Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-02

West Hrntblen0ro.
A cENTESAR1AN- CELEBRATION OF THE lOOrH
BIRTHDAY OF MRS. SALLY sTocKwKLL
So rare is it for a human being to attain
the age Of one hundred years, that the an.
nouncement of the approaching centennial
birthday of Mrs. Sally Stockwell on Wednes-
day. April 30, created a widespread interest
! in the community, and ample preparations
for the event were made by her descendants
among whom she is regarded with becoming
| love and veneration.
The year of her birth, 1873 chow distant it
seems to us ''juveniles" Of the present cen.
fury! is memorable in the annals of the
American revolution for the extensive depre.
dations committed by the British and tories
along the coast of Connecticut and the Dor.
ders of Georgia and the Carolinas, by the
storming of Stony Point by the Americans
under Mad Anthony" Wayne, and by the
brilliant achievements of Capt. John Paul
Jones on the ocean.
Mrs Stockwell was the daughter of Abner
and Jerusha Harris and was born in Chester
field n. H., April Both of that year, remoy.
ing with her parents to this town when
journey as she rode seated in her fathers lap.
They settled on farm on what is now
known rs Ames hill, in the extreme west of
the town. They afterwards lived in a house,
still standing, little north, on the old stage
road which was then great thoroughfare
for emigrants going West" into New York
state and farther on, where her father kept
tavern" June /, l797, she was married to
Arad Stockwell, and soon after with her hus-
band moved on the farm now owned by the
town and kept for the maintenance OF the
poor. This was purchased by the town in
1887 when they removed TO the place in the
village where the old lady now lives, and
where her husband died Feb l, 1856, at the
good old age of 81.
Mrs. Stockwell has had 10 children, 3 of
whom died in infancy and are now living;
namely, Mrs. Lucius Fox of Wilmington and
Mrs Alfred Simonds, Harris Stockwell Mrs.
W. II. Gould and Mrs Sabrina Miller of thi.
town, with the last of whom she resides.
There are also of "a grandchildren, "a now
living, and of 81 great grandchildren, 80 are
now living.
On Wednesday from 300 to 400 people, from
far aud near, called to pay their respects to
Ms. Stockwell. Among these three were
over 30 years Of age namely, Major Eli Lee
of Vernon, aged 93, Elder Samuel Fish of
Bratileboro, and Emory Pratt of West Brat
tleboro, each 80 years and some months and
ten ~ years and upwards; to wit, Captain
Benajah Dudley of West Brattleboro, So
Mrs. Sally Harris of West Brattleboro. 81
Mrs. Maria Woodward of Brattleboro, 81;
Mr.. and Mrs. Timothy Adkins, Mrs Emory
Pratt, and Mrs. Derastus Bennett, all of West
Brattleboro, and each 81 years of age; Dea-
con LAban Jones of West BrattleGoro and
Wilder Harris of BrattleborO, each 50. and
Leonard Knapp of West Brattleboro, So
Presents of a suitable character and letters
of congratulation were received from friends
distant and near, as well as from aged people
whose only knowledge of the recipient was
what they had learned through the newspa-
pers. Among these eOngratulatOry epistles
was one from Mrs. Huldah Robinson of Beth
ell, Vt, who singularly enough, announced
the completion of her centennial on the same
day that Mrs. Stockwel WAS to complete hers.
An interesting feature of the occasion was the
singing of an olden song by Mrs. Woodward
of Brattleboro, aged 50. poem was also
read by Rev. NJ. II. Harris, written for the
occasion by Mrs. Abby K. Coleman of Brat
ueboro. The Bnttleboro photographers,
Messrs. Howe and Parker, were on hand. and
secured pictures of the Old lady, the house,
and of the throng of relatives and visitors
present Ample refreshments were provided
for all who chose to partake, and all corners
We're received by Mr. StockNell with the
same quiet welcome. Her powers of cndur-
ance, though put to a severe test, were equal
to the occasion, and she rested well the fol-
lowing night, waking up well and bright as
usual the next morning. The remarkable
preservation of her faculties was the occasion
OF general surprise to visitors, since her hear
ing is almost as good as ever and though
her sight is somewhat dim, she never wears
glasses. Though able to walk about with the
aid OF cane, she does not go out of the
house, but depends in large measure upon the
KIND offices and faithful attention of her
daughters Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Gould. Her
memory is good, and her recollections of
events which TRANSFERRED in her early DAYS.
and of the great changes which have occurred
- 'N"A anu country dre very Interesting,
since it is within her remembrance that both
bratteboro villages were mere hamlets, out
numbered in population by GuilfOrll and 9th
er neighboring towns, and many of oar prs
ent farming lands were covered by the prime
Tal forest. To see and converse with one so
venerable IS indeed rare privilege. May
she yet live on so long as life shall yield her
my enjoyment, supported 10y faithful hands
md loving hearts
Rev. c. A. Votoy closed his labors with
he Baptist society last Sunday.
Mr.. G. E Blake, principal of Brattleboro,
academy, has purchased of Rev Hiram Or
,ntt the East Hall formerly connected with
ilenwood Seminary.
Out of the eater came forth meat. and
nut OF the strong came forth sweetness. and
'ut OF the ruins of Roscoe Fishers house has
'een recovered his wife's Gala lily, which, af-
er being buried to the depth of several feet
or some six weeks, has gone to hlossoming