USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chittenden County, Vermont, for 1882-83 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
174
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
ment at the battle of Plattsburgh. He was a strong, vigorous man, totally a stranger to fear, somewhat rough in manners, of the Ethan Allen type; but withal noble and generous, ready to assist the needy and sympathize with the afflicted. His life, however, was brought to an untimely end by a fall from a sleigh load of lumber, while descending a steep hill in the adjoining town of Hinesburgh.
Preserved Wheeler came to Charlotte, from Lanesboro, Mass., in 1790, and located upon the place now occupied by Deacon E. H. Wheeler, where he established a tannery. He continued this business about seven years, then sold the property to his brother, Sheldon, who came to Charlotte with him as an apprentice to the trade, and removed to New Haven, Addison County. Sheldon continued the tanning and shoemaking business quite successfully for a number of years, or as late as 1843, when he discontinued it and commenced farming. Sheldon married early and was the father of nine children, eight of whom arrived at maturity, and three of whom are now living,-a daughter, aged eighty-two years, residing in Indiana, Dea. E. H. Wheeler, on the old homestead, aged seventy-eight years, and Rev. O. G. Wheeler, pastor of the South Hero Congregational church for the last forty- one years.
Elijah Alexander was born in Troy, N. H., March 24, 1777, and at the age of twenty-two married Lydia Staples, of Danby, Vt., and settled in Char- lotte, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Lydia Hicks, his youngest daughter. The farm at first contained one hundred acres, but by constant industry he improved this and made additions to the territory, until at his death he had increased it to over three hundred. He lived to the age of seventy-seven years, having declined all offices and honors offered him by his appreciative townsmen. Of his family of seven children, only three are now living, Rachel, widow of - Leavenworth, residing in Shelburne; Ezra, the only son, settled on the farm now owned by Geo. Clark, but afterwards was an enterprising and successful merchant for many years, and his two sons, Harrison D. and Orson H., now reside here; Sarah married Johnson Foote. and died here in 1875. Her children now living are Mrs. D. W. Hazard, Henry A., Flora J., and George A. Foote. Lydia A., widow of - - Hicks, occupies the old home- stead, and has one son.
Walter Ferris, from Pawling, Duchess Co., N. Y., came to this town in 1792, locating on the farm now known as the " Ferris Homestead." He engaged in farming, but for a period of about six years previous to his death was a minister in the Universalist churches in the vicinity, and organized several societies of that denomination. He died in 1806, beloved and hon- ored by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
William Niles, born at Lynn, Conn., in 1756, came to Charlotte in 1792, and located upon the farm now known as the Pitt E. Hewitt place, where he resided for many years. Being a man of ability, much of his time was called to fill public offices, in the fulfillment of which he was strictly true and honest.
175
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
Later in life he removed to Monkton, where he owned a small farm, and kept a public house a portion of the time until his death, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His daughter, Betsey, married Reuben Powell and settled with her husband upon the place their son, Edgar S., now occupies.
Gideon Prindle came to Charlotte from New Milford, Conn., in 1792, and located at Wing's Bay. He had learned the tanner's trade in Connecticut, and soon after his arrival here built a tannery, said to have been the first erected in the town. He soon after sold this property, however, and pur- chased the farm now owned by the heirs of his son, George Prindle, where he continued both farming and tanning until his death, in 1836. Gideon was twice married and had a family of eleven children who arrived at maturity, three sons and two daughters of whom are now living, one, Charles D., in Charlotte, who has four sons. George, deceased in 1843, is represented here by two sons, Cyrus G. and George E. Cyrus is now traveling in the Pacific States and Territories, for the purpose of gathering botanical specimens of the trees and plants of that region. He has the appointment of botanist of the State of Vermont.
John Clark, from Windsor, Conn., came to Charlotte in 1793, and located in the northwestern part of the town, on road I, where his grandson, D. E. Clark, now resides, and where he resided until his death, in 1827, aged seventy years. He served the town from time to time as one of its officers, and was a cordial neighbor and a sound adviser. His youngest son, Ammi, settled upon the homestead and remained during his life. Judson, an older brother, removed to Underhill soon after his marriage, and, about 1848, emigrated to Wisconsin, where he died, September 13, 1872, aged seventy-seven years. His son, D'Estaing, is the only representative of the family in Charlotte.
Elijah Powell, from Lanesboro, Mass., came to Charlotte in 1793, and located upon the farm now owned by Orrin P. Read, and opposite where Mr. Read now lives. He became a successful farmer and cleared and im- proved a farm of several hundred acres. He was a liberal supporter of the Baptist church, and one of the principal builders of the first house of worship of that denomination in this town. Of his nine children, several settled in Charlotte, but eventually left, all but Reuben, who settled on the place now owned by his son, Edgar S., where he remained until his death, in 1830. He had a family of eleven children, only four of whom are now living, one only, Edgar S., in this town.
John Thorp, a native of Ireland, came to Charlotte about 1795, and im- mediately engaged in merchantile pursuits, at which he was quite succesful, his being the only general store between Vergennes and Burlington. He was also an extensive dealer in pine and oak lumber, which he shipped, by the way of the lake, to Quebec. But just as he had succeeded in building up an extensive and profitable business, he died, in 1799, aged only forty-three years. His cousin, George Thorp, came to Charlotte soon after, for the purpose of settling john's estate, having been appointed his executor. After
176
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
the settlement he married the widow, and continued the business a few years, then abandoned it and turned his attention to farming, in which he was quite successful. He lived to the ripe age of eighty-six years, remaining on the farm his cousin first settled until his death. His children were George, Jr., and John G. George, Jr., married Miss Bull, of Ferrisburgh, and located on the farm now owned by his sons, Harley and Henry. John G. married in early life, remained with his father, and now occupies the old homestead. Henry, another son of George, resides on road 13, and has three sons. The eldest, Ervin H., is an assistant editor of the Rutland Herald ; the other two, Herbert C. and Emerson A., are farming with their father.
Gideon Foot was born at Washington, Conn., March 22, 1770, and came to Charlotte previous to 1824, locating upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Spear. For his first wife he married Susanna Parker, by whom he had four sons and one daughter. Subsequent to her death he married her sister, Polly, by whom he had two sons, Charles P. and Philo P. He died March 4, 1838, aged sixty-eight years. Charles P., located on road 29, is the only surviving member of Gideon's family now residing in Charlotte. He was born June 20, 1809, married Lucy A. Barton, and has had two sons and two daughters, named respectively Wilber, Caroline, William, and Susan Ida. The sons still reside in Charlotte. Susan Ida married Jay A. Clark, and Caro- line died some years since.
William Pease, from Lanesboro, Mass., came to this town in 1796, locat- ing on road 20, where he carried on a smithery. At first his estate amounted to but four acres, which, by economy, he ultimately increased to 150 acres. Of his eight children, two died in infancy, and only one, Mrs. Minerva Sher- man, is now living in Charlotte, on the old homestead. Elijah, a brother of William, came to Charlotte in 1797, and had a home with William for a while, of whom he learned the blacksmith's trade. He finally settled on road 36, at the foot of Pease Mountain, where he followed farming. He left but one son, George, residing in Charlotte, all the others having moved away in early life. George Pease, a brother of William and Elijah, came to Charlotte with William when he was about eleven years old. He remained with William as his apprentice until of age. He married soon after, and located in the southern part of the town as a blacksmith. After several years' hard labor at his trade, his health failed, and for a time he kept a public house in Ferrisburgh, and owned a farm in connection with it. He finally sold his property in Ferris- burgh, however, and bought a farm in this town, the same now occupied by his grandson, Russell. He had a family of three children, two sons and a daughter, and died in 1858.
Caleb Barton, from Lanesboro, Mass., came to Charlotte in 1796, and locat- ed on the place now occupied by Mrs. William Barton. Jeremiah, his second son, located in Charlotte, where he remained until his death. Joseph Barton married Polly Saxton, of Ferrisburgh, April 14, 1805, and located on road 35, upon a part of the farm now owned by Ovette Stone. From there he removed
177
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
to Four Corners, where he kept a public house for a long time. He died June 7, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. His children were as follows : Harriet, Aiken S., George, Mary, and Joseph, Jr.
Gad Root, also from Lanesboro, came here in 1798. He married Clemena Loomis the following year, and located at Baptist Corners, where he engaged in the tanning, currying and shoemaking business. About six years after, he removed to Madrid, N. Y., where he continued the tanning business sev- eral years, then sold out and returned to Charlotte, locating on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Loomis Root and her son Edgar. Mr. Root was a fine man, noted for his charity and piety, and for a long time was deacon of the Con- gregational church. His useful life was brought to a close October 19, 1843, at the age of sixty-six years. His eldest son, Noble, born in June, 1800, was a prominent man in Charlotte, and died here in 1872, leaving two sons, George L. and Henry C., who now occupy his estate. Dorwin, the second son, born June 21, 1809, located where his widow and family now reside. Loomis, the youngest, born in 1815, resided on the homestead until his death, in 1866.
David Cook came to Charlotte from Connecticut, in 1807, and became a leading man of the town, holding, at different times, most of the town offices. He died in 1857, aged seventy-six years. His three children were Mary A., Charles B. and Harriet P. Charles B. resides on a fine homestead in the wes- tern part of the town. He is a prominent man, and has held many of the town offices, and represented his townsmen in 1853 and '54.
Leverett Sherman came to Charlotte from Connecticut, in 1808. He learned the carpenter's trade of his brother-in-law, Johnson Foote, and from him he also purchased the farm now occupied by his son, Alfred W., upon which he died, aged eighty-five years. In the war of 1812, he was employed by the government to build barracks for the soldiers at Plattsburgh. William E. Sherman, brother of Leverett, came here in 1811, and located upon the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Deacon John H. Sherman, where he died June 15, 1859.
William Higby, from Ferrisburgh, came to Charlotte, in 1819, and located upon the farm now owned by O. C. Palmer, on road 53. He afterwards went to live with his son, Peter V., on road 61. W. Wallace Higby, son of Peter V., is the only representative of the family now residing in the town. He holds the offices of town clerk and justice of the peace.
Joseph H. Jones, from Claverack, N. Y., came to Charlotte about 1822, and located at the foot of Mt. Philo. He was the father of fourteen children, thirteen of whom arrived at maturity. Four are now living, three in this town, viz .: Smith, occupying the old homestead; Miss Ann, living with Smith, and Joseph. Of Smith's children, three now reside in Charlotte ; of Joseph's, only one, Miss Mary E.
Thomas Whalley, from Ferrisburgh, came here in 1837, and located upon the farm now occupied by his widow, and grandson, R. G. Whalley. His sur-
12
--
178
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
viving children in this town are two sons, Jonathan and Samuel. Thomas died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
John Quinlan came to Charlotte in 1844. The first winter after he came here he chopped wood for twenty-five cents per cord, and purchased two hundred and twenty-four acres of land, mostly on credit. This farm, in a course of honorable prosperity, he has added to from time to time, until he now owns eleven hundred acres.
The Congregational Church of Charlotte, located at Charlotte Centre, was organized January 3, 1792, at the house of Daniel Hosford, Jr., with four members,-John Hill, Moses Yale, Daniel Hosford, Jr., and Joseph Simonds. Rev. Daniel O. Gillett was installed as the first pastor during the same year. The first church building, a wood structure, was erected in 1798, and gave place to the present brick building in 1848. It will accommodate 350 per- sons, and is valued, including grounds, at $6,000.00. The society now has 163 members, with Rev. H. B. Putnam, pastor.
The Charlotte Baptist Church, located at Baptist Four Corners, was organized May 6, 1807, under the supervision of a council, called by the Baptist church of Monkton, at the request of certain members of the church residing in Charlotte, who were dismissed, by mutual consent, to form said church, which consisted of nineteen members. Rev. Nathan Dana was the first pastor. The first church building was erected of wood, in 1808, the second and present one in 1840. Repairs and improvements were made in 1856, to the amount of $700, and others have been made from time to time since, until it stands to-day a neat, pleasant little brick structure, with a capacity for accommodating 200 persons, valued, including grounds, at $4,000. The society has at present fifty members, with Rev. C. A. Votey, pastor.
Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, located at Baptist Four Corners, was organized by Bishop DeGoesbriand, in June, 1859, with about thirty families. The present church building, completed in 1859, is a wood structure with accommodations for 500 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc, at $5,000. The society has about six hundred communicants, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Father Perlidon, pastor.
The Charlotte Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Charlotte Four Cor- ners, was organized in 1801, by Rev. Ebenezer Washburn. The first church edifice was of wood, commenced in 1819, and completed in 1823. In 1837, it was burned down, together with the parsonage, which stood upon the same ground occupied by the district parsonage destroyed by fire seven years pre- vious. The present brick church was built in 1840.
-
179
TOWN OF COLCHESTER.
OLCHESTER, one of the northern lake towns of the county, is located just north of the city of Burlington, in lat. 44° 33' and long. 3º 59', bounded north by Milton, east by Essex, south by the city of Burlington and town of South Burlington, and west by Lake Champlain. It was one of the New Hampshire grants, receiving its charter June 7, 1763, by which it was entitled to the usual 23,040 acres ; but owing to the irregular indenture of its lake shore, and the amount covered by Mallett's Bay, it was found to have a land area of only about 20,000 acres. The grant was made to Ed- ward Burling and sixty-six associates, among whom were nine others by the name of Burling, from which fact it is supposed that this town was intended to have been named Burlingtown, or Burlington, but that through some mis- take the name was given to the town on the south.
The surface of Colchester is moderately rolling, though possessing tracts of level intervale land, with some portions containing quite extensive bluffs. Its scenery is very picturesque and charming, though lacking the grand moun- tain prospects of some of the other towns of the county; but the fine lake scene presented from the vicinity of Mallett's Bay, the deep rocky canons of the Winooski, and the broad, verdant meadows of the level intervale land, will. perhaps compensate for what is lacking of the sublime, and charm the senses of the lover of the beautiful in nature, while to the muse of history, an ample field is opened for speculation by the numerous relics of the misty past that have been found-relics of a day that is at present pre-historic. (See page 61.)
The Winooski River forms the southern boundary of the town, a stream possessing an exceedingly romantic and picturesque valley, and a history replete with tragedy and romance, the very etymology of its name being almost a "fossil poem." (See pages 37 and 95.) The Lamoille River flows through a portion of the northwestern part of the territory, another noble stream, described on page 38. The only other streams of importance are Mallett's Creek, and Pond, Indian, and Sunderland Brooks. Mallett's Creek rises in Milton and flows a southwesterly course through Colchester, empty- ing into Mallett's Bay. Indian Brook rises in the western part of Essex, flows a westerly course through the central part of this town, also falling into Mallett's Bay, on the farm now owned by Noah Thompson. Its name is derived from the Indians having run their canoes up the stream, and thence crossed into New Hampshire on their numerous marauding expeditions. Sunderland Brook, so named from Peleg Sunderland, who at an early day was lost in the valley of the Winooski, and cared for and preserved from starvation by the Indians, also rises in the western part of Essex, and flows a westerly course across the southern part of Colchester, emptying into Winooski River. These several streams contain some good mill sites, and afford ample irrigation to the land. There are also two small ponds in the town- ship, one containing about three acres, located upon the level plain in the
180
TOWN OF COLCHESTER.
southwestern part of the town. It is very deep in the center, and is fed by sub- terranean springs, which pass off by a running stream from the surface. The other lies farther north, in the eastern part of the town, and contains about sixty acres. At its outlet the works of the beaver are still visible.
The soil of Colchester is variegated. It has a portion of sandy loam, originally covered with white and pitch-pine forests, adapted to the raising of Indian corn, rye, buckwheat, and roots for stock and cullinary purposes. The main portion of its soil, however, is a gravelly and slaty loam, intermixed with clay in some localities, and originally covered with hardwood timber, beech and maple, oak, walnut, basswood, elm, birch, and in some places intermingled with hemlock. These lands lie for the most part in low ridges, with a rolling surface, are very fertile, and well adapted to grazing, wheat, oats, potatoes, etc. The town, as a general thing, is also well suited to the growth of the fruits of our climate,-such as the apple, pear, various kinds of grapes, plums, cherries, and other small fruits,-especially upon the bay and lake shore. The whole border of the Winooski is lined with rich alluvial flats, some of great breadth, which produce large quantities of hay and grain.
The principal rock entering into the geological formation of the town is red sandrock, extending in a north and south direction through the central portion of the territory. West of this range are two small beds of Utica and Hudson River slates. containing several quarries of variegated marbles. East of it, extending to the eastern line of the town, the formation is the Eolian limestone, or marble, containing some excellent varieties. There are also some small beds of pliocene tertiary deposit, and Georgia and clay slates. But few minerals of value have been discovered. Brown hematite has been quarried to some extent in the northeastern section of the town, and taken across the lake to mix with the oar of that region ; but for some years the quarry has been abandoned. Magnetic iron ore, in the form of sand, is found in large quanities on the beach north of Clay Point, and a bed of bog ore, in the southern part of the town, was worked to some extent in the early settlement of the town, but has long since gone out of use.
The Central Vermont Railroad passes through the southeastern part of the town, with a station at Winooski village, and in the eastern part of the town, at Colchester.
In 1880, Colchester had a population of 4,421, was divided into thirteen school districts, and contained twelve common schools, employing three male and seventeen female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $2,239.15. There were 658 scholars attending common schools, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $2,633.24. A. S. Barton was superintendent of schools.
WINOOSKI, a post village, and one of the most important in the county, is located in the southern part of the town, upon the Winooski River, which affords an extensive water-power at this point. The village lies prin- cipally upon two streets, Mallett's Bay avenue and Main street, the former
181
TOWN OF COLCHESTER.
extending in a northwesterly and southeasterly direction, meeting with Main street near the river, while the latter tends off towards the northeast. These are crossed at right angles by numerous others. The water-power afforded by the falls early attracted attention, and Ira Allen erected mills thereon as early as 1787. A settlement sprang up about old Fort Frederick, which for a long time was called Allen's Settlement. Gradually, however, it assumed the dignity and proportions of a village, known as Winooski Falls, and finally was incorporated as plain Winooski village, by an act of the leg- islature, in 1866. It was then divided into three wards, designated as East, West, and South wards. The South ward lies between the railroad track and the river, while the East and West wards are divided by Main street. The trustees and other officers were to be elected annually by ballot, if called for, by a general vote of the qualified electors of the village. The officers so elected were to hold office " for one year, or until others were elected in their places." In 1880, the act of incorporation was amended, so that "hereafter the legal voters of each of the three wards of said village, at its annual meeting for the election of officers, shall elect two of the trustees and one of the fire wardens of said village, instead of by general vote as previously provided by law."
The village now has a population of about 3,000, a number of extensive manufacturing interests, several good business blocks, one hotel, four churches (M. E., Episcopal, and two Roman Catholic), and the necessary public and private buildings to constitute a thriving and prosperous community. As early as the latter part of the last century there were large forges and iron- works erected, employing a large number of men, while the business of lum- bering was quite extensive. After crossing the old covered bridge, say about the year 1818, the two main streets, or roads, were the same in position as now, while there were but two others-one leading near the river on the right, where there were the saw-mills and a few houses near them, and the other leading to the left. On the right side of Main street, after crossing the bridge above the hotel, all the land where the stores and shops on that side now are, extending to the corner of, and quite a distance on, Allen street, and also down to the road near the river, was a tract of land known as the " Allen property." A large, rambling old house, then much out of repair, stood upon the premises, fronting on Main street, and having a large piazza overlooking the river. Surrounding it was an extensive garden, reaching nearly the whole length of Allen street, or as far as the Bently house, including the property owned by Mr. Dike, Mr. Kidder, and others of the present time. This was the old house of Ira Allen, he who did so much for Winooski, Bur- lington, and, indeed, for the whole State.
Another place well known to old residents is the Weaver house, so-called, situated near the railroad bridge. It was first the property of Col. Rice, who came here from Boston in 1818. It is said he was an officer in the war for independence, and in manners and character was a true Christian gentle- E an. He died at Burlington many years since. One of his daughters be-
182
TOWN OF COLCHESTER.
came the first wife of Judge Foot, of Burlington, and a granddaughter was the wife of President Torry, of the University of Vermont, while some of his great-grandchildren now are residents of Burlington. Mr. Weaver purchased the Rice estate, the land extending to where the Winooski Block now stands, but not including the present residences of James Platt, H. Barrett or Dr. Richardson. On the corner of Main and Allen streets, Mr. Weaver built a store, where he long sold groceries, provisions, etc. He was a public-spirited man, full of business energy. Some time before his death he sold the store building, which was removed to make room for the Winooski Block. The village, however, has had some misfortunes in the form of fire and flood. In addition to the loss of private dwellings, the machine shops have been burned and rebuilt three times. The bridge and dams were also swept off by the great flood of July, 1830, and at the same time the old oil-mill, grist-mill,. carding machine, saw-mill and dam, erected by Judge Buel, of Burlington, at a cost of about $30,000.00. These stood upon the opposite side of the river, about three-quarters of a mile above the falls, at the bottom of the deep gorge, opposite the point of land between the railroad bridges-they were raised by the flood from their foundations some thirty feet, and, after playing around for a few moments in the whirling and trembling eddy, were dashed down the narrow channel between the island and the high bluffs that form the shore. This flood, the most remarkable since the settlement of the county, rose some fifty feet in height over the intervales above the high bridge, and swept off several buildings. One barn was chained to the branches of a large elm tree, and thus saved from being dashed in pieces at the narrows below.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.