored husbands
eagerness to be present at the re-
union, said that she actually be-
lieved that if her funeral and the
reunion should come on the same
date, he would take measures to
have the funeral postponed to en-
able him to be at the St. Johns
bury reunion. The circle of those
who will mourn his death is large,
but there are none whose grief
is more genuine than the boys who
wore the army blue with him.
At the close of the war, Col.
Pingree returned to his home state
and his chosen profession. In civ
il life he exhibited the same force
of character and energy of pur-
pose that made his military lif9
successful and exceptional. He
was states attorney of Windsor
county in 1868-69, and during his
term of office Hiram Miller was
indicted for the murder of Mr.. and
Mrs Gowan, and it was chiefly
owing to the careful preparation
and the efficiency with which h.
conducted the prosecution, that
the accused criminal was duly
convicted and suffered the extreme
penalty of the law.
He served the town of Hartford
as town clerk for more than 60
years. He was always faithful in
the performance of his duties, and
no matter what the weather, he
was to be found each day at his
office.
In 1869 he was married to Ly-
dia NJ, daughter of Sanford and
Mary (Hinman) Steele of Stan
stead, p. Q. She survives him, to-
gether with their adopted son,
William S. Pingree, assistant town
clerk Of Hartford, and two grand
children.
Though not an office seeker,
traits that naturally attract the
confidence of the public, and he
was naturally chosen to fill many
positions of honor and response
bility. He always filled them with
signal ability and credit. He was
delegate to the republican ma
tional convention that nominated
Grant for the presidency In
1882, he was elected lieutenant
governor and two years later was
promoted to governor, by accla-
nation While governor, in 1885,
he inaugurated the custom in Yer
mont OF observing Arbor day, and
his proclamation for it was the
first issued by any state east of
the Mississippi. At the death of
General Grant, July %, 1885, Gov,
Pingrce issued a proclamation set
ting aside August 8 as 4 day on
which memorial services might
properly be held, and the day was
very generally so observed.
In 1886 he was made chairman
of the state railway commission,
serving eight years. He served
many years as trustee of Yer
mont academy and of the state
normal school at Randolph Cen
Ter. He had been highly honorcd
by veteran comrades, having been
r1ected nudge advocate general Of
the Legion of Honor. He was 4
social member of Hartford coun-
ell NJ. W. of A. In 1898 Norwich
university conferred on him the
degree of doctor of laws.
When Col. Pingree was made
lieut.governor, he was contcmpor-
aneous with men like Senators
Morrill, and Edmunds, Congress
men Stewart. Poland and Grout,
Judges Redfeld, Ross and Rowell
County Senators Henry c. Ide,
Henry f. Field and Edwin Hor-
ton. In the Vermont legislature,
when he was chief executive. were
such men as James X. Batchelder
of Arlington, William p. Fair
banks of st. Johnsbury, Franklin
u. Hale of Lunenburg, Herbert
F. Brigham of Bakersfield, F. S.
Strannahan Of st. Adams, Nelson
W. Fiske of Isle LaMottc, Josiah
Grout of Derby, X. c. Abel OF
West Haven, James W. Brock OF
Montpelier, A. c. Cudworth of
Londonderry, Zed S. Stanton Of
RoXbury, Hugh Henry of Chester
.,,, =, NV N Nf