Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-12-13
HISTORY OF DERBY.

When we began the History of Der
by" some months since, we expected to
continue it regularly until finished, but
in looking up the early records of the
town, it was found that one of the first
and most important books could not be
found in the clerks office. An effort
was made to find it, and after some
months it was found. Since then polit-
ical matters have occupied considerable
space and attention, and press of bust
ness has made it difficult to fiEd time
to look up the material, and write up
the history. We hope now to be able
to give the remaining papers within
few weeks.
The town of Derby was organized at
meeting held March 20, 1898, and
the following were the town officers
elected at that time. Timothy Human,
moderator and town clerk Isaac Hin
man, Elisha Lyman and Henry Buzzell,
select men Rufus Stewart, constable;
Samuel Colby, grand juror; james
Greenleaf, Isaac Human and Elisha
Lyman, listers. 1t was voted that the
whole town should constitute one school
district, and limo. Human, Eliphalet
Bangs and Henry Buzzell were chosen
prudential committee. The above with,
perhaps two or three others, constituted
the voters of the town. The first Free
mems meeting was held Sept.4, l799,and
Timothy Human was chosen town rep
resentatives, aud was reelected to the
office every year until 1911. The vote
for State officers in 1899 was only nine.
Isaac Tichenor. candidate for governor,
receiving all the votes. In 1899 the
records show an addition Of seven voters
in the town. Isaac Tlchenor receiving
Is votes. At the Freeman meeting
held in 1900. the following are the
names of the voters. Prentiss Holmes,
Samuel Colby, Elisha Lyman, Joseph
Cowell, limo. Human, Levi James,
Ithamer Goodenough, Isaac Human,
Eliphalet Bangs, Rufus Stewart, James
Greenleaf, Erastus Hatch, Luther Lud-
den, Luther Newcomb and Elisha Nash.
During the next ten years in the his
tory of the town, there was rapid
growth in population. The forest was
cleared away, mills. stores, and shops
were built, and the affairs of the town
were in a prosperous condition. The
breaking out of the was of 1912 threw
society into commotion, and prevented
immigration. The demoralizing infu-
ence growing out of the war was not the
least misfortune that resulted from the
war.
The border towns on either side of
the line were largely infested by SNUG
glers, and the temptation to smuggle
swept many respectable men into the
business. The British armies which
made Canada their base of operations.
depended on the county for supplies,
and beef cattle were in great demand.
On the other hand, there was great
demand in the States for certain COM
modities that could be purchased at low
rates in Canada. The people of this
town though perfectly loyal to the
United States, did not possess con-
sciences sufficiently keen to prevent
them from engaging in smuggling oper-
ations. and many made money in the
business. From miles away, as far
south as Newbury, Danville, and other
older settlements the cattle drovers gath
cred up stock, which was driven in the
night time, hidden in the woods dur
ing the day. and finally taken across
the line to be sold for silver, or goods
to be smugg,ed into the States. One Of
the main thoroughfares for the driving
of stock was a road that led through
Salem, Bloomington, the eastern part o
Barton, thence over the mountains ives
of Willoughby lake to Sutton. The ad
ventures of the smugglers of this sec
: ton were full of excitement. and il
some instances resulted in bloodshed.