USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Gazetteer and business directory of Bennington County, Vt. for 1880-81 > Part 16
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EAST RUPERT is a hamlet in the south-eastern part of the town. It contains a post office, a store, grist and saw mill, cider mill and cheese factory. It numbers some sixty-five inhabitants, and about twelve dwellings.
NORTH RUPERT P. O. is two miles north of East Rupert. The post office here is in a private house.
Of the early days of Rupert little is known, as the first records were stolen by one known in those days as the Proprietor's clerk. Proprietors being the name applied to those to whom a grant of land was given. The first grant was given by Governor Benning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, to Samuel Robinson and sixty-three others, who employed Josiah Cass as clerk. Cass was a "tory" which accounts probably for his carrying away the books. From what can be ascertained from those versed in the traditions of the past, the first meeting of these " Proprietors " was held on the 16th day of April, 1765, at the house of John Fassett, who was known as the "Innholder" in Bennington. The first division of land was made at what is now called East Rupert, and gave fifty acres to each proprietor. Among these early settlers were the names of Eastman, Curtis, Barnum, Blood and Harmon.
In 1768 a second division was made and each proprietor was given sixty acres of land in the White Creek meadows now called West Rupert. Before the Revolution the town was but sparsely settled, and when Burgoyne was approaching their settlements they were abandoned by the settlers who carried away what they could, first putting in safe places all they wished to leave, and turned
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themselves toward Suffield, Connecticut, the native place of many of them. For two or three years the Tories held possession and destroyed whatever they could find. After the war the settlers be- gan to return. Among the number moving from Suffield, Conn., was David Sheldon. He was a man of energy and became in after years one of the influential men of the town, being a Represen- tative in the State Legislature thirteen different times, Judge of the County Court for a number of years, besides holding many town offices. His family consisted of ten children. His death occurred in 1832.
Martin Smith was the first settler in that portion of the town known as Indian River. He moved from Litchfield, Conn., in 1773. Mr. Smith was a staunch friend to ministers of whatever faith, and a helpful neighbor to new comers. He lived, with the exception of a few months, on the farm where he first settled, and died there. His descendants yet own portions of his land. ID 1783. Israel Smith, a graduate of Yale, moved into Rupert. He was sent to the Legislature for four years, and to Congress for four years. He was elected Governor in 1807, and died in 1810. in Rutland. In 1788 Dr. Josiah Graves settled in the town as the first physician, and continued in practice until his death, which occurred in 1825. In 1789 Laura, daughter of Dr. Graves was born. He had one other daughter, but no sons. One be- came the wife of the Hon. Nathan Burton, of Manchester, who afterward settled in the town. The other married Hon. John S. Pettibone, also of Manchester.
The town of Rupert has been the home of quite a large num- ber of celebrated men. Ichabod S. Spencer D. D,, being one of the most prominent. Dr. Spencer was born at Rupert the 23d of February, 1798. In 1815 he left the town and went to Granville, N. Y., when he apprenticed himself to a tanner. During a season of great religious interest, he became convinced that he ought to enter the ministry, and for this purpose he entered Union College, in 1819, was graduated in 1822 and after that was engaged in teaching, studying and preaching [by license] until 1828, when he accepted a call to preach from the Congregational Church in Northampton, Mass., the same church to which Jonathan Ed- wards ministered so many years. Later he became pastor of the
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Second Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, were he remained until his death, which occurred November 23, 1854.
One of the first missionaries sent to India by the American Board, was the Rev. Allen Graves, who was born in Rupert in 1790. He went to Bombay and died there in 1845, after a life of usefulness. His wife and sister, Miss Orpha Graves also went to India and died there.
Mrs. Katherine Sherman, widow of Enoch Sherman, who fought in the Revolution, died in the year 1859 at the age of 94. She was one of the oldest persons in the town.
In 18to a disastrous storm visited the place, swelled the tribu- taries of White Creek in the vicinity of Clark and Kent hollow, to such an extent that buildings were swept away, dams demolished, and the village of Salem, some eight miles down the creek, in a valley, inundated. Much damage was done as the farmers lost all their hay beside other property, which was destroyed by the water.
In 1832 the White Creek was again disturbed by a severe storm, and the highway for nearly one half mile was destroyed, while bridges were carried away and the house of the constable, (also tax gatherer,) Norman Harvey, was swept away by the waters. In the house was his pocket book, containing State monies, which was lost. By an act of the Legislature he was credited with the sum lost the following year.
In 1855 during the month of June a disastrous tornado passed through the south-eastern part of the town. The width of the storm track was nearly one-half mile, and it demolished every- thing in its way. Ephraim Jones was killed by a barn falling upon him, while a boy was carried a number of rods and dropped in an orchard. The boy however was only slightly in- jured.
Vermont was at one time an independent government, and therefore claimed for itself the right to coin money. When the Legislature met in 1785 it granted to Reuben Harmon, Jr. of Rupert, the sole right to coin copper money within the State for a period of two years. Bonds were required from him to the amount of £5,000 on his contract, and the weight of the "cop- pers " was set at "not less than one third of an ounce troy weight."
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TOWN OF RUPERT.
The mint house was located on a small stream called Mill-brook in the north-easterly part of the town. The dimensions of the house were 16 by 18 feet, and it was roughly made. The mint could turn out sixty coppers per minute, but the actual number made in that time was about thirty.
The old building was afterward moved to the Pawlet town line and used as a corn house.
The copper coin known as Harmon's, are seldom seen. The first issued are described as follows :
"Obverse, a sun rising from behind the hills and a plough in the foreground ; legend VERMONTENSIUM RES PUBLICA, 1786. Reverse, a radiated eye, surrounded by thirteen stars ; legend QUARTA DECIMA STELLA." In 1786 Mr. Harmon was granted an extension of his privilege, to end in 1795. A change was also made in the weight and design of the coin. The firm, which then consisted of four persons, viz: Mr. Harmon William Cooley, of Rupert, Elias Jackson, of Litchfield, Conn., and Daniel Voorhis, of New York, added to their number six others from the city of New York, thus making a company of ten. Works were erected in Ulster Co., N. Y., under the supervision of the New York partners, while the other part of the firm built their works in Rupert. Mr. Harmon was required, after the expiration of three years, to pay two and a half per cent. on his coinage into the State Treasury.
No authentic date can be found as to the length of time the manufacture of the coin was conducted, but it was carried on so extensively that the accumulation became very great, and the coins lost their value for circulation.
In 1810 a large amount of counterfeit silver was put in circu- lation, and for some time no clue could be found to the circula- tors. But finally suspicion fell upon three brothers by the name of Crane, and after a long search their apparatus for coining was found in the woods near the foot of Mount Antone. The Crane's succeeded in getting away from the country, and no authentic re- port of their whereabouts was ever heard, though it was rumored at the time that one of them was hung for some crime in the South.
The first church organized in the town was the Congregational,
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at Rupert, the date was June 6th, 1786, and with only eight members. It was organized by the Rev. Job Swift, of Benning- ton. The first pastor was the Rev. Increase Graves. He was the pastor until 1793, when he removed from the town. The church at present is ministered to by Dr. A. Boardman Lambert. The present membership is seventy-five. The house of worship will seat two hundred and fifty, and is valued at $2,500.
The Baptist Church at West Rupert was organized May 25, 1803, by a council composed of Obed Warren, Isaac Beal, Ed- ward Barber, Sylvanus Haynes and Clark Kendsie. It had thirty- three members with which to organize. Rev. Alvin Wales was the first pastor. The society now numbers forty members, with the Rev. David Beecher as pastor. The church property is valued at $2,000, which was its original cost, and will seat with comfort about 200 persons. From this church five young men have gone into the ministry. In 1830 a Sabbath school was organized and is still prospering.
The Church of Christ, or Disciples Church is at West Rupert. It was organized with twelve members on the 25th of December, 1839, by Elder W. P. Reynolds. The first pastor was the Rev. Charles J. White. The church was built soon after the organiza- tion of the society, and is still occupied by them. It has at present 155 members, with Rev. John N. Wilson as pastor. About one hundred and sixty persons can be seated in the build- ing. The present valuation is $2,500.
SANDGATE.
Sandgate is in the north-western part of Bennington county and borders on the State of New York. The charter was granted by Governor Wentworth, August 11, 1762. It is six miles square, and was originally divided into seventy-two shares, which were granted to John Park and sixty-five others. The town in the eastern portion is hilly, but capable of cultivation on the
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TOWN OF SANDGATE.
hill sides to near their summits. The soil is much better adapted to sheep grazing than anything else. Limestone is found in some parts of the town. Green River is formed by a number of smaller streams from the western side of the mountain, and runs through the southern part of the town, emptying into the Bat- tenkill in West Arlington. Terry's Brook, with its tributaries, waters the western portion. The scenery in some localities is quite picturesque.
In passing from the eastern to the western parts of the town, a narrow gorge some fifty rods in length affords a roadway. This gorge is through the solid rock, in some places nearly thirty feet high, and is called the Notch. Going around from one side of the town to the other instead of passing through this gorge, the dis- tance would be about ten miles. The Notch is of natural forma- tion and affords the lover of the beautiful yet strange in nature plenty of study. During the summer season it is a place of remark- able attractiveness, and well repays any traveler who may turn aside to see one of Dame Nature's strangest freaks. About one half mile south of the Notch is Swearing Hill. This most singular name was bestowed upon this eminence when the town was first settled, and is probably permanently sealed upon it. It grew from the fact that two hunters, one from the east and one from the west met on the hill in one of the "days of long ago," and fought over a lot of game. Which side was the victor history does not tell, but the name of Swearing Hill was given to the spot, and so recorded in the book of deeds of the town, from the time deeds were first made to the present. East of this hill with a hollow between is Minister's Hill, so called from the fact that the minis- terial land set aside and taken up by a minister was located on the western side of the hill.
The population of the town in 1880 was 681, all white.
There are ten school districts, employing two male and twelve female teachers. The amount paid for their wages the past year being $674.00. The number of pupils attending was 159, while the entire cost of the schools was $817.00. Superintendent, Wm. J. Hamilton.
SANDGATE, (P. O.) is a hamlet near the center of the town.
In the town are two churches, one store, two blacksmith
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shops, two saw mills, one cooper shop and a peg factory. Large quantities of lumber and shingles are cut each year, but the larger trade is in Merino sheep. During the Rebellion the quota for this town was fifty-seven, and three more men than was called for volunteered to fight for their country. It is exceed- ingly difficult to get any very reliable record of the first settlement of the town, owing to the fact that whatever records are to be found are so worn and defaced by time as to be illegible. As near : s can be ascertained the first settlement was made in 1771 by a Mr. Bristol. Among the names of the pioneers are Reuben Thomas, Capt. Lewis Hurd, Abner Hurd and George Peck.
One of the leading men of Sandgate was Captain Lewis Hurd, who settled there after the war, in the winter of 1783. He was a native of Roxbury, Conn, In 1776 he entered the army and served during the war, until the battle of Yorktown where he was · severely wounded. He remained at Sandgate until his death, which occurred when he was ninety years old, the 18th of Decem- ber, 1848.
The first child born in the town was Samuel, son of Reuben Thomas. The date of his birth was Sept. 15, 1772.
In March of 1781 the first highway was laid out, to pass through the middle of the town. In 1782 the first deed was recorded, but is was executed in 1778.
The first town clerk was Abner Hurd, and the first to hold the office of justice of the peace were Reuben Thomas and Joseph Bris- tol. Reuben Thomas was also the first representative in 1778.
The M. E. Church was organized about 1830, and a house , erected. In 1878 the house now standing was built at a cost of $2,000. Its present valuation is $2,500. About 175 can be seated in the building. Rev. E. Comstock is the pastor, with a membership of fifty-eight.
The Congregational Church, located at Sandgate Center, was organized in 1792 by Rev. James Murdock, who was the first set- tled pastor. At its organization it had a membership of thirty. The first house of worship was built in 1827, and repaired in 1846. The first cost of the building was $1,500, the present valuation of the church property is $2,000. The building will seat about 400 persons. The Rev. C. H. Cooledge was the late minister. The membership in 1880 was given as fourteen.
SEARSBURG.
Searsburg was chartered by the government of Vermont in council at Arlington, to William Williams and 27 others, Feb. 23, 1781, but was not organized until March 18, 1833. It is a south- easterly border town and contains 10,240 acres. The surface is hilly upland, being on the eastern slope of the Green Mountains, and is traversed by a north and a south valley through which flows Deerfield River, the principal stream, and from the upland in the west, smaller streams flow eastward to the river.
The mineral wealth of this town has never been developed if any exists.
The manufacture of lumber, and articles of merchandise from lumber, engages the chief capital and labor of the town. The timber is principally beech, birch, maple, spruce and fir. The soil is a stony and gravelly loam. Along the river, the arable land is rich but circumscribed in territory by the hills, which here crowd close upon the river, but on the upland along road 6, are several old farms. Wheat has recently been grown of excellent quality, and of more than the average quantity as grown in wheat coun- tries. Potatoes thrive here, and grown on the gravelly upland, are of the best quality. Other root crops can also be grown in paying quan- tities; maple sugar is one of the staples of the town. Though not a country one would choose for farming purposes alone, yet if well farmed, the land will undoubtedly give forth her increase in good measure. The land is well adapted to grazing.
The population of the town in 1885. was 232 and all were white.
During the year ending September 30, 1880, the town con- tained four school districts and employed one male and six fe- male teachers at an expense for salaries of $309.40. The num- ber of pupils attending school was 66, and the total amount ex- pended for school purposes was $327.65.
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TOWN OF SEARSBURG.
SEARSBURG p. o., is at the house of Geo. W. Bond on road 7, near the bridge. There is no village nor any church edifice in town.
Mr. George W. Doane built a saw-mill and wash-board and clothes pin factory on " Devil's Stair Brook" in 1855; ten years later George J. Bond purchased the property. The mill was burned in 1869, and was rebuilt the same year. Mr. Bond has now three wheels driven by 85 feet head of water. The saw mill, driven by a wheel ten inches in diameter, averages 300,000 feet of hard and soft wood lumber annually. Of wash-boards he makes about 4,500 dozen, and about 15,000 gross of clothes pins in the same time.
The wash-boards are mostly sent to Europe. By running a trunk forty rods from the mill he can easily have a 175 feet head, An amusing incident connected with this privilege, is worth re- lating. At one time Mr. Bond was called as a witness in a law- suit over in Massachusetts. While being cross-examined, he tes- tified to the capacity of his mill for certain work, in terms that in- duced the incredulous lawyer to inquire "Where is your mill situ- ated ?" "On Devils Stair Brook," said Mr. Bond. "Well," said the lawyer, "I thought the Devil must have something to do with it."
At the eastern border of the town on road 9 is a saw mill and bench screw factory, originally built by A, B. Medbury, a few years ago, on the site of an older mill which had burned down. In 1879 Mr. Wm. E. Jordan, purchased the property. He em- ploys about four men, and during the past year has made about 2,000 dozen bench screws, 500 dozen hand screws and cut about 150,000 feet of lumber.
About 1845 Solomon Rich, built a saw mill on the river oppo- site road 4. He soon after sold to Simon and George W. Doane. The mill was subsequently burned and rebuilt by Simon Doane, who added machinery for making grain measures, and the busi- ness was conducted by him until his death in 1878. The prop- erty is now owned by Butterfield & Mason, the former of Wil- mington and the latter of Heartwellville, and is under charge of Edwin C. Harris, who superintends the lumber department for the firm, and makes measures on his own account. About 200,000 feet of lumber is the annual production of the saw mill.
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TOWN OF SEARSBURG.
On the West Branch of Deerfield River, near the north border of the town, is the saw mill and bedstead factory of Mrs. Delia Hotchkins, of Troy, N. Y., now operated by John H. Bellows, who employs about eight men in the manufacture of 200,000 feet of lumber and 1,000 bedsteads annually.
The first settlement of the town is shrouded in uncertainty. It is believed, however, that Samuel Hollman, who moved in be- tween 1812-15, and commenced to clear a lot at the extreme easterly part of the town was the first man here.
Benoni Davis was an early settler also in the eastern part, where he cleared a farm and planted an orchard. During the time of his residence the population dwindled to three families. Having no wagon Mr. Davis contrived a primitive vehicle on which to visit the outside civilization. He inserted the ends of two poles in the ring of his ox-yoke and spreading the other ends four or five feet apart, allowing them to drag on the ground, one or more boards fastened across the poles afforded a seat upon which he rode or transported his load. A somewhat similar style of conveyance is now practiced by the western Indians.
In 1820, a Mr. Haskell and Stephen Martin moved into town. No representatives of these early settlers have lived in town for many years.
The first permanent settler was Joseph Crosier and his two eldest sons Joseph, Jr. and David, from Halifax, Windham Co., who cut a wagon road from Heartwell House, at Heartwellville to the place where he located, in 1823. They cleared a piece of land, planted corn and potatoes and sowed oats. They also built a house of spruce logs and covered it with spruce bark. They also went that summer to the beaver meadows in Woodford, where they cut and stacked a few tons of hay, and on Jan. 29, 1824, Mr. Crosier moved his family in and settled in his new house, near the south border of the town, (where Truman Canedy now lives, ) and lived here until his death in 1844, at the age of fifty-eight.
When moving here he brought a yoke of oxen and one cow. The land was covered with a dense forest, and for several years he depended upon the beaver meadows for his supply of hay. He stacked it on high ground, and in the winter when the crust was frozen hard, he and the boys with large hand sleds hauled the hay home, a distance of three or four miles through the woods.
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TOWN OF SEARSBURG.
The only family living in town when Joseph Crosier came, was that of William Eaton, who lived where D. B. LeRay now re- sides.
Mr. Eaton was known as "The Searsburg Poet." He moved away about 1826, from which time the Crosier family were the only residents of the town until the settlement of Beniah Gallup, from Halifax, who located in 1827 near the south line of the town, west of the main road, on what has since been known as the Totman lot.
Mason Pike followed about 1828, and settled about half a mile south of No. I School house.
Joseph Eames located previous to 1830, and built a log house. He subsequently built the large frame house now standing on the turnpike opposite road 6. He was for many years a leading citizen.
Then came Nicholas Grousbeck from Marlboro, and more recently from Woodford about 1830. Mr. Grousbeck is still liv- ing at the age of 87, with his grandson Geo. Farrington, on the farm where he originally settled. John Tanner from Halifax settled where Geo. J. Bond now lives, about 1831, and about the same time Luther Park settled where the Briggs brothers now re- side, on road 5, near the western border of the town.
Hon, Trenor Park lived here in his youthful days, with his father.
John Knapp, from Woodford, settled about 1831, and for a time lived with Mr. Park's father. Freeman Lamb settled about 1831, where Charles S. Grimes now lives, and James Crosier, from Halifax, about the same time, where Willard Sumner now lives. Mr. Sumner came here in 1850. David Crosier, son of Joseph, located many years ago on road 5, and built a large house. He occasionally entertained travelers, but did not regu- larly keep a public house. The house was burned July 3, 1878, and Mr. Crosier died in February, 1879, aged 67 years. Samuel Crosier, son of Joseph, succeeded to the old homestead on road 6. and lived here until his death, in 1873, at the age of 52. His daughter married Truman Canedy, who now ownes and resides on the place. The family cemetery opposite the house is well cared for, and the monuments tell of many friends and relatives who have been tenderly laid here by sympathizing friends.
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TOWN OF SEARSBURG.
At the first town meeting, held in pursuance to a notice of warning by Samuel H. Blackmer, justice of peace of Benning- ton, at the dwelling house of Mason Pike, in Searsburg, on the 18th of March, 1833, to organize the town and elect town officers. The following were elected : Joseph Eames, moderator and town clerk ; Joseph Crosier, Hiram Weld and David Crosier, select- men ; Oliver Preston, town treasurer ; Luther Park, Hiram Weld and Joseph Eames, listers ; John Knapp, constable ; Nicholas Grousbeck, grand juror; Mason Pike, highway surveyor ; Solomon Rich, pound keeper; James Crosier, Jr., Freeman Lamb and John Knapp, haywards; Joseph Crosier, Mason Pike and Oliver Preston, fence viewers; Titus Woodard, Jr., leather inspector ; Freeman Lamb, sealer of weights and meas. ures ; Nicholas Grousbeck, tything man.
Luther Park, the first town representative to the State Legis- lature, was elected in September, 1833.
In 1834 the town was divided into three school districts. The first marriage performed in the town, after its organization, of parties, one of which resided in the town, was that of David Heath, of Cornith, to Elizabeth Morse, of Searsburg, Dec. 4th, 1837, by John Knapp, J. P.
Aaron Pike was the first settler on road I about 1845. He built a saw mill just above the present bedstead factory, and the bedstead business was first commenced in the old mill. It was burned about 1864. George Wheeler, a blacksmith, came next and remained until 1875, and now lives in Somerset. These were followed by Alva Hill, Jerry Britt and Hiram Wells. Jacob B. Stevens, a copper miner from Orange, settled on road 33 in 1857, and still resides there. Ernest Biddle, an Englishman, settled where he still resides on the same road, in 1858.
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