The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-08

H. Bishop. On the same day was held the
first recorded election for governor, with the
following result:
For Governor Nathaniel Niles had 16
votes, Thomas Chittenden votes, and Isaac
Tichenor votes.
For Lieut. Governor.-Jona. Hunt had 30
votes, Nathl Niles l vote.
For Treasurer. Samuel Mattocks had %
votes.
In the State election for this year, Thomas
Chittenden was for the 18th time elected gov
ernor, iona. Hunt Lt-governor, and Samuel
Mattocks treasurer"
"The first merchant in St Johnsbury was
Mr. Sumner, who about 1894 or 5 opened
store in the house of iona. Trescott, which
stood on the road to Passumpsc, just below
the county fair grounds. Afterwards Steph
en- Hawkins and Reuben Alexander came
from Winchester, and commenced trade about
1898. Hawkins married daughter of Capt
Arnold the miller. This Arnold was an old
sea captain, a brother of DR. Jonathan, and
was the first person employed to tend the
grist mill. His successor was Daniel Bowen,
who lived in rude hut by the corner of the
bridge at the railroad crossing, which was the
first house built in that village. The first
store kept on the Plain was opened by Fred.
Phelps as early as the year 1900, at the North
end of the street. He carried on potash
factory near the mills, which was afterwards
converted into distillery of whisky. ANA
ziah d. Barber kept store somewhat later
near the head of Maple street, which was
subsequently occupied by Chamberlin Il Pad
dock, afterwards fitted up as house of wor-
ship for the Second Congregational Church.
then in its infancy, and finally moved to its
present location nearly opposite the post of-
flee, where it is still occupied as dwelling
house. The first public house or tavern was
opened by DIR Lord soon after the settlement
Of the town, at the Southern extremity of the
Plain. In 1899, the building now occupied
as bakery was built and opened as tavern
| by Maj Thomas Peck. 1t is said that DIR
Lord, after he had erected his great two sto-
ry red house, distinguished himself and as
tonished his neighbors by importing from
Montreal an enormous metallic structure,
as the first cooking stove brought into town.
1t is reported to have been cast in Scotland.
The first clock in St Johnsbury was purchas-
ed before 1900, by Nath. Elson in Danville,
for SO, and is still to be seen in running Or
der at the house of Mrs J. Clark on the Plain
1t is one Of those lofty relics of antiquity
which used to stand guard in the corners Of
old kitchens, surmounted BY brazen balls and
the moons disc. 1t was on the lawn 'front.'
ing Edson's house (now Mr. Butler's,) that
the first public muster and training was held.
A few years after when Edison was preparing
to remove to the West, he experienced some
difficulty in making his exit from town. His
wagon was packed up with movable proper
ty, ready for an early start on a certain morn
ing, but during the night some mischievous
person purloined one Of the wagon wheels
rendering it impossible to proceed. The vex-
alton of the Edison family was great, for ii
was not until two or three days had passed
that the wheel was found, buried in a thistle
bed half mile from the house and this vex
alton was greatly increased when it was dis
| covered that vast multitude of spectator:
had assembled on the plain to witness tht
progress of the wagon that had gained sucf
a notoriety. This same man subscribed il
company with one of his neiShbors for Spoo
ner's Vermont Journal, which was the frs
paper that circulated in this part of the State
Y As ole of them lived away from the mail
i road, it was proposed that all the papers b
h left at Edsons house until the end OF the yea
l. and then equally divided between the two
d Among the earliest lawyers in st Johnsbur
y were Lyndon Arnold, Goodhue, Bissel, Dor
O and Gov VIM A. Palmer. The row of mapl
# trees front of the court house and along tn
J. East side of the street were set out by Go
i Palmer, who brought them all out of tn
,r woods on lis back as early as 1905. He die
v in Danvilie, December, 1860. Hon Ephr;
n. i'm Paddock is the first lawyer that can
at said to have had permanent residence in
m Johnsbury."
r GAS vet no established post roads ha
n- been constructed, and the arrangements fl
~ carving mails were every way inadequate
n the wants of the settlers. All the Southel
n mails were conveyed from Barnet to St John
IN bury over the hill road through Peacham al
US Danylle. The post riders mace their pc
- odic circuits on horseback fully equipped wi
a saddlebags and tin horns. Prominent amo1
rn these public functionaries, and we'll know
nd for his daring, was the man VIM Trescott.
in He had been endowed by nature with vel
lin atile genius. His attainments in astronor
&C. and capacity for ardent spirits were alike il
Mr. mense, and his geniusiwas especially exerc
up ed in the construction of almanacs and
or destruction of bears. He it was, who
his countered and vanquished bruin on the ed
of the gravel pit south of the Plain. 1t hi
pened in this wise: Prescott had been e
St ploved in clearing and burning ever the tr