The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-06-13
Historical.

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great deeds, but often neglects good ones.
The founding of THE WATCHMAN, as the
end proves, may be rightfully accounted a
good, if not great deed, and as such it is
fitting at this time that history should
record in these columns the origin and
development Of newspaper which for
more than three-fourths of century has
borne no inconsiderable part in the affairs
of Vermont. Many papers representing
various phases of public opinion, or repre-
senting merely the struggle of individuals
for fame, fortune, or for bread, came into
existence in the early times of the state.
Most of these by their fate demonstrated
either the lack of any adequate reason for
their existence or proved the insuficiency
of the mental or financial capacity of their
projectors. Only in rare instance or
two has Vermont journal established
previous to THE WATERMAN or for many
years afterwards, come down to the pres
ent day. The Vermont Journal was es-
tablished at Windsor in 1888 by Hough
& Spooner, and for many years was called
Spooner's Vermont Journal. Undergoing
several changes in proprietorship it was
issued uninterruptedly till 1885. when,
under the ownership of the veteran printer,
Simeon Ide, who is still living at Clare
mont, N. H., the publication ceased.
Subsequently The Spirit Of Seventy-.Sir and
The Vermont Times were started at Wind
sor-the former in 1875, the latter in
1S41-but each expired after brief ex-
istence. In 1914, after a suspension of
nine years, Charles Merrifeld revived the
Vermont Journal, beginning new series
in the enumeration of its issues. In point
of fact it was new publication under an
old name. Its present volume number is
thirty-eight. 1t is published in quarto
form by A. Butler, Marsh o. Perkins,
Hugh Gilchrist and Fred Sargent, under
the corporate name of the Journal Com
pany. The first number of the Rutland
Herald, weekly paper founded by S. & S.
Williams, was issued December s. 1904,
and has been published continuously to the
present day. 1t is now large eight-col-
umn publication, in form an eight-page
quarto. 1t has been owned by the Tuttle
family since 1856, who, since 1861, have
published daily edition. A. II. Tuttle,
connected with the paper since 1865 is
managing editor.
With the history of the VERMONT
WATCHMAN AND STATE JOURNAL, the
lineal descendant in an unbroken line of
the first newspaper published in Mont
pelier, this sketch is chiefly concerned.
The Rutland Herald alone is its senior
among living Vermont newspapers. AS
nearly as the chronology of events can be
fixed the papers birthday was Friday,
November 18th, 1906. Its progenitor was
Rev. Clark Brown, Unitarian minister
and his offspring was prophetically chris,
tened THE PRECURSOR. 1t is not known
that copy of the first issue is in exist
ence, but copies of issues few weeks
later, we are told, are in the hands of a
former Montpelier citizen, collector Of
antiquarian curiosities. Mr.. Brown was
the first stated minister settled in Mont
pelier. He was hired in 1905 by vote Of
the town to preach one year at So Sun
day and such perquisites as might be de
rived from marriages, extra sermons, etc
Difference of opinion on theological ques
tions and in relation to Mr. Browns rea
piety bred discord between pastor anG
people. Chroniclers of events of thai
period say that the people were negligent
about attending church, that the settlers
were in the habit of passing Sunday il
horse racing and kindred sports, that Mr.
Brown preached spirited sermon agains
the shortcomings of the members of hi
flock, that they were offended at his plain
ness of speech aud that at the expiration
of six months they paid him for the full
term of his engagement and discharged
him. Mr.. Brown remained in Montpele
aud, as narrated above, began the publ
cation of THE PRECURSOR. OF pre-
cisely what the paper was to be the fore
runner does not distinctly appear. Tn
significance of the name is involved il
obscurity. Its author may have intended
to make it a mild beginning of the ulti
mate end OF community given over II
Sabbath breaking; or the name ma,
have been the expression of hope ant
purpose to accomplish through its column
the evangelization which the editor in hi
pulpit ministrations had failed to accom-
plish or, foreseeing the future career o
his humble sheet, in the true spirit o
prophecy he may have chosen its name
But whatever may have been the purpos
or the aspirations of the editor, either tn
unhappiness of the pastoral relation pun
sued him in his newspaper laEors an
rendered them abortive, or for some othe
good reasons, in the summer of 1897,
few months after he published the frs
number, he sold the paper to Saml'
Goss, who with Amos Farley under Oh