Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-25
Watohman Sc Journal.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1874.


situated in the south part Of Caledonia
county, in latitude forty.four degrees and
fourteen minutes, and longitude four dc.
grees and forty.one minutes, and is bounded
north by Pescham, east by Ryegate, south
by Topsham, and west by Harris Gore 1t
lies twenty-eight miles east from Montpe.
licr, and twenty-five miles southwest from
St. Johnsbury. 1t was granted November
1th, 17S0, and chartered to Thomas But
ter6eld and his associates October Goth,
l7S9. The township contains twcnty-eight
thousand and three hundred acres. The
FIRST vote Of the proprietors for surveying
the lands was passed August 18th, 1887,
and the settlement Of the town was com.
menced about the same time, by Messrs.
james, Abbott Morse and llasmere John
james was the FIRST male child born in
town, who was a half brother Of Jabcz
james, now living in Barnet The early
settlers were subject to all the hardships
and priyations that are incident to extreme
poverty, but they were men in every way
competent to undergo the physical exer-
tions to which they were subjected in order
to procure daily sustenance for themselves
and families.
The surface Of the town is generally un.
even, and some portions quite rough aud
stony, although not more 50 than 10 many
other portions Of the State There is, how
ever, some very good land located in differ
ent parts of the town. The timber is mostly
spruce and hemlock, interspersed with birch
beech and maple. Until recently the better
timbered portion Of our town has remained
in the background, its borders never having
been penetrated by the power Of locomo-
ton; but recently, through the earnest and
persistent efforts Of some Of our oiga cHi.
zeHs, and by the kind and manly eudeavors
of friends in adjoining wns, a railroad has
been constructed, leading from Montpelier
to Wells River, and is now in running order,
although not quite completed The rail.
road ,rayerses the town from east to west.
passing through a large tract Of timber,
which is rapidly recedng before the stern
march Of the earnest lumbermeu. Tenn
porary settlements are being made in this
vicinity, upon the line Of the Montpelier q
Wells River railroad, which through the
medium Of the inhabitants, brings these
heretofore unknown lands into the CONNER.
cial world--which lands, we trust, take with
the other timbered lands in town, may
greatly enhance its interest and euure to the
pecuniary benefit Of all concerned. On the
line of the Montpelier q Wells River rail.
road, in this timbered region, are two steam
saw-mills, one permanent and the other
portable, with side-track from the main
line to each of said mills, both iu good run
ming order, and doing an excellent business.
Large quantities of bark and lumber are be.
ing daily shipped from this region, and other
parts of the town, to different localities.
This town is watered by Wells River and
some Of its branches, which afford many
excellent mill privileges, and some of the
best are as yet unoccupied, which present
good opportunities for any who may wish
to engage in a manufacturing enterprise
and ioe all hail ioith gladness, and ,oelcome
10 o1tr midst, any and all who may see ct to
enliven us with their presence.
This town was organized March 2sth,
1897, aud Nathaniel knight was chosen
first town clerk We might allule to more
of the early settlers, but in a measure we
forbear.
The first minister in town wss Elder
James Bailey, who came from Peacham,
and was Of the Calyinist Baptist order.
He held meetings in the school-house in
District No. and established small
church in that vicinity. In 1924, Rev.
Otis Robinson from Maine, was installed
pastor over that church. In years after
the interest began to wane, but at length
it reyived-the result of which we see in
the Baptist church of the same order in our
village at the present time, whose influence,
united with the influence Of the Methodist
Episcopal church with which we are IA
vored), greatly enhances the morals of the
community. But some people are SO super
stitiOus as to think that they must ALLEVIATE
themselves from the prevailing religions of
the day, and assume a position which is
diametrically opposed to their better judg-
ments--thereby becoming the abettors of
designing impostors, as the following hstor-
cal event will illustrate:
Early in the year 1897 there existed in
the town Of g., in this State, denomina-
tional sect. who called themselves Dorra.
ites, whose pretended founder was one whose
name was Dorril. This sect is placed at
the present time in the same category as the
so-called Holy ROllers) He pretended to
be possessed with supernatural powers, and
to have the attributes of Deity lie pro.
claimed that it was not in the power of man
to hurt or injure him. He and his followers
abstained from eating flesh, and made use
OF neither food or clothing that was pro-
cured at the expense of life. And he as
sured them, iu the name of God, that if they
had full faith in him, they should never die.
They put of their leather shoes, and had
others, made Of wood or cloth. One was a
blacksmith He procured aud used pair
Of cloth bellows, and all lived upon milk
and vegetables. They discarded all revela.
tions except what Dorril received-set at
defiance all the laws of man, and were gov
erned in all their conduct, as they expressed
it, "by the light of nature" Meetings
were held in every conceivable place once
week. Their worship consisted in eating,
drinking, singing, fddling, dancing, and
hearing lactnras from, Dnr.;l ,.ho ,,o. ,uaII