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 16
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The financial and prudential interests of towns in this State are quite often overlooked and neglected, but in this respect it is believed Poultney will compare favorably with any town in the State.
Vermont furnished seventeen regiments in the war of 1861, besides a cavalry regiment, three companies of sharp-shooters, and three bateries of light artillery. The first was a three months regiment, and was mustered into service May 2, 1861. This regiment was made up mainly of independent military companies in the State, and we find that it contained no one from the town of Poultney.
For the soldiers furnished by the town of Poultney, the time of enlistment of each, the time of service, No. of regiment, company, dates of discharge, etc., we are indebted to the Adju- tant General's report, and subjoin the following :
191
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
Volunteers for three years, credited previous to call for 300,000 Volunteers of October 17th, 1863.
NAMES.
REG.
CO.
ENLISTED.
REMARKS.
Babcock, Geo. C.
6
H
Com. 2d Lieut., k. at Wild. May, '64.
Ballard, Geo. W.
2
B
May
9, '61 Dis. March 6, '62 66 66
Barber, Alanson
2
B
Barber, Chas. S.
2
B
66
12, '62 K. May 12, '64
Barber, Horace E.
7
I
Dec. 11, '61 Dis. Feb. 25, '63
Barnes, Luther S.
Cav.
H
Oct.
7,
66
Pateman, David B.
2
B
Aug. 12, '62
Bateman, John S.
2
B
Bateman, Lewis L.
2
B
May
Aug. 11, '62
W.& d. Aug 31 '64
Bodfish, John
5
I
66 24, '61 Killed July 21, '62
Brown, C. W.
2
B
66
16, '62
Butler, Eben
2
B
May 10, '61 Desert. Nov. 8, '62
Butler, James A.
9
B
30, '62
Trans. V. R. C.
Butler, John
5
I
Aug. 28, '61 Dis. March 10, '63
Butler, Wm. O.
9
B
June
3, '62 Died Oct. 6, '63
Caldwell, Robert
2
B 9, '61 Dis. June 29, '64
Carrigan, Frank H.
2
B
66
8, " Des. May, 16, '62 " Dis. June 29, '64
Carrigan, Jas. B.
2
B
66
Cassavant, H. B.
11
C
Aug. 11, '62 Dis. April 9, '63 Com. Capt. Aug. Aug. 22, '62 [28, '62
Cole, Obadiah,
2
B S.S.
21, "
Transferred
Draper, Alanson
1-
I Dec. 9, '61 Died Sept. 10, '62 15, I " Died Oct. 8, '62
Draper, David
7
I
Aug. 23,
Dis. April 28, '62
Edgerton, F. M.
2
B
May 9,
66 Pro. Lieut-Col.
Fifield, Edson H.
2
B
Gazette, Henry E.
2
B
Geroy, Josepi:
5
I
Aug. 29, '61 Re-enlisted.
Green, Rollin M.
7
I
Haley, Timothy
5
I
Hammond, Chas.
25
I
Hart, Henry H.
2
G
Sept. 13, '61 Dis. Jan. 20, '63 66 2, Died March 27, '62
Herrick, Edgar J. Hosford, David R.
5
H I
66
66 Re-enlisted.
Howard, Adin E.
2
B
Aug. 15, '62
Hunter, David B.
7
Hunter, Henry G.
2
B
Hunter, Robert
7
Hyde, William H.
2
B
I Jan. 29, '62 Des. March 6, '62 Aug. 18, " Transferred.
6
22, 8, '61 Re-enlisted
Beales, Frederick
11
C
Clark, Charles
7
I
Culver, Albert F.
2
Draper, Oscar
5
Lient., June 20,'64
Harrison, John W.
11 0
Ang. 8, '62
Hennessey, M.
B
Aug. 18, '62
7
Ţ Feb. 11, 66 Pro. Drum Maj.
May
66 8, '63
192
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
NAMES.
REG.
Co.
ENLISTED.
REMARKS.
Jones, Oliver
-9
B
June 4,
..
Kilburn, Frank
11
O
Aug. 11,
66
Died Ap. 13, '63.
Kilburn, Samuel
5
I
C
6,
'62
Wounded in 1864,
Lancaster, Chas. E.
5
I
Sept. 4,
'61 Drop'd from Rolls
Lewis, Henry F.
5
I
Aug. 23,
Dis. July 26, '62
Lewis, Judson A.
11
C
68
11,
'62
Pro. Sergeant
Lewis, Julius
5
2
B
Aug. 15,
'62 Dis. Feb. 20, '63
Lincoln, Lucius
5
E
66
21,
Died June 15, '63
Mahar, Thomas
2
B
66
18,
'61
Re-enlisted
Maranville, M. P.
2
B
Aug. 13, '62
Marshall, Marcus
Cav.
H
Oct. 2, '61 Died Nov. 9, '62
Meeker, Wm. V.
-11
C
H Aug. 12, '62 Drummer.
Merling, Charles
7
I
Dec. 2, '61 Re-enlisted.
Miller, William
2
B
May 9, " |Dis. June 29, '64
Monroe, L. E.
9
B
Moulton, Chas. A.
11
C
Aug. 8, '62 Absent
Monroe, Martin A.
11
C
66
5, " Taken Prisoner
Munson, Jonas H.
2
B
16, '62 Dis. Feb. 5, '63
Munson, Levi L.
2
B
66
Oatman, James, Jr.
7
I
Dec. 19, '61 Re-enlisted.
O'Brien Michael
2
B
Aug. 23, '62
Packard, Chas, H.
7
B
Nov. 21, '61 Died Dec. 11, '62
Parker, Isaac
5
B
Perry, Andrew
5
B
Potter, Joshua
.7
I
Dec. 23, '61 Re-enlisted.
Aug. 11, '62 66
8, Nov. 14, '61 Dis. May 8, '64
Richardson, E. C.
7
I C
Jume 9, '62 Corporal. Ang. 12, " Dis. Jan. 6, '63 [near N. Orleans Com. Capt., and d.
Ruggles, Chas. C. 7 Scribner, Grove S. 2 S.S. Shaw, A. A. 11
H
Nov. 6, '61 Re-enlist. and w'd.
Shaw, Geo. W.
11
66
66 66
Shaw, William S.
1I
66
6€
Shumway, Silas H. Smith, John
5
I
Smith, Wm. P.
9
B
May 30, '62
Spaulding, Win. P.
5
I
Stoddard, Jos. F.
7
I Dec. 2, '61 Died Sept. 5, '62:
Stowe, Charles H.
2
B
Swallow, Proctor
1
I
Jan. 7, '62 Re-enlisted.
Des. Aug. 30, '63
Maranville, A. E.
2
B
May 9,
29, '6]
Pro. Ist Lieut.
Lamb, William
11
Sept. 2,
'61 Killed Aug. 21, '64
Mears, Joseph
2
Pray, Frank J.
11
C C
Preston, John J.
11
Prindle, Gilbert H. 2 S.S. H
Ripley, James W.
11
Roe, James G.
2
C
I
Aug. 6, '62
5
I
Lewis, William G.
193
IIISTORY OF POULTNEY.
NAMES.
REG.
CO.
ENLISTED.
REMARKS.
Thompson, Allen
6
F
Oct.
2, '61
Thompson, Chas. E.
5
I
Aug. 23, '61
Thornton, John E.
5
I
Whalen, David H.
11
C
Aug. 13, '62
Sick in Hospital
Wilson, James
5
C
Woodward, Jos. C.
2
B
Aug. 12, '62
Credits under call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 Volunteers, and subsequent calls. Volunteers for three years.
Barber, Horace E.
17
I
Nov. 4, '63
Barker, Justus, P.
5
I
Butler, John
Cav. H
Cook, William G. S.
7
I
Cornish, Robert
5
I
Douglass, W. W.
5
Falkenberg, D. C.
Cav.
H
I Dec. 23, '63 Nov. " '61
Dec. 19, '63 Musician
Griswold, M. D.
17
I
Apr. 24, '64
Guilder, Henry M.
Cav. G
G
17,
66
Loveland, Nathan
Cav.
B
66
17,
Manning, Jeremiah 5
2
B
66
19,
McLeod, Franklin
Cav.
M
66
66
66
Trans. to Co. H Trans. to V. R. C.
Monroe, Edmund
Cav.
G
66 16,
Montgomery, J. P.
5
I
66
Wound. May 5, '64
Morse, J. D.
2
Bat. G
66
16,
Preston, James F.
5
I
66
15,
66
66
Shaw, John B.
5
I
I
66
:6
Sheldrich, Ephraim
2
Bat.
Stevens, Jenks B.
5
I
66
12,
Taylor, Henry A.
7
I
66
30,
Whalan, Francis H. Cav.
66
28,
66
Volunteers for One Year.
Buffum, L. C.
9
Davis, Geo. W.
9
D
June 10, '62
Ensign, Daniel A.
2
Bat.
Field, Wm C.
2
F
Giddings, Wm. B.
7
F
Howard, Wm. L.
7 Cav.
C
Johnson, John R.
Kennedy, Patrick 7
D
66
Guilder, James F. Cav.
Guilder, Morgan D. Cav.
G
66
19,
Died July 4, '64
Gorham, Henry
5
I
Dec. 19, '63
Sick in hospital
I
66
15, 19,
Porter, Edwin A.
Cav.
66 Prisoner, Mch 5, " Wound. May 5, '64 Wound. May 5, '64 Wound May 5, '64 66
Shaw, John M. 5
66
66
Died Feb. 21, '64
66
H B
Transferred.
25
Des. Oct. 31, '63 Re-enlisted
Dec. 19, '63 6 30, "
Maranville, E. L.
66
66
194
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
NAMES.
REG.
co.
ENLISTED.
REMARKS.
Ladderbush, Frank
Cav.
Miller, William
2 Bat.
O'Here, Wm. B.
6
A
Olney, George
9
D
Rawson, C. P.
9
H
Smith, Horace E.
7
K
Willet, Antoine
4
B
Young, John M.
9
B
Volunteers Re-enlisted.
Babbit, Oscar
5
I
Aug. 28, '61 Re-enl'd Dec. 15,'63 Wounded and dis.
Batemen, Lewis L.
2
B
May 8, "
Fales, Prosper E.
2
Bat. Jan. 23, '62
Fifield, Edson H.
2 ₿
First Lieutenant
Geroy, Joseph
5 I
Aug. 29, '61
Hosford, David R.
5
I I
Feb. 11, '62
Musician
Maranville, A. E.
2
B
May 9, '61 Re-enl'd Dec.31,'63
McKenzie, Edson
7
I
Feb.
6, '62
Merling, Charles
7
I
66 15, '64
Potter, Joshua
7
I
16, «
Scribner, Grove S.
2 S.S.
H
Nov. 6, '61 Wounded
Swallow, Proctor
7
I
Feb. 15, '64
Thompson, C. E.
5
I
Volunteers for nine Months.
Beach, Stephen S.
14
Sept. 3, '62
Bliss, Cyrus M.
14
Bosworth, Isaac C.
14
F
Boyce, William HI.
14
K
60
Died March 5, '63
Davis, Edwin D.
14
F
66
Dewey, Solomon
14
F
.
Douglass, S. A.
14
F
66
Eddy, Jay P.
14
F
Ensign, Joseph B.
14
F
Hook, S. F.
14
F
Hunter, Robert
14
Lamb, Clark
14
K
Nov. 12, '62
Lewis, Roswell R.
14
F
Sept. 3, 66
Sergeant
Mallary, Chas. S.
14
F
Marshall, Adin K.
14
K
Merlin, George
14
F
Oct.
18, Dis. Nov. 1, '62 4, Killed July 3, '63
Pepper, Asahel H. Pomroy, Charles R.
14
F
14
F
Prom. to Corporal
Hunter, David B. Kilborr, Samuel
7
5
I
66
195
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
NAMES.
REG.
CO.
ENLISTED.
REMARKS.
Rann, Charles
14
F
Sept. 3, '62 Comm'd Lieut.
Rice, Benjamin G.
14
K
Oct. 21, '62
Smith, Hiram T.
14
F
66
4,
66
Dis. Mar. 3, '63
Thompson, John H.
14
F
Vaughn, Charles E.
14
F
66
-
The following were enrolled, and furnished substitutes: Henry Clark, Hermon R. Clark, Ed. H. Gibson, Nelson C. Hyde, A. K. Rider, Henry Ruggles, L. E. Thompson and S. C. Wells.
The following were drafted, and paid commutation: Lucius Ames, Hiram G. Barber, Charles F. Boomer, Charles R. Buel, H. W. Crittenden, Asahael P. Dewey, Geo. W. Fitch, Solomon E. Hooker, Henry Howe, Charles W. Knapp, Joseph M. Lewis, Mark Lewis, Charles Ripley, Jr., Edwin C. Spaulding and John S. Wells.
The losses of Poultney soldiers, as contained in the Adjutant- General's Report, are five killed in action, eleven died, and some four or five wounded; but this does not contain all the losses, and we cannot now give them with entire accuracy.
In reviewing this part of our history, the writer has been obliged to occupy as little space as possible; but enougn will appear, we hope, to leave an honorable record for the town, Quite a large number of our promising young men lost their lives in that conflict; others were disabled, some for life. Will they not be remembered ? Shall we not, at no distant day, erect a suitable monument to perpetuate the names of the fallen?
197
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
FAMILY AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
ADAMS .- Four brothers, Benjamin, Samuel, Joseph and Abner, removed from New Marlboro, Mass., to Poultney, not long after the close of the Revolutionary War, and settled in Hampshire Hollow and that vicinity. Of Benjamin, Samuel and Joseph, we have gained but little information. None of their descend- ents now reside here. Abner Adams married the widow of Timothy Hyde, and had five children: Parker, Abner, Talcut, Sally and Phebe. Abner, senior, died about 1830, in Poultney. Parker Adams married Hannah Holden, March, 1810. He re- moved to Middletown in April, 1832, where he lived until his death, which occurred March 21, 1863, at the age of 75 years. His widow still lives; she resides at Poultney, and has reached the great age of 91 years, with mental faculties seemingly un- impaired. Parker Adams had six children: Lerinda, Alanson, Chloe, Lucas and Lucius (twins) and John Quincy. The girls died young. John Quincy died at Boston, Mass., Sept., 1846, at the age of 23 years and 6 months, and only a few weeks after receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the Castleton Medical College. He was a promising young man, but suddenly and unexpectedly taken away. Alanson Adams now resides in Poultney. He has been twice married; he first married Lovisa Keyes, daughter of the late Stephen Keyes, of Mid- dletown, January 19th, 1836; she died May 20th, 1866. By her he had four children, Alphonzo B., Jane Adelaide, Frank W. and Anna Louisa. Frank W. is the only one now living, and resides on the farm owned by his father, about a mile east of the east village. Jane A. married Edwin D. Andrus, and died July 27th, 1872. Alphonzo B. died when 17 years old, and Anna L. died September 22d, 1871.
Lucas, one of the sons of Parker Adams, resides in Wisconsin, and Lucius, in Middletown, Vermont.
198
HISTORY OF POULTNEY. .
ADAMS, JEREMIAH-was an early settler. His name appears on the first grand list that has been preserved, that taken in 1781. He lived on the south side of Main street, east of the Stone Church, and about half way from that point to the large elm tree standing by the road side. The house he lived in was afterwards removed to the Ruggles Foundry locality, has been recently repaired, and is now occupied by Dennis Smith as a dwelling house. No information has been gained of the de- scendants of Mr. Adams.
ALLEN, EBENEZER .- Ebenezer Allen was one of the first two settlers of the town, and but little more information of him or his family can now be given than before appears. His stay in Poultney was short, but it is known that he was one of the prominent men of his time. He was active in the Revolution- ary struggle, was an officer (of what rank we are not informed),. and a member at least of one of those early conventions. Hon. Hiel Hollister of Pawlet, one of the prominent historians of the State, writes of Ebenezer Allen: "He has immortalized his memory by giving freedom to two slaves in rescript dated 'Pollet, Nov. 27, 1777,' and says that 'I being conscientious that it is not right in the sight of God to keep slaves,' give them their freedom."
ALLEN, HEBER .- Heber Allen was one of the seven Allen brothers, of whom the most distinguished was Col. Ethan Allen. It is not positively known that more than one of the seven set- tled in Poultney. Several of them owned lands in the town and were much here preceding and during the revolutionary war. The time of the settlement of Heber in Poultney has been given as near as it can be, in another place. He located and built a house near the "pine tree house " in the west part of the east village, and on the road leading from east to west village. The indications of a cellar are still there. Heber was a major in the Revolution, and without doubt did efficient service in laying the foundations of the institutions of the town and State. As has already been stated, he was the first town clerk in Poult- ney, and this office he held until his decease, which occurred in Poultney, April 10, 1782.
199
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
In 1778 he was made a Judge of the County Court. Rutland county was not then established. This territory was then in- cluded in Cumberland county, with Rutland as a shire. On a marble slab in the old cemetery in the East Village may be found the following:
"This grave contains the remains of Maj. Heber Allen, who, with his brothers, assisted in the struggle for the independence of this and the United States. He was one of the earliest set- tlers in the town, and died as he lived, and as expressed by his brother Ethan "the noblest work of God," on the 10th day of April, A. D. 1782, aged 38 years."
Allen, Heman, a son of Heber, was born in Poultney, and after his father's death was adopted into the family of his uncle, Ira Allen, in Colchester, Vt. He was Town Clerk of Colchester from 1807 to 1817; represented that town each year from 1812 to 1816; Sheriff of Chittenden county in 1808-9; Chief Judge of Chittenden County Court in 1811, and the three succeeding years. He was Marshal of the State under Mon- roe's administration, and in 1823 was appointed Minister Pleni- potentiary to Chili, where he remained through the succeeding administration of John Quincy Adams. After his return from Chili he resided at Burlington and Highgate, and died at the latter place in the year 1852.
AMES, ELIJAH-Came to Poultney about the year 1783, and settled in what has since been known as "Ames' Hollow," a locality near Bird Mountain. His brother, Zebulon, came about the same time, and settled near his brother Elijah, but in the town of Ira. Zebulon Ames was a surveyor, and one of the earliest. But little has been learned of his family. Elijah Ames had two sons, Elijah, junior, and Oramel. Oramel was born in Poultney, July 22, 1800; he married Maria Spaulding, of Middletown, a daughter of Joseph Spaulding, April 8, 1824. They had six children: Merritt, Elisa, Morris W., Ellen M., Milo and Mary R. Merritt now resides at Glens Falls, N. Y .; Elisa at Sandy Hill, N. Y .; Ellen M. married Dea. A. B. Ripley.
200
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
She and her sister. Mary R., now reside in Troy, N. Y. Morris W. and Milo are dead. Oramel Ames, some years since, re- moved to Hubbardton, Vt., and died there June 1, 1870.
ANGEVINE, ANTHONY-Came to Poultney about the year 1797. He settled opposite the Stearns Marshall place, and where Henry W. Crittenden now resides. He lived in Poult- ney a few years and removed to Mendon, N. Y., where he died.
Angevine, Oliver Lawrence, a son of Anthony, was about 18 years old when his father came to Poultney. He married Sally Whitney, a daughter of Solomon Whitney, and had twelve children: Solomon, Mary, Harriet, Hiel, Charity, James, Mary Ann, Phareellus, John, Harvey and Sarah. Hiel, James and John still reside in Poultney. Harriet married James Howe, and lives in Martinsburg, Missouri. Charity maried Nathaniel Winchell, and lives in Fairhaven. Sarah married Henry Far- mer, and also lives in Fairhaven. Pharcellus now resides in Omro, Wisconsin. Solomon, Mary, Henry, Mary Ann and Har- vey are dead.
Oliver Lawrence died September 26, 1870, at the age of 91 years. His widow is still living.
ANDRUS, ROSWELL-Removed from Shaftsbury to Poultney about the year 1800, and settled on the farm now occupied by W. W. Martin, about two miles south of Poultney village. He had four children: Laura, Heman, Roswell and Linus. Laura inarried Amos Williams, of Wells, who died some twelve years ago in Michigan. His widow is still living in Springfield, III, with her children; she has five living. Heman was never mar- ried; he died on the farm on which his father settled, January 18, 1872, of a caneer. Roswell married Mohala Brown, and died in Poultney about twenty-five years ago. He left five children and a widow; the widow has been dead about one year. Linus married Abagail Pattee, and resided on his father's home- stead until his decease, which occurred October 10, 1872, at the age of 69 years. He had two children, daughters. Sarah J. died April 22, 1837. Lucy married Wallace W. Martin, and,
201
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
with her husband, resides on the farm occupied by her father and grandfather. -
Andrus, Daniel was a son of John Andrus. John Andrus was a half brother of Roswell Andrus. John never lived in Poultney. Daniel came here about 1815, and worked for John Broughton a year or more. Afterwards he worked for Daniel Mallary. He came to Poultney poor, but succeeded, by indus- try and close economy, to save a good property. He married Harriet Watkins, and had three children: Jane, Mary and Ed- win D. Jane married William M. Bosworth, and after his de- cease, Rev. John Goadby, D. D., and resides in Poultney. Mary married J. Jay Joslin, and now resides in Denver, Colo- rado. Edwin D. has been twice married.
Daniel Andrus died November 14, 1863, in the 67th year of his age. Harriet, his wife, died February 23, 1874, aged 69 years.
Edwin D. now resides on the farm for many years owned and occupied by his father as his homestead, which is located about two miles north of Poultney village.
ARMSTRONG, JEREMIAH-Came from Connecticut about the time of the close of the Revolutionary War, and settled in that locality in Poultney called Ames Hollow. He was one of the substantial men of the town in that early day. He lived on the same land on which he settled and cleared, until his death, which occurred in or about the year 1842. His wife died a year or two thereafter. They had eight children: Levi, Dudley, Charles, John, Harvey, Diantha, Sophia and Anna. Levi and Dudley never married, and both died when young men. Charles died in 1856; John and Anna died in 1844, or about that time.
Diantha married Abel Sweet, and removed to Western New York, and died in 1855. Sophia married Joel Winchester, of Pawlet, and died in 1862.
Harry, at his father's death, succeeded to the homestead, and lived on it until 1853, when he removed to Castleton, where he has since lived, and been known as one of the solid men of that
26
202
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
town. He is a farmer, and his farm bears evidence that he is one of the best. He has been twice married; his first wife was Amanda Barker-she lived only about two years after marriage and died without issue. For his second wife he married Maria Smith. By her he had four children: Dennis, Egbert, Henry and Charles. Dennis died in 1851, at the age of 17 years. The three sons are all in the mercantile business-Egbert, in Castle- ton; Henry, in Poultney; and Charles is a hardware merchant in Clinton, Iowa. Henry commenced the mercantile business at Castleton in 1865, removed to Poultrey in January, 1874. He and Charles E. Jackman are the successors to J. Jay Joslin, and are now in trade in the large store occupied by Mr. Joslin until his removal to Denver, Colorado. Henry married Fanny Taft in 1872, and has one child.
ASHLEY .- As will appear in former chapters of this work, the Ashley's were prominent in the early history of the town. There were seven brothers: Thomas, Isaac, John, Elkana, Elisha, Enoch and William Ashley, and all came to Poultney the first year of its settlement; and Thomas was one of the first two settlers. He was twice married; the first time in Connect- icut, before his removal to Poultney, and the second time to the widow of Zebediah Dewey.
About all the information we have gained of the Ashley brothers has been given, and which we need not repeat.
Ashley, Elisha, was born in Poultney in March, 1776, and, consequently, as he often remarked, "was older than the United States." His father, Isaac Ashley, died in April, 1777, and he was subsequently transferred to the family of John Tilden, who was extremely poor (the man who applied to the town to have his taxes abated on account of his poverty), and found it diffi- cult to provide his family with the bare necessaries of life. Af- terwards he went to live with his uncle, Thomas Ashley; but during the period of his childhood and youth he was scantily fed and poorly clothed; came up without the fostering care of parents and home, and was mostly cared for by those who esti- mated him chiefly for his labor, and the assistance he could render
203
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
the families in which he lived. His advantages for obtaining even a common school education were extremely limited. Still, by dint of perseverance in improving his spare moments in study, he acquired a good business education, which was of great value to him in after life, and to the community in which he lived. It has been said that he did more town business, set- tled more estates, decided more questions of dispute between contending parties than any other man that ever lived in Poult- ney. He was a friend and supporter (if not one of the found- ers), of Poultney library, from which he stored his mind with a large amount of historical, biographical and general knowl- edge.
He became a voter in 1797, during the administration of John Adams. Party spirit, which had been almost unknown in town from its settlement to the present time, began to creep in, and to disturb not only the political, but the social harmony which had hitherto so happily prevailed, and people began to take firm and decided stands for and against the federal measures adopted by Mr. Adams and his friends. And at the formation of the Federal and Democratic parties Esquire Ashley identi- fied himself with the latter, and was a firm and faithful friend and supporter of Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic princi- ciples, ur.til party strife was dissolved with the war of 1812.
In early life he was an intimate friend of Wm. Miller, Judge Stanley, Timothy Crittenden, Daniel Sprague and others, and with them embraced Deistical sentiments, which he maintained until he was more than forty years old; but during a general revival of religion in town, in the winter of 1816-17, he was converted to the Christian faith, and united with the Baptist Church, April 20, 1817, of which he remained a consistent and devoted member, a liberal and firm supporter until his death, which occurred December 26, 1857, and in his will left the Bap- tist Church a handsome legacy, that the interest of which might perpetuate his annual subscription to support the preach- ing of the Gospel in the church of his choice.
He possessed a fine physical development,-in stature a little above the medium height, in weight, about two hundred,-with
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a fine intellectual head, a square matter-of-fact countenance, well calculated to inspire confidence and secure respect; but his unstudied frankness, his outspoken rebuke whenever the sayings or doings of others were inconsistent with his idea of propriety, his general supervision of the village boys, which sometimes in- terfered with their sports, rendered him unpopular with that class of society who claim for themselves the largest liberties without regard to the convenience of others. He was cautious in making pledges, but punctilious in redeeming them when made. In other words, he would do more, and better, than he talked. Still he had some unpopular peculiarities, which came down from a puritanic ancestry. Nevertheless, his sterling integrity, his proverbial impartiality in his official acts, and his discriminating power of mind, secured for him the re- spect and confidence of all. He was not a fluent public speaker, and often found it difficult to find words to convey his thoughts, but when he succeeded in making himself understood, notwith- standing his deficiency in language, his ideas had weight, and his opinions were listened to with interest, and highly appre- ciated. He left no children. .
AUSTIN, JOHN W .- Was born July 1, 1803, in Hampton, on the place now occupied by Junius Clark, formerly owned by Harvey Hotchkiss. His father, Anthony Austin, with three brothers, Amos, Zephaniah, junior, and Reuben, migrated from Sheffield, Mass., with their father, Zephaniah, senior, and settled in Whitehall some time previous to 1800. Subsequently, all the family removed to Western New York, except Anthony, who married Charlotte Brooks, and took up his residence in Hampton, in the year 1794. Charlotte Brooks was the daughter of Stephen Brooks, who came from Cheshire, Conn., at a very early day, and settled in Hampton about the year 1793, when that whole region was a wilderness.
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