Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, Part 6

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- cn
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal office
Number of Pages: 704

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84 > Part 6

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The Champlain & Connecticut River Railroad Company wås incorporated November 1, 1843, for the purpose of " constructing a railroad from some point at Burlington, thence southwardly, through the counties of Addison, Rutland, Windsor and Windham, to some point on the western bank of the Connecticut river." The route decided upon was from Bellows Falls to Burlington, a distance of Ir92 miles, passing through portions of the valleys of Williams and Black rivers, and along the valley of Otter creek. The first meeting of the stockholders was held at Rutland, May 6, 1845, with Timothy Follett, of Burlington, chairman, and L. Brown, clerk. It was voted to open subscriptions to stock June 10th, of that year, which was accordingly done. On November 6, 1847, the legislature changed the name of the corporation to the Rutland & Burlington Railroad Company, and subsequently it was changed to the Rutland Railroad Company. It is now known as the Rut- land Division of the Central Vermont Railroad, having been leased to the Vermont Central Company, in January, 1871, for a period of twenty years. The first blow towards its construction was struck during the month of February, 1847, in the town of Rockingham, near Bellows Falls, and in two years and nine months it was completed, being opened through December 18, 1849.

The Woodstock Railroad, with the right of building a road from Wood- stock village to White River Junction, a distance of fourteen miles, was issued October 30, 1863. The company was not organized, however, until January. 9, 1867, with A. G. Dewey, chairman, and Luther O. Greene, secretary, a board of nine directors being also chosen. January 23, 1867, the organiza- tion was completed by electing Peter T'. Washburn, president ; Luther O. Greene, clerk ; and S. E. Munger, treasurer. Work upon the construction of the road was begun in the spring of 1868, and it, was completed in 1869. J. G. Porter, of Woodstock, is president of the road.

NEWSPAPERS.

The early journalists of Vermont found that "all that glitters is not gold, " and that the "life of a newspaper man is not a happy one;" for it was not until 1784, a year after the Vermont Journal, the third paper started in the State, was first issued, that postoffices were established. Then Anthony Hoswell, the Bennington editor, was postmaster-general of the State, and there were five postoffices under the control of his department, viz .: Rut-

WINDSOR COUNTY.

land, Bennington, Brattleboro, Windsor and Newbury. Later on, after Ver- mont had joined the Union, Alden Spooner was postmaster at Windsor, and the great progress made may be seen from the statement pulished in his Ver- mont Journal of July 10, 1792, when he says that " mail will go north from Windsor (even into Hanover) every Thursday. Mails were carried by "postriders, " some idea of whose business may be obtained from William Cranny's advertisement in the Journal of June 16, 1784, which reads as fol- lows :-

" William Cranny has engaged to ride as a Post from Brattleborough to Windsor ; he will bring the Bennington paper up on Thursday, and return with the Vermont Journal, etc., on Friday, till such time as it may be thought expedient to alter to some other day. The Bennington paper will be afforded at Three Shillings per quarter, and the Journal at Two Shillings and Six Pence, one half to be paid at entrance, the other half at expiration of the quarter. Every endeavor will be exerted to give satisfaction to all who em- ploy him ; and the public in general may depend on the faithful discharge of every business committed to his care.

Some idea of the remuneration received by the newspaper man of those days may be derived from the following notice printed in the Journal of Sep- tember 4, 1783 :-

" Printers' services to their customers and others .- It being represented by a number of gentlemen that, in consequence of the scarcity of money, many people consider themselves unable to take the Newspapers, not knowing Country Produce would answer for payment, Cash being the only article mentioned in their proposals: They would inform such that any kind of Grain, or other Produce, will be received. Those who have already sub- scribed, and not paid up the first quarter, are requested to do it immediately, as the number of subscribers is still so small as to render punctual payment absolutely necessary."

In the following list, we believe, are mentioned all the papers ever pub- lished in the county, unless it be one or two amateur ventures that amounted to little and flourished but a few weeks, and some that were sent out (as has been the case with the Vermont Journal) with a separate title for certain localities. For the sake of brevity and convenience we have arranged alpha- betically the towns wherein they were published, and the several papers of such towns chronologically. Publications that are now being issued are de- noted by small capitall letters.

CHESTER .- The Green Mountain Palladium was established by Charles, William and Henry Spear, three brothers from Boston, in 1808, and was continued about twelve years when its publication was given up.

Freedom's Banner was next commenced, in 1830, by Fellows & Co., and was published weekly for about ten years, then discontinued.

The Musical Gazette, a monthly musical journal, was commenced by a Mr. Silslev, in 1840, and continued about three years.

HARTFORD .- The White River Advertiser and Vermont Family Gazette was started in October, 1852, at White River Junction, by Ira Davis and E. Southworth. In 1853 the office was destroyed by fire, and the paper was

WINDSOR COUNTY.

never resumed. It was established by removing The Federal Gazette from Bradford, Vermont.

The Republican Observer was commenced at White River Junction by Thomas Hale, January 1, 1878, and continued by him until June, 1880, when it was removed to Keene, N. H.

The Sun was established, also at the Junction, December 9, 1881, by Royal Cummings. March 13, 1862, it was purchased by A. A. Earle, who converted it into THE LANDMARK.

THE LANDMARK was established by A. A. Earle, March 13, 1882, who still publishes the same, a bright, readable sheet.

LUDLOW .- The Genius of Liberty was the first paper published in Ludlow, sometime between 1840 and 1850, though we can obtain no knowledge of it except that it had a brief existence.

The Blotter, a weekly, was established by R. S. Warner and W. A. Bacon, the first number appearing September 14, 1854. November 6, 1856, we find the name of J. A. Pooler as associate editor, and during the following November the concern was sold out by the sheriff and bought in for Mr. Warner. He issued only one number, however, when the publication was suspended.

The Voice Among the Mountains was commenced by R. S. Warner in January, 1860. With the opening of Vol. II. the name of Wm. H. Walker appears as editor, Mr. Warner still being the publisher. April 18, 1862, Moses Burbank became associate editor, and in the September following Mr. Walker withdrew. With the beginning of Vol. IV. the paper lapsed into a monthly, and died with the year.

The Transcript was founded by D. E. Johnson, April 17, 1866, and was ended by his death, in October of the same year. The property was sold to Mr. Millikin of the Brattleboro Record, who made a vain attempt to continue the publication.

The Black River Gazette was established December 19, 1866, by R. S. Warner and Moses Burbank. Mr Burbank died the following March, and Henry D. Foster succeeded him as editor. March 20, 1869, the names of Henry P. Ryder and Hortin H. Goddard appear as editors, and the follow- ing May Mr. Goddard became sole editor. September 17th, F. S. Briggs became editor, and January 14, 1870, he was followed by D. F. Cooledge who withdrew the following April. February 10, 1871, S. B. Ryder's name appears as editor, and in June the firm became Warner & Ryder. July II, 1873, William A. Bacon assumed editorial management, retaining it until January, 1874, when he retired, and, soon after, the concern was purchased by D. C. Hackett, who continued its publication here for a short time, then moved it to Brandon, changing the title to the Otter Creek News, where it died in 1882.

THE VERMONT TRIBUNE was established by the Mott Bros., November 24, 1876. During the following February they sold out to F. W. Bacon, and he

WINDSOR COUNTY.

in turn, in September, 1877, sold to W. A. McArthur. In March, 1878, Rev. L. B. Hibbard, then located at Cavendish, assumed control of the "agri- cultural department," and in July, 1879, succeeded to the control of the paper. In April, 1881, Mr. Hibbard sold out to the present owner, E. G. Allis. Mr. Allis at once enlarged the paper, and again increased its size in October, 1882. Under his management the publication has enjoyed an un- usual season of prosperity, the subscription list having more than doubled since his succession.

NORWICH .- The Vermont Enquirer was established by Davis & Porter, in March, 1829, and died some time in 183 1.

The Citizen Soldier, a weekly military paper "devoted to the interests of the militia," was started in 1840, the first number appearing Wednesday, July 22d, of that year, with Major J. Swett, Jr., editor, J. Richards, printer, and Swett & Jackson, publishers. After February 19, 1841, the paper was pub- lished at Windsor, the last number appearing July 30, of that year.

ROCHESTER .- The PATRONS' RURAL, monthly, published by the executive committee of the Vermont State Grange, A. Messer, editor, was established in July, 1882. It is a neat, eight-page paper, printed at the office of the Bel- lows Falls Times.

ROYALTON .- The Vermont Advocate was established here at an early date, by Wyman & Spooner, who continued it here a comparatively short time, then removed it to Chelsea.

The Greenback Herald was started at South Royalton in April, 1878, by E. D. Pratt. Only a few numbers were issued when the enterprise failed.

The South Royalton Gazette was started by Charles Culver, in 1880. It run about three months and failed. About six months later he attempted its revival, but without success.

SPRINGFIELD .- The Record of the Times was established by Coolidge & Sprague in the winter of 1833, and was continued about three years.

The Springfield Telegraph was established by L. T. Guernsey, February II, 1853, and was continued about two years.

The Record and Farmer was established by D. L. Millikin, November I, 1866, and continued by him until April, 1868, when it was sold to L. J. McIndoe, of the VERMONT JOURNAL.

The Enterprise, a monthly, was started by F. W. Stiles, January 1, 1873, and continued one year.

The Weekly News was commenced March 1, 1873, by E. D. Wright, who continued it about six months, then sold out tothe Woodstock Post.

The Springfield Bulletin was started by O. A. Libby, November 3, 1875, and lived about eight months.

THE SPRINGFIELD REPORTER, " a journal devoted to the best interests of its readers," was established by its present editor and proprietor, F. W. Stiles, January 4, 1878. The REPORTER is a neat, well-edited, eight column, 26x40 inch paper, and deserves the success that it now enjoys-which is saying a great deal.

WINDSOR COUNTY.

The Vermont News was started November 14, 1879, by the Vermont News Co., and lived seven weeks.

WINDSOR .- The VERMONT JOURNAL is the oldest paper in the county, the first established here and third established in the State. The first newspaper in the State was The Vermont Gazette or Green Mountain Post Boy, com- menced at Westminster, February 12. 1781, by Judah Paddock Spooner and Timothy Green, and was suspended in 1782, or early in 1783. The second was The Vermont Gazette or Freemen's Depository, at Bennington, by Anthony Haswell and David Russell, June 5, 1783, and was discontinued in October, 1850. Then comes the Windsor paper, The Vermont Journal and the Universal Advertiser, by George Hough and Alden Spooner, August 7, 1783. The partnership of Hough and Spooner continued to December 19, 1788, the last issue under their names bearing the date December 22d; and December 29, 1788, the name of Alden Spooner appeared alone. March 20, 1792, the name was changed to Spooner's Vermont Journal, and June 16, 1817, Spooner associated his nephew, Wyman Spooner, with him, who, August 10, 1818, became sole publisher, though it is probable that Alden owned or had some lien on the paper from 1818 to 1826, while Wyman conducted it. The · name during Wyman's administration was simply Vermont Journal, the last number appearing August 5, 1826. August 12th, following, Alden resumed charge of the publication, restoring the name of Spooner's Vermont Journal. February 3, 1827, was Alden's last issue, and in it he announced that it would be in future conducted by Enos Folsom. Folsom dropped the word "Spoon- er's " from the title ; and in 1828, Gen. Abner Forbes, administrator of Alden Spooner's estate, sold the establishment to Simeon Ide, who made a nominal transfer to his brother, Truman Ide, in whose name it was published till August 1, 1829, when it was united with the Vermont Republican, under the name of the Vermont Republican and Journal. January 5, 1835, the list and good-will of this paper were sold by Simeon Ide to Charles H. Smith, who published thereafter the Vermont Republican and Courier. June 20, 1844, Windsor again had the VERMONT JOURNAL, with Charles F. Merrifield, pub- lisher. Merrifield was a son of Preston Merrifield, who married Clare, one of Alden Spooner's daughters. Since this resuscitation of the JOURNAL it has been published by Merrifield, Thomas Hale, L. J. McIndoe, and the pres- ent Journal Company. Such is a brief history of one of Vermont's oldest, and, Windsor county people believe, best journals.

The Morning Ray was the second paper published here and the seventeenth in the State. As near as can be ascertained it was commenced by James Reed Hutchins, soon after October 25, 1791, who gave up the enterprise in the spring of 1792.

The Windsor Federal Gazette, by Nahum Mower, was established March 3, 1801, and was suspended, or was succeeded, in December, 1804, by the Post Boy and Vermont and New Hampshire Federal Courier, the first number of which Mower issued in the last named month, or Ist of January,

WINDSOR COUNTY.

1805. It was continued till the latter part of March, 1807, when Alden Spooner bought the concern and Mower went to Canada.

The Vermont Republican, commenced by Oliver Farnsworth, who published it "for the proprietors," January 1, 1809, its career, ending January 5, 1835, has already been noticed in connection with the JOURNAL.

The Washingtonian was a Federal venture to match the Republican, the Democratic organ. It was printed by Thomas M. Pomeroy, who had two years before run the Vermont Courier, at Rutland, and its editor was Josiah Dunham, who had, July 22, 1793, established The Eagle or Dartmouth Centinel, at Hanover, N. H., a paper that lived some six years. The Washingtonian's first issue was July 23, 1810, and died about July 10, 1813.

The Vermont Chronicle was moved to Windsor, from Bellows Falls, where it was begun in 1826, in October, 1828. It was moved to Montpelier in 1875. Richards & Tracy ran the Chronicle, and Joseph Tracy was succeeded by his brother, Eben C. Tracy. E. C. Tracy and Charles H. Severance published the paper from 1838 to 1842, when Severance sold out to Nelson Bishop.

The Journal of Temperance, by Richards & Tracy, was published for a short time, issued once in two weeks, its first number appearing March 30, 1832.

The Windsor Statesman, by Talford & Fletcher, was published from 1833 to 1840.

The Spirit of Seventy-Six, by Darius Jones, was commenced in October, 1835, and discontinued in 1837.

The Vermont Times, by Charles H. Severance, was published from June, 1839, to May, 1841.

The School Journal and Agriculturist was began in 1847, and continued several years.

WOODSTOCK .-- The Northern Memento, the first newspaper in Wood- stock, was established by Isaiah H. Carpenter, the first number appearing May 16, 1805, and was discontinued in February, 1806. Carpenter's print- ing office was in a wood building that is yet in good condition, fronting south near the east end of the park.

The Woodstock Observer was started by David Watson, in January, 1820. In the earlier years of this paper political parties hardly existed ; but the Observer became National Republican upon the formation of that party during the administration of Adams, and so remained until the election of Jackson, in 1828, when it became Jacksonian. At the beginning of its fourth year, in January, 1823, the sheet was enlarged and given the additional title of Windsor and Orange County Gasette, and in January, 1827, it was again enlarged. In November, 1823, it passed into the hands of Rufus Col- ton, who continued to publish it until 1833. In 1827, 1828, and perhaps in other years, Benjamin F. Kendall was the acting editor, and in January, 1830, Colton announced that B. F. Fellows had taken the place ; but under the

WINDSOR COUNTY.

masonic excitement of this time newspapers sprang into existence which crowded the Observer into the background, and in 1833 its publication was finally suspended.

The Evangelical Monitor, by Rev. Walter Chapin, David Watson, printer, was commened April 14, 1821, and continued, published fortnightly, until the close of its second volume.

The Gospel Banner, another religious fortnightly, was commenced by Rev. Jasper Hazen, August 4, 1827, with Rufus Colton, printer. It lived but one year.

The Vermont Inquirer was begun by David Watson, in 1828. Only a few numbers were issued.

The Universalist Watchman, a religious paper, was commenced in 1829. It was first edited by Rev. Samuel C. Loveland, and afterward by Rev. William Bell. It was removed to Montpelier and became the Christian Repository.

The American Whig, by Hemenway & Sherwin, was established in the spring of 1830. It absorbed the Vermont Luminary, of Randolph, and another paper called Equal Rights, and first appeared in March, under the title of American Whig, Vermont Luminary and Equal Rights, though the extra names were not long retained. Sherwin was soon succeeded by Hol- brook, who remained but a short time, after which Hemenway published the paper alone until he sold out to Henry L. Anthony, in 1835, who kept The Whig until it came to the end of its existence, in 1836.

The Henry Clay and Advocate of the American System was begun Septem- ber 4, 1830, with B. F. Kendall, editor, and David Watson, printer. After running a year the name was changed to Vermont Courier and Farmer's, Manufacturer's and Mechanic's Advocate. In 1834 the secondary title was dropped, and, a little later, the Windsor Republican having been united with it, the name was Republican and Courier, until J. B. & S. L. Chase bought it in 1836, when it was again called the Vermont Courier, and so remained until finally discontinued in 1838. Following Watson, William W. Prescott and C. K. Smith and Mr. Kendall, under the firm name of C. K. Smith & Co., in turn were printers, though Kendall remained as editor until succeeded by the Chases.

Liberal Extracts, an infidel magazine published by a club known as the Infidel Club, was commenced in 1830, and run about a year. T. E. Pow- ers was editor.

The Workingman's Gazette, an agricultural paper, was started by William W. Prescott, in 1831. It was short lived.

The Village Balance, a small anti-masonic campaign paper, was published during the summer of 1833, by Silas Eastabrook.

The Constitution, another anti-masonic campaign sheet, Henry S. Hutchin- son, editor, was published a few weeks in 1836.

The Hornet, in opposition to The Constitution, was also published during. that season, with B. F. Kendall and T. E. Powers, editors.

WINDSOR COUNTY.

The Vermont Mercury was started in 1837, by Nahum Haskell and Augus- tus Palmer, the first number being issued April 6th. In about ten years the name was changed to Woodstock Mercury, and in 1853 the paper was given the additional title of Windsor County Advertiser. The last number of the Mercury issued was at the close of its fourteenth yearly volume, March 8, 1855. It was always Whig in politics and was published throughout by Haskell & Palmer, and Mr. Haskell appeared as editor ; but as he gave much of his time to book binding and selling, much of the editorial work came to be done by others, chief among whom were Norman Williams and Thomas E. Powers.

The Whig Advocate, a campaign paper, was published in 1842, with Charles P. Marsh, then a law student, as editor.

The SPIRIT OF THE AGE was started May 8, 1840, with Charles G. Eastman, editor and publisher. At the end of the third year its name was changed to Woodstock Age and so continued to November, 1845, when Eastman was suc- ceeded by A. E. Kimball and the old name resumed. Kimball was succeeded by E. M. Brown, in May, 1847, and he by William D. McMaster, who still con- ducts it. The AGE was established as a Democratic paper and has always been such, except for a brief support of the Free Soilers when the old Demo- cratic party split on the slavery question.

The Coon Hunter, a campaign edition of the AGE, was issted by Eastman in 1844.

The Temperance Herald was started in 1845 and continued about four years, with M. P. Marsh as editor and publisher.

THE VERMONT STANDARD .- In 1853 the sum of $500.00 was raised by subscription and the Vermont Temperance Standard was started, the first number being issued April 29th, with Thomas E. Powers, editor, and Lewis Pratt, Jr., publisher. In January, 1855, Rev. Guy C. Sampson succeeded Powers as editor, and the circulation running down as the temperance excite- ment subsided, in January, 1857, Wilbur P. Davis and Luther O. Greene bought the paper, became editors and publishers, dropped the word "Tem- perance " from the title, and changed its character to that of a local news- paper. In August, 1860, Mr. Davis retired from the concern, since which time Mr. Greene has published it alone. The STANDARD has been Republican in politics.

The Northern Farmer, an agricultural paper, was started by E. M. Brown and A. B. Crosby, in the spring of 1855. In a few months it was bought by W. Scott Abbott, who removed it to West Randolph, where it died in 1856.

The Otta Quechee Post was started September 15, 1871, with Robert A. Perkins, now of the Springfield, Mass., Republican, as editor and publisher. In August, 1872, the name was changed to Woodstock Post, and the last number was issued June 4, 1875. The Post was Independent Republican in politics, and supported Greeley in 1872.

WINDSOR COUNTY.

All of these papers, except as otherwise indicated, were published weekly, and present an array of journals and journalists of which Windsor county has just reason to be proud.

ABORIGINAL OCCUPANCY.

Of the aboriginal inhabitants of that part of Vermont which borders the banks of the Connecticut, very little is known. The Iroquois Indians, whose hunting-ground comprehended the whole of the western portion of the State, seldom extended their wanderings across the mountains, and have left but few vestiges of their presence, even in the places which were most frequented by them. The country in the neighborhood of Lunenburgh and Newbury, and on the side of the river opposite the latter place, was called by the In- dians "Coos," which word, in the Abenaqui language, is said to signify " The Pines." At these localities, and at other points on the upper Con- necticut, formerly resided a branch of the Abenaqui tribe. Numerous arrow heads, spear points, and other Indian relics have been found in Windsor county, and in Windham and Orange counties are left several specimens of · Indian hieroglyphics engraved upon the rocks, pointing to the probability of an extensive Indian population in the southeastern part of the State at some remote period. But the history of these dusky denizens and the tales of their savage wars and wild wooings must ever remain a secret. Like the origin of the redman, they are sealed in an oblivion that the pen of the his- torian can never break.

WHEN FIRST SETTLED BY THE WHITES.

Except a small colony established in Springfield, in 1753, no settlements were made in the county until after the close of the French war in 1760. The record of these settlements properly belongs to the sketch of the towns wherein they occurred, and to them we refer the reader, only mentioning at this point the settlement of Springfield. The record runs as follows : Before the commencement of the French war, and eight years previous to the date of the charter of the town, Daniel Sawtell, Jacob Sawtell, Oliver Sawtell, Combs House, Samuel Douglass, Oliver Farnsworth, Joseph Douglass, Noah Porter, Nathanial Powers, Simeon Powers, and Simeon Powers, Jr., “ being poor and indigent, and unable to purchase lands in any of the inhabited towns of his Majesty's provinces," while the lands in said Springfield "lay in the open wil- derness, waste and untilled, without yielding any revenue to his Majesty, or profits to his subjects, did, for his Majesty's profit," as well as for the support of themselves, their wives, and their children, " enter upon, till and improve part of the lands in said Springfield." During the war they defended their possessions "at the peril of their own lives, and by the loss of the lives of some of their friends and neighbors," and were as a guard to those places located further down the river, which were exposed to the "rage of an

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Gazetteer and business directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, Part 6

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- cn Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal office Number of Pages: 704

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- cn
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal office
Number of Pages: 704