IN MEMOKIAM. 9 



the chamber where the good man meets his fate is privileged 

 above the common walks of life, quite on the verge of heaven." 

 For more than thirty years I was favored with the intimate 

 friendship of Gen. AYood, and I esteem those years as some of 

 the happiest of my life. As a co-partner in business, and as an 

 associate in several of our successful corporations, I do his mem- 

 ory but common justice, when I affirm tliat he w^as " the noblest 

 work of God — an honest man." 



DR. THOMAS R. BOUTELLE, 



Your fourth President, serving in that office in 1856 and 1857, 

 having the two previous years been your accomplished Secre- 

 tary, was born in the town of Leominster, June 9th, 1795 ; he 

 died in Fitchburg, July lo, 1809, aged 74 years. He was the 

 son of David and Demaris Boutelle. He studied medicine with 

 Dr. Amos Twitchell of Keene, N. H., and Dr. Peter Snow, 

 Senior, of this town, and received his medical degree from Yale 

 Medical School. Dr. Boutelle first commenced the practice of 

 his profession in the town of New Braintrec, but soon removed 

 to his native place, and after a short period, to Fitchburg, iden- 

 tifying himself with the toAvn of his adoption, and passing hero 

 the whole of his mature life in the constant practice of his pro- 

 fession, and at his death, the oldest physician, not only in town 

 but in the surrounding neighborhood. 



My acquaintance Avith Dr. Boutelle commenced more than 

 twenty years ago, and added years increased our friendship. 

 During the Rebellion it was our duty as almoners for our citi- 

 zens, to administer to the needy famiUes of our patriotic sons 

 and brothers in their absence in the field, and I can bear testi- 

 mony to his delicacy and faithfulness in the discharge of that 

 duty. 



Having spent the largest part of his life in this tov>n, he has 

 been a witness of its growth and prosperity, and has come to be 

 identified with us in many ways. His honest, upright charac- 



