The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-06
20 1880 His parents, Wal

the village of Bondville, which is but
little more than a hamlet, containing
at the present time two general
stores, a hotel, one church, school
house and some 30 dwelling houses
Mr.. Williams's boyhood was like
that of many other lads in the coun-
try. He attended the district school
and learned to make himself useful
on his fathers farm. At the age of II
he began working in J. G.. Summers
store, which was in the building con-
tanning the well-kown Williams
store and post office of the present
day The Bondville post office was es-
tablshed in 1S49, in the building
where it has always been located.
Previous to its establishment the peo-
pie went to South Londonderry and
Jamaica for their mails. Mr.. Sumner
was the first postmaster. Mr.. Will
liams as youth showed an aptitude
for business. and his opportunity to
strike out for himself came at an
early age, and four years after he
entered the store he bought out the
business of his employer with c. C.
Wheeler as a partner. This partner
ship continued until 1857, when Mr..
Williams bought out the interest of
Mr. Wheeler and became sole pro-
prietor. Mr.. Williams ran the store
without a partner 80 consecutive
years, and then retired in favor of
his son. Harold c. Williams, who
bought the store and stock of goods,
November 10, 1908. For ten years
previous to making the purchase
Harold Williams had worked in the
store with his father.
I When the office was first opened
the postmaster's yearly income after
settling with the government was
about $50. During the Civil War the
compensation rose to about 500 The
gain has been slow and gradual since
then and the postmaster now receives
about $3.50 a year for his work.
The office has never been robbed,
the accounts with the Government
have always been handled with alb
er been any exciting experiences in
connection with handling the mails in
/ Bondville. The office has not been a
sinecure and the postmaster has
earned all that was coming to him
| beyond question. The hours for open
ing and closing the mails have not
always been in accordance with mod
ern banking schedules. During one
winter, for instance, the mail left
at a. m, and arrived about 10 p. M
1t was necessary for the postmaster
to be up in time to have the mail
made up in the morning and to b:
ready to receive it when the stag:
driver returned at night.
Even at the present time the ma.
must be ready at o'clock for tn,
stage which carries it four and one
half miles to Winhall station on tn,
West River railroad. The stage is
due to bring back the mail at $50
to SIS in the evening, but as thu
West River trains do not run clos;
to schedule the mail is frequently
late. The federal authorities evidently
have never spent sleepless nights
worrying about the Bondville office
In the first fifty years of Mr.. vii
liams's term only three inspector.
ever visited the office
Mr.. Williams's home is in hand
some and substantial house adjoinin,
the store. 1t was built by him in 1892
when he tore down the old house il
which he had lived almost from tn,
beginning of his career in the store
Mr. Williams was elected tow
clerk at the annual March meeting il
1853. He continued to hold this offic
until March, 1903, when, havin
served 80 consecutive years, his son
Harold, who had been his assistan
for several years, was chosen hi
successor. Mr. Williams has bee
town treasurer since 1853, this bein
his 57th year in that office. Althoug
Nrged to do so repeatedly Mr. VIII
liamS steadily refused to accept othe
public offices. He is a member q
Winhall River lodge, No. s, |. O. o. +
of Bonvlle, being initiated in Marcl
1880, the night the lodge was inst
tuted. He was secretary of the lodg
twenty-five years, was representatiy
to the grand lodge six terms. an
served as district deputy grand ma:
ter two terms.
Mr.. Williams married Emma Jan
Benson, November II, 1850. Mr.
Williams, who was a highly estmabl
woman, died January 20, 1909, nor
than So years after their marriag
took place. Five children were Dor
to them. Charles Clarence died
1853. The surviving children al
Mrs Florence A. Clark, of Cohoes !
Y, Mrs. Floretta Il. Coleman, Mr.
. Lora j. Burbank and Harold G.. Wi
liams,> all residents of their hon
: town Mr.. Williams has one brotht
living Cephas Williams, of Winhal
, hn uti11 no oil Ia