Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-17

II is strange that so straightforward and
transparent character as "Old Put
should have become the subject of contro'
versy. Too much is claimed for him by
some disputants, and much too little is con-
ceded 10 him by others. He was certainly
as far from being a rustic BOBBY as he was
from being great general.
Conceive him, first, as thriving, vigor-
Gus, enterprising Connecticut farmer, thr-
ty years of age, cultivating with great sue
cess his own farm OF GA acres, all paid for.
Himself one Of family of twelve chill
dren, and belonging 10 a prolific race,
which has scattered Putnams all over the
United States, besides leaving an extraor-
binary number in New England, he had
himself married young at his native Salem,
and established himself soon aner in the
northeastern corner of Connecticut. At
that period, 1740, Connecticut was TO Mass
achusetts what Kansas is TO New York at
present; and thither, accordingly, that Wig
orous young man and his young wife early
removed, and hewed out farm from the
primeval woods.
He was just The man for pioneer. His
ho had power of sustained exertion more
valuable even than great strength. Moth
ing is more certain than that he was an en-
terprising and successful farmer, who in
troduced new fruits, better breeds OF cattle
and improved implements.
There is still TO be seen on his farm
long avenue of ancient. apple trees, which,
the old men of the neighborhood affirm,
were set out by Israel Putnam one hum
dred and thirty-fve years ago. The well
W hich he dug is still used. Coming TO the
place with considerable property inherited
from his father (lor the Putnams were a
thriving race from the beginning), 1t is not
| surprising that lie should have become one
of the leading farmers in a county of far
mers.
AT the same time he was not a studious
man, and had no taste for intellectual en-
| joyments. He was not then member OF
the church. He never served upon the
school Committee. There was a Library
Association at the next village, but he did
not belong 10 il. For bold riding, skilful
hunting, wood chopping, hay tossing,
| ploughing, II was hard 10 find his equal
but in the matter of lea1hing he could write
legibly, read well enough, spell ia an inde-
pendent manner, and not much more.
With regard TO the wolf story, which
rests upon tradition only, II Is not improb-
able, and there is no good reason to doub
it. Similar deeds have been done by brave
bac X woodsmen from the beginning, aud
are still being done within the boundarle;
of the United States every year. The sto'
ry goes, that when he had been about two
years on his new farm, the report was
brought in one morning that noted she
wolf of the neighborhoOd had killed sew
eniy of his sheep and goats, besides wound
ing many OF his lambs and kids. Thi
wolf, the last of her race in that region, ha'
long eluded the skill OF every hunter. Up
on seeing the slaughter of his flock, th'
young farmer, it appears, entered into
compact with five of his neighbors to hun
the pernicious creature by turns until the.
had killed her. The animal was at lengt
tracked 10 her den, cave extending dee
into a rocky hill. Tho tradition is tina
Putnam, with rope around his body,
torch In one hand and rifle in the otheI
went twice into the cave, and, the seeont
time, shot the wolf dead, and was draw
out by the people, wolf and all. An eS
ploit OF this nature gave great celebrity !
an outlying county in the year I742. Mean
while, he continued 10 thrive. One OF til
old-fashioned New England families OF te
children gathered about him. As the
grew towards maturity, he bought shaI
in the Library Association, built pew f.
his family in The church, aud comporte
himself in all ways as became prosperou
farmer and father of a numerous family.
So passed his life until he reached Ii
age of thirty-seven, when he already had
k boy of fifteen years of age, and was rich
all the wealth which Connecticut then POI
y sessed. The French war broke out-tl
war which decided the question wheth'
!, the French or the English race should po
sess North America. His reputation WI
such that the Legislature of Connectlc'
!. appointed him at once a captain, and
had no difficulty in enlisting company
y y the young men of his county, young ia
a. mers or the sons of farmers. He gaint
io great note as a scouter and ranger, rende
ing such important service 10 this way
the army that the Legislature made him