USA > Vermont > Franklin County > St Albans > A centennial history of St. Albans, Vermont > Part 3
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And still a younger one, who is now of us, from whose pen emanated the following lines, suggest- ed upon receiving a spray of leaves from Jeff Davis' garden in Richmond. By S. A. W.
Poor leaves, no wonder that you look Old, withered, and forlorn ;
You've been where sterner spirits shook And trembled in the storm.
I do not know your name, but breathes Sweet perfume on the air ; I've wound your kind in summer wreaths, And thought them sweet and fair.
They brought me happy thoughts and words, And visions pure and sweet ; I'm haunted now by clashing swords, And tread of marching feet. I see the sentinel, at night,
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Pause to inhale thy breath ;
Thy mates in festive halls of light,
Saw Richmond's " dance of death."
Thy sun which made thee bright and fair, With kisses all the day,
Looked in through grated windows, where My dying soldier lay.
The moon which through the boughs did trace A hole for thy head ;
O'er his pale forehead threw with tender grace A veil when he was dead.
The breeze which kissed thee, bore his soul Beyond the outposts of the years,
Poor leaves, I have thy tender message conned, Through a dim mist of tears.
Why did he not, the rebel chieftain, pause When lay within his reach
The truthful lesson found in nature's laws, Which these poor leaves could teach.
He could have plucked then from the parent stem, Which at his door-stone lay,
And studied out that several states like them, Could live but for a day.
His cause has failed, his guardian angel grieves And weeps, but hopes no more ;
His name, his fame, his honors, are dead leaves, Upon a barren shore.
St. Albans, August, 1865.
And now, running down the plane of history to the present centennial year, it is pleasant to ob- serve we have in our midst a gifted lady writer.
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the authoress of " From Dawn to Sunrise," which in my opinion is much the smartest book ever written in Vermont. The author of this history would have been pleased to have incorporated some extracts at this time, but fearing he might not have made a judicious selection, refrains from so doing.
OUR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND SPIRITUAL TEACHERS.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
As religious instruction goes hand in hand with secular education, it is proper to notice our relig- ious bodies and early spiritual guides. Unless our soil was first pressed by the feet of the self- sacrificing and devoted Jesuit missionaries, the people of St. Albans received no religious instruc- tion previous to 1792, except from straggling par- sons, on their way from Canada to England, in which year came the Rev. Eben Hibbard, a Con- gregational minister, who labored among our peo- ple as parson and school teacher for about two years. In 1795, the Rev. Z. Ross, a man of good intentions, but not overstocked with understand- ing, with a tinge of romance, located near the brow of Bellevue ; of whom it is related that when he came into the village to hold service, there were more men and boys chasing squirrels around the
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original stumps on the common, than were inside worshipping. On Sept. 6th, 1796, at our town meeting, Jonnathan Hoit, Levi House and David Nicholls were appointed a committee to procure a minister for three months, who, after consulting the Rev. Aaron Collins, another meeting was call- ed, when it was voted to raise eight dollars on the grand list. At this meeting a committee was ap- pointed to select a lot for a meeting house, but the town never voted to build a Congregational meeting house on our grand list. March 7th, 1799, a committee was appointed to hire a minis- ter with a view to settling. In May, 1801, it was again voted to hire a minister, and that a tax of two cents on the dollar be raised to pay a minister one year ; he to preach one-third of the time at the Bay, and two-thirds in the village.
In 1802, thirty-five dollars was voted to pay Rev. Mr. Dickinson for his year's services. In 1803, the town voted to settle Rev. Joel Foster, at a salary of $500 a year, and that he deed to the town the minister's lot.
He however was not settled here as the first minister. But the church was organized January 2d, 1803, under his direction, consisting of nine members. About two years afterward, the Rev. Jonnathan Nye was ordained March 5th, 1805. His ordination was opposed by some of the stronger
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Calvinistic Congregationalist clergymen, who com- posed the council, on account of his Socinian views. But he was so eloquent and talented, his un-orthodox creed was overlooked, and our Con- grega ional Church was organized, with a Unita- rian pastor, who, however, never avowed his prin- ciples from the pulpit. He became very popular, especially with the young, and as a former histo- rian states "would attend their evening parties and would look with interest as they were amusing themselves with cards." It is also stated " that he carried a letter from a man in St. Albans to one in Sheldon, containing a challenge to a duel. These circumstances, in addition to his supposed heterodoxy, created the dissatisfaction which arose in the church." He preached a farewell sermon although he was never regularly dismissed. One of the male members being asked how he liked it ? replied, "very well, but the farewell was the best on it." Another outside the congregation who was present said " It was the strangest ser- mon he ever heard. He did not believe another such sermon could be found in the Bible." " He talked about people putting their property out of their hands to cheat their creditors, of drinking, gambling, and horse-racing." During his resi- dence here he married the daughter of one of our
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early merchants, and continued here several years after resigning his pastorate.
The next clergyman employed was the Rev. Daniel Haskell, who was solicited to become their pastor, which he declined, to serve the Second Congregational Church in Burlington, who after- wards became president of the University of Ver- mont.
The Rev. Allen Hazen then preached six months, under whose ministrations the church prospered, but the society desiring a more attract- ive preacher, he was not called. In 1810, Rev. Wm. Dunlap received a call to become their min- ister, which he declined. In November, 1811, Rev. Willard Preston was called and labored among them for about three years. He gave uni- versal satisfaction, but failing health induced him to resign, recovering which, he was afterwards ap- pointed president of the University of Vermont. In 1819, Henry P. Strong was installed pastor. He was arbitrary in church government, and of a worldly turn of mind. His salary for those early times was $800 per year, and his people thought he should devote more time to spiritual affairs than he did in accumulating property, consequent- ly he was dismissed Oct. 23d, 1821.
The Rev. Elijah Brainerd served them next for a year or so, when he received orders in the Epis-
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copal Church, acting as missionary priest in charge of St. Albans, Fairfield, and Sheldon.
The next settled minister was the Rev. Worth- ington Smith, the Christian gentleman, who served the church faithfully and well for over twenty-six years, when he was dismissed to become the pres- ident of the University of Vermont: and ever since, this society have enjoyed the ministrations of " the ablest expounders of divine truth." They began worshiping in a private house, which con- tinued until the completion of the Court House, which they occupied until the erection of their church in 1825. It is very proper for the author to remark that the customs and sentiments of this religious body have undergone great changes since his boyhood. If they were slow in renouncing the austerities of a primitive belief, they were ever active in the practice of " the Christian virtues, and as I can testify, there was no class more prompt and attentive at the sick-bed of their neigh- bors than they ; and their example has not been lost on their descendants." While the creed of this sect has ever been the Westminister catechism, and their platform a parquetry of old Saybrook and Cambridge plank. Yet they have advanced in re- ligious thought, and exhibited liberality in channels we little dreamed. Their former customs being in accordance with primitive orthodoxy ; turning their
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backs to the minister, when standing in prayer ; ignoring the cross, " that emblem of Christianity ;" in fact, every approach to ecclesiasticism. Closing their place of business at sundown on Saturday night, not a shoe was blacked, nor a newspaper read, until sundown on Sunday. No mails were received, no riding, nor walking for pleasure dur- ing that time. No card playing, no dancing, nor novel reading were allowed, except an occasional peep into Cooper, Irving, and Scott. But what a change! May it prove to them that "the ways of religion are the ways of pleasantness and peace."
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
There appears to be no notice of any clergyman of this denomination holding service in this town previous to 1798, unless it was by some missionary or itinerant passing through the country, who was generally invited to hold service.
In 1799, the eccentric Lorenzo Dow is said to have officiated in the house of Silas Hatherway, after this in the log house of David Nicholls, in the corner of the old cemetery, during which service the wealthiest man in town pulled his nose, and informed him if he did not get out he would horse- whip him. .
It is reported in the quarterly conference records that a collection of forty-two cents was received
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from St. Albans. Sept. 21st, 1800, the celebrated revivalist and great apostle of New England Meth- odism, Jesse Lee, preached in the old house, the Azel Church's place, now standing opposite the residence of Mr. H. P. Seymour ; who refers to the occasion in his diary "that he had a sweet time in preaching to the strange people."
In 1801, the first class was formed on St. Albans Point, and is assumed to be the first religious society formed in our town. It is, however, re- corded that Methodism was confined to the Point region previous to 1809, and as early as 1807 the Rev. Reuben Harris was settled there on a farm; who held meetings along the McQuam shore to Swanton. About this time another class was formed near Georgia Bay, which preaching place was removed to a barn, on the Duclos place, now occupied by his son-in-law, Mr. Herrick, which to- day bears the name of "The Old Battle Ground of St. Albans Methodism." These meetings on the Point, and on the Duclos place, were kept up until 1812. The first regular service, with sermon, was held soon after in the log house of David Nicholls. Then a large room of the Academy was fitted up for public worship. At the quarterly conference held Sept. 14th, 1815, the official board voted to purchase land on St. Albans Street on which to build a chapel, which was accordingly
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done in 1819, and the building completed in 1820, but was remodelled twice before the present fine specimen of ecclesiological architecture was erected.
But these people have changed their customs and sentiments within the past forty years, full as much as the other denominations. As I now re- call their first house of worship, it had no steeple, no bell, and no instrumental music. The sexes were separated. The men and their sons sat on one side, the mothers and daughters on the other. The women wore no bows nor flowers on their bonnets, simply a piece of ribbon laid plain over the crown; and, as now, they well ignored the circus, the horse trot, and the dime novel. This continued until about 1850, when one of the most talented, but narrow-minded clergymen in the state, who went from here, startled his congrega- tion by saying, " the members of his denomination were distinguished for their plainness of dress, but he preferred to have them known for their good works. As for himself, he liked to have the sis- ters dress, and to wear any articles of jewelry pre- sented them as tokens of regard" In those days it was almost impossible to have them accept flow- ers in times of joy and seasons of grief. But now how changed ! Look at their elegant houses of worship. Even a bishop's daughter can be mar-
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OF ST. ALBANS, VERMONT.
ried in church, surrounded with blooming flowers, cages of singing birds, and stained glass windows, marching down the aisle to the strains of the wed- ding march.
And the author takes pleasure in recording that they are improving in intelligence and refinement, and their clergy, in learning and culture, each con- ference year.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
As to this church, there were four members of different families as early as 1812, who were church going people. These would gather, with others, at private houses, reading the liturgy and enjoy- ing the occasional services of clergymen, which was kept up three years, when a missionary, sta- tioned at Fairfield, the oldest society in the county, officiated every fifth Sunday in the Court House, at which time the Congregationalists, who had suffered from many divisions, united with them for a time. In 1823, Rev. Dr. Smith, that good man, was settled over the Congregationalists. The Episcopalians then held services in the Academy, but who united with the former and the Metho- dists in weekly prayer meetings in the small build- ing east of the Blaisdell store, and I am fearful it was a series of love feasts we shall not witness again in St. Albans.
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About this time another act of Christian fellow- ship transpired which is worthy of mention. The Episcopal clergyman lost a child, and invited his classmate, the Congregational minister, to officiate, who donned the gown and read the burial service of the church. He afterwards being likewise afflicted, the Episcopal rector conducted the ser- vice according to Congregational usage. This society built their first church in 1825, and for a year, at least, there were but three regular attend- ants. Since then it has been remodelled, and the society has passed through many vicissitudes, be- fore the erection of the present edifice.
This people have always been distinguished for their good works, lavish hospitality, and their broad and comprehensive views of life, while their clergy have generally been known for their schol- arly attainments and practical piety.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
As to the clergy and teachers of this faith, we have no record of their missionaries ever attempt- ing to establish a mission here, as they did in a neighboring town, in the 16th Century. But there is no doubt in supposing they frequently passed through our town to and from Canada, hoping to find some isolated tribe of redmen to bring under the influence of Christianity.
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It is stated that as early as 1804, two ladies of " The Sacred Heart," were so charmed with the situation this side of Bellevue, at the right, on the road to Fairfield, thought seriously of establishing an institution there. This society, " Ladies of the Sacred Heart," is an order of French Nuns, found- ed in France in 1800, a short time after which, sev- eral of its members started out to establish branches in different countries throughout the world. The members referred to were travelling in this country and the Canadas for that purpose, there being at this time several in the United States.
A few years later, two foreign monks. travel- ling through the country, talked of founding a monastery in the same place.
But not until about 1830 were there a sufficient number of the Catholic faith to assemble for the purpose of receiving instruction from one of their priests. The first of whom was the Rev. Jere- miah O. Callaghan, who located in Burlington, as a missionary for the state. He said mass for the first time in the old Court House. The second time, in a log school-house, on the Thorp farm.
He was an able ecclesiastic. The author of sev- eral books, a successful, but somewhat eccentric disciplinarian, yet accomplished much for the church by his sagacity and self-denying labors.
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Since then, "The Catholic Church" here, has been served by an efficient priesthood, and latter- ly by those of profound learning ; none of whom have ever shirked their office, by sending patent In tracts where they were able to go themselves. summer heat and wintry cold ; they have always trod the pathway of duty. Among their congre- gations are many bright minds, and in appear- ance, each one and all, will compare favorably with the more fortunate members of the other re- ligious bodies.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
Among our first settlers, there were a few pro- fessing a belief in the tenets of this faith. But there were not enough to form a society until 1830, many of whom had adopted this belief dur- ing the dissensions that prevailed in the older or- ganizations ; and they have always been ministered to by men of intellectual ability. They had to be able men to maintain their position amid the strong, yea, bitter opposition, that beset them on all sides, for it came from all the churches but one. Our early Universalists lived correct Christ- ian lives, but were so indifferent to outward forms, were regarded by the orthodox people as semi- infidels. Of late years a great change has been observed in the treatment of them by their former
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opponents. Various reasons have been attributed for this change of sentiment. Perhaps the most plausible one is the discovery of "the Cordex Sinaiticus, by Von Tischendorf, now known to be a genuine text of the New Testament, wherein the dogmas of a Trinity, and the co-eternal deity of Christ, have been discovered to be impositions on the Bible." In other words, the only verse that favors a Trinity, in our present Testament, or rather the one upon which a belief is based, viz .: Gen. Epis. John, fifth chapter, seventh verse, " For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one," is not to be found in the original text. And it is possible that the dim cloisters of orthodoxy have been illumined in some localities by the calcium light of " Higgins Anac- alypsis." The result is, that the orthodox believ- ers now consider the Universalists as good as they are. Consequently they meet them half way, and shake hands over what cannot possibly affect their future state. The Universalists never having at- tached much importance to public profession, be- lieving that heaven was attained by action and not by words, have adopted what may be pleasing, but non-essential for salvation, viz .: a liturgy. The observance of Christmas and Easter: the great Festivals of the Primitive Church. They
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baptise and commune, have evening prayer meet- ings, and Sunday-schools, and let us hope the present generation are better and happier for these innovations. As I recall our old Universalist fathers and mothers, I take pleasure in adhering to my former opinion, that a more honest and worthy class of people never existed in St. Albans.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
This society of Christians is of more recent ori- gin than the others. I remember when a youth, over forty years ago, of but one invidual who was known here as a Baptist, who resided just north of our old homestead, and was the estimable widow of Dr. Chester Able, after whom the late ex-President Arthur was named. This church has been served by pastors of ability, and the peo- ple connected with it will now equal any of our religious bodies in those elements of character that constitute Christian men and women. These people, however, have changed their customs full as much as the other dissenting sects, since it was first organized in this country by Roger Williams, an Episcopalian clergyman, for they too are not in- clined to remain in the pool of stagnation, and accordingly keep the great festivals of the mother church, with Christmas decorations, Easter flow- ers and sermons.
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With the others, they begin to behold the dawn of the great warfare in religious thought. That the tendency of the age is progression in two directions, and that it is better to unite with their Christian brethren for mutual protection, keeping pace with this advance, than to be swamped by the new faith ; as they know that organized bodies have their choice, as well as individuals, to float gently into the embracing arms of ecclesiasticism, or to drift among the shoals of rationalism, and finally sink amid the quicksands of materialism.
OUR PHYSICIANS.
With these early physicians for the soul, came also physicians for the body. With the exception of an Indian doctress, who lingered among the first settlers, there were none nearer than Bur- lington, until fifteen years after the settlement of the town. This doctress, Madam Crappo, by name, with roots and barks, performed miracles with the cast-iron stomachs of the early settlers.
OUR FIRST DOCTORS.
As early as 1793, Dr. John Warner came from Bennington, who had been an officer in the Rev- olutionary War, and a near relative of the famous Vermont patriot, Seth Warner. Dr. Warner located in the extreme northern limits of our
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town, and enjoyed a large practice, according to the botanic mode.
In 1796, Dr. Coit built the large, square house that stood north of the Congregational Church, which was sold in 1797 to Dr. Simons, the son- in-law of Isaiah Thomas, the first book publisher in America ; who also opened the first bookstore here, in 1806, supplied by his father-in-law.
In 1797, we had Dr. Pomeroy, who became our first postmaster.
In 1802, Dr. Julius Hoit located on the corner of Nason Street.
In 1803, Dr. Ephraim Little located in the McCarroll house, South Main Street, and became the father-in-law of the Rev. Dr. Smith.
In 1807, Dr. Benjamin Chandler came, who was the father of our late venerable Dr. I. L. Chand- ler. Near this time was a Dr. John Stoddard. who built the store on the corner of Main and Fairfield Streets. We then had old Dr. Hall, Dr. Branch, Dr. I. L. Chandler, Dr. Ballou, Dr. Ste- vens, all of whom were skillful practitioners. With the latter five, and since then, every branch of medicine has been represented in St. Albans- botanic, magnetic, steam, eclectic, and homeo- pathy.
In this connection, it may be well to relate an anecdote in relation to a Dr. Holdridge, who
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located here some sixty years ago, and who manu- factured Holdridge's Green Plaster. Being in a bar room, one day, was accused of running away from the last place he lived in. He replied it was true, and explained why. " That he was passing some machine works, and was informed a knife had fallen and cut off the heads of a white man and a negro. That having stuck their heads on with his famous plaster, it was discovered he had stuck the black head on the white body, and the white head on the black one. So he ran away to St. Albans for protection."
OUR FIRST STEAM DOCTOR.
It is well to mention the advent of the first steam doctor among us. He daily paraded the streets, with a broad brim white hat, and with Hyacinthine locks flowing over his shoulders. He wore a three-story shirt collar, and was arrayed in a long dressing gown, of furniture print. At that time there were fifteen or twenty medical students here, and the following exquisite lines demon- strates a poet among them :
Now's the time for steam and pepper, Go it wind-bag in a gown, Raise the dead and cleanse the leper, Make a doctor of a clown.
With all your ills, I welcome you ; Cases cute and cases chronic,
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Cured up by a hot drop tonic, And a pleasant steam box stew.
But those days have passed away. The old- time calomel pot, and the purgeing, bleeding, and blistering have almost become obsolete. And to- day we have among us, a class of physicians, both schools, who have no reason to yield the palm of superiority to any one in New England. Who are able to grapple successfully with any disease human flesh is heir to, except three, which seem to be incurahle, viz .: "The itch for glory," "the goitre of egotism," and that worst of all fevers. known as " auri sacra fames."
As our physicians like to associate long lives with their profession, this seems to be the proper place to give them some notice in this work.
REMARKABLE INSTANCES OF LONGEVITY.
Among those whom I have personally known, and have learned from an authentic source to have either lived or died here, are the following : A Mr. DeFrancis, a soldier under the Ist Napo- leon, whose certificate I have seen, died in 1876, after his return from the Centennial, at the age of IIO.
Joseph Glosson, 104 Mrs. Tullar, 3d, 99 Mrs. Amy Pollinson, 103 Daniel Clark, 92
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