USA > Vermont > Addison County > Gazetteer and business directory of Addison County, Vt., for 1881- 82 > Part 10
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Near the west line of the town, about sixty rods north of the road leading from Bristol village to New Haven, there are several springs of water more or less impregnated with mineral or gaseous substances, which were formerly quite extensively visited for the curative properties of the water, which bub- bles out of the ground, resembling much the boiling of a pot, and is quite clear and cold, having the appearance of being strongly impregnated with sulphurated hydrogen gas.
In the northwestern part of the town there is found a bed of iron ore, or brown hematite, having a black velvety appearance on the outside and a brownish black on the interior. Its structure is fibrous and commonly radiated. Formerly it was much worked, and when mixed with other qualities of ore, made excellent iron. In connection with this bed there is also found the black oxyd of man- ganese, which, to a limited extent, has been prepared and sent to market. Small quantities of the ochery variety of iron ore have also been found near this place, and worked to some extent. Iron ore has also been found in other parts of the town, but not in quantities to warrant remunerative working.
The soil is generally productive, but varies considerably in its composition. The land on what is known as the Bristol Flats, and along both sides of the river, is composed of a fine, deep, fertile alluvial deposit, and is very level. On the more elevated plains a harder and more gravelly and compact soil is to be found, but little diminished in richness and fertility. In other portions of the town is to be found, in some places a rich loam, and in others, clay. But the soil on both the uplands and the intervales produce good crops of Indian corn, rye, oats, buckwheat, wheat, and potatoes, at the same time affording a large area of fine grazing land. Apples, pears, plums, and cherries are pro- duced in abundance, while grapes are grown to a limited extent.
In 1880, Bristol had a population of 1,579, was divided into nine school districts, and had nine common schools, employing four male and twelve fe- male teachers, at an aggregate salary of $957.50. There were 976 pupils attending common school, and the entire cost of the schools for the year end- ing October 31st, was $1,284.78, with Mr. H. R. Mardin as superintendent.
BRISTOL, a post village, and the only one of the town, is beautifully located on a plain one hundred feet above the New Haven River, near the central part of the township. It lies principally on four streets, North and South streets, extending north and south, and West and East streets, nearly in an east and west direction, while at their point of crossing, near the centre of the village, is a handsome enclosed park surrounded by an open space of some six rods on all sides, making a very beautiful ornament. The river at this
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point furnishes an excellent water privilege, which is utilized by several manu- facturing interests, thus causing the village to be renowned equally for its busi- ness capacity, beauty, and the magnificent view it affords of the surrounding romantic scenery. It contains four churches (M. E., Baptist, Advent, and Catholic), about twenty stores, one hotel, one printing office, one coffin and casket manufactory, two photograph galleries, two harness shops, a good graded school, five physicians, four dentists, and between seven and eight hundred inhabitants.
The Bristol Scientific Institute was established many years ago, and during the late war was changed to the Bristol Academy, which name it retained till March 2, 1881, when it was organized as the Bristol Graded School. The trustees have engaged the services of an able corps of teachers, with Charles S. Dennett, of Maine, a graduate of Dartmouth College, as principal, under whose management the school starts out with every promise of success.
The Bristol Manufacturing Co. was originally established under the firm name of Howden, Daniels & Co., for the purpose of manufacturing coffins and caskets as a retail trade. In 1867, the firm name was changed to How- den, Bosworth & Co., and again, in 1877, to the one it now bears. The limited trade of the commencement has steadily increased, until, under the present management, the establishment manufactures $30,000.00 worth of goods per annum, employing forty men. It is operated by water-power.
R. D. Stewart's grist mill, located on South street, has three runs of stones, operated by water power, grinding 30,000 bushels of grain annually.
The Bristol Trout Pond, located about a mile southwest of the village, was established by Gideon Ridley, in 1867, and is now owned by Ridley & Car- penter. It covers an area of about one acre.
Rockwood . Barrett's chair-stock and butter tub factory, located on road twenty-one, is operated by water power, employs twelve men, and uses 500,000 feet of lumber in the manufacture of chair-stock and butter tubs, annually. The works are under the supervision of A. J. Eastman, of Bristol village.
Lathrop & Parmelee's saw-mill, located on road thirty-one, is operated by water-power, employs six men, and manufactures 600,000 feet of lumber per year.
Twenty-four years after the granting of the charter of Pocock, the first permanent settlement was commenced by Samuel Stewart and Eden Johnson, in the spring of 1786. The two were soon after joined by Benjamin Gris- wold, Henry Mclaughlin, Cyprian Eastman, Justus Allen, Robert Dunshee, and John Arnold. Still, although these may be said to be the first regular settlers, neither of them can claim to have been the first resident. In the year 1785, John Willard, Jonathan Hoit, and Miles Bradley, of Sunderland, were appointed a committee by the proprietors to "run out " or survey the town- ship. While they were in the performance of that duty, about a mile south- westerly from Bristol village, they came across a rude habitation and found a
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Dutchman there by the name of John Broadt, as he stated. He had made that place his home, and with no other company but a dog, for twelve years, not seeing in the time any human face till met by the committee aforesaid. He came from Unadilla, N. Y., a fugitive from justice. Word was sent in- forming his friends of his whereabouts, and subsequently he received pardon for his offence and returned to New York, since which time nothing has been heard of him. Thus, this man may properly be said to have been the first inhabitant, though he did nothing towards clearing or improving the land, but subsisted, like a savage, by hunting and fishing.
The first proprietors' meeting held in the town met at the residence of Benjamin Griswold, March 3, 1788, in pursuance of a warning published in the Vermont Gazette, a newspaper published at Bennington by Haswell & Russell. Miles Bradley was chosen moderator and Henry Mclaughlin, clerk. At this meeting, a tax of $2.00 on each right of land was voted, to defray the ex- pense of laying out and clearing highways and building bridges, and Timothy Rogers, Miles Bradley, Justin Allen, Cyprian Eastman, and Henry Mclaughlin were appointed a committee to attend to same. The meeting was adjourned to the second Tuesday of March, 1788, at the dwelling house of Benjamin Paine, of Addison, at which place and time it met according to adjournment, and it was voted to lay out ninety acres of land to each right, as the first division. From this date until 1795, the proprietors met from time to time. From 1795 to 1815, no meeting was held, consequently all the proprietors' records, etc., were turned over to the town clerk, in conformity to a law of the State that says, " all towns that shall have neglected to hold a proprietors meeting for the term of ten years, the proprietors' clerk and every other per- son holding any of the records, plans, maps, charts, or papers, shall, within six days after being demanded by the town clerk, or selectmen, deliver them over to the same."
The town was organized March 2, 1789, the first meeting being opened at ten o'clock on the morning of that date at the residence of Justin Allen, in pursuance of a notification published in the Gazette on the 14th of Febru- ary preceding. Henry Mclaughlin was chosen moderator and also town clerk ; Cyprian Eastman, Samuel Stewart, and Robert Dunshee, selectmen. From this time until 1854, meetings were held annually on the first Monday in March ; since then they have met on the first Tuesday of that month, being held at the dwelling houses of different parties, at public houses and school buildings, till September 3, 1857, it was first held in rooms belonging to the town, a room in the Academy building of the village, the town having paid six hundred dollars towards the erection of that building for the privi- lege of holding town and freemen's meetings therein.
As before stated, settlement was first commenced by Samuel Stewart and Eden Johnson, with their families, they having started from Whitehall (then Skeensboro), in the early part of June, 1786. Johnson and Stewart had mar- ried sisters, the family of the former at that time consisting of his wife and two
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children, the latter having but one child, named Chauncey A. Johnson started for their new home through the forest, driving their cattle, while Stewart. in charge of their effects, started with Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Johnson, and the children down the lake by boat, arriving at Vergennes three days after, where he procured teams to convey them to their destination, passing through New Haven by the way of Beach Hill, thence following the river to New Haven Mills, where they crossed and followed the other bank till they reached a point now known as the Dunshee farm. Here they were joined by Johnson, and at once proceeded to build a small log house, which they occupied to- gether until the following fall, when Stewart finished a log house for himself and family on the flat land a little farther west. Thus was begun the first permanent settlement of Bristol.
Stewart was an old Revolutionary soldier, having been engaged in the bat- tle of Bunker Hill, was at the assault on Quebec, and after the fall of Mont- gomery, his term of service having expired, he returned home. He soon after married Miss Elizabeth Abbott, of Pawlet, and removed to Salem, N. Y., thence to Skeensboro, and thence to Bristol, where he continued to reside until the fall of 1817, when he removed to Royalton with an ox team, being fifty-one days on the journey. There he died, August 27, 1827, aged seventy- eight years, having had a family of twelve children.
Eden Johnson married Eunice Abbott, of Pawlet, and shortly after removed to Skeensboro, where he resided until their migration to Bristol, where he pur- chased the farm now owned by Joel Barlow. He resided in Bristol but a few years when he removed to Plattsburgh, N. Y., and thence to Canada, where he was drowned in the Grand River by the overturning of his canoe while on a hunting expedition, November 24, 1809.
Benjamin Griswold, from the State of New York, immigrated with his family to Bristol, in 1787, locating on Bristol Flats upon the farm now owned by the Morgan estate, which he continued to occupy for a few years . only, when he removed to Cambridge, Vt.
Capt. Cyprian Eastman was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1749, and removed with his father to Beckett, and subsequently to Bennington County, where he married Rosannah Nelion, and soon after, in 1787, removed to Bristol, locat- ing on Bristol Flats. He was chosen one of the first selectmen of the town, and at the organization of a militia company, in June, 1791, he was chosen captain, and was also one of the committee to lay out the first division of lots and survey highways. He died May 23, 1798, of small-pox, aged forty-nine years, leaving a family of ten children.
Robert Dunshee emigrated from New Hampshire to Bristol, in 1787, com- mencing settlement in the south part of the town, and soon after, removing to Bristol Flats, where he erected a two-story house on the farm now owned by the Morgan estate. Here, for several years, he carried on his business of saddler and harness maker, and then sold his house to Lewis Miller and re- moved to what is now known as the Mountain road, near the Little Notch.
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At the organization of the town he was chosen selectman, and was ever known as a good citizen and an industrious man. During the latter part of his life he was a great sufferer from a cancer which ultimately resulted in his death. It first made its appearance in one of his eyes, and he immediately went to New York and had it cut out. All efforts were made to preserve his life, but with- out avail, and he finally died, after months of suffering, at Bristol, quite advanced in years.
Henry Mclaughlin, who figured quite extensively in the early transactions of the settlers, was born in Ireland, and came to America with Burgoyne, serving as a drummer-boy, remaining with the army until they marched from Ticonderoga. For a few years following this he was engaged in teaching school in Williamstown, Mass., where he acquired the reputation of being a very good teacher. He married Miss Mary Dunton, of Dorset, Vt., and soon after, in March, 1787, removed to Bristol, locating upon the farm now owned by D. Parmenter. He was chosen first town clerk, held other town offices of trust, and for many years kept a public house. In the spring of 1805, he removed to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and both he and his wife died in Bristol, while on a friendly visit in 1813.
Captain Gurdon Munsill was born in Windsor, Conn., October 28, 1760, served all through the Revolutionary war, and soon after its close married Miss Olive Carver, of Bolton, Conn., and removed to Bristol with his wife and two children, March 21, 1789. He had been in town the previous year and made some improvements on his land, and built a log house upon a farm purchased of Timothy Rogers, now owned by Mr. Powell, and lying on the south side of the highway leading from Bristol village to New Haven. He was appointed by the Legislature in 1788, a collector of the first land tax of Bristol, was selectman seven years, represented the town in 1796, and was two years justice of the peace. He died on the old homestead, November 15, 1807, aged forty-seven, having had eight children, none of whom, we believe, are now living. Hon. Harvey Munsill was one of his children, long and favorably known in Bristol as a man of honor and ability.
Gen. Ezekiel Dunton, from Dorset, commenced settlement in Bristol at an early date, locating near the farm now owned by Knowles Bros., of New Haven. He served the town for many years as selectman, constable, repre- sentative, and justice of the peace, and was regarded as an active, persevering man. He held a commission as Brigadier-General of the Militia of Vermont, and was at the battle of Plattsburgh. He died at Bristol, February 13, 1824, aged fifty-six years.
Jonathan Eastman was born in Norwich, Conn., 1753, and subsequently removed with his father to Rupert, Vt., where he married a Miss Haynes for his first wife, by whom he had one daughter ; and a Miss Ruth Dean for his second, by whom he had five children. He removed from Rupert to Bristol, in 1791, where he was first representative in 1792, and again in 1795 ; four years one of the selectmen, eleven years town clerk, and seventeen years a
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justice of the peace. He died December 16, 1816, aged sixty-three years. Calvin, Oliver, and Amos Eastman, brothers of Jonathan, were all respected residents of Bristol, the latter dying at a very advanced age.
Capt. Noble Munson, born in Westfield, Mass., 1770, began settlement in Bristol at an early date, upon the farm now owned by Elexice St. George. He served the town many years as selectman, representative, etc., and served in the war of 1812, being present at the battle of Plattsburgh. He died in Bristol, much lamented as a most respected citizen.
John Arnold, from Duchess County, N. Y., located on the farm now owned by W. H. H. Gove, being the seventh family settled in the town. It is said he brought boards upon his back from Rutland with which to make a table.
Richard Brown came to Bristol from Pittsford, Mass., in 1809, locating upon the farm now owned by George R. Brown.
Job Steadman came to Ferrisburg from R. I., in 1799, and subsequently, in 1803, removed to Bristol, locating upon the farm now owned by Alonzo Wright.
Isaac Drake, from Eastman, Mass., located upon the farm now owned by William Grant, in 1798. Oliver D. located upon the farm now owned by Harrison Tracy during the same year ; and two years after, 1800, Solomon D. located upon the farm now owned by Luke W. Parmelee.
Abraham Gaige was born in Danby, Vt., and with his father removed to Ferrisburgh, where he resided until 1796, when he removed to Bristol, locating upon the farm now owned by William Hines.
Calvin Eastman, from Rupert, Vt., was one of the early settlers of the town, and died here when over eighty years of age.
John Hall came to Bristol from Orwell about the year 1800, and died here in 1850, aged seventy-four years. He was a prominent member of the Bap- tist church.
Eleazer Cushman, a soldier of the Revolution, returned after the war to Thetford, Vt., where he married Elizabeth Plumley, of Sharon. Thence he removed to Randolph, in 1798, and in 1807, to Bristol, where he died in 1815, having had a family of ten children. His grandson, William E., now resides on road three, aged sixty-two years.
The first child born in the town was Polly, daughter of Samuel and Eliza- beth Stewart. She married Jehiel Saxton and removed with him to Ohio. The second birth, and first male child born in Bristol, was Horace, son of Benjamin Griswold. The first marriage that appears upon record was that of Samuel Brooks to Betsey Rorauaugh, March 16, 1791. The first death was that of a son of Amzi Higby, who was killed by the falling of a tree in the sixth year of his age. The first physician was Dr. Joseph Coble, and the first practicing attorney, the Hon. Samuel Halley. First town clerk, Henry Mclaughlin ; first constable, Justin Allen : first selectmen, Cyprian East- man, Samuel Stewart and Robert Dunshaw ; first justice, Jonathan Eastman, in 1792, seventeen years, also first representative. The first brick house was
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built by Henry McLaughlin, in 1800, about one mile west of the village, and was used as the first postoffice, in 1803, with Thaddeus Mclaughlin as post- master. Previous to this the mail matter for Bristol, consisting of a few letters and the Middlebury Mercury, was brought each week from Middle- bury by the settlers themselves, who alternately shared in the task.
The first frame house built in Bristol village was on the site now occupied by the hotel, and the first hotel kept in town was on this stand.
The first grist-mill was built in 1792, by James, William, and John O'Brien, and located west of the mountains in the southern part of the town on O'Brien Brook. The capacity of this mill was quite limited, though it served the pur- poses of the inhabitants until a more commodious one was built at New Haven Mills, and which was generally patronized till Enos Soper erected a mill at Bris- tol village, upon the site now occupied by the mill of E. W. Smith. This building was destroyed by fire in September 1849. A saw-mill was built by Amos Scott, on New Haven River, in the west part of the town, soon after the first grist-mill was erected. Seven forges, for the manufacture of iron, have also been built at different times, which, during their continuance, were of great importance to the town. The first was erected in 1791, by Amos Scott, Gurdon Munsill, and Cyprian and Amos Eastman, located on the river near the first saw-mill. None of them are now in operation, nor have been for a number of years.
While it is conceded that none of the early settlers of Bristol were men possessed of a liberal education, it is claimed that very few, if any, were so illiterate as not to be acquainted with the common branches of education ; that is, reading, writing and arithmetic. At least, they early manifested their appreciation of educational advantages by building a log school house on what is known as Bristol Flats, very soon after the organization of the town. Soon after, two others, one in the southern part of the town in the present District No. 1, the other in the north part in District No. 4, all being built by voluntary contribution of labor.
The Bristol Baptist Church, of Bristol village, was organized by Elder Joseph Call, in 1794, with nine members. Rev. Thomas Tuttle was the first settled minister. The church building, erected in 1794, will seat 250 persons, and is valued at $3,500.00, including grounds. The society now has 103 members, with Rev. William D. Hall pastor.
The Congregational Church, also located at the village, was organized July 8, 1805, by Rev. J. Bushnell, of Cornwall, who in an early day occasionally preached here. David Ingraham, first deacon, continued to officiate until he removed from town, in 1815. They had no stated preaching for several years, nor house of worship, till 1819, when they built a house in connection with the Baptists and Universalists, each denomination to occupy in proportion to the amount paid for its erection. They occupied their share until 1837, when they built the present Congregational church. Rev. Calvin Butler, ordained February 10, 1842, was the first settled minister, the society at that time hav-
7
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ing sixty-seven members. The church now has no regular pastor, and the building is leased to the Advents.
The Methodist Church of Bristol Village was organized in 1813, services being held at the residence of Ebenezer Saxton. Rev. Stephen Scoven- berger preached the first Methodist sermon in Bristol. Services were held in barns and private houses until 1819, when a chapel was built which did service until 1840, when the present church was erected.
The Advent Christian Church held services as early as 1840, a portion of the time in Academy Hall. The society is now organized with nineteen members, holding services in the Congregational church, which they have leased for a term of years. Rev. Hiland Quimby was the first, and is the present pastor.
ORNWALL, located a little southwest of the central part of the county, in lat. 43° 57' and long. 3° 50', bounded north by Weybridge, east by Middlebury and Salisbury, south by Whiting, and west by Bridport and Shoreham, was chartered by Benning Wentworth, Governor of New Hamp- shire, to Elias Reed and sixty-four associates, residents of Litchfield County, Connecticut, among whom were several females, on November 3, 1791. According to the charter, the grant contained an area of 25,000 acres, or a little more than six miles square, bounded as follows :-
" Beginning at a tree standing on the westerly side of Otter Creek, so called, which is the southeasterly corner of Weybridge, and from thence running west by Weybridge, about four miles and one-half mile, or until it meets with a township lately granted, by the name of Addison ; thence begin- ning at the first bounds and running up the creek aforesaid southerly till it comes opposite the southwest corner of Salisbury, thence turning off and running west about four miles, or till it intersects the easterly side-line of Bridport, a town also lately granted, and is to contain the land between the said towns of Addison and Bridport and Otter Creek aforesaid."
By reference to the map it will be readily seen that an error was made in bounding the towns as above, probably owing either to ignorance or careless- ness on the part of the Secretary. In 1784-86, a re-survey was made, in which equal or greater errors are manifest. With these facts in view, it is not difficult to account for the troubles arising between Cornwall and the surrounding towns over the "boundary question." A controversy between the proprietors of this town and Whiting was early begun, which, in 1789, culminated in a law suit, which was decided against Cornwall. This was unsatisfactory to the proprietors, and they appealed to the Legislature in 1790, for a re-hearing. This, we believe, was granted, as the trouble was adjusted by arbitration, the compromise assigning about two-thirds of the disputed territory-two miles of the south part of Cornwall-to Cornwall, and the balance to Whiting. Weybridge, too, claimed that portion of land lying north of the road leading from Middlebury to Bridport. This claim was peaceably settled in favor of Cornwall, on the ground of priority of char-
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ter. Again, in 1796, all that portion of Middlebury lying west of Otter Creek was set off from Cornwall by the Legislature. These constitute all the changes made in the territory.
The surface is pleasantly diversified by hill and dale, having in most parts, a rich productive soil. In the western portion of the town, in the valley of the Lemon Fair, there is a broad expanse of fine alluvial land, constantly enriched by overflows of that stream. In the southeastern portion of the town there is situated an immense swamp, which abounds in excellent tim- ber, and when reclaimed forms valuable meadow land. On the pleasant hillsides are pastured numerous flocks of sheep, some of the finest bred in the country, forming a source of wealth and revenue to the town that would scarcely be deemed possible. Cattle and products of the dairy also form an important item in the commerce of the territory. These, in connection with other items of husbandry, amply compensate for all lack of manufacturing interests. The rock underlying the soil, with the exception of a narrow belt of red sandrock lying along the line of Bridport, is of the limestone form- ation, interspersed with some slate, and frequently croping out in ledges. In West Cornwall there is an extensive quarry of dark blue limestone, known as the " Peck quarry." This stone has such perfect strata, or cleavage planes, that it comes from its native bed with a surface so perfect as to render need- less the chisel of the mason, thus forming a handsome, durable, and econom- ical building material. Other quarries, of perhaps equal merit, are found in several localities, while some good grades of slate and marble exist.
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