USA > Vermont > Windham County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windham county, Vt., 1724-1884 > Part 49
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Medad Smith, a soldier of the Revolution, was one of the first settlers in Wilmington. He located on road 12, in the north part of the town. His ion Sylvester, a retired farmer, lives on road 42.
Jonas Haynes, formerly of Sudbury, Mass., came to Wilmington by marked rees soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. in which he served as captain of a company, and was pensioned. He was the first occupant of the arm now owned by H. H. Winchester, on road 12. His son Asher, who bought the homestead from his father, married Lovina Maynard of Marlboro, Mass., and raised ten children, six of whom are still living.
Abraham Haynes, a hero of the Revolution, was a native of Sudbury, Mass., and married Abigail Carr of the same place. About 1790 he removed o Wilmington and cut the first tree and raised the first log-house on road 19, In the farm now occupied by the youngest of his seven children, Ophir. He
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soon after installed a hog in an adjacent pen ; but, like many of the early settlers whose stock suffered from the predatory raids of the wild beasts which infested the surrounding wilderness, his claim to this addition to his worldly goods was soon disputed by a large bear, which entered the pen and carried off its porcine occupant in the presence of Mr. Haynes's wife, who was power- less to prevent the bold theft. Henry L. Haynes, son of Abraham, married Lydia Phelps, of Sudbury, Mass., and on his removal to Wilmington, likewise settled on road 19, near the Temple homestead, making the first clearing on his farm. He had nine children, three of whom are living.
Benjamin Haynes made the first improvements on road 28, on the place now owned and occupied by Lorin P. Harris, who married Mary Jane Haynes and purchased the farm of the Haynes estate. Mr. Harris's father, Samuel F. Harris, was called from church to take part in the battle of Bennington. He was elected drum-major and served till the end of the war. He soon after came to Wilmington from Rowe, Mass., and settled on a farm on road 53, on which he lived twenty-five years, when he removed to a farm on road 28, which is also owned and occupied by his son Lorin P. Harris. Here the elder Harris died. He also took part in the war of 1812.
Reuben Haynes, whose descendants are residents of Wilmington, was from Gardner, Mass., and a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill.
Daniel Cutting was a native of Sudbury, Mass., soon after the close of the Revolution, in which his energies were enlisted. He married Mary Willis and removed to Wilmington, locating on road 11, making the first clearing on the farm which is still in the possession of his descendants. The fruit of his marriage was eight children, none of whom survive.
Amos Fox, who was a native of Connecticut, settled in Wilmington at an early day and built, on road 59, the first frame house in the town, thus marking an important era in its history, where the harsh environments of pioneer life began to give place to the more commodious projections of thrift, skill and intelligence. Of his eleven children, Moses D. married Harriet Lowden and reared eight children, one of whom, Morris K., married Joanna E. Houghton, and resides on road 38.
Madison Dickinson was a pioneer in Wilmington. He settled on road 54, on the most southwesterly farm in the town, which is now occupied by his son Orlando, and there resided till his death.
Levi Dickinson was a soldier in the war of 1812, and took part in the battle of Plattsburgh. For this service he received a pension, which is now drawn by his widow, Alma D., who is ninety-three years old.
Oliver Wilder was an early settler on road 71. His son William was a soldier in the Revolution, and took part in the battle of Bennington. Their descendants still reside here.
James Corse, a native of Massachusetts, early settled on road 63, where his grandson, Oliver P. Corse, now lives. He came in company with two brothers. He reared nine children, all of whom are dead.
Livingle
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George Williams was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He soon after came o Wilmington and located a farm on road 69. He erected his log-house where J. Graves now lives, and in that vicinity built a saw-mill, which is said o have been the first in the town.
James Smith, a native of Suffield, Conn., came to Wilmington at an early lay. He married Sally Austin of this town and settled on road 16, making the irst improvements on his farm. He raised eight children and is still repre- ented here by his descendants.
David May was the first occupant of the farm on road 15. He was twice narried, first to Mary Stoddard, whose seven children are all dead, though ome of their descendants survive.
Nathaniel Adams, formerly of Connecticut, came to Wilmington at an early lay. He married Abigail Miller of this town, and raised six children, only ne of whom survives, John, the youngest son, who married Lorinda A. Fox, f New York State, and after various settlements in the town located on road .8, where he now resides. John's eldest son, Newell, married Victoria M. awton and occupies the old homestead.
Thomas S. Stowe was a farmer in Wilmington. He settled on road 32, on he place now occupied by Stowe & Miller, where he built the first circular aw-mill.
Jonathan Haskins was born at New Salem, Mass., January 7, 1757, and erved in the Revolutionary war. He married Keziah Bangs, by whom he ad six children, and early removed to Wilmington, settling on road 35. freeman, his youngest son, married Louisa Dickinson, of Springfield, Mass., nd settled on road 29. He raised one child, Louisa, who married Jonathan I. Corbett, now located on road 21.
Joel May was a native of Spencer, Mass. June 21, 1804, he married, the uit of his marriage being eleven children, four of whom are living,-Henry, amuel, Harriet and Hahnemann. Samuel and his son Horace E. occupy je homestead farm on road 22.
Thomas Haskell came from Hardwick, Mass., at an early day, and was the rst settler on the farm on road 67, where David Ballou now lives. He raised free sons, Thomas, Roger and Andrew, the latter of whom served during the .evolution under Washington. Hiram Haskell, son of Andrew, who had leven children, was born in 1800, and now lives on road 36, in this town. Ie is the oldest surviving member of the family, which has numerous de- :endants.
Leonard Reed, (son of Joseph Reed, who was high sheriff of Belchertown, fass., which office he held for thirty consectutive years in Northampton ounty.) married Almira Strickland, of Greenfield, Mass., and settled in Wil- lington, where he pursued the vocation of a farmer till his death, which ccurred May 16, 1874. Six of his seven children are living. January 1, 863, his daughter, Emma S., married Curtis R. Bartlett, who carried on noemaking for many years until his death, May 4, 1863, in Wilmington vil- ge, where his widow now lives.
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George Robinson, a native of Massachusetts, was of Scotch descent. He was a Baptist minister at the age of twenty years, and was a soldier in the Revolution. He married Aseneth Carpenter, by whom he had three boys. William, George and Sanford, the latter of whom married Mary Stetson, of Wilmington, and settled on road 16, where H. M. Fitch now resides. He raised ten children, five of whom are living.
John Adams, son of Nathaniel and Abigail (Miller) Adams, of Ashburn- ham, Mass., a resident of this town, married Lorinda A. Fox, of Broadalbin, N. Y., in 1839. Their children are Newell, Nelson and Henry. Henry married Sarah J. Smith, of Wilmington, March 1, 1866, and has, two children living, Walter and Leslie. Newell married Victoria Lawton, of this town, and has two children living, Harry L. and Dulcena R.
John Wheeler, a native of Whitingham, settled on road 2, and made the first improvements on his farm, where he resided till his death. He married Hannah Jewell and reared twelve children, six of whom are living, two in Whitinham and four in Wilmington.
Arial Ware was a native of Wilmington. He was twice married, first to Esther Chandler, by whom he had three children, and subsequently to Lovisa Boyd, who bore him five children. He settled on road 46, where Henry Pease now lives, and made the first clearing on his farm. Three children and many descendants survive him. Among the latter are Orrin O. Ware, a dry goods merchant and the postmaster at Wilmington village.
Stephen Boyd was an early settler on road 55 in this town. He married Lucy Cushman, of Wilmington, and leaves many descendants in the town.
Supply Clark, of Southampton, Mass., had four children. Sylvanus, his second son, married Content Field, and reared eight children. John L., Syl- vanus's youngest son, married Eliza Phipps, of Wilmington. They have reared six children-all living-Sylvanus, Luther, Zetta, Almina, Alta and Charles C., the latter of whom married Mary Ann Buffum, of this town, and has five children, John, Frank, Willie, Jessie, and Chester.
William Stowe, a Revolutionary hero, was a native of Boston, Mass., and married Lucy Jennings, of Brattleboro, Vt., where he first settled. John Stowe, one of his two surviving children, married Rachel W. Whitney, of Massachusetts, and made the first improvements on road 32, where Thomas Miller now lives. John H., the only surviving child of John Stowe, now re- sides on road 34 in this town. He enlisted during the Rebellion, in 1861, for three years, and participated in the battles of Port Hudson, Camp Bisland, and Fort Donaldson, receiving an honorable discharge at the expiration of his term.
Robert Boyd was born in the town of Wilmington. He married Susan Wheeler, of Whitingham, and settled on road 57, where E. T. Butterfield now lives, making the first improvements on that farm. He started in life with an ax, and, to use the expression of his descendants, "one lousy calf ;" but besides raising a worthy family of seven children, by intelligent industry he
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carved out a fortune, which, at his death, was worth $50.000. His grandson, Lorenzo M., son of James M., married first, Ruth Crawford, and second, Jane M. Parker, of Bennington, and resides on road 52.
Chester Hubbard was a native of Amherst, Mass. He married Dorothy Kellogg, of the same place, and soon after, about 1800, removed to Wilming- ton. He settled on road 59, and here spent the rest of his life, rearing six children, three of whom, Horace M., Frederick G. and George C., are liv- ing, the latter of whom, with his sons Porter and Chester, now occupy the old homestead.
William Haskell was a native of Harvard, Mass. He married Mercy Farnsworth, of Groton, in that State. He was a Revolutionary soldier, serv- ing at Bunker Hill and under Washington. In 1806 he came to Wilmington and settled on road 32, where H. and B. Howard now reside. Here he re- mained till his death, in 1828. He had one son and three daughters, the former of whom, Ephraim F., married Salina Stetson, January 9, 1823, and first settled on the homestead farm. He removed thence in 1836, and after two subsequent removals located on road 36, where he still resides. William B., one of Ephraim F. Haskell's four surviving children, is a merchant at Wilmington village.
Jonathan Temple, a native of Worcester, Mass., married Sarah Haynes, of Gardner, Mass., and about 1808 removed to Wilmington. He located on road 22, removing three years later to road 19, where he remained till his death. Willis H., his youngest son, married Dolly A. Merchant, of Mon- tague, Mass., June 5, 1850, and settled on the homestead farm, where he still resides.
Rev. Jeremiah Gifford, pastor of the Universalist church at Jacksonville, married Jane Stafford, of Monroe, Mass., January 1, 1844. Two of their six children. Russell C. and Eva A. (Mrs. Hosea Mann, Jr.,) are living. His son Eben enlisted in the war for the Union in 1861, and re-enlisted in 1863. He was said to be the best shot in the regiment, and was the only man from his company selected at Port Hudson to serve as a sharp-shooter. He was taken prisoner at Salisbury, N. C., and in three months starved to death. Russell C. married Etta T. Averill and resides here.
Jabez Smith, of Ashford, Conn., eldest son of Barak Smith, was born at Dover, Mass., August 13, 1784, and March 5, 1807, married Chloe Richards, of Dedham, Mass., with whom, in 1816, he removed to the town of Wilming- ton, locating the farm on road 11, where D. Spencer now lives. His children were Mary, Ruel, Francis, Lewis, Isaac, Catharine E., and Chloe L. Francis R. Smith, son of Ruel, who was born in Ashford, Conn., April 19, 1811, and married Lucinda Adams, of Wilmington, was born January 30, 1839, married Elsie J. Powers, of Marlboro, Vt., February 12, 1862. He is a properous farmer and successful breeder of Durham cattle on the "Elm Shade Farm," on road 36, where he has lived for thirty-two years. The other children of Ruel were Mary A., William Henry, and Lewis N. Barak'sfather was Caleb Smith, born at Needham, Mass., in 1720.
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Horace Alvord, a life-long resident of the farm he occupies on road 6; aged eighty-nine years, is the oldest male resident of the town of Wilming- ton. Miss Nancy Cook, who resides on road 55, is the oldest resident of the town. She is a native of Douglass, Mass., and was ninety-three years of! October 12, 1883.
John Rice, of Hardwick, Mass., married Sarah Swift, of Wilmington, July 13, 1817, and reared two children, Oliver M. and John S. John S. married Sally Bruse, of this town, October 5, 1847. Mr. Rice is a prosperous farme! on road 37. For his second wife he married Fanny C. Cummings, of Coi- orado.
Josiah Stearns married Lucy Allen, of Princeton, Mass., in 1800, and came to Wilmington, from Hubbardston, Mass., bringing his wife on horseback from Marlboro to their new home. His wife died about 1853. He married for his second wife, Eunice Torry, of Jamaica. He died January 16, 186 ;. aged ninety-four years. Three of his nine children are living, two daughters in the west, and a son, Rufus, at West Brattleboro. Rufus was born is Wilmington, September 3, 1804. He married Jane M. Ross, of Massach :- setts, and had six children, four of whom are living, three daughters in Braz- tleboro, and a son, Henry R., in Illinois.
David Winslow came to Wilmington in 1789, and built on Beaver Daw Brook, about a half mile east of the village of Wilmington, the first grist-ml erected in the town. After operating it several years he sold it and boi another at Wilmington village. That he also sold after conducting it severa' years, and built a third one at the outlet of Ray Pond, which he operated his death. He had two sons and a daughter. His son Tisdale was borz July 7, 1785, and came to Wilmington with his father. He married Philena Thrasher, and had six children, two of whom are living, George T .. in Plymouth, Conn., and William, in Brattleboro.
Silas Pettie came to Wilmington, from Hinsdale, N. H., about 1800. He was a miller, and built a grist-mill at the outlet of Ray Pond, in the north part of the town, about 1812. He was also a blacksmith, and had a sma" shop near his grist-mill. He had four sons and four daughters. His son Silas was born in Wilmington, in 1803, and lived here until 1839, when he removed to Townshend. He died in Guilford in 1870. Another son, Anson L., was born in Wilmington, in 1808. He graduated at Middlebury college, June 18. 1835, and practiced medicine about forty years. He was an eminent physi- cian and enjoyed an extensive practice. He died in 1879. He married Clarissa Smith, by whom he had two children, A. L., who lives in Brattleboro. and H. C., who resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Rev. Mansfield Bruce was born in Grafton, Mass., April 11, 178t. He united with the Congregational church, at Newton, West Parish, December 2, 1804, and in 1806, joined the Baptist church of Marlboro and Newfane. I which he served as deacon until September, 1809, when he was ordained as an evangelist. He soon after became the pastor of that church. He settled
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as pastor in Wilmington, in 1819, and served a useful and successful pastorate of twenty-four years. He was an humble, devoted christian, and an able, sound, and energetic preacher. His sermons were instructive and practical. He was esteemed as a man, christian, and able minister of Christ. He married Grace Goddard, by whom he had nine children. He died of hydrocephalus, February 5, 1843.
Levi Field was born at Leverett, Mass., 1780. He was graduated from Williams college in 1799, and licensed to preach May 4, 1802, but never ordained. He studied law and practiced that profession in Wilmington, where he died July 12, 1820.
Rev. Origin Smith was born in Wilmington, April 9, 1812. His father was Azor Smith. a farmer, schoolmaster, and justice of the peace, who died in Worcester, Mass. His grandfather Medad Smith, was one of the first five settlers in Wilmington, he came at the age of eighteen years, guided by marked trees, carrying a bushel of meal and a five-pail iron kettle upon his back from Coleraine, Mass., a distance of seventeen miles. His mother was Betsey, daughter of Thomas Haskell. He united with the Baptist church of Wilmington November 13, 1831, and was licensed to preach September 1, 1833. May 11, 1837, he married Betsey, daughter of Rev. Mansfield Bruce, who died October 4, 1882, aged seventy-three. Her mother was Grace G. Bruce, who died on her ninety-first birthday, in 1875. Mr. Smith was ordained as an evangelist, May 17, 1837, and for seven years served as mis- sionary to the Isles of Shoals under the patronage of the society for "propo- gating religious knowledge among the American Indians and others," the first missionary society formed in America. For nine years he was unable to labor in the ministry by reason of sickness. July 6, 1852, he commenced to labor in Dover, Vt., and for twenty and one-half years was pastor of the Baptist church in East Dover. He resided during this time in Wilmington, where for seventeen years he was engaged in the drug business. April 1, 1873, he commenced preaching in Guilford, Vt., and was pastor of the Baptist church six years. During the succeeding four years he was pastor of the Baptist church in Whitingham, Vt. March 29, 1883, he removed to Brattleboro, Vt., where has since made it his home with his only son, Irenius O. P. Smith, at 22 Canal street.
Wells H. Ford, now of this town, son of Stillman Ford, who was a native of Rowe, Mass., married Sophronia P. Pike, of Readsboro, October 24, 1857, and has five children now living. Ambrose Pike, grandfather of Mrs. Ford, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a native of Whitingham.
James White, of Petersham, Mass., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being present at the battle of Bennington. His grandson, James L. White, now resides in this town, on road 55.
Rev. Hosea F. Ballou was born at Dana, Mass., April 4, 1799, and died at Wilmington, May 20, 1881. His parents were Rev. Hosea and Ruth (Washburn) Ballou. No Wilmington citizen was ever held in more genuine
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esteem than this lamented gentleman. In every home his distinguished, blameless life is enshrined in the hearts of all who love nobility of character and still hold fast to manhood's best traits. Although adhering with unswerv- ing fidelity to his chosen faith, Universalism, he mingled with every sect and creed, and his bearing was notably catholic toward all. During his long ministry, of some forty-five years, he attended from twenty to seventy-two funerals a year in more than twenty towns, and in the aggregate probably as many as 1,600. He preached a sermon at fully nineteen-twentieths of that number. It is estimated that he meantime officiated at 600 weddings. His physical activity kept apace with his mental faculties, and both make a record of usefulness which his multitude of acquaintances and associates may ever refer to with pride and supreme satisfaction. His valued and exceptional life covered the occupations of farmer, trader, and clergyman, and honorable laborer in other departments of life, in all of which he displayed manhood's first qualification-industry. He was Whitingham's town clerk for seventeen years ; a justice of the peace fourteen years ; a member of the legislature for two terms, and of the State constitutional convention for three septeneries. He was superintendent of schools twenty-one years, and with all his various cares and duties brought up a large family to usefulness. To the youth of the land Father Ballou's life offers an example and enforces many precepts which, if followed, would surely bring an abundant reward of usefulness.
The Union Congregational church, located at Wilmington village, was or- ganized by Thomas Haskell, Edward Foster, Perry Swift, and Nathan Foster, in 1780, Rev. Winslow Packard being the first settled pastor. The first house of worship was erected that year, while the present house was built in 1883, (replacing the house burned in 1882,) at a cost of $4,500.00. It is capable of seating 225 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $5,000.00. The society now has eighty members, with Rev. H. R. Titus, pastor.
The First Baptist church, located at Wilmington, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. Eli Ball, with forty members, September 1, 1806. A church building was erected the same year, which gave place to the present structure, in 1833, which will seat 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $3,000.00. The society now has 100 members, with Rev. A. W. Goodnow, pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal church, located at Wilmington, was organized about 1825. The church building was erected in 1828, in the northern part of the town, and was removed to its present site in 1835. It will seat 250 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $3,500.00. The society now has eighty members, with Rev. H. F. Forest, pastor.
The Universalist church, located at Wilmington, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. H. F. Ballou, with fifty-one members, in 1835. The church building was erected the same year. It will seat 250 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $3,000.00. The society now has eighty-two members, with Rev. W. N. Barber, pastor.
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TOWN OF WINDHAM.
W INDHAM lies in the northwestern part of the county, in lat. 43º 11', and long. 4° 19', bounded north by parts of Andover and Chester, in Windsor county, east by Grafton and a small part of Townshend, south by portions of Townshend and Jamaica, and west by Londonderry. Windham was originally a part of Londonderry, which was chartered by New York, February 23, 1770, under the name of Kent. In 1792 Londonderry was divided, the eastern part thereof becoming the township of Windham, though the boundary line was not established at that time, but was supposed to be near the base of Glebe mountain, which is a long ridge of highland, forming a natural barrier between the towns, and which, from this fact, was largely a factor in producing the change. In 1795, however, through the influence of Esquire Arnold, in the legislature, the division line was established, ranging with the summit of Glebe mountain, and the portion to the east thereof, in connection with a small gore of land called Mack's Leg, was on October 22d, formally incorporated into the township of Wind- ham. Again, October 21, 1797, a part of Windham was re-annexed to Londonderry.
The surface of the township is uneven, Glebe mountain extending nearly the whole length of its western border, while Turkey mountain lies in the southern portion, and high hills are found in the northern and eastern parts. Through the central part it is more level. There are, however, notwith- standing this brokenness, many tracts of level, arable land, affording some excellent farms. The territory is well watered, though the streams are small, consisting of branches and tributaries of Williams, Saxton's and West rivers. The rocks entering into the geological structure of the town are principally of talcose-schist formation, though there are considerable beds of hornblende- schist and gneiss in the extreme eastern parts, and also gneiss in the extreme western part. Beds of limestone, serpentine and steatite are also found throughout the town. The most important minerals found are actynolite, clorite, garnets, serpentine, steatite and talc. Gold is also said to exist in small quantities in the southern part of the town.
In 1880 Windham had a population of 536, and in 1882 it had six school districts and six common schools, employing eleven female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $669.84. There were 165 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $722.78, with Mrs. A. M. Goodell, superin- tendent.
WINDHAM, a post village located in the central part of the town, has one church (Congregational), a postoffice, telegraph office, and a general store.
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