USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
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The county of Bennington was represented in this organization by the Eleventh Regiment of infantry, which, with the Ninth, Tenth, and Twelfth Reg- iments, comprised the Third brigade.
Officers of the Third Brigade .- Major Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, assistant- adjutant and inspector- general ; Captain Perley Downer, assistant quartermas- ter-general ; Lieutenant Hoyt H. Wheeler, judge advocate : Lieutenant Rufus B. Godfrey, aid-de-camp.
Officers of the Eleventh Regiment .- Mason S. Colburn, colonel ; William H. Cady, lieutenant-colonel ; James B. Wood, major; Augustus II. Gray, ad- jutant ; Henry S. Hard, quartermaster; Martin J. Love, surgeon; Lyman Rog- ers, assistant surgeon ; Edwin M. Haynes, chaplain.
Company A, Manchester and Winhall .- Cyrus B. Munson, captain ; Rob- ert Ames, first lieutenant; Theodore Swift, second lieutenant ; company strength, 47.
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Company B, Bennington and Woodford .- Ransom O. Gore, captain ; Rogers O. Woodward, first lieutenant ; Henry S. Burt, second lieutenant ; company strength, 44.
Company C, Wallingford and Tinmouth .- Joel C. Baker, captain ; John T. Ballard, first lieutenant ; Andrew F. Mattison, second lieutenant ; company strength, 47.
Company D, Bennington .- Edward C. Houghton, captain ; Norman B. Loomis, first lieutenant; John H. Watson, second lieutenant; company strength, 48.
Company E, Danby and Mount Tabor .- Milton H. Pember, captain ; Isaac W. Kelley, first lieutenant; Isaac A. Sweat, second lieutenant ; company strength, 48.
Company F, Pownal and Stamford .- Augustus H. Potter, captain ; Black- man N. Foster, first lieutenant ; Albert W. Downs, second lieutenant; com- pany strength, 46.
Company G, Arlington, Sunderland and Sandgate .- Roswell G. Tuttle, captain; Hugh Shepherd, first lieutenant ; Paul Sheffleton, second lieutenant ; company strength, 5 1.
Company H, Dorset, Peru and Landgrove .- Eli J. Hawley, captain ; Mark B. Lyon, first lieutenant; Joseph W. Morse, second lieutenant ; company strength, 47.
Company I, Pawlet, Wells and Rupert .- Adams L. Bromley, captain ; Phineas C. Paul, first lieutenant; Lucius M. Carpenter, second lieutenant ; com- pany strength, 46.
Company K, Shaftsbury and Glastenbury .- Samuel C. Traver, captain ; Francis L. Child, first lieutenant ; Milo Pierce, second lieutenant ; company strength, 51.
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PRESS OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
General Observations on the Press-The Vermont Gazette - The Pioneer of Vermont Journals - Extracts from its Columns - The Epitome of the World - The Green Mountain Farmer - The Vermont Gazette Revived - The Plowman - The Bennington News-Letter - The American Register-The Vermont Sentinel - The Journal of the Times -- William Lloyd Garrison's Paper - The Horn of the Green Mountains - The Vermonter-The Vermont Ex- press -The Bennington County Whig - The Battle Ground - The Bennington Free Press - The Daily News - The Vermont Centennial - The Bennington Banner - The Manchester Journal - The Bennington Reformer.
E DUCATION is the great civilizer, and printing its greatest auxiliary Were it not for the aid furnished by the press the great mass of people would still be groping in the darkness of the middle ages, and knowledge would still remain confined within the limits of the cloister.
It is surprising, when searching our libraries, to discover how little has been written of the " art preservative of all arts," and the educator of all edu- cators. While printing has been the chronicler of all arts, professions and learning, it has recorded so little of its own history as to leave even the story of its first invention and application wrapped in mystery and doubt. We only know that from the old Ramage press which Faust and Franklin used, capable of producing only a hundred impressions per hour, we have now the ponder- ous machine which turns out one thousand copies per minute.
. In glancing over the pages of history we discover the graduai develop- ments in the arts and sciences. We notice that they go hand in hand, one discovery points to another, one improvement in the arts leads to others con- tinually, and the results of the last few centuries show that observations of no apparent use led to the most important discoveries and developments. The falling of an apple led Newton to unfold the theory of gravitation and its rela- tion to the solar system ; the discovery of the polarity of the loadstone led to the construction of the mariner's compass; the observation of the muscular contraction of a frog led to the numerous applications of galvanic electricity ; the observation of the expansive force of steam led to the construction and application of the steam engine; the observation of the influence of light on the chloride of silver led to the art of photography; the observation of the com- munication of sound by the connected rails of a railroad led to the invention of the telephone; the impressions cut in the smooth bark of the beech tree led to the art of printing, the art which transmits to posterity a record of all that is valuable to the world.
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Thus is progress discernible in every successive generation of man. Grad- ually has he advanced from a state of rude barbarism and total ignorance to a degree of perfection which gives him almost absolute dominion over all ele- ments, and in the pride of glorious and enlightened manhood he can exclaim with Cowper :
" I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute ; From the center all 'round to the sea I am lord of the fowl and the brute."
So long as mind shall occupy its seat, so long will progress be the watch- word of man, and onward and upward will be his march to an endless and limitless ascent, where all the hidden and occult secrets of creation will unfold their mysteries to his comprehension and crown him master of them all.
The printing office has well been called the "poor boy's college," and has proven a better school to many ; has graduated more intellect and turned it into useful, practical channels; awakened more active, devoted thought, than any alma mater on the earth. Many a dunce has passed through the univer- sities with no tangible proof of fitness other than his insensible piece of parch- ment, himself more sheepish, if possible, than his "sheep-skin." There is something in the very atmosphere of a printing office calculated to awaken the mind to activity and inspire a thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stanhope, Ber- ranger, Thiers, Greeley, Taylor, and a host of other names, illustrious in the world of letters and science, have been gems in the diadem of typography, and owe their success to the influence of a printing office.
The newspaper has become one of the chief indexes of the intelligence, civi- lization and progress of the community in which it is published, and its files are the footprints of the advancement and refinement of the period of its publica- tion ; and the printing office is now deemed as essential as the school-house or church. It has taken the place of the rostrum and the professor's chair, and become the great teacher. No party, organization, enterprise or calling is considered perfect without its " organ "-the newspaper-as a mouthpiece. Turning from this comment upon the art of journalism, let us see what Ben- nington county has done in the way of newspaper publications.
The Vermont Gasette .- The pioneer journal of Vermont, west of the Green Mountains, was the Vermont Gasette, which was established at Bennington, on " the hill," in the year 1783, by Anthony Haswell and David Russell. This is conceded by all to have been the first newspaper published west of the mountains, and there is evidence tending to show that the still more broad state- ment may be made to the effect that it was the first paper of the entire State. Granting this to be the fact the distinction it confers is that to the county of Bennington belongs the credit of having been the pioneer county of journalism in Vermont.
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
The first number of the Gazette was issued June 5, 1783. The files for th . first two years of its publication have not been preserved, but those of 1786. and of several subsequent years are to be found in the Free Library at Benning- ton. This paper was all that ought reasonably to be expected, considering the fact that the first issue was made over one hundred and five years ago. It gave to the readers the news from all parts of this county that were then peo- pled, and contained a sufficient amount of foreign intelligence as well. Being the only paper in this region its columns were well filled with legal notices for all that part of Vermont west of the mountains, regardless of county lines.
The enterprising editors and publishers gave to the world this "motto :" "With generous freedom for our constant guide, we scorn to controul, and print for every side. Vet, thus our liberal motto we explain-freedom's our life- licentiousness our bane."
At the bottom of the page is also to be found the publishers' notice, as fol- lows: " Printed and published by Haswell & Russell at their office near the court-house, where any demands in the printing and bookbinding business will be carefully attended to and duly executed. And where all productions of genius, political essays, articles of intelligence, etc., etc., are thankfully re- ceived. Advertisements of more length than breadth are inserted three weeks for six shillings."
The Gazette seems, even at that early day, to have had some advertising patronage, for, running with several numbers is found this : " Any person hav- ing King's Evil may be cured without fail by applying to George Gage, Pitts- town." And the worthy publishers, too, evidently conducted a small mercan- tile business in connection with their leading occupation, as will be shown by their notice as follows : "For sale, on reasonable terms, Brownson's collection of music; also singing-master's elegant pitch-pipes." They also publish that at their office " cash will be paid for clean cotton rags." In the issue of April 16, 1787, the publishers announce thus : "Just published and now ready for sale at the printing office in Bennington, and will be given in exchange for clean rags, of any colour or quality, the following pamphlets, viz .: An Act Regulating the Militia of the State of Vermont, Passed by the General Assembly at their Session in Rutland, in October, 1786, price I shilling ; Acts and Laws of the State of Vermont, price 16 pence ; Almanacs for 1787, price 4 pence, single ; The Deist Reclaimed, price 4 pence; Serious Thoughts on Sudden Death, price 4 coppers."
In 1788 Arthur Shephard seems to have been one of the liberal mer- chants and advertisers of the town, as his " space " in the columns of the Gas- ette will show : "Arthur Shephard, at his store, a little south of the court-house in Bennington, has just received a fresh supply of drugs and medicines, which renders his assortment complete. All persons indebted to said Shepard, on book account, are requested to settle the same by cash, produce or note, im-
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mediately. Carolina l'ink, by the hundred, pound, or ounce. Wanted-10 or 12 likely horses, in good order. Cash paid for fox skins until the 20th of April."
There was, of course, an abundance of other advertising matter scattered through the columns of the Gascette, year after year ; and the above selections have been made for the purpose not only of showing that a hundred and more years ago newspaper advertising was popular, and for the further object of showing to the reader the unique style of advertising. In nearly every case produce was as much a medium of exchange as money.
Anthony Haswell, besides being an editor and publisher, figured somewhat in mercantile life and, moreover, held the office of postmaster of the town; like- wise, in 1784, Governor Chittenden issued to hini a commission as postmaster- general of the State. After the admission of Vermont to the Union, the office was dispensed with. David Russell retired from the business in 1790, and Mr. Haswell soon afterward received a Federal appointment, (all newspaper men are likewise favored, even at this late day), upon which he sold his interest in the Gazette to one of his brothers and Mr. Bushnell, by whom the paper was published, under the firm name of Haswell & Bushnell.
Just what changes were made in the ownership and control of the Gazette from the time it was owned by the firm last named until it was discontinued cannot now be accurately determined, but an interest in it was owned, in whole or in part, from its founding to its final issue in October, 1850.
In the year 1806, the name Vermont Gazette was changed, and in its stead there appeared the more comprehensive headline, The Epitome of the World ; but after the expiration of about four years, the Epitome was taken from the title page, and substituted therefor was the plain, unassuming line The Green Mountain Farmer.
The Farmer, during the War of 1812-15 earnestly and ably advocated the principles of Democracy and Republicanism (both being identical at that time), and as such, favored fighting England to the bitter end; and it is possible that the editorial zeal was somewhat heightened at this time from the fact that the Federalists had a newspaper in the county, The Bennington News-Letter, edited and published at that time by Benjamin Smead. In 1816 the name The Green Mountain Farmer, was taken from the paper, and the Vermont Gazette, as of old, substituted, by which it was ever afterward during its continuance published.
In 1847 there had sprung up between the villages of Bennington and East Bennington a strong rivalry, the latter, to use a common expression, having much the best of the contest. The office and paper of the Gazette then made a change of base by removing to the lower village. This so displeased the res- idents on "the hill" that another paper was started at the upper village which, also, was called The Vermont Gasette ; but the latter publication proved to be shortlived and soon went out of existence.
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
In October, 1850, the Vermont Gazette was discontinued, having had a life of vicissitudes of about sixty-four years. Anthony Haswell, its founder, tlie pioneer journalist of the State, was something of a hero, in his way, and pos- sibly a martyr, judging from the inscription on the tombstone that marks lis grave in the old cemetery at Bennington Center. It reads as follows :
" Anthony Haswell, a patriot of the Revolution, Printer and founder of the Vermont Gazette, 1783. A sufferer in the cause of freedom under the Sedition Act of 1790, Died May 22, 1816, aged 60 years."
In the year 1874, Henry L. Stilson, the present editor of the Bennington Banner, revived the name of the Vermont Gasette by changing the title of the Bennington Free Press, which latter paper he acquired by purchase from Charles M. Bliss. Mr. Stillson continued publishing the Gazette until the Ist of February, 1874, at which time Asaph P'. Childs purchased the plant, and continued its issue, being associated with his brother, R. S. Childs. In June, 1876, the paper was sold to F. Sherman Briggs & Co., which firm, in Septem- ber following, disposed of it, A. S. Baker & Son, becoming publishers and pro- prietors. In the spring of ISSo the paper was discontinued.
The Plowman .- As its name would appear to indicate the Plowoman was designed by its founders to afford news especially interesting and valuable to the agricultural people of the county and locality. The first issue appeared some time during the first year of the present century, thus taking second honors in journalism in Bennington county. Thomas Collier and William Stockwell, both former residents of Litchfield, Conn., came to Bennington and established the paper, not, however, for the purpose of opposing the principles advocated by the Gasette, but for the reason that the worthy proprietors be- lieved that the region around about Bennington could support another publi- cation.
The Plowman struggled against fate for some two years, when, in 1802, it was deemed prudent to discontinue its issue in Bennington. The plant was then moved to Troy, N. Y., where Mr. Collier founded the Troy Gazette.
The Bennington News- Letter .- During the period of agitation just prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812, Benjamin Smead ventured to enter the jour- nalistic field with a newspaper publication, at the head of which appeared the above name. From first to last Mr. Smead was an earnest advocate of the doctrines taught by the Federalist party, and thus opposed the threatened war with Great Britain ; but whether the Newes-Letter was founded for the purpose of presenting the Federalist side of the question is a matter of opinion, the weight of which, perhaps, tends to establish the fact that the paper was started with "intent aforethought" in the Federal interest.
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The News-Letter was not long-lived, but as to the approximate duration of its existence we are without reliable information. Mr. Smead was succeeded in its control by the firm of Williams & Phinney, and it probably expired on their hands.
The American Register .- However much of progressiveness the town of Ar- lington may have displayed in other matters, there appears, according to record and tradition, to have been but one regular newspaper publication issued from an office in that town. That was the American Register, the first number be- ing put out during the month of January, in the year 1817. But its editor and publisher, E. Gilman Storer, was otherwise interested in literary work, for he published, in addition to the Register, The Union Magasine and Evangelical Intelligencer, in pamphlet form, and continued it for something like two years.
The newspaper business, however, in Arlington, no matter how erudite its editor may have been, or how economic his management, seems not to have been sufficiently lucrative to induce him to stay and labor in that field ; for, . after giving the enterprise a fair trial for a few years Mr. Storer moved his office and effects to New York State, at Sandy Hill, where he is said to have become established with better results than Arlington offered.
The Vermont Sentinel .- While the people of Vermont and of Bennington county have never failed to show their appreciation of the kind services offered by New Hampshire during the Revolutionary period, they did not, however, in the year 1822, sufficiently appreciate, or at least support, the efforts made by a certain Mr. Adams, of New Hampshire, in his attempt to place the Ver- mont Sentinel upon a secure commercial basis. As a result of this lack of sub- stantial support the enterprise failed of success, and the Sentinel died almost "a bornin."
The Journal of the Times .- On the 3d day of October, in the year 1828, the first issue of the Journal made its appearance. This was during the presi- dential campaign in which John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson con- tended for the political control of the United States, the former as a Republi- can candidate, and the latter as the nominee of the Democracy. At that time the Vermont Gasette advocated the platform represented by "old Hickory," therefore nothing could be more natural than that a newly started newspaper should champion the cause of a party that had no organ in the community. But in the advocacy of the doctrines of Republicanism in that campaign, the attitude of the Journal was not adopted as a matter of policy, or a desire for personal popularity with the dominant party of the country, but rather a mat- ter wholly of principle.
With the introductory editorial article the paper announced its policy " to be pursued through life, whether in this place or elsewhere, namely: The sup- pression of intemperance and its associate vices, the gradual emancipation of every slave in the republic, and the perpetuity of national peace." This was
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
from the pen of the able editor William Lloyd Garrison, one of the founders of the Journal of the Times ; and those of the readers of this volume who have watched the remarkable career of that man, can freely testify to the fact that his subsequent life was wholly in accordance with the principles enunciated in the salutatory contained in the first issue of his paper at Bennington.
Mr. Garrison came from Boston to Bennington with Henry S. Hull, the lat- ter being also interested in the paper in the capacity of publisher and business manager.
But notwithstanding the ability with which the Journal was edited and managed, it did not, and at that time could not, become popular with the great mass of the people, and therefore was not a success from a financial point of view; but for all that the situation of affairs in Vermont at this present shows that, regardless of what fate may have overtaken the paper, that the standard erected by Mr. Garrison was a grand one, and the present generation can real- ize the fact that the end sought has been measurably attained.
Mr. Garrison's connection with the Journal continued from October, 1828, until March of the succeeding year, after which he left the State. The paper issued only thirty-eight numbers and was then discontinued.
The Horn of the Green Mountains .- The year 1830 witnessed the publication of the first newspaper in the town of Manchester. The name of the paper was as above mentioned. The enterprise was established and owned by Edward C. Purdy. It was never a financial success, but just how long its publication was continued the writer hereof has not " knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief." The life of the paper, however, is said to have lasted from one to two years.
The Vermonter .- This was a Bennington publication, founded in the year 1835 by Andrew F. Lee, but supported and maintained, during its brief exist- ence, by the active Whig party men of the vicinity. The Vermonter was pub- lished only about one year.
The Vermont Express .- This was the second attempt at establishing a news- paper at Manchester. The Express was first issued during the presidential campaign of 1836, when Martin Van Buren and the hero of " Tippecanoe "were struggling for supremacy in the national government. While the paper was edited at Manchester, under the control of A. L. Miner, esq., the press-work was done at Salem, Washington county, N. Y. This also was a short-lived journal.
The Bennington County Whig .- The attempt made by Mr. Miner at perma- nently founding a newspaper at Manchester seemed to have impressed the Sa- lem people with the belief that such an enterprise could be successfully carried out, and B. C. Crandall possessed the temerity to undertake it. He therefore, in the early part of 1837, issued the first number of the Bennington County Whig. But after a few weeks Crandall left suddenly, much to the discomfiture
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of a number of citizens, who realized painfully that their loss was hiis gain. After Mr. Crandall's departure the paper was for a time managed by Orlando Squires, and he, in turn, was succeeded by John C. Osborn, a former employee of the office. But being parentless the Whig could not long survive, and it soon passed out of existence as had all its predecessors.
The Battle Ground .- This was a North Bennington paper, founded in 1853 by Daniel Cady, a New Yorker, and Hiram Atkins of Vermont. The first issue was sent out in August of the year named; but owing to some misunderstand- ing or want of harmony in the firm, only a few numbers were published, after which Mr. Atkins left the place and paper and entered a more inviting field. Mr. Cady then came to North Bennington, took charge of the infant enter- prise, and assumed its support. But the paper was, at best, only a weakling, and all the nourishing influences and tender care that its guardian could bring to bear upon it failed to give substantial strength, and it went the way of num- berless similar enterprises. The subscription list, however, survived and passed into the hands of Mr. Atkins, who had then become editor of the Bellows Falls Argus.
The Bennington Free Press .- The Free Press was started in Bennington as a Republican campaign paper in August, 1870. After a short time it became the property of Charles M. Bliss, who changed its character to that of a regular newspaper. Mr. Bliss published and edited it until about the middle of De- cember, 1871, at which time Henry L. Stillson became proprietor, and contin- ued its publication until the close of the famous Grant- Greeley campaign, in the fall of 1872, when the name was changed to the Vermont Gasette, of which mention has already been made.
The Daily News .- The founding of the Daily News in Bennington, in May, 1875, was clearly an experiment to determine whether or not a daily paper would prove a profitable undertaking. The proprietor, Frank P. Armstrong, had the courage to make the attempt, but after a trial of about two months was content to dispose of his plant to a company of persons of the town, who asso. ciated together for this purpose under the name and style of The Daily News Association. But even under their fostering care the paper failed to meet with any considerable degree of success, whereupon, during the latter part of Sep- tember of the year of its founding, the paper suspended publication.
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