USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Gazetteer and business directory of Bennington County, Vt. for 1880-81 > Part 9
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Iron retorts, set in pairs, incased in brick work, receive about three-quarters of a cord of dry hard wood each, beech, birch or maple; when full, the door is closed on a cushion of moist clay and firmly secured, and the fires ignited; one furnace will car- bonize the wood in two retorts. In these works there are eight retorts and four fires. The carbonizing, or distillation of the wood, requires about eighteen hours, besides three or four hours to cool off, during which time the liquids of the wood are thrown off in the form of vapor, which, passing through coils of pipe sprinkled with jets of cold water, becomes condensed, and flows off in the form of pyroligneous acid, into a recepticle for the purpose. About 250 gallons of this fluid is obtained from a cord of wood. Of this, about twelve to fifteen gallons is wood tar, which separates and settles to the bottom of the tank, from whence it is pumped and mixed with coal dust for carbonizing quel. The freed acid runs out through a spout to another tank, where alkali is added to neutralize the acid, which is then pumped into other tanks to settle; after which it is pumped into a still, where alcohol is thrown off, which, by redistillation, is run up to the commercial standard of 85° or 90° gravity. The acid remaining in the still is then run off into evaporating pans, heated by steam, until the same is crystalized, when it is placed on dry-
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ing plates. When thoroughly dry it is the acetate of lime of market, and is bagged for shipment. The drying is effected by an ingenious saving of heat, which has served its purpose in carbonizing the wood, and on its passage to the chimney. Be- sides the pyroligneous acid first thrown off, a considerable quantity of inflamable gas is evolved, which is separated by a trap, while on its passage through the coil, and is returned to a tank, from whence it is conveyed to the furnace, where it serves its purpose as fuel. About 150 cords of wood are consumed a month. The marketable products, as here produced, are, from one cord of wood, about 225 pounds of acetate of lime, four gallons of alcohol, twelve to fifteen gallons of tar, and about forty to forty- five bushels of charcoal. Acetate of lime is used to make acetic acid, which enters into the manufacture of white lead and Paris green, and is also used for calico printing, and for other purposes. Much of the vinegar of commerce is made from acetic acid. After the pyroligneous acid has been thrown off, the residuum in the retorts is charcoal of a superior quality.
The Ocher mines and mills of S. L. Godfrey, located about a mile above Bennington, on Roaring Branch, employ five or six men, and several hundred tons of ocher of the best quality are produced annually.
The Vermont Fibre Company, on the same stream, commenced business in 1873, at the old powder mills. They employ nine men, work up about fourteen cords of poplar wood per week. from which nine tons of wood pulp, in a dry state, for paper stock, is produced. The mills have recently been thoroughly re paired. The water power is furnished from a fifty foot head.
R. Burgess & Sons Trout Fishery, established a few years. since, on road 52, has become celebrated for its productiveness. The waters of this fishery are a spring brook having its fountain head only a few rods above. The rapid descent of the stream is taken advantage of to construct distinct ponds, of small size, with screens at either end, and having a fall of about three feet between each for the purpose of purifying the water. Eleven of these ponds are constructed, all of them with covers to shelter the fish from the sun's rays when desirable. The fish are assorted. the small fry in the upper ponds, yearlings next lower down, until
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in the last pond all of the fish are from two to three pounds in weight. In the hatchery, trays with gravel on the bottom are so arranged that water is continually running through, though slowly. It is estimated 12,000 eggs are deposited on each eighteen inches square of the gravel. Last spring, 1880, about 1,000,000 fry were hatched, and about that number, including yearlings, were sold for stocking waters. Sluices are so arranged as to carry the surplus surface water away from the ponds. The proprietors esti- inate a stock of about 4,000 pounds of trout now in the ponds. Mr. R. Burgess, Sr., has the general care of the fishery, and to a stranger it is quite interesting to witness the feeding of the fish with corn meal pudding, and sometimes with hashed liver; such a jumping and a rushing and splashing is here seen as is nowhere witnessed in the free waters.
In 1878 Seymour G. Stone erected a shoddy mill on the Wall- oomsac, on road 543. The mill was burned Dec. 20, 1879, and while it was on fire Mr. Stone entered the mill, when on coming out soon after, he fell and immediately expired, whether from in- halation of heated air, from appoplexy or from other causes is not certain. In the spring of 1880 Frank M. Crawford rebuilt the mill and stocked it with one set of new machinery. He employs four hands and works up only new material. The mill produces a superior quality of goods. A substantial stone dam, anchored to the bed rock, and flanked by ledges on both sides, furnishes one of the best water powers in the town.
On Furnace Brook, on road 9, the saw mill of Hull Chandler supplies the necessities of the neighborhood. Further down on the same stream are located the ocher mills of Enos Adams & Co., the ocher and kaolin works and saw-mill of S. C. Lyons, executor, etc., and the kaolin works of Samuel Keyes, of Ben- nington.
S. C. Lyons, Exr., etc, produces about 400 tons of yellow ocher, and of kaolin-or paper clay-from the mines here and in Shaftsbury, about 1,000 tons. 'His saw mill, on road 31, has capacity for cutting 5,000 feet of lumber per day.
Joseph B. Bingham's Box Factory, on road 31, cor 49, also on Furnace Brook, was established in 1871, and employs two or three hands in the consumption of 1,000 feet of lumber per day,
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in the manufacture of packing boxes for various mills and facto- ries in the town. Homer A. Lyons, on road 28, mines and man- ufactures about 500 tons of kaolin per year.
The Bennington Falls Pulp Co., lately established, have fitted up the old paper mill with proper machinery for the manufacture of wood pulp for paper stock.
The Old Essex Cotton Factory at Irish Corners has passed into the hands of Henry C. Thatcher, of Boston, who has put the property in thorough repair and established Mr. Owen Reynard as agent. The mill is driven wholly by water power, which is here never failing ; 5,000 spindles, and 103 looms turn out about 37,000 yards of print cloths weekly.
H. C. White has an establishment for the manufacture of stereoscopes, stereoscopic lenses, and work and jewel boxes from fancy woods, at the site of the old Washing Works of. Burden & Sons, on Paran Creek. He employs about twenty men and turns out elegant work, which commands a ready market in the larger cities.
The Town Farm of 140 acres, located on road 27, has for five years been managed by Mr. Jared Howard, who contracts for the support of the poor. In August 1880, the town paupers, who made their homes here, sonsisted of four men, five women, and seven children, (six boys and one girl). During the winter the number of inmates is usually increased ; besides those at the farm a large number of the poor outside, receive temporary aid.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Although this town was chartered in 1749, the original pat- entees made no immediate attempt to settle it by personal imi- gration. "Of the 64 shares into which the town was divided, two were for public purposes, viz: one for schools and one for the first settled minister. Benning Wentworth (the Governor) was named as the grantee of two shares, and the remaining sixty were to that number of different individuals.
Immediately after the grants the proprietors met at Portsmouth, where most of them resided, and made a plan of the township · by which, after laying out 64 lots of one acre for each proprietor. near the center of the town, in conformity with a provision in the
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charter, they divided the remainder into 64 parts, which they dis- tributed among themselves by lots. Under this division and dis- tribution the different rights were conveyed and have since been held."
"Tradition informs us that the selection of Bennington for the first settlement on the west side of the mountain, was in this wise. Samuel Robinson, of Hardwick, Mass., had served during several campaigns as captain in the army, in the French war. His re turning route from Lake George, lay up the Hoosick river to Wil. liamstown, thence across the mountain to the Connecticut. But on one occasion mistaking one of the branches of the Hoosick for the main stream, he and a few companions found themselves ap- proaching the mountain without passing the Hoosick Forts. They in fact ascended the Waloomsac instead of the Hoosick, and were within the limits of Bennington, where they encamped over night, and the next morning pursued their way southerly to Williams- town. Capt. Robinson being much pleased with the land he had thus accidentally passed over, returned home with a determination to begin å settlement upon it. He repaired to New Hampshire and made purchase of a considerable portion of the township rights, and sought among his friends and acquaintances for asso- ciate emigrants to the new country."
" The first immigration to the town was in the spring of 1761, and consisted of the families of Peter Harwood, Ebenezer Har- wood, Leonard Robinson, and Samuel Robinson, Jr., from Hard- wick, and of Samuel and Timothy Pratt, from Amherst. The party, including women and children, numbered twenty-two. They came on horseback across the mountain by the Hoosick Forts, and through Pownal, bringing on their horses all their household goods, and arriving in town June 18, 1761. During the same summer and fall other families, to the number of twenty or thirty, came to town, among whom were those of Samuel Robinson, Sr., James Breakenridge, John Fassett, Ebenezer Wood, Elisha Field, Samuel and Oliver Scott, Joseph Safford, John Smith, Joseph Wickwire, Samuel Montague, Samuel Atwood, John Burnham and Benajah Rood. The settlers were all purchasers under the original grantees, none of such grantees having even removed to the town.
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The town filled up with settlers quite rapidly, but the precise date when many arrived is undoubtedly lost. In October, 1764, a military company was formed in the town, of which an authentic roll was found among the papers of Captain Elijah? Dewey, after his death. It is as follows, viz :-
" Muster Roll of the first Company of Militia in the town of Bennington, organized October 24, 1764 :-
OFFICERS.
John Fassett, Captain. Elisha Field, Ensign.
James Breakenridge, Lieutenant.
WARRANT OFFICERS.
Leonard Robinson, Ist Sergent.
Samuel Safford, 2d
Ebenezer Wood, 3d
Henry Walbridge, 4th
RANK AND FILE.
Benjamin Whipple, Ist Corporal
John Wood, 2d
Samuel Pratt, 3d 66
Peter Harwood, 4th
MUSIC.
Benajah Story, Drummer.
MILITARY COMPANY, 1764.
Timothy Abbott,
Abm. Newton,
John Armstrong,
George Pengry,
Libbius Armstrong, Timothy Pratt,
Samuel Atwood,
Silas Robinson,
John Burnham,
Moses Robinson,
W. M. Burnham,
Joseph Richardson,
John Burnham, Jr.,
Daniel Rood,
David Barnard,
Benajah Rood,
Levi Castle,
David Safford,
Nathan Clark,
Joseph Safford,
Nathan Clark, Jr.,
Jonathan Scott,
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Asa Clark,
Mathew Scott,
Nathan Clark, 3d.
Moses Scott,
Isaac Clark,
Oliver Scott, <
Sono it
Cornelius Cady,
Phineas Scott,
Johnson Cleveland,
Samuel Scott,.
Robert Cochran,
John Smith.
Samuel Cutler,
Daniel Scott,
Isaac Davis,
John Smith, Jr.,
Elijah Dewey,
Joseph Smith,
Enoch Eastman,
Thos. Smith,
David Fassett,
Elijah Story,
John Fassett, 2d.,
Thos. Story,
Jonathan Fassett,
Samuel Tubbs,
Josiah Fuller,
Joseph Wickwire,
Thos. Henderson,
Samuel Wright,
Zachariah Harwood.
SAMUEL ROBINSON, Clerk,"
-[From Vermont Hist. Mag. p. 143.
The above list supposed to embrace all the able bodied men in town between the ages of 18 and 60, is given that many may trace the approximate advent of their ancestors, (first settiers) into this town, if no more particular evidence is known to exist. Many other names of settlers previous to 1770 may be found attached to documents of public interest, but which the limits of this work will not admit of recording. They may be found however in Ver- mont Historical Magazine on page 144;
The first birth in town was that of Benjamin, son of Peter and Margaret Harwood, Jan. 12, 1762. He became a worthy and much esteemed citizen, and died Jan. 22, 1851, aged 89. The first death was that of Mrs. Bridget Harwood, mother of Peter, Nov. 8, 1762.
The trials of the people of Bennington in connection with the controversy between the New Hampshire grants and New York has been recited in so many other works that not much space will be devoted to it here. It is enough to say that the people of Pennington assumed and maintained the leadership in the oppo- sition to New York. That when the raid by the sheriff and his posse from Albany was made upon the lands and house of James
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Breakenridge, they were promptly met by the settlers and treated in such a way as to induce them very willingly to retire without a collision and without attaining the object for which they came.
The Revolution checked in a measure the building of expensive houses ; but on the year following the declaration of peace, Gen. Ebenezer Walbridge, who was a master builder, as we are in- formed by his grandson Stebbins D. Walbridge, who is now living at the age of 80 years, and remembers distinctly having repeatedly heard his grandfather relate that in that year he erected forty build- ings. Stebbins D. was nineteen years of age when the General died. The General lived and died on road 22. He built in 1786 the house now occupied by Edward Walbridge, his great grandson. In 1827 the house was raised one story. The General also built a paper mill in 1786 in company with Joseph Hinsdell, and a saw mill and a grist mill here and settled a farm besides. He was foreman at the building of the old meeting house. Of the many houses erected during the last century still standing, it is our in- tention to give a brief account. The list no doubt is imperfect, yet it is believed that few have escaped notice.
OLD HOUSES.
It is probable that the oldest house in town is the one erected by Gen. Safford in 1764 and now occupied by Mason C. Morgan and his sons Wm. R. and Merritt, and situated in Bennington Village just east of the bridge opposite the button factory. Mr. Mason C. Morgan's wife was a Safford, and grand-daughter of Samuel. Samuel's father, Joseph, and Samuel Robinson, built a saw mill and grist mill in 1762, about where F. Rollin Smith's saw mill now stands, but which was operated for many years by Safford. It is believed by John E. Pratt that Rev. Jedediah Dewey's house, now occupied by Moses Robinson, was built the same year as the Safford house.
The following account of the building of "certain dwellings erected in Bennington, Vt.," now standing, is taken from a men- orandum made many years ago by Hiram Harwood, son of Benjamin, the first child born in town, and father of Deacon H. H. Harwood, and is now in the possession of Hiram Waters :--
"State Arms House, at charge of Hon. Jonathan Robinson,
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A. D., 1780. Masons from Albany. Brick House adjoining on the North, at charge of William Griswold, 1793."
"Dr. Lyman's House, 1794."
"General David Robinson's house, built by Geo. Deming, 1795-96." [Now owned and occupied by George W. Robinson. ] " Benjamin Fassett, 1789, rebuilt 1826, by Hiram Waters for Dr. N. Swift." [Now occupied by Dr. Morgan.]
"Capt. Elijah Dewey, 1783."
"Col. Nathaniel Brush, 1775, altered and improved by Dr. Heman Swift, 1826; H. Waters, architect." [Now occupied by Charles Swift.]
"Mr. Clapp, a hatter by occupation, 1780." [Now owned and occupied by Samuel Chandler.]
"Job Swift, 1779. Avery, architect. [Now occupied by Orin Paige. Query,-was this house not built by another person, or perhaps a decade later? Rev. Job Swift came to Bennington to live in the spring of 1786.]
" R. Mosley, in summer of 1791. G. Randall, sen., architect." [Afterwards owned by Daniel Hinman, and still later by Major Samuel H. Brown, and now by Mrs: Paige. ]
" Peter Harwood, 1769, framed by Robert Cochran, after- wards Lieut .- Colonel in the Revolutionary War."
The list, as prepared, contains the record of many other build- ings, not now standing.
The house now owned and occupied by Henry G. Camp, on road 55 was built by Silas Walbridge, supposedly about 1768-9. As no other house in town preserves more of the original type of of the first settlers' residences, the following figures as furnished by Mr. Camp from actual measurement may be interesting :-
" The chimney at the base is 15 feet square, at the chamber floor bricked and 8 feet square, 3 flues, 3 fire places on the low- er floor opening into as many rooms. Only one floor has been relaid; the chamber doors and the ceilings are made of clear stuff pine from large logs. The plates are 16 by 18 inches square, and the rafters 8 by 10 of oak. The house is 30 feet square. 16 feet posts, cellar ro by 20 feet. The outside covering, except the front and the shingles, is the same as originally put on."
Thomas Jewett, one of the early settlers, located first at Ben-
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nington then in Pownal, and afterwards settled for life in Ben- nington on the farm where his grandson, Thomas Jewett now lives. He was here previous to the battle of Bennington, in which he fought as Lieut. in Capt. Dewey's company, and took from Col. Baum his sword and hat. The former he sold to David Robinson.
Samuel Billings built a tavern house on the then Main road, between Bennington and Pownal, now on a farm owned by Thomas Jewett, and located west of road 68. The house is still in the old style and is occupied by a tenant.
The Peter Harwood house, built in 1769, now owned by Burt Rockwood, is worthy of a visit by persons interested, it is one of the few old style houses.
The first apple tree planted in town by Peter, lived to be 109 years old, and was bearing fruit when it was unfortunately blown down. Relics have been turned from the wood as keep- sakes for friends.
The Job Swift house, heretofore mentioned, is roofed with beech boards and sheeted with clear pine. The doors have two wide panels, upper and lower.
The Hubbell homestead on road 61, was settled by --- Wood, and the house built by him in 1769. At the raising a demand was made for a wedding. It was known that Joseph Rudd then present was engaged to Sarah Story, who lived in a house near by. Rev. Mr. Dewey, who was present, said to Joseph, " If you will go and lead Sarah over here, I will marry you for nothing." The reply was, " It's a bargain." The young lady was brought, boards were laid down upon the timbers for a floor, and the mar- riage ceremony was performed.
Deacon Aaron Hubbell, who spent the greater part of his life here, had eight daughters, every one of whom were married in the south-west corner room of the house. Caroline, one of the younger daughters, was the first child baptized in the present first church, and believes she is the only child now living, of a soldier who fought in the Battle of Bennington. She married Rev. Hol- lis Read, and together they went on their bridal tour to India, as missionaries. They remained there five or six years.
Aaron Hubble was 17 years of age at the time of the Benning-
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ton Battle, and traditionally was the first to fall a tree across the road to hinder the passage of the Hessians. A bullet hole through the rear door of the Hubble house is said to have been made by one of the Hessian stragglers from the field of Benning- ton Battle.
The old Wmn. Hawks' house on r 61, now owned by Jonathan Richmond, was built as early as 1790; the exact date is not known.
The house now occupied by N. V. S. Snyder was built about 100 years ago by Labierce Armstrong, on the main west road. It was moved many years ago to its present location.
Reuben A. and Alonzo Rudd's house was built by Joseph Rudd, their grand father, (the same that was married at the Hub- bell house,) previous to the revolution.
The house now owned by Daniel Paddock, on road 64, was built by - Armstrong over a century ago.
Phineas Scott, who came to town in 1761, at the age of 17, built the house, now owned by his son Henry, on road 45, previ- ous to the revolution. He married Thankful Kinsley, and, on the same day took up his residence in the new house. Henry, the youngest of 13 children, all born here, is now 82 years of age. He still retains in good condition the first barrel made in town. It is of oak, and was made by his grand father Samuel.
About 1800, James Clark built a house on road 42. Dying soon after, it came into the possession of Austin Harmon, Jr., grand-son of Simeon, and father of Austin F. Harmon, who now owns and occupies the place.
Nearly or quite 100 years ago Oliver Poole built a house which still retains the old central chimney and fire places. It was after- wards known as the Patty Haynes house, and is now owned by M. Purcell, on road 45.
Previous to 1790, Maj. Ebenezer Hawks, who came in 1774 from Deerfield, Mass., built the house where Paul M. Sanders now lives. Though not a member of the militia, he was a volunteer participant in the battle of Bennington. He was passionately fond of martial music, and during his last illness, and when near his end, he felt that he must hear the drums and fifes once more, and to gratify the desire some of his acquaintances came together
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and played familiar airs in the yard near the house. Dr. Swift was in attendance. The sick man was pleased, and asked the doctor if they could not come into the house. The doctor assent- ed and the band played in the room adjoining the bed room. This delighted Mr. Hawks, who said to the doctor : "Let them come into the bed room, I want to see them." Knowing that his end was near, and that disappointment would not benefit the patient, the doctor called them in, and around the death bed they played martial tunes until the dying man thanked them and said: "Now I shall die satisfied," and in an a hour he had joined the hosts of celestial musicians.
John Kinsley settled where Edward Kinsley now lives previous to the Revolution. Learning of the approach of the British he rode to Bennington to join the forces. There he found younger men who were without guns, to one of whom he gave his own and was himself assigned to the post of water carrier. Arriving near the field of action he tied his horse in the woods, and when after the battle he returned for the horse he found it dead, pierced by a musket ball. Abisha, his son, and father of Edward, lived at the old homestead 90 years, dying in 1859, at the age of 94.
The large two story house, now standing opposite Henry Bak- er's residence, was used as a tavern in 1777.
Elnathan Hubbell built the house now owned by Eli B. Henry, on road 17, in 1769. An addition has since been made.
Daniel Breakenridge built the house now occupied by his son John Y. at an early day. Gen. Ebenezer Walbridge was the architect.
Among the other old houses may be mentioned The Bingham house, on road 13, now belonging to Hon. T. W. Park; the Thomas Hall house erected in 1781, where Gov. Hiland Hall lived, now on the grounds of Mr. Park at North Bennington ; the house now owned by the widow Eunice Northrup on road 12, built about 100 years ago. The old Griswold house on road 13, now owned by T. W. Park, is about the same age.
David Haines house on road It and 25 was also built about the same time.
Stephen Rice from R. I., located and about 1780-90 built the red house opposite Isaac Rice's residence on road 5. His son
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Isaac S., father of the present Isaac, was born in the same house and died in 1873 at the age of 89.
J. Silk's house was built at an early day. The walls have since been partially relaid.
In the east village the house now owned by Alva Hawks was built by Joseph Norton, a blacksmith, Mr. H. thinks prior to 1795. Mr. Norton forged all the nails used.
The Gov. Tichenor house, now the home of Deacon George Lyman, at the "Center," was built previous to 1790, and the nails were cut in Bennington from hoops taken from imported liquor casks, as related by the Governor to Hiram Waters.
Eldad Dewey, son of Rev. Jedediah Dewey, erected the rear portion of the house now occupied by his grand-sons, Charles E. and Elijah Dewey, and John E. Pratt. It was a story and a half house with dormer windows. When the soldiers were gathering here, previous to the Bennington Battle, the families of many came with them. Mrs. Dewey received as many as could lie on her floors, and at night she prepared food for their use the next day.
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