USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Poultney > A history of the town of Poultney, Vermont, from its settlement to the year 1875, with family and biographical sketches and incidents > Part 13
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vicinity. Being a son of John C. Hopson, Sen., of Wells, where some of the staunch church families of this parish originated; baptized by the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, who first grouped the church people of the vicinity, and largely of the State; a pupil of the Rev. Stephen Jewett, who first raised the church in Hampton to prosperity; he has himself done more of the labor which those worthy clergymen opened and left to their successors, than any one person. His influence, and that of his family, deserve a long and grateful remembrance. He was graduated at Washington (now Trinity) College, Hartford, Conn., in 1827; was teacher for three years of a private classical school-very successful; was ordained, by Bishop Brownell, Deacon, in 1833; and Priest, in 1834. He officiated for fourteen years in Naugatuck and vicinity, where he added 164 persons to the communion, and thence came to Poultney. From here he went to North Guilford, Conn., in 1868, where he was the means of renovating the old church; and, lastly, removed to Waverly, Ill., where he is now rector of the church; aged, Nov. next, 71 years.
Some account of Mr. Hopson's family is requested. He was married, in Derby, Conn., September, 1833, to Caroline Allis, grand-daughter of Rev. Richard Mansfield, D. D., of Connecti- cut. Their children are:
1. Richard Mansfield, who died, aged 4 months.
2. William Allis, late merchant in Macon, Georgia, who died August 31, 1873, leaving his wife, Virginia (Conner) and two children, named Georgia and Virginia.
3. George Bailey, graduate of Trinity College, and of the General Theological Seminary, New York; ordained Deacon and Priest by Bishop Potter; now Professor of Latin in St. Stephen's College, Annandale, N. Y .; married Mary W. Johns- ton. They have buried three children, and have two living, Frank J. and William Oliver.
4. Caroline Scovill, now the wife of Rev. Dr. James Starr Clark, proprietor of Trinity School, Tivoli, on the Hudson. They have one infant daughter, Anna Mansfield.
5. Edward Crafts, left Trinity College to join the 19th Conn.
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Regiment in the late war; was afterwards changed to the 6th Corps; served two years, when he was killed instantly in the Battle of Cedar Creek, 19th October, 1864. His commission as Lieutenant was made out before his death, though he never saw it.
6. Elizabeth Crafts, now Mrs. John Baker, of Manhatten, Ill.
7. Mansfield Cobia, farmer, of Waverly, Ill .; married Cor- nelia M. Bailey. They have one infant child.
8. Mary Clark, residing with her father, in Waverly, Ill.
The subsequent very important changes in the parish will be more suitably given by those engaged in them.
N. B .- Most of the foregoing narratives can be verified by consulting a memoir of the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, published in the Christian Times, New York, February 5th and 12th, 1863; a manuscript letter of the Rev. Mr. Pardee to Rev. Luman Foote, recorded, if I remember, in the register of the parish; the historical letter of Rev. Moore Bingham, described above, in possession of the registrar of the diocese; Mss. bio- graphical data, in the same hands; and the Journals of the con- vention of the diocese. A few unimportant particulars are tra- ditionary or of the writer's recollections. A. H. B.
After Mr. Hopson's rectorship of St. John's Parish had ter- minated, the Rev. Nathaniel F. Putnam took charge of its in- terests, and with the special blessing of the Lord. The old church in East Poultney had undergone so much change-the members having removed or died in large numbers, and the population and business of the town having set toward the railroad station, it was deemed wise to undertake to hold services in the west village. Accordingly, Mr. Putnam began the work in Joslin Hall, in the summer of 1866. These services were well attended, and by the vigorous efforts of the friends of the church, this part of the parish increased, so as to warrant an effort toward building a church edifice in the west village. Dili- gent labor, both by rector and people, handsomely seconded by numerous friends from abroad, crowned the effort with so much success as to enable them to present Trinity Church for conse- cration in the fall of 1868. During these two years and more,
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a Sunday School had been maintained, at first, in the parlors of the Beaman House, then in the hall, and at length in the church, where it has been continued with marked success to the present time.
It will not do others, who labored well for the church during this period, injustice, if special mention be made of two or three persons whose works, and sympathies, and benefactions con- tributed largely to build up this particular branch of God's Church. These are the late Aaron Lewis, well known and highly respected by his townsmen; Mrs. F. M. Austin, of de- lightful memory, who left New York to seek the quiet of our Vermont scenery, and who went to her rest from labors abund- ant; and Miss Ella K. Chester, now the wife of Rev. N. F. Putnam, of St. Luke's Church, St. Albans, Vt., whose zeal and devotion to the welfare of this parish have never wavered, and to whom, under God, may be attributed much of the success with which the parish has been blessed.
Many others deserve notice here, but the list would be too extended for our narrow space, and we pass on.
In the autumn of 1869, Mr. Putnam was called from this, his first parish, to take charge of St. Luke's, St. Albans, where he still labors with distinction, both as a parish priest, and as a member of the diocese at large. His successor, the present in- cumbent, took up the work where Mr. Putnam left it, with such results as God was pleased to bestow. The Rev. E. H. Randall began the work of his ministry in Grace Church Parish, Ran- dolph, Vt., where he remained from 1863 to 1866, when he was elected to the Associate Rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Paw- tucket, R. I., which position he filled to the autumn of 1869, when he removed to St. John's, Poultney. Since then he has been permitted to see a considerable development of strength in the parish, and through the zeal of its friends, a fine rectory and fences have been built, the grounds graded, and other kin- dred improvements made-this in 1870 and 1871. In Novem- ber, 1870, the Rector opened a small parish school in his study, which soon grew to so great a number, that he felt called upon to erect a building for the special use of St. John's School.
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This was done in the months of November and December, 1871. Since that time the school has maintained its position as a first- class educator of its kind, and has largely contributed to the present importance of the parish. Besides this work in the west village, services have been maintained in the old church at East Poultney, where, though numerically smaller, there has continued a wholesome love for the old church. There, centers many a kindly recollection; there, remain many associations which bind together hearts, separated only by the veil of the tomb; thither turn the memories of many a devoted soul from the north and the south, the east and the west. One and another of those who have gone to distant parts of our country, come back to revisit the place of their early recollec- tions, of their baptism, their confirmation, their first communion, and, perhaps, their marriage. It is a place of living interest to many such; and it is to be hoped whatever may be the future of the parish, a suitable interest may be maintained for the mother church, and that the voice of prayer, and praise, and thanksgiving within her sacred walls, may never cease to be heard.
Such, in brief, is the history of St. John's Parish, Poultney. Of course, in so short a notice, much must needs be passed over, which, to me and another, would have a peculiar interest. A few pages is quite too narrow a space to tell the story of all the men and women of faith who have taken an active part in this work. It would be the history of many families-the Baileys, the Marshalls, the Monroes, the Mallarys, the Beamans, the Lewises, the Ransoms, the Whitlocks, the Hosfords, and others, who have a securer record than this.
Christian Advent Church.
This church was organized in February, 1858, with about one hundred and twenty members. Prior to this organization, Miles Grant, a prominent clergyman of this denomination, then of Boston, preached some little time. A revival followed his labors, and the result was the organization of the church. At the or- ganization, Asa, J. Rogers, Asa B. Cook and Justus L. Knapp
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were appointed deacons. Rev. John Howell was the first pastor, which position le held about two years. He was a man of ability, and regarded as an able preacher and faithful pastor. He resided in Poultney until after the completion of his labors here, and then removed West, and died in Chicago several years since. His remains were brought to Sandy Hill, N. Y., and there interred. A few months after Mr. Howell closed his labors, Rev. Henry F. Carpenter became the pastor; he came here from Massachusetts. He was a young man of very good ability, and spoken of as a sincere Christian. He remained as the pastor about two years, when he removed. He was a grow- ing young man, and now occupies a prominent position in the denomination in other parts of New England. Since the pastor- ate of Mr. Carpenter, the church has kept up its organization, held meetings and had preaching, not steadily, but from time to time. A Mrs. Jennings preached about one year, and Rev. J. B. Cook for a portion of the time during a period of two years.
This church first held its meetings in the "Stone Church." It was rented, in 1858, of a company consisting of Merritt Clark, H. J. Ruggles, Joshua Poor, J. B. Beaman, Joseph Joslin and A. E. Knapp. In 1860, this company sold the house to parties representing the Advent Church, and here the services of that church were holden until November, 1869, when the building was conveyed to the Masons, who have since owned and occu- pied it. Since their sale of the stone church, their meetings have usually been holden in Odd Fellows' Hall. This church does not now have regular services, but from time to time, as they are supplied with preachers of the denomination.
Roman Catholic Church.
The church edifice of this denomination was erected in 1864, on the street leading from the Beaman Hotel to Castleton, and was dedicated in 1865 by Bishop DeGoesbriand. It was built under the direction of Rev. Thomas Lynch, then priest of the parish. He then resided at West Rutland. Some two or three years prior to building the church, Mr. Lynch had officiated,
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holding services at the house of John Flood. Previous to that, for some years, occasional services had been held in Poultney and vicinity. Father Lynch is given to us as the first parish priest, and who commenced his ministrations some two or three years prior to the building of the church. Mr. Lynch, at this time was assisted by Rev. T. J. Halpine. The Rev. J. C. O'Dwyer was the second priest. " He resided at Fairhaven. That town, West Castleton and Poultney are included in the same parish. Mr. O'Dwyer remained in charge about five years, and was succeeded by Rev. P. J. O'Carrol. He has officiated several years, and is the present parish priest. The first priest, Rev. Thomas Lynch, has been elected Vicar General of the Diocese, and now resides at Burlington, Vt. The church, when built, cost upwards of five thousand dollars, which expense was en- tirely met by the Poultney church. The members report that the church has never had any assistance from outside, but has assisted, to some extent, other churches. The church, though . small at the beginning, has increased quite rapidly, and now, with members and their families, numbers about three hundred and fifty.
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CHAPTER XII.
MASONS-ODD FELLOWS-TEMPERANCE AND TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
Masons.
ORNING STAR LODGE, No. 27, was organized in Poultney prior to the year 1800, but at precisely what date the writer is unable at present to determine. The records of the old Lodge are lost or destroyed. There were Masonic organizations in the State prior to the admission of Vermont into the Union in 1791, and the Poultney Lodge was No. 27, which indicates that the old Morning Star Lodge re- ceived its charter quite early in the history of the State. We know of but two now living in Poultney who were members of the old Lodge, Philo Hosford and Frederick Ruggles. By them and others we are informed that the Lodge was strong in num- bers and ability, and took a prominent stand among the Lodges of the State. Harris Hosford, Samuel Ruggles, Capt. William Miller, Elisha Ashley, Henry G. Neal and Alonzo Howe were among the Masters of the old Lodge. In the year 1826, after William Morgan disappeared from his home in Western New York, and was supposed to have been murdered for divulging the secrets of the order, a great excitement arose throughout the country, and continued for some years. In Vermont, as well as in the State of New York, this excitement was intense, and in this State a political Anti-Masonic party arose, but, in Poultney, was always defeated at the elections. By reason of the clamor raised, most of the Lodges were obliged to suspend work-the Poultney Lodge about the year 1832.
The Grand Lodge of the State held its annual elections until 1836. It then suspended its work for about ten years. January 14, 1846, a meeting was held at Burlington, and the Grand Lodge was revived and reorganized, and from thence the work of Masonry was again set in motion in the State.
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The first that we learn of the restoration of the institution in Poultney, was early in the year 1853. A dispensation for the organization of the Chapter was then received, and an organiza- tion was had. The first officers of the Chapter elected were Henry J. Ruggles, H. P .; S. P. Hooker, K., and Merritt Clark, Scribe. Henry J. Ruggles held the office of High Priest of the Chapter until September, 1861. He was then succeeded by Henry Ruggles, who has held the position since, except in the years 1871-2, when it was held by M. O. Stoddard. In June, 1875, the Chapter had 132 members.
February 16, 1856, the members of Morning Star Lodge, of Poultney, assembled under dispensation issued by Philip C. Tucker, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. At this meeting there was an organization. Henry Ruggles was appointed Mas- ter; G. L. Hur.ter, Senior Warden; L. D. Ross, Junior War- den; and Henry Clark, Secretary. This Lodge obtained its.
charter January 15, 1857, and was chartered as Morning Star Lodge, No. 37; the old Lodge was No. 27. Henry Ruggles re- mained Master of the Lodge until about December 17, 1861, when Nelson Ransom held the position until his death, in Janu- ary, 1867. M. O. Stoddard was Senior Warden, and' officiated as Master until the next annual election, which occurred De -- cember 10, 1867, when he was elected Master. Mr. Stoddard held the office until June 7, 1870, when Fonrose Farwell was elected, and served until May 30, 1871. Henry Ruggles was. then elected Master, and served until May 21, 1872, when M. (). Stoddard was elected Master. S. L. Ward was elected Mas- ter June, 10, 1873, and is now the Master of Morning Star Lodge.
The Lodge has gradually increased since its organization, and. in June last, when returns were made to the Grand Lodge, its. members mumbered 179. The Stone Church, as elsewhere ap- pears, was purchased by the Masons, Nov. 6, 1869. A fine hall' was completed in the month of January following, and Febru- ary 15th, 1870, the Lodge held its first meeting in the same .. Previous to the occupying of the Stone Church, the hall in the Poultney House had been used ..
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The present officers of the Lodge are as follows:
Solon L. Ward, W. M. James L. Clark, S. D.
Jas. H. Parks, S. W.
John D. Smith, J. D.
Chas. B. Blossom, J. W. Moses J. Jones, Steward.
Edward Clark, Treas. Orlando Gates, 6.6
C. W. Finel, Sec'y.
Chas. F. Boomer, Tyler.
January 20, 1857, there was granted a Council of Royal and Select Masons in Poultney. A charter was received by this body, dated August 14, 1857. The first three officers elected were: Henry Ruggles, T. I. G. M .; B. F. Neal, R. I. G. M .; and Jonas Wilder, I G. M. This organization still exists, and has about 70 members
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Netis Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F., was instituted in Poultney by the Grand Lodge of the State of Vermont, Dec. 1, 1852.
Henry Clark, W. O. Ruggles, Henry Ruggles, George L. Hunter and William Lamb were its charter members. Its first officers were W. O. Ruggles, N. G .; Henry Ruggles, V. G .; George L. Hunter, Secretary, and William Lamb, Treasurer.
The first meetings of the Lodge were holden in the Sons of Temperance Hall, in the brick store building in West Poultney, now known as the Poultney House. The Lodge afterwards rented the Masonic Hall, in the same building, which was form- ally dedicated to the purposes of the order, January 11, 1854. In 1869, the Lodge rented the new, and present, Masonic Hall, in the Stone Church building, which they continued to occupy until November, 1871, when the Lodge moved into their present commodious and well appointed rooms in Cole and Rowe's block.
The presiding officers of the Lodge, up to 1859, have been successively : W. O. Ruggles, John K. Pixley,
Andrew Clark,
Henry Ruggles,
Henry Clark,
D. H. Odell,
George L. Hunter,
R. K. Morrill,
L. D. Ross, D. H. Odell.
Henry Ruggles,
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From 1869.
L. D. Ross,
R. K. Morrill,
Norman C. Harris,
Cyrus E. Horton,
N. C. Hyde, M. G. Noyes, died in office. James Bullock, F. O. Betts, present N. G.
In 1859, the Lodge, in common with many other Lodges in the State, and throughout the United States, ceased working. This was owing mainly, if not entirely, to abuses in the practice of the benefit system.
In 1869, the Lodge was reinstated, through the efforts, princi- pally, of B. C. Dennis, of Michigan, a commissioner appointed by the Grand Lodge of the United States for the purpose of reviving defunct Lodges. Since its reinstatement, the Lodge has been, and is now, in a healthy and prosperous condition.
Temperance and Temperance Organizations.
The temperance reformation in this country commenced some little time before 1830. The subject was agitated in Poultney to some extent during the year 1829, and in that year, or the following (1830), a temperance society was organized. Among the pioneers in the temperance reform, were Elisha Ashley, Wil- liam Wheeler, John W. Austin, Joseph Joslin, Amon Bailey, Aaron Lewis, Amos Thompson and Wm. L. Farnum. Previous to the commencement of this reform, the use of ardent spirits as a beverage had been general. The moderate use of spirit- uous liquors was not regarded as a disgrace to anyone, even a clergyman. In the first organization persons became mem- bers by signing a pledge, which bound them to abstain from all distilled liquors; the use of wine, beer and cider was not ex- cluded. Some years after, another pledge was adopted, which bound the subscribers to it to abstain from the use of all which intoxicates.
The movement on the start met with a good deal of opposi- tion and a good deal of ridicule. Mr. Wheeler, perhaps on the start, and for years afterwards, was the most active of the pion- eers in the temperance movement, though no less firm and car- nest than many others.
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About the year 1840 commenced what was called the Wash- ingtonian Movement. This started in Baltimore, Maryland, and was also known as the Reform Drunkard's Movement. A set of men in Baltimore, who had formed habits of dissipa- tion, resolved to use no more of the ardent, and from this com- menced an interest in the reform of inebriates, which to a large extent was productive of good results. Under this movement an organization was effected in Poultney.
Organizations known as the Sons of Temperance were estab- lished in different parts of the country as early as 1846 or 1847. There was such an organization in the town of Poultney, which was for some years quite prosperous. It contained a respecta- ble number of members, and conducted its work well and with very good effect. This organization was kept up for several years, and finally ceased to exist.
A Lodge of Good Templars was chartered and organized on the 12th day of April, 1869; Elijah Ross was the first presiding officer. This organization started off with a good deal of en- thusiasm, and soon gained a membership of over one hundred. The last meeting of this body was held September 3d, 1873.
None of the temperance organizations, since the temperance reform commenced, have been of long duration, and yet all have been useful while they existed, in the work for which they were designed. But the purpose to reform has been steady and continuous; and we believe that Poultney in this regard has a record which will favorably compare with that of other Vermont towns.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE TROY CONFERENCE ACADEMY-RIPLEY FEMALE COLLEGE- POULTNEY NORMAL INSTITUTE-ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL.
HE TROY CONFERENCE ACADEMY will ever occupy a prominent place in the history of the town of Poultney. It was not one of the earliest institutions of the town, yet its history is full of interest. The Troy Con- ference was founded in the year 1833. The territory now in- cluded in this Conference, was set off from the New York Con- ference, and is bounded: north, by Canada; east, by the Green Mountain range in Vermont and Massachusetts; extends south to a point about fifteen miles south of Albany, and west to a line passing north and south in the neighborhood of Canajoharrie.
At the time of the establishment of the Troy Conference, there were within its limits a good number of able, energetic, earnest men-such men as Tobias Spicer, Noah Levings, Tru- man Seymour, Charles Sherman, Cyrus Prindle, S. D. Ferguson, Ephraim Goss, Joseph Ayres, Joshna and David Poor, and Sey- mour Coleman. These men were members of the Conference, and they were not only giants in intellect, but thoroughly de- voted to the interests of the Conference and the cause of Christianity. With them, and, perhaps, a few others of their cotemporaries, originated the project of the Troy Conference Academy. They comprehended the educational wants of the church; with their keen foresight they saw the advantages which would accrue to the Conference, the church, and to the cause of education. At the first session of the Conference, the subject was agitated, and it was decided to establish a Con- ference Academy. Then arose the question of location. Says a writer of the history of this institution, in the Troy Press, of August 12, 1874: "Near the geographical center of the Con- ference, in the State of Vermont, and less than half a mile from the line between Vermont and New York, is the quiet and rural
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village of Poultney, then, as ever since, noted for its beauty, healthfulness, temperance, good order, and freedom from in- fluences baneful to a school. The location, and the generous offers made by the people of Poultney, caused this place to be selected by the Troy Conference, at its session in 1834, as the seat for Troy Conference Academy."
The people of Poultney were very liberal in their donations, and among the most generous was Henry Stanley. To him, perhaps, more than any other one man, were we indebted for the decision to locate the Academy in Poultney.
Having decided upon the location, a charter was obtained from the Vermont Legislature, in the fall of 1834. The following were the corporators: John Stanley, Benjamin Barnet, Samuel P. Hooker, Tobias Spicer, Samuel D. Ferguson, Noah Levings, Sherman Miner, Peter C. Oakley and Timothy Benedict. The charter, or act of incorporation, provided that the successors of the corporators be appointed by the Troy Conference. The Conference appointed Rev. Tobias Spicer, agent, who, aided by Revs. Cyrus Prindle, Sherman Miner, Joshua Poor, S. D. Fergu- son, and by the preachers generally, made a thorough canvass of the Conference to solicit funds for erecting the building. The donations ranged all the way from ten cents to five hundred dollars. There was then but little wealth in the denomination within the Conference, compared with what there is at the present time; but almost every one gave his mite. The walls of the building were erected in 1836, and the building was com- pleted and opened for students in September, 1837.
Rev. Spencer Mattison kept a select school in a building stand- ing on the grounds of the Troy Conference Academy, in the yeaa 1835. The building stood near where the fence now is in front of the academy building, and had been occupied as a dwelling house. The Academy was opened in this building in 1836, and Sabin S. Stocking was the first Principal. From the first, the number of students was large. The school took high rank, and continued to maintain that position as long as it was under the control of the Conference.
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