The Earle family : Ralph Earle and his descendants

[ tor,
Gen.] GENEALOGY. 133
physician, who recommended a sea voyage, he suddenly decided to
go to Europe. He sailed from Boston in September, and spent the
winter in Nice. There he had an attack of diphtheria, which
threatened to prove fatal. He recovered, however, sufficiently to go
to England, where he spent the summer at Folkstone, the Isle of
Wight and Bath. He improved somewhat in health, and hoped to
return home during this month ; but remained feeble ; and those best
informed of his condition entertained
to cross the water again.
grave doubts of his being able
Some years ago Mr. Howard made evident his determination to
be in pai't his own executor, by disposing of a portion of his ample
fortune in public beneficences, and to make his native place his chief
beneficiary. Since then he has given in public gifts over $260,000
for educational, charitable and religious purposes in Burlington.
Prominent among these are the gift of $50,000 in money to the
University, the rebuilding of the main University building and new
Medical college, at a cost of $65,000, and the statue of Lafayette and
fountain in the college park—these gifts to the University aggregating
about $133,000; the Howard Opera house and block costing
$100,000 given to the Home for Destitue Children ; and the new
chapel and rectory of St. Paul's church, costing $20,000. Adding
minor gifts (such as the City park fountain, the gateways to Lake
View cemetery and Howard park) and charities Mr. Howard's beneficences
in Burlington in the last ten years must exceed $275,000.
He gave frequently and generously also, in private charities. He
took great pleasure in all these gifts, and he had in contemplation
others, as that of a new gymnasium for the University and a fund for
a diocesan school for girls, for which it is not unlikely that he may
have made provision by will. He probably leaves an estate of not
less than a million dollars. His surviving relations are his elder
sister, Miss Louisa Howard, his younger sister, Mrs. A. C. Spear,
and his nieces, Mrs. Julia Spear and Mrs. Theodore Evans. He
never married. * * * *
As the citizens of Burlington will doubtless take a suitable occasion
to do honor to the memory of our city's most generous benefac-
we need not add to this hasty sketch, any words of praise. His
good deeds praise him. His name is on every lip with expressions
of gratitude and honor ;—and he will long be held in grateful memory
by the people of Burlington and of Vermont."
His remains were interred, with appropriate ceremonies, in the
Lake View cemetery, at Burlington.
[454-2]. Weston 6 Karle (Calebs Oliver, 4 Thomas ,3
William, 2 Ralfh 1
), son of Caleb and Sarah (Buffington)
Earle, b. April 18, 1750, in Swanzey, Mass. ; m. 1st,
Hepzibeth Terry ; issue, 3 ch. ; 2d, Sarah Slade ; issue,