USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 28
USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 28
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TOWN OF SHREWSBURY.
CUTTINGSVILLLE, a post village and station on the Central Vermont Rail- road, lies in the south-west part of the town, about nine miles distant from Rutland. Mill River runs through the village, which contains about twenty dwellings, one church, one hotel, two stores, one grist and saw-mill, two blacksmith shops, one harness shop, one shoe shop, two milliners' and one dressmaker's shops.
In a small unpretentious rural graveyard, located in this village, there has been erected a Grecian tomb which is one of the marvels of its class on this continent ; a gem, that will continue to delight the hearts of lovers of the beautiful through countless ages, and imperishable as the rock-ribbed hills that form its setting. "Laurel Glen Mausoleum " was begun in July of 1880, at the order of Mr. John P. Bowman, a wealthy resident of Creek Centre, New York, a native of Clarendon, Vermont, in memory of his wife and two daughters, of whom he has been bereaved by sudden and repeated strokes, and for over a year, 125 men, sculptors, granite and marble cutters, masons and laborers, were employed in erecting it in all its classic details, until it stands complete to-day, the only monument of pure Grecian archi- tecture in the country. Its dimensions externally at base are seventeen feet six inches by twenty-four feet, and twenty feet high from grade line to apex of roof. There have been 750 tons of granite, 50 tons of marble and 20,000 bricks used in its construction, which together with improvements upon its surroundings has cost the owner $75,000.00. In general exterior it has the appearance of a miniature Grecian temple, composed of massive blocks of granite, the roof alone weighing forty tons ; while its interior is that of a grand mausoleum vestibule, sheltering the vault that contains the cherished dead. The inside door is a mighty granite monolith of 6,500 pounds weight, yet equilibrated with such nicety that it may be noiselessly turned upon its hinges by a touch of the finger.
The whole exterior, except the floors which are of English Encaustic Tiles, is of the choicest statuary and Brocadilla marble, the wainscotting, columns &c., highly polished and deeply wrought with emblems and tracery of the most elaborate character. At a point opposite the entrance, solid plate-glass mir- rors have been set in such a manner as to produce the most dazzling optical illusion, taking up and reflecting almost to infinity in all directions the statues and carved work, until the observer standing within the space seems to be in the center of a vast area thronged with the choicest effects of sculptured architecture. The only external statue is one in life size of Mr. Bowman, represented in the act of ascending the broad steps, key in hand, to open the shelter of the "couch of dreamless sleep," where rests his cherished dead, bearing in his hand a wreath of immortelles, his mantle thrown over his arm, a graceful drapery falling in the negligee of sorrow, forming a whole that tells its own silent tale of grief and sadness. Previous to the erection of this gem of mortuary art, the little rural burial-ground where it is located had nothing to distinguish it from others of its class ; but now, in point of beauty, it vies
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with the more pretentious " cities of the dead " located in the midst of more populous communities. The whole ground has been graded and laid out in beautiful grass plats, decked with rare flowers and furnished with smooth gravel walks, and the whole fronted by a granite wall of broken ashler ma- sonry, the paneled posts terminated with beautifully cut vases of solid granite for the reception of flowers, while several hundred yards back of the cemetery, high up on the hill, has been built a reservoir, fed by a small brook, that furnishes water for a beautiful fountain. Taken all in all, Mr. Bowman has called into existence such a rare scene of loveliness, that long after he has "gone down to the dust from whence he sprung," Laurel Glen Mausoleum will preserve fresh and green the memory of his name.
SHREWSBURY (p. o.,) a hamlet situated near the centre of the town, con- tains one church, a post-office, one blacksmith shop, one cheese-factory and nine dwellings.
NORTH SHREWSBURY (p. o.,) a hamlet, situated a little east of the central part of the town, contains one church, one store, one blacksmith shop, the steam-mill of N. J. Aldrich & Co., and about a dozen dwellings.
N. J. Aldrich & Co.'s mill is run by a 30 horse-power engine, and uses one circular saw for cutting lumber, three gigger, or band-saws for cutting chair stock and four other sınall saws, for cutting lath, &c. The Company employs about fifteen men, who cut from 800,000 to 1,500,000 feet of lumber, and stock for 123,000 chairs, annually.
R. P. Burdett's steam-mill is situated in the northern part of the town, on Cold River. It is run by a 75 horse-power engine, uses one circular-saw for lumber, two gigger or band-saws, and two gauge lathes. It employs twelve men, and cuts 2,000,000 feet of lumber per year, and manufactures a car- load of chair-stock weekly.
D. M. White & Co.'s steam mill, in the north part of the town, is en- gaged in the manufacture of nail-keg staves, under the management of Pom- eroy & Sipple, who employ eight men, and manufacture staves for 1,000 nail kegs daily.
The Bates Cheese Factory, owned by James Huntoon, and operated by W. E. Aldrich, receives the milk of 250 cows, manufacturing therefrom 40,000 lbs. of cheese per annum.
The Gilson Cheese Factory, located at Shrewsbury, receives the milk of 400 cows, and manufactures 112,000 lbs. of cheese per annum.
North Shrewsbury Cheese Factory, owned and operated by W. E. Aldrich, receives the milk of 300 cows, from which is manufactured 50,000 lbs. of cheese per annum.
Lyman Russell's saw mill, located in the southern part of the town, is operated by water power, has one circular saw, and cuts 500,000 feet of lumber yearly.
Capt. Lemuel White was the first settler in Shrewsbury, coming thither from Rockingham, Vt., in the year 1777, settling on the farm now owned by
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TOWN OF SHREWSBURY.
Willard Smith, where he cleared the first land and built the first house in the town. It was in this house that the charter meeting of the town was held, March 20, 1781, at which Mr. White was chosen moderator, four years after his settlement. On the 23d of July, 1778, Lemuel was married to Zilpha Bowdish, the first marriage ceremony that occurred, and was per- formed by Joseph Bowker, a justice of the peace. As a fruit of this marriage, there was born to them a daughter, Anna, on the 15th of August, 1779, being the first birth that occurred in the town. Lemuel was also captain of the first militia and first representative of the town, a man possessed of much shrewd, common sense, although he could neither read nor write. The following anecdote, which is related of him, may perhaps give some insight into his character :- " Farming tools were not so plenty in those days but that people had to borrow from one another. A Mr. Aldrich sent to borrow Capt. White's harrow. Capt. White returned word that if Mr. Aldrich would bring his land there he might use his harrow." He died of the great epi- demic of March. 1813, and many of his descendants still reside in Shrewsbury and vicinity.
The first male child born in the town was Jonathan Smith, born May 4, 1780. The first grist mill was located on the farm now owned by Webb Sinclair, and was swept away by a freshet in July of the year 1811.
Nehemiah Smith and his sons, Nathan, William and Job, came to this town from Rhode Island, in 1780, settling upon the farm now owned by Willard Smith, where they used the shelter of a large projecting rock as a sleeping chamber, until they had erected a log house. Until they had made a clearing large enough whereon to raise some grain, they had no means of subsistence except by manufacturing potash and burning charcoal, which was carried to Troy on horseback, a distance of seventy-five miles, and there ex- changed for grain, Troy being the nearest point that such goods were sal- able.
Ziba Aldrich settled in Shrewsbury, also during this year, (1780,) locating on Mill River, near the farm now owned by Amos Pratt. Mr. Aldrich was born in Mendon, Mass., in 1753, and while quite young moved with his parents to Richmond, N. H., where he was subsequently married, and with his wife and two children emigrated to this place. His was the fourth family that moved to the town, and consequently participated in all the vicissitudes that occurred to its early inhabitants, and through it all, Mr. Aldrich, by his manly christian life, gained the confidence of the entire community, which he retained until his death, July 23d, 1840, at the advanced age of 87 years.
Jeffrey A. Barney came to the town in 1780, from Richmond, N. H., set- tling on Mill River, upon the farm now owned by David Waterman. On their journey thither from New Hampshire, Mrs. Barney traveled on horseback, while Jeffrey walked the whole distance, driving two cows. They had been here but a few weeks, when, it is related the cows strayed off into the forest
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TOWN OF SHREWSBURY.
and in the evening at the usual time for them to return, were not to be found. So, early on the following morning, Jeffrey, taking his dinner with him, started off in search of them. He tracked them through the forest a distance of forty miles, and at last found them near the source of Black River. During the tramp through the forest, Mr. Barney lost his dinner, so had nothing to eat until he had returned on his journey as far as the " Port Wine Tavern " in Cavendish, a distance of twenty miles. Thus Mr. Barney had a walk of sixty miles with no refreshments.
Benedict Webber's was the fifth family that moved to the town, settling here in 1780. Mr. Webber's mother, widow of William, died on the 9th of April, 1782, the first death that occurred in the town. Mrs. Webber's death was a sad one, she having accidently fallen into the broad fire-place, and before she could be rescued, was burned so badly that she expired a few hours afterwards.
John Kilburn, a surveyor, came from Walpole, N. H., settling in Shrews- bury in 1785, where he was elected town clerk in 1789, which office he con- tinued to hold for forty consecutive years. In 1836, he removed to Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he died at an advanced age, mourned and respected by all. At the annual town-meeting, held at Shrewsbury in March, 1878, it was voted that a set of marble head-stones be furnished Mr. Kilburn's grave in Canton, at the expense of the town of Shrewsbury, as a token of respect and in memory of his long life among them. The stones were manufactured and sent to Canton the same year.
Nathan Phinney was also one of the earliest settlers in the town, and for a long time kept the first tavern, located on the farm now owned by Amos Pratt. At one time a band of smugglers was chased by the officers from Rutland to the Phinney tavern. The smugglers had a sleigh-load of fine goods which they had smuggled from Canada, which, just before they reached the Phinney stand, they threw over a high embankment. When the officers caught them at Phinney's, they of course could find no trace of smuggled goods, so were obliged, though reluctantly, to give up the search and return to Rutland. After they had left, the smugglers gathered up the contraband property and proceeded with it to Boston, where it brought a good round price.
Nathan Russell settled on the farm now owned by William Russell, in 1786, coming from Barry, Mass. Mr. Russell lived alone in his log-cabin three years before he was married, having to carry his grain to Woodstock on horseback, a distance of twenty-two miles, this being the nearest grist- mill. He died in 1856, at the advanced age of 92 years, leaving eighteen children to mourn his loss.
Uriah Cook, a hero of the Revolution, came to Shrewsbury from Rich- mond, Mass., in 1780, settling on the farm now owned by his son Hiram.
David Holden came to this town from Barry, Mass., at an early date, settling on the farm now owned by S. F. Smith.
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TOWN OF SHREWSBURY.
Willard Colburn came from Dedham, Mass., in 1790, and located on the farm now owned by his great grandson, David C. Colburn.
Phileman Adams came in 1792 from Medway, Mass., and purchased the farm now owned by Perin Johnson, which is the second farm that was cleared in the town.
Benjamin Needham was among the early settlers of the town, coming from Billerica, Mass. Mr. Needham was in the army all through the war of the Revolution, and his sons Benjamin and Joseph, and a grandson, Benjamin, were in the war of 1812. His grandson, Horace, died while engaged in the war with Mexico, and his three great grandsons, Benjamin, Joseph and Horace, were all engaged in the late war of 1861, Horace being killed in action at Richmond, Va.
Among the early settlers there are also found the names of Job Buckmas- ter, Martin Dawson, Abram Gibson, Ephriam Pierce and Moses Colburn.
Jacob Guild, of Walpole, N. H., and Esquire Morse, of Medway, Mass., came on foot through the wilderness and commenced a clearing in the north- east part of the town, on the land now owned by N. J. Aldrich & Co., in the year 1795. After working together for a time Mr. Guild, in felling a tree, nearly killed Mr. Morse in its fall. This aroused a suspicion in the mind of Morse that Guild wished to get rid of him ; so they divided their land, each living on his own part. Mr. Guild died March 1, 1829, aged 53 years. Mr. Morse died May 14, 1846, aged 71 years.
Philip Billings, from Sunderlin, Mass., came to Shrewsbury in October of 1783, locating upon the farm now owned by Enoch Smith, of Clarendon. Mr .. Billings was an old Revolutionary soldier and resided in the town until his death, in October, 1808. The house built by him, in 1794, is still stand- ing in a state of good preservation. He had a family of three children, Jonathan, David and Lovisa. Franklin, son of David, born April 19, 1807, is now a resident of Rutland, at the age of 74.
Among the natives of Shrewsbury, who have become men of note in other localities, may be mentioned the names of Austin P. and Clark W. Story, sons of J. B. Story, of Cuttingsville, who are now prominent men of Chilli- cothe, Ohio. Austin P. is president of the Ross County Bank ; also an ex- tensive farmer and tanner, and one of the leading men of the place. Clark W. is one of the wide-awake business men of the place, now doing the largest dry goods and carpet business in that county.
The first school-house in town was built in the woods, near Willard Smith's, made of logs, the site still being used for the same purpose. Capt. John Kilburn kept the first school. The first resident clergyman of the town was Rev. Moses Winchester, who was born in Westmoreland, N. H., March 1, 1798. He came to Shrewsbury when he was 18 years of age and com- menced to preach the Christian theology. He did not have a theological education, but was a very devoted christian and an earnest preacher. He was the first installed minister over a church in town, and drew the minis-
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terial land. He was very much loved by the people, although a little peculiar in some things. At one time he went to a neighbor's for a visit. When they came to sit down to tea, the lady said that she "had nothing fit to eat." He told her if she had nothing fit to eat that he would not eat any- thing; so he got up from the table and went without his supper. He died March 6, 1868, aged "three score years and ten."
The first church built in town was the Universalist Church at Shrewsbury village, erected in 1804. The Universalist church society was organized by John Kilburn, Jr., in 1807, with thirty-two members. The society now num- bers only about twenty-five, with Rev. Geo. S. Gurnsey as pastor.
The First Christian Church, located at North Shrewsbury, was organized Nov. 9, 1822, by a council composed of Pearl Parker, Jonah Aldrich and forty-two others. Rev. Noah Johnson was the first pastor. The society now numbers about twenty-five members, and has no regular pastor. The house of worship was not erected until 1841, and is valued, including grounds, at about $1,000.00. The house will comfortably seat 300 persons.
The Union Church, located at Cuttingsville, was originally organized in 1842 by the Congregational and Baptist societies, few in numbers, yet brave in action. They struggled to maintain the church until depleted by death and removals, they could no longer sustain religious worship. At this crisis, in 1859, the trustees gave the Methodist Society permission to occupy the church, and it was reorganized as a Methodist church, although the few who were interested in religious work of all evangelical denominations joined hands in the good work. The building was erected in 1842, with Rev. M. A. Wicker as pastor, Rev. J. E. Knapp is the present pastor, with a member- ship of about twenty. The building is valued at about $1,000.00, will comfortably seat 250 persons, and is still owned by the Baptist and Congre- gational Association of Vermont.
The Second Advent Church, located at North Shrewsbury, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. W. I. Blanchard, with eight members, on the 8th of April, 1878. The society now numbers thirteen members, who hold their meetings in the Christian church, with Rev. W. O. Bibbins acting pastor.
UDBURY is located in the north-west corner of the County in lat. 43° 47' and long. 3º 54' east from Washington, and is bounded north by Whiting in Addison County, east by Benson, south by Hubbardton, and west by Orwell in Addison County. (Orwell formerly belonged to Rutland County, but was annexed to Addison by an Act of the Legislature November 13, 1847.) It was chartered August 6, 1761, by Benning Went- worth of New Hampshire, and contained 13,426 acres. Just at what date the township was organized, we are unable to state. The first records of any town-meeting dates back to January 15, 1789, at which John Hall was chosen moderator ; but this was not the first meeting held, for some pages in the fore part of the book of records are missing.
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TOWN OF SUDBURY.
The surface is broken and uneven ; a high ridge of hills extending through the township from north to south forms the watershed of the country, dis- charging the streams of the eastern part into Otter Creek, while those in the western section find their way into Lake Champlain. There is much good farming land in the town, situated westerly in the valleys of the several streams ; while the hillsides afford pasturage for numerous herds of sheep and cattle, forming the principal wealth of the people. The soil is mostly a rich loam, producing wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, Indian corn, potatoes and hay. The land is irrigated by numerous streams, but none except Otter Creek of any considerable size. This stream enters the township at the north-east corner, and traverses about one-half the eastern part of the town where it enters Brandon. Several very handsome little ponds lie distributed over the surface of the country, which, as they lie nestled among the hills, lend a charm and beauty to the scenery of the town that has become pro- verbial, and which attracts hundreds each summer from the crowded cities to these healthful hills. Lake Hortonia in the south-west part of the town, extending into Hubbardton, is the largest sheet, being about two miles in length by a half in width. Of the others, High and Burr ponds in the south part, and Huff Pond in the central, are the largest. The timber is prin- cipally pine, beech and maple.
In 1880, Sudbury had a population of 562, and was divided into five school districts and contained five common schools, employing three male and seven female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $623.00. There were 155 pupils attending common school, and the total amount expended for schools during the year ending October 3Ist, was $694.87. Mr. W. J. Sawyer was school superintendent.
SUDBURY, (p. o.) a small hamlet located in the western part of the town, contains one hotel, one church, one store and about fifteen dwellings.
Burr's saw mill, located in the south part of the town, is the only saw mill in the township. It is situated on the outlet of Burr Pond, and has the same frame that was built seventy-two years ago, which is in good condition yet. Roger Burr settled here in 1784, the farm now being occupied by his son, Asahel Burr. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, where he served three years ; he was a very enterprising man, and took an active part in building the first church in town in 1807. The timber was mostly cut on his land and sawed at his mill. When he came here there was no house in the township south of the present hamlet of Sudbury, and the surface was covered with a dense wilderness. He built a small camp, where he resided until he could build a log house. Wild animals were numerous, and for a long time he could scarcely keep any sheep on account of the wolves. Mr. Burr died in December, 1827, at an advanced age. His son, Roger, still retains the old homestead and mill, and although 87 years of age, he still retains his mental faculties wonderfully well. He was present at the battle of Plattsburgh, which occurred when he was 21 years of age.
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TOWN OF SUDBURY.
The first hotel in town was kept by - Mills, and was located on the present site of the Hyde Hotel, about one mile south of Sudbury hamlet, and was sold to Mr. Pitt W. Hyde by Mills, in 1801. Mr. Hyde immediately made improvements, and it soon became, and still is, one of the most popu- lar summer resorts in New England. It is located in a beautiful valley, and is 80x150 feet and five stories high, containing about ninety sleeping apart- ments, with a dining-room capable of seating at family tables, 200 guests, is supplied with all modern improvements, and has connected with it two cottages. A three-story building, 46x60 feet, the lower floor of which is to be used as a concert hall or opera house, furnished with a very fine stage 35x15 feet in dimensions, has been erected this season (1881.) The hotel is open from May until November, during which time it is thronged with guests. The Hyde family figured conspicuously in the early history of the town ; Pitt W. Hyde, fifth son of Capt. Jedediah Hyde, was born in Norwich, Conn., and settled in Sudbury in 1801. He was the father of James K. Hyde, who succeeded him in the proprietorship of the hotel. James, for many years one of the most popular hotel keepers in the State, was judge of the county court, and held many other responsible positions. Pitt W. died at the age of 45 years. Hon. James K. Hyde died of typhoid pneumonia, Sept. 21, 1870, aged 68 years. His son, A. W. Hyde, is the present proprietor of the hotel. Thomas W. Hyde came to Sudbury in 1808, from Mapletown, N.Y., settling on road 28, just north of the Hyde Hotel, on the farm now owned by Rodney Barber. He was justice of the peace many years, also selectman, and held other responsible positions in the township. His son, William P. Hyde, aged 67, is still a resident of the town. Thomas W. died February 22, 1865, in the 91st year of his age.
A number of settlements had been made in the town previous to the war of the Revolution, but at the breaking out of this war, the town was deserted, and so remained until after peace was declared, when the settlers began to return again.
Benoni Griffin came to Vermont from Simsbury, Conn., stopping a few years in Castleton, from whence he removed to Sudbury in 1799, settling on the farm now owned by his son Benoni, Jr. The old house which Mr. Griffin built about 80 years ago, is still standing. There was also a house on the place when Mr. Griffin bought it, which was built some years previous, by Andrew Gates who owned several hundred acres of land in this vicinity. Mr. Griffin had no political aspirations, but was valued by his neighbors for his sound judgment and good sense, being often called upon by themn to apprize property, as cattle and grain were here a legal tender at that time. Mr. Griffin was twice married, and by his second wife had five children, none of whom now reside in the township, except Benoni, Jr., who is the present town Representative, and has been a popular man in town for many years. The old Military Road enters Sudbury in the south-east part of the town, traversing it in a north-westerly direction, and passes out again at the north- -16
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TOWN OF SUDBURY.
west corner. It was over this road that the munitions of war were carried from Bennington to Ticonderoga in the Revolutionary times, and it was after- wards used by the settlers before other roads were laid out, the "old turn- pike" not being built until many years after. Near this road, on the farm of Mr. Griffin is a famous spring of clear cold water, called "Cold Spring." It is related that on one occasion a party of Indians were passing through the the town with two prisoners, one of them a very large, and the other a very small man. The larger one was afflicted with a very sore foot, upon which his red captors, out of pure malice, would jump and stamp. This so exas- perated his small companion, that he warned them in no very choice language that it would not be well for them to attempt the same experiment with him ; at this, one of them stung by his taunts attempted it, and was immediately knocked down by the plucky little fellow. This act was loudly applauded by the discomfited Indian's companions, and the prisoner was molested no more. They soon after arrived at Cold Spring, and while several of them were stooped down to drink, the small man suddenly picked up a dog belonging to the Indians, and from an eminence of several feet, hurled it down upon their heads. For these acts of bravery he was much petted by the Indians, and finally allowed his liberty. A little south of the spring there was once an Indian camp, where many Indian relics have since been found, arrow heads, finished and unfinished, stone pestles for pounding corn, many of them decorated with antique designs, stone images, etc. Cold Spring is also the site of an encampment of the Continental army, many relics having been plowed up, consisting of bayonets, ramrods, knives, and upon one occasion a large cop- per camp-kettle. It is also related that many years ago, an old Revolutionary soldier named Enos, journeyed hither from a distant part of the State, just for the purpose of once more drinking from the old spring.
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