The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-01

beyond the main building, which is now
the flour and feed department
Mr.. Libbey was born in 1843 in Warren. n.
H., but has spent nearly all his life here or
in the neighboring New Hampshire town
of PiermOnt. He has been resident here
during the last fifteen years, is black
smith by trade, and was successfully en-
gagged in this business with his brother as
Libbey Bros. Subsequently he was for
eight years engaged in the livery business
here. 1t was during this time that the ho-
tel burned. and he was largely instrument
tai in organizing the stock company that
built Hotel Low, was one of the directors,
and its first landlord for two years. Soon
after the organization of the Farmers Ex-
change he was elected it's manager and
treasurer.
Mr. Libbey is prompt, courteous and sys-
tematic. is well known in this community,
and seems to possess the business aptitude
for the successful prosecution of this bust
ness. he married Lucy A. Stone of Han
over. n. H., in 1864. Their three children
are Lettie Stone, Mrs. John b. Hay of
Bradford; Elbridge g.. for eight years in
the employ of HI A Winship in the hard
ware store, and j. Edward Libbey in the
hey is a member of Charity Lodge f. and
A. M, also of Champion Lodge L. 0. o. F.
and of Trotter Encampment. and has
passed all the chairs of both bodies.
MR.. ASA Low.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Asa Low,
was born in Sanford, Me-, in 1886. We f1nd
his indenture Ga marvel of precise statement
and legal verbiage) recorded in 1913, binding
him to service for three years to Andrew,
Henderson of Wells River, for the sum Of
S250-$50 to be paid the first year, $40 the sec
ond, and $l30 at the end of the third year.
Having thoroughly learned the paper
trade, he came to Bradford about 1920, poor
in purse, but rich in a splendid physique, a
practical mind, good habits, and resolute
will.
small wooden structure owned by Mr..
Henry-was rented by Mr. Low in 1876, and
purchased by him in 1927. The following
year it was swept away by flood. Another
wooden mill was built in 1929, and lasted I'M
til nearly 1910, when Mr.. Low built the pres
ent large granite structure. He also built
Winship-making his own brick in 1S35-and
carried on trade there for many years. He
employed at one time nearly hundred men
in his various enterprises, and rarely, II
ever did man apply to him for work in
vain.
Mr.. Low was man of prodigious energy
and remarkable executive ability, and for
the prosperity and development of Bradford
he shou1dered every responsibility, working
in season and out of season.
He established a printing office and book
bindery, printing writing books, almanacs,
and testaments, and gave financial support
to A. B. F. Hildreth, who published peri
Odical magazine known as "The Green
Mountain Gem" He afterwards formed
mercantile partnership with Naphtali Shaw,
each partner putting in $1,000 according to
the terms of an iron-clad contract. but this
small beginning soon developed into the
largest mercantile establishment in this Sec
ton. He ran four, six, eight and nine horse
teams to Boston with produce OF all kinds in la
and brought home not only his own large
stock, but also that of Col. Pr1chard, his
neighbor, and those of other merchants.
Mr.. Low was always a strict observer OF
the Sabbath, requiring this of his employees
as well, and always arranged, when possible
to have his teams come in on Saturday
night. AT one time he manufactured scythe
stones in large quantities, and sold them at
wholesale all through this section of the
country. He built the handsome hotel
known as the Trotter House on the present
site of Hotel Low, and was the first store and
hotel keeper in all this section of the coun-
try to renounce the sale of liquor in 1929. At
first his trade suffered, but soon customers
returned and, fortunately for Bradford, his
example was soon followed by others. His
stock of silks and worsteds was rich and va
ried, and he carried millinery goods, EN-
plOying ladies to trim, and covered the
whole range of general merchandise, doing
an immense barter trade. He owned large
number of dwelling houses throughout the
town, which he rented to the men in his en-
ploy. In 1914 he built the Bradford FIGURING
Mills equipped with six run of stone, and
also the adjacent Saw Mill, located in this
village ana conducted IlelIl LOT HAL years
He was also greatly interested in farming
and stock raising.
This Industrial Napoleon was one of the
first to eh sa ah ana the prime
mover in ripening conception into fact. At
a period when his private interests absolute
ly needed every moment he could spare to
them, he gave almost his entire time and
threw his whole soul into the effort of OBJ
tanning the Passumpsic railroad, and inter-
ested Gov. Erastus Fairbanks therein, who
wrote that "Mr. Lows assurances We're fol-
lowed by letters from capitalists in Boston,
corroborating his staten 3nts. AMI in
view of these promises, decided to cooper
ate with his efforts in building the Passump-
sic railroad"
Mr. Lows own pecuniary interests, thus
neglected, received fatal shock during his
absence to secure this great public work,
which would otherwise have been delayed
for years. While away from home, he sus-
tanned heavy losses by flood and fire, and
through the failure of creditors, leaving him
financially embarrassed. But his indomita-
BILE energy and courage again upheld him,
and he soon found an observation-disclosures
the purchase of a large consignment of wool
on commission, in which line he was an ex-
pert-to relieve his necessities. He after
wards managed the paper business as an
agent.
He married Lucinda Brooks of Stanstead,
Canada, in 1924 and ten children were born
to them, viz: Helen NJ, deceased. Caroline
H. (deceased) Mrs. John B. Pickett. George
A., who married Marcia Cutler, and was for
many years efficiently identified with his IA
theirs business, now citizen of Brooklyn.
Adeline p, Mrs. David Blakely, of New
York, whose summer home is the Low home
stead, opposite Hotel Low; which has been
in the family eighty years. Martha, also re-
siding at her old home in Bradford. The
other five died in childhood.
Asa Low died in Bradford at the age of 10,
in 1875, and his faithful wife six years later at
the same age.
Mr.. Low always used his means and his in
fluence as faithful steward for the public
good, and was always a liberal contributor
for the support of church work. The sub
stantial hotel which bears his name, and the
many massive structures of brick and stone
which he reared, will be enduring monu-
ments 10 perpetuate his honored name to
grateful posterity.