News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-09-02
Me citing OF Old Friends

Mceltng OF uIu T fieH0S
Thirty-nine years ago two boys who
had gone from their homes seeking en-
ployment in a strange city, walked out OF
Park Street church, Boston, perfect
strangers, excepting that they were aware
of stepping out of the door together.
Vending their way over Capital Hill to
the west end of the city, one stopping at
his boarding house found that the Other
boarded but a stones throw further on.
The names of these two boys were
Gustavus G. Fletcher from Amherst, n
H., and our well-known townsman, HI.
A. Slayton of Morrisville, Vt. This
friendship was cemented by similar cir
cumstances and agreeable dispositions.
and for four years, two boys probably
never "chummed together in closer re-
lationship. At the end of this time Mr..
Slayton packed his trunk, vending his
way back to his old home in Vermont,
while Mr.. Fletcher, taking his belongings,
which were very light, and sought
warmer climate, and one conducive of
giving better health for him than did
Boston at that time. After a prolonged
journey he landed in the State of Ala
bama, taking position with large Iron
manufacturing company, at hardly lu-
crative salary, starting out on his life's
career. That he realized at this time
what it meant to be deprived of money
and friends, goes without saying. but
where there is a determination to be
felt" in this world, there is way'
as is proven by the career that followed.
Passing on from one station to another
he gained control of large department
store, which he left at the end of twelve
years service very much to the regret of
the large corporation by which he was
employed, to commence business for him
self IN Chattanooga, 10El.s ne is now at
the head of large concern, manufacture
ers of "Grocer's Specialties," command
ing the use of building 60 by $50 feet.
with six floors loaded down with mer-
chandise; having $4,000 feet of floor space,
doing business around three fourths of
million dollars in sales annually.
His home is located on the historic spot
where Gen. Grant gave his first orders at
his field head quarters in the battle of
Mission Ridge. He is located there in a
most palatial home, built of solid brick
with granite trimmings, overlooking one
of the most beautiful and historic sec
tons of our country, with climate most
charming.
In thus giving sketch of his life we
have not mentioned the greatest of his
successes, for he has three very beautiful
children. The oldest, Miss Alice B.
Fletcher, is the wife of Prof. Spencer j.
McCallie who manages large private
preparatory school for boys, at Chatta
nooga, Tenn. And last but not least,
Gertrude Slayton Fletcher manned for
his friend who is with Mr.. and Mrs.
Fletcher on their visit here.
Friday, August 21, Mr. and Mrs. Fetch
er and Miss Gertrude Slayton Fletcher
and Mr.. and Mrs. Slayton were joined at
Stowe by DR.. Luther Freeman of Chatta-
nooga, and DR.. j. H. Race, President of
the University of Chattanooga, and his
wife and Rev. Joshua Frost of ST. Johns
bury, Vt, ascending Mt. Mansfield and all
returning to Morrisville excepting DR..
Race and his wife who went to New York
via Burlington.
1t is not always that the friendship of
two boys just entering their majority,
and so soon separated by such distance
as between Vermont and Tennessee
should have remained so thoroughly &C.
mented as has the friendship between |
these two New England lads. Mr.. Fetch +,
er has from time to time during these |
thirty-five years of their separation Wis. |
tied Morrisville, the present being his |
sixth visit Mr.. Slayton has visited Mr.. |
Fletcher in Chattanooga but once, that |
visit being some IS months ago, when he !
was agreeably and very much surprised |
to find his friend so happily located in !
his business and social relations, and |
also exceedingly surprised at the scenic
beauty and the interesting historical set
tings of that famed spot.
His visit there brought very wildly be-
fore him the stirring times of half GEN.
fury ago, when Chattanooga was the stra
tegic point in the South West, of the |
Civil War.