Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-08-10

fortunately Tue HoIe uaihos7ON"'S 49,
we're not wet. and the next day. which
was Sunday, he spread out for rods on
the fence cotton cloth and prints. which
latter we're streaked badly. Almost the
first house he visited Monday morning |
was Methodist minister's who told him he
could readily dispose of his cotton cloth 1t
he would take cheese in exchange. The
suggestion was adopted and the minister
employed as an assistant. All the goods
were sold out in few days; the minister
and his employer placed the cheese in
row boat and conveyed it to Plsttsburg,
where the American army still was. 1t
was disposed of at a fair price and the nay
taken In bills which were called "E. War
rem money" and we're issued by bank in
Troy, N. Y.
Upon the young man 8 arrival at Mont
pelier, he was struck with the great defer
ence which people showed in address
ing him. He had been absent less than
year, but. going away boy and Daniel"
he came back, "Mr. Baldwin " or, in view
of the Masonic connection, Brother
Bald win"
Deacon Worthing, meeting Mr.. Bald
win on the Rialto bridge one, day
informed him he had been selected to take
part in an enterprise. The Deacon. Cap
tain Brooks and Jonathan Shepherd had
lust closed a profitable butchering bust
ness, and wished to associate him AS the
active partner with them in mercantile
business. 1t is easily seen by this how
high place the young man had gained in
the estimation of the community. He
said he thanked the gentlemen for their
confidence, but had already made arrange
ments to 90 to South America. Deacon
Worthing expressed sorrow. Passing on
to the postoffice, Mr.. Baldwin received a
letter from Smith which made it possible
for him to give up his South America trip
lie put the letter into the Deacon's hands.
who learned its contents with pleasure and
said: The Lord is on our side"
The result of it all was that Mr.. Baldwin
although at first inclined to carry out q
strong principle of his character and stick
to his trade, at last concluded it was the
part of wisdom to close with the offer.
A partnership was formed for five years
under the name ID. Baldwin s. Co.. with |
capital of $4,000 only one half of whicl
was then paid in and the other half MIN
months later. Mr.. Baldwin was able tt
, take an interest equal to that of each
the others. and ne was TO be allowed
salary for his services.
The young merchant started Immediate
" for Boston. Traders here in towr
who had no suspicion he was not bounc
~ for South America, sent $4,000 by him
paw debts in Boston-wonderfu confidenc
! they had in this young man whom the
i presumed never TO see again. The fri
had concluded to buy largely of tobacco
u In Boston $4,000 worth of goods wei
readily obtained, although only $l,OO
was then paid. The balance was payabl
r in four months. Tobacco WAS seid to b
= very cheap in Albany. The Virgin
, planters. on account of the occupation
the country by the enemy's troops, cou'
:. not get their product to Boston. Reser'
:, ing, therefore. as we have seen, $500
-, his capital, he went to Albany and bong
-, three or four tons of tobacco-Judge Bal
win thinks it was eight cents pound. I
spent sIeepless night upon his arrival
Albany from anxiety about the way
which he should get..hs tobacco to Nor
:, pelier. In the morning before breakfa
- he took IA walk, and to his joy found
" solution of his difficulty which he lit
j., expected He met upon the street a farm
= from Plainfed, VT, who was there wi
Il load of wheat and was glad of freig
- home. and through this man two Bar
men were discovered who were there
~, the same circumstances. The tobacco W
~ got home for $3.50 hundred, while Il
:, freight from Boston was $500
l.. Business was begun in the store ne
BE- occupied by Fisher & Cotton and W
10 prosperous beyond expectation; but t
49, $4,000 debt in Boston weighed upon
,o mind of the young merchant. The trade
W.. in town knowing nothing of his backe
;. were astonished at his boldness and
t,I. Of hio oil Ac
,ar eVlueh' mag" Vi A'' o'P'',,
-. expedient against the long credit syste
- which would have ruined his chances
lrv meeting his large debt, he devised she
od form of note, blanks of which he h
lar always ready; and, when credit was ask'
ian said he could not give more than thil
bo DAYS and insisted upon the signing OF II NJ
avn for the exact time asked. 1t was q n
If thing to many TO give notes payable oth'
.t wise than on demand, and many laughal
rod incidents occurred Of persons who
,ed great uneasiness after signing one OF the
md Mr.. Baldwin at this time had his first i
,ad suit, and the result was not calculated
aid encourage frequent recourse to the fol
ina, of Justice. He sued man for $l.25 al
tho after appeal to the supreme court, defea
,n him; but his own expenses, over q
the above the costs paid by the other 81
,rl were $72!
tho The store had been opened in Dece
r,,, her, 1914. The sales, for about
oso months, averaged $50 day, and the
of April an inventory showed the f
loo. months business had resulted in cl
10, gain of 800. The $4,000 debt was p
40, promptly on time, and the credit of
ro, new firm was "a No. ~
ass. About this time, Mr.. Baldwin ha
lew conversation with Mr. James II. LangC
Der. in which hey concluded, by enumerat
on their own estimates, that there W
ih not over half dozen men In town wo
ack $4,000 or more each. Mr.. Baldwin 8