Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-25
NEWS OF VERMONT.
More Important Events Grouped 70
Free Press Readers w. 8. Newton
Has Been Town Clerk of Brattle-
boro for 40 Years.


Mr.. Newton. in looks and manner Is
perfect representative of the old-school
gentleman. He was born in Marlboro, VT,
June 70, 1SZ2. He was of the seventh gen-
Grafton on the line of descent from Eng
land. Cotton Newton, his grandfather,
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War
and was at the battle of saltwater. The
educational training of William Sawyer
Newton was obtained in the common
schools and at the West Brattcboro
academy. He became a clerk In the store
of Jesse Cone In Marlboro when IL years
old. A little later he WAS for two years
a clerk IN the store of Gardner G. Hall in
Brattlcboro. Still later he was for a time
in Marlboro. but in 1867 he returned to
Brattleboro and 1t has been his residence
for full halt century. For a time he was
employed by the Vermont ~ Massa-
chusetts railroad and then he was clerk
in the postofiice when Samuel Dutton was
postmaster. In 1859 he was in the grocery
trade with Nathaniel Cheney, but this
lasted for only few months. Mr.. New
ton. however, continued the business until
1891 lie was elected town clerk March 3.
lS6J. and justice Of the peace at the Sep
TENDER frCemen's meeting in the same
year As justice Of the peace he has heard
hundreds u cases. A justice of the peace
| in Vermont has Il much wider Jurisdiction
| than In many other States. Perhaps the
most widely known case In which Mr..
Newton presided was that of Rudyard
| klpling against his brother-in- law, Beatty
| S. Balesticr. In that case the world
famous writer charged that he was in
danger of losing his life at the hands of
his rate relative by marriage. There was
much amusement and fun in the case, and
Mr.. Newton secured his share of it while
carrying the responsibility of arriving at
! the right judicial decision. AS town clerk.
too. he has given universal satisfaction.
| There is a wide range of work for town
clerks In Vermont. from making holes
| in the ears of the skins Of animals with
punch IN order that the man who killed
| the animal may receive the bounty, up to
seeing that the right phraseology is used
when the town is authorizing loan and
IdlVergng within these limits into many
: de issues 1t is certain that Mr.. Newton
will hold these offices as long as his health
viii permit. He was elected n trustee of
the Vermont Savings bank in January
1SS2, and vice-president in January, 1881,
both of which Offices he still holds In
politics Mr.. Newton was hrst WhiE
Later he was troubled at what seemed to
him a political trade, and from 1870 to 1860
he did not vote ut all. lie then voted for
| Abraham Lincoln for President, and since
then has acted with the Republican party.
His religious preference is the Consrega-
tional faith. Mr. Newton was married to
Mrs. Lucinda W. Harris, daughter Of
David W. and Salome w. Goodrich of
Chesterfield, n H., March 80, ls5S. She
is still living, and has been worthy help
mate of her husband during their long
lives. There have been no children by
this marriage. Mrs. Newton has one
daughter by her FIRST marriage. Mrs. An
ma L., the wife of Charles G. Brooks Mr..
Newton has never used liquor AZ a beVer-
age during his life At one time he &C.
casionally smoked a cigar, but that was
years ago. In the summer time he rises
at nvo O'Clock in the morning, and either
rides or walks. He attributes his long
life and health to regularity Of habits,
plain living and a good constitution.
Gifted with a sense of the ridiculous. no
one appreciates the humorous side Of life,
or enjoys with more hearty zcst the droll
Occurrences that are continually arising
TO relieve. in considerable degree, the
irksomc toll of life.
FIRST STAMP MADE IN BRATTLE-
KORO.
Collectors and philatests become en-
thuaiastic when they speak of the famous
Hrattleboro. VT, postage stamp, which is
sad to he the first ever used in America
Dr. Frederick \, Palmer, who was Brat
tlCboros postmaster from July, 1910, tC
November, 1913, was the inventor of the
stamp. Dr. Frederick y. Palmer was
born in Belfast, Ne, in 1915. and came to
I Brattlcboro some time IN 1896 as a must,
. teacher. He became a student of the law
r and studied in the Office of Judge AS
, keyos. In 1910 he married Miss Ellen
) oldest daughter of Judge Reyes, and fv'
years later he WAS appointed postmaster
1t was during his three years inCumbenCy
I that he inaugurated number of i'm
1 proVemcnts in the Office, and IN 1916 issueC
l the iittle stamp for which collectors ar,
+ now willing to pay fabulous prices. 1t i!
$ stated that one has been sold at the ex
J. trAordinary price of sl,5. 1t is said tina
N
S owning a Palmer stamp. one was Dough
n about 30 years ago for % cents. The other
. bought III 1882. cost in the vicinity of SO
s ! is said that a Mr.. Collins of New Yorl
r mas the only uncanCollcd Brattlcbor
l. stamp iuown to be in existence. He ha
d won the philatelic blue ribbon for secur
ing the rarosL stamp On the America
catalogue, and that means the Who'll
world. Great Britain adopted the use o
postage stamps IN lSio ana Brazil IN le3l
~ "'' .r,,l rnii'I,.i
u ,t,'ti t,.ii,,,t,,I ,. tb' g.,
,t, rhiid'at, n.au Go
q 49,, 49, ne ,,,,to ,,aras, 80 -,
G zoe ,.ne ,,,u ,ar f,, 80 - -, -,
X 800. tet e., c.st ,astlro ,,'1,s -
n ',..m' ,'',,o, p,t.iSI, W -
r $500 tb.' a,,aaa,t1 i,,','ra,'o,',o,,. :
S "ii''.6 &C.,, ~, 49,,
ne '.i ~ ~ I 49, ii Sasu %,,,
Nv" ~ W. NJ" - "i'u'.e 20. o. III
r "'' '''"P'S a. ~, i $50 - ~ "''9 q
o oI..p ~ t'to T'a .,'i1''. 10 az
t w" ~, - % us Va a. ~ uSe 'i.S y,
= w" IN CIV 10 ="