USA > Vermont > Franklin County > Gazetteer and business directory of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vt., for 1882-83 > Part 2
USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > Gazetteer and business directory of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vt., for 1882-83 > Part 2
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County Clerk.
R. R. Hathaway North Hero
State's Attorney.
Josiah H. Adams Grand Isle
Sheriff.
Henry W. Conro
South Hero
,
Iligh Bailiff.
Ichabod E. Niles
Alburgh Springs
Treasurer.
H. W. Allen North Hero
State Senator.
J. A. Chamberlin
Grand Isle
Justices of the Peace.
Alburgh .- George Lyman, John Earle, P. M. Saber, P. A. LaDue, J. E. Niles, and C. W. Bell.
Grand Isle .- Marcus O. Kinney, Melvin B. Corey, Stepen P. Gordon, Ed- ward Gordon, and Wyman C. Hodgkins.
Isle LaMotte .- Seneca H. Pike, Harry J. Fleury, James D. Stevens, Henry H. Goodsell, and Jackson B. Carron.
North Hero .- Charles B. Russell, E. J. Mason, D. B. Town, U. H. Hazen, and Warren Clark.
South Hero .- Abel Phelps, Gilbert Allen, G. S. Clark, H. C. Martin, and George B. Keeler.
Representatives.
POSTOFFICE.
Alburgh, Henry L. Sowles. Alburgh Grand Isle, George W. Hyde. Grand Isle Isle LaMotte, Nelson W. Fisk Isle LaMotte North Hero, Warren Clark, North Hero South Hero, D. G. Dixon South Hero
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COUNTY OFFICERS-COURTS.
Town Clerks.
Alburgh, William Brayton . Grand Isle, A. H. W. Jackson ; Isle La Motte, Ransom Hall ; North Hero, Charles B. Russell ; South Hero, Marian Landon.
COURTS. IN GRAND ISLE COUNTY. At Court House, North Hero.
Supreme Court. Third Tuesday in January. County Court. Last Tuesday in August, and last but one in February.
(For Rates of Postage, Mail Routes, Societies, &c., see page 257.)
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GAZETTEER
-OF-
FRANKLIN COUNTY, VT.
O State in the Union, probably, equals Vermont in scenic beauty, and none can approach it in point of historical interest. Nearly every mountain, river, and lake, throughout its entire length and breadth, has clustered about its name a wealth of historical lore, over which the muse of history loves to linger-traditions that have inspired the pen of the poet, novelist, and historian, to works of rare grace and beauty. Vermont's sons, too, from the first who broke the solitude of her forests, and through a double revolution brought into existence the sovereign and independent State, have carved for themselves a name in the annals of fame that shall be as lasting as the hills for whose possession they fought. It is our purpose in this volume, not to give a full and detailed history of the whole, nor even a part of this beautiful country, but to place on record, in a continuous form, the principal events connected with the history of two of its fourteen counties-Franklin and Grand Isle; to trace in outline the lives of a few of those hardy ones who braved the vicissitudes of pioneer life that their posterity, the present and future generations, might enjoy the fruits of their toil; to trace the erection of each one of the townships therein, to enquire into the proceedings of their first inhabitants, to hand down to future generations the names and occupations of all their present residents, and to attempt to portray the beauties which nature has lavished so bountifully upon them. To accomplish this task it becomes necessary to first glance at the history of the State in general, to enquire into the causes that brought it into existence, and to briefly notice its progress from the first settlement of its territory by civilized people to the time of its admission as a member of the Federal Union.
Our country, unlike most nations, has a complete history. The organiza- tion of the government and the commencement of her progress bear date from a definite period, and are not shrouded in mythological darkness or the mists of tradition. It is now a little less than four centuries since the world 2
ИКТТИ СЕ
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
was startled by the discoveries of Columbus, and during that time the vast wilderness has been transformed into one of the proudest nations on the globe. Subsequent to the discoveries of Columbus came those of the English, in 1497, followed, during the same same year, by the Portuguese, then by the Spanish, in 1506, and finally by the French, in 1524. The English, on the ground of the discoveries of the Cabots, claimed the territory from Labrador to Florida, to which they gave the name Virginia. But their explorations were confined principally to the coast between Maine and Albe- marle Sound. The French confined their explorations principally to the country north of this, bordering on the St. Lawrence river and its tributaries, to which they gave the name of New France, while the Dutch, by virtue of the discoveries by Hudson, afterwards laid claim to the country between Cape Cod and the Delaware river, which they called New Netherlands.
France and England, long enemies in the Old World, transplanted their rivalries and jealousies to the New Continent, and years of warfare between these great powers followed. Attempts at colonization were made by Eng- land during the reign of Elizabeth, but they proved abortive, and it was not until the Tudor dynasty had passed away, and several years of the reign of James I., the first of the Stuarts, had elapsed, before the Anglo-Saxon gained any permanent foothold. Stimulated by the spirit of rivalry with the French, England pushed her explorations and discoveries, while France, from her first colony on the St. Lawrence, had explored the vast region from the great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and established among the savages missions and trading posts, first in the forests of Canada, then in the West, and finally in New York, and the territory included within the present limits of Vermont. The first of the hostilities, which are now known as the French wars, began with William's accession to the throne of England, in 1609. This was terminated in the peace of Ryswic, in 1697. Queen Anne's war, so called, came next, commencing in 1702, and terminating in the peace of Utrecht, in 1713. The third controversy was declared by George II., in 1744, and continued until the preliminaries of peace were signed, at Aix-la- Chapelle, in 1748. The last conflict was formally declared by Great Britain, in 1756, and terminated by the capture of Montreal, in September, 1760, when the whole of New France was surrendered to Great Britain.
During the progress of these wars, the territory of the present State of Vermont was often crossed by both armies, and a few settlements sprang up, the first, in 1665, being on Isle La Motte, where a fort was erected by Captain De La Motte, under command of M. De Tracy, governor of New France. In 1690, Captain De Narm, with a party from Albany, N. Y., established an outpost in the present town of Addison, at Chimney Point, where he erected a small stone fort. The first permanent settlement, however, was made at Brattleboro, in 1724, when Fort Dummer was built. For six or seven years the garrison of this fort were the only white inhabitants. In 1730 or 1731, the French built a fort at Chimney Point, and a consider-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
able population settled in the vicinity. In 1739, a few persons settled in Westminster, and about the same time a small French settlement was begun at Alburgh, on what is now called Windmill Point, but was soon abandoned. The colony at Westminster increased but slowly, and in 1754, the whole population, alarmed by the Indian attack upon Charlestown, N. H., deserted their homes. Forts were built, and small settlements were commenced in several other places, but fear of the Indians prevented any large emigration till after the last French war, when, the Province of Canada being then ceded to Great Britain, the fear of hostile incursions subsided, and the population rapidly increased.
In the meantime, grants of land lying within the present limits of the State, had been made by the Dutch, at Albany, by the French, and by the colonies of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York, and each claimed juris- diction over tbem. All of these claims, except that of New York, however, were relinquished without much controversy, of which more will be spoken on another page. So eagerly were the lands sought by adventurers, speculators, and settlers, that in a single year subsequent to 1760, Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, granted in the name of King George III., not less than sixty townships of six miles square, and in two years more the number of such grants amounted to 138. The territory now began to be known by the name of "The New Hampshire Grants," and the number of actual settlers soon became quite large. The affairs of the settlers were managed by committees in the several towns, who met in general convention, when occasion required, to provide for the common defence and welfare. The decrees of these con- ventions were regarded as law, and violations of them were punished with ex- treme severity. While the Revolutionary war was in progress, the land con- troversy was suspended, and all efforts were directed towards the common enemy. But soon after the war broke out, it became apparent that the set- tlers of the New Hampshire Grants needed some better organization than was possible by means of committees and conventions. Early in 1776, a con- vention was held at Dorset, and an address to Congress was prepared, declar- ing the unwillingness of settlers to be regarded as subjects of New York. This was not favorably received by congress, whereupon the more resolute of the people determined to assume the powers of an independent State, and risk the consequences. Another convention was held at Dorset, in June, and met again by adjournment in September, when such measures were taken that at a convention held in Westminster it was decided, on the 16th of January, 1777, that the following declaration should be adopted :- .
" This convention, whose members are duly chosen by the free voice of their constituents in the several towns, on the New Hampshire Grants, in public meeting assembled, in our own names, and in behalf of our constituents, do hereby proclaim and publicly declare, that the district of territory compre- hending and usually known by the name and discription of the New Hamp- shire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared forever hereafter to be considered, as a free and independent jurisdiction or State, by the name and forever hereafter to be called, known, and distinguished by the name of
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
New Connecticut, alias Vermont: and that the inhabitants that at present are, or may hereafter become resident, either by procreation or emigration, within said territory, shall be entitled to the same privileges, immunities, and enfranchisements, as are allowed; and on such condition, and in the same manner, as the present inhabitants, in future, shall or may enjoy ; which are, and forever shall be considered to be such privileges and immunities to the free citizens and denizens, as are, or, at any time hereafter, may be allowed, to any such inhabitants, of any of the free and independent States of Amer- ica: And that such privileges and immunities shall be regulated in a bill of right sand by a form of government, to be established at the next adjourned session of this convention."
The controversy between Vermont and New York had encouraged the British to make some concessions towards the former, hoping to retain their allegiance ; and it is well known that many of the settlers remained inactive during the latter part of the war, on account of these negotiations. It was openly avowed that any alternative would be preferable to the detested juris- diction of New York. Still Vermont persisted in the right to maintain her own laws, and as persistently did New York and New Hampshire maintain the right of jurisdiction. Congress was not yet willing to admit Vermont as a. State, and she, disgusted with these delays, at length lost respect for the continental congress, pursuing her independence, and asking no favors; en- joying no benefits of the Union, and sharing none of her burdens. But upon application, Vermont was admitted to the Union during the second session of congress, March 4, 1791, with the full rights and privileges of an indepen- dent State. Such is a brief outline of the history of the Green Mountain State, a territory that has rightly been called the "classic ground of America."
Franklin county, as now constituted, once formed a part of the original counties of Albany, Charlotte, Bennington, Rutland, Addison, and Chittenden. The old Dutch county of Albany, with Albany, N. Y., as its capitol, extended north to the Province line. During the controversy between New York and the New Hampshire grantees, numerous writs of ejectment, executions, and other legal processes were issued out of, and made returnable to the courts at Albany, and were served, or at least were attempted to be served, by the sheriff's of that place. On March 12, 1772, New York, in order "that offenders may be brought to justice, and creditors may recover their just dues," proceeded to set off from Albany and erect a new county, called Char- lotte, on the western side of the mountains. Skenesboro, now Whitehall, was made the shire town, and Philip Skene appointed chief judge of the court of common pleas. After the organization of the State, however, on February of 1I, 1779, Vermont was divided into two counties, the Green Mountains form- ing the dividing line, the portion on the east being called Cumberland, and that on the west Bennington county. Each county was divided into two shires, that on the east into Westminster and Newbury, and Bennington and Rutland on the west. This division of counties remained till the extra session of the legislature, in February, 1781, when the county of Rutland was incorporated from Bennington, and Windsor and Orange counties were incor-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
porated from Cumberland, and the name of Cumberland altered to Windham. Rutland county in turn extended through to the northern line of the State, for a period of four years, eight months and five days, during which time courts were held at Tinmouth. The State, then, on October 18, 1785, dismembered the old county, incorporating from it a new one, called Addison, and made the towns of Addison and Colchester half shires. Chittenden county was then in turn set off from Addison, October 22, 1787, and November 5, 1792, Franklin county was incorporated, the limits being fixed as follows :--
" Beginning at the northwest corner of Chittenden county, thence easterly on the northerly line of Chittenden county to the southeast corner of Sterling ; from thence northerly on the easterly line of the towns of Sterling, Johnson, Belvidere, Avery's Gore, Montgomery, and Richford, to the north line of the State ; from thence westerly on the line of the State to the west line thereof ; from thence southerly on the west line of the State, to place of beginning."
In November, 1802, the general assembly passed an act by which the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte and North Hero, in the county of Franklin, and the towns of South Hero and Middle Hero, in the county of Chittenden, together with all such lands as lie in the State, near the above mentioned towns, and more than a mile from the main land in the counties of Chittenden and Franklin, were constituted into a county by the name of Grand Isle. In Oc- tober, 1835, Franklin county was again circumscribed in its limits by taking from it the towns of Belvidere, Cambridge, Johnson, and Sterling, towards forming the county of Lamoille, other than which no changes have been made in its limits.
Franklin county lies between lat. 44° 31' and 45° o', and between longi- tude 3º 47' and 4° 27', extending about thirty-four miles from east to west, and about thirty-three miles from north to south, containing an area of 600 square miles, and has a population of 30,114. It comprises within its limits the towns of Bakersfield, Berkshire, Enosburgh, Fairfax, Fairfield, Fletcher, Franklin, Georgia, Highgate, Montgomery, Richford, Sheldon, St. Albans, Swanton, and Avery's Gore, and is bounded on the north by the Province line, east by the counties of Orleans and Lamoille, south by Chittenden and Lamoille, and west by Grand Isle county, from which it is separated by a por- tion of the waters of Lake Champlain.
In surface it is varied enough to form a most pleasing landscape, yet con- tains little waste land in mountains, lakes and rivers. The eastern part of the territory is broken and rocky, extending up upon the westernrange of the . Green Mountains, while the western portion is comparatively level, and con- tains some of the finest farming lands to be found in the State. Manufactures are carried on to some extent, yet agricultural pursuits form the principal occu- pation of the inhabitants. The county is especially noted for its fine herds and flocks of cattle, horses and sheep, and for its large production of butter and cheese. Indeed, the whole county, possessing wonderfully pleasing scenery in itself, and sunounded by the most wonderful beauties of nature, and containing natural advantages and facilities for water and railroad trans-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
portation, is all in all a most desirable home for both the manufacturer and the farmer. Numerous streams of minor importance are distributed over its surface, affording ample irrigation to the soil, but the Missisquoi and Lamoille rivers are the largest streams, and form the principal water courses of the territory.
The Missisquoi river was named by the Indians, and said to mean "much water-fowl." It rises in Lowell, Orleans county, and, pursuing a northeasterly course through a part of Westfield and Troy, crosses the northern line of the State into Canada, where it receives a large stream from the northeast. After running several miles in Canada, it returns into Vermont about a mile west from the northeast corner of Richford. Thence it runs southwesterly through the corner of Berkshire, where it receives Trout river, into Enos- burgh. It then takes a westerly course through Sheldon, into Highgate, where it bends to the south into Swanton, and, after performing a circuit of several miles in that town, forms the boundary line between it and Highgate, and, flowing northwesterly, falls into Missisquoi bay near the Canada line. There are several falls and rapids in the stream, but the current is generally moderate and the river wide and shallow. It affords a considerable number of valuable sites for mills, while its valley is very fertile and productive. Its whole length, including its windings, is about seventy-five miles, and it receives the water from about 582 square miles of territory.
The Lamoille river is somewhat smaller than the Missisquoi. It rises in Greensboro, Orleans county, from the union of several small streams, flows southwest to Hardwick, when it turns northwesterly, passes through the center of Lamoille county, entering Franklin county in the southern part of Fletcher, crosses Fairfax and a portion of Georgia, and thence turns south into Milton, where it empties into Lake Champlain. It was discovered by Champlain, in 1609, and called by him La Mouette, the French for mew, or gull, a species of water-fowl, which were very numerous about the mouth of the stream. In Anger's map of his surveys, in 1732, it is called La Riviere a La Mouelle, probably a mistake on the part of the engraver in not crossing his ť's. "Thus," says Mr. Thompson, "to the mere carelessness of a French engraver are we indebted for the smooth, melodious sounding name of Lamoille."
Several inland lakes, or ponds, are scattered over the surface of the county, of which Franklin pond, in Franklin, is the largest. The others are Fairfield pond, in Fairfield, Proper and Cutler's ponds in Highgate, and Met- calf and Halfmoon ponds, in Fletcher.
GEOLOGICAL.
The geological formation of this county does not materially differ, in gen- eral structure, from that of most of the other counties of the State. Its rocks are distributed, like those of the others, in parallel ledges, or ranges,
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
extending nearly in a north and south direction. Passing eastward from the shore of the lake, one finds an immense bed of Hudson River states, extend- ing through the western portion of St. Albans, Swanton and Highgate, whence it extends into Canada. Lithologically, it consists of deposits of pure and impure limestone, clay slate, calcareous slate, interstratified with small beds of limestone, often sparry, silicious slate, sandstones, brecciated limestone, and slate filled with veins of calcite, etc. The group is 930 feet in thickness, and is the highest member of the lower silurian rocks.
'The lake shore of the southern part of the country overlies a great vein of red sandrock, a continuation of the range in Chittenden county. It has a mean width of about three miles, and extends through the towns of Georgia, St. Albans, Swanton and Highgate. Stratigaphically considered, this bed oc- cupies the position of the Medina group, of New York, or its equivalent, the Levant series of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The sandstones and shales bear a close resemblance to those of the latter, not in color, but in the profusion of fucoid-like markings which they display on some of the parting surfaces. The series of reddish and gray limestones which rest upon these massive aren- aceous beds form an interesting feature in the geology of Vermont. Their altercation with layers of sandstone and shale, and their frequently reddish tint, would lead one to regard them as a continuation of the lower mass under somewhat new formative conditions. The whole formation, however, embraces a great variety of rocks, and there is some difficulty experienced in associating them together, because of the general absence of fossils.
Between these two formations there is a narrow bed of Hudson river lime- stone, extending from the head of St. Albans bay to the Canada line, which contains much valuable building material, and an abundant supply for the manufacture of lime. This deposit is also cut by a small bed of Trenton limestone, which extends into Highgate from Canada. The former de- posit has been worked to some extent, especially in Swanton, as a variety of marble.
Parallel with and adjacent to the red sandrock range, there is a bed of Georgia slates, sonre five miles in width and extending through the towns of Georgia, St. Albans, Swanton, Highgate and Franklin. The group of rocks forming this structure receives its name from the town of Georgia, where it is developed in its full proportions, and where the most interesting fossils have been found. In Rutland county the slate is manufactured quite extensively for roofing purposes and for various articles of furniture; but in this county no quarries have been opened.
Next in order is found a vein of quarts rock, extending from Chittenden county through portions of the towns of Georgia, Fairfax, Fairfield, St. Albans, Swanton, Sheldon, Highgate and Franklin, and adjacent to which is a large bed of talcose conglomerate extending the whole length of the county. This latter rock, according to Professor Adams, in his report of 1845, was called magnesian slate; but later its present name was considered more ap-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
propriate, and consequently adopted. The vein is a purely conglomerate species, having associated together in its formation the following varieties of rock : sandstones, breccias, quartz rock, calcareous rocks, novaculite schist, talcose schist, and coarse conglomerates. The sandstones are few, while the quartz variety is quite abundant. No estimate of the thickness of the rock has been made, but it is known to be 2,000 or 3,000 feet thick at the least calculation.
The rocks underlying the residue of the county are of talcose schist forma- tion. Talcose schist proper consists of quartz and talc; but with this bed there are associated together, as integral parts of the formation, clay slate, with plumbaginous, aluminous, and pyritiferous varieties, hornblend schist, gneiss, quartz rock, sandstone and conglomerates, limestone and almites. Two quite extensive beds of pure gneiss and clay slate are found in the vein also. Iron and copper ores have been discovered in several localities throughout the county, and will be found noted in connection with the several towns wherein the deposits are found.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS.
The whole of the county is an uncommonly fine farming territory, with a soil varying from clay and gravel to the finest alluvial deposits, and well adapted to grazing purposes, and the manufacture of butter and cheese. Considerable attention is given to raising fine bred cattle, horses, and sheep. Several flocks of Spanish Merinos are bred that will compare favorably with any in the State. Some idea of the extent of the products may be formed from the following statistics, taken from the census reports of 1870, though the reports for 1880, when tabulated, will. doubtless show a material change in many of the figures. During that year there were 276,963 acres of im- proved land in the county, while the farms were valued at $16,663,493.00, and produced 49,431 bushels of wheat, 5,857 bushels of rye, 116,826 bushels of Indian corn, 308,587 bushels of oats, 14,275 bushels of barley, 13,793 bushels of buckwheat, and 335, 122 bushels of potatoes. There were also 6,025 horses, 27,624 milch cows, 13,777 working oxen, 20,054 sheep, and 4,564 hogs. From the milk of the cows was manufactured 2,984,520 pounds of butter, and 510,226 pounds of cheese, more than any other county in the State, while the sheep yielded 92, 178 pounds of wool.
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