Delehanty - Sullivan - Kinsman - Schroeder Family History Workspace

Home          Contents          Documents Home

 

Research Notes:  The Rutland Herald

(These notes also posted on RootsWeb Message Board, Rutland County, VT)

 
January 1870 July-Sept 1874  
February 1870    
March 1870    

 

 

 

Rutland Herald, January 1870

Sat Jan 1, 1870

West Rutland:  "John Ryan, the unfortunate boy who was injured at Rutland a short time ago, and whose leg was amputated on Monday, died last night."

Accident:  a brakeman named Dillon fell from the freight train Monday evening, about two miles north of Georgia depot, breaking one leg and cutting a bad place in his head.

Article on drunken brawl at Cavendish:  Herald likens it to "notorious Bent case" – makes a big deal of it – drunkenness, "much excitement"  -- "Shrewsbury scenes" hopefully not repeated.  Three bad precedents:  Shrewsbury scenes; Bent case; Cavendish brawl with injuries to men and women – a gang of 14 toughs

French boy 9 yrs old seriously injured in logging accident – critical but expected to live.

Mon Jan 3, 1870

French man killed logging accident – West Mountain, in Pownall – Melatt

Tues Jan 4, 1870

Middlebury:  Wm Manney arrested in a state of intoxication . . . required to disclose where he obtained his "fire water . . . and for such refusal was recommended to jail until he would divulge."

Thurs Jan 6, 1870

Big editorial complaint about young men hanging out on the street corners at night:  "ribald talk . . . gross insult . . . great complaint has been made to the authorities of this nuisance impropriety . . . These young men who determine to resist all appeals at their honor and good sense may expect an exercise of the authority of the law."

Mechanicsville:  "has a lyceum in full blast"  Next meeting, topic of debate:  "That the African race has received more injustice at our hands than the American Indian."

Fri Jan 7, 1870

Editorial on the "labor reform" issue of the 8 hour day.  Ten hours per day considered the norm.  "Even when we come to woman we find most of them work more than twelve hours per day."  Rutland Herald editorial stance:  Opposes 8-hour day reform movement:   "The relations between capital and labor there [Mass] have always been blended in unbroken harmony."

Geo. A. Merrill, Superintendent of Rutland & Burlington Railroad – big article on him – he's lauded; big celebration at his residence; Governor Page is present

Hydeville lecture:  Henry Hall on "Indian Footprints" – topic is US, NY, VT Indians

Mon Jan 10, 1870

"Ladies Aid Society for the Relief of the Poor of Rutland" at the house of Mr. Hiram Cheney, Main St.

"Clothes line thieves are depredading again in this vicinity"

Caledonia County:  "Diphtheria is still prevailing to an alarming extent in Groton.  Within a few weeks nine young persons have been carried away by the fatal disease."

Tues Jan 11, 1870

"The liquor law is not a dead letter in Castleton.  Two lively gin mills have been recently been closed up through its influence or power, and one or two other cider mills among us will soon be laid up for repairs unless they voluntarily cease running.  There is enough power in the law, if its friends will only use it.

YMCA activity in Rutland:  "Meetings were begun at Center Rutland Aug. 11, 1867 . . . until July 25, 1869 . . ."  Dedication of new YMCA rooms in the National Bank Bldg, downtown Rutland

Wed Jan 12, 1870

Castleton National Bank robbed of $6,400.  Safe opened with wedges and sledgehammers; most of the funds safe; $2,000 reward

"Bank robberies have of late become almost every day announcements . . ."

Robber of store in Middlebury VT – thieves shot at – escaped – one captured:  19 years old, named Hyer – first offense, he says

Vergennes VT – store of J. S. Hickock robbed; safe blown open; burglar caught June 13:  John Fraine

Wed-Thurs Jan 12-13, 1870

"Good Templars" annual meeting – long and detailed reports.  Typical rhetoric:  "Eternal in our hatred to alcohol and its minions, servants, and sympathizers."

Thurs Jan 13, 1870

Good Templars rhetoric:  "Prohibitory laws are the heavy artillery of temperance, and the strongholds of the rum power cannot be broken up without them."

Women's suffrage association meeting; lots of stuff about women's suffrage almost daily

Smallpox scare – Proctorsville – 7 cases, all recovered.  A big scare.

Sat Jan 15, 1870

Sunday Services:  The principal churches in Rutland Village:

Baptist – Rev. E. Mills

Catholic – Rev. Charles Boylan

Congregational – Rev. E H. Griffin

French Catholic

Liberal Christian Society

Trinity Church (Episcopal)

Methodist

YMCA

Also services at:

The jail

The Pooler District

The Post District

The Herald's coverage of religious themes is extensive; very pious editorial stance

Mon Jan 17, 1870

"A Row at West Rutland" – Saratoga RR – "a couple of brawny Irishmen got aboard at the station here . . . one of them, who said he was destined to West Rutland, positively refused to pay his fare . . . handed conductor Clark a 50 cent scrip" – a scuffle ensues – Herald says they should be "prosecuted."

Tues Jan 18, 1870

Burglaries in Middlebury – convictions:  "Town room . . . densely crowded by a community who had been most grossly outraged by these villains. . . . 11 distinct burglaries."  One guilty party:  William George Hyer, age 19

"A sad accident in Salisbury village on the afternoon of 13th inst . . . young man Christopher Johndro . . . woolen mill . . . the skirts of his coat caught on a shaft in rapid motion, and he was instantly drawn to the shaft and revolved with it, and in less time than it takes to write the sad occurrence he was killed, his head being dashed in pieces . . . an excellent young man, much respected and beloved."

Hydeville:  Mumps and scarlet fever are afflicting many families here and in the vicinity

"Mr. J. Sutcliff, for several years general superintendent of the Eagle quarry, has retired from that position . . ."

Merchants in Hydeville:

E D Billings

Russell H Hyde

Hyde Brothers

J. Culver

Sad case of Job Spafford and wife, abandoned to the poor farm by selfish children . . . lengthy article

Fri Jan 21, 1870

"Lecture at Hydeville:  Henry Hall lectures this Friday evening, at Hydeville, subject, 'The Castleton Fort' with incidents of garrison life, the whipping post, and scouting, Brigadier General Ethan Allen in Castleton, etc."

Tues Jan 25, 1870

From "B.W.B." the Herald's Castleton correspondent:  Castleton Revival Meetings ongoing – Advent, Congregational, and Methodist churches – local news – juvenile crime, a 14 year old – "horrible infanticide" case in Swanton, where father kills crying infant.

Wed Jan 26, 1870

"Starvation in Brattleboro.  The woman was taken sick and starved nearly to death at the house of her half-sister, when another citizen came to remonstrate, and was turned out of doors.  The selectmen then interfered, and carried the almost dead woman to a neighbor's house, where she died the next day.   A scanty bean diet was all that had been afforded her for many weeks."

Thurs Jan 27, 1870

Fire in St. Albans

Robbery in Stanformd, of Winchell & Sanford:  "money, boots, shoes, some clothing"

Middlebury:  "Juvenile Temperance Army" will meet at Congregational Church

Merchant's Row on West St.

Sat Jan 29, 1870

"Accident at South Shaftsbury.  Elon Mattison, an employee of the Eagle Square Manufacturing Company and one of the oldest square grinders in the county, while engaged at the works last evening, by the bursting of a large grindstone (weighing some 2800 pounds and performing 175 revolutions per minute) received severe injuries, one of his legs being broken, and several of his ribs crushed."

Capture of the Clarendon robber

Mon Jan 31, 1870

"Ripley Sons Safe Blown Open" – 2 a.m. Sunday, in Center Rutland – loud explosion – got away with $25 – a huge amount of explosive – way more than was needed to open the safe

Wallingford:  Henry Hall will lecture on "Vermont in the Days of Ethan Allen, and Vermont To-Day"

"A New Disease.  A new disease has made its appearance at Hudson NY.  It somewhat resembles typhoid fever.  In Irvington, and Madalin, and Red Hook a number have fallen victims . . . It is probably the disease known as the relapsing fever."

 

February 1870

Fri Feb 4, 1870

"Mr. Lyman P. Goss, formerly of Rutland, has recently been appointed the Superintendent of the Eagle Slate Co. at Hydeville.  Mr. Goss is a quarryman of ability and experience . . ."

RR accident on Vermont Central RR, Burlington – man killed

"Destitute.  The Albia (NY) woolen mills ceased running in October, and the operatives have been reduced to extreme misery for want of employment and food.  Eight or ten families have become so destitute as to be obliged to keep to their beds for warmth, having no fuel."

Sat Feb 5, 1870

Fair Haven – Masonic festival – "The hall was appropriately decorated with Masonic emblems, including the 'celebrated goat' and 'gridiron'.  There was a goodly number present from Whitehall and other neighboring lodges." – A lot of Masonic activity reported in the Herald

Tues Feb 8, 1870

"Accident at West Rutland.  About 10 o'clock yesterday forenoon an unanticipated discharge of a blast occurred in Sheldon and Slason's newly covered marble quarry in West Rutland; by which a boy named Michael Tigue sustained severe internal injuries, one of his legs being also so badly injured that it is feared amputation will be necessary, if indeed his other injuries do not prove fatal previously.  It seems that on Saturday several holes were drilled in which one of the walls of the quarry, which were filled with powder, and all were supposed to have been exploded, one, however, going off by the rock between it and another blast being torn completely out and most of the fuse, powder, and tamping being blown out by the rock . . ."  (more on the details of the accident)

Wallingford.  Henry Hall lecture:  "Indian Footprints, Part II:  Indians that Formerly Inhabited Vermont."  Notices of Henry Hall lectures frequent and laudatory.

Wed Feb 9, 1870

"Michael Tigue . . . boy injured at Sheldon and Slason's quarry at West Rutland . . . suffered amputation of his leg yesterday . . ."

"Grand Temperance Rally.  The anniversary exercises of the Ladies Temperance Association of Rutland will be held Friday . . ."

Thurs Feb 10, 1870

"Castleton. . . . A respectable assembly of some twenty couple of colored people came off at the Bomoseen House a few evenings since, commemorative of the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln.  Most of the male portion of the party were knights of the razor and sheers, therefore it was styled the 'barber's ball.'  Their conduct was in all respects orderly.  They hailed from St. Albans, Burlington, Rutland, Poultney, Salem, Whitehall, Fair Haven, and other places."

[Note:  1870 census from ancestry.com lists 96 "colored" persons in all of Rutland County, distributed as follows:  Benson (6), Castleton (10), Clarendon (4), Danby (2), Fair Haven (10), Hubbardton (1), Mount Holly (4), Pawlet (11), Pittsford (1), Poultney (4), Rutland (44), and Wallingford (1).  Two "colored" barbers in Rutland were James L. Taylor, 62, and his son Edward Taylor, 23. ]

"The arrivals at the Bomoseen last week numbered 235."

Fri Feb 11, 1870

Home for Destitute Children in Burlington – local fundraising effort for

Sat Feb 12, 1870

"Trotting at Hydeville.  A trot for a purse of $75, $50 to the first and $25 to the second best horse, took place on the ice on Lake Bomoseen at Hydeville, yesterday, which attracted quite a crowd of spectators . . ."

[ continuation on Wed Feb 16: ]   An estimated 4,000 people attended the trot on Lake Bomoseen from "Rutland, Poultney, Wells, Granville, Whitehall, Fair Haven, Hydeville, and Castleton, and other towns."

"Accidental Death.   Mrs. Bryant, a lone widow of Waterbury, was recently found by her neighbors dead at the foot of her cellar stairs, having evidently been killed by falling down."

Feb 11-12, 1870

Frank Lidell, Fort Edward, killed in a well-digging accident.  Buried alive.  Two separate stories, pretty detailed.

Mon Feb 14, 1870

"Ladies Aid Society for the Relief of the Poor of Rutland will meet at the house of Mr. H. H. Paine on Grove St."

Tues Feb 15, 1870

Brandon:  "town rowdies" slash and cut the harness and reins of Capt. Cook's horse during a minstrel show

Brandon:  smallpox scare – one death

"Sneak Thief.  A man aged about 35 or 40 years, well dressed and of good appearance, has been hanging around about town for several days past, with no visible business, except the nefarious one which he practices.  He watches his opportunity about a residence until he finds the male portion of the family absent, when he sneaks into the front or back door, as the case may be, and helps himself to what loose clothing or other valuables he may find.  If caught in the act, as he sometimes is, he makes an excuse that he is hungry and asks for some cold victuals. . . ."

Henry Hall lecture in Rutland Village Hall, solicited by many of the city's most prominent men, was very well received:  "Ethan Allen's memory we always loved and revered, but never so much as since hearing Mr. Hall's lecture. . . ."

Wed Feb 16, 1870

"Brattleboro. . . . John Demsey, a workman on the new bridge across the Connecticut River at Brattleboro, was on Friday knocked from the bridge by a swinging timber, and fell 25 feet to the ice below, striking on his head and shoulder.  He was taken up senseless and supposed to be dead, but it is thought that he may recover."

"Killed.  A Frenchman named Louis Gangon was mistakenly killed on Saturday while at work on an embankment on the Woodstock Railroad near Tuftsville, by being crushed under a mass of frozen earth, which suddenly cracked off and fell upon him."

Suspected robbery and murder in the burning of the store of Birchard of Dummerston.

Thurs Feb 17, 1870

"The Rum Stream" – lengthy anti-liquor poem by the Rev. A. F. Bailey.  Brief excerpts from a much longer poem:  ". . . and the old River of Rum with poison now flows / the vilest and wickedest compound of woes . . ."  Etc.

Fri Feb 18, 1870

Brattleboro:  Continuation of story of starvation:   "Hygienic Starvation at Brattleboro" – very long and detailed article on "alleged starvation of Flora Stoddard at Brattleboro, by her half-sister, Mrs. George C. Haskins, is one of the most extraordinary that ever darkened the criminal annals of Vermont. . . ."  The gist of it is that Flora Stoddard was intentionally starved to death under a 'hygienic' diet of watered-down foods.  Weird.

Sat Feb 19, 1870

"Concerning the various cases of sneak thieving, robbery, &c, that are recorded, we may safely say that the symptoms of an epidemic of knavery are alarming . . ."

". . . . wood thieves are the latest nuisance.  Sufferers better powder some of their chunks."

Mon Feb 21, 1870

Women's Suffrage Convention at Rutland Opera House, Feb. 21-22.  Speakers include William Lloyd Garrison and Julia Ward Howe.  Several very long articles on the convention in subsequent days.  A very big deal.

"Ladies Aid Society for the Relief of the Poor of Rutland will be held at the house of Mrs. Geo. R. Weed on Main St."

Wed Feb 23, 1870

500 people at Rutland Opera House for the Women's Suffrage Convention.

Sat Feb 26, 1870

Annual Report of the Town of Rutland Selectmen.  "From the report of the Overseer of the Poor, it appears that the amount drawn by him. . . . [was] $4,517.00.  All of this has been expended in the care of the poor under his charge.  Eleven persons have been buried at town expense during the year."  The report includes reports by the following committees:  "Report of Town Liquor Agent, Mr. B. W. Marshall . . . Report of the Overseer of the Poor . . . Town Treasurer's Report . . . Auditor's Report."

Sat Feb 26, 1870

"Wm. N. Bacheledor of the Bomoseen House, Castleton . . ."

 

March 1870

Tue-Wed, March 1-2, 1870

RUTLAND TOWN'S POLITICAL CLASS, 1870.

From the Rutland Herald, Tues-Wed, March 1-2, 1870

"Town caucus at the Village Hall."  Present are 90 of 1,800 voters

Martin G. Everts, Chairman

Henry Clark, Secretary

Committee of 12 to make nominations for city posts:

Horace H. Dyer

Charles Sheldon

W. C. Dunton

John Cain

J. G. Griggs

Nahum Johnson

J. Mead

John Engram

Redfield Proctor

S. M. Dorr

H. G. Clark

George C. Thrall

Thanks of the meeting tendered by Mr. Wilson, Superintendent of the B---- and Saratoga Railroad

NOMINATIONS AND VOTES

[Note:  The Herald published two separate lists on March 1 and 2:  the first of nominations, the second of those elected and the number of votes each received.  Here I combine the two, with original slate of nominees indicated by asterisk (*) and number of votes each received in parentheses.  Again, the number of eligible voters in town exceeded 1,800, according to the Rutland Herald, making the voter participation rate in this election about 19%  (343 / 1,800).]

Martin G. Everts.  Moderator

B. M. Marshall.*  Town Clerk  (343)

Franklin Billings.*  Selectman  (140).  Overseer of the Poor  (105).  Town Agent  (338)

John M. Hall.*  Selectman  (343)

R. R. Mead.*  Selectman.  (341)

D. Verder.  Selectman.  (200)

William Gilmore.*  Lister  (343)

Horace H. Dyer.*  Lister  (342)

Nahum Johnson.*  Lister  (230).  Fence Viewer  (340).

Evelyn Pierpoint.*  Lister.  (329)

J. W. Cramton.  Lister.  (300).  Fence Viewer  (340).

William M. Field.*  Constable  (338)

Walter C. Dunton.*  Town Treasurer  (343)

Daniel Wing.*  Overseer of the Poor  (127).  Lister  (119)

Joel M. Haven.*  Auditor  (326)

William R. Gilmore.*  Auditor  (326)

John A. Sheldon.*  Auditor  (326)

Charles H. Joyce.*  Grand Juror  (326)

Joel C. Baker.*  Grand Juror  (326).  Superintendent of Schools  (124)

Edward H. Ripley.*  Grand Juror  (326)

Lorenzo Sheldon.*  Grand Juror  (326)

E. F. Sadler.*  Inspector of the Leather  (340)

Ben K. Chase.*  Sealer of Weights and Measures  (209)

John Cain.  Fence Viewer  (340)

W. H. B. Owen.*  Trustee  (155)

 

On changes in the original nominations:

"On the nomination of Selectmen, the ticket was adopted with the substitution of Daniel Verder for Franklin Billings.  Mr. Owen having declined as one of the Listers, John W. Cramton was substituted in his place.  When the nominations for Overseer of the Poor was taken up, on motion of Col. Redfield Proctor, the nomination of Mr. Wing was laid on the table.  On the motion of Charles Sheldon, the meeting was adjourned."  [March 2] 


CORRELATION OF 1870 TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH 1870 CENSUS

The following correlates these newly elected members of Rutland's Town Council (March 1-2) with the 1870 U.S. Census (June-Sept). 

[Notes:  HH = household no.  F = family no.  Dates refer to the date the census listing was made, pgs to page no. of census mss.  Money values:  first figure is value of real estate, second figure value of personal estate.  All listed as born in Vermont unless otherwise indicated.  Sequence of names is same as above.]

 

B. M. MARSHALL.  [TOWN CLERK AND TOWN LIQUOR AGENT, 1869-1870]   32.  Grocer.   June 24, p. 45.   HH 305 / F 389.  $8,000 / $4,000.  Lives with Eunice Wooster, 65, at home, and Louis Marshall, age 7.

FRANKLIN BILLINGS.  [SELECTMAN, OVERSEER OF THE POOR, AND TOWN AGENT]  63.  Farmer.  Aug 25, p. 122.  HH 855 / F 1022.  $5,000 / $5,000.  Lives with Josephine Billings, 60, and Emma Knutson, 19. 

JOHN M. HALL.   [SELECTMAN]   47.  At home.  July 21, p. 79.  HH 542 / F 656.  $16,000 / $4,000.  Lives with Sarah Hall, 36, and two children ages 9 and 1. 

ROLLIN R. MEAD.   [SELECTMAN]   52.  Selectman.  Aug 26, p. 190.  HH 1187 / F 1525.  $6,000 / $3,000.  Lives with Leonette Mead, 48.

GEORGE [DANIEL] R. VERDER.  [SELECTMAN].  The Rutland Herald identifies the candidate who replaced Franklin Billings on the Selectmen slate as "Daniel Verder" and later as "D. Verder."   Census data show no Daniel or D. Verder in Rutland Town in 1870.  They do show George R. Verder.  27.  Clerk and baker.  June 24, p. 45.  HH 304 / F 386.  No property.  Lives in household of 12 people, including a hardware store clerk; a manufacturer of nuts and bolts; a physician; and an engineer.  This is very probably the new Selectman; the Rutland Herald likely got his name wrong, twice.  His election as Selectman was unusual, in that he was not on the original list of nominees, which implies that he got onto the slate and elected via back-room organizing.  He was also the only person elected to the Town Council who owned no property, and its youngest member.  In light of these facts, the Herald's misstating his name may not have been accidental, but part of a longer tradition of razzing green political wannabes, especially those who hadn't yet "made it" in the world of business.  That there was another Daniel in the room (Daniel Wing) who was apparently opposed by Redfield Proctor for Overseer of the Poor (marble magnate Proctor was a major political player), and among this group's poorer members, might have added to the slight, while also giving Henry Clark, the meeting's secretary and the Herald's editor, a ready excuse for getting George Verder's name wrong, twice.

WILLIAM GILMORE.  [LISTER]   60.  Farmer.  Aug. 6, p. 138.   HH 972 / F 1140.  $75,000 personal estate.  Lives with Mary Gilmore, 87, at home, and Kate Foley, 30, domestic servant, b. Ireland.

HORACE H. DYER.  [LISTER]   50.  Farmer.  Sept 3, p. 220.  HH 1378 / F 1753.  $2,500 / $40,000.  Lives with A. Jane Dyer, 27, keeping house; Horace E. Dyer, one month; 2 domestic servants, 2 farmhands, 1 chore boy, and 1 dry goods salesman.  Horace H. Dyer is probably the son or nephew of Alanson Dyer, 70, at home, and brother or cousin of Emily A. Dyer, 57, at home, HH 264 / F 341, p. 39, who live in the same house as N. L. Davis, Superintendent Rutland Railroad – all three of whom, in turn, live two doors down from Bridget Waters, 20, my Irish immigrant washerwoman unmarried head-of-household great-grandmother, who is arrested in Aug 1874 for "getting her liquor from a cucumber" (see posting by CHabes on RootsWeb Rutland VT on Bridget Waters).

NAHUM JOHNSON.   [LISTER AND FENCE VIEWER]   61.  Farmer.  Sept 2, p. 214.   HH 1336 / F 1707.  $2,000 personal estate.  Lives with Mary E. Johnson, 20, keeping house, and 2 domestic servants.

EVELYN PIERPOINT.  [LISTER]   54  (male).  Real estate speculator.  June 25, p. 38.  HH 256 / F 331.  $30,000 / $60,000.  Lives with Sarah Pierpoint, 50, Alice Pierpoint, 25, and Annie Pierpoint, 6.  This household is six doors down from my great-grandmother Bridget Waters' (HH 262).  Note the proximity in age of Bridge Waters (20) and Alice Pierpoint (25).  Both also have small girls in their families:  Mary Waters, age 11, and Annie Pierpoint, age 6.  The difference their in families' net worth is $90,000 (Bridget & Mary Waters, $0, vs. the Pierpoints, $90,000).

WILLIAM M. FIELD.   [CONSTABLE]   55.  Sheriff.  July 20, p. 77.  HH 533 / F 647.   $20,000 / $50,000.   Lives with Minerva Field, 53, Fred W. Field, 20, clerk post office, and Kitty Field, 16.

WALTER C. DUNTON.   [TOWN TREASURER]  39.  Attorney.  July 18, p. 71.  HH 492 / F 599.  $10,000 personal estate.  Lives with Emma Dunton, 31, and Agnes Dunton, age 4.

DANIEL WING.   [OVERSEER OF THE POOR]   73.   No occupation listed.  Aug 25, p. 187.  HH 1159 / F 1493.  $3,000 personal estate.  Lives with Mary Wing, 67; Kate Madison, 16; and Charles Wing, 18.

JOEL M. HAVEN.   [AUDITOR]   48.  Treasurer Rutland Railroad.  July 21, p. 83.  HH 572 / F 689.   $20,000 / $3,000.   Lives with Harriet Haven, 48, and Franklin Haven, 7.

WILLIAM R. GILMORE.   [AUDITOR]   31.   Dry goods merchant   Aug 6, p. 138.   HH 969 / F 1139.  $5,000 personal estate.   Lives with James Gilmore, Post master West Rutland; Mary, 25; Charles, clerk post office; Annie J., 3.  Lives next door to Lister William Gilmore, 60, farmer (see above).

JOHN A. SHELDON.   [AUDITOR]   30.   Marble dealer.   July 1, p. 56.  HH 381 / F 476.  $6,500 / $1,500.   Lives with Caroline, 24, b. NY; Chas, 2; Augustus, 1; Mary Carley, 16, domestic servant.

CHARLES H. JOYCE.   [GRAND JUROR]   40.   Attorney at law.    June 6, p. 11.   HH 74 / F 89.   $13,000 / $2,000.   Lives with Rowena, 36; Inez, 15; Chad, 4.

JOEL C. BAKER.   [GRAND JUROR AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS]   32.  Attorney.  June 11, p. 17.  HH 118 / F 143.  $500 personal estate.  Lives with Addie Baker, 23.  Shares house with John D. Stowers, engine builder, b. NY.

EDWARD H. RIPLEY.   [GRAND JUROR]   30.  Marble dealer.  Sept. 12-13, p. 247.  HH 1611 / F 1985.  $1,200 personal estate.  Lives with William Ripley, 73, Bank President, $136,800 / $76,000, Jane B., keeping house, Chas H., 28, marble dealer; 2 domestic servants ages 17 and 28; 2 bank clerks; and one groom, 28, b. Ireland.  This is the very last page of the Rutland Town census, presumably back in the center of town.

LORENZO SHELDON.  [GRAND JUROR]   69.   Allo physician.   Aug 8, p. 143.  HH 1000 / F 1182.  $12,000 / $28,000.   Lives with Mahala Sheldon, 65; Lucy Goss, 32; Harley C. Sheldon, 29, deputy sheriff; and Grace Goss, 9.

E. F. SADLER.  [INSPECTOR OF THE LEATHER]   50.  Manufacturer boots & shoes.  Born MA.  June 3, p. 5.  HH 36 / F 45.  $12,000 / $1,000.  Lives with Sarah L., 45; Minnie, 18; and Frank, 15, all b. VT.

BEN K. CHASE.  [SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES]   39.  Jewelry and watch merchant.  Born NH.  July 6, p. 60.  HH 410 / F 512.  $20,000 / $10,000.   Lives with Lucy A., keeping house, b. NH; George M., 5; Harry, 3; Robert Barlow, 25, jeweler, all b. VT; and Margaret Campbell, 41, b. NH.

J. W. CRAMTON  [FENCE VIEWER]  49.  Landlord Bardwell House.  July 21, p. 79.   HH 544 / F 658.  $75,000 / $50,000.  Lives with Hannah, 35, keeping house; May E, 25, at home; 3 laundresses b. Ireland, 2 f. cooks, one b. Ireland, one VT; 2 f. in kitchen; 1 pantry girl b. Ireland; 6 table girls; 2 chambermaids; and many wealthy professional guests.

JOHN CAIN  [FENCE VIEWER]   61.   Editor Rutland Courier.   b. Isle of Man.  Aug 6, p. 137.   HH 981 / F 1150.   $5,000 personal.  Lives with John A, 27, farmer; Jeweto P., dry goods merchant; Mary E, 20, at home; Mary Sullivan, 13, domestic servant; Thomas Sullivan, laborer, b. Ireland. 

W. H. B. OWEN.   [TRUSTEE].    Unable to locate in 1870 census.

End of listing of Town Council Members.

 

MEMBERS OF MARCH 1 NOMINATING COMMITTEE NOT ELECTED TO CITY OFFICE (7 of 12, with Martin G. Everts, not on Nominating Committee, making 13):

MARTIN G. EVERTS.   [MEETING MODERATOR]  52.  At home.  June 16, p. 31.   HH 221 / F 270.   $33,000 / $4,000.    Lives in a household of eight, including George Hathaway, 32, treasurer marble company; C. Lee Stimson, 30, machinery manufacturer; Edward Palmer, 33, dry goods clerk; Edward Beach, 19, clerk jewelry store.  

HENRY CLARK.  [SECRETARY]  42.  Editor, Rutland Herald.   July 6, p. 58.  HH 394 / F 493.  $7,000 / $2,500.  Lives with Henrietta Clark, 34, and Louisa Clark, 15.

J. G. GRIGGS.   50.   Farmer.   Aug. 29, p. 201.   HH 1249, F 1603.   $1,000 personal estate.   Lives with Ella B. Edmundson, 23, housekeeper; M. McLaughlin, 25, domestic servant.  Lives three houses down from A. J. Mead and family. 

A. J. MEAD.  55.   Farmer.   Aug. 29, p. 200.   HH 1246 / F 1600.   $12,000 personal estate.  Lives with Ellen B. Mead and 5 Mead children, plus Mary Northrup, 62.  Live three doors down from J. G. Griggs.

JOHN ENGRAM.  42.   Farmer.  Sept. 9, p. 241.   HH 1562 / F 1935.   No property.   Lives with Ann J. Engram, 48, and 3 Engram kids.  Lives two doors down from Redfield Proctor and family.     

REDFIELD PROCTOR.   39.   Farmer.    Sept. 9, p. 241.   HH 1559 / F 1933.   $20,000 / $3,600.   Lives with Emily J. Proctor and four Proctor kids, plus Anna Connely, 15, domestic servant, b. Ireland.  Lives two doors down from John Engram and family.

S. M. DORR.   46.   Attorney.    b. NY.   Aug. 31, p. 201.   HH 1283 / F 1639.   $12,500 / $40,000.   Lives with J. C. R. Dore, 44, Author, b. French Canada; Russell R. Dore, 22, marble dealer, b. NY; 3 other Dore kids, 2 eldest b. VT, youngest, 11, b. VT; 2 female domestic servants, b. Ireland, ages 31 and 35.

GEORGE C. THRALL.   28.   Farmer.   July 21, p. 80.   HH 549 / F 663.   No property.   Lives with Luna [Laura] B. Thrall, 28, keeping house, b. Ill; J. Chapman Thrall, 2 months; Mary Thrall, 69; David Higgins, 19, laborer.  Thrall family in Rutland is extensive; eldest is Chauncy Thrall, b. 1802.

 

SEQUENCE OF ENUMERATION (to help figure out who was neighbors with whom; HH = household):

HH 36:  Sadler, E. F.

HH 74:  Joyce, Charles H.

HH 118:  Baker, Joel C.

HH 221:  Everts, Martin

HH 256:  Pierpoint, Evelyn

HH 262:  Waters, Bridget (my great-grandmother; not a political player by any stretch)

HH 264:  Dyer, Alanson (presumed relative of HH 1378, Horace H. Dyer)

HH 304:  Verder, George

HH 305:  Marshall, B. M.

HH 381:  Sheldon, John A.

HH 394:  Clark, Henry

HH 410:  Chase, Ben K.

HH 492:  Dunton, Walter C.

HH 533:  Field, William M.

HH 542:  Hall, John

HH 544:  Cramton, J. W.

HH 549:  Thrall, George C.

HH 572:  Haven, Joel M.

HH 855:  Billings, Franklin

HH 969:  Gilmore, William R.

HH 972:  Gilmore, William

HH 981:  Cain, John

HH 1000:  Sheldon, Lorenzo

HH 1159:  Wing, Daniel

HH 1187:  Reed, Rollin

HH 1246:  Mead, A. J.

HH 1249:  Griggs, J. G.

HH 1283:  Dorr, S. M.

HH 1378:  Dyer, Horace H.

HH 1559:  Redfield, Proctor

HH 1562:  Engram, John

HH 1611:  Ripley, Edward H.

HH 1707:  Johnson, Nahum

 

Tues March 1, 1870

French Catholic Fair . . . benefit for new French Catholic Church.  Leave donated articles for Rev. Father Gagnier on Lincoln Ave.

"Castleton:  A large and indulgent audience listened attentively and quietly at the Liberal Christian Church last Saturday evening, for nearly two hours, to Mrs. Lucy Stone Blackwell on the woman question, or, in other words, the right of women to vote and hold office . . . Mrs. Stone will have to speak louder, longer and stronger than on this occasion to convince our people, or any great portion of them, that it is woman's sphere to vote and hold office . . ."

Town Officers' Report:  " . . . the expenses for the year 1869 are considerably larger than any previous year since the war.  The auditors report that it will require a tax of sixty cents on a dollar of the grand list to meet the liabilities of the town.  This is twenty cents on the dollar more than last year, caused in part by high wind, high water, poor bridges, and high medical charges, the latter by reason of the small pox raging so fatally and fearfully among us a year ago this winter."

On Feb 26, Charles Reynolds, age 11, brought before Grand Juror Morse – sentenced to one year in Reform School at Woodstock, for "defacing the school house, making obscene pictures thereon, and for disturbing the peace by a continuous abuse of the smaller scholars in the school . . . a bad boy in almost all respects, disobedient to teachers, untruthful and ungovernable generally . . . It may interest tobacco dealers and older narcotic worshipers to know that this boy has used the weed continuously . . . ever since he was seven years old, and if a pickling in that juice hath any virtue, this lad will certainly be saved."

Wed March 2, 1870

Town meetings and town officers elected listed for:  Brandon, Castleton, Mount Holly, Shrewsbury, Wallingford, Pittsford, Poultney.  Other towns listed in subsequent days.

Thurs March 3, 1870

Inventory of Probate Court cases

Sat March 5, 1870

"An epidemic that would carry off some of the most impudent of our street boys would be a good thing for the public, and might not break the hearts of the parents of the deceased."

Sun March 6, 1870

Ladies Aid Society for the Relief of the Poor of Rutland will meet at Mission House on Main Street, Mon March 7 at 2 p.m.

Mon March 7, 1870

"Rev. Miles Grant of Boston, preached at the Advent Chapel, on West Street . . . an eminently plain and practical discourse on the relations of Master and Servant, Parents and Children, and Husbands and Wives, in which each relation was happily sustained with forcible illustrations.  There was much excellent advice, good common sense, and the spirit of true christianity [sic]. . . ."

"The following lines are respectfully dedicated to those loafers who take so much pleasure in sunning themselves on Center Street:

"Standing on the sidewalk / Smoking my cigar / Nothing under heaven / My happiness can mar

"Staring at the ladies / Surely what a treat / Bless me!  This is pleasant, / Loafing on the street."

Fair Haven.  Good Templars – plays performed Thursday and Friday.  Thurs:  "The Spirit of '76" and "The Limerick Boy."  Friday:  "Ten Nights in a Bar Room".  Lauded by a reviewer for revealing the evils of "liquid damnation" and illustrating the "very lowest of degradation by the use of 'Hell fire' . . ."

Tues March 8, 1870

W. C. Dunton – long letter on "Taxation of Railroads."  Dunton disagrees with Dorr.  "I hope Mr. Dorr will acknowledge his mistake."

"Proctorsville.  On Saturday last Mr. James Bemis, while at work in Haskell's Mill at Duttonsville, on a planing machine, had his right hand cut off in the center of it, leaving but the thumb.   A year or two since he had three fingers of his left hand cut off in a similar manner."

"Middlebury.  A young lad by the name of George Bertrand was on March 2d, arraigned before Justice Simmons, charged with a misdemeanor in mutilating shade trees in our village.  It was proved that with a hatchet he had cut several seriously."  Sentenced to Reform School at Waterbury for two years.

 "A girl . . . Susan Fassett from Weybridge . . . [accused of] stealing jewelry from the store of O. S. Dickenson & Company of our village . . . fined one dollar in costs, and one week's imprisonment in our county jail."

"Young man . . . Piper . . . in Salisbury . . . charged with adultery."

Wed March 9, 1870

"Hon H. H. Wheeler, the presiding Judge of the County Court, arrived in town last evening and has quartered at the Bates House."

Street signs:  "The Village Trustees have authorized the placing of signs designating the name of each street upon street corners. . . ."  Lauded as a good idea; other big towns are doing it and it helps, especially visitors.

Town meeting called for Friday March 18

Henry Hall lecture at Village Hall:  "St. Paul in Italy."  Tickets at:  Bardwell House; Chaffee & Hargers; Tuttle's book store; the Stevens House; the Bates House; and the stores of N. V. Brooks, E. N. Merriam, and Spaulding.

"The Next Dance. . . . Washington Engine Company No. 2 . . . next social hop . . . Friday evening next . . . The Rutland Quadrille Band [will] furnish the music . . . to benefit of Mrs. H. G. Litchfield . . . in memory of her late husband" who was crucial in getting the Wash Engine Co into its present tip-top shape.  Organizing committee of the benefit dance:  E. F. Sadler, A. Ross, Isaac Gibson, George P. Russell, G. W. Chapin, Jr., and George M. Chase.

Castleton. . . . "One night last week four of the men in the employ of the Pencil Manufacturing Company spent the night at a hotel in the neighboring town to the north, in the morning they returned home pretty drunk and ready for a first rate fight; complaint was made to Grand Juror Pond, papers were served upon them by Sheriff Caswell, and a fine of five dollars and cost was imposed on each by Justice Brown for drunkenness.  The next morning they went to work sober and wiser men, with the remark that they were served just right.  It cost them between eleven and twelve dollars each."

"Some forty or fifty of Bachelder's friends attended his first anniversary as a hotel-keeper, in the parlors of the Bomoseen House last Friday evening, in the manner as it is termed now days, of a social hop, accompanied with rare music, and a rich supper."

Herald editorial against taxation stance for railroad taken by Mr. Dorr of Town Council.  Dorr letter printed in full in another column. 

Rutland County Court.  Hon. Hoyt H. Wheeler, Chief Judge.  Hon. James K. Hyde and Hon Bradley Fish, Assistant Judges.  March term commenced.  Jurors listed for all towns:  Benson, Brandon, Castleton, Chittendon, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Mendon, Pittsford, Pittsfield, Sherburne, Sudbury, West Haven, Rutland.  For Rutland:  Benj. W. Marshall, Walter C. Landon, Harvey W. Kingsley (the latter excused from service).

Announcement to Selectmen of Rutland:  "Request town meeting . . . to see if the town will vote to rescind the vote passed at the annual town meeting, March 1, 1870, to instruct the Listers to put into the grand list of 1870, the railroad property located in the town of Rutland."  Petition signed by:

L. G. Kingsley

W. G. Veazey

J. C. Dunn

H. A. Sawyer

C. H. Joyce

Charles Sheldon

H. G. Clark

B. H. Burt

W. Y. Ripley

John N. Baxter

W. C. Clement

W. Y. W. Ripley

Chas Clement

Henry Clark

A. H. Post

Walter C. Dunton

Henry F. Field

B. F. Dunklee

Harvey Kingsley

John A. Salisbury

Loring Atwood

George C. Hathaway

H. C. Tuttle

A. S. Marshall

George A. Tuttle

H. E. Adams

A. H. Tuttle

H. G. Clark

James H. Dyer

Ben K. Chase

Chester Kingsley

William D. Goodnow

B. W. Marshall

J. S. Bowman

H. H. Paine

W. B. Mussey

Foregoing petition addressed to Selectmen J. M. Hall, R. R. Mead, and Daniel Verder.

"Attempted Suicide.  James Wheelock, in a sudden outburst of insanity, attacked his brother Lewis, in their house in Bartonsville, with a fire shovel, laying bare the scalp with heavy blows, but not stunning him enough to prevent him from defending their invalid sister from the maniac's attack.  Repulsed thus, James went into another room and cut his throat.  The brothers are bachelors, nearly sixty years old, and live with a helpless sister.  James has been threatening suicide for some days.  He will recover from this attempt, but he ought to do it in an asylum."

Thurs March 10, 1870

"Springfield."  Sunday Feb 27:  ". . . store of Chase Brothers, Druggists, . . . broken open . . . ten dollars in change and scrip in the money drawer, together with other property, was stolen . . . today a young man named Frank Micott, a Frenchman, resident and loitering about the place was arrested . . . "

Fri March 11, 1870

Schools:  West Street School . . . taught by Mary J. Reynolds . . . the graded school at Center Rutland

Mon March 14, 1870

Letter from S. M. Dorr, re Railroad Tax, dated March 11

"Death of a Former Slave. . . . James West . . . 'Old Jim' who has long been in the service of Gen. H. Henry Baxter, has long been known in this county, and especially in Rutland.  He was formerly a slave in Maryland, and escaped, and while on his way to Vermont . . . came to Castleton, where for several years he was the familiarly known and faithful servant of the late Hon. Zimri Howe.  He came to Rutland . . . for years he has been the obedient servant of General Baxter.  For two years he has been an invalid.  At first his disease was supposed to be rheumatism, but soon developed itself as dry gangrene.  He lost one foot two or three years ago, and several weeks since the other was so diseased that it literally rolled off – only a little cutting of the dry skin was necessary to separate it from the limb.  His has been a painful disease, and he has been a great sufferer."

"West Rutland.  The St. Patrick Benevolent Society of West Rutland, have accepted the invitation of other Irish associations, and will visit that city on the 17th . . . A magnificent Irish flag, costing $150, has lately been purchased by the friends of the organization and presented to them . . ."

Editorial complaint of Rutland Herald of young ladies "knitting tatin" during Henry Hyde's lecture of March 12, and a riposte from "One of the Young Ladies" of Wallingford:  "They intended no insult to him, although they were aware of his constitutional aversion to work . . ."  Very funny exchange.

Tues March 15, 1870

Public dogfight:  " . . . 60 men . . . assembled near the Depot Part at the [---] of Center Street . . . farmer . . . mechanic . . . butcher . . . merchants . . . clerks . . . the lawyer . . . the doctor . . . the printer . . . everybody seemed to be on hand and eager for the fray – except the police."

"Loafing as a Fine Art.  . . . down the street from the Post Office to the Bates House, between the hours of 7 and 9 PM . . . you will find a set of interesting individuals ranged along the side-walk, like so many spittoons waiting to be washed. . . . The principal business of these fellows seems to consist of advertising rum shops and 'gin mills' and the open countenance they display . . . we have sewers for carrying off filth and laws for abolishing nuisances – why cannot something be done to rid the streets of these foul-mouthed loafers?"

"St. Patrick's Day.  Our Irish fellow citizens will celebrate St. Patrick's Day by a lecture on 'Native Land' by Rev. M. J. Keating at the Rutland Opera Hall in the evening . . . Admission 50 cents."

Middlebury.  Horse trot and more gambling – over 1,000 people estimated; editorial rebuke of how gambling leads to crime, "vicious habits" – strong moral condemnation.

Wed March 16, 1870

"Railroad Accident."  A few miles south of Poultney; Peter Munin killed, two others seriously injured.

"Revival Meetings . . . Advent Chapel . . . Ester Grant . . ."

Thurs March 17, 1870

Long letter from W. C. Dunton against Dorr's plan for railroad taxation.

"Town Talk.  Considering the various cases of sneak thieving, robbery and 'skinning' in town, we may safely say that the symptoms of an epidemic of knavery are alarming."

"Coal is coming down in price which is a comfort to the poor."

Fri March 18, 1870

Town meeting on the question of railroad taxation

Henry Hall lecture on "The Battle of Hubbardton."

Sat March 19, 1870

Minutes of town meeting on railroad taxation issue.  Selectmen of Rutland, held in Town Hall, West Rutland. 

Speakers: 

B. W. Marshall, Town Clerk

John Cain

Gov. Page

S. M. Dorr

Henry Clark

N. P. Simons

Jesse L. Billings

Evelyn Pierpoint. 

Gov. Page's resolution passed 307-87. 

More details on Poultney train accident  [see 3/16]

Mon March 21, 1870

Rutland County Court.  Peter Tasey of Troy, NY, for stealing an overcoat, the value of $20.  Plea: guilty.

Rutland Real Estate Conveyances:  dozens listed

St. Patrick's Day festivities reported on:  Children in procession to Catholic Church, Rev. Father Boylan, mass; procession to Opera House; on stage:  Rev. Fathers Boylan, Gaffney, O'Reilly, Halpin.  Mr. Murphy does song and dance.  Well received.  Favorable article.

Thurs March 24, 1870

Rutland County Circuit Court, Wednesday March 23:  "Mary Ann Stocker and Mary Ann Clifford were on complaint of State's Attorney Wood, brought into court to answer the charge of grand larceny, in stealing clothes from the clothes line of Elizabeth Howe on the night of November 1, 1869, to the value of $20."  Both plead guilty.

"Mr. J. F. Butler . . . has again taken up his quarters in his old stand on Center Street, in Morse's block . . . fresh and salt fish, oysters, &c . . . Mr. Butler is so well known to the people of Rutland and vicinity . . ."

Fri March 25, 1870

Chicken thief stole a chicken from Mr. J. L. Eddy.

Sat March 26, 1870

Masquerade ball at Bardwell House:  "_the_ event of the ball season."

Mon March 28, 1870

"Annual Report of the President of the Board of Education" by N. P. Simons, President, Board of School Trustees, Rutland, March 26, 1870:

"To the School Trustees of the Rutland Graded School" for the school year ending March 31, 1870":

No. of children 4-18 reported for 1869:  1,597

No. of children 4-18 reported for 1870:  1,605

High School average attendance winter term:  70

Grammar School average attendance winter term:  64

Miss Parmlee's Dept:  38. 

Green Street Schools:  73. 

School St. Schools:  84. 

West St. Schools:  194. 

Turnpike Schools:  67 

(all average attendance; these are winter term figures; figures for all terms listed)

So many absences attributed to:  "The first, and, as I think, the main cause, is the ill-health of many of the children who attend our public schools . . . There are, especially among the American population, many frail children – children who lack that healthy physical development belonging to healthy childhood."

Condition of the schools.

High School:  Mr. Dana, Misses Herrrick and Carleton

Grammar School:  Misses Wright, Proctor, and Parmlee

Secondary Schools:  Misses Melden, Grandy, Pitkin, Spaulding, and Hitchcock

Primary Schools:  Misses Reynolds, Hine, Murray, Ruggles, Lee, Burnett, and Green.

Very long report; lots of florid rhetoric on the importance of education.

Tues March 29, 1870

State Normal School in Castleton under Superintendent Rev. R. G. Williams.

Wed March 30, 1870

Annual School Meeting at High School, Tuesday, March 29, 7 p.m.

Horace G. Clark, Moderator

Sidney W. Rowell, Clerk for the next year

J. M. Haven, Financial Report

Walther C. Landon, Treasurer's Report; re-elected treasurer

Henry Hall, Auditor's Report; re-elected auditor

G. C. Ruggles, elected Trustee for Fifth Ward

D. E. Grandey, elected Trustee for Seventh Ward

John N. Baxter, resigns as Trustee for Sixth Ward

George Willis, elected Collector

Col. Merrill, on Trustees, nominated for President Dr. E. V. N. Harwood, Secretary Albert H. Tuttle

Joel M. Haven, report read recommending new high school building at the site of the old Franklin House on Main Street; recommends municipal bonds

Also mentioned:

N. P. Simons

J. B. Kilborn

Walter C. Dunton

Geo. A. Merrill

Warren H. Smith

Norman Weeks

School Committee:

Geo. A Merrill

John B. Page

Warren H. Smith

Loring Atwood

Melzar Edson

N. P. Simons

L. L. Whitcomb

"Danby . . . Much sickness prevails at present in this vicinity, one or two being dangerously sick.  Lung fever is the prevailing disease."

Temperance lecture by Rev. E. Mills of Rutland, in Joslin Hall, Poultney.

Thurs March 31, 1870

Rutland County Circuit Court, March Term 1870:

Sentenced:

John Sullivan, larceny, 2 years.

Peter Tasey, larceny, 1 year.

Adelbert Lucas, obtaining money under false pretenses, 2 years.

Thomas Bryan, burglary, 6 months.  "This sentence was made light from the fact of the existence of extenuating circumstances, it being prompted by exposure, cold, and hunger."

Mary Ann Clifford, larceny, 6 months.  [see Thurs March 24]

Mary Ann Stocker, larceny, 6 months.  [see Thurs March 24]

END OF MARCH 1870.


Select items, Rutland Herald, July 25 - Sept 15, 1874

SAT, JULY 25, 1874

POLICE COURT   [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

On yesterday the delegate who made the row with Crawford on Wednesday evening was brought out and plead guilty to a drunk, which ensured a fine of $13.94.  Not having that amount of money he was put back and still remains in confinement.

He disclosed on Charles Allen and the latter was fined $17.50 for keeping the liquor and $17.50 for selling it.

William Wallace Tower was brought up by officer Perkins and charged with drunkenness and concomitant charges.  It appeared in evidence that he had somewhere procured a half-gallon jug of benzine which he had persistently attached himself to, to the intense annoyance of the neighborhood as well as his own family.  He was fined $13.94 and laid away in the apartment with iron windows.  He solemnly declared that he procured the liquor in Whitehall and the Court believed him -- or pretended to.

MON, JULY 27, 1874

UNION TEMPERANCE MEETING

The regular monthly Union Temperance Meeting was held at the Baptist Church last evening.  The house was not crowded, but tolerably well filled.  The meeting was opened with the rendering of the beautiful anthem, 'God is My Salvation,' by the choir.  Prayer was then offered by Mr. Meeker, followed by the singing of the 34th Hymn.  Mr. Haven then read selections from the Scriptures and followed by a few remarks in which he said we believed in the efficacy of prayer and we were here to-night for the purpose of appealing to God for help for he has promised to answer prayer, and called upon Deacon Horner to offer a prayer.  He was followed by Rev. O. B. Hulbert and Rev. H. F. Austin.  These prayers were followed by a selection from the choir:  'Onward Temperance Soldiers.'

J. M. Haven then made a short speech in which he said we ought to rouse the public conscience against the manufacture of intoxicating drinks.  Parents should realize the danger of the drinking practice and their responsibility in the matter and do what they could in regard to the prevention of this great crime.  Perhaps some of us might differ as to the methods to be employed for the suppression of the traffic, but we all agree as to the great crime of intemperance.  It is said that three-quarters of the crime of the world is caused by rum.  We know that a great amount of the crime in our community is caused by it, directly or indirectly.  When we get ready to do our whole duty as temperance people there will be an end of a great deal of the drunkenness that prevails in our community.  . . .

TUES, JULY 28, 1874

POLICE COURT  [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

. . . On Sunday Sheriff Fields arrested Edward Phalen in a rum shop on Main street, and on yesterday he was brought up charged with drunkenness.  The evidence showed that when the sheriff arrested him he was in a drunken stupor, but when he had recovered a little he became pugnacious and wanted a fight with the officer, which the latter would by no means consent to.  On the showing Phalen was fined $13.94.

A subsequent examination revealed the fact that he procured his liquor of John Derven, a Main street grocer.  The latter was fined $17.50 for keeping with the intent to sell and $27.50 for selling to Phalen.  The extra size of the fine was because the present was a second offense.  An appeal was entered in both cases with Martin Fitzpatrick as surety.

Phalen then proceeded to make a supplementary statement to the effect that he procured a bottle of liquor at the drug store of George E. Graves.  The proprietor being out of town Edward Fenn, the clerk who made the sale, was brought in and fined $17.70 for selling the liquor.

TUES, AUG 4, 1874

LOCAL NOTES

William Mahar, while at work with a circular saw yesterday at Thos. Ross' foundry, accidentally got his hand on the saw, cutting off one of his fingers and hand severely.

POLICE COURT  [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

The first entree into the judicial ring on yesterday was made by Sylvester Hawkins (colored) who was found guilty of being drunk and fined $13.94. 

On being asked where he procured his liquor, the culprit accused John Haley of selling it to him and the latter was brought up and fined $18.86 for keeping liquor with intent to sell and $27.50 for selling to Hawkins.

Patrick McCauley was adjudged to have been drunk to about the extent of $13.94, and, after a fine of that size had been imposed upon him, he was asked to reveal where he got his liquor.  The only reply that could be extracted from him was that he got it in Whitehall.  This not being entirely satisfactory, the court ordered him to be immersed in jail again until his memory could be refreshed.

Bridget Waters denied that she had been drunk and at the same time acted in so outrageous a manner as to produce a suspicion that she was still suffering from that disease.  She was fined $13.94 and put back to enable her to collect her senses and to allow the remainder of the alcohol to evaporate out of her system. . . .

THURS, AUG 6, 1874

LOCAL NOTES

A woman by the name of Bridget Waters called at our office yesterday and stated that she was not the woman who figured in the Police Court report a few days ago.  She says that the woman's name who figured there is 'Besey' Waters and lives on Gouger Hill, while her name is Bridget Waters, she lives on Green Street and is no such woman as the other.

[News item:]  A sad accident occurred at Enosburgh Falls Monday.  A 7 year old son of Lewis Tatro, who lives at the end of the bridge, was playing, along with other boys, under Sprague & Lawrence's saw mill.  The mill was not running at the time, but a horizontal iron shaft connected with A. H. Manley's sash and blind factory was revolving at the rate of 180 times per minute; and with a rope which he was playing with, tied at both ends, the boy managed somehow to get a slip noose on this shaft, with the other end which was a loop over his wrist, so that when he unconsciously tightened the noose the rope wound rapidly up until it reached the arm which was confined by the loop and wound that, too, upon the shaft, breaking the bone all the way nearly to the shoulder, when the weight of the body, revolving as it must have done a great many times, wrenched it completely off, and threw the body, an unconscious mass upon the floor.  The little boys who were with him at once gave the alarm and he was conveyed home, where prompt medical assistance was rendered by Drs. Kendall and Darrah.  Dr. Darrah amputated the broken arm, but without avail.  He partially recovered consciousness but died in less than an hour.  His shoulder and back were found shockingly mutilated, the flesh and muscles from the shoulder being torn away and the bones in the back protruding from the skin.  Both legs were broken, and the feet where they came in contact with the floor in revolving around the shaft were battered and crushed.  The boy's mother was away, berrying, but returned, apparently almost frantic with grief when she heard of it, just before the boy died.  The father of the boy went to Canada a few days ago in search of work.  He was at once telegraphed to.  – Messenger.

MON, AUG 10, 1874

A LITTLE SUNDAY AMUSEMENT ON REBEL HILL – NOBODY KILLED

The inhabitants of one part of West Rutland enjoyed themselves very much yesterday; in fact they had a real nice lively enjoyable time, such as come only once in a long time in this community where the popular idea of Irish enjoyment is rather discouraged.

The affair to which we refer took place in that part of the West Side known as Rebel Hill, a settlement back of the Catholic church and reached from the main highway by the worst road ever traveled over by man.  The fist cause of the little party was a small quarrel between two children about 10 a.m.  In the course of the dispute, John Dorsey, the father of one of the boys, stepped out of his house and took a hand in, his only action being to shake or slap the child of James Gallagher, who was the other party to the dispute.  The youngster ran to his father and the latter came out and asked Dorsey what was the reason of his conduct.  Dorsey did not apologize or justify his act, but rather wanted to know what Gallagher was going to do about it.  The latter did not explain; in fact he did not get a chance to because a very disconcerting stone came in contact with his head and felled him to the ground.

At once all was confusion; Mrs. Gallagher rushed out to help her husband and most of the other inhabitants of the houses near by joined in the enjoyment, the result being anything but pleasant to a quiet individual.  A crowd was, of course, collected at once and an extended riot was imminent.  Not content with sticks and stones pistols were produced, but not used except in once case where a too enthusiastic boy had his taken away from him and fired in the air by an older member of the party.

After some time most of the party had become satisfied with the enjoyment and had made up their mid to quit just about the time that Dr. Lorenzo Sheldon, Grand Juror, and Harley G. Sheldon, Deputy Sheriff, made their appearance on the scene.  By the efforts of these two men the impending riot was averted and the fighting, which had been pretty fierce, was closed up or degenerated into a mere war of words.

In the counting up of damages which was entered into it was found that comparatively a few had suffered severe injuries, but several were slightly bruised or wounded.  Mr. Gallagher was found to have received several severe scalp wounds and some other smaller injuries.  Mrs. Gallagher was found to have been bruised considerably.  She also received a cut on her head and a wound in the back.  Dr. Hahrahan was called and under his skillful treatment she was partially recovered last evening will probably get well.

TUES, AUG 11, 1874

THE CONTINUATION OF SUNDAY'S ROW ON REBEL HILL

On yesterday Dr. Sheldon, Grand Juror, caused the arrest of the principal parties to Sunday's fight on Rebel Hill, and five persons were brought before J. E. Leonard at the school house near the Catholic church.  These were John Dorsey, William Gallagher and his son of the same name, Barney Conlan and his wife, and John Raleigh, the latter charged with conveying some liquor.  It was concluded to postpone the trials till this morning.

The row proves, on investigation, to have been even more serious an affair than was indicated in our report of yesterday.  William Gallagher was found to have received five cuts on his head, any one of which would have been a dangerous wound.  Barney Conlan, another participant, received a large triangular cut on his scalp which was a reasonable cause for laying by; his wife was also scratched and bruised and his son considerably cut.  Several others were also injured, but in less degree.

Dr Hanrahan was pretty busy all day patching, sewing and plastering, and he may fairly be said to be the only man who profited by the affray.  Taken altogether, it was a nice affair; but the participants will not fully appreciate the whole beauty of it until they get through with the law proceedings.

WED, AUG 12, 1874

THE REBEL HILL ROW, CONCLUDED

The last scene of Sunday night's row on Rebel Hill was enacted on yesterday, before Mr. J. E. Leonard, Justice of the Peace.  It consisted in fining the three principal parties to the row $20 each and costs for a breach of the peace.  The sufferers under the legal act were John Dorsey, James Gallagher, and Barney Conlan.  The wives and children of each were not considered in the award of premiums.  Beside the fines each of the three were put under bonds of $200 to keep the peace.

We learn that all of the injured parties to the affray are nearly recovered and that all the men were able to go to work yesterday excepting Gallagher, who will be laid by for a day or two yet.

LOCAL NOTES

Thomas Ward, of Rutland, in the employ of the railroad company, met with a severe accident yesterday at Shaftsbury.  It was the result of allowing his hand to come in contact with a steam saw which was used for cutting wood for the use of the road.  The back of his left hand was badly lacerated.  It was dressed by Dr. Hanrahan, and the probability is that he will recover its use after a time.

TUES, AUG 18, 1874

POLICE COURT   [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

. . . Mary Kennedy, an exile from Green street, labored under a complication of disorders.  She was unnecessarily full, unaccountably noisy and terribly pugilistic.  The first of these troubles was met with a fine amounting to $13.94, the second and third with another fine amounting to $9.06.  Not having fully recovered from her disorders she was put back up stairs to try to think where she procured the cause of all these troubles.

Another female was engaged to perform in the judicial circuit but was not sober enough to appear.

BAPTIST SOCIETY

The annual meeting of the Baptist Society was held on last evening in the vestry of the church.  The list of officers for the ensuing year is as follows:

Moderator—J. M. Putnam

Prudential Committee—E. W. Horner, H. C. Tuttle, C. B. Frost

Treasurer—Albert H. Tuttle

Committee of Ways and Means—J. M. Putnam, R. R. Kinsman, Melzar Edson, Edward Southwick, B. W. Marshall

Clerk—R. R. Kinsman

Auditor—B. W. Marshall

Collector—Edward Southwick

After the election of officers and the transaction of some miscellaneous business, the meeting was adjourned for one week.  [NOTE:  Police Court Judge B. W. Marshall was a leading member of the Baptist Church]

A WARNING

Editor, Rutland Herald—We would like to say through your columns, that it may be interesting for the brutal fellow who drives an overloaded team up West street, and beats his poor horses so cruelly, to understand that there are persons interested in his case who have hearts as tender and arms much stronger than those of women.  Further, that . . .

WED, AUG 19, 1874

LOCAL NOTES

. . . No police court was held on yesterday, the persons who are in jail awaiting its action being so far indisposed as to require considerable evaporation before they will be dry enough to try.

THURS, AUG 20, 1874

POLICE COURT  [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

Charles Butterfly, whose name is too conspicuously open to puns to make it worth while to particularize them, was arrested by Officer Crawford and proved to have been drunk.  This cost him $13.94, and in addition he had to divulge some facts which he would rather have kept hid; for instance, that he procured two bottles of liquor of Fred Shattuck in the Home Restaurant, one of them on Monday and the other on Tuesday.

This was not altogether pleasing to Shattuck, who was fined $17.50 for keeping liquor and $47.50 for two second offenses of selling.

Bridget Waters, who had a little explanation to make, clearly showed to the Justice that she got her liquor out of a cucumber, but the doubt which the said Justice cast on so plausible a story caused Bridget to be placed back in the pen.

SAT, AUG 22, 1874

POLICE COURT   [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

The only case called into the ring yesterday was that of John O'Brien, of West Rutland, who is of the descent that would be indicated by his name.  It appeared that he came to Rutland on Monday last, having $65 in his possession, and in the course of time found his way up to Gouger Hill where he procured much firewater and got rid of all his money.  When he was arrested he had not enough money to pay the $13.94 imposed for drunkenness.  The question as to where he procured his liquor has not been settled.

Bridget Waters, who was put away up stairs to await a time when she could remember where she procured her liquor, manifests no desire to get out; on the contrary, she declares that she is quite comfortable and is willing to stay inside a while.

TUES, SEPT 15, 1874

POLICE COURT   [ Before Justice B. W. Marshall ]

The first delegate to come before the justice was the well-known Bridget Waters, who was put in on Aug. 17 last.  The story that she told at the time was that she got her whiskey out of a cucumber, but after making up her mind that she had staid in long enough on that story she owned up that she had procured a bottle of stimulant of James Kennedy.  This state of things brought up James, who was fined $17.50 for selling to Bridget.

John Manney was brought up charged with a complication of disorders, which, taken together, proved that he was hardly an indulgent father or kind husband.  First he was drunk, and for that was fined $15.19.  It appeared also that he was the owner of four children and a wife.  When he had become drunk enough he went home and commenced operations by knocking down his wife, who had a babe in her arms, and repeating the process with his young son.  Then, as a matter of amusement, he spent some little time in throwing his knife at his wife with force enough to stick it in the wall, when she managed to dodge it.  Once she was not fortunate enough to do so and received a severe cut on the wrist.  She was also cut and terribly bruised about the head and face.  The child she held in her arms was so badly injured that its recovery is deemed doubtful. . . .

END.


 

In progress . . .

 

 

 

 

Home          Contents          Documents Home