USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chittenden County, Vermont, for 1882-83 > Part 20
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
Martin, D. W. Hazard, L. B. Fuller, H. C. Leavenworth, O. E. Stone, W. R. Williams, and A. H. Barker, which number has since increased to sixty. There are eight neat cottages and a club-house on the grounds, and in the season there are also numerous tents, occupied by as many as three hundred persons. One of the by-laws of the club prohibits the use of intoxicating drink, and also forbids its presence on the grounds ; another requires a due ob- servance of the Sabbath, and forbids fishing on that day. Though the grounds are owned by the town, the club is recognized by it, and a superintendent ap- pointed at each town meeting, whose business it is to care for the park and enforce order if necessary. The present list of club officers is as follows: James Squier, president ; D. W. Hazard, secretary ; H. C. Root, treasurer ; James Squier, collector; John H. Thorp, superintendent ; and O. E. Stone and D. W. Hazard, directors.
A convenient mode of transportation for the abundant crops is afforded by the Rutland branch of the Central Vermont Railroad, which extends through the western part of the town from north to south, with a station about one- half mile west of Charlotte Four Corners, on road 18. The advent of this road, in 1847-'49, considerably increased the commercial interests of the locality, even though it was objected to by some at that time.
In 1880, Charlotte had a population of 1,342, was divided into fourteen school districts, and contained thirteen common schools, employing four male and fourteen female teachers at an aggregate salary of $1,879.42. There were 237 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $2, 128.59, Mr. W. H. H. Varney acting as superintendent.
CHARLOTTE FOUR CORNERS (Charlotte p. o.) .- As is to be expected in any strictly agricultural district, no large villages have been built. This vil- lage, the largest, situated about one-half mile east of the railroad station. con- tains one church (Methodist), Lake View Seminary, two stores, a shoe shop, blacksmith shop, and about twenty dwellings.
Charlotte Female Seminary was established at this village in 1836. Miss Mary Grout was the first teacher, remaining two or three years, and was deservedly popular. Owing to its unfavorable location, however, the school was not sustained. In 1840, the property was transferred to the Methodist Episcopal Society, and though never very successful, a select school was main- tained until the building was finally destroyed by fire, November 21, 1880. During the following year the inhabitants, by voluntary subscriptions, erected a symmetrical and convenient edifice upon the old site, and reorganized the school under the title of Lake View Seminary, which was lately opened with every prospect of success, under the direction of Mr. John Dewey, A. B., as principal.
CHARLOTTE CENTER, a hamlet located near the central part of the town, contains one church (Congregational), the town-house, a hotel, and a few dwellings.
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
BAPTIST FOUR CORNERS (East Charlotte p. o.), located in the eastern part of the town, contains two churches (Roman Catholic and Baptist), one store, a blacksmith shop, and about a dozen dwellings. The intelligent and think- ing people of this village have for many years maintained a lyceum, having a convenient hall in which they meet for discussion and public lectures. Lyceum Hall is also used for the sessions of a select school.
Alanson Edgerton & Sons' cider-mill, located on road 29, corner 35, is operated by horse-power, and turns out twenty barrels of cider per day, man- ufacturing about 700 barrels during a season.
Wilber Fields's hay-barn and hay-press, located at the railroad depot, on road 18, receives and presses about 700 tons of hay annually.
West Charlotte Cheese Factory, located on road 9, corner 35, is owned and operated by a stock company organized November 31, 1873, the present list of officers being as follows : John H. Thorp, president ; Henry C. Root, secretary ; A. A. Byington, S. A. Williams, and Charles Keese, directors. The factory receives the milk from 300 to 400 cows, manufacturing about 40,000 pounds of cheese per annum.
Charlotte Cheese Factory, located in the eastern part of the town, was organized by a stock company in the fall of 1867, the buildings being erected during the following spring. During the last season there was 19,000 pounds of cheese manufactured from the milk of 175 cows.
Scott's saw and grist-mill, located in the southeastern part of the town, on Lewis Creek, operates one run of stones, and saws about 200,000 feet of lum- ber per year, having the capacity for sawing 1,000 feet per hour. Mr. Scott has also a butter-tub factory in connection with his mill.
H. D. Alexander's vineyard and fruit farm, located on a pleasant slope a little west of the center of the town, has in bearing condition about 2,200 choice vines, embracing most of the truly valuable varieties, and also a large quantity of fine raspberry and strawberry plants. His fruit grounds cover an area of eight acres, enclosed by a beautiful hedge of arborvitæ.
That most of the original proprietors were residents of Connecticut, and Duchess County, N. Y., is to be inferred from the fact that all of their meet- ings, previous to the Revolution, were held on the " Oblong," in Duchess County, and at New Milford, Conn. At the last meeting held previous to the war, May 18, 1765, a vote was passed to give one hundred acres of land from each right for settling the land, but no one was to come on without first procuring an order from a committee of the proprietors chosen for the pur- pose. No one availed himself of the offer, however, or at least no record was ever made of any such order being issued. Neither did any of the grantees ever settle in the town themselves, though some of their children made settle- ments here.
The first effort towards a settlement was made by Derrick Webb, who came here in March, 1776, made a short stay, and returned again in March of the following year, remaining until May. Subsequent to the Revolution,
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
in 1784, Webb returned in company with Elijah Wolcott, and from that time the rapid growth of the town begins.
The principal difficulties the inhabitants encountered during the first years of their settlement, were the lack of roads, markets, and mills. The rich soil rapidly yielded abundant fruit of their toil, but they were in the midst of a trackless wilderness, with no means of transporting their harvests to market. For several years the nearest mill was at Whitehall, and subsequently at Ver- gennes. In coming to the town the pioneers wended their way through the forest on foot, or the more fortunate on horseback, while others came on from the southern extremity of Lake Champlain by boat. James Hill and his wife came on horseback, finding their way by means of marked trees, bringing three children with them. Mr. Yale and family came by way of Whitehall, on the ice of the lake, in a sleigh drawn by a pair of steers and an old horse.
Bears and wolves were numerous, the former often troublesome. Stately bucks with lofty, branching antlers, and timid, symmetrical does were often seen on the lake shore or crossing the hills, while the hunters occasionally en- countered the moose. One instance, illustrating Bruin's mischievous, vicious propensities, is related by W. L. Yale, of his grandmother, Mrs. Moses Yale, mentioned above. It seems that on one occasion when her husband was away from home over night, she heard the pig squeal. So taking the loaded gun from its accustomed convenient position, she went out into the darkness and fired in the direction of the inharmonious sound. Hearing no more calls from the porker, she re-entered the house and retired. In the morning, a a few rods from the pig-pen, a large bear lay dead.
Traces of numerous beaver dams are also extant in several localities. We were informed by Myron H. Hosford that there are several on his farm in the western part of the town. In draining the land which was occupied by these ingenious architects, he has found timber, perfectly sound, from one to four inches in diameter and two to four feet long, cut and stripped of its bark by the strong teeth of these industrious and provident animals.
Immigration was so rapid that three years after the first settlement, in 1787. it was thought the population was sufficiently large to warrant the organiza- tion of the town and election of proper town officers, which was accordingly done. In 1791, at the taking of the first census, the township had 635 in- habitants-the most populous town in the northern part of the State. At the first town meeting, held March 13, 1787, the following officers were elected: John McNeil, clerk; Reuben Rowley and Samuel Scovill, constables ; and Asa Barnes, John McNeil, John Hill, James Hill, and Isaac Coggswell, select- men. The first justice was Daniel Hosford, chosen in 1786 ; first represent- ative, John McNeil, chosen in 1788.
James Hill, previously mentioned, came from Connecticut with his family, consisting of a wife and three children. His wife, a brave, energetic woman, was a daughter of Gov. Thomas Chittenden. Mr. Hill immediately com-
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
menced the building of a log-house, in raising the logs of which Mrs. Hill was his only help, his children being too small to be of any assistance. This family, so far as we can learn, made the first permanent settlement in the township, coming probably, in 1782, locating upon the present grounds sur- rounding what is now called "Holmes Bay." Mr. Hill, having some means, built the first grist-mill, a few years after his arrival here, on the creek near his home. Here was brought the wheat of the early farmers to be ground, or exchanged for flour. Thus he carried on quite an extensive trade with his neighbors and the farmers residing on the opposite side of the lake. Subsequently, he bought the grist-mill in Ferrisburgh, to which place his son, Thomas Chittenden Hill, removed, taking charge of the property about two or more years, when it was sold. Mr. Hill continued in successful busi- ness some twenty-five or thirty years, when he emigrated to Kentucky, where he soon after died. He had two sons, James and Thomas C. James removed to Kentucky with his father, married there, and remained during his life, where many of his descendants still reside. Thomas C., the youngest, bought the homestead and held it during his life. He was a man of remarkable firmness and decision of character, and possessed of clear and accute per- ceptions. On this account, his judgment was often sought in business mat- ters, and contracts drawn by him are said to have been made with legal soundness. He lived to an advanced age, possessing the respect and confi- dence of all. Thomas C. was the father of nine children, four of whom are now living, George and James E., in Ill., Elizabeth (Parkill), in Essex, N. Y., and Thomas C., who owns and occupies the old homestead.
Moses Yale emigrated from Meriden, Conn., to Charlotte, in 1783, locating upon the farm where Roswell and Miles Newton now reside. Here he made a small clearing, accomplished by exchange of labor with his only neighbors, James Hill and John McNeil, sowed it with wheat, put up the body of a log house, and in the autumn returned to his family in Meriden. In the spring of 1784, he returned to Charlotte, coming by way of Whitehall to avoid the untraveled wilderness, thence down the lake on the ice, bringing his family and furniture on a sled drawn by a yoke of steers and an old horse. On their arrival, they cleared the snow from the log-house, made a roof from the boughs of the surrounding trees, and installed themselves in their home with all the comforts of house-keeping that their circumstances could afford. During the summer ensuing, food was so scarce and difficult to obtain that the family was compelled to subsist on fish and the herbs and roots that the forest afforded. Mr. Yale had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Lyman, remained in Charlotte. He, being the eldest of the children, and a good financier, paid up the claims against the homestead, thereby securing for himself a good farm and comfortable home, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1840, aged sixty-seven years. During his long life here he held many important positions in the gift of his townsmen, among which, that of representative during one term. Of his
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
family of seven children, only one, William, now lives in the town, residing on the farm formerly owned by John McNeil.
John McNeil was a leading man among the early settlers. He came here from Litchfield, Conn., and located upon the shore of the lake, where he established a ferry across to Essex, N. Y., which has ever since borne his name. He was the first town clerk, first representative, and until his death was prominently identified with the public interests of the town. He had a family of six children, of whom Charles, the eldest, retained the home farm, where he engaged in farming and conducting the ferry his father had estab- lished. The latter at that time was quite an extensive enterprise, as the im- mense travel from Western Vermont to Northern New York mostly crossed the lake at this point, until the building of the railroad, which established new lines of travel. Charles had a family of fifteen children, fourteen of whom arrived at maturity, and two, Henry and James B., are now residents of the town.
David Hubbell, from Lanesboro, Mass., came to Charlotte in 1784, locating on the brook that runs through the farm now owned by his grandson, Luther R. Hubbell. He made his journey thither by way of Whitehall, thence down the lake on a timber raft. Two or three years after he came, his house was destroyed by fire, and was replaced by another, upon the site of S. E. Rus- sell's present residence. ' In this house he soon after opened a hotel, where he continued a prosperous business for many years. The house now occu- pied by his grandson was also built by him, in 1800. Mr. Hubbell was called by his townsmen to serve them as justice of the peace, also to represent them in the legislature, which he did with honor and ability. He died at the ad- vanced age of ninety years. His descendants in this town are his son, Sol- omon W., aged eighty-four years, and his grandson, Luther R., and family.
Daniel Hosford, born in Canaan, Conn., October 13, 1748, married Hannah Day, of Colchester, Conn., November 9, 1780, and removed to this town in the spring of 1784, where they located on a farm near McNeil's Ferry. He was several times dipossessed of his property on account of bad titles, so he finally located in the eastern part of the town, where he died at the advanced age of eighty eight years. Mr. Hosford was a land surveyor by profession, and carried on the occupation in adjoining towns, at the same time continu- ing farming. The compass used by him is now in the possession of his grand- son, Myron H. Hosford, who treasures it as a valuable relic of antiquity. Daniel served in many of the town offices and also represented his townsmen in the legislature. Of his family of ten children, only three settled in Char- lotte. Flavia, the eldest daughter, born about three months before they came to Charlotte, married Gideon Prindle, and is now represented in the town by her son, Hon. Charles D. Prindle, the present legislator. Oran Hosford, the only son who located here, was born January 30, 1791, and married Cynthia Hinsdale. With him Daniel resided in his old age. Oran is now represented by Myron H. Hosford. Sodema, the remaining daughter, married Benjamin
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
Simons and located in the western part of the town, where she died early, leaving no children.
Ephraim Wooster, from Litchfield, Conn., came to Charlotte in 1785, and located upon the farm now owned by Henry McNeil, where he resided until his death. He reared a family of three children, Lyman, Elinor, and Fanny. Lyman purchased the farm from the estate at his father's death, where he car- ried on farming mainly, though he kept a public house short periods at dif- ferent times. He served in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of Platts- burgh in the capacity of adjutant. His family consisted of three sons and two daughters, none of whom remained in this town. The only representa- tive of the name now in Charlotte, is Charles S. Wooster, a grandson of Ly- man, residing with his aunt, Mrs. Sherman.
John Palmer, born in Tolland, Conn., June 22, 1751, married Ruth Chap- man, and removed to this town in 1786, locating on the place now owned by Mrs. Ruth Hubbell. His old house, built nearly one hundred years ago, is still standing in a good state of preservation. He owned all the land comprised in the farms of Mrs. Hubbell, A. C. and O. C. Palmer, on which he settled his sons. His family consisted of six children. Abigail, the eldest, born about 1780, married Edward Allen, both long since deceased. John, the eldest son, born September 5, 1783, married Lovisa Hill and had a family of nine children, of whom two daughters are now living in Westfield, N. Y., another in Essex, Vt., and the remaining three in Charlotte, viz .: Ruth (Hubbell) on the homestead, A. C. Palmer, on a part of the original farm, and the youngest, Mrs. Reed, with her brother.
Asa Narramore came to Charlotte from Connecticut in 1786. The first season he worked on a farm in Hinesburgh, and in the fall bought 200 acres of land in this town on road 7. Here he erected a log house and returned to Connecticut for the winter, where he married, and in the spring returned to his farm, where he remained until his death, at the age of ninety years. He reared a family of nine children, two of whom are now living, John Naramore, aged eigty-two years, residing on a portion of the original farm, and his sister, Mrs. Emeline See, aged seventy-two years, residing in Williston. Asa was a soldier in the Revolution, and was taken prisoner by the Indians and marched to Canada. On the journey he had only a daily allowance of a small piece of raw horse flesh, and a few bulbous roots, dug as they passed along. He after- wards received a pension.
Abel Leavenworth, born at Woodbury, Conn., January 30, 1765, came to Charlotte at an early day in its history, locating in the northeastern part of the town. Here he built a grist-mill on the LaPlotte River, on road Io, the stones for the same being obtained from flint rocks found in this town, and worked out by his brother, Gideon, who came on from Connecticut for that purpose. The mill and dam were finally swept away, however, by a freshet. The stones were purchased by Gen. Nathan Leavenworth, who put them in a mill built by him on Lewis Brook, in the southern part of the town. After the loss of
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his mill, Abel sold his farm and went to work at his trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he was a very skillful and energetic workman. He died in Middlebury, Vt., January, 25, 1813, where he was engaged in building a large mill, and whither he had removed his family from New Haven, Vt., where he owned a farm. His widow returned to New Haven, and thence to Char- lotte, where she died, June 12, 1853, full of years, respected and loved by all who knew her. Abel Leavenworth, Jr., born in Charlotte November 21, 1800, married Annie Hickok, of Cooperstown, N. Y., June 12, 1826, a woman of superior worth and culture. After the death of his father, in 1813, Abel, Jr., was the principal support of the family, although he was so young; and in after life his house was ever the home for members of the family. For a few years in early life he was engaged in the manufacture of marble on his father's old mill-site. He then purchased of his father-in-law the old farm where he was born, and subsequently resold it to Mr. Hickok, and purchased a farm in Madrid, N. Y., where he resided twelve years, or until 1844, when, on ac- count of the health of his family, he returned to Charlotte, and finally re- purchased the old homestead, where he resided until his death, May 3, 1879. He had a family of nine children, six daughters and three sons. Only one of the latter, Abel E., survived their infancy. He became a prominent edu- cator in the State, and is at the present time principal and proprietor of the State Normal School, at Castleton, Vt.
Dorman Leavenworth, a brother of Abel, one of the sufferers of Wyoming massacre, came to Charlotte, arriving August 28, 1808, and soon after built a grist and saw-mill, which he operated a few years, then purchased a farm and commenced farming, continuing the same until 1839. He died here, at the residence of his son, Burke, May 31, 1861, at an advanced age. He is now represented here by two grandchildren, Mrs. Joseph S. Shaw and Henry C. Leavenworth.
Stephen Boughton, from Pond Ridge, Conn., came to Charlotte at an early day, where he followed the business of a builder. His family consisted of a son, John J., and a daughter, Ann, now Mrs. William Noble, of Illinois. Stephen continued his residence here until his death, at the age of eighty years. John J. married Mary A. Breckenridge, and followed the occupation of farming. His children were two daughters, Antoinette, now Mrs. Joseph Barton, and Jeannette, who occupies the old homestead.
Michael Read, born in 1769, came to Charlotte at an early date. He was the father of seven children, three of whom, Amos, Orrin and Laura, settled here. Amos had two children, Charles and George. Charles now resides in North Adams, Mass., and George died in this town. Orrin had three children, sons, William M., deceased, Carleton W., residing in Addison, where he is extensively engaged in stock raising, and Orrin P., residing at Baptist Four Corners, the only representative of the family in Charlotte.
Samuel Prindle came to Charlotte at an early date, and located in the northeastern part of the town. He raised a family of three sons, one of
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TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
whom died in early manhood, while the other two, Midas and Benjamin, settled in Charlotte. Midas, born in 1799, married Sarah V. Higby, May 20, 1834, and located upon the farm now owned by his son, Henry W. He had a family of three children, viz .: Mrs. A. C. Palmer, Henry W., and Mrs. T. C. Hill. Benjamin emigrated to Iowa about twenty years ago, taking all his family with him, where he died a few years after.
Reuben Martin, from Massachusetts, came to Charlotte among the early settlers, locating on Mutton Hill. He reared a family of seven children, all of whom lived to middle age, some to very old age. His daughter, Sylvia, is said to have been the first female child born in the town.
James Squier came to Charlotte from Arlington, Vt., in 1788, and located upon the farm now owned and occupied by James S. Miller. He was an amiable, peaceful neighbor, an indulgent parent, and amassed a considerable property. He died at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The father of James came to Charlotte on a visit to his sons, Solomon and Abner, was taken sick and soon after died, and at his grave was placed the first head- stone erected in the town. James came on during his father's illness, and was induced to buy his brother Abner's farm and remain here. He reared a. family of four children, three daughters and a son. Betsey, the eldest, married James Barnes and removed to Ohio, where she now lives and has a numerous family. Laura married John McDonnell, and remained in town until her death. Lucina never married, and died in Charlotte. Abner mar- ried Laura Sheldon and settled on the homestead. He was a popular and influential man among his townsmen, whom he represented two terms in the legislature, and also served in most of the town trusts. He had two children, a son and a daughter. The daughter died at the age of sixteen. The son, James, now owns and occupies a farm on the west side of the road, op- posite the old home, where he enjoys the regards of a large circle of ac- quaintances.
Col. William Williams, from Lanesboro, Mass., came to Charlotte in 1788, and settled as a farmer in the wilderness. By untiring energy and constant hard work he soon cleared his farm, and for the times was in easy circum- stances. His first dwelling was a log cabin containing but one room, with a Dutch fire-place which was supplied with logs for the fire that were so large that he attached a log chain to one end of the log, hitched a horse to the chain, and hauled the log into the cabin, the horse passing in at one door and out at another opposite. About 1806, he built the house, now modernized. and in good preservation, the dwelling of his grandson, James W. Williams. This he opened as a public house, and it soon became an important station on the stage route between Burlington and Troy. At this time there were eight hotels in Charlotte, all very well supported by the traveling farmers, who were hauling their produce to Albany and Troy, their nearest markets. Mr. Will- iams was early promoted to the office of colonel of militia, and was stationed' on the frontier between Vermont and Canada, and also commanded a regi-
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