Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-08-13

Morton Batchelder OF Springfield has
entered the law office of his brother, Wal
lace Batchelder of Bethel, as q clerk, and
has filed with the clerk OF the supreme
court the papers required of Law stu
dent, stating his intention of pursuing
the study of the law in order to apply
for examination for admission to the bar
at the close of the required three years OF
study. He is the youngest of the three
sons of Mr.. and Mrs. Edmund A. Batch
elder of Springfield, is 81 years OF age and
was the valedictorian OF his class, which
was graduated last June.
c. d. Cushing has begun the erection
of power house to house his auxiliary
steam plant for furnishing electric power
in times of low water in White river.
The building will be located between the
railroad and White river, Immediately
westerly of the office building of the
Woodbury. Granite company, on what
was formerly portion of the Hartwell
!! meadow. The size Of the building will
| be 4Ox45 feet. Mr.. Cushing has bought
of the Woodbury. Granite company two
Corliss engines, one of them being the
engine now in use at their sheds here,
and the other being now at Hardwick.
The selectmen have addressed q petit
| ton to the state railroad commissioners
| asking for the adjustment or change OF
the dangerous crossings ct Findley
| bridge. These crossings have long been
admitted to be among the most danger
GUS in the state, especially the one nearer
the village. Here the view of train APP
preaching from the north is shut OF by
jutting ledge. Several people have been
seriously injured or killed in the history
| of this crossing. Under the present law,
| if the board orders q change, not exceed
| ing per cent of the cost is paid by the
town, not exceeding twenty-five per cent
by the state and the remainder by the
railroad company.
Death Of o. c. Bowen.
The death, Aug. 3, of Oliver Con Bow
en- marked the passing away of the Oldest
inhabitant of the town. He was born in
Samuel and Nancy (Goff) Bowen. His
long life had been spent in Bethel in the
immediate vicinity OF the place OF his
death. He was buried in the Gilead GEM
etery Aug. s.
He was married first to Miss Lucia Hos
mer of Braintree, March, 1887. She died
in July, 1867. Their children were PHI
linda married John b. Washburn OF Ran
dolph, and Mary and Martha, twins.
Martha died when five years OF age.
Mary married Ira Quimby of Bethel and
is now living in Gilead. The second
wife of Mr.. Bowen was Miss Sarepta Luce
of Barnard, a sister of his brother Lewis
wife. There were no children OF the sec
ond marriage.
The early history OF the Bowen family
forms large feature in that of the town
of Bethel. Three brothers came to this
town and from them are descended the
different Bowen families now living here,
except the descendants of the above
named Samuel Bowen. who was cousin
OF the three brothers.
This Samuel Bowen was born in Roho-
both, Mass, in 1881. When a ,boy he
was bound out as an apprentice, but not
liking the place, he ran away and shipped
before the mast, going to the East Indies.
4 Tired at length of q sea-faring life, he
sought quiet in Vermont. He made the
journey here on foot, with all his cart hly
goods in pack on his back. Among
these was $3.50 in silver, which added so
much to the weight OF his pack and so
chafed his shoulders that he was glad to
exchange it for paper money, taking Bos-
ton bank bills. He first came to Pom
fret, where he lived three years. In
1906, he married Miss Nancy Goff of
Pomfret. In 1910, he came to Bethel and
bought the south half of the original
} right of Zebulon Lyon in Bethel Gilead.
In 1872, he bought the north half, it be-
ing sold for taxes by James Wallace, the
constable. The land was a wilderness,
only few trees having been cut before
his purchase. He built log house in
true pioneer style and commenced the
task of subjugation. In course Of time
, better buildings were erected and Mr..
Bowen lived on the place until his death,
which occurred Oct. Z, 1875, at the age
of IS years, month and days. His wife
died in March, 1875, at the age of ~
years. He was one of the volunteers al
the time Of the battle Of Plattsburg. He
marched on foot to Burlington, reaching
that place just after the battle was over
He returned on foot by another route and
reached home after an absence of only
seven DAVIS