USA > Vermont > Orange County > Bradford > A history of Bradford, Vermont : containing some account of the place of its first settlement in 1765, and the principal improvements made, and events which have occurred down to 1874--a period of one hundred and nine years. With various genealogical records, and biographical sketches of families and individuals, some deceased, and others still living > Part 23
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3. Richard Aldrich, the third child and eldest son of Silas and Alice C. Aldrich, was born April 8th, 1780. By the will of his father, he came into possession of the old homestead, on condition of paying off the other heirs. In
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the log-house built by his father, he spent the days of his youth, and there, on being married, brought his young wife to commence housekeeping by themselves. His ad- vantages in youth for a school education were very lim- ited, but the lessons of industry, frugality, kindness to the suffering, and of heroic patriotism in which he was thoroughly drilled, had much to do in forming the charac- ter for which he was distinguished in after life.
He married at the age of twenty-one Miss Anna May- nard, then residing in the family of Andrew B. Peters, Esq., of this place, but a native of Marlborough, N. H. There is a little anecdote connected with the occasion of her coming to this town which seems worth relating here.
Anna Maynard, at an early age was left without a moth- er, and thrown for support on her own industry. At the age of sixteen she came to this town with a Mr. Norcross, as a companion for his wife, who was dissatisfied with her situation in this then new country ; and having gone to her old home could be persuaded to return only on condi- tion that Miss Anna would come with her. She accord- ingly came, but Mrs. Norcross after a while again grew so discontented and homesick that she determined to go back to her old home. In this distress Mr. N. besought Anna to stay and keep house for him. Her reply shows in what- estimation she held her reputation : " A pretty story that will be, to go back to my father, brothers and sisters, that I have parted husband and wife!" Mr. N. urging the matter a little more strongly, she said, with decision, "No, sir; I will see you in the bottomless pit first !" "So she left, and was taken into the family of Esquire Peters, where young Richard Aldrich found her, and easily persuaded her to become his wife. She ever after remembered the Peters family with gratitude for their kindness to her.
Mr. Aldrich and wife lived happily in their log cottage till after the birth of their second child, when they moved 21
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into their new framed house, in which all the rest of their children were born. They were industrious, hard-work- ing people, and it is believed that the destitute and hun- gry never applied to them for relief in vain. They both became hopefully pious in the maturity of their powers, and united with what was then styled the Christian church, and so remained during their subsequent lives.
In 1807, Mr. Richard Aldrich was elected Captain of the Second Company of the First Regiment of the State Militia. Hence the military title by which he was ever after designated. He also filled several civil town offices acceptably. About the year 1856 he sold his farm to his son, John D. Aldrich, and moved into a house which he had bought in Bradford village, and there died, November 25, 1856, aged seventy-seven years.
Captain Aldrich seasonably and with entire composure prepared for his departure to his final rest. Some years before he died, he requested the writer of this article to preach his funeral sermon. He also seasonably made his will, disposing of his property as he thought best, appoint- ing his eldest son sole executor, and leaving his aged widow under his care.
And so, trusting in the blessed Saviour, when his time came he had nothing to do but to bid his friends farewell, and, like aged Simeon, depart in perfect peace.
His aged widow still survives, though greatly debili- tated both in body and mind.
Captain Richard Aldrich and wife had ten children- four daughters and six sons-of whom some brief account will now be given.
1. Almira, the eldest, married Levi Hazelton, of New- bury ; they had a family of children, and finally settled in the State of New Hampshire, where she died. Their youngest son, during the late war died in the service of his country, at Hilton Head.
2. Lydia S. married Josiah Rodgers, of Newbury, and
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was the mother of nine children, viz: six sons and three daughters. Mr. Rodgers died in 1843. His widow mar- ried William Bolton, of Newbury, and had another son and daughter.
Almira and Lydia Aldrich became hopefully pious in their youth, and united with the Methodist church. The eldest died happily, several years since. Her younger sister, Mrs. Bolton, still lives, striving to make her calling and election sure.
3. Sally, died at the age of five years.
4. Eliza Ann, in 1833 married James R. Brown, of Chelmsford, Mass., but died at Wells River, Vt., leaving one son and two daughters.
5. William Aldrich, the eldest son of Captain Richard, married Rebecca Highland, of Bradford; bought a farm near his father's, where he lived several years, and his only child, Rebecca Ann, was born. He was a deacon in the Christian church, in Goshen, the same to which his parents belonged. In the year 1861, his wife died of consumption. She was a woman highly esteemed and much beloved by her relatives and neighbors. Mr. Al- drich, after his wife's decease, built a house at Bradford village, and, May 28, 1862, married Miss Anna M. Corliss, a native of this town. His only daughter married a Mr. Leonard B. Fletcher, who has deceased, and she has re- turned to her paternal home.
6. Richard Ransom Aldrich had no taste for agricul- tural pursuits, but early manifested a decided genius for the manufacture of articles of wood. He first learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, and was the first to in- troduce the board-planing machine into Orange County. He was also the first in this County to manufacture wooden ware, and send it in quantities to a Boston mar- ket. At South Newbury he carried on quite an impor- tant business of this sort.
He had married Miss Emma Heath, of Lowell, Mass.,
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and was living at South Newbury when, in 1851, his dwell- ing house there, with five others, was consumed by fire, which induced him to sell his remaining property there and come to Bradford, where he bought a half interest in the Baldwin Mill Privilege, commenced business afresh, and has manufactured a great amount of mackerel kits, wooden pails, and other articles ; and, in partnership with his son-in-law Barrett, at this writing is still going on, not- withstanding the recent loss of his left hand by a circular saw.
In 1854 Mr. R. R. Aldrich represented this town in the State Legislature. He and his wife became members of the Methodist church in Newbury soon after their settle- - ment there, and here he has been a steward in the church of the same order, and one of the liberal supporters of its ministry for over twenty years.
Mr. and Mrs Aldrich had two sons and two daughters. Charles and Richard D., both promising young men, died at nearly the same age, of twenty years. The first named, who showed a remarkable genius for mechanical pursuits, died of typhoid fever; and his brother by an act of sui- cide, owing, it is believed, to aberation of mind, caused by rheumatic fever settling on his brain. To the bereaved parents these were wounds which earth could not heal ; but which grace has helped them to bear.
The eldest daughter, Eliza A. Aldrich, in 1865 married Norman W. Barrett, of Connecticut. Mr. Barrett resides in Bradford village, engaged in business with his wife's father. They have one son, Richard A. Mrs. B. is a member of the M. E. church.
Josephine E. Aldrich married Josiah H. Benton, Jr., attorney-at-law, May 19, 1866. J. H. Benton, Esq., a young man of talent, energy, and moral integrity, then of . Lancaster, after a few years of prominence in New Hamp- shire politics and office, opened a law office in Boston, where at this date he is understood to be doing a fair
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amount of business. His young wife, Josephine E., after a short but happy life, died at her father's house in Brad- ford, in April, 1872.
Mr. Aldrich has been successful in business, and his good wife still lives to aid and comfort him, as in years that are past.
7. Edwin R. Aldrich married Harriet Hazelton, of Newbury, in 1835. Two of their children, a son and daughter, died in infancy. Their only surviving child, Miss Olive Ann, married Mr. Benjamin P. Baldwin, and is pleasantly settled near her parents. Mr. E. R. Aldrich, an honest man and good citizen, a house carpenter and joiner . by trade, assisted by his son-in-law, Mr. Baldwin, has done much in the way of house building here, and each occupies a nice new house, both near each other on Main street. Mrs. Aldrich is a member of the Congregational church in this place.
8. Smith Aldrich married Elsie Muzzey, and lived for some while in Corinth, engaged in farming; then moved to Northumberland, N. H., where he and his wife united, on profession of their faith, with the Methodist E. church. He almost at once felt it his duty to preach, and set about it in the fear of God. As a preacher he has endeavored to declare the truth, without attempting any great dis- play of rhetorical eloquence. About 1854 he went West, where he has since been preaching. Some three years since his wife died very suddenly, of heart disease. Their daughter married William H. Anderson, and lives in Sib- ley, Osceola County, Iowa. Rev. Mr. Aldrich has since married a Western woman.
9. John D. Aldrich married Harriet H. Highland, in 1845. Their only child, a daughter, died in her infancy ; her mother died of consumption in 1851. Three years afterward Mr. Aldrich married Philinda Williams, also of Bradford. He owns and occupies the pleasant homestead on · Main street which formerly belonged to Judge Steb-
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bins ; he also is owner of the old place in Goshen district on which his father and grandfather lived for so many years. Mr. J. D. Aldrich and wife have two sons, yet in their minority, namely, John Albert and Charles Richard, the only representatives of the third generation from the first Aldrich settler here to bear up the family name.
10. Levi M. Aldrich married Sarah George, of New- bury. They had six children, all daughters. One died in her infancy, and all the rest at this date are living. All were born in this town. Mr. Aldrich and family left this place about five years ago, and moved to Lowell, Mass., where he still resides, and where all his surviving daughters but one are married and settled.
For the substance of this account of the Aldrich fam- ily I have been almost wholly indebted to Mrs. Barrett, daughter of Mr. R. R. Aldrich, although the manuscript furnished by her has been wholly rewritten, and some- - what abbreviated.
DEACON OLIVER HARDY AND FAMILY. .
Oliver Hardy was born of respectable parents, in Weare, N. H., September 19, A. D., 1779. During his minority the means of education were extremely limited; and he had his share with others in the common misfor- tune. He was, however, early trained to a life of indus- try, honesty and prudence. After finishing an appren- ticeship in the business of a tanner, currier and shoemak- er, he came to Bradford, Vt., in the Fall of 1802, and se- lected for himself a permanent location on the small brook at what is now the North. end of the village. He that Fall commenced clearing away the trees from his pur- chase, and preparing facilities for the prosecution of his business. The next Spring he put down more vats, and commenced the erection of a building to accommodate his operations, and of a dam to hold water to drive the
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requisite machinery. He boarded in the neighboring families of Andrew B. Peters, Esq., and Dr. Arad Steb- bins, until the winter of 1805, when he married Miss Sal- ly Johnson, of Enfield, N. H., who came and lived with him in the same house, until the day of his death, a peri- od of sixty-two years and a few months over.
Deacon Hardy was a man of ingenuity, who could work to advantage not only in his appropriate sphere, but had a blacksmith's forge and tools, which he used as occasion required, and when there was no other man in the vicini- ty to clean and repair clocks and watches they were car- ried to him, as it was understood he could do almost ev- erything, and had a corner in one of his buildings for this particular purpose. He was also a farmer in a small way, and in the winter was accustomed to go with his sleigh load of leather and other commodities to some one of the seaports, and bring home a supply of desirable ar- ticles for his family. In these and like ways he accumu- lated a nice little property, sufficient for himself and wife in their old age, and to leave something comfortable for his beloved daughter, to say nothing of other relatives.
After the lapse of many years, the fire seized the old tannery, with its various appurtenances, and so thorough- ly swept them away that scarcely a vestige now remains. But one thing more in regard to that old establishment I must not omit to mention. While a fine boy was one day superintending the grinding of bark there, he by mistake got his foot where the bark should be, and was thus crip- . pled for life. But the loss of his foot awakened his inge- nuity to supply, so far as possible, the want, and led to the making of artificial limbs so superior to any ever before known as to bring him high renown, not only in America, but Europe, and wherever the name of Profes- sor Palmer is known ; not only renown, but also it is said wealth. Thus a serious calamity proved to be but a bless- ing in disguise.
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Deacon Hardy was not ambitious of political distinc- tion, but for several years sustained, much to the satis. faction of his fellow townsmen, the office of a Justice of - the Peace. He had always been a man of kind disposi- tion and exemplary morality, but did not become an ex- perimental and professed Christian until he had attained to what is deemed the meridian of human life. Then there is reason to believe he became divinely illuminated, a sincere penitent, a hearty believer in the blessed Sav- iour, and commenced a life of obedience to the gospel. At the age of thirty-six, in the year 1815, he professed his faith, and was received as a member of the Congrega- tional Church in the place of his residence, then in its in- fancy, and continued faithful to his dying day, more than · half a century after.
In March, 1830, he was elected and constituted a Dea- con in the same church, and continued to perform the active duties of the office for some nine or ten years ; when, by his request and that of Deacon Bliss, his aged associate, younger brethren were chosen to relieve them ; but they both remained beloved and honored Deacons during the remainder of their days; having "purchased to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Deacon Hardy revered the Sabbath as a holy day, and delighted in the worship of God, at home, in the social prayer meeting, in the monthly meetings of the church, and in the more public congregation. He was a man of strict honesty, of firm integrity, and at the same time of uncommon humility and meekness. His heart was full of good will towards all men. Seldom or never was he heard to speak unkindly of any human being. His patience and sweet resignation to the will of God, were admirable. He had followed the remains of six sons and one daughter to the grave, and experienced many other trials, but ever bowed submissively to the divine will, 'and failed not to
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manifest that meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. During his long and painful ill- ness he had a strong hope in the covenant faithfulness of . God, and found his Saviour to be to him most precious.
When the time for his departure came, he was fully sensible that he was going home ; and, having spoken im- pressively to the aged companion of his life, and to his surviving son and daughter, attending physcian, and others about him, each separately, with a wave of his hand he bade them all adieu; resigned his spirit into his almighty and most merciful Saviour's hands, and, beyond all doubt, entered into life eternal.
Deacon Oliver Hardy died at Bradford, Vt., August 1st, 1867, aged eighty-seven years, ten months and twelve days. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."
Mrs. Sally J., widow of Deacon Oliver Hardy; born at Enfield, N. H., May 16, 1786; died at the house of her son, J. A. Hardy, July 26, 1870, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.
These parents had seven sons and three daughters. Of these, two of the daughters and three of the sons died in childhood. One son, Jesse, from his infancy of feeble intellect, but of a quiet disposition, died in 1855, at the age of forty-three years, having been through life treated by his parents and the entire family with exem- plary consideration and tenderness. Of the three other sons and their sisters, let the following notices suffice :
1. Johnson Arad Hardy, born July 29, 1806, still re- mains a worthy citizen of Bradford. January 3, 1830, he married Miss Sybil Clark, of this place, by whom he had a family of four sons and one daughter, of whom some fur- ther account presently.
Mr. J. A. Hardy opened the first scientific clock, watch and jewelry establishment in Bradford, in October, 1829. He commenced in a shop near his present residence, but
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in 1836 moved that building, and his business with it, to a more central location in the village, and there went on · prosperously, till able to erect a more costly edifice, af- fording not only ample accommodations for his own busi- ness, but to let, for a store of dry goods, an express office, a law office, post office, a photograph gallery, and the business of dentistry, a music, hall, etc. Into this build- ing he removed his business in 1851, and, having gradu- ally gained a high reputation as a skillful and reliable workman, and fair dealer, was extensively patronized, and accomplished a great amount of profitable business. In 1858, Mr. Hardy, finding such close application injuri- ous to his health, sold his goods and rented his store, with its fixtures, to Mr. Charles. H. Harding, for the term of five years, reserving the privilege of having a work apartment in or near his own house, during the same time. At the expiration of this period, William G. Hardy went into the same business in the new store, and being assisted by his father was very successful. At length, in consequence of failing health, he felt obliged to exchange this, his favorite occupation, for out-door air and exercise, and so purchased for himself a nice homestead in Fairlee, next north of the residence of Mr. Lewis Jenkins, his wife's father. He disposed of his goods and business to Mr. C. H. Harding, who there keeps an excellent clock, watch and jewelry establishment, in juxtaposition with the office of which he is the highly esteemed Postmaster.
Mr. J. A. Hardy continues, June, 1873, business in his pleasant retirement, both to meet the wants of many of his former patrons, and for his own gratification, it being a pleasure to him to be actively and usefully employed. His books show that in the course of now nearly fifty years he has cleaned, repaired and attended to the real wants of thirty-three thousand watches. The largest number repaired in any one year was thirteen hundred and thirty-three. In March, 1851, his shop door had
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seventy-two holes bored around one of its panels, which was removed, and his store robbed of about one thousand dollars worth of goods, no part of which was ever re- covered.
Mr. Hardy occasionally made time-pieces, clocks, and regulators, of different styles and prices. Among others, he calculated and made a valuable clock which requires winding but twelve times in a year, and as a donation to the Congregational society placed the same in the breast- work of their church gallery, where it still remains, a memorial of his liberality, and a faithful monitor of pass- ing time.
As to the children of these parents, William C., the eldest, died at the age of two years; Milo, the second, died at the age of nine years.
Oliver J., the third son, born February 6, 1835, an en- terprising young man, of the same occupation as his fa- ther, married Miss Louisa Ladd, of Haverhill, H. H., and established himself in a prosperous business at Haynes- ville, Alabama. He was esteemed a safe and very nice workman, but in early manhood was called away. He died at Haynesville, of consumption, February 26, 1858, at the age of twenty-three years. His remains were brought home to Bradford for burial, and the discourse delivered on the occasion, by the Rev. S. McKeen, was published, for the satisfaction of his numerous relatives and friends.
Sarah Jane, daughter of J. A. Hardy and wife, born February 17, 1837, married Edwin Kilbourne, then prac- ticing dentistry in Bradford, January 3, 1800, and died at her father's house, August 27, 1866, in the thirtieth year of her age. Let the following correct, though brief, sketch of her character, from the pen of her pastor, im- mediately after her decease, be her memorial:
Mrs. Kilbourne, the only daughter of kind and Chris- tian parents, who had ever carnestly sought to promote
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her highest good, was a young lady universally esteemed and beloved by those who knew her. In person sym- metrical and pleasing, but too delicate to be strong and enduring ; in attire, ever neat, and modestly elegant ; in manners, unassuming, but uniformly correct and winning ; at home and abroad she habitually exhibited that meek and quiet spirit which is, in the sight of God, of great price. She had a fine taste for music and drawing, in the practice of which she had attained to excellence. For `years she was the admired organist in the choir with which she worshipped. For fifteen years she had been a member of the Congregational church in her native vil- lage, and very exemplary in her attendance on all its meetings, ordinances and worship. Greatly beloved by her husband, parents, and other relatives and friends, she loved them dearly in return. Life was pleasant to her ; she would have been happy to have continued here long- er, but when she evidently perceived that it was her Saviour's pleasure to take her to her heavenly home, she was not only perfectly reconciled to leave all, and depart, but esteemed it gain to die. In nature's last extremity, her faith and hope in Christ, the Lord, were strong; and while passing through the valley and shadow of death, she feared no evil, being divinely sustained and most sweetly comforted. Her peaceful and happy departure was a most fitting termination of her exemplary and beautiful life. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." S. M. K.
William George Hardy, the youngest son of Mr. J. A. Hardy and wife, born March 8, 1840, married Miss Maria L. Jenkins, of Fairlee, February 9, 1864, and being thor- oughly acquainted with the business of a watchmaker and jeweller, succeeded his father in that occupation, and went on prosperously until he found it necessary, as has been stated, to engage in agricultural pursuits, and pur- chased a pleasant farm and homestead in Fairlee, where
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he spent the remnant of his days. He died of pulmonary consumption at his home in Fairlee, on Saturday morning, April 18, 1874, in the thirty-fifth year of his age, leaving the beloved wife of his youth, with an only child, an in- fant son. He was a young man of kind disposition, of mechanical genius, good sense and unblemished moral character. He had for about seven years been a consistent member of the church to which his parents, and also wife, belonged. He was in life much attached to his mother, and by death only five days separated from her. He was blessed with the exercise of his reason to the last, and died beautifully sustained by the promises and consola- tions of the Gospel. His funeral services were attended at his late home in Fairlee, on Monday, the 20th inst., and his burial was with his kindred dead, in the cemetery at Bradford. He had been for some years to his parents, their last surviving child, very dutiful, affectionate, and much beloved.
Mrs. Sybil C., wife of Mr. J. A. Hardy, died at her home in Bradford, April 13, 1874, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. Her departure was thus but five days in ad- vance of that of her last son. She died of a chronic dis- ease of the heart, ending in general dropsy.
She was a native of Clinton, Kennebec County, Maine, a daughter of William Clark and wife. Her mother, whose maiden name was Sybil Heald, died at Troy, N. Y. Her father, after living for a while in Mobile, where he buried his eldest daughter, Sally, went to Florida and there died, leaving this daughter, and his two sons, William and George, both younger than their sister. The sons re- mained and became men of business in that part of the country, and died in Lowndes County, Alabama. The climate not suiting the daughter's health, she had re- turned before her father's decease, to live with her aunt Hartwell, in this place, who had been to all these orphans as a mother for some years before they went to their
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