Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-08-17

Of the large towns and cities. His efforts
were attended with signal success AND
perhaps no man gave better satisfaction
Few are better known OF foreign residents
than Frank Plumley of Vermont.
1t WAS the fortune of your correspond
eDt to live in Michigan at the time and
well recollect being in the reading room
of the club one evening when gentleman
near me called my attention to one oil
Plumlay's speeches, saying "Have you any
| more men in Vermont OF the same abili-
typ | ans gered quickly that we had
plenty OF them. A second thought con
WINGED me that lied and now am sure OF
it. They are not plenty in our state nor
in any other. Mr.. Plumley has few equals
! in personal appearance and brillisnt ora
tory and for pure m 7rals and strictly tenn
perate habits no superiors. Should he
\ step into the shoes of Gen. Grout the size
will be right and progress upward. Yer
mont will hold fast its enviable position
in the national halls OF legislation and the
state still be proud of its delegation.
Morrill,, Poland, Steele, DeDison, Tyler
and Grout we're not eX-speakers and
neithe did they need this qualification.
So the experience of Col. Haskins will be
no argument.
do nope Hon. Frank Plumley will be
! in the race.
"REMINISCENCES OF EARLY TIMES.
Leaving the stage road leading to Wood
stock at the head of Silver lake near the
cottages, going south upa steep bill we
come to quite nice farm that 80 years
ago was the home of Rev. hosea Ballou,
the great Universalist divine who organ
lied in Barnard the first church OF this
denomination known In Vermont. At
terward Mr.. Bsllou became celebrated as
one of Boston's most eloquent preachers.
This farm was also the home OF Rev.
Preston Taylor, pastor OF the Cong'l
chu. oh, and still later OF Seth CoDant, ia
ther OF Hon. Edward Conant, principal
of the Randolph Normal school and ex-
state superintendent Of all the schools.
Edward Conant has spent his life in the
cause OF education and today stands at the
head OF Vermont's instructors. This farm
has changed hands many times during
the last half century and is now owned
and occupied by Asa Perry, Jr. The in
huenee OF those early holy men should be
felt In Asa today and sometimes we think
the spirit does slightly move. SIR. Perry
is a good farmer and respectable citizen
aud always pays his debts, 100 cents on
the dollar. His buildings lately repaired
are very conspicuous from the head OF
Silver lake.
Going on up the hill we come to where
VIM. Chedel settled in 1775,one OF the very
first who moved their families to Barn
ard. Ii is in the pasture OF Chester lazy,
formerly owned by the late Alvan Wood,
but little remains to be seen except stones
that were used in the foundation. There
was never a cellsr and the house was built
OF logs. Here was held the first town |
meeting in Barnard, April 8, IT'S, and al
ter that until 1871. Here Polly Chedel
was born, which was said by Child's Gag
etteer to be the first birth in town. VIM.
Chedel was prominent at that time and |
neld many town offices, but afterwards |
became poor and was supported by the
town.
An old lady living in Springfield, Mass,
informed me that this place Is where the
original house OF VIM. Chedel stood and
that she often went there when little
girl with her mother. She said there was
never a cellar but a potato hole under the
house which was used in winter and the
large fiat stone was the doorstep. Near
here James Call chopped the first timber
ever cut iB town in the summer OF IVA.
He left in the fall. The next season, 1775,
he real settlement commenced and VIM.
Jhedel was one OF the pioneers.