Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-08

|
payers to make their own roads, paying
| their taxes In labor, 1t would be the duty
| of the governor to appoint two days of
Thanksgiving at the close of the session.
Let any man go over the Lawton hill to
East Barnard and mark the difference OF
the road between now and last July, after
the road machine had finished. Here Is
| fine opportunity to test the two ways Of
working roads.
BARNARD's oLD-TIME HoRsEMEN.
One OF the most famous in early days
was Gen. Josiah Richmond, whose title OF
general came to him through his connec-
ton with the state militia.
Mr.Ricbmond was born somewhere near
1900 in Barnard and inherited from that
historic and powerful family not only
wealth but q love OF the horse which
moulded his occupation and business in
terests in life. He did but little else than
trade, buy and sell horses, was never mar
ried, bur most Of the time made his home
with Luther Clancy, the proprietor Of the
old Farmers Home or Clancy tavern In
Barnard village. OF this ancient hostelry
we hope to be able to give some account In
future issue OF this paper.
Josiah Richmond was q man OF strong
will power and bitter to his enemies. This
led him TO be morose and silent times,
giving TO strangers, perhaps, wrong idea
OF his true character. His utter dislike OF
those who were not his close friends
brought him into much litigation, and his
many lawsuits ate up bis property to such
an extent that In his latter days none was
left. He was man OF good morals and
strictly temperate habits-priuciples that
did not, in those days, cali around him
many horsemen as fast friends. This fact,
together with the loss OF property, unbal-
anced his mind and he died insane.
Mr. Richmond was q good horseman
and it seemed his ambition to own the
best and introduce to the farmers OF Bar
nard a breed OF horses superior to the then
existing and fashionable Morgans.
In one of his many journeys into the
Canadas he found his ideal In q IT, hand
chestnut stallion which be called french
Tiger.
This was one OF the handsomest
horses, lofty appearing, bold and powerful
in stride, and line general makeup, that
the attraction OF this horse was never
I'equalled in after life by others. He was
the sensation OF the town, to the extreme
qualification of Gen. Richmond. Farmers
fairly tumbled over each other in their
hurry to patronize French Tiger. But
few men with cool heads and sound judg-
ment, like Col. Ira Coolidge, told the
breeders that they were making mistake:
that the old adage OF Like begets like"
will not always prove true, ana q horse
with so much daylight under him will
never be a successful stock horse.
Coolidge's prophecy proved true. Tigers
stock was not good. They had large heads,
long ears, slim. faulty joints, and were
sorrel in color, many having white legs
and faces. They lacked the fire and am
bition OF the sire. Taken altogether French
Tiger was a disappointment, not only to
bis patrons but to Richmond himself, and
after his failure was sold for driver and
A. ks.~.
Hutchinson and made one OF the best road
horses in the state. Captsin Hutchinson's
business took him to many parts OF the
state, north and south. II was years be-
fore any railroads were 10 Vermont and
the long and fast journeys OF this Tiger
horse was the tonic of the country. Over
the hills on rough roads, dragging heavy
wagon loaded with maps, Capt. Eb and
Tige performed some miraculous feats.
One hundred miles In day was none too
far for this great horse Tiger died, the
property OF Captain Hutchinson, and was
much lamented.
Gen. Richmond, soon after the loss OF
bis property, was taken to the Retreat for
the insane at Brattleboro and supported
by the town and state. He soon worked
himself into the good graces OF the insti-
tuition and became very popular with the
officers He was given one OF the nnest
pairs OF horses owned by the asylum to
drive and care for the same as his own.
No restraint was put upon him as be made
the interests OF the institution his care.
No prouder man and team were seen on
the streets of Brattleboro for years. Later
on, for some unaccountable reason he took
to oxen and they gave him the largest and
handsomest yoke among them all and, in
fact, II was said to be the best in Wind
ham county. He was completely carried
away wit b the cattle and never failed to
show them to all visitors. After some
years. the oxen getting old, the superin-
tendent thought best to sell and did 30.
This broke Richmond up and for many
days he took but little notice OF anybo iy, |
refusing food, making no talk and dong
no WORK. Thinking to pacify him, he |
"super" bought for the purpose pair OF
handsome young cattle anc gave him. |
This reused Richmond to some OF his old |
time interest and for awhile work went
on in Its usual way,
One morning the general was not work.
ing, and In reply to enquiry, said that his
oxen were gone and he supposed they had |
followed the old ones. Nothing more |
could be got from him and the search for |
the missing cattle ended In their being |
found on a mountain across the river in |
New Hampshire. They were chained to a |
tree in dense hollow OF bushes, nearly |
famished for water.
think Richmond never admitted his /
partin the transaction but he had no more |
inclination to work and from this time
the state charged full pay for his keeping |
until death ended once bright horseman.
Forest Il. Richmond, the noted livery
man of Woodstock. and James 8. hich-
mond, trainer ana driver of fast horses in
the same town, are nephews OF General
Richmond and their great skill In horse
manship may be inherited from this uncle.