The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-22

VIM ItChb HOW Vi Olu Governor
Pownall, whose name, minus one "1''
is retained In the title of the town?
Better II were that the town were call
ed Fiskal thus proclalming both the
cognomen of the illustrious and his
financial prowess.
According to DIR. Barber-and In
this he is confirmed by Mr. Warren
Wilcox, who has driven over the
roads about Pownal these many years
James Fiske Jr.. was wild and for
ward from his youth. His father was
a peddler, but both his father and
mother disappeared from his destiny
at an early age.
Here 1t should be- said that careful
investigation has convinced the citi.
Gems OF Pownal that Bennington was
not the birthplace OF James Fiske,
Jr., as some biographers state, but
their own town The proof of this is
that many OF them who are beyond
three score and ten will remember the
Incident OF the arrival. then accounted
OF so little importance and now con.
sidered OF great historic value.
Fiske ran about the streets as q
barefoot boy. and he had q sweet
tooth. To meet his love for candy
he was accustomed TO collect old Iron
and 10 bring II to the store OF one
Moore. who dealt in everything.
More iron!" would exclaim the
worthy merchant. Jimmy. you are
certainly junk hunter for fair
Throw into the back yard boy, on the
pile and come In and get your pay"
James had way OF watering his
iron and steel stock lie hypotheca
ted and rehypothecated. In fact, he
grievously overcapitalized and disuset
Pownal stovellds. His operations IN
iron were not watched, so he was &C
customed TO take on as much from
the pile as he put on II. or littl,
more. Thus he sold to Moore hii
junk over and over again, and con
tinued to do so until some village
muckraker put an end TO the deal.
| All the world knows how james
Fiske Jr., became q peddler. VOL
wealth by attracting the attention o
q great Boston firm. then. after
precarious life as broker In New
York, won fortune In the operations
concerning the Erie railroad. Owe
and over again he sold the same oil
junk and remained true to the prin
lciples which he developed as a DO,
In quaint Pownal seeking luxury Hal
he not met tragic death In 1872 h
today would be seventy-flve years old
and might even now be exchangin
experiences In summer time wit
those who have remained In the oil
home.
Jim" was brought up by Mr. an
Mrs. Albro. When he had grown I
wealth and power a citizen OF Pow
nal went to him and reminded hlr
that the Albros were without suitabl
tombstone. having been several year
dead. The Prince OF Erie" told Nj
Bates to buy as good monumer
as he thought appropriate and
have the bill sent 10 him.
, When the visitor asked about no
; much he should pay Mr.. Fiske r
piled. Get anything you like. Go
knows made them trouble enoug
. when they were alive"
SO Il is that In the little churcl
; yard not far from Pownal is a lare
, monument erected by the prince ,
Erie" TO the memory OF his fost'
/ parents.
The house In which Mr.. Fisk wa
|. born has long been razed and the sp'
B 10 now a pasture, but Pownal will NJ
forget while II exists that Il is n
spot where James Fiske Jr, was pr
: scented 10 world which later was
ring with his name and fame.