Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-05-05
When Mr.. Lewis Measure, of this

his utter. dismay and surprise, that
some noxious and destructive animal
had been making free use of his sugar
utensils, by gnawing into buckets,
eating out barrel heads, and doing a
large amount of mischief generally.
On taking survey of the destruction
committed, his Indignation was great
and he being somewhat of
trapper, resolved to do his level best
to arrest the depredations of the
injurious beast, and accordingly, sat a
stout trap in the way where lie would
be likely to come; and the next
morning he had the satisfaction of
finding his Porcupineship sucurcly
fastened by one leg. AS he approach
ed him he bristled up with immense
rage, and in the most defiant manner
his body was inflated to its utmost
his quilts were erected and
diverged in every direction, and he
seemed to be an animal of formidable
size and appearance and ind ell he
was so. A well aimed blow from Mr..
Measures axe put it out of his power
to eat any more buckets or barrels.
At the town meeting, held here last
Saturday, tC consider the division of
school district No. 5, the meeting
Indefinitely. The commits
sion appointed at previous meeting,
to investigate and report the condition
of affairs IN that district, reported
unanimously not to divide the district !;
but recommended the addition of the
northern portion Of district No. 5 to
district No. 3; and the meeting think
ing favorable Of the suggestion, were
obliged to adjourn, there being nothing
in the warrant authorizing them to
take any action upon the matter.
The subject will probably lay until
the annual March meeting, and then
be decided. Why don't our town
adopt the clown System" of school
ing? In towns where it has been
tried, we learn that it meets with
favor and satisfaction. In the town
of Island Pond. the only town in
Essex County, which has adopted this
method, they are having a better and
more thorough system Of schools than
before, al much less expense. We
think oar citizens should consider this
point, and take some action in regard
to it at our next March meeting.
Surely we caunot do too much for the
education of our children. 1t has
been said, and truthfully to, that, "on
the foundation of our common schools
depends the growth and progress OF
our nation" Let this topic be dis
cussed freely, and let us do that which
seems to be for our best good in this
matter.
We were, one day this week, the
recipients of a copy of the Rock
Island, (lll.) Weekly Ne,us. In
perusing its interesting columns, our
eye was attracted by the following,
which, no doubt, will be of some inter
est to the early settlers of Guildhall,
and Essex County. 1t is taken from
a biographical sketch of the news
paper enterprises of Port Byron, ILL.,,
in which Mr.. Belcher figured rather
conspicuously:
Mr. Belcher is one Of the best
known men III the county and one of
the very early settlers, arriving in this
county April 18th, 1886, and has ever
since been resident. He was born
in Oxford, Grafton County, New
Hampshire, January IL, 1904 or 1905.
When Il small boy he was apprenticed
to a hatter's trade at Guildhail, Essex
County, Vermont, and lived there
until he was Il years of age. His
education was obtained at the common
schools Of those days. The first office
he ever held was commissioner Of Jail
delivery and justice of the peace for
Essex County, Vermont, when he was
only Il years old. Since he came to
this County he has held many offices OF
trust, lie was seven years u Justice
OF the peace; three years county
commissioner; four years county
assessor; three years county treas
urer; two years county collector ;
was one of the board to establish town
lines when township organization was
adopted; was three or four times q
member of the board of supervisors
was four years assistant U. s. asses
sor for internal revenue; two years
U, 5. route mail agent: and twenty
eight years Postmaster at Port Byron.
lie was for many years also agent fol-
the express company and | believe is
now. He was the Wing candidate
for the state senate, in 1871, but was
beaten by Col. John Buford, and he
says, che don't consider it any dis,
grace to be beaten by such high,
minded, honorable and useful gentle
man as he vas" Mr.. Be,cher wa,
also a member of thu Wb;o uoti,n..I