Captain Bliss Stebbins

"BLISS STEBBINS was Captain of 'The Old Militia" of Williamstown, vt.

BLISS STEBBINS, while quite young, went to Troy, N. Y., ami. while visiting a paper mill and watching the process of paper making, he was asked if he would like to be a paper maker. This visit and question resulted in his learning the trade. He went to work as a journeyman in this line, at Clare- mont, N. H., when twenty-three years of age.

One day, seeing a young lady passing, lie remarked jestingly to his fellow workmen. "There goes my wife." This raised a great laugh at his expense — the idea of his marrying the daughter of the aristocratic Judge Cossitt ; but he married her nevertheless, in 1802.

He went to Williamstown, Vermont, in 1808; and, in company with his brother Brainard, established a cloth dressing business in connection with a saw mill, which lines he followed until his death in 1826. The original frame of the saw mill was still standing and in use in 1888. He was an excellent reader; and was frequently called upon to read sermons in the Congrega- tional church, during the absence of the minister.

Hearing of an expected battle at Pittsburgh, N. Y. (which afterwards took place Sept. 11, 1814), he shut down his saw mill gates, and started for Burlington, fifty miles distant, to join the army, riding as fast as his horse could carry him. When he arrived there, he found over a thousand Vermont men assembled. A regiment was organized ; but, being unable to secure boats in which to cross the lake, they could not participate in the battle.

MR. STEBBINS was chosen Clerk of the Town Library of Willianistown, Vermont, in 1813: was elected school trustee in 1815; was one of the Library committee in 1816; and was librarian in 1819. Having married in 1802, he probably settled in Willianistown about 1803, as his name first appears on the tax rolls at that time. He owned six acres of improved land in 1807.

MRS. STEBBTNS was an active worker in the Methodist Church. A few years after her husband's death she married Colonel Simeon Wight. "