Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887, Part 39

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 39
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the spring of 1787 came Jonathan Arnold, Joseph Lord and Barnabas Barker, with fourteen others. Dr. Arnold had been for several years a mem- ber of Congress from Rhode Island, and was a man of sterling integrity and bright intellect. He settled first at the head of St. Johnsbury Plain, then and until 1797 known as Arnold's Plain. He also owned the district now known as Fairbanks Village. It was he who ordered the survey of the town in 1787, which is quaintly bounded in the old charter as beginning at a hem- lock tree at Barnet corner, running to a birch tree at the southwest corner of Lyndon, then to a maple tree at the southeast corner of Lyndon, then to a stake near a beech tree at Littleton north corner, then to a stake near a white pine tree at Littleton southwest corner, and then back to the "bounds begun at." The bill presented for expense of surveying contained some old entries, including "one quart rum Is., seven males' victuals at rod. each, entertain- ment for hands ros.," etc. A tradition in connection with the surveys is re- lated : Dr. Arnold was with others laying out certain lines in the vicinity of Sleeper's river, then known as West branch. The provisions and equipments were left in charge of Thomas Todd. When they returned, Todd was found on the river bank rolled up against a log and fast asleep. "Henceforward," said Dr. Arnold, "let the West branch be known as Sleeper's river," and so it has since been known.

During the summer of 1787 Dr. Arnold built the first frame house erected in St. Johnsbury. It was located in the woodlands at the northern extremity of the plain, just above the park which still bears the family name. To this house Dr. Arnold carried home his third wife, Cynthia Hastings, and for years it was occupied by successive generations. The old house stood until 1844, when the boys burned it in celebrating the election of General Polk. In 1790 the first town meeting was held at Dr. Arnold's house, with Jonathan Arnold, moderator ; Jonathan Arnold, clerk; Jonathan Adams, treasurer ; Asa Dag-

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gett, constable and collector ; Jonathan Arnold, sealer of weights and meas- ures ; Joel Roberts, Joseph Lord and Martin Adams, selectmen. During this year the plain was mostly cleared of its forests, and contained three habita- tions, Dr. Arnold's at the northern extremity, Joseph Lord's log hut at the southern, and a rude cabin at the " Bend," on the site now occupied by the St. Johnsbury House. A road was cut across the plain, corresponding to ' Main street as it now lies-charred stumps on either side and dense woods beyond. A ravine twenty feet deep ran across the street, which was after- ward bridged. Dr. Arnold died February 1, 1793, aged fifty-two years.

In June, 1787, the several undivided rights in the township were " drafted " for. The " one full right" reserved according to the charter for building mills, was located on the Passumpsic, just above the mouth of Moose river. This property, 300 acres, was assigned to Dr. Arnold, and during the spring of 1787 he put up a saw-mill, and later a grist-mill, the modern Paddock Vil- lage being then known as " Arnold's Mills."

After the mills were established, the rights assigned, and the settlement of the town fairly under way, the population increased rapidly by immigration from the south. Most of the new comers were citizens of New Hampshire, Massachusetts or Rhode Island. No regular record of marriages, births and deaths was kept, until after the organization of the town, in 1790. The mar- riage service was commonly performed by Dr. Arnold, the first record being that of Eneas Harvey and Rhoda Hamlet, who "were married 17th Jany., 1793, by Jonathan Arnold, Esquire, in presence of several witnesses." The earliest recorded births are those of Polly, daughter of David Doolittle, De- cember 14, 1789 ; and Polly, daughter of John McGaffey, August 28, 1788.

David Goss, son of Philip and Hannah (Ball) Goss, was born in Winches- ter, N. H., October 16, 1770, married Cynthia Britt, and removed to St. Johns- bury in 1792, locating where his grandson, Willard, now lives. They brought their household effects with them. While they were building their log cabin they slept under a shelter of hemlock bark. They entered the cabin as soon as it was completed, and in 1794 Mr. Goss built a comfortable house, which is now in a good state of preservation. In 1793 he built the first saw-mill in his neighborhood, on Sleeper's river, near his residence, which was of great value to himself and neighbors. This saw-mill formed the nucleus of a ham- let which soon contained a grist-mill, tannery, cloth-dressing and wool-carding mill, a blacksmith and harness shop, and a starch factory, and received the name of Goss Hollow, which it retains to the present day. Mr. Goss died May 9. 1861, in the ninety-first year of his age. His wife died in 1850, aged eighty years. They had born to them six children, viz .: Philip, Celia, David, Orpha, Seth W. and Emory. The second son, David, remained with his father on the homestead, and succeeded him at his death. He received a common school education, and while a young man taught school several terms. He married Esther, daughter of Major Butler, in 1819, who was the

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mother of all his children, and died in 1854. He served as lister, selectman, and as state senator. He died in 1880, aged nearly eighty-five years.

Dr. Jonas Flint was an early settler in St. Johnsbury. His son Alvin cleared the place known as the Flint farm, on road 9, and spent most of his life there. His son George was born on this farm, in 1822, and lived there until his death, in 1881.

Daniel Pierce came to this town with his family, probably before 1800, and located upon the place where J. W. Prescott now lives. He began clear- ing the farm, boarding at his father's, and crossing the Passumpsic in a log canoe. The land was covered with a growth of hemlock so dense that he was obliged to unyoke his oxen and drive them single. He married Mercy Allen, was one of the organizers of the Methodist Episcopal church at the Center, and lived to pass his eighty-second birthday. He reared children as follows : Louisa H., Clark, Sally, Josiah H., who died young, Jacynthia, widow of Darius Bradley, and Abel A., who occupies the homestead. The last mentioned studied medicine when young, but devoted his time principally to the manufacture of lumber, and in 1864, with a partner, established the first straw paper factory in St. Johnsbury. He has been an efficient member and officer of the church and Sunday-school for many years. He married twice, first, Rosetta Ayer, and second, Sarah McGrath. He has five children, of whom F. A. and J. W. are engaged as the firm of Pierce Brothers, paper manufacturers.

Thomas Pierce, one of the early settlers and a pioneer of St. Johnsbury, came from Putney, Vt., as early as 1796, purchased a right of 300 acres, in- cluding the village of St. Johnsbury Center, and located his home on the hill half a mile west of the village, where his great-grandson, Hiram D. Pierce, now lives. He gave his attention to clearing and improving his large farm, and erecting comfortable buildings. The old home, now nearly a century old, was built by him, is now in a good state of preservation, and is occupied by Hiram D. Pierce and his family, sheltering the fifth generation of the Pierce family. His son Thomas succeeded him on the homestead, spent his life on the estate until the infirmities of old age compelled him to retire from business, when he removed to the Center, where he died. Hiram, son of Thomas, Jr., succeeded next to the homestead, married twice, first, Lois Stiles, who was the mother of two children, viz .: Lucina (Mrs. Stark), who resides near the homestead, and Hollis, who resides in the northern part of the town. He married, second, Diantha Fuller, who bore him three children, viz .: Emeline, who married Stephen Hunter, a farmer in East Burke ; Amos, who died at the age of thirteen years ; and Hiram D., before named. He married Marion Hopkins, October 8, 1862, and they are the parents of five children, viz .: Abbie A. (Mrs. Charles Salmon), who resides at St. Johnsbury village ; Florence J., deceased at eleven years of age ; Mabel, who died at the age of five years ; Mary B., born September 1, 1878; and Willis H., born November 4, 1880. Among the relics of the ancient family is the old

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clock, tall and dignified, and still, as for more than a century past, ticking and correctly measuring the fleeting moments.

Reuben Spaulding was born in 1772, came to this town in 1794. married Sarah Sweat, and had nine children. His son John married Catharine Rice, and reared children as follows: Zelotus H., Bazelial B., John W., Jr., Ira W., Sarah A., Emeline, Zulena A., Lovina H., Flavilla A. and Reuben. Bazelial B. married Seraphine Kellogg, and has had born to him seven children- Edward M., Ira M., Cora E., Sarah H., Lyle B., Clinton and Jennie. He lives on the homestead. Reuben, son of John, married Susan L. Brigham, has two children, Herbert C. and Elwin, and lives on road 18. Herbert C. married Carrie Holmes, daughter of George and Mary E. (Howard) Holmes, and has one daughter, Susie M.

Calendar J. Adams, a native of Massachusetts, came to this town as one of the first settlers, locating on the meadows below where the depot now stands. He. finally moved to Newport, Vt., where he died in 1813. He married, first, Submit Purchase, who bore him five children, and second, Mrs. Trescott. His son Charles married Rebecca Morgan, and settled in Water- ford, where he died in 1843, aged seventy-two years. He reared ten children, viz .: Polly, Sally, John C., Rebecca, Cornelius, Mehitable, Priscilla, Minerva, Ruth and Jonathan. The last mentioned married Roxanna Ladd, and has had born to him six children, namely, Otis, of California, Martin, Moses, Jonathan, Orange, and Hannah who lives in Providence, R. I. Mr. Adams lives in East St. Johnsbury.

Jeriah Hawkins was born in Cranston, R. I., and came to this town from Winchester, N. H., in 1794. He was a minute-man in the Revolution, and was delegated to carry important dispatches. He married twice, and reared eight children. He lived to be ninety-nine years of age. His son Stephen married Abbie Shorey, and reared ten children, six of whom live in St. Johns- bury.

Capt. Oney Hawkins, son of Hezekiah, was born on the Hawkins homestead, and lived there most of his life. He married twice, first, Sally Stearns, who was the mother of three children who grew to mature age, and several who died in childhood. The eldest, Willard, was born on the home- stead, August 17, 1809, married Freelove Arnold, March 10, 1835, first settled on the farm now owned by Arzo Peck, where he lived six years, when he bought the place where his son Willard, Jr., now lives, where he continued till the close of his life, January 14, 1883, aged seventy-three years. His wife died July 23, 1872, aged sixty-one years. They had born to them three children, Maria, who lives with her brother Willard, Lucy S., who married Horace E. Hall, and resides in Somerville, Mass., and Willard, Jr., who lives on the homestead. Lewis, second son of Captain Hawkins, married Han- nah Ware, and was the father of eight children. He died in Sutton. Sally married John McGaffey, and was the mother of four sons. She resided in Lyndon, where she died early.

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TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY.

Bartlett Bowker, son of Bartlett, was born in Fitzwilliam, N. H., in 1784, came with his sister and her husband, David Stowell, to St. Johnsbury in 1805, and in 1808 bought the place off road 13. where he resided until his death, in 1865. He married Hannah Carpenter, of Walpole, and reared ten children, five sons and five daughters, only three of whom are now living -- Cyrel, in Wisconsin, Calvin J., in St. Johnsbury, and Charles A., in Hull, Mass.

Oliver W. Stevens, a native of Petersham, Mass., came to Barnet at about the close of the Revolutionary war. In 1796 he came to St. Johnsbury, and located on the farm where his grandson, Simeon D. Stevens, now lives, about half a mile west of the present village of St. Johnsbury Center, where he re- mained until his death, in 1846, at the advanced age of eighty three years. He married Elizabeth Lang. Mrs. Stevens survived her husband until 1851, and lived to the great age of 101 years. They were parents of eight children, seven of whom lived to adult age, and were married. Joseph, the eldest, born in 1788, in Barnet, married Nancy A. Blodgett, and succeeded his father on the homestead, where he lived after he was eight years old, and gave his attention to his farm. Of his two children, Simon D. and Cornell D., the former resides on the homestead, married Sodema Briggs, and reared nine children, only three of whom are now living, a son, Elmore H., in Washing- ton Territory, and two daughters, Abbie C. (Mrs. E. D. Allen), in Charleston, Vt., and Sarah A. (Mrs. Willie Sanborn), in Wheelock. Cornell D. Stevens, son of Joseph, married Sarah Briggs, is a retired farmer, and resides with his son Lafayette W., in Charleston, Vt. Willard Stevens, son of the pioneer Oliver Stevens, was born in Barnet, in September, 1794, and when he was about two years of age his father removed to St. Johnsbury. He was edu- cated at the common schools of his district, and at the age of about eighteen or nineteen years, served his country one year, as a soldier in the War of 1812. Early in life he married Hannah Russell, of Lyndon, and settled as a farmer in the western part of St. Johnsbury. He continued a citizen of this town during his life, with the exception of one year, and finally died at the residence of his son, James R. Stevens, aged seventy-seven years. He had born to him three children. James R., born in St. Johnsbury in 1822, re- ceived his education in the common schools and the academies of St. Johns- bury, Lyndon and Danville. Early in life he taught several terms in the common schools. In 1847 he married Susan Field, of Lyndon, and settled on the farm where he still resides. A portion of the place is a part of the Oliver Stevens homestead. He is active in the interests of his town, and has held the position of selectman ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are parents of six children viz .: Charles H., who is largely engaged in the manufacture and sale of lum- ber, and resides in St. Johnsbury; Ella E. (Mrs. L. H. Parker), who resides in Portland, Oregon, where her husband is engaged for E. & T. Fairbanks & Co .; Albert W., who is mining in the west; Edwin, who married and resides in St. Paul, and is a dealer in real estate; Jessie (Mrs. Charles Farr), who resides in St. Johnsbury; and Truman E., a bank teller, who is married and resides

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in Omaha, Neb. Martha, daughter of Willard Stevens, married Alanson Aldrich, settled in the central part of St. Johnsbury, and was mother of a son, Clinton Aldrich, a farmer. She died in 1864. Roancy, daughter of Willard Stevens, married, first, Elmore Goss, who was the father of her two sons, Edward and Willard, and second, Rowland Brown, and is now a widow, re- siding in St. Johnsbury village.

Gen. Joel Roberts, born in Winchester, N. H., came to St. Johnsbury about 1787, and settled at the " Four Corners," on the farm where Mr. J. Burnham now lives. After spending a summer in clearing a few acres and building a log house, he returned to Winchester. The next spring he moved his wife and infant son, Hollis, to his "pitch" with a pair of steers and a cart. At this time the nearest grist-mill was at Barnet, to which place he was obliged to carry on his back what corn he could, to be ground, and returned to his home in the same manner, guiding his laborious footsteps by marked trees. He was a man of more than ordinary abilities for his times, and gave much attention to the interests of his town. He had the honor of being its first representative in the state legislature, and held all the offices in the gift of his town. He also had an active interest in military affairs, and rose from the rank of private to that of general of militia. At the early age of sixteen years he entered the Continental army and fought for our independence. He married Sally Goss, sister of David Goss, the pioneer of Goss Hollow. Their children were Hollis, Galen, Sally, Calista, Malona, Rumania, Armida D. and Hiram. Warren Roberts, grandson of general Roberts, and son of Galen, is a wealthy farmer, residing in the northwestern part of this town. He married Sarah A. Spaulding. His brother married Lemia Ayer and resides in the same neighborhood, and is also a farmer.

Samuel Ayer came to St. Johnsbury at an early day, and settled in the northern part, on the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Horace W. Ayer. At that time the place was a dense forest, and they suffered the hardships and privations of a pioneer life. His son Hezekiah came with, and succeeded him, on the farm. They went to Lyndon to mill, a distance of about five miles, by the aid of marked trees. Samuel died in 1807, in his seventieth year, and his wife survived him until 1828. Hezekiah died in 1849, aged seventy nine years, and his wife survived him until 1863, dying at the age of ninety-nine years. He was the father of eight children, and was succeeded on the homestead by his son George, who married Eliza Humphrey, of Burke, their only child, Horace W., now residing on the home- stead. He married Emma Kendall, of Sheffield, Vt. They have one son, Harley L., born on the homestead May 15, 1870, and is the fifth generation on the place.

Gardner Wheeler, born in Petersham, Mass., in 1766, came to St. Johns- bury, from Westmoreland, very soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled in the wilderness, on the farm where his son Gardner, who is now eighty-five years of age, and his grandson, Horace H., live. He came

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on foot in company with his brother Martin, Samuel Aldrich and Eleazer Sanger. He and his brother Martin, Eleazer Sanger and William C. Ar- nold, whose lots all cornered together, commenced to fell the trees and clear the land on the adjoining corners of their respective lots, hence the origin of the name of this neighborhood, Four Corners, which it still retains. He married Lettice Carlisle, and continued to live in the log cabin until after the birth of three of their children. About 1798, he built the house now occupied by his son and grandson, and which is still a well pre- served structure. He had six children, viz. : Betsey, Maria, Lucy, Gardner, Carlisle and Jacynthia, only two of whom are now living, Gardner and Ja- cynthia. Mr. Wheeler died March 3, 1838, aged seventy-one years, and his wife survived him until 1845, dying at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. Wheeler served as selectman and magistrate, and was a highly respected cit- izen. His son Gardner always lived on the homestead, and has done much toward the cultivation and improvement of the place. He married Mary Goss, in 1826, who died in 1884, aged eighty years. He has had three chil- dren, Horace H., Lucy M. and Mary A. Mr. Wheeler has served the town as lister, selectman, and a special term in the legislature. His son Horace H. married Malona P. Hurlbutt, and has had four children, George G., Clara M., May B. and Arthur H. Lucy M. married Samuel Norris, and died in 1869, leaving two children. Mary A. married Alonzo Miles, resides in the neighborhood of Four Corners and has one daughter.

Asquire Aldrich, a Revolutionary soldier, born in Rhode Island, June 15, 1760, came to St. Johnsbury previous to 1798, and settled in the wilderness, near Fairbanks Village. Late in life he removed to East St. Johnsbury, where he died, January 16, 1836, aged seventy-five years. He was married five times, and was father of fifteen children, only two of whom are now living. Sally, born July 8, 1806, married Samuel Snell, of St. Johnsbury, is a widow, and resides on the farm where she and her husband first settled, near the vil- lage of Summerville, and George, born May 2, 1808, who married Susanna Farnham, November 2, 1831. At the time of their marriage, Main street, the only one then in the village, was a country road, with about a dozen houses, and between the St. Johnsbury House and the North church, was a ravine known as "The Hollow," so deep that a cart and load of hay passing through it was completely hidden from sight. The burying-ground was then located on the grounds occupied by the present fine court-house. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich have lived to see the gradual growth of the entire village, and its increase from a few families to a population of about 4,500. Mr. Aldrich has had various occupations-farmer, mechanic, merchant and hotel keeper. They were parents of two children, both deceased in infancy. They raised an adopted son, an artist, and now perfecting his studies in Europe. Mr. Aldrich's mother was Abigail (Ide) Aldrich, eldest of the family of thirteen children of John and Deborah Ide, a pioneer of St. Johnsbury, a farmer and mechanic, and a prominent citizen in his day.

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Ephraim Humphrey came from Connecticut to St. Johnsbury at a very early date, was a farmer, and raised a large family. Late in his life he re- moved to Canada, where he died. at the advanced age of eighty five years. His son Thomas, born in Connecticut, February 22, 1791, came to St. Johns- bury when a child, and had only a limited common school education. In 1811 he married Susannah Olmstead, daughter of Phineas Olmstead, of Lyman, N. H. She was born May 14, 1791. He settled in St. Johusbury as a farmer, where he lived until about 1822, when he removed to Barnston, Can- ada. In 1850 or '51, he returned to St. Johnsbury, again engaged in farming, and died about a mile north of St. Johnsbury Center, aged eighty-one years. Mrs. Humphrey survived her husband till July 21, 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey were parents of fourteen chil- dren, all of whom, except one, Wells O., lived to mature age, and married. Their names and births were as follows : Margaret, February 6, 1811 ; Thomas, August 21, 1812 ; Wells O., April 27, 1814; Mary C., December 20, 1815; Susan, November 26, 1817; Martha, July 4, 1819 ; Solomon, February 8, 1821 ; Carlos, December 31, 1823 ; Calvin J., September 4, 1825 ; Electa, July 13, 1827 ; Jane P., June 6, 1829 ; Sylvia, April 18, 1831 ; Curtis A., August 2, 1833 ; and Henry L., October 28, 1836. They all have resided some portion of their lives in Caledonia county. Calvin J., a farmer, and Mrs. Sylvia Powers, a widow, are the only residents now in this county.

John Woods was an early settler of Barnet, locating on the place now owned by Mrs. Riley Woods, his son's widow. He reared a large family, and died rather early in life. His son Ebenezer married Lettice Barker, and set- tled in the southwestern part of St. Johnsbury, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Albert F. Lawrence. He died in 1874, aged eighty-six years, and his wife died in 1868, aged seventy-two years. They had born to them two children, John B. and Julia F. The latter was born in 1814, married Jonathan Lawrence, and eventually returned to the homestead a few years before her father's death. They were the parents of two children, a daugh- ter and son. The daughter, Ellen M., married Albert F. Felch, who died at the hospital, Alexandria, Va., was a soldier in Co. F, 15th Vt. Vols. She is now living with her second husband, Hiram Russell, a farmer, in St. Johns- bury. Their son, Albert F. Lawrence, married Lura A. Houghton, of Dan- ville, and, as before mentioned, resides on the Woods homestead. He has four children, Addie B., Frank A., Jennie V. and Fred J., all residing with their parents. John B. Woods, born in 1820, married Mary T. Winslow, daughter of Luther and Naomi Winslow, remained on the homestead about ten years, then owned a farm adjoining, where they lived a few years, and in the fall of 1856 settled permanently on the place where Mrs. Woods and her sons, Charles H. and Willis F., now reside. He died in May, 1882, aged sixty-two years. They were the parents of four children. The oldest, Edwin E., a merchant at Passumpsic, died January 1, 1886, aged forty years.

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Their daughter, Rosa M., married Ira T. Harvey, a farmer, and resides in Waterford. The others, as before mentioned, reside on the homestead.

Huxham Paddock, one of the first extensive manufacturers of St. Johns- bury, was a son of John Paddock, and a nephew of Hon. Ephraim Paddock and was born in Holland, Mass., January 24, 1791. His wife was Orris Fuller, of Wilbraham, Mass. He came to St. Johnsbury, as near as can be ascer- tained, about 1815. He had a mind above ordinary ability, and was a very skillful and capable mechanic. As a manufacturer of machinery he had few equals. He built a small foundry on the grounds now occupied by the Fair- banks Scale Works (the first in St. Johnsbury), and later, in 1828, built the famous Paddock Iron Works, where he conducted a large and flourishing busi- ness. He died at the early age of forty five years, universally respected. He filled the important office of representative of St. Johnsbury, in the popular branch of the state legislature. His only son, John H., of St. Johnsbury, survives him.

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Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887, Part 39

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders Number of Pages: 886

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders
Number of Pages: 886