Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-03-27
OUR HOME CORRESPONDENTS.
History of nraaSe., Vermont.

AT the last special meeting Of the Vermont
Historical Society holden at Burlington in
January last, the Rev. BRRNIoE ID. kMEs
by special request read carefully prepared
biographical sketch OF DIR. ANDERSON GREEN
DANA, late Of Brandon. who died August
goth, 1861, in the 10th year Of his age. This
biographical sketch is printed in the last
number of The Brandon Gazette" and
near its close the Rev Mr.. Ames makes the
following announcement: "Dr. DANA had
nearly written history Of Brandon, embra-
cling all the original grants and grantees, the
organization of churches and schools, and
notices OF more than one hundred of the pi-
oneers who settled there previous to the year
1900. In several departments this history is
more elaborate and complete than tue history
OF any other town in Vermont which have
yet seen. So valuable contribution to the
early local history of the State should not re-
main exposed to the perils which attend
single manuscript, but sho ID be published
either by the Town of Brandon or the friends
Of the deceased author. Ii would be priced
by multitude,, both for its intrinsic interest
and as worthy memorial of useful and
honored life"
Mr.. AMEs knows well that the histories of
Middlebury by the Hon. SAMUEL SWIFT,
of Montpelier by the Hon. DANIEL P.
THOMPSON, of Salisbury by the late JOHN
NJ WEEKS, of Shorehsm by the Rev. j, F.
GooDHUE, have been published in large and
portly volumes; and when he states before
the members of the Vermont Historical So
ciety that the history of the town of Brandon
in manuscript written by the late DR.. DANA,
is in several department, more elaborate
and complete than the history of any other
town in Vermont which he has yet seen," he
utters praise decidedly significant and en-
attention last January, and it is 10 this man
uscript to which We would now call the imme-
diate notice of the good and considerate peo-
pie of Brandon, If the friends of the de-
ceased author, who has spent much time
10 the best years of his life in obtaining ma
terials for town history of Brandon, are
willing that il should be published under the
auspices of the Town, it would be a burning
shame if that town allowed the opportunity
to pass unimpreved.
Brandon is an old town. Itwas chartered
in October, 1851, by New Hampshire, under
the name of Neshobe, and was so called un-
til 1854, when the name Was altered to Bran
don. Some of its residents are and have
been prominent in public and professional
life, and favorably known throughout the
State, and the interest which attaches to DR..
DANA's history would not be merely local on
that account. Mr.. Ames is fully justified in re
marking that DIR. DANA's history OF Brandon
would be priced by multitudes, both for its
intrinsic interest and as a worthy memorial
of useful and honored life"
1t is rare that we find so able and learned
q physician Gas DR.. DANA is represented to
be) willing to take upon himself the thank
less task OF trying to rescue the early history
of town and its settlers from oblivion, in
addition to the onerous duties of his profes-
sion. II would be very strange, "passins
stran ge," if the announcement so handsome
ly and opportunely made by MIR. AMEs were
not Immediately followed by some earnest
action on the part of the Selectmen of Bran
don by which the history of that town would
be no longer suffered to remain in manu-
script, but would be, at once, suitably edited
and published.
We make no apology for this suggestion
We acknowledge our interest in the history
of every part of the State; and we shall en-
deavor to second heartily and unreservedly
every effort which may be made to rescue
the early history of Vermont from oblivion
SUM CrNQUE.