USA > Vermont > Addison County > Gazetteer and business directory of Addison County, Vt., for 1881- 82 > Part 11
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The country is watered by the Lemon Fair River, flowing in a northeasterly direction across the northwest corner, and Otter Creek, forming the southwest boundary of the town, with their tributaries. Beaver Brook rises in the south- ern portion of the town, flows north and unites with the Lemon Fair near the north line. It has several small tributaries. The streams mentioned are the principal ones of the township and afford some mill-sites. There are also several mineral springs which possess valuable medicinal properties. The land was originally covered with an immense growth of pine, hemlock, beach, birch, maple, tamarac, cedar, oak, elm, ash, and basswood. Consid- erable portions of timber are still standing in some localities. The products are principally wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, Indian corn, onions, potatoes, hay, sugar, wool, and products of the dairy.
In 1880, the town had a population of 1,070, was divided into seven school districts and had seven common schools. There were 240 pupils attend- ing common school, employing three male and seven female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $1, 186.89, while the whole cost of the schools for the year ending October 31st, was $1,345.92. Mr. L. W. Peet was superintendent.
CORNWALL, a small post village located in the central part of the town, con- tains fifteen or twenty dwellings with the usual complement of blacksmith and carpenter shops, etc.
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TOWN OF CORNWALL.
WEST CORNWALL, a post village located in the western part of the town, contains one church (Baptist), a store, school house, and about twenty dwellings.
Cobb's cider mill, located on road thirteen, corner fourteen, was built by Frederick Cobb, about 1830, and is now owned by P. N. Cobb, who manu- factures here 500 barrels of cider per year. Mr. Cobb's residence was built in 1816, by a Mr. Ford.
Samson's Wagon and Carriage Manufactory, located near the centre of the town on road sixteen, was established by the present owner and proprietor, C. E. Samson, in 1879.
The records of the early proceedings of the proprietors were burned in Con- necticut, in 1788, and it is, therefore, impossible to speak definately, though it is fair to presume that the proprietors of this town, like those of other towns in the vicinity, coniplied with the terms of the charter in laying off town lots, etc. But be that as it may, settlement was not begun until thirteen years after the granting of the charter, in 1774, in that part of the town afterwards annexed to Middlebury, by Asa Blodget, James Bently, James Bently, Jr., Thomas Bently, James Throop, Theopholus Allen, William Douglass, and Samuel Benton. Soon after, these were joined by Eldad Andrus, Ethan Andrus, Aaron Scott, Nathan Foot, Samuel Blodget, Ebenezer Stebbins, and perhaps others, none of whom were among the original grantees. They had just begun to get clearings made and dwellings erected to make themselves comfortable, when they began to be molested by incursions of Indians and Tories, who plundered, and in some instances burned their dwellings, carried off their stock, and even made captives of some of the settlers themselves. This state of affairs gradually grew worse, till, after the surrender of Ticon- deroga to the British, it became absolutely unsafe and dangerous for them to remain on their farms any longer. Consequently, they all returned to their homes in Connecticut, or retired to Massachusetts and the southern part of Vermont. Their improvements were fast going to ruin, and desolation and quiet was again spread over the forests that had so lately echoed the merry ring of the axe. But soon after the news of peace reached this country, in 1783, several families returned to their claims, and, as soon as the relations of peace assumed a more decided aspect, in 1784, a very large accession to the number of settlers arrived and selected farms. As sufficient numbers had now arrived to warrant the organization of the town, a meeting was called, March 2, 1784, at which the following town officers were chosen : Jeremiah Bingham, moderator ; Joel Linsley, town clerk ; Samuel Benton, Jeremiah Fingham, and Eldad Andrus, selectmen ; Hiland Hall, treasurer ; Nathan Foot and Roswell Post, listers, and Eldad Andrus, Stephen Tambling, William Jones, and Isaac Kellogg, highway surveyors. These were the only officers deemed necessary for the town during the first year of its existence, but was considerably added to during the following year and afterwards, till officers were deemed necessary that to our modern ideas would seem absurd.
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TOWN OF CORNWALL.
Prosperity, after all their vicissitudes, began to dawn upon the settlers, and with it came large additions to their numbers-mills were erected, farms cleared, and, notwithstanding occasional troubles with the " Land Pirates," of New York, and the hardships incident to pioneer life, they were recognized as a prosperous, happy, contented people. Such, to-day, is the reputation of their descendants, the present inhabitants of Cornwall, who deserve well the character, as did their fathers before them.
Several of the early settlers had children, and some of them large families, when they came to Cornwall ; but the first child born in the town was Jesse Silkriggs Foot, eighth child of Dr. Nathan Foot, May 17, 1776, while the Continental forces yet held possession of Ticonderoga. Two other sons were born in Rutland after the flight of the settlers in 1777, and one daughter of the family, Parthenia M., was born here in 1784, after her parents' final return. Among the earliest born in town were Luther P. Blodget, Horace Linsley, William Slade, Asahel Bingham, Frederick Ford, Jr., Horace Janes, Eli Parkill, Nathan Peck, and Roswell Post. The first males who died in the town were Jacob Linsley and a Mr. Lee, the former by disease, the latter by accident. Lee was engaged in felling timber, when, by the breaking of a lodged tree, he was instantly killed. Nathan Foot was the first representative of the town, in 1778-79, though there was at that time no one living in the township. He being present when the Legislature was in session, in October, 1778, was admitted as a member from Cornwall, on account of the land he owned in that town. Hiland Hall was the first rep- resentative after the organization of the town, and also the first justice, chosen in 1786.
Mill privileges are exceedingly rare in the town, and of a character to afford little encouragement for the erection of mills. The Lemon Fair is too sluggish a stream to afford power for turning machinery, and the other streams, though for a few days in spring and autumn they furnish a superabundant supply of water, have no steady supply that may be relied upon. The first mill was built on Beaver Brook at an early day, by Jared Abernathy or Levi Sperry, and both, either successively or in union, were interested in running it. The dam was often totally or partially destroyed, and the property passed through many changes of ownership. Some fifty or sixty rods below this locality a grist-mill was erected by David Pratt, which, for a while, furnished accommodation to the community ; but the dam having been destroyed by a freshet, and better mills having been erected at Middlebury Falls, the site was abandoned. The first merchants were - - Ballard and Israel C. Janes, the latter having opened a store about the time of the organization of the town. A few years after, Joshua Stockwell commenced business, forming a co-partnership with Josiah Austin, though the partnership did not long con- tinue. Daniel Campbell opened a store at an early day, but continued in business only a few years. These men also engaged in the manufacture of potash, paying for ashes in goods. This was a comparatively remunerative
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occupation in the days when the settlers were clearing their heavily timbered lands, as ashes were very abundant. Nathan Foot was the first physician, coming here with the first settlers, in 1774. The winter previous to the sur- render of Ticondergo to the British, he was employed as physician at the Fort. The first lawyer was Martin Post, and he only came at a comparative late day. In fact, the climate has never proven healthful for gentlemen of the legal fraternity, which fact may perhaps be construed into a compliment to the town,-vultures are companions of war, not peace,-with all due respect to that learned profession. Still, though Cornwall may not be able to speak with pride of its resident shining legal lights, it can point to over fifty names of its young men who attained a " thorough, copper-bottomed, Ver- mont college education," and many of whom subsequently became, and still are, well known in the professions. For a long period the "cobbling" here, as elsewhere, was done by itinerant shoemakers, who would go about from house to house, once a year or oftener, and do the work for the families in that line. This was denominated by them as "whipping the cat." Tailors were accustomed to do work in the same manner. Measures to secure for the community facilities for education were early entertained by the settlers, who seemed to appreciate well the advantages of learning. At the annual meeting, March 5, 1787, a committee for the purpose of dividing the town- ship into convenient school districts, was appointed as follows : Thomas Bentley, Eldad Andrus, Jared Abernathy, William Slade, James W. Douglass, Roswell Post, and John Rockwell. The committee promptly performed their duty, and on the 15th of the month reported a division into seven dis- tricts, the number it still retains.
The farm now owned by Loyal L. Wright, originally settled upon by Joseph Cook, is said to have yielded the first hay cut in the township. An uncle of Loyal's, Silas Wright, setted here from Amherst, Mass., in 1796, upon the farm now owned by Mrs. John Child and son. Here Loyal, when a boy, plowed up fourteen Indian arrow-heads, averaging five inches in length, which were sent as a present to Gen. Jackson, who returned thanks for the same. Silas Wright was the father of Silas, Jr., the ex-statesman, Senator and Governor of New York. Loyal is an extensive fruit-grower.
Nathan Eells, born in Lebanon, Conn., at an early day settled in Cornwall on road seventeen, where he died in 1850. John, son of Nathan, born in Cornwall, died here in 1839. Isaac L., son of John, now resides on road thirteen.
Benjamin Sanford, from Litchfield, Conn., came to Cornwall among the first settlers, residing here until his death. His son, Daniel, among the first children born in the town, also died here. Mrs. Juliette Holley, residing on road thirteen, is a daughter of Daniel.
Elisha Field, born in Sunderland, Mass., July 1, 1717, came to Bennington in 1761. Hewas elected ensign of the first military company of Vermont, in 1764, was one of the committee to build the first church in the State, and also
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TOWN OF CORNWALL.
one of the committee to lay out the streets of Bennington. He immigrated to this town, with three children, Elisha, Jr., Asahel and Lydia, in 1782, and died here in 1791. Major Orin Field, son of Elisha, Jr., born here June 12, 1792, now the oldest person born in this town, lives on road thirty-eight ; has resided here all his life, except one year, when he resided in Castleton. He is a pensioner of the war of 1812, and was at the battle of Plattsburgh, represented the town in 1856-57, and has been a justice of the peace forty- eight years, which office he now holds. The Fields are relatives of Cyrus W. Field, of Atlantic Cable fame.
David Parkill, from Connecticut, came to Cornwall in 1774, where he re- sided until his death. His son David, born in this town, also died here, and his son Silas C. now owns the farm which has never been out of the Parkill family for ninety-seven years.
Linus Everts, born in Salisbury, Conn., came to Cornwall, after several years' residence in Rutland Co., in 1805, dying here in 1832. The old farm on road twenty-seven is now occupied by his son Samuel, who has been postmaster for a period of over thirty-two years, still holding the position.
Frederick Frost, Jr., born in Williamstown, Mass., came with his father to Middlebury, in 1787, settling at the village about where the college now stands, and subsequently removed to this town, where he died in 1865, aged eighty- six years. His son Anson W., located near the center of the town, where he still resides, and has been first constable and collector sixteen years, which office he still retains.
Loren S. Peet, from Middlebury, located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Lyman W. Peet, on road twenty-nine, where he died May 1, 188r. Previous to his taking it the place had been owned by a relative, - Steb- bins, who was three times driven off by Indians.
Benjamin Atwood, from Sundown, N. H., came with his parents to Corn- wall at an early date. From here they removed to Rutland, and subsequently to Pennsylvania, where his parents died. He then returned to Cornwall, where he has since resided with his son, John Quincy Atwood, being now in his goth year. Another son, A. E. Atwood, is living on road thirty-eight.
Ezra Scovel located upon the farm situated at the junction of roads forty- six and forty-seven, among the first settlers. The old homestead has always remained in the Scovel family and is now occupied by Horace G. Scovel and son.
Jacob Peck, born in Litchfield, Conn., came to this town in 1785, making his way through the forest by means of marked trees, and located upon the farm now owned and occupied by his son Alanson. Here he resided for a period of fifty-five years, when he died at the age of eighty-three. Alanson, born here, has always resided upon the old homestead, and is now eighty- three years of age.
Zachariah Benedict, born in Arlington, Vt., immigrated to this town among the early settlers, residing here until his death. His son Abel, born here,
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TOWN OF CORNWALL.
died in February, 1823. Abel J., son of Abel, is now a deacon of the Baptist church at West Cornwall. Milo E., son of Abel J., sixteen years old June 9, 1882, gives promise of becoming a great musical composer. At the age of seven years he composed several pieces, and at eight composed a dirge on the death of a friend, which was pronounced excellent. He is now receiving a musical education in Boston.
James Lane came to Cornwall from Mansfield, Conn., among the early settlers, locating upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Henry. Mr. Lane died in June of 1800, and was succeeded by his son Job, who died in 1860, at the age of seventy-two. Henry, son of Job, was born here in 1824, married Mary A. Peck, and has two children, Charles H. and Arthur T. Charles resides on the old farm and is the present town clerk. Arthur is a wholesale grocer in Chicago. Henry is the originator of Lane's imperial sugar beet, a member of the Board of Agriculture, represented the town in 1864, '65 and'66, and was one of the directors of State prisons in 1865, '66 and '67, and a member of the last Council of Censors, held in 1869, which was abolished in 1870. This council was for the purpose of recommending changes in the Constitution, and first met in 1785, since which it was assembled every seven years, consisting of thirteen members, one from each county of the State, except Grand Isle and Essex, who furnished one between them. Rollin Lane, son of Job, married Lucia Brainard and has a family of three child- ren, Charles R., Franklin B. and Hattie S., all living at home.
David Foot, from Connecticut, came to Cornwall about 1790, locating up- on the farm now owned by his grandson, Jared A., residing there until his death, in 1821, having had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. Russell remained upon the old homestead until his death, in 1834. Elijah also died on the farm in 1867, aged seventy-nine years. He married Miss M. Gale, she dying in 1878, aged eighty-one years, having had eight children, four of whom were sons. One, Jared A., who now occupies the home farm, married Caroline Bristol for his first wife, by whom he had four children, and for his second, Rosa Field, having by her two children. Three are now living in Bristol and three in Colorado.
Dea. Jeremiah Bingham, from Bennington, Vt., came to Cornwall in the spring of 1784, locating upon the farm now owned by O. A. Field. He mar- ried Abigail Hawks, by whom he had seven children, five of whom were sons, and all settled near their father's farm. Jeremiah served in the army during the Revolution and was engaged in the battle of Bennington. He was a surveyor by profession, an active business man, much respected by all until his death, at the age of ninety-six years. Reuben resided upon the farm now owned by his son Merrill, married Rhoda Goodhue and had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, four of whom are now living, and died at the age of eighty-three years. Merrill was born in 1808, married for his first wife Abigail Andrus, and had a family of four children, three of whom, Leonora, Merrill, and Reuben P. are now living, and for his second wife
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Esther Towner. The daughter married O. A. Field. The sons are both extensively engaged in sheep breeding, Merrill being one of the oldest breeders in the State, having been engaged in the business upwards of fifty years. Ira Bingham, son of Jeremiah, settled on road thirty-nine upon the farm where his son Harris and grandson W. Harry now live. He married Sophia Weeks, of Salisbury, and had a family of four children, three sons and a daughter, two of whom are now living. Ira was killed by the kick of a horse, in 1811. Alonzo L., brother of Merrill, was born in 1810, and now resides on road thirty-four. He married Louisa L. Stockwell, of Cornwall, by whom he had six children, five of whom, A. S., A. C., D. P., Mary E. and Jennie, are living. Alonzo has been engaged in the sheep business half a century.
Franklin H. and Harrison F. Dean, descendants of Ashbel Dean, an early settler in Monkton, are residents of this town. Franklin H. lives on road thir- ty-seven, and is one of the successful sheep breeders of Cornwall, having been engaged in the business- about forty years. Harrison F. resides on road thirty-one, and is also an old and extensive sheep breeder, having now in in his possession the Stowell flock.
Reave Peck, from Litchfield, Conn., came to Cornwall in 1795, locat- ing upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Elizur, Jr. Elizur, Sr., was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and built the Baptist church at West Cornwall.
Benjamin Sanford, born in Litchfield, Conn., came to Cornwall in 1784, locating in the west part of the town upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Edgar. His son John, born here February 14, 1795, died in 1869. Cordelia A. Sanford is the widow of M. J. Ellsworth. One of the sons of Benjamin, Jonah Sanford, was born in 1791, and in 1811, removed to Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he entered military service and was engaged in the war of 1812, attaining tbe rank of general. Benjamin was an active business man, and held most of the important town offices. He died Febru- ary 1, 1869, aged seventy-three years.
Jared Abernathy, Sr., was the first settler on the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Jared W. He came from Connecticut about 1780, with two sons, Cyrus and Jared, Jr. Cyrus located upon the farm now owned by P. B, Warner. Jared, Jr., remained upon the farm with his father until the lat- ter's death, when it came into his possession. From Jared, Jr., who died in 1838, the homestead came into the hands of Cyrus O., the father of Jared W. and Ann J., who now reside on the place.
Zebulon Jones, with his son Amzi, came to Cornwall from Hoosac, N. Y., in 1790, locating north of the Lemon Fair bridge. Father and son both died here, aged respectively ninety and eighty years. Rev. Ahira Jones, born here, is pastor of the Baptist Church. Jason, son of Amzi, is a farmer and breeder of sheep. Hon. Rollin J., another son, is also engaged here in farming and the breeding of fine sheep. Zebulon, another son, is pastor of the Baptist Church at East Hubbardton.
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TOWN OF CORNWALL.
Job and William Lane, brothers, emigrated to Vermont from Connecticut, at an early date in its history. Job located in this town, and died here in 1860. His son Rollin still resides here, on road twelve. William located in Weybridge, where he remained until 1831, then removed to this town, and died here, September 26, 1844. His son Charles D. now resides on road twelve.
Jesse Ellsworth, born on the farm now occupied by Mrs. M. J. Ellsworth, died here October 30, 1870, aged seventy-nine years. Miles J., husband of Mrs. M. J., also born on this place, died here July 16, 1880, aged fifty four years.
Dan Warner, born in Ellington, Conn., February 29, 1792, came to Corn- wall in 1806, locating with his father upon the farm where he has since resided. It is said he has paid taxes on property more years than any other man in the town. He died September 17, 1881, aged eighty-nine years.
Levi Sperry, from Connecticut, came with his father to this town while it was yet a wilderness, locating upon the farm now owned by Albert H. Sperry. A barn is still standing on the place, which, it is stated, Levi brought two gal- lons of whiskey through the forest from Middlebury to assist in raising. He died here in 1828. Joseph K., born on this farm. died here just fifty years after the death of his father. Albert H., son of Joseph, now owns the place, being the third, and his children the fourth generation.
Samuel Richards, with his son Samuel, came to Cornwall from Connecti- cut, in 1790, and located on road two, upon the farm now owned and occu- pied by Asahel MI., son of Samuel, Jr. Samuel, the elder, died here at the age of eighty-six. Samuel, Jr., died in 1869.
John Benedict came to Vermont when a boy, located in Weybridge, and in 1830 removed to this town, locating on road two, where he died in 1872, in his eighty-eighth year. The farm is now owned by his son Julius B., who resides on Seymour street, in Middlebury village.
Reuben Peck, from Connecticut, came here at an early day and located upon the farm now owned and occupied by his son Romeo, on road forty-one.
Israel Champion Jones, from Greenfield, Mass., came to Cornwall in 1787, and located on road forty-four, upon the farm now owned by his grandson (son of Horace), Champion M. Jones, where he died in 1847. Horace died in 1852.
Joseph Hamblin came to this town from Connecticut at an early date, and died here at the age of thirty five. His son Ira, born here, died September 4, 1876, aged eighty-two years. Joseph B., son of Ira, was born here, near where he now resides.
James Marsh Douglas, from Cornwall, Conn., came to this town at an early date, with his four sons, Elias, John, Benajah, and Burnam, locating near where his grandson Nelson B. now resides. He died here, aged about fifty- five years.
Hon. Darius Matthews, born in Cheshire, Conn., December 11, 1766, came
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to Tinmouth at the age of thirteen, and at the age of twenty-one commenced the practice of medicine in Salisbury, where he remained two years, then removed to Middlebury and practiced medicine until 1802, and in 1808 came to this town where he died October 8, 1819. In 1798, he was appointed clerk of the supreme court ; in 1801, judge of probate; in 1802, clerk of the county court, which position he held until his death, and also represented the town of Cornwall from 1811 to 1817, inclusive. By the charter of Middlebury College, he was made one of the original members of that corporation, and continued a judicious friend and helper to that institution to the end of his life. His son, Rev. Lyman Matthews, born in Middlebury, came to Corn- wall with his father. Hon. Daniel Matthews, a Congregational minister, author of the History of Cornwall, died here in 1866, and his sons, William H., and T. P. Dwight, own and occupy the farm he owned at his death, on road fourteen. T. P. Dwight graduated at Middlebury College in 1870.
William H. Remsen, from Rhode Island, came in 1850, and engaged for a time in the dry goods and grocery business. He is now engaged in farming on road thirteen.
Harvey E. Taylor, grandson of Samuel Taylor an early settler in Salisbury, is now engaged in breeding Spanish Merino sheep and farming, at West Cornwall.
Alvin M. Williamson, a descendant of one of the early settlers of Middle- bury, now resides in this town on road five.
William E. Samson, from Connecticut, came to Cornwall about 1800, and died here in 1845, aged eighty-one. His son Reuben, born here, died in 1847, aged fifty. Lavette, son of Reuben, now resides on the place where his father died, on road six, corner three.
Austin Dana was born at Amherst, Mass., May 31, 1795. In March, 1796, his father, Eleazer Dana, accompanied by Silas Wright, father of Gov. Silas Wright, of New York, and their families, removed from Amherst to Weybridge, Vt., and settled near each other. Austin Dana married a daughter of Gen. Summers Gale, of Cornwall, and after his death, about 1830, purchased the Gale farm and resided there until his death, in 1870. He served as a volunteer at the battle of Plattsburgh, September 11, 1814.
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