USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 44
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 44
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INTERESTING FACTS .- On June 18, 1825, a special town meeting chose a committee consisting of Nathaniel Farrington, Jr., Daniel Wooster and Joseph Perkins, "to wait on the canal engineers while surveying through the town and provide meats and drink for them at the expense of the town."
The growth of public sentiment on the temperance question is indicated by the following votes passed by the town for "license or no license : " In 1847, license thirty-eight, no license, twenty-two; 1848, eighty to forty-two ; and in 1849, thirty-two for and eighty-eight against license, gave the temperance cause the victory. People now living recall when one man brought forty bar- rels of rum into Walden and sold it out within the year, while it is now stated that two barrels will cover the amount used annually for all purposes.
The proposition to extend a railroad through the town found favor, and in April, 1868, it was voted to accept the act enabling certain towns to aid in the construction of the Lamoille Valley railroad, and on April 22, 1869, it was voted to subscribe for $30,000.00 of the stock of this road and issue bonds
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in payment for the same, and chose Samuel Harrington, T. H. Farrington and E. R. Chamberlain, commissioners to carry out the provisions of this vote. The road was opened through Walden in 1872.
Nathaniel Perkins, a Revolutionary soldier, who served in the battle of Bunker Hill, was one of the first settlers in Walden, and came here, from Northfield, N. H., in 1789, locating in the southwestern part of the township. His family then consisted of his wife, one son, Jonathan, and one daughter, Betsey, who became Mrs. Stevens. After he came to this town he had born to him children as follows: Jesse, Hannah, Nathaniel, George, Matilda, Susan, Martha, who married Lewis Hill, Sally, who married Frederick Whitcher, Augusta, who married Benjamin Durrell, and Irving. Jesse spent most of his life in this town, on the homestead, married Polly Lance, of Chester, Vt., and had born to him three children, William G., Charles, of Cabot, and Mary. William G. has carried on business as a manufacturer and merchant at the " Four Corners," where he was postmaster several years, and at Walden vil- lage, where he now resides. He represented Walden in the assembly of 1874-75. Eben S., son of Jonathan, served in the civil war.
John Perkins, brother of Esq. Nathaniel, came to this town, from Canada, about 1803, when his son Samuel was about two years of age, and first located somewhere on Hazen road. He was a hunter and trapper, and reared two sons, Samuel and Nathaniel, and one daughter, Mary. Samuel married Sarah Hodgdon, bought the farm where his son Charles now lives, in 1827, and reared two children, Charles and Mary D. (Mrs. Charles Whitcher), of Burke. Charles married Ruth Jackson, of Stannard, and has six sons and one daugh- ter. Nathaniel, son of John, settled on the farm where A. Buck now lives, and only one of his children, Mrs. David Corson, is now living.
Joseph Perkins came to this town, from Deerfield, N. H., bought land here June 16, 1802, and in 1805 settled on a farm west of the school-house at Walden depot. He reared three sons and two daughters, and built the house where J. I. Chase now lives, in 1814. His son Hiram was born in this town, about 1809, and married Sally H., daughter of Huse and Hannah (Perkins) Smith. He held many town offices, served as town representative, was high sheriff, and was town clerk the last twenty years of his life. He died in Jan- uary, 1878. Robert Merrill Perkins, son of Joseph, was born in 1807, mar- ried Hannah, daughter of Hanson Rogers, and reared seven children, five of whom are living, viz. : Mrs. J. Steele, living on the place where her father settled over sixty years ago, Flora, widow of Philander Morse, Mary (Mrs. John Osgood), of Danville, Hiram, of Northfield, and Brainard, of Tennessee.
Timothy Edwards came to this town, from Gilmanton, N. H., before 1796, as in that year he was elected " hogward." He settled on the farm where his grandson John now lives, and reared fourteen children. Of these, four are living, two daughters, who live in Cabot, one daughter, who resides in Hardwick, and one son, John L., of Newport.
Nathaniel Dow, with two brothers, Ira and Jonathan, came to Walden,
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from Gilmanton, N. H., in 1797, where he remanied several years, then lived in Cabot a few years, and in April, 1813, he returned to this town, where he spent the remainder of his life. He married Esther Gilman, and reared chil- dren as follows: Rev. John G., Nathaniel, Zebulon, Hazen, Peter, Peaslee, Porter and James B. J. G. was a Methodist minister. Hazen was a car- penter, married-Mary A. Johnson, and his son Joel L. now resides in South Walden. Harvey, son of Nathaniel, Jr., who was a carpenter, lives in Wal- den. Porter reared a large family in Walden, and died in Lynn, Mass, James B., the only son now living, married Amy Hodgdon, and has had born to him one son and one daughter.
Edward and Nathaniel Gould came to Walden, probably from Dunbarton, N. H., about 1800, as Edward was lister in 1801. Nathaniel was a farmer, lived in Hardwick, on the county road, made wooden plows, and married Lydia Bachelder. Of his six children, Nathaniel W., the youngest, now seventy-three years of age, is the only one living. He married Sarah, daugh- ter of David Page, and has four children.
Nathaniel Burbank, born in 1747, came to this town, from Sanbornton, N. H., some time before 1800, as he bought his land August 12, 1793, and located near where L. W. Farrington lives. He married Molly Durgin, who was born in 1754, and reared children as follows : John, Betsey, who married Daniel Johnson, Nathaniel, Sally, who married R. Eddy, Joseph, William, Polly, who married William Weeks, Hannah, who married D. Perkins, Jacob and Miles. Joseph, born in 1786, married Dorothy Laird, about 1812, bought the land where his son Nathaniel now lives some time before 1812, was captain of militia in 1818, '19 and '21, and died in 1863. He was the father of nineteen children, only three of whom are living, namely, Harvey, at West Danville, Nathaniel and Philura, widow of J. M. Hibbard. Nathaniel became engaged in the whaling business when about twenty-one years of age, and served in the late war, in Co. H, 4th Vt. Vols., where he served about two years. He married Huldah J. Stone, has six sons, and now resides in Walden.
Thomas Farrington, born in Francestown, N. H., came to Walden about 1801, and bought the place where his grandson, Sawyer Farrington, now lives. He married Susan Gould, and reared eight children, only two of whom are living, Thomas Newton, and Susan, widow of Uz Cameron. He served as town clerk and town representative. William Farrington was a shoemaker and a farmer, lived most of his time on the home farm, married Roxanna Whitcher, and reared three sons and three daughters, namely, Sawyer G., Thomas H., Alonzo W., Ruth E., widow of J. F. Stephens, Lucretia W. (Mrs. J. C. Whitcher), of Peacham, and Fannie S. (Mrs. Hubbard Quimby), of Patton, P. Q.
Leonard Farrington was an early settler of Walden. His son David lives in Cabot village. He married Sophia Livingston, and located upon the farm where his son Lewis W. now lives, about 1840.
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Moses George came to Walden, from Strafford, Vt., about 1804, accom- panied by his mother, Sarah (Kidder) George, who lived to be 100 years old, his wife, one son, Lemuel, and one daughter. He settled on a piece of land just north of where L. W. Farrington now lives. His children were as fol- lows : Lemuel, Phila (Mrs. Sherburne), Rosmer (Mrs. Corson), Mary (Mrs. Powers), Sally (Mrs. Elliott), Jerusha (Mrs. Northrop), Fanny (Mrs. Hodg- don), and Moses.
Ebenezer Stevens bought land in Walden as early as 1796, and when his son John came here, in 1804, he owned nearly 1,000 acres. John first set- tled on the farm where his son George P. now lives, married, first, Alice Gil- man, who bore him one daughter, Eliza (Mrs. Harvey Montgomery), of Hard- wick. He married, second, Betsey, daughter of Nathaniel Perkins, and had nine children. Mr. Stevens was a staunch Methodist, a liberal supporter of religious teaching, lived to the age of eighty years, and Stevens' hill, on which he settled, is still occupied and owned by three families of his descendants. His children were Eliza (Mrs. Montgomery), Mary A. (Mrs. Gilman), Eben- ezer, Nathaniel, who had five children, John Franklin, Emily (Mrs. Currier), of Boston, Daniel W., who died in 1878, Charles A., George P., and Moses. The last mentioned has four daughters, namely, Mrs. W. E. Sherrar, Mrs. E. H. Woods, Mrs. D. C. Farrington, of West Danville, and Francella. George P. married Martha A. Mayo, of Moretown, Vt., has always lived in Walden, has been lister five years, and has had six children, Carlton G., Nella E., Lillian C., May .M., Emily A. and Leda B. Charles A. married Mary A. Solomon, has two sons, has been superintendent of schools eighteen years, and served as selectman and justice.
John Franklin Stevens was born in Walden, May 20, 1816. His educa- tional facilities were those of the common schools, but he was a boy of active intelligence and inquiring mind, and this education was supplemented by a fund of general intelligence. He followed his father's calling, that of an agri- culturist. He married, January 1, 1846, Elvira R. Farrington, and had one son, Charles Henry, who is a farmer, and a resident of Walden. Mr. Stevens was a Methodist in his religious belief, a Democrat in politics, became promi- nent in the community, and represented Walden three legislative terms. He served as justice of the peace, selectman, and overseer of the poor for twelve years, as lister eight years, and held these offices at the time of his death, which occurred suddenly, November 21, 1885. He was also administrator of many estates, and guardian of minors and insane persons. He was a man worthy of the responsible trusts confided to him, whose word was as good as his bond. Prompt and ready, his business affairs were executed systemat- ically, and speedily, and he was a valuable and esteemed citizen.
William Montgomery, a native of Francestown, N. H., came to this town, about 1803, and settled in the southwestern part, where E. Houston now lives. He was a prominent man in the town, served as selectman, was captain of militia, and raised a company to go to the War of 1812. He died in April, 1850,
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F.I.ITTL.F .
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aged seventy-five years. He married Mary Dodge, and reared seven children, viz. : Josiah, Arunah, who died at the age of eighteen years, Ira, who had three daughters, Mrs. C. Stafford, Mrs. Hannah Hovey, of Hardwick, and Mrs. Weed, of Stannard, Harvey, William C., Sereno and David. Sereno has always lived in Walden, has served as lister, selectman, was town repre- sentative in 1847-48, and was county judge in 1861-62. He married three times, first, Hannah, daughter of captain Enoch Foster, who bore him two children, Giles F., who was a missionary in Turkey twenty-one years, and Marshall, state's attorney at St. Johnsbury; second, Caroline, daughter of Dea. Merrill Foster, who bore him two children, Mrs. Robinson Jennison and Merrill F .; and third, Mrs. Angeline ( Mason) Harrington.
Enoch Foster came to this town some time before 1802, as in that year he was town representative, married, first, Polly Guy, in 1793, who bore him three sons, Merrill, Ephraim and Perley, and second, Mrs. Susannah Gould, in 1810, who bore him one daughter. He was captain of militia, and lived at North Walden, where he died. His son Dea. Merrill married Sally Gould, served as town representative, and reared children as follows : Caroline, Jane, Edward G., Philena, Harvey, Sally, Emily, Charles and Susan. Of these, Charles, Harvey, Philena and Susan, are living. Harvey married Mary F. Montgomery, has held various town offices, and was town representative three years. Ephraim Foster married Emily Perkins, and reared a large family of children, one of whom was Gen. George P. Foster, who served in the army as colonel, and afterwards was United States marshal.
Levi Knight, son of John came here, from Francestown, about 1807, and located on the farm where Paul D. Knight now lives, which was given to him by his father, June 28, 1810. He died in 1858, aged seventy-five years. His children were as follows: Nathaniel S., born in Francestown, in 1805, Paul D., born in Walden, in 1807, Gary, Tryphose and Ruth (Mrs. James Mann).
Esq. Adam Amsden, Jr., came to this town, from Tewksbury, Mass., bought land here, August 23, 1808, and first located where I. T. Farrow now lives. He kept hotel thirty years, was justice over thirty years, and was one of the first anti-slavery men in town. He married Pamelia Manning, of Tewksbury, and reared ten children, six of whom are living. Burt B. mar- ried Amelia A. Walcott, and reared eight children, five of whom are living. Abel, sixth child of Adam, was born in 1823, married Elizabeth L. Hart, and has two children, Addie L. (Mrs. Alonzo J. Snow), of St. Johnsbury, and A. George, a druggist at Littleton, N. H. Abel has lived in Lowell, Mass., ten years, where he was captain of the police, and served in the late war, in Ist Vt. Cav. Mark A. and Stephen C. also served in the late war, and the former is now deceased. James H. resides in Plainville, Kan. Pamelia married Alpheus D. Jenne.
Esq. James Bell was born in Lyme, N. H., in December, 1776, married Lucy Dean, of Hardwick, Mass., in 1801, and came to Walden about 1804, settling on the place where his son James D. afterwards lived. He was a
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prominent lawyer, served the town as justice of the peace, was captain of militia, and was elected to the state legislature in 1815. He was again elected in 1818, and was a member for ten years in succession. He died April 17, 1852. His son, Hon. James Dean Bell, was born in Walden, 1808, married Caroline Warner, and his children were as follows : Alpha W., Charles J., Caroline M., Eliza W., Jane D., Katie and Julia A. Mr. Bell attended the common schools, and was two terms at Peacham. He filled the offices of town representative, side judge, state senator, and assistant United States revenue assessor several years. He was trustee of Peacham Academy, Deacon of East Hardwick Congregational church, and was one of the directors of the St. J. & L. C. division P. & O. R. R.
William Dutton came to Walden, from Lyndeboro, N. H., about 1806, with a family of seven children, and settled where D. S. Ferguson now lives. Josiah, his fifth child, always lived in the same neighborhood, married Mary Hodgdon, and reared ten children, four of whom are living. Rev. Zalmon S. lives on the farm adjoining the one settled by his grandfather. He mar- ried Sarah Henderson, of Hardwick, and has two children. He has been connected with the Freewill Baptist church as a clergyman for twenty-five years. William married Amy Corson, settled where Myron Goodenough lives, and reared ten children, four of whom are living, viz .: Jacob, Joseph P., David, and Susan (Mrs. Kimball). William gave the land for the ceme- tery on road 47. Jacob kept hotel ten years at the corner of roads 29 and 28, beginning in 1853, married Lucy Mann, and has four daughters, namely, Elizabeth F. (Mrs. A. E. Dutton), Georgianna W. (Mrs. Houston), Abigail L. (Mrs. Bradford), and Julia M. Alonzo E., son of Josiah, was selectman in 1878, '79 and '80, served as constable and collector, and kept hotel five years. Ephraim D. and Andrew J., sons of Josiah, served in the late war, and the former now lives in Hardwick.
Joel Shurtleff, Jr., came here, from Reading, Vt., with his father, when fourteen years of age, and settled at the corner of roads 3 and 7. He mar- ried first, Melinda Sabin, who bore him two daughters, and second, Sarah Smith, of Greensboro, and had born to him three sons and three daughters. Of these, Samuel and Abial A. are living. The latter married Rachel Pat- terson, and has two children, Sarah J. Gilchrist and Robert J.
Richard Downer, a native of Sharon, located at North Walden about 1817, married Catherine Barnes, and reared seven children, five of whom are living, namely, Joel, Ephraim, Clara, Sophia (Mrs. D. Smith), and Emeline (Mrs. William Putnan:). Mr. Downer was a house builder, was taken prisoner by the Indians at the burning of Royalston, served in the War of 1812, and moved to Derby about 1830, where he died in 1835. His youngest son, Ephraim, served two years in the Rebellion, and now resides in Walden, aged sixty-one years. He married Sarah Buswell, of Epsom, N. H., and reared nine children, four of whom are living.
Abel Gile, Sr., a native of Northfield, came here in 1818, and settled upon
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the place where D. S. Cox now lives, having bought the land November 25, 1818. He married Stataria Forrest, had two sons, John F., born in 1818, now deceased, and Abel, who resides in town, and died at the age of seventy- three years. Abel, Jr., has served the town as selectman three terms, has been lister twenty years, and town representative two years. He married Mary A., daughter of Robert White, and has had born to him nine children, seven of whom are living.
Hanson Rogers came here at an early day, but soon returned to Cabot, and . again came here about 1820. He bought a farm at Walden depot, where he kept a hotel many years. He married Hannah, daughter of Benjamin and Judith Webster, and a cousin of Daniel Webster, and reared twelve children. He returned to Cabot, where he died in 1860, aged eighty-four years. His widow died September 23, 1867. His son Hanson was born in Cabot, in 1812, and was engaged for thirty years, in connection with Newell Stocker, of Danville, in buying live stock. He married Marinda Noyes, and reared seven children, viz .: John B., Sarah F., Noyes C., of Nebraska, Albert J., Han- son E., of Colorado, Hollis G., of Nebraska, and Ella M. (Mrs. Charles H. Stevens). John B. is a merchant and postmaster, has served as selectman seven years, married Julia E. Hill, of Hardwick, and has four children. He carried on the manufacture of potato starch at Noyesville, from 1868 until the factory was burned, in 1875.
Simeon W. Cheever, born in Hardwick, in September, 1799, came here with his family, from Greensboro, in March, 1829. He married Millicent Powers, and reared three sons and two daughters, viz .: Alonzo, Ozias F., Simeon W., of Kansas, Millicent (Mrs. George Merrill), of West Danville, and Sarah (Mrs. Cornelius Scott). Mr. Cheever died January 3, 1880. Ozias F. built a saw-mill on Joe's brook, where it crosses road 15, in 1849.
Elijah Mann, son of Samuel, was born in Orford, N. H., and came to this town about 1835. He was a carpenter and millwright, married Betsey Pierce, and reared eight children, six of whom are living. He died in Hardwick, aged sixty-seven years. Samuel Mann built the grist-mill at South Walden.
Stephen Meader lived in Newbury, and served in the War of 1812. His son Hiram G. came to this town, from Ryegate, in 1837, and located on the place which Eli Metcalf now owns. His son Stephen V. married, first, Sarah Leighton, and second Priscilla Moyer.
Charles A. Kittredge, son of Benjamin F., and great-grandson of Samuel, was born in Walden, in March, 1838, spent his early life in farming, and served in the late war, in Co. D, 4th Vt. Vols., and in 3d Vt. Bat. He has been engaged since 1882 in defending pension and bounty claims. He married Clarissa Capron, January 1, 1860, and has three sons and two daughters.
Samuel R. Cox came here from West Fairlee, Vt., in 1844. His son D. S. was born in West Fairlee, in 1838, and came to this town with his father. He married Zeruah (Folsom) Noyes, in 1865. He began in 1878 to breed
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registered Jersey cattle, obtaining his stock from W. D. Bronson, of Hardwick, and has kept his stock pure and up to the standard. He has two cows pro- cured from the Fairbanks herd, of St. Johnsbury.
Joel Harrington, Jr., came to this town, with his father, from Kirby, Vt., about forty years ago, married Mary L., daughter of Jonathan Jenkins, and has three children, namely, Celia E., wife of Rev. A. J. Hough, Herbert E. and Florence E. (Mrs. Milo Chandler). Alden, son of Joel, Sr., married Angeline Mason, had born to him two children, H. M. and Lillian M., and died in 1868.
Isaac Patterson, son of Ebenezer, was born in Peacham, in 1809, married twice, first, Rosella Johnson, and their daughter Elvira is the widow of R. Jenne, and lives in Albany. He married for his second wife Laura Locke, of Cabot, who has borne him one son, Charles W., and one daughter, Minda J. Mr. Patterson came to Walden in 1844, served as selectman, justice of the peace, constable and collector for many years.
Jesse D. Ordway was born in Hookset, N. H., in 1830, learned the machin- ist trade, and went to Illinois in 1851, where he remained five years. He worked for the Fairbanks Scale Co., at St. Johnsbury, for a time, came to Walden in 1861, and, with the exception of about five years, has since been engaged in the manufacture of lumber in this town.
Irenus H. Collins, son of Elliott, and grandson of Benjamin, was born in Cabot, where he lived until 1867, when he came to this town. He married three times, first, Calista Jackson, who bore him one son, Orman R., now an undertaker in Cabot, second, Caroline (Rice) Cook, and third, Emma Wheeler.
Benajah S. Carpenter was born in Cabot, in October, 1841, served in the late war, in Co. G, 3d Vt. Vols., and has lived in Walden since 1873. He married Martha A. Hovey. Seven of his nine children are now living.
Orvis Fitts, son of Luke, was born in Braintree, Vt., and moved to Bruns- wick, Vt., when eight years of age, with his father. He entered the railroad business about 1872, for the P. & O. R. R., Vermont Division, then building, and when it began to operate took the station at West Danville. In 1873, he assumed control of the Walden station, where he has since remained.
Benjamin F. Taylor, son of Josiah P., who was a miller at West Danville about sixty years ago, was born in Danville and served in the late war, in Co. H, 4th Vt. Vols. He married Almira Huntress, and has one son, Frank L.
Eli G. Metcalf was born in Irasburg, Vt., in 1837, served in the late war, and came to Walden, in March, 1884.
Joseph Gilman came to Walden, where he remained for a short time, and then returned to Concord, N. H. His daughter Sarah married Israel Farrar, and reared children as follows: Joseph, James, who died in the army, Josiah, Osmore R., a conductor on the B. & L. R. R., Perley, who served in the late war, and was killed at Spottsylvania, Israel and Eliza, widow of John Horn. Joseph married first, Louisa Horn, and second, Amanda Lane, and has one
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son and one daughter, William L. and Flora B. He has been deputy sheriff twenty-five years.
Joseph Woods, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, moved to Barnet, from Springfield, Mass., and reared ten children. Zenas was a farmer, spent his life in Barnet, married Sophronia Stevens, and reared five children, viz .: Lem- uel N., who served in the late war, in Co. C, 8th Vt. Vols., John S., of Cali- fornia, Augusta S. (Mrs. Cobb), of Springfield, Mass., Lucia M. (Mrs. Mar- iner), of Portland, Me., and Celia (Mrs. Goss) of Barnet.
Tyler Cole married Mary Trow, in 1804. His son Tyler married Esther, daughter of Samuel and Polly (Dow) Carr, and reared four children, namely, Charles F., Seth L., John T. and Mary J. Seth L. was born in 1835, married Martha Dale, has three children, and is a florist in Dorchester. John T. was born in Walden, in 1843, and was a soldier in the Rebellion.
Hugh Wilson, a native of Peterboro, N. H., married Mary Coburn, in 1806, and reared ten children. He located in Walden when an old man, living with his son Orman H. Three of his children are now living, viz .: Mrs. S. A. Bodwell, Sarah, widow of Harvey Burbank, and Mrs. Charles Wilson.
Abijah Jennison was born in Peacham, and, as his father died when he was but seven years of age, he was taken by Major Robinson and brought up in Walden. He married Mary Putnam, and reared five children, four of whom are living. He was overseer of the poor many years, and built a hotel on road 32, about 1848, which he kept until his death, at the age of seventy.two years.
John Sherrar was born in Canada, married Lucy M. Locke, and reared one son, William E.
Col. Jacob Davis was born at Oxford, Mass., September 14, 1741, married Rebecca Davis, and reared nine children. He died at Burlington, Vt., April 9, 1814, and is buried at Montpelier. When a young man he moved to Charlton, Mass., where he held the highest offices, was colonel of militia, and was one of three men who founded Leicester Academy. He removed to Vermont in 1786, where he had been one of a company of men who re- ceived the grant of land which comprises the present town of Montpelier. He named the town when granted in 1780, was prominent in proprietors meetings, built the first house on the site of the village, and .his youngest child, Clarissa, born in 1789, was the first child born in Montpelier. He was moderator of the first town meeting, which was held at his house, built the first saw mill in 1788, and the first grist-mill in 1789, and also the first framed house finished in town At this house Prince Edward, of England, Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria, stopped the following winter, while on a journey from Montreal to Boston. Two sons, Jacob and Thomas, moved to Montpelier in 1887. The former married Caty, daughter of John Taplin, in 1791, this being the first marriage recorded in Montpelier. His oldest son, Jacob, was born July 3, 1792, married Sally, daughter of Solomon Nye, Octo- ber 16, 1822, and reared seven children, viz. : Caroline M., Clara W., Eliza
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