USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 10
USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 10
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Benson Congregational Church, located at Benson village, was organized in March, 1790, by Mathias Cazier, of Castleton, and his delegate, Mr. Sturtevant, with Joseph Clark as Moderator of the Church and Allen Good- rich, Clerk. Deacon Jonathan Woodward, grandfather of ex-Vice-Presi- dent Wheeler, was the first deacon, and Rev. Dan Kent, son of Dea. Cephas Kent of Dorset, the first pastor and also the first settled minister in Benson. He was born in Suffield, Conn., April 10, 1758, commenced his pastorate in Benson in 1792, and continued as pastor of this Church thirty-six years. He died in Benson, July 22, 1835.
During Mr. Kent's ministry the Church grew rapidly. He was a man of fervent piety and great zeal. At several periods during his pastorate there was unusual interest and the Church received large additions to its numbers.
The first church edifice, a one story frame building, 24 by 40 feet, was erected in 1790, built by Major Ozia Johnson, and stood upou the site now occupied by Willard Strong's residence, but was afterwards removed to the ground now occupied by the Methodist church. The second house of worship was raised in 1797, and completed in 1803. This building was fol- lowed by the present church edifice, in 1841, which is a fine, comfortable building, capable of seating 450 persons, and cost about $6,500, while the whole church property is valued at $12,000. What the membership of the society was at its organization is not kown, but was probably small. It now has a membership of 150, with Rev. Geo. G. Lyon, pastor.
The First Baptist Church of Benson was organized by Elder Abel Wood, Samuel Tower and John Carter, in March, 1797. At its organization it had 14 members, with Rev. William Patterson as pastor. In 1826 the first building was erected, built of stone; this was followed by a second in 1841, but has since that time been used for other purposes, the society having disbanded, part uniting with Sudbury and others with Westhaven.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Benson village, was organized about the year 1839, by Rev. P. P. Harrower, who was the first pastor. The present church edifice, a comfortable building capable of seating about 250 persons was built in 1841, and remodeled again in 1876. The original cost of the building was about $2,000, while the present value of the property is about $7,500. L. A. Dibble is pastor of the society, which has a member- ship of 125.
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
B RANDON lies in the northern part, forming one of the border towns between this county and Addison, in lat. 43° 48' and long. 3º 50' east from Washington, and is bounded north by Leicester in Addison County, east by Goshen and a part of Chittenden, south by Pittsford, and west by Sudbury. It was chartered under the name of Neshobe, October 20, 1761, by Benning Wentworth, and contains 22,756 acres. It retained the name of Neshobe for twenty-three years, when on the 20th of October, 1784, the Act of Legislature confirming the organization of the town, gave it its present name of Brandon. This name is supposed to be a corruption of " Burnt-town," which was derived from the fact of the town having at one time (1777,) been visited by Indians, who massacred some of the inhabitants and burned their dwellings.
The surface, except in the eastern part, is not mountainous ; but here the Green Mountains extend along the whole eastern border and contain some quite high elevations. The rocks of the western and central portion of the township are of the eolian limestone formation and contain some good marble quarries, although they are at present not worked to any great extent. The eastern part is composed mostly of quartz, except a small belt of pliocene ter- tiary deposit. This belt contains many valuable minerals, consisting of iron, manganese, kaolin, paint pigments, and some silver. Iron ore was first dis- covered in Brandon in 1810, and soon after a forge was built and bar-iron of a superior quality was manufactured for several years. In 1820 a furnace was built by John Conant, Esq., for reducing the ore, an undertaking which at that time was deemed one of great hazard ; but he persevered with character- istic energy and judgment, and with complete success, and it is to this fur- nace, long well known as "Conant's Furnace," that Brandon is indebted for an impetus then given to its business interests and for its continuous growth and prosperity. Iron is not manufactured to as great an extent as formerly. Paint and kaolin are still manufactured to a considerable extent. Not enough silver to amount to anything has ever been found ; but there are traditions of a very rich mine hid somewhere in the mountains, that was once worked with great success by the Spaniards. A singular freak in the geological formation of the town is the " frozen well," wherein ice may be found during the entire season. It is located a little southwest of Brandon village, on road 373, and was dug in November, 1858. After sinking about twenty feet through the soil, the workmen came to frozen earth, consisting of coarse gravel, rounded pebbles and lumps of clear ice, from the size of an egg to that of a 12 lb. cannon ball; this frozen stratum is about 15 feet thick. The well is 34₺ feet deep and has about 24 feet of water in it ; its diameter is about three feet, and it is properly stoned up with rounded boulders of limestone. This well has always been a matter of considerable curiosity to scientists.
The country is watered by numerous streams, some of which afford excel- lent mill-sites, the principal one being Otter Creek, which enters the southern part of the township, flows a north-westerly course into Hubbardton, and
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
through the extreme north-western corner of the town into Addison County. Mill River rises in the north-east part of the town, flows a south-westerly course and is discharged into Otter Creek near the southern boundary of the township. The numerous other streams serve to irrigate the soil and afford some mill-privileges, but are of no considerable size. In the northern part are two small ponds, called respectively Burnett's and Spring Pond.
The Central Vermont Railroad enters the township about the centre of its southern boundary, extends through the town in a north-westerly direction, entering Addison County on the north.
Brandon contains much good farming land and has many excellent farms. The soil is various, but generally a light loam, easily tilled and very produc- tive. The alluvial flats, or intervale, along Otter Creek, are extensive and beautiful and are not surpassed in fertility by any in the county. The town- ship produces every variety of timber common to the country ; pine, oak, cherry, sugar and red maple, ash and cedar, are found in abundance, making lumber manufacture quite an industry.
In 1880 Brandon had a population of 3,280, was divided into thirteen school districts and had twenty common schools, employing three male and eighteen female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $5,014.00. There were 693 pupils attending common schools, and the entire cost of the schools for the year ending October 30th, was $5,638.92. The schools were under the superintendence of Mr. J. S. Cilley.
BRANDON, a post village and station on the Central Vermont R. R., is very pleasantly located near the central part of the township. It enjoys a good water-privilege and other facilities for making it a smart inland town ; but owing to the loss of manufactories and lack of industries, the material inter- ests of the town have been seriously affected during the past few years. Its prospects are not near so flourishing as they were several years since. It contains at present five churches, two banks, two hotels, thirteen stores, one grist and flour mill, three meat markets, two marble-shops, four harness-shops, two liveries, one shoe-counter and stay manufactory, one foundry, five black- smith shops, one graded school, one cooper-shop, three cabinet-makers, ten dress-makers, three milliner shops, two carriage-shops, three paint-shops, one brass band, two hose companies, two printing offices, one dye-house, one brick- yard, one laundry, five lawyers, six physicians, etc., and about 300 dwellings.
FORESTDALE (p. o.) is a pleasant little village of about 500 inhabitants, lo- cated in the north-eastern part of the township, the principal business interest being Newton & Thompson's wood-turning works. There are two churches, three stores, three blacksmith shops, two livery stables, one wheelwright shop, etc.
The above two are the only villages in the township, the other portions be- ing entirely rural districts.
Newton & Thompson's wood-turning works, located at Forestdale, were es- tablished in 1856, and now employ 100 men. In 1877 the works were twice
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
destroyed by fire, and during the same season damaged to the extent of sev- eral thousand dollars, by flood.
The Sprague Counter and Stay Company, located at Brandon village, was organized in July of 1879. The business has since been steadily increasing, and the firm expects soon to be employing about two hundred hands in the manufacture of shoe counters and corset stays.
The First National Bank of Brandon was organized in 1864, and com- menced operations on the first day of May following, with a capital of $50,- 000. It now has a $100,000.00 surplus fund, after having paid, up to date, (April 15, '81,) $245,000 in dividends. Nathan T. Sprague is president of the institution, and H. C. Copeland, cashier.
The Brandon National Bank has been in successful business operation many years, having a capital of $200,000.00. Erastus D. Thayer is president ; Cyrus Jennings, vice-president, and Frank E. Briggs, cashier.
The Brandon Statuary Marble Co., of Brandon village, was organized in 1865. The quarry had been worked previous to this by E. D. Selden and others ; it is now owned by C. W. Bishop, and when in operation employs about 100 men, with Dudley C. Brown as superintendent.
The Brandon Mining Co.'s Works, located on road 27, corner 28, was es- tablished for the manufacture of mineral paint and kaolin, in 1855. The mineral was discovered by Fuller & Green, who commenced the manufacture of wrought iron here many years ago, and by washing the ore, the ocher, or paint pigment, was discovered. It is taken from the mine in its crude state, mixed with refuse matter, and after being broken up and thoroughly washed, it is with water carried down a sluice, the worthless material in the form of pebbles, iron ore, sand, etc., settles to the bottom, and the substance valuable for paint is held in solution, and carried by spouts and deposited in large vats. Here it is suffered to remain, and the paint settles to the bottom. The water is then drawn off and the process is repeated until a sufficient deposit has ac- cumulated in the vats to undertake the drying process. This is accomplished by first allowing the sediment in the vats to become, by the action of the sun's rays, of the consistency of thick mud or clay, when it is cut or shoveled into pieces about the size of bricks, and laid upon shelves to dry in buildings pre- pared for the purpose. When perfectly dry it is run through a crushing mill, and packed in barrels for the market. This paint is very similar to the cele- brated French ocher, and has met with a large demand from various sections of the country. By placing the lumps of yellow ocher in ovens and calcin- ing them, red ocher is made, of a quality closely resembling Venetian red.
Kaolin, or paper clay, as it is sometimes called, in process of manufacture, is similar to that of ocher, except that it does not undergo the grinding pro- cess, but is fit for market as soon as it is dry. The kaolin manufactured here is principally used in the manufacture of paper, for "stuffing," giving a smooth surface and additional weight to paper; it is mixed with the pulp, and but a small per cent. is lost by the subsequent process of manufacture. This com-
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
pany employs about 30 men, and manufactures about 1,000 tons of paint and 500 tons of kaolin per annum. The works are owned by Messrs. James Havemyer, H. R. Conklin and Samuel J. French, of New York City.
The Brandon Kaolin and Paint Co's Works, located on road 27, about two miles east of Brandon village and one mile south of Forestdale, were es- tablished in 1865. They manufacture about 1,000 tons per annum and em- ploy 20 men. The paint varies in color from very light yellow to dark yellow and dark red, and light and dark brown. David W. Prime is president of the company.
The Eagle Foundry was established in 1867, by Payne, Christie & Hendry. In 1875 Mr. John Christie bought out his partners and now carries on the business alone. He manufactures plows, cultivators, brackets, plant stands, match boxes, etc., giving employment to ten men.
Churchill Saw Mill, located on Mill River, was built in 1850, by M. H. Churchill, and is now owned by G. H. Churchill, who manufactures about 5,000 feet of lumber per day.
Durkee's saw and planing mill, located at Brandon village, employs three men and manufactures 500,000 feet of lumber and 200,000 shingles per year. It is operated by water power.
The first tree felled in the township of Brandon, (then Neshobe,) with a view to settlement, was in the month of October, 1772, by Amos Cut- ler. April 5, 1773, John Ambler and David June, his son-in-law, came into town from Stamford, Ct., and made their " pitch " jointly, south of and ad- joining Mr. Cutler, and extending, as it was afterwards surveyed, to near the north line of Pittsfield. These were followed by Josiah Powers, Elisha Strong, Thomas Tuttle, Joseph Barker, John Mott, George and Aaron Rob- ins, Benjamin Powers, Jonathan Ferris, Joshua Goss and Samuel Kelsey ; all but the last two are supposed to have come previous to the Revolution.
The organization, by the choice of the necessary officers, took place Octo- ber 7, 1784. The law then in force required that such proceedings should take place at the time of the annual town meeting, which was then, as now, held in March, but the Legislature, then about to meet at Rutland, soon after confirmed their proceedings by a special Act.
The massacre spoken of as giving rise to the name of Burnt Town, oc- curred in 1777, the township being then visited by a party of Indians, who killed two men, George and Aaron Robins, and made prisoners of most of the inhabitants, and set fire to their dwellings and to a saw mill which they had erected. Joseph Barker, his wife, and a child eighteen months old, were among the prisoners. The next night, with no other shelter than the trees of the forest and the canopy of heaven, and with no other company than the infant above named, she gave birth to another child. She was found the fol- lowing day and removed with her children to Pittsford.
Mr. Barker was carried to Middlebury, where, feigning himself sick, he suc- ceeded during the night in making his escape, and arrived safely at Pittsford.
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
The farm whereon the Robins brothers were killed is located on road 23, and is occupied by Nelson B. Wheeler, and owned by N. T. Sprague. They were buried where they fell, and after many years their remains were taken up, and amid imposing ceremonies, on one 4th of July, buried in the old cem- etery at Brandon village.
Amos Cutler, the first white man ever known to have passed a winter in town, came from Hampton, Conn., settling on road 45, upon the farm now owned by Josiah Rosseter. Here he made an "opening " and built a log cabin, which he occupied "solitary and alone" during the next winter, having no other companion than a faithful dog. He was then 23 years old and sin- gle. In the fall following, he returned to Hampton and was married to Amy, daughter of Jacob Simonds, November 23, 1773. As a fruit of this marriage there was born unto them two sons and four daughters. He died March 18, 1818, on the old farm where he had resided 46 years.
David June came to Brandon from Stamford, Conn., in 1773, in company with his father-in-law, John Ambler. They made a joint "pitch " in the south part of the township, to which Mr. June added, by subsequent purchases, making in the whole 225 acres, which comprised his homestead at the time of his death. Mr. Ambler died in about three years after he arrived in town. Mr. June was born September 9, 1746, and married to Prudence Ambler in Stamford, she dying April 17, 1797, aged 45. His son, Stephen, was the first male child born in the town that lived, born September 11, 1774, and resided here until his death, which occurred February 10, 1861, he being 86 years of age. David's education, like most farmers of that day, was quite deficient, yet his sound judgment, good sense and unshaken integrity, rendered him exceedingly useful in the management of town business, and he was one of the first selectmen. He died on the 24th of June, 1819, in the 74th year of his age.
Jedediah Winslow came to Brandon in 1778, from Barre, Mass., settling on the north-east side of Otter Creek, near the road leading from the village to the Blackmer bridge. He was a man of great physical powers, being tall and of large limbs, was remarkably shrewd, good natured and a great manager in the perilous times of the Revolution. At the formation of the Congregational Church, in 1785, he was the first deacon, and for several years, until they had a pastor, he took charge of the worship. Mr. Winslow died April 5, 1794; aged 69.
Micah Brown came to Brandon from Ashford, Conn., settling at an early date in what is now the village of Brandon, on the place now owned by Hiram Blackmer. His daughter, Mary, married Chauncey Capron, and is now living in Brandon, at the age of 65. Mr. Brown was a major of militia, and, like other pioneers, endured many hardships.
David Merriam came from Walpole, N. H., in 1787, settling on road 3, upon the farm now owned by Wm. H. Williams. He was twice married, his first wife, Phœbe Foster, dying April 7, 1794, aged 30. His second wife, Betsey
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
Conant, a sister of John Conant, died in June, 1842, aged 67. Mr. Mer- riam was a hatter, but early in the history of the town gave up the trade entirely, and gave his whole attention to farming. He died March 26, 1826, aged 62. He was an active and useful member of the Baptist Church, of which he was for a long time, and until his death, a deacon. He was a selectman several years, and held various other town offices. Two of his sons, Isaac and Jonathan, became Baptist ministers.
Edward Cheney came to Brandon from Dublin, N. H., in 1782, settling upon the land east, and not far from the spot where the marble-mill now stands, on road 16}. Mr. Cheney came to the town on an ox-sled, his family making the eighth then in town. He successfully cultivated a large tract of land, making his own farming tools, wagons, household furniture, etc. He was an influential citizen, and was for many years deacon and clerk of the Baptist Church. Of his family of eight children, four settled in Brandon. There were at one time eight families of Cheneys in town ; but there is now only the family of J. W. Cheney, who resides on the homestead of his father, Samuel Cheney. David died suddenly of the epidemic of that season, Jan. 24, 1813, aged 64 years. His widow died March 19, 1841, aged 88. Of the children of J. W. Cheney, Albert, the oldest, was a volunteer in the Union Army, and died at sea, February 17, 1865, while on his way to join the 7th Vt. Regiment at New Orleans. Edward Cheney was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, having volunteered to take his father-in-law's place, Ezekiel Hale, of Stowe, Mass., who was drafted. Elijah Cheney, son of Edward, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was with others taken prisoner by the British, at Black Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y., and from there taken to Halifax, N. S., where he spent a winter of terrible suffering from cold and hunger. Samuel Cheney, also son of Edward, was a member of the militia, and started for the defence of Plattsburg. The Brandon Co. at that time numbered 70 men, under the captaincy of Micah Brown. It was called out by order of General Strong, the Governor having refused to respond to the call for aid. The company being detained at Charlotte about crossing the Lake, they did not reach Burlington until the battle had begun, and so were ordered to remain there, as they might be needed for the defence of that town.
Joshua Goss came to Brandon from Montague, Mass., in 1783, settling near the June place, where he resided about thirteen years, and then bought of Noah Strong, for £480, 180 acres, the well known Goss place, where he long kept a public house, and which is now the town farm. Mr. Goss died in December, 1826, aged 75 years.
Salathiel Patch came to Brandon from Mt. Holly, at an early date, settling upon the farm now owned by Henry W. Patch, located on road 19. He was a son of John Patch, one of the early settlers of Mt. Holly, having set- tled near the foot of Patch's Pond.
Jacob Farrington, from Kinderhook, N. Y., came to Brandon in 1786, set-
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
tling upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Franklin Farrington, located about one mile north of Brandon village, on road 36. Here he resided until his death, which occurred on March 13, 1808, aged 79 years. His son, Dan'l Farrington, was born in the state of New York, May 31, 1773, being about 13 years old when his father moved to Brandon. Here young Farrington was devoted to agricultural pursuits for several years, and during these years of severe, yet honorable toil, laid the foundation of his after success as a man. In 1808 he was elected as lieutenant of the militia, and entered upon a new life. Hitherto he had been chiefly engaged in home and private concerns, but he was now called upon to participate in state and national affairs. Dif- ficulties had grown up between the United States and Great Britain, a rup- ture between the two governments was anticipated, and the commercial rela- tions of the two countries were seriously disturbed. The smuggling business led to frequent encounters between the smugglers and custom house offi- cers, in some of which blood was shed and lives lost. In the first serious affray of this kind, Mr. Farrington was an actor. On the 30th of May, 1808, he received orders to repair to the line between the States and Canada, for the purpose of sustaining the famous embargo laws. He complied with the request and was stationed at Windmill Point, one and a half miles from Rouse's Point. In August of this year a guard of eighteen men were placed in his command with orders to pursue and take a smuggling vessel called the Black Snake. After reconnoitering the islands in the lake, the vessel was dis- cerned and taken in the Winooski, a short distance from Burlington. In the melee several men were killed, and Lieutenant Farrington was seriously wounded in both arms, near the shoulder. One ball struck his forehead, pass- ing over his head, grazing him in its passage and leaving him for a time com- pletely senseless. Several of the smugglers were secured and safely lodged in the jail at Burlington. After due process of law three of them were sentenced to the State's Prison for ten years, and one by the name of Dean was hung. In this encounter Lieut. Farrington showed great intrepidity and coolness, his character as a man of mettle and courage was fairly established. From this time to the close of the war of 1812, he was more or less engaged in active service as a soldier. On the first day of February, 1815, he received his com- mission as Captain, the said commission being dated from the 13th day of April, 1813. It is now in as good a state of preservation as though it were issued but yesterday. It is printed on parchment, and contains splendid auto- graphs of the Secretary of War, James Monroe, and of the President, James Madison. After the war of 1812, Mr. Farrington returned to Brandon and was engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he was quite successful. He was much respected and held various offices in the gift of the town, until his death in 1865.
Joshua Field, son of Gaines and Sarah (Holton) Field, was born in North- field, Mass., in 1746. In the year 1786 he removed to Brandon, settling up- on the farm now owned by Burgess P. Field, on road I. He was a Revolu-
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TOWN OF BRANDON.
tionary soldier, serving in the New Hampshire Militia, and was at the Battle of Bennington. He died on the old homestead in Brandon, on the 26th of March, 1837, aged 91. Of his children, four now reside in Brandon, as follows : Stearns J. Field, Burgess P. Field, Caroline J. Wing, (widow of S. Davis,) and Mahala M. Baker, (wife of John L.) who now resides on Carver street. His son, Paul, was killed by an ox, October 21, 1834. Stearns J., son of Paul, in 1862, crossed the plains to Idaho, where he was engaged in carrying the mail from Bannock City to Salt Lake City, a distance of 500 miles. To perform this journey he used one mule and a horse. The object of thus oddly matching the animals was for the reason that when separated they would not whinney for each other, and thus, mayhap, expose him to the In- dians. He was often pursued by Indians, and twice severely wounded by them. He returned to Brandon November 12, 1866, where he still resides. John Townsend came to Brandon in the year 1800, and located upon the farm now owned by his son John, Jr. Mr. Townsend married Eunice Howe, the union being blessed with seven children-three sons and four daughters. John Jr. was born on the old homestead, February 20, 1807, and has resided there most of the time since. He married Abby Johnson, by whom he had a family of five children, three of whom, daughters, are still living.
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