USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 43
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 43
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Joseph Ball was one of the first settlers of Concord, Vt., and reared twelve children, only four of whom are living, namely, Lydia (Mrs. Samuel Brigham), of Southboro, Mass., Samuel, of Littleton, N. H., Phinehas, of Lunenburgh, Vt., and Levi. The last mentioned came here in 1840, and married first, Mercy Adams, who bore him children as follows : Adaline (Mrs. Charles R. Dustin), of Manchester, N. H., Joseph and Levi, Jr., who served in the late war, in 4th Vt. Vols, and died at Fredericksburg, Va. His wife died in 1840, and he married for his second wife, Rebecca Blanch- ard, and had born to him five children, viz. : Charles, of Brooklyn, N. Y., George, who died at the age of eighteen years, Mary (Mrs. Charles H. Brown), of Lynn, Mass., Mercy, who died at the age of five years, and John, who died at the age of eight years.
Arad Ball came to this town from Newark, married Sylvania Beckwith, and reared children as follows : Truman Z., Amos B., of Piermont, N. H., Caroline (Mrs. Elbridge Gee), of Marlow, N. H., Daniel B., who is United States marshall, in Nebraska, James H., who died at the age of twenty-one years, and Albert H. Mrs. Ball died in 1856, and Mr. Ball died August 17, 1885. His son Albert H. married Malinda Easton, of Lyndon, Vt., and has had born to him five children, viz .: Harley, who died at the age of one and a half years, Henry T., who lives in Newton, Mass., Frank W., John M. and George Bradley, who died at the age of two and a half years. Mr. Ball was town representative in 1878, has been selectman nine years, and has served as lister several years.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
Nathaniel Noyes, born in Landaff, N. H., in 1801, married Betsey Bartlett, of Bath, N. H., and came to this town in 1838, first locating on road 12. but subsequently removed to the corner of roads 6 and 11, where he died in 1883. His first wife bore him eight children, and died in 1842. His second wife, Lydia Rice, bore him a daughter, Mrs. George Shumway, of Webster, Mass., and died in 1864. In 1865 he married his third wife, Mrs. Arvilla Rice. Of Mr. Noyes's children, Julia (Mrs. Michael Noyes), lives in Landaff, N. H .; Moses W., who married Aurilla Richardson, is a resident of Sutton ; and Myron B., who married Martha Hill, resides in Rhode Island.
Anson Gray came here about 1840, married Polly Ham, of Middlebury, Vt., and has had born to him five children, namely : Orpha (Mrs. Ezra Bemis), of Rowe, Mass., Harriet, who died in 1853, Margaret (Mrs. Richard Jenness), of Lyndonville, Anson W., who died in 1873, and Silas W., who married Maria Briggs, of Milton, Vt. Mr. Gray is a member of the Freewill Baptist church, in Sheffield, Vt.
Rawson Stoddard was born in Chesterfield, N. H., March 21, 1821, and came to this town in 1846. He located in the eastern part of the town, lived here for a time, then moved to New Hampton, then to Westmore, to West Burke, and finally returned to this town. He married Levina B. Kibbey, of Lyndon, Vt., January 1, 1844, and has had born to him three children, namely: Meigs K., who served in the 11th Vt. Vols., and died in Libby prison, Orrisa M., who died in infancy, and Ella A., who married Royal Wig- gins, of this town.
Gilbert Ellis, born in Claremont, N. H., in 1795, moved to Barre, Vt., in 1817, where he learned the saddler's trade. He married Rebecca Pollard. In 1824 he moved to Barton, Vt., where he carried on the harness business. He reared four children, viz. : J. P., who is engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in Boston ; Reuben ; Helen, who married J. B. Robbinson, who died in 1872, leaving one son, Homer; and Harley, who is a jeweler in New York. Reuben came to Sutton in 1846, and has been twice married. He married first, Ruth, daughter of Jonathan and Tamar Pillsbury, who died in May, 1855, leaving two sons, namely, J. P., 2d, who is in the mercantile business, in Glover, Vt., and has one daughter, Florence, and G. B., who has one daughter, Virginia G. Mr. Ellis married for his second wife, Adelia Colby, of Burke, in May, 1856. She died May 14, 1881. Mr. Ellis has held many offices of trust, has been overseer of the poor for the past eighteen years, justice of the peace fifteen years, and has been town grand juror and town agent for twelve years. In 1870, he was elected a member of the constitu- tional convention, and in 1874 and 1876 was elected representative of his town to the general assembly at Montpelier.
Timothy Olmstead was born in Lyman, N. H., (now called Monroe) in 1815, moved to St. Johnsbury in 1836, and married Maria Humphrey the same year. He then moved to Ohio, where he lived ten years, then to Burke, Vt., and came to Sutton in 1861, locating on the place where James Dunklee
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
now lives, off road 2. He has had born to him four children, viz. : Louise (Mrs. Alfred Rice), of this town, Viletta P., who married Orin Curtis, and is now deceased, Alphonso M., of Barton, Vt., and Frederick G., who died when young.
Jonathan Berry was born in Sheffield, Vt., January 2, 1819, lived part of his life in Barnstead, P. Q., and has lived in this town for the past twenty years. He married Nancy Bickensail, and has had born to him eight children, viz .: William S., of Derry, N. H., Frank who died in infancy, Marcus, Franklin O., Byron W., Leslie M., Jefferson, of Barton, Vt., and Hattie (Mrs. Edwin Peavy). Byron W. married Mattie Switser, and has three children, namely, Ernest M., Ervin B. and Lula M.
Alonzo A. Webster was born in Sheldon, Vt., in 1817, married Sophronia Permit, and has had born to him four children, as follows: John, of Lyndon- ville, Jason B., who resides in this town, on road 29, Delucia and Delilia, twins. Delucia (Mrs. W. A. Corliss) lives in Lyndonville. Delilia resides with Jason B., and Mr. Webster also lives with him.
David Kinison, a soldier of the War of 1812, moved to Westmore in 1810, married Malinda Cushing, of Burke, and reared two children, Matilda and Lyman B. The former married, first, John Brockway, and is now the wife of Mr. Hutchinson, of Lyndon. Lyman B. married twice, first, Mary A. Bishop, of Westmore, Vt., who bore him seven children viz .: Cynthia, who married Ira Allard, and died in 1863 ; Matilda, who married Mack Sherry, and died in 1865; Daniel W., of Burke ; Charles, who died in 1840; Paolina, who married H. Orcott, of this town ; Frederick, of Erving, Mass .; and Edwin, of Worcester, Mass. Mrs. Kinison died in 1865, and Mr. Kinison married for his second wife Melinda (Bishop) Hudson.
Luther B. Harris, of this town, was a soldier in the late war, serving in Co. D, 4th Vt. Vols., and was taken prisoner at Ream's Station, south of Peters- burg, June 22, 1863. He was taken to Libby, Danville, Andersonville, Flor- ence, Savannah, Charlestown and Salisbury prisons.
Bradbury M. Richardson came to this town, from Moultenborough, N. H., and first located on road 54. One son, Joseph, married Lucina Allen, of Wheelock, and reared children as follows: Aurilla, Joseph, three who died in infancy, Frances (Mrs. M. W. Noyes), Bradbury, Riley, Jackson and George. Bradbury, Jackson and George are homeopathic physicians, in New York city. Riley married Ann J. Stoddard, and has had born to him five children, namely, Ethel M., who died at the age of ten years, Bradbury, who died at the age of eight years, Gertie, Ernest and Milicent.
James McGennis was born in Leeds, Canada, in 1825, married Margaret Montgomery, and has had five children, as follows: Edward, Jennie, who married L. A. Spaulding, of Newport, James, of Dakota, Margaret, who died at the age of four years, and William, who died at the age of two years. Edward married Carrie M. Bemis, and has two children, Harry B. and Arthur E.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
Arthur E. Kincaid was born in Wisconsin, in 1848, and has been engaged in sea-faring business since he was fifteen years of age. In this way he has traveled extensively, having been in most parts of the world.
Edmund H. Butterfield was born in Fairlee, Vt., in 1819, moved to Island Pond in 1846, and after living there, and in several other places, located up- on the place where he now resides. He married Ursulia Foster, for his first wife, who bore him six children, as follows : Emily, of Haverhill, N. H., An- drew E., of Richford, Vt., Riley, who lives in Thornton, N. H., Ella J., who died at the age of nineteen years, Elam, of California, and Ursulia, who mar- ried Arthur Kincaid, of this town. Mrs. Butterfield died in 1862, and he married for his second wife, Ellen McIntire, of Fitchburg, Mass., in 1866. They have one child, Harvey W.
Denison D. Hayward was born in Berlin, Vt., in 1811, moved to Burke in 1853, where he lived twenty-one years, and then came to this town. He married Roanney Fisher, who has borne him nine,children, two of whom are living, Mrs. Oren D. Philbrick and Mrs. Thomas E. A. Sturgeon, both of this town. One son, Rufus A., served in the late war, in Co. B, 4th Vt. Vols., and was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, from the effects of which he died seven years later.
Freeman Hyde, son of Joshua and Betsey (Dolloff ) Hyde, was born March 26, 1845. His father died in 1849, and he and his mother moved to this town soon after. He served in the late war, enlisting in 1862, in Co. G, 15th Vt. Vols. He was in twenty-six battles, and was wounded at Ashland, Va., June 1, 1864. Lewis C., brother of Freeman, was born June 29, 1848, and also served in the late war, and was wounded in several engagements. . He died October 17, 1879, from disease caused by wounds received in the army.
William Greene came to this town when a young man, and located on the place where his son Thomas C. now lives, on road 41. He married Harriet Ham, of Troy, N. Y., and had born to him thirteen children, four of whom are living, viz .: Thomas C., Martha, William J. and John W. William J. married Miss Dennett, of Pittsfield, N. H., and has two children, Cora J. and Fred S.
The First Freewill Baptist church, at Sutton village, was originally organ- ized in 1804, and Rev. John Colby was the first pastor. The church became divded and run down, and in 1837 a new organization was effected, the pres- ent church. Rev. Jonathan Woodman was its first pastor, who is now living in Lowell, Mass., and is yet a member of the church here, though nearly eighty- eight years old He preached here nearly forty years in all. The church has had the labors of a good number of able preachers, and it is the largest society of the denomination in the state. The present church building was erected in 1832. It is a wooden structure, capable of seating 300 persons, and is valued at $2,500.00. The society has 180 members, with Rev. A. P. Tracy, pastor.
355
TOWN OF WALDEN.
W ALDEN lies in the western part of Caledonia county, in lat. 44° 28' and long. 4° 45', and is bounded north by Stannard, east by Danville, south by Cabot, in Washington county, and west by Hardwick. The township was granted November 6, 1780, and chartered to Moses Robinson and sixty four others, August 18, 1781, by the Vermont leg- islature. It is six miles square, containing, by estimate of 1798, 23,040 acres, of which 320 acres are covered with water. Lying at the height of land between the Connecticut river and Lake Champlain, it has no large water privileges, streams or ponds. Cole's pond, the largest body of water within its boundaries, is situated in the northern-central part. It is nearly surrounded by forest and abounds in pickerel and pout. Joe's brook, its outlet, furnishes power for several mills. Lyford's pond, in the southern part, is formed by springs, covers about fifty acres, is very deep, and is stocked with landlocked salmon, pickerel and pout. Morrill brook, rising near the cen- ter of the township, flows westerly into Meadow brook, and with that into Hardwick, where it joins the Lamoille river. It was so named from Abel Morrill, who, before 1800, erected the first saw-mill in Walden, upon the falls where it crosses Hazen road.
The surface of the town is generally hilly, rising to its greatest altitude in the northern central part. Slate and granite are the chief rocks found, while the principal trees are maple, spruce, fir, cedar, beech and yellow birch. In the northeastern part there is still considerable wood and timber, and in all parts of the town are large sugar orchards which yield a considerable annual income. The soil is deep and strong, though somewhat stony, yet the mul- titudes of stones which are too small and numerous to pick, yet rendering cultivation difficult and crops poor, are not found here as in some parts of the state. The number of smooth, well-fenced and highly productive farms to be found in various parts of Walden attest that judicious planning, labor and thrift, will make farming pay, even at this distance from markets. Hay, grain, butter, maple sugar and potatoes are the chief productions. Corn cul- ture is scarcely attempted, and few apples are grown, though a number of good sized apple nurseries have recently been set out. Large dairies are the rule, and several herds of high grade or thoroughbred stock are found, nota- bly that of D. S. Cox, whose herd of Jersey cattle includes fourteen head of registered pedigree.
In 1880 Walden had a population of 931. In 1886 the town had ten school districts and ten common schools, employing four male and fourteen female teachers, to whom was paid an average weekly salary, including board, of $5.00 and $4.23 respectively. There were 196 scholars, ten of whom were attending private schools. The entire income for school purposes was $1,795.12, while the total expenditures were $1,800.73, with C. A. Stevens, superintendent.
WALDEN, a post village located in the eastern part of the town, consists of a dozen dwellings, a church (Methodist Episcopal), a school-house, store, saw-
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TOWN OF WALDEN.
mill, feather duster shop, blacksmith shop, and a lumber-dressing and grist- mill put in operation this season. The village has long been known as Noyesville-an appellation which still clings to it-from George and John Noyes, who established the manufacture of potato starch here not far from 1850. Two starch factories were built and burned one after the other, the latter a few years ago, and neither has been rebuilt.
NORTH WALDEN (p. o.) is located two miles northwest of the center of the town. It contains a church (built by Congregationalists and occupied by the Methodists), a store, school-house and half a dozen dwellings.
SOUTH WALDEN (p. o.) village is made up of a church (Union, occupied by the Methodists), saw-mill, carriage shop, blacksmith shop, and twenty or more houses scattered for a mile and a half along the Hazen road. This road, built by General Hazen in 1779, is traced as roads 24, 27, 29 and 43, to the corner of 50, whence it passed southerly into Cabot. The site of Hazen's block-house is still pointed out, on the Perkins farm on road 43, about one mile from the corner of road 44.
WALDEN HEIGHTS is the local name for the region about the railroad station.
THE FOUR CORNERS, a hamlet, is near the center of the town, and was at one time a post-village, with a store and mill, beside the school and dwellings still there.
J. Farrar's saw-mill, at the outlet of Cole's pond, has a circular board, saw and shingle-machine, and does custom work.
M. Goslant's lumber and shingle-mill, on road 33, first built by Edward Sleeper, between 1808 and 1815, is fitted with a circular board-saw, planers and shingle-machine, employs eleven men, and produces about 1,000,000 feet of coarse lumber, and 400,000 shingles per annum.
J. D. Ordway's lumber dressing and grist mill, on road 54, erected in 1885, has the best privilege on the stream.
E. P. Brickett's lumber and shingle mill, on road 55, built by Benaiah P. Smith about thirty years ago, for a carriage shop, changed by William Brickett into a saw-mill, and purchased by E. P. Brickett in January, 1884. He cuts about 200,000 feet of custom lumber, and 700,000 shingles per annum, em- ploying two or three hands.
B. F. Taylor's saw-mill, carriage-shop and cider mill, is the only mill now operated by Morrill brook. Mr. Taylor bought it in 1882, and does custom sawing and cider-making, builds heavy wagons, sleds, and does repairing.
E. & T. Fairbanks's steam saw-mill, located on the east branch of Joe's brook, corner of roads 14 and 15, was established by them twenty-two years ago, to supply lumber for their scale works at St. Johnsbury. The timber is cut from a tract of over 4,000 acres lying in Walden and Stannard, and owned by them. At the first, both steam and water-power were put in the mill, and it was thus operated until 1875, when the water-wheel was removed. The mill is operated about three months in the year, producing about 800,000
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TOWN OF WALDEN.
feet of rough lumber. Ten men are employed in running the mill, and ten men and eighteen oxen in hauling the logs in winter.
Stephen V. Meader's feather-duster shop, located at Walden village, was established by him in 1877. He manufactures six hundred dozen dusters per annum, from assorted turkey feathers, employing four or five girls and boys most of the time. He has probably produced more feather dusters since he begun to make them, than all other manufacturers in the state. He makes several grades of these goods, and supplies jobbing and retail dealers at wholesale rates.
Charles D. Knight's machine-shop is located on road 23. Mr. Knight began without apprenticeship or instruction, made his patterns and many of his tools, and has built, sold, and set in operation, three five horse-power upright stationary engines, and is prepared to build more to order. He also does machine repairing, and makes violins of a high grade.
It is accepted as a fact that the first white inhabitants of Walden were a small garrison under command of a man named Walden, who was left in charge of the block-house built by General Hazen, through the winter of 1779-80, and it is said that from him the town derived its name. No attempt appears to have been made to effect a permanent settlement until 1789, when Nathaniel Perkins began a clearing, and built a log house near the block- house, on Hazen road. He lived in the block-house until his own was com- pleted, and it afterwards afforded shelter for many of the first settlers, at one time being occupied by the family of Gideon Sabin, consisting of himself, his wife and twenty-six children. In the block-house was born, November, 1790, Jesse Perkins, son of Nathaniel, the first white child born in Walden. He died April 26, 1881. In it also was preached the first sermon, by Elder Chapman, in 1794, and the first school was taught here, probably in 1796, by Nathaniel Perkins. The first death in town was that of Samuel Gilman, caused by the burning off and falling of a dead tree. He was clearing land on the farm now owned by G. D. Lane, and left the house in the evening to roll together the remnants of the burning piles. Failing to return, his wife went out to look for him, and found his body crushed beneath a smoldering tree. The second death was that of a Mrs. Melcher, and the third that of Ezekiel Gil- man. The latter was "rolling up" a log house, when one of the logs fell back upon him and killed him. But one centenarian has died in Walden, Sarah (Kidder) George, about 1822, who is said to have been 102 years old. The oldest person now living in Walden, is Elijah Corson, aged eighty-nine years.
The first marriage recorded was solemnized August 4, 1800, when Saumel Carr and Polly Dow were united by Amos Tuttle, pastor in Hardwick ; but traditition says that Mr. Melcher's marriage was the first. The first saw-mill was erected by Abel Morrill, who bought the land April 30, 1796, and at his "mill-house" a school was kept in the winter of 1800, while by vote of the town, July 24, 1801, " Morrill's mill brook" became the first permanent divid- 23*
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TOWN OF WALDEN.
ing line between school districts. Morrill's mill stood where B. F. Taylor's now is. The first grist-mill was built by Nathaniel Farrington, Jr., upon the opposite side of the same falls. The first hotel was built and kept by Na- thaniel Farrington, about 1800, where Alonzo E. Dutton now lives, and for nearly seventy-five years a public house was continued there. Who the first merchant in town was is a disputed point. Some say John Weaks first sold merchandise, where A. W. Eddy now lives ; but Nathaniel Farrington, Jr., was undoubtedly the first to engage extensively in trade. The first postoffice was at the corner of roads 9 and 23, and Thomas W. Vincent was postmaster thirty-two years. He settled in Walden about 1808. Edmund Eddy was the first carriage maker. Dr. George C. Wheeler was the first physician, in 1828, and remained about one year. James Bell, Esq., who came in 1804, was the first and only lawyer who settled in town.
Walden was organized March 24, 1794. The first town meeting was. warned by Lyman Hitchcock, justice of the peace, and was held at the house of Nathaniel Perkins. The first board of officers consisted of Lyman Hitch- cock, moderator ; Nathaniel Perkins, town clerk; Nathan Barker, Nathaniel Perkins and Joseph Burley, selectmen ; Samuel Gilman, treasurer ; and Elisha Cate, constable and collector. In 1795 the first grand juror was chosen, Samuel Huckins, and also the first representative, Nathaniel Perkins. In 1796, $to.oo worth of wheat was voted to defray town expenses, thirty bush- els for "schooling," and thirty bushels for preaching. Nathan Barker and Nathaniel Perkins were appointed a "committee to hire preaching," and it was voted to hold the "meetings for preaching" one-half the time at Nicholas Gilman's, and one-half at Ezekiel Gilman's. In 1797 there were sixteen votes cast in town for representative to Congress, and the valuation was $1,037.00. The first militia company was organized in June, 1808, with Noah Gilman, captain; William Montgomery, lieutenant ;. Nathaniel Gould, ensign; William Gilman, Than Smith and Joseph Mudgett, sergeants ; William Dutton and John Rundle, corporals ; and Stephen Cur- rier, James Bell and John Burbank, privates. The same year Israel Page, Nathaniel Burbank, Jr., Thomas Farrington and Asa Kittredge, of Walden,. were reported as belonging to the Hardwick company of " troopers."
WAR OF 1812 .- A special town meeting was held June 1, 1812, to take action for the protection of the country and the citizens homes, when it was voted to raise one cent on a dollar of the grand list to provide military stores for the town. Daniel Duross was elected to take charge of them, and the solder's pay was fixed at ten dollars per month, " from the time they marched until discharged." In September, 1814, a company consisting of William Montgomery, William Dutton, Jr., Major Robinson, Samuel Dutton, Dudley Haynes and a few others, started from Walden towards Lake Champlain to take part in the battle of Plattsburgh. They were joined by numbers of men on the way, but before reaching Burlington they were met by the news that the battle was over. It is said that they then organized by choosing.
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TOWN OF WALDEN.
officers and continued on to Burlington, where they drew rations and after- wards received pay for service.
WAR OF 1861-65 .- Few towns performed their duty in this great conflict better than Walden. . The first vote recorded having especial reference to the war was passed August 10, 1862, when volunteers for three years were offered $25.00 bounty, and it was voted to pay $7.00 per month "to such men as enlist for nine months, if the state does not." September 6th, it voted to raise $1, 150.00, to be collected in ninety days, to pay bounties to volunteers under the nine months call. August 12th and September 1, 1863, the prop- osition to pay bounties to drafted men was voted down. December 4. 1863; it was voted to pay volunteers mustered into service $300.00, and instructed the selectmen to hire money for that purpose ; but at the next annual town meeting the money to meet this loan was raised, and afterward each vote to raise men was followed by one to raise the money to pay their bounties, so that the end of the war did not find Walden encumbered with a heavy war debt. June 21, 1864, It was voted to pay volunteers $400.00 and others mustered in $300.00 each. August 13, 1864, it was voted to deposit $2,700.00 with the state treasurer to recruit forty per cent. of the quota of Walden, and the selectmen were directed to pay such volunteers as were not procured in the rebellious states bounties as follows : To one year men, $500.00; two years men, $750.00 ; three years men, $1,000.00 ; also $200.00 to drafted men mustered in. It was also voted that those who furnished substitutes be paid the same as volunteers. September 5, 1864, it was voted to pay each volun- teer when mustered into service for one year $625.00. January 1I, 1865, it was voted to instruct the selectmen to pay not exceeding $400.00 for one year, $500.00 for two years, and $600.00 for three years men to fill the quota under the last call for 300,000 men ; and on February 20th, following, it was voted to raise the bounties for one year men to $650.00, and of drafted men mustered in to $500.00.
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