Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-09-26
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
THOMAS BELLOWS.
"Reminiscences Of a WelI-known Resi-
dent of WnIpoIe, Nh.


dent of WnIpOIe, N. n.
We read in The Phoenix recently a. no
tice regarding the death of Thomas Bellows
of Walpole N. H., at the age of SO years
He was man with whom we had been we'll
acquainted for 3S years, having worked for
him six yearssas hired boy, beginning in
May, 1852 We attended school at the viii
lage, one mile distant, during the winter
months He had valuable farm, consist
ing Of fertile meadows and plains sheltered
by the Wapole hills on the east and along
the west side flowed Connecticut's peaceful
stream, beyond which lay the hills Of West
minister. The dwelling house was a large
two story, gambrel rooted building, erected
in 1903 by Col. Benjamin Bellows grand
father Of Thomas, and was the first framed
house built in town. IL stood on elevated
land shaped like a mound, and was located
On the site Of the old fort, which once pro
tected the early settlers from hostile incur
sions of French and Indians The first set
tier of Walpoe was John Kilburn. who pur-
chased the whole township and built a log
house long before the fort was erected,
probably in l1l2, about one mile farther
north than Col Bellows afterward located
The history Of Mortified, Mass, gives the
information that John Kiburn started from
Weatherslield in l7iO, stopped in Mortified
with his family, where he was taxed in 1741,
and then moved to No. 3, now Walpole {;
therefore the building of his log house must
have been about l142. 1t was not only a
shelter for himself aud family, but il served
him well as fort or castle in which he and
his family successfully defended themselves
and repealed the attack Of $50 Indians.
The particulars of the fight furnish an
interesting sketch in the history of the town
Indian relics and skeletons have been found
near the old Bellows fort We remember
incidents related TO MS by Thomas Bellows
concerning his grandfathers experience
with the Indians. On one occasion Col.
Bellows and his men went to a grist mill
about one mile northeast from the fort on
what may now he called Blanchard's brook
The men were returning at the close of day
with bags of grst on the backs of horses
just as they came round a turn some lndi-
aus were seen to cross the path not far
ahead. After retreating short distance
! Col. Bellows ordered his men TO dsmount
aud empty the bags Of meal in pile on the
| ground, and thus escaped in safety to the
fort In the morning they returned and
secured the meal Boy like we asked why
the meal was emptied on the ground 80
that the Indians could not carry il away. 80
replied MIR. Bellows, On another occasion
Col. Bellows was returning from the mill
alone and saw an Indian in ambush near
the path Wheeling his horse about. he
moiioned with his hand, calling, Come on,
men, come on, as though his men were
following not far behind. The Indian was
alarmed and fled, and the colonel rode home
in safety.
Thomas Bellows died in the same house
the Bellows homestead in which he was
born Sept 90, 1907 He began the study
Of Latin at the early age Of seven years.
entered Harvard college at the age of #.
remained about year, and finished his col
| lege course at Dartmouth. He had much
| strength Of character and sterling virtues,
aud could not fellowship with the wicked
students at Harvard. Hence the change in
| his college course. He studied for the min
| istry at Andover theological seminary and
was settled in 1888 over a church in Green
| field, Mass. lie soon gave up the ministry
and returned to the old homestead and en-
gagged IN farming. The whole farm con
tanned 700 acres 1t was equally divided
between Thomas aud his brother Foster,
Thomas receiving the homestead, which he
kept intact during his long life. Not so
with his brother, who died a poor man. His
brother married and had family Thomas
remained single because of disappointment
We never heard him make any allusion to
it, but the late DR. Kittredge Of Walpoe
said that Mr. Bellows expected to marry a
lady suited to his circumstances who lived
near Concord or in the eastern part of New
Hampshire Before she would make him
any promise Of marriage she inquired what
0 4 . & L. 4
fathers property. On his next visit to see
the lady he reported that his share would
be $2j 600. 1t will take more than S2j.
600 to secure me in marriage ~ she replied
which Mr. Bellows accepted as a refusal to
marry him. 1t so effected his mind for
time that his father journeyed with him in a
private carriage, spending several weeks in
making a trip to Canada. The disappoint
ment caused him to avoid the society Of
women as much as possible His cousin.
Mary Bellows, an aged maiden lady. kept
| house for him more than 20 wears Mr.
| Below began farming in 1888, she having
been his housekeeper Il years when we be
gan to work for him in 1852 HIS father
was Thomas Bellows. E.q who was sheriff
| of Cheshire e county many years The squire
as he was called had wealth and was very
kind 10 the To1r. He had considerable corn
in poverty year. 1916, and sold it at the
same price Of corn in years of plenty. He
would not sell TO speculators, but only to
such persons as were in need of it for use
in their families. His reply to a speculator
who would take all he had to spare, was
"You cannot have it, If you want "a bushe
| for your family you can have it at my price,
but no man can buy Of me to speculate in
this year of scarcity"
The good old man to his rest has gone
But his fame still shines In the golden corn q"
ID. l. MANSFIELD.
Sentemher $500