St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-07-26
The First Pioneer Settler of Fash.
ingtOR County,.

fOrty years ago, III c0Zy nook under
the hill, eight or ten rods from the west
bank Of Dog River, about half mile
trem its mouth, might have been seen a
slightly elevated level, over which were
strown the ruins OF a log house, and stone
chimney. The building of the Central
railroad, which runs within two or three
rods from the spot, subsequently, obliter-
ated most OF the marks which previously
distinguished it, but it can still he idenli-
fled as the place where once stood the
rude abode of Jacob Fowler. the first
pioneer settler, not only Ct Berlin, but of
the present Washington County. Fowler
was rather peculiar man. and seemed
TO avoid rather than court the acuuaint-
ancc OF the settlers. who believed there
was some mystery hanging over his for
mer lie which he was not inclined tn
disclose. The late Captain Holden Put
nam, however, by some means discovered
few particulars respecting his former
lite and character. which were all that
were ever known about them in this Sec
ton ot the country. BY these il ap-
peared that he had been during our rcy-
oIutlon an adjutant of Il tory regiment.
which fought against lis AT tie battle OF
Bennington. But on the triumph of the
American arms, and the consequent dis
pcrslon OF the tories, he took up his abode
III Corlnth till the town began 10 be set
tied by the whig>, when, finding himself
IN bad oder on account Of the part h. had
taken III the war. he took to the forest
rs hunter and trapper. and made Onion
river valley the scene OF his operations Tor
some years before there WAS any settle
mcnts IN this County. and then alter
wards moved his family 10 boz river. IN
Berlin. on the spot ! have name.l. AMI
became the first permanent resident of
that town aud also. ii is believed. the
first one OF Washington county at all
events he WAS here when the PutnamS
settled III Mi,dle.ex. which was in l7N5.
two years before the Davi>eS settle. in
Montpelier. lie first ever knew any
thin. OF Fowler. SAID Captain Putnam
In answer to enquiries once male CON
crrnn@ the c!d hunter, ''waN soon aiirr
we got settled in our lug house. when onr
day We were aroused lv 4 halluu from
the berIln side of the river. thai run.
through the t"r>t like 4 trumpet. On
%"In@ 10 thc door We SAW on the opposite
bank man whom nv father, .Eud4,.
Seth Putnam. sad was Fowler the nun
ter, Though sixty ro,l, distant wccsuI
distinctly hear every word of hs rrg.tnd.
which was his wish to borrow som. tools.
After this he often came down to the
river on errand-, and exhibited the SANE
power ol Voice. winch was tht mos: re-
markahlc one | ever heard i,>lc from
human lips
Fowler, it was sai!. gayc. or was the
means of "iving, the Maine of Do. river
to the stream on which Lc resided. II.
had set 4 steel trap on the margin of the
river for offers. when hi> de-. attracted
by the bait. got INTO the trap. and in hi,
a@"ny Itoundcrcd into ihr water and w:.-
drowned. Tins he % much Iaid 10 heart
that he usually spoke ot the river when
abroad anon" the settlers IN connection
with the los. oi his d"g: and with the
latter, by the natural steps ot ahrryia-
ton, 1t soon came 10 he c;rlI"I by the
name II has ever since borne. Dog river.
vi all tile n";ct hunters and trappcrS
OF early ilmc> III this rc4l"R ot tie coun-
try. Jacob Fowler WIS unIuc>t!onahi,
the most noted and successful. and there
was not probably stream. mountain. or
other Locality III this county, with which
Inc had not made himself perfectly tamiI-
lar IN his various ran@-o through the for
c>iS, then dark AMI unLroncn. save here
and there 4 small opening where the
sunlight had been let i'll by the axe OF the
settler. lie wasted little time on anv
small game, and moose, deer, bears. ana
catamount>, We're the only Objects hc
considered worthy his attention. More
stories OF the encounters of Fowler with
the wild beasts of the woods Were toll
by the old settlers than my space will :
permit, even particularly 10 cnumeratc. .
BY way OF sample, however, | will give
one or two which was related To me by
an AGED first settler, who had it from the
lips of the hunter himself, and in his
own OFT hand graphic language.
Il used 10 think sald the hnter in
beginning the anecdote am about 10 ,
relate, 'that had a> much wit As any
wild vanmt that was ever scared up in ,
our woods. But 4 sly old moose once ;
completely batiled he IN trying 10 get ,
shot at him. This animals range was /
on IRISH hill III tie vicinity OF Berlin {
Pond. This discovered by finding, one !
day as l WAS coming along the margin OF |
the pond, path leading down TO the ,
water, which | knew 10y the tracks of Il
great SIZE, ami OF different degrees OF Z
freshness, was made by large Moose i
that must have come down daily to