Litchfield enquirer., 1861-06-06
THE PIONEER.

field. Sullivan County, H. H., Joseph Kimball figured as pioneer and soldier in conquering the forest and soil. He possessed "a sound mind in sound body" and was. like Putnam, great in an honest heart and steady courage He was lamb in the chamber and lion in the conflict. He cleared away the dense forest with his strong arm. He cultivated his lands in a manner in advance of the times in which he lv- ed, combining the occupations of lawgiver, far mer and hunter and his encounter with the old welf is an event which we would record alongside that interesting page of history which tells of Putnam and the wolf
 An old wolf had been known to make fre- quent visits and sojourns in Plainfied ever since the first settler came into town. This wolf was known by the large tracks he made; and he, in connection with similar villains, had destroyed sheep and lambs to great number for those times, and Kimball and other hunters had re- solved to destroy him, cost what it would. The hunters with their hounds had followed him into Vermont, towards the mountains, but on ac- count of the depth of snow they were obliged to return. But the wolf got back as soon as the hunters, and that night killed a young COW, the favorite property of the Kimball family, upon which they were depending for their win ters supply of milk. This was severe loss, and the first sight of the murdered animal to our
 
 had been killed in the morning, and the wolves had left without their meal, he concluded to try again his steel traps. They were cautiously and ingeniously set, and he waited the result The next morning he discovered that the veri- table wolf was in the trap, and was held by only two of his toes. He could have pulled away and left his toes in the trap, and then escaped to the woods. Kimball had left his rifle at the house and he dared not leave the wolf, lest he should escape during his absence. If he made an attack with club he would be at the first blow, perhaps slightly wounded, pull away and be off. He believe. that man had dominion over the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, and concluded to try his art in that direc- ton. He came up slowly, looking him steadily in the face. The wolfs gaze was averted, and he gradually dropped his ears shut his eyes, and laid down close to the ground. Kimball put the rope which he had in his hand around the head of the wolf and adjusted it about his neck in a way not to be got off. He then passed the other md of the rope under the limb of a tree lying near, making him secure. He then press ed upon the springs of the trap and liberated the foot of the prisoner.
 He now united the rope from the tree, and the beast was set under quick march for the house. The family were waiting for the father to come to his morning meal, when he neared HS haoiIataou, ledoihS tHlS uciCe uSAiA0n oA eAo forest.
 The news soon spread around the country, aud old and young came to see the live wolf. Some dealt blows with whips-he was set upon by a troop of dogs-but one more humane than the rest, put an end to his misery with his rifle. Every one came up to him then without fear, and from his wellworn tusks, the elongated soles of his feet, his grizzly appearance, they gave it as their opinion that this was the old offender and no other than the mate to the wolf which Israel Putnam shot in the den.
 VIJn hnbaT JU dctvr11,ina tn-accnrn- plisl, believing that with man almost all things were possible .t
 His daring spirit was inherited by his chil- drsn The next morning after the old wolf was taken, his daughter, only sixteen years old, was sent to neighbours on an errand, and passing through the forest she saw in the path huge black bear, that seemed but little disposed to turn out. But she walked on towards him mo- tioning him with her hand and with clear voice to be away. He turned, ran up tree near by; she went up and placed her mantilla about it, attached it to the rough bark, and left her bon net also to keep old bruin up. She then ran at- ter her father. He soon came-and at the first fire the bear fell, mortally wounded.
 Kimball at the age of forty commenced plant ing fruit-trecs and vines. One of his friends advised him not to transplant, as he might not live to eat the fruit. Said he, "I will set out my orchard, and will get the fruit forty years" It came to bearing in five years, and he lived near hundred, and sat under his own vine aud fg-tree, told stories of the dangers of the first settlement of New Hampshire in his defiant manner, and feasted with his friends and neigh bors on the rich viands for more than half a century. ...