The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-14
lRcported for the Rutland Globe.l
al Eas. pnuItueV

had pleasant time ut the Baptist church,
and were entertained by the excellent music
of A. j. Smiths string band. by readings
of the forthcoming history of Poultney, by
Hon. Barnes Frisbie. by lively, social
time, and last, though not least, by an oys-
ter supper, served up in the vestry OF the
church in style and manner not to be ex-
celled anywhere. The exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. Mr.. Dunn, the young ac-
tive and worthy pastor Of the East Poult-
ney Baptist church. Rev. Mr.. Pierce. of
the West Poultncy Baptist church, was
present; also the Rev. Calvin Granger, of
the Congregational church. These gentle
men seem to be practically carrying out
the spirit of the Evangelical Alliance, and
we are happy to say that they are wise
enough not to hold any discussions on
modes of baptism and close communion.
The receipts of the occasion are to be ap-
propriated in the purchase of carpets for
the church.
ABSTRACT OF JUDGE FRIsBIE's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Frisbie observed that he was happy
to comply with the invitation to read alb
stracts from the forthcoming history of
Poultney. The town had appointed him.
self. Mr.. Josln and F. Ruggles commit
tee to collect the materials for the work
the committee were we'll along in the dis
charge of the duties assigned them, and
when their work should be completed,
| tfl, I,aI.
before the lapse of many weeks, then
would came the question for the town,
shall the history be published? Before the
town could vote Understandings on that
question, they must know something of the
merits Of the work now being done by the
| committee, and for that reason he should
eagerly, at any time, embrace opportuni-
ties to read portions of it in public meet
ings.
lie said that in the winter of 1862, the
town clerks office of Poultney was burned,
and nearly all the records which had been
accommodating for century, including the
propretor's records, were consumed. But
fortunately for our history, the centennial
had been observed on the 21st day of Sep
TENDER, 1861, and Henry Clark, Esq, then
of Poultney, but now of Rutland, deliv-
cred the address. Mr.. Clark, in prepare
ton, had carefully searched the records.
and incorporated in his address all, or near
" all these records contained, which were
important in making up our history. This
address has been kindly furnished to the
committee by Mr.. Clark, and will be pub
lished in our history, including the charter
saved from the fire by Mr.. Clark, and much
other valuable matter collected by him.
Mr.. Frisbie then read an e,stroot from
Mr.. Clark 'sIaddress at the Poultney centcn-
NAL, which showed the date of the charter.
to wit, Sept 81, 1861 records of several
| proprietor's meetings, holden in Massachu-
sets, the last one of which adjourned to
meet at the house of Eeber Allen, in Poult-
ney. At the time of holding the last pro
prietors meeting in another State, Ethan
Allen was proprietors clerk Heber Allen
was a brother of Ethan, and he (Heber)
and one or two other brothers were among
the early settlers of Poultney. The Aliens
were large land owners in the town at this
early day about One-third of the land of
Poultney passed through them in the chain
of title.
The first settlement of the town was by
Ebenezer Allen and Thomas Aspley. a
brother-in-law of the Aliens, April 10, III.
Allen built log house and covered it
with bark, little south of where the west
village now is. Ashley, where DIR. William
Mcleod now lives, and on the same ground
where the Hon. r. G. Mallory afterwards
resided Other settlers followed the same
year, including large portion of those
from whom the leading families of the
town descended.
Extracts were then read from the later
history of the town, which had been writ
ten by the committee.
Mr.. Frisbie said the committee had a
chapter devoted to the history of the agri-
culture and manufacturing of the town
lie read extracts from this which seemed
to enlist the close attention of the audience
The first work of the settlers was to cut
down trees aud erect their temporary log
cabins ; the next to "clear up" little land
and raise something to sustain life. The
tools and implements were few, and rude
and clumsy at that, Yet they answered
the purpose, and soon numerous openings
were made in the forest, and the town was
rapidly pushed along in the way of settle
ment and civilization. There was but
little change in farm implements, or in the
way of farming until about 1920. Every
farmer did as his father or grandfather had
done from time immemorial even to plant
ing and sowing the seed in the old or new
OF the moon. Science then, as applied to
farming, was an absurdity. But large
crops were raised. The vegetable mold of
centuries had so enriched other land that il
would yield hundred bushels of potatoes
or one hundred bushels of corn to the acre
were not uncommon, for large crops of
rye on knobs so nearly barren that they do
not produce enough to pasture a sheep.
But the richest lands wear out in time,
and as early as 1920 the farmers began to
see the necessity of using fertilizers. They
began to save and cast out upon their lands
the manures which had hitherto been suf- |
fered to accumulate and lie about their |
barns and premises to be regard as nuts.
ance, and sometimes in such quantities $50
says tradition) that the barns were moved
to other localities, because it was cheaper
to move them than the manures. A great
improvement has been made in farm I'M
plements. One visiting meadow in the
haying season in 1920 might have seen six,