SHOCKING AFFAIR-The Montpelier Journal gives the following particulars of the death in Peacham of three persons from freezing: It seems that Mrs. Emmons, aged about 75 years, her daughter, aged about 30, and a grandson, aged 8 or 10, left Marshfield on Thursday to go to visit a sister of Mrs. Emmons in Peacham. After travelling about 6 miles they stopped at the house of one Bean in Peacham, on the Marshfield side of Peacham Woods, and begged shelter for the night. This being refused, they proceeded on their perilous journey for about 2 1/2 miles, being partially sheltered in dense woods. Soon after reaching the open country and when within about 2 miles of Peacham, the old lady fell exhausted in the road. The daughter passed on a few rods, and sat on the fence, apparently to keep watch over her mother, while the lad, seeing a light some distance ahead, started on to procure assistance. He succeeded by less than 40 feet in reaching the house of Mr. Frank Farrar, and here called loudly for help. The occupants of the house heard repeated calls, but made little effort to discover their source, supposing them to proceed from an idiotic occupant of the house. In the morning the dead bodies of all three were found: the lad standing in his tracks near the house, the daughter under the fence, and the old lady plowed up in breaking out out [sic] the roads! We have no heart for a word of comment.

The Vermont Daily Transcript March 10, 1869


The Montpelier Journal is informed that three persons, two ladies and a boy, named Emmons were frozen to death in Marshfield last week. They were on their way to visit friends in Peacham, on foot. The cold was so intense that they called at the house of a man named Bean, near Peacham Woods, for shelter, but were refused admission to his house. They then proceeded on their way and subsequently were found frozen to death near the place where they were to stop. One of the ladies were about 70 years of age, the other 30. and the boy 9.

The Vermont Phoenix March 12, 1869.