The Press., 1897-12-30
sTAFFoRD's EARLY DAYS.

Speaking of the old and new brings to ford's earlier days. The place halfway between the Springs and the Hollow, on the east road, and now called the Wright place, was originally known as the Old Doctor Stanton place. From Dr. Stan tons possession, on his death, it passed into the hands of Amasa Fuller, who, number of years later, sold 1t to his son. in-law, Marvin Cummings. MT. Cum mings bought the place in good faith of his faiher-in law and paid him his full price, but when he came to take posses sion he learned to his sorrow that it was mortgaged for its full value, and he was obliged'to pay for it the second time. At his death 1t came into the possession of his son, Milton Cummings, since which time it's history is familiar to the present generation. In its earlier days the house must have been reached by 8 lane from near the Moulton corner, as the so-called east road from the Springs to the Hollow was not in existence previous to 1816, it having been opened by the town in that year. There was 8 road running from Stafferd Street to West Stafford, 8 short section of which, from the Moulton cor ner to the top of the Dell Needham bill, was incorporated in the present road. The other section, running from the top of the same hill, down through Needham's pasture, crossing the brook and the west road, coming into the West Stafford road near the Martin Hunt place, was thrown up by the town some forty years ago. That part of the road at present leading straight down from the Street to the cor ner at the Moulton place, and from the Martin Hunt place to West Stafford, is the same old road in use more than one hundred years ago. The house must be an ancient one, for the doctor was 8 very old man in 1901, but he practiced for some years after that, for just how long we are unable to state. There are at the present time men living in town who positively know that he was practicing in their fathers families along about 1900. The late Governor Hyde used to relate many interesting anecdotes of the old doctor which he obtained in his youth, In those days nearly every one rode horse- back, and the doctor and his mare were known for miles around; it being stated that he always owned the best horse in town. He was 8 very eccentric old fellow, but withal he must have been very eel ebrated physician, as he was often called in council many miles away. The singu- lar facti in connection with the old doe tors life is that he lived to be 115 years of age, and was in active practice at 1O5. It is further stated as fact that for the last fifty years of his life that he drank a quart of Santa Cruz rum every day.
 The doctor was an inveterate snuff taker, nd in connection with this habit quite remarkable cure of his is related. He was called to Woodstock to attend a lady suffering with a severe attack of quinsy; in fact, SO bad was the case that the local physicians had given her up and Dr. Stanton was sent for as the last hope. This lady stood very high in the social tcircles of that place, and much interest was felt by the townspeople in the result of the doctors visit. @Dr. Stanton ar. rived and immediately went into the sick room. After a short examination of the patient he took out his snuff-box, and after taking pinch himself, offered it to the lady, which, of course, she indignantly refused. But the doctor insisted, saying that it was his prescription, and compelled
 her to fill her nostrils full. Of course she commenced to sneeze, and sueeze sht
 did with 8 vengeance. During her strug gles the swelling broke and all danger tc
 the patient was over. pr. Stanton, with
 out waiting longer, started for his horse
 and as he prepared to mount he remarked
 to the by-standers, "The absurdity o
 these fool-doctors sending all the way t.
 Stafford for me to come and save a wo
 mans life when all she needed was
 pinch of snuff" s.