USA > Vermont > Windham County > Newfane > Centennial proceedings and other historical facts and incidents relating to Newfane, the county seat of Windham County, Vermont > Part 16
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Amasa Lincoln came to this village in 1817 or 1818, and built, about that time, a small tannery in which he continued business till 1840. In the latter year, in company with his son, O. L. Lincoln, he built the upper or western section of the present structure. The property soon afterward passed into the hands of O. L. Lincoln, who became asso- ciated in business, in 1846, with Gilbert C. Brown, the new firm putting up the eastern section of the building the same year. The business was continued by the Lincolns and Goodwin, and Merrifield & Goodwin, from 1847 to 1852. Wm. L. Williams purchased the building in 1851, and sold the same, in 1855, to Amasa and John G. Wood, who car- ried on the business from the latter date till 1874. The building was purchased by O. L. & E. R. Lincoln, in December, 1874, and occupied by them for about a year and a half, but is not now in use. As a means of furnish- ing employment to several men, and a ready market for bark, wood and other products, this business has con- tributed largely to the prosperity of the village and its vicinity.
The building now used by Wheeler & Morse, in the man- ufacture of butter tubs and kegs, was built by Ephraim Hall, Jr., and used by him for a number of years, partly as a carpenter's shop, and partly as a grist mill. It was purchased by John S. Emery, in 1845, and fitted up with machinery for making pails. In 1850 it came into the pos- session of Dana D. Dickinson, who added new machinery, and commenced the manufacture of tubs and kegs. Mr. Diekinson continued the business till 1873, when he sold it to E. P. Wheeler and L. O. Morse, the present proprietors. About six thousand tubs and kegs are annually made at this shop.
In 1848, O. L., L. A. & E. R. Lincoln erected a large building near the present residence of Geo. T. Allen, and engaged in the manufacture of pails, employing, for a few years, from eight to twelve men. From the Lincolns the property passed to J. A. Merrifield, in 1851 ; from Merri- field to Gardner C. Hall, in 1852; and from Hall to A. H. Stearns, in 1853. During the great freshet of 1856, August 20, the building was carried away-the water at the
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same time cutting through the Goodnow flat above-as were also several bridges, including the covered bridge then standing near the Bingham mill, at Pondville.
In 1854. W. R. Davenport purchased the premises just west of the present residence of F. J. Morse, on which a house and barn were then standing, constructed a shop and commenced the manufacture of bobbins. In 1856 Mr. Davenport was succeeded in the business by Lucius Halla- day. In the early morning of June 29. 1857. the shop was discovered to be on fire. and, with the house and F. J. Morse's barn, was entirely consumed. The fire was thought to have been caused by friction created by machinery in motion. The shop was immediately rebuilt by Mr. Halla- day, who conducted a successful business for several years. It is now unoccupied.
The saw mill now owned by D. D. Dickinson, was built by D. D. Dickinson and E. P. Wheeler, in 1859. to replace the one built by them in 1857, and which was carried away. July 13, 1859, during a heavy shower which swelled Baker Brook to a greater height than it was ever before remem- bered to have reached. sweeping off' nearly every bridge on the brook, including the one near Dr. Blakeslee's, and doing a great amount of damage to private property. Mr. Dick- inson obtained the entire control of this mill in 1866, and has since furnished a ready market for a large amount of oak and ash timber, by working it up into carriage stock and other salable lumber.
The manufacture of wagons and sleighs was commenced here, in 1858, by H. H. Hoyt, who built, the same year, the carriage shop now standing. Geo. W. Dickinson pur- chased an interest in the business in 1869, after which time, till 1872, it was conducted under the firm name of H. H. Hoyt & Co. Mr. Dickinson became sole proprietor in the latter year and has since continued the business. A large number of wagons and sleighs have been manufactured at this shop.
No sketch of the business enterprises of this village would be considered complete, by the older portion of its inhab- itants, without the mention of the hatting business conducted by Isaac Cutler from about the year IS20 to 1833 or 1834.
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It was commenced in the store building now occupied by O. L. Sherman, which was built by Mr. Cutler for the purpose, but sold to John R. Blake & Co., in 1824. It was afterward carried on in the tall, yellow house now occupied by Eli Tyler. Mr. Cutler is said to have been a skillful workman, and to have built up a large trade in silk and wool hats.
The manufacture of potash, though now foreign to this section, was a branch of industry of much importance at the commencement of the present century. It was almost the only business of a manufacturing nature engaged in by the inhabitants of the village on the hill. It was also car- ried on in this village for nearly fifty years, by Wm. H. Williams, in a long, low, rough-boarded building which stood nearly south of the present residence of Geo. B. Williams, and the appearance of which, together with that of the old red house opposite, is inseparably connected with every recollection of the village as it existed in former years.
The mercantile business was commenced here, in 1814, by Wm. H. Williams and David W. Sanborn, in the old red house which was torn down in 1868 to make room for the present residence of Geo. B. Williams. The first store was built, in 1815, by Williams & Sanborn, who continued business till 1820, when Sanborn retired. Huntington Fitch was admitted in 1826, and retired in 1829. The store and goods were entirely destroyed by fire, October 8, 1829, the loss being estimated at ten thousand dollars. The store was rebuilt by W. H. Williams, the following year, and the business continued by him till 1838, when his son, Wm. L. Williams, was received as a partner. W. L. Williams retired from the business in 1844, but returned in 1849, purchased the entire stock of his father, and traded till 1851, when he was succeeded by H. F. Houghton and Lucius Walker. Mr. Houghton retired from the business in 1855, and John D. Blake was received as a partner about a year thereafter. Walker & Blake closed out their stock in the spring of 1857, after which time, till 1868, the store was unoccupied. Amherst Morse commenced trade in June, 1868, and continued till 1875. Since the latter date the building has not been occupied for purposes of trade.
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The store now occupied by O. L. Sherman was opened in January, 1824. by John R. Blake. C. H. Cune and Francis Goodhue, of Brattleboro, who continued in business. under different firm names, with Jason Duncan. Jr .. as agent. till the spring of 1838. Henry Wheelock and John A. Merrifield were the next to occupy the store, commenc- ing in 1839, and continuing two or three years. H. N. Miller and George Clark commenced trade about 1844. The firm of Miller & Clark was succeeded in 1847 by that of Miller & Ward, the interest of Clark being purchased by Abel S. Ward. Miller & Ward were succeeded, in 1851, by Martin Perry and G. L. Howe. who continued together for a few years, when Perry sold his interest to S. H. Sher- man, who in turn sold to O. L. Sherman, in 1855. Howe & Sherman traded together for ten years. The whole business then passed to O. L. Sherman, who has since continued it.
Abel S. Ward opened a store, in 1846, in his dwelling house, then standing on the site of the present residence of F. J. Morse. The building and goods were entirely con- sumed by fire, April 7. 1847.
The main portion of the hotel in this village was built by Ebenezer Morse for a private residence. It was first opened as a public house by David Reed, in IS15 or 1816. The property passed from Mr. Reed to Emory and Asa Wheelock, in 1829, and was occupied from 1829 to '35 and from 1837 to '39, by Henry Wheelock ; from 1835 to '37, by Geo. A. Morse ; from 1839 to '46, by Luke A. Wright ; from 1846 to '51, by Clark Adams and Samuel Hall ; from 1851 to '56, by Richmond Dunklee; from 1856 to '58, by A. L. Howard; from 1858 to '60, by Fred Thompson ; from 1860 to '70, by Lucius Halladay ; from 1870 to '72, by HI. E. Harris; S. W. Bowker has been proprietor and occupant since 1872. The owners of the property, since 1835, have been as follows: Henry Wheelock, Aaron C. Robinson, Marshall Newton, Clark Adams, Caroline Dunklee, Dr. C. S. Blakeslee, L. Halladay and S. W. Bowker.
Chas. K. Field came to this village in March, IS26,
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engaged in the practice of law, remained two years and then removed to Wilmington. Returning in 1855, he re- mained till 1861, when he sold out to Kittredge Haskins, and removed to Brattleboro. Hon. Hoyt H. Wheeler, late of the Vermont Supreme Court, and the newly appointed U. S. District Judge for this state, commenced the study of law with Mr. Field, in this village.
Mr. Haskins remained here in the practice of his profes- sion till September, 1862, when he enlisted, and entered the army. In the fall of 1863 he removed to Brattleboro.
Geo. W. Davenport opened a law office here in May, 1865, and remained till January, 1867.
Dr. Simon Taylor, son of Rev. Hezekiah Taylor, was the first physician to settle in this immediate vicinity. He commenced practice here in 1813, and died in 1818. Dr. James Cutler came here about 1817, but remained only a few years. Dr. Sewall Foster came the same year, and remained till 1823, when he removed to Shefford, P. Q., where he became highly distinguished as a physician, and received many political honors. Dr. John Wilson settled in this village about the year 1820, and remained till 1835. when he sold out to Dr. Orville P. Gilman, and removed to Brattleboro. Dr. Gilman remained but a short time. Dr. Elihu Halladay practiced here from about 1833 to 1838. Dr. C. S. Blakeslee became established here in May of the latter year, and soon built up, and now retains, an exten- sive and successful practice. Dr. H. B. Chapin came here in 1856, and remained in this village and vicinity about fifteen years. Dr. Geo. H. Harvey located here in 1873. and Dr. John Heard in 1874, both of whom now remain.
School District No. 6, of which this village is now a part, was formed Sept. 7, 1790, but embraced, as originally con- stituted, none of the territory on the north side of the Branch. The territory embraced within the present village limits, and on which, as late as 1812 or 1813, only four houses were standing-the old house of Wm. H. Williams, the red house previously alluded to, the hotel building, and a house on the Chester Perry farm-was originally attached, a por- tion to district No. 3, and a portion to the parish district.
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Changes were made in the boundaries of the district from time to time, and prior to 1820 it assumed very nearly its present proportions. The first school house stood on the east side of the road leading to Dummerston Hill, about twenty rods south of where J. A. Merrifield now lives. The second school house was built. in 1836, in the woods, on the west side of the brook, near where the road leading to the cemetery separates from the river road to Brattleboro. The present commodious and convenient school building was erected in 1861.
The meeting house in this village was built in 1834 and 1835. under the direction of a society representing different denominations, and was dedicated December 17. 1835, by the Methodists and Universalists. It was controlled by these two denominations, one-half the time each, respectively, till 1868, when it became wholly the property of the latter. As originally built it was set up some six or seven feet from the ground, on brick walls, with the intention of having the basement finished off' for a town house. In 1870 it was lowered several fect, moved further back from the road, and otherwise remodeled.
In the matter of postal facilities this section of the town was tributary to Newfane Hill, so long as an office was kept there. Upon the removal of the office to Fayetteville. active measures were taken to secure the establishment of one in this village, which were soon successful. It is said that the inhabitants of the hill felt none of their losses more keenly than that of their post office. As expressive of this feeling. it is related of one of the older inhabitants, that, when he heard of the removal, he remarked that he would never take a letter from the new office. even though one should come for him covered with seven black seals. The Williamsville post office was established May 20. 1826, with Chas. K. Field as postmaster. and was first kept in the building now occupied by Geo. W. Dickinson as a residence. For a number of years after the establishment of the office the mail was received here but once a week, and was carried. for some time. by Jonathan Wood, of Dover, who went down Friday
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and back Saturday, in a kind of wide seated gig, car- rying occasional passengers. It was afterward carried, for several years, by Daniel Brown, of Dover. A mail route was then established between Bellows Falls and Wilmington, and a coach passed through this village, carrying the mail, twice a week, each way. This route was continued for some time after 1850, the mail being carried, for several years, by Ransom King. Since its discontinuance a coach has run between this place and Brattleboro, carrying the mail,-at first semi-weekly, and afterward tri-weekly and daily. A daily mail was established by the Government, at this place, April 25, 1872, but had been maintained by private contri- butions for several years previously. The following is a list of the persons who have been postmasters at this office, together with the respective dates of their appointment :
Charles K. Field, appointed P. M.
May 20, 1826. November 30, 1826.
Jason Duncan, Jr., Charles W. Joy, Horatio N. Miller, .. John A. Merrifield, .. Henry F. Houghton, Oscar L. Sherman, 66 April 16, 1838. June 28, 1847. July 9, 1851. August 27, 1853. October 18, 1856. July 20, 1861.
Gardner L. Howe,
Charles E. Park,
٩٩ September 13, 1865,
who is the present incumbent.
March 25, 1833, after repeated attempts, as shown by the records of several previous meetings, the town voted to hold its town meetings thereafter at Williamsville and Fayetteville, one year in each place, alternately.
At the time that arrangements were being made to remove the shire from Newfane Hill to some place more convenient of access, strong efforts were made by the inhabitants of the south part of the town to secure its location in this village. The interest taken in the matter is best shown by a sub- scription paper, now in existence, on which was pledged the sum of nearly four thousand dollars for the purpose of aiding in the erection of suitable buildings, should Williamsville have been selected as the site of the new shire.
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PONDVILLE.
The Baptist Society at this place was formerly called "The Baptist Society of Marlboro and Newfane," and wor- shiped for many years in a meeting house standing on the farm now owned by A. & A. Williams, in the extreme northern part of the former town. The present site was selected on account of its more central location. and the church building now standing was erected in IS41. Upon the completion of the new house, a bell was presented to the society by Caleb Pond, then a wealthy merchant of Hartford, Conn., but formerly a member of this church. From him the village derived its name.
The first mills in this section of the town are said to have been a grist mill and a saw mill which stood on the oppo- site side of the stream from the Bingham mill, and a short distance below the bridge. The ownership of these mills can be traced back to Isaac and Oliver Goodnow. who transferred them, in July, 1797, to Amos Perry. From Amos Perry's estate they passed to Samuel Dutton, Jr., in 1814 ; from Dutton to Wm. and Nathaniel Hills, about IS16: from W. & N. Hills to Asa Worden, Jr .. in 1833 ; from Worden to Asa II. Marsh in 1839: from Marsh to Lyman Burr : from Burr to Windsor Goodenough : from Goodenough to Ransom King; and from King to Clark Adams and Cyrus Hill, who built, about IS50. the saw mill now standing. The property afterward passed from Adams & Hill to D. B. & D. J. Lamson ; from the Lamsons to Zina G. Bailey. and from Bailey to W. E. & M. W. Bingham, the present proprietors.
The spot on which D. B. Lamson's carding mill now stands was first used for mill purposes. by Mr. Lamson, in 1834, in which year he built a saw mill and grist mill. The mills were afterward owned by Asa Marsh, Nahum Houghton and Joshua Morse, respectively, and were finally destroyed by fire. The carding mill now standing was formerly connected with the lower Lamson mills and was moved to this spot in 1876.
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A saw mill was built several rods above the lower Lamson mills, in 1834 or thereabouts, by John D. Moore. The property soon came into the possession of David B. Lamson, who added a grist mill and a carding mill, and moved the buildings to their present site. These mills have been oper- ated for nearly forty years by D. B. Lamson and his sons.
The building now occupied by W. E. and M. W. Bingham as a dwelling house, was built for a store, in 1840. by Linus A. Phillips, James Charter, and Ira Pierce, who com- menced trade in December of the same year, under the firmn name of L. A. Phillips & Co. James Charter became sole proprietor in 1841, and continued business till 1849. From the latter date till 1856, the business was conducted for short periods by Ira Pierce, Joshua Morse, Moses Merrifield, Lawson B. Morse, and Abel Gould, respectively. In 1856 the building was purchased by Ira Ingram, Mason Ingram and D. J. Lamson, and a company formed under the "Union Plan" then so common in this section of country. This company was succeeded, in February, 1859, by B. E. Morse, who continued in business till May, 1862, then selling his stock to D. J. Lamson and Edward Adams, who removed it to one of the Lamson houses near the mills, and traded for a short time. The store was next occupied by Wm. H. Goodnow, who commenced business in the spring of 1864 and continued about a year. It was lastly occupied, for purposes of trade, by Thomas A. Morse, who opened in September, 1865, and closed out his stock in the spring of 1868.
Many of the early settlers and older inhabitants of the southern part of the town have been already mentioned. There are others who are equally entitled to notice.
Joshua Davis was born at Barre, Mass., March 1, 1750. Came to Newfane and settled on the farm now owned by Leonard J. Timson. Married Rhoda Balcom. Died June 29, 1838. His son, Calvin Davis, was born April 17, 1794. Married Betsey Morse, May 6, ISIS. Died April 25, 1871.
Moses Saben was born at Uxbridge, Mass .. August 24, 1782. Married, first, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Hezekiah Taylor. April 24, 1814. Came to Newfane, in 1814, to live
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on Mr. Taylor's farm. Married, second, Ruth, widow of Chas. Lamb, November 9, 1820. Resided until his decease, on the farm now owned, partly by his son D. S. Saben, and partly by James Charter. Died January 31, 1872.
Samuel Brown was born at Buckland, Mass .. July 4, 1783. Married Gertrude Glyde of Boston, February 16, 1812. Came to Newfane in 1812, and operated, for a few years, a grist mill and saw mill then standing on the site of Alvin Gates' chair shop. Was afterward engaged, for a long time, in running a freight team between Williamsville and Boston. Died April 5, 1870.
George Williams was born at Chester, Mass., March 23, 1769. Married Orilla Pease, June 30, 1803. Came to New- fane in 1816. Resided on the farm now occupied by J. A. Merrifield. Died March 18, 1846.
Robert Cook was born in 1730. Came to Newfane, with his family, from Worcester, Mass., in 1798, and settled on the farm now occupied by Alanson Stone. Died April 27, ISOS.
John Cook, son of Robert and Elizabeth Cook, was born March 17, 1781. Married Polly Elmer, December S, ISOS. Resided on the farm on which his father settled. Died December 5, 1845.
Stephen Bowker was born October IS, 17SS. Married Sarah Whitney, April 7, 1814. Came to Newfane from Fitzwilliam, N. H., soon afterward, and settled on the farm owned by himself or his son, S. W. Bowker, for nearly sixty years, but now occupied by H. A. Carpenter. Died September 22, 1860.
Elijah Elmer was born at Hinsdale, N. H., in 1753. Married, first, Grace Gould, of Winchester, N. H. ; second, Amy (Wood) Wheeler. Came to Newfane, about 1792, and settled on the farm now occupied by George Wheeler. Died December 28, 1833. His son, Ozias Elmer, was born in 1793. Married Susan Edwards, of Claremont, N. H. Resided on the farm now owned by S. W. Bowker. Rc- moved to Pennsylvania, about 1848.
George Wheeler, son of Thomas Wheeler, was born in this town, March 2, 1799. Married Ferona Williams, Decem- ber 3, 1829. Has resided, since 1823, on the farm which he now occupies.
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Daniel Taylor was born in 1767. Came to Newfane from Dummerston, and settled on the farm now owned by Ozearl Attridge. Married Elizabeth Wheeler, of Newfane. Died November 13, 1839.
Moses Aldrich came to Newfane from Rhode Island, where he was born in 1768 or 1769. Settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, H. N. Aldrich. Married Elizabeth Taylor, of Dummerston. Died May 21, 1841. His son, Daniel Aldrich was born in 1796. Married, first, Betsey Whipple ; second, Laura Whipple. Resided on the farm on which his father settled. Died May 23, 1857.
Amasa Lincoln was born at Norton, Mass., July 10, 1787. Married, first, Lucy Richardson, April 14, 1814; second, Mary Hastings, January 26, 1830. Came to town about 1817, from Dummerston. Was engaged in the tanning business for many years. Died January 9, 1858.
Ephriam Hall was born at Rutland, Mass., September 8, 1762. Married Hannah Spears, of New Ipswich, N. H . November 26, 1789. Came to Newfane and settled on the farm now owned by O. P. Morse. Afterward lived on a portion of the farm now owned by C. W. Morse. Died January 18, 1847. Was a soldier of the Revolution.
Richard Pratt was born at Malden, Mass., September 2, 1770. Married Lydia Spears, of New Ipswich, N. H., in 1795. Came to Newfane in 1802, and settled on the farm now owned by Chas. W. Morse. Died August 23, 1856.
Ichabod Merrifield was born at Medford, Mass., April 15, 1768. Married Elizabeth Morse, of Newfane, in Decem- ber,. 1793. Settled on the farm now owned by William Boynton. Afterward removed to the farm now owned by Geo. W. Lamb, where he died, April 22, 1836.
James Lamb was born at Spencer, Mass., in 1750. Mar- ried, first, Charlotte Howard; second, Lydia (Cushing) Stearns. Came to Newfane at a very early date and settled on the farm now owned by D. A. Dickinson. Afterward removed to the farm now owned by Emory Dunklee, where he died, January 11, 1836.
Silas Gates was born in 1757. Was one of the earliest settlers of the town. Cleared the farm now owned by Oliver Dexter. Married for his second wife, Hannah Cook. of Newfane. Died August 21, 1828.
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Ethan Durrin, was born in 1747. Came to Newfane in 1774. Was married, the same year, to Millescent Parmenter, of Sudbury, Mass. Occupied the farm now owned by H. C. Sparks. Died. July 7, 1823. His wife, Millescent, died, December 5. 1848, at the age of one hundred years.
Capt. William Bartlett was born at Northboro. Mass. Married Azubah Gleason, of Westboro, Mass., about 1790. Came immediately to Newfane, and settled on the farm now owned by Welcome Allen. Removed to Winchester, N. II., in 1837. Capt. Bartlett was a man of much prominence in town affairs.
John Timson was born at Brattleboro. October 4, 1794. Married Julia Knapp, of Brattleboro, in IS13. Came to Newfane in IS19. Resided for more than forty years on the farm now owned by C. E. Tyler, on Timson Hill. so called. Died August 13. 1866.
Daniel Stratton was born at New Ipswich, N. H .. March 23, 1773. Married Jane Stickney of New Ipswich, N. H., February 16, Soo. Came to Newfane, the same year. and settled on the farm occupied by himself or his sons. for more than seventy years, but now owned by J. H. Worden. Died October 11, IS50.
Ira Ingram was born in Massachusetts, December 19. 1786. Married, first, Sally Miller ; second, Lydia Putnam. Came to Newfane from Marlboro, in IS13, and settled on a farm now owned, partly by Mason Ingram, and partly by Russell Mason. Was chosen a deacon of the Baptist Church. in 1824, and held the office until his decease, April 5, 1860. Nahum Houghton was born in Newfane, March 17. 1785. Married, first, Mary Holden, January, 1812 ; second, Lydia Stratton. Resided on the farms now owned by Mason Ingram, Marshall Houghton, and Welcome Allen, respec- tively. Died. May 12. 1854. Was a justice of the peace for many years, and transacted much public business.
John Goodnow was born in Newfane, August 17. 1797. Married, first, Sally Stratton ; second, Charlotte Gould ; third. Sarah H. Chase ; fourth, Hannah (Charter) Bruce. Settled, and resided for more than forty years, on the farm now owned by Anna Frost. Has been a deacon of the Baptist Church since 1834.
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