USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > Centennial celebration, together with an historical sketch of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town to 1874 > Part 15
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These different branches of business (to which we should also add farming) he conducted for many years, showing a business ca- pacity of an uncommon order.
In politics, Mr. Robinson was a staunch whig, until the organiz- ation of the republican party, when, like most whigs, he found himself in sympathy with the new movement, and he acted and voted with them for twelve years before his death. But while he ever took a deep interest in the success of the principles of his party, yet he was not, in any sense, a politician. His tastes and disposition were always averse to engaging in the machinations that so generally characterize political operations, nor would he ever seek or accept any political office. He was not a man of " many words," but took a serious view of life, and went about everything he undertook with the air of one who feels he has a mis- sion to perform on earth, and an account to render for his steward- ship here. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and when he came to the close of his pil- grimage he exhibited, in an eminent degree the spirit of one who
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feels that his treasures are placed over on the other shore, and went down to his grave "like a shock of corn fully ripe for the harvest." A most excellent Christian man, who was for many years in the employ of Mr. Robinson, and was intimate with him, once remarked to his son, " To know and appreciate your father, one needs to be long acquainted with him. I tell you that man's heart is a bright jewel, preparing for the better land."
He lived to the good old age of seventy-eight years and died at his residence in South Reading, November 16, 1871.
Among the sons of Reading who have always remained in their native hills, and given to the land of their birth the benefit of their talent and enterprise, none have shown greater ability and perseverance, and done more to build up the town than the subject of this sketch. The former prosperity of South Reading was mainly due to his efforts, and though the later generations have not added to the improvements so well begun, but, moved by that spirit of migration which so remarkably characterizes modern times, have scattered away from the homes of their fathers and settled in and built up other towns and cities, yet the marks of the enterprise of Lewis Robinson will long stand in his native vil- lage to attest the character of the man and call to mind one who loved her rugged hills and did much to give her a name among men.
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MARVIN ROBINSON.
WRITTEN BY FRANK M. ROBINSON, ESQ. OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.
Marvin Robinson, the fourth son and fifth child of Ebenezer Robinson, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume,
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was born March 24, 1800, on what is known as the " Old Esquire Robinson Farm " in South Reading. Until he was twenty-one years of age he assisted his father in clearing away the forests and carrying on the farm. Soon after reaching his majority he com- menced the business of tanning in South Reading, and continued it with such success as to acquire not only what was considered a competence, but an amount sufficient to number him among the wealthier men of Reading.
He married October 11, 1826, Lucinda Fullam, by whom he had seven children, Franklin Marvin, Edwin Auretus, Charles Henry, Wallace Fullam, Forest Alonzo, Maria Frances, and El- mer Duane Robinson, all of whom still survive save Forest A., who died in infancy. His wife died Nov. 25, 1839, and on the 22d of September, 1840, he married for his second wife, Charlotte Wood, by whom he had three children, Elroy Clement, Delia Ada, and Addie Lestina, the first of whom only, survives.
He filled several offices of trust in his native town, having been seven times elected one of the selectmen, which position he was filling at the time of his death. He was chosen lister one or more years and served his townsmen in other positions of trust and re- sponsibility. In politics he was a whig, but when the issues upon which that party was founded no longer existed, he gave his vote and his support to the newly formed Republican party. He was not a politician or partisan farther than the principles of his party, in his judgment, conduced to the general public welfare. In re- ligious matters, he made no special profession and adhered to no prescribed tenets, though liberal and catholic in his opinions touch- ing the sentiments and denominational convictions of others. His belief, and it was a thoroughly conscientious one, rested not so much in profession as in works. The single declaration, "By their works shall ye know them," was to him alike the corner stone and pillar of all religious life. He measured and judged of his neighbors, and men in all conditions by that standard, nor do we believe it will be a subject of criticism at least by those who knew him best, if we say few men ever lived nearer that standard than himself.
From 1840 he began to pay less attention to the business of tan- ning and, as his sons grew up, more to that of farming, and about 1853 abandoned the tanner and currier's trade altogether. Thereafter farming was his principal occupation up to the time of his death, which occurred December 22d, 1866.
He was a man of great physical strength and endurance. What- ever he aimed to accomplish he labored for with a perseverance and energy that distanced many a man of weaker will and less physical power. A man of good judgment and sound practical sense himself in regard to all the business and duties that came within the range of his observation, and measuring everything by a matter of fact test, he entertained but poor opinion of all the-
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ories and schemes in which he could see no tangible value or prac- tical utility.
His early education was limited to that afforded by the common schools, and a wider range of scholastic training he deemed quite unnecessary for the successful business man. His sons he taught the hard lessons of self-reliance and economy, by making them. from boyhood, dependent upon their own resources for all beyond necessary food and clothing, and when they reached manhood the same austere discipline compelled them, unaided, to make their own place in the world and be the founders as well as architects of their own fortunes.
His opinions he held firmly and the fear or favor of no man ever checked their free expression, while his unswerving integrity of purpose and character were never called in question by friend, neighbor or townsman. By nature, stern and strong himself, his discipline and judgment of others may have sometimes seemed to be severe, but severity was never allowed to overbalance what he believed to be the even scale of justice.
New England, almost from the rocks, has been made the Eden she is, through the energy, economy, perseverance and practical intelligence of men of his type.
Fresh in memory may his virtues live, while the life that illus- trated them no longer remains an example to mankind.
Randall, B. D., jeweler, m. - Spaulding.
Reed, V. A., farmer, m. 1st, - Fulton, 2d, - Hewey.
Reynolds, F. G., lumberman, m.
Rice, Hiram, farmer, m. - Morrison.
Rice, Frederick G., manufacturer of bedsteads and wheel- wright, d. Feb. 1, 1873. He was an exemplary christian, supt. of Union Sunday-school of Felchville, and an enterprising and pub- lic-spirited citizen. His first wife was -. Cushman. His second wife, who survives him, is Mrs. Caroline S. Lahfair.
GEO. W. RICH,
farmer, m. Bethia Temple. Their children :
Geo. F., m. Flora Forbush who deceased. He then m. Lilla Doughty, Aug. 31, 1870.
Jane, m. Walter I. Kendall, Esq. of West Windsor.
Charles R., James A., William A. and Burton.
Robinson, Ezra A., farmer, m. Ellen Herrick.
Robinson, John, shoe-maker, m. Amanda Wood.
Rounds, George, farmer, m.
Rounds, Elwyn, employee in steam mill, m.
Rockwood, Leander, carpenter, m. Jenette Holmes.
Rockwood, C. A., farmer, m. Mary Ann Shedd, d.
Royce, Chester, carpenter and wheelwright, m. Maria Spear.
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WALTER SCOTT ROBINSON, M. D.
WRITTEN BY GEORGE M. CLARK.
The subject of our sketch was born in Weathersfield, Vt., Sept. 6, 1840.
He lived at home with his parents, who were farmers by occu- pation, until he was fifteen years of age, working on the farm sum- mers and attending district school winters.
In the fall of 1855, he commenced his academic studies at Springfield, Vt., remaining two years.
In the fall of 1859, he went into the office of Dr. D. W. Hazle- ton, Cavendish Vt., and commenced the study of medicine, continu- ing the same studies, and attending lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Bellevue, and New York City hospitals, for two years, and graduated at Dartmouth Medical College, N. H., November, 1863.
The same winter he married Miss Annie E. Tuttle of Proctors- ville Vt., and came to Reading Vt., and commenced his profess- ional career as a physician and surgeon, in the spring of 1864.
He was appointed United States examining surgeon for pensions in 1864, and still holds that position. He was also surgeon gener- al of the State of Vermont two years, on the staff of Gov. John W. Stewart.
He has been ever ready to attend the call of the poor as well as the call of the more favored class, and his genial, social disposi- tion, has made him generally popular.
He has been reasonably successful in his practice, both profess- ionally and financially, and has ever been ready to lend his aid in any public enterprise. He was one of the founders of the Read- ing Library Association, and has held the office of president since its organization.
As a citizen, he is esteemed by his townsmen, and holds a re- spectable rank among his medical associates.
He was president of the Centennial Celebration of Reading in 1872, and filled the position with honor to the town and credit to himself.
JONATHAN RALPH FARM.
This farm is situated in the north-east part of the town. The portion at one time occupied by Andrew Spear and Oliver Davis, is now owned by Geo. W. Davis. The part originally sold to G. B. Ralph, and occupied by him, is now owned by Aaron H. Davis and occupied by his son Leander.
There have been on the farm fourteen different dwelling houses.
The names of the heads of families that have lived on the place are as follows, viz :
Andrew Spear, Perley Cady, John Cady, Oliver Davis, - Butterfield, Rufus Root, - Lamphear, - Martin, John L. Pearsons, Daniel Peabody, William Person, Lewis Person, - 19
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Dike, Phineas Ralph, Jonathan Ralph, Stephen Kittridge, Geo. Spear, Samuel Weeden, Jr., Galo B. Ralph, Royal Cottle, Eben A. Bridge. Edwin M. Jaquith, Benj. F. Sargent, James Sleeper, Leander Davis.
Over one hundred persons have resided there and removed to other homes.
The following named persons have lived and died on the plaec:
John Cady and wife, John L. Person, Daniel Peabody and wife, Jonathan Ralph and wife, Galo B. Ralph, and Mrs. El- mina Barnes, children of Jonathan Ralph. A child of Stephen Kittridge, Mrs. Marey Weeden relict of Samuel Weeden, Sr., Os- ear and Clarence, sons of Geo. Spear, Royal Cottle, Mrs. Maria Courtland, daughter of Royal Cottle, Mareella Weeden, daughter of S. Weeden, Jr.
JOHN YORK SAWYER
was the son of Benjamin and Sally (York) Sawyer and was born at Reading; received an academie education at Randolph (Vt.) Academy, read law in the office of Judge Uriel C. Hateh, then re- siding at Cavendish, Vt., until the rising elouds of the war of 1812 interested him and he entered the army ; was a recruiting officer and then 1st Lt. in 31st Regiment, U. S. Infantry, Col. Dana. He was honorably mustered out of service in June, 1815. He then resumed the study of the law in the office of the Hon. Asa Aiken of Windsor, Vt., and was admitted to the bar at Woodstoek, Vt.
He opened his law office in Edwardsville, Madison Co., Illinois, in the fall of 1816, and rapidly attained a lucrative practice and an honorable position at the bar. He was made register of the land office and probate judge, and subsequently judge of the eir- cuit court. He died in 1836.
Sawyer, Daniel P., farmer, m. Arabella Ruggles.
JONA. SHEDD, ESQ.,
came from Groton, Mass .. in 1790, and worked that summer in clearing up the one hundred acres west of S. C. Shedd's present residence, and in building a log house. He returned to Groton, was married and arrived in Reading in February, 1791, bringing his wife and furniture on an ox sled, and took up his residence in his log house and thereafter resided on that place and in the " Jo- seph Shedd " house, which he built in 1815.
His children were :
Isaac, b. Dec. 30, 1791, m. Sally Haekett. Shubael C., b. May 17, 1793, m. Polly Shaw, Feb. 26, 1815. m. Sally Bailey, Feb. 14, 1856.
Jephtha, b. July, 1797, m. Betsey Bailey.
Triplets, all d. in infancy.
Joseph, b. Nov. 1806, m. Widow Betsey Shedd.
Isaac's children :
Allen, b. August, 1814, m. Sarah Butterfield.
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Abigail, b. April, 1816, m. John Priest.
Polly, b. - m. Alvin Taylor.
Naomi, b. - m. Willard Butterfield.
Sarah Ann, b. - m. Capt. Jesse C. Spaulding.
Jephtha's children :
Frederick, m. Lovina Bailey.
Albila, m. Geo. Bailey of Reading.
Shubael C. Shedd, Esq., has to a great extent enjoyed the confi- dence of his fellow townsmen. He represented the town in the Legislature for two years, and has served as Justice of the Peace for 26 years. He has ever been a farmer and resided near his birth place, and at the advanced age of 80 years is remarkably healthy and vigorous.
His children are :
Salome W., m. Sylvester Newton.
Orilla, m. Geo. Forbush. Mary Ann, m. C. A. Rockwood.
Jane M., m. Edmond S. Hammond.
Sherwin, Duane C., farmer m. Frances J. Gilson.
Sherwin, Luzerne, farmer, m. - Holt.
Sherwin, Nathan, farmer, m. Christiana Whitmore. Sherwin, E. O., farmer, m. Ann Shedd.
Smith, David D., farmer m. Marion M. Bodwell. Smith, Robert, blacksmith, m. Mrs. - Bryant. Stafford, Albert C., tinman, m. Frances Shedd. Stearns, Edgar, farmer, m.
PAUL AND DANIEL STEARNS. WRITTEN BY J. MILTON STEARNS.
In 1796 Paul and Daniel Stearns purchased land, on what was known as the Reading and Windsor gore ; already settled and to some extent cleared up. 50 acres were bought of John " Bellus "- being the westerly half of the present Jarvis Pratt homestead. Seventeen acres of land were bought of William Kile, a son-in-law of John Sherwin, supposed to have embraced the Paul Stearns homestead, now occupied by Honestus Stearns, and fifty acres of land and half of the old Judd mill were bought of Hawkins Judd. All these parcels of land were either farmsteads or had considera- ble improvements upon them, so that Daniel and Paul Stearns may be classed among the second generation of the settlers of Reading.
What became of Bellus is not certain. John Sherwin, who sold to one Garey the Paul Stearns homestead, died in town, and his widow died at Felchville.
Mrs. R. W. Hoadley, her grand-daughter, is still residing there. For two or three years Daniel and Paul Stearns resided and worked together on the lands they had purchased, and finally made
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a division in 1798 to 1800, each taking the separate farms on which they spent their days.
Daniel Stearns married before he came to the town one Martha Kemp, who had one child, Martha, both of whom died, I think, in Leominster, Massachusetts. He then married Sarah Pratt, daughter of David Pratt of Fitchburg, Mass., by whom he had the following children, to wit :
Sarah, who died at the age of 10 years.
Justin, now 73 years of age, residing at Fitchburg, Mass.
Hannah, now living on the old homestead, the wife of Jarvis Pratt.
Daniel, residing at Windsor, Vermont.
James M., recently residing at Weathersfield, Vt., now deceased.
Rufus, residing near the Paul Stearns homestead.
Besides these they had a son Charles, who died about the age of- Mary, who died at the age of 29, and Betsey, who married James Boutelle, and died at Shipton, Lower Canada, many years since.
Paul Stearns married first Grace Washburn, by whom he had one son, Charles ; the mother dying soon after its birth, the son dying in his 15th year He was a very promising young man. From the vigor of early manhood he suddenly fell a victim to brain fever, leaving his friends to the sad regrets of a lifetime, that prospects so bright and promising should so vanish as at early morning
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Paul Stearns then married Lucy Kneeland who is still living with her youngest son Honestus, in Reading, at the venerable age of 97 years.
She had children, as follows :
Timothy Kneeland, who died in infancy.
Lucy, born in 1804, married John Gilson, and died in 1848, leaving five sons and two daughters still living.
Grace, born in 1806, married Almon Davis and died in 1863, leaving no children.
Sarah, who was born in 1812, married Samuel Lamb, of Bridg- water, and died in February, 1867, leaving two sons and five daughters still living, her oldest son having fallen a victim to the hardships of the service in the late war.
Thomas, born Sept. 1808, died at the age of 18 years.
John Milton, the writer of this sketch, born Dec. 13, 1810, now residing at Brooklyn, N. Y.
Benjamin Franklin, now residing at Everett, near Boston, Mas- sachusetts, born Dec. 25, 1814. His twin brother, George Wash- ington, is a Methodist clergyman and homopathic physician, re- siding in New Bedford, Mass.
Paul W. Stearns, born March 4, 1817, is still living at Felch- ville, Vt.
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BRICHER CONANT
HONESTUS STEARNS.
Honestus, the youngest, a farmer, born July 22, 1820, still occu- pies the old homestead, is possessed of extensive and varied infor- mation, and is the author of a poem delivered at the Centennial Celebration.
Paul and Daniel Stearns were descended from Charles Stearns, one of the first settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, through his son Shubael and his grand-son Samuel and great-grand-son Thomas Stearns of Leominster, Massachusetts. The chronicle of the Stearns family says : This Thomas Stearns was a farmer and emi- nent for his christian virtues. I suppose, in other words, that he was orthodox in his religion, and made the Westminster catechism the text-book of his household teaching.
Daniel and Paul Stearns lost their father in very early life ; and their mother having married again, they became members of their grand-father's family until they went out to provide for themselves.
The two brothers had scarcely an equal chance at the beginning, as Daniel being the oldest son had a double share of his father's estate, according to the then existing law of Massachusetts. But the meager share of either was not sufficient to ruin them, much. They were as different from each other in mental habit and cast of mind as if no relationship existed between them. Daniel was of easy, good nature, took the world with a kindly consideration, and did efficient service in his calling, without any impatience or haste. He was a man popular with the public, esteemed of good judg- ment, and conservative in his decisions, a man of affairs who took a practical view of things, and discharged public trusts committed to him, with eminent safety as well as with a degree of conciliation towards opposing influences. He attained the rank of captain of
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the town militia, and served for many years as selectman, without ever making an enemy in the execution of his trusts. He was known as a Universalist in his religion, not so much as a sequence of theological propositions, as from the humanitarian conceptions of his kindly heart. With probably less education than his brother Paul, he seemed to have a standing, and confidence with the public, that made his abilities at once practical and effective. This prestige of the father was inherited by his children, who have realized an influence, that has greatly tended to their success and prosperity in life.
Paul Stearns had for his day, a good common school education, and used his qualifications in teaching the school of his neighbor- hood one winter, and served as clerk of the school district for near thirty years, and served the town several years as lister, being es- teemed qualified for the duties as a legible penman and a ready arithmetician. But he was less fitted for public life than his brother Daniel, being dogmatical in his opinions, impatient and petulant in meeting obstacles, nervous in temperament, and fitful and uncertain in perseverance. In a word, in almost everything he failed to command the situation in which he was placed ; rather sinking down under a fitful effort to peevishness and complaint, than pushing matters to results. In money matters, he was scru- pulously honest, economical and conservative, and on the farm and in the domestic household, a large family was no where else sup- ported by a better economy. As to his religious ideas, though calling himself a Universalist, he judged his fellowmen too severe- ly too believe them quite fitted for paradise, yet they must all, as it were, become bleached out in character by some divine influ- ence, else God would be unjust in fitting one person for heaven and not fitting another for the same state His ideas were more in theoretical opinions drawn from extreme ideas of fatal necessity controling the divine will, than from any special affection for all mankind His opinions were the result of the possession of views of the divine government, that may be described as a sort of anti- nomian orthodoxy. He believed in divine decrees as a special par- amount force, so severely organized as to have no scope at all for the freedom of the human will, or human free agency with a moral responsibility attached. Still it was a part of his domestic law that his children should not practice profanity or violate the sanctity of the Sabbath by play or work, except in a case of extreme necess- ity His case was that of a religious education, perverted to sup- port speculative, absurd opinions. These views of his character and opinions are gathered from his life, before he was subject to the infirmities that depressed the last twenty-five years of his life's existence. He died in 1844, in the seventieth year of his age.
ZENAS STONE.
1775. About this year Mr. Zenas Stone of Shrewsbury, Mass., moved into Reading and occupied a few acres of land on which
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was a small house and barn " under the hill " on the road leading from Dr. Silas Bowen's to the Witherell and Watkins families. His wife was a daughter of Dr. Flint of Shrewsbury, Mass., and one of his sons bore the tender name of Flint Stone. Mr. Stone subsequently was a gate tender on the Boston and Worcester turn- pike at the east end of the bridge over Long Pond in Shrewsbury, and while thus employed the following incident, illustrative of his readiness for an emergency, happened :
On a time a splendid two-horse equipage, with a livery-clad driver came up and proceeded past the toll house without deigning to stop to pay the regular toll. "Halloo there!" vociferated Mr. S., and following after and coming up to the carriage, added : " Will you stop, sir, and pay your fine?" "Pay my fine," said a voice within the carriage, " My name is Gen. of -. " " And my name is Zenas Stone, toll-gatherer of Shrewsbury, and " General - will hand over to him the fine which the law ' prescribes for running the gate." And after a few moments dis- cussion of the point at issue between them, the "General " con- cluded to ' hand over.'
LEMUEL IDE.
In 1797 Mr. Lemuel Ide, whose wife was a sister of Mr. Stone, moved into Reading, his family consisting of two sons, Simeon, aged three years, Wm. B., aged one and one-half years, and Abi- gail K., an orphan child of his brother Simon, aged five years ; and leaving them in the care of Mr. Stone he made a journey by water to one of the southern states, to settle a deceased brother's estate; was absent about a year; on his return, he resided about one year in Clarendon, then removed back to Reading and in 1802 bought a lot of about 20 acres near the residence of Mr. John Sawyer on which was a small tenement. Mr. Ide was a carpenter; was fond of change. He commenced housekeeping in 1793, and died in Newfane Vt., in 1825 and during the intervening 32 years resided in 14 different places. He was possessed of an active in- quiring mind, much given to reading and to political discussions, and in 1809 was elected the representative of Reading in the Leg- islature by the Republican party, and lacked but one yote of a re- election the following year, his defeat being upon strictly party grounds.
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