USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84 > Part 25
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Thomas Hodskin, from Connecticut, came here in 1789 and located upon a farm in the southern part of the town, on the river. Three of his four chil- dren remained in the town, and left many descendants.
Ora Hubbard, son of Elisha Hubbard, one of the early settlers, was born in 1788, and lived to an advanced age, rearing seven children. His youngest son, Benjamin F., now resides on road 42.
Thomas Martin was one of the early settlers of the town and one of the most prominent citizens. Daniel, his fourth child, born in 1802, died in 1872. Two of his eleven children now live in the town.
Ebenezer Martin, a native of Connecticut, came to Rochester as early as 1795, locating near the House Commons, and spent his whole after life there. Of his family of nine children, two now live in the town. Loman, the eighth child, born in 1808, died here in 1882. Of Loman's eight chil- dren, only one, Crosby G., now resides here.
Rufus Martin, also a native of Connecticut, came to Rochester at an early date, locating at Little Hollow, building the first frame house in that part of the town. Four of eight children are now living. Henry, the fourth child, born in January, 1803, now resides within a quarter of a mile of the place of his birth. Three of his five sons now reside in the town.
John Austin came into Rochester among the early settlers, locating upon what is still known as Austin hill. A number of his descendants still reside in the town. Joseph, son of Robert and grandson of John, born in 1809, has four sons living in the town. Truman D., Milan D., George E., and Adel- bert J.
Caleb Segar, from New Hampshire, came to Rochester at an early date and remained in the town until his death, leaving a number of descendants.
Jonathan Jewett, from Windsor, came to Rochester in 1790, located in the extreme northern part of the town. Subsequently he erected clothing works near the village, and finally removed to Mill Viliage, where he died in 1842, aged seventy-six years. Two of his four children now live in the town.
203
TOWN OF ROCHESTER.
Thomas Bailey came to Rochester, from Westminster, Vt., previous to 1790, locating in North Hollow. Ora, the last of eight children, died in 1864, aged seventy-four years. Five of Ora's ten children are living, two, Lorenzo Dow and Clark, in Rochester.
Lemuel Richardson, a native of Cornish, N. H., came to Rochester in 1792, and located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Gardner E. Richardson. He was a farmer and also had a store, one of the first in the town. He was a deacon of the Congregational church, and held many of the town offices, and reared nine children. G. E. and Stillman, sons of Elias, and Makepeace Richardson, are the only direct descendants in town. Of the family of Elias, five are living.
William McCollom, from New Hampshire, came to Rochester in 1795 and located upon a farm in North Hollow. He reared a family of nine chil- dren, three of whom now reside in the town, and died in 1827, aged forty- two years.
Robert Willey, from Worchester, Mass., also settled in North Holland in 1795. Oren is the only one of his eight children now residing in the town.
Elisha Hubbard came to Rochester, from Putney, in 1798, and settled on road 5, upon the farm now owned by his grandson, William T. Two only of his fourteen children, George and Betsey (Mrs. David Nichols), are now living. Abel, who was nine years of age when his father came here, reared twelve children, of whom three reside in the town. William T., the eighth child, occupies the homestead.
John Chaffee, second son of Amos Chaffee, born in 1778, came to Roches- ter at an early date, reared eight children and died in 1850. John, Jr., his sixth child, born in 1813, has always resided in town. Henry A., the eldest of his four children, was born in 1840. He served four years in Company E., 4th Vermont Volunteers, and lost an arm at the battle of Cedar Creek.
James Wing, a native of Hardwick, Mass., came to Rochester about 1800 and settled in in the eastern part of the town, remained there a short time and then located at the village, engaging in blacksmithing. He reared a family of ten children. Henry M. Wing, residing on road 42, occupies the farm that has been in the family over fifty years.
Ezra Washburn, a native of Stafford, Conn., came to Rochester about 1800 and located at West Rochester, where he had many adventures with bears and wolves. He had a family of fourteen children. Ezra, Jr., resides on road 45.
Leonard B. Chaffee, born in 1780, came to Rochester, from Athens, Vt., in 1806, and located upon a farm in the center of the town, where he reared a family of seven children and died in 1866. John W., the second son of Leonard B., was born here in 1810, and two of his five children reside here. Gardner L., the sixth child of Leonard B., born in 1823, resides at the vil- lage.
204
TOWN OF ROCHESTER.
Robert B. Tupper, from Massachusetts, came here at an early date and located upon a farm in the southern part of the town. Here he resided un- til his death, rearing five children. Royal H. Tupper, his third child, born in 1810, died in 1881, aged seventy-one years. Two of his four children set- tled in the town. John R., his eldest, resides at the village.
Lyman Messer, who now resides on road 40, came here from New York in 1814. Julius C., the second of his seven children, born in 1840, resides on road 33.
William Baker, a native of Hillsboro, N. H., came to Rochester in 1816, ocating upon the farm now owned by his son Philander. Five of his twelve children are living, four in this town.
Dea. Joseph Morse, a native of New Hampshire, came to Rochester on the " cold Friday" of 1817, with his family of wife and eight children, locat- ing upon the place now owned by Oliver Morse. He died in 1858, aged eighty years.
John Marsh, from Bethel, came to this town in 1817, locating at what is now known as Jerusalem. He died in 1838, aged fifty-nine years. Joel, his second son, now resides here, having reared four children.
Justin Morgan, from Bethel, located at Rochester village in 1822, entering into mercantile pursuits. He remained only a few years, however, when he removed to Stockbridge, and died there in 1853. His son, Charles, now resides on road 26.
Dr. Daniel Huntington, from Royalton, came here in 1809, locating at the village, where he practiced medicine until his death, in 1854. Four of his seven children now reside in the town.
E. Martin Lattemer, who resides on road 37, came here in 1824.
Dura Kinsman, with his father, Moses Kinsman, came here from Claren- don, Rutland county, in 1825, at which time he was seventeen years of age. His father purchased one hundred acres of land where road 50 now is, and was the first to locate in that part of the town. Six of his nine children are now living.
Elijah Wyman, Jr., came from Weathersfield, Mass., in 1834, locating upon a farm at what is now known as Jerusalem. Two of his four children remained in the town.
Eber Angel, from Stockbridge, came to Rochester in 1837, also locating at Jerusalem, where he died in 1867, aged seventy-three years. Only one of his ten children, Gideon W., now resides here.
Rev. George S. Guernsey came to Rochester in 1844, and commenced teaching school. He taught school two years and then commenced preach- ing, and has followed the same ever since. Although he has preached in thirty-three different towns, he has never changed his place of residence.
Samuel G. Haskins, from New Hampshire, came to Rochester village in 1847, where he has since carried on the tailoring business.
During the war of the Rebellion Rochester furnished 197 men, 153 of
205.
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
whom were residents of the town, and $38,474.65 in cash. In 1868 the town erected a beautiful monument of Barre, Vt., granite, at the village, in honor of her brave sons who lost their lives in the war. The following is a list of. the names engraved on the same :-
Lieutenant- Colonel-Henry A. Eaton.
Lieutenant-Ransom M. Towle. Lieutenant -- Charles G. Newton.
Sergeant-Varnum B. Whitney.
Sergeant-Erastus W. Ward.
Corporal-Charles C. Beckwith.
Dexter Crossman,
Joseph Huntington,
Norman A. Brink,
William H. Jones,
Erastus S. Austin,
Jacob Messer,
Henry T. Goodyear, Theodore H. Hall,
Delos Parmenter,
Franklin Pillsbury,
Fred Richmond, Henry Simons,
Williard J. Bisbee,
Ira A. Stevens,
Nelson J. Thrasher,
Harry A. Washburn,
Charles F. Van Gilder,
Edward Morse,
Charles E. Alexander,
Volney R. Flanders, Elmer J. Leonard,
Stillman B. Smith,
Andre M. Washburn,
Malcolm G. Kinsman,
George E. Whitcomb, John F. Pearson,
George S. Laird,
John O. Whitney,
George Allen, Charles J. Bisbee,
Elbridge S. Williams,
Charles A. Keith.
R OYALTON lies in the center of the northern tier of towns of the county, in lat. 43° 49', and long. 4° 28', bounded north by Tun- bridge, in Orange county, east by Sharon, south by Barnard, and west by Bethel. It was originally chartered by New York, November 13, 1769, to George Bangor, William Smith, Whitehead Hicks and John Kelley, and was by them surveyed and allotted in 1770. Under this charter the set- tlers came in and purchased lands, etc .; but in 1781 it became understood by the settlers that the legislature of Vermont was about to treat their township as vacant land, and grant it to Eliakim Spooner and others, so they applied for and obtained a charter of the territory from Vermont, granting the same to Comfort Seaver, Esq., and others, December 20, 1781. Under the author- ity vested in this charter the lands have since been held.
The surface of the town is rather uneven, though the soil is good, especi- ally along White river and its branches. This stream forms the principal water course, flowing through the center of the town from west to east. In the westerly part of the town it meets a ridge of highlands, curves suddenly to the south, forming a semi-circle, and pursues its course past the two villages of Royalton and South Royalton, to its final destination in the Con-
Alfred M. Richardson,
Charles Morse, Jr.,
206
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
necticut, being one of the most beautiful of the large number of streams that find their source among the Green mountains, and their outlet in Lake Champlain and Connecticut river. It presents a most attractive aspect as it winds rapidly along over rock and pebble, careless alike of the picturesque beauty of its path and the exquisite landscape scenery on either hand. The steep acclivities and green slopes bordering it are covered with green pastures, with shrubs and forest trees, presenting a great variety of form, color, tint and outline, contrasting finely with the white cottages which are frequently located on rising grounds, high above the bed of the stream, the intervales of which are checkered in summer and autumn with large fields of billowing grain. Add to all this, then, the glamour that memorable historical events cast over a territory, and one will have a fair idea of what Royalton is.
The principal rock entering into the geological formation of the town is calciferous mica schist, underly nearly the whole township. In the south- western part, however, is a small bed of clay slate, near which have been discovered some traces of gold. The Central Vermont railroad passes through the center of the township, with stations at Royalton and South Royalton.
In 1880 Royalton had a population of 1,558, and in 1882 was divided into fifteen school districts and contained fifteen common schools, employing three male and twenty-one female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $1,753.36. There were 309 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year ending October 3Ist was $2, 108.52 with S. R. B. Perkins, superintendent.
SOUTH ROYALTON is a post village and station on the C. V. R. R., located in the eastern part of the town. The first building therein was erected in July, 1808, the present store of Bixby & Jones. The village now has two churches (Congregational and Methodist), about twenty stores, an hotel, a public hall and about fifty dwellings.
ROYALTON, a post village and station on the C. V. R. R., located in the western part of the town, was formerly the only village in the town ; but since the advent of the railroad much of its business and population has for some reason drifted to its younger sister. It has two churches (Congregational and Episcopal), a school-house, hotel, store and about thirty or forty dwell- ings.
The South Royalton House, Charles H. Woodard, proprietor, is located op- posite the railroad depot at South Royalton. This hotel, which has accommo- dations for about fifty guests, is pleasantly located and is a popular resort for summer boarders.
The Cascadnac House, G. A. Brown, proprietor, is located in the center of the village of Royalton, in the midst of the beautiful scenery of this section of country, making a pleasant summer residence.
The Royalton Academy, located at Royalton village, from which Salmon P. Chase graduated, was chartered in 1808. Only one teacher is now employed.
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207
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
Martin Adams's saw-mill, located at South Royalton, manufactures about 800,000 feet of lumber per annum.
H. C. Soper's marble shop, located at South Royalton, is a branch of his shops in West Randolph. He manufactures all kinds of cemetery work, etc.
Oscar N. Stoughton's saw and grist-mill, located on road 21, gives employ- ment to three hands. The grist-mill has three runs of stones, while the saw- mill has the capacity for cutting about 5,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Stoughton has a cider and shingle-mill also.
Ira B. Spaulding's cider-mill, located on road 38, turns out about 300 bar- rels of cider annually.
Howland & Yoton's saw-mill, located at South Royalton, gives employment to from two to five hands, turning out 125,000 feet of lumber per annum.
Frank W. Brcadstreet's saw-mill, located on road 44, gives employment to three men and turns out 200,000 feet of lumber per annum.
The New York grantees surveyed and allotted the township of Royalton in 1770, the year following the issue of the charter, and in 1771 the first permanent settlement was made by Robert Havens and family, who located upon a farm on the First Branch of White river, near the Tunbridge line. In 1772 this family was joined by Elisha Kent and his family, from Connec- ticut, whence most of the early settlers came. Emigration became rapid from this time forward, the affairs of the settlers were in a prosperous con- dition and the population increased to 3co, in 1780. This year, however, was a sad one for the youthful settlement, though its great event, the " Burning of Royalton," has made the town famous in Vermont's history. To give one a clear idea of this affair it is necessary to look back a little.
The Revolutionary war was at its height, and the northern frontier of Ver- mont was entirely exposed to invasion by the British and Indians, and it had become a matter of comment among the settlers that they had not had more trouble from such invasions. But on the 9th of August, of this year, a party of twenty-one Indians visited the town of Barnard, and made prisoners of Thomas M. Wright and Prince Haskell. David Stone, of Bethel, was also captured at the same time, by the same party. In Bethel a small stockade fort had been erected the year previous, and to it the small garrison that had been quartered at Royalton was removed, commanded by Capt. Safford. Immediately after the attack the inhabitants of Barnard decided to build a fort, which they did, and named it Fort Defiance. These events, the draw- ing of the garrison away from Royalton, etc., only left this township an easier prey and the blow soon fell.
In July, 1776, an American officer, a certain Lieut. Whitcomb, while out with a scouting party on the river Sorel, had mortally wounded Gen. Gordon a British officer, as he was riding between Chambly and St. Johns, and had taken from him his sword and watch. The British had long desired to avenge this act, which they regarded as base and villainous, resulting wholly from a desire of plunder, and totally unworthy of an officer. To capture
208
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
Whitcomb was, with them, a controlling motive. Expecting, it is supposed, that they should find him at Newbury on Connecticut river, an expedition was planned against that town in 1780. Of the 210 men who were engaged in it, all were Indians, with the exception of seven white men who were refugees and tories. In the beginning of October, the party, under the command of Horton, a British lieutenant, and one LeMott, his assistant, started on their mission of plunder and revenge. Their guide, whose name was Hamilton, had been made prisoner by the Americans at the surrender of Burgoyne, in 1777. He had been at Newbury and Royalton during the preceding summer, on parole of honor ; and having left the latter place with several others, under pretence of going to survey lands in the northern part of Vermont, had gone directly to the enemy, to whom, no doubt, he com- municated such information as served to assist them in executing their bar- barous intentions. While proceeding up Onion or Winooski river, they fell in, near the spot where Montpelier now stands, with two white men engaged in hunting, who informed them that the people of Newbury had been ex- pecting an assault from their enemies in Canada, and were well prepared for defence. The information, whether true or false, had the effect of diverting them from the primary object of their expedition, and to turn their attention towards Royalton.
On reaching the mouth of Steven's branch, the enemy passed through the town of Barre to Jail branch, which empties into Stevens branch ; and, after proceeding up this stream for some distance, crossed the mountains in Washington and Orange counties, and striking the first branch of White river, followed it down through Chelsea, and encamped at Tunbridge, where they remained during Sunday, the 15th of October, engaged, no doubt, in maturing their plan of attack. Leaving a strong guard at this place, they advanced the next morning before daybreak, towards the more settled parts of Tunbridge, and commenced depredations at the house of John Hutchinson, which was situated in Tunbridge, but adjoined the line of Royalton. Having made Mr. Hutchinson and his brother Abijah, prisoners, they plundered the house, crossed the first Branch, and proceeded to the dwelling of Robert Havens, which was not far distant. Mr. Havens, who had gone into his pasture, becoming aware of danger from the barking of his dogs, and beholding at the same time a party of Indians entering his house, lay down under a log and escaped their notice. His son, Daniel Havens, and another young man, Thomas Pember, who were in the house when the enemy approached, endeavored to escape by flight. Havens succeeded in throwing himself over an adjacent hedge, and, being protected by the bushes, crept down the bank of the stream and concealed himself beneath a log, over which the Indians passed a few minutes afterwards, as they pursued with impetuous haste their escaped prey. Coming up with Pember, one of them aimed at him a spear, which, striking him, inflicted a severe wound. He still continued running, but, becoming faint from loss of blood, was soon overtaken, killed and scalped.
209
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
Having selected Mr. Haven's house as a place of deposit for their baggage and as a post of observation, a portion of the party were left there as guards, while the main body again set forth to complete the work of destruction. On their way they overtook Elias Button, a young man, who endeavored to avoid them ; but the Indians-fleet of foot, and made savage by the scent of blood -- rendered his attempts useless, and his body was left by the roadside, welter- ing in its gore. Advancing silently and with great caution, they next entered the dwelling of Joseph Kneeland, which was about a half mile distant from Havens's. Here they made prisoners of Kneeland and his aged father, also of Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs and Jonathan Brown. Carrying devastation in their train, they finally reached the mouth of White river branch, where they made a stand and dispatched small parties in different directions to plunder the dwellings and bring in prisoners. They had already stolen a number of horses, and, thinking to facilitate operations, they now mounted them and endeavored to control them by yells and shouts The horses, unused to such riders, were rendered more unmanageable by the frenzied cries of the Indians, and served essentially to impede the execution of their plans. The alarm had now become general, and the frightened inhabitants, flying in every direction, sought such places as might afford a refuge from the barbarity of their pursuers. As a detachment of the enemy were passing down the west bank of White river, they were perceived by one of the inhabi- tants, who immediately gave notice of their approach to Gen. Elias Stevens, who was working in a field about two miles distant from his house. Unyok- ing his oxen, he turned them out, and mounting his horse started up the river. He had gone about a mile in the direction of his dwelling when he was met by Capt. John Parkhurst, who informed him that the Indians were in full pursuit down the river, and counselled him to turn back. Fearing for the safety of his wife and children, yet aware of the immenent danger which threatened himself, Stevens changed his course, retracing his steps, in company with Parkhurst. On reaching the house of Dea. Daniel Rix, Stev- ens took Mrs. Rix and two or three children with him on his horse; Park- hurst performed the same kind office for Mrs. Benton and a number of chil- dren, and, with all the care and attention the occasion allowed, the party rode off to the field where Stevens had first received the alarm, being followed by Dea. Rix and several other persons on foot.
On reaching this spot the women and children were left in charge of a Mr. Burroughs, while Stevens, full of concern for his family, again set out for his home. He had gone about half a mile when he discovered the Indians approaching. As they were but a few rods distant, he instantly turned about, and coming up with the company he had left, entreated them to take to the « woods immediately. Following his advice, they were soon concealed in the neighboring thicket, where they remained undiscovered by the foe. Passing down the road a half mile further, Stevens came in sight of the house of his s father-in-law, Tilly Parkhurst. Here he fc mnd his sister engaged in milking,
14
210
TOWN OF ROYALTON.
and entirely unconscious of the approach of the foe. Telling her to " leave her cow immediately or the Indians would have her," he left her to secure her own retreat. By the time he had gained the house, the Indians were not more than eighty or an hundred rods in the rear. Fear had so taken possession of the half-crazed inhabitants that it was impossible to persuade or compel them to take refuge in the woods. Choosing the road, they kept it as well as their terrible fright and exhaustion would allow until they reached the house of Capt. E. Parkhurst, in Sharon. Here they halted for a few moments, but their pursuers appearing in sight, they were compelled to push forward in order to escape impending destruction. The few horses which the terrified inhabitants had succeeded in securing could carry but a small portion of those who had now assembled, and there was but little time for con- sultation or suggestion. Placing his mother and sister upon his own horse, and Mrs. Rix and her three children on another, Stevens bade them ride on with all possible speed, while he should follow, with several others, on foot. Mrs. E. Parkhurst and her children, who were left at the house, expected nothing but instant death from the hands of the enemy. On their approach, however, having taken her eldest son prisoner, they ordered her and her five children to leave the house. Obeying these commands, she fled to the woods and there remained in safety until the foe had left the place.
Soon after Stevens had started with those who were on foot, his dog com. ing in his way caused him to stumble, and so impeded his progress that he was obliged to take to the woods to save his life. The Indians pursuing with frightful yells, soon overtook the unprotected pedestrians ; but being too intent on plunder to be impeded by a large company of captive women and children, Gardner Rix, a boy about fourteen years of age, alone was made prisoner. Approaching the house of Mr. Benedict, and having noticed him on the op- posite side of a small stream which flowed near by, the Indians beckoned to him to come over to them. Instead of seconding their wishes, he quietly stole away, and, secreting himself under a log, remained in safety till the danger had passed. While in this situation the enemy in pursuit of him were at one time standing on the very log which gave him concealment, and he learned by their conversation that they were resolved to tomahawk him should they find him. After going down the river about forty rods further, and capturing a young man named Avery, they concluded to return. Coming to the house of Tilly Parkhurst, situated six miles from the place where they entered Royalton, they fired at his son, Phineas, who had just returned from the east side of the river, whither he had been to spread the alarm. The ball entered his back, and passing through his body lodged in the skin in front. Notwithstanding the wound, being able to ride, he pursued his course towards Lebanon, N. H., distant sixteen miles, and reached that place in safety, having during the whole journey been obliged to support the ball between his fingers to prevent irrita- tion. Mr. Parkhurst subsequently studied medicine at Hanover, and practiced in this vicinity for many years.
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