USA > Vermont > Windham County > Newfane > Centennial proceedings and other historical facts and incidents relating to Newfane, the county seat of Windham County, Vermont > Part 5
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ships and much suffering. from cold, hunger and want of suitable clothing. His bed was upon the ground sheltered by his tent. and sometimes only by the canopy of heaven ; yet I never heard him complain or cast the least reflection upon his officers or his country. for the remembrance of hardships was lost in the heart cheering gratification of a completed ascendancy over British oppression, and the glorious acheive- ment of American liberty.
After the declaration of peace he returned to Shrewsbury and engaged in some money speculations ; thence he went to Shoreham, Vt., in 1784 or 1785, and there, for the first time, met with Timothy Fuller Chipman. They were both employed in carrying the chain in surveying the township into lots, which occupied their attention for several weeks in the woods. In 1785 he visited Newtane for the purpose of seeing his sister and making her a visit. He was sufficiently pleased with the location to be induced to make a purchase in view of settlement ; accordingly he bought six acres of land in its wild and forest state, on which he erected a shop about fifty rods from his sister's, to whom he was always fondly attached. This was a frame building erected in 1785 or 1786, where he commenced his business as a blacksmith, which business he pursued until his death, December 15th, IS33. He put up his house in 1786, finished the outside and painted it, partly finished the inside, but did not complete the inside work for several years after. In this house all his children were born, excepting the first-born ; here he lived and died. He was a man rather above the middle size, rather corpulent, weighing nearly two hundred pounds, generally in good health with the exception of rheumatism, probably the result of hardships and privations in the army. For close attention to his business, laborious and persevering toil, he was scarcely excelled. Possessing means to stock his shop and carry on his business with advantage to himself and others, also being desirous of accommodating his customers, he confined himself to his shop early and late. Kept work on hand in advance, both for the fariner and mechanic, which met a ready sale.
The country was new, the inhabitants principally new settlers after the war, and many of them from the army, having lost their all in the depreciation and final loss of
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Continental money, yet struggling hard to clear up their new lands and make a living. He was indulgent, refused nothing by the way of barter for his work, trusted all who wished, and it was a very rare case where it was not sought, and waited patiently for his pay.
In 1786, he, Marshall Newton, married Lydia Newton, the eldest daughter of Solomon Newton, a farmer of Shrewsbury, Mass., and the same year she accompanied him to Newfane, a distance of about seventy miles and called in those days a three days' journey. His house not being prepared to occupy conveniently, he moved into the house with his brother-in-law, Ephraim Holland, and remained with them until after the birth of their first child, named Ephraim Holland.
In those early times he used to take in fur, and purchased the pelts of game in that and the neighboring townships ; this with other produce, in the winter he would carry to Boston, and exchange for iron, steel, and such blacksmithing tools as he could purchase to a better advantage than make, together with groceries and necessaries for the family. This was his annual custom for years. Among my earliest recollections are the skins of wild game and packages and bales of fur in a course of preparation for the market. As his children advanced to a suitable age, in his annual visits to the metropolis of New England, he was mindful of means for their improve- ment and used to bring them school books and little picture books for their amusement and instruction. Among these small toy books was the "New England Primer," "Cock Robin," "Capt. Gulliver," "Robinson Crusoe," "Children of the Wood " and " Mother Goose's Melodies," which constituted about all the variety of books for children of that age. I also recollect the high gratification experienced on his return, and the great impatience and self-denial endured in being under the necessity of going into another room out of sight, and then to the trundle bed until morning, to give him an opportunity of bringing his wares into the kitchen and smoking them over the fire as precautionary measures against the small-pox. Boston was one hundred and ten miles from Newfane, and the journey down and back was performed in about twelve days. However trifling are these incidents in
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themselves considered, they serve to illustrate the contrast between that and the present age.
My father took a deep interest in the education of children. He said the want of it himself led him to see the need of it in others. Yet he was a tolerable reader, wrote a fair hand and was sufficiently versed in arithmetic to render him accurate in business and quite equal to men of his age; still, he felt the loss of a better education and was ready to give his children every desirable advantage for their improvement. His oldest son he boarded out, at the age of four years, and sent him to school. The first school in the school district to which he belonged was opened in the southeast room of his house. After a school-house was built and teachers employed, he gave them a welcome home for board at their pleasure or convenience. Although a heavy taxpayer, he warmly advocated free schools at the expense of taxpayers to give the children of the poor advantages and all the perquisites and benefits of schooling as well as the rich.
He was a ready and liberal contributor to the erection of the public buildings and other improvements of the place. Was active in the erection of the academy and bore a heavy share of the expense, became a liberal patron and gave his influence in sustaining its interests.
In business matters he had a preference to his own rather than that of others, and uniformly refused offices of official trust as they were tendered to him, so far as they could be consistently avoided unless it was to share the burden with his fellow citizens. His business was at home and not abroad, seldom leaving it, even to make a social visit or to while away an hour, so devoted was he to his employment as a mechanic, and so ready for a bargain with those who sought it, that he would buy and sell farms and other property without leaving his anvil or stopping his work to go and look at his purchases and sales. To some this may look like presumption and even hazardous, yet his bargains did not impoverish him. He was fond of good living and provided liberally for the wants of his family, was generous hearted in extending the hospitalities of his house to strangers as well as friends, to the poor as well as the affluent. He was kind to his family in anticipating their wants and in making ample provision for their comfort
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and happiness. His descendants for several generations will probably share in the avails of his industry and economy as reserved and bestowed for their benefit. The example of his industrious habits will prove a fortune to the possessor. May his mantle rest upon his descendants.
In politics he was a whig of the school of Washington, ardent to sustain the genuine principles of Washington's Administration, under whom he fought, and to whom he was knit as a child to a father. In religion he called himself a Presbyterian, but as no organization of that body existed to his accommodation, he cordially gave his support and attendance to the Congregational religious denomination.
In the first acts of Congress granting pensions to soldiers of the revolution who were in needy circumstances, Marshall Newton being a man of property was not included. He felt the injustice of this act. He said he was cut off because he had not spent his living in idleness and dissipation. He had spent seven years in the army and after leaving it, by hard work had made a fortune and by heavy taxes had contributed largely to the support of government and the rise of the country, and for all this was denied an equal standing with the poor and dissipated. He said it was not the need or the want of the money that he cared for, but the principle he felt to be wrong. After a course of years Congress passed additional acts, upon which he made application for a pension, which was granted but did not reach him but a few hours before his death.
His last illness was about two weeks, occasioned by the following circumstances : He went to his wood-house for a handful of wood, a small stick fell against his shin and grazed off a small piece of skin, which he considered trifling and gave him but little uneasiness, but taking cold it settled, became inflamed, the limb much swollen, and in spite of all effort to the contrary, mortification followed, which caused his death on Sabbath evening, December 15th, 1833, in the 77th year of his age, which was severely felt as a sore bereavement by his family and friends. His funeral was at his mansion, by the services of the Rev. Jonathan McGee, pastor of the Congregational church, in Brattleboro East Village, and by a large collection of friends and citizens, he was buried in the
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common burying ground. casterly from the public buildings in the centre of the town. and a grave stone with inscription thereon, at the head of his grave, marks the place where his body rests.
To return, as before stated Marshall Newton, born January 13th, 1757, in 1786 married Lydia Newton, born at Shrews- bury, Mass .. August 5th, 1765. daughter of Solomon Newton, a farmer, to whom at Newfane, Vt .. were born :
Ephraim Holland Newton, June 13th, 1787. Eunice Taylor Newton, December 24th, 178S.
Sir Isaac Newton, April 12th, 1791.
Daniel Newton, February 15th, 1793, died April 6th, 1839. Twins, sous, March 14th, 1796, died same day.
Hannah Newton, September ISth, 1799.
Louisa Newton, August 14th, 1803.
Marshall Newton, April Ist, 1805, died June 29, IS70.
REV. EPHRAIM HOLLAND NEWTON, D. D.
From the Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 18 55.
He was born in Newfane, Vermont, June 13. 1787. His ancestors were from England, and settled in the castern part of Massachusetts, about the year 1630. His father, Marshall Newton, served for seven years in the Revolutionary army, and his grandfather, Marshall Newton. of Shrewsbury. Mass., was a Lieutenant in Colonel Williams' Regiment in the " Old French War." Young Newton spent the early part of his life in labor with his father in the blacksmith shop. He had a special fondness for books, and determined to acquire something more than a common education. While at work with his father making axes he mastered English grammar, and laying his book upon the forge near the bellows-pole committed it to memory page after page until the whole was familiar.
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Ephraim A. Newton
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When in his nineteenth year he taught a district school in Marlboro', Vt., with very marked success. He fitted for college with Alvan Tobey, of Wilmington, and at the Windham County Grammar School, in Newfane, and entered the Freshman class at Middlebury College, October 6, 1806, under Rev. Jeremiah Atwater, President, and graduated, August 16, 1810, under Rev. Henry Davis, President. In the autumn of ISog, during a powerful revival of religion in the vicinity of Middlebury, which extended to the college, he was hopefully converted, and in April, ISIo, he, with about one hundred others, made a public profession of religion, and united with the Congregational church in Middlebury under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Merr Il.
He entered the Theological Seminary, in Andover, Mass., in November, ISIo, and completed his theological course there in September, 1813. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Haverhill Massachusetts Association of Con- gregational Ministers, April 14, 1813. His first field of labor was in Marlboro', Vt. He commenced his labors here in October, 1813, and was ordained and installed March 16, 1814.
Dr. Newton's ministry in Marlboro' continued until January 1, 1833, and it was a successful ministry-one hundred and thirty-three persons were received to the church. A new church edifice was erected and the cause of education and morality received a valuable impulse through the whole community. Dr. Newton was installed pastor of the Presbyterian church in Glens Falls, N. Y., February 28, 1833, and during his pastorate of about three and a half years in this place one hundred and seventy-two members were added to the church.
In November, 1836, he commenced his labors with the Presbyterian church, in Cambridge, of New York, where he served as pastor until August, 1843. During his pastorate here eighty-three were ad led to the church, besides others who came into the church soon after his resignation, the fruits of special religions interest that prevailed during the last months of his ministry here. In July, 1843, he was elected Principal of Cambridge Washington Academy,
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which post he occupied with great efficiency and success until August, 18448.
During this time he supplied the Reformed Dutch church. in Easton, N. Y., for one year ; also, the Reformed Dutch church, in Buskirk's Bridge for two years.
Having a fondness for the natural sciences, Dr. Newton gave his attention carly in life to mineralogy and geology, and availing himself of the opportunities he enjoyed to collect specimens 'in these departments, he had gathered one of the largest and most valuable private cabinets in the land. This cabinet of about ten thousand specimens attracted the attention of connoisseurs and elicited proposals for purchase from several quarters. All these he refused, and in August, 1857. presented it to the Theological Seminary in Andover, Mass .. and there gave the summer months of several successive seasons in arranging these specimens and preparing a catalogue. He afterwards gave his library of about one thousand volumes to Middlebury College.
In 1860 he returned for the first time, after an absence of twenty-seven years. to Marlboro', Vt .. and finding his former parish destitute of the preached word. he consented to occupy the pulpit for a time, preaching as he had strength, while at the same time he was engaged in gath- ering materials for a history of that township. He found here a most discouraging state of things, but he addressed himself with zeal to the work of restoring that wasted heritage of the Lord. He spent the most of his time here until the fall of 1862, when he was elected to represent that people in the Legislature of Vermont, and while in the discharge of his duties as a member of that Legislature he was attacked with a severe fit of sickness from which he never fully recovered. In the fall and winter of 1863 and the spring of 1864 he was the acting pastor at Wilmington, Vt., and there sustained his last labors in the pulpit. At the time of his death he had made arrange- ments to supply that people for the winter.
In August and September Dr. Newton made his first visit to the West. He went to visit two sons and their families in Cincinnati, Ohio, to visit other kindred and to
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secure a suit of fossils and shells from the Ohio river, and his last contribution to the cabinet in Andover.
He returned, October 15th, to the house of his son-in-law, John M. Stevenson, Esq., in Cambridge, N. Y., where he had made his home for the last eight years, and while engaged in labors at the academy for a few days took a severe cold, failed rapidly, and died October 26, 1864. Dr. Newton was tall in person, dignified in appearance, and genial in his manner. The prevailing expression of his countenance was that of benevolence, and he never failed to command the respect and to win the affection of those with whom he was associated.
As a preacher he was plain, earnest and Scriptural, seeking to present the great truths of the Bible in their simplicity rather than exhibit ornament in style or oratory. His ambition was to acquire knowledge, and make himself a learned man, that he might be more useful among his people and become qualified to instruct the pupils committed to his care.
He was especially active in all that concerned the welfare of his people, in things both religious aud secular, and a zealous and successful worker in the town and country benevolent associations of the day. For his attainments in Theological and general knowledge his Alma Mater conferred on him the honorary degree of D. D. From early life he manifested a great interest in the cause of education, and his first effort after being settled as a pastor in Marlboro' and Glens Falls was to establish schools, which were successful and proved a lasting benefit.
At Cambridge he found a good academy already established, and immediately gave it the benefit of his energies and counsels. After resigning his pastorate he was its principal for five years. Subsequently he became its president, and his interest in this institution continued during his life, and his last public act was in performing an official duty in that academy.
Dr. Newton took a great interest in agricultural matters, and by his advice and example among the people of his first charge, introduced many beneficial changes in their mode of farming, especially in sheep husbandry. After
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giving up the academy at Cambridge he retired to a small farm where he remained for several years. During this period he devoted much time to the cultivation of varieties of seeds and vegetables, with a view of learning what were the best, and by this means gave much valuable information to the neighboring farmers. He contributed many articles for publication in the agricultural journals, and at the time of his death was president of the Washington County Agricultural Society.
Rev. I. O. Fillmore, who followed Dr. Newton in the pastoral office in Cambridge, writes as follows : "My acquaintance with Dr. Newton began with my ministry in Cambridge. He was one of my parishioners there. He had passed through some troubles that had grown out of the old and new school controversy, which at that time was agitating some of the churches in that part of the country. The parties in the church and congregation were about equally divided, a small majority being with those who espoused the old school side of the controversy. With this side Dr. Newton had identified himself. Of course. he encountered the opposition of the other party. This item of history is given, not to revive feeling, now happily passed away, but to show that what Dr. Newton encountered arose from the state of things in the church and not from anything chargeable upon him personally as a man or a minister. Any other minister, at that particular juncture of affairs, would have experienced equal or greater troubles.
"If this state of things, and the delicate position he occupied, put some restraints upon our intercourse, it was not long before all reserve and restraints were thrown off, and I think I may say our friendship was mutual and cordial. I learned to love him and to seek his counsels and aid, and I may as well state here that the bitter feelings which controversy and party spirit had engendered in the minds of some, all passed away, and the whole church and congregation loved and honored him as an honest. upright man, a devoted, faithful minister of Christ, and as a Father in Israel.
" In summing up his characteristics and virtues I am at a loss where to begin or where to end. He must have
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been well on to three score years when I first saw him, perhaps in the fifty-sixth or seventh year of his age. He was spare in person, rather tall. His countenance was grave, sometimes wearing a shade of sadness. My first impression of him was that he was a severe and gloomy man. But I found him to be the reverse. He was usually cheerful and pleasant in conversation and intercourse. There was in him a vein of humor and wit, which would now and then reveal itself, but not so as to compromise his dignity or seriousness.
" He was a man of great industry, never allowing himself to be idle. When he retired from the more active duties of a regular ministerial charge he was engaged at first as principal of Cambridge Academy, which was never more flourishing than under his supervision ; afterward he devoted himself to agriculture, in which he excelled.
" In matters of business he was proverbially accurate and honest, and was one of the best accountants I ever knew. He used to say that the manner and accuracy of keeping accounts determined a man's success in business. Respecting his attainments in scholarship, I am not able to speak, except that in the natural sciences, he is said to have excelled. There was a time when in mineralogy and geology he was equal to any in the land. Had he given his undivided attention to these sciences, he would have been the peer of any of our eminent geologists.
" During my ministry in Cambridge he gave a course of sermons on the first chapter of Genesis, in which he displayed high attainments in geology and great ability in reconciling that science with revelation.
" As a preacher Dr. Newton was sound and scriptural rather than imaginative, ornamental, and oratorical. His sermons were models of system and Scripture illustration. Ile was a great friend to all the benevolent operations of the church, and was especially interested in the cause of Foreign Missions. Acquainted with the early efforts of the American Board and with many of the first missionaries, he never lost sight of the operations of that noble institution. He was also a warm friend and patron of the Board of Missions in that church with which he was so long identified.
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He was always ready to assist at missionary meetings and concerts. His extensive knowledge, and his accurate presentation of statistics, were of great advantage, and always interested his hearers. He was a man of prayer and a lover of the doctrine and order of the church with which he was connected.
" In every sense he was a good and faithful man and minister, and I was not surprised to learn that death found him ready to go and join the church triumphant and engage in the higher service in the temple not made with hands. He came to his grave in a good old age, like a shock of corn fully ripe. The memory of the just is blessed. May the example of his fidelity to the cause of Christ and of his many virtues excite to imitation, and may the mellow rays of his sunset linger long in the memories of his children and other friends."
Rev. A. B. Bullions, of Troy, N. Y., writes thus : "Dr. Newton was a man of great industry, perseverance. enthusiasm, and fidelity to his trusts. His life was filled up with usefulness, and wherever he was placed he labored conscientiously and successfully for the well-being of the community. As a preacher, he was orthodox, discriminating, and faithful to the souls of men. As a Christian, he was humble and trustful, always living near his Saviour. As a friend, he was genial and warm-hearted. Apart from the duties of his sacred calling, he devoted much of his time to the cause of education, and to every interest designed to benefit the community in which he lived. Having a sure and safe judgment, he knew how to devise well ; and possessed of a remarkably methodical mind, combined with great perseverance, he could accomplish well all he undertook. He was never in a hurry, and yet his influence was powerfully felt in every good work. He labored all his life, and almost up to the day of his death ; and his record is not only on high, but also among a grateful people, who will now sadly miss his presence, and his unselfish devotion to their welfare. But .blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.'"
He was married, January 29, IS15, to Huldah, eldest
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daughter of Gen. Timothy F. Chipman, of Shoreham, Vt., who was a lineal descendant from John Howland, one of the Pilgrim fathers who came to this country in the Mayflower, in December, 1620. She was an excellent and devout woman, who entered into rest in Jackson, N. Y., November 26, 1853. By her he had five sons, and one daughter, as follows :
A son, born July S, 1817, died same day.
Silas Chipman Newton, born December 29, ISIS, died, at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 11, 1871.
Ephraim Holland Newton, Jr., born February 17, IS21, died April 13, 1822.
Seraph Huldah Newton, born August 6, 1823, married John W. Stevenson, Esq., September 20, 1843, who was born October 22, ISIS, died September S, 1872.
Ephraim Holland Newton, Jr., born January 7, 1825, died in Byram, Miss., September 27, 1874.
John Marshall Newton, born July 16, 1827.
Three sons and one daughter survive, to cherish, with many other friends, the memory and mourn the loss of a good father and a good man.
HON. MARSHALL NEWTON,
[SON OF MARSHALL NEWTON SENIOR, ]
Was born in Newfane, April 1, 1805, and died June 29, 1870, aged sixty-five years. The subject of this sketch was possessed of more than ordinary intelligence and good sense. He was modest and unobtrusive in his deportment, and exceedingly practical in all his views and observations. Respected for his judgment, and popular and unaffected in his manners, he was, for forty years, honored with the most im- portant municipal offices in the gift of his townsmen. And he discharged his official duties with great fidelity. He repre- sented the town in the General Assembly two years, was high
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