Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-09-06
A Live Vermonter.
HON. HARRISON C. BLAKE OF OHIO

A Live Vermonter.
HON. HARRISON G. BLAKE OF OHIO
Everybody has read of the incident of trav
eler by the name of Blake, who in the white
of 1922, with his wife and infant, was passing
over the Green Mountains of Vermont: tina
the drifting snow rendered the roads impassab
Tor his horse J.; that he left the wife and infan
In the sleigh and went in pursuit of assistance
that he persisted before arriving at human hab
itation, and that the next day traveller founC
the wife and mother dead, she having
''-Stripped the mautle from her breast,
And barred her bosom to the storm.
And round her child had wrapped the vest
And smiled to think her babe warm
With enc cold kiss, one tear she shed,
And sank upon her snowy bed.
He moved the robe from Off the child
The babe looked up and sweetly smiled''
This melancholy and thrilling incident in the
life of the child would make hissubsequent his
tory matter of interest to almost any reader
even had there been nothing unusual in it. But
his life has been an eventual one, a sericsof cir
repressible conflicts with misfortunes, in which
the man has always triumphed over matter, and
the integrity Of the man always standing above
reproach.
Having, some ten years since, formed slight
acquaintance with this i0undhng of the Green
Mountain snow drifts, and often heard incidents
of his career recountcd BY lips thatlo to praise
him, we have naturally kept an eye ON his move
ments and taken deep interest in his career,
although he has undoubtedly long since forgot
ten even the name Of the writer OF this article
Unaided and alone, sometimes by hard man
ual toll, sometimes by school teaching, and then
as Il confidential clerk and book keeper, he
wrought his way to manhood, winning the con-
fdcnce of all who knew him. He then invest
ed his business talents and reputation as an off
set to capital, in the mercantile business with
partner in Medina, Ohio.
A few years of industry, frugaliiy, and pros
perity made him sole proprietor of the concern.
was) while an unusually large stock was on the
way from New York, mostly purchased on short
credit, his store, with all the goods on hand
were destroyed by fire, and the insurance was
but light in proportion to the loss.
Blake is ruined, ;" cried one all his prop
erty destroyed but his new goods and in debt
for them" Z" He must go under" cried an
other. Nerer was the spouse of another;
" neither fire nor water can overcome the found
ling of the Green Mountain snow storm.'' And
so it proved. He was shocked for an hour, but
not for day. His manhood and energy were
superior to mlsfortune's frowns. A newly en-
closed building was obtained to store the goods
in as they arrived. The dry goods boxes were
emptied of their contents ahd turned into i'm
promptu counters. Large posters and the news
papers announced that the new goods must be
sold cheap for cash. The people aocked there
for great bargains The goods were sod-every
note was met at maturity, and in short time
the new &C PhaOnix Block rose from the ashes
and upon the foundations of the old store.
Mr. Blake has held many offices of trust in
his adopted State, and has been a member of
both houses of the Ohio Legislature, always
filling his position to the satisfaction of his
constituents and with great credit to himself
The Offices he has held have all been volunta-
ry offering from the people, and not sought for
by himself-Schoharie Jefersonian