USA > Vermont > Windham County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windham county, Vt., 1724-1884 > Part 39
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304
TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
Mr. Perry lost his esteemed consort, Mary Fletcher, and subsequently mar- ried Sally Wiley, who survived him. August 13th, 1858, he, too, passed into that " dreamless sleep, which knows no waking." George was born in Rock- ingham, on the 6th of March of the year his parents took up their residence here, 1807. His boyhood and youth were passed after the usual routine of a farmer's son, he receiving the customary amount of education; his hours of study being snatched from those of wearisome toil. At the age of twenty- one years, April 2, 1828, he married Hannah Chandler, daughter of Abel Chandler, and first began to stem alone the swift current of life, locating upon a farm on road 35. Here he remained three years, then removed to Saxton's River, and, in company with his brother Fletcher, commenced the manufac- ture of tinware, doing a large business in this line for several years. He finally sold out, however, in 1847, and in company with J. A. Farnsworth and Theophilus Hoit erected the well-known woolen mill, carrying on an extensive business under the firm name of George Perry & Co. In this busi- ness he remained until his death, August 22, 1858. Mrs. Perry still survives him, residing with her daughter, Mrs. J. F. Alexander. Their union was blessed with the birth of two children, Solon, born November 12, 1829, now engaged in business at Boston, Mass., and Mary P., born September 26, 1839, the wife of J. F. Alexander, of this town. Mr. Perry was not a member of the church, but was always an active, liberal supporter of the gospel. He evinced great interest in the welfare of his townsmen, and in the prosperity of the village wherein he resided. A man who always manifested a sense of strict honor, and a love for fairness in his dealings with all, and ever prone to willingly assist the needy, he was often called by his townsmen to fill positions of honor and trust. In 1857 he was elected State senator from Windham county, and would have been returned to the office, had ill health not pro- hibited his accepting the nomination.
John F. Alexander, a member of the firm of Farnsworth & Co., was born in Chesterfield, N. H., from which place his parents removed to Brattleboro in 1851. February 21, 1838, he removed to Bellows Falls, and thence in 1860, to Saxton's River.
Levi Sabin was a noted physician in this town, but where he came from cannot be ascertained. He settled in the central part of the town, and was a selectman for many years. He died from overwork at the age of forty-five years, leaving a family of eight children. His widow lived to the age of ninety one years, and spent her last days with lier son Elisha S. The sur- viving children are Lucinda, who married William Philo, of New York, and moved to Wisconsin, where he died; Maria, who is the wife of Gilbert Hath- away of Illinois; and Elisha S., who married Sophia W. Hall, of Newfane, Vt., and resides in Rockingham. Elisha S. was a deacon of the Cor .. tional church. He has four children living, Elisha S., Jr., a merchan. Saxton's River ; George K., a miner in Colorado; Robert H., a physic.1" West Troy, N. Y. ; and Albert R., who is principal of the high schor u Chicago, Ill., and superintendent of schools in Lake Forest Co., Ill.
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'304
TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
Ira D. Burwell was born in Bridport, Addison county, and removed with his parents at the age of thirteen to Crown Point, N. Y., where he resided thirteen years. After a residence of fifteen years in Norwich, N. Y., and about twelve in Hinesburg, he came to Rockingham, where he now resides on road 40. He married Sarah Ann Hickok, of Fort Edward, N. Y., and has five children, Emma G., Almira J., William C., Harriet, Rhoda, and Fred- erick B. Mr. Burwell is a Baptist minister. He has preached for thirty years, and occasionally does so yet.
Dr. Frank Whitinan, of Bellows Falls, was born in Boston, Mass., and is a graduate of the Berkshire Medical college. He joined the army during the late war and went out as assistant surgeon of the 58th Mass. Infantry. He was appointed surgeon in-chief of the ist Brigade, 2d division, 9th army corps. He is now president of the U. S. board of examining surgeons for pensions.
John Carmody, of Bellows Falls, was born in Ireland, and came to Boston, Mass., in 1848, at the age of thirteen years. He lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire till 1852, when he came to Springfield, Vt., and married Mary Cobb, of that town. May 5, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 3d Vt. Regt. He was detailed as orderly for Gen. William F. Smith, and at Fortress Monroe was detailed to carry mail for the 2d division of the 6th corps. At Stone House Mountain he was detailed by general order No. 61, to take charge of the mail of the left grand division of the Army of the Poto- mac, which position he held during the existance of the division, when he returned to the 6th corps, with which he remained until the expiration of his term of service, participating in all the battles in which the corps was engaged, as orderly for Generals Smith, Franklin, Sedgwick, and Wright.
Julius A. Morrill was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and is a graduate of Amherst college, class of 1866. In 1863, he enlisted in the 1st Vt. Artillery and served until the close of the war. In 1865 he went to New York city and was a stock broker. He was in the custom house in that city for seven years, and since 1878 he has been engaged with Charles Scribner's Sons. He married Sarah C. Bell, daughter of D. Cyrus Bell, and a graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary, class of 1865. They have five children. Their home is in Bellows Falls.
John A. Farnsworth was born in Boston, Mass., February 26, 1815. At the age of eight years his father died, and at the age of eleven his mother allowed him to go to Claremont, N. H., as an apprentice to the business of manufacturing woolen goods. Here he was to remain until twenty-one years of age, being allowed three months of each winter for attending school. At the age of nineteen, however, the firm who carried on the factory failed, and young Farnsworth went to Putney, Vt., to complete his term of appren- ticeship. At the age of twenty-three years he came to Saxton's River, where he was engaged as overseer in the finishing-room of the woolen factory, re- maining here until 1844. He then went to Gilderland, N. Y., to accept a
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30419
TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
similar position, and was subsequently in business there, from 1845 to 1847. He then returned to Saxton's River, entering into business with George Perry and Theopilus Hoit, under the firm name of George Perry & Co. This style was retained until Mr. Perry's death, in 1858, when the firm name was changed to Farnsworth & Hoit, In 1866 J. F. Alexander purchased Mr. Hoit's interest, after which the firm was Farnsworth & Alexander, until 1868, when it was changed to Farnsworth & Co., the style it now bears. In 1839 Mr. Farnsworth married Miss Mary J. Osgood, of Brookline, Vt. Their only child, Sarah R., died at the age of six years. Mr. Farnsworth has always taken a great interest in public affairs, and his fellow citizens have shown their appreciation of his public spirit by electing him to many positions of honor and trust. In 1861-'62, he represented the town in the legislature, has been a selectman and a justice of the peace, and now holds the office of county commissioner. He has been a director of the Bellows Falls National Bank twenty-two years, and vice-president of the Bellows Falls Savings In- stitution about twenty years, and is treasurer and a trustee of the Vermont academy located at Saxton's River, he having subscribed $10,000.00 towards its endownent fund of $100,000.00. He has been called upon to settle the estate of many deceased persons, and has largely increased the beauty of the village by erecting many fine buildings.
Hon. Jabez Delano Bridgman, son of Benjamin H. Bridgman, of Grafton, was born in Grafton, June 10, 1828. He received an academic education and at the age of about twenty years entered the office of C. I. Walker and George B. Kellogg, at Saxton's River, as a student of law, and when Walker & Kellogg dissolved partnership, about one year later, Mr. Bridgman accom- panied Mr. Walker to Bellows Falls where he finished his studies and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1851. About the same time Mr. Walker accepted a professorship in the law school at Detroit, Mich., and Mr. Bridgman pur- chased his library and continued his practice in the same office which he still occupies. A few years subsequently he was united in marriage to Sarah E., daughter of William Conant, of Bellows Falls. In 1857-'58 was chosen rep- resentative to the legislature and was at about the same time State's attorney for two years. He enlisted in the 16th Vt. Vols., was chosen adjutant, and served a few months, when he resigned and returned to his practice. In the years 1880-81 he was a member of the State senate. In 1882 he admitted to partnership George A. Weston, who had studied law with him, and they con- ducted their legal business under the firm name of Bridgman & Weston.
James Henry Williams was born in Chester, Vt., January 16, 1813, where he early developed excellent business capacity in the store of C. M. Bingham. Esq. He came to Bellows Falls in February, 1834, and entered the employ of the Bellows Falls Bank, where he remained until June, 1839, when he was elected cashier of the bank at Woodstock, a position he held till June, 1841. when he was chosen cashier of the Cheshire bank, at Keene, N. H., then one of the largest institutions of its kind in this section. In 1847 he succeeded
11304
TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
Hon. William Henry, who was then elected member of congress from this district, to the position of cashier of the bank of Bellows Falls, and removed his family thither. Upon the death of Nathaniel Fullerton, Esq., in 1872, Mr. Williams was elected to the presidency of the bank, which position he held up to the time of his death, August 13, 1881. He was in reality the principal business manager of the bank for a period of over thirty years, and to his great financial acumen and wise management it owes its present repu- tation for soundness, which is second to none in the State. He was also mainly instrumental in the formation in 1847, and in the subsequent prosper- ity of the Bellows Falls Savings Institution, of which he was treasurer for many years. He was largely instrumental in the development of all the various local enterprises of Bellows Falls for the thirty-five years prior to his death, among which may be mentioned the introduction of the present excellent supply of water for domestic purposes, the establishment of the Episcopal school, St. Agnes Hall, and the erection of Union and Centennial blocks, two of the principal business blocks of the village. At the time of his death he was an officer in every railroad running into the place and had been a director of the Rutland R. R., from its establishment. He was a communicant of the Episcopal church and helds everal official positions in the Diocese of Vermont, among which was that of trustee and member of the executive committee of the Vermont Episcopal Institute at Burlington.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Rockingham was a strong Whig town, and the people were very decided in their opposition to the Tories, being among the first to resist the king's officers ; for the Rockingham militia, consisting of over forty men, led by Capt. Stephen Sargent, aided in expelling the court officers from the court-house at Westminster, on the memorable 13th of March, 1775, where some of them were wounded. Philip Safford, lieutenant of the company, fought bravely while surrounded by the Tories, and though severely wounded by the sword of sheriff Patterson, is said to have " knocked down ten of his adversaries with his bludgeon, making good his escape and daring the whole posse of King George to combat the Rockingham militia." In July, 1775, a com- mittee of inspection, consisting of Moses Wright, Joseph Wood, William Simonds, Oliver Lovell and Ebenezer Fuller, was chosen, and at the same time the following military officers were appointed: Joseph Wood, cap- tain ; Charles Richard, lieutenant ; and Isaac Stowell, ensign. The com- mittee met at the house of Jehiel Webb, innholder, and voted "to deal sum- marily with all who should speak against the common cause. This com- mittee, however, was afterwards dismissed several times, and as often chosen again, there seeming to have been considerable opposition to its existence.
In February, 1777, there was a meeting held to consider means for levying men to fill Col. Warner's regiment, or to raise money for that purpose, when it was voted "to do our equal proportion in maintaining and supporting the
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TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
just war of America." At a subsequent meeting, June 23d, the town decided to receive ammunition of the committee-powder, lead and flints-sent from the State of New York. Up to this date the names of fifty five men are re- corded as having taken the oath of allegiance.
The following are the names of the soldiers recorded "who marched for Ticonderoga :" Capt. Josiah Wood, Lieut. Richard, Lieut. Preston, Ensign Ebenezer Fuller, John Fuller, Nathan Wright, William Stearns, John Pulsi- pher, John Titus, John Whitney, Isaac Stowell, Nathan Arld, Jonathan Barr, Fairbanks Moore, Jr., Gardner Simonds, William Tagert, Elisha Knights, Abijah White, Dr. Reuben Jones and Timothy Clark ; while the following additional list is recorded of those having "marched to Manchester," Levi Davis, Josiah White, Ebenezer Pulsipher, Abel White, Samuel Barr, -, Solomon Wright, Philip Safford, Joseph Dutton, Silas Dutton, John Wait, Andrew Simonds, James How, Capt. Josiah Wood, - Walker, Jolin Lovell, Elisha Walker, Samuel Richardson, Leonard Read, David Campbell, James Campbell, Josiah Read, and Thomas Read.
THE WAR OF THE UNION.
The history of Rockingham during the dark days of the great Rebellion is not materially different from that of many other of its sister towns. The exer- tions of its . people in enlisting troops, in raising money for bounties, the private subscriptions, the efficient aid of its women in furnishing soldiers with clothing and hospital supplies, and the general expression of patriotism of its citizens were identically the part taken by other towns of Vermont in helping to swell the ranks of the National army, and giving to their country's service the "Vermont Brigade." At a meeting held at Bellows Falls on the 24th of April, 1861. The following resolution was passed :-
" Resolved, That we, citizens of Bellows Falls, here in meeting assembled, do pledge to every patriot of Bellows Falls, who will volunteer to defend our country from the assaults of rebels, that we will see that his wants and the wants of his family, while he is engaged in the service of his country, are supplied."
Under the spirit of this resolution the town furnished 269 men, thirty-nine of whom were substitutes, while thirty-two citizens paid commutation. The first of the " Bellows Falls boys" to fall was Jack Russell, only sixteen years of age. He went into the army as a servant of Maj. Holbrook, though he had been in the service before becoming attached to the Seventh Regiment, and had proved his bravery at the battle of Bull Run. At the battle of Baton Rouge he procured arms and went to one of the flanks of the regi- ment, near Col. Roberts, and fell at the same time with him, shot through the groin. Maj. Holbrook spoke in the highest terms of young Russell's bravery, saying, in a letter to the dead boy's mother, -"He fell in front of our lines, where he had bravely gone. A braver deed was not done that day.
1ª304
TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
CHURCHES.
In 1770 a Congregational church was organized, and the Rev. Samuel Whiting was settled as its pastor in 1773. Mr. Whiting continued in Rock- ingham until 1809. The first general convention of ministers held in the State was at his house, in Rockingham, on the 3d Tuesday in June, 1796. He had much to do with forming the Vermont Missionary Society. At the time this church was organized there were but four others of the same denomina- tion in the State, viz. : At Bennington, organized in 1762 ; Newbury, organ- ized in 1764; Westininster, 1767 ; and Windsor, in 1768. The old church erected by this society stood near the site of the one now standing in " Old 'Town," by some thought to have been located near the present burying ground, by others, to have been directly south of the present house, partially in the Olcott orchard. In 1793 it was decided to sell this old meeting-house and to use the receipts towards defraying the town's expenses.
Immanuel Protestant Episcopal church, located at Bellows Falls,-In 1798 Dr. Samuel Cutler, who had been educated a churchman, conceived the idea of organizing a parish in Rockingham, and articles of association were signed by seventeen persons. The society for several years met for public worship under the leadership of a lay reader-availing itself also of the ministrations of transient clergymen-being too feeble to support a rector. There are no records showing the labors of clergymen prior to 1810. It has been ascer- tained that occasional services were rendered by the Rev. J. C. Ogden, Rey. Bethuel Chittenden, Rev. Daniel Barber, and a few others. The articles of association having been lost by fire, March 18, 1809, the parish was reformed under new articles, drafted by Cutler, and signed by prominent and influ- ential citizens. No new signatures were added until 1813, and during that interval the parish existed but feebly, destitute of a pastor, without a house of worship and gaining no strength.
Until 1816 the meetings of the parish were held at the center of the town- ship. March 20, 1816, a meeting was held at Bellows Falls, " to devise means to procure funds for building a church building." This step marked an era in the history of the society. It was evident that the church would not flourish while it remained where it was located, while circumstances indicated that the village of Bellows Falls must become a place of considerable popu- lation. No denomination of Christians had yet located in this village, so it was thought expedient to try what could be done towards erecting a church here. Several church families resided in the village, besides others well dis- posed towards the church, and ready to assist in building an edifice. For the purpose of procuring funds, a committee, consisting of Dr. Cutler, Ed- ward H. Campbell, and William Atkinson, was appointed, and from this time the society has been located at Bellows Falls.
On January 15, 1817, the church was named " Immanuel church," and Rev. George T. Chapman was requested to became its rector, and during that year
304"
TOWN OF ROCKINGHAM.
a church building was erected, leaving a heavy debt on the parish. On July 1, 1863, it was decided to erect a new church edifice. Plans and specifica- tions for a gothic church of stone to seat about 500 persons, were obtained and work was at once begun. On the 25th of December, 1867, the new church was opened for service for the first time, and the congregation rejoiced in the possession of a house of worship of beauty, durability and conven- ience, erected at a cost of about $30,000.00, and which is now valued, in- cluding grounds, at $50,000.00.
The society has had numerous changes in rectors, which, with its fluctu- ating fortunes, we have not space to mention. It now has 180 members, the rector being Rev. Warren H. Roberts, B. D.
The Baptist church of Saxton's River .- An effort to establish religious worship in Saxton's River, was made as early as the year 1807. On the 18th of June, 1812, a church was organized, called The Baptist church of Christ. in Westminster and Rockingham. It consisted of ten brethren and six sisters. and was recognized on that day by an ecclesiastical council convened at West- minster, West Parish. The first pastor was Rev. James Elliot, who officiated from 1814 to 1822, and from 1827 to 1830. In 1844 the name of the society was changed to The First Baptist Church of Saxton's River Village, and again, in 1877, to the one it now bears. The society now numbers 115 members. with Rey. William H. Randall, pastor. The church building will comfortably accommodate 350 persons, and is valued, including grounds and parsonage. at $8,000.00.
The Congregational church, located at Saxton's River, was organized with nineteen members, June 1, 1825, by its first pastor, Rev. Sereno Taylor. Dea. E. S. Sabin is the only one of the original members now living. Their church building was erected in 1836, a wood structure, capable of seating 300 persons, and valued, including grounds, at $2,000.00, its original cost being $1,550.00. The society has at present eighty-one members, with Rev. George F. Chapin, pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Bellows Falls was organized by the society's first pastor, Rev. Elijah Mason, in 1836, consisting then of forty-two members, including persons from Rockingham and Bellows Falls. During that year they erected their church, which is still in use, though greatly altered and improved, in 1880-81, so that it will now accommodate 400 per- sons, and is valued, including grounds, at $10,000.00, in addition to which the society has funded bequests to the amount of $1,500.00, the interest of which is devoted to the "support of gospel preaching in Bellows Falls." The church has now 168 members, and is steadily growing in influence and members, it having received fifty of the latter during the past two years, and has now eight probationists. Rev. H. F. Austin is the present pastor.
St. Charles Roman Catholic church, located at Bellows Falls, was organ- ized in 1857, with one hundred members, by Rev. Z. Druon, the Rev. Charles O'Reilly being the first pastor. Their church building is the old public
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TOWN OF SOMERSET.
school-house, on school street, which has been remodeled so asto accommo- date 300 persons, and is valued at $9,600.00. This building, however, has become altogether too small for the accommodation of the congregation, and the society has a fine brick church in process of erection. Rev. Edward Rey- nolds, the present pastor, has 800 members under his charge.
The Spiritualist church, located at Bartonsville, was organized in 1872, with eighty or ninety members, Mrs. Sarah A. Willey, the present incumbent, acting as pastor. Their church building was erected during the year, at cost of $1,500.00, about its present value. The society now has 150 members.
The First Universalist Parish of Bellows Falls was organized January 12, 1879, by Rev. J. H. Farnsworth, the State missionary, who also acted as the society's first pastor. The growth of the society has been unusally rapid and vigorous, there being at present 100 members. The church building was erected in 1880, a wood structure capable of seating 350 persons, at a cost of $9,000,00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $ 13,000.00. Rev. J. N. Emery is the present pastor.
S OMERSET is a small town located in the western part of the county, in lat. 42° 58' and long. 4° 8', bounded north by Stratton, east by Stratton and Dover, south by Searsburg, in Bennington county, and west by Glastenbury, of the same mentioned county. The township was chartered by Gov. Benning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, September 9, 1761, containing an area of 23,040 acres, or a tract of six miles square. But November 5, 1838, a part of its territory was annexed to Wardsboro, and again, November 11, 1854, an act of the legislature set off a tract about two miles in width extending the whole length of the eastern portion of the town, four miles of which, in length, was set to Wilmington, and since annexed to Dover, while the other two miles of land were annexed to Stratton. Thus the township's area has been curtailed until it is now only about four miles by six, embracing a territory of 15,360 acres. :
The surface of the town is not very uneven, except in the eastern part, where there is a range of high hills or mountains, the highest point being Mac. moun- tain, and the highest part of that lying in Dover. The soil is mostly a black loam, producing excellent crops of grass, oats and potatoes, and affording fine grazing farms. The original growth of timber is spruce, hemlock, fir, birch, beech and maple, interspersed with black cherry, black ash and white ash. There are many streams, affording good mill privileges, the principal being the east and west forks of Deerfield river, which flow a southerly course into Searsburg. Gneiss is the principal rock entering into the geological structure of the terri- tory, though quite a bed of granite exists in the central part of the town. Traces of gold have been found in the westein part of the town, and there is said to be a good marble quarry on Mac. mountain, though it has not been opened, owning to its distance from railroads.
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