The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-12-05
"REMINISCENCES OF
PEACHAM
(By Edward r. Clark, NJ. D.,

PEACHAM
(By Edward r. Clark, M. D.,
The early settlers of Peacham
came from the older New England
states and the nearby towns of
Haverhill, N. a., and Newbury, Vt.
Near the close of the Revolution
airy War the construction of the
Haaen road, so called, greatly en-
ccuraged settlements not only in
peacham but also in the towns fur
tier north-Cabot, Walden, Hard
wick, Greensboro and Craftsbury.
In my younger days there was
great deal Of speculation as to the
origin of the name Peacham; but
according to the best information
available | think it is conceded at
the present time that the town was
named in honor Of an English act
ress whose stage name was
Polly Peacham, and whose por-
trait hangs today in one of the
London galleries, and was we'll
known to some, at least, of the orr
ginal propretors of the town.
Amongst the men of those days
were the Elkins', the Chambers,
the Chamberlains, the Bradlees,
the Skeels, the Goulds, the Mar
tins, the Merills, the Ladds, the
Johnsons, the Ewels, the Fosters,
the Sanborns, the Narnums, the
Blanchards and many others whom
l cannot now recall. At slightly
lated date came the Clarks, the
Sareents, the Harrimans, the
Watts. the Lees, the Lucas, the
Kcnersons and the Halveys, all
goodly body of men and women,
who would have done honor to any
community in any age.
Among other things after found
ing its church, Peacham had the
choice of the County seat or the
Grammar School, long known as
Peacham Academy, which for one
hundred and twenty-five years has
shed its benefcent light the world
round. Whether she chose wisely |
the records of the eternal ages
alone can tell
Who that were boys in the SOS |
end COS and even down to the 70's !
could fail to recall Col. Jake and |
Capt. Slime, Capt. Haze and Uncle
George Clark-and Capt. Johnson,
who tolled the church bell one (
whole hour the day John Brown
was hanged-Moses Martin and
ESQ. Hale, Dave Choate and Mr.. !
Gould, John o. Cowles and Asa
not to speak of many
others Of honored memory?
Among those who in the early
lays went out from Peacham were
he Chambers, who made an envi-
lble record in the communities in
which they lived.
The Gifted Oliver Johnson
Oliver Johnson learned the print
,r's trade in Peacham and when
he Waltons moved to Montpelier
ne went with them. In the course
If time he became the friend of
}uffam and Garrison, Phillips and
y hitter and was one of the nine
Who founded the Massachusetts
Anti Slavery Society, and was for
many years editor of the Anti
Slavery Standard and later manag-
rp editor of the New York Tn !
,une. For a time he was also edi-
OF of the Christian Union and
silly owner and editor Of the
orange, N. j. Journal.
His literary work brought him
ITO close touch with Greeley and
lana and Beecher, and one of his
ontemparies said Of him that he {
vas never so happy as when he
.aJ a controversy on hand. Greeley I
aid of him, zone of the greatest I
ditors | have known" I
His writings embraced a great
aliety of subjects extending over {
period of nearly 80 years, the
cat known of which is his biograp-
Y of William Lloyd Garrison. An I
ther of his contemporaries said OF {
IN. that he knew everybody IN J
lew York worth knowing. He
ontributed very largely to the in t
clectual and altruistic lie of his {
alive town by bringing to it, on {
as frequent visits, many Of the \
leat figures of that day. !
1t was probably some time in the {
arly 50's that Mr.. Johnson, on a {
cautiful October day, brought to |
is native town one Of New York's I
amous landscape painters, Mr.. Nj 7
oil or Nichols, there to transfer to
anvas the wonderful colors seen y
most exclusively in northern Yer v
lont at this season Of the year.
When completed the artist plac-
L his work on exhibition in New >
ork. A great storm Of criticism
rose over it. At later date some 5
I the critics were enabled, for q
7emselves, to see the real thing; {
nd like the women of long ago
ent home saying that the half t
ad not been told them" The l
icture is now owned by Mr.. John t
MS daughter, Mrs. Helen Hunt f
ohnson Reyes of Arrocher, Sta ;
IN Island, New York b
1t was Peacham that gave 10 5
crnsylvania Thaddeus Stevens, L
lmes Merrill and John Blanchard. h
The Great Thaddeus Stevens
Stevens Just escaped being born f
Peachg NJ but received all his S
My education there. There it !
as that he learned to hate tyran- n