USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84 > Part 23
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Samuel Snow, born May 21, 1752, married Betty Perkins June 15, 1775, came to Pomfret, from Middlebury, Mass., in the winter of 1779, and spent the remainder of his life here. He reared a family of nine children, as follows: Bela, Eben, Samuel, Jr., Betty, Martin, Lucy, Cyrus, Nathan and Norman. Bela married Sarah Thomas, April 3, 1800, reared six children, and died June 25, 1852. The children were Nelson, Philip T., Velina, Sarah, Bela, Jr., and Chauncey, only one of whom, Sarah (Mrs. H. Spear, of Randolph, Vt.,) is living. Philip T., married Surreptia Houghton. He was well known, was a postmaster here for thirty years, and during the last twenty years of his life he kept a general store. He died in March, 1880. His son Byron M. is a prominent merchant of Cambridgeport, Mass. Nathan, son of Samuel, was born September 26, 1792, kept a general store here for forty years. When he first engaged in the business six or more teams were kept on the road to carry produce to Boston, returning laden with general goods. Isaac King, who now resids on road 14, was one of the teamsters.
Jeremiah Conant, in company with Barnabas Washburn, came here from Bridgewater, Mass., in 1780, and together bought one hundred acres of land in the western part of the town. They then returned to Massachusetts, mar- ried, and came back to Pomfret the following season. Mr. Conant was a carpenter, and for a few years worked exclusively at that trade, while Mr. Washburn labored on their farm. Mr. Conant was the father of eleven chil- dren, only two of whom, Seth, of this town, and Thomas, of Bridgewater, Mass., are living. He held many of the town offices and died at the age of seventy years.
Seth Hodges came to Pomfret, from Ashford. Conn., October 15, 1780, the night following the burning of Royalton, his family sleeping in a wolf pit the first night through fear of the savages, and one of his sons, grandfather of Smith Hodges, who now lives here, joined the party who pursued the marauders. Mr. Hodges located near the center of the town and resided here until his death, April 1, 1809, aged eighty-seven years. Smith Hodges, son of Edward, who died February 27, 1864, was born May 24, 1824. He has been a trapper most of his life, and has dealt in raw furs and skins over forty years. His trapping expeditions have taken him from Maine to the Rocky Mountains, throwing him in the way of adventures and hardships both numerous and marvelous.
Israel Keith, from Bridgewater, Mass., came to Pomfret in 1780, bringing with him two sons, John and Chandler, aged respectively ten and twelve years. Soon after their arrival, Mr. Keith joined a company to go to the rescue of Royalton, and directed his sons to return to Windsor where they
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had friends. The young lads set off alone, guided by marked trees, but instead of going to Windsor, returned to their home in Massachusetts. The next year Mr. Keith brought his whole family to the town, locating on road 3, where he resided for many years, and finally died in Sharon. John was the only one of the family whose life was spent here. He resided on the old farm now owned by his son, Cyrus A., and died in 1863, aged eighty-seven.
Robert Perry, a veteran of both the French war and the war of the Revo- lution, settled in the northern part of Pomfret in 1780, where he resided until his death, in 1816, aged seventy-three years.
Dr. Frederick Ware settled in Pomfret about 1782, the first physician in town. He was elected town clerk in 1789, held the office sixteen years, and will long be noted for the neatness and accuracy of his records. He was a half-brother of Horace Everett, of Windsor, who was a member of congress from 1829 to 1843. The Doctor died December 16, 1832. His son, Leonard, occupied the old homestead and is living at the age of eighty-two years.
John Dexter, from Mansfield, Conn., came to this town in the spring of 1804, locating in the eastern part of the town, on " Bunker hill," where he resided until his death, aged over ninety years. He was twice married and reared seven children.
William Perry was one of the prominent early settlers of Pomfret. He was a member of the legislature eight years, at various times from 1784 to 1800, and was judge of probate from 1794 to 1799, inclusive.
Abial Bugbee, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Pomfret in March, 1788, and located where his grandson, Adin Bugbee, now resides. He reared a family of nine children, all of whom lived to have families of their own.
Solomon King came to Pomfret, from Dedham, Mass., in 1801. He reared a family of twelve children, most of whom lived to have families of their own, and died July 29, 1853. Mrs. King died August 21, 1826.
Laban Chamberlin came to Pomfret in 1802, and located where his son, Otis, now resides, at Pomfret Center. He took an active interest in town affairs and died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Otis was a mer- chant here for many years, has held the office of town clerk forty-eight con- secutive years, was postmaster nineteen years, and has held most of the other town offices. He has also, as administrator, settled twenty-five estates, acted as commissioner on twenty-six estates, and as guardian for sixteen orphan children. In 1839 he was appointed a commissioner, by the legislature, to dispose of the convict labor, and also to settle the expense of building the court-house, at Woodstock.
John Bridge, farmer, settled in Pomfret in 1804, was an active, influen- tial man in town affairs, and was often in town office. He was a member of the legislature in 1812, '13, '16, '17, '25, and '26, and was assistant judge of the county court, in 1820, '21, '22, '23, and '24.
Gideon Maxham came to Pomfret, from Middlebury, Mass., about 1805,
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and located in the southwestern part of the town, where he died at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. Only two of his twelve children now reside in the town.
Crosby Miller, born in Pomfret, June 6, 1811, was educated in the public schools and at the academy in Chester, Vt., was appointed postmaster in 1837, and held the office several years ; was State senator two years, 1851 and 1852, a member of the house of representatives four terms, 1860, '61, '62 and '67 ; was county commissioner seven years, from 1858 to 1864; U. S. assistant assessor s even years, from 1863 to 1870, with a district of seven towns, assistant judge of the county court ten years, from 1872, and is a State trustee of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College ; he has also been a director the last seventeen years and president the last eight years of the Royalton National Bank ; has been a director the last twenty years of the Vermont State Agricultural Society, and is a director of the Champlain Valley Agricultural Association, located at Burlington. He has also held nearly all the town offices, was for years a justice of the peace, and twenty-eight years town treasurer. He married, in 1835, Orpha Hewitt, daughter of Joseph D. Hewitt, and granddaughter of Capt. Stephen Hewitt, who settled in Pomfret in 1793. They have two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, Melvin H., is a farmer on the old homestead, and married Julia R. Ware, daughter of Leonard Ware, and granddaughter of Dr. Frederick Ware. Their second son, Crosby P. Miller, graduated at the U. S. Military Academy, in 1867, and is ist Lieut. in 4th U. S. Artillery. He married Laura, daughter of Gen. Joseph A. Haskin, U. S. A. He was five years quartermaster at the Academy at West Point, N. Y., and is quarter- master at Fort Puble, Minn. Their oldest daughter, Ellen M., married Capt. A. B. Chandler, of the Ist Vermont Cavalry, who served through the war of the Rebellion, and died after its close, of disease contracted in the service. Their second daughter, Emma L., married Dr. H. H. McIntyre, of West Randolph, Vt., who is general agent of the Alaska Commercial Company, and has had sole charge of the annual catch of fur seals since the seal islands were leased to that company by the U. S. Government, and is one of a company running a Salmon cannery.
John Miller, father of Crosby, was born in Peterboro, N. H., September 15, 1770, and was a grandson of Samuel Miller, one of the first settlers in Londonderry, N. H., and'is cousin of Gen. James Miller of the war of 1812. He was married in 1799, to Hannah Crosby, of Mansfield, Conn., and settled in Pomfret in February, 1804. In March, 1806, he was elected town clerk, and served in that capacity sixteen years, and on his retirement by resigna- tion received a vote of thanks from the town for his faithful discharge of the duties of the office. He held many other town offices, was many years a jus- tice of the peace, and for a long period deacon of the Congregational church. He died June 30, 1856.
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Remington Kenyon came to Pomfret, from New Hampshire, about 1820, and settled on "Bunker hill," where he died in 1869, aged seventy-six years.
Rev. Amos Wood, a Congregational minister, was born at Lebanon, N. H., in May, 1763, graduated from Dartmouth college, and located in Pomfret about 1815. He reared seven children, three of whom are now living, viz. : Mrs. J. W. Dana, Ellis S. and Mrs. R. W. Newton. He died at the age of seventy-two years.
Elisha Fuller came to Pomfret, from Massachusetts, about 1820, and located upon the farm now owned by Charles Hutchinson. He reared five sons, and died at the age of forty-nine years.
Dr. Kimball Russ settled in Pomfret in 1827, and was in the active and continuous practice of his profession almost forty-eight years, his first profes- sional visit being made in February, 1827, and the last in November, 1875. He died December 30, 1875. He was universally esteemed and trusted as a physician and citizen, and was favorably known to the profession through- out the State. He left to the town a legacy of $1,000.00, the income of which was to be given to the poor who are not paupers.
Rev. Elisha Hutchinson, A. M., was born at Sharon, Conn., December 22, 1749, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1775. He studied divinity, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational church of Westford, Conn., in March, 1778, and was dismissed in 1783. December, 17, 1784, he was in- stalled first pastor of the Congregational church of Pomfret, Vt., and was dismissed January 8, 1795. In 1800 he went to Massachusetts, and died at Newport, April 9, 1832, aged eighty-three years.
The following Revolutionary pensioners were residents of Pomfret : Fred- erick Ware, John Doten, Joel Perkins, Nathaniel Ruggles, Daniel Fraser, Abial Bugbee, Abial Morse, Phineas Raymond, Robert Perry, Thomas Vail, Adam Howard, Samuel Snow, Isaiah Linkham, Jonathan Hoit, Aaron Blanch- ard, John Dexter, Jesse Bruce, Nathaniel Carpenter, Jeremiah Conant, Isaac Dana, John Darling, Bartholomew Durkee, Increase Hewitt, John Miller, Jeremiah Pratt, Christopher Smith, Samuel Snow, Benjamin Thompson, Chas. Wolcott, William Waters and William Whitman.
The following is a list of the soldiers of the war of 1812, who have resided in Pomfret : Moses Abbott, Levi Allen, Warren Blanchard, Daniel Boynton, John W. Boynton, Luther Bugbee, Isaac Churchill, Daniel Dana, Elias Fales, Franklin Fales, Martin D. Follett, James Truman, Richard Gladden, Calvin Greene, Benjamin Hill, Oliver C. Leonard, Alfred Leonard, Alexan- der Milliken, Walter Moore, John Moonen, Shelden Parker, Jabez Park- hurst, Marcus Peake, Ephraim Perrin, Levi Pratt, Aaron V. Smith, Lewis Smith, Samuel P. Snow, Eben Snow, Anson Snow, Cyrus Snow, Lemuel Spooner, Hull Vail, Jonathan Ware, Jonathan Ware, Jr., and Jonathan Weeks.
The First Congregational church of Pomfret, located at Pomfret village, was organized by John W. Dana and others, with twenty-five members,
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January 8, 1783, Rev. Elisha Hutchinson being the first pastor. The present church building was erected in union with the Christian church, in 1844. It will seat 200 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $2,500.00 The society has forty-two members, with Rev. Henry A. Van Dalsen, pastor.
The Christian church of Pomfret, located at Pomfret village, was organ- ized August 17, 1826, by elders Seth Allen and Edward B. Rollins, with nine members, Rev. Edward E. Rollins, being the first pastor. The first church edifice, built in company with other denominations, was dedicated Novem- ber 23, 1833, and was burned on the night of October 14, 1843. The present house was built in union with the Congregational church, and dedi- cated November 28, 1844. The present pastor of the society is Elder B. B. Chedel.
R EADING lies in the central part of the county, in lat. 43° 30' and long. 4° 26', bounded north by Woodstock, east by West Windsor, south by Cavendish, and west by Plymouth. It contains an arca of 23,040 acres, chartered by New Hampshire, July 6, 1761, to Zedekiah Stone and his associates to the number of sixty-one. May 30, 1772, a grant of the town was also issued, by New York, to Simeon Stevens and others. The lands have all been held, however, under the New Hampshire charter.
The surface of the town is uneven, its elevations being rather abrupt. Towards the western part is an elevated tract of land extending through the town from north to south, from which issues its principal streams, and it is worthy of remark that no water runs into the township. In the southwestern part, on the line of Plymouth, is a natural pond about two hundred rods in length and fifty in breadth. The outlet of this town is to the south, into Plymouth pond. From the northwestern part of the town the streams take a northerly direction, falling into Quechee river at Bridgewater. From the central and northeastern parts the streams take an easterly course and unite with the Connecticut river at Windsor. While those in the southeastern part take a southeasterly course and fall into Black river at Weathersfield. Some small streams, however, rise in the northern part, and, taking a north- easterly direction, fall into Quechee river at Woodstock. As a whole, the streams in Reading, though generally small, afford a tolerable number of mill privileges. The soil is fairly productive for grains and fruits, and affords excellent pasture land. The timber is generally hard wood, though the highlands afford spruce and hemlock.
The rocks entering into the geological structure of the town are of the calciferous mica schist and gneiss formation, the latter underlying the eastern and western portions of the town and the former the central part.
In 1880 Reading had a population of 953, and in 1882 was divided into eight school districts and contained eight common schools, employing one
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male and twenty female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $852.35. There were 365 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $958.27, with H. M. Guild, superintendent.
FELCHVILLE is a post village located in the southeastern part of the town. It contains two churches (Baptist and Union), one hotel, three stores, a school-house, two saw-mills, cabinet shop, undertaker's shop, tin shop, two blacksmith's shops, harness shop, wheelwright shop, paint shop, etc., and about 250 inhabitants.
SOUTH READING, a post village located in the southern part of the town, contains one church (Methodist), a store, blacksmith shop, shingle-mill, chair- stock factory, two saw-mills, a grist-mill, etc., and about 125 inhabitants.
READING (p. o.) is a hamlet located in the eastern part of the town.
Clark Wardner's saw-mill, located at Felchville, cuts about 75,000 feet of lumber per year.
Carlos Hawkins's saw and grist-mill and rake factory, located on Mill brook, was built about seventy years ago by Levi Davis, and came into the present owner's possession in 1838. Mr. Hawkins does custom work, and manufac- tures 50,000 feet of lumber and 150,000 dozen rakes per year.
D. P. Sawyer's grist-mill, located at Felchville, was built by Hosea Benja- min, in 1851, for a carpenter shop. It was used for this purpose two years, then sold to Joseph S. Davis, who converted it into a grist-mill. In 1877 it was purchased by Mr. Sawyer. It is operated by water-power and has one run of stones.
Myron A. Davis's saw-mill and chair factory, located at Felchville, was built by P. W. Stearns, Clark Wardner and Martin Stowell, in 1869, upon the site of the woolen factory which was destroyed by fire. It was purchased by Mr. Davis in 1879. He employs twenty-five men in the manufacture of lumber and 1,200 dozen chairs per year.
H. P. Kendall's carriage shop, located at Felchville, wasestablished by Ben- jamin M. Kendall, in 1857. The present proprietor manufactures and does job work.
Henry Allen's shingle-mill and chair-stock factory, located at South Reading, is what is known as the Lewis Robinson mill, and was purchased by Mr. Allen in 1880. He manufactures lath, shingles and chair-stock.
E. W. C. Boyce's saw-mill, located at South Reading, was once used as a starch factory, and came into Mr. Boyce's possession in 1873. He manufac- tures 75,000 feet of lumber per year and 100,000 mop handles, also clothes- frames, ladders, etc. Mr. Boyce also has an interest in a mill in Plymouth that cuts about 300,000 feet of lumber per year.
E. E. Green's grist-mill, located at South Reading, has one run of stones and does custom work.
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Jones & Hawkins's mills, located on road 30, manufacture 20,000 feet of lumber, 25,000 mop handles, 500 barrels of cider and a large amount of chair- stock per year.
S. & G. Bailey's woolen mill, located near the center of the town, was built by Levi Bailey, about 1815, for the manufacture of woolen cloth ; but the sup- ply of water not proving sufficient this manufacture was given up and custom carding is now carried on.
For the defense of Massachusetts and her frontiers, during the year 1754, Gov. Shirley, on the 21st of June, ordered the commanders of the provincial regiments to assemble their troops for inspection, and make returns of the state of their forces at headquarters. The towns in the province were also ordered to furnish themselves with the stock of ammunition required by law. In spite of these precautions, however, the enemy, late in the summer, began their incursions in Massachusetts and along the frontiers of New Hampshire. At Bakerstown, on the Pemigewasset river, they made an assault on a family, on the 15th of August, killed one woman and made captives several other persons. On the 18th they killed a man and a woman at Steven's town, in the same neighborhood. Terrified at these hostile demonstrations, the in- habitants deserted their abodes and retired to the lower towns for safety, while the government was obliged to post soldiers in the deserted places. At an early hour on the morning of the 30th, the Indians appeared at Num- ber Four, or Charlestown, on the Connecticut river, broke into the house of James Johnson, before any of the family were awake, and took him prisoner, together with his wife and three children, his wife's sister, Miriam Willard, a daughter of Lieut. Willard, Ebenezer Farnsworth, and Peter Labaree. Aaron Hosmer, who was also in the house eluded the enemy by secreting himself under a bed. No blood was shed in the capture, and soon afterd aylight the Indians set out with their prisoners for Canada, by the way of Crown Point. On the evening of the first day the whole party encamped in the southwestern corner of Reading, near the junction of Knapp's brook with the Black river branch, where, on the morning of the 31st, Mrs. Johnson, who had been car- ried half a mile from the camp, was delivered of a daughter.
This is the first account we have of any white person's visit to Reading, and records the first birth in Cavendish, for it was just over the line that the birth occurred. The daughter, from the circumstances of her birth, was named Captive. She afterwards became the wife of Col. George Kimball, of Cavendish. Upon the north bank of the brook, beside the road leading from Springfield to Woodstock, stand two stones, commemorative of the events recorded. The larger one is in its proper place, and the smaller one, though designed to be located half a mile further up the brook, whether by accident or otherwise, has always stood at its side. The stones are of slate and of a very coarse texture. They bare the following inscription :-
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This is near the spot
that the Indians encampd the
Night after they took Mr. Johnson & Family Mr. Labaree & Farnsworth August 30th 1754 And Mrs Johnson was delivered of her child Half a mile up this Brook. When troubles near the Lord is kind He hears the captives crys He can subdue the savage mind And learn it sympathy On the 31st of August 1754 Capt James Johnson had
A Daughter born on this spot of Ground being Captivated with his whole family by the Indians.
The first settlement of the town was commenced by Andrew Spear and family, who came to Reading from Walpole, N. H., in 1772. His land embraced the farm now owned by Marcellus Bryant, and the log house first built by Mr. Spear stood near the site of Mr. Bryant's house. The precise date of Spear's arrival is not known, though his deed bears date August 20, 1772, and he then had not left Walpole. For five years this family resided here alone, when Barakiah Cady Came on and located near Mr. Spear, about 1777. In 1779, the settlement was increased by the arrival of David Hap- good, John Weld, James Sawyer, Seth Sawyer, Joseph Sawyer, Jedediah Leavens, John Sawyer, Hezekiah Leavens and Samuel Gary. Benjamin Buck, then about twelve years of age, came with Mr. Cady and lived with him until his majority. Benjamin Sawyer came from Pomfret, Conn., about 1780, and located upon the farm now owned by Charles A. Davis, and in 1796, built the house now standing thereon. He kept a hotel here for a time. His son, Benjamin, Jr., kept a hotel at the "Sawyer stand" from 1827 to 1834, and from 1840 to 1843. In 1781, John Sherwin and Moses Chaplin came on. From 1772 to 1782, however, little progress seems to have been made in the settlement ; but for the next nine years, pioneers came on until in 1779, the inhabitants numbered 747, and in 1800 this num- ber had increased to 1, 123.
The town was organized March 30, 1780, at a meeting held at the house of Capt. John Weld, when the usual town officers were chosen, Jedediah Leavens was the first town clerk, John Weld, Andrew Spear and Robert Grandey, selectmen, and Barakiah Cady, constable. The first representative was Andrew Spear, in 1779. The first birth was that of Ezra Spear, in 1773. The first saw-mill was built by Col. Tyler, of Claremont, N. H., in 1780, who
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also built the first grist-mill, in 1783 ; these were a little below Carlos Ward- ner's, on Mill Brook. A saw-mill was built by Samuel Buck, near Simeon Buck's, at the raising of which Daniel Blanchard, the master workman, was killed. The first practicing attorney was Titus Brown, in 1816. The first physician was Dr. Elkanah Day. The second physician was Woodbury Marcy.
Nathaniel Pratt, a deacon of the Congregational church, and an active worker in religious and educational affairs, came to Reading, from New Hampshire, at an early day. He located upon and cleared a farm in the western part of the town, where he reared a large family of children. His grandson, Jarvis now lives on road 32.
Cornelius Sawyer, in company with his brothers, Benjamin and Joseph, and two sisters, came to Reading in 1780. Cornelius located in the southern part of the town, where he reared seven children, and died in March, 1835. His grandson, Daniel P., born here in 1827, has held the office of justice of the peace twelve consecutive years.
Benjamin, Benoni, Samuel and Simeon Buck, four brothers, came here from Connecticut at an early day. Benoni settled in the eastern part of the town, reared a family of eight children, two of whom, Rufus and Dexter, are living, and died in 1857 at the age of eighty-nine years. Rufus resides in South Reading, and Dexter on road 15. All the other brothers, except Simeon, reared families and resided in the town all their lives.
John Davis came to Reading at an early day and located near the present site of Reading postoffice. He remained in the town until his death. His son Ezekiel came to the town in 1783, locating at what is now called Ham- mondsville. Ezekiel reared a family of twelve children, two of whom, John, of Cavendish, and a daughter, in Massachusetts, are living. His son Ed- mund was born here in 1793 and died in 1880. Edmund reared nine chil- dren, five of whom now reside here. Justus S. and Carlos live near South Reading and C. A. resides on road 42.
David Hapgood, from Templeton, Mass., came to Reading at an early date and located near the center of the town. He is said to have built the first frame house in the town. It stood upon the farm now owned by E. S. Hammond, and was destroyed by fire in 1883. Mr. Hapgood held many of the town offices and reared a family of ten children. David, Jr., was the third child born in the town, in 1786, and resided here until his death, in 1859. He was treasurer of the town thirty-two consecutive years, and had a family of six children. Only one, Solomon K., is now living.
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