Essex

HYDE, David

Vermont Historical Magazine, No. XI, October 1867, p 962
(extracted from a section on the history of Brunswick, Essex County, Vermont)

David HYDE came here [Brunswick, Essex County, Vermont] and settled upon the 
farm known as the Hyde Bow. This bow is a beautiful tract of land, situated 
nearly in the center of the town, and taking into consideration all the 
conveniences with which it is surrounded, constitutes a desirable location. 
He soon made the forest disappear, and in its place waved the golden grain. 
He was a close observer of men and things, and in the athletic sports often 
practiced in those times, he could run the fastest, dive the deepest, and 
stay under water the longest of any of his townsmen. His notions of right 
and wrong were somewhat peculiar, as will be seen by reference to his acts 
and sayings. In measuring grain that he sold to his neighbors, he always 
heaped the half bushel, and in weight made no account of the fractions of a 
pound, frequently remaking that "weight and measure was the Lord's, but the 
price was his own." He died in the year 1812. David, his youngest son, when 
a boy, had a cruel feversore on his leg which destroyed the joint at the 
knee, and caused the limb to be shorter than the other. He owned and 
occupied the homestead after his father's decease, some thirty-five years, 
and by his sagacity and shrewd management became one of the wealthiest men in 
the county.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly