USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 17
USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 17
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James Whelpley settled in Hubbardtonin 1787. He was a Revolutionary soldier, having served all through the war. Mr. Whelpley represented the town in the Legislature a number of years, was supervisor of the county a long time, and served the town as justice of the peace until obliged to give up the office on acccount of age and infirmity. In his day Mr. Whelpley was a . great hunter, and killed many deer, wolves, bears, foxes and wild-cats. He outlived all of his children, and died at the advanced age of ninety years.
David Barber, and his wife, Sarah Lawrence, started from West Linesburg, Conn., to settle in Castleton, in the year 1783. On the journey, David was taken very suddenly ill and died. Mrs. Barber and the children continued the journey to Castleton, where she subsequently married Wm. Dyer, of that place. Her son, David H. Barber, born in 1770, went to reside with his uncle, Bigelow Lawrence, of Hubbardton, in 1784, and afterwards married Clarissa Whelpley, by whom he had several children. Mr. Barber died at an advanced age, loved and respected by all. A number of his descendants still reside in the town.
Rufus Root, grandfather of Seneca Root now a resident of East Hub- bardton, was a soldier in 1777, serving under Gen. Stark when only 14 years of age. Three days after the battle of Hubbardton, he came through the town as one of a scouting party to pick up the stragglers and wounded. On the 24th of June, 1828, he visited the battle fields in company with his grand- son, Seneca. Nine years after this visit, in 1837, Seneca moved to the town, settling in East Hubbardton, on the farm now owned by Calvin Brothers, and married the daughter of Thomas Ketchum, of Sudbury. Mr. Root is one of the most enterprising men of the town. He was mainly instrumental in secur- ing a post-office at East Hubbardton, and was the first post-master, which office he held for fifteen years.
Christopher Bresee settled on the farm now owned by A. Walsh, at an early date, where he resided 24 years, and then removed to the farm now owned
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TOWN OF HUBBARDTON.
by his son, Albert Bresee. Albert was the originator of the famous "Early Rose potato." He has a very fine residence, with beautiful grounds.
Joseph Churchill came to Hubbardton in 1783. He was the father of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to be men and women, and there was not a death in the family until most of them were set- tled in the world. The youngest that died was twenty-four years old. His fourth son was killed by the Indians on the last day of the year 1813, at Black Rock. Mr. Churchill was much employed as an agent by the settlers in their land troubles. He served as justice of the peace and selectman many years. He died of a cancer, March 21, 1821, aged 71.
Timothy St. John came to Hubbardton in the year 1785, settling on the farm now owned by his son, Reuben. He built the first frame barn, which now stands in a state of good preservation. His sons, Reuben and Ezekiel, still occupy the old homestead.
Frederic Dikeman, a native of Reading, Conn., was born August 26, 1760, served through the war of the Revolution, and removed to Hubbardton in 1796, locating upon the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Myron M. Dikeman.
Samuel Parsons was born in Reading, Conn., December 15, 1765, and moved to Hubbardton in the year 1787, and soon after married Esther Sellock and settled on the farm now known as the Parsons Hamlet. He died May 27, 1846, aged 79. His wife, Esther, died February 21, 1848.
Rufus Wilmot Griswold, the well known compiler of American literature, spent the greater part of his boyhood in Hubbardton. Mr. Griswold pos- sessed an active mind, but somewhat erratic in its operations. About 1837 he published a paper in Vergennes for a short time; but soon went to New York, where he associated himself with Horace Grecley in editing the New Yorker. He afterward became connected with several eminent journals ; and in 1842 and '43 with Graham's Magazine. He shortly afterward established his reputation as a man of letters, by publishing his "Poets and Poetry of America," and afterwards his "Prose Writers of America." His writings were widely diffused, through the periodicals of the day. At one time he was connected with the poet Edgar A. Poe in the publication of a magazine. After Mr. Poe's death he wrote a memoir of his life and criticism on his works. In this he handled Mr. Poe so roughly that he was censured, and perhaps justly, by many. The latter days of Mr. Griswold were not happy. Worn with study and toil, unfortunate in his domestic relations, he passed from youth to a premature old age. In the summer of 1857 he perceived that his life was drawing to an end, and sought the humble and perhaps al- most forgotten home of his youth to die, but which he never reached ; having proceeded as far as Cambridge, it was deemed advisable to return to New York city, where he died soon after, in the 43d year of his age.
The Battle of Hubbardton has already been spoken of in connection with the County chapter (see page 58), but it may be well to give it a passing
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TOWN OF HUBBARDTON.
glance. Col. Warner, the brave commander of the little band of eight hun- dred, was born in Roxbury, Conn., May 17, 1743, and died at the same place, Dec. 26, 1784, at the age of 41. Ticonderoga was abandoned by the Ameri- cans on the morning of July 6, 1777. Their baggage and stores were packed on board 200 batteaux, and despatched to Skeenesborough (Whitehall), N. Y., while the main body of the army proceeded by land on the route through Hubbardton and Castleton. At Hubbardton they were attacked on the morning of the 7th by the British light troops under Gen. Fraser, who were in eager pursuit. We will not give another description of the battle here, as the events and result of the brief yet fierce and bloody conflict have already been described. After the battle, Warner, with his usual perseverance and intrep- idity, collected his scattered troops, some of which had gone to Fort Edward, to which place St. Clair had retired with the army.
At the Battle of Bennington, in August following, where the "Green Moun- tain Boys " so nobly retrieved their lost fortunes, Col. Warner was one of the chief officers of Gen. Stark, and was one of the General's principal advisers in arranging the plans of that battle, which resulted so advantageously to the cause of the Americans. At the time of the battle of Hubbardton there were but nine families in the town, all of whom fled to escape the danger. Upon their return to their homes after the battle, they found the bones of those who fell, still lying upon the field of battle, bleaching in the sun ; gathering them up, they were all buried in one grave, where for 82 years it remained unmarked and nearly forgotten, until on Thursday, July 7, 1859, a monument of marble, 21 feet in height was reared by the citizens, to mark the spot. On the east side of the base of the monument is the following inscription :---
" HUBBARDTON BATTLE fought on this ground,
July 7, 1777. [North Side] Col. Warner Commanded. Col. Francis Killed. Col. Hale Captured.
The Green Mountain Boys fought . bravely. [South Side.]
This Monument Erected by the Citizens of Hubbardton and Vicinity. [West Side.] The only Battle Fought in Vermont During the Revolution."
S'S.
(HUBBARDTON BATTLE MONUMENT.)
In the spring of 1786 a school-house was built, and here the Word of God
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TOWN OF IRA.
was preached until December 1787, when the people turned out and built a log meeting-house, at what is now East Hubbardton. It was large, well sup- plied with benches, and seats on the sides for the singers. At one end was a platform and a sort of desk for the preacher, while at the other end was a wide stone back for a fire-place, with a large chimney above, built of split sticks well plastered. This was the first church in the town. On the site of this church there was erected, in the year 1800, another building, known as The Hubbardton Baptist Church, with Elder Nathan Dana as pastor. Mr. Dana was the first settled minister in the town, and received the ministerial land. At its organization the Church had but twelve members, which has since increased to twenty-six, and is under the present pastorate of Rev. Zebulon Jones. The building is a comfortable structure, capable of seating about 200 persons, and is valued at $1,200.
Hubbardton First Congregational Church, located near the centre of the township, on the turnpike leading from Brandon to Castleton, was organized by the Rev. Eleazer Harwood in November 1784. The first house of worship was erected in 1818, followed by the present one in 1838, which is a comfort- able structure, capable of seating 200 persons. At the organization of the Church there were but eleven members, with Rev. Ithamer Hibbard as pastor. The membership has since increased to forty-two. The late lamented pastor, John C. Edgar, who died April 29th, 1881, was of Scotch descent, and en- listed in the English army as a drummer boy when he was but twelve years of age, and was one of the famous Light Brigade who, --
"Came from the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six-hundred."
He was but sixteen years of age when he returned from this grand charge, where the British light cavalry of 600, in the Crimea, at the battle of Balaklava, all but about 150 were killed. He was a graduate of Andover Theological Seminary, and possessed of superior ability. Although he was pastor of the Church but two years, he leaves, in the hearts of all who knew him, feelings of the fondest regret.
RA is a triangular tract of land, about three miles in width at its broadest part, and eight in length, located in the central part of the county, in lat. 43° 33', and long. 3º 55' east from Washington, and is bounded east by Pittsford, Rutland and Clarendon ; south by Tinmouth, south-west by Middleton, and west by Poultney and Castleton. A part of the township of Ira was taken to form the town of Middletown, Oct. 28, 1784, and again, by an Act of the Legislature in the year 1854, a portion of the township of Clarendon was annexed to Ira. Aside from these changes the town retains its original boundaries.
Ira is supposed to have been chartered by Benning Wentworth about the year 1761. The original charter was in the Capitol at Montpelier at the
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TOWN OF IRA,
time the Capitol burned, and was probably destroyed. The town was or- ganized May 31, 1779, with Isaac Clark as first town clerk, who was at the same meeting chosen to represent the town in the Legislature.
A large portion of the township lies upon the Taconic range of mountains, whose lofty, sterile peaks frown down upon but little good farming land. Many parts of the town, indeed, are incapable either of cultivation or settle- ment. There are, however, in some of the mountain valleys, and along the basin of Ira Brook, many excellent farms, and the hills are here covered with flocks of sheep, from which the town probably derives its principal wealth. Herrick Mountain, situated in the central part of the town, is the highest peak, being 2,661 feet above tide water. Bird Mountain, located a little to the north-west of Herrick Mountain, and about eight miles from Rutland village, is one of the most northern peaks of the Taconic range. Its eleva- tion is about 2,500 feet above tide water, and is rendered of peculiar interest to geologists, as it is composed almost entirely of quartz conglomerate, a mass of small quartz pebbles about the size of kernels of corn, cemented together. At all points on the mountain-except the north-east-the sides are so precipitous as to render its ascent nearly or quite impossible.
The territory is watered by several streams, but they contain few good mill privileges ; hence it is that Ira is not engaged in the manufacture of lumber to as great an extent as her forests would admit had nature been more liberal in this respect. Ira Brook, the principal stream, rises in the southern part of the town, flows a north-easterly course and joins Tinmouth River in Clarendon. Castleton River crosses the northern part of the town, flowing a westerly course. The township is also crossed here by the Rutland & Washington Railroad. The timber is that peculiar to mountain districts, -- namely, beech, birch, maple and hemlock, with some pine and ash. In some sections maple abounds to a great extent, from which is manufactured large quantities of sugar.
In 1880 Ira had a population of 479, was divided into five school districts and contained five common schools, employing two male and nine female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $756.50. There were 123 pupils attending common schools, and the total cost of the schools for the year was $794.01. Simon L. Peck was superintendent.
IRA, (p. o.) a small hamlet, located in the eastern part of the town, is the only settlement of any extent, and contains a church, one blacksmith shop, a town hall and several dwellings.
Limestone is found in some parts of the town, from which is made a very good quality of lime. The lime-kiln of A. E. & S. W. Day, located on road 9, manufactures about 2,000 barrels per annum.
Smith Johnson's saw mill, located in the north part of the town, manu- factures 75,000 feet of lumber per year.
Lincoln & Day's saw mill, located at Ira, on Ira Brook, manufactures 1,000 feet of lumber per day.
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TOWN OF IRA.
Among the first settlers of Ira are found the names of Sherman, Collins, Carpenter and Lee. Just at what date they settled in the town is, so far as we can learn, not known, but it was probably about the year 1770. The Lees settled in that portion of the town called "Ira Hollow," which contains some of the most fertile land in the town. Here the Lee family had 324 acres of land, and quite a portion of it under cultivation. Lee, however, became a tory and sympathized with his mother country. For this he had to suffer the penalty ; accordingly, on the 24th of February, 1779, his farm was confiscated and he was obliged to leave the town under penalty of the " beech seal." His farm was sold for one hundred pounds, to Thomas Collins, of Lanesborough, Mass.
The first marriage recorded in the town was that of Isaac Clark and Hannah, daughter of Gov. Chittenden, the ceremony being performed by the Governor, on the 5th of September, 1779.
The first birth was Olive, daughter of George and Olive Sherman, Sept. 5, 1773. The first death recorded is that of Hannah Baker, daughter of John Baker, on the 24th of February, 1785.
Preserved Fish came to Ira from Berkshire, Mass., in 1790, and was married the following year to Abigail Carpenter, by whom he had twelve children ; she outliving him about two years and six months. Mr. Fish, when he first came to the town, worked at the mason trade. He held different offices in the town for many years, was a magistrate for over forty years, town clerk two years, represented the town thirteen years, and was foreman of the grand jury so often that the boys of Rutland had for a by-word " a true bill, P. Fish, foreman." Mr. Fish died October 10, 1849, in his 79th year. Bradley Fish, a grandson of Preserved Fish, is still a resident of Ira. He has represented his district twelve years, 1860 to 1873, and was associate judge in 1870, '71 and '72. There are numerous other representatives of the family in town.
Abijah Ellis, whose father was one of the early inhabitants of Pittsford, came to Ira in 1850, and has since held several offices of trust in the town- ship.
Justus Collins came to Ira among the early settlers, locating about one mile south of Ira hamlet, where he died at an advanced age. His son Harry now owns and occupies the old homestead, where he is extensively engaged in breeding blooded stock.
Caleb Williams came to this town at an early date, residing here until his death, in 1872. His son, Cornelius, is still a resident of the town.
Cephas Carpenter settled upon the farm now owned by Capt. Enos Fish, and was followed a few years after by his brother, Wilson, who settled in the south part of the town, where he resided until his death in 1855, at the age of 88. He had a family of eleven children.
Captain Enos C. Fish was born here in 1809, and has never been absent from the town four consecutive weeks during his life.
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TOWN OF IRA.
Peter Parker came to Ira about 1790. Mr. Parker was rather an eccentric individual, of whom there is extant many humorous anecdotes. He was a great story-teller and doted on his courage as a fighter. A short time after he came to Ira, a few roguish boys, one night, learning that Peter would pass through the woods to the north part of the town, a little east of Bird Moun- tain, got some clothes and stuffed them with straw, so as to resemble a human being, and attached it to a tree over the road, in such a manner as to move it back and forth. Peter approached the object in war-like array, with fists drawn, and addressed it as follows :- " Who are you, God, man, or the devil?" and drew his fist and knocked it down, emptied out the straw, and carried off the clothes, which he needed. He left Ira about 1830, going to Hampton, Washington County, N. Y., where he subsequently died at an advanced age.
Daniel Giddings, one of the earliest settlers, planted, the first year he was in the town, a half acre of corn. In this corn-field he killed thirteen bears.
During the war of 1812, six minute men volunteered from Ira. At the time of the battle of Plattsburgh, the news came to Ira by a despatch to Preserved Fish, to start at once to West Clarendon and notify the people there. This Mr. Fish did, and upon the arrival of the despatch, the people were at meeting, but the meeting was immediately broken up and cooking commenced, so that early the next morning, Monday, a company started, pro- visioned, for Plattsburgh. Preserved Fish at this time offered five dollars ex- tra per month, from his own pocket, to each man who would volunteer.
During the war of 1861 and '65 Ira furnished the following three years' men :- Silas Giddings, Edward Haley, John Hunter, Joseph W. Parker, Aaron Savory, Cornelius Curtis, Thomas Long, Henry Tower, Henry Peters, Levi Plumly, Wm. H. Walker, James Fuller, Henry Davis, Charles W. Peck, Harrison Peck, Collamer Persons, Rollin Russell, Sylvanus Wet- more, Manser Young, John Batchelder, Benjamin Mann, Wm. Hogle. One year's men :- James Fox, H. H. Wheeler, Henry Flagg. Nine months' men :- L. C. Parker, Charles Pateman, George Brown, Gilbert Hanly, Aaron Hinckly, Arthur Morgan, Cyrus Russell, Emmet M. Tower, James C. Wetmore, John Boar, Henry C. Tower. Three months' men :- Albert Fish and George Lincoln.
The town clerks of Ira have been as follows :- Isaac Clark, May 31st, 1779; Joseph Wood, March 30th, 1780; George Sherman, March 15th, 1781 ; John Baker, March 24th, 1788; Cephas Carpenter, March 8th, 1792 ; George Sherman, March, 1801; Cephas Carpenter, March, 1802 ; Preserved Fish, March 2d, 1819 ; John Mason, March 7th, 1820; Preserved Fish, March Ist, 1821 ; John Mason, March 11th, 1823; Bradley Fish, June 4th, 1861. Mr. Fish has since that time filled the office. Cephas Carpenter held the office 25 years, and John Mason 39 years.
The Baptist Church, located at Ira, was organized in 1783, by the Rev. Thomas Skeels, who was their first pastor. What the membership was at its organization is not known, but it at present has 106 members, although they
148
TOWN OF MENDON.
have no regular pastor. The church building was erected in 1852, at a cost of about $2,000. The building committee was Leonard Morse, Bradley Fish and John Morse. The building will comfortably accommodate about three hundred persons, and is valued, including grounds, at about $2,000.
ENDON is located near the centre of the eastern part of the county, in lat. 43º 37' and lon. 4º 10', east from Washington, and is bounded north by Chittenden, east by Sherburne, south by Shrewsbury, and west by Rutland. The township was chartered under the name of Medway, by Gov. Thomas Chittenden, February 25th, 1781, to Hon. Joseph Bowker and thirty-four associates, and then contained 8,890 acres. November 7th, 1804, a portion of land called "Parker's Gore " was annexed and the name of Medway changed to Parkerstown.
Parker's Gore was a tract of land bought of the county by Jonathan Parker, of Rutland, in 1804. This tract was to have been sold to the highest bidder by the high sheriff of the county, which office was then held by Abraham Ives, of Wallingford. On the day advertised for the sale to take place, Ives opened the sale at 12 o'clock at night, in the interest of certain Rutland men. Parker therefore bought the land at a nominal value, making the sale of advantage to said sheriff. For this crookedness Ives was obliged to resign his office and leave the State to evade prosecution. The township retained the name of Parkerstown until November 6th, 1827, when it was changed to the present one of Mendon.
The town was organized March 11, 1806, and the first town meeting held on this day at the residence of Johnson Richardson, the first justice of the peace. At this meeting Darius Shipman was chosen moderator ; John Page, town clerk, and Benjamin Farmer, Johnson Richardson and Daniel Bradish, selectmen. The selectmen were also appointed a committee to receive a deed of Jonathan Parker for a certain mill-privilege for the use of the town.
Mendon lies mostly on the Green Moun- tains, and the surface is very broken and un- even. Much of the land is high and cold, being unfit for settlement or cultivation. There is some good farming-land, however, especi- ally along its western border, and much good grazing land. Sheep-growing is carried on quite extensively, but as large portions of the town are covered by heavy forests, lumbering forms the principal industry of the people. The town is watered by numerous mountain- streams, abounding in trout and affording good (TROUTING. ) mill-sites, of which East Creek, flowing a westerly course through the northern part of the town, is the largest.
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TOWN OF MENDON.
In 1880 Mendon had a population of 629, was divided into seven school districts and had six common schools, employing ten female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $603.88. The number of pupils attending common schools was 150, and the total cost of the schools for the year ending October 31st, was $689.18. Dr. Orel Cook was school superintendent.
MENDON, (p. o.) a hamlet located in the north-western part of the town, is the only settlement. It contains one store, one blacksmith shop, one saw- mill, one church (M. E.), and about one hundred inhabitants.
E. H. Ripley's saw-mill, located at Mendon, was built in 1853, by William Y. Ripley. It cuts about 2,000 feet of lumber per day.
Orel Cook's saw-mill, on East Creek, was rebuilt by him in 1871. It has a capacity of about 5,000 feet of lumber per day.
Darius Coutt's saw-mill, located on East Creek, was built about the year 1836. It has since been rebuilt and a circular-saw added, and now has a ca- pacity of about 4,000 feet of lumber per day.
Of the first settlers of Mendon but little is known, although many grand- children of the early settlers still reside in the town. In 1811 Mendon had only eleven voters. The first birth recorded in the town was Trowbridge Maynard Richardson, son of Johnson and Sibel Richardson, born November 17, 1800, and died May 6, 1803. The first marriage recorded was that of Simon Parker and Lucy Perkins, by Johnson Richardson, justice of the peace, January 2, 1810. Johnson Richardson was also the first representative, elected in 1812.
Jonathan Eggleston, from Pequomick, Conn., Johnson Richardson and some of the first town officers, with their families, were the first settlers of the town. Eggleston settled in the north-west part of the town about the year 1792, and many of his descendants still reside there. The first tavern was kept by Johnson Richardson, in the northern part of the town, near East Creek. The building has long since gone to decay, and in the middle of what was once the cellar, there is growing a tree about two feet in diameter.
The Indian "Capt. John " was quite a character in the town, being the only Indian, so far as known, ever living within its limits. He belonged to some tribe in the western part of New York, from whom he had to flee for exposing some of their plans to the whites.
It seems they had planned the massacre of a white settlement near their village, and John, being friendly, warned the whites of their danger. They accordingly were prepared, and repelled the Indians when they made the at- tack. For this act John was obliged to flee from his people to the whites ; they, however, mistrusted him, and as a punishment slit both his ears. He subsequently joined the American army, where he acted as a scout, and was afterward pensioned by the Government for his services. After leaving the army, not daring to be seen by his people, he fled to the wilds of Parkerstown, and built a camp not far from Johnson Richardson's, dwelling here and in the surrounding towns for many years. Indians from his tribe often came here
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