The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-10-11

Wright, Esq, formerly Il very prominent
citizen Of this town, who removed west
about 10 years since.
VIM. Powers, Esq, representative Of
this town has resigned the office of W. G..
r. in our Good Tcmpars Lodge in conse-
qucncc of his absence at the Lcgisla-
turc. A. G.. Rossctcr has been elected in
his place and the lodge was never more
prosperous than now. Long may it wave
Friday night the 9TH instant we were
visited with severe frost, the first this
fall of any account.
ORWELL. The town of Orwell was
chartered, August 8, 1868, in the name
of King George Sd, by his Excellency,
Benning Wentworth, Governor of the
Province Of New Hampshire. The first
settler of the town was Scotchman by
the name of John Charter, some years
previous to the revolutionary war. lie
Iscttlcd near Mount independence, in the
northwest part OF the town, on the shore
of the lake. Mount Independence lies a
little south Of opposite Fort Ticonderoga.
and ramparts. a garrison of soldiers
from Connecticut occupied it at the open
ing Of the war \ camp fever broke out
among the soldiers which in many cases
proved fatal The graves of these patri-
OTIS still appear, and rude stones mark the
spot where they lie. On the 18th day
of July, 1115, news reached the garrison
of the declaration Of independence which
caused great Joy and they named the
hill Mt. independence. Before the close
Of the war, Charter was driven from his
home by the British soldiers and he tenn
porarily took up his abode in Poultncy.
He afterwards returned, however, and
lived in the town for many years. His
face is still well remembered by the old
cr inhabitants.
The first permanent settlement after
the war, besides that Of John Charters
family, was made by Mr.. Ephraim Fisher
and Mr.. Ebcr Murray in l7S3, after
which the settlement grew quite rapidly.
The town was duly organized in l7S7,
when there appeared 20 electors. The
Baptist church, now extinct, was the first
organized. The Congregational church
was next. in 1880. II was then com
prised Of or s members.
The town of Orwell is now one Of the
most furnishing farming towns in New
England. Previous to the building Of
the r. x b. Railroad it was of consider
able Importance in 4 commercial point of
view. The inland towns near, and as far
as Brandon, came here for the purchase
of merchandise and the shipping Of cx-
ports A large wholesale trade gave her
prominence and wealth. The introduce
ton Of this other line Of transportation
changed the relations Of the two towns.
From that hour she became the tributary
and Brandon the principal And now
she falls back upon the resources of her
rich soil, and although her growth was
stopped there is not less of proporiionatc
wealth and influence In all the circum-
stances and influences Of Il high state of
civilization Orwell stands far above most
Of the towns in Il state noted for wealth,
culture, refinement and morality.
There are now but two churches in
very prosperous circumstances, the Con-
grcgational and Catholic. The former
certainly is a power for good. There
arc some three other church cdifces still
standing, though they can hardly he said
to represent organized bodies Of Chris
tians
There IS now but ole store of any very
great importance, but that store has a
very large and profitable trade. There
are Il number of harness, shoe wagon and
other shops, which represent the various
branches Of manufacturing industry. The
chief and most profitable pursuit is that
of agriculture, for which there is every
facility. There are two cheese factories
in successful operation and the dairy bus
mess runs partially in the channel of but
ter-making. Stockraising is an import
ant branch Of this industry. The popu.
laiion numbers 1871 rs reported by the
United States Marshal who took the cen
su4 the present year. That population is
mainly native American though there is
respectable eprinkIing of Canadian
French and Irish.
The town formerly belonged to Rutland
County but was transferred to Addison in
1913 or lSl9 on request to that effect
expressed by the vote Of the town. Some
Of the people are still dissatisfied with
their county relations, bni their facilities
for doing county business are so much
better as they are at present situated that
most Of them cordially acquicscc.
Orwell can boast of her share Of prom.
nent men who have either remained to
bless the town 81 their natiyity,or rcmov-
ed and given the benefit of her training,
mental and moral, TO wider fields of use
inlncss in the We, and elsewhere We
will not here attcml: TO cnumcratr