USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chittenden County, Vermont, for 1882-83 > Part 23
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Aaron Parmelee, from Connecticut, came to this town about the year
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TOWN OF COLCHESTER.
1812, and located upon the farm now occupied by S. N. Marsh. He had a family of four children, two of whom still reside in the town. He died in 1834.
Hiram Rood came to Colchester from Jericho, Vt., and settled on the farm now owned by Clark Rood, on road 48. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and had a family of five children, four of whom, Mrs. Mary Stevens, Clark A., Emeline, and Myra L., now reside here.
James Crocket, from Portsmouth, N. H., came to Colchester about the year 1832, and located near Colchester Center, upon the place now known as the Munson farm. He had a family of seven children, four of whom, Charles W., Jane (Mrs. George M. Horton), Amelia (Mrs. M. McNall), and John. W., now reside here.
William D. Kidder, from Middlesex, Mass., came to this town about the year 1829, and kept one of the first livery stables here, and afterwards was en- gaged in the manufacture of brick and lumber. He died in 1856, aged fifty- six years, leaving three children.
William McBride, a native of the North of Ireland, came to this town, from Grand Isle, about the year 1843. He was a farmer, and had a family of five children, as follows : Andrew C., George L., Mary Ann, William H., and Alverta, all of whom are now living in Colchester.
Francis LeClair came to Colchester in 1828, locating at Winooski village, where he remained, following the occupation of farming, until his death, in 1862, aged sixty-four years. He had a family of six children, only three of whom are now living, viz .: Lucy (Mrs. Lewis LaDam), Louisa, and Francis. Francis, the present representative of the town, first selectman, village trustee, etc., is an extensive brick manufacturer, and also one of the oldest merchants in the town. He has done more, probably, towards promoting the present prosperity of the village than any other one person. Among the buildings of a public nature which have been erected by him, or which are largely in- debted to him for pecuniary aid, may be mentioned the Winooski Block, built in 1867, and at that time said to be one of the finest business blocks in the State, St. Peter's Catholic church, Providence Orphan Asylum, and St. Joseph's church. He has also helped many poor families by building homes for them and allowing them to pay for the same in easy installments, having built 120 such in the village alone.
William Wray (now spelled Ray) was among the early pioneers of Hines- burgh, probably from Connecticut. He married Hannah, a daughter of Capt. James Green,-who lost a limb at the battle of French Mills, was pro- moted for bravery in that action, but died before the commission reached him,-and had a large family of children, only one of whom, George, now residing in Hinesburgh, is living. Orrin P. Ray, a lawyer of Winooski village, is a son of George. He was a soldier during the late rebellion. His brother, George, is now a member of congress from New Hampshire.
George D. Nash, the master mechanic of the Burlington Woolen Mills and
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TOWN OF COLCHESTER.
chief of the Winooski fire department, is a son of Buel T. Nash, and was born in Shelburne. He has been connected with the woolen mills for a. period of thirty years.
Robert Griswold, from Cambridge, Vt., came to Colchester in 1833, locat- ing at the village. He was twice married, and is the father of eight children, one only of whom, Harry, is now living. He has been employed at the woolen mills since 1835.
George W. Horton came to Colchester in 1832, and located at Winooski, on what is now known as Allen street. He was a physician and surgeon, which profession he followed until his death, in April, 1872, aged sixty four years. He married Eliza A. Bach, of Ballston Springs, N. Y., who survives. him, and had a family of four sons, only two of whom are now living,-George M., a farmer in this town, and Harvey V., the present town clerk, trustee of surplus fund, and town superintendent of schools.
Joseph B. Small came to Winooski in the fall of 1848, and engaged in the mercantile business, continuing the same twenty-five years, when failing health compelled him to retire He has held the various town and village trusts, and has also been one of the directors of the Winooski Savings Bank. His- wife, a daughter of Truman A. Chittenden, of Williston, died in 1863.
The First Congregational Church, located at Colchester Centre, was or- ganized September 14. 1804, in a school-house which stood near the present vil- lage. The church was gathered and organized by Rev. Benjamin Wooster, who had been sent by the Connecticut Missionary Society to labor in these parts. It consisted of eight members,-Timothy Farrand, Friend Farrand, Nathan Wheeler, Polly Deming, Elizabeth Wheeler, Desire Wolcott, Lydia Austin, and a Mrs. Downing. Nathan Wheeler was chosen deacon, and held the office until his death, in 1806. Edward Griffin succeeded him, and was. the only deacon in the church until his removal from the town, in 1812. No church edifice or house of worship existed in the town until the summer of 1838. The church at first held its Sabbath worship in a school-house, or, when a larger place was needed, in a barn, until 1814, when the town, in connection with the central district, built the "stone school-house," to be used not only for a school but for town purposes and public worship. In the summer of 1838, the Congregational society united with the small Baptist society and erected a commodious brick edifice, which the two societies oc- cupied in union until 1861, when this society purchased the interest from the Baptist society, repaired the church, etc., until it is now a neat, comfortable structure, with seating capacity for about two hundred persons. The society at present numbers fifty members, with Rev. A. S. Barton, pastor.
The First Baptist Church, located at Colchester Center, was organized by its first pastor, Phineas Colver, with eight members, January 19, 1820. The first house of worship was built in union with the First Congregational church, in 1838, and retained by them until 1861, when it was purchased by the Congregational church. The Baptists then erected their present wood struc-
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
ture, costing $3,000.00, about its present value. . It has a seating capacity of about 250. The society now has fifty-five members, with Rev. Alexander A. Davis, pastor.
The First M. E. Church, located at Winooski village, was organized by S. R. Rathburn, H. W. Simmons, J. I .. Hempstead, J. P. Newhall, Sher- man Beach, and Rev. H. H. Smith, who constituted the society, with Rev. H. H. Smith, pastor. The first and present house of worship was erected in 1861, a wood building capable of seating 400 persons, and costing $3,500.00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $6,500.00. The society now has III members, and is in fully as prosperous a condition as at any time in its history, having an average attendance of about 150. It has also a good Sabbath school with 189 scholars, and an average attendance of 113. Rev. Edgar L. Walker, A. M., is the present pastor.
St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, located at the corner of St. Peter and Weaver streets, Winooski village, was organized April 1, 1868, by Rev. Father Audet, their first and present pastor, with 600 members. Ser- vices were at first held in the hall in the Winooski Block, until the present brick church was finished. It is a fine structure, built of brick, is capable of seating 900 persons, and cost $15,000.00. It is now valued, including grounds, at $40,000.00. The society now has 1, 100 members, and sustains a Sabbath- school with a regular attendance of 300 children. The church also has under its control a convent, managed by the Sisters of Charity, where 300 children are being educated. The convent building is 85x36 feet, built of brick, with two stories and a French roof.
St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, located at Winooski village, was organized in 1871, by its first and present pastor, Very Rev. Thomas Fynch, with about 200 members, which number has since increased to 300. The church building was erected during the same year, a structure capable of seat- ing 350 persons. It cost $6,000.00, about its present value.
The Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, located on East Union street, was organized in 1873, by Rev. Edward R. Atnill, its pastor, with four mem- bers. The present wood church was erected during the same year, at a cost of $3,000.00. It is now valued at $3,500.00, and will comfortably seat 200 persons. The society has forty members, with Rev. Mr. Bliss, rector.
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USSEX, a township located in the central part of the county, in lat. 44º 31', and long. 3º 58', is bounded north by Westford, east by Jericho, south by Williston and South Burlington, and west by Colchester. It was granted by George III., through Benning Wentworth, the governor of New Hampshire, the charter deed being made in favor of Edward Burling and sixty-three associates, and containing the usual reservations and restric-
13
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
tions incident to the New Hampshire grants. The charter also announces the town to have an area of " 23,040 acres, or a tract six miles square ; " but as the land was divided into seventy-two shares of 330 acres each, its area is very evidently about 23,760 acres. The document was signed by " His Excel- lency" on the 7th day of June, 1763, and so from that day Essex dates its birth, though its history cannot really be said to have commenced until the inception of its first settlement, a number of years subsequent.
In surface, Essex presents a pleasing picture, a landscape of practical utility rather than mere beauty-no mountains rear their lofty crests sky- ward, and no dimpling lakelets deck the emerald vales. Still, there is diversity enough to attract the beauty-loving eye, and once attracted, the beholder cannot but remark the rare richness of the territory. The northern and eastern portions are broken and hilly, containing some elevations of con- siderable prominence, and all clothed with a rich verdure that affords suste- nance to many herds of cattle. The southern, central, and western parts are more level, sinking in some places to a swamp, where large quantities of cran- berries grow spontaneously. On the borders of the Winooski and Brown's Rivers the soil is a rich alluvial deposit, while in the southern and southwestern it is sandy, and in the northern and northwestern more of a clayey formation, cropping out occasionally in valuable clay beds suitable for manufacture into brick. Rich deposits of muck are also found in certain localities. Taken in general, the soil is rich and productive, with scarcely an acre that cannot be cultivated, and the greater portion of the township is admirably adapted to grazing purposes, and hence the farmer's attention is principally devoted to this branch of husbandry, causing large quantities of butter and cheese to be exported each season, forming the principal article of commerce. Unusually good facilities are afforded, too, for transportation of commodities, in the several railroads which intersect here. The Winooski River forms the south- ern boundary of the town, affording two good mill privileges, while the east- ern and central portions are watered by Brown's River and its several tribu- taries. Alder brook flows through the central part, and several other smaller streams are found in other localities.
The rocks that enter into the geological structure of the town are of the Eolian limestone, clay slate, and talcose conglomerate formation, with their various phases and transformations. The marble bed underlies the south- western corner, next to which is the clay slate, a deposit about two miles in width, extending the whole length of the town from north to south, the re- maining portion of the territory being talcose conglomerate.
In 1880, Essex had a population of 2, 111, was divided into twelve school districts, and contained ten common schools, employing one male and four- teen female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $1,441. There were 486 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $1,959.15.
ESSEX JUNCTION, a post village located in the southwestern part of the
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
town, at the junction of the various railroads which traverse the county, con- tains two churches (Baptist, and union of the M. E. and Cong.), a paper- mill, butter tub factory, saw and grist-mill, marble shop, a nursery, eight stores, four blacksmith shops, one wheelwright shop, one paint shop. two livery stables, two hotels, a graded school, village hall, extensive brick manu- factory, etc.
ESSEX CENTRE (Essex p. o.), a post village located in the central part of the town, contains four churches (M. E., Baptist, Cong., and Universalist), Essex Classical Institute, a district school, two stores, one hotel, a blacksmith shop, one wagon shop, a dressmaker shop and millinery store, and about 150 inhabitants.
J. K. Drury & Son's brick yard, located on road 41, is probably one of the most extensive brick manufactories in the State. The works were estab- lished in 1868, by J. B. Drury, and seem to have everything furnished at hand by nature. Indian brook passes through the center of the yard, and upon one side of it are beds of excellent clay, while on the other side the sand for its manufacture into brick is found in abundance. Four mills are used in grind- ing the clay, fifty men employed, and the annual product is 4,000,000 brick. Mr. Drury has constructed a branch track from the C. V. R. R., uniting near the Junction depot, so that his goods may be loaded upon the cars right at the yard.
J. W. Truax, located at Essex Junction, is engaged in the manufacture of his Green Mountain water-wheel, patented in 1860. He does an extensive business, and employs a number of men.
Hunter & Shiland's paper-mill, located at Essex Junction, is operated by water-power, and has, in addition, four engines for grinding stock. All of their machinery is of the most modern style, enabling them to do first-class work. They employ twenty hands, and manufacture one and one-half tons of paper per day.
W. B. Johnson's grist-mill, also located at Essex Junction, is operated by water-power, has four runs of stones, and employs four men. It grinds annu- ally 2,500 bushels of wheat, 30,000 bushels of corn, 5,000 bushels of oats, and 5,000 bushels of buckwheat, besides 30,000 bushels of custom grinding.
The Marble Works at Essex Junction were established by Snyder & Brownell, in 1864. Mr. M. L. Snyder bought out Mr. Brownell, in 1867, since which time he has operated the business alone. He subsequently added the manufacture of granite, and now does a general business in both lines, employing five men.
The Central House, a fine hotel located at Essex Junction, was opened by the present proprietor, Edward O. Joslyn, May 1, 1882, a gentleman of large experience as a hotel keeper. This location offers superior inducements to summer boarders, on account of the many pleasant drives, being only ten miles from Mount Mansfield, and the excellent opportunities for gunning, trout fishing, etc.
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
The Junction House, another hotel of equal merit, is located at the village, with Truman Hunt, proprietor.
Of the sixty-four grantees of the township of Essex, none, it is believed, ever located within its limits. And notwithstanding the charter was granted as early as 1763, no settlements were made, and the tract remained studded with stately forest monarchs, with none to disturb their quietude, until 1783, when, in the spring of that year, Samuel Smith, William Smith, Jonathan Winchell, Dubartis Willard, and David Hall, came on from Massachusetts and commenced a settlement. Thus the history of the town may properly be said to date from that spring, a quiet, even, uneventful history though it is. Steadily and quietly the town has increased in power and importance, and quietly, one by one, its waving grain fields and smiling meadows have come into existence, as the forest receded before the onslaught of the sturdy wood- man. Again we say, the history of Essex is an uneventful one. No Milton or Pope first opened their eyes on the pleasant hills and dales, and no Porter or Nelson have closed their eyes here to a sleep beneath its clay. Indeed, the Essex man cannot boast of even a Douglass or a Horace Greeley as a native of their town ; but they can claim two thousand honest, loyal hearts. that call it home, and though not blazoned forth on the banner of fame, they point to numerous silent, well-kept graves, where rest the bodies of as inany heroes, whose noble souls went up in the smoke of battle, a sacrifice to pre- serve their country's unity. Pioneers came in slowly after a settlement was once commenced, so that at the taking of the first census, in 1791, it had 354 inhabitants. In 1786, it was considered that the population was suffi- ciently large to warrant its organization by the election of proper town officers, so a meeting was called on the 22d of March of that year, at which Elkanah Billings was chosen clerk; Abram Stevens, constable ; Dubartis Willard, Justin Day, and Joel Woodworth, selectmen. The first justices. were Joel Woodworth and Timothy Bliss, chosen in 1787. The first repre- sentative was Dubartis Willard, in 1786. Frances Hall was the first person born, August 23, 1783, and Eli Smith, who lived to a very advanced age, the first male born November 19, 1784.
Upon the banks of the Winooski, just within the limits of the town, Samuel Smith and his associates located, putting up the first log house, felling the first tree, and planting the first grain. At a later period, upon the borders of Brown's River, Joel Woodworth settled, and kept what is supposed to have been the first "tavern" in town. Farther down the stream, Timothy Bliss Abel Castle, James Pelton, Dea. Samuel Bradley, Dea. Ingraham, Jonathan Bixby, Nathan and Jabez Woodworth, James Keeler, and James Gates were among the first settlers in the eastern part of the town, occupying the fertile intervales that border that stream. On the west side of the stream, on the road now leading to the center of the town, Stephen Butler and Caleb Olds settled. Dea. Daniel Morgan settled a little north of Dea. Watkins, on the opposite side of the road, Capt. Morgan Noble on the Case farm, Col. Stephen
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
Noble on the Herrick farm, and Ezra Woodworth and Mr. Bryant still farther north. Col. Noble kept a store in the same house at a very early day. In the northern and western portions of the town, Samuel Griffin, Averill Griffin, Ezra Slater, Jonathan Chipman, Brascom Perrigo, David, George, and Zuriel Tyler, Benton Buck, Ezra Baker, and Henry Slater, were among the first settlers. South from Page's Corners Capt. Simeon Tubbs, the Bassetts, David Kellogg, Asahel Nash, Dea. Samuel Buell, and Esquire Knickerbocker were the early settlers. At what was afterwards known as Butler's Corners, from the fact of men of that name doing business there, Justin Day and Calvin Beard first settled. At this place the sign-post and "stocks" were erected, in 1800, by town legislation. In those days the sign-post was quite an important public officer, for upon him was posted all the notices of warrants, sales, meetings, etc., making him quite a gossipy public character. The first settlement at Page's Corners, so-called from Samuel Page, whose industry and enterprise built it up and made it a place of considerable business, was made by James Blin, followed by John and Stephen Reed. John kept a tavern here at an early date, and after him Curtis Holgate. Here, too, the first store in town was kept, by Bazzel Stew- art, in 1795, and here also the first postoffice was established. Ralph Rice was appointed postmaster, but on his refusing to accept the position Samuel Farrar was appointed in his stead. In a few years, however, the office was abandoned, and none kept in the town for a period of nearly twenty years. In 1825 or '26, the office was re-established at Butler's Corners, and Roswell Butler appointed postmaster. In 1838 or '39, the office was removed to the center of the town, and Irad C. Day appointed postmaster. Ralph Rice, who received the first appointment of postmaster, was one of the early mer- chants in the town, and largely engaged in the manufacture of potash, which he marketed in Montreal. This was a comparatively lucrative trade when settlers were clearing off their land and ashes were plenty.
Almost the entire business of the town was for a long time transacted at this Corner. Town meetings were held here and at the meeting-house alter- nately from 1805 to 1813, when they were permanently located at the Center. The first building erected at the Center stood on the southeast corner of the common, and was built by Samuel Pelton. Mr. Pelton also erected a mill a few rods west of the present mill. Alder Brook was then a small, shallow stream emptying into Brown's River. Mr. Pelton diverted it from its natural course, carrying the water in a plank flume to his saw-mill. But in the great freshet of 1830, the little brook became a mighty current, cut for itself a new channel, deep and broad, and forced its way along over all obstacles until it joined the Winooski, miles away from its original mouth. The second house erected at the Center was the one occupied by Joel Woodworth as a tavern at an early day, and stood on the northern side of the common. This house was a remarkable one for those days, being made of pine logs, nicely hewn, and set up endwise. In April, 1796, the first school district was formed, and
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
embraced all the northeastern part of the town, or that portion north of the original mouth of Alder Brook. The school-house stood near where James Gates then lived, and was the second school-house in the town. The first was located on Brown's River, near Jericho, and was taught in 1788, by an Englishman named James Finch. In 1794, a committee was appointed by the town to take measures to clear the ground sequestered for the purpose of burying the dead. The eastern portion of it was first cleared and was most used. The first bodies interred here were those of Isaac Noble and a daughter of Capt. Morgan Noble. Here rest the bodies of most of the early settlers, side by side with their children. The cemetery at the Junction was not com- menced until a later day. The ground for the same was donated by Lary, and afterwards quit-claimed to the town by Abram Stevens. The first person buried here was an elderly man by the name of Story. The first marriage recorded as taking place in town was that of Asa Town and Mabel Andrews. They were married by Nathan Castle, June 11, 1795. The first deaths, those of Remember and Ruth Tubbs, March 21, 1788.
Samuel Bliss, from New Hampshire, located upon the farm now owned by Keeler Warner.
Samuel Griffin, from Killingworth, Conn., settled on the farm now owned by Cassius Stevens, in 1795. He married Sylvia, daughter of Samuel Brad- ley, and reared a family of nine children, only three of whom are now living in town. Harrison, the only son, resides on road 39.
Asa Davis, from New Durham, Mass., settled a part of the farm now owned by E. D. Whitcomb. David Booth settled the farm now owned by Barney Weed. Dea. Samuel Buell settled upon the farm now owned by Harvey J. Buell, in 1787. The fourth generation now occupies the farm. Moses Bates settled the farm now owned by C. E. Bates. Robert Reynolds made the first settlement on the farm now owned by his grandson, T. F. Wilcox. Gideon Curtis settled the farm now owned by L. Woodworth, on road 14. John Hanley located on the farm now owned by his son, Thomos B. Hanley, on road 7.
Joshua Bates came from Connecticut and made the first settlement on the farm now owned by L. M. & C. W. Bates.
Job Bates, a brother of Joshua, settled a little north of where Joshua first located, and built the first house, of logs, on that place. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, married Sarah Martin, from Connecticut, and had a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters.
Samuel Bradley, from Sunderland, Vt., located in the eastern part of the -
town in 1793.
Abram Stevens, one of the earliest settlers of the town, was born at Kil- lingworth, Conn., and at the age of sixteen years entered the American army under Col. Seth Warner. After the war was over he returned to Connec- ticut, then came to Vermont, locating at Burlington, where, being a carpen- ter and joiner, he was engaged in building many of the old houses now stand-
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TOWN OF ESSEX.
ing, among which may be mentioned a portion of the American House, the Buell house on Pearl street, the old Sawyer Tavern now used by Strong & Co. as a hardware store, and many others. After a few years' residence there he sold out what property he had and removed to Essex, locating at what is now the Junction, upon the land at present owned by W. J. Beach and P. Teachout. His son, Byron, still lives at the Junction, aged sixty- three years.
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