USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Gazetteer and business directory of Lamoille and Orleans counties, Vt., for 1883-84, pt 1 > Part 22
USA > Vermont > Orleans County > Gazetteer and business directory of Lamoille and Orleans counties, Vt., for 1883-84, pt 1 > Part 22
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
WHEN FIRST SETTLED BY THE WHITES.
The first record we have of a visit of the whites to the territory is that of a portion of Roger's regiment on their return from the reduction of St. Francis village, in 1759. Roger's rangers consisted of a regiment of 300 men sent out by General Amherst from Crown Point. After destroying the Indian village and starting on their return journey, they learned that they were being pursued by a large body of Indians, so their main object became to get back to New England in safety. Accordingly, they divided, a part of them attempting to return by Missisquoi bay, and were overtaken and destroyed. The remainder followed up the St. Francis river and Lake Memphremagog, then up Barton river, and thus on to the Connecticut river. When they arrived here, the provisions of the rangers having already been exhausted and some of their nuniber become so faint from hunger that they had stopped to die, they gladly rested and replenished their stores with the fish that they found in abundance in the stream. Marks made on the trees by these soldiers, it is believed, have been discovered in several towns. A son of one of the rangers, Joel Priest, of Brownington, was a resident of the county after a lapse of more than a century.
In the spring of 1827, a curious relic was found by Mr. Shubael Goodell, in Irasburgh. It was a shirt of mail, rolled together and lying at the foot of a large birch tree, between two considerable roots. It was much corroded and evidently had lain there for a great many years. It is thought to have been left by one of these rangers, though it may have some connection with the Johne Graye manuscript, mentioned on page 21. It was made of steel rings about a quarter of an inch in diameter, locked together after the manner in which wire purses are sometimes made, but much thicker and heavier. The wire of which the rings were made was nearly as large as a knitting needle, and in forming the rings the ends of the wire, instead of being brazed in the usual way, were firmly riveted. The form of the article was that of the body of a shirt, reaching down a little below the hips, with sleeves barely sufficient to protect the shoulders, and a collar covering the whole neck. This collar was of several thicknesses, made, in the manner above described, of brass or gilt wire, while a border of the same wire was formed at the bottom of the garment. The collar was open before, sufficiently for passing the head
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through, but, when on, could be snugly closed and fastened about the neck. It was evidently designed to protect the body of the wearer against arrows, spears, and other weapons. It was purchased soon after it was found, by Lieutenant Wilson, of the U. S. artillery, for the purpose of being deposited in the museum of the National Institute at Washington, D. C.
Early explorations were made by Josiah Elkins, of Peacham, and Lieut. Lyford, both before and after Hazen's road was built. After the road was put through, in 1799, their usual route was to follow it to the head of Black river, and thence to Lake Memphremagog, where they hunted for furs, and traded with the St. Francis Indians, who then frequented the shores of that lake. Lyford also had camps on the shores of Caspain Lake, in Greensboro, the location of some of which, it is said, can be pointed out to the present day. The first actual settlement, however, was commenced in 1778, in the town of Craftsbury, by Col. Ebenezer Crafts, who during that summer opened a road from Cabot, cleared ten or twelve acres of land, built a saw-mill and made some preparations for a grist-mill, though he did not remain through the win- ter. In the spring of 1789, Nathan Cutter and Robert Trumbull moved into the town, and Messrs. Aaron and Ashbel Shepard, with their families, located in Greensboro. Mr. Trumbull, by reason of sickness in his family, spent the ensuing winter in Barnet, and Aaron Shepard returned to Newbury, so the families of Mr. Cutter and Ashbel Shepard constituted the entire pop- ulation during that winter. On the 25th of March, 1790, Mrs. Shepard was delivered of a son, who was named William Scott, the first native born citi- zen of the country.
From this period new settlers came in, new roads were opened, and fruitful fields began to multiply. In 1800, the population was 1,064 ; in 1810, 4,593 ; in 1820, 5,457 ; in 1830, 10,887 ; in 1840, 13,834; in 1850, 15,707 ; in 1860, 18,981, and it now foots up to 22,096. During the decennial period from 1850 to 1860, its increase was not only greater than any other country in the State, but than that of the whole State, and sufficient to offset an ac- tual decrease in other counties which would have deprived the State of one representative in Congress. The first town organized was Craftsbury, March 29, 1793.
The part the county took in the war of 1812, and in the late civil war, has already been spoken of in connection with the Lamoille county history, in- corporating a complete roster of all who worked as officers in the cause of the Union. The rebellion of the French population of Canada against the rule of the Sovereign of England, in 1837-'39, was the cause of considera- ble excitement here also, as it was all along the northern frontier. It amounted to nothing serious, however, and many doubtless regretted that they had expressed so much sympathy for a cause which turned out so disas- trously. For further mention of the subjects thus treated, especially of the early settlements, we refer the reader to the sketches of the various towns, and while he is turning to those pages we will bid adieu to this our hurried sketch of Orleans county.
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 1
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ALBANY.
ALBANY is located in the southern part of the county, in lat. 44° 43', and long. 4° 32', bounded northeasterly by Irasburgh, southeasterly by Glover, southwesterly by Craftsbury, and northwesterly by Lowell, being a tract of land six miles square, set diagonally north and south. The town was originally granted by the State June 27, 1781, to Col. Henry E. Lutterloh, Major Thomas Cogswell, and fifty-nine associates, as follows : Gen. Joseph Badger, Col. Ebenezer Smith, Col. Antipas Gilman, Noah Dow, Charles Clapham, Richard Sinclair, Gen. John Tyler, John Tyler, Jr., James Lord, Nathaniel Coit, Hezekiah Lord, John Mott, Nathan Geer, Joshua Stanton, Abiel Fellows, Andrew Lester, Noah Holcomb, Ruluff Dutcher, Nehemiah Law- rence, Rachel Fellows, Elisha Sheldon, Jr., Elijah Stanton, David Whitney, Correl Merrill, Samuel B. Sheldon, Calvin Ackley, Andrew Carney, Elisha Lee, Timothy O'Brien, Joshua Porter, Jr., Nergalsharezzer Rude, James Jordan, Frank Moore, Arthur Frink, John Wheeler, Jacob Galusha, Samuel Moore, Jr., Ebenezer Fletcher, Jacob Vosburgh, Moses Rinesdale, Ebenezer Reed, Gabriel Dutcher, Isaac White, Andrew Frink, John Park, Samuel Hull, Gideon Smith, Ezra Crane, Jr., James Holmes, John Fellows, Caleb Nichols, James Parks, John Russell, Joshua Fitch, Jr., Isaac Peck, John Caton, Thomas Selleck, and Elias Lord.
The charter was issued June 26, 1782, naming the town in honor of Col. Lutterloh and under the conditions that,-
" Each proprietor of the township, his heirs or assigns, shall plant or culti- vate five acres of land, and build a house at least eighteen feet square on the floor, or have one family settle on each respective right or share of land, within the term of four years from the time the outlines of said township shall be known and established, as the law directs, on penalty of the forfeiture of each respective right or share of land in said township, not so improved or settled, and the same to revert to the freemen of this State, to be by their representatives regranted to such persons as shall appear to settle and culti- vate the same." .
The name of Lutterloh was retained until 1815, when, by petition to the legislature, it was changed to the one it still bears. Much excitement is said
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to have prevailed among the inhabitants at that time, relative to what the new name should be, " Adams" seeming to have been quite popular, in honor of John Q. Adams ; but Albany prevailed and Albany it was re- christened.
The general surface of the town is hilly and uneven, though not mountain- ous, the only elevation approaching the dignity of a mountain being Harvey's mountain, in the northwestern part of the township, which is cut off from the main chain of the Green Mountains by Phelps' brook. The soil is varied and productive, being especially fertile in the valley of Black river. This stream flows through the central part of the town from south to north, having a number of quite considerable tributaries. Lord's creek flows north through the eastern part of the township, having several tributaries. Aside from these are numerous other minor streams found throughout the territory, affording ample irrigation to the soil. There are also several ponds, the principal of which are Great Hosmer, Heartwell, Page, Heart, and Duck ponds. The timber is that indigenous to the towns of northern Vermont, mostly beech, birch, maple, pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, tamarac, fir, butter- nut and ash.
The rocks entering into the geolgical formation of the town are disposed in parallel ranges extending north and south, the first of which, on the west, being a bed of talcose schist, next to which is a narrow range of Upper Hel- derburg limestone, followed by a vein of clay slate, the residue of the territory being calciferous mica schist. In the central and eastern parts of the town there are several rich beds of muck and shell marle. There are also some fine ledges of granite rocks, suitable for building purposes. Upon the farm of John A. Vance, in the northeastern part of the town, are remains of beaver dams and hundreds of mounds marking what was once the homes of these industrious animals.
In 1880, Albany had a population of 1, 138, and in 1882, was divided into thirteen school districts and contained fourteen common schools, employing five male and fifteen female teachers, to whom was paid an aggragate salary of $1,356.86. There were 285 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31, was $1,471.81, with C. S. Hamilton, superintendent.
ALBANY, a post village located near the western part of the town in the valley of Black river, contains two churches (Congregational and Methodist), an hotel, three stores, two blacksmith shops, harness shop, shoe shop, and about thirty-five dwellings.
SOUTH ALBANY, a small post village located in the southern part of the town, contains one church (Wesleyan Methodist), an hotel, one store, black- smith shop, shoe shop, carriage shop, planing-mill, and about a dozen dwel- lings.
ALBANY CENTER (p. o.), a hamlet located in the central part of the town, contains the town-house, a store, and about eight dwellings.
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TOWN OF ALBANY.
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EAST ALBANY (p. o.), a hamlet located in the eastern part of the town, on the creek road, contains one church (Roman Catholic), a store, and a few dwellings.
Charles Hood's saw-mill located on road 2, is operated by the waters of Clough's brook, is supplied with circular saws, employs five men, and cuts 240,000 feet of lumber per annum.
C. A. Church's saw and grist-mill, located at South Albany, does custom work, operating one run of stones and an upright saw.
George W. Orme's carriage shop, located at South Albany, is furnished with steam-power, giving the proprietor facilities for turning out all kinds of work in his line with promptness and of a superior quality.
Orlando J. Cass's shingle-mill, located on road 45, is operated by steam- power, and gives employment to five men, and cuts 2,000,000 shingles per year.
It was over six years after the town was chartered before any survey of the territory was made, the outlines of the town being run and the corners noted September 23, 1788. Few of the proprietors became actual settlers, and most of them forfeited their title by failing to comply with the condi- tions of the charter in this respect. This liability to forfeitures of rights served to materially retard the settlement of the town, and disputed titles and a partial survey even drove away some who would otherwise have become residents.
The first settlement was commenced just prior to 1800, and at that date the whole population numbered ten or fifteen families. Of these, Hayden and Jesse Rogers were located in the southwestern part, on the old military road, David P. Cobb in the northwestern part, on the old county road, Eli and Aaron Chamberlin about three miles northeast of the Center, Silas Downer, in the southeastern part, while the Fairfields, Coggswells, Neals, and Skinners were scattered all along the center road from Irasburgh south.
The town was organized March 27, 1806, the meeting being warned by Thomas Coggswell, upon petition of William Hayden, Jesse Rogers, Eli Chamberlin, Joseph Fairfield, Benjamin Neal, Walter Neal, Jacob Fairfield, and Daniel Skinner. Thomas Coggswell was chosen moderator ; Benjamin Neal, clerk ; Silas Downer, Eli Chamberlin, and Thomas Coggswell, select- men and listers ; Benjamin Neal, constable and collector ; and Walter Neal, William Hayden, and Silas Hubbard, highway surveyors. The first justice of the peace was Thomas Coggswell, chosen in 1805, who was also the first representative, in 1808. The first freemen's meeting was held on the first Tuesday in September, 1807, when Hon. Isaac Tichenor, received one vote for governor, and Hon. Israel Smith nine. Hon. Paul Brigham received nine votes for lieutenant-governor, and Benjamin Swan ten for treasurer. The first birth was that of Stanton, son of Isaac Fairfield. The first female born was Fanny, daughter of David Cobb. Mr. Fairfield drove the first cow into the town, and the cow's old bell was used for the first milk-pail. The first
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TOWN OF ALBANY.
record of deaths is dated July 25, 1808, that of Amy Neal, daughter of Ben- jamin and Lucy Neal, aged two years and one month, and Opha Gale, aged two years and seven months. The first road through the town crossed the southwesterly corner, nearly the same as the one that now leads from Crafts- bury to Lowell. It was opened in the summer of 1779, by Gen. Hazen, with a part of his regiment. Isaac and Jacob Fairfield are said to have been the first settlers in the town, coming in 1798. The first frame barn was built by Isaac Cobb, when all the inhabitants of the town, seven men and three women, turned out to assist at the raising.
Nathaniel Babcock, one of the first settlers in the town, came here from Connecticut. He remained only about two years when he removed to Crafts- bury, where he resided the remainder of his long life.
William Hayden, Sen., from Covington, came to Albany in 1801, and purchased a lot of land, though he resided in the adjoining town of Crafts- bury. About a year after he sold this property to a Mr. Kelsey, and returned to Covington. In 1804, he bought lot No. 4, in this town, upon which he located that year. Mr. Hayden married Silence Dale, of Bridgewater, Mass., in 1798. He was at one time possessed of considerable wealth, and was noted for his success and shrewdness in business, though he lost his property by endorsing paper for others. He opened and kept the first public house licensed in the town, was the first military captain, and was also the only man ever appointed collector of customs here. He also erected the first cloth manufacturing establishment, and the first store in the town. He died in the State of New York, in 1846, aged sixty-nine years. Mrs. Hayden died in 1872, aged ninety-four years. William Hayden, Jr., was born in Craftsbury, Vt., in 1800, and is now the oldest resident of Albany. He commenced his business life as a railroad contractor at an early day, but through an imperfect knowledge of the business he became financially embarrassed. He then began at the bottom round of the ladder, determined to master the business, and worked for three years as a day laborer, when he again commenced business, and for twenty-two years was eminently successful, building about 586 miles of road. He also carried on a mercantile business in Manchester, N. H., and was also engaged in mercantile pursuits in this town until 1850.
Chester Tenney, from Hanover, N. H., came to Albany at an early day and located on road 6, purchasing his farm of Reuben Skinner, who had made some clearings, built a log house and frame barn. Mr. Tenney moved his family into the house, where he resided until his death, in 1837. He left a family of three sons. The eldest, Lyman P., purchased the homestead and added to it from time to time until he increased it from 100 acres to over 400 acres. He married Louisa Page, June 17, 1844, the union being blessed with six children. Lyman P. died May 20, 1882. Four of his children are now living, viz .: George N. and Fred N., who reside with their mother on the home farm, Mrs. Cornelius E. Rogers, residing in the southern part of the town, and Mrs. Solomon Corey, who resides in East Hatley, P.
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TOWN OF ALBANY.
Q. Of the other two sons of Chester, George N. commenced the study of medicine, and died in New York city while taking his last course of lectures, and John F. located as a farmer adjoining the home farm. He has repre- sented the town in the State legislature one term, as did also his brother, Lyman P., serving two terms, and three years as assistant judge. These highly respected brothers were also honored by all the other offices in the gift of their townsmen. Of John F. Tenney's children, three are living, two in this town, Frank W., a farmer, residing in West Albany, and Florence (Mrs. James Gilmour), residing in the eastern part of the town.
Dr. Dyar Bill was born in Hartland, Vt., April 7, 1792. He studied medicine with his brother, a physician at Topsham, Vt., and commenced the practice of his profession in that place. After a year's experience, he located at Cabot for another year, then came to Albany, there being at that time only twelve or fifteen families in the town. He immediately commenced practice, being the first resident physician in the township, and such was the confidence the people had in his ability that no other physician was called for a period of over forty years, and after that, so long as his health allowed him to practice, no physician could take his place. He was twice married and was the father of eleven children, only one of whom, George A., resides in the town. He represented his townsmen four terms in the legislature, and died February 22, 1876, aged eighty-four years.
Aaron and Moses Chamberlin, twin brothers, were born at Hopkinton, Mass., July 3, 1774. September 11, 1796, Moses was united in marriage with Miss Sally Bullen, and soon after located in Rockingham, Vt. In May, 1804, he came to Albany and located soon after on Chamberlin Hill, upon the farm now occupied by his son, Martin C. Chamberlin, where he resided until his death, November 2, 1843. Mrs. Chamberlin died July 2, 1861, aged eighty-three years. Four of their thirteen children now reside here.
Eli Chamberlin was born in Rockingham, Vt., married Sally Stanley, and settled in Rockingham as a farmer, but failing to get a valid title to his land, he immigrated with his family to this town, in 1805, and settled near his brother, Aaron, on Chamberlin Hill. He raised a family of eleven children, eight daughters and three sons, only two of whom are now living, Eli, Jr., residing on the old homestead at the age of ninety-two years, and Mrs. Mary Crandall, residing in the State of Ohio. Eli, Sen., died in 1832, aged sixty- nine years. Eli, Jr., at the age of twenty-six years married Miss A. Delano, and commenced farming on the River road, where he resided about fourteen years, then returned to the old homestead. He has held all the town offices except that of town clerk, commencing when quite young, serving as select- man, collector, and constable without pay for several years, though he was finally allowed fifty cents per day. As selectman he has located and built most of the roads in the town. In all the various positions he has held, he guarded the interests of his town with the same vigilance, care and economy
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TOWN OF ALBANY.
that he would his own. He is the father of nine children, six of whom are now living, all highly respected people.
David Cobb came to Albany about 1800, and made a pitch in the south- westerly part of the town, though he never located upon it. He located on several other farms, building in all five log houses, all of which he occupied for a time. His last location was a little northeast of the center, and is still known as the Cobb place. He was the father of four sons and two daugh- ters. Fanny, his oldest child, was the first female born in the town, Novem- ber 13, 1802. He died at the home of his son James, in Irasburgh, June 28, 1851, aged seventy-four years. Three of his sons are living, Charles B., in Coventry village, James P., in Pittsburgh, Mass., and Joseph, in Ashbury Park, N. J.
Anson Hand, from Duxbury, Vt., came to Albany about 1812, and located where A. G. Cheney now resides, which was his home until his death, in 1863, aged seventy-two years. He was the father of three children, all of whom married, lived, and died in Albany. The oldest, Clarissa, married Charles Waterman and was the mother of three children. Cynthia married Lorenzo Davis and was the mother of three children, two of whom are now living. The only son, Orra, died without issue.
Jonathan Morris, born in 1795, came to Craftsbury with his father in 1809. When quite a young man he worked for the farmers in Albany, and after he was married he lived in adjoining towns until 1835, when he permanently located in the southern part of this town, where he resided until his death, in 1874, aged about seventy-nine years. He married Lucinda Cross and reared a family of ten children, six daughters and four sons. Three of the sons were soldiers in the Union army, and one died in the service. Two sons and a daughter now reside in the town, viz .: Myron K., a farmer in the southern part of the town, Maria S., in West Albany, and Almon E., on road 32. The other two daughters are residents of Massachusetts.
Enoch Rowell, a native of New Hampshire, married Betsey Hodges, of Lebanon, N. H., and resided a time in Plainfield, and from there removed to Irasburgh, in 1806, and thence to this town in 1812, and located upon the farm now occupied by his son, Zuar Rowell, and his daughter, Mrs. Cass, and her husband. In company with his brother William he purchased the farm, and upon it was built the first and only distillery ever operated in the town. They contracted to pay a stipulated number of gallons of potato whiskey for the land, and when the contract was filled the still was stopped. After paying for the farm the brothers divided it between them, William taking the northern half and Enoch the southern, which contained the build- ings where he resided the remainder of his life, dying in 1839, aged sixty years. His wife survived him until 1865, aged eighty-six years. William died in 1870, aged eighty-three years. Both of these brothers took a decided interest in public affairs, and both held town offices, William was a repre- sentative in the legislature twenty-two years. He was also a strong Methodist and his house was always made the home of itinerant ministers.
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TOWN OF ALBANY.
Joel Cheney, from Waterford, Vt., came to Albany in 1818, and located on road 33, where John Clark now resides. His son, A. G. Cheney, still owns fifty acres of the original farm. Mr. Cheney completed a log-house which had already been commenced, in which he and his family resided thirteen years. The location known as Clark's road was then an unbroken wilderness, without even a line of marked trees. He experienced all the in- conveniences of the pioneers, being obliged to cover his seed with a hand- rake for the first two seasons. Mrs. Cheney was a tailoress, and used to say that she could clear land with her needle faster than her husband could with his axe. They jointly cleared a farm of 175 acres, when Mr. Cheney died July 29, 1849, aged fifty-eight years, and Mrs. Cheney died July 6, 1861, aged sixty-five years. Five of their six children are now living, one, A. G., in Albany.
Eliphalet Rowell, brother of Enoch, William, Daniel and Converse, was born February 8, 1796, and came to Albany, from Plainfield, N. H., in 1818. He run the distillery for his brothers, Enoch and William, about a year, then purchased the farm where his son, Levi, now resides, near South Albany. He married Sally True, of Plainfield, and reared eight children, five of whom are yet living, and died in 1875, aged seventy-nine years.
Converse Rowell, the youngest of the Rowell brothers, came to Albany, from Plainfield, N. H., about 1820. He married Orpha Chamberlin, daughter of Aaron Chamberlin, and in his early life here taught school winters. He lived for a time with his brother, Daniel, but afterwards purchased a farm on the Creek road, where Mr. Ruen now resides. His son, Willard, chose the legal profession, and is now in Arizona. Converse died in the autumn of 1882, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Rowell died a few years previous.
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