USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 13
USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 13
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TOWN OF CASTLETON.
the one party was covered by the buildings, and the other by the trees of the forest. Soon there was a closer conflict. Capt. Williams, a volunteer from Guilford, Vt., was wounded in the groin, but would not yield ; and, in a hand to hand fight, dealt a heavy blow upon a British lieutenant. He was then bayoneted through the body and expired in a few moments. Capt. John Hall received a shot in the leg, and as he lay profusely bleeding, called for water, and as his wife was bringing it to him, a tory named Jones kicked the dish from her hands. Capt. Hall died of the wound not long after. One of the British infantry was mortally wounded and another shot through the body, but recovered through the kind attentions of Mrs. Hall-rendering good for evil. One of Capt. Williams' sons was wounded in the heel in the early part of the engagement, and fled to the woods. He finally reached Rutland in a famishing condition. Two sons of Capt. Hall, Elias and Alpheus, George Foote and others, were taken prisoners and taken to Ticonderoga, but made their escape after a few weeks. The body of Capt. Williams, wrapped in a blanket, without a coffin, was rudely buried at the foot of a tree near by. Forty-four years after, his remains were disinterred and the bones carefully gathered and laid together in exact order, and re- buried in the village grave-yard with appropriate ceremonies. Thus ended the skirmish at Castleton, which was followed on the morrow by the memor- able battle of Hubbardton.
The Baptist Church of Hydeville was organized in 1849 by A. Allen, S. Whitlock, and a few others, with Rev. Mr. Smith as pastor. The society was prosperous for a time, but then languished and was not able to support itself; until finally Dea. James Williams died in 1879, bequeathing the society his property. Thus it now has about $15,000 at interest, which is to be used for the support of the Church.
The Episcopal Church of Hydeville was organized in 1848, by I. Davy, P. W. Hyde and E. Wallace, with Rev. Mr. Bailey as rector. Services were first held in the school-house ; but a large building belonging to Mr. Hyde was subsequently fitted up for this purpose, which was destroyed by fire in the year 1853, when the present edifice was erected in its stead, where services have since been held. They have no settled rector at present.
The Congregational Church at Castleton village was organized in 1784, by Job Swift, of Bennington, with a membership of eighteen and Mattheus Cazier as pastor. The first house of worship was erected in 1790, which was followed by the present one in 1833. The present building is a large, commodious structure, capable of comfortably seating 800 persons, and cost about $7,000.00. The whole church property is now valued at $10,000.00. The society numbers 150, with Rev. Edward T. Hooker, pastor.
The Methodist Church of Castleton Village was organized in 1824, by Jonathan Eaton. At its organization the society had but four members, with Rev. C. P. Clark as pastor, but it has since increased to 116, with Rev. J. P. Metcalf for their present pastor. The church building was erected in
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TOWN OF CHITTENDEN.
1824, a comfortable structure, capable of seating about 200 persons. The original cost of the house was $3,000.00, which, together with the grounds, is now valued at $5,000.00.
St. John's the Baptist Catholic Church, located at Castleton village, was organized in 1834, by their first pastor, Rev. John Daly, with a membership of fifty, which has since increased to 200. The present building is a neat, comfortable structure, capable of seating about 260 persons, erected at a cost of $13,000.00, and was converted intoa Catholic church in 1879. Its present value, including property, is estimated at about $15,000.00. The Rev. P. J. O'Carroll, of Fairhaven, is the present pastor of the society.
The Second Advent Church, located at Castleton village, was organized un- der the labors of Eld. Milon Grant, in 1860. At its organization it had about 25 members, with Rev. Albion Ross as first pastor; this membership has since increased to 100, with Geo. W. Wallace for their present pastor. The church building was erected in 1861, at a cost of $3,000.00, and will seat about 450 persons. Regular services are sustained, and the Church is flour- ishing and free from debt.
The Calvinistic Methodist Church, located in the south-west part of the town, was organized by the Rev. William Hughes, of Utica, N. Y., in 1862, with a membership of 20, and Rev. Daniel Rowland pastor. This member- ship has since increased to 40, with Rev. Hugh Davis for their present pastor. The house of worship was erected in 1868, costing about $4,000.00, and will seat about 200 persons. The value of the property has depreciated during the last few years, so that the whole property is now worth only about $2,500.00.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, located at West Castleton, was organized by Rev. J. P. O'Carroll, of Fairhaven, in 1879, with a membership of 150, and has remained about the same number since. The church building was erect- ed the same year, a neat little structure, capable of seating about 200 persons. It cost $2,500.00, and is now valued, including property, at about $3,000.00.
HITTENDEN lies in the north-western part of the County, in lat. 43º 44' and long. 4° 10' east from Washington, and is bounded north by Goshen and Rochester in Addison County, east by Pittsfield, south by Mendon, and west by Pittsford and Brandon. It was granted the 14th and chartered the 16th of March, 1780, to Gershom Beach and sixty-five associ- ates, and still retains its original limits, together with one-half the township of Philadelphia, which was annexed Nov. 2, 1816, so that it now really contains a township and a half, or since the annexation, about fifty-four square miles of territory. The town was organized March 30, 1789, with Ebenezer Drury, moderator ; Nathaniel Ladd, clerk ; and Nathan Nelson, Nathaniel Ladd and Solomon Taylor, selectmen. The name "Chittenden" being derived from Thomas Chittenden, the first governor of the State, probably because of its being the first grant issued by the General Assembly of Vermont.
IIO
TOWN OF CHITTENDEN.
The surface is very broken and mountainous, some parts of it so much so as to be incapable of tillage or habitation, the whole eastern portion being very sparsely settled. The western portion, however, is quite thickly popula- ted and contains some very fine farms. The land is watered by several small streams, the largest of which are East Creek and Furnace River. East Creek rises near the central part of the town, flows a south-westerly course and is discharged into Otter Creek, near Rutland village. Furnace River rises in the north-western part of the town, flows a south-westerly course and empties into Otter Creek in Pittsford. A branch of White River and its tribu- taries water the portion lying east of the Green Mountains. There are also two small ponds in the town, but do not seem to be of sufficient importance to acquire the dignity of a name.
The scenery is varied and pleasing, as is the case in all Green Mountain districts. Among the mountains are found several quite considerable cav- erns, that lend a charm of mystery and an air of romance to the sterile peaks. The rocks are those peculiar to the Green Mountain range, mostly gneiss, among which is found two beds of iron ore and one of manganese, neither of which is worked at present. As early as the year 1792, there was a furnace for smelting the ore, in operation, situated on Furnace River, built by a Mr. Keith, of Boston, but it has long since been abandoned. Manganese is used largely as a coloring material in the manufacture of glass and enamels; but its greatest value is in the manufacture of steel. It is of a grayish-white color, presents a metallic brilliancy, is capable of a high degree of polish, and is so hard as to scratch glass and steel; and when mixed with iron, it gives that metal increased elasticity and hardness,-hence its use in the manufacture of steel." The distance of the Chittenden mines from a railroad has caused them to languish, for reason of the expensive transportation of the ore.
In some of the mountain valleys, and in the basins of Furnace River and East Creek, are located many excellent farms. The soil is an alluvial deposit, and produces wheat, barley, oats, rye, Indian corn and potatoes. But the greater wealth of the town consists in its herds and flocks, the principal ex- ports being wool and products of the dairy.
The timber is that common to Green Mountain districts, namely,-beech, birch and maple, interspersed with pine, hemlock, spruce, elm, and black and white ash ; some of the trees attaining an enormous growth. One old elm, standing on a narrow strip of land between Chittenden proper and what was formerly Philadelphia, measures six feet in diameter at a distance of forty- eight feet from its base. The whole length of its trunk was sixty-eight feet, having three limbs, either of which was three feet in diameter. Lumbering is carried on to some considerable extent, the first mill for its manufacture being erected in the early part of the present century ; and from the maple, large quantities of sugar are manufactured each year.
There has been, from time to time, about twenty thousand dollars expend- ed in making and repairing roads and building bridges, which amount was
IlI
TOWN OF CHITTENDEN.
raised by direct taxation on all the land in the town. Three public roads have been built across the mountains. The first, known as the Green road, passed from Rutland, through Pittsford, over Thomas hill, and through "New Boston" to Pittsfield. This was the old mail and stage route from Rutland to Pittsfield, and was closed early in the history of the town. The second, known as the North Mountain road, passed from "New Boston" to Pittsfield, a short distance north of where the Green road crossed the mountains. The third, and the one over which the daily mail is now carried, passes from Rut- land through "Slab City" to the old turnpike, thence to Pittsfield.
In 1880 the population of the town was 1,092. It was divided into nine school districts and contained nine common schools, employing one male and twelve female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $983.48. There were 209 pupils attending common schools, and the entire cost of the schools for the year ending Oct. 30, was $1,106.27, with Mr. Riley V. Allen super- intendent.
Chittenden is entirely a rural district having no villages. The post office is located at CHITTENDEN, a small hamlet in the south-west part of the town, on East Creek.
J. & A. Baird's saw mill, located on road 20, is operated by water- power, has one large circular saw and manufactures 5,000 feet of lumber per day.
T. B. & M. L. Cheedle's saw mill, located on road 9, is operated by water-power and manufactures about 400,000 feet of lumber per annum.
Naylor & Co's saw mill, located on road 5, is operated by water-power. It has one lumber saw and five small saws for slitting boards, etc., and employs four men, manufacturing 50,000 feet of lumber per annum.
John Leffort's saw mill, located off road 21, is operated by water-power, has one lumber saw and one clapboard saw, turning lathes, planers, etc., employs five men and manufactures 300,000 feet of lumber and 100,000 feet of clapboards yearly. Steam power will be added to the mill the coming season, which will increase its capacity to 1,000,000, feet per annum.
The first settlers of Chittenden were Nathaniel Ladd, John Bancroft, Ger- shom Beach, Jonathan Dike, Solomon Taylor, Nathaniel Nelson, Oliver Bogue, Zeb. Green, John Cowe, Jacob Walton and Asa Farrar, all of whom settled in the southern part of the township. Of the sixty-six pro- prietors, only four, Solomon Taylor, John Bancroft, Daniel Barnard and Nathaniel Ladd, ever setled in the town.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Solomon Taylor, March 30, 1789, with Nathaniel Ladd as clerk. Ladd settled on the farm now owned by H. F. Baird ; Anson Ladd, his son, was the first child born in the town. The first saw mill was built by Pickley & Nevins in 1808, and located on the site now owned by Jesse L. Billings. Since that time twelve others have been built, most of which have been in successful operation for many years. At an early period of the town's history a grist mill was erected in
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TOWN OF CHITTENDEN.
" New Boston," and another at "Forge Flat," though the latter was never put in operation. The first blacksmith shop was built by Andrew Barnard, in 1802. The first general training ground was in "New Boston," on the land now owned by Wood & Eayres, of Pittsford.
Jonathan Dike and Solomon Taylor located in the northern part of the town. They cut and stacked hay the first two or three summers on the Beaver meadows, drawing it three miles over Thomas hill in the winter, on hand-sleds. They used to go, in common with others of their townsmen, to Bennington with a portion of their grain for grinding. Dike, on one occa- sion, brought from Bennington a bushel of salt for which he was offered a bushel of corn for each pint.
One of the early settlers was the Indian, "Capt. John." He was with the French and Indians at the time Gen. Braddock marched the English army through the wilderness to attack the French at Fort Duquesne. He fired at Washington three times, and, failing to hit him, concluded he was invincible, and after the battle, left the French army and joined the English, where he was subsequently one of Washington's life guard. Capt. John left in Chittenden a stone pestle, which is now in the Vermont State Cabinet. He died and was buried in Mendon, but his bones subsequently graced the office of a surgeon and M. D. in Rutland, and later were in an M. D's office in Pittsford, where they remained until recently.
Dan Barnard, an original proprietor, was one of the Insurrectionists who attempted to prevent the County Court from holding its session at Rutland on the 22d day of November, 1788.
Walcott H. Keeler, a representative from the town, introduced and influ- enced the passage of a bill abolishing imprisonment for debt.
Caleb Churchill died a few years ago, aged 99 years, 5 months and II days. He was one of the early settlers in the northern part of the town, in that portion formerly included in Philadelphia. He located upon the farm now owned by Patrick Mullin.
Chittenden, in common with other townships of the county, suffered much during its early his- tory from the depredations of bears and wolves. But the men, women, boys and girls, without regard to age or sex, often carried terror into the ranks of these "pests of the wilderness." One of the modes of warfare was to surround (" PEST OF THE WILDERNESS.") and make them prisoners, on which occasions the women and children were called into active service. On one occasion, in the year 1810, the howling of wolves on Spruce Peak was heard, about ten o'clock in the evening. On the following morning, five wolves found themselves surrounded by men and women, boys and girls, armed with guns and pitch-forks. Four of the wolves were taken prisoners. A bear was once taken near the " Ladd " road, between North and South Chittenden, which weighed over six hundred pounds.
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TOWN OF CHITTENDEN.
The oldest person ever residing in the town was Aaron Beach, who died about the year 1816, aged 102 years.
Jonathan Powell came from Sullivan, N. H., in Sept. 1808, and settled on the farm now owned by Almon Powell.
Samuel Harrison, an early settler, was born at Norton, in the county of Der- by, England, April 26, 1756. About the year 1780, he immigrated to Pittsfield, Mass., when he married Rebecca Keeler, and subsequently removed to Chit- tenden in 1789, and located upon the farm now owned by William Mullin.
Jeffrey A. Boyne settled at an early date, in the north part of the town, upon the farm now owned by Lewis I. Winslow. This farm is now said to be the best in the township, and one of the best in the county. It is pleas- antly located, overlooking the Otter Creek valley, and bringing to view some of the most beautiful scenery in the county. Along down the valley, a dis- tance of seven miles, can be seen the busy little village of Sutherland Falls, and still farther to the south, a distance of twelve miles, the village of Rut- land and its surroundings. Mr. Winslow took the farm some fifteen years ago, since which time he has been constantly improving it and its surround- ings. A small stream winding its way from the mountains to Otter Creek, affords water power whereon he has constructed a mill which grinds all his grain, as well as several thousand bushels for his neighbors, each year. The same power also does all the threshing, wood-sawing and churning for the farm. A large spring situated about 166 rods north-east of the house, furn- ishes clear, cold water, never above 45° in temperature, in an abundant sup- ply. Among his other stock, Mr. Winslow keeps sixty-five head of cattle.
Joseph Atwood, when seventeen years of age, removed from Mexico, N. Y., and settled in Chittenden, upon what is now known as the Churchill estate, in the year 1803. His brothers, Billings and John, settled here at about the same time.
Near the hamlet of Chittenden, in a beautiful little valley, is situated the homestead of the notorious Eddy family, which at one time created such an excitement with their alleged "spiritual manifestations and materializations." Their seances became so notorious and were attended with so much mystery, that the place was visited by hundreds, and their feats were discussed so much in scientific circles, as to render the name of Chittenden noted.
The father, Zephaniah Eddy, a farmer living at Weston, Vt., married one Julia Ann Macombs, a girl of Scotch descent, who was born in the same town. About the year 1846 Mr. Eddy sold his farm and removed to the present homestead. Mrs. Eddy claims to inherit from her mother the gift of "far-seeing," for she not only had previsions of future events, but also claimed the faculty of seeing the denizens of the mysterious "nether world," from whom she claimed to receive visits. To them was born three children, Wil- liam, Horatio and Mary. They also inherited this gift of their mother, and it is to them the Eddy family owes its notoriety, they having traveled all over the country giving spiritual seances. They induced many to believe in their -8
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TOWN OF CLARENDON.
supernatural gifts, but the majority of people pronounce their feats mere trickery and fraud.
Nathaniel Ladd was the first town clerk, from March 1789 to 1790. Na- than Nelson, 2d, from 1790 to '93 ; then John Coe, from 1793 to 1813-20 years ; David Wadsworth, from 1814 to '16; Warren Barnard, 1816 to '18; Wolcott H. Keeler, 1818 to 1822 ; Jonas Wheeler, 1822 to '24 ; Wolcott H. Keeler, 1824 to '28 ; Moses Randall, 1828 to the 14th of November, 1843, when he died ; Alvin Randall served till March, 1844; Capen Leonard, Jr., till March, 1847, three years; Chauncey Taylor, from 1847 to 1854; Alvin Randall, 1854 to '56; Reuben Harris, 1856 to '71, fifteen years; H. F. Baird, to the present time. Two senators, both of whom were born and educated in Chittenden, have represented the county in the State Legislature, with ability and honor.
Jonathan Woodard and Josiah Pierson served in the Revolutionary war, and Thaddeus Baird and Israel Hewett served in the war of 1812. Of the late war, Wallace Noyes and Cyrus Whitcomb died at or near Vicksburg. Azro P. Noyes was killed near Richmond, in Kilpatrick's raid. Martin Clark, C. P. Barnard, Lewis Martin, L. L. Baird, Valorious Bump, and Wilber F. Free- man died in the army.
About the year 1810, the Episcopal Methodists organized a society, but some dissensions arising soon after among its members, the presiding elder, (Draper,) disbanded the society and burned the class-book, together with the society records. From that time until 1831, the few sectarians of the town united with the Congregationalists of Pittsford. During this year the Epis- copal Methodists organized a society and erected a church building, and the year following, the Congregationalists built a church edifice, though both of these societies have become extinct. The Methodist property is owned by the Wesleyan Methodists, and the Congregational house is used by the so- ciety of Grangers. There are two Episcopal churches of more recent origin, in the south part of the town, where meetings are occasionally held.
The North Chittenden Church, (Wesleyan Methodist,) located at Forge Flats, was organized by Rev. J. H. Canfield, on March 20, 185 1, with a mem- bership of eleven, which during the first fourteen months increased to forty ; but has since decreased again to about thirty. The building will seat about 150 persons, and was erected in 1832, at a cost of $500,00; but its value has since decreased, so that the whole Church property is now only worth $300.00. Rev. S. B. Town is at present their pastor.
LARENDON comprises within its limits a part of the two New York grants of Socialborough and Durham. No settler located in the town whose lands were long held under either of these grants, the lands be- ing all held, however, under the charter issued by Gov. Wentworth, of New Hampshire, dated September 5th, 1761. It contains 23,600 acres, located near the centre of the county, in lat. 43º 31' and long. 4° 6', and was divided
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TOWN OF CLARENDON.
into 70 shares, chartered to Caleb Williams and others. Just at what date the town was organized is not known, the first records extant, being dated 1778, at which meeting Stephen Arnold was clerk, and Levi Calvin first selectman. In 1854, by an Act of the Legislature, a portion of the western part of the town was annexed to the town of Ira.
The township is entirely an agricultural region, without villages ; the in- habitants being almost exclusively devoted to farming. The landscape is diversified by mountain and valley, hill, river and dale. From the Quarter- line road, No. 5 on the map, may be had one of the finest views in the county. The mountains, mantled with forests, the hills covered with verdure whereon graze the many flocks, and the peaceful valleys nestled between, covered with fields of waving grain, dotted completely over with farm-houses, bring before the eye of the beholder a panorama of rare beauty, at the same time impressing him with a sense of the wealth and thrift of the people.
Extending through the town from north to south is a range of hills called West Mountain, which, together with high lands in the extreme north-west and south-east portions of the town, are the highest elevations.
Several considerable streams irrigate the soil, of which Otter Creek, flow- ing through the central part of the town from south to north, is the largest. Parallel with, and distant west about 12 miles from Otter Creek, flows Tin- mouth River, traversing the entire length of the town. Cold River, in the north, and Mill River in the south part, enter the town from Shrewsbury, flowing a westerly course, emptying into Otter Creek. Numerous other small streams are situated in different parts of the town, lending beauty to the land- scape and richness to the soil.
Mineral springs are found in several localities, whose waters are celebrated for medicinal purposes. In the south-west part of the town is found quite a large cavern, called "Clarendon Cave." It has three different apartments or rooms, which extend back into the rocks some 200 feet or more. The first and largest room is thirty-five feet long, ten feet wide and from ten to twelve feet high. Large rocks, resembling chairs and benches, have been ranged around the apartment by Dame Nature, producing a very weird effect. From this room you descend a ladder about ten feet, and are ushered into the sec- ond apartment. This is about ten feet square and from ten to twelve feet in height. The third is still eight feet lower than the second, and about eight feet square. In the centre of it is a "boiling spring," the water bubbling up, resembling very much the boiling of a cauldron.
Clarendon is bounded north by Rutland, east by Shrewsbury, south by Wallingford and Tinmouth, and west by Ira. It had a population in 1880 of 1, 106.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1880, the town was divided into eight school districts, and had eight common schools, employing four males and ten female teachers, whose salaries amounted to $1,165.30. The number of pupils attending school was 207, and the total amount expended for school purposes, was $1,301.02. G. H. Morse was the superintendent of schools.
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TOWN OF CLARENDON.
The Rutland Railroad enters the town near the centre of its castern boundary, traversing its north-eastern corner, while the Bennington & Rutland Railroad passes through the eastern part from north to south.
It contains four post-offices, viz : Clarendon, East Clarendon, North Clar- endon and Clarendon Springs. The latter is quite a little hamlet, made noted by the mineral springs found there, which are resorted to by hundreds each year in quest of health or pleasure. They are situated in the north-west part of the town, on the west side of Tinmouth River. Tradition says they were first discovered in 1776, by one Asa Smith, who resided in the eastern part of the town. He is reported to have " dreamed " of a spring in the western part of the town, and, full of faith, started through the wilderness in search of the spring that would furnish water that would restore him to health. Ar- riving at this spot, he recognized it as the one he had seen in his dream, and accordingly, at once drank of the water, and bound clay saturated with it upon his swollen and inflamed limbs. The scrofulous humor, which had been a source of annoyance, at once yielded to the potent influence of the water, and he was soon restored to perfect health. The Clarendon House, located at the Springs, is a large hotel owned by B. Murray & Sons, capable of ac- commodating one hundred guests, and has also three cottages capable of ac- commodating one hundred more. In front of the hotel and cottages is a fine park, filled with shade trees, and in the center, a pond and fountain, throw- ing a shaft of water thirty feet high. (See page 320.)
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