USA > Vermont > Addison County > Gazetteer and business directory of Addison County, Vt., for 1881- 82 > Part 18
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George Bidwell, born in Hartford, Conn., located in Starksboro, April 7, 1788, the first settler in that town, and his son, Cyrus, was the first male child born there. Mr. Bidwell died April 17, 1840. His grandson, Sedgwick W., now resides in this town on road forty-five. He has officiated as a M. E. clergyman about forty years, during which time he has preached over two hundred funeral sermons and united about the same number of couples in matrimony.
E. K. Severance, born in Middlebury, now resides about three miles south
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of his birth place. Ebenezer, his father, born in the north part of the town, died here in February, 1880, aged eighty-eight years. Samuel, father of Ebenezer, born in Northfield, Conn., also died in this town at the age of eighty-four years.
J. Porter Champlin, born in East Middlebury, commenced the mercantile business there in 1854, continuing the same about two years, when he sold out ; but in March, 1860, he recommenced the trade and has continued it since.
James Dow, born in Massachusetts, came from Windsor to the town of Leicester, when there were but six families in the township, residing there until his death. His son, Isaac, born in Windsor, lived and died there. Horace, son of Isaac, born in Leicester, moved to Middlebury in April, 1854, where he still resides, on road twenty-five. His son, Wilbur H., came with him, being but one year old, and still resides with him.
Manley W. Squier, born in St. Albans, in 1806, married Mary N. Mosher in 1827, lived in Vergennes about thirty years, and came to Middlebury in 1877, where he now resides with his son-in-law, W. H. Cobb, on road forty-four.
Amos Nichols, from Massachusetts, came to Middlebury when about twenty-one years of age, and lived here until 1868, when he removed to Keeseville, N. Y., and subsequently to Westminster, Mass., where he still resides. His son, Henry H., still resides here, on road twenty-five.
Jeremiah Mead, born in Reading, Mass., came to Bristol about the year 1800, and subsequently died there at the age of fifty-nine years. His son, Sidney, born in Bristol, removed to New Haven, and in 1817, came to Mid- dlebury, where he now resides, on road twenty-one, corner twenty-two.
Leland Maynard, born in Starksboro, died there in 1840. His son, Henry D., born in Starksboro, now resides in East Middlebury.
Reuben H. Cobb came to East Middlebury from Weybridge, and died there in 1876. His son, William B., born in Peru, N. Y., now resides on road forty-four.
Chester Elmer, born in Amherst, Mass., April 6, 1791, came to Addison with his father in 1800, remained there until 1844, then removed to Middle- bury where he remained until his death in 1869. His son, Eli M., born in Addison, came to Middlebury with him in 1844, and now resides on road twenty-four.
Eli B. Parker, born in Rochester, Vt., September 3, 1810, came to Middle- bury in 1832, and with the exception of about six months, has since resided here.
Paul Champlain came to Middlebury from Connecticut, and located upon the farm now owned by Oscar Champlain, on road fifty-six, and built the house now standing thereon about one hundred years ago. He married Es- ther Hyde, and died in 1853. His wife died in 1875, aged ninety-six years. Charles, son of Paul, born here in 1803, died in 1880. He married Eliza
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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.
Arnold and had a family of three children, Edward, George and Oscar. Ed- ward died in infancy, George removed to Minnesota, and Oscar remains on the old homestead.
John R. New, born in Cornwall, Vt., in 1816, remained there until 1832, then removed with his father to Middlebury village. After a few years' resi- dence here he went to Elizabethtown, N. Y., and finally, in 1841, located in Ripton, where he remained twenty-four years. During that time he served as selectman eight years, justice of the peace twenty-two years, and repre- sentative in 1850, '51,'52 and '53, and also as town agent four years. In 1865, he returned to Middlebury, where he now resides on road thirty-seven.
Rev. John Remelee, born on Long Island, N. Y., in 1746, came to Ver- mont in 1791, locating in Whiting, where he died in 1798. His son, Samuel H., born in Kinderhook, N. Y., in 1781, came to Vermont with him. Samuel resided in Cornwall and surrounding towns until 1864, when he died in the town of Leicester. William R., son of Samuel, married Julia A. Perkins, a descendent of Wesley Perkins, one of the earliest settlers of Orwell, and now resides just outside the village of Middlebury.
John Brooks, father of Samuel, who now lives in Middlebury village, came to the town of Bristol, from Connecticut, at an early date, locating upon the farm now owned by A. E. Hasseltine, where he resi .. ed eighty years, and until his death.
Jonathan Seeley, a native of Whiting, Vt., located in Danby in 1816, and removed to Brandon in 1823, and from Brandon to Middlebury in 1837, where he died in 1872. His father, Jonathan, Sr., was a prominent man in Danby and Whiting, and quite extensively connected with the woolen manu- facture at the former place. John, Smith K., and Isaac, sons of Jonathan, Jr., are now residents of Middlebury.
David Buttolph, born on road two, in Middlebury, about 1795, lived all his life on the old homestead, where David N., his son, now resides.
Silas Piper, Jr., came to this town with his father, Silas, Sr., about sixty years ago, locating upon the farm now owned by his son, Edgar G., where he resided until his death in 1875. Upon this farm is a small cave supposed to have been occupied by Indians some time in the past.
CHURCHES.
Congregational Church .- Most of the early settlers of the town came from Connecticut and consequently brought with them their peculiar doctrines respecting religious liberty and toleration, and the relation of "Church and State" which prevailed in that State. Religion was regarded, as it truly is, essential to the highest interests of the State ; and in their view, the first set- tlers considered it right for the government to require all citizens to pay their proportion of taxes for the support of some religious organization. The ecclesiastical organization here was the Congregational society, and from the first organization of the town until ISo1, all tax-payers were
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· asssessed for the support of the gospel in connection with that church. These taxes were laid in town meetings, upon proper notice, and in obedience to the law of the State. Committees were also appointed at the town meetings, whose duty it was to hire the minister and pay him from the taxes assessed and collected. From 1788, until the law of the State was repealed, the gospel was supported in this way. In 1790, a tax of three pence on the pound was voted, to be paid in grain, and the price for the grain to be thus received was established as follows: Wheat five shillings, and corn three shillings per bushel.
On the fifth day of September, 1790, the Congregational Church was organ. ized, and on November 11th, Rev. James Barnett was ordained as its first pastor. The articles of faith adopted embraced the doctrines which are com- mon in the Calvanistic Congregational churches of New England. The soci- ety was composed of twelve members, seven males and five females. In a town meeting of 1795, it was voted "to hold meetings in the future in Mr. Eleazer Sumner's barn till such time as he shall fill it with hay." This shows the primitive style and simplicity that marked the early christians of Middle- bury. After 1798, until the church was erected, meetings were held in the court house. The building was constructed of wood, and commenced in 1806, though it was not completed until 1809, and was dedicated May 31st of that year. In 1854, it was thoroughly repaired and re-constructed, being now a neat, comfortable structure, capable of accommodating 750 persons with seating room, and valued, including grounds and other property, at $20,000.00. The society continued to grow largely in numbers, it being un- til 1810, the only organized religious body in town. In 1806, there were 197 members ; in 1817, 428; in 1836, it had 781, while in 1840, it had only 515, and now has 456. The diminuation took place when they had no regular pastor, or when the pastors were frequently changed, members withdrew and joined other societies and never returned. The society is now, however, in a flourishing condition, has a Sabbath school with 300 members, and an average attendance of 160. The present pastor, Rev. S. Lewis B. Speare, is an able man, honored and beloved by the whole community.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The exact date of the introduction of Methodism in Middlebury is not known, though it is supposed that a society in its incipient strength was formed here previous to 1802. Rev. E. Wash- burn wrote that, in 18or, he "found here a small and persecuted class." Circuit preaching was the effective form of labor in the days of 1800, and for several years subsequent. Middlebury was first named as a station in 1810, and Rev. Phineas Peck was the first settled pastor. He remained here two years, and left a charge of sixty-two members. In 1809, the members in full connection were seventeen, and that year there were forty-five more admitted on probation. At that time meetings were held in rooms in the block now owned by Henry L. Sheldon. In 1813, the first chapel was erected on the street running to the old paper-mill, near and south of the house now occu-
12
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pied by Mr. Noonan. In 1837, the present building, located on the corner of North Pleasant and Seminary streets, was erected, costing $5,000.00. It is a neat, two-story structure with a basement, and surmounted by a hand- some spire, with an auditorium which will comfortably seat 600 persons. The value of the whole property is estimated at $12,000.00. The society has at present 275 members, with Rev. M. B. Mead, pastor.
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was the first Episcopal parish established in the county, organized December 6, 1810, under an act of the Legislature passed October 20, 1797, entitled, " An act for the support of the Gospel." Horatio Seymour, Joel Doolittle, George Cleveland, D. Henshaw, Daniel Chipman, E. W. Judd, D. Wooster, J. Hagar, R. B. Bates, Samuel S. Phelps, James McDonald, and about thirty others were among the earliest members. The first resident pastor was Rev. Bethiel Chittenden, secured in 1811. Public worship was first held in the court house, until 1816, when a building standing next to the present residence of Mrs. James McDonald, was pro- cured and fitted up for a chapel. This did service until the present edifice was completed. It was in 1825 that the first steps towards the erection of the present stone building were taken, and on September 14, 1827, it was consecrated. Its cost was about $8,oco.oo. A few years ago a chapel and vestry-room, also of stone, were built adjoining. The church is now valued, including grounds, at $15,000, and will afford seating room for 200 persons. Since 1827, the church has been favored with the labor of many able clergy- men, eminent for their intellectual attainments and religious devotion. The society now has 208 members, under the pastoral care of the Rev. William J. Tilley.
Middlebury Baptist Church .- For many years there was a respectable Baptist church and society in town, generally supplied with regular preaching and the usual ordinances of religion. The church was organized December 10, 1809, and Rev. Nathaniel Kendrick chosen as its first pastor, from 18ro to 1817. The society generally attended public worship in the court house until 1838, when they purchased the building formerly occupied by the Meth- odists. This was refitted and occupied for several years. Subsequent to 1843, the church had become so reduced by the removal of members, that the house was sold, and the society, as such, ceased to exist. At this time the Baptists had established a paper here, devoted to the interests of the church, and which was recognized as its peculiar organ throughout the State. It was ably conducted, but for want of proper support was soon abandoned. In May, 1879, the society was reorganized by its present pastor, Rev. Charles Hibbard, with twenty-four members, since increased to thirty-eight. Having no church building, public services are conducted in the court house, where meets a small, yet zealous and devoted band, laboring in the cause of Christ.
Roman Catholic Church .- The first missionary Catholic priest who came to Middlebury was the Rev. Father Mac Quade, in 1822. He remained only one year, and from that time until 1830, none were here ; but at that
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time Rev. Father O'Callaghan, as a missionary of the whole State, came oc- casionally until 1834. After this the State was divided into two missions and Rev. Father Walsh came in connection with his labors in this mission, and left in 1835. In 1839, the present brick church was erected under the labor of Rev. Father Daly, who remained on this mission until 1854. Since that time the society has prospered, and now has a large membership composed of communicants from this and surrounding towns. It has engaged the labor of many devoted priests, who have striven to inculcate the first principles of christian duty, upon the minds of their hearers. Among this class of the citi- zens of Middlebury and vicinity are many who are devoted to the church of their choice, regarding, as they have a right to do, its sacraments as essential to their salvation. The society is at present under the charge of Rev. Father Moloney.
The First Universalist Church of East Middlebury .- This society was organized in 1849, and flourished for many years. During the year of its organization the society erected a snug, commodious house for public wor- ship, had sixty members, with Rev. C. D. Miller as pastor. The church has now but few members, with no settled minister, and meets for worship only occasionally, their building being used as a union church, with services oc- casionally held therein by all denominations.
MIDDLEBURY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Middlebury Historical Society was organized November 23, 1843, its members having in view, as a specialty, the cultivation of New England and American history, and the promotion of an interest in that department of intelligence in the community. There were at first but nine gentlemen associated, which number was very soon increased, by election, to twelve, all residents of Middlebury, the plan of action being simply that of a literary club. Its officers were a president and secretary, the latter also treasurer and curator of collections. The officers first chosen were Hon. Samuel Swift, president, and Philip Battel, Esq., secretary, who were continued in office until 1846, when Rev. Benjamin Labaree, D. D., was chosen president, and George S. Swift, Esq., secretary. A standing commit- tee of two members besides the secretary was constituted for all general purposes not otherwise provided for. New members were elected from time to time from the town and vicinity, honorary members in Addison County, and corresponding members out of it. Meetings were held monthly, or quarterly, as seemed expedient, at which historical papers were read and discussions held, the former with some collections of manuscript and curiosi- ties, which were preserved. In February, 1847, a project was adopted to procure the preparation of town histories of all the towns of Addison County, with a view to their publication as soon as prepared. A special committee was constituted for this object, by whom historians were selected in each town, and commissioned by a circular from the society minutely defining the
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TOWN OF MONKTON.
comprehensive work to be done. The appointments were accepted or others made, and an interest in the design was extended in the towns. Eight or ten of such histories were prepared and reported. Of these, four in a com- plete form and of high merit were published, chiefly by the towns interested and by local subscriptions. The first was that of Middlebury, with a prelim- inary historical account of Addison County, introductory to the series, by Hon. Samuel Swift, in 1859. The History of Salisbury, by John M. Weeks, Esq., followed in 1860 ; that of Shoreham, by Rev. Josiah F. Goodhue, in 1861 ; that of Cornwall, by Rev. Lyman Matthews, in 1862. Histories of Orwell and Bristol were also prepared, by Hon. Roswell Bottum and Hon. Harvey Munsill, which remain unpublished with others less complete .* The society has sustained, since 1843, an annual celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims, regarding the Plymouth Colony as the starting point of New England history, and its character as typical of American civilization. The plan of organization of the society is still maintained. The present officers being, Hon. John W. Stewart, president, and Philip Battell, Esq., secretary.
ONKTON, located in the extreme northern part of the county, in lat. 44° 13', and long. 3º 55', bounded north by Hinesburg, in Chittenden County, east by Starksboro, south by Bristol and New Haven, and west by Ferrisburgh, was chartered by New Hampshire June 24, 1762, to Abraham Dow and sixty-three others, in seventy shares, and said to have an area of 24,000 acres. This amount, however, was decreased by the annexa- tion of 2,726 acres to the township of Starksboro, March 4, 1797, leaving the town with a present area of about 21,450 acres, or a little less than six miles square. The surface is very uneven and mountainous, the principal elevation being Hog Back Mountain, which extends across nearly the whole eastern portion of the town from north to south. The western part is watered by Little Otter Creek, and the eastern by Pond Brook, which rises from Bristol Pond, nearly on the line between Monkton and Bristol, and runs north
through this town into Hinesburg. Lewis Creek also runs a short distance in the northeastern part. These streams afford few mill-sites, and principally to this fact Monkton owes her dearth of manufactures, for aside from her timber, large quantities of iron ore are found, though it is taken to other localities for manufacture. There is also found the black oxide of manga- nese, ocher, and kaolin, the latter being extensively prepared for market. Taken all in all, Monkton is rich in her mineral products, and at the same time possesses large areas of good arable soil, producing a fair percentage of grain and fruit, and also affording sustenance to large herds and
. Judge Bottum died October 28, 1877. His son, George R. Bottum, of Rutland, caused his History of Orwell to be issued in book form, in November, 1881,
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flocks, the pride of the township. The scenery is varied and picturesque, with many points affording excellent views of the surrounding country, while the hills and mountains contain many curiosities of nature which are well worth a visit. Among these is a large cavern in the northwest part of the town. The orifice by which it is entered is at the bottom of a large chasm in the rocks on the side of a small hill. After descending about sixteen feet, you arrive at a room thirty feet long and sixteen wide. From this is a passage leading to a second apartment, which is not quite so large but more pleasant. Monkton Pond, in the north part of the town, is a handsome little body of water, about one mile in length by a half mile in width. The rocks are mostly of the red sandrock formation, with some beds of quartz and marble, in the extreme eastern portion.
In 1880, Monkton had a population of 1,022, was divided into nine school districts and had nine common schools, employing two male and twelve female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $838.40. There were 402 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year end- ing October 31, was $999.96. O. L. Nimblet was superintendent.
MONKTON, a post village located in the central part of the town, contains a hotel, store, school-house, etc., and about twenty-five dwellings.
MONKTON RIDGE (p. o.), a hamlet located in the northern part of the town, contains a store, school house and fifteen dwellings.
BARNUMTOWN, a hamlet in the western part of the town, contains about a dozen houses.
EAST MONKTON, a hamlet located a little south of the center of the town, contains a church (union), school house, blacksmith shop, kaolin works, and a dozen or so scattered dwellings.
The Kaolin Works, located on road fifty-four, have been under the man- agement of Mr. B. F. Goss, of Vergennes, since 1864. First as B. F. Goss, then Goss & Talbott, and finally, as it still remains, Goss & Gleason (C. J. Gleason, of Montpelier.) The works employ thirteen men, with an average product of 1,500 tons per annum. The kaolin is used principally as a "filling" in the manufacture of paper. A large proportion of their product is sold in New York.
Tradition says that John Bishop was the first settler of the town, though the records show Barnabas Barnum, John Bishop, John and Ebenezer Stearns to have settled coincidently, in 1774, twelve years after the granting of the charter. These, perhaps, were joined by some others, but after the breaking out of the Revolution the settlement was broken up, and John Bishop, with several sons, and E. Stearns, were captured by Indians and Tories, and taken prisoners to Canada. Barnabas Barnum was killed at the siege of Shelburne Block-house, March 12, 1778. After cessation of hostilities, some of the settlers returned to their farms, where they were joined by others from time to time, till in 1786, the population was thought sufficiently large to warrant the organization of the town. Accordingly a meeting was
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called, on the 26th of March, at which Samuel Barnum was chosen town clerk, Colonel John Allen, constable, and John Bishop, Jr., John Ferguson, and Samuel Barnum, selectmen. The first justice was Samuel Barnum, in 1787; first representative, Ebenezer Bar- nom, in 1787; first born, Ebenezer Stearns, October 18, 1775; first death, Eunice Church; Buel Hitchcock was the first physician and also built the first saw-mill ; Isaac Sawyer, first minister, ordained September 24, 1798. Jesse Lyman, major of militia, was at the battle of Plattsburgh. Stephen Haights was many years a leading member of the Legislature, county sheriff, and officer in the U. S. Senate. Died at Washington, D. C., January 12, 1841, aged fifty-eight years, while seargent-at-arms of the Senate.
Daniel Smith came to Monkton in 1780, from Bennington, and located on road twenty-two, upon the farm now owned by L. E. Smith, and the different members of his family have been among the most prominent men of the town. He was a counsellor, town representative for twelve years, and held other offices. He had a family of seven children. Luman B. became a law- yer and remained in Monkton, where he was prominent in civil life. His son, Lucius E., now lives on the old homestead, one of the prominent and respected men of the town, a representative and treasurer. Dr. Ira Smith, son of Daniel, was a deputy sheriff, county judge, and representative. Daniel died about the year 1814. Lucius E. was first elected to represent the town in the Leg- islature in 1858-'59, and has since served eight terms, and was also State senator in 1866-'67.
The first hotel was built by Barnum, and still stands on road thirty-six, owned and occupied by Ashbel Dean, though remodeled. It was built during the Revolution, or soon after and near it, corner roads thirty-five and thirty-six, where the M. E. church stands, was a whipping-post and pillory. A Quaker named Carly was condemned to stand a certain number of hours in the pil- lory for getting in hay on the Sabbath. He underwent the punishment, his wife sitting knitting work in hand, on a stone near by.
Nicholas Holmes, from Nine Partners, N. Y., came to Monkton in 1787, locating where H. R. Baldwin now resides, on road seventeen, corner four. Nicholas was a member of the society of Friends, and had a family of eight children. Jonathan succeeded to the estate, and after him his son Andrew, making three generations that occupied the old homestead.
Beers Stilson, from New Milford, Conn., came to this town in 1783, locat- ing on road twenty-one. Afterwards, he purchased a farm off road twenty-two, where his son and grandsons now reside. He married Eunice Dodge, and had a family of four sons and one daughter, of whom Alpheus, at the age of eighty years, is the only one now living.
Solomon Barton, from New York, came to this town in 1785, locating on road seventeen, where A. J. Cushman now resides. His second son, Moses, built the house where H. Jewell now resides, in 1812. Mrs. Jewell is a daughter of Moses.
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Ashbel Dean, from New Jersey, came with his brother, Benjamin, to this town just after the war of the Revolution, where he had served six years. He located on the "old stage road" in Barnumtown, which ran near and parallel with road 46. Ashbel was at the battle of Eutaw Springs, Yorktown, and others, an artillery-man, and had his gun taken and retaken several times, though it finally remained with the Americans. He married a daughter of Jehiel Barnum, had a family of nine children, four of whom are now living. Arzah C., the eldest, is now nearly eighty-six years of age, having been born February 16, 1796. The house occupied by T. N. Dean is the oldest in the village, if not in the town. It was built by Capt. Kendrick.
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