Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-08-10
FANEDIrU TORS LIFE
No, v.
by THOMAS HALE.
Some Former Governors of Vermopt-C.
+. Van ress, IRA Butler and Martin
Chittenden-K- collections OF the
roled Men In chelsea of sixty
BY THOMAS IlALl

roted Men In chelsea of sixty
iea.s ago.
To the Editor o. the Free Press.
The recent publication in the FREE
PRESS of list of the governors of Yer.
mont from rs down to the present time
reminds me of my earliest recollections
of some of these governors When ! was
about 10 wears Of age distiI ctlytempmh pl
looking from "a window of my fathers
house in Chelsea aid S, elm tie judge
then holding court in that town, walking
from the court house to the hotel, and OF
hearing the remark: "rhere goes the
next governor of he State" That judge
was Cornelius p Vau Ness. Another re-
mark made that remember was that the
judges ears stood out more nearly at
right angles from his head than they did
on men generally. This was regarded as
an indication of intellectual ability.
Judge Van Ness was soon after elected
governor. My other recollections of Gov
ernor Van Ness are that he made an ex-
rs one of Nermont's ablest men that he
aspired to the United States senatOrship,
and that his failure to reach that honora-
tsle position had something to do with his
going over to the Jackson democratic
party. All my early and later impressions
of Gov. Van Ness are that he was an hon
orable, high-minded and accomplished
gentleman. | once met son of his at
Columbus, Georgia, where he was post.
master in December, 1896. The son i'm
pressed rue favorably.
| well remember Vermont's next COVER
nor, Ezra Butler of Waterbury, He was
said to have been Baptist clergyman,
but not of the high grade of intellect that
characterized some of the earlier chief
magistrates of the State. When he WAS
nominated Henry DIN of Leicester was
put on the ticket rs lieutenant governor,
"a kangaroo ticket Gov. Butler, how
ever, was a very respectable gentlemen.
and made good governor.
OF Martin Chttenden there is curious
story concerning his visit while governor
to my native town. 1t was mid winter
ard the snow was deep on the ground
While driving in sleigh with two
horses he overlook a citizen Michael Hatch
by name, who was hauling heavy load
OF wood with an OK team. The governor
asked HIN to turn out and let him pass.
Mr.. Hatch, familarly known as "Uncle
Mike" replied that it was impossible for
him to turn out then and there, but if the
stranger would be patient "A few minutes
until he had arrived opposite to his house,
there would be ample room for turning
out. But the governor was impatient
and nothing daunted, he plunged his
horses into the snow, and endeavored to
force passage by the OK team But the
horses and sleigh stuck fast in the snow,
and the governor, finding it impossible to
advance or retreat turned upon Uncle
Nike, and showered upon him a volley
of abusive words, whereupon Uncle
Nike called him fool, aud told him that
he didn't know enough to be out on the
road. Why" said the governor, ""you
don't know who | am. | am Gov. Chit
tenden you are talking to. "Well," said
Uncle Mike, "if had known you were
the governor, | don't know as [ should
have used the exact words that | have,
but | can't in conscience take anything
back" The governor subsidized, and
quietly abided his time This event was
ton, but 1t was current tradition handed
down in my boyhood, aud in after years
remember seeing Uncle Mike" aud of
hearing the story related in his presence.
HOW A JEwELLER BECAME A PREACHER.
In my native village there was jewel
Ter named Bailey, an excellent man, who
had two good, Industrious sons, named
keyes and Sylvester. The father and the
two boys were expert In short hand writ
ings. The father seldom attended church
on Sunday, but his sors were quite con-
slant in attendance, sitting in pew IN
the gallery, couple of drop leaves or
shelves being supplied for their use. On
these little suspended tables they wrote Off
IN short hand the sermons OF Rev. Calvin
Noble, pastor OF the Congre gational
church for 27 years. These snort hand
copies were taken home and the sermons
xrr,t ta,, i,,F fall nfto
Mr. Bailey (the father felt that he had
call to preach the gospel, he had several
hundred written sermons to carry with
MIN into Northern Vermont, where he was
settled over Congregational church, and
where he proved very acceptable pastor
How, or in what manner he used these
sermons cannot say, whether he preach
ed from them bodily, or only used them
for reference.
SOME NOTED MEN IN CrIELSRA SIXTY YEARS
AGO.
have thought that brief notice of
some remarkable men who lived in my ma
tive town in Its early history might not be
out of place. They may be taken M repre-
sentatives of race commo in many
parts Of the State in the early period of its
history. Among these recall the names
of Ellhu Hyde, Col. Frye Bailey, DR..
Thomas Winslow, Hon. Josiah Dana,
Thomas Jones, Stephen and Ananian Be-
honon, and II E. &. Mclaughlin. These
men knew personally in my boyhood and
more mature years. Col, Bailey was an
officer of the Revolution, and was at the
battle of Saratoga, when Burgoyne and
his army were captured. He was in the
habit OF telling me stories of the war. He
was a federalist in politics, liked the duke
of wellington and the English people bet
ter than Napoleon and the French. He
was a great reader of history and moved
from Newbury to Chelsea when he was
elected sheriff of Orange county, an office
which he held for many years. He owned
good farm In Newbury, which he yearly
visited, returning with abundant fruit
which he literally distributed among his
friends. Esquire Hy de was an inveterate
tederalist, hating with like hate Napoleon
and the Fret Ch and admirng Wellington
and the English. 1t has been generally
supposed that he suggested the name of
Chelsea for our town, when the name of
Turnersbutg was given up. Mr.. Hyde
was an intense Calvinist in religion, and
had little respect for other sects and re-
garded them as intrudeIs wherever they
undertook to plant the banner of their
faith in town He too, was great reader
He left two sons, who became prosperous
and influential citizens of the town-Elihu,
a Whig in notifies and Rufus a democrat