Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-02-22
EARLY HISTORY OF BARTON
CONTINuED.


who practiced in Barton. He began
practice in 1902. living at that time on
the old road north of Halls sugar place.
He afterwards moved on to the place
where B. F. Robinson, Esq. now lives,
and in 1908 ran away, it having been
discovered that for some cause he had
put poison into medicine administered
to his patients. doctors don't run away
nowadays for such an ofFense The
first fatal accident that occurred in town.
happened ON the 9th of Oct. 1906, un-
der distressing circumstances. Il corn
barn was being raised for W. Brown.
and Nehemiah Young was assisting in
the raising The building was high, and
a strong wind was blowing at the tire
Young was up on one of the raised bents.
and as the wind blew violent gust he
exclaimed BLOW. d-n you. you can't
blow this down" The next blast swept
the frame over, and Young was instant
ly killed.
Many of the early settlers had been
Revolutionary soldiers, and among those
who died and were buried in town we're
John Adams. Jonathan Robinson. Paul
Seekins. Elias Bingham. Joseph Hyde,
I.emuel Sturtevant. David Abbott and
Capt. Samuel Wells. a large number
of men enlisted during the war of 1912,
and did duty on the frontiers. Snug.
CLING was carried on to great extent.
and many cattle were driven in from this
State to feed the British soldiers in Can
ada, and goods aud contraband articles
were taken from Canada into the States.
Custom-house officers were plenty. and
a squad of them were stationed in Bar
ton most of the time during the war.
The scrimmages between the smugglers
aud the officers were exciting, and some
times bloody. At a fight near " illough.
by river. the smugglers drove off the Of
icers and came On through the town in
triumph, with long train of teams,
we'll loaded. They sent scout in add
'auvv ~ sc If tho Uvast clear, but
when he reached .Jenness' tavern in Shelf.
field. he found an armed force waiting
to attack the smugglers and seize their
booty. The scout rushed back to inform
his companions Of the danger ahead. and
while they were making preparations
for fight in advance, they we're attack
cd in the rear by large force that the
Barton officers had pressed into the SER
vice for the day. The smugglers we're
overcome. and their goods were seized.
Two OF the prisoners captured in this
fight were being guarded at the house
of Jonathan Robinson, but on winter
morning. they made their escape in this
manner: a neighbor drove up to the
door with horse and sleigh. and STEP
ped in for moment, when the prisoners
slipped out. jumped into the sleigh and
drove off furiously toward Canada. They
we're not overtaken. In 1911. lot of
cattle having been seized aud turned in
back lot belonging to ]. Robinson. a
squad of men came out of Canada to run
them off during the night. They were
lurking about in the woods, and by ac-
cident. one of them was shot and badly
wounded in the leg lie was carried TO
Bloomington. and DIR. f. W. Adams per-
formed his first surgical operation, by
taking eff the injured limb. Silver coin
was received for cattle that were driven
into Canada. and it oftentimes became
difficult for those coming out with 1t TO
escape the vigilance of the officers. At
one time. two saddle bags filled with
coin were secreted about the premises of
David Pilsbury, till such time as they
could be carried off. The officers learn.
ell the fact and stationed guard in the
woods near the Sheffield line. They did
not wait long before two mounted men
came along. bearing the precious saddle
bugs The soldiers sprang upon them
and made them dismount. while they
mounted the horses and marched the
prisoners in front Of them back toward
). Dexter's tavern. Arriving at Dex-
ter's. all were exceedingly dry. and the
prisoners acknowledging it was their
treat. stepped into the bar-room and
brought out two glasses of liquor; the
soldiers eagerly grasped the tumblers.
and at the same time the smuggIers seiz-
ed their guns. knocked their eaptors off
the horses, mounted them in an instant.
and were of at full gallOp; but they
were obliged to leave the coveted saddle
bags, that their fight might be more
rapid. One soldier had an arm broken
in this fray, and his comrades determin
ed to avengc the injury They pressed
all the horses they could find into SER
vice. and started on in wild pursuit af-
ter the escaping fugitives. They follow
Ell them 10 Barnet. and were about to
surround the house ia which they were
taking refreshments. after an exciting
days labor. when woman seeing the
posse cOnitotas approaching. gave the
alarm. aud the huagry men left their
supper and escaped % the woods. The
soldiers found themselves in an unhospi-