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 15
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We subjoin a copy of the certificate of organization, which will exhibit the names of the Commissioners appointed in the act of incorporation, and of the first Board of Directors:
Certificate of Election of Directors, February 23, 1848.
"We, the und rsigned, Commissioners to receive Subscrip- tions for Stock t > Rutland & Washington Rail Road Company under an act approved Nov. 13, 1847, passed by the Vermont Legislature, do hereby certify that at an election duly called and held under said act, at W. Poultney, Vt., on the 23d day of February, 1848, the following named persons were chosen Directors of said Company under said act; that is to say,
Merritt Clark,
Marcus G. Langdon,
Henry Stanley,
Isaac W. Thompson,
Horace Clark,
Edgar L. Ormsbec, Milton Brown.
Dated at W. Poultney, Feb'y 23d, 1848.
WILLIAM C. KITTRIDGE,
ZIMRI HOWE,
HENRY STANLEY,
MOSES MILLER,
CHAS. W. KELLOGG,
B. F. LANGDON,
HORACE CLARK,
A. H. GRISWOLD,
ALONSON ALLEN,
J. ADAMS,
Commissioners.
M. J. MYERS,
A. W. HYDE,
ISAAC W. THOMPSON,
M. CLARK, EDGAR L. ORMSBEE,
Signed by all the Commissioners except Hon. Solomon Foote.
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Merritt Clark was subsequently elected President, and Horace Clark, his brother, Treasurer and Superintendent. The Board of Directors continued nearly the same for two years, when the road was opened through to Salem, forming a continuous line from Rutland to Troy, N. Y. Four years from the day of or- ganization, Horace Clark, " a pioneer and master-spirit in pro- jecting and completing the road," died, on the 25th of Febru- ary, 1852, the day appointed for celebrating its opening, witnessed his funeral rites and burial. It has been said of him, by one well qualified to write his eulogy, that " his stupendous energy, great executive ability, and unquestioned integrity, made an impression upon his times, and won the profound re- spects of his associates."
The accomplishment of this great work, costing nearly one million of dollars, was a surprise to many. An unfaltering purpose and strong heart had disappointed friends-had created revenue from unseen sources-had won favor from legislative bodies in two States, and compelled enemies to retract their predictions.
Though not a pecuniary success, the building of the road has largely enhanced the value of real estate, and otherwise con- tributed to the interests and prosperity of Poultney.
Telegraph.
When the Magnetic Telegraph was set in operation it occa- sioned some very singular remarks (the principle not being un- derstood by the people generally). The first Telegraph line was erected in this town in 1848, and the office was in what is now called the Poultney House, and J. Joslin was the operator. Soon after the line was put in working order, he received a message from the western part of New York, for a well-to-do farmer living a mile or two from the village. The message was enclosed in an envelope and delivered as directed. Soon after which the farmer entered the office holding the message in his hand, and with a peculiar expression of countenance, en- quired, "I want you should tell me how you got this letter so
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quick!" " It came by telegraph." "What! do you pretend this letter came three hundred miles by telegraph to-day ? (holding up the same.) See, it's hardly wrinkled at all. I should like to know how it got through them glass knobs on the poles. I should suppose it would have been all tore to pieces!"
On the 4th of March, 1849, there was a deep interest felt throughout the country (at least by politicians), in relation to Gen. Taylor's Inaugural Address, which was to be delivered at 12 o'clock. An arrangement was made with telegraph com- panies to transmit the message wherever lines had been estab- lished, and those who chose to receive it could do so by em- ploying a person to write it out as the operator furnished it. The entire document was received before 2 o'clock. It was soon announced in town-meeting (it being the first Tuesday in March), that the President's Message had been received at Poultney. There was a vote passed to suspend the business of the town for the time being, and invite the Deacon to read it; but many scouted the idea-said it was impossible to get it so soon. Some said it was a sell, that the operator had been copy- ing some old document to impose on them, "but he can't hum- bug me," etc., etc. But when the papers were received from New York the next day, and the same article read, unbelief gave way and faith established in the telegraph.
After a year or so J. Joslin was succeeded by J. Jay Joslin who had the office in the store now occupied by L. E. Thompson, near the Beaman hotel. The line then in operation was sus- pended a little time after the railroad was completed in 1852. In 1864, the present line was erected, and has been operated or managed at this station by Harvey Rowe, B. G. Rice, Jonas Clark and John F. Corbin, the present operator.
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CHAPTER XV.
THE SLATE INTEREST.
H E Development of the Slate interest in Poultney has added largely to the material wealth of the town. The slate region extends from Benson, in this county, to Salem, N. Y., and includes Fairhaven, Castleton, Poultney, Wells and Pawlet, in Vermont, and Salem, Granville and Hamp- ton, in the State of New York. The first quarrying in this region was done by Col. Alonson Allen, in 1839, in the town of Fairhaven. Col. Allen spent several years in experimenting and developing the interest, and, in 1845, went extensively into the manufacture of school slates. In 1847, he commenced the manufacture of roofing slate, and this proving the more re- munerative, he abandoned the school slate manufacture about 1848. Col. Allen was the pioneer in the slate quarrying and manufacture. F. W. Whitlock, then of Castleton, now of Poultney, as early as 1848, opened a quarry in the town of Castleton, about forty rods north of the north line of Poultney, and in the vicinity of the "Eagle Quarry."
The first slate quarry opening in the town of Poultney was made by Daniel and S. E. Hooker, in 1851, on the farm then owned by Daniel Hooker, about three miles north of Poultney village, and a mile, or little more, south of the Eagle quarry. Hooker & Son, it has been understood, were the third party to engage in the slate business in Vermont. They made a few slate in 1851, a few more in 1852, as they could make sales of them to their neighbors. In 1854, they commenced working steadily, and their quarry, or quarries (they opened several) have been worked since. Mr. Hugh G. Hughes now has pos- session of these quarries opened by Hooker & Son, and has, some years, had in his employ as many as sixty men, and manu- factures mainly roofing slate. The slate are of a No. 1 quality, and a portion of them find a market in England. S. E. Hooker
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still owns a portion of the Daniel Hooker farm, and has opened and owns several quarries, about eighty rods in a scuth-westerly direction from those now occupied by Hughes. Mr. Hooker is thoroughly devoted to the slate business; he made a cyphering slate for his own use in 1840, from slate taken from the ground where the first Hooker quarry was opened. He now owns a valuable slate interest in the south part of the town, which will be hereafter noticed.
In 1852, John Humphrey, and some others (Welshmen), who had been drawn hither by recent slate discoveries, while out prospecting, found the slate deposit now known as the Eagle Quarry, located near the north line of the town of Poultney, and from a mile to a mile and a half directly south of Hyde- ville. Little was done during this year, except to make a partial opening, and satisfy parties of the quality of the slate. In 1853, the Eagle Slate Company was incorporated, organized, and the manufacture of roofing slate commenced under the superintendence of Dr. Middleton Goldsmith. Their manu- facture commenced on a small scale, and their business for the first few years was not large; they were feeling their way along, like the other pioneers in this business. They continued the manufacture of roofing slate, increasing in amount each year, until 1869, when they erected a mill on their grounds for sawing and planing. In 1871, they added a mantel and marbleizing shop, cutting shop and other buildings, together with the necessary fixtures and machinery. These completed, they entered vigor- ously upon the manufacture of mantels, billiard beds, table tops, hearths, black boards, tile, flagging, door steps, and various other minor articles now manufactured from slate. The quarries have been worked to the depth of 150 feet from the surface, and from the openings six tunnels penetrate a hill to the distance of 600 feet, the stock being removed on railways operated by steam. In the mill are twelve gangs of saws, six planes, hoist- ing and other machinery, all operated by an engine of 100 horse power. This company suspended in the fall or early winter of 1874, much to the regret of the people in the vicinity. They had for some years done a large business-had manufactured an
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excellent quality of goods, and kept in employment from 100 to 150 men. Quite a village had grown up in the vicinity of their works, with a church, school house, store, mechanics shops, and a good number of dwelling houses. The slate stock owned by this company is of a superior quality, and especially so for mill stock. It is inexhaustable, and we may reasonably expect that this valuable property will not long remain idle.
The ingenious process of marbleizing is one of the recent in- ventions. By a certain chemical process the surface of the slate after it receives a polish, is converted into the exact sem- blance of the most beautiful of the foreign and domestic mar- bles, and also made to imitate rosewood, mahogany and ash, and so exactly that the most experienced would be puzzled to de- tect the difference from sight. Since the suspension of the Eagle Company's works there has been but one marbleizing es- tablishment within the limits of the town of Poultney: that of Williams Bro's & Co., which will hereafter be noticed.
What has been known as the "Farnum quarry " was opened in 1853. This quarry is located about a mile in a south-western direction from the Eagle Quarry, and was opened and worked by Wm. L. Farnam and son quite extensively until about 1868, This quarry produces an excellent quality of purple slate. There are a good many houses in Poultney covered with slate from the Farnam quarry. It furnished excellent mill stock, and may at some time in the future be worked again.
North of the Farnam quarry three openings have been made within the limits of the town of Poultney, and slate are now being taken from one or two of them to furnish stock for one of the Fairhaven mills.
A little north of the Hooker farm is what is known as the "Evergreen Quarry." An industrious Welshman by the name of Griffith Hughes, well acquainted with slate working, with which he had become familiar in his native Wales, discovered the slate rock at this point about the year 1860 and made an opening. Mr. Hughes prosecuted his work for a time as well as he could with his small means, until Mr. Wiswell, W. A. Clark and others became owners with him. At a session of the
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Vermont Legislature, the Evergreen Slate Compary was incor- porated by an act approved Nov. 19, 1868, and James Wis- well, W. A. Clark, Andrew Clark and Griffith Hughes were the corporators. This company prosecuted the manufacture of roofing slate from this quarry until the spring or summer of 1875, when it suspended. They had usually employed from 25 to 30 men, and made and sold large quantities of the unfading green variety of roofing slate. We should hope that this ex- cellent quarry will not remain long idle.
South of the Hooker farm from half a mile to a mile, on the farm of L. C. Spaulding, are now some seven or eight openings, made between one and eight years ago. Mr. Spaulding works none of these quarries himself, but they are all worked by par- ties who hold leases from him. What is known as the Griffith R. Jones quarry has so far employed the largest number of men of any on the Spaulding farm. It produces an excellent quality of unfading green slate, and is now worked by Gardner Parker, who has several other quarries, and has for several years been extensively engaged in the slate manufacture. There is the Globe Slate Company near by, and the Robert Jones quarry. William E. Williams, Lloyd & Co., Lloyd, Owens & Co., Williams, Jones & Co., and John M. Jones, each work or have worked quarries on the Spaulding farm; and one or two of the last named have worked quarries on the Maranville farm, near Spaulding's. And near the same locality are several re- cent openings on land belonging to Wm. L. Farnam.
On the Wing farm, so called, south of Spaulding's, and about a mile north of Poultney Village, are two or three openings, but we believe but one quarry here is now worked.
There is now a large slate interest in Poultney about two miles south of the village. The developments in this part of the town are more recent. What is known as the "Gibson quarry " was discovered and opened by Owen Williams in 1864, and this was the first slate opening in this part of the town. Not long after this quarry was opened it was purchased by a Schenectady company, and has since been worked by it, as also another called the "Schenectady quarry," in the immediate
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vicinity, and more recently opened. A good quality of slate is made in these quarries.
A short distance north of the Gibson and Schenectady quarries is what is known as the "Horton Quarry." This quarry was opened by Cyrus E. Horton in 1871, and for some years has been quite extensively worked. It produces a superior quality of roofing slate of the green variety.
What is known as the "Green Mountain Slate Vein," was discovered by William R. Williams, in 1866, and an opening was made by him and his brother, John R. Williams, the same year. This was on land then owned by Aaron Lewis, and about one hundred rods east of the railroad track. The Williams brothers leased of Mr. Lewis, and subsequently they leased to the Green Mountain Slate and Tile Company. This company have, some years, done quite a large business in the manufac- ture of tile, flagging, etc., in addition to their manufacture of roofing slate. A. E. Knapp, of Poultney, has been a member of this company, and its general agent. He is one of the pioneers, and has been extensively engaged in the business. West of this quarry, and near the railroad, are what are known as the "Swamp Quarries." G. J. Davis opened what is called the " Olive Branch Quarry," in 1867. The next quarry in that locality was opened by Evan J. Williams, and several other openings have since been made. The slate in the Green Moun- tain and Swamp quarries are a kind of mottled green, an un- fading and durable color, and, to many, an attractive one. In the summer of 1872, Williams Brothers & Co. erected a slate mill near the railroad, and near these quarries. Since erected, this mill has been in active operation, and, in 1873, a marbleiz- ing establishment was added to the mill, and has been carried on by Downs & Delehanty. Good judges are of the opinion that the stock from the Swamp and Green Mountain quarries is superior to any other in the slate region for mill stock. The Green Mountain and Swamp quarries are located about a mile and half west of the Gibson, Schenectady and Horton quarries. Between the two, on the farm of Asa J. Rogers, several quarries were opened in 1871. Messrs. William Griffith
21
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HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
and William Nathaniel, who had been practical slate workers, in prospecting on this farm in 1871, formed the opinion that there was slate rock there, and June, 12, 1871, leased of Mr. Rogers a spot of ground, and July 3, 1871, they commenced an opening on the same, and succeeded in developing a valuable slate quarry interest. Griffith & Nathaniel have worked this quarry since, and have employed from 20 to 40 men, and at this time of writing (September, 1875) are turning out from 1000 to 1500 squares of roofing slate per month. Subsequently, and the same year, Mr. Rogers leased a spot of ground to Benjamin Ward, a few rods north of that leased by Griffith & Nathaniel, and the next year he gave leases, one to Mr. Seeley and Daniel Culver, and another to E. C. Richardson. Openings were made at each of the places leased; good slate stock was found and quarries developed, which are still being worked, except Mr. Richardson's, which is supposed to be only tempor- arily suspended. Mr. Culver is a slate roofer, and manufactures his slate from his quarry. The variety of slate found on Mr. Rogers farm is known as the sea green, and the vein extends southward. John Davis and Lewis Roberts, in 1874, opened a quarry on a lot belonging to John Lemma, and next south of the Rogers farm. Davis has brought out from this quarry both the sea green and purple varieties. S. E. Hooker purchased a lot next south of Lemma's, in 1868, with a view of opening quarries there. July 6, 1872, Mr. Hooker leased a piece of land on the south end of his lot to F. W. Whitlock, for the purpose of opening and working slate quarries. Mr. Whitlock made an opening during the same month, and subsequently another opening; a good quality of sea green was found in one, and purple in the other. The same year Mr. Hooker made an open- ing at the north end of his lot, and found a good quality of purple slate.
Some few months since, parties opened and commenced the working of slate on the Ransom farm, about two miles north of the east village. A purple slate was found there, and a few were manufactured. We have not named all the slate openings that have been made within the town, but enough, we hope, to
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indicate the progress of this interest from its beginning. It seems to be well settled that the amount of slate rock within the town is inexhaustible, and the quality good, both for roof- ing purposes and for mill stock, from which are manufactured a large variety of goods for architectural, domestic and orna- mental purposes.
We give the amount of roofing slate, in tons, shipped in Poultney in the years 1872, 1873 and 1874. In 1872, 11,865 tons were shipped; in 1873, 11,274 tons, and in 1874, 9,748 tons. In a ton of slate, it is estimated that there are four squares. This estimate will only approximate, as hardly two squares of slate will each have the same weight. At $4.50 per square, the product of roofing slate shipped from Poultney in 1872, would amount to $213,570. This estimate includes only the roofing slate, and the Eagle and Williams Brothers mills and marbleiz- ing works manufactured and sold at least $80,000 worth more. And if we estimate the amount sold at the quarries and carted away at $6,430 (which we believe is a low estimate) we have the sum of $300,000 for the slate product in Poultney in the year 1872.
From this it will appear that the interest is an important one. The shipments, as will be seen, were a little less in 1873, and still less in 1874, owing to the financial depression of those years. Thus far, in the year 1875, a portion of the quarries have been as active in their work as ever; others have not.
The profits to the slate manufacturers thus far, have, in general, been moderate. The future of this interest, of course, will depend very much upon the demand. If we may judge of the future by the past, the demand will increase; but he this as it may, the slate manufacture, thus far, has done much in the increase of the population and business of the town.
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CHAPTER XVI.
POULTNEY IN THE WAR OF 1861.
FOULTNEY, in this struggle, has a good record. The first action of the town, or first which appears of record, was a meeting called for August 11, 1862, "to see if they will tax themselves to pay bounties to residents of this town who will enlist in the service of the United States." This meeting adjourned without voting a tax for that purpose. The next meeting for the consideration of this subject was called for January 28, 1863, at which meeting the following resolu- tion was adopted:
"Resolved, That the selectmen be and are hereby authorized to raise, on the credit of the town, a sum of money not exceed- ing in amount forty-five hundred dollars, for the purpose of paying such sums of money as D. M. Giddings, Ira M. Clark and Stillman K. Thompson, the present selectmen, have paid as bounties to soldiers who have volunteered from this town, and gone into the service of the Union."
At this time the larger portion of the regiments had been raised and mustered into the service, but they had been de- pleted by deaths and discharges, and the time had come when those who would enlist could demand large bounties and get them.
On the 3d day of March, 1863, the town "voted to instruct the selectmen to pay fifty dollars to each of the men drafted September 10, 1862, for the United States service."
November 27, 1863, the town by vote instructed the select- men to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars, and authorized the selectmen to hire a sum not exceeding seven thousand five hundred dollars, for the payment of bounties. December 14, 1863, another town meeting was called, which voted an "addi- tional bounty " of two hundred dollars, and authorized the selectmen to hire five thousand dollars for the purpose. On the
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4th day of August, 1864, a meeting was holden, and the sum of twelve thousand dollars was appropriated for the payment of bounties, and the selectmen instructed to use their discretion as to the sums paid. September 22, 1864, the town voted to pay three hundred dollars to those who had re-enlisted, to make up the quota of the town in a former call. This the town were not under legal obligation to do, but it was properly regarded as a matter of justice. Also, "voted to pay Henry H. Hart one hundred dollars, who enlisted to the credit of the town, in August, 1862." January 9, 1865, the selectmen "were in- structed to procure volunteers to fill the quota of Poultney under the last call of the President, for three hundred thousand men, and to pay such sums to such volunteers as they deem proper." The town also voted at the same meeting "to pay an equal 'bounty to those persons who shall furnish substitutes." At the annual meeting, in March, 1865, the town voted to pay each re- enlisted man the sum of three hundred dollars; and this is the last vote we find to raise money to pay soldiers.
There are some circumstances connected with the prudential affairs of Poultney for the last fifteen years which demand mention, and it is believed will prove interesting to former res- idents, and may properly be mentioned here. For several years previous to 1861 the financial management of the town affairs had been neglected, or at least not conducted with that skill and energy desirable. Debts were increasing and burthen- some. There were twenty-four paupers dependent upon the town for support, and the town orders, or obligations were gen- erally disposed of at a discount, and often as low as twenty-five per cent.
In the Spring of 1861 a new class of men were elected to of- fice, and a new system adopted. A strict inquiry was instituted to determine the residence of paupers, and of the liability of the town for their support; removals were made, and strict econo- my enforced. During the year the number of paupers was re- duced to eight, and no year since has the resident number ex- ceeded eight. Prompt payment of town orders were also required, and strict economy required by the auditors, and
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since that period town orders have been honored. In a few in- stances, by special arrangements, payments have been delayed, but at all times in such manner as to preserve the public credit.
The war of 1861, and the years following required great and uncommon ability to provide means to sustain the army and to meet the public wants. Our citizens promptly responded to the demand. Between fifty-five and sixty thousand dollars were furnished for that purpose. When the Government made a call for either men or money, the exigency was met and the means furnished. On an occasion when an unexpected order was issued for our quota, a general rally was made, and great excitement prevailed. Young men came forward, or were hunted up, who volunteered to enlist, but there was no money in the treasury to pay them. Prominent citizens of Poultney at once came forward, assured the payment of some three or four thousand dollars, and the required number was supplied. At this period Ira M. Clark, Joseph F. Morse and Demmon Giddings were selectmen. Aided by others these men per- formed an herculean task, and to them is due our lasting grati- tude. The Bank of Poultney and the citizens furnished all the money needed to enable the town to exhonorate herself in this trying emergency.
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