Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-12-20

DEATH OF LOCAL cELEDRITY-THE NEW
FAME HERMIT.

FAME HERMIT.
Davis Brown, whose death was an
nouLced in the PHOENIX of Nov. /, was
born Dec. I'D, 1907, in the town of New
fame. His father was a farmer, shoemaker,
halter, and manufacturer of combs on a
small scale, and was in quite easy circum-
stances for those days. Davis was the
youngest Of the family, which consisted of
three boys and two girls. He was the pet
of the family and one Of the greatest labor
ers known in the neighborhood. When he
was twenty-five years of age he met a
young lady, Catherine Blanchard by name,
and towards her eNpei fenced for the first
time in his life, the tender aud irresistible
passion of love; but his love was not re-
ciprocated and she was soon married to
another man. 1t was his one great disap-
pointmeut--the turning point of his life.
After Miss Blanchards marriage he pur-
chased a small piece of land, and on it, be-
meath a majestic pine, he dug grave. 1t
was thought by his friends that he meditat-
ed suicide, and great efforts were made to
take his mind from his troubles. They
were partially successful. He seemed to
have resi- gned his idea Of suicide, but his
life was sadly changed his laborine pro-
pensities were gone; his great passion for
work changed into Il greater passion for
books. He spent his time in reading and
writing. About this time lie wrote a small
book, entitled "Florencia Mangrove," in
which Miss Blanchard figured as the hero
inc. lie got five hundred copies OF this
0aI ha
some, and kept the rest. From the time
he was twenty-five until he was forty -four,
the course of his life glided along smooth
ly. He spent his time mostly in reading
and writing poetry. Books were the all
sorbing passion of his life. Books of trav-
| ell were the most 10 his taste. He brought
home volume after volume, and their con-
tents were speedily devoured. The one
great aim and ambition of his life seemed
seemed 10 be TO collect books. At his de-
cease he had. probably, the largest collec-
ton Of books and papers OF any private in
dividual in the State. His poetry was
written under the nom de plume of "Her-
mitas." If he got offended at any one, he
would "show them up in poetry" as he
called 1t. At the age of forty-four he mar
ried after a short courtship, very estima-
BILE lady, Sallie NJ. Fuller by name. With
her he lived happily for about four and a
half years, when she died, leaving an in
FAINT daughter. After his wife's decease he
placed his daughter in the care of hls
sister in-law, where she has made 1t
her home ever since. During the
time he lived with his wife, his parents,
who had lived with him, died. Soon after
his wile's death he sold the old homestead
where he was born and had always lived,
and purchased farm in the same neigh
borhood but he was not contented, and
soon bought back one-half of the old place
and the whole OF the house. Now COM
monced his hermit life in earnest. Some
times he would let one half OF his house TO
a small family for short time, but most of
the time he lived alone. lie always APP
peared to enjoy having the neighbors come
in to see him, and frequently he would re-
turn their calls. About the year 1864, or
1865, he made contract with l. n. Thorn
of Bratteboro to supply him with guam
tity Of herbs every year. In pleasant
weather in summer and fall he might lie
seen securing the hills aud valleys in search
! of lobelia, peppermint, &c. Amer he had