Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-05-25
Early Settlers Of Holland,

There were two men not mentioned !
in our previous notices ofthe early set |
tiers of Holland, who settled there ii
rot among the very first, yet soon
after and continued till their death at
an advanced oldage viz VIM. Moon, q
Asa Holt. Mr.. Moon located near the
Northwest corner Of the town, and
raised a considerable family; some
OF whom reside on the same farm still.
He was man Of very pure moral and
christian life, but his church relations,
and his associations were as much or
more in Derby than in Holland. He
was q man of some intelligence, and
more than ordinary intellectual capac-
ity, but Of very quiet, peaceful, home
habits, and had little to do in the pub
lie affairs Of the town. For this rea
son his influence, though exceedingly
pure add elevating in the small cir
Gle in which he was intimately known
was less felt in shaping the character
Of the town. He was the father Of
the late Hon. VIM. Moon of Newport.
Mr.. Holt was peculiar, a genius in
his way, and well known to all in that
region, in his own town and all the
neighboring towns. He was a hermit,
or as every body used to call him, an
"old bachelor" All the older people
of Holland apd the surrounding towns,
as they read these lines, will recall
the image of "uncle Holt riding his
old, bay, lame horse, hitching along the
roads in slow jogging pace, with his
saddlebags, containing probably jug
of rum, under him. The boys all
called him THAT is the horse not the
bachelor) old Mouldboard; and we
guess some of the men did the same.
Later along "old Mouldboard" died.
and then "Uncle Holt used to walk,
very often. with a birch broom in his
hand; for one of bis peculiar employ
ments was to make these brooms in
his long lone winter evenings, and to
peddle them out among his neighbors
carrying one or two or three at time
and receiving therefor some article Of
food Of clothing, or some service as OF
mending, washing, or cooking from the
good housewives in his part of the
town. Besides, he had a custom of civ.
ing one of his brooms to every new
married couple in town. Soon after
any young people would begin house
keeping, they might expect to see
"Uucle Holt" some day trudging along
up to their door with a broom in
hand; and then they were sure of hav.
ing one guest at dinner, and not an
unwelcome one either, for the old
man was full ofwit, wisdom, anecdotes
and fun. He seemed always to be in
the happiest of spirits, and his saluta
ton, especially when any one visited
him, was always "Halloo! How are
your" and he would keep his guests
interested or roaring with laughter as
long as the visit lasted. He was
somewhat of quack doctor and was
occasi ally called in to pre-
scribe root and herb medicine for the
children, by some anxious and mex
perienced mother, when there was nc
doctor nearer than Derby. He had
some skill too in dressing wounds
which some luckless boy would inaict
upon his foot with his first use of ar
AK. He was also much employed by
the farmers as q sort of veterinary. tc
doctor their sick cattle. He lived
near the center of the town, in an ole
log house, west of the road nearly OPP
posite where j. G. Robinson, Esq.
now lires. He kept no dog, but his