Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-08-10
The Life Of Hon. Da MEL Baldwin.
Concluded from LIST page

ASsA~'NN~N-
While at ogdensburg bis prediction
for trade. which really predominated his
liking for mechanical work, broke out in
two short peddling trips into Canada. He
persuaded Mr.. Kidd to send him out with
u load of trunks to SELL When crossing
the St. Lawrence river on his first trip, he
was called to the assistance of a man
whose team had fallen through the rotten
ice. He got safely across himself, low
ever, but hardly fifteen minutes after
reaching the other shore, not particle OF
ice was to be seen in the river! These |
peddling trips were great success.
Daniels confidence in his own abilities
enabled him to barter for all sorts of ex-
changes and always to his own advantage
at one time it was a barrel OF cider,
which he peddled out by the glass at an
Indian village; at another. he received
some almanacs, which he sold at an adj
vance.
The first of April-he passed but one
winter in O5densburg-Daniel started
for home on foot, an undertaking which
proved AS hazardous to his life, and more
painful In his remembrance, than the
encounter with the wolves. He carried
knapsick in which was some clothing
lunch for the day, $40 in silver and $40 In
doubloons-this coin weighed heavily
upon him before he slept. He reached
Hamilton, twenty miles. little before sun
down, and wishing to make as many miles
AS possible that day, walked on, intending
to pass the night at some farm house.
Contrary to his expectations he struck
Immediately into the woods, and walked
on and on, and still no farm hnnse- 1t
grew dark fast. 1t was freezing little
and the air was full of gently falling SNOW
He was very tired already with his long
walk, but there was nothing to do but to
90 on. The straps of his knapsack
strained over his shoulders painfully, and
the money seemed to cut into his back.
He took it off and carried it in his hanl.
How his feet and legs ached! But they
must yet drag on many weary pace. 1t
was too cold to risk passing the night in
the open air. He knew that If he lay
down by the roadside he never should get
up. He became so exhausted he could
hardly place one foot before the other,
and walked like very old man.
The strong will was just ready to yield
to the weak body, when Il faint flicker of
light shone for Que moment through the
darkness at an angle to the road. Thinking
it might proceed from i'm Indian wigwam
Daniel remembered the direction as well
IS possible, and moved thther. He strug-
gled through tree top, over birch
fence and found himself in little clearing.
something dark doomed up which might
be house. 1t was; he felt his way to the
door and knocked. " Who 5 there?
Daniel never heard so welcome sound il
all his life. He was soon admitted to {
warm room, and dropping into chat
was so weak he could not raise his hand
to his head. The occupants OF the house
Ga log house) were II man and two women
one of whom was his wife. The boy hat
walked fifteen miles from Hamilton. They
nursed him kindly for three days and OF
the fourth he had gained sLfficien
strength to proceed to "a tavern two mile
I, 70 hn Hiuina
dence that caused him TO fall in at thu
tavern with man who was travelling will
two horses to Chelsea, VT. and who vii
lingly gave him passage home.
In Daniels absence, his brother Sylvanu
p had formed company for the manufac
$ lure of cotton yarn. The company ha
bought the oil mill, which stood by tn
$ arch bridge at the mill dam on the Mon
II peler side of the river, a large. stron
II building. Daniel, after few days recl
J peration, went to work on the machiner
II of the new factory. Ninety-six spindle
and The complement of machinery wei
Il put in, and the company did prosperor
business for two years. No. Gotten yar
Ill sold for seventy-ive cents pound, 4
p" Sylvanus was postmaster, the postotfi,
u was established at the factory whe
- Daniel who was made superintendent
the works, could attend it. Sylvanus no
lived not far from the factory, in the hou
which was afterwards for long time tt
m residence of Timothy Cross.
OF During these years Daniel was mel
10 Der of society which he looked bal
|, upon all his life rs one of the main inf
As enc,s in the formation of his characte
ne Ezekiel P. Walton, Mark Goss, Thorn
AZ Reed and himself, and twelve or fife
tv others, first and last formed themselv
IS, into an organization which they called t
ty Ben. Franklin society" The primt
in object WAS the study of that patriots ii
lot and the promotion of lis principles. Th
IRE held him, next 10 Washington, the create
81. man in the country. All possessed IL co
ed of his life, and they celebrated his br
" udy. L Wuulu loCDluthcuu W all YOU
, no men, says Judge Baldwin, "the study
me Fran kiln. and believe it is more neces:
1as ry now than ever before"
for
lks
he Daniel is now young man and
rly incidents selected will show how, from
,s 0i poor apprentice lad, he rose in IL few We,
OF. TO leading position in the communi
to His brother Sylvanus departed in
EN- year 1911 for Europe with the mach
. 'o% for spinning flax, which had been inven
OH in town to compete for the reward o
res, million francs offered by Napoleon.
ced story of which is told in d. p. Thompst
.r az history of Montpelier. He made Dan
me his agent in full, with power of attorn
mi TO net for him in every capacity of busin
hat till his return. He was absent over a Y
It's and ID ,niel, to Judge from collateral
died. cumslances managed his affairs be
To than they we've ever managed before.
thing was arranged greatly to DAM