USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chittenden County, Vermont, for 1882-83 > Part 22
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COLCHESTER CENTRE (Colchester p. o.), a post village, located about three- quarters of a mile west of Colchester depot, contains three churches (Baptist, Congregational and Methodist Episcopal), one store, three blacksmith shops, and about twenty-three dwellings.
MALLETT'S BAY POSTOFFICE, located on road 34, was established February 1, 1882, with Alex. C. Morrison as its first postmaster.
The Burlington Woolen Company .- The mills of this company, located on the bank of the river, just west of the bridge at Winooski village, were estab- lished under an act of incorporation approved November 10, 1835, the com- pany being organized December 15th of that year, with Samuel Hickok, pres- ident, and Carlos Baxter, secretary and treasurer. Work was commenced in 1836, with thirty looms, employiny 150 hands. From this time until Decem- ber 5, 1851, the mills were in operation most of the time, though the finan- cial results were disastrous to those engaged in the enterprise, for about this time it became necessary for the property to be disposed of at sheriff's sale. Harding Bros., the purchasers, were experienced manufacturers from Massa- chusetts, who continued the business until 1861, when it was purchased by the present company, incorporated with a capital of $200,000.00. Hon. E. R. Mudge, of Boston, was chosen president, and still retains the position. Joshua Stetson, of Boston, was elected treasurer, and was succeeded by
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Trewsdel Sawyer, of Boston. F. C. Kennedy was appointed secretary. The company immediately instituted extensive repairs, until the mills now cover an area of two and one-half acres, and consume 1,400,000 pounds of wool per annum, manufacturing about 800,000 yards of cloth, and giving employ- ment to 700 operatives. Mr. Frederick C. Kennedy, the agent of the cor- poration, under whose supervision all the enlargements and improvements of the mills have been made. came to its office as an accountant in 1856, and after four years of office labor succeeded to the management and secretaryship of the corporation. In direct antithesis to the prevailing opinion that a person must be educated to a business in order to be successful, Mr. Kennedy has succeeded in building up and maintaining these mills to a degree of success seldom attained. All through the depressions in manufacture of the past twenty years, he has maintained their operation with signal regularity, thus assuring to the laboring class a permanent dependence, one of the most de- sirable features of domestic manufacture.
(EDWARDS, STEVENS & CO.'S FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP.)
Edwards, Stevens & Co .- In 1858, A. B. Edwards and A. J. Stevens bought the land and water-power at Winooski village, now owned by the above mentioned firm, who employ a large number of men in the manufac- ture of mill gearing and shafting, iron and brass castings and wood working machinery. There were then no buildings on the premises, as all had been destroyed by fire the year previous. They immediately erected a one-story wood structure and commenced a general machine and job business. In 1868, Mr. F. Jubell purchased a one-eight interest, since which time the shops have been kept in operation by the above firm. Their present machine shop is 180x50 feet, with an "L," 40x50 feet, and has attached a wood and pattern shop 110x50 feet, and a foundry 60x45 feet, together with large lumber sheds, store-houses, etc., to accommodate their extensive business.
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T. A. Doubleday's furniture manufactory .- This extensive enterprise, located at Winooski village, was established in 1873, under the title of Double- day, Hall & Co. In 1877, this firm was dissolved, and business continued by the present proprietor. He uses 1,000,000 feet of lumber annually, mostly ash and basswood, in the manufacture of cottage furniture, his busi- ness amounting to about $75,000.00 per year.
The Winooski Gold and Silver Plating Works, located on Canal street, were established by their present owner, Mr. David Mitchell, in 1864. He employs twelve men, and has his principal office on College street, in Bur- lington.
The Wincoski Lumber and Water-power Company, located at the village, was established in 1868. It at present employs about twenty men and manufactures 1,500,000 feet of lumber per year.
Walker, Hatch & Co.'s sash and blind manufactory was established at Burlington, in 1874, by the present proprietors. In the fall of 1879, they removed to Winooski village, where they have since conducted the business. They employ fifteen hands and do a business of about $14,000.00 per an- num. They are also agents for the Burlington Spoke Company, located here.
The Winooski Brick Yard, located on Mallett's Bay avenue, was estab- lished by Francis LeClair, in 1873. It gives employment to eight men, who manufacture 800,000 brick per annum. Mr. LeClair is also proprietor of the Burlington Brick Yard, located on Winooski avenue, which employs fifteen men and turns out 1,000,000 brick per year.
Thompson's Mills, engaged in the manufacture of lumber, flour, cider and shingles, located on road 27, were erected in 1871, by R. B. Thompson. The site was originally occupied by a mill erected at an early date, by William and Hezekiah Hine, and destroyed by fire in 1870. They at present use a circu- lar saw, cutting 150,000 feet of lumber per year. The cider mill has a capacity for turning out thirty-two barrels of cider per day, while the grist- mill has one run of stones.
The Colchester Butter and Cheese Factory, located on road 28, was built in 1870. It employs two men and uses the milk from 300 cows.
The Wakefield Variegated Marble Company, located on road 34, are ex- tensively engaged in producing the beautiful variety of marble known as Mallett's Bay marble. It is used principally for furniture tops, and for dec- orating buildings. Mr. A. S. Baxter is manager of the company.
The Town Poor Farm, located on road 29, contains 180 well cultivated acres. There are at present nine persons receiving its bounty. It is under the charge of Porter D. Mitchell.
The Winooski Savings Bank, located on Allen street, was incorporated in 1869. It is a purely savings institution, with the following list of officers : S. H. Weston, president ; H. W. Barrett, vice-president; and Ormand Cole, treasurer. The bank has met with uniform success since the first of its organization.
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Dunbar's Hotel, located at the junction of roads 44 and 45, was built by Arad Merrill, in 1830, and kept by him about twelve years, when he was succeeded by his son, Andrew J. In 1878, it was purchased by Mr. Dunbar, who has been its proprietor since. It is a neat, two and one-half story building, modern in all its appointments. Since Mr. Dunbar came into possession, he has established the Burlington Driving Park, containing one of the best tracks in the State. His extensive experience in hotel-keeping, together with his uniform gentlemanly manner, renders the hotel a desirable one.
The Mallett's Bay House, a summer resort located on road 33, has accom- modations for seventy-five persons. The locality affords extra facilities for boating, fishing, duck shooting, etc. It is at present under the management of William B. Craven, who has succeeded in making the house extremely popular.
The first persons who took possession under the charter of Colchester were Ira Allen and his cousin, Remember Baker, in the fall of 1772. In the spring of 1773, Baker brought his family into town, consisting of his wife and three children, which was the first English family that ever settled in the town of which we have any account. Allen was young, unmarried, and lived with them as a member of the family. As a means of protection against Indian depredations, and defence against the " Yorkers," the first thing they did was to construct a block-house, or fort. This was built on the north bank of the river, on the highest ground, from six to eight rods east of the present falls bridge. The greater part of the ground on which it stood has since slid off into the river and been washed away. It was constructed of hewn timber, two stories high, with thirty-two port-holes in the upper story, and was furnished with arms and ammunition, and named Fort Frederick. During the same year they cut a road from Castleton to Colchester, a dis- tance of about seventy miles. (See page 133.) At this time there were no settlements in Burlington or any other part of the county, except some " Yorkers" who had located on Shelburne Point, and who were suffered to remain on the promise that they would " behave."
A clearing was made about the fort, in which Baker and his family resided. Two clearings were also made on the intervale below the falls, it is supposed, by Joseph Fuller and Henry Colvin, and one at Mallett's Bay, on the farm lately known as the Newton farm, by a man by the name of Monte. In 1775, Joshua Stanton commenced a clearing on the intervale above the falls, and Abel Hulburt, Abel Benedict, and Capt. Thomas Darwin, all made pur- chases of farms on the intervales below the falls. In the meantime, a mys- terious person by the name of Mallett, a Frenchman, resided on Mallett's Head, but who he was, and where he came from, and when and by what authority he settled there, we have no account. Most certain it is, however, that he was there previous to the Revolution, and during its progress, claim- ing allegiance to no nation, but keeping a hotel for British and Continental,
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spy and smuggler alike. He died at an advanced age, in 1790. The clear- ing about his house had the appearance of being very ancient, and must have been commenced much earlier than the date of the charter. (See page 61.)
For seven years, from the spring of 1776, the town was abandoned by all the settlers, save by the venerable Capt. Mallett, as he was called. After the close of the war, in 1783, Messrs. McClain. Law, and Boardman settled on Colchester Point, and Ira Allen and most of the former settlers returned and resumed their settlement at the falls. Allen, on his return, to promote the interests of the place and give value to his large landed estate, com- menced an active business, rebuilding the upper dam, erecting mills, a forge and a shop for manufacturing anchors, so that the place soon assumed the appearance of a considerable village.
The first proprietors' meeting was held at Fort Frederick, June 1, 1774, at which Ira Allen was moderator. The first county court ever held in the county was also held at Allen's house, in November, 1785, at which time Ad- dison and Colchester were half shires of the county of Addison, which then extended to the north line of the State. The town was organized in 1791, though the first town meeting on record was held March 18, 1793, when Joshua Stanton was chosen moderator ; Joshua Stanton, Jr., clerk ; Joshua Stanton, John Law, and Thomas Hill, selectmen ; Joshua Stanton, treasurer ; and William Munson, constable. The first representative was Thomas But- terfield, who married the widow of Remember Baker, chosen in 1785, and he was also the first justice of the peace, appointed in 1787. Of this first list of officers, Stanton, Law and Munson became quite prominent in the county. Joshua Stanton was three years judge of Chittenden County Court, one of the original corporators of the University of Vermont, and nine years a mem- ber of the corporation. His son, Joshua, Jr., was for two years second judge of the County court, and also a liberal patron of the University. John Law came from New London, Conn., settling on the Point. Although a some- what eccentric individual, he was possessed of fine talents and a liberal edu- cation. In 1793, he was sent from this town as a delegate to the State con- vention at Windsor, to consider the proposed amendments to the constitu- tion, and was six years judge of the county court. William Munson was a successful, enterprising business man. He came to the town with no capital, first tending saw-mill for Ira Allen, then bought a small farm, went into the lumbering business, purchased and cleared up lands, and thus accumulated a large property, and added much to the general improvement of the town.
Ira Allen has been mentioned so often throughout the body of the work, and is an historical character so generally known, that an extended notice of his life, in the few brief biographies our space allows, would be superfluous. Suffice it to say, then, he bore a distinguished part in the early affairs of Ver- mont. He was the youngest of seven brothers, of whom Ethan Allen was the oldest, and was born at Cornwall, Conn., May 1, 1751. In his youth he received a good English education, was an early practical surveyor, and, in
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later years, a clear and forcible writer in politics and history. He was scarcely twenty-one years of age when he became the proprietor of lands under the New Hampshire charters, and from the year 1772, when he first came to Col- chester, was active and earnest in his opposition to the New York patentees. On almost all occasions during the Revolutionary period, he acted, either alone or with others, as agent of the State in the transactions with the Conti- nental Congress and with the governments of New Hampshire and New York, and was also one of the founders of the University. In addition to his other various talents, he was an author of some merit, having written several works, among which was a history of Vermont. Notwithstanding all this, however, certain of his transactions brought him into disfavor with the government. After a few years residence in Colchester he removed to Irasburgh, Vt., and dur- ing the latter years of his life resided in Philadelphia, Pa., where he died, January 7, 1814. After his death his widow occupied the house at Winooski village, mentioned on a previous page.
Remember Baker, Allen's cousin, whose active and earnest opposition to the New York claimants, in connection with Allen, Warner nd others, are well-known facts of general history, was born at Woodbury, Conn., in 1737. He was a cousin to the Allen brothers, his father being a brother of their mother. He served as a soldier at Lakes George and Champlain, in the French war, and had thus acquired a knowledge of the lands on his route there and in their vicinity. He settled at Arlington, in 1764, and built, in the eastern part of that town, the first grist-mill on the New Hampshire Grants north of Bennington. After an attempt of Justice Munro, on the part of the Yorkers, to take him to Albany jail under the outlawry act, when he was treated with great harshness, he appears to have been generally desirous of inflicting severer punishment on the Yorkers than most of his companions. He was with Ethan Allen, holding the rank of captain, at the taking of Ticon- deroga, May 10, 1775, and, in August following, being sent by Gen. Mont- gomery to reconnoiter the enemy's position at St. Johns, he was shot by an Indian. At some distance this side of St. Johns, he landed and concealed his boat, and was about proceeding on foot, when he saw that his boat was already in possession of some of the Indians. He hailed them and demand- ed his boat, but as they paid no regard to the demand, he drew up his gun, but it missed fire, and at the next instant he received a shot through the head from one of the Indians in the boat, and fell dead upon the spot. His com- panions then fled, and made their way back by land with the sad intelligence. His widow subsequently became the wife of Thomas Butterfield, the first rep- resentative of Colchester.
Nathaniel Collins, one of the early settlers of the town, was born in Con- necticut, in 1763, and at the age of twenty years immigrated to Burlington with his wife's father, Stephen Lawrence. The settlement of Winooski then consisted of a couple of houses and a saw-mill. By his first wife, Elizabeth Lawrence, he had a family of twelve children, and by his second wife, Olive
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Stebbins, he had one child. In 1824, he located in Colchester, where he carried on the blacksmithing business near the present site of the Baptist church, at Colchester Center. Only two of his children are now living, George H., at Elizabethtown, N. J., and Charles, located in this town on road 15, being now seventy-four years of age. Charles remembers well the war of 1812. When the British vessels opened fire on Burlington, he says he recol- lects seeing the soldiers pass his father's house and halt on the green in front.
Ebenezer Johnson, from New Hampshire, came to this town at an early day, locating on road 2, where he bought one hundred acres of land at $3.00 per acre, the same that is now in the possession of the Johnson family. He had but one child, Ambrose N., who had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. Two of the sons, Ebenezer O. and John N., were sol- diers in the late war, serving in the 13th Vt. Vols. John and Moses Johnson came here about the same time, with Ebenezer. John located on road 3, where S. H. Everett now resides. Moses died a few years after, of pulmo- nary disease.
Isaac Thompson, from Dover, N. H., was an early settler here. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was present at the battle of Plattsburgh. He located upon the old Thompson homestead, now owned by W. W. W. Thompson, and built the first house thereon, of plank, during the cold sum- mer of 1816, and with others suffered much in consequence of the scarcity of grain caused by that unfruitful season. He was twice married, and reared a family of fourteen children.
Abijah Warner, a native of New Hampshire, located in South Burlington about the year 1800, where he continued to reside until his death. He had a family of five children, three sons' and two daughters. Samuel C., the eldest son, now resides in Colchester, at the age of seventy-two years.
Artemas Cushman, from Massachusetts, located in this town at an early day, residing here with his children many years, attaining the age of ninety- six or ninety-seven years. He held many of the town offices. Of his family of twelve children, none are now living. The family was remarkable for its longevity.
Ebenezer and Elijah Wolcott, from Pownal, Vt., as early as 1795, located on road 12, upon the farm now occupied by some of his descendants. Ebenezer afterwards removed to a place a little north of where Dennis Shaw now resides, where he was engaged in burning lime for a number of years. He built the house now occupied by Mr. Shaw, and in which he died. Of his family of twelve children, eleven arrived at the age of maturity. Elijah was twice married and also had a family of twelve children.
Antoine Moss, from Canada, came to Colchester during the war of 1812. His father was a soldier, and came to this country with Gen. LaFayette. Alexander P. Moss, now residing on road 46, is a son of Antoine.
Ebenezer Severance, from Connecticut, came to this town with his father among the early settlers. They located upon the farm now owned by George
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N. Rhodes, and built the house now occupied by him. During its con- struction, Ebenezer's father stepped upon a nail, which penetrated his foot, causing tetanus, resulting in his death. Ebenezer had a family of eight chil- dren, five sons and three daughters, two of whom, John and George, still reside in Colchester, aged respectively sixty-nine and sixty-four years.
Joseph E. Rhodes came to Colchester about sixty years ago, from Con- necticut, and located upon the farm mentioned above, where his son, George N., nowresides. He followed the occupation of farming, and reared a family of nine children.
William Hine, one of the pioneers of the town, was the father of three sons, Simeon, Hezekiah, and Israel, all of whom located in Colchester. Simeon located on road 13, upon the farm now occupied by Mrs. Sophronia Collins. He had a family of six children who arrived at maturity, one of whom, William, married Eunice, daughter of Benjamin Boardman, and had a family of seven children. Hezekiah married Hannah Spencer, and had a family of five children. Israel married Juliet, a sister of Eunice Boardman, and reared a family of six children.
Benjamin Boardman, from Connecticut, located near the falls in 1789, and subsequently removed to Colchester Point. His daughter Eunice became the second wife of William Hine. and still survives him, aged eighty-six years, having resided in the house she now occupies since her marriage, at the age of seventeen.
George Bates, a blacksmith, settled in Colchester at an early date, married. Mary Hine, and died here in 1876, aged ninety-one years. His wife died at the age of seventy-five years.
Paul Clapp came to this town in 1797, from Orange, Vt., and located near the present village of Colchester Center. He was a soldier during the war of 1812, followed the occupation of farming, and reared a family of eight chil- dren, five of whom attained a mature age.
Harry Densmore, of Chelsea, Vt., came to this town during the early part of the present century, and died here in 1876, aged seventy eight years. He married Miss Betsey Cook, who survives him, at the age of eighty years, and was the father of nine children, seven of whom are now living.
Seth Cary, from Connecticut, came to Colchester in 1800. He served in the war of 1812, followed farming, was twice married, and had a family of ten children, of whom Lyman, residing on road 15, aged sixty-six years, is- the only surviving one. Lyman's brother, Jesse, located on road 14, upon the place now owned by his son, Franklin. Jesse had three children who attained a mature age, Franklin, Josiah, and Azuba.
Nathan Bryan, from Connecticut, came to Colchester at an early date. He was a man of culture, and taught school many years. He had a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Joseph removed to Canada, where he subsequently died. Nathan, Jr., after residing a few years in Essex, where his father had resided a short time previous to his set-
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tlement here, came to this town, where he died, aged ninety-two years. Jerry became a Baptist clergyman and died in Pennsylvania.
Samuel Austin, a Quaker, came to Colchester from New Hampshire, in 1790, and located on road 10, upon the place now occupied by Fred. H. Morse, where he built the first house on that farm. He married Rachel Hawkins, by whom he had a family of six children, Abigail, Paul, Solomon, Anna, Stephen and William. Abigail was married to Dennis Downing and resides in this town. Paul married Lydia, a sister of Dennis, and died here. Solomon married Sally Garland, of New Hampshire, and located in Colches- ter, where he died in 1843, aged seventy-five years. He was the father of six children, two of whom, Sarah, the widow of Milton D. Wickware, aged eighty-one, and Nathaniel, aged seventy-eight years, still survive him. Anna was married to Paul Varney and removed to Ohio. Stephen became the husband of Lucy Hyde, and William married Ruth Richardson.
David Bellows was an early settler in Colchester, coming here from Massa- chusetts. He married Betsey Covey, by whom he had one child, named Betsey. She was married to Roger Thompson, by whom she had a family of thirteen children. Eli Baker, another early settler, came here from Williams- town, Vt. He was a farmer, married twice, and had a family of ten children. The family of Ebenezer Baker are the only representatives of the Baker family in Colchester.
Ebenezer Lyon, from Canterbury, Conn., came to Colchester in 1798, locating upon the place now owned by William D. Farnsworth, where he died, aged seventy-four years. He was twice married, and reared a family of eleven children. John Lyon, now of Colchester, is the oldest child, aged eighty-three years.
James Gale, from New Hampshire, came to this town about the year 1804. He was the father of six children. Amos, his son, came here about the year 1808, and married Polly Johnson, by whom he had seven children, five sons and two daughters. The only one of the children now living is Benja- min F. Gale, residing on road 5.
Benjamin Wright, son of William Wright, an early settler in Essex, came to Colchester in 1882, taking up his residence with Col. Tyler. He was four times married, and reared a large family of children. Many of his descend- ants are now residents of the town.
John Thayer, son of Caleb Thayer, who was an early settler in Burlington, came to this town during the first half of the present century. He married Silence Ross, by whom he had a family of eight children, six of whom are now living in Colchester.
Thomas Porter, son of Ashbel Porter, born September 17, 1773, came to Colchester from Grand Isle, Vt., in 1806, and bought the Amos farm, then owned by Moses Catlin. Mr. Amos built the house now standing on the place. January 24, 1813, he married Abigail, daughter of Job Bates.
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