Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-10-28
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DR.. Jonathan Arnold of St. Johnsbury
and Enos Stevens, Esq, of Barnet, Wis
tied Charlestown, N. H., ON very in
teresting errand. 1t was no other thar
to obtain for themselves wives, such be
ing the paucity of females at that early
day that none were to be obtained in the
towns where they resided.
The manner in which this was brought
about was this. DR.. Arnold being for
some purpose on journey down the
river, put up for the night with Mr..
Stevens. In the course of the evening
their forlorn condition was talked over,
when they mutually conceded in the
conclusion that nothing could be done
to remedy their circumstances in that
northern wilderness. Accordingly, to
employ the language of Edward T..
Fairbanks, tie historian Of St. Johns
bury " An expedition to Charlestown
No. 4, N. H., was Immediately planned
to take effect on the morrow; the OBJ
ject being to spy out the available
daughters Of the land"
On their arrival at Charlestown they
Immediately called on Samuel Stevens,
Esq, brother Of the aforesaid Enos,
10 whom they made known their wishes:
and after due consultation and cousid-
Grafton, it was agreed to issue invita-
tons to Cynthia Hastings and Sophy
Grout, requesting their company at tea,
1t being understood by the contrivers Of
this plot that the two strangers from
Vermont should accompany them back
to their homes.
In anticipation of possible emergen-
cy it was deemed advisable that Mrs.
Squire West should also be in attend
anee, to play the part Of umpire, in case
both gentlemen should happen to claim
the same lady.
Tea-time arrived, and SO did the un-
suspecting maidens. The evening pass
ed, but when the hour Of departure
came, Cynthia Hastings seemed to be in
double demand. The ladies still re-
manned in blissful ignorance of the con
spiracy. Mrs. Squire West was called
for, and constituted referee. She very
sagely argued that Sophy Circuit was adj
mirably adapted to the companion of
farmer, (Mr. Stevens was tiIer of the
soilD but as for Cynthia, it was much
more suitable that she should be attend
ed by professional man.
The wise decision of Mrs. West, es.
pecially grateful to DIR. Arnold, pre-
vailed, and before separating that night,
each of the gentlemen from the north
had made known to the parties most
concerned the special object Of his visit
to Charlestown. Sophy Grout suffered
somewhat from paternal interference,
grounded on the fact that Stevens. dur
ing the war of the Revolution, had es-
poused the cause of the mother country.
and was therefore tory. But she was
finally told that if she would marry an
old tory, she might, only she ,ould carry
nothing from the ancestral domain but
herself and COW. A few DAYS later
the afflicted Grout family witnessed the
departure of Sophy with Stevens.
The Doctor, experiencing less diff
Guilty in preliminary arrangements, went
forward to Rhode Island, where he re.
NAMED few days, and on his return
was accompanied to St. Johnsbury by
the aforesaid Cynthia Of Cbarlestown.
who subsequently, became the mother Of
Lemuel Hastings Arnold, who was born
at st. Johnsbury, educated at Provi-
dence, and was Governor of Rhode Is.
land in 1912. He was also member
OF the Governors Council during the
Dorr rebellion, member Of Congress in
lS45-47, and continued to be regarded
as an accomplished scholar and ripe
statesman till his death, which occurred
at Kingston, June 9th, 1852.
30 much for the son of Cynthia Has
tlngs. Now what of Sophy Grout? She
was married in Charlestown, March 4.
I'9l, and her eldest son, Henry Stevens,
was born December 18th of the same
year. This son, though he became no
Governor, was yet very distinguished
man. lie was representative from Bar
net in the years 1862, and was Pres
ldent of the Historical Society of Yer.
mont for many years; his historical
collections consisted of 3475 bound vol
unteers, $500 pamphlets, about 400 vol.
umes OF newspapers, and probably 90
ooo letters, bearing date from 1929 to
1894. He also had all the old field.
books OF all the town lines surveyed by
james Wnitelaw, Esq, and his deputies.
He had three sons; Enos. who gradua-
ted at MiddleSnry College Henry who
graduated at Yale, and George, who re-
ceived his education at West Point. but
is now dead. Henry, after obtaining his