USA > Vermont > Franklin County > Gazetteer and business directory of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vt., for 1882-83 > Part 16
USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > Gazetteer and business directory of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vt., for 1882-83 > Part 16
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).
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
Missisquoi bay. Saxe river rises near the central part of the town and flows into Rock river. Numerous other brooks exist, while two small ponds are found a little north of the center of the town, Cutler's and Proper pond, lying about three-quarters of a mile apart.
The geological structure, like the soil, is extremely varied, the town having no less than seven distinct rock systems, or ledges, entering into its formation. These beds, like those of the whole State, lie parallel to each other, extend- ing through the town in a general north and south direction. On the west, entering from Swanton, is a ledge of Hudson river slates, lying next to a de- posit of Trenton limestone ; then follows a range of Hudson river limestone, next to which is a bed of red sandrock, then a range of Georgia slates, fol- lowed by a large vein of talcose conglomerate, and finally, comprising the res- idue of the town, a bed of talcose schist. The numerous divisions of these systems are too extended to mention at this point. No minerals, except iron, which was formerly wrought to a considerable extent, have been discovered. Mineral springs abound in different parts of the town, whose waters contain medicinal qualities that have made them famous.
In 1880, Highgate had a population of 2,090, was divided into fourteen school districts, and contained fourteen common schools, employing six male and eighteen female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $1,- 485.60. There were 511 pupils attending common schools, while the entire cost of ths schools for the year ending October 31st, was $1,642.72, with Williams Keyes, superintendent.
HIGHGATE, a post village, is situated in the southern part of the town on the Missisquoi river. It contains one church (Episcopal), one store, and about forty dwellings. The natural advantages of this village are as good as any in the State. The falls at this point would afford power for numerous factories, and it seems strange that the village has not increased and become a thriving center. As it is, however, but little manufacturing is carried on.
HIGHGATE CENTER, a post village and station on the Missisquoi railroad, is situated in the southern part of the town. It contains three churches, (Meth., Cong., and Cath., ) one hotel, three stores, a public hall, three lawyers' offices, and nearly fifty dwellings.
EAST HIGHGATE (p. o.), a small village located in the southeastern part of the town, on the Missisquoi river, is a station on the St. J. & L. C. R. R. It has the command of a fine water-power, but contains comparatively few manufactories. The only ones of note are O. A. Rixford's scythe and axe works, Keenan's saw, shingle and cider-mill, and a sheepskin-leggins factory.
HIGHGATE SPRINGS (p. o.), a hamlet near the eastern shore of Missisquoi bay, contains but the hotel and the buildings connected therewith. The postoffice is located there for the convenience of those visiting the springs, and for the farmers in the vicinity. The Franklin hotel, located at this place, was originally built by S. S. & S. W. Keyes, nearly fifty years ago. In 1868, it was purchased by Judson L. Scott, and kept by him as a summer resort for
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
about nine years, when, in 1877, it was purchased by Messrs Davis & Pen- field, of Boston, and Mr. Spencer, of Burlington, and by them again leased to Mr. Scott. It has, in connection with the cottages adjoining it, accommo- dations for 125 guests.
Champlain Hall Academy, located at Highgate, was established in 1877, by Rev. Josiah Swett, D. D., rector of St. John's church. Here pupils are prepared for college or business, and instructed in the various branches of science, literature, and art.
J. H. Bolad's marble works, located at the Center, employs several men in the manufacture of all kinds of marble goods.
E. N. Sunderland's carriage and blacksmith shop, located at Highgate vil- lage, was established by the Messrs. Keyes nearly fifty years ago. Mr. Sun- derland employs six workmen, in the manufacture of a full line of goods.
Horskins & Hinerth's foundry, located at Highgate village, employs twelve men in the manufacture of stoves and a general foundry business.
Charles C. Sheldon's sheepskin boot manufactory, located on road 51, was established in 1880. He employs several persons in the manufacture of these useful articles.
Bell & Keenan's saw, shingle, and cider-mill, located at East Highgate, has the capacity for manufacturing 3,000 feet of lumber and 6,000 shingles per day, in addition to a large amount of cider in its season.
W. B. Skeele's marble works, located at Highgate Center, employs three men in the manufacture of all kinds of marble work.
The first proprietors' meeting of which there is any record to be found, was forty-one years from the date of the grant, in 1804, at the dwelling of John Saxe, with Matthew Saxe, proprietors' clerk, and Shadrack Hathaway, moderator. After repeated adjournments from time to time, without accomplishing any important business, April 12, 1805, a committee of three were appointed to lay out, survey, and return a plan of the lots of 103 acres each, to each original share, in due form of law. Matthew Saxe, Levi Henderson and John Johnson were appointed that committee, and made their report at a subsequent meeting, having accomplished the business assigned them. Their charge for the survey of the first, second, and third divisions was $485.75, which was allowed by vote of the proprietors, no one opposing. A vote was also taken at this meeting to quiet the claims of the actual settlers. But few other pro- prietors' meetings were held, when the record ceases.
The first settlement of the town was commenced in 1786-'87, mostly by Dutch refugees who supposed they were settling in Canada, believing so until the establishment of the line between Canada and the United States. In 1786, Joseph Reycard settled on the Canada line, John Hilliker on the Mis- sisquoi river, and Jeremiah Brewster and Thomas Butterfield on the west side of Rock river, near the lake shore. In 1787, they were joined by Conrad Barr, John Saxe, John Stinehour, John Sheltee, John Wilson, John Hogle, Michael and Peter Lampman, and Peter Wagoner. These were joined by others from
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
time to time, so that in 1791, the town had a population of 103, which, nine years later, in 1800, had increased to 437. In 1805, the town was regularly surveyed, and from that time up to 1820, made rapid strides in population, wealth and improvement. Previous to 1805, the settlements were mainly in the northwestern part of the town, where the town meetings were mostly held up to 1820, when a town meeting was called "at the school-house near Arwin P. Herrick's at Allen's Falls." The central village growing up around this beautiful waterfall was just beginning to have its influence in town, and from this date the town clerk's office was mostly at the Falls. The town was organized and the first town meeting held, March 31, 1791, when John Wagoner was chosen moderator ; Jonathan Butterfield, town clerk ; Isaac Aseltine and Minard Teachout, constables; John Wagoner, Michael Lamp- man and John Hilliker, selectmen ; and Jacob Hilliker and Peter Lampman, fence viewers.
The first children born in the town were Henry Stinehour, Abram Rey- card, and Catharine Sheltree, in 1787. The first grist-mill was built by John Saxe, in the northwestern part of the town, in 1787. The first death was that of Catharine, wife of John Saxe, in 1791. The first school was also established during this year, in a house on Conrad Barr's farm; Thomas Thorp, from Baltimore, Md., taught in 1792-'93. Andrew Potter built the first saw-mill in 1797, at Highgate Falls, and a grist-mill soon after. Conrad Barr, and W. Moulte built the first framed barns and Matthew Godfrey and Peter Saxe kept the first store, in 1801. The first framed houses were built in 1802, by Elijah Rood, on the Missisquoi river, - Newcomb, at Highgate Springs, and Conrad Barr, near Saxe's mills. The first physician was Dr. Joseph B. Cutler, who located here in 1806, and lived in the town until his death, in 1861. The first furnace was built by Abel Drury, in 1807. Thomas Best built the first brick house, in 1811. Jonathan London was the first tanner. Nehemiah Sabin and John Clough were the first blacksmiths. The first mar- riage on record was that of Isaac and Sally Aseltine, January 14, 1800, by Sylvester Cobb, justice of the peace. On March 19, of the same year, An- drew Wilson and Rachel Wilson were married by Matthew Saxe, justice of the peace. The first representative was John Knickerbocker, in 1792.
A militia company was early established in the town, over which the follow- ing named were respectively appointed as captain : Timothy Winter, Jacob Croy, Conrad Saxe, Luther Meigs, Lumas Meigs, Franklin Hollenbeck, Wil- liam Hilliker, Jerahmill Cumins, Jacob McGowen, Elisha Barr, J. S. Jenison, Hannibal Sheltus, and Harvey Hyde, and Lorenzo G. Pomeroy, brigadier-gen- eral. During the war of 1812, Conrad Saxe was captain of the second com- pany of the first regiment, and first brigade of detached militia. This second company was raised from the towns of Highgate, Swanton, St. Albans, Georgia, Milton, and Westford. The number from Highgate was eleven, as follows: Chester Miller, David Stickney, Samuel Hubbell, Moses Martindale, David Herrick, Nathaniel Johnson, John Carmon, Henry Chappell, David Moore,
-
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
David Sagar, and Peter Brewer. This company were detached for six to nine months and served out their time at Swanton Falls in 1812. The commissioned officers of the company were Capt. Conrad Saxe, Lieut. Heman Hoyt, and Ensign Heman Blanchard. Capt. Saxe, at the time of the battle of Platts- burgh, raised a company of volunteers, principally from Highgate, and started for the battle-ground, but failed to get a passage from Grand Isle until after the battle was over. 'The quiet of the town has also been disturbed at several times by skirmishes with smugglers, and by troubles in Canada, but nothing to amount to anything. During the last great war, Highgate promptly and cheerfully furnished six commissioned officers and 187 enlisted men, thirty- two of whom were killed or died from wounds, or diseases contracted in the service.
John Saxe was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1733. He married Catharine Weaver, of Rhinebeck, N. Y., and settled in Highgate in 1787, where he raised a family of eight sons and one daughter. He built the first grist-mill, on a small stream since called Saxe's brook. It is said he intended to build it on the river, but there were not men enough in the county to dam the stream. The mill-stones were dressed from rough stones found in the vicinity. His sons, Matthew, Peter, and Jacob, opened a store near the mill, where they did a successful business for many years. A small settlement soon grew up about the locality, which received the name of Saxe's Mills, and here the first postoffice was established. Here, also, was born Charles J. Saxe, John G. Saxe, the poet, now residing at Albany, N. Y., Peter, Jr., now of San Francisco, Cal., and James Saxe, of St. Albans. John Saxe, the founder of the family, died in 1808, aged seventy-five years.
George Stinehour came to Highgate in 1787, and made a clearing in the northern part of the town. His family consisted of eight sons and eight daughters. His sixth child, Henry, learned the tanner's trade, at St. Albans, and then went into business at Swanton, where he remained about fifteen years, then returned to Highgate, and carried on a tannery here until 1833. He then gave up that business and carried on the hotel at Highgate for five years, then established the Stinehour Hotel at Highgate Center, which is now occupied by two of his daughters. His family consisted of one son and three daughters, all now residents of the town, where their father and grandfather labored and died. George, Jr., the second son, was born in 1778, and con- sequently was but nine years old when his father came to this town. He resided on the farm now owned by his son, George N., until his death, in 1855, leaving a family of four children, George N., who occupies the old hone- stead, was born in 1812.
Conrad Barr came to Highgate in 1787, and, after a long, uninterrupted residence here, died at the age of ninety-two years. John Barr, his eldest son, was born at Albany, N. Y., in 1784. In the course of his long life here he filled most of the town offices of trust. He married Parmelia Drury, in October, 1815, by whom he had a family of seven sons and four daughters,
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
I37
and died in October, 1869, aged eighty-nine years. Conrad Barr, Jr., the youngest son of Conrad, is now living with his wife in the northern part of the town. He married Sarah Carman in 1825, with whom he has passed a happy wedded life of fifty-seven years, and has nine children now living. Myron E., the youngest son, with whom the aged couple find a home, resides on road 22.
John Stimets, from .Frankfort, Germany, came to Highgate in 1787. His two sons, John and Jacob, were born about 1800, and early in life located near each other in the northern part of the town, where they lived throughout their lives.
Both John, Jr., and his wife died during the same month, in the fall of 1880. Jacob died in 1852, leaving a family of five sons and four daughters. His wife died in 1876. Charles C., the youngest of the family, owns the homestead, a farm of about 300 acres, but is himself occupied as the princi- pal of the Hasbrouck Institute, Jersey City, N. J.
John Johnson, from Manchester, Vt., came to Highgate in 1789, and took up a farm of 400 acres on the northern line of the town, where he resided until his death, in 1850, aged ninety-six years. His family consisted of six sons and three daughters. John, the eighth child, was born in 1804, and has lived on the place he now occupies, since 1827. John Truman, the third born, is manager of the farm on road 26.
Thomas Best, from Hoosic, N. Y., came to this town in 1790, and located upon the farm now owned by his son, Hiram Best. Mr. Best's only property, when he came here on foot through the forest, consisted of an axe and bundle of clothes tied up in a pocket handkerchief ; his energy and perseverance, how- · ever, soon placed him in possession of a fine farm. He was a local Methodist preacher for many years, exerting a marked influence, though his education was self-acquired, his only time spent in school being a three months term. His family consisted of four sons and four daughters. The youngest children, Hiram and Truman, were twins, born in 1814. Hiram, who occupies the homestead, married Elizabeth Barr, in 1837.
Daniel Herrick, from Middletown, came to Highgate in 1790, and made a settlement in the northern part of the town, where he resided until his death, in 1860, leaving a family of two sons and seven daughters. Luther D., the eleventh child, was born in 1818, on the old homestead, and resided there until 1843, when he removed to road 21, and now resides in Highgate village. He has one son, Edson D., and one daughter, Lucy A., the wife of A. W. Teachout.
Solomon Percy, from Hoosic, N. Y., came to Highgate, in 1790, and located in the western part of the town upon the farm now owned by his son, John, where he died in 1835, aged sixty-two years, leaving a family of two sons and four daughters. John, the eldest son, was born in 1801, and has resided on the homestead for eighty years, being now the oldest native resident of the town.
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
James Hogaboom emigrated to this country from Germany at an early date, locating in Hudson, N. Y., and thence removed to this town in 1792, and located upon the farm now owned by Thomas Cray. William, the fourth son, was born at Hudson, in 1787, making him five years of age when his parents came to this town. James, . Jr., born in 1785, located on road 41, where he resided over forty years.
Minard Teachout came to Highgate about 1794, and settled in the western part of the town, where he engaged in his trade of shoemaking, and also conducted a farm. William Teachout, the fifth of thirteen children, was born in 1804, married Hannah Boyce in 1829, and in 1836, removed to the farm now owned by his son, Albert W., where he died, in 1847, aged seventy- six years.
Dr. Joseph B. Cutler was an early settler in the northern part of the town, he having come here from Plainfield, N. H. He resided upon the farm now owned by his son, Allen B., and practiced his profession until his death, in 1861. Allen B., the youngest of nine children, was born in 1827, and is now the only representative of that branch of the family living in Highgate. Jesse Cutler, from Plainfield, N. H., came here in 1812, and located a water- power, then returned to New Hampshire and selected a wife, and located at East Highgate in 1814. Here he carried on the clothier's business until 1835, when he removed to the farm now owned by his son, Horace L.
John Chapple, from Duchess Co., N. Y., settled in Highgate at an early date, supposing he was locating in Canada, he, being a Tory, having come expressly to locate on British soil. Jacob C., his grandson, is now a resident of the town, on road 2. He married Nancy Shulters, and has had a family of twelve children, six of whom are now living.
Mynot Montle, a German, located in this town at an early date, supposing he was locating in Canada. He settled on road 3, where Francis C. Deal now resides, and remained there until his death in 1812. Peter, his son, came with him, and later on in life located upon the farm now owned by Allen Shelters, on road 36, and finally removed to Chazy, N. Y., where be died, in 1845. His daughter, Mary, became the wife of Walter C. Stevens, who died March 10, 1875, aged seventy-five years. Sanford S., son of Walter C., now resides on road 3.
John Seward located in Swanton, from Monkton, Vt., in 1800, and from there came to Highgate in 1812. His eldest son, Daniel, born in 1804, has lived in this town since 1813, and has a family of four sons and two daugh. ters. He was in the employ of S. S. & S. W. Keyes for over twenty years, and now, at the age of seventy-eight years, is engaged in farming. Alonzo, his third son, born in 1813, has resided here all his life. He now lives with his son, Alonzo D., on road 22.
Richard Jewett, born at Greenbush, N. Y., in 1775, came to Highgate about the year 1800, and married Eve Carmon, by whom he had a family of twelve children. Abram, the second child, was born in 1803, on the place
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TOWN OF HIGHGATE.
now occupied by L. D. Cross, and now resides with his son, John, on road 37, where four generations of the same family occupy one house.
Abram Carmon, from Rhinebeck, N. Y., came to Highgate about the year 1800, and located upon one hundred acres of land which he had purchased of Heman Allen. He reared a family of ten children and died at an ad- vanced age. John, the second child, was born in 1788, died here in 1870, having had a family of nine children, of whom the youngest, Peter, is now one of the oldest residents of the town. Jacob Carmon, son of Abram, was born here January 1, 1800, on the farm now owned by his son, Sanford U. He reared a family of ten children, four of whom are now living, and died in 1870.
William Hefflon, from Rhode Island, located in the northern part of the town in 1800. His son, Sessions L., who was then two years of age, learned the millwright's trade in his youth, which he followed for many years. Frank- lin, his oldest child, was born in 1824, and has always resided in this town. He was married in 1853, to Mary, daughter of John Stimets, and has a family of five sons and one daughter. Martin, the second son of Sessions L., born in 1826, married Milly Manley in 1850, and has one son, Truman W.
Edward C. Haskins came to this town, from Middletown, Vt., in 1806, and located upon the farm now owned by his son, Edward, where he remained until his death, a period of nearly fifty years. His oldest child, Alvin, born in 1808, now resides on road 24.
David Skeels, from Lanesboro, Mass., came to this town at an early date, with his family, which consisted of three sons, David, Jr., Amos and William, and six daughters. William, the youngest son, located on the farm now owned by his son Hiram. He had a family of three sons and one daughter, all of whom are now living. The oldest son, Hiram, was born in 1830, and has resided nearly his whole life on the old homestead. He was a member of the general assembly in 1876, inspector of customs in 1868-'69-'70, and deputy collector of customs in 1870-'71-'72. He has one son, Charles F.
.
Stephen S. and Samuel Keyes came into the town in 1819, having pur- chased the entire water-privilege and 3,000 acres of land of Heman Allen and Cornelius VanNess. They engaged in the manufacture of luniber, having several saw-mills in operation, and at one time two grist-mills. Stephen S. had two sons and three daughters, the eldest of whom, William, was born in 1831, studied law in Plattsburgh, N. Y., graduated at Middlebury college, and is now practicing law here.
Leonard Cummings, from Windsor, Vt., came to Swanton in 1810. Jerry and Ormill, his two sons, from there came to this town in 1819, and engaged in their trade of blacksmithing, making the iron work for the present bridge. Ormill died in 1830. Jerry married Hannah Root, and reared a family of eight children, six of whom are now living.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Highgate Center, was organized by Thomas Best and E. C. Haskins, in 1822. Rev. P. Kingsley was the first
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TOWN OF MONTGOMERY.
pastor. During the year of its organization, the society built a church, which did service until 1868, when the present commodious brick structure took its place, erected at a cost of nearly $10,000.00. The society now has 100 members, with Rev. T. Trevillian, pastor, and owns property to the amount of $12,000.00.
The Congregational Church of Highgate .- The first Congregational church was organized in a school-house, in the northwestern part of the town, October 28, 1811, Rev. Benjamin Wooster, officiating. The commodious church at the Center was erected in 1846. The society has now about fifty members.
St. John's Episcopal Church, located at Highgate village, was organized July 17, 1832, and the church building, which will seat 250 persons, was erected during the following year, at a cost of $3,000.00. It was consecrated to the worship of God in accordance with the doctrines and usages of the Protestant Episcopal church, by the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hopkins, D. D. LL. D., May 21, 1833. The society now has forty-seven members. The rectors, with the years in which they respectively began their rectorships, have been as follows : Rev. Anson B. Hard, 1832 ; Rev. Samuel R. Crane, 1835 ; Rev. John T. Sabine, 1837 ; Rev. Charles Fay, 1838 ; Rev. William F. Hal- sey, 1842 ; Rev. John H. Fitch, 1844; Rev. Calvin R. Batchelder, 1847; Rev. Robert W. Lewis, 1861 ; Rev. Edward Winthrop, 1862; Rev. John B. Pitman, 1867 ; and Rev. Josiah Swett, D. D., the present rector, 1872.
A MONTGOMERY is a mountainous town lying in the extreme eastern
€49 part of the county, in lat. 44º 52', and long. 4° 23', bounded north by Richford, east by Westfield and Lowell, in Orleans county, south by Avery's Gore and a small portion of Eden and Belvidere, in Lamoille county, and west by Enosburgh and Avery's Gore. It originally contained an area of 23,040 acres, or a square whose sides were each six miles in length, and was granted by the State, March 13, 1780, to Stephen R. Bradley, Rev. Ezra Stiles, John Graham, and others to the number of sixty-four, though it did not receive its charter until October 8, 1789. Its area was changed, however, in 1859, by having annexed to it a tract of about 7,000 acres from Avery's Gore and Lowell.
The surface of Montgomery is wild and rugged in most parts, though it has some fine broad intervales along the several streams. The mountains do not rise to any considerable height except in the northeastern part of the town, where Jay Peak, lying partly in Jay and Westfield, pierces the clouds at an altitude of 4,018 feet, being the next in altitude to Camel's Hump. Notwithstanding the approach to the mountain is inconvenient and its ascent extremely difficult, many people visit its summit each season to obtain a glimpse of the magnificent view it affords. It does not give so grand a pros- pect of the Champlain valley as may be obtained from Camel's Hump, yet the observer is compensated for this deprivation in the more extended views
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TOWN OF MONTGOMERY.
afforded in the valleys of the St. Lawrence, Ottawa, and Lake Memphremagog. To the northwest lies the level and fertile country surrounding Montreal, con- trasting beautifully with the wild and rugged scenery to the north and north- cast, where are thickly-studded mountain peaks, prominent among which are Sutton and Orford mountains, Sugar Loaf, and Owl's Head. While between the beholder and Sutton Mountain, in Canada, is the deep valley of the Miss- isquoi, which, like the Winooski and Lamoille, winds its way through a valley about 3,500 feet below the summits of the mountains on either side. Nearer its base may be seen the beautiful villages of Montgomery, Richford, Berk- shire, and those of other thriving towns. The soil of Montgomery varies, as is the case with that of all highland towns. The valleys and intervales are rich and productive, while the mountains and hill-slopes afford pasturage for herds and flocks, making the town, therefore, valuable both as a farming and grazing territory. The town is well watered by numerous streams, yet the only one that flows from the town is Trout river, which is formed by the union of South and East branches, about half a mile west of the center of the town, and thence flows a northwesterly course into Enosburgh. It forms the river basin of the town, as all the other streams are tributary to it. Many excellent mill-sites are afforded, several of which are in use. The principal rock enter- ing into the geological formation of the town is talcose schist. This is cut, in the western part, by a long, narrow ledge of clay slate, extending the whole length of the town. In the eastern part of the territory is a large bed of gneiss, extending from Avery's Gore through into Richford. In the southern part of the town there is a considerable deposit of serpentine. No minerals of any value have been discovered.
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