Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-08-18
Jfli5rrllanG0uG.
A Family Meeting.


Eight of the children, who are
residents of several States, and some
twenty-four other descendants of
Jesse Fletcher, Esq. deceased, met
on the 18th ult. at the old mansion
in Ludlow, one mile west of Proc
torsville, in the beautiful valley of
Black river, which issues from the
eastern slope of the Green Noun
tains. The paternal farm was set
tied by their father Immediately at
the close of the revolution
At this meeting was 4 from Va /;
9 from Indiana, 3 from Southern
aud IL from western New York, 3
from r. L., aud 2 from Rio de
Janeiro, South America.
A like assemblage took place two
years past, when, for the frs, time
the eight surviving children met to-
gether. The paternal farm has
been kept in the family, tho no one
of them reside IN the State. 1t is
now owned by bachelor brother,
who has resided in Va. the last 40
years, but now retired from bust
ness, and spends his summers at the
old mansion, trying to make up for
the omission of the more sacred re-
lations of life by hospitalities to
brothers, sisters, and descendants,
''Who canna, often thus an.nna
The Ola familiar hearth be fouad."
The assembled party visited the
old church, the grave of their pa
rents, the old district school, and the
survivors and descendants, Of the
old neighbors. As steamboat and
railroad facilities afforded the oppor-
tunily, the brothers and sisters de-
termined on at least biennial meet
ings some six years ago and altho
the eight children of the Original
proprietor are somewhat advanced
in age, since this determination
they have been all spared and il
fine health They believe the ex-
pectalion and excitement consequent
on the looked-for meetings, have
had an excellent eflcc, on their spir-
its, and drawn out new hopes and
anticipations calculated to prolone
/ life. We took pleasure in noticing
the first family meeting Of the de-
scendanls of Jesse Fletcher, Esq,
two years ago. We then all uded to
the great attraction Vermont had,
not only to its absent native inhabit-
ants, bat to strangers. We are
pleased to see that numbers annual
ly return TO our pure mountain all
and inimitable scenery.
1t is said that a Scotchman will
endure the burning suns of the
Gauges, or the polar storms of the
Arctic from youth to old age, and
at last return with his. ample for.
tune to wind up life mid his native
Highlands. Vermont has not only
the charming scenery of the ii igh-
lands but fertile hills and valleys to
which she can invite back her absent
children. A very intelligent lady
from switzerland has recently pas,
sed through portion of our state
and asserts that, batting a few tower
ing peaks, and frighlful glaciers
Vermont can still compete with hel
native land tor excellence in noun
tain scenery, enlivened by perpetual
verdure, dashing rivulets, miniature
lakes, cascades, bold ascents ant
bracing air; aud that no countr,
can surpass this state in neat appro.
pirate places for the education o
youth, commanding church steeples
and beautiful villages. What an ex
cellent moral effect such advantage
have had on the numerous emigrant
our State has afforded TO every stat
and territory of the Union Thi
reminds MS that at the census o
1850 il was ascertained that Yer
mont had sent out over rs per cent
of her then living population to 9th
er states aud territories, and il is be
leved more efficient teachers tina
any other state. She Furnishes
N. Y. 52,599-Penn. 4,532-Ohi
l42i0-Michigan ll,ll3-lll. IL,
3sl-Wisconsin l0,l57-Indian