USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84 > Part 31
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James and William Taylor, brothers, came to Weston, from New Ipswich, Mass., in 1808, locating where John Mattocks now resides, on road 27. James married Mary Town, reared seven children, and died February 29, 1859, aged seventy-nine years. Mrs. Taylor died August 7, 1878, aged ninety-two years. Five of their children are now living, though only one, James M., in Weston.
Simeon Spaulding came to Weston, from Hollis, N. H., in 1814, and located where Robert Wallace now resides. He reared a family of eight children, and died while on a journey to New Hampshire, December 28, 1839, aged fifty eight years. Mr. Spaulding held many of the town offices and was highly respected. Simeon D., who now resides at the village, was born in Weston. He held most of the town offices, representing the town in the legislature of 1866-'67 and 1874-'75.
Orville Buss, born in Rockingham, Vt., came to Weston at an early day, and located on road 16, where he died in 1881, aged seventy five years. · Herbert M., son of Orville, was born here. He is now engaged in the tan- nery business, located on road 12.
Ezekiel Lovejoy, from Wilton, N. H., came to Weston at an early day, locating where Frank Lovejoy now resides, and died in 1840, aged fifty-eight years. Ezekiel Harvey, son of Ezekiel, now resides on road Io. Lyman, another son, was killed here, November 20, 1879, by falling under the wagon while drawing a heavy log to the village. His son Frank occupies the home- stead.
David Sterling, born at Woodstock, June 19, 1788, died July 25, 1880. He was justice of the peace over twenty years. Benjamin F., son of David, born here Novemcer 2, 1820, married Caroline J. Abbott and reared four children, one of whom, Marriette (Mrs. Harvey K. Austin), resided in Weston. Ben- ning K. Abbott, father of Mrs. Sterling, came to Weston at an early day, and died in Rutland August 30th, 1865, aged eighty-ore years.
Sewell Hale, born in Temple, N. H., came to Weston in 1826, and died
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here in 1863, aged seventy-six years. Sewell, Jr., born here, married Laura S. Colburn, of Alstead, N. H., has reared three children, John T., James W. and Charles F. The latter died June 4, 1863, aged six years and six months. Sewell, Jr., died March 20, 1869.
James Heselton, from Wilton, N. H., came to Andover among the early settlers, and at an early day settled in Weston, and died in Mount Tabor where he had gone to reside with his son Semon. Semon came to Weston in 1870.
Caleb Fenn, born in Ludlow, Vt., came to Weston about 1830, and now, at the age of eighty-two years, resides with his son Seymour P., who was born in Weston in 1833. Winslow S., son of the latter, is engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Ira Heald, born in Temple, N. H., came to Ludlow at an early day. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was the last pensioner of that war in Weston, having located here in 1833. He died July 1, 1882, aged ninety- one years. Luke H., son of Ira, came to Weston with his father, and has since resided here. Melvin E., son of Luke H., born in Weston, is corres- pondent for the Vermont Tribune, Vermont Journal, and Windham County Reformer.
William W. Manning, the present town representative, came to Landgrove with his parents when an infant, where he resided until thirteen years of age, when his father removed to Massachusetts and died there. William then came to Weston to reside with his uncle, Harmon Holt, and has since resided here.
Henry A. Stephens, from Temple, N. H., came to Weston with his father, Henry, when two years of age, locating in the northern part of the town, and both resided here until the war of the Rebellion. Henry A. enlisted in Co. I, 2d Vt. Vols., serving aboutįtwo years, being discharged July 11, 1862, for wounds received. His father also enlisted and died in hospital.
Charles W. Sprague, son of Charles, who was an early settler in Plymouth, came to Western in 1838. He subsequently took charge of the union store at the village, being salesman for the company nine years, then with Solon Richardson bought the goods, and continued the business seven years, when the partnership was dissolved. In 1876 he resumed business under the firm name of Sprague & Richardson. Mr. Sprague has been postmaster a num- ber of years, and has held many of the town offices.
Franklin N. Marble, born in Whitehall, N. Y., came to Weston, from Sun- derland, Vt., at the age of seventeen years, and now resides on road 10 and 22. Eli S., brother of Franklin, has also resided here since 1870.
James Bryant, born in Cornish, N. H., came to Weston in 1839, building Bryant's mills during that year. He was a justice of the peace here about twenty years, represented the town in 1858-'59, held several other town offi- ces, and died in Hyde Park, Mass., May 16, 1881, aged eighty-two years. Five of his thirteen children attained a mature age, viz .: John T., William B.,
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James H., Edward D. and Adin E. The latter represented the town in 1880-'81.
Rev. Moses Adams, a Methodist clergyman, was born at Corydon, N. H., and came to Weston November 29, 1843: He has preached since 1839, mostly in Weston and surrounding towns, though he is now superannuated on account of failing health.
Samuel B. Leonard, son of Shepard Leonard, an early settler in Andover, came to Western in 1843, locating at the village, and is now living on road 25, with his son, Calvin S.
Ryland.R. Spaulding, son of Phineas W. Spaulding, an early settler in Lud- low, came to Weston in 1842, locating on road 30, where he now resides. He has four children, Romayne, William R., Fred A. and Ruby Ann, all liv- ing in the town.
Charles G. C. Hosley, born in Troy, N. Y., came to Weston and located as a harness manufacturer. He has worked in the village twenty-four years. His father, Curtis Hosley, born in Townsend, Vt., died in Mt. Tabor a few years since, aged eighty-nine years.
The Congregational church, located at Weston village, was organized Sep- tember 4, 1799, with thirty members, Rev. Stedman Morgan being the first pastor. The society used the Union church and town hall for holding ser- vices, until 1839, when their church building was erected, a wood structure capable of seating 200 persons and now valued, including other property, at $4,000.00. The society now has thirty-eight members, with no regular pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal church, located at Weston village, was organized at an early date, and also used the Union church for services. In 1867 the society purchased the upper half of the building, thoroughly repaired it, and have used it since. The society has eighty-seven members, with Rev. W. R. Davenport, pastor. It has also a Sabbath-school with 150 scholars and thirteen efficient officers and teachers.
W EST WINDSOR lies in the eastern part of the county, in lat. 43° 29' and long. 4° 28', bounded north by Hartland, east by Wind- sor, south by Weathersfield and west by Reading. This town was originally a part of Windsor, chartered by New Hampshire, July 6, 1761, and re-chartered by New York March 28, 1772. In 1793 Windsor was divided into two distinct parishes, and in 1814 it was erected into two towns, Windsor and West Windsor. This division, however, only lasted one year, when they were re-united, only to be severed again, October 26, 1848. The subject of this division, however, is treated in detail in connection with the history of the town of Windsor, so it would be superfluous to go over the ground again at this point. The early history, first settlement, etc., of
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West Windsor is necessarily identical with that of Windsor, therefore, for the early history of West Windsor, we refer the reader to the history of Windsor, following this chapter.
This surface of West Windsor is pleasing and picturesque, though in some portions quite rocky, yet affording inany fine, arable farms. Mill brook flows through the southern part of the town, in an easterly direction, into which flow many minor streams from the north. The prevailing rock entering into its geological structure is of the gneiss formation.
In 1880 West Windsor had a population of 690, and in 1882 the town was divided into eight school districts and contained eight common schools, employing three male and ten female teachers, to whom was paid an aggre- gate salary of $785.87. There were 153 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $985.70, with A. P. Dunsmoor, superintendent.
BROWNSVILLE, a post village located in the southern part of the town, on Mill brook, has two churches (Methodist and Union), one saw-mill, a grist, cider and planing-mill, blacksmith shop, and about seventy-five inhabitants.
Sheddsville is a hamlet located in the central part of the town.
C. W. Stearns's saw-mill, located on a branch of Mill brook, was built by Mr. Stearns in 1875. It cuts about 200,000 feet of lumber per year.
Jacob Sykes's saw-mill, located at Brownsville, was purchased by him in 1875, and he now manufactures about 200,000 feet of lumber and 200,000 shingles per year.
Wilburt Sykes's wooden ware manufactory, located at Brownsville, was established in 1880, where he does all kinds of turning and job work.
The Windsor Woolen Mills, located on road 42, were built by Josiah Per- kins, in 1831, and were purchased by the present proprietor, Samuel H. Leland, in 1380. The miil has 180 spindles and four looms, turning out about 25,000 yards of plain and fancy cassimeres per annum, employing twelve men.
Ira C. Small's grist, cider and planing-mill, located at Brownsville, was built many years ago for a woolen-mill, and about twenty five years ago was converted into a grist and planing-mill, coming into the present owner's pos- session in 1878. The grist-mill has two run of stones, grinding about 20,000 bushels of grain per year, while the cider-mill turns out 1,000 barrels of cider and five tons of apple jelly.
Samuel Root was one of the earliest settlers in the town. He came from Connecticut and located about three quarters of a mile east of the center of the town, upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Walter J. Kendall, where he reared a family of nine children. His son Rufus was about eight years of age when the family came here. He subsequently served in the Revolution. One of his three children, Melinda (Root) Kendall, is still living, aged eighty-seven years. Rufus kept a hotel here many years, served as a justice of the peace, and died in 1845.
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Richard Waite came to West Windsor at an early day in its history and spent. the remainder of his long life here. Allen, son of Richard, was born here and, with the exception of three or four years, spent his life in the town, dying at the age of eighty-four years. Allen's son, Giles, also died here, aged seventy-eight years. Galen, son of Giles, now occupies the old home- stead built by his great-grandfather.
David Hale was also one of the earliest settlers. He came here with his three brothers and located where his great-grandson, Martin C., now resides. David, Jr., born here, died in 1875, aged ninety-four years. Olin, son of David, Jr., died June 4, 1875, aged sixty years.
Abail Spaulding came to West Windsor, from New Ipswich, N. H., locat- ing where his grandson, Wilbur, now resides. He died in 1846, aged eighty- eight years. Abial, son of Abial, was born on the old farm and died in 1872, aged eighty years. Wilbur was also born on the old place.
Rial Blanchard was an early settler. He came from New Hampshire and located about a quarter of a mile south of the farm now occupied by his grandson, Adolphus, and died in 1859. Seth, son of Rial, was born here, reared a family of five children, four of whom are living. He enlisted in the late war, and died at Newburn, N. C., in 1865.
Abel Herrick, from Massachusetts, came to West Windsor at an early date and died here in 1845. Abel, Jr., was born here in 1800, and died here in 1859. His widow now resides on road 23.
David Lombard came from Boston, Mass., and made the first settlement in the eastern part of the town, locating upon the farm now owned by his grand- son, C. J. Lombard. Asaph, son of David, reared six children, and died here in 1868.
Stephen Cady was an early settler here. His son Stephen P. was born here about 1809 and died in 1843. Two of his sons, Charles P. and John W., now reside here.
Abel Adams came from Massachusetts at an early day and purchased the four original lots numbered 47, 48, 49 and 50, containing fifty acres each. He first built a house where George Rich now resides, then built where Mrs. Spafford now resides, and where he died. His only daughter married Bez- aleel Bridge, and was the mother of thirteen children. One of these, Sarah, married Horace Spaulding.
Rufus Leavens came from Killingsly, Conn., about 1783, to reside with his uncle, Charles Leavens. He died here in 1853. Only two of his chil- dren are living, a daughter, aged eighty-seven years, and Orange Leavens, on road 41, aged eighty-two years.
Asa Worcester came to West Windsor, from West Groton, Mass., in 1775, and died here in 1817. He was a soldier in the French war and served a short time in the Revolution. Asa, Jr., came here with his father at the age of four years, and died here in 1846. He married Mary Delano in 1799, and reared seven children, two of whom are living, viz : Mrs. Maria North, of
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Broad Brook, Conn., and Chauncey, on road 40. Chauncey has three chil- dren, one a doctor in New York, one a mechanic in Boston and one, a daughter, at home.
Capt. Zachariah Story, the second son of Jeremiah Story, was born at Ipswich, Mass., in November, 1741. At an early age he went to sea as a cabin boy, and followed the sea until he became captain of a West India merchantman. Finally, however, he married Susannah Low, of Essex, Mass., and removed to Hopkinton, N. H., where he engaged in farming, and where the following children were born to him: Jemima, Isaac, Zachariah, Susannah, Charlotte, Mary, Asa, Samuel and Dyer. In the autumn of 1789 he removed with his family to Windsor, settling in the part of the town that was erected into the West Parish in 1793. Here he purchased two hundred acres of land, twenty acres of which was improved and contained a log house. This large farm he cleared, and after a time built a brick house which was his home during the remainder of his life, and which is still standing. He died May 12, 1831. Portions of the original two hundred acres are now included in the Asa Story and Campbell Barrett farms.
Of Capt. Story's sons, Isaac studied medicine in Westmoreland, N. H., prac- ticed his profession for two years in Windsor. Vt., and died of consumption November 12, 1801 ; Zachariah died at the age of twenty-one years, as he was about to begin the study of medicine ; Asa settled upon a portion of the home farm, and died there at an advanced age, his children being Paschal, Rhoda, Carlos, William, Charles, Katherine and Julia ; Samuel removed to the State of New York, where he died at the age of fifty-five years ; and Dyer, who was born May 17, 1789, received such common school education as the first settlers were enabled to give their children. When very young, however, he determined upon the study of medicine, and as a means to that end en- gaged in school-teaching through the winter months. In the autumn of 1813 he completed his medical studies at Hanover, N. H., and in the following spring went to Bridgewater, Pa., where he practiced briefly in com- pany with Dr. Dennison. Not liking the country however, he soon went to Rushford, N. Y., a township that had been chiefly settled by families from Windsor and vicinity. Here he remained for three years, having a large practice, and being held in high esteem by the people. In 1817 Dr. Story was prostrated by a severe illness which continued three months, and upon recovering sufficiently to endure the journey he determined upon a visit to his friends in Windsor. Here he was induced to settle permanently, living with his father upon the home farm for many years. In 1847 he built a house nearer Brownsville, which was his home during the remainder of his life, dying November 13, 1868, aged seventy-nine years, fifty of which had been in the practice of his profession. He married Susan Lawrence, of Nelson, N. H., October 22, 1818, and their children, all born in West Windsor, were Dar- win R., Henry L., Susan L. and Charlotte M. Darwin R. studied medicine with his father, practiced at Brownsville eleven years, and removed to Proc-
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torsville, Vt., in 1854, where he is still located. Henry L. is a farmer in Windsor. Dr. Story passed a long and useful professional life, his practice extending into all the surrounding towns. In the years 1846 and '47 he was a member of the legislature from Windsor, the town at that time not being divided.
John Blood came from Groton, Mass., about 1785, locating on road 3. He subsequently located upon the farm now owned by Aretas B. He was a pensioner of the Revolution, and died in 1848, aged eighty-nine years. Syl- vester, son of John, was drowned in Boston Harbor while out with a pleasure party. Aretas B., his son, occupies the old homestead built by his grand- father. A large elm tree, eighteen feet and two inches in circumference, now standing near the house, was a sappling when John came here.
Thomas Roe came to West Windsor from Connecticut, about 1795, and died here in 1859, aged eighty eight years. The only surviving member of the family is Mrs. Amy Herrick, residing on road 23.
Abram Taylor came to West Windsor sometime previous to 1800, locating in the northwestern part of the town, where he reared a family of eleven children. His son Levi, born in 1785, died here in 1865. Two of his three children are living. Mrs. Joseph Bowers, in Weathersfield, and James M. in this town.
Henry Bowers came to West Windsor about 1800, and located in the north- ern part of the town, where he reared a family of eleven children, two of whom are living, and died in 1822. His son Henry was born in 1807 and died in 1876. Two of his six children are living, Charles B., in this town, and James H., in Hartland.
John Persons came to West Windsor, from Reading, about 1808. He located upon the farm now owned by his daughter Mary, and died here in 1862, aged eighty-three years.
Elisha Bannister, born in this town, died here June 20, 1882, aged seventy- three years. Melvin E., son of Elisha, was born in the house he now occu- pies, on road 48.
William Price came to Weathersfield, from Massachusetts, in 1812, locat- ing about two miles from Ascutneyville. Three of his nine children are liv- ing, and one, Lemuel A., in this town on road 26.
Charles Saunders was an early settler in Weathersfield, where he reared a family of eleven children. Charles C. Saunders of this town is a grandson of Charles.
. Benjamin Warren, residing on road 30, is a grandson of Benjamin War- ren, an early settler in Ludlow.
Olin S. Densmore, residing on road 31, is a grandson of Abram Densmore, an early settler in Cavendish.
John F. Colston, residing on road 6, is a grandson of William Colston, one of the early settlers of Hartland.
Horace Spaulding came to West Windsor, from Cavendish, in 1842, and
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dere in 1878. His son Eugene H. came here in 1842 and now resides at Sheddsville. He is the present town clerk and representative, having held the office of reepresentative five terms.
The Methodist church of Brownsville was organized in 1810, Rev. Chester W. Leavens being the first pastor. The first house of worship was a brick structure, erected in 1831. The present edifice was erected in 1860, a wood Structure, valued at $2,000.00. The society now has eighty members, with Rev. W. H. Wight, pastor.
W INDSOR, one of the most important, most populous, and possess ing one of the most interesting histories of any of the towns in the county, lies in the eastern part of the same, in lat. 43° 29' and long. 4' 29, bounded north by Hartland, west by the Connecticut river, which separates it from Cornish hills of New Hampshire, south by Weathersfield, and west by West Windsor. It originally contained an area of about 23,600 acres, chartered by New Hampshire to Samuel Ashley, Jacob Cum- mings and fifty-seven others, July 6, 1761. After the passage of the king's - order in council of July 20, 1761, declaring the western bank of the Con- necticut to be the western boundary of New York, the people became alarmed for the safety of their land titles, and obtained another charter,. from New York, July 7, 1766, and with it eight hundred acres of land addi- tional. Still, though the second patent was bestowed on the motion of some of the most influential citizens of the place, many of the inhabitants were opposed to the jurisdiction of New York, and denied the authority of the courts which were afterwards established by that province. This led to complications, and on the 2d of March, 1772, the territory was re-granted, by the same province, to Zedekiah and David Stone, and their associates. A third and last grant of the township made by New York, was to Nathan Stone and twenty-two other grantees, March 28, 1772. The first three para- graphs of the latter charter, which is too lengthy to print in full, read as fol- lows :-
"Whereas, our province of New York, in America, hath, ever since the grant thereof to James as Duke of York, been abutted and bounded to the east in part by the west bank or side of the Connecticut river ; and whereas, of late years. a great part of our said province lying to the westward of the same river, hath, nevertheless, been pretended to be granted by divers instru- ments under the great seal of the province of New Hampshire, as though the same lands had then belonged to and were within the bounds and limits of the province of New Hampshire, and within the powers and jurisdiction of the government thereof ; and, whereas, among others, the tract of land by these presents hereinafter granted, part of our said province of New York, as aføresaid, hath been so pretended to be granted and to be erected into a township of the said province of New Hampshire, by the name of Windsor, and, whereas, our loving subjects, Zedekiah Stone, Nathan Stone
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and David Stone, the same in behalf of themselves and twenty other per- sons, by their humble petition presented unto our trusty and well-beloved Cadwallader Colden, Esquire, our Lieutenant-Governor, and then our com- mander-in-chief of said province of New York, and read in our council for our said province of New York, on the twenty-ninth day of October, which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five, set forth among other things,-That there was a certain tract of land lying in our said province of New York, commonly called and known by the name of Windsor, a little more than six miles square, beginning at a black ash tree standing on the west bank of Connecticut river, marked with the figures two and three, and runs from thence west, sixteen degrees north, six miles ; then north, six degrees east, six miles and fifty-six rods ; then east, sixteen degrees south, six miles and a quarter, to a maple tree standing on the said bank of the said river, marked with the figures three and four; then down the said river to the first mentioned, bounding easterly on the said river, southerly on a tract of land commonly called and known by the name of Weathersfield, westerly on a tract of land commonly called and known by the name of Reading, and northerly on a township known by the name of Hartford. That the petitionors and their associates held the same by the said pretended grant of the government of New Hampshire, and thinking their title good, settled about sixteen families thereon. That they were willing and desirous to secure their property, possessions and improvements, by holding the same under the government of our said province of New York, and make further settlements upon the said tract ; and therefore the petitioners did, in behalf of themselves and associates humbly pray that our said Lieut .- Governor would be favorably pleased by our Letters Patent to grant to the petitioners and their associates, their heirs and assigns, the said tract of land containing upwards of 23,600 acres, and that the same might be erected into a town- ship, by the name of Windsor, and vested with the same powers and privi- leges as other towns in our said province of New York had and did enjoy. Which petition having been thus referred to the committee of our council for our said province of New York, our same council did, afterwards, on the same day, in pursuance of the report of the said committee, humbly advise our consent that our said Lieut .- Governor, should, by our letters Patent, grant to the said petitioners, associates and their heirs, the tract of land aforesaid, under the Quit-rent provisoes, limitations and restrictions pre- scribed by our royal institutions.
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