The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-08
EARLY DAYS in BENNINGTON
Diary Containing Many Facts Of Lo-
cal Interest

Mr.. and Mrs. Ezra II. Stewart of
Bradford, Wis, who have been visit
ing at the home of his cousin Melvin
w. Stewart, left Wednesday for
home Mr.. Stewart brought with
him diary written by his grand
mother, Almira Doty Stewart. also
the grandmother of Melvin w. Stew
art, to whom he has presented the
diary.
Almira Doty Stewart was the sis.
ter of Asa Doty who in the early
part of last century built and con
Quoted a cotton mill at North Ben
nington. This diary contains many
things of interest, especially in its
early part which relates TO Mrs.
Stewards life in this section. 1t is
as follows:
| was born in Wilmington, Wind
ham Co. Vermont state, on the 24th
Nov in the year of our Lord, 1890.
My father, Ezra Doty, was born in
Hardwick, Massachusetts in the year
1850, Sept. 2Sth. His parents were
Zuri Shaddai Doty and Mary Warner
Doty. My mother. Anna Mellen
Doty, was born in Framingham,
Massachusetts in the year 1867, Au.
gust 4th. Her parents we're William,
Mellen, and Abigail Hemingway Mel
len.
My father was a Revolutionary
soldier served seven years in the
war. Ezra Doty and Anna Mellen
were married on the 18th of Jan.
1856, in Wilmington, VT, where they
resided until the winter of 1898,
when they crossed the Green Noun
tain to Bennington; came to P. Har-
woods, my tep-grandfather's I
have a vivid recollection of that jour
ney across the Green Mountain. 1t
was before the days of Turnpike
roads and we were momentarily in
danger of being swallowed up in the
slough-holes that we were obliged to
pass. When my father removed to
Bennington, his family consisted of
himself, wife and five children,
names Ada, Achsah, William, Sabra.
In the spring Of 1896 my father re-
moved to Adams, Mass, and kept a
Tavern for a year. His three near
est neighbors were a Mr. Weary. Mr..
Smith and Mr.. Knight. When
take retrospect of sixty years, | can
see the ruin that has been wrought
by intemperance. On a day, while
we lived in the Tavern, two men by
the name OF Harrington and Brown,
having become valorous over their
cups" stripped to their shirts and
trousers; went out into the streets
and fought with the greatest despera
ton until hey had exhausted them
selves, when they came in, and what
sight They had torn OFF each 9th
ers clothes. one had his chin torn Off
the other his nose bitten of Anc
then, and there. over another cui
they made mp friends.
Aug. "a, 1896 my brother Nathan
| Doty was born.
In 1897 ny father removed his
family ir bennington, VT, into lol
cabin about Y of a mile east OF Mr.
Calvin Binghams homestead, where
we lived about two years. Abou
1900 my father removed his family t
"Sage's City" now North Benning
ton, and started the blacksmithinl
business. At this time there wal
about a dozen families in the city
Capt. Moses Sage was the aristocra
of the village. He owned a store. I
saw mill. a grist mill, a clothing shop
which was carried on by tenant. HI
lived In a house painted white, thu
only one in the Getty" He owned al
most the whole city. Mr.. Asa Nortl
lived on the hill east of the city. HI
was q cabinet maker. owned hi
house and lot. Capt NJ. Sage owne'
one negro slave at this time. Mr.
William Newland lived opposite Mr.
North. was a blacksmith Mr.. New
land and my father built a black
smith shop and entered partnership
This was about 1901.
About this time Capt. Sage sold hi
property to Mr.. Daniel Rogers o
Hoosick. Rogers sent on his w,
sons-in-law. VIM. s. Cardall file,
the store with goods and JOSEPH
Stearns was clothier and carried OF
that business. This winter | attend
ed the district school and learned L
write. The first and only time tina
was ever punished in school wal
this winter. My father bought me ;
new spelling book ! took II to schoo
and a paper for a cover. The maste
saw me with the paper and book
asked me what I was doing-I sal,
was only covering my book. HI
told me | must not do Il In schoo
time, but wait until noon. AS sool
as he went away, my back being to
wards him as | sat at the writinl
desk. put my book down in my lar
and put on the cover. No soone
done than had a summons to com
to the master" For my disobed
ence received three blows from nj
ferulc.
The modification Of the punish
mont hurt me severely, as was a ia
vorite the blows were light
Mr.. Newland and my father contir
ued in their partnership business 10
several years. They had a deal o
disagreement. My father was Ere
Mason. Mr. Newland was moth
was continually finding fault VIII
father for attending lodges. The
both drank liquor 10 excess. The
the year of our Lord 1904 they ha'
tried for months 10 come to a settle
ment and could not; finally Mr.. New
land Joined the Free Masons and the
had no more difIiculty;- cam
I Af..aaFI nd