Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-08-10

A TRUE REPUBL1CAN-HON. HARRI-
SON q. BLAKE OF OHIO.

A TRUE REPUBL1CAN-HON. HARRI-
SON @. BLAKE OF OHIO.
Everybody has read of the incident Of a
traveller by the name of Blake, who in the
winter Of 1921, with his wife and infant was
passing over the Green Mountains of YER
mont--thst the drifting snow rendered the
roads impossible for his horse--that he left
the wife and infant in the sleigh and went in
pursuit Of assistance, that he persisted before
arriving at human habitation, and that the
next day a traveller found the wife and moth
cr dead, she having
"stnpped the mantle from her breast
Aud barred her bosom 20 the storm,
And round the child had wrapped the vest,
And smiled to think her babe was warm
With one cold kiss, one tear she shed,
And sank upo. her snowy bed
lie moved the robe from off the child,
The babe looked up and swoetly smiled"
This melancholy and thrilling accident in
the life Of the child, would make his subse-
quent history a matter Of interest TO almost
any reader, even had there been nothing un-
usual in it. But his life has been an event
full one, a series Of "irreprossible conflicts"
with misfortunos, in which the man has al
ways triumphed over matter, and the integH-
ty Of the man always standing above re-
proach.
Having some ten years since formed slight
acquaintance with this founding Of the Green
Mountain snow drifts and often heard incl
dents of his career recounted by lips that love
to praise him we have naturally kept an eye
upon his movements and taken a deep inter-
est in his career, although he has undoubted-
ly long since forgotten even the name OF the
writer Of this article
Unaided, and alone, sometimes by hard
manual toll, sometimes by school teaching and
then as a confidential clerk and book keeper,
he wrought his way to manhood winning the
confidence Of all who knew him. He then
invested his business talents and reputation
as an offset to capital, in the mercantile busi-
ness with partner in Molina, Ohio.
A few years Of industry, frugality, and
prosperity made him sole proprietor Of the
concern. In the winter Of lS49 and so 1--WE
think it was while au unusually large stock
was on the way from New York, mostly pur-
chased 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" ale must 60 uner," cried anoth-
| iiF Ahffff was NhN ANo lfNAoN W "N'tNNi >
"neither fire nor water can overcome the
/ founding ofthe 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 misfortunes frowns.
newly enclosed building was obtained to
store the goods in as they arrived. The dry
goods boxes were emptied of the contents
aud turned into impromptu counters. Large
posters and the newspapers announced that
the new goods "must be sold cheap for
cash" The people focked there for great
bargains The goods sold-every note was
met at maturity, and in short time the new
Phwnix 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 been member Of both
houses Of the Ohio Legisture, always filling
his position to the satisfaction Of his consti-
tuents and with great credit to himself The
Offices he has held have al been voluntary
offering from the people, and not sought for
by himself. lie is now at forty years at age
valuable member Of Congress, and his poll
teal creed and ability in debate. may be read
lily understood by reading his speeches.