USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Gazetteer and business directory of Lamoille and Orleans counties, Vt., for 1883-84, pt 1 > Part 2
USA > Vermont > Orleans County > Gazetteer and business directory of Lamoille and Orleans counties, Vt., for 1883-84, pt 1 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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North Wolcott, Pleasant Valley,
Cambridge,
Zenas D. Buker.
Stowe,
Stowe,
Waterville,
Nathaniel Robinson. Edwin H. Shattuck. Willis M. Parker.
Orleans County.
TOWN.
POSTMASTER
Albany,
Albany, Albany Center. Barton,
Albany, Barton,
Martin B. Chafey. Edmund G. Carter. Erskine E. Rawson.
Barton Landing, Beebe Plain,
Barton,
Amaziah C. Skinner. John Tinker.
Derby.
Craftsbury,
George Merrill. Charles A. Parker.
Brownington,
Brownington,
Coventry,
Craftsbury,
Derby,
Amie Wheeler. Benj. F. Towler. James D. Leavitt. Benj. Hinman.
East Albany, East Charleston,
Derby, Albany, Charleston,
Jerome T. Flint. Byran N. Moore. John S. Sweeney.
Branch, Browningtown. Browningtown Center, Coventry, Craftsbury. Derby, Derby Line,
Wolcott,
Waterville, Wolcott,
Wolcott,
POSTOFFICE.
Joel M. Wilcox. Barnum L. Austin. Eben Douglass.
Eden Mills,
Hyde Park.
East Cambridge,
Cambridge,
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13
POSTOFFICES AND POSTMASTERS-MAIL ROUTES.
East Coventry,
Coventry,
Isaac Parker.
East Craftsbury,
Craftsbury,
James W. Simpson.
East Greensboro,
East Greensboro,
Alonzo D. Rollins.
Evansville,
Brownington,
Harriet N. Fay.
Glover.
Glover,
Chapin Leonard.
Greensboro,
Greensboro,
George M. Cuthberston.
Greensboro Bend,
Greensboro,
Robert B. Smith.
Holland,
Holland,
Elisha D Moon.
Jav.
Jay,
Lowell,
Lowell.
Morgan,
Morgan,
Martha A. Moore.
Morgan Center,
Morgan,
Darwin A. Currier
Newport,
Newport,
II. S. Lawrence.
Newport Center,
Newport.
George L Sleeper.
North Craftsbury,
Craftsbury
Augustus Paddock.
North Derby,
Derby,
Richard P. Goodell.
North Greensboro,
Greensboro,
Albert Chesley.
North Troy,
Troy.
Orin N. Elkins.
South Aabany,
Albany,
Mrs Lois P. Rowell.
Sonth Barton,
Barton,
Grovner I. Drown.
Troy,
Troy,
Hiram Stewart.
West Charleston,
Charleston,
J. B. Holton.
West Derby,
Derby,
Franklin M. Gardner.
Westfield,
Westfield,
N C. Hoyt.
West Glover,
(ilover.
Ellis O. Randall.
Wert Holland,
Holland,
James Lewis.
Westmore,
Westmore
J. C. Orne.
Rates of Commission Charged for Money Orders.
On orders not exceeding $10.00. eight cents; over $10.00 and not exceeding $15.00. ten cents; over $15.00 and not exceeding $30.00, fifteen cents; over $30.00 and not exceeding $10.00, twenty cents ; over 40.00 and not exceeding $50.00, twenty-five cents: over $50.00 and not exceeding $60.00, thirty cents : over $50.00 and not exceeding $20.00, thirty-five cents; over $70.00 and not exceeding $80.00, forty cents; over $80.00, and not exceeding $100.00 45 cents. No single order issued for a greater sum than $100.00.
MAIL ROUTES.
No Stages run on Sunday.
2211 BARTON BY WEST GLOVER AND EAST ALBANY TO SOUTH ALBANY. 11 miles and back, tri-weekly. Leaves Barton Tuesday. Thursday, and Saturday, at & p. m . arriving at. South Albany by 11 a. m. South Albany on same days at & p. m., arriving at Barton by 5 a. m., Joseph Elliot of Barton, mail carier; two horses; fare, Barton to West Glover 25 cents; East or South Albany, 50 cents. Express and telegraph via. Barton.
2208 BARTON LANDING BY EVANSVILLE TO WESTMORE, 9 miles and back, tri-weekly. leaves Barton Landing, Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday, at ? p. m. or on arrival of mail train, arriving at Westmore by 9:30 p m, leaves Westmore same day at 4:30 a. m. arriving at Barton Land- ing by ? a. m. Express and telegraph via. Barton Landing.
2207 BROWNINGTON TO RAILROAD STATION 2'Y miles and back daily except Sundays. Leaves Brownington in time to connect with mail trains.
2206 COVENTRY TO EAST COVENTRY, 3 miles and back twice daily. Leaves Coventry at 6:15 a. m. and 5:13 p. m, and returning, arrives at 8:30 a. m., and 8:30 p. m Charles Chamberlain, mail carrier, two horses, fare 25 cents. Express via. Kast Coventry, tel. via. Newport.
2222 EAST CAMBRIDGE TO JOHNSON, 115 miles and back tri-weekly. Leaves East Cambridge at 10:30 a. m , arriving on return at 1:30 p. m., Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays. Ex. and tel. via. Johnson. No passengers.
2181 EAST ELMORE TO WOLCOTT, 6 miles and back. tri-weekly. Leaves East Elmore Tuesdays, Thurs- days and Saturdays, at 3 p. m .. arriving in Wolcott by 4:30 p. in. or in time to connect with Train. Leave Wolcott same days at 7:30 p. m. or on arrival of train. Ex. and tel. via. Wolcott.
2210 GLOVER TO BARTON, 316 miles and back, twice daily. Leave Glover daily at 7 a. m. and 5 p. m., arriving at Barton by 7:15 a. m. and 5:15 p. m. Leave Barton at 8:51 a. m. and 6:45 p. m., arrive at Glover by 9 a. m. and 7:30 p. m. George S. Whitney, mail carrier for the past six years ; two-horse coach. Fare 25 cents. Express and telegraph via. Barton.
2215 GREENSBORO BEND BY EAST GREENSBORO TO NORTH GREENSBORO, 6 miles and back, daily to East Greensboro, tri-weekly the residue. Leave Greensboro Bend at 6:30 p. m., arrive at East Greensboro by ?p. m. Leave East Greensboro at ?a. m. arrive at Greensboro Bend by 7:30 a. m. Leave East Greensboro Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 a. m., arrive at North Greensboro by 11 a. m., stop 10 minutes and return. H. S. Daniels, mail carrier. One horse; fare 35 cents through; 25c. to East Greensboro. Express and telegraph via. Greensboro Bend.
2220 HYDE PARK BY NORTH HYDE PARK, EDEN, EDEN MILLS, LOWELL, WESTFIELD AND TROY TO NORTH TROY, 34 miles and back daily. Leave Hyde Park at 8 a. m .. arrive at North Troy by 4 p. m. Leave North Troy at 7:30. a. m., arrive at Hyde Park by 4 p. m. J. L. Towle & Co .. proprietors. two horse conveyance, fare through $2.00. Express and telegraph via Hyde Park or North Troy.
JAY TO NORTH TROY (special) no regular train. E. M. Chase, mail carrier. Fare each way 50c. Express and telegraph via. North Troy.
2203 ISLAND POND, ESSEX CO., BY EAST CHARLESTON, WEST CHARLESTON AND DERBY TO DERBY
-
------
Irasburgh,
Irasburgh,
George H. Newland.
Henry D. Chamberlin.
Ernest W. Curtis.
14
MAIL ROUTES-SOCIETIES.
LINE, 22 miles and back daily. Leave Island Pond, at 6:30,!a. m., arriving at Derby Line by 12 m. Leave Derby Line at 1 p. m., arrive at Island Pond by 6 p. m. Alexander Long, mail carrier, two horse stage. Express and telegraph, via. of Derby Line, Newport or Island Pond.
2204 ISLAND FOND, ESSEX CO., BY MORGAN CENTER, MORGAN, HOLLAND AND WEST HOLLAND TO DERBY LINE, 20 miles and back tri-weekly. Leave Island Pond Tuesday, Thursday and Sat- urday, at 6:30, a. m., arrive at Derby Line by 11:30 a. m. Leave Derby Line same day at 2 p. m., arrive at Island Pond by ? p. m. George Herring mail carrier, two horse conveyance. Express and telegraph via. Derby Line or Island Pond.
2250 MONTGOMERY CENTER FRANKLIN CO., BY BELVIDERE CORNERS TO EDEN, 14 miles and back once a week. Leave Montgomery Center Wednesday at 7 a. m., arrive at Eden by 10:30 a. m. Leave Eden Sunday at 11 a. m., arrivo at Montgomery Center by 2:30 p. m. Express and telegraph via. East Berkshire or Hyde Park.
2177 MONTPELIER BY WORCESTER AND ELMORE TO MORRISVILLE, 2516 miles and back daily. Leave Montpelier in a. m., arriving at Morrisville 5 p. m. Leave Morrisville at 8:15 a. m., for Montpelier. John A. Phelps, mail carrier, two horse conveyance. Fare, Morrisville to Elmore 25c. ; to Montpelier, $1.25. Express and telegraph via. Morrisville.
2205 NEWPORT BY WEST DERBY TO DERBY, 4 miles and back, daily. Leave Newport at ?p. m., arriving at Derby by 8 p. m. Leave Derby at 6 a. m. arrive at Newport by 7 a. m. Horace Waterman, mail currier. Stage fare 25 cents through. Express and telegraph via. New- port or Derby Line.
BARTON LANDING, IRASBURGH AND ALBANY stage and mail route, David Praim, proprietor; whole route 11 miles. Stage morning and evening from Irasburgh to Barton Landing and return, connecting with mail trains on Passnmpsie R. R. and every evening to Albany. Stage fare from Barton Landing to Irasburgh 50 cents; from Barton Landing to Albany $1.00. Express and telegraph via. Barton Landing.
WOLCOTT BY NORTH WOLCOTT AND BRANCHI TO NORTH CRAFTSBURY and back, tri-weekly, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Lewis Strong of Wolcott. mail carrier Leaves Wolcott in a. m. and return p. m , fare through 75 cents. Express via. Wolcott, telegraph via. Wolcott or Greensboro Bend
2214 NORTH CRAFTSBURY BY CRAFTSBURY, FAST CRAFTSHURY AND GREENSBORO TO GREENSBORO BEND. 1134 miles and back daily. Leave North Craftsbury at ?a. m., arriving at Greens- boro Bend by 10 a. m. Leave Greensboro Bend at 4 p. m., arriving at North Craftsbury by 7 p. m. Amos Hopkins, mail carrier, 2 horse carriage, fare from North Craftsbury to East Craftsbury, 25c ; Greensboro, 75c, and to Greensboro Bend, $1.00. Express and telegraph via. Greensboro Bend.
2223 PLEASANT VALLEY TO CAMBRIDGE 4 miles and back tri-weekly. Leave Pleasant Valley Tues- day, Thursday and Saturday at 5 p. m., arrive at Cambridge by fi p. m. Leave Cambridge same days at 6:15 p. m., arrive nt Pleasant Valley by 7:15 p. m. D. R. Buker, mail carrier. One horse. Fare 25 cents. Express and telegraph via. Cambridge.
MORRISVILLE BY STOWE AND WATERBURY CENTRE TO WATERBURY daily and return. Leave Morrisville at 5 a. m., arrive at Stowe for breakfast, and reach Waterbury about 9 a. m., or in time to connect with trains North and South on C. V. Railroad. Leave Waterbury on arrival of mail train from the South about 4 p. m .. arrive at Stowe 6:30, p. m .. and Morris- ville at 8:30 p. m. During July. August and September, a stage also leaves Waterbury at 9:30, a. m., reaches Stowe 11:30, a. m., and Morrisville in time for the White Mt. train. Returning arrive at Waterbury 3:30 p. m., in time for mail train going north. E. C. Bailey & Son, props. Express and telegraph via. Morrisville or Waterbury.
BARTON LANDING BY BROWNINGTON TO BROWNINGTON CENTER and back daily. Leave Brown- ington Center 4:30 p. m., arrive at Barton Landing by 5:35 p. m., returning arrive at Brown- ington Center by S:15 p. m. Charles Wheeler. contractor. One horse. Fare through 35 cents. Express and telegraph via. Barton Landing.
SOCIETIES. Masonic Fraternity.
ALBANY .- Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 21. F. & A. M., chartered October 13, 1800. Communication, Wednesdays of the weeks the moon fulls. Thomas J. Wallace, W. M. ; J. C. Campbell Sr. W. ; George T. Coolidge, Jr. W.
BARTON .- Orleans Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M .. chartered January 11, 1861. Communications at Masonic Hall on Fridays of the weeks the moon fulls. J. P. Baldwin, W. M. ; E. F. Dutton, Sr. W. ; N. M. Scott, Jr. W.
Keystone Chapter. No. 16, meets on Mondays of the weeks the moon fulls alternate between Barton and Island Pond. D. MeDougall, H. P. ; C. M. Dyer, K .; J. C. Rawson, Scribe.
CAMBRIDGE .- Warner Lodge, No. 50, F. & A. M., chartered January 12, 1860. Meets at Masonic Hall on Fridays of the weeks the moon fulls. F. S. Edwards, G. M.
GREENSBORO .- Caspian Lake Lodge, No. 87. F & A. M., chartered June 11, 1868. Communications Wednesdays of the weeks preceding the full of the moon. W. B. Sawyer, W. M.
JOHNSON .- Waterman Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M., chartered June 8, 1868. Communications Thursdays of the weeks the moon fulls, at Buck's Hall. R. C. Christie, W. M. ; 1. L. Pearl, Sr. W. ; George Dillingham, Jr. W.
MORRISVILLE .- Green Mountain Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M., chartered June, 1869. Meets at Ma- sonic Hall on Wednesdays of the weeks the moon fulls.
Tucker Chapter, No. 15, R. A. M., meets at Masonic Hall, Fridays of the weeks the moon fulls.
NEWPORT .- Memphremagog Lodge, No. 65, chartered January 12, 1865. Meets Mondays of the weeks the moon fulls and two weeks later, C. G. Kelsea, W. M.
Cleveland Chapter, No. 20, R. A. M., regular convocations second Friday of each month. R. J. Wright, M. E. H. P.
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الماء
15
SOCIETIES.
Orleans Council, No. 19, R. & S. M., regular convocations second Friday in May, August, November and February. E. B. True, M.
STOWE .- Mystic Lodge, No. 56, chartered January 11, 1861. Meets Tuesdays of the weeks the moon fulls.
TROY .- Masonic Union Lodge, No. 16, F. & A M .. chartered October 9, 1821. Meets Thursdays of the weeks the moon fulls. William W. Wakefield, W. M.
WOLCOTT .- Mineral Lodge, No. 93, F. &. A. M., chartered June 12, 1870. Meets Tuesdays of the weeks the moon fulls. M. S. Burnell, W. M.
Crystal Chapter, No. 9, Order of the Eastern Star, meets Wednesdays of the weeks the moon fulls.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
CAMBRIDGE .- Phoenix Lodge, No. 145, I. O. of O. F., meets every Friday evening at Masonic Hall.
DERBY .- Clyde Lodge. No. 7, I. O. of O. F., C. F. Davis, W. C. F. Meets every Friday evening.
Frontier Encampment, No. 12, I. O. of O. F., A. W. Lawrence, Sec'y. Meets 2d and 4th Friday evening of each month.
Temperance Societies.
DERBY. - Oriental Lodge, No. 36, I. O. of G. T., Joseph Tinker, secretary. Meets every Friday evening.
JOHNSON .-- Lamoille Lodge, No. 30, I. O. of G. T., David Holdridge, W. C. Meets every Saturday evening.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union ; meets first Tuesday of each month; Mrs. I. L. Pearl, president; Mrs. Helen Weilman, secretary.
WOLCOTT .- Temperance Reform Club; I. C. Sanborn, president; H. W. Camp, secretary.
Grand Army of the Republic Posts.
CAMBRIDGE .- Grand Army of the Republic Post, No. 10, has forty members, with W. H. Parker, commander; meets first Monday in each monthi.
CRAFTSBURY .- Flint Post, No. 16., E. S. Sunonds, commander; meets fourth Tuesday in each month.
GLOVER .- Mason Post, No. 16, E. II. Nye, commander; meets Thursday of the week the moon fulls.
GREENSRORO .- A. E. Burnside Post, No. 6, H. B. Brown, commander; meets Saturday of the week the moon fulls.
JOHNSON .- Old Brigade Post, No 47, D. G. Holines, commander; meets first Saturday in each month.
MORRISTOWN .- J. M. Warner Post, No. 4, Gorge W. Doty, commander; ineet second Friday of each month.
NEWPORT .- Baxter Post, No. 51, F. C. Bates, commander; meets first Wednesday in each month. T. B. Skinner Post, No. 26, O. J. Adams, commander; meets first Monday in each month.
STOWE .- H. H. Smith Post, No. 19, Chandler Watts, 2d, commander; meets Wednesday of the week the moon fulis.
WOLCOTT .- Foster Post, No. 55, M. J. Leach, commander; meet first Wednesday in each month.
Bands.
CRAFTSBURY .- Craftsbury Cornet Band, fourteen pieces, James Whitney, leader; postoffice address, North Craftsbury.
IRASBURGH .- Irasburgh Cornet Band, nineteen pieces, George A.'Beede, leader; meets tri-weekly at school-house hall.
MORRISTOWN .- Elmore's Orchestra Band, four pieces. George H. Elmore, leader.
Paul Brother's Orchestra and Brass Band, six pieces, W. I. Paul, leader.
Morristown Brass Band, thirteen pieces, W. I. Paul, leader.
STOWE. - Stowe Brass Band, thirteen pieces, Charles Ambricht, leader,
TROY .- North Troy Cornet Band, sixteen pieces, Dr. G. H. Fuller, leader.
Fire Companies.
BARTON .- Washington Engine Co. No. 1, Barton Lauding, has thirty members, E. L. Chandler, foreman.
Active Engine Co. No. 2, Barton Village, has twenty-five members, John W. Murkland, foreman.
MORRISVILLE .- Engine Co. No. 1, hastwenty members, W. M. Clark, foreman.
Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, has thirty members, IL. Safford, foreman.
Miscellaneous Societies.
GREENSBORO .- Greensboro Library Association, J. B. Cook, president; W. W. Goss, secretary; J. O. Cutler, librarian.
JOHNSON-The National Liberal League. B. S. Willey, president; Shepard Hemingway, vice- president; Lucien Scott, secretary.
HYDE PARK .- The Lamoille County Medical Society meets quarterly at Hyde Park. At their annual meeting, January 3, 1883, E. J. Hall, of Morrisville, was chosen president; Mar- cus Ide, of Stowe, vice-president; W. Y. Bliss, of Hyde Park, secretary; and C. C. Rublee, of Morrisville, treasurer.
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16
CENSUS TABLE.
Population of the several towns in Lamoille and Orleans counties of each Census since 1791, inclusive, showing the loss and gain in each town.
LAMOILLE COUNTY.
1791
1800
1810
1820
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
Belvidere.
......
217 990
198 1,176
185
256
366
369
400
Cambridge
359
733
224
201
Elmore
12
15
157
157
373
823
1,080 1,410
1,381
1,526
1,558
1,495
Morristown
10
144
550
726
1,315
1,502
1,441
1,751
1.897
2,099 1,896
Waterville.
15
51
193
273
188
610
753
747
573
547
Wolcott
32
17
124
123
492
824
909
1,161
1,132
1,166
Total ....
564
1,730
13,860
4,962
8,468
9,972
10,139 12,311| 12, 448|12,684
ORLEANS COUNTY
Albany ..
......
12
101
252
683
920
1,052
1,224
1,151
1,138
Barton.
....
..
128
447
372
726
892
987
1,590
1,911
2,364
Brownington ..
6.
236
265
412
486
613
761
901
854
Charleston
..
..
......
56
90
564
731
1,008
1,160
1,278
1,204
Coventry ..
......
7
178
282
729
796
867
914
914
911
Craftsbury .
18
229
566
605
982
1,151
1,223
1,413
1,330
1,381
Derby . ...
......
36
387
549
902
1,119
1,137
1,244
1,178
1,055
Greensboro
19
280
566
625
784
883
1,008
1,065
1,027
1,061
Holland
....
.....
128
100
422
605
669
748
881
913
Irasburgh
......
15
292
432
860
971
1,034
1,131
1,085
1,064
Jay
.
...
.....
......
52
196
308
371
474
553
696
Lowell *..
......
......
.....
......
....
..
......
......
135
116
231
422
486
548
614
1,057 711
Newport ...
......
50
28
52
284
591
748
1,191
2,050
2,426
Salem, annexed to Derbyt ..
16
58
80
230
299
155
594
693
581
Troy ....
.. .
......
.....
281
227
608
856
1,008
1,248
1,355
1,522
Westfield.
......
16
149
225
353
370
502
618
721
698
Westmore
......
......
......
......
32
122
152
324
412
480
Total
37
1,132
4,322
15,259
10, 167 13, 424 15, 677 18,966 21,035 22,103
*Could find no statistics of the town previous to 1840.
+Salem annexed to Derby March 1, 1831. Pop, of Derby 2,518.
.
.
.
...
316
650
957
1,570
|1,371
1,771
2,046
2,019
1,750 934 682
Eden .
.....
.
. ...
1,107 |1,409
11,624
1,715
Johnson ..
255
494
778
1,079
207 1,790 702 476
1,849
1,784
1,651 958
919
668 504
602
637
Hyde Park.
13
110
261
178
714
925
1,469
1,681
1,750
1,906
2,039
1,967
Glover.
..
..
..
...
..
...
..
.
-
.
......
Morgan ..
431
637
813
942
.
..
29
1,613 461 442
Stowe.
CENSUS TABLES.
GAZETTEER
-OF-
LAMOILLE COUNTY, VT.
HOUGH it is not the purpose of this work to enter minutely into the history of the territory of which it treats, it still becomes necessary to invite the gentle reader among the cobwebs of time, and to retrace with him some of the half-hidden paths that lead back adown the misty vale of centuries, to the days when the grand old Green Mountains towered above an unexplored wilderness, to the time when the majestic forests of the pres- ent proud State of Vermont echoed only the voices of nature, when its beauty- teeming lakes and charming streams reflected from their bosoms only the bark canoe of the wily savage. Enroute we purpose to enquire into the causes that brought the great commonwealth into existence, and to briefly notice its progress from the first settlement of its territory by civilized people, to the time of its admission as a member of the Federal Union. Two of its fourteen grand divisions we purpose to more particularly notice, viz .: La- moille and Orleans counties. Here we shall endeavor to trace in outline the lives of a few of their hardy pioneers, enquire into their early proceedings, trace the erection of each one of the townships therein, and to hand down to future generations the name and occupation of each of their present resi- dents.
It has been aptly said, that "that country is the happiest which furnishes fewest materials for history ;" yet, if rightly considered, the duty of the histo- rian will be found not limited to the narration of the dramatic events of war, but equally applicable to the arts of peace, and that the true heroes of man- kind are those who have manfully encountered and overcome the difficulties which might have hindered them from arriving at honorable ends by honest means. Viewed in this light, the pioneer who has subdued the wilderness of nature, and surrounded his home with the luxuries of a well directed hus- bandry, is socially far above the victorious warrior, and his toils, privations,
2
.
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DER
18
LAMOILLE COUNTY.
and successes are more worthy of record. Still, to those who dwell with in- terest on the recital of scenes of blood, this district is classic. Tradition relates that in ancient times it was the scene of long and bloody wars between its savage possessors, who fought for the supremacy of its soil, and doubtless many a stealthy march and midnight massacre, had they but had their histo- rian, would now thrill the blood of the reader. But we have to leave this period of the buried past, through which the stream of time has coursed its way, without leaving more to mark its path than the scattered relics and obscure traces, which tell nothing, but that something was, and is not, to approach the period of authentic history ; and even here we find many links wanting in the claim of events, which might have enabled us to trace the progress of the discovery, and the settlement and the changes of dominion, which our country has undergone.
There are good reasons for believing that the first civilized people who visited New England were a colony of Norwegians, or Northmen, who em- igrated thither, according to the original Icelandic accounts of their voyages of discovery, as follows :-
" In the spring of A. D., 986, Eric the Red, so named from the fact of his having red hair, emigrated from Iceland to Greenland, and formed a settle- ment there. In 994, Biarne, the son of Heriulf Bardson, one of the settlers who accompanied Eric, returned to Norway, and gave an account of dis- coveries he had made to the south of Greenland. On his return to Green- land, Leif, the son of Eric, bought Biarne's ship, and, with a crew of thirty- five men, embarked on a voyage of discovery, A. D., 1000. After sailing sometime to the southwest, they fell in with a country covered with slaty rock, and destitute of good qualities, and which, therefore, they called Hellu- land (Slateland). They then continued southerly until they found a low, flat coast, with white sand cliffs, and immediately back, covered with wood, whence the called the country Markland (Woodland). From here they sailed south and west, until they arrived at a promontory, which stretched to tbe east and north, and sailing round it turned to the west, and sailing to the westward, passed between an island and the main land, and entering a bay, through which flowed a river, they concluded to winter there. Having land- ed, they built a house to winter in, and called the place Leifsbuthir (Leif's booths). Soon after this they discovered an abundance of vines, whence they named the country Vinland, or Wineland, which corresponds with the present country at the head of Narragansett Bay, in Rhode Island."
Other discoverers and navigators followed this expedition, attempts at col- onization were made, and the country was explored, in some localities, quite a distance back from the coast, but dissensions among themselves, and wars with the savages, at length put an end to these rude attempts at civilization, and except a few records, such as the above, and a " rune stone " found here and there throughout the territory, marking a point of discovery, or perhaps the grave of some unhappy Northman, the history of these explorations are wrapt in oblivion. Even the colonies that had been established in Greenland were at length abandoned, and the site upon which they flourished, became, for many years, forgotten. Finally, however, the fifteenth century was
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ushered in, marking an era of great changes in Europe. It put an end to the darkness of the middle ages ; it witnessed the revival of learning and science, and the birth of many useful arts, among which not the least was printing. The invention of the mariner's compass in the preceding century having enabled sailors to go out of sight of land with impunity, a thirst for exploring unknown seas was awakened. Long voyages were undertaken, and important discoveries made.
It was during this age of mental activity and growing knowledge, that Christopher Columbus undertook the most memorable enterprise that human genius ever planned, or human skill and courage ever performed. On the third of August, 1492, a little before sunrise, he set sail from Spain for the discovery of the western world. A little before midnight, on the thirteenth of October, he descried a light on the island of San Salvador. From this moment properly dates the complete history of America. From this time forward its progress bears date from a definite period, and is not shrouded in darkness, nor the mists of tradition.
Two years after the discoveries of Columbus became known in England, Henry VII. engaged John Cabot, a Venetian merchant, to sail in quest of discoveries in the west, and this navigator, in 1497, reached the coast of Lab- rador, which he named Prima-vista, thus making, probably, the first visit of Europeans to this coast since the days of the Norsemen. This voyage was succeeded by others under Sebastian Cabot, son of John, in 1498; and by Gasper Cortereal, from Portugal, to whom the discovery of the St. Law- rence some authorities claim is due. This adventurer returned to Lisbon in the month of October of that year, laden with timber and slaves, seized from among the natives of the coasts he had visited. On a second voyage he per- ished at sea. In 1504, the French first attempted a voyage to the New World ; and in that year some Basque and Breton fishermen began to ply their calling on the banks of Newfoundland, and along its adjacent coasts. From these the island of Cape Breton derived its name. In 1525, Stefano Gomez sailed from Spain, and is supposed to have entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and to have traded upon its shores. A Castilian tradition relates that finding neither gold nor silver upon the coasts, nor anything which con- veyed to these sordid adventurers an idea of mines of wealth of any kind, they frequently exclaimed " aca-nada," signifying "here is nothing," and that the natives caught up the sound which was repeated by them when other Europeans arrived, and thus gave origin to the designation of Canada.
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