USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 23
USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
Jonathan Morgan, from Simsburg, Conn., immigrated to Poultney in 1795, locating in the east part of the town, on road 47, upon the farm now occupied by his sons, Isaac H. and J., where he died on March 22d, 1859, at the age of 74 years.
Seth Ruggles came to Poultney from Massachusetts in 1804, locating in the central part of the town, upon the farm now occupied by Jasper A. Benedict, where he resided until his death. Frederick Ruggles, son of Seth, is still a resident of the town, at the age of 76 years.
Warren Clark came to Poultney from Bethlehem, Mass., in the year 1805, and resided in several localities in the town during his life, dying on the 31st of December, 1863. His son, Joseph W., one of eleven children, still resides in the town, on road 23.
Stephen Howe, with his son Chester, came to Poultney from Connecticut. in 1812, and located in the western part of the town, where he resided until his death, at an advanced age. Chester remained in the town but a few years ; his daughter, Phœbe Babcock, is still a resident, at the age of 92 years, making her home with the family of Noah C. Fenton.
Royal Pease came to Poultney from New York in 1816, and located upon Pond Hill, where he resided until his death, in 1837. His son, Albert Pease, is still a resident of the town.
F. W. Whitlock was the second person to engage in the slate business in Poultney, and, it is said, opened the second quarry in the county, in 1847.
192
TOWN OF POULTNEY.
In 1848 he sent to Wales for 25 practical slate workers; he operated a quarry for many years, employing from 30 to 50 men.
Dan Pond, first son of Philip, born March 4, 1726, at Bradford, Conn., re- moved from Stockbridge, Mass., to Poultney, in 1782, locating with a portion of his family on "Pond Hill." He had fifteen children-13 sons and two daughters. All but one (Philip) lived to have families. Dan died May 27, 1783, aged 56 years, and is buried in the East Poultney Cemetery. Asahel, Jr., fifth son of Major Asahel, and grandson to Dan, was born May 20, 1807, married Calista Hartwell and removed to Castleton, where he still resides on the shore of Lake Bomoseen.
The Congregational Church at East Poultney was organized by their first pastor, Rev. Thomas Hibbard, in 1780, the first church society and the first settled minister in the town. The first church building was erected in 1783, and used by the society until 1803, when the present edifice was erected; it is a pleasantly located, neat structure, with a seating capacity of 400, and valued at $4,000.00. The society now numbers about 66 members, with the Rev. Calvin Granger, pastor.
The First Baptist Church, located at Poultney village, was organized in 1782, by the society's first pastor, Rev. Clark Kendrick, with twelve men- bers. The first building was erected in 1802, followed by the present edifice, which will seat 300 persons, in 1868. The church property is now valued at about $5,000.00, the society having in its treasury a fund of $1,000.00 and a membership of 148.
The Poultney Methodist Episcopal Church, located on Main street, was organized by Rev. Seymour Landon, who was also the first pastor, in 1822. A house of worship was erected the same year, which did service until 1841, when the present building was erected, costing about $12,000.00, and will comfortably seat 600 persons. The society now numbers 150 members, with Rev. W. H. Rowsom, M. A., pastor.
The East Poultney Baptist Church was organized in 1805 by the society's first pastor, Rev. Clark Kendrick, and a building erected the same year which will seat 500 persons, and is now valued, including grounds, at $3,000.00. There are now about seventy members, under the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Tellier.
St. John's Episcopal Church was organized in 1809, with Rev. Mr. Pardee as pastor. In 1832 a church building, with seating room for 200 persons, was erected at East Poultney, and in 1868 an edifice that will seat 175 persons was built in Poultney village, both being under the pastoral care of the same rector. The society now numbers 115 members, its property is valued at $10,000.00, and for the last twelve years has been presided over by Rev. E. H. Randall.
St. Raphael Catholic Church, located at Poultney village, was organized by the society's first pastor, Rev. T. Lynch, in 1864, and then numbered eighty members. During that year the present edifice was erected at a cost
193
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
of $3,000.00, and will comfortably seat 200 persons. The society now num- bers 200, under the pastoral care of Rev. P. J. O'Carroll, its property being valued at $3,500.00.
The Welsh Presbyterian Church, (Calvinistic Methodist,) located in school district No. 4, was organized in 1871 by the Rev. Joseph Roberts, he being the society's first pastor. The church building, which will seat 100 persons, was erected the following year, costing $1,500.00, but now is only valued at, including grounds, $1,200,00. The present membership of the society is forty, with Rev. Hugh Davids pastor.
UTLAND, the shire town of Rutland County, was granted by charter, Sept. 7, 1761, by Gov. Benning Wentworth, of the Province of New Hampshire, with the usual reservations and under the restrictions com- mon to the charters issued by that Province, the said charter being procured by Col. Josiah Willard of Winchester, N. H. The first named grantee of the charter-which is still extant-is John Murray, who at that time was an in- fluential citizen of Rutland, Mass., and it is quite probable that he gave the name to the township, although he, nor any of the other grantees, ever resided within its limits. During this year (1761) Rutland was also granted, under the name of Fairfield, by Col. John Henry Lydius, of Albany, who claimed the territory under a deed issued by the Mohawk chiefs of New York ; but the final adjustment of the Land Title Controversy, as is well known, deter- mined the legality of the charters issued by New Hampshire. This town lies in lat. 43° 37' and long. 4º 4', east from Washington, and has an area of about 26,000 acres, bounded north by Pittsford, east by Mendon, south by Clarendon and Ira, and west by Ira; the length of the north line is 7.92 miles, that of the east line, 6.39, the south line 7.05, and the west, 6.39 miles.
The eastern and southern portions are quite level, while the other parts are very mountainous, except in the valley of Otter Creek, which is quite broad, where are situated some fine level intervales of perhaps as good farming- land as there is to be found in the State. The mountains clothed in verdure and cut with limpid, rippling streams, the broad valleys covered with swaying grain, dotted completely over "with cot and hall," renders an enchanting scene from almost any point of view, while the plethoric hills and mountains, from their generous breasts, yield a treasure that renders the town of Rut- land, in point of wealth, far in advance of the other towns of Rutland County. The soil, presenting all the varieties from heavy loam to light sand, is irrigated by numerous streams, the principal one being Otter Creek, which enters about the middle of the south line, and leaves about the middle of the north line, cutting the town into two nearly equal parts. Tributary to this are West Creek or Tinmouth River, rising in Tinmouth, and East Creek, one of whose branches rises in Chittenden, and the other in Mendon, the latter entering Otter Creek one mile above Center Rutland, and
-13
194
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
the former about forty rods below. Near the north-west corner of the town- ship, on the north line, Castleton River enters, and, after pursuing a south- erly course about three miles, turns to the right, and passes off into Ira. There are numerous other streams, but of minor importance.
The timber is principally spruce, hemlock, beech, birch and maple, with some pine, poplar, oak, and other deciduous woods.
The Central Vermont, The Del. & Hudson Canal Co's., and the Benning- ton and Rutland railways, are the principal works of internal improvement.
The town had a population in 1880, of 12, 151 ; it was divided into nineteen school districts, and contained forty-two common schools, employing seven male and fifty-seven female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $13, 151.69. There were 2,391 pupils attending common schools, while the entire cost of the schools for the year ending Oct. 31st, was $16,847.14, with Mr. J. J. R. Randall, superintendent.
RUTLAND, the county seat, a post village and railroad center, is beautifully located in the south east part of the township, at the point where East Creek unites with Otter. It contains a population of about 7,000, and is the most flourishing village in the State. It was incorporated by an Act of the General Assembly, approved November 15, 1847, and is bounded in said Act as follows :-
"Commencing at a point on the east bank of Otter Creek, where a con- tinuation of Robt. Moulthrop's north line would strike said bank of said creek, at the water's edge at low water mark ; thence easterly to the said Moulthrop's north-east corner ; thence easterly in the same direction to a point due south from the bridge crossing Moon's Brook, on Green street ; thence north to a point due east of H. H. Baxter's north-east corner ; thence west to said Baxter's north-east corner, thence westerly on said Baxter's north line, and in the same direction to East Creek ; thence south-westerly on the east bank of said East Creek to Otter Creek, and thence southerly on the east bank of said Otter Creek, to the place of beginning."
The village is divided into seven wards, containing, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of inhabitants, the trustees being authorized to change the boundaries of the wards at the end of every fifth year, with reference to equality in population. It is lighted by gas and has a fine water supply. 9 The water-works are owned by the village, and for general use were first con- structed about twenty-five years ago. Water was taken from Mendon, about two miles east of the reservoir, which is situated at Woodward ave., the old aqueduct having been laid by M. L. Richardson, who for many years acted as water-commissioner.
The rapid growth of the village soon made the supply of water inadequate to the demand, and the great fire of April 3, 1868, taught the citizens that something must be done immediately to increase the water supply, as several insurance companies had withdrawn their policies on account of its scarcity ; accordingly, work was soon commenced on the old reservoir, which was en- tirely reconstructed and much enlarged, costing about $30,000. This, how- ever, soon failed to supply the demand, and ten years after, in 1878, a new
195
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
twelve inch iron aqueduct was laid from the head to the reservoir, costing about $35,000.00; and during the following year, distributing pipes were laid through the village, and seventy-five hydrants have been placed in different parts of the place, at an expense of about $20,000. So Rutland now has a water supply fully adequate to all demands. Water is taken from East Creek, about three miles north-east from the reservoir, in the town of Mendon, on the farm of Walter E. Wood. For about fifty feet from the bank of the creek, a cobble-stone filter is constructed, from which the water flows into a canal or vat, about 100 feet long, 6 feet wide and 10 feet deep, where all sediment that may exist is precipitated and clear water passes into the aqueduct. The works have about 180 feet head, so that by attaching hose to the fire-hydrants a powerful stream is thrown.
The village contains a town-hall, county clerk's office, U. S. court-house, one savings, one state and three national banks, a fine graded school, seven churches, three large hotels, and several smaller ones, about one hundred stores, and numerous manufacturing establishments.
MANUFACTORIES.
Howe Scale Co's Works .- The benefit Rutland derives from this manufac- tory cannot be told, and only those who have made a careful examination of
(THE HOWE SCALE COMPANY'S WORKS.)
the works can have any approximate idea of the magnitude of the industry. It may be well to look back a little into the history of the "Howe Scales," whose name has become as familiar as a household-word, not only in this country, but in Europe. The original inventors of these scales were F. M. Strong and Thomas Ross, both young men of thorough mechanical genius and full of energy. In 1855 these gentlemen conceived the plan of construct- ing their scales, which was followed up with unwearied study, and after vari- ous experiments the conception was matured, and a patent obtained on the 15th of January, 1856. In the fall of that year they put up the first scale, in
196
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
mills owned by Joel Hills, at Vernon village, N. Y. At about this time they also put upon exhibition at the American Institute, New York city, their hay scales and some smaller ones, which were objects of much attention. In the spring of 1857, Mr. John Howe, Jr., of Brandon, having seen this scale and been fully impressed with its merits, was led to purchase the patent of Messrs. Strong and Ross, and commence their manufacture at Brandon. The busi- ness has since been continually on the increase, various changes have taken place in the company, and finally, in August, 1877, it was decided to remove the works to Rutland village, on account of its being a more convenient point for shipment, etc. The present site was chosen as being the most convenient for both the company and their operatives. It is a triangular piece of land, containing ten acres, at the junction of the Central Vermont and the Ben- nington and Rutland Railroads, a few rods south-east of the depot. The buildings are arranged in the general form of a triangle, with the foundry for a base, and make as complete and conveniently arranged a manufactory as can be found in the State. They were built in 1877-78, with J. J. R. Ran- dall as architect, and were erected under the personal supervision of himself and Hon. John B. Page. This company gives constant employment to from three to five hundred persons. The officers of the company are as follows :- George A. Merrill, president ; Hon. John B. Page, treasurer ; W.W. Reynolds, superintendent ; W. F. Lewis, assistant superintendent, and W. H. Bryant, secretary.
The Rigby Combination Car Wheel Company was organized on the 15th of November, 1880, and is composed of the following gentlemen :- James Rigby, W. H. H. Lawrence, H. L. Verder, E. A. Morse and J. M. Haven. This company was incorporated for the purpose of carrying on the manufac- ture and sale of the above mentioned car-wheel, an invention that bids fair to supercede all other patents in this line. Mr. Rigby is an inventor of more than ordinary ability, and well known among mechanics and manufacturers, both in the United States and Canada, as well as in Europe ; but this last in- vention eclipses all his other efforts. He has discovered and produced a wheel combining more mechanical principle, hence more safety and endur- ance, and greater economy than is found in any other wheel now in use. It may be termed a combination spoke and plate wheel, composed of cast iron, wrought iron and cast steel. The hub, spokes, plates and rim are cast iron, and used without chilling any part thereof, and are cast in one piece. The rim of this is turned to a perfect circle. The tire, two inches thick, is of cast steel, the inside of which is also turned to a perfect circle and shrunk upon its bed, making an absolute fit and bearing upon all parts of the cast iron. The outer plate has a shoulder or edge of one inch in thickness, which being turned to a circle, serves as a rest or bed for the inner edge of the flange. The flange is also of cast steel and turned to exactly fit the tire, forming a perfect joint on its rest and on its tire. There is a cast iron plate for the inner side of the wheel, which serves to hold the tire to its place and to keep
197
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
the dust out of the wheel. These four parts are held together by 16 strong bolts of cold drawn iron. A great per cent. of the accidents that occur are undoubtedly caused by the breaking of wheels. The chilling of parts in a cast iron wheel tends to weaken it as a whole, because the chilled part is rendered brittle, and in consequence, its natural strength is greatly impaired, and its capacity of withstanding strains upon it of sudden jars is very much lessened. The Rigby wheel obviates all these difficulties and dangers, composed as it is of both cast iron and steel, and the two so combined as to leave each in condition and position to perform its part to the fullest extent of its natural strength and capacity. This feature of durability and safety is also attended by the fact of its great economy ; for should one part from use or accident become unfit for use, that one part only has to be supplied, whereas, in the old styles of wheels, the whole wheel would have to be replaced. This wheel also obviates a great per cent. of the noise attending a rapidly moving train, as the joints necessary to the fitting together of the several parts stop the vibration, and hence decrease the noise. The inventor asserts that the wheel will last from eight to twelve years, and that disaster from the fracture of any part would be prevented by the support given by the others. It is also claimed that the steel rim being mechanically sound, secures easier riding. Mr. Rigby has given mechanics and railroad officials every oppor- tunity to test the practicability of his invention, and it has been pronounced by them with one accord " to be positively the best wheel ever invented."
A company has been incorporated at Fort Worth, Texas, and are soon to commence its manufacture there. It is only a question of a very short time when this wheel will be in general use upon the railroads of this country, and Rutland is very fortunate in being chosen as the site for one of its manufac- tories.
Steam Stone-Cutter Co .- This company was organized and incorporated under the laws of New York, in 1865, for the purpose of manufacturing the Wardwell Stone Channeling and Quarrying Machine, for quarrying marble, lime, sand, brown-stone, etc. At first the company had its office in New York city, and the manufacturing done in different parts of the country ; but soon perceiving the advantage of having their manufactory in the heart of a quarrying district, they established themselves in Rutland. The invention is covered by numerous patents in the United States, Canada, England and France, and many of the machines are in use in each of these countries. The works are under the immediate supervision of the inventor, Mr. George J. Wardwell, and give employment to a large number of men.
Lincoln Iron Works .- This establishment was opened in the fall of 1868 for the manufacture of stone-planing, hoisting, and other stone-working ma- chinery, engines, etc., to which has since been added the manufacture of the Crescent Coffee Mill, a joint invention of Thomas and Crawford D. Ross. Thomas, at the time of his death, was proprietor of the establishment. The manufactory is now carried on by his brother, Crawford D., under the admin-
198
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
istrators of the estate. Thomas, as before stated, was one of the original inventors of the Howe Scales. His useful life was brought to a sad and un- fortunate end by the bursting of an emery wheel at his works, on the 5th of January, 1881. The shops and foundry are situated on West st., near the railroad-crossing, and furnish employment for from thirty-five to forty men.
Mansfield & Stimson Iron Foundry, located on the north-west side of Freight street, near its junction with Union, was first established by Bowman & Mansfield about 30 years ago (1851), and continued until December, 1865, when upon Mr. Bowman's retiring, a new firm was founded by G. R. Mansfield and C. L. Stimson. The shops were formerly located on the site now occupied by the Rutland Foundry Co's works, but the buildings being destroyed by fire, their temporary shops were built upon the present site, and later the present structure was erected. This company is engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of quarrying and marble and slate manufacturing. machinery, and in casting car-wheels and other railroad castings, and also deal in pipe and pipe-fittings, iron and steel, giving employment to a large number of men.
Boiler Manufactory .- The Boiler Works of John W. and Joseph H. Holmes were established in 1872, their shops being then located on Strong's Ave., but they have recently purchased and fitted up their present place of business, corner of West and Forest streets, where they enjoy increased facili- ties for manufacturing and shipping their goods, as the tracks of the C. V., and the D. & H. C. Co's. R. R. pass immediately before their door. Their specialty is the manufacture of steam boilers of all sizes and descriptions ; but they also build stationary engines of from two to ten horse power. At the present time this firm employs sixteen skilled workmen, and are increasing their business constantly.
D. Shortsleeve's machine shop, located on Strong's avenue, was established in August, 1878, and then occupied only a space of 20 by 40 feet ; in Aug. 1879 he was compelled to enlarge to 40 by 60 feet, and put in tools and machinery to correspond with the size of the building. In Nov. 1880, a two- story brick building, 30 by 50 feet, was added, also an engine of thirty-five horse power, and a boiler of forty horse capacity. He is now completing a foundry, 42 by 70 feet, with a cupola having the capacity for melting ten tons of iron. Mr. Shortsleeve, being a thorough and active workman himself, acts as superintendent and foreman of his works, doing all kinds of machine work, and making a specialty of the manufacture of quarrying and stone-working machinery.
The Button Factory of Gay, Kimball & Gay has been in operation since 1876, but was not located in Rutland until December, 1880, removing there from Gaysville. The buttons are manufactured from vegetable ivory, of which about 2,000 pounds per day are used, giving employment to about seventy-five hands, male and female. Their wares are shipped principally to New York and Boston, although orders from the Central and Western States are frequently filled.
199
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
The brick-yard of John L. Mc Intyre was established in 1852, since which time he has furnished brick for many of the best business, public, and private buildings in Rutland and Bennington counties. He has an excellent clay-bed, as good perhaps as any in Vermont, and employs in his yard from twenty to thirty men.
The Rutland Foundry and Machine Shop Co. was organized in 1862, for the purpose of building castings for heavy machinery, and the manufacture of car-wheels. The latter are in general use upon the Central Vermont, Connecticut River, Bennington & Rutland and other railroads. They cast annually about 1500 tons of iron and employ twenty men. The foundry is under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Harris, and the machine works under the management of the Charles P. Harris Manufacturing Co.
The Charles P. Harris Manufacturing Co. was commenced in 1874, under the firm name of Charles P. Harris & Co. Previous to 1879 the business was devoted chiefly to the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, etc .; but at that time the present firm name was adopted, and the manufacture of chairs, church wood-work, etc., added, also the business of the Rutland Nail Works, which the company purchased in 1877. They now employ about thirty men in the shops, in addition to some 200 persons who at their homes are engaged in bottoming cain-seat chairs. About 1,000,000 feet of lumber are consumed in the business annually. In the machine department a specialty is made of the manufacture of stone and iron-working machinery and general jobbing.
D. M. White & Co .- This company was organized in 1870 for the purpose of carrying on the manufacture and sale of lumber. The first office was located near the freight depot, and removed to its present location on West street in 1875. The company has extensive steam-mills located in Mendon, Shrewsbury and Sherburne, where they manufacture large quantities of lumber, staves, lath, etc. They also do an extensive business in flour, feed, and Akron sewer-pipe.
H. L. Verder & Co's steam bakery, located on Centre street, was estab- lished by Daniel Verder in 1853. The building occupied by the present firm was erected by them in 1868, and contains all the appliances of a model bakery. The business gives employment to eight men, who manu- facture thirty-five barrels of crackers per day, in addition to a large quantity of bread, cake, etc.
The White & Haven Marble Manufactory .- The business of manufactur- ing marble was commenced at this location in March, 1867, by George F. and S. C. White. S. C. White soon retired from the business, after which various parties were interested with George F., up to June, 1877, when Mr. Frank Haven became associated with him in the business. About 25 men are employed in the works at Rutland, and about 30 in the granite works at Fitzwilliam, N. H. They also employ a number of men at their quarries in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Red Beach, Me. Their sales on
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.