News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-07-04

spent Jllc Tcllldultef u Ilo htlHS III
Peacham, and Newbury. He died at
Newbury Feb. 10, 1919, aged about
70 years. The last years of his life he
spent with Frye Bailey of Newbury.
The early settlements OF towns in
Vermont were effected under the most
discOuraging circumstances. Stowe
and the old town OF Mansfield were
chartered by Benjamin Wentworth IN
1853, the only towns IN Lamollle
county holding New Hampshire
grants, all the other towns IN the |
county were chartered by the Govern
or and council. MorristoWn was |
granted Nov. 6, 1880, to Moses
Morse and six Others, and was char
tered Aug. "a, 1888.
1t is thus seen, that when our char
ter was granted, Vermont occupied
an anomalous place, IN the political
history Of the times. OurpeOple had
! formed an independent State, as early
as 1777-had all along sympathlzed
with the colonies, IN their struggle
with the mother country, but as our
territory was claimed by both New
Hampshire, and New York, Yer
monters insisted upon absolute lnde-
pendence, and autonomy. Our faith
ers were generally regarded by the
colonies, as a headstrOng and reck-
less, but brave and energetic people
The very desperation shown in resist
ing the conflicting claims to Jurlsdlc-
ton over the territory, excited the
admiration of both claimants. Land
in the unsettled condition OF affairs
was cheaper here than elsewhere
Only men of courage, willing to risk
both the rigors of our climate and the
validity of our land titles, dared to
settle in our territory. But the stern
heroism of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner
and Remember Baker and the fore
sight of Gov. Chittenden and Ira
Allen guided ourinfant Stateto safe
anchorage in the waters of the union.
In 1870 the right of the State to an
Independent existence had been ac-
knowledged and settlements from
that date forward multiplied with
great rapidity.
: In our own town the Walkers came
from Brookfield, Mass, but many of
the settlers after them came from
: towns in New Hampshire. They were
all or nearly allreligious people. The
Walkers as already seen were Bap-
fists. Comfort Odds was Il Methodist
while the Goodalls were COngrega-
, tionalists, and Ebenezer Shaw Uni
! versalist. None of them had much OF
| this worlds goods and all were men
of simple and frugal habits, caring
: little for the luXuries of life. The ne
| cessities of their situation compelled
| a spirit of neighbOrhOOd accOmmo-
. dation and borrowing one from
, another of tools, horses and prOvls-
: ions even were of frequent occurrence
These little accommodations disclOs'
ing the dependence of the settlers up.
' on each other, also created good
: fellowship, and friendly regard, that
= tended largely to a state OF content
? ment, with the isolated situation, II
= which they were placed.
, 1t is not to be supposed that llit
: hung heavily upon their hands. O1
| the contrary they made frequent Wis
its from house to house and many
, happy hour was spent reciting th'
! experiences already passed in thel
4, respective homes, in formulating
e plans for the future and in giving
/ and receiving that mutual encourage
;, ment which is always born of mutua
e dependence.
e The parlor car used in travelling
/ from house to house was not eXactl,
h modelled after Mr. Pullman's idea
l. but was an uncouth vehicle, face
:. tiouslv called a sled, on which tn
II ladies rode with bed-quilts for buffalo
/ robes, and the establishment wa
II drawn by oxen.
:, The ladies Of that day were dressed
q in excellent taste Good, high heeled
d calf skin shoes covered their daint.
o feet An easy fitting, high necked
y and long sleeved calico dress, un
n burdened with founces or paniers
II adorned their comely persons
i among other eccentricities they evel
n wore their own hair and teeth. Thei
L bonnets We're two long side-board
r surmounted with a French roof, ant
= projecting from six to ten inches il
front of their rudy faces This styl
rs of bonnet kept the cold from thei
lie ears and the sunshine from their eye
n and a young fellow could kiss hi
y best girl on the street and nObod,
he would know it,
81 The men We're not bothered wit
n tight pants and swallOw-tailed coats
i, but were clad in good all-woC
y, breaches and coat, easy fitting an
g warm, and over all wore the old Rev
v dictionary surtout.
1T Thus equipped and thus travelling
n over the rough roads thro the torres
n they were welcomed by their hosts t
he the best the house afforded An
N who shall say that there was no
II more of good fellowship, more {
hearty whole-souled welcome. an
more of unstinted and unostenta
tious hospitality and more Of dOwr
1t right solid contentment and happ
m ness in those little neghbOrhOO
lie visits when the host and the CUES
N sat around the blazing back-logs an
fore-logs of the open fireplace, o
ne stools and boxes, discussing the day
ir of Lang Syne, and building up til
OF hopes of tomorrow; than in til
ID modern convent:onalities, of Il MOI
US ceremonious, more distant, MOI
IL back-aching and patience killing
III stand-up part with its equipment {
ne drapery and diamonds, and its con
C. plement of fob-chains and wide shin
rs fronts and it's deluge of wispy-wasp
~ Journalism of etiquette, and its meal
ingless, aimless, and pointless COZ
O. versation Oh, my friends, for on
t. hour on this centennial day, as W
in greet the sons and daughters of Mo
h ristown, to whom we pray, there
er no place Ike hOme-one hour of tina
sh good old-fashioued, heart-stirrin
Id hand-shake, that conscience-quickel
III ing welcome, and that sOul-outpOu
is ing good bye with which JacO
ry Walker met, received, and dismisse
&C. his guests, and one hour of tina
h sumptuous, royal, satisfying hosp
or tality of hard cider, brown brea'
IL and baked beans with which he ente
st tanned them.
It His and theirs was the companion
p ship of saints.
yn Vermont was. admitted into ii
in Union March 4, 1871, and durin
d that year a census of its inhabltan1
of was taken. Morristown reported il
st number at ten. The ten were
iiu Jacob Walker and wiie,............... ,
or VIM. Walker, wife and , CHILDREN,
he Two hired men from bennington,
m Old Joe and Molly. 2--lO
TIL The white settlers in town befol