Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-31

der, and if il was no business of Importance
was transacted, as no record of it can be
found. Another meeting was called in june
following. In the mean time Dr. Arnold
had removed to the township and erected a
house, as we infer from the town record on the
first page, of a meeting of the proprietors Of
the town of st. Johnsbury held at the house
Of Jonathan Arnold Esq, in said town, on
the 18th day of June, 1884. Alex Harvey,
Esq, was chosen moderator, and Joseph
Lord, Proprietors' Clerk. 1t was "voted that
the several rights ip said township, (exclu-
sive of two lots, and one full right for build
ing mills, and five public rights all which
are located aud designated on plan,) be now
drafted for" Alex Harvey, Joseph HaT-
vey, and Eneas Stevens were directed to pre-
pare lots to be shuifled and drawn against
each proprietor's name. Daniel Cahoon, Jr.,
and VIM. Trescott, in the presence and un-
der. the superintendent Of the assembly made
the drafts of lots for each proprietor in the
order recorded on the proprietors' record
book The one full right which was reserv.
ed according to charter, for building mills,
was located on the Passumpsic, at the most
available place for water-power, just above
the mouth Of Moose River, This property,
including about 800 acres, was assigned to
DR.. Arnold, and during the spring Of 1877
he put up a sawmill, and the following spring
erected gristmill these largely increased
the business and Importance Of the settle.
ment. These were the days when modern
Paddock's Village was known as Arnolds
Mills, and before the big moose which was af
terward victimized on the bank of the East
Branch had left to that dashng stream a
more historic name. The house Of Dr.. Ar
mold was located in the woodland at the
northern extremity of the Plain and ITS erec-
tion began the settlement of the Plain.
Another incident is, perhaps worthy
space IN this connection, DR.. Arnold was
quartering for the night with Eneas SteverJ J,
of Barnet in the course of the evening it
was determined with great unanimity of feel
ing that their condition bore forlorn resem-
blance to that Of the old Romans before the
visit of the Sabnes,-pioneers in new set.
tement and hopelessly destitute of wives
Nothing could be done to remedy the matter
in this northern wilderness an expedition
to Charlestown No. 4, n H., to spy out the
available daughters Of the land, was plan
ned, to take effect on the morrow. Arrived
at Charlestown they called on Samuel Ste
vens, Esq, and made known their wishes.
After some consultation, an invitation was
sent to Cynthia Hastings and Sophia Grout,
requesting their company at tea, it being un-
derstood by the con.rivers of the plot that
the two strangers from Vermont should ac-
company them back to their homes. In an
ticipation of a possible emergency, Mrs.
Squire West was sent for to play the part
Of umpire, should both gentlemen claim the
same lady. Tea time arrived, and so did
the unsuspecting maidens When the hour
of departure arrived, Cynthia Hastings was
in double demand The ladies still remained
in ignorance of the plot Mrs. Squire West
was called for and constituted referee. She
decided that Miss Grout was fitted to be the
companion of tiller of the soil, like Mr..
Stevens, while Miss Hastings would be a
more suitable mate for a professional man
like the Dr.. this wise decision prevailed
Before they separated that night the gen.
tlemen made known to the parties most con
cerned the object Of their visit to Charles
town.
Sophia suffered somewhat from paternal
opposition grounded on the fact that Stevens
was a tory, and in consequence of her disobe'
dience to the paternal mandate she left the
ancestral domain with nothing but herself
and COW.
The Dr., experiencing less difficulty il
the preliminary arrangements, went forward
to Rhode Island where he remained few
days, and on his return to st. Johnsbury
was accompanied by the aforesaid Cynthia
of Charlestown. She became the mother Of
Lemuel Hastings Arnold, who was born a
St. Johnsbury and educated at Providence
X. |. He was Governor Of Rhode Is
land in lS4l, a member of Congress in lS4t
Al, and died at Kingston, June 27, 1852
We learn from the political papers of tha
State that Mr.. Arnold met with opposition
while a candidate for Governor During
the canvass, and in the heat of the election
eering campaign, he was Justify accused o
the enormous crime OF having been born il
: Vermont. But whether mau should b,
held accountable for being born in any par
ticular age or country, or not, this kind o
accountability was hardly recognized by thu
Green Mountain Boys, and does not appea
to have been sanctioned by the sons Of Rhod
Island, for Mr.. Arnold was elected by de
cided majority, aud was an honor both ;
the State of his birth and that of his adop
tion.
Eneas Stevens grandfather emIgrated from
Barnet, England, to the State of Massachu
sets, in 1885, and was one Of the proprie
tors of Barnet, Vt. ALpHA ALLYN,
Charleston, January 1873.