USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Norwich > A history of Norwich, Vermont > Part 13
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A steam sawmill was erected by George A. Ames on the west bank of the Connecticut river, a little south of and across the highway from the home of the late Deacon Henry Hutchinson. Soon after, a box-making department was attached to the mill. The property was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and operated as a sawmill only. F. G. Ames, a son of George A., is the present proprietor of the industry.
In 1889, S. M. Morrison took possession of the Hatch shop, and worked at his trade of shoe and harness making until flames again visited that spot. In 1893, Morrison built the. "Klondike Building" on Main Street, where he has worked at his trade until the present time, and is now the only person, actively engaged, of the many who have pounded the lapstone in our village.
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EARLY INDUSTRIES
In 1888, the "Norwich Creamery" was established at the north end of Norwich village, occupying a building previously used as a school- house. It was operated with apparent success for a number of years. A few years since the building was partially destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and the business continued under different managements until the spring of 1904, when the property was sold to Hood & Co., who for several years have had a factory of a like character near the rail- road and a short distance south of the Norwich and Hanover station.
CHAPTER XIX
NORWICH MERCHANTS
Peter Olcott had a store near his residence at the Center, in the time of the Revolutionary War. Abel Curtis was for a time associated with him in this business. Stephen Burton, eldest son of Elisha Bur- ton and a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1790, was probably the first to open trade at Norwich Plain, prior to the year 1800. Ichabod Marshall of Hanover, also a Dartmouth graduate in 1790, is understood as having been engaged in mercantile business in Norwich (possibly in partnership with Stephen Burton) for several years. Both these young men emigrated to the West early in the century, Burton to cen- tral New York where he died in 1812, and Marshall to Ohio in the year 1818. George Woodward kept store before 1799 in the building now occupied by Mrs. Gardner Davis as a dwelling.
· Oliver Hatch was in trade on the corner where F. W. Hawley is in business. In 1801 or 1802, he was succeeded by William Little, who came from Strafford and bought the store building and prosecuted business there till about 1816, part of the time in company with Jona. Lovejoy from Boston. They dissolved partnership in 1809. About this time a store was kept by Charles Hutchins from Concord, N. H., in the building that in later years became the residence of the late Jas. S. Currier, just north of "Newton Inn." Little and Lovejoy were suc- ceeded by Waterman Ensworth and Rufus Hatch, Cyrus Partridge, not long after, becoming a member in place of Mr. Hatch.
Capt. Ethen Burnap was a merchant in Norwich from about 1817 to 1828 or '29, first at Union Village and later at Norwich Plain. About this time Elias Lyman, Jr., came in possession of the corner store at the
147
NORWICH MERCHANTS
Plain, where he did an extensive trade for several years, covering the period (1824-1834) pretty nearly, perhaps.
Following Elias Lyman was George Lyman, with whom Mr. Frank- lin L. Olds was associated, first as clerk and afterwards as partner, the firm finally becoming Lyman, Olds and Burton (Harvey Burton). Contemporary with this latter firm was Baxter B. Newton (1841-1845), his place of business being in the building where Henry Lary now lives. During the decade immediately preceding 1842, William Smith Burton was engaged in trade in the building now the residence of Edward W. Olds. L. S. Booth took a hand at merchandising (1847-1859), part of the time in company with John L. Currier, who continued the business alone for two or three years.
A Union store ("N. E. P. U., No. 236") was established at Nor- wich Village about 1853, in the house where Mr. Harry Russ resides, with E. M. Lewis as agent for several years; then the place of busi- ness was changed to where Henry Lary lives, with J. S. Gordon as agent, who was succeeded by Harry Russ. After a short existence, the enterprise went the way of nearly all co-operative ventures.
In the year 1842 the mercantile firm of F. L. and E. W. Olds was formed, and maintained until 1874. The business was continued by Edward W. Olds at the old corner store until its destruction by fire on the night of the 4th of August, 1875; after that date, in the brick store built by John Wright, Esq., about 1828, until that was destroyed by fire December 29, 1899; since then in the new building on the site of the one last destroyed, where Mr. Olds is still waiting upon customers and serving the United States and our townspeople as postmaster.
In the summer of 1886, a handsome and commodious building was erected by Josiah T. Morrison and Fred W. Hawley on the site of the old corner store. This partnership was continued until 1889, when Mr. Hawley assumed the whole business and is still in trade there.
Edward M. Lewis sold more or less groceries since 1857, having his place of business during the first few years at the village and since then at his home near the railroad station. Harry Russ and Myron D. Gibbs were similarly employed at the village, 1866-1874. Beginning in 1868, J. G. Stimson dealt largely in flour and feed, but relinquished the business to his son, Charles, who keeps his goods in a building in the rear of his residence on Main Street.
148
HISTORY OF NORWICH
In 1891, L. K. Merrill moved to town and opened a general store in the south end of the Barstow block, where he remained in business until 1895, when he disposed of his stock of goods to Merrill and Smith, who have continued the business ever since.
In the '40's, S. & H. Moore kept store at Beaver Meadow. H. & E. Morgan were in trade there from 1841 to 1858. About 1854 a union store was established there.
CHAPTER XX
CEMETERIES
In the graveyard at Pompanoosuc, which was the earliest one estab- lished in town, are the graves of two infant sons (twins) of Deacon John Slafter, that died in May, 1770. These were the earliest graves noticed. In this yard are the graves of many of the early settlers in the north part of the town, among them those of the Waterman, Bart- lett, Baldwin, Burnap, Slafter, Smalley, Goodrich, Hedges, Hezekiah Johnson, Lyman, Lord, Brownson, Jaquith, Carey, and Root families.
At the Center graveyard, near the site of the old meeting house, also may be found many graves of early date, including those of the Olcott, Murdock (except Hon. Thomas M.), Armstrong, Hutchinson (in part), Johnson, Newton, Hovey, Vinsen, Loveland (in part), and Yarrington families, and Rev. Samuel Goddard, and Zerah Colburn, the mathemat- ical prodigy.
In the old cemetery at the village are many early graves (one of date of 1770, probably of Jonathan Marsh, who died that year). Here lie the remains of the Brigham, Brown, Bigelow, Boardman, Curtis, Coit, Emerson, Hatch, Hopson, Lewis, Partridge, and part of the Hutchinson and Loveland families, and many others. This cemetery is the last resting place of a large proportion of the men most prom- inent in the history of the town,-of Jacob, Elisha, Pierce, and Har- vey Burton, of John, Joseph, and Reuben Hatch, of Samuel, Alden, and Cyrus Partridge, of Lieut-Gov. Paul Brigham and his family, of Dr. Joseph Lewis and Enos Lewis, of Hon. Abel Curtis, Hon. Thomas Mur- dock, Hon. Ebenezer Brown, Col. Truman B. Ransom, John Wright, Esq., Rev. J. W. Woodward, Col. William E. Lewis, and others.
The cemetery on the hill west of the village-the latest public burial place established in town-was a gift from the late Hon. Aaron Love- land, whose remains are interred therein.
150
HISTORY OF NORWICH
In the west part of the town is a plot of ground near where a pest- house once stood, where were buried the victims of the smallpox, which was epidemic in town about 1799. This lot of land is said to be the property of the town and was probably intended to be used solely for the interment of persons who died from that disease.
CHAPTER XXI
EPIDEMICS IN NORWICH
It is probable that smallpox prevailed in town in 1797, for we learn by the records of a town meeting held that year that it was "voted to provide for innoculation for the smallpox, to be carried on under the selectmen and a committee appointed for that purpose." At that time a pest house* was established, and rigid regulations adopted for stamp- ing out the scourge by a committee consisting of Paul Brigham, Joseph Hatch, and Dr. Joseph Lewis. At a town meeting held in January, 1803, it was "voted to give liberty to have the smallpox introduced into town by innoculation, for two months only, to be carried out under the superintendence of a committee in certain houses to be described as pest houses."
During the winter of 1811-12, the spotted fever prevailed and claimed many victims. In 1798, dysentery was present in epidemic form. In 1823, the number of deaths was forty-six, the cause not known. Between March and November, 1832, thirteen children under · eight years of age died of canker rash. During 1834-5, there were six -- ty-four deaths. What the prevailing disease was, we know not. In 1843, there were fifty-three deaths in town, eight in January and nine in February and March, over twenty being attributed to erysipelas. Ten of the deaths this year were of persons over eighty years old, average age eighty-four years. The deaths in 1842 numbered fifty- four, about one-half being children, mostly under five years of age, of canker rash. Seven persons over eighty years of age died in 1844.
The following curious causes of deaths in town are copied from records: "May 31, 1827, Polly Lord, inflammation-Thom- sonian doctrine; September 1, 1829, Joseph Yates Spooner, 36 years, suddenly, by green corn; September 24, 1830, Jacob Sawyer, 76 years,
*The pest house was on land subsequently included in the farm of the late Gardner Davis, in Beaver Meadow. Near the site of the pest house are graves of several persons who died of smallpox.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH
suddenly in the field; January 3, 1833, James Johnson, 73 years, in- temperance, bowel complaint; January 29, 1835, Widow Geer, 90 years (old age), had been blind twenty years; August 12, 1835, Miss Joiner, suddenly, from eating fruit; June 11, 1829, Widow Evans, 75 years, supposed to have been poisoned by a spider in some lettuce; August 28, 1806, Ames, 23 years, suicide ; May 5, 1807, Hiram Baxter, 7 years, lived one day after excess of drinking; October 25, 1825, James Ellis, 45 years, hung himself; 1827, Samuel Gleason, drowned; January 2, 1834, Captain Safford, 78 years, frozen ; April 22, 1835, Jeremiah Bis- sell, suicide ; June 1, 1839, Ann Hatch, 32 years, suicide by drowning; March, 1843, Calvin Freeman, 70 years, intemperate, layed out; No- vember 7, 1841, Mrs. Sweeney, murdered by her husband, .James Sweeney."
CHAPTER XXII
AGRICULTURE IN NORWICH
By favor of Hon. George W. Richards, Acting Superintendent of the Census Office at Washington, the statistics of agriculture of the census of 1880 for the town of Norwich have been compiled for our use. These statistics have never before been published. In the following list we have compared them with those of 1840, so far as the latter were col- lected in the census of that year :
PRODUCTS OF THE FARM
1880
1840
Horses, Number of,
*423
481
Cattle, Number of-Working Oxen, 197,
Milch Cows, 700,
Other Cattle, 589,
1,486
2,348
Sheep, Number of,
+9,847
13,395
Wool, pounds raised,
37,388
27,639
Wool, fleeces, spring clip of 1880,
7,124
Swine,
409
1,559
Poultry,
3,859
Eggs, dozens (produced in 1879),
17,070
Hay, tons,
6,032
5,265
Acres of ground mown,
6,000
Wheat, bushels,
2,233
3,801
Indian Corn, bushels,
20,791
11,119
Rye, bushels,
418
2,854
Oats, bushels,
21,541
20,727
Barley, bushels,
71
349
Buckwheat, bushels,
741
11,182
*In Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont, edition of 1824, the number of horses in town in 1823 is given as 361, and the number of cattle as 2,159.
tExclusive of spring lambs,
I54
HISTORY OF NORWICH
Potatoes, bushels,
21,946
53,480
Maple Sugar, pounds,
53,185
15,730
Maple Molasses, gallons, . .
413
Honey, pounds,
1,980
Beans, bushels,
1,212
Peas, bushels,
16
Apples, bushels,
20,855
Butter, pounds (produced in 1879),
73,432
Cheese, pounds (produced in 1879),
13,927
Milk, gallons (sold in 1879),
4,993
Wood, cords (cut in 1879),
3,842
Number of farms in town of over three acres, 228
Number of farms cultivated by owners,
209
Number of farms rented for fixed money rental, "
5
Number of farms rented for share of products, "
14
Land in farms, acres improved,
22,342
Land in farms, acres unimproved, 5,425
Total value of farm products in 1879, $105,420
Total value of forest products in 1879, $13,360
Total value of orchard products in 1879, $5,082
Total value of market garden products in 1879, $880
While a few branches of husbandry show a notable increase in the aggregate of products in the last forty years, others have fallen off. Probably the average of arable land is now considerably less than in 1840. The yield of hay appears to be fully maintained, and shows a product of a trifle over one ton for each acre mown-not a very flat- tering exhibit to be sure.
A decided improvement in the grade of sheep appears in the fact that, while the number of animals kept is more than one-fourth smaller than in 1840, the weight of wool shorn has increased over one-third, and averages about five and one-fourth pounds to each fleece.
The incompleteness of the census of 1840 makes it of comparatively little value for purposes of comparison with the much fuller schedules of 1880. The absence of comparative dairy statistics is especially to be regretted.
The culture of the strawberry for market is a new industry that has reached considerable magnitude in town in recent years, the product
155
AGRICULTURE IN NORWICH
being estimated in 1884 to reach fully one thousand bushels of fruit, of a market value of about $3,000,-an item that seems to have been overlooked in the census report of 1880.
The process of ensilaging green fodder received early attention here, Mr. Thomas A. Hazen being the first to employ it on a large scale. Several leading farmers have since built silos for themselves, from the use of which they claim to have realized a decided benefit.
CHAPTER XXIII
FREE MASONRY
It does not appear that any Masonic Lodge has ever existed in Nor- wich. Quite a number of our citizens, however, as might be expected, have at different times belonged to lodges in adjacent towns. In the list of members of Franklin Lodge, established at Hanover, N. H., in 1796, we find the names of the following Norwich men, with the year of their admission : Reuben Hatch, Freegrace Leavitt (1798), William Sumner (1799), Thomas Brigham, Erastus Leavitt, and Moses Hay- ward (1800), Reuben Partridge, Andrew Dewey, William Little, Levi Richards, Aaron West (1801-1807), Lyman Lewis, Elijah Slafter, Simon Baldwin, Enos Lewis, Jasper Johnson, Noah Lewis (1808), Charles Hutchins, Sewell Gleason (1809), Ephraim Hall, George Olds, Jr., and Pierce Burton (1810), Manly G. Woodbury, Silas Morse, Ammi B. Allen, and Barzilla Bush, Jr. (1813-1820). The roll probably bears other Norwich names that we do not now recognize. The Franklin Lodge was moved to Lebanon in 1821, where it still flourishes. In 1807 and 1808, Doctor Thomas Brigham of Norwich was master of the lodge, who, on his sudden departure from town and abandonment of his family, was promptly expelled therefrom by notice published in the Vermont Journal at Windsor, in April, 1809, "for immoral conduct unworthy a Mason and a gentleman."
Other Norwich Masons of that time, not of the Franklin Lodge, were Captain Calvin Seaver, Jeremiah Bissell, Ebenezer Spear, 2nd, Lyman Baldwin, and William Leconte.
At the height of the Anti-Masonic agitation, about 1830, a great com- motion was raised in the North Congregational Church, growing out of the refusal of the majority of the church, led by Deacon Israel Newton, to go to communion with those church members who were
157
FREE MASONRY
Masons. Manifestoes and resolutions were presented in church meet- ings on both sides, and a heated controversy raged through several months upon this question, eliciting much bitterness of feeling. A set- tlement was finally effected by mutual concessions, the Anti-Masonic party agreeing to cease their attacks upon the institution before the church, and the Masons agreeing to absent themselves from the meet- ings of the lodge, at least for a time.
CHAPTER XXIV
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS IN NORWICH
The convening of the legislature at Norwich in June, 1785, has been noticed, as well as the meeting of the first Council of Census here. In later years, prominent citizens and public officials have on several occasions visited the town. Norwich was the first town in Vermont to welcome to its hospitalities a Chief Executive of the United States. President James Munroe, in his trip through New England in the summer of 1817, entered the state at Norwich on the 22nd of July .* After a drive to Copperas Hill, the presidential party returned by way of Strafford to Norwich Plain, and alighted at Curtis' Hotel,t where a number of citizens were in attendance, who presented to Mr. Munroe the following appropriate and patriotic
ADDRESS
To the President of the United States:
SIR :- A few citizens of Vermont upon your first entrance on the borders of the state present you a united and hearty welcome.
With the liveliest emotions of duty we meet for the first time, a Chief Magistrate of the Union within our territory. An emulation to pay respectful attention to the ruler of our nation, appointed by our own choice, under a constitu- tion so eminently calculated for individual security, for individual interests and national happiness ; a spontaneous burst of joy among all classes of our citizens, at the visit of the President of the United States, are the best pledges a free
*Mr. Monroe came into town directly from Hanover where (so the journal of his trip relates) he unexpectedly met an old acquaintance in the widow of President John Wheelock, then recently deceased. This lady was a native of New Jersey, and was at Trenton at the time of the battle there in 1777, in which young Monroe was engaged as lieutenant of a company and was wounded. She was the person who dressed his wound after he had been conveyed to the house where she then was. Sanborn's History of New Hampshire, p. 266.
+Curtis Hotel occupied the site of the present " Newton Inn," and was kept by Eleazer Curtis.
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DISTINGUISHED VISITORS IN NORWICH
people can present to a Chief Magistrate of their contentment with the laws, and the operation of them in the government under the constitution, and their confi- dence in the administration. This emulation, joy, and confidence we tender you, Sir; and in Vermont, it is believed, you will find everywhere these sentiments, as you have before this, on your present tour, experienced them in other sections of the Union.
These testimonials we present you, Sir, in behalf of our fellow citizens .* To which the President was pleased to return a verbal answer.
The President and his suite, with a number of other gentlemen, then> partook of a dinner, prepared by Mr. Eleazer Curtis in handsome style. After dinner the President was introduced to a number of ladies, collected, while the company were dining, for the purpose of seeing him. He was also introduced to a large number of the children of the neighborhood. The company, men, women, and children, were highly gratified at the sight and introduction of the President. He stayed in the place about two hours, and then bade the company an affectionate farewell, and left Norwich for Windsor.
Ex-Vice-President Richard M. Johnson visited Norwich, October 25, 1843, and had a public reception here. He was greeted with military honors, under the direction of General T. B. Ransom, on his approach to the village from Hanover, where he had been entertained the day before. John Wright, Esq., made an address of welcome (hereto appended), to which Colonel Johnson responded. The ceremonies of the occasion were concluded by a review of the corps of cadets by the "distinguished guest, and by a barbecue on the parade ground of Nor- wich University in the evening, accompanied by festivities of a varied and unusual character.
COLONEL RICHARD M. JOHNSON :
SIR :- In the name and in behalf of the citizens of Norwich, I am delegated to tender to you a sincere welcome to our small but delightful village.
It is, Sir, with great diffidence that I attempt to express to you the enthusi- astic feelings of gratitude, and friendship, which pervade the bosoms of this assembled multitude.
You find yourself, Sir, in the midst of a people the great mass of whom are engaged in the laudable and honorable pursuit of agriculture, owning as well as cultivating with their own hands these broad and fertile fields, and although our avocations are of the rustic kind, and we have not probed deep in "Classic Lore,"
*The name of the person who acted as spokesman on this occasion in behalf of his townsmen has not been ascertained, but is believed to have been Ebenezar Brown, Esq.
160
HISTORY OF NORWICH
still I hazard nothing in saying you will find us as generous, and as warm-hearted possessed of as much philanthropy, as strongly attached to our country, her con- stitution, and laws, as any portion of the population of this mighty Republic.
With these feelings throbbing in the heart of every individual in this assembly, they have left their farms, their work shops, and their cares, and come up here this day to welcome among them one, who has done so much for the benefit and honor of our beloved country.
Sir, your untiring efforts while in the council of the Nation to ameliorate the condition of the poor and unfortunate debtor, your zealous and successful exer- tions to restore to the war-worn soldier of the Revolution a small part of his hard earnings, your bold and fortunate course to allay the animosity of angry politicians upon subjects of legislation touching the conscience of man (which is between him and his God); I must be allowed to say to you, Sir, these acts of yours alone, would have been sufficient to have endeared you to every honest, independent freeman of America. But, Sir, I stop not here. In the early part of the late war, urged upon us by the aggression of Great Britain, you took an active part, and drew your sword in defence of your injured and insulted country with a determina- tion never to sheath it until that haughty nation and her red allies should be driven from the continent or forced to submit to an honorable peace.
In the ever memorable year 1813, when our country was bleeding at every pore, our western and northwestern frontier almost deluged with the blood of helpless women and innocent children wantonly massacred by the barbarous savage, instigated to the horrid act by the bribery of British gold ; at this eventful period we find you, Sir, fast hastening to the scene of danger with a host of Kentucky's noblest sons.
The western breeze soon wafted to our ears the joyful news that the enemy was driven from our soil, and Proctor and Tecumseh were retreating to the interior of the British dominions for safety, closely pursued by the mounted riflemen of Kentucky, under their gallant and invincible leader and commander, R. M. John- son (our distinguished guest). With breathless anxiety we waited to hear the result. The glorious news soon came that General Proctor's army was captured, Tecumseh slain, and Proctor had saved himself by flight.
History has furnished us the facts, how and by whom this great achievement was obtained. We learn from this that you, Sir, acted a most conspicuous part. Your chivalrous deeds on the plains of Moravian Town have made an indelible impression on our minds which time cannot eradicate. The faithful pen of history has and will record your noble deeds of valor, and of patriotism.
Your name, Sir, the name of R. M. Johnson, is associated with the imperish- able names of Harrison and Shelby, and millions yet unborn will read with admir. ation your political acts, and martial exploits.
Sir, with pride and pleasure we shall often recur to this day, when we had the honor and satisfaction of seeing and hearing from one who had so often jeopard- ised his life in defence of our country's rights.
It is with deep regret we learn your visit with us must be so short, but, Sir, should you return to the rich valleys and green hills of your much loved Kentucky
161
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS IN NORWICH
to enjoy in quiet retirement the remainder of your days, or should you again be called by the voice of your fellow citizens into the service of your country, be assured, Sir, our morning orisons will be fervently offered up for your health, happiness, and the full enjoyments of all the blessings of life.
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