Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-02

Morgan and its Early Settlers.

According to the purpose we an
nOunccd in the first article on the
early settlers Of Orleans county, tonote
their influence on the society, institu-
tons and character of the people that
have come after them, we will make
few observations concerning this in
hucncc in Morgan, upon politics,
schools, and religion.
Morgan was first settled by Nathan
Wilcox, in 1900. Settlers came in
SLOWLY 1t was not organized till
March. 1907. Christopher Bartlett,
was the first town clerk. At that day,
and until many years after, the small
towns were not assessed State taxes
if they did not send representative
to the legislature For this reason
Morgan was often not represented
The first representative was Rufus
Stewart in 1871 and 1912. He soon
after removed to Derby; his politics
were Of the Jefferson school, and he
held an officers commission, in the war
of 1912, was afterwards Familiarity
known III the country. as "MajOr Stew
art" and eXerted a large influence
But he does not appear to have had
much Influence in Morgan, probably
on account Of his short residence there.
The men we have mentioned, Leavens,
Cummings, Wilcox, and Bartlett, were
all FedcraIists, and afterwards Wings.
And they impressed their principles
so strongly on the whole history of the
town. that it can scarcely be said
ever to have had but one party. But
as is likely to occur in such cases, the
personal and sectional striles have beer
frequent, and sometimes prosecuted
with zeal and bitterness, that was
ludicrOU5 to a locker on,-a very
tempest in teapot Ira Leavcns had
more shrewdncss and skill in control
ING these feuds, and turning them to
account, than any other man. He first
represented the town in 1913. and
many times afterwards. but only once
in two successive years. After some
triangular contests had gone on in
successive vain ballotines he would
then ONE in as h c compromise
candidate. Common rumor at the
time explained his last election in | 1913
in this way. After several unsucccss-
full balIotings in which he was not a
candidate, few of his friends. under
standing each other, circulated among
the noisy freemen, and finding the
opposition ofany voter to one of the
candidates, would join with him. and
express great fear that that candidate
would be elected unless something
could be done. Well, the other would
reply, what can we do? The answer
was, defeat him Any way this ballot,
and then we can make some cOmbina-
ton to secure the election of our can
didate. But there is no time to be
lost, "let rs scatter, here's a vote for
Lcavens.' The ruse was played so
adroitly that when the scattering"
votes were counted, they gave clear
majority for Leavens. Many of the
scatterers were as much displeased as
those who didn't scatter. but the
election was declared and there was
no help for it.
The early leading men of the town,
though intelligent and soundly patri-
otto, were not politicians, and it is be-
lieved took little pains to instruct
their fellow citizens in the more solid
principles of Government. The con-
tests that occurred later were on minor
and side issues. Such mushroom mar
ties as the Anti-masoni,, Free-SoiI.
and KnOw-Nothing, found a genial
soil In Morgan, and fourished there
greatly for a little while and then
vanished away. But the influence of
the fathers has been great in shaping
the political character of the town.
and bringing it back from any wild
chase after something new. And it
IS believed that no town in the coun-
ty, has administered its own municipal
affairs with more general good order.
efficiency and economy, than Morgan.
None of the first settlers were edu-
Gated men, or had a comprehensive
view of the educational wants of a new
country except Mr.. Cummings. They
settled in different and remote parts
OF the town, so that no two of them
could act together III one district
school. Little was done to give a
high character to the common schools
and nothing was attempted beyond
these. The consequence is, that there
has never been high order of schools
or prevailing ambition in her youth
to Obtain generous culture. and to
60 out into the world to WELD an in
fuence. They have been content to
be little men, and to do little things.
Orperhaps it would be more correct
to say that what others Judge to be
little, looks quite big in their ewes