USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 30
USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rutland county, Vt., for 1881-82 > Part 30
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Came to Tinmouth, April 10, 1779. A member of the Rutland County Bar.
Chief Justice of Vermont for five years. U. S. District Judge two years. U. S. Senator six years. One of the commissioners who negotiated the admission of Vermont into the Union, 1791."
Hon. Obadiah Noble died in 1864, aged 87 years. He was a justice of the peace in Tinmouth for thirty-eight years ; was register of probate in 1799, was judge of probate from 1814 to 1828, assistant judge of the county court from 1839 to 1842 inclusive, and represented the town of Tinmouth in the years 1811, 1812, 1815, 1816, 1820 and 1830 ; was Senator from this
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TOWN OF TINMOUTH.
county in 1838 and 1839 ; was member of the Council of Censors in 1827, and member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1828 and 1836. He was a man of eminent good sense and practical judgment, of retentive memory, and possessed of genial and kindly feelings and a spotless character.
John Spofford, one of the first settlers, was born August 31, 1752, and married Mary Baldwin, of Salisbury, March 19, 1772. He died April 24, 1823, aged 71. Mary, by whom he had twelve children, died September 9, 1842, aged 92.
Samuel L. Valentine came to this town from Massachusetts in 1814, locating in the southern part, on road 24, where he resided until his death, in 1856. Five of his eleven children are now residents of the town.
Neri Cramton, born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1743, came to Tinmouth a short time previous to the Revolution, locating about one mile north of the hamlet. He was a revolutionary soldier, and much respected by his fellow- citizens. Several of his descendants are still residing in the town.
Ebenezer Campbell came to this town at an early date, where he practiced medicine most of his life, dying May 2, 1849. His son, Dexter, was born in the south-east part of the town, in 1809, where he has resided up to the present time.
John Woods came from Rhode Island to this town in 1805, locating in the southern part, where he resided until his death, in April, 1861. His son, John C., still resides near the old homestead.
George Capron came to Tinmouth in 1798, settling near the center of the town, where he resided until his death, in 1861, at the age of 83. He held the office of town clerk forty years. His son, George, is still a resident of the town.
John Cobb came to Tinmouth in 1814, locating near the hamlet, where he resided until his death, in 1875. Lyman Cobb, son of John, is still a resident of the town.
George Round, born in Rhode Island, February 12, 1746, emigrated to Clarendon in 1775, where his son Nathan was born, May 24, 1786. Judah H., son of Nathan, was born in Clarendon in 1808, and came to Tinmouth in 1815, where he still resides.
Stephen Rice came to this town at an early date. His grandson, Levi, is still a resident, being proprietor of the only store in town, having been in the business thirty years.
Payne Gilbert came to this town from Brookfield, Mass., in the early part of the present century, locating in the east part of the town. His son, Leonard, born October 30, 1804, resided in the town all his life, dying October 27, 1877.
Alvin Hoadley came to this town in 1805, locating at the hamlet, where he resided until his death, in 1863. His son, Evander, is still a resident of the town.
Jared Ives came to this town with his father in 1789, locating upon the farm now owned by Orson Ives, where he resided until his death, in 1852.
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
Archibald Norton came to this town from Connecticut about the year 1800, locating in the west part of the town, where he resided until his death, in 1868.
During the late war of 1861 and 1865, Tinmouth furnished 56 soldiers, most of them in the 5th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 14th Regiments, four of them in cavalry and one sharp-shooter. All of them, except four, lived to get home.
At a town meeting held November 3d, 1779, it was "voted that the inhab- itants of this town build a church, 30 feet wide, 50 feet long, and 9 feet high, to be built of black spruce logs and covered with four-feet shingles, to be completed by the first of June, 1780." This was accordingly done, and the building subsequently followed by the present edifice, a comfortable structure, capable of seating about 300 persons. In the early part of 1837 it was given the name of St. Stephen's Church of Tinmouth, (Episcopal.) William Noble was the first pastor, the church having very few members. It now has forty members, with James L. Slason, pastor.
ALLINGFORD is located in the south-eastern part of the county, in lat. 43° 27', and long. 4° 8' east from Washington, and bounded north by Clarendon and Shrewsbury, east by Mt. Holly, south by Mt. Tabor and Danby, and west by Tinmouth, containing an area of about 23,000 acres, well watered by numerous streams, furnishing good mill-sites, and made pic- turesque by several ponds or lakes distributed over its surface. The principal stream is Otter Creek, which runs through the western part of the township, from south to north. Mill River flows through the north-eastern part, and Roaring Brook through nearly the whole width of the town from-east to west, emptying into Otter Creek just west of the village of Wallingford. The largest pond, or lake, lies in the south-eastern part of the town, on the moun- tains, covering an area of about 350 acres, and called Lake Hiram, or Wal- lingford Pond. About a mile and a half to the south-west of this is another, covering about fifty acres, called Little Pond. Nearly opposite the village of Wallingford, and west of the creek, is another beautiful little sheet of water, covering about 100 acres, called Fox Pond. The whole town is peculiarly rich and varied in scenery; in the eastern section the Green Mountains rise in their grandeur, the highest ridge of which is here called "The White Rocks." Another elevation, near the centre of the town, and which is sepa- rate from the mountains, is called "Green Hill," and covers a large area, composed of quartz rock, cropping out frequently in ledges. At the foot of White Rock an ice-bed forms among the broken rocks, which remains during the entire summer.
Wallingford was chartered by New Hampshire, November 27, 1761; the proprietors also obtaining a charter from New York. The first proprietors' meeting was held at Wallingford, Connecticut, September 12, 1772, with Captain Eliakim Hall, moderator. The town was organized March 10, 1778,
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
with Abraham Ives, moderator; Abraham Jackson Jr., clerk; Joseph Jack- son, Abraham Ives and Jonah Ives, committee. The boundaries of the township have since been changed. October 31, 1792, 3,388 acres were taken from it to form, with Jackson's Gore and a portion of Ludlow, the township of Mt. Holly. Again, October 19, 1793, the Legislature passed an Act an- nexing to Wallingford a portion of the town of Tinmouth. This Act annexed that portion of the town called "West Hill," and was a full equivalent to Wallingford for all that had been taken from its eastern side.
The soil on the lower lands is very rich and productive, especially along Otter Creek, where are situated some as beautiful farms as are to be found in the State. The higher lands were originally densely covered with heavy timber, while the lower lands were covered with deep swamps and thick jungles. Otter Creek was a black, sluggish stream, often dammed with drift- wood, when it flooded the swamp for acres-the paradise of mosquitoes. In the very midst of what was then the swamp mentioned, now lies, sur- rounded by broad pastures and beautiful farms, the pleasant little village of Wallingford.
In 1880 the town had a population of 1,865, was divided into thirteen school districts and had sixteen common schools, employing two male and twenty female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $2,420.70. During the year ending October 31st, there were 419 pupils attending common school, and the entire cost of the schools was $2,706.36. Mr. S. H. Archibald was superintendent.
WALLINGFORD, a post village and station on the Rutland and Bennington Railroad, which passes through the town from north to south, lies in the north-western part of the town, on Otter Creek, principally on one street running north and south, with the Catholic church at the northern extremity and the Congregational at the southern-modest though comely structures. It is about ten miles distant from Rutland, and contains nine stores, one photograph gallery, three blacksmith shops, three churches, one town hall, one school-house, one fork factory, harness and shoe shop, grist-mill, cheese factory, etc., and has about 625 inhabitants.
The fork manufactory of Batcheller & Sons, the most important manu- factory of the town, situated in this village, on Otter Creek, employs about sixty men. Their goods have a wide reputation, being shipped to nearly all the countries in the world where American implements have been intro- duced.
Wallingford Graded School, situated on School street, is a very flourish- ing institution, established September 1, 1871. The building is very pleas- antly located and capable of accommodating about 150 scholars, employs three teachers, with Prof. William H. Shaw as principal.
SOUTH WALLINGFORD, a post village, situated five miles south of Walling- ford village, on Otter Creek, and about five miles north of Danby, is a station on the B. & R. R'y, containing about twenty dwellings, one church (Union),
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
one grist and saw-mill, one cheese factory, one wood-pulp mill, one store and an express office, railroad depot and post-office combined. There is also found here a quarry of very marketable inarble, and the South Wallingford Stone Mill employs eight gangs of saws in cutting it.
The Pioneer Pulp Mill, located at this village, was established in May, 1880, by Julius T. Remington and Edward P. Ely. The partnership was dissolved on June 11th of the same year, and the works are now owned by Edward P. Ely. Pulp is used in the manufacture of paper, and consists of wood, wet and ground into a pulpy substance. Mr. Ely manufactures about 3,000 pounds of dry pulp per day, and employs nine men. The mill is run by water-power, and has the convenience of a side-track from the railroad at the door.
EAST WALLINGFORD, a post village, situated in the eastern part of the town, on the Central Vermont Railroad, is about five miles distant from the other two villages. It has a very neat Baptist meeting-house, several stores and machine-shops, and is increasing in its business interests.
CENTREVILLE, a hamlet, situated a mile and a quarter south-west of East Wallingford, contains ten dwellings, one saw-mill, one chair-stock mill, one cheese-box and butter tub factory, one blacksmith-shop and one school house.
Gleason & Chilson's cheese factory, at East Wallingford, uses the milk of 300 cows, and manufactures 60,000 pounds of cheese per year.
Anderson's cheese factory, established in 1879, uses the milk from 275 cows, manufacturing about 48,000 pounds of cheese per annum.
Pearl Cheese Factory, located one-fourth of a mile south of South Walling- ford, was erected in the fall of 1873, at a cost of $3,000. It is owned by Abraham R. Ames, who manufactures 100,000 pounds of cheese per year, from the milk of 400 cows.
The Town Farm is located one and one-fourth miles south-west of East Wallingford, and contains 140 acres, under the supervision of Hiland Johnson. The farm usually has on an average twelve of the town-poor on the premises.
Wallingford receives its name from Wallingford, Conn., where resided the original proprietors. Abraham Jackson is usually conceded to have been the first settler possessing a legal title to his lands. He settled here with his family in the summer of 1773, and though he, with others that settled with him, were the first regular settlers, they were not, as has been erroneously stated, the first inhabitants. Remember Baker, with a corps of assistants, surveyed the township in the year 1770. On the 2d day of June of that year he was at work in company with one, Wood, from Pawlet, (as per records). They commenced at the north-east corner of Danby, and after running two miles and sixty chains north, they heard chopping in the forest, to their right. They left their work, and following the sound, found, about forty rods to the east, on Otter Creek, a dwelling and small clearing. This was owned by Ephraim Seeley, undoubtedly the first inhabitant of Walling-
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
ford, he having settled there, supposing he was in the town of Tinmouth. The site of his house was about thirty rods east of the George Earle place, the R. R. now running right through its old foundation. Four years after this, Mr. Seeley sold his improvements for £50, and bought in Danby for £7, where he resided until his death, leaving numerous descendants.
John Hopkins was one of the earliest settlers of the town, coming from Salem, N. Y., in the spring of 1770. He settled on West Hill, which then belonged in the town of Tinmouth, where he chopped and cleared two acres of land, and sowed it with wheat. He had no house, and slept in a hollow log with the ends closed to keep the wolves out. His bread was baked in Danby, and his rifle supplied his table with meat. The autumn of that year he went to Danby Corners, when he married Charity Bromly. Returning early the following summer be built a log house, and his wife soon after joined him. The wheat he had sown the fall before, he found, on his return, had grown so tall that he could stand in the midst of it and tie the stalks over his head. Mr. Hopkins resided here until his death, at an advanced age, and many of his descendants still reside on West Hill. The site of the old house was just back of the orchard, on the farm where George Hopkins now resides.
In 1784 Lent Ives built the house recently occupied by Dr. John E. Hitt, of Wallingford village. Ives was a returned Revolutionary soldier. Previous to his building this house, he had lived in a log house, situated where Rebecca Hull now resides. In buying land on which to build, the bounds were as follows :- Commencing at a stake and stone on the south end of the lot where the Congregational chapel now stands, running south on the highway, to the north bank of Roaring Brook, thence up said bank to where Frank H. Hoadley's blacksmith shop stands, thence parallel with the west line as far north as the place of beginning, thence west to the place of beginning. This lot included the best part of what is now Wallingford village. The house was built near the site of the residence of the late Isaac Munson. The barn was built where the residence of Lewis Cobb now stands. The space between the house and barn, and north of it, was used for many years as a public park and parade ground. The house was removed to the site where it now stands, in the year 1855-'56. It is built in the old gambrel- roof style, the posts larger at the top than the bottom, the walls ceiled and pannelled, the chimneys being built outside of the house at either end, and composed of brick, stone, and home-made mortar of clay. The floor was made of very wide, hard wood planks on the lower story, and pine of a superior quality above, the same floor being now in use. This house was soon after opened by Ives as a hotel, and was used as such a long time, Ethan Allen having stopped there several times, the last time being the winter previous to his death. This description will serve as a fair picture of most any old-time mansion, showing how primitive was our forefather's style of architecture.
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
Abraham Ives, an early settler in Wallingford, was the first high sheriff of Rutland County, holding the office from 1781 to '85. In selling the tract of land now known as Mendon, he opened the sale at midnight of the day advertised, in the interest of certain Rutland men, the said land being pur- chased by Jonathan Parker,-hence, Parkerstown. Ives, fearing prosecution for his irregularity, resigned his office, sold his property to Samuel Hull and left the State.
The first grave in Wallingford Cemetery was made necessary in the follow- ing manner :-- About the year 1777, a Tory from Manchester attempted to go to Castleton and put himself under Royal protection. He had proceeded as far as Green Hill, Wallingford, when the citizens learning that he was on the hill, went out after him. He pointed his gun at them, when they im- mediately shot him down, fatally wounded. He was carried to the residence of Mr. Benj. Bradley, where he was kindly cared for until he expired. He was buried on Mr. Bradley's farm, filling the first grave in Wallingford Cemetery, where hundreds now peacefully sleep within its hallowed precints.
In the year 1779 there came into the town, settling at Wallingford village, two good men, who were afterwards quite prominent. One was Joseph Ran- dall, the other, Nathaniel Ives. Mr. Randall was the first deacon of the Baptist Church of that village, and a man of earnestly correct principles. He at different times held many important positions both in the Church and in the town. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1793, and served both in the war of the Revolution and in the war of 1812. Mr. Ives was the first deacon of the Congregational Church, and though not so distinguished as Mr. Randall, yet was held in great esteem by his fellow citi- zens. The house where he first resided was near the spot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Randall. It was a log cabin, as all the houses of the settlement at this time were, had a chimney but no hearth and no door, the entrance to the house being covered with a blanket.
There was no bridge across Roaring Brook, which was a much larger stream than now, the only way to cross being upon logs, the upper sides of which were hewn off flat to make the walking less precarious. Mill Brook was then abundantly supplied with fish, while on Otter Creek there were plenty of mink, muskrats and beaver. The settlers at this time made their own sugar &c., and most of their clothing. Mrs. Abraham Ives and Mrs. Abraham Jackson each had a calico dress, costing them $15,00 a piece, which were very much admired. The first grist mill was located at South Wallingford, built by Abraham Jackson.
Joseph E. White, now a resident of Wallingford, has in his possession a gun with a very long barrel and long stock, being one of the Queen Anne arms, manufactured in England in 1740, Philip White carried it at the seige of Louisburg in 1774, and Nehemiah White carried it during the Revolu- tionary war; since which time it has been handed down from one genera- tion to another, until it is now in the possession of Joseph White, as stated.
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
Philip White and Nehemiah his son, and a daughter, Lois White, came to Wallingford about the year 1790, settling upon the Eli M. Ward place. They built a log house, which was succeeded in 1804 by the old house now used by Mr. Ward in which to make butter and cheese. The log house had only a blanket for a door. One morning there was a piece of venison lying just inside the door, and a large bear happening to stroll that way, scented it, and coolly stepped in and helped himself. Bruin had not counted the cost however, for before he could make his escape, Philip, taking down the old gun referred to, shot him dead.
Hon. Harvey Button, an old and respected resident of Wallingford, was born in Clarendon, January, 17, 1800. He moved to the town of Walling- ford June 1, 1826. Mr. Button is by profession a lawyer, and is now hale and hearty in body, possessing a vigorous mind.
Stanley Stafford came to Wallingford from Danby, about the year 1795, and bought the John Reed grist and saw mill at South Wallingford. Mr. Stafford at that time was one of the largest real estate owners in the town.
Asa Anderson settled on the farm now owned by his son Nathaniel, in 1790, when he was about 25 years of age. Mr. Anderson served four years in the Revolutionary war. Asa's house stood in the north-west corner of the lot where Nathaniel's now stands, some plum trees and a large apple tree marking the spot.
Luther Holden, born in Mt. Holly, settled in East Wallingford at an early date, where he resided many years and then removed to South Wallingford, where he has since resided, being now 97 years of age. He is at present residing with his son, Jesse, and also has two sons residing in Hubbardton- Antipas E. Holden and Zimri H. Howard. Luther has a brother, Stephen Holden, of Mt. Holly, who is 96 years of age.
John Ballou, from Richmond, N. H., came to Rutland County in ISoo, locating in Shrewsbury, removing to Wallingford again after a few years residence in that town. In 1823 he purchased the farm in the north part of the town now owned by his daughter Olivia, who was born in 1813.
Goodyear Clark, from Connecticut, came to this town previous to the Revolution, locating on a farm about half-a-mile north of the present village of Wallingford. He died about the year 1850. P. G. Clark, son of Chancey and grandson of Goodyear, was born in 1805, and is now a resident of Wal- lingford village.
G. H. Edgerton came to Wallingford in 1845, and engaged in the boot and shoe business, and was long known among the business men of the township, though he is now retired from business. His son, Charles M. Edgerton, was a lieutenant during the late war, and died in the hospital at Philadelphia, March 28, 1864.
Zephaniah Hull came to Clarendon from Cheshire, Conn., at an early date, locating upon the place now owned by his grand-daughter, Rebecca F. Hull, at Wallingford village. Rebecca's father, Alfred Hull, was born Sept. 10, -16%
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TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.
1794, and resided upon the old homestead all his life, dying March 28, 1875.
Hosea Eddy located in Wallingford in 1805, residing here until his death, in August, 1877. His son, F. O. Eddy, is still a resident of the town, at the age of 65 years.
William Kent, from Leicester, Mass., came to Wallingford in 1802, locating in the east part of the town, and was followed the next year by his brother, Elias. William died in 1846, Elias in 1856, leaving three sons and one daughter ; the sons, Austin, Elias W. and Alonzo, are still residents of the town.
Amasa, Ebenezer and Joel Hart, settled in the central part of the town previous to the Revolution. Levi, son of Amasa, is still a resident, at the age of 72 years.
Howard Harris came to Wallingford in 1824, from Brattleboro, Vt., engaging in mercantile pursuits at Wallingford, in which he continued until December 25th, 1851, when his store and property, valued at $5,000, was destroyed by fire and was a total loss. Mr. Harris represented the town in 1836, and has served as town clerk many years. A daughter of Mr. Harris is the wife of Dr. George H. Fox, of Rutland.
Elias Crary, from New Haven, Conn., came to Wallingford at an early date, locating in the north part of the town, upon the farm now owned by Edwin Crary. Frank L., a grandson of Elias, is also a present resident of the town.
Edwin Martindale came to this town in 1832, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a period of over thirty years. He was. town repre- sentative in 1855 and 1856, was town clerk twelve years, and town treasurer twenty years, and still resides in the village.
James H. Congdon came to Wallingford from North Kingston, R. I., in 1804. He had several children, of which James and C. H. are still residents of the town.
During the Rebellion the town of Wallingford sent 161 men to the war, being three men over and above all demands made upon her. Every soldier who was credited for the town, received a bounty varying from $25.00 to $900.00 each ; $2,213.46 of the funds to pay bounties was raised by volun- tary contribution, the remainder, $9, 136.54 being raised on the "grand list" of the town, making in all $11,350.00, the whole expense of the town.
The First Baptist Church of Wallingford was organized at Wallingford village, February roth, 1780, by Elisha Rich, with a membership of twenty- one, and Rev. Henry Green as pastor. The first house of worship was a union church, erected in 1800, succeeded by the in'ependent one in 1827. The original cost of the present edifice was $870. Rev. S. Henry Archibald is at present pastor. The house of worship was enlarged and repaired in 1846 and again in 1869, and will now comfortably seat 200, and the property is valued at $6,000. There have been twenty-one pastorates and nineteen
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TOWN OF WELLS.
different pastors. The first pastorate was twenty years in length. Ten per- sons have served as deacons, nine as church clerks. The church took early ground against slavery and intemperance. Deacon Randall, the first clerk, served fifty-five years, and as deacon fifty-six years. The centennial anni- versary of the Church was observed on February 10th, 1880.
The Congregational Church of Wallingford was organized in 1792, with the Rev. Benjamin Osborn as pastor. The first house of worship was erected in 1800, succeeded by the present one in 1828. The original cost of the present church edifice was $2,500, and is now valued at $7,000. It will comfortably seat about 300 people. Charles N. Brainard is at present pastor.
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