USA > Vermont > Windham County > Brattleboro > Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont; early history, with biographical sketches of some of its citizens > Part 8
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Micalı Townshend was, we have been informed, at one time town clerk, but we find no positive evidence when.
FROM RECORDS OF MAJ. STEPHEN GREEN- LEAF.
Names of persons over 90 years of age residing in Brattleboro, November 26, 1826:
Dea. Joshua Wilder, aged 92 years; Widow Anna Sargent, 93; Wm. Parks. 90; Mrs. Frost, 90; Widow Brooks, 94; Widow Sartwell, 90; Matthew Martin, 90; Johnson Lynde, 90: James Carpenter, 90; Jno. Alexander, 90.
Names of persons over 80 years of age, residing in Brattleboro, November 26, 1826:
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Widow Crosby, Mr. Stone, Mrs. Sarah Ellis, Mr. Platt and wife, Abel Wilder, Mr. Capen, Widow Warriner; Benj. Baker, Oliver Carpenter and wife, Sam'l Newton and wife, Wm. Robertson and wife, Widow Peabody, Widow Atchinson, Wid- ow Cook, Jona. Herrick and wife, Noah Bennett and wife, Ebenezer Fisher and wife, John Pettis and wife.
COLLEGIATES FROM BRATTLEBORO.
Alonzo Church, President Georgia Col- lege, Edmund Frost, missionary, Sam'l Bennett, clergyman, Chas. Chapin, M. D., Wm. R. Hayes, attorney, Royall Tyler, Jr., attorney, Edward Tyler, clergyman, Joseph Tyler, clergyman, Geo. P. Tyler, clergyman, Thos. P. Tyler, clergyman, Charles Tyler, attorney, Roswell Harris, Roswell Harris, Jr., William J. Harris, Charles C. Harris, Lewis Grout, Adman- tha Grout, Henry M. Grout, Stanford R. Clark, Sam'l H. Elliot, Henry Elliot, Wm. Elliot, Chas. Elliot, Hiram W. Farns- worth, Lyman Wilcox, Theodore Barber, Edward Frost, Thomas K. Fessenden, John N. Mead, Wm. R. Mead, Wm. C. Bradley, Arthur Bradley, John C. Tyler, John C. Holbrook, Lemuel Whitney, Wells Goodhue, Rodney Church, Philip Kingsley, Pliny Kingsley, Micajah Towns- hend, Dr. John L. Dickerman, Simon Salisbury, Hancock Wells, Henry Blake, Charles Stewart, Walter Blakesley, Wm. Knight, Wm. Samson, Lewis Sikes, A Blodget, C. Alexander, Henry Spaulding, Geo. A. Hines, E. Spaulding, John B. Blake, Warren Marsh, Henry K. Field, Otis B. Atwater, R. H. Bigelow, W. H. Bigelow, Smith, son of Gilbert Smith, W. M. Hunt, R. Hunt, L. Hunt, C. H. Davenport.
LONGEVITY.
Those having monuments, who have died in Brattleboro, 80 years old and up- ward:
Susannalı Jones, died Mar. 3, 1840, age · 92; John Carpenter, Feb. 1, 1843, 88; Asuba Carpenter, Aug. 20, 1842, 89; Abner Adams, Aug. 10, 1856, 81; Salmon Stead- man, Mar. 21, 1861, 82; Mrs. Polly Bald- win, Dec. 23, 1862, 84; Mrs. Thankfull Burt, Nov. 17, 1780, 85; Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer, Jan. 8, 1838, 80; Mrs. Capt. Amos Thomas, Dec. 11, 1847, 82; Mrs. Mary Thomas, June 19, 1847, 88; Mrs. Elihue Hotchkiss, Jan. 11, 1840, 84; Mrs. Sally
Hotchkiss, Feb. 17, 1843, 83; Widow Elizabeth Hotchkiss, Feb. 21, 1819, 85; Abigail Hale, July 14, 1813, 80; Benjamin Fessenden, May 6, 1863, 88; Widow Eliz- abeth Fessenden, Mar. 27, 1864, 91; Cyn- thia Greenleaf, Sep. 7, 1859, 91; Ruther- ford Hayes, Sep. 25, 1836, 80; Widow Chloe Hayes, Feb., 1847, 84; Sam'l Clark, Apr. 9, 1861, 84; Widow Susan Clark, Aug. 12, 1863, 85; Derastus Barrett, Mar. 10, 1859, 88; Luther Sargent, Oct. 22, 1850, 83; Widow Elizabeth Sargent, Apr. 26, 1859, 85; Andrew Miner, May, 24, 1849, 82; Widow Lavina Miner, Sep. 11, 1855, 88; Wm. Harris, Mar. 12, 1845, 88; Widow Abiah Harris, Mar. 6, 1847, 82; Maj. James Esterbrook, Mar 5, 1856, 81; Eunice Wood, Oct. 13, 1846, 84; Philip Wood, July 16, 1845, 89; Hon. L. Whitney, Apr. 4, 1847, 82; Susannah Dickinson, Sept. 24, 1843, 81; Abigail Bemis, Oct. 7, 1782, -; Widow Molly Sargent, Dec. 18, 1850, 94; Widow Anna Sargent, Dec. 4, 1827, 93; Mary, widow of Col. John S. Sargent, June 10, 1822, 88; Widow Elizabeth Sar- gent, Mar. 17, 1837, 95; Jacob Spaulding, June, 1808, 81; Eunice Amsden, July 15, 1818, 93; Mrs. Mary Salsbury, Aug. 28, 1821, 82; Capt. Jonathan Salsbury, Mar. 27, 1717, 81; Jonathan Stoddard, Jan. 21, 1812, 80; James Carpenter, Nov. 4, 1829, 92; Lydia Carpenter, Oct. 20, 1826, 94; Lydia Carpenter, May 13, 1839, 82; Dea. Wm. Bigelow, Jan. 13, 1815, 88; Margaret Bigelow, Feb. 15, 1812, 90; Mrs. Esther Richardson, Nov. 28, 1851, 94; Warren Esterbrooks, June 29, 1838, 90; Mrs. Rhoda Eaton, Jan. 24, 1842, 86; Mrs. Elizabeth Orris, Oct., 1806, 89; Isaac McCune, Nov. 6, 1833, 82; John Pullen, Feb. 13, 1861, 90; Jabez Wood, Oct. 23, 1843, 94; Ben- ajah Dudley, June 20, 1850, 87; Elizabeth Dudley, Aug. 29, 1846, 80; Rebecca Crosby, Nov. 8, 1836, 93; Levi Good- enough, Sept. 9, 1848 ,83; Watson Crosby Sept. 24, 1859, 83; Reuben Stearns, Jan. 29, 1845, 86; Martha Warriner, Feb. 22, 1855, 82; Dea. Daniel Warriner, Apr. 21, 1866, 80; Chloe Warriner, July 4, 183-, 84; Mrs. Lydia Pratt, Nov. 7, 1825, 93; Income Jones, Jan. 19, 1845, 88; Ebenezer Fisher, Jan., 1831, 89; Eunice Sprague, Aug. 15, 1816, 80; Damaris Sampson, Feb. 21, 1838, 84; Solomon Dunklee, Jan. 6, 1865, 82; Widow Mary Rice, Oct. 7, 1850, 83; Jonas Rice, May 1, 1849, 84; Stephen Bennett,
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BRATTLEBORO.
Dec. 18, 1845, 83; Mrs. Ruth Bennett, Feb. 8, 1851, 88; John Gardner, June 15, 1854, 83; Dr. Lem'l Dickerman, Oct. 8, 1832, 81; Elisha Prouty, Oct. 22, 1852, 80; Mrs. Martha Dunklee, Feb. 3, 1805, 84; Benj. Hadley, Mar. 24, 1776, 92; Jonathan Wells, Jan. 7, -, -; Widow Rhoda Reeve, Aug. 23, 1847, 83; Dr. Willard Arms, Sep. 25, 1863, 83; Widow Susan Arms, Feb. 25, 1865, 86; Nathaniel Samp- son, Mar. 25, 1849, 95; Martha Sampson, Jan. 7, 1819, 92; Wm. Parks, Jan. 28, 1830, 93; Rev. Jesse Bennett, Oct. 6, 1868, 85; Widow Tryphena Bennett, Jan. 10, 1868, 83; Col. Timothy Church, Nov. 13, 1833, 86; Noah Bennett, Nov. 25, 1833, 90; Wm. Whipple, Oct. 30, 1848, 85: Stephen Bennett, Dec. 18, 1845, 83; Dea. Nathaniel Horton, Mar. 15, 1806, 81; Jonathan Her- rick, Sept. 28, 1828, 85; Lois Herrick, Aug. 26, 1812, 90; Capt. Nathaniel Bliss, Mar., 1866, 84; Lydia, widow of Capt. Nathan- iel Bliss, Nov., 1869, 82; Joseph Rodgers, Sep. 24, 1838, 84; Salathiel Harris, Oct. 29, 1846, 87; Lieut. Simon Stone, Apr. 1, 1827, 81; Arad Stockwell, Feb. 1, 1856, 83; Mrs. Lydia Stockwell, Apr. 29, 1864, 85; Ezra Harris, Oct. 13, 1857, 88; Daniel Mixer, Apr. 30, 1847, 83; John Ellis, Apr. 13, 1837, 82; Sarah Ellis, Jan. 7, 1827, 82; Solomon Harvey, Sep. 9. 1862, 81; Noah Fuller, Jan. 13, 1846, 82: Olive Fuller, Apr. 11, 1850, 84; Widow Sarah Holbrook, Mar. 22, 1851, 84; Obadiah Gill, May 25, 1838, 80; Widow Anna Gill, Mar. 23, 1861, 93; Elizabeth Burnap, Mar. 23, 1867, 94; John Bemis, June 22, 1835, 83; Nathaniel French, June 8, 1801, 81: Marcy French, Jan. 20, 1847, 86; Eleanor Thomas, Oct. 29, 1850. 89; Sam'l Frost, Nov. 18, 1866, 82; Widow Lucy Pratt, Sept. 1, 1863, 83; Widow Abigal Sargent, Mar. 9, 1849, 80; Benjamin Gorton, Jan. 22, 1825, 88; Wm. Frost, 93.
CEMETERIES.
PROSPECT HILL CEMETERY IN 1872.
N. B. Williston, President; George New- man, Secretary of the company; Timothy Vinton, Julius J. Estey, S. M. Waite, Dr. Wm. Rockwell, Trustees.
The land first used for this cemetery was given, for the use of the East Village of Brattleboro, in 1797, by Joseph Clark, Esq., and his wife, the first occupant, was buried there the same year.
Additions to this land, upon the east and south, have been made by purchase, as required by an increasing population.
In the care of cemeteries in small vil- lages, eiglity years ago, neglect was the rule, yet even in early times some persons made the burial-places of their families attrac- tive by neatly-arranged grounds, flowers and costly monuments. Sufficient labor was bestowed every year by individuals, upon their own family lots, as to render more noticeable the surrounding general neglect. Neatness and well arranged grounds, in Prospect Hill cemetery, is now the rule, rather than the exception. The solemn looking, round-top, black head- stone, with wings of cherubim shielding memento mori, is a thing of the past. Mullen, red sorrel,
" Weeds of dark luxuriance, tares of waste,"
have disappeared, giving place to more choice and fitting decorations. Some rare works of art, in memory of the dead, can now be seen in this cemetery.
The monument of the late Col. James Fisk-designed by Larkin G. Mead-has attracted many visitors from afar and near. The shaft is of Italian marble, with four nude female figures, made of the same material, in a sitting posture, with their backs toward the shaft-two of them facing east and the other two facing west -representing the principal departments of human effort wherein Col. Fisk en- gaged during his brief career in New York. No language we can use will do this work justice in description, but we can say it is perfectly beautiful, and is as fitting a memorial of the artist who designed it as of him who now lies beneath it. It is to us a constant reminder of that young genius of our village, who, over 20 years ago, made for himself a national reputa- tion by his monument of snow .*
The memorials of Hall, Francis, A. H. Bull, Rockwell, and of several others we might name, are very elegant. chaste, and fitting the purpose designed.
Located upon a high elevation. over- looking a large portion of the village- depot grounds, Connecticut river, and the mountainous country on the north-this place is a frequent resort of many persons
*See sketch of L. G. Mead, Esq.
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in summer time, who seem to never tire in their admiration of the lovely prospect spread out before them.
Although this place of the dead is the largest of the five cemeteries of the town -and contains the remains of all, or very nearly all, the business proprietors and real-estate owners of this place, fifty years ago-yet, it is not the most ancient place of the kind in this town. To find where " The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep,"
we must go to a much higher elevation, over two miles distant.
By ascending a long hill, nearly north from Centerville, and about a mile distant from that place, we find the ancient burial place of the town. It is but a few rods north of the home of Micah Townshend, which, in the year 1800, he sold. to Hon. Royall Tyler. The place is now (1878) owned and occupied by Gilbert Smith, Esq.
For an interesting description of the same see letter of Hon. R. Tyler, in Tyler papers.
In this cemetery is the grave of our first representative-Col. Sam'l Wells-and also of the first minister settled in this town- Rev. Abner Reeve. Maj. John Arms, one of the early settlers, and grandfather of the late Dr. Willard Arms, was buried here six years before the beginning of the war of the Revolution. Three genera- tions of this early family, and our early physician, Dr. Lem'l Dickerman, lie buried here.
Over West river-that charming place of our earliest recollections-is another ancient place of the dead, where can now be seen the headstone which marks the grave of Col. John Sargent, the first Eng- lish child born in the State of Vermont. In addition to the foregoing information, engraved upon the stone is the following:
" He gave good counsel while he had his breath, Advising them to prepare for death."
The first military captain we can learn of, outside of Fort Dummer, in this town, is Capt. Benjamin Butterfield, and in this burial ground is his memorial stone. His daughter taught the district school in Brat- tleboro, East village, nearly 60 years ago, and the writer of this article received from her his first lessons in the spelling book, and also received from her a severe whip- ping because he forgot the small letter-a.
EARLY PHYSICIANS OF BRATTLEBORO, FROM 1786.
Drs. Henry Wells, Lemuel Dickerman, Geo. Holmes Hall, Russell Fitch, Willard Arms, Artemas Robbins, Jonathan A. Allen, John L. Dickerman, Phillip Hall,. Daniel Gilbert Bruce, John Wilson, Dana Hyde, Reuben Spaulding, F. J. Higginson, Kitteredge, Robert Wesselhæft, William Grau, Loewenthal, Carley, Blackall, Mur- phy, Cross, Ayres, E. Chapin, Geo. P. Wesselhæft, Bowles, Morrill. From 1838 to 1845, three Thompsonian, or botanic, physicians were in practice here, viz. : Joseph and Oliver Wright and Page.
Of the given list, 19 are not living, and none of them now live in this town.
DR. LEMUEL DICKERMAN.
Born Oct. 18, 1751, married in Brattle- boro to Lucinda Arms, Mar. 17, 1779, died Oct., 1732. It has been said that he was the first established physician in this town,. but, according to later information, he was- the second, and the longest in practice. With but one exception, no physician in Brattleboro has lived so many years, and few, if any, have had a more successful career.
He was a good manager. He attended faithfully to a wide practice, and, at the same time, successfully carried on a large farm, situated about 3 miles northwest from Brattleboro, East village.
The old house he occupied is yet (1869) standing, without change, save that effect- ed by time and neglect. One of the few relics left of the first village of the town, where is the greatest evidence of a former population, is the old cemetery wherein the Doctor sleeps.
There is character expressed in a well- preserved painting of him, in possession of his grandson. Blending with good humor and penetration, something tells of . conscious power in reserve for occasion. The accuracy and quickness of perception, for which he was noted, as also a procliv- ity for the healing art, seems to have been hereditary in his posterity to the third generation. His son, Dr. John L. Dicker- man, was an established physician in this town about 40 years, and his two sons, William and Lemuel, are members of the ame profession, in Eastern Massachusetts. S
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BRATTLEBORO.
DR. WILLARD ARMS.
Born in Brattleboro, Dec. 2, 1880, the 3d generation from Maj. John Arms, .(See military history preceding) studied with Dr. Wm. S. Williams, of Deerfield, Mass., Feb. 8, 1803, married Susan Arms, of Deerfield, went immediately to Stukely, Canada.
After about a year, he was called back to settle the estate of his father, Josialı Arms, who died in possession of the meadow farm (now of the Vermont asylum, which had belonged to the Major, his father).
Dr. Arms remained in practice in his profession in this place about 14 years. He built the house at the East village now owned and occupied by N. B. Williston, Esq. In 1818, he sold his house and prac- tice to Dr. Artemas Robbins, conditioned that he should not practice in this town for 10 years, and followed his profession, the most of this time, in Northfield, Mass.
In 1833, he returned and settled in the West village, where he remained 30 years, and died, Sep. 25, 1863, aged almost 83 years.
He practiced 60. years, 44 in this town, where, in many branches of his profession, his counsel was often sought. He was considered the leading authority in obstet- rics, small-pox, &c.
"When I am sick," said he, "I don't want medicine; but I live on corn-meal hasty-pudding until the disease gets dis- gusted and leaves me."
His long life and good health was owing, in no small degree, undoubtedly, to excel- lent care, good habits, and a large share of good common sense.
DR. GEORGE HOLMES HALL,
First resident physician at the East village, commenced practice here about 1790. He added to his professional labors the mercantile.
From a report of expenses for building the first meeting-house at the West village, presented us by Hon. Fayette Clark, we quote :
"Report of Accompts. by Meeting- House committee." "Dr. George H. Hall, £46.10.3=$155.26-100, for rum, sugar, glass, white lead, &c." The foregoing is
one of 56 accounts, reported by this com- mittee, amounting in all to £696.12.1 .= $2988.6-100.
Dr. Hall's store for the sale of drugs, medicines and New England goods, stood, in 1797, at the southeast corner of the front grounds of the brick house, in Main street, of Geo. Howe, Esq.
In 1797, a clerk in the employ of Dr. Hall, caused the complete destruction of his store and goods by contact of a lighted lamp, in his hand, with an open cask of alcohol. The cask of spirits exploded and scattered the flames with such rapidity there was no time to save anything. There was no insurance. It was a blow to Dr. Hall, it has been said, from which he never recovered. He lived about 10 years after this, and died in 1807, aged 44.
In January, 1798, Rev. Dr. Wells, in re- marks from the pulpit upon the past year, said: "I allude to two very calamitous events in our midst during the year that has just closed-the death by drowning of two promising young men, Taylor and Palmer, and the destruction by fire of the property of our friend and neighbor, Dr. Hall."
Two sons of Dr. Hall, George W. and Gardner C., became successful traders in this place.
George married Sarah Holbrook, a daughter of Dea. John Holbrook, in Sept., 1818, but his life came to an early close. He died in 1825, leaving a widow and three children.
Gardner C., slender built and, to appear- ance, physically feeble, became, at one period, the most extensive merchant in this county.
While doing a large wholesale and retail business in dry goods, hardware and West India products, he engaged in the manu- facture of linseed oil, cotton, iron, &c., and not the least among the benefits he conferred upon this community was the encouragement he gave to home industry by finding a market for its products.
Not the least interesting event in our old times was the arrival of one of Hall's flat- bottom ships, laden with 20 or 25 tons of merchandise from the port of Hartford. Ct. The large white sails, swelling up the rapids on their important mission. along the shore of tall trees and banks of sum- mer verdure, were assisted by hard-handed.
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
swift watermen, who, on arrival at the landing, were sure to gratify their weak- ness for the contents of the old back store of their patron.
He was a prominent member of the Unitarian society. We believe, no one contributed more material aid in erecting the second meeting-house in the East vil- lage, in 1831.
To public improvements he gave his right hand and purse together. To all shams he presented a quiet, uncompro- mising front. From the administration of Jackson to that of Pierce, he was opposed to the Democratic party, and, as a devoted Whig, was chosen to represent his native town in the State Legislature.
DR. JONATHAN A. ALLEN
and his family lived on Main street, in the East village, as early as 1816, but how long before we are not able to state.
The house he owned and occupied was, in 1828, in the possession of Willard Pom- roy, who, by enlargements, converted it into a hotel, called the Vermont House, opened to the public in 1829 or '30. In 1849, it was removed, and a new brick hotel of three stories was erected in place by Capt. Thomas C. Lord. In Feb., 1851, this hotel was destroyed by fire, and the ground is now occupied by the Episcopal church and Town hall.
Dr. Allen is spoken of in high terms of commendation by the few aged citizens in our village who remember him. The rec- ollection of his proficiency in chemistry is yet fresh in the mind of the oldest native citizen of this village, who was one of a class, under instructions from Dr. Allen in this science, and listened to his lectures upon this subject in 1820 '21. He was an honor to the profession; gentlemanly, pru- dent and considerate in his intercourse and dealings with his fellow-men.
He left this place, at some period from 1822 to '24, for a wider field, and satisfac- torily did he prove his capability for the same in the way he long and faithfully fulfilled the duties he accepted, as profes- sor of chemistry in Middlebury college.
DR. ARTEMAS ROBBINS
bought the house and practice of Dr. Willard Arms, in the East village. At first sight no one could mistake his calling.
He had that dignity of person and general appearance requisite to meet our ideal, as to the externals, of a first-class doctor. A. faithful painting of him would be recog- nized at once as that of an M. D.
The Dr. sleeps more than 20 miles from this place, but of the good he did, during his short mission of 8 years in this place, we every day experience.
He was one of the nine originators and owners of the Northern Aqueduct com- pany, which first went into practical operation about 60 years ago, and now continues to supply several families with water.
Efficient as he generally was in the dis- charge of missions thrust upon him, there was a chronic difficulty in that huge old machinery, called the town clock, he failed to remedy.
As the old thing was irregularly ticking, and pounding out uncertain sounds, up in that old church tower on the Common, the troubled countenance and anxious eye of Dr. Robbins could be seen moving about the village in pursuit of ability such as he could trust to make the needed repairs. The desire of his heart would be gratified if he could only find that universal genius, Tom Stores, with his head level. The doctor knew that Tom could make nice tempered and beau- tiful surgical instruments, such as, in 1821, severed the arm of Lieut. Goodenough at the shoulder. In short, there was scarcely anything that could be done with the fingers, Tom could not do when he was. not on a bender, but when the rum came in his wits went out, and he would do. nothing but pound a bass drum until the heads broke in.
After the doctor moved from this place to Bellows Falls, in 1826, to the old clock
" There came an hour of peaceful rest."
It became so accustomed to resting and rusting it would not do anything else. In 1832, it was taken down, to make room for a new successor.
Dr. Robbins became a partner with Dr. Wells in establishing a drug store at. Bellows Falls, Vt. In consequence of in- vesting nearly all his property in railroad stocks, that became comparatively worth- less, he came to the close of a long life, in 1860, in destitute circumstances.
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BRATTLEBORO.
DR. DANIEL GILBERT
came, and was in practice here, from 1828 or '29 until 1841, when he removed to officiate in the Massachusetts General Hos- pital at Boston, where he died, some years since, of Asiatic cholera.
He studied surgery, under instructions from the noted Dr. Twichell, of Keene, N. H., and was a good surgeon. If defic- ient in knowledge respecting subjects coming under his consideration, he had the courage to acknowledge it, or at least was not so careful to conceal it as he was diligent to seek the remedy. Said Hon. J. Dorr Bradley: "I had confidence in Dr. Gilbert from the moment I discovered this feature in his character."
There was a bluntness in his manner not always pleasing to his patients. A stout- built, vigorous young man was under his treatment for fever. The fever left him, as did also the doctor, but it became nec- essary to recall the doctor, for the patient had a relapse, from indulgence of appetite too soon.
" Sick again?" said the doctor. "Well, good constitution; you can stand this thing, I reckon, once or twice more, if you choose; therefore, as soon as you get over this difficulty, eat too much again, before you are able to exercise enough to digest it."
Willing to accept truth from any source, yet not confined to rules of others, but original, progressive and courageous, he was the man for emergencies. His pre- scriptions were often simple, while effec- tual. In a case of obstinate, continued hiccough, which he traveled 7 or 8 miles to visit, the remedy he ordered was simply popped corn, whichi gave to the patient immediate relief.
DR. JOHN WILSON,
of Scotland, educated at Edinburgh, came to this place in 1836. He had previously passed some years in Dummerston and Newfane.
In some way he was connected with Thomas Arnold in building a steam saw- mill at the southeast part of the East village, on the site now occupied by the Vermont and Massachusetts R. R. Co., for their depot and other buildings. The old- fashioned cylinder boilers required so much
fuel, to create the needful power, the mill proved an unprofitable investment. Arnold disappeared, and the mill was for several years useless property on the hands of the Doctor.
The Doctor married a daughter of Selalı Chamberlain. His wife returned to her father, after becoming the mother of one child, and he lived a solitary, secluded life until 1847, in a small house, standing near the silent mill.
In a rather inferior carriage, accompa- nied by his little boy, he visited, in rura! districts, those persons who required his professional services, which, in some in- stances, were highly appreciated.
Though gifted with rare powers of con- versation, which gave evidence of exten- sive information, he rarely, if ever, sought the society of those who could best appre- ciate him, or the company we should sup- pose would have been most congenial to a man of his high cultivation.
The visits necessity compelled him to make to the grocery and stores, were im- proved by some people to draw forth ideas, or get opinions from this mysterious oracle, and when well started in conversa- tion, we have noticed a charmed circle of attentive listeners gather around him, and all seemed willing to adhere to the maxinis of Zeno.
Upon one occasion I heard him remark : " I have never witnessed such extravagan- ces in the use of language as I have noticed in New England. For instance, Mr. H. said to me, 'Doctor, there is some grand, almighty, elegant, magnificent, splendid, nice, fresh fish.' My first impression was that Mr. H. had just returned from St. Peter's at Rome, or from the grand Cathe- dral at Milan, and had commenced to en- lighten me upon his discoveries; but judge of my surprise, after he had used up superlatives enough to do justice to the architecture of the middle ages, my atten- tion was directed to a few small, dead fishes."
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