National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-09-03
Historical,
Eccntsin tie History Of Brddtord.

we ma the following III the Ar .
gus and Patriot:
Bradford was first settled in the .
year 1868, and the first settler was
named John Osmer. He first pitch. /
ed his tent, and aiterward erected a |
house, near the mouth OF Waits .
River, on the North side. Some of
the present inhabitants say that I.
traces of the settlement were visible /
as late as the year 1921. The town
was originally called Morctown; but
for some good reason the name was
changed to the oue which it now
bears.
This OSmer was a jolly, flm-IoIiuG
man, and liked much to get hlS fun
at the expense of others. The same
year when he settled in Bradford,
and shortly altar his arrived. tor
cigneT came TO his house and stayed
several days working when he would
to pay for his board. 1t SO happen
ed that the stranger was found to
be covered with Il certain cutancouS
eruption which some persons have
dcnOminatcd the itch. OSmer was
somewhat vcXed, as may bc supp0s-
ed, when he found that himself ana
family had been exposed to this
vlleSt of diseases; and resolved that
/ in some way he would be rcVenged,
In Such a way, too, as 70 secure Il
/ fund of mrth for himself as he
/ should relate it in future years.
/ OSmer accordingly put himself un-
der great cOutlol. SO that no appear
ancc of anger could be seen, and
gravely informed the fellow that he
knew of a remedy that would cure
his loatheSOmc disease, but it was a
great secret, and he did not wish to
dlvulge it to any one. The poor
fellow plead to be told what 1t was,
and that OSmcr prescribe for him,
promising to carry out the directions
to the very letter; and he sWore a
startling oath that he would never
reveal the secret. This was all that
OSmer wished. He took tie afflicted
man out to the cmcddOW where there
was a forest Of Kettles, and told him
if he would strip himself and ran
through those weeds it would prove
: a perfect cure. The fellow was
soon stripped, and plunged into the
weeds with all bravery, little think
ING what the result would he. The
effect can be better imagined than
: described. and the suiicrings OF the
poor fellow for some time were cX
crutiating. His mind and attention
were SO completely occupied that he
!, did not, notice the mirth of 0>mer
but when he did, his eyes were open
, cd to the fact that he had been sadly
imposed upon. His wrongs and his
SuficringS caused him to take up hi.
line of march, at the same time
calling upon higher power to re-
dress his grievances. With OSmel
the matter did not end here; t0l
: when tha people OF the neighborinl
Y settlements heard of this inciden
- they dubbed him doctor, which titi'
clung to him to his gave.
1t was during the next year. "a
| that Samuel Sleeper and his disciple
u Beuoni Wright came into Bradford
p They pitched their tent "A little 20 tn
+ Northeast Of Mr.. liunkins' dwelling
!, who then lived in the North part q
Bradford. 1t viii be remembers,
: that in Il sketch upon Ncwbnr.
Il these two men were spoken of "A
;, beng obliged to leave the place ol
u account Of their religious belief, 70
ii they often disturbed the SabbatI
t services by speaking when the Spri
: moved them, Wright at enc tim
/ received ten lashcSnud Sleeper wa
imprisoned and threatened wit
X thirty Of the same kind if he eve
y. disturbed their meeting again.
u Soon after thcycamc into Bradford
e Wright undertook to sustain a iaS
II of forty days, IN imitation Of til
u Great Master, and withdrew to
g cave in the Northwest part {
II Bradford. IL order that he migl
81 fully guard himself for the conilll
II and against all enemies Of, the al
H. he procured a leather belt with fort
II holes in it: and each day was {
: buckle himself up one hole tlghtc
o. He carried out his plan for Il tc
II DAYS; but at the end OF that time i
IS, began to long iur food, and couclu'
10 cd to go hGmG to his wife and g
IT. her to prepare him II good Suppc
vs. thinking that after hc had saliSii,
" his hunger he would return to h
~ retreat aud no one be the wise
ne The supper was finally prcpareG, al
II lust as Wright was about To set
TIC down to his rcpaSt IN walked Nj
n Sleeper, who, after looking at Ii
NJ friend Il moment, exclaimed 'Fricl
an Wright, cost thou break Thy fast
BE Wright was struck spccchless. ~
ty for one moment he knew not VIII
III to do but lis appetite prevailed
last, aud as he was discovered
never returned to the mountain
nd finish his forty days selfdcni
Ever after this the mountain "
known as Wright'S mountain.
H. In l77l Andrew Peters, II natl
il of Hebron, Connecticut, settled
Bradirod. He with his father, fiji
settled IN Thctford, in l7GG. In II
nd they moved to picrmont, n. ll"n'
in l77l 10 Bradford, ut which IN
there were but ten families IN {
'er place; 177l was the year of the iii
great lrcshct and some of the Bri'
Of ford people who had. settled near
river suffered spVcttl ly. Some