St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-09-18
History of Ryegate.
Editor CALIFORNIAN:

We believe that when the complete his
tory of Vermont is written it will be by
each town preparing volume, or more,
in which "facts that are stranger than
felton, will appear and if properly made
up no books would be more interesting
or valuable for they would contain a
record of the splendid work done by the
men and women who made it possible
for our wonderful opportunities of the
present time. Our pioneers deserve a
bright place on the "shadowy muster
roll of fame" Their work was indeed
for God and home" and for their chill
dren native land with true freedom
which took form in the best government
that the world ever saw.
There is a growing element who would
destroy the precious liberties so bravely
won. We believe that the work done by
the pioneer should be placed before the
people OF the present time and they Ger.
tainly would appreciate their homes and
the precious liberty more highly than
they now do. The rugged virtues of
the olden time proved a sure foundation
and if the great republic is still to be the
land of the free we must continue in the
straight and narrow way which govern
ments as well as individuals must follow
if we would hold our place in the history
of nations.
Ryegate is fortunate in having the his
tory of its early days carefully preserved
by the faithful efforts of the late Edward
Miller aided by the late George Mason of
1roton, two natural historians. Few
towns in the state have so complete rec
)rds and the history will prove of great
interest to all who have lived in town or
lave gone out to other homes in our
broad land
At the town meeting of 1906, com
nittee OF % were chosen to report a
Han to have history of the town pre- /
AIRED. George Cochran was chosen
hartman and W. N. Gil6llan, secretary.
n executive committee was elected con
lsting of Herman Miller, A. M. White
NV and Quincy A. Whitehill A report
7as offered at the last town meeting
Which was accepted with but single
ote againstit. hegeneral plan is shown l
the following circular letter which {
~ be sent to people out of town who I
MI be interested in this most worthy t
1terprise. I
History of Ryegate, VT, from it's set !
ement in 1774, by the Scotch American
ompany OF Farmers, to present time. /
his history, now being prepared, is
ased upon the family records and other S
alta collected during many years, by the $
tie Edward Miller, ESQ.,, arranged and q
ompleted by F. P. Wells, author of the F
lstory of Newbury, and will be pub S
shed by the town. t
1T will contain an historical sketch of Q
lie country before it's settlement, the n
and actions of the Scotch S
merlcan Company of Farmers at t
lchinan, and all that can be gathered l
the work Of the pioneers, IL
leir labors, hardships, and success, and r.
the generations which succeeded them. v
1T will contain the proceedings of v
,wn meetings, an account of the a
hools, agricultural, manufacturing and L
lslness interests. 1t will embrace his II
'rical sketches of the four PRESBYTERIAN n
urches OF Ryegate. which embody the II
ligious life of it's people. n
Many valuable historical papers, in e.
uding the journal of General lanes I
hitelaw, will be published herein, for +
e first time, together with a chapter Sc
BON the location and history of the Sc
ilitary highway known as the Hazen a
Dad Other topics relating to the life 81
the town will receive attention. m
y Part Second, will embrace the records tt
Ryegate families and many of their
scendants elsewhere, with numerous =,
ographical sketches, and anecdotes of V
e pioneers of the town.
1t will be published in one volume of
.out 500 pages, and the price per copy !,
Ill be nearly as follows: &c
In best cloth, gilt top, $2.25; cow II
de- e., $ 81 q half seal, 1925; full b; b
1t is hoped that the work will be tn
aced with the printer early in 1908, m
I'd it is imperative upon the committee W
at one-half the edition shall be sub
ribed for before publication. re-
w NJ err Ell TAN Cao~o4o. d1