USA > Vermont > Windham County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windham county, Vt., 1724-1884 > Part 40
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 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
30416
TOWN OF SOMERSET.
In 1880 Somerset had a population of sixty-seven, and in 1882 had two school districts, and two common schools, employing two female teachers. There were sixteen pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year ending October 31st, was $87.00, with J. W. Rice. superintendent.
SOMERSET, the postoffice of the town, is located in the dwelling of Hollis Town, on road 2, there being no settlement in the township worthy of the title of village.
F. D. Chase's saw-mill and chair-stock factory, located on road 2, was built by the present proprietor in 1881. The mill is operated by water-power, is furnished with a circular saw and a rotary bed planer, and turns out about 300,000 feet of lumber and a large amount of chair-stock per annum.
Reuben B. Grout's saw-mill, located on road 6, was built by Hollis Town, in 1870, and now manufactures about 250,000 feet of lumber per annum.
The Tudor saw-mill, located on road 6, was built by Clark Harris and George Hartwell, about sixteen years ago, and is now owned by S. T. Dar- enport, of Wilmington, though now operated by William and John Tudor, under lease of eight years from 1882, who now manufacture about 250,000 feet of lumber per annum.
The first settlement in Somerset was made by Daniel Rice, in June, 17;6. He located in the eastern part of the town, in the portion now belonging to Dover. Mr. Rice built a log house here and occupied it alone for about three years. He was the first representative of the town in the general assem- bly, and the first justice of the peace, being elected to both offices in 1799- On the 15th of August, 1777. Mr. Rice, while in Wilmington, heard that there was a battle raging at Bennington. Hastening home he procured his rifle and started off through the wilderness for the scene of the conflict, arriving in time to take an honorable part in the strife. Some years after, having gotten his farm cleared and well enclosed, Mr. Rice purchased another tract of land, for which he was to pay in neat stock. But a rabid dog, or for, having gotten among his cattle, he lost a large part of them and was thus unable to meet the obligation. A warrant was issued against his body, which the sheriff attempted to serve. The hardy pioneer, however, took to the mountains, where he was suppled with food, from time to time, by members of his family, while the sheriff remained in the vicinity of the premises, watch- ing for the refugee's return. Tiring of this seige at length, a son of Mr. Rice donned some garments belonging to his father, and started on a run across the fields, as if endeavoring to escape. The sheriff, supposing it was his coveted prisoner, started in pursuit. The young man, however, managed to keep a long, deep mire-hole between himself and the minion of the law, who, at last, in attempting to cross the same, became hopelessly mired, and at the same time discovered the ruse that had been played on him. Extricating himself from the mud-hole as best he could, the discomfited sheriff took himself off, never to return. Mr. Rice soon after effected a settlement for
"'304
TOWN OF SOMERSET.
the land, and thenceforward enjoyed peaceable possession. Mr. Rice, after a long and useful life, died August 28, 1831.
Ephraim Rice, son of Daniel, was born here February 20, 1792, married Virtue Johnson, of Dover, September 11, 1814, and reared a family of eleven children, only one of whom, George E., occupying the old homestead, is liv- ing. Mr. Rice was an active, influential man; he represented the town in the legislature a number of terms, was town clerk eleven years, a justice of the peace many years, and held many other of the town trusts.
In 1779 the settlement was increased by the arrival of Zera Palmer, John Kelley and others, and in 1791 the population had increased to 111 souls. The warning for the first town meeting reads as follows :-
"Whereas, Application hath been made to me, as the law directs, to warn a meeting of all the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Somer- set, for the purpose of chosing officers; These are, therefore, to notify and warn said inhabitants of Somerset to meet at the dwelling house of Oliver Kimpton, in said Somerset, on Monday, the 19th day of instant November, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to act as follow, viz: Ist, To choose a moderator to govern said meeting. 2d, To choose a clerk. 3d, To choose selectmen of said town. 4th, To choose a treasurer. 5th, To choose one or more constables. 6th, To choose listers, if found necessary, and to trans- act all other business for the proper organization of said town.
" WILMINGTON, November 1, 1792.
ISAAC WHEELER, Justice of the Peace."
This meeting duly met, as warned, when James Parmelee was elected town clerk ; John Parmelee, Perez Rice and Bezaleel Waste, selectmen; James Parmelee, town treasurer ; Perez Rice, constable ; William Lawton, grand juror; Daniel Rice, tythingman ; Silas Crosby, Jacob Wellman, and Jonathan Richardson, surveyors of highways ; John Parmelee, sealer of weights and measures ; and Ephraim Hodge, Joel Wellman and Daniel Rice, petit jurors. No further business seems to have been transacted at this meeting. The first freemen's meeting on record was held at the house of Daniel Rice, on the first Tuesday in September, 1799, when Daniel Rice was elected to represent the town in the general assembly. The, vote for governor was unanimous for Isaac Tichnor, there being eleven votes cast. The first church erected in the town was a log structure, built in 1785, and was located on land belonging to Daniel Rice. The first services were conducted by Elder Clark, a Baptist clergyman, from Halifax, and later were conducted by Elder Mann, of Dover. There is now, however, no church building in the township. The first saw and grist-mill was erected by Daniel Rice, near what is known as Somerset great meadows. This mill did not prove a great success, however. The first birth is said to have been that of Gale Cobb, November 28, 1787.
Hollis Town came to Somerset about the year 1828 or 1829. He married Louisa Pike, October 27, 1830, and reared a family of four children, only one of whom, Hollis, Jr., residing on road 2, is living. Mr. Town represented Somerset in the legislature more times than has any other man, except Ephraim Rice, was town clerk thirty-one years, justice of the peace a much
19b
304""
TOWN OF STRATTON.
longer period, and, in addition, held the offices of selectman, lister, constable, and many other of the town trusts. He built, at different places, as many as three saw-mills, and was ever ready to lend his aid and influence to any measure that was likely to prove of public benefit, or lead to the improve- ment of his town. He died October 20, 1881, aged seventy-three years.
Mr. Town, when a young man, was fond of hunting, and many were the stories he related of his adventures with bears and other wild animals. One of his adventures is related as follows: Arising before daybreak, one autumn moring, he started for the enclosure where his cattle were corralled about half a mile distant from his dwelling. As he neared the enclosure he became aware of an intense excitement existing among his cattle, and heard one of the calves bleating as though in mortal terror. Mr. Rice immediately surmised that the unfortunate bovine was in the clutches of some beast of prey, and so immediately returned to the house for his rifle. On his return, the bleatings of the calf and the excitement among the cattle seemed to have increased during his absence ; but within the thick shade of the forest, it was still impossible to make out more than the outlines of the animals. Creep- ing up to a slash fence that divided the clearing from the forest, however, he raised his rifle and fired at the dimly discernable form of the intruder. Up to this time he had taken no thought of the danger his own person might be in ; but now, the thought that he had fired at a ferocious beast that was only a few feet distant, together with the plaintive and terrified bellows of the un- fortunate calf, and the weird shadows cast by the surrounding brush and forest trees, in that dim light that immediately precedes the break of day, all com- bined in striking a terror to his heart that his nerves were unable to control At least his nerves failed to control his legs, for he fled, with the speed that terror lends, to his nearest neighbor's, Mr. Prentiss Putnam's. Arriving there, his evident agitation and incoherent explanation thereof only succeeding in tickling the mirth of the neighbor, who, laughingly, told him that had he ' fired at the side of a barn, he could not have hit it, he was so terribly frightened.' They started for the corral in company, however, and there, in the gathering light, found an immense bear, pierced through the heart by the ball from Mr. Town's rifle.
During the late war of the Union, Somerset furnished the following list of fourteen soldiers, while two of its citizens were drafted and paid commuta- tion : John M. Pike, Otis H. Pike, Ahaz P. Pike, Edward Lincoln, William Pike, Sordis C. Stone, Timothy O. Vegus, Deliverance Pike, Asa Burnap, Oscar Pike, Lewis Corse, Edward Rice, Daniel Bennett, and Eli Holt. All of these, except Daniel Bennett, lived to return to their homes.
S TRATTON lies in the northwestern corner of the county, in lat. 432 3' and long. 4° 8', bounded north by Winhall, in Bennington county, east by Jamaica and Wardsboro, south by Dover and Somerset, and west by Sunderland, in Bennington county. It was chartered by New Hamp-
"304
TOWN OF STRATTON.
shire, July 30, 1761, to Isaac Searl and sixty-two others, in sixty-nine shares, containing an area of 23,040 acres. On October 28, 1799, however, Stratton Gore was annexed.
The surface of the town is extremely irregular and mountainous, so much so, indeed, as to be in some places unfit for habitation. The cultivated farms are mostly in the eastern and southern portions, where there are tracts of arable land that well repays the toil of the husbandman. Deerfield river rises in the central part of the town, flowing south into Somerset, its principal tributary in this town being Black brook, which has its source in Bennington county." Pond brook has its source in Grout pond, and flows a southerly course, uniting with Meadow brook, which also flows south, into Somerset. Several other small streams flow east into Wardsboro, and several flow north into Winhall. . A number of good mill-privileges are afforded. Grout pond, covering an area of about 100 acres lies in the southern part of the town, North, or Jones pond, lies in the northern part, and Muskrat, or Bowen pond, lies on the line between Stratton and Sunderland. The rocks are almost entirely of gneiss formation.
.
In 1880 Stratton had a population of 302, and in 1882 had five school dis- tricts and four common schools, employing two female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $303.12. There were seventy pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $322.60, with E. H. Willis, superintendent.
STRATTON is the only postoffice, it being located a little south of the center of the town, on the old stage road from Arlington, there being no village in the township. At the junction of this road and the road from the northern part of the town there is located a church, an hotel, and one dwelling. A little distance west of the old stage line is a blacksmith shop and the post- office above mentioned, while just beyond the postoffice there is a cluster of about four houses. In the extreme southeastern part of the town there is a small hamlet called the Pike settlement, having been first 'settled by the Pike family, and has had members of that family there ever since.
Joel F. Grout & Sons' saw and shingle-mill and chair-stock factory, located in the extreme western part of the town, was purchased by Mr. Grout in 1880, of E. W. Bowker. The mill was built about ten years ago, by Osmer Fitch, upon the site of a mill erected in 1838, by Phineas White, of Putney.
R. Lyman & Son's saw-mill, located on road 18, has the capacity for turn- ing out about 5,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Lyman purchased the prop- erty of William Pike, in 1844, though there has been a mill on this site about sixty years, the first having been erected by Levi Knight. The present structure was built by Mr. Pike, in 1835.
Alexander H. Pike's saw-mill, located on road 18, manufactures all kinds of lumber, and shingles, and is also supplied with planing and matching machinery. Mr. Pike built the mill in 1844.
304 **
TOWN OF TOWNSHEND.
The settlement of the town was not commenced until 1784, by Timothy Morsman. Others of the same name followed soon after, and also a family by the name of Patch. In 1791, the settlement had increased to ninety-five souls. The . town was organized and the first town meeting held, in 1788. when Asa Phillips was chosen town clerk ; Joseph Patch, constable ; and Timothy Morsman, Solomon Gale and Benjamin Hobbs, selectmen. The first birth was that of Asa Phillips, Jr., in 1785.
William G. and Jonathan Pike, two brothers, came to Stratton, with their mother, in 1795. He erected a log house on the farm now owned by William Henry Eddy, on road 17, and a year later the brothers were joined by their father, Samuel Pike, who was born at Hopkinton, Mass., in 1728. He died here November 15, 1815. Mrs. Pike died February 20, 1825, aged eighty-five years. They reared four children, William G., Anna, Jotham and Rhoda Jatham reared ten children by his first wife, and eleven by his second. Alex- ander Hamilton, the sixth of his ten children, built the saw-mill he still owns, in 1844. He married Elvira Rice, who bore him four children, three of whom are living, Viola and Elvira, in Brattleboro, and Lovina with her father.
Rodolphus Lyman, born in 1790, died here in 1866. He married Bethiah Robbins, in Northfield, Mass., April 24, 1820, and came to Stratton in 1837, locating upon the farm now owned by William Henry Eddy, on road 17, Rufus, one of their twelve children, born September 3, 1815, married Tryphe- nia Pike, the youngest child of William G. Pike. One of their four children, William R., married Emma Whitman, of Jamaica, and now operates a saw- mill in company with his father.
Stephen Forrester came to Stratton about 1820, locating on road 15, upon the farm now owned by his son, Roderick B. Roderick has held several of the town offices.
Samuel Willis, from Mendon, Mass., canie to Stratton about 1806, locating on road 18. He reared six children, Sylvia, Amy, Ruth, Roxey, Chloe and Daniel. Hilon E. Willis, residing on road 16, has served the town as select- man. Herbert F. Willis, residing on road 11, married Flora Allen and has reared three children.
. The Union Congregational church, located at the corner of roads 10 and 11, was organized at an early date, Rev. Chester Prescott being the first and only settled pastor the society has ever had. The first house of worship was erected in 1809, and gave place to the present structure in 1849, which will seat about 200 persons, and is valuad at $300 00. The society now has about fifteen members, with no regular pastor.
T OWNSHEND lies in the northern-central part of the county, in lat. 43 3' and long. 4° 24', bounded north by portions of Athens, Grafton and Windham, east by Athens and Brookline, south by Newfane and a part of Brookline, and west by Jamaica and a part of Wardsboro. It was chartered by New Hampshire, June 20, 1753, to John Hazeltine and sixty-
"1304
TOWN OF TOWNSHEND.
three others, with an area of 23,040 acres; but the area was increased by the annexation of the small town of Acton, October 29, 1840. Acton was char- tered by Vermont to Moses Johnson and thirty-two others, February 23, 1782, by the name of Johnson's Gore, containing 5,045 acres, and comprising what is now the northern "leg" of Townshend. January 2, 1801, it was incor- porated by the name of Acton, but without the right of a representative in the legislature, only in connection with Townshend ; but in 1823, it being dis- covered by the inhabitants that the law provides that every "organized town" has the right of representation in the legislative body, they proceeded, in the next year, 1824, to elect Ebenezer Huntington to that office.
The surface of Townsend is very broken and uneven, many of the hills being high and steep. There are, however, especially along the valley of West river, large areas of good farming land. West river flows a southeasterly course through the town, entering about the center of the Jamaica line, and leaving on the line between Brookline and Newfane. Negro brook joins it from the south, and Simpson, Joy and Acton brooks from the north. The principal rocks are gneiss and talcose-schist, the former predominating and the latter being found only in the western part of the territory. In the northern part is also a bed of sacchroid azoic limestone and a bed of steatite in the eastern part, of which Mr. Davis L. Bemis has a valuable quarry on his farm.
In 1880 Townshend had a population of 1,099, and in 1882, its ten school districts contained nine common schools, employing four male and fourteen female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $1, 187.34. There are 230 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year ending October 31st, was $1,300.15, with J. K. Batchelder, superintendent.
TOWNSHEND is a little post village in the southern part of the town, lying in a valley that is girted about by abrupt and rocky hills, one of which, Peaked mountain, rising from the east, attains an altitude of 750 feet above the vil- lage common. This common, or park, lies in the center of the village, being occupied by the Congregational church. It was leased to the town in 1803, for "so long as the town shall maintain the church which stands thereon." At that time at was such a rough, rocky piece of wild land that "an ox cart could not be drawn across it without being capsized." It is now, however, a beautiful level green, shaded by handsome maples. To the east of this stand Leland and Gray seminary, and the Baptist church. The balance of the vil- lage is made up of two general stores, two millinery stores, a drug store, tin shop, harness shop, blacksmith shop, marble shop, hotel, and about fifty dwellings. Aside from the facilities afforded by the Brattleboro & Whitehall railroad, the village is connected by daily stages with Bellows Falls and Graf- ton.
WEST TOWNSHEND, a post village, lies about eighty rods from the west line of the township, on the northern bank of West river. It has one church (Congregational), two general stores, a lumber and chair-stock factory, palm
3042
TOWN OF TOWNSHEND.
hat manufactory, grist-mill, carriage shop, jobbing shop, tin shop, harness shop, etc., and about thirty-five dwellings. The village was called Townshend before the establishment of the postoffice at the other village.
HARMONYVILLE, a small village located in the southern part of the town, has a grist-mill, chair stock factory, and about fifteen dwellings. Its name was derived through somewhat ridiculous circumstances, as follows : About 1828 or '30, the little village was at the zenith of its glory. William R. Shafter was in trade where B. D. Pratt's dwelling now stands, having suc- ceeded Emery Cathan, who erected the building, and Jacob Fish carried on a custom saw, grist and flouring-mill, while the little settlement throughout had a general air of sprightliness and progress. Townshend village, only a half-mile distant, being somwhat tinged with jealousy, dubbed the little village " Tin Pot." The imputation suggested by this title the aggressive hamlet could not brook, so it retaliated by naming Townshend village "Flyburg," and called a council of war, at which it was decided to give their own village a name worthy of its merits. Accordingly, after much debate, Harmony- ville was decided upon as the proper appellation. Emery Cathan painted two signs bearing this legend, nailing one to each end of the bridge that crossed the river. They were soon pulled down by youths from the rival vil- lage, however, though not until the name had become established, which has always clung to the place.
J. H. Fullerton, located at West Townshend, is extensively engaged in the manufacture of palm-leaf hats. He furnishes employment at hat braiding for 1,600 to 2,000 persons in this and neighboring towns during their leisure hours, and manufactures from 15,000 to 20,000 dozen hats per annum.
L. W. Hastings's grist-mill, on road 32, was built by Elijah Wilkinson, about forty years ago, on the site formerly occupied by Elijah and Elisha Allen's mill. The mill has one run of stones and does custom work.
F. W. Eddy's saw-mill, grist-mill, and chair-stock factory, located on road 40, was built by W. H. Willard, in 1866. The saw mill cuts 200,000 feet of lumber per annum, which is worked into chair-stock. The grist-mill, for grinding the coarser grains, does custom work.
E. A. Holmes's grist-mill, located at West Townshend, grinds about 2,500 bushels of merchant and 5,000 bushels of custom grain per year.
A. A. Goodell & Co.'s lumber and chair-stock factory, at West Townshend, employs eight men and turns out about $6,000.00 worth of work per annum.
Daniel Harris's carpenter and jobbing shop and cider-mill, at West Town- shend, is fitted with machinery for sawing and matching lumber and for man- ufacturing sash, doors, etc. The cider-mill turns out about 400 barrels of cider annually.
C. H. Willard, 2d, located at Townshend employs five men in the manu- facture of shingles, rakes, chair-stock, and lumber.
Harrison Chamberlain's saw-mill .- Daniel Barnes built a clothier's-mill in the eastern part of the town, early in the present century, where Harrison
"304
TOWN OF TOWNSHEND.
Chamberlain's saw-mill now stands. It was used for this purpose as late as 1830, about which time it was converted into a soapstone-mill, by F. Hol- brook, C. Farr, and B. Dyer. About 1843 C. Farr purchased the privilege and put up the saw-mill Mr. Chamberlain now operates.
Leland and Gray Seminary, located at Townshend, was incorporated by the legislature, October 31, 1834, as "The Leland Classical and English school of Townshend." A board of trustees was elected January 5, 1835, with Hon. Peter R. Taft, president. The name of the institution was changed in 1860, to the one it now bears, in honor of Dea. Samuel Gray, who made an endowment of $500.00 to the institution. The building, a substantial brick structure, was erected in 1835, Chapin Howard and John Blandin being the building committee. Among those who have served the institu- tion as principal appear the following honored names : Professors Smith and Lyford, of Colby University, H. L. Wayland, D. D., Rev. C. B. Smith, Rev. Horace Burchard, Rev. E. C. Judson, and others. The present board of trustees is as follows : Hon. Abishai Stoddard, president; Hon. Ira K. Batchelder, vice-president ; Hon. Ormando S. Howard, treasurer; and Hon. James H. Phelps. The present teachers are F. B. Spaulding, principal, and Hattie E. Colburn, assistant.
The settlement of the town was commenced in 1764, by Joseph Tyler, from Uptown, Mass., who drew his effects on a handsled from Brattleboro. He was soon after joined by John Hazeltine and others, from the same town, who in turn were joined by emigrants, between that year and January, 1781, to the number of 136, thirty-three of whom were males under the age of sixteen years, forty between the ages of sixteen and sixty, and one over sixty, thirty-five were females under the age of sixteen, twenty-six over sixteen and one black female. In 1791 the population had increased to 676 souls. This growth of the town could hardly have been presaged from the rather discourag- ing first attempts of the proprietors. They sent a committee on to survey and plat the township, who returned, reporting that it was impracticable to attempt a settlement of the territory on account of its rocky and mountainous character. The grantees then endeavored to have their charter transferred to lands located elsewhere; but, failing in this, they sent Ebenezer Waters, a surveyor, to the township, who laid out a range of fifty-acre lots along West river. This survey was disregarded, however, the proprietors selling portions of their rights under agreement that the purchasers should locate upon any unappropriated land, under the direction of a committee of the proprietors and a surveyor, have the lines run, and recorded by the town clerk. This gave rise to the greatest irregularity in the form of farms or lots taken up or purchased.
The first town meeting was held May 30, 1771, when Joseph Tyler was chosen town clerk. Mr. Tyler was also the first justice of the peace, an office he held for nearly a quarter of a century, he being for many years one of the most prominent and public spirited men in the town. He was a dele-
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.