USA > Vermont > Addison County > Gazetteer and business directory of Addison County, Vt., for 1881- 82 > Part 26
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Silas Brookins settled upon the farm now occupied by his grandson, Thur- man, in 1788. Philip C., son of Silas, was born on this place, married Lu- cinda Fobes and had six children, of whom Harvey S. and Thurman are still living here. Thurman was representative in 1867-'68, senator in 1874 and '76, justice in 1863, associate justice in 1870-'72, and county commissioner in 1875-'77. Both brothers are largely engaged in sheep breeding.
Jeremiah Cutting, from Connecticut, located in the eastern part of the town at an early date, where he resided until his death. His son, German, was born in 1818, and resided upon the old homestead till his death in 1875. German married Prudence P. Atwood, had four children, three daughters, and one son, G. A., who still occupies the old farm and is engaged in sheep breeding.
Daniel L. Ward came to this town from Panton, in 1813 or '14, locating upon the farm now owned by his grandson, S. W. Ward, near Shoreham village.
Horace Lapham came from Ticonderoga, N. Y., in 1800, being at that time only twelve years of age. In 1814, he purchased and located upon a farm near Five Mile Point He married Louise Smith, had six children, and died April 15, 1878, his wife having died July 25, 1864. Oliver S. was born in 1814, married Lucena Heustes, and has one child. Horace's six children all located near Five Mile Point.
William Johnson, from Worcester, Mass., located upon the "Johnson farm," in 1788. William, Jr., Edwin, son of William, and W. B., son of Edwin, all were born here.
Reuben C. Cook, born in Orwell, in 1792, came to Shoreham in 1815 and 16
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TOWN OF SHOREHAM.
located upon the farm he still occupies, on road 31. He married Roxy Wilson, by whom he had four children, she having died in November, 1875. Two of the children only are living, Sarah and William. Mr. Cook is now, at the age of eighty-nine, the oldest man in the town.
Levi Jennison, from Shrewsbury, Mass., settled in 1790, upon the farm after- ward owned by his son, Hon. Silas H. Jennison, who was born May 17, 1791. The following year Levi died, leaving Silas, an only son, to the mother's care. Through his own exertions and love of study he became quite well informed, and in 1826, was elected representative, which office he continued to hold six consecutive years. He was assistant justice of the county court six years, member of the State council three years, Lieut .- Governor two years, the last of which he acted as Governor. In 1836, he was elected Governor by the popular vote, and discharged the duties of that office six years, and for six years after, was judge of probate for Addison District. He closed his useful life in this' town in September, 1849. He had, for a long time previous to his death, been engaged in collecting facts and data for a History of Shoreham, but died before his work was completed, and the matter was taken in hand and the book finished by Rev. Josiah F. Goodhue, in a most ac- ceptable manner, making a very valuable work, and one to which we are greatly indebted for materials in this sketch of Shoreham.
On road 37, near the house of S. L. and E. N. Bissell, is a plain marble monument, about nine feet in height, bearing the following inscription :-
CAMP STONY SPRING, 1760. ERECTED BY- S. L. BISSELL AND E. HALL, 1860.
This marks the camping ground of the colonial troops during the French and Indian war, while marching from Charlestown to Crown Point. Tradition states that in one of these marches, the troops, fearing a battle at Crown Point, buried their money in this vicinity, the spot being afterwards, by the aid of "divining rods" located on the farm now owned by Thurman Brookins, and considerable ground was dug over many years ago in fruitless attempts to recover the treasure.
The first school taught in town was by a lady on Cream Hill, probably as early as 1785 or '86, and a school was kept up in that neighborhood a por- tion of every summer and winter, for three or four years before there was any other in town. About 1789, a log school-house was built at the " Four Cor- ners," and for several years the children in the Birchard and Larrabee districts were sent to the school kept there. The log school-house in District No. 2, was built in 1794. Gideon Sisson, the first man of parts who was employed in the town as a teacher, was here in that capacity several years subsequent to 1785. Since that time, school districts have been formed in different parts of the town, sufficient in number to bring the advantages of common school education within the reach of all.
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TOWN OF SHOREHAM.
Most of the early settlers of Shoreham had been officers or soldiers in the French war, and subsequently, in the war of the Revolution. As is well known, a soldier's life is not conducive to any great degree of piety, but rather the opposite. Hence it was that this town did not at so early a period after its settlement, seem to take an interest in religious matters. Still, there were some among the pioneers that were imbued with the old Puritan piety that no amount of rough life and hardships could wear out. Previous to the Revolution, there were no religious meetings held in the town; but a few years after, ministers of the Congregational and Baptist denominations occa- sionally visited the people and preached to them. The earliest preaching of which there is any account being by Elder Samuel Skeels, a Baptist minister, who came here in 1788 or '89, and remained about three years. In March, 1794, the people were favored with the labors of Rev. Ammi R. Robbins and Rev. Peter Starr, missionaries from Connecticut. On the 25th of that month the Congregational Society was organized with fifteen members. The church was thus favored with missionaries until 1805, when, on the 26th of Decem- ber, Rev. Evans Beardsley was ordained the first pastor of this church, and retained the position until May, 1809. The first church edifice was erected at Shoreham village, of wood, with a seating capacity for 1,000 persons, and cost over $6,000. In 1846, this structure gave place to the present hand- some edifice, built of brick, seventy-two feet by fifty-four feet, and finished with best materials inside and out. It will comfortably accommodate 500 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $10,000.00. The society now is in a flourishing condition, has 112 members, with Rev. W. N. Bacon pastor.
The Baptist Church was organized June 2, 1794, with fifteen members,- eight males and seven females,-and appointed Eli Smith deacon. Rev. Abel Woods was ordained pastor, February 26, 1795, and continued to preach with them until 1811. During his residence in Shoreham, 170 members were added to the society.
The Universalist Society, at Shoreham village, was organized in 1806, with Rev. Richard Corrigue as pastor, which service he rendered until 1814. Worship was held in the district school-houses till the Academy building was finished, when this building was used until 1852, when the present brick structure, forty-four by sixty-four feet, was constructed, capaple of seating 300 persons, and valued at $5,000.00. The society now meets every four weeks, conducted by Rev. S. A. Parker, of Bethel.
The Methodist Society, at Shoreham village, is supposed to have been or- ganized about the year 1804 or'5, by Jabez Barnum, Samuel Ames and others. Nothing definite can be arrived at, as the early records have been lost. The society has never owned a church edifice, and since the erection of the V. M. C. A. chapel, in 1859, have used that building, having a free lease of the same as long as it stands. They have, at present, no regular pastor, and number twenty-five members.
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TOWN OF STARKSBORO.
The St. Genevieve Catholic Church, located at Shoreham village, was or- ganized in 1873, with 150 members. During that year, the present edifice, of wood, was constructed, which will seat 500 persons, and is valued at $6,000.00. The present pastor, Rev. Charles Prevost, has under his care a congregation of 300 members.
STARKSBORO, the northeast town of the county, lies in lat. 44° 13, and long. 4" o', having a very irregular outline, bounded north and east by Hinesburg and Huntington, in Chittenden County, south by Lincoln and Bristol, and west by Bristol and Monkton; granted November 7th, and chartered November 9, 1780, by Vermont, to David Bridia, and sixty-seven associates, containing originally 18,500 acres, which, March 4, 1797, were increased by the addition of 2,726 acres from the town of Monkton. The surface is very uneven, rising from the valley of Lewis Creek, near the western line, by a series of gradually ascending hills, to a high ridge called East Mountain, which extends in an irregular course along the eastern boundary, with a precipitous descent on the east, toward Huntington River, which flows partially within the limits of the town. These streams, with their tributaries, and Baldwin Creek, which flows a westerly course across the southern por- tion of the territory, comprise the water courses of the town, and as a result, govern the general highway system. A tributary of Lewis Creek, which comes down through the village of Starksboro, where it operates a grist-mill, saw-mill, butter tub factory, and machinery of a carriage shop, is formed by the waters from several springs which pour forth from a hill-side within half a mile of the village. The soil is mostly loam, producing to a good percentage the grains and fruits indigenous to this latitude, and also furnishing pasturage for large flocks and herds, making wool growing and stock breeding one of the princi- pal occupations of the inhabitants. The timber is principally hard wood, with some spruce, hemlock, and cedar, which, owing to the many excellent mill- sites, is manufactured into lumber quite extensively. In the western part of the town, including Hog Back Mountain, the rocks are mostly of quarts formation, with some red sandrock in the northwestern part, while the central portion is composed of talcose conglomerate, and the eastern and remaining, of talcose schist.
In 1880, the town had a population of 1,251, was divided into thirteen school districts and contained fourteen common schools, employing four male and twenty female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $1,340.00. There were 382 pupils attending common school, and the entire cost of the schools for the year ending October 3 1st, was $1,508.20. L. G. Ferguson was school superintendent.
STARKSBORO, a post village located in the western part of the town on a tributary of Lewis Brook, contains a saw-mill, carriage shop, two blacksmith
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TOWN OF STARKSBORO.
shops, two churches (M. E. and F. Bap.), a foundry, two stores, one hotel, grist-mill, cheese factory, and about one hundred inhabitants.
SOUTH STARKSBORO (p. o.), a small hamlet in the southeastern part of the town, contains only a small cluster of houses.
ROCKVILLE is the local name given a small settlement in the western part of the town on Lewis Creek.
O. S. Baldwin's saw-mill, located on road 14, employs two men and man- ufactures 5,000 butter tubs and 2,000 to 3,000 cheese boxes annually, besides considerable custom sawing. Mr. B. has recently added a "provender mill" for the accommodation of his townsmen, and also does some cooper work and operates a planing-mill. The water-power is good, coming mostly from two springs that never fail even during the severest drouth. Mr. Baldwin has also expended considerable money in building and stocking a trout pond, having nearly 20,000 trout, the largest of which will weigh over a pound.
Buell, Thompson & Co.'s tub manufactory, located on road 31, was estab- lished in 1870, under the firm name of Buell & Morrison, since which time there have been various changes in ownership and firm title, till the adoption of the present. The business now employs seven men, manufacturing 10,000 butter tubs annually, which are largely sold to Vermont and New York parties, though some are sent west.
J. H. Orvis' rake factory, located on road 31, the only one in the county, was established in 1840, by P. & N. Morrison. Mr. Orvis employs five men and manufactures from 600 to 800 dozens of hand-rakes and 100 dozens drag- rakes in a season, besides several hundred dozens of fork and hoe handles, etc. The larger part of the product is sold in the State of New York.
The first settlement of Starkboro was commenced by George Bidweil and Horace Kellogg, with their families, in April, 1788, on road r. M. Bidwell resided on his farm fifty-two years, dying April 13, 1840, having been one of the principal men of the town, and gained a handsome property. The farm is now in the possession of F. N. Hill, a portion of the old house, the first hotel in town, still remaining, though with many additions and changes, among which is the present farm house. At about the same date, John Ferguson settled on road 15, and built a house in Monkton. He subsequently repre- sented the town of Monkton in the Legislature three years, and then becoming impressed with the fact of the inconvenience it caused the people east of Hog Back Mountain to reach the business centre of that town, used his in- fluence towards getting a tract lying west of the mountain annexed to Starks- boro. His endeavors were successful, as mentioned previously, making him a resident of this town. He was chosen the first representative, in 1798, and continued in the office many years. His original farm included a large part of what is now the village of Starksboro, and the water privilege of the springs, to which he added the waters of a small stream, by tunneling through a hill, and here erected the first grist-mill and fulling-mill in the town, and also operated a forge and trip-hammer shop. His descendants to the fifth generation are now occupying portions of the old farm.
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TOWN OF STARKSBORO.
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Warner Pierce, from Hollis, N. H., cleared a farm just north of the Bid- well's, where I. E. Eddy now resides, and was elected town clerk at the organization of the town. He was a second cousin of President Franklin Pierce, and died here in March, 1812, aged forty-five years. His eldest daughter, Mrs. S. Kingsley, now resides, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, with the family of H. Sayles. During this year Thomas V. Roten- burgh also commenced settlement on the Monkton portion, these constitut- ing the entire population in 1789, which, in 1791, had increased to forty, and at the organization of the town, in March, 1796, it probably did not exceed one hundred persons. At this their first town-meeting, Warner Pierce was chosen town clerk, Solomon Holcomb, constable, and Joseph Bostwick, Abram Bushnell, and Luman Bronson, selectmen. The first justice was Samuel Darrow, chosen by the State in 1790 ; first representative, John Fer- guson, in 1798 ; the first birth, it is claimed by many, was that of Hannah Kellogg ; but the first that the date can be fixed was that of Cyrus, son of George Bidwell, December 11, 1790 ; the first marriage, David Kellogg and Christiana Traver, March 3, 1793 ; first physician, Enos Pearson, 1797 ; first lawyer, Ansell M. Hawkins, 1832, and first ministers, Joseph Mitchell and Abner Wood, itinerant Methodists, in 1798.
Philander Orvis, from Norwalk, Conn., purchased one hundred acres of land lying in the south part of the town, in 1790. Upon this farm he settled soon after, in the dense wilderness, 'and commenced improvements. Soon, however, he found his title was not valid, and was obliged to re-purchase his possession. He married Phoebe Chase, and had a family of seven children, four of whom arrived at maturity ; the youngest, Joshua, now occupies the old homestead, and Joel, the eldest, resides near by, at the age of sixty-eight years. Loren Orvis, brother of Philander, was the first settler in Lincoln, locating upon the farm now owned by Herman Hammer, in 1795.
Oliver White, born in Canaan, Conn., July 25, 1764, a pensioner of the Revolution, settled here in 1790, locating upon the farm now owned by his youngest son, Almon White. At this time, the nearest mill was at Vergennes, and the only road in town was a bridle-path, marked by blazed trees. Among the early settlers, land was considered of little worth unless the timber was entirely of hardwood growth. In passing through Bristol, Mr. White found land for sale very cheap, and two log houses in the town ; but for the reason just stated, pressed on to the hills of Starksboro to make his home. Here he was engaged in trade for many years, at Starksboro village, also did business as a drover, and was for a long time deputy sheriff. He died in 1853, aged eighty-nine years, having had a family of nine children. Almon, born November 15, 1790, has always resided on the old homestead.
Hezekiah Varney came to Starksboro at about this time, from New Hamp- shire, purchasing the farm now owned by Mrs. Judith Perkins, where he resided until his death, in 1858, at the age of ninety years. He had a family of nine children, six of whom are now living, their aggregate ages amounting
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TOWN OF STARKSBORO.
to 441 years. Although Mr. Varney was engaged in farming, he also did mason work, made chairs, spinning-wheels, looms, sleighs, etc., for the whole neighborhood, was a prominent man among his townsmen, held various offices of trust, and died universally respected.
Richard Worth was one of the early settlers, and drafted the first plan of the town, on parchment. He was for many years town clerk, constable, etc., and died March 4, 1858, aged eighty-eight years. William Worth succeeded to the estate, consisting of a large tract of land lying at the south end of the village, now divided into three farms. He also succeeded to his position as one of the first men of the town, and was honored with most of the offi- ces in the gift of the people, dying March 14, 1881, aged eighty-two years. His widow still occupies the farm. Richard Worth brought from Monkton, and planted, the first apple tree in the township. It was blown down in 1879, though a sprout from the roots is still growing.
Thomas C., David, and Ephraim Morrison, brothers, from New Hamp- shire, located in Starksboro in 1808, and started a tannery on a branch of Baldwin Brook a short distance above the Bristol line. Subsequently they began the manufacture of rakes, doing all the work by hand, and carrying them to New Haven and Vergennes on horse back, where they were sold. This was the commencement of the present rake manufactory. Nathan Mor- rison, now occupying the old homestead at the age of sixty-six years, says he can remember quite distinctly riding to New Haven on a horse behind his mother to vend their wares. Nearly all the inhabitants of South Starksboro at that time were "Friends," and quite a number of that society now remain, having a house on road 30, where they hold meetings regularly twice a week.
Robert Young, from Sheldon, Franklin County, came to this town in 1800, locating upon the farm now occupied by his grandson, Enoch H. Young. Mrs. Young nee Hannah Hoag, was the descendant of an old New Hamp- shire family, and possessed of a very courageous nature, which was frequently demonstrated, on one occasion by defending their sheep-pen against an attack from wolves, armed only with a pitchfork. Of their family of eight children, only one is now living.
Charles Purinton was one of the earliest settlers of Lincoln in 1795, and built one of the first saw-mills and also the first "still" in that town. There are now in the towns of Lincoln and Starksboro thirteen families, numbering over 130 individuals, descendants of this family, who annually meet in a "Puritan peenie."
Samuel Hill, from Barnstead, N. H., moved his goods through the forest on a sled in 1805, and located here upon the farm now owned by Patrick Leonard, on road 19. Here, three miles from any neighbor, he cut the first stick of timber on that place. During his long life in Starksboro he held most of the town offices, and was also captain of militia. His son, Richard, had a family of eleven children, ten of whom are now living, their aggregate ages amounting to 566 years.
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TOWN OF STARKSBORO.
Jonathan Dike, with his son, D. C. Dike, came to this town in 1839, and purchased the farm now owned by S. Hill. D. C. purchased the farm he now occupies, which was originally settled by Captain David Kellogg. The residence was used for many years as a hotel, the first one in town, by Elisha Kellogg.
Crispin Taft removed to Starksboro, from Rutland, in 1830, locating upon the farm now owned by his son, Sam, on road 22, where he died, in June, 1868, aged seventy-four years. Mr. Taft, a short time previous to his death, requested that his remains should be buried on a beautiful, sugar-loaf shaped hill, situated near the residence, about fifty rods from the highway. Here his body, with that of his wife, rests, their grave being marked by a fine marble shaft enclosed by an iron fence, in plain view for a long distance, north and south from the highway.
Solomon Holcomb, afterwards a prominent town politician, located in Starksboro upon the farm now owned by Mitchell Hill, on road 22, which in 1822, he exchanged for the one now occupied by Mrs. Cynthia Holcomb, on road 9, where he died, and where his son, Samuel D., resided for fifty-seven years.
Nathaniel Chaffee, born in Rhode Island in 1758, served all through the war of the Revolution, and afterwards drew a pension, till the passage of the act prohibiting from so doing all who possessed property above a certain value. Henry D. Chaffee has now in his possession some of the old Conti- nental money paid Nathaniel by the army paymaster. He settled in Starks- boro at an early date, near the farm located upon by George Bidwell, where he died, in 1826, aged sixty-eight years. Many of his descendants now reside in the town.
Anson Hallock came to Starksboro in 1836, and located in the southeast part of the town, far back in the forest on the margin of the " Big Beaver Meadows, " on road 24, the farm now being included in that of his son, Ovet Hallock. Many remains of beaver dams are still to be found here, and in the early times numbers of beavers were killed on these meadows. Ira Hallock, third son of Anson, located upon one hundred acres of land on road 24. The streams from this farm, on the south, empty into Otter Creek, while those from the north find their way into Onion River.
Edwin Knight came from Farmington, N. H., and located upon the farm now owned by T. Casey, on road 1, in 1807, where he resided till his death. Mr. Knight had a family of eleven children, of whom one only, Benjamin L., remained in the town, and was successively elected representative, justice, and selectman, giving entire satisfaction in these and other offices, dying in 1880, aged seventy-nine years. One of his notable characteristics was a strong antipathy to Free Masonry, never losing an opportunity for assailing that order.
Joseph Brown, from New Hampshire, came to Starksboro in 1807. His son, Joshua, had come with Samuel Hill, for whom he worked one year, and
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TOWN OF STARKSBORO.
with the money earned during that time purchased one hundred acres of land on road 8, where, in 1807, he built a log house. William, Ephraim, Jonathan, and Jacob Brown all came soon after, locating near Joshua, and this portion of the town was for a long time thereafter known as " Brownsboro."
James Kinsley, a native of Scotland, located on a farm east of and ad- joining that of George Bidwell, in 1806.
Samuel Thompson, from New Hampshire, came to this town in 1809, locating on the place now owned by John Garlin, on road 20. He had a family of thirteen children, six of whom are now living.
David Mason, from Northfield, Conn., came to Starksboro in 1817, locat- ing on road 9, upon what has since been known as " Mason's Hill." He had a family of nine children. Two, only, bearing his name, now reside in the town. Benjamin M. Ellison also came from Northfield during this year, and is still a resident.
Asahel Fuller came to Starksboro, from Connecticut, in 1807, locating upon the farm now owned by Myron Small, on road 2, corner of 3. He was the first settler in the northeast part of the town, and his son, Josiah, occu- pied the farm nearly all his life, and Josiah's grandsons still reside near the old homestead.
Jethro Stokes came to Starksboro in 1812, locating upon the farm now owned by his son, Justus Stokes, on road 2. He had a family of fourteen children, eight of whom still reside in the town.
Moses Smith has resided in this town since 1814, and is now, at the age of ninety-four, the oldest person in the township. The oldest house in town is said to be the one occupied by A. W. Bostwick and son, on road 15, built by Samuel Hall in 1792.
The farm upon which Solomon Holcomb last located was originally set- tled by his grandfather, Abraham Bushnell, whose good wife was instrumental in leading the renowned Bishop Elijah Hedding to Christ. It is said the Bishop was a wild boy and often made sport of religious subjects. Mrs. Bushnell was the first Methodist in town, and at her house the first meetings were held, and young Hedding, being a good reader, was induced to read the sermons to the people who were wont to gather there. On one of these occa- sion his conversion took place, and he was subsequently baptized in the brook near the house, the stone upon which he knelt during the ceremony is still to be seen in a wall near by, where it was placed by Mr. Holcomb.
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