306 VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
NEWSPAPERS IN NEWPORT.
BY HON. D. M. CAMP.
The first newspaper here was started, May 20, 1863, by Charles C. Spaulding, who was both editor and publisher. It was called the "Newport News," and the subscription price, $1.50, afterwards increased to $2.00, or $1.25 in Canada currency. It professed to be a Union paper, but instead of living up to its professions, it was, instead, very neutral at first, but, in August, 1864, boldly showed what, it had ever really been at heart—a Democratic organ. This proved unfavorable to its success, and obnoxious to the greater portion of its supporters, and it was discontinued Dec. 8, 1864. The materials were sold to the Vermont Union, at Lyndon.
The inhabitants, having thus come to realize some of the advantages of a paper in their midst, even if of a contrary political faith, were determined to start one of their own stamp, and maintain it. A few of them, accordingly, purchased the material belonging to the Green Mountain Express, which had been established in Irasburgh, May 21, 1863, and for want of patronage had given up the ghost, after the publication of only 50 numbers. These were removed to Newport, and the first number of the Newport Republican was issued, Oct. 19, 1864; W. G. Cambridge, editor and proprietor. As its name indicated, it was strictly republican; terms $2.00 per year. As Mr. Cambridge was a stranger in the county, and possessed of hardly sufficient energy and determination to build up the character of his paper, he received but a limited support. Consequently, on the 1st of March, following, it passed into the hands of D. K. Simonds, Esq., and Royal Cummings. The name was changed to the Newport Express,—Mr. Simonds assuming the editorial management. From this time forward, the fortunes of journalism here revived.
After these frequent changes, with many embarrassments, and with constant and persistent effort, the Express was firmly founded, and has ever since continued to prosper. Its original size was 23 by 36 inches, but, Jan. 1, 1866, it was enlarged by lengthening its columns 2 inches. In April, 1866, Mr. Simonds, desiring to give his undivided attention to the practice of law, sold his entire interest in the paper to D. M. Camp, who, with the issue of April 17, 1866, became editor and associate publisher. The circulation and advertising patronage continued to increase so rapidly that it became necessary again to enlarge its borders. This was done, March 1, 1869, by adding 4 columns, and increasing their length from 24 inches to 26½; making the entire sheet 28½ by 43½ inches, and containing 32 columns—its present size. At the same time a new outfit of type and a new head were secured. July 12, 1869, D. M. Camp purchased Mr. Cummings' entire interest in the business, and is now editor, publisher, and sole proprietor. The success of the paper is new fully and permanently established,—From a small beginning, it has, in a period of 5½ years, reached a circulation of over 2500; has secured a large and remunerative advertising patronage, and the well-earned reputation of being one of the largest and best local papers in the State.
"Archives of Science and Transactions of the Orleans County Society of Natural Sciences."
This publication was commenced October 1st, 1870, under the editorial charge of J. M. Currier, M. D. of Newport, Geo, A. Hinman, M. D. of West Charleston, Vt., and the publication committee of the Orleans County Society of Natural Seiences, consisting of Hon. J. L. Edwards and Rev. J. G. Lorimer, of Derby, Vt. and J. M. Currier, M. D. It is published quarterly at Newport, by the senior editor, in pamphlet form, containing 64 octavo pages. It is printed by Royal Cummings, of Newport Vt.
The design of this work is to afford the scientific men of Vermont an opportunity to record scientific facts, results of scientific observation and original investigations in all branches of science. It has connected with it for collaborators some of the most thoroughly scientific men of the State. Its articles are all original, and of practical use. The subscription list was only 200 at the beginning, but is gradually increasing as numbers are issued and its character observed by the readers of Vermont.
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SALEM.
BY PLINY H. WHITE.
Salem is in the Noth Eastern part of Orleans County lat. 44 deg. 54 min. N. and long. 4 deg. 46 min. E. It is of an irregular fivesided form, no two sides being of equal length nor parallel, except for two or three miles
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It is bounded N. by Derby, N. E. by Morgan, S. E. by Charleston, S.W . by Brownington and W. by Coventry. The surface is uneven and hilly. Clyde River runs through the eastern part of the town for a short distance, but affords no mill privileges, and there are no other streams of any account. Salem pond lies partly in the north part of this town and partly in Derby, and a part of Brownington pond lies in Salem. Two small ponds, a few rods apart, lie in the course of Clyde River, which also passes through Salem Pond. The South bay of Lake Memphremagog extends into the west corner of, the town.
The town was granted Noy. 7, 1780, to Josiah Gates and others; upon condition, however, that unless the granting fees—amounting to £540, were paid before Feb. 1, 1781, the grant should be void. The fees were not paid, and thereupon Gov. Thomas Chittenden authorized Noah Chittenden and Thomas Tolman to sell the township to any persons who would pay the granting fees. Col. Jacob Davis of Montpelier and 64 others became the purchasers, and a charter was issued to them, Aug. 18, 1781. The charter boundaries were as follows:
"Beginning at the southwest corner of Navy, (now Charleston,) then North—East in the North-West line of Navy to an angle thereof supposed to be about six miles, and carrying back that breadth North West so far as that a parallel line with the North West line aforesaid will encompass the contents of six miles square." Upon a survey of the land thus bounded it was found that 5,710 acres were within the bounds of the previously charterd town of Derby. The uncertainty resting upon the title to these lands discouraged settlements in both towns, and led to long controversies between the respective proprietors. In 1791, the legislature confirmed the grant to Derby, thus leaving Salem nearly a fourth part smaller than a full township. The proprietors of Salem made repeated applications to the legislature for the return of a proportion of the purchase money, and in 1799 the sum of $1116.26 was voted to them as a compensation for their loss.
A large part of the originally granted lands also proved unavailable on account of being covered by the waters of Lake Memhpremagog, and application was made to the legislature for compensation, but with what success no records are extant to show.
In 1816, the town was made still smaller by the annexation to Newport of all that part of Salem lying west of the Lake. Notwithstanding so large a part of its granted lands was under water, Salem, had it been allowed to retain its original boundaries, would have become second to no other town in the County in population and wealth. But all its water-privileges, its best village sites, and its most valuable lands, were outside of the limits within which it was at last circumscribed.
The thrifty village of Newport, the village of West Derby, and a considerable part of Derby Center, are on territory once granted to the proprietors of Salem; while within its bounds, as finally established, there is no village, nor any natural center of business and population. It does not contain a single store tavern, mechanic's shop, post office, house of worship, or office of a professional man. The telegraph from Island Pond to Stanstead passes through the east part of the town, and the Pasumpsic Railroad through the west, but neither of them has a place of business, except a wood station on the railroad.
The first meeting of the proprietors of Salem vas held 14 Oct. 1794, at the house of Timothy Hinman in Greensboro. A. C. Baldwin was chosen moderator aud Timothy Hinman clerk, and they were appointed a committee to allot the land. With a view to encourage settlements it was voted that the first six proprietors who should make settlements should have the right to select their lots instead of having them assigned by draft. Proprietors meetings continued to be held in Greensboro till 29 June 1795, when they began to be held in Derby. The first meeting in Salem was held 21 July 1800, at the house of the only resident.
While the town was yet an uninhabited wilderness, there occurred within its limits the death of a solitary traveller. In the winter of 1796 or 1797, a man named Carr passed through Derby, going southward on foot.
Not long after, his dead body was found by the roadside frozen stiff. A rum bottle in his pocket revealed the reason of his untimely death. His body was conveyed to Derby, and there buried.
The first settlement of Salem, was made by Ephraim Blake, who arrived, there 15 March 1798. He came from Thornton N. H. but on the way stopped 2 years at Barnet and labored for hire, that he might have an advance supply of the necessaries of life.
Aside from his earnings there, his resources were very scanty; but his industry, thrift and good management, during his residence in Salem put him in possession of a handsome fortune. He was the only inhabitant of the town till 1801, when he was reinforced by Amasa Spencer, who built a small log cabin near the present residence of David Hopkinson. David Hopkinson, Jr., from Guildhall was the next settler. He arrived 22 or 23 Match 1802, and bought Spencer's improvements. Spencer speedily moved out of town.
Hopkinson built a small framed house, which still stands upon its original site, the oldest house in Salem. The first native of the town was Thomas E. Blake, who was boro 20 Sept. 1803.
Before the town was at all inhabited a road had been made through it, connecting the settlements in Derby and Brownington and it had become quite a thoroughfare.
Blake and Hopkinson both settled on this road, Blake near the centre of the town, and Hopkinson at the extreme north, and both commenced tavern keeping at an early day.
Hopkinson was licensed in March 1803, and his tavern was maintained for more than
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half a century. Blake was licensed in August, 1804. He also kept tobacco, tea, and other groceries to sell. In 1808, Thaddeus Elliot and Orin Lathe, the latter from Croydon, N. H. came residents. In 1809, Nath'l Cobb, from Westmoreland, N. H. made the first settlement in the west part of the town.
He was a blacksmith by trade, and soon opened a shop, where he did a successful business. He was a much better workman than was then to be found any where else in the region, and he attracted customers from far and near. He was familiarly known as "Copper Cobb." John Horton, Abiel Cole and Asa Lathe, were among the other early settlers. By 1810, the population had increased to 58.
In 1810, there occurred an incident similar to that early adventure of Putnam with the wolf, by which he laid the foundation of his reputation for dauntless courage, and equally worthy of a permanent record in the annals of bravery. A pack of wolves, 8 in number, made great havoc among sheep in Salem and adjoining towns. Four of them were killed, in the course of the year. In December Ephraim Blake set several traps, and upon, going to them on a certain day, he found two of them containing each a wolf, and the third missing. It had evidently been dragged away by a wolf, but it was not till the third day that he was able to trace the animal to his hiding-place, a den in the woods. He attempted to dig him out, but the den proved to be so surrounded by large stones that it could not be entered by digging. He then decided to go into the den, and having procured a gun, a one-tined pitchfork and some candles, he commenced his perilous undertaking. Armed only with the pitchfork, and followed by his son, about 16 years old, with a candle, he entered the den. For about 20 feet he crawled on his hands and knees, then the roof of the den became so low that he was obliged to lie down and drag himself along nearly as much further. Here he encountered the wolf and inflicted many severe wounds upon him, but none severe enough to disable him, till at length he thrust him quite through the gambril joint of the leg; then bending the end of the handle so as to insert it under a projecting rock and prevent the wolf from coming forward, he withdrew from the den, quite exhausted with exertion and almost stifled with the fetid air of the den. After resting awhile, he re-entered the den with his gun, shot the wolf and dragged him out, perforated with 19 pitchfork holes, a bullet, and three buckshot. The distance from the mouth of the den to where the wolf lay was ascertained by measurement to be 42 feet. The old "queen's arm" used in this daring exploit still remains in possession of the son, Samuel Blake of Derby.
In 1811, Ephraim Blake was appointed a justice of the peace, and held the office for 18 years.
Salem furnished three soldiers for the war of 1812, viz. Asa Lathe and his sons, Moses and David. Asa was in the battles at Bridgewater and Fort Erie, in the latter of which he received a wound. Moses was in the battle at Plattsburgh. David was in the battles at Chippewa and Williamsburgh; was wounded in the latter, and lived nearly half a century after, to draw his pension.
The population of the town increased very slowly, and in 1820, amounted only to 80. It remained unorganized till 30 Apr. 1822, when an organization was effected by the choice of officers as follows; Noyes Hopkinson, moderator and treasurer; Samuel Blake, town clerk, (and he was re-elected for 30 years;) Ephraim Blake, J. Lyon, and Nathaniel Cobb, selectmen; John Houghton, constable; Noyes Hopkinson, Orin Lathe, grand jurors; Abel Parlin, Samuel Blake, Asa Lathe, listers; Nathaniel Cobb, Ephraim Blake, Abel Parlin highway surveyors. A company of militia was organized 3 September 1822, by the choice of Nathaniel Cobb, captain; Noyes Hopkinson, sergeant; Ephraim Blake and Mason Lyon, corporals.
At the first freeman's meeting. 23 Sept. 1822, Richard Skinner received the unanimous vote of the town, 15 votes, for governor. The same unanimity prevailed during the two succeeding years, in which C. P. Van Ness received all the votes, 14 the first year and 17 the next. For 5 successive years the town voted not to elect a representative. In 1827 Ephraim Blake had the honor of being elected the first representative. His son Samuel was the representative in 1838, '42, '46 and '50; and his grandson Charles in '57.
The town was divided into 3 school-districts, 6 Oct. 1823. The first district consisted of the whole central part of the town from north to south, lying 1 mile west of the main road from Brownington to Derby, and a mile and a half east of it. The second district consisted of all that part of the town lying west, and the third of all that part lying east of the first. Each of these districts has since been divided into two. The first school in Salem was kept in Orin Lathe's barn by Mary Nichols,
In the absence of any special attraction to induce immigration, the town increased but slowly in population and wealth. The census has shown the population to be, in 1830, 230; in 1840, 299; in 1850, 455; in 1860, 603; [in 1870, 693.] The ratio of increase, however, during these several decennial periods, is fully equal to tlie average ratio throughout Orleans County.
SOLDIERS OF 1861.
In the war for the suppression of the Rebellion, 1861—65, a large number of citizens of Salem enlisted, without any of the inducements of enormous bounties, which in many other towns were found necessary to secure enlistments. Their names are as follows;—
3d Regiment, Lewellyn E. Ainsworth, (deserted 1 Sept. 1862,) Francis Dwyer; William Dwyer, Nelson Fuller, William John‑
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son, Augustus W. Lyon, Daniel Maranville, Jacob Maranville, Heber Parker, James Wilson, (wounded in the battle of the Wilderness 5 May 1864, died 10 May,) Holbrook Wood.
4th Regiment, George P. Ainsworth, James W. Huntoon.
8th Regiment, Peter Bodett, (died 7 Aug. 1862,) Lemuel R. Foster.
9th Regiment, Sullivan R. Church, Amasa Dwyer, Daniel Dwyer, Edson L. Hamblet, Edward Hawkins, David Johnson, William H. Johnson, Simon Maranville, Wallace Marranville, William Maranville, Curtis Spencer, (died 14 Oct. 1863,) Horace Spencer, Calvin Wilson.
10th Regiment, Sylvester B. Ball, Austin Betlers, John B. Betlers, John F. Betlers, Judson Spafford, Edward Warner, (died 23 Dec. 1862.) Curtis H. Waterman.
15th Regiment, Harrison C. Lyon, (died 8 Mar. 1863.)
1st Cavalry, George S. Spafford.
The town always kept in advance of its quota, and was in advance when the order to discontinue recruiting was issued in Apr. 1865. William Johnson, of the 3d Regiment, was a drummer-boy, and during the seven days retreat of McClellan before Richmond, he was the only drummer in the brigade who brought off his drum.—For his resolution and bravery the Secretary of War honored him with a special medal. Besides the soldiers mentioned in the preceding list, a large number of citizens of Salem enlisted to the credit of other towns in which money was more abundant than patriotism. Very few, if any other towns in the State, furnished a larger number of soldiers in proportion to the military population.
The ecclesiastical history of Salem may be written within a brief space. No religious organization has ever existed in the town. Those of the inhabitants who attend public worship do so in the neighboring towns of Charleston, Derby, and Brownington. The town has produced three ministers, two of them natives, one each of the Congregational, Baptist, and Free-Will Baptist denominations. John Wilson, the last of the three, was set apart as an evangelist, at the August term, 1840, of the Wheelock Quarterly Meeting.
CHARLES FITCH MORSE, the only native of Salem graduated at college, was a son of Joseph B. and Abigail (Thomas) Morse, and was born 28 July 1845. He fitted for college at Derby and St. Johnsbury academies, was graduated at Amherst college in 1853, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1856. Having decided to become a missionary, he was ordained at Reading, Mass, 20 Aug. 1856. Rev. E. A. Park, D. D. of Andover preached the sermon. In January 1857, he sailed for Constantinople, and became one of the original members of the Bulgarian mission. He married 20 Aug. 1856, Eliza D. Winter, of Boylston, Mass.
Stephen Bailey Morse, brother of the above named, was born 20 Aug. 1828, and after pursuing academical studies at Derby and elsewhere a year and a half, entered the Baptist Theological Institute at Fairfax, where he was graduated in 1857.—He taught school for some time, preached 2½ years in Thompson. Ct., and, in the Summer of 1861, commenced preaching in Wilbraham, Mass. He married Mary White of Wilbraham.
REPRESENTATIVES OF SALEM.
Ephraim Blake, 1827; Noyes Hopkinson, 1828; Josiah Lyon, 1829—31; Nathaniel Cobb, 1832—33; Noyes Hopkinson, 1834 & 37; Samuel Blake, 1838; Josiah Lyon, 1840 —41; Samuel Blake, 1842; Josiah Lyon, 1844; Samuel Blake, 1846; Calvin S. Grow, 1848—49; Samuel Blake, 1850; Isaac C. Smith, 1851; Porter Lyon, 1852; Isaac C. Smith, 1853—54; John Wilson, 1856; Charles Blake, 1857; Porter Lyon, 1858—59; David Hopkinson, 1860—61; John G. Parlin, 1862 —63; Edson H. Lathe, 1864.
MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Noyes Hopkinson, 1828; Samuel Blake, 1836; Noyes Hopkinson, 1843 & 50.
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TROY.
BY SAMUEL SUMNER.
I.— GEOGRAPHY OF THE MISSISCO VALLEY.
The upper valley of the Missisco, comprising the towns of Troy, Westfield, Jay, Lowell. and a small portion of the Province of Canada, lies between the western range of the Green Mountains, and the range of highlands dividing the waters of the Missisco from those of Black River and Lake Memphremagog.
The western lines of Jay, Westfield, and Lowell, commonly extend a short distance over the summits of Green Mountain range, which divides Orleans from Franklin County; but the east lines of Troy and Lowell generally do not extend to the height of land towards Black River and Lake Memphremagog. The length of the valley in a direct line from Canada line to the south line of Lowell and the source of the Missisco river, is about 18 miles. The width of the whole valley from the summit of the mountains west, to the height of land on the east, is from 6 to 10 miles. The towns of Jay and Westfield are each, according to their charters, 6 miles square.
The town of Troy lies on the east of these towns, almost the entire length of them, and is oblong and irregular in its form, being 11½ miles in length from north to south, whilst the north line is about 5 miles, and its south line about 2 miles in length. The town of Lowell lies south of both Troy and Westfield, and is still more irregular in its form, being almost in the shape