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 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
-
d f n y
e S d d
14
HISTORY OF READING.
At one time the school districts were not numbered as now, but each had its name. The names were such as the Franklin district, Columbia district, Literature district, and to Felchville was assign- ed the title, Willshire district.
Of some of these pioneers who subdued the forestes here and made the howling wilderness fertile fields, I can but briefly speak.
Dea. Nath'l Pratt was a prominent character. His venerable form commanded respect. He was austere in manner, scrupulously honest, and walked with God many years when in the rough life of a sparsely settled country there was as much reverence for the rude loyalty of Ethan Allen as for the gentle tenets of a christian faith. He made his pitch in the Brown school house district cleared up a half acre one summer and built a log house, and the next spring, 1783, came with his wife and five children, going from the Benj. Weston place to his half acre and log house by fol lowing marked trees. He in common with other settlers went to mill, carrying his grist on his back, to Windsor, or Claremont, o Woodstock, until mills were erected in Reading. He was natur ally the subject of some criticism, but there was little truth or jus tice in the allegation that he whipped his cider barrels for working on Sunday, and turned his sap buckets upside down on Saturday nights that he might not realize a worldly profit out of the Lord' dav.
Deacon Younglove Bixby also settled in the same district i: 1794, and was a deacon of the Baptist church in Windsor.
These two men were at one time leaders, if not embodiments c the piety of the town. They were men of indomitable persever ance and possessed of great decision of character ; superstitious perhaps, viewed from the reflection of modern knowledge, and yo strictly conscientious.
A long list of eminent sons of Reading might be enumerated They have honored every profession and calling of life. Som have shown " what they knew about farming," others have pro. pered as mechanics, manufacturers, merchants, musicians, poet maventors, editors, artists. Eleven have been called to the bar an two honored with a seat upon the bench, while others have attain ed distinction in the pulpit and in the professor's chair. Many them have come up here to-day to honor the town with their pre ence, and others are with us in spirit and feeling. An interestin sketch of each one might be written, but I must not thus trespa upon your patience.
In early years the weary traveler could find rest and repose an food and fire, and possibly some N. E. Rum, at many a waysic inn. The Hapgood tavern, Burnham tavern, Weld's tavern, a but a few of the long list. Many a rollicking story could be to. of the jolly scenes witnessed within those rude taverns, when tl pulse beat high to the music of the toddy stick and the song al joke went round the boisterous crew, or the rustic fiddle led tl merry dancers till the morning's dawn, though outside howled tl
15
HISTORY OF READING.
wind and storm. Nor should we forget the merry dancers gath- ered in the old kitchens, with a huge fire in the fireplace to brighten the scene, and the neighboring boys and girls whirling through the giddy dances, nor the merry huskings, apple parings, quiltings, raisings and militia trainings of those early days.
Let us observe the changes that have occurred in the locality of the inhabitants of Reading.
The western and northern parts of the town were early settled. Gov. Benning Wentworth selected the five hundred acres reserved for himself in the charter issued for Reading, in the N. W. corner. The Chase district (so called) now entirely deserted of inhabitants, was once thickly settled by large, enterprising and thrifty farmers. The Brown school house district does not contain but a small num- ber of families compared with the population of fifty years ago or less, and the same is true of the country on and beyond Mt. Moses and so southerly through the burrough. This territory's history is but a repetition of the history of many other hilly towns ; the hill farms are being deserted and the valley farms are sought for, or the tidal wave of emigration hurries them on to the hardships and privations of frontier life in the great West.
Reading centre was for many years a thriving village, having the usual number of stores, shops, taverns, &e. These have grad- ually changed, the buildings have gone to decay, the church been pulled down, and the business establishments been transferred to other places. The mail was in an early day carried from Windsor to Rutland over the Wardner hill and through the centre, where was a post-office, the route apparently going over all the hills possible.
In 1826 there were but five houses within the limits of Felch- ville. These five were located as follows: One west of Mr. Watkins, (Elihu Bowen's) one near Azro White's owned by a blind man named Cook, the Fairbanks house, the Kile house and the Calvin Grandy place, the frame part of Baldwin & Kendall's store. The site of this village was considered worthless, or nearly so, being swampy and low. Wm. Wilkins once sold the whole of Watkins' farm and one-fourth of Felchville for $800. Wm. Felch, whose name the village bears, built the brick tavern in 1827, and in connection with Orrin P. Clark, opened the first store in the building where widow Amsden now lives. The village gradually increased. The first meeting house was built in 1834, where the tin shop stands.
The factory was built in 1835, saw mills and other buildings soon followed and finally the village was incorporated and pro- vided with corporation officers from president down. These cor- porate powers have not been exercised for many years.
A coach and four soon was put upon the route through Felch- ville, running from Woodstock to Charlestown, N. H., Judge Hutchinson and Mr. Ellis being proprietors. This was run about ne and a half years and discontinued. Subsequently Win. Felch,
3
et i
, of tur jus xing da ord
its level tious d ye rate Som pro poet ra attai ny pr testi respa
se a raysi rn, a be to hen t ng a led sled
ut ct,
nd k. le sly
the iar ict the ing foÌ
16
HISTORY OF READING.
Hiram Cutting and Daniel Stearns run a two horse stage from Woodstock to Charlestown, and in 1830 the post-offices at North Springfield, Felchville and South Woodstock were established and Samuel Hemenway appointed the first postmaster at Felchville. The mail for about two years was carried for the government's share of the income of these then newly established offices, and that income from the Felchville office amounted to the enormous sum of $10 per year.
Time forbids my going into the details of the growth of this village. Every one here can attest to its beauty, nestled among these hills.
South Reading village grew to its present proportions many years ago. Lewis Robinson's map business and starch factory, Marvin Robinson's tannery and Mr. Buck's potash, with the mills and store have constituted the business of that village. It still is known by its early name, Malagash. Hammondsville and Bailey's Mills are also notable points in town, and why should they not prosper since they have Mt. Moses and the profits.
It is not known that any of the inhabitants of Reading were in the war of the revolution. The frontier situation of the town and the peculiar position of the leading men of Vermont, kept the in- habitants of the town out of active hostilities. Some soldiers of the revolution subsequently settled in Reading and became honor- ed citizens, Capt. Hawkins, Lieut. White, Sergeant Rice, Jeremiah Johnson, Mr. Darling, Cornelius Sawyer, Benj. Sawyer, and Thos. Townshend are all the names I have been able to gather. Abel Gilson, Willard Holden, Rufus Forbush, William Robinson, Da- vid Wetherbee, John Wetherbee, Benj. R. Nutting, Elijah Chand- ler, Elisha Sawyer, John Sawyer, Abial Pearsons, Samuel Dudley, John Grandy, Benj. Grandy, Robert Dunlap, and John Y. Sawyer were some of the soldiers of the war of 1812 who went from Reading. And during the late contest for the suppression of the slave holders' rebellion, Reading has an honorable record. One hundred differ- ent men applied on the several quotas of whom 25 were bounty jumpers, and the 75, citizens of the town. Of these 75, 23 were killed in battle or died of disease contracted or wounds received while in the service. One of 12 of the inhabitants went into the army and of those who went one of every three gave up his life for his country. While we mingle here let us not forget these patriot dead. Vir- ginia's soil possesses them ; Andersonville is the resting place of some. Gettysburg, the Wilderness, the burning sands of Florida and Louisiana each has a quota and a few mingle their ashes with the soil of their native town. There is no traitor's or coward's grave among them ; but true to the old flag they fought and died. Green as the turf above them be their memories preserved in our hearts. Let the kind hand of woman's affection, and of man's generous gratitude cause to bloom above their narrow homes the choicest flowers. Let the sculptured marble narrate their virtues and their memories be cherished when the marble tablets shall have crum- bled to the dust.
17
HISTORY OF READING.
Mr. Davis' address was followed by music from the choir, with orchestral accompaniment, and from the band. The president then introduced Rev. T. J. Sawyer, D. D., of Tuft's College, who delivered the commemorative address, which was a short, off-hand speech, full of humorous allusions. He referred to the pleasure it gave him to meet so many old friends whom he had not seen for a long time, and referred to the situation of Reading being such that not even a brook or spring ran into it, but "everything ran out." The town has no mineral resources and but little in the way of manufactures, but it was a comfortable place to live in. It was so far from market that all the good butter and yellow legged pullets had to be eaten at home. (Laughter.) There were no river bot- toms, but the hillsides gave good erops. He referred to the stories told by the old settlers and repeated a good one himself. The old settlers, who were stern and rough enough, should be held in grate- ful remembrance, for they had planted our schools, and we are in- debted to them for many things. They used to drink too much New England rum in Reading, but the temperance movement has nearly stopped that. It has been a moral town ; there was but lit- tle temptation back there upon the hills, and the people lived an industrious, frugal life. In politics Vermont has always gone right and I believe it always will. I am an old line Republican and cannot follow Mr. Greeley. I stood by Mr. Greeley as long as he stood by me. He has been a member of my church, but am I to be a fool because he is? Oh, no, no. They set me down for a " commemorative address." I don't know what that is, and I doubt if you do. (Laughter.) I suppose it means a free and easy talk, such as I have given you. With a reference to the attach- ment of all people to their native country, and expressing a wish that they all might meet again, the Doctor closed.
Dr. Sawyer is a man of fine presence, and a good speaker. It was amusing to observe the luxuriant crop of discussions that were born of his reference to politics.
Dr. Sawyer has not furnished for publication the full text of his address, very much to the regret of his numerous friends who lis- tened to its delivery.
After music from the band and an invocation by Rev. Ira Car- ter, the table committee distributed among the audience the re- freshments from the tables.
During the intermission the old style band appeared upon the platform-Otis Foster with the tenor drum, Henry Megrath with the fife, and Capt. Nathan Sherwin with the bass drum-and execu- ted in a very creditable style some of the old-time martial music, to which the old militia companies kept step. Maj. Abial Persons. aged 86, a drum major in the war of 1812, showed the crowd "what he knew about drumming," and the aged hands made the drum- sticks fly in a way that would put to shame many a drummer of to-day.
S S t
d 1- of r- h S. el a- d-
S
-
.
er g. I's' er- ty ed he of ry. ir- of ida ith ave een rts. ous cest Leir
18
HISTORY OF READING.
The audience were called together by the familiar strains of "Hail Columbia" from the band, and the afternoon exercises were commeneed by singing from the choir, followed by a lively histor- ical poem by Mrs. Frances Baker of Chester, a copy of which is subjoined :
FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES, AND FELLOW TOWNSMEN OF READING :
Somewhat less than a century ago,
These States. then Colonies, as you know, Were in a state of wild commotion And exercised by fierce emotion ; Because old England to her trust, Had been unfaithful and unjust.
Illiberal in managing, tyrannical in governing ; Over the rights of these thirteen daughters, The mother country, beyond the waters, Hlad domineered with meddling hand : Till their wrath long up-pent, Now burst forth in ferment, Entirely beyond their control.
Still, more in sorrow than anger, They commenced the horrid clangor Of arms, for the terrible strife,
Which must end with freedom or life, And this was but the sad prelude, Which ushered in the conflicts rude,
Of Lexington, Concord, and Ticonderoga,
Of Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and Saratoga ;
While Yorktown saw the final fray, And Independence won the day;
Which the daughters convened, had voted to fix On the fourth of July, 1776. Then was settled the difficult suit,
Of which this Union's the ripened fruit.
But vast as it is and mighty and bold. In years and experience 'tis far from old ; For its daily suns have not risen and set , Lacking four years, on a century yet ; And to-day we witness the strange paradox, Of one of the children, "chip of the old block," Who years in age can now reckon more, Than the dame who bore her can, by four ! An example which, I am sorry to say, Is far too common in "Young America,"
Where one can see that her fast young women and men
Are themselves the old folks-not the parents! but then So great their propensity is to roam, That seldom are they " The old folks at home " ?
But to come to the point-and your pardon I crave, For this queer introduction to what you would have- A poem, entirely on Reading affairs; And how with the rest of the world it compares.
It happened that all of Revolutionary time, Were not of warlike tuen-as I shall show in rhyme, But some, of pedigree no more exotic, And having hearts no whit less patriotic,
Preferred to gun and blade, a farmer's avocation ;
And by the plough to aid the welfare of the nation ; Not all did reverence to the stem Bellona ; loyal they were to Ceres and Pomona ; Those wought for honor on the battle field ; These from the fields, that eoru und turnips yield, Thus the industrious yeomanry clothed and fed The sollers who fought and the captains who led.
Of these brave men's good helpinates, so peacefully inclined, Soute, from the Bay aud Granite states, of purpose like, combined,
19
HISTORY OF READING.
With some from Steady Habits' Land; resolved to show their mettle; By forming a pioneer band and coming up to settle On some Green Mountain grants, afterwards labelled Reading ; Bringing their stocks and plants, their farming tools and bedding.
This land's a combination of tiny vales and hills, With power in concentration, from streams, to turn their mills. Too abruptly the snug town turns away its head From the broad Connecticut, down-rolling in its bed ; And towards the loftier summits stretches far away, As in vain aspiration for the god of day, A laudable ambition in intellectual toil ;
But a wretched condition for tillers of the soil :
Turning streamlets into le ping floods, with desolation sweeping
Over gardens, fields and highways, mills and bridges, and lone bye-ways, Like the desert steed, free from fetter or rein, Careering at will over mountain and plain ; Every hindrance in its pathway spurning, Every check in its fury o'erturning ; So stop not thesc streams, for bank, damn, or stone, But all in their way, to ruin is bornc.
And although the career of these freshets is brief,
They're the bugbear of childhood, of manhood the grief.
Do you ask me for proof? let the land owners tell, Who owned farms on the banks, cultivated so well ; Ask gulf-roads and ruined bridges, and the huge gravelly ridges ; And the old ruined mill-sites, that nobody'll repair ; But mostly ask the tax-payers, who're oft thrown in despair.
In natural scenery, the landscapes combine To form some romantic, but little sublime. Of Mounts, it has no Mansfields, with its chins and noses ; But we all remember well, that it has Mount Moses : A peak not to be laughed at. as those of you know, Who travel that way, when to " Five Corners" you go ! And old men here can testify, that after winds swept whistling by, When cold enough to terrify, how they like herocs worked to try By shoveling snow, to clear the roads ; That thereby, Plymouth folks they might induce To come to Reading, with their loads Of shingles, bark, lime, and other producc.
Therein as elsewhere, one may see The mighty power of policy ; Which could make men risk their ears and noscs, To shovel snow-drifts upon Mount Moses : For the crafty purpose of coaxing a neighbor's trade. In the hope that an " almighty dollar " might be made, Nor has the town Hills of military fame, Like Bunker's and Brecd's, and such cuphonious name,
But instead it has a Wardner Hill, which, straight to Windsor leading, Is the dread af all the scoundrels, who are close confinement needing, For there stands waiting the State Prison, Of which a wholesome fear has risen, Which makes sneaks, knaves, and eriminals, shy in tlicir speeding.
And Keyes Hill, which was once so steep, That the timid trembled, lest with a crash, Horse and rider, with ruinous sweep, Should be hurled swift down to their final sleep, When they travelled that road to Malegash. That same Malegish, which many years later, (Now South Reading called,) in wealth had grown greater ;
Through prosperity and industry it quite changed the tone Of its affairs, and then it built a meeting-house of stone ; Whercin also was kept a large district school.
In which pupils were taught by precept and rule, Thus in time it grew to equal the Middle of the Town; And by a " leetle-bit" of strifc, tried to put it down.
And last though not least, there's Caper Hill, On which once lived Pearsons, surnamed Bill ; Where I just guess, thoughi never knew, And therefore can't avow as truc, That there the " young-uns " got so antic,
20
HISTORY OF READING.
As most to drive their parents frantic ; By "hazing about " in their bettermost rigs, In entters and chaises, and wagons and gigs. And with " heel and tre " and now " down the middle," Tripping to the sound of Hubbard's fiddle !
As Irving had his Sleepy Hollow, Where Dutchmen slept full twenty years, So Reading has its Sherwin Hollow, Where Mynherr sure may find compeers!
-
Neither has the town an Andersonville, But instead it has a Hammondville, Through which daily passes the " slow stage coach ; " Of which no meddler e'er had the audacity, For transporting passengers and the mail ; And so no Telegraph or Road of Rail
On its rights have yet attempted to encroach.
Instead of Manchester or Lowell, It has a Felchville, you all know well ; Where if not silk and bobinet, They yet can weave good satinet.
But in its prosperous days, the "Middle of the Town," Of all the other villages. rather wore the crown, For had it not at least two stores, Where singly, doubly, or by scores,
Goods of every huc and texture, pure and clear, or by admixture ; Of curious shapes and every dimension. That ever was planned by man's invention, Were sold for cash-but more for credit, And buyers found an awful debit Against them. when with prudent intent, They made their annual settlement.
Then they had shops for mechanical trades, Where things were fashioned of various grades; Shoes for horses and people to wear. and excellent leather was tanned right there. And saddles, and bridles, and harnesses and carriages, In which the owners rode to meetings and to marriages, Ministers they had to save the sinful soul, And Doctors likewise, to keep the body whole. In earlier days, the Doctor's name was Bowen, Famed in his craft, as Doctors then were going. But much too far away was he, over hills up and down; So afterwards they settled at the Middle of the Town. But laek-a-day and woe, as in nature things go, Nothing is too firm to be shaken ; The old runs its race. the new takes its place : And now the old village's forsaken.
In the things of religion, that the town had need, As in temporal things, it was early agreed ; So soon after 'twas settled, the inhabitants met, To decide upon a spot, a meeting-honse to set. The town was surveyed and the centre was found To be in a lot on Captain Burnham's ground . He, nt whose door, the swinging sign proclaimed, Entertainment for man and beast, Where both might rest, and sleep and feast ; And where, if the house was not sadly defamed, A beverage was served more strong Than tea of Bohea or Souchong! Strange neighborhood for church, but then The priests were not ali temperance men! But by a grievous fatality, or by some wicked rascality, Before the meeting.house was near completed, It was burnt ; and thus were their plans defeated.
This required that another, they should immediately raise, If on Sundays, they'd rather spend their hours in prayer and Praise Than in roaming from virtue's paths widely, And wasting the day, sinning and idly.
21
HISTORY OF READING.
So a few rods off, in an eastern direction, In 1816, after mature reflection, The foundations of a new house were laid ; The walls securely of bricks to be made.
The final completion was made the occasion, For sending abroad a general invitation, To come and share in the glad celebration Of the Reading meeting-house's dedication. As there was no bell, so there was no bell ringing, But Lewis Hawkins, Esq., directed the singing, While for the preaching. many a clergyman came, Of name now forgotten, but of notable fame ; So the whole thing reached its final consummation.
And there with Heaven-ward pointing spire, Like the high mountain beacon fire. The house for more than one half a century stood ; Threatening the evil, but encouraging the good. And now, as will be of all things under the sun, Its early work is finished, its racc is run. Let us hope, when again it riscs to view, With its old walls rebuilt on foundations new, Again of the town it may prove the pride and glory, And leave for its record, a respectable story.
Their mini -ters were most approved orthodox, And they zealously preached condemnation, As throughout the land did the majority ; Till at length came one from the minority, And as earnestly he preached salvation, So was he denounced as vile heterodox. As he was Loveland, so he loved the truth, And willingly taught both manhood and youth ; And such numbers believed in his Gospel of "Good News" That the havoc was fatal to Calvinistic views.
In the olden days, in Reading there was not much work for lawyers, Though two of that profession sprang from the race of Sawyers, And also one from the notable family of Watkins, And others from the families of Adams and Hawkins .
In the way of amusements, the variety was but scant ; They'd no opera, or theatre. or concert room I grant ; But instead, they frequently had a ball In Morse's, Shedd's or Hammond's or Sawyer's Hall. For these they met at early night ; Lads and lasses in their gayest dressed, With their waists, I fear, too tightly pressed : And danced far on towards morning light.
Sometimes to sleighrides, merrily they went, the bells a jingling, Facing the frost right cheerfully, though ears and toes were tingling. Sometimes, too, the girls went to help husk ; While to quiltings, the boys went at dusk : Then they hunted the slipper, and button played, And forfeits, and matches, and roll the plate, Thus occupying themselves, the whole time they stayed, With sensible games! And when it grew late, Then both beaus and belles, as honc they slowly went, Rejoiced in the evening, so happily spent.
Nor must I forget the important June training, Which attention must claim in sunshine or raining ; The captain with his trusty sword, the soldier with his gun, All for to fight the enemy, who ne'er should make them run: To help them keep the step, the shrill fife and noisy drum, And sometimes, it was whispered, a dram or two of run.
Nor the annual Thanksgiving, so really essential, Even now, in New England, than Christmas more potential, With its plum pudding inevitable, and pumpkin ple alike creditable, To the fine yellow pumpkin, which much better sults This hard Green Mountain soil, than do tropical fruits Or the matronly housewife so tidy and well-looking. Who likes to display her nice skill, in such festive cooking.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.