Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-03
"spunlsy Little Athens"
A Centennial Retrospection-The Early
Settlers of Atbens-The Men She has Rails
ed-The SKATER Family-The Pertains
and Shattucks-Ca Houdon, sc.

and shattucks-Capt. Houdon, &c.
Did you ever, Mr.. Editor, in the early
days Of your boyhood, sit down near one
of the old Revolutionary soldiers and
listen to the histories of that war? and
would some anecdotes of those times,
think you, interest any of your readers,
especially the younger portion of them
| have few that have never been seen
in print. In the columns of the TIMES,
about election time, you speak often of
" spunky little Athens" Well, in the
early days of the republic, that little
hamlet held some strong men, though
poor in worldly wealth. They came
from Old Connecticut and from the Bay
State. Some of their descendants you
have seen, more of them you have heard
Of, and though like many, yea, most of
our mountain municipalities, the clear
ings on the hills are deserted and the
Improvements in the wales are of doubt
full utility, history still clings to the dear
land of liberty, enterprise and endur-
ance with all the tenacity of first love.
There is Guilford and Dummerston,
Athens and Putney, Rockingham and
Westminster, the early history in each
of which, it sometimes seems to me, has
not half been told but in this commun-
ication | propose to confine myself to
that little by 8 space of territory at
the head of GRASSY brook, now rejoic-
ing under the euphonious cognomen OF
the proud city of ancient Greece. With
out turning to the page of any book
whatever, but only recalling from men,
ory's leaf, allow me, Mr.. Editor, to re-
mind you that the grandfather Of that
eminent lawyer and jurist, 0. L. Shat
ter, who among attorneys for years was
the leader of Windham county bar, and
who, in 1854, declined the proffered
honors of his native state and went to
California to seek both fortune and fame,
and who found both only to die in the
full fruition thereof James Shafter,
the ancestor, settled on the highest hill
away toward Townshend line, reared a
family and died there, having accumu-
lated what, for those times, was more
than competency. He had sons, John
and VIM. R., the former of whom died
near the spot of his nativity; and the
latter, after spending the most of his
years on the farm, and stating good
crop of boys, among whom were Oscar,
Lowell and James Mem, now of Cali
fornia, removed to East Townshend vii
lage, where he became successful mer-
chant and was prominent member OF
the old whig party, and assistant judge
of county court. At the formation OF
the liberty party in 1914, was, | think,
the first candidate of that political or,
ganization for governor in this state. His
father had represented Athens in the
legislative councils of the state twenty
years, and VIM. R. was not less success
full in life
Athens Hollow was settled soon after
the close of the Revolutionary war,
among others by the Perhams and Shat
tucks from Groton and Pepperell. With
boyhood eagerness very often | have lis.
tened to the tales of my grandfather, .
Ezekiel Perham, who used to live on the
farm adjacent to the brick school house
on the road toward Brookline, but who
died in 1912 in Perrysburg, n. Y. He
was eleven years old at the time of thu
battle of Bunker Hill. His father wa
one of Prescott's neighbors and soldier
in that BATTLE and all the wives anC
women, with their children, went out OF
the hillside near the center of the tow
in Pepperell, to listen to the distan
sound Of the musketry, where their hus
bands, fathers and older brothers wer
engaged. Five years later Ezekiel, tn
Oldest son, was old enough, being tall G
his years, to enlist in the same service
and the father came home to attend t.
the wants of the family. Ezekiel was
three years man, and his term of sci
vice did not expire till one year afte
the fighting had ceased He was en-
ployed during that year in moving an
. storing guns, cannon and ammunition &
and near West Point and in doing ga
rison duty. He used to tell me of fir,
queutly seeing Gen. Washington, whol
he described as perfect gentleman, ia
and commanding, and dignifed to r
markable degree. One day before Il
close of the war, while Ezekiel was @
guard duty, he was saluted by squa
Of friendly Indians at the out posts
the camp. Under cover of the sentry
guns the leader of the red men explaine
! in broken English his desire to 81
genem Washom," exclaiming at Il
same time, " he be good a man EN- Jesu
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