USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 12
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 12
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LYNDON .- The VERMONT UNION was established in Lyndon, Vt., in February, 1865, by C. M. Chase, the present editor and publisher. Mr. Chase is son of Gen. E B. Chase, who died in 1867 and for a quarter of a century was widely known in the state as a general business man, merchant and rail- road builder, being a leading pioneer of the Passumpsic road. C. M. Chase graduated at Dartmouth college in 1853, went west, spending three years in Cincinnati, O., teaching music and studying law. He moved from there to Sycamore, Ill., where he was admitted to the bar in 1857, from which time he engaged in practice of his profession, editing the DeKalb County Sentinel, and performing the duties of police magistrate, till 1861, when he enlisted in the 13th Illinois Infantry, and spent three months in Southwestern Missouri, mainly at Ralla. On his return he remained a year in Sycamore, and in 1863 went to Kansas, spent several months traveling over the state with Adjutant-
George C. Cahoon
1877
George A. Dickey June,
L. H. Corse. Dec., 1877
Jacob W. Mathewson . .
Halsey R. Paddock
Dec., 1860
C. H. Hosford.
George H. Hill
.June,
1862
Elisha May.
1851
Harry Blodgett. June, 1873
James E. Bogg .
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CALEDONIA AND ESSEX COUNTIES.
General Ed. Russell, and writing up for the Sycamore Republican the history of the bloody days of 1856 and 1861. Returning to Leavenworth he was- employed by Governor Carney, who owned the Daily Times, as state editor on that paper. In June, 1864, he returned to Vermont for a visit, but in consequence of the sickness of his father he concluded to remain, for a time at least, and at the request of many friends started a paper. The material and list of the Newport News were purchased from C. C. Spaulding. Those who purchased and owned the paper were Gen. E. B. Chase, G. H. and J. M. Weeks, C. M. Chase, L. P. Brown, C. W. Mckay, D. N. Trull and G. B. Walker. Mr. Chase, as part owner and editor, started with 800 subscribers, struggled along between three and four years, editing an intensely Democratic: paper, without gaining in list or business. It was not favorably soil for un- adulterated Democracy. As this became apparent to the editor and the own- ers an arrangement was made by which Mr. Chase purchased the entire in- terest and became sole owner and manager. He then took the road, made the personal acquaintance with men throughout the county, and kept the paper Democratic, but made a local paper in its leading feature. The UNION was the first paper in the United States to adopt the practice of giving each town, within the circuit of its subscription list, a town heading and placing. all the news from that town under its own name. It was a most successful stroke, as it gave every town the impression of having a local paper of its own, and also stimulated the editor to gather news every week from all the towns, and have them represented in his paper. Under this feature and the thoroughness of gathering items which happened, and other items, which never happened, advocating improvements, exposing iniquity, and thus keeping something going from all the towns, the UNION list began to grow, and soon ran up to 3,000 copies, or the largest list on the east side of the state. And this .. was done with politics unpopular in the county, and in a town less favorable than some others for gathering the news. The UNION is a large folio of eight: columns to the page, and is in all respects well executed.
The Mercury was the name of a bright little amateur paper, in size a. four column folio, published at Lyndon Center by Charles T. Walter during 1880-81, while he was a student at the Institute. It was discontinued when he left for college.
THE INSTITUTE CHIMES was first put forth during the winter term of 1883- 84, edited and published by the students of.Lyndon Institute. It is designed to be issued six times in the year-twice during each term, at six cents per copy. The contents are made up of essays, locals, school notes and advertise- ments ; its size is twelve two-column pages.
The Lyndonville Comet, "Vol. I, No. 1," was issued from the job office of B. W. Farr, bearing local news, pithy paragraphs and advertising, three- column folio form, as an advertising sheet. The size of its orbit is unde- termined, as it has appeared but once in range of vision. [We are not in- formed when this luminous visitor made its one visit .- ED.]
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NEWSPAPERS.
ST. JOHNSBURY .- The Farmers' Herald, the first paper publishes in St. Johnsbury, was established in July, 1828. It was a four page, twenty-four column weekly, of strong Whig politics, published by Jewett & Porter, and edited by Dr. Luther Jewett. Continued three or four years.
In July, 1832, Samuel Eaton published the Weekly Messenger, similar in size and political faith to its predecessor. It survived but a short time.
In August, 1837, Albert G. Chadwick began the publication of THE CAL- EDONIAN, which is still published, being the oldest paper in the county, except the NORTH STAR. When first published it was a four page, twenty-four column paper, but has been enlarged, first in 1850 to twenty-eight columns, and in 1867 to thirty-two columns, its present size. In politics, originally Whig, it advocated the principles of the Free Soil element and became an early adherent and unswerving supporter of the principles of the Republican party. For eighteen years it was edited and published by its founder until July, 1855, when it passed into the hands of George D. Rand and Charles M. Stone. After nearly two years-in April, 1857-Mr. Stone became the owner, editor and publisher, as he still continues. The original office of publication was in a frame building nearly opposite the present bakery of G. H. Cross & Co. on Main street, where it was printed for twelve years. Since that time it has been issued from two or three different offices near its present location, Eastern avenue, opposite Monument square. Since 1859 it has occupied an office upon the same site. The CALEDONIAN, or ST. JOHNSBURY CALEDONIAN, as its heading reads, presents a neat mechanical make-up, and furnishes a pleasing weekly vehicle of local and general news at $1.50 per year.
The St. Johnsbury Times was started by Arthur Ropes, D. K. Simonds and E. L. Hovey, in July, 1869. It professed Republican principles. During the four years of its existence it was published and edited by various parties. It died in 1872.
THE ST. JOHNSBURY ADVERTISER was established in July, 1871, by L. W. Rowell. It is issued monthly, about the 20th, and daily during the annual fair, besides occasional extras. It is a five column folio, and the average edition is 5,000. It is circulated gratuitously, being published as an advertising me- dium, rendered attractive by news and selected reading.
The Vermont Farmer, formerly published at Newport, was removed to St. Johnsbury in 1872. It was published by Royal Cummings and Thomas H. Haskins, and existed until 1877.
The St. Johnsbury Index, a thirty-two column, patent inside, weekly, came into being in 1880, under the auspices of A. B. Howe, who sold to John E. Harris in 1883, and he sold out the office, material and lists, in the fall of 1884. " The editors were Democrats, but did not work at it much."
THE ACADEMY STUDENT is published as a monthly during term time, by the senior class of St. Johnsbury academy. It was first published in April, 1880, an eight page, three column publication ; size of page 7x9} inches,
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CALEDONIA AND ESSEX COUNTIES.
made up of literary essays of the students, and carrying some local advertis -- ing. THE ACADEMY STUDENT is now two-column, twelve pages.
The ST. JOHNSBURY REPUBLICAN was established by the " Caledonia County Publishing Company," in the spring of 1885, and the first number issued March 26. The company is incorporated with an authorized capital of $10,000, and its affairs are managed by a board of directors, consisting. of Sumner S. Thompson (president), of Lyndonville ; Elmore T. Ide (vice- president), St. Johnsbury ; Charles Rogers, Wheelock ; Isaac M. Smith, McIndoes ; John H. George, East Hardwick; Charles T. Walter (manager), St. Johnsbury ; John C. Clark (secretary and treasurer), St. Johnsbury. The REPUBLICAN, issued every Thursday, is a four page, thirty-six column paper, devoted to local, state and general news. Its office, conveniently located on Railroad street, corner of Eastern avenue, is well appointed, and the paper presents a clean and tasty appearance. Edward Johnson, editor. The REPUBLICAN has a growing circulation. Subscription price, $1. 50 per year.
DANVILLE .- THE NORTH STAR .*- Ebenezer Eaton came to Danville from Connecticut late in the autumn of 1806. He was a brother of General William Eaton, of Tripolitan fame, who assisted him, pecuniarily, in purchasing his outfit for starting a newspaper. The printing-press, type, etc., were purchased in Con- necticut, and together with his "family and effects," were placed on an ox-sled and conveyed to Danville, passing through Ryegate and Peacham on the route. Danville had already been made the county seat of Caledonia county, and the business and population had been increasing rapidly for several years, and it was regarded by Mr. Eaton as a very desirable place for his proposed news- paper. The citizens also were alive to the project, and a public meeting was held, and patronage and support were pledged to the new enterprise. The name to be given to the paper was also discussed, and, several other names having been suggested, it was finally decided to call it " The North Star." The first number was issued in January, 1807-a small-sized sheet, like all other papers of that period, but filled with reading matter and news. It adopted as its motto, " Where Liberty dwells there is my Country." Mr. Eaton was about thirty years of age at the time, and he continued as princi- pal editor about thirty-four years. During this period Danville was the largest and most important town in the eastern part of the state, and was the center for political conventions and mass-meetings, and THE NORTH STAR wielded. a powerful influence in shaping the politics of the state. Mr. Eaton was a man of sterling integrity, good natural ability, and had independent views, and was fearless in the expression of them-he "possessed the courage of his convictions." An examination of the old files of THE NORTH STAR will show that he was in the habit of writing able and pithy editorials on all the leading topics of the times, both local and national. His courage, consci-
*By J. T. Durant, M. D.
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NEWSPAPERS.
entiousness and honesty of purpose, were especially manifested in his re- nunciation of Free Masonry at the time of the " Morgan " excitement. But the denunciations of THE NORTH STAR were directed, not against men, but against the system, and were most bitter and scathing. The circula- tion of THE NORTH STAR in its best days-which were also the days of Dan- ville's greatest prosperity-was the largest of any paper in this part of the state. But the CALEDONIAN (a Republican paper), was established at St. Johnsbury ; and, subsequently the VERMONT UNION, at Lyndon. The latter paper being of the same politics as THE NORTH STAR (Democratic), and its editor and founder, C. M. Chase-a graduate of Dartmouth college-being a man of wit and humor, and possessed of just the right kind of talent to build up a spicy and popular local newspaper, proved to be a powerful rival of THE NORTH STAR, and drew largely from its subscription list. In 184I N. H. Eaton, son of Ebenezer Eaton, became editor and proprietor, and con- tinued until his decease, in May, 1880, when his son, George E. Eaton, became editor and proprietor. THE NORTH STAR, under N. H. Eaton's forty years of editorship, was a model paper for fairness and courtesy, never ad- mitting to its columns offensive personalities against any man. It also won the reputation of having the best selections of miscellaneous reading matter -an item of no small moment to a rural population poorly supplied with readable books. The son, George E. Eaton, sold out his interest in the paper, in January, 1881, to Anson B. Hoyt and W. O. Caswell. And thus the old NORTH STAR passed out of the Eaton family, after having been in it for seventy-four years. George E. Eaton dissolved his connection with the paper for the sake of engaging in a larger field, and associated himself with Mr. J. B. Parmenter, as co-editor of the Troy Daily and Weekly Press, of Troy, N. Y. Caswell soon resigned his editorship, and F. J. Preston was associated with Hoyt, but soon went out of the concern. Mr. Hoyt still con- tinues its editor and proprietor, but the circulation is greatly reduced. It has appeared in various shapes-has had " patent insides," and " patent outsides," and has ceased to be the " power in the land " that it was once known and acknowledged to be.
ESSEX COUNTY.
This county has never been given to publishing papers. One number was issued from Island Pond, in 1860, and three numbers were issued from West Concord, by Alfred W. Eastman, who then sold his press and types to H. A. Cutting, of Lunenburgh, where it was burned in his store, and no further numbers issued. January 1, 1872, the ESSEX COUNTY HERALD was started by John W. Hartshorn, and printed by his sons, at Lancaster, N. H., but published from Guildhall. After its start Emerson and Hartshorn owned and run it until January, 1876, when O. B. Boyce, of Guildhall, edited it under the same owners, until April 1, 1877, when it was sold to N. A ..
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CALEDONIA AND ESSEX COUNTIES.
Burnham, of Guildhall, who was editor and proprietor for one year, and then sold to W. H. Bishop, of Island Pond, and removed to that place. It has a good circulation, and is a desirable local paper, well managed. Its sub- scription price is $1.50 per year.
ABORIGINAL OCCUPANCY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Of the aboriginal occupancy of the territory embraced in this county little is known. It is probable. that it was not the home of the red man, but rather the camping and hunting grounds of various tribes; and the valley of the Connecticut and other large streams were highways of warliked bands in their marches and counter marches from Canada to Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire, and they engaged in several conflicts and made captives of some of the white inhabitants during the early days of settlements. What is said further on respecting the Indians in Essex county applies equally as well to the ter- ritory covered by Caledonia county. The first settlement by the whites was · made in Barnet, March 4, 1770. The first settlers were Daniel, Jacob and Elijah Hall, three brothers, and Jonathan Fowler. The first house in the county was built by the Halls, at the foot of the falls on the north side of Stevens river, in Barnet. Sarah, daughter of Elijah Hall, was the first child born, and Barnet Fowler, son of Jonathan, was probably the first male born in the county. The first mills were built at the falls on Stevens river, in Bar- net, by Col. Hurd, of Haverhill, N. H., by contract with Enos Stevens, one of the grantees of the town.
ESSEX COUNTY.
The first settlement of the county was made in Guildhall, (then supposed to be Lunenburgh,) by David Page, Timothy Nash and George Wheeler in 1764. They had to bring their provisions from Northfield, Mass,, in canoes, by river navigation. over 165 miles. During the War of the Revolution, thev were constantly annoyed by the Tories and Indians, who killed their cattle, plundered their houses and carried some of their number into captivity. These disasters, of course, prevented rapid settlements ; but in 1785 quite a number of families had made their homes in "Upper Coös," as the valley on both sides of the Connecticut was then called. Much of the county was surveyed by Eben A. Judd, who, after a time, built a mill in Guildhall, and also brought goods to sell to the settlers, quite a share of which was New England rum. In the controversy about pitched lots used by the settlers, and the right of New Hampshire to survey their lands, there were often long discussions, which sometimes resulted in quarrels, and they now and then came to blows. I cannot learn that any were really killed in such fights, but they sometimes used pitchforks and other dangerous weapons.
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ABORIGINAL OCCUPANCY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.
This county was never much settled by Indians, but was used as a hunting ground, and through it was the main highway for the St. Francis tribe of Canada, and those Coos Indians living in the valley of the Connecticut. It was as it were disputed territory, as both claimed the right to hunt in it, and we have the best reasons to suppose that there were frequent ambus- ·cades within its borders. There have been a few stone tomahawks, arrow- points and other Indian relics found within its limits, but they are not abun- dant. About midway of the fifteen mile fall on the Connecticut, in the town of Concord, is a small meadow known as the Carpenter meadow, from Aaron Carpenter, who settled here in 1795. When he came, this meadow was covered by a handsome growth of maples, free from underbrush, seemingly one of the most beautiful spots in the valley. One of his early clearings was made here, and in cutting the trees various marks were found showing that this place was visited thirty-nine years before. This was ascertained by cut- ting out the marks and counting the grains. Leaden bullets were also found beneath the surface of the timber that had by its growth, closed the hole for as many years. This was deemed conclusive evidence that white men had had a skirmish here, using firearms. Then came the question, Who it was?
In 1859 Major Rogers made his ever memorable expedition against the St. Francis Indians. After being harassed in his return, he found himself at Lake Memphremagog without food, and his men much exhausted. He divided his party into three squads so they could better obtain food, and they agreed to meet at the lower Coos. He kept up Barton river and down the Passumpsic waiting for his men at No. 4. Another detachment came in by Wells river, but of the third there is no record of the way they came, but a part only returned. Now it is highly probable that they kept east of Major Rogers, coming in on the Nulhegan and down the Connecticut valley. That here they had a skirmish with the Indians, and succeeded in holding their ground, as is shown by two graves which were opened and the bones of two men were discovered buried by white men in a recumbent posture. Some years later, when plowing this meadow, several pieces of muskets were found, and a year or two after, when the river was very low, some gun barrels were found in the river corroded through by rust. Eleven pieces in all were found and it was thought that they were the parts of four or five muskets. These were doubt- less thrown into the river to keep them from the Indians. Another musket, equally corroded, was found on Cook's meadow, in Lunenburgh, six miles from the above described place in Concord. This all forms a chain of circum- stantial evidence in favor of the theory advanced. That there was a skir- mish here at about that time no one can doubt.
But we were speaking of the early settlers of about 1800, when the county had log house homes in most of the river towns. Living at the distance of 130 miles from the seaboard, all heavy articles such as salt, iron, and, in fine, all the articles of civilized life that could not be obtained from the wilder- ness, or soil, or found in the waters, had to be transported over hills and
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CALEDONIA AND ESSEX COUNTIES.
mountains upon the backs of horses or men, and quite often it was the latter ;: guided through the forests only by spotted trees, being obliged to ford or swim streams that ran across their route, often swollen by rains; with no mills for the manufacture of lumber, from sixty to eighty-five miles to the nearest grist- mill ; surrounded with hostile Indians that much of the time could get five dollars for the scalp of a white man, and they at any time might pounce upon them with tomahawk and scalping knife that spared not women or chil- dren. All this must have thrown a shadow deep and dark across the path of the early settlers of Essex county, and hardy indeed must be the men and women to brave it ; and so they were. Their currency was mostly the fur of animals, and "salts," made by boiling down the lye of ashes, which, when made and carried to market, often brought no more than one cent per pound.
One of the energetic men of the county before the war was Major Benjamin Whitcomb. How he obtained his major's commission is well told by David Goodall, who took care of him a few days before his death, and to whom he told the incidents. His narration is as follows :-
" Major Whitcomb was the most prominent pioneer trapper and hunter of Essex county, often spending months at a time in the wilderness, subsist- ing upon game, and falling in frequently with Indians and camping and hunt- ing with them, always taking pains to conciliate them and secure their friend -- ship.
"At one time he found an Indian in early winter, alone, nearly starved, his. gun lock having broken, and took him to his camp and fed him and kept him there three weeks, and trapped with him and divided furs, and gave him food to last him home.
"Whitcomb served under Putnam in the old French war, was in several fights, and taken prisoner by the Indians and carried to Quebec. He often wrestled, ran and shot at a mark with the Indians, but always managed to let them beat him, as it would have given great offence to beat them. After Ticonderoga was taken by Allen, Whitcomb hastened there and served as a scout. The commander of the fort received a circular from Gen. Washing- ton, saying that he wished to retaliate upon the British officers for the wan- ton butcheries and massacres of women and children by the British Indians ;. and, to accomplish it, offered any American soldier who would go into Can- ada and waylay and shoot a British general, a major's commission and pay in the American army, a captain's commission for a colonel, etc. Whitcomb and two others volunteered to go and try. One man deserted before reach- ing the line. Whitcomb and his companion pursued their way to near Three Rivers, and ascertained that a brigade of British soldiers and some Indians- were about to move towards the line in a few days, and the route they would go. Whitcomb selected a place of ambush, and made all ready. The night before the British were to move, Whitcomb's companion, alarmed by their dangerous position, deserted and went over to the enemy and informed them.
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ABORIGINAL OCCUPANCY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.
of Whitcomb's plans and intentions. Whitcomb was greatly annoyed and vexed, but had no thoughts of losing his major's commission. He moved nearer to the British camp, fixing upon a new place for his ambuscade, where a small river made a turn and carne near the road-a deep, narrow ravine running back from the river some distance. His position was at the root of a large tree blown down, the top reaching into the ravine and the root afford- ing cover and port-holes to fire through. This was about fifteen rods from the road on the right side, and the river on the left side, and commanded a good view of the road in the direction the enemy would come. The ground to the river was covered with a thick growth of small trees, and briars and alders in the ravine. About 2 o'clock P. M the British column came in sight and slowly passed. Several mounted officers passed, but none whose grade seemed high enough. Then came in sight an officer mounted upon a splendid white steed, richly dressed, with a broad red silk sash around his waist, and a long white plume in his hat, with several staff officers near by, and Indian scouts in the road. Whitcomb thought he would do, and when he came within fifty rods took deliberate aim and fired. He saw the officer throw his hands up and reel back, and quickly hid under the root. The Indians in the road near by saw the smoke of his gun and dashed into the woods after him, and supposing he would run back did not stop to look for him there, but hurried on and crossed the log within twenty feet of him. As soon as they had passed, Whitcomb crawled rapidly alongside of the log into the ravine, and down that under the bridge into the river, and up it in the water under the thick alders, occasionally coming upon the land for a rod or two, and crossing over and back. He had got about half a mile when he heard the blood hounds boo on his track ; but all his arrangements had been made to baffle and elude them, and he succeeded in delaying them so much that he gained upon them until dark, when he took a smaller stream, running out of his direct route, and waded in that a mile, then left it and traveled all night and the next day without stopping, keeping in the woods.
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