davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28
when, why and How Gen. Grant was
frat Nominated for the Presidency.

[Thurlow Weed in the New York Tribunel
1t is a common remark that the most i'm
portant results are determined either by acct
dent or slight circumstances. / propose TO
show how General Grant became Republi-
can instead of a Democratic candidate for
President. Before the Presidential canvass
for 1868 had opened thoughtful men of both
parties were casting about for suitable candi-
dates learned that Dean Richmond, Peter
Cagger and Cornelius Wendell, the successors
of the Albany Regency, wiser Democratic
leaders than those who succeeded them, were
quietly preparing the way for General Grants
nomination. 1t was generally understood
that while General Grant had not been a
prominent politician, he had acted before the
Rebellion with the Democratic party. Re-
membering that in 1928 Tammany Hall took
the wind out of the sails of the Clintonian
party by making General jackson, an ayowed
Olintonian, its candidate, determined that
the adversary should not steal our thunder a
second time. l therefore called a meeting OF
an impromptu general committee-a commit
tee that had quietly been doing good Repub-
hcan work in this city several years. Promi-
nent among the members of that committee
were John A. Kennedy, James Kelly, James
Bowen, Thomas Murphy, Thomas L. James,
James b. Taylor Owen W. Brennan, Abram
Wakeman, Sheridan Shook, Robert Murray,
Thomas G. Acton, Andrew Carrigan, Hugh
Gardner, Alexander II. Schultz, James E.
Coulter, William A Darling, P. @. Van Wyck,
John P. Cummings, Henry Smith, Joseph R.
Taylor, Andrew Blakely, William r. Stewart,
Thomas E. Stewart, Samuel p. Russell, Louis
Lounsbury, Horatio N. Sherwood John j.
Sillcock, Charles Chamberlain, David Miller.
George H. Sheldon and Charles H. Hall.
Monday evening was fixed for a meeting of
the committee. This was arranged on Satur.
day. In the evening papers of that day Gen
eral Grants arrival at Long Branch was an
nounced. 1 Immediately took the boat for
that place, and after breakfast on Sunday
morning invited General Grant to smoke his
cigar in my room. then greatly surprised
the General by informing him that he would
be nominated for President at a Republican
meeting to be held in New York on the fol-
lowing Monday evening, and that the pro-
ceedings would be presented TO him by the
chairman of the meeting, Mr.. Thomas Muir
ply. AS had known General Grant at Will
lard's Hotel during the rebellion, the canvass
and its results were freely and frankly talked
over for an hour. l informed the General
with what establishment and ineredulity GEN
eral Taylor listened to the first suggestion of
his name for President. l also reminded him
that grateful country had rewarded Wash
ington, Jackson, Harrison and Taylor for the
distinguished services rendered in our sever
al wars, and that history was about to repeat
itself in his case. l added that happily he
need not personally trouble himself about the
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

did the farm work that year and is quite fond
of relating the particulars OF his raising corn
when so many failed to secure crop. His
health at present is quite good. He cats and
sleeps well and bids fair TO become cente-
marian. He resides with VIM. o. Miller and
Is well cared for by his niece, Miss Rachel
Haven, who resides in the family. He Is
able to do considerable work, and employs
his time in saving wood and doing chores at
the barn. lie cleans the stable daily for sew
eral head Of cattle and when it is time ties
them up. When any of the cattle are unruly
about entering tho stable he will chase them
around the yard as lively as boy of sixteen,
and tho most heet-footed are fortunate If
they escape n blow from his cudgel.
Geo. i. Mansfield, during his recent WIS.,
il here made Journey up 10 Londonderry
and back TO Brattleboro on the rrow-gauge
railroad He says the road is in good condi-
ton, and, though pleasant in winter, thinks
that ride up the West river valley in sum
mer must be delightful trip. He claims,
however, that the cars on this railroad do
not ride 80 easy and steady as they do on his
narrow gauge "two-footer," as he calls 1t,
down in Maine. Snow fell during the great
storm Jan. 9th and 10th, TO the depth Of Is
inches In that vicinity but the Little Jok-
or" engines plowed through in good Time and
cleared the track Of snowina manner that sur
prised the beholders. d. L. NJ.
The Texas and Rio Grande railroad COM
paDy are reported to have sent check for
10000 10 Mrs W. II. Greenwood, whose
husband was murdered while in the employ
of that company in Mexico last spring.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

The Methodist church will be dedicated
Feb. 3. Bishop Foster will preach and dedi-
cate the church. Services at 2:3OP. NJ It's
also expected that the bishop will deliver his
celebrated lecture on Esprit forces in the uni
verse;" on Thursday evening. All former
pastors are invited to be present.
The Bullock 4 Wilson Manufacturing
Company of Bellows Falls has failed. Liza
bilities mostly to the workman and will be
small. 1t is thought some arrangement will
be made by which the business will be con-
tinued.
The Masons of Bellows Falls will hold
their annual ball on the evening of February
10th. The Germania Band of Boston furn-
ish music. 1t is expected visiting brethren,
with their ladies, will be present in large
numbers.
The annual meeting Of the Bellows Falls
savings institution was held on Wednesday
and the following officers were elected: Pres
ident Scion F. Goodridge; vice-president,
Horace w. Thompson; secretary and treas
urer, John H. Williams trustees, S. F. Good
ridge, George Slate, H. W. Thompson, J. N.
Farnsworth, Merrick Wentworth, II. @. Lane
and John II. Williams.
On Thursday evening of last week James
IL. kiniry, freight conductor on the Valley
road, had the thumb on his left hand so Sc
Verely damned while pulling pin at the de-
pot here as to disable him for some time. the
bone being broken in two places.
The Ministerial Association of Sprino-
field district will meet at Bellows Falls in the
Methodist church, Monday evening next,
Jan. 81. The meeting will continue through
the following Thursday.
DIR. o. NJ. George has bargained with
Charles Hapgood for the corner lot next 10
Mr.. Hapgood's house, and will build there
the coming season.
The Windham County Association of
Congregational clergymen will hold meet
ing at the Congregational church in this
place, on Tuesday afternoon next. Public
services with preaching in the evening.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

For few weeks past R. D. Brown has
been suffering from an injury received from
the talon of p hawk as he was taking it from
trap in which it had been caught.
On Thursday, goth inst, pleasure par
ty OF 20 couples came from Wilmington to
Jacksonville, dined at the Glen House, aud
happily spent the pleasant hours, and on
their return were accompanied by party
from this village, who as happily spent the
evening at the American House in Whining
| ton. ....r
Mr.. Vennor predicted mild spell"
from Jan. 18th to Feb. 18th the first week
of which has passed with the mercury about
zero Natural signs may indicate near changes
of the weather, but it is futile to attempt TO
foretel them with any degree Of defniteness
in the distant future. Nature by the impress
OF instinct, can nonplus reason and human
forecast. The condemned crow is not mi
gratory bird, but in some mystic manner can
foresee what man cannot foretell In au-
tumn this bird anticipates a hard winter and
leaves for parts unknown, and does not re-
turn till the "heart of winter is broken" or
spring begins to spread her balmy wing.
luis Is being verified the present season.
For two months past the mercury has
Kept well down to zero. The question is
sometimes asked, "Why was not zero fixed
at freezing point instead of 32 degrees be-
low ?" brief item of history may not be
lll-timed According to the saDdnts the term
zero comes to us from the Arabic through
the Spanish, aud means empty, or nothing.
Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, Prussian mer.
chant of Dantzic, on the Baltic sea, when 10
years old, in the remarkably cold winter of
1903, in experimenting put snow and salt to-
gether and found it produced degree of
cold equal TO the coolest day of the year, and
the oldest inhabitant thought that the coolest
day he had ever known, and Fahrenheit
concluded that he had found the lowest de-
gree OF temperature in the world, either nat
ural or artificial. He called the degree "ze-
70" and constructed a Thermometer accord
lngiy. England, Holland and America use
TINS thermometer; other. countries use differ
ent Kinds. Thus il appears that our Their
mometer originally was not a scientific. but an
arbitrary and unfortunate arrangement but
It was adopted and the people have perpetu-
ated the error and continue to suffer the in
convenience rather than encounter the diff
Guilty of correcting the error. 1t would be
much more convenient if zero was at freez.
ing point instead Of 32 degrees below, but as
II has been in the past it will continue to be
In the future unless q change should by some
means be effected.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

Governor Neal of Idaho, in his message to
the Legislature, does not mince matters in
setting forth his views concerning the Nor
mons. He fears that Idaho is becoming
second edition of Utah, and urges the Legis-
lature to adopt measures calculated to sup
press and etfectually crush out polygamy
within the borders of the state. At the time
of Brigham Young's death, four years ago
the speedy downfall of Mormonism of it's
own accord was confidently predicted. Events
however, do not now justify this hope, nor
does contact with civilization take largely
from the strength of the Mormon church, as
was 80 confidently expected. 1t gains from
natural increase and from accessions, and not
only maintains itself in Utah, but, as it now
appears, is spreading out and taking posses
sion Of Idaho. 1t is evident, for the present
at least, that the Mormon church is not about
to fall to pieces from contact with Gentle
civilization, nor feel itself compelled to call
upon its followers to move into Mexico 10
preserve the simplicity of its faith, as it was
thought might be the case. The way for the
destruction of this obnoxious system, which
rests like blot on American civilization, is
evidently yet to be discovered.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

Secretary Sherman appeared before the
Senate finance committee on Tuesday, and
explained at length his views of the funding
bill which passed the House last week. His
positions do not essentially differ from what
the public anticipated. He proposes three
and half per cent rate, and an extension of
the time of the bonds. He does not think
that the interest on the new bonds should be
fixed absolutely at three and half per cent,
but that the secretary of the treasury shall
have a discretion to make the best bargain he
can for the government within that limit. 1t
would impair the public credit to have the
loan fail, and there is SO slender a prospect
that three per cent. bonds would be taken
that Mr.. Sherman deems it prudent to clothe
the secretary of the treasury with liberty to
sell bonds at a rate of interest not exceeding
three and one-half per cent, but bearing as
much lower a rate as he can get them taken at.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

Mason c. Howard has received the ap-
pointment Of mail messenger from the post
Office to the depot.
The flourishing firm of Fuller q Duane
will ship four car loads Of chair stuff to par
ties in Massachusetts, in few days.
Uncle Hosea Howard, one of our Oldest
residents, is reported dangerously i'll with
dropsical disease. His condition is consider
ed hopeless.
The weather continues cold, with an ad-
dition of ten inches 10 the three and half feet
of old snow.
Nothing started in the line of the usual
entertainments as yet. Wake up, friends, and
not let your troubles stare you in the face.
Start lyeeum or something that we can re-
call 10 remembrance in the future with pride.
Our writing school opened last Monday
evening under the supervision of ]. L. How
ard with an attendance of nearly thirty pu-
pills.
Have all our elder ladies and blushing
damsels fully made up their minds to attend
the coming school meetings and cast their lit
tie ballot like a man?
On Thursday gentleman was in town
with quantity of beautiful large oil paint
ings, valued at $50 each, and ye., in one in
stance he sold two for only s.. Some are Of
the opinion that number two" may come
along after number one, !" to collect up the
paintings
Mrs. Jerry Howe and her daughter May
are stopping for a few weeks among their
friends and relatives in Boston, Mass.
The new listing law makes il necessary
that towns should put in their best men for
listers, and then there will be chance enough
for fault-fuding.
John Clark having completed his 22O
yards OF stone work, is now busily engaged
in digging well for landlord Barnes
The telegraph wire ON the Brattleboro d
Whitehall railroad is all strung to London
derry.
M. A. Atwood, our hourishing harness
maker, is doing fine business at his shop on
Main street. N.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

The Readsboro debating club and lyceum
was organized on Wednesday evening, Jan.
IL, with the following officers: President
Y. NJ: Russell vice president, It. d. Goodell;
secretary, DR.. A. W, Rice treasurer, E. ].
bulloek: The question, 'ResOlOed, That cap
ital punishment ought to be abolished. y" was
ably discussed upon that evening, and repeat
ed on Wednesday evening last.
The village school, under the charge of
q. NJ Russell of Wilmington, numbers a.
scholars, and is progressing most satisfactorily
TO all.
The citizens lecture course was opened on
Friday evening, Jan. 2lst, by Rev. M. B.
Bishop, who spoke very ably upon the sub
leot-" Oppression an impetus to human
progress and herald of reform" Rev. John
blanchard . iss speaks this friday evening; sub
lect, Science, and its relation TO religion"
The course promises TO be we'll patronized
and sustained.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

The ladies' aid society will meet at the
residence Of Mrs. Chester Wilcox on Thurs
day afternoon and evening Of next week. All
are invited.
Last Saturday while Mr.. Henry Lynde
was working with his axe the head came of
and falling, struck his hand, cutting a deep
cash three inches in length
Mr.. Clisbees new store is receiving an
unprecedented patronage. 1t has been a long
felt need, and we are glad we now have our
hearts desire, and that SO efficient man is at
its head. Mr.. G. is alive to the interests Of
his business, and is therefore constantly re-
newing his stock with the best of goods, di-
rect from Boston. He is now contemplating
putting in q stock Of the essential patent med
icines, which no well regulated country store
is complete without.
Since Mr.. Stowe has put new machinery
into his mill for the manufacture Of chair
stock his business is greatly increased.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

Mr.. Bartlett S. Kendall, who died recent
y at the age of G7 was born in Gardner,
Mass, IN 1914, and spent his early life in
Gardner and Boston. At 2G he married Miss
Martha H. Kinds and removed 10 Jamaica
living there lG years and then removing TO
this place, where the remainder of his life
was spent. His death was sudden, occurring
after an illness of only two hours. Mr.. Ken.
dali twice represented his town in the legisla-
ture, and filed many positions of trust As
q neighbor and fellow citizen, and as a wise
and kind husband and father, he will be great.
y missed. Three sons were present with
their families at his funeral A fourth is in
Illinois. 81
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

ANOTHER OF punrNrERsroN,s MN II,

ANNAAiAA VI DOAiAEksroNs OLD RESIDENTS
-Jairus Haven is 81 years old and ranks
III age next to Wranslow Holton, the oldest
person in town. He was born in Dummer-
slon, July l4th, 1883, aud is only eighteen
months younger than Mr.. Holton. His
grandfather, Ebenezer Haven, removed with
his family TO this town from Sutton. Mass
during the year 1863. His name appears on
inc town records as one of the signers in the
settlers CALI for the first town meeting In
the spring of 1771. There were nine chill
aren' Abel Haven, the fifth child, was born
May 10th, 1853, and was the father of cum
Gle" Jairus. He lived to be 81 wears old
HIS father reached the age of 70 years and his
mother died in the 10th year of her ACE
David Haven, brother Of Abel, died in 1875
aged "a years, 6 months. ''Uncle" Jairus
was the fourth child Of family of eight chill
dren, OF whom Dea. Abel Haven was the
youngest The deacon died few wears since
on the farm now owned by his son. Joel nj
Haven of Rutland, Vt. This farm has been
handed down from father TO son for fonr
generations, and was the only farm In town
on which good corn was raised in the memo-
raoie cold summer of 1916. Uncle" JAirus
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28
a Last Call.

owing tocertain unforeseen circumstances the final
settlement of the estate Of the late A. Chandler has
been delayed month. On this account we are en-
abled to extend for corresponding period the date
for the settlement Of ArreArge accounts Of both the
RECORD AND FARMER and TIE PnGNu. Final notice
ia therefore hereby given that all areArages up
January, 1880, stil remaining unpaid must
have a settlement on or before the 9th day Of
February next. This demand is without qualh-
cation, and we have alternative but to insist on
settlement in every covered by this notice. While
nearly all arrearages of this class have been paid dur
ing the past month"; few remain, which must have
attention. FRENCH sTEDMAN
Brattleboro Jan. IA, 1881.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

correspondent of the New York Times,
who has lived in Nevada twenty years, is de-
cidedly of the opinion that we have one state
too many in the Union. With a natural
pride in its people and institutions, he con-
fesses that the statehood of Nevada is a
farce" The state has population of go, 900
by the new census-less than half the num-
Der required for member of Congress un-
der the present apportionment-but has an
equal representation in the Senate and more
elaborate government than the state of New
York. Her taxes are oppressive, the mines
are failing, and the stock-breeding business,
the main agricultural dependence, is seeking
fire sh fields and pastures new" The writer
declares that, unless something new unlocked
for turns up, the population of the state will
d finnish one-half within the ensuing FIVE
years. His idea is that the people should
con sent to be remanded TO territorial con-
dition, or attached to California, of which
Nevada is merely province as it is.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28
Local Intelligence.


Nearly the whole OF our subscription list has now
been put in type and in mailing the papers each week
the name Of each subscriber Is printed on his paper.
The date opposite the name shows TO what time the
paper Ia paid BY this means every subscriber knows
at glance how his account stands. when payments
are made the figures changed, and this change is
receipt for the money sent. when romttances are
made subscribers should observe whether the figures
ON their papers arc changed the following week.
II tho date is not changed within two weeks notice
should be sent by postal card that the error may
be corrected.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

election that he had done his work with a
bayonot, and that the people would do their
work with the ballot, concluding with the re-
mark that no would take the Presidential
chair unencumbered, free to discharge It's re-
sponsible duties with an eye single TO the
prosperity and welfare of the people and
country. This leaf TO the political history of
our country is supplied now, whilo so many
OF the actors survive to corroborato or TO cor
rect the accuracy or naccuracy of my mem
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

by embarrassing the machinery of the gov
ornment to the injury of the people. The
dodge wrought them no good at that time, but
they are nevertheless now actually bent on
repeating it, They know that the niggardly
appropriations which they insist on will not
be sufficient for the legitimate demands of the
government, but the Republicans will have
control in Congress next year and can be
creasing appropriations and making up def
ciencies. The people can be depended on,
however, to see through the trick just as
they did four and five years ago.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

The Democrats are now playing the same
game in Congress that they did in 1886,
when they first came into control OF the
House of Representatives-tha of attempt
ing to manufacture party capital by ficti-
tious reduction of expenditures At the time
mentioned they cut down the appropriations
without any regard to the requirements of
the public service-crippling the postal SER
vice, abolishing the fast mails, reducing the
supplies of the army, etc. Having done all
this, they went before the country and claim
ed that they had saved thirty millions of dol
lars But II was soon discovered that the
claim was founded on the merest pretence.
About twenty millions Of the amount claimed
as saved was made up of postponed appro-
priations, and of the ten millions of actual re-
auctions no small proportion was obtained
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

Yielding to pressure from his associate Dem
ocrats, Mr.. Cox, chairman of the committee
on the census, submitted an apportionment
bill in the House on Monday, which fixes the
number of representatives at 81, and gives
the utmost possible advantage to the South
Under this bill the South would gain twelve
members and the North only six. Mr.. Sher-
win of Illinois, for the Republican minority
of the committee, reported bill which places
the number of representatives at $40, and dis
tributes the gains of membership equally be-
tween the sections in the North and West and
the South
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

meeting was held in Boston, Monday,
for the formation of an organization to be
known as the New England Divorce Reform
league, its object. being 10 cooperate with
similar organizations in the several New Eng
land states for the improvement of public
sentiment and to secure better Legislation on
the subject of divorce. A list of corporators
was chosen, including Gov. Long, President
Chadbourne of Williams College, ex-Presi-
dent Woolsey and Rev. DIR. Bacon of Con-
necticut, President Buckham of Vermont
University, President Chamberlain of Bow
dom College and other well known men.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28

Commissioner of Pensions Bentley believes
that, unless some restrictive legislation is
adopted, the arrears of pensions act will take
$500, 600, 600 out of the United States treas
ury. And the worst of it is that, instead of
going to the thousands of disabled soldiers
and bereaved widows and orphans who need
it, vast amount of the money goes into the
pockets of fraudulent claimants and dishon-
est agents.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28
Senator Edmunds.

ANi"Hh tho NeN AoiA InDuhe,l
Mr.. Edmunds of Vermont is the best con-
stitutional lawyer in Congress, and one of the
readiest and most effective debaters on all
questions embraced in the higher fields OF
legislative work. A strong party man, but
not strong partisan, the country has long
looked to him for broad and clear interprela-
lions Of the organic law, and for wise and
moderate opinions ON current politics.