The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-06-15

ACduclHy, Lne NOIS CO dtlOndl pdFSOU-
age, and last the Bacon house on the
site where Mrs Bailey now lives. Fol-
lowing Main street back on the west
side there were the homes of Dea.
Oliver Hardy, DR. Stebbins, Arad
Stebbins, Alfred Coriss, DR.. John
Poole, Masonic Hall, Geo. w. Prich-
ards store and house. and the resi-
dence of Asa Low. Within these
same limits now there are nearly 100
buildings
Only two men are living, within the
limits of the present village corpora
ton who were here as far back as Bar.
ron Hav can remember These are
Col. d. X. Andross and Geo. w.
Wright. But four others survive who
were living in the village when John
Stearns first came to it, namely WIN.
S Nelson, ex-Gov. Roswell Farnham,
j. b. w. Prichard and S. A. Morse.
The boy Barron lived with his moth.
er in the family of Gen. Micah Barron,
for whom he was named, until he was
eight years old. Their house was the
one in which Mrs. M. l.. Shaw now
lives, next to the OPINION building,
but at that time it stood on the site of
Or. Fletcher's present residence. At
the age of ten he went to Oxford and
remained until II, doing farm work
for Levi d. Corliss. He attended the
district school in winter, each year
After this he returned to Bradford
and from '45, when the boy intimacy
between John and Barron began, until
80, he worked for Bond & Slaf-
ter in the nursery business on the farm
where Frank Avery is now located
The fall and winter of 80 and 81 he
was porter in one of the hotels in
Boston. In 81 he entered tie employ
of &. 81 E. Prichard and remained con-
tinuously identified with the business
of this house until he and j. B. w.
Prichard bought it out and entered
into partnership as Prichard g. Hay in
1870. During these years the business
was located in the old building which
stood where the Bank building now is,
and remained there until their present
quarters were finished in 1885. The
store of Prichard & Hay is in Union
Block, well-built brick edifce, plan.
ned largely by Mr.. Hay himself, and
owned jointly by j B. w. Prichard,
the heirs of j. B. Pickett and himself.
Whatever success Barron Hay has
attained in business, he says, with
loyalty and generosity characteristic of
his nature, is due largely to an indus.
trious and prudent wife. This cher
ished helpmate, with whom he formed
a life partnership in 1854, was Miss
Janette G. Smith of Middleburv. (Mls
Hay died June 23rJ, 1899 He
erected in 1857 fine cottage on north
Main street and has since resided there.
Bradford would hardly know how to
keep house without Barron Hay and
his partner, John Prichard, for many
years town clerk. Barron became a
member of the fire department in 1916,
and there hasn't been a fire since that
he has not been present at. He held
the offices of clerk and foreman, and
chairman of the executive comraittee
of the Fire District. FeaonSc.AGAen
years he has been town treasurer and
for eleven years collector of taxes, be-
ing elected regularly by the voters of
the town irrespective of party. AT the
last election he was made treasurer of
the village corporation, and when the
water board was chosen three years
ago the honor of the fve-year term
member fell naturally to him. With
Merrill q. Beard he originated the
Bradford Guards, though he never be-
came member of that organization
He holds commission of justice of the
peace from Gov. Farnham but never
acted under it. There is not a man in
town, so his friends declare, who keeps
so well posted in town and village
and follows so closely all state
legislation etfecting towns and villages, |
as does Barron Hay, and there is no
one whose advise is more generally |
sought after and respected in such mat
tiers, not even excepting the lawyers.
He has been In the state legislature
several terms and could have had at
any time almost any office within the |
gift of the town that he wanted or
was willing to accept. He is the kind
of man whom the people like to put
into offices, for he has never sought
them. So honors have fallen thick
upon him. A life long democrat he
has been, not of the pronounced and
aggressive variety: like his companion,
John Stearns, but mild and moderate
such as voters of all shades of opinion
AXE to as regular thing.
AS there is no fool like an old fool,
20 there is no head like an old head, if
hat head happens to be level; and a
evel head has been prominent char
lcteristic of Barron Hay all his life.
This trait, coupled with the strictest
honesty, will account for the many fl
iuciary trusts that have fallen to his
OF. eff there ever was an honest
man." said one of the younger genera
ion, in speaking to the writer of him,
Il think Barron Hay is one" That
urely is compliment worth a life
ime of effort, and it is just and prop
+ that it should be set down here. A
life of which this can be said must have
'een worth the living, for honesty is
is own day-by-dav reward.
May the beloved and respected gen.
lemen, neighbors and friends, whose
grace the head of these COL
INNS, live long to enjoy the esteem
nd confidence of the many who have
nown them so long and pleasantly,
nd may their years be full of honor,
appiness, plenty and peace.