Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-04-18

OF HON. EZRA MECH.

lngon Clty, ana thus being personally and D1riic-
Mdry acquainted with him, this sketch brought for
cloly to mind some incidents which occurred during
the winters of 1919 and 1920.
lrccollect Mr.. Mech wore Scotch plaid cloak
Doth sides OF the same kind Of CLOTH but of differ.
ent colors and checks, with an upright velvet collar
CT different colors with large cape with different
sides, as the cloak. His cloak and cape were SO
maze, that ne could change sides when he pleased,
ana the cloak would appear like another garment
Judge Mech was a very large, tall, well proper.
toned man six feet and four or five inches in heipht
and weighing two hundred and fifty pounds or
more remember we dined once with Hon VIM
II. Crawford, Secretary Of the Treasury, and Cen
Nc Nell OF New Hampshire was present He
was six feet and about six inches in herbt Look
ing round the room, the Gen. observed, here are
gentlemen Of sufficient height to form a fine com.
pany OF gren1diers; and stepping TO the middle Of
me room, SAID, come, gentlemen, come on to the
line; when Mr.. Crawford stepped on six feet and
haIt or more then Hon. Nathaniel Upham, q
member of the House from New Hampshire. six
leet and four or five inches; then the Vermont
Judge, member Of the House, about the same
height; then Hon Mr.. lowndes, a member of the
House, from Virginia, six feet and seven or eight
inches, and think Mr. Ball from Virginia, and
some DINERS, to the number of eight or ten, whose
names 90 not now rocollect This was fine diver.
sion for Mr. Crawford and Gen. Nc Neil
Another anecdoe he related to me himself re-
on journey, put up at public house, when
large, staggering fellow came in and in the even.
ing banered any one in the hotel to wreste and
particularly fixed his eye on him. He excused him
self and declined but being pressed the harder,
he told the fellow he was too small match for HIM;
who replied, small or great, | can lay you upon
your back on this floor, in two minutes. They
both rose; Mr.. Mech took the fellow by the col.
lar with his right hand and put the other into his
pocket, and held him at arms length, telling him to
do what he could, quick. He held him in this po-
slton as long as he pleased, not suffering him to
touch his body; then laid him down upon the floor,
holding him there till he asked to get up; he then
raised him from the floor, gave him little toss, all
with one hand, and told him in future to mind bis
own business.
during the second winter that we boarded in the
sane house, Mr.. Mech was confined to his room
twelve fifteen days, by sickness. When in health
vas IN the habit of calling frequently at his roon
more especially when unwell; and then, at his re-
quest, receiving his letters and other papers, and
conveying them to him. While his illness contn-
ucd, read and answered his letters as amanuensis
read one from younger brother, who had the
care OF his domestic concerns during his absence
IN which he stated the probability of being short of
gay and inquired how the stock should be supplied
lie requested ne to state to him. that he might feed
mem from large scaffod Of unthreshed ,Cheqt con-
taihihS probably three or tour hundred bushels
AT TINS expressed some surprise what, feed cat
ue upon wheat; how much do you raise, that you
use 1t IN this manner? He gave me an answer
asked him other questions respecting his farming
business, and received direct information.
Inc next day | renewed my Inquiries and re-
coived the following statements and on reading the
nouce In your paper last week, was induced to ex-
anime my old miscellaneous scraps, TO find it, to add
10 the story and now have before me the original
paper, written in the winter of 1920, the facts in
which were taken from the mouth of Judge Mech,
ana penned in his room at the time.
Ills improved land, including pasture, some wood
land, but none wild, was 1885 acres. He made
annually from eco 10 1000 barrels of cider. He
Kept 3OO head of grown neat stock 20 horses $50
lat hogs at time; killed so the preceding fall,
which averaged $50 pounds each; 200 store hogs
@oUU sheep; $50 head of cattle killed the proceed
ing fall or 500 barrels of beef. He had another
class OF 30 head of stall fed cattle, to kill sell in
the month OF March, at Montreal or Quebec. He
put up $50 barrels of pork the previous fall and had
a contract with the Northwest Company, to fur
hsn them annually for term of years. $4,000 worth
OF oeet pork, lard, talow and corn. He raised,
annually 1000 bushels Of corn; 1000 bushels of
peas; LOCO bushels of wheat; LOO bushels of
oats-usually sows so acres. His crops of nota-
toes vary from $4,000 to 5000 and 2l,000 bushels
a year; plants so acres. He puts them in cellar,
under the whole of barn 100 feet long, Of suita-
Bile width, and floor its full length with trap doors
suitable distance apart, to empty cart directly
INTO the cellar. He cut 800 tons of hay, and made
90 tons OF potash in year. His family consisted
oi Az persons; he employed regularly 20 hired
hands, and occupied 10 dwelling houses He had
20 barns, averaging more than 40 feet, of convent
ent width; $40 feet of COW houses, besides those
IN the barns one 260 feet long, all between 80 and
40 feet IN width. He had $4,000 of personal prop
cry, besides $4,000 i'll specie hand at tmcs
lie made purchase Of lumber the same year to the
amount OF 100000, in the sale of which he lost
$4,000
The net income ofhis farming establishment was
annually $4,000; and at the lowest calculation was
worth 100000.
The writer after observing to Gov. James Bar
Dour, then member Of the Senate Of the United
states, you have diminutive idea of the Yam
KEGS; see, here is statement of the farming bust
ness OF one Of the Green Mountain Bows" Mr.
Barbour observed it exceeded any thing of the kind,
IN ertenf, he ever saws but he had known farms, or
rather plantations, whose net produce exceeded it.
Alter making the foregoing schedule, | asked
Judge Mech how he had accumulated such an i'm
nense property, This induced him to give me
concise history Of his life, from boyhood to that
time.
He said when u boy he was poor and rather wild
but was inclined to try his fortune, in hunting and
trapping. For this purpose he Joined a company
OF Indians; ard finally became skilful and fortu-
nate in taking fur. lie lived as they did and Jared
as they Jared
Aller continuing win The Indians and hunting
some time, think years, he took the fuit of his
enterprise and returned home. This he converted
10 cash. aud walked off TO New York and laid it
outin West India goods, and purchased an equal
amount of English goods upon credit, and took
them home. lie then repaired an old shed, which
he converted into store set up his goods and
commenced trading lie sold out his stock during
the winter, took considerable pay in ashes, made
them into potash, took it, with what cash he had,
20 New York. and purchased goods, as he had pre-,
vousy done. This was the beginning of his bu-
slness as country trader lie enlarged his pot
ash establishment; increased his purchases of
goods; maintained an unimpeached credit, and by
industry, economy and perseverance, in various
kinds of business, accumulated the great wealth
which he now possesses.
once saw on the Judges table an elegant, rich
looking gold watch, and asked him where he OBJ
tanned it, and what it cost him. He said he and
four or 1--WE other gentlemen in Quebec, agreed to