Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-09-24
AN OLD CORRESPONDENT.
A Brief Character Sketch Of Hiram R. Iiaswell,
Of North fioOslCk


Mr. Editor Being in North Hoosick
a few days since, l called upon ourold
friend, Hiram r. Haswell, who was
born at Bennington Center aud is now
SO years old. He is a son of William
Haswell, who was postmaster in Ben
nington at the Center for over twenty
years and most of the time before there
was any other Office in town.. being APP
pointed in 1913. He was also town
clerk for many years, having as assis-
tant his competent and accommodating
wife. His father was Anthony Has
we'll, the publisher of the first newspa-
per on the west side of the mountain,
the first issue being Jane 3, 1888 and
called the Vermont Gazette. In 1884
he was commissioned postmaster gem
eral of the state by Gov. Thomas Chit
tendon, seven years before the state
was admitted into the union, and the
Gazette continued to be published by
him or his descendants until about the
year 1850.
Hiram r. Haswell married in Hoos-
ick many years since, and second
wife in SALISBURY and has spent the
greater part of his life in Hoosick and
White Creek. For many years his
church relations have been with the
Baptist church in North Bennington,
he and his family being regular, wor-
shippers there. He has spent much OF
his time on his farm in White Creek
and has been an acceptablecorrespond-
ent Of this paper for great many
years, his items being Of nature to
interest and give information and po-
litically giving no uncertain sound.
With his father, he was early in the
habit of doing deeds of kindness and
generosity and was often found re-
membering those who were not burth-
ened with friends, as in the burial of
David Black, Hessian prisoner, ia
ken in the battle OF Bennington, who
lived many years in town a becoming
citizen and died without kindred, far
from Hesse Cassel where he had en-
listed to ught the battles of Great Brit
ian for stated sum per month. Not
only did he with his father bury the
old soldier, but Hiram placed rude
headstone at his grave and with his
Jack knife engraved I'D. Black I" with
the date upon II, so it can now be- seen
in the old cemetery on the north side
of the space left for burying the Hes
SLAMS who died from wounds after the
battle. He also assisted in the burial
of Silas Walbridge, who a portion OF
the time had charge of the Hessian
prisoners who we're kept wherever
there could be found room for them,
sometimes Ia the school house, the
meeting house or in barns.
He has always been faithful to any
trust committed 10 him, as clerk in
store or postmaster at one time in
North Bennington, and as evidencing
the same trait, when the body of Col
Martin Scott was brought from Mexi-
co where ne had given his life for his
country in the bastleOf Molino del Rey,
in lsA7, he tolled the Center church bell
while the long procession was going
from his f0rmer home west of the mon
ument through to rthe 'eastvillAge of
Bennington and back to the cemetery,
where the remains were deposited.
The occasion was participated in by
people from far and near and the ex-
ercises were of a very Interesting char
acter. Mr. Haswell and hissister, who
is his senior in age, have always had,
deserTedly, the confidence and respect
OF all who have had the pleasure to
know them, and it is hoped they may
be spared many years still. H.