Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-04-23
HISTORICAL
SKETCHES
OF ESSEX co.
Taken from the Vermont Caz.
eeteer, Published in
the Year 1862
Continued from last week

There is little incident in con-
nection with the early history of the
Stevens family which may not be
uninteresting in that connection.
Mr.. John Stevens, the second settler
in town, had a little son called Edwin,
aged 5 years, who went into the
woods near the house, in the after
noon Of May 2, 1925, in search OF a
flower called lady's slipper, ac-
companied by their faithful dog
Painter Not returning, the mother
supposed he had gone to his father,
who was at work about half a mile
from the house, ,chopping. On the ar
rival of Mr.. Stevens at night without
the boy they at once became alarmed
and fired the alarm-gnn to bring the
neighbors, who lived on the opposite
side of the pond, and with torches
| Immediately commenced the search.
Getting no tidings from him during
the night, a messenger was dis
patched to Morgan and Holland for
assistance; and a large number OF
people searched until the fourth day
before making any discovery, when
the noble dog Painter came in nearly
famished. They fed him, and he,
with a few men, Immediately took
the back trace, which was easily fol-
lowed in consequence Of light snow
which fell during the night, and
travelled nearly five miles when the
dog stopped near the roots of large
tree which had blown down, where
thea found the dead body of the
child, with its little hands crossed
over it's eyes, and covered over with
leaves and MOSES by its faithful pro-
tector, who stayed with his little
charge as long as he could without
starving. For years afterwards let
any of the family say to him, Painter,
where is Edwin" and he would in
stantly drop on the floor and seemed
to manifest as keen sorrow as dumb
beast could for the absence of the
little one.
Mr.. Stevens family was again af-
fiicted, in 1881 by the death of little
daughter two years old, who went to
a spring near the house with her little
cup for some drink, when she slipped
and before discovered was drowned.
1t is said there are many interest
ing incidents connected with the
early history of the town, such as
hair breadth escapes, perilous ad-
ventures, great endurance, ETC.,
among the early settlers; but the
older inhabitants, who were the sub
jects and witnesses of them, had all
died or removed from town before
the writer became one of its citizens.
The Fosters, Blakes and Morses
are among the principal hunters who
have become familiar with the
wilderness in all northern Vermont
The latter are usually engaged as
guides to the stranger who wishes
to spend a few days in hunting and
fishing. Bears, deer and moose are
often captured. The latter, which
was formerly very plenty, has taken
dislike to the steam whistle and do
not now approach very near to the
; abodes of civilization. In the year
1858 large moose came upon the
railroad, few miles north of the
village, and was discovered by the
engineer, who was running a train
of empty platform cars. He immedi-
ately let on steam and gave chase, the
moose keeping the railroad track for
about one mile, when the engine get
ting rather too near, the moose
wheeled to double his track and sue
ceeded in getting around the engine,
but came so close as to come in con.
tact of the second car, which struck
him with such force as to instantly
) kill him and at the same time threw
, two empty cars from the track. II
was very large one, weighing be
tween 600 and 700 pounds. Many o.
his leaps measured over 20 feet.
To be continued