Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-10
vermon.er. in the Vve...


MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, May 28, 1881.
I'D. Ph6ai5. Having spent some three
weeks in visiting quite a number Of windham
county boys who are now located in this sec
tion, thought perhaps II might be source
of satisfaction to their relatives and friends
who still remain in the land OF their nativity,
to know where they are and how they are sue
ceeding in their struggles to obtain an honor
able position IN the land of their adoption.
II has long since passed into a proverb that
Vermont is good state to emigrate from;
and, If this be true, surely those who had the
benefit OF early inhaling the life-g giving energy
that comes from its green mountains, should
give good account of themselves when they
embark in business in the broader fields Of
this western whirlpool. That some who have
left the green mountains of staid old Vermont
should be engulfed by the tide of speculation
that ever attends the opening.up Of the re-
sources Of such land as this western world
was inevitable, and many Of those who start
ed out with fondest hopes have been sadly
disappointed, while many others have succeed
ed far better than they could possibly have
done had they remained among the green hills
of their childhood's home.
In Chicago met several who have obtained
an honorable position and name but the short
time / stayed there did not give me opportu-
nifty 10 enter into details Going from there
to Mendoza, ILL.,, found two Of the Merri-
fields, formerly Of Brookline who are the
principal owners of the stock OF the Western
Cottage Organ Company-not large, as COM
pared with that Of J. Estey 4 Co., but SEEM
ingly doing very good business, turning out
about 200 organs per month, which find
ready market This company is largely in
debted to the energy and perseverance of
these Brookline boys for its success It's su-
perintendence and coRtrol are now, and have
been, in their hands, more particularly those
of l.. b. Merrifeld.
We next visited the Winslow brothers at
their home in Kankakee, about two miles
northeast Of the pleasant village of some 1000
inhabitants, which is the county seat. This,
like most western towns, is comparatively
new, as only 40 years since it was the reser-
vation Of the red man, but now bearing the
uDmistakable marks Of civilization and enter
prise. Thirteen churches and many commo.
dious schoolhouses and palatial residences and
business blocks have superseded the wigwam,
the tomahawk has been turned into imple-
ments Of husbandry, and the buffalo has Civ
en- place to Durham cattle hard to beat, for
the introduction and improvement of which
the town and state are largely indebted to
these sons of Putney. Their farm contains
800 acres of excellent land, all in q state Of
high cultivation, for which they paid SIS, 900
three years since. Having erected ample
barn room for their accommodation and COM
fort they wintered 2lO head of cattle and nine
horses, TO which they fed 175 tons of hay cut
ON the place, and 80 purchasedi also the corn
and oats raised on about 100 acres Of their
farm. They sold 160 nice cattle this spring
to go TO Wyoming territory, to Messrs. Stur-
gess 4 Goodell, the latter a former resident
of Brattleboro. Their sales OF cattle during
the past year amount to S1G,00 The larg-
est part Of these cattle were raised by them
on their farm here and at Putney, and they
now have over 100 head on hand, among
which are some of the finest specimens OF
the Durham family. Any Vermonter visiting
in the West viii fnd warm welcome and
much to interest him at this Kankakee farm,
whether he wants to purchase nice animals or
not. It is only sc miles south of Chicago, the
great grain and cattle market OF the world.
find in this vicinity several Vermont boys
who are entitled TO a passing notice but
enough for one installment.
Z. B. CAMPBELL