Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-09-24

seaboard colonies ?
summon before you in dense array from
memory's archives, the soldiers, statesmen,
politicians, Legislators, governors, Judges
and executive officers generally, that
adorned Nermont's earlier history, and
say, was it a slight compliment to be al
ways called upon to preside over the solemn
councils of such heroes Why did not
some of his talented and ambitious COM
peers at least once, achieve that honor
Does not his invarable election as presid-
ing officer, bespeak him eminently ia
mlliar with parliamentary usages, self pos
sessed, courteous, impartial and quick Of
apprehension
Let us turn our attention to his pur-
suits and tastes. In IVA he bought $50
acres of land and sold so acres. This
was his only trading in Rutland lands, ,and
thus during the last ten years of his lie
he owned aud occupied 100 acres OF land.
In his deed he modestly styles himself
yeomau, while some of his brother farmers
in their deeds call themselves gentlemen,
yet at his death only 30 acres of his land
were improved-his official duties perhaps
occupied more of his time than his farm
ing.
When we see that the treasurer of the
state, on the 18th of February, l779 paid
him f24 bounty for killing three wolves,
we might infer him to have been some
what of Nimrod but this is at least
partially negatived by turning to the in-
ventory of his estate where we find neither
gun, pistol or sword.
He was such general business man
we should naturally conclude that he must
have had library enough to post himself
in all political, legal, financial and ecclesi-
astica affairs, vet we have no
evidence that he died the possessor of a
single volume.
There is oral, but no record, evidence
that he was an officer of the church and
he died as a christian might wish to
die--in the midst of a religious re-
vival.
He built his house of plank when about
all the other houses in town were of log,
and added thereto leanto or semi-veran-
dab; yet his residence could scarcely have
been palatial, for it was appraised at only
f40. just the appraisal of the saw-mill of
which he owned one quarter, while his
barn was valued at G2S
Ills style of housekeeping could not
have been very aristoGratlc, for all his
household furniture was worth only
about $50.
Admire the selection of MS home in this
wilderness. His iarm, lying on the east
side of Main Street road, extending 100
rods south, from about Green Street,
to and including part of Handpole
| Brook, and half a mile east of said road,
he locates his dwelling, troutng towards
the South, about half way down this no.
bic slope of pleasant hill (although now
undervalued and desecrated by unfit tene-
ments) and there during the last ten wears
of his hfe-ten years of highly useful and
honorable exerton - with the mountain
majesty of Killington on the east, Otter
Creek on the west, and the deep forests
everywhere, he saw State rise out of
political chaos, peace between the United
States ana Great Britain, courts and chur-
ches duly organized, and the foundations
laid for framed Uouct House and
Church, in the town which had most hon
ored him and been most hoAored by
him.
Prominent as Bowker was, why was he
not, like his toWnsmen, Svivanus Brown,
John Smith and Peieg Sunderland, de-
nounced, out-lawed and price offered or
his head by the government Of New York?
As he was modest, unassuming man, OF
few words, probably his tastes did not in
cline him to engage in hose acts Of forci-
BILE resistance to the balhgerent and off
clal Workers, then deemed such efiicacious
and medicinal remedies against oppres-
sion.
We know also that he was no land
| Spectator bought no land in Rutland
until IVA, and died seized of no real es-
tate but his home farm, if we omit one
right of land in Starksborough and anotb
er in Medway or Mendon.
BowKer died between the 10th of Aprji
and the ID of September, 1884. There
was no burial ground in Rutland then. exl
eXcep, the one at Cntre Rutland, and
somewhere in that public acre his remains
were buried. The Rev. Jacob Wood,
reyivalist, attended bis funeral The FIJI
neral procession had nearly completed i'd
walk Of two miles, when Mr.. Wood SUD
denly leaped upon stump, and turning
towards the mourners and their friends
cried, 'Hark at the Jay OF judgment !
will be an honor to be i Christian" thei
jumped down and silently walked with tie
rest towards the grave yard.
We regret that the grave of Vermonts
great Jurist, Nathanirl Chapman, is ul
honored by any monument, either obelis;,
tablet or slab, yet that disgrace can be RI
moved but our regret IS sadder, becaub
unavailing, when we consider that tie
grave of the President of those Convea-
tions, that gave Vermont her political a.
istenee and form, is not only unhonond
but literally unknown.
Notwithstanding the numerous and r.
sponsible offices held by Bowker, he did
almost as honorably poor as Aristides, lis
whole estate being appraised at abat
$3.50, very moderate competence. even
in those frugal days. But whatever ese
he left, or failed to leave, the fragranceof I
a pood name emha Inns ht. ,nar.or, ..