USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Gazetteer and business directory of Bennington County, Vt. for 1880-81 > Part 18
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In 1787 there were 24 members. In 1846 the second and present church edifice was erected on the site of the old one, and will seat 380 worshippers. The present number of members is 146, and the pastor is Rev. Adoniram J. Chandler. The church property is valued at $3,000.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, located at South Shaftsbury, was organized in 1872, by the Rev. S. W. Clemons and had but few members in the early days. The members number forty-nine. The Rev. Gideon H. Townsend, of North Bennington, is the present pastor. The church, erected in 1872, cost $3,500, but is now valued at $2,500, and will seat 200 people.
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STAMFORD.
Stamford is on the southern boundary of Bennington county and bordering on Massachusetts. In 1753 it was chartered to " Elisha Cook and fifty-five others," under the name of Stamford, being divided into sixty-two shares, and an area of 28,040 acres. In 1764 it was again chartered by New Hampshire, under the name of New Stamford to "Francis Bernard Esq., and sixty-five others."
In 1783 the inhabitants voted to change the name back to the original one of Stamford, by which it has been known ever since. By the separation of the Green Mountains at the north of the town the eastern and western boundary is formed, and the town is enclosed in these two sides by natural fortifications. The eastern branch of the range is called the Hoosac Mountains in Massachusetts, while the western portion is called the Taconic Mountains. To the east of the village one mountain is called Allen's Peak, from its dome like shape. There are several hills in town named from those who originally were in possession, Among these are Cato, Sherman and Baker Hills, while Moose Hill takes its name from the killing of a Moose at one time on its summit. These mountains and hills supply the section with innumerable streams, which, as they flow into the town, become triburaries to the larger ones. In this manner the Branch of the Hoosic is formed in the eastern part of the town. In the north central the Bratton and Nunga Brooks, with the several smaller streams, unite to form Roaring Brook, which empties into the Hoosic Branch in the southern portion. Broad Brook is near the western line. The northern part of Stamford contains three ponds ; Sucker in the extreme north-western corner, Stamford south-east of it, while a little further north is a pond of much smaller dimensions, known as Mud Pond. The surface is
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TOWN OF STAMFORD.
generally uneven, and fit more particularly for grazing. The tillable portions are to be found in what is called "Stamford Hollow," where the soil is quite productive.
The population in 1880 was 726, of whom 7 were colored.
It has 7 school districts, employing & female teachers, whose aggregate wages at the last report amounted to $642.96. The number of children attending the public schools was 145, and the entire cost for the schools was $887.00. Stephen G. Abbott, was superintendent.
STAMFORD VILLAGE is situated in the south part of the town, and contains a post-office, chemical works, blacksmith and wagon shop, one hotel, cider mill and several saw mills. There are three churches in the village, one of which is not occupied as a church.
Stamford Valley Steam Mills are situated on Roaring Brook at the village. These mills were re-built in 1874 by Obed Hall, on the site of an old mill. They cut annually about 800,000 feet of lumber, which is used in manufacturing staves, heading, shingles, and packing boxes, the latter alone consuming some 300.000 feet of lumber each year.
Millard's Cider Mill turns out about twelve barrels of cider each day during the cider season.
Haskins' Mill, was built in 1866, by Joel Haskins, and is located on a branch of Broad Brook, in the western part of the town. This mill cuts annually some 1,000.000 feet of lumber, manufacturing also large quantities of shingles, lath, pickets and clap boards.
Crosier's Saw Mill is on Roaring Brook, one and one-half miles south-west from Stamford village. It has a capacity for cutting 500,000 feet of lumber per annum. :
Cook's Saw Mill was built in 1842, on the north branch of the Hoosic River, in the eastern part of the town on road 17. It employs about six men, and cuts 400,000 feet of lumber each year.
Brown's Saw Mill is in the north-eastern part on the branch of the Hoosic River. It cuts 250,000 feet of lumber per annum.
The Stamford Chemical Works are located at Stamford, where
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TOWN OF STAMFORD.
they were established in 1865 by J. R. & A. H. Houghton. They manufacture pyroligneous acid, iron and red liquors, as well as charcoal and tar, using about five cords of wood daily. The firm is now under the name of J. R. Houghton & Co. A more complete discription of the mode of manufacture at the Chemical Works will be found in our article on the town of Ben- nington.
. The Ames Co., of North Adams, have five large coal kilns, and burn about 15,000 bushels of coal per month. This company own about 2,500 acres of land and employ about thirty men. Joel Haskins, lessee of the mill, employs about twenty men in the manufacture of lumber.
Brooks' Tannery was built in 1822 on a branch of the Hoosic River. It is now carried on by Perry F. Amaden and Frank A. Brooks, and tans about 200 sides per week.
The Richmond Iron Works have nine coal kilns at work mak- ing about 5,000 bushels per month.
It is said that the first one to settle in Stamford was a man by the name of Raymond, the date of whose coming cannot be ascer- tained. ' His cabin was built a mile south of the center of the town, and one-half mile west of the mountain range, in the forest. His cabin was built against the side of a rock, which gave to him and the rock, the name of "Rock Raymond." Legend farther says that owing to the density of the forest the man lived there nearly three years before he knew of any mountains being in his vicinity.
The first records of the town were lost, so that but little of the early history can be found, and that mainly in a legendary state.
Among the early settlers as far back as 1777, were Solomon Gleason, George Lamb and Nathan Meade, and a family by the name of Tupper lived in the town in 1772.
. David Brattan settled in the year 1800, moving from Whit- ingham to the north part of the town, with his son Andrew. Both died here. A son of Andrew named Andrew D. still resides in town.
Levi Gilman also moved in the year 1800, coming from Pell- ham. His death occurred in 1856. Mrs. J. C. Stafford, his daughter, is still a resident of Stamford.
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TOWN OF STAMFORD.
Silas Blood, a native of Massachusetts, settled in the year 1800, in the east part of Stamford. Dexter, his son, is a resident at the present time.
Among the number who immigrated here in the year 1800 was Ichabod Willmarth, who moved from Massachusetts. His son, John L., who accompanied him, built the first store in the town and owned the first cider mill. He was postmaster for many years, State Senator, and held many offices of trust in the town. William Raymond became an inhabitant of the town in 1780. He served in the French and Indian war, and died at Stamford in 1818 at the age of 96. His son Elisha was in the Revolution three years.
Jacob Brown emigrated from Charlton, Mass., in 1796, when about seven years of age ; was in the army in 1812, and Indian agent during the Florida war. He was a Major in the Mexican . war, where he was killed while defending Fort Matamoras, and even though wounded so as to be unable to speak, he refused to surrender to the very last.
Mrs. Lydia Baker moved to Stamford in 1788, and was present at a church organization in 1779.
James Houghton moved from New York in 1826, established the business of merchant and conducted it for many years. Was sent to the State Legislature three times; he also was justice of the peace for twenty years. He is still living. James R., his son, has also been in the Legislature three times.
Squire Millard and his son, Squire, Jr., were residents before the year 1800. They settled on the land now owned by John W., who was a son of Squire, Jr. The first recorded birth in Stamford was Jeremiah Tupper, on May 2, 1772.
In 1786, Oliver Smith was elected the first Justice of the Peace. The first Representative was Jonathan Munger, in 1781. In 1782, Benjamin Tupper put up the first frame house in the settlement.
The first town meeting was held in 1780. Edward Higley was chosen moderator ; Israel Mead, town clerk; Amos Mead, constable; and Israel Mead, Benjamin Tupper and Edward Higly was elected selectmen. In 1784 the first school house was built, and also used for the purpose of holding town meetings.
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TOWN OF STAMFORD.
This was built of logs, as no frame school house was put up until 1793. Josiah Tupper, taught the school previous to that time in the house of James Harris.
A log meeting house was built on the line between Vermont and Massachusetts, in which Mr. Dean, a Baptist, preached. William Clark kept the first tavern known to have been in the town. A public road was laid out in 1777, by Solomon Gleason, Nathan Mead and George Lamb.
7 In 1788 there was no church society regularly organized. Meetings were held by a number of the Baptist faith, and if a minister could be procured services were held. On the 15th of April, 1799, a Baptist church was organized by a council. The first sermon was preached by the Rev. Peter Worden. Mr. Starks was the first pastor. In 1827 a church edifice was erected by the different denominations and called the Union Church. The Methodists, Baptists and Universalists occupied it in turn until 1853, when the Baptists built for themselves a house of worship. The old house is now standing, but has not been used as a church for many years.
A Methodist class was formed in 1832 by the Rev. J. M. Weaver; this class existed for ten years. In 1847 a class was again formed, and supplied from North Adams. In 1851 the church was organized, and the Rev. Angelo Canol became the pastor ; at this time the church consisted of only sixteen mem- bers. The services were held in the old Union Church. In 1871 the present house was erected at a cost of $4,300. Its valuation in 1880 was $4,000. The building will seat 250 persons. It has a membership of eighty, and they are in charge of the Rev. J. P. Haller.
The Stamford Baptist Church was constituted in 1798. In 1853 their present house was built, at a cost of $2,500. It has now a membership of sixty, who until recently were ministered to by the Rev. S. G. Abbott. The house will seat some three hundred people, and the present value of the church property is $4,000. They are without a pastor.
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SUNDERLAND.
Sunderland was chartered in July, 1761, to Isaac Searles, of West Hoosic, Mass., and sixty-three others. The area being 23,- 040 acres. The eastern and central portions of the town are mountainous, and the settlement therefore is all in the western section. Where the soil is capable of being worked it is marl and loam. In the north-west, on the Battenkill River, are some arrable flats, which are considered the best and most productive of any land in the county.
The soil is well watered. In the eastern part of the town are several large ponds, Bourn, Brand and Lost, the last two giving rise to streams which unite and form Roaring Branch a stream of great velocity, which passes through the south central portion and unites in Arlington with the Battenkill. The Battenkill River flows through the northwestern part. Mill Brook and several other streams emptying into it. In the southwest are several small brooks upon which are located mills and manufacturing establishments.
Iron and lead ore have been found in small quantities. Agri- culture and lumbering are the principal pursuits of the inhabitants.
The Bennington and Rutland Railway passes through the north. west corner of the town. The population was 654 by the last census, all white.
The school districts are four in number with E. G. Bacon as superintendent. Seven teachers were employed during the year ending Sept. 30, 1880, of whom six were females, at a cost of $520. There are 152 children in the schools, the entire school expenses the last school year was $581.97.
SUNDERLAND, (p. o.) is situated in the northwestern corner of the town on the Rutland and Bennington Railway. The Borough about one mile northwesterly from the station, beside manufac- turing establishments, has one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, and a cider mill.
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TOWN OF SUNDERLAND.
Bradley's Veneering and Box Works are on the Battenkill River, and B. and R. Railway one-half mile north of the Depot. This was established in 1871 as a lumber factory, to which the box works were added in 1879. The firm are now manufactur- ing lumber, veneering, butter boxes, pails, trays, and stamped veneer plates. The capital employed including buildings, ma- chinery and timber land is $50,000. Six women, and thirty men and boys are employed. The yearly value of manufactured goods is about $50,000.
M. V. B. Bacon's Saw and Feed Mill is located at the eastern terminus of road 12, on Mill Brook, two and one-half miles south- east of Sunderland Station. This mill was built for a clothes pin manufactory, in 1856. In 1862 it was changed into a shoe-peg establishment. In 1874 it became a saw mill. In 1866 a feed run of stone was put in, and now it is doing business as a feed and saw mill.
Isaac W. Marble's Wooden Ware Factory is on Mill Brook, on road 7. It was built in 1865 as a clothes-pin factory, since that time Mr. Marble has been adding other manufactures, and is now making rolling pins and spoons. When running he employs about four men and sends out about $1,500 worth of goods yearly.
David Emory's Clothes-pin Factory is on Roaring Branch two miles east of East Arlington. This factory sends out about $1,000 worth of clothes-pins per annum.
The Arlington Edge Tool Co. is in the west part of the town, near the line, about three-fourths of a mile from East Arlington. The works are on Roaring Branch, where there is a head equal to sixty-two feet.
Dewey Phillips, of Arlington, has a saw mill on Roaring Branch, road 21, which cuts from 250,000 to 500,000 feet of lumber annu- ally. Branch Pond, covering about sixty acres, belongs to Mr. Phillips, and may be converted into a splendid reservoir.
In 1766 quite a colony immigrated into the town from Guil- ford, Conn., and made the first permanent settlement. Soon af- ter a large number from Connecticut and Massachusetts were added, and in 1796 the town was organized. Among the first to receive grants of land in 1761 only one settled; Abijah Price a colored man, who lived here until his death. His wife is said to
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TOWN OF SUNDERLAND.
have lived to the age of 112, while the last of his children, Dru- cilla, died at the age of 100 years in November of 1854. At the organization of the town Gen. Gideon Brownson was elected town clerk, Joseph Bradley, representative to the Legislature, and Col. Timothy Brownson one of the first councilors.
In 1774 Abner Evarts moved from Guilford, Conn., and settled on the farm now owned by Giles B. Bacon. James H., a brother of Abner, also moved from Guilford at the same time, to the same farm, where his son Jeremiah was born. Jeremiah was the father of Hon. William H. Everts, of New York.
Benjamin Bacon came from Lenox, Mass., in 1786, married Lois, the daughter of Abner Evarts, and lived in the town until his death July 17, 1831, at the age of 68.
Micah Judson and son Andrew came from Connecticut at quite an early date. Andrew, son of Andrew, was born in 1803, on road 19, where Andrew Hartland Judson now lives, and died in 1878.
This farm is said to have remained in posession of the Judson family for a longer term of years than any other piece of land in the town.
Lemuel Bradley moved from Guilford, Conn., before 1776, died in the town in 1800. His son Ethan was born in Sunderland, and with the exception of a short time in Manchester lived in the town until his death at the age of seventy. His son Gilbert is now living on road 2, corner of road I.
Timothy Servis, a native of Ashford, Mass., settled in town in 1800. He entered the Revolution when he was sixteen years old, going from his native town. His daughter, Mrs. Dianthus Hill, who was born in Sunderland, is still living with her son Elon, on road 8.
Pierce Scranton Hill, from Guilford, Conn., settled in 1799, living in town until his death at the age of 82.
Edmund Graves emigrated from Guilford, Conn., in 1786, and settled in the north part of the town about eighty rods north of Bently's store on road 3. After living there a few years he bought the place now owned by Edmund A. Mr. Graves learned the blacksmiths trade in New Haven, Conn. He never attended school yet his native ability was such as to enable him to act as
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TOWN OF WINHALL.
County Judge for several years, and he was also sent to the State Legislature for thirteen years. He held a major's commission in the war of 1812. He maried Bulah Hill, daughter of Abner Hill, and died June, 1827, at the age of sixty-one. His son, Edmund A., is still living on road 9. Jonas A., (son of Edmund) was born in Sunderland 1793 and died on the farm now owned by Elon Hill, the 2d of February, 1841, aged 48 years.
Gen. Ethan Allen was for a period an inhabitant, and built his house on the Battenkill. His brother Ira also resided in Sunder- land, and part of his farm was given by him to the town, for a cemetery, where a daughter of Ethan was buried. In 1845 the house built and occupied by Gen. Ethan Allen was taken down. A building used by Ira Allen as an office was also moved in 1845, and used as a granary by Eben H. Graves. During the war a company commanded by Captain Thomas Comstock, went from the town and were in the Battle of Bennington. It is related of Captain Comstock, that he entered the battle with bare feet. When asked why he was without shoes, he remarked he would kill a Hessian and supply himself. The first trial found the shoes of the dead Hessian to small ; a second attempt was more success- ful, but while the Captain was putting on his new shoes a ball struck him and he fell by the man whose shoes he had taken. After Comstock's death the command fell upon the lieutenant, Eli Brownson, who led his company through the battle.
The first store in the place was kept by a Mr. Simmonds, and the first physician was Dr. Wood. A grist-mill was built by Samuel Payne in the north part of the town in the early days and the proprietors gave a lot comprising some fifty acres to one of the settlers for the purpose of building up a grist and saw mill. There is no Church in town.
WINHALL.
Winhall a town of some six miles square was chartered in Sep- tember of 1761, by Governor Wentworth, to Ora Webster and 61 others. The larger part of Winhall, in the central and western
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TOWN OF WINHALL.
parts is mountainous and but thinly settled. The town is sur- rounded on three sides by mountains ; on the north by Peru, on the east by Windham and on the south by Stratton, thus furnish- ing some beautiful scenery. The soil is such as is found in a mountainous district and well adapted generally to grazing. Ow- ing to the mountains the surface is well watered. In the east, Cook, Eddy, Mill and Red Brooks, while Winhall River, which forms in a large pond in Stratton Mountain flows north and east through the town, fed by a number of small tributaries. Bourn Brook passes through a small portion of the southwest part and is utilized to run several saw mills. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in lumbering, milling and agriculture.
At the last census the town had 722 inhabitants, eight of whom were colored. The school districts are divided into six, with Cephas Williams as Superintendent, Two male teachers were · employed and nine females, whose wages amounted in the school year to $410.86. One hundred and seventy-seven pupils were in attendance at the schools, the united cost of which amounted to $488.67.
BONDVILLE, on Winhall River, contains a post office, general store, one grocery, one church, (M. E.) one hotel, one wagon and two blacksmith shops, a millinery store, and chair stock factory, about one hundred inhabitants, and a lodge of Odd Fellows and Good Templars.
Graham's Saw Mill, on Winhall River, was built in 1851. The firm recently began building an addition. This mill contains , a circular saw, cutting some 800,000 feet of lumber annually, and manufacturing about $12,000 worth of chairs.
Jaquith & Kendall's mill, on Winhall River, was built in the fall of 1880, on the site of the mill formerly owned by Jaquith & Wait. They own a large tract of timber land and cut lumber and manufacture chair stock. The mill is on road 243.
Orlando S. Cummings is building a mill on Winhall River for the purpose of cutting lumber and making chair stock. Mr. Cum- mings cuts timber from his own land for the mill.
George H. Bellows' Saw Mill, also on road 243, is for the manufacture of chair stock and lumber. It was built in 1874.
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TOWN OF WINHALL.
Chauncey E. Cummings' Saw Mill was built in 1860, by Abial Smith. Mr. Cummings rebuilt the mill in 1875 on road 243. He manufactures lumber and chair stock, and has sent out about $75,000 worth of work per year.
Charles L. Livermore's Mill, for manufacturing chair stock, is on Winhall River, near Bondville. This mill was built in 1870 and began work in 1871. Mr. Livermore manufactures about $5,000 worth per year.
Barnum, Richardson & Co. have a steam mill on Green Mountain, employ about six men, and saw about 500,000 feet per year. This firm also have eight charcoal kilns, making about 2,000 bushel of coal per kiln, and averaging fifteen fillings each for the year.
Reuben Brooks was one of the pioneers of the place. He moved with his wife and child from Montague, Mass., in 1780, when there was but one family in the township. A number of families soon after emigrated from Montague, Mass., as well as from Connecticut. Nathaniel Brown, the first inhabitant, was from Massachusetts. John Barnard emigrated from Townshend to Winhall near the year 1784, and took up 340 acres of land on road 7. He died in town, leaving one son, John, Jr. J. G. and G. W., sons of John, Jr., now occupy part of the same land.
Asa Beebe, one of the old settlers, lived to see a family of twelve children married and settled in town. His death occurred the 5th of December, 1813, and his wife, Lydia, died the 14th of the same month. Asa, his son, was the first town clerk, and a member of the State Legislature. In 1827 he moved to the State of New York and died there.
John Sprague was one of the old inhabitants. Himself and three sons settled in the town, and all passed their days there. Col. Jonathan Vaile moved from Upton, Mass., in 1798. He was constable of the town, captain of a militia company in 1815, and colonel of the 3d regiment of the State, from which he re- ceived an honorable discharge in 1822.
Francis Burbank was born in Winhall in 1789, and died in 1868. His son, Abel K., is a resident of Bondville.
R. T. Wood, who now lives on road 7, is a son of Daniel, a native of New Hampshire. Daniel, his father moved into town
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TOWN OF WINHALL.
at an early day, and built his log house in the woods ; cutting down trees enough in the clearing to build his home, boarding the roof until the next summer, when he took bark from spruce logs to batten it. . R. T. Wood now lives on the same farm.
Salmon Day, son of Russell, was the first child born in the town. Ben. Rose was the first one to die, and the first marriage was that of Betsey Eaton and Ebenezer Whiting. A woman, Martha Taylor, was the first school teacher, and the first store was kept by Abram Underhill.
In 1796, Isaac Sprague was appointed the first constable, and John Brooks, Asa Beebe, Sen., and Russell Day were elected selectmen. Russell Day was the first justice of the peace, one of the first selectmen, and a prominent man in the town. He had a family of nine children, the most of whom settled in New York State. He died in 1829, at the age of 73 years.
Asa Beebe held the office of town clerk from 1796 to 1811, and Asa Beebe, Jr., held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-three years. The first person to settle in Bondville was Silas Hubbard. During this year, (1796,) a company of militia was formed, and Francis Kidder was captain. For the war of 1812 four men were drafted from the town.
In 1788, a Congregational Church was established. In 1811, a Baptist Church was organized, but was never strong enough to support a settled pastor, and finally this society, as well as the Congregational, became extinct. At present the Methodist Episcopal Church is the only organization in town. The house was built in 1850 in Bondville; the society was organ- ized by the Revs. Todd and Dickinson. The first pastor was the Rev. John Wood, the present pastor is the Rev. H. F. Reynolds, with a membership of forty-four. The house when built cost $800, but the church property is now valued at $1,800, and is free from debt; about two hundred and twenty-five can be seated in the edifice.
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