USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 46
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 46
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George Ide, son of Joseph and Almira Ide, was born on the place where he now lives, in 1828. He learned the tanner's trade, and married Mary, daughter of Robert Furby, in 1861, who died in 1867. He bought the Rich- ardson saw-mill in 1865. Mrs. Ide, mother of George, is eighty-five years of age, is a widow, and resides with her son George, at the village.
Ephraim Blodgett, born in New Hampshire, in 1815, came here at the age of twenty-one years, and married Louisa Kidder. His four sons and two daughters were as follows : Ephraim A., Nelson V. who died in the army, Volney B. and Austin E., both of this town, Louisa M. (Mrs. J. M. Gan- nett), and Almira F. (Mrs. Fred Blodgett), of this town. Ephraim A. mar- ried Martha, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Winslow) Thomas, in 1872, and has two sons, Royal E. and Harley E. Mr. Blodgett is a farmer, and resides on road 40.
Seth P. Moulton, son of Alpheus and Sarah (Fowler) Moulton, was born in Lyman, N. H., in 1833, and came here with his father when twelve years of age. He married Sarah, daughter of Isaac N. and Louisa (St. Clair) Colby, of Danville, September 10, 1867. Mr. Moulton has been selectman, and has held many town offices. He resides on a farm in the easterly part of the village.
Niles G. Johnson, son of Peter, was born in Lunenburgh, Vt., in 1843, and came to Waterford in 1865. He married Ellen, daughter of Isaac Lewis, in 1865, has one daughter, Flora W., born in 1869, and resides on road 55.
Thaddeus B. Wheeler, son of George W., was born in Littleton, N. H., in 1820, and married Maria A. Choate, in 1846. He resided in Littleton and St. Johnsbury several years, and came to this town in 1870. He resides on road 15.
Frank W. Brown, son of Marcus and Ruth Brown, was born in Bethlehem, N. H., in 1845, married Jennie L., daughter of Nathan W. Millen, in 1868, and is selectman. His children are Celia H., Edward M. and Ruth E. Mr. Brown lives on the Pike homestead, which was settled in 1791, on road 46 corner 47.
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TOWN OF WATERFORD.
Charles H. White, son of John and Martha (Drown) White, was born in Sheffield in 1859, and in the spring of 1885 bought the John Haughton farm, on road 46. He is a farmer, and his mother, and grandfather James Drown, aged eighty-three years, live with him.
Stewart B. Horr was born in Maine in 1846, served in the late war, in Co. B, 32d Me. Vols., was at the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Peters- burg, and many others, and was wounded in the right arm. He married Celia A., daughter of Samuel Church, in 1878, and resides on road 46.
Thomas Mason, son of Thomas, was born in Ireland, in 1814, and came to America at the age of nineteen years. He married Jane, daughter of Hon. James Johnson, who bore him four sons and three daughters, as fol- lows : George H., Ellen, Martha, a teacher, Emily, who died in 1882, aged twenty-three years, John, Thomas and Albert. Mr. Mason is a prosperous farmer, is largely engaged in dairying, and in 1853 bought the Daniel Havens farm, on road 38.
Samuel D. Astle, son of Joseph, who served in the English army, was born in Shipton, Canada, in 1836, and came to Waterford in 1857. He married Harriet C., daughter of Anthony and Mary Ann (Kidder) Phelps, in 1857, who bore him five sons and three daughter, viz .: Helen A. (Mrs. Arthur Hatch), Ralph B., of Littleton, Sam Joe, Katie A., Willie A., Fred D., Frank M. and Hattie M. Mr. Astle is a tanner, and manufacturer of lumber, and resides at the village.
Josiah Newton married Sarah Waterman, and came to Waterford in 1861. Of his three sons and one daughter, James W. and Daniel live in town, Lucy A. became Mrs. George W. Young, and Richard H., born in 1847, married Harriet A., daughter of Franklin and Abigail (Tenney) Richardson, in 1860, and has two sons, Leon R. and Ernest A. He resides on road 21.
George West, son of Richard, was born in Summersetshire, England, in 1835, came to America in 1854, and located in this town in 1862. He mar- ried Clara Sisson, in 1863, and has had born to him, five sons and three daughters, namely, Herbert W., Albert G., Everett R., Vernie, Vennie, Clara, Nina and Nena. Mr. West resides on road II.
Samuel Morrison, son of George, was born in Ireland, in 1847, and came to America at the age of seventeen years. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and located in Waterford, in 1868. He married Elvira F., daughter of Jehiel and Mary (Willy) Thurber, in 1874, who has borne him four sons and two daughters, viz .: Mary E., who died in infancy, Charles, Harry H., Clarence A., Gertrude E., who died in infancy, and Samuel M. Mr. Morrison resides in the village of Lower Waterford. George Morrison, son of George, and brother of Samuel, was born in Ireland, in 1839, and came to America at the age of sixteen years. He served in the late war, in Co. A, 11th Vt. Vols., was at the battles of the Wilderness and Cold Harbor, was taken prisoner at Welden Railroad, and was confined in Andersonville prison. He married
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TOWN OF WATERFORD.
Catherine Morrison, in 1870, and has three sons and one daughter, namely, Eliza, Samuel, William G. and Harvey B. Mr. Morrison resides on road 44.
Harvey C. Kinne, son of Willard and Mary (Parker) Kinne, engaged in mercantile business in this town, and has been town clerk and postmaster, He married Emma C., daughter of George A. Prouty, in 1879, and has one daughter, Bessie B. Mr. Kinne lives in the village.
James W. Curtis, son of Amos, was born in Morgan, Vt., in 1833, and learned the shoemakers trade. He has had two sons, Arthur J., born in 1865, and died in 1866, and John E., born in 1866. Mr. Curtis served in the late war, in Co. K, 15th Vt. Vols. He resides on road 39.
Charles D. Harris, son of Timothy, was born in Danville, Vt., in 1842, and at the age of twenty-one years enlisted in the army, in Co, M, 11th Vt. Vols. He was at the battles of Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Cold Harbor, Winchester, Cedar Creek and others, and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Winchester. He married Isabella, daughter of Independent Kellogg, in 1866, and has one son and two daughters, namely, Charles E., born in 1868, Nellie E., born in 1874, and Bertha May, born in 1878. Mr. Harris resides on road 36.
Allison N. Daniels, son of Hiram, married Lucia C., daughter of Archibald McLacklin, of Peacham, Vt., in 1882, and has one daughter, Bertha May, born in 1885. Mr. Daniels resides on road 15.
Judge Ezra A. Parks, son of Eli, was born in Passumpsic, Vt., in 1821, married Louise M., daughter of Preston Thayer, in 1844, who bore him three sons and three daughters, as follows: Helen M., widow of Henry Steele, of Massachusetts, Willie H., who died in infancy, Charles E., of Massachusetts, Emily L. (Mrs. R. P. Eastman), of Brooklyn, N. Y., Alice M. and Ezra, who died young. Mr. Parks was a member of the legislature in 1870-71, and was assistant county judge. He is a dealer in stock and produce, and resides about a mile north of Passumpsic village.
George C. Lawrence, son of David, was born in Danville, in 1813, married Hannah I., daughter of George I. Barker, in 1838, and has had born to him two daughters, Hattie I. and Addie M., who died at the age of four years, and has one adopted daughter, Mary E. (Mrs. C. E. Peck), of Passumpsic. Hat- tie I. married L. P. Winslow, who had one daughter, Cora B. (Mrs. Homer E. Brewster), in 1872. Mr. Lawrence lives on road 12.
Richardson B. Graves was born in Athol, Mass., in 1775, married Lovina Bradford, in December, 1801, and located near Concord Corners, Vt., about 1796. His son Nathan J., born in 1802, married Lucy A. Barnard, in 1826, and had two sons, one who died in infancy, and Richardson B., born in 1828. Nathan J. died in 1873. Richardson B. married Laura A. King, in 1856, who bore him one son, Herbert K., born in 1858. Mrs. Graves died in 1881. Herbert K. married Abbie H., daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Farnham) Hudson, October 12, 1880, and has had born to him one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Graves came to Waterford in 1881, and lives on road 3.
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TOWN OF WATERFORD.
George T. Blancher, son of William, was born in Lyndon, Vt .. in 1833, married Almira H., daughter of Cornelius Adams, in 1855, and had three sons and one daughter, namely, Charles E., who died in infancy, Mark C., Estella A. and Edgar F., who lives in Dakota. Mr. Blancher served in the late war, enlisting in 1862, was wounded on the march to Petersburg, and died August I, 1864. Mrs. Blancher owns a farm on road 7.
John Sanborn, son of John, was born in Kirby, Vt., in 1830, and married three times, first, Ellen Hall, in 1855, who bore him one son and one daugh- ter, John H., of Michigan, and Jennie L. (Mrs. E. I. Williams), of Concord, Vt. His wife died in 1864, and he married for his second wife Susan Inman, who died in a month after marriage. Mr. Sanborn then married for his third wife Rowena W., daughter of Elijah Freeman, in 1865. He lives on road 48.
Nathaniel G. Reed, son of Stephen, was born in Kirby, in 1839, served in the late war, enlisting in May, 1861, in Co. I, 3d Vt. Vols., and was at the battles of Yorktown, Cold Harbor, Seven Pines, 2d Battle of Bull Run, An- tietam, Gettysburg and many others. He married Lizzie J., daughter of Moses Lewis, in 1865, and has one daughter, Lizzie Belle. Mr. Reed is a blacksmith and wheelwright, and resides on road 50.
Rufus W. Remick, son of William B., was born in 1855, married Mary A., daughter of John and Sarah K. Greeley, in 1875, and has two sons and one daughter, Harry E., Mabel D. and Homer W. Mr. Remick is a farmer, and resides on road 42 corner 43.
Edwin Bowman, son of Willard and Tryphena (Abbott) Bowman, was born at Littleton, N. H., in 1843, and at the age of twenty years enlisted in Co. D, 13th N. H. Vols., in the War for the Union. He was at the battles of Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Drury's Bluff, Petersburg and others. He married Irene H., daughter of Abial and Jane Richardson, in 1865, and has three sons and one daughter, namely, Nellie I., Eddie A., Willie R. and Charles H. Mr. Bowman is manager of the hotel at Lower Waterford.
George R. Barker, son of George I., was born January 28, 1815, married Mary J., daughter of Ira Mann, in 1840, and has had born to him two sons and three daughters, viz .: Charlotte M. (Mrs. Norman Weeks), who died in 1872, Charles A., who died at the age of twenty-two years, Albert G., who lives at home, Mary E. (Mrs. Charles Tarlton), who died in 1880, and Etta F., who lives at home. Mr. Barker resides on road 12.
Milo Williams, son of Warner, was born in Concord, Vt., in 1838, married Jennie S., daughter of Ansel Hoadley, in 1867, and has two daughters, Ber- tha Jennie and Lula Nellie. Mr. Williams is a farmer, and resides on road IO.
Amasa Hastings was born in Ashburnham, Mass., and removed to Water- ford, in 1800. He was one of the pioneers of West Waterford, settling in the wilderness, a mile from any neighbor, going to and from his claim by marked trees, and living in a log cabin several years. He married Anna Brown, who was a typical pioneer wife, and cheerfully endured the privations and hard-
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TOWN OF WATERFORD.
ships incidental to backwoods life. On one occasion she went to the field sur- rounding the cabin to gather green corn and beans for her dinner, and found it in the possession of a huge black bear. She took in the situation and deter- mined to "hold the fort," and with steady nerve she shook her apron in defiance of Mr. Bruin, and which drove him from the field and allowed her to collect her dinner unmolested. They remained on this farm until the approach of old age, when they sold to their third son, Moses, and removed to a small farm where they spent the residue of their days. Mrs. Hastings died at about the age of seventy years. Mr. Hastings survived her a few years, and died at the advanced age of eighty years. They were parents of twelve children, ten of whom arrived at an adult age. Only two of them are now living, viz. : Amasa, Jr., who married Caroline Washburn and settled first in Brighton, then in about three years he returned to Waterford, settled on a farm, remained sixteen years, sold and removed to a farm in St. Johns- bury, where he spent the ensuing sixteen years, then resided on a small farm in West Concord the next ten years, and finally returned to St. Johnsbury and settled in the neat little village of Summerville, where he now resides. He second married his present wife, Mrs. Adaline Hutchinson, in November 1884. The other surviving son is Jefferson Hastings, a farmer residing in Newark, Vt.
The Lower Waterford Congregational church .- This church was organized by an ecclesiastical council of the Congregational churches in this vicinity, May 30, 1798, with eight members, viz. : John Grow and wife, Reuben Buck and wife, Samuel Soper and wife, and Samuel Fletcher and wife. The same council that organized the church ordained the Rev. Asa Carpenter to the ministry and care of the church, and he labored with them till June 18, 1816. The sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered first regularly the first Sabbath in August, 1798, and each member was taxed one shilling for sup- port of the table. The following is a copy of a vote taken October 2, 1798 :-
" Voted, That in order to support the Sacrament each member at one time contribute one shilling ; as soon as that money is expended that the same sum be contributed again, and as often as need may require.
"Attest Asa Carpenter, pastor."
After the dismissal of Rev. Asa Carpenter, the Rev. Reuben Mason labored with this church as a religious teacher, and was ordained as a minis- ter of the gospel of this church October 6, 1819, and continued so to labor until about 1825, when the Rev. Thomas Hall was ordained, September 28. The anti-masonic excitement of 1833, '34 and '35 caused his removal for a few years, but his final dismission did not take place till January 31, 1844. Rev. Ebenezer Smith preached some two years, was then ordained and installed August 18, 1846, and dismissed by council January 8, 1848. The Rev. Francis Warriner began work with the church April 14, 1848, and was installed February 22, 1854. The resignation of Rev. F. Warriner was acted upon June 18, 1860. July 23, 1860, Rev. George Bard was called,
381:
TOWN OF WHEELOCK.
and a vote to unite with Mr. Bard in calling a council to ordain and install was taken. October 2, 1860, and on January 30, 1866, Mr. Bard was dismissed by council. The Rev. Daniel McClenning then labored with the church from the summer of 1866, till July, 1868. Rev. E. P. Stone next worked as spiritual teacher from April, 1870, till Rev. Moses H. Wells commenced labor as pastor, about July, 1871, and was installed September 5, 1871, and continued his labors till June 1, 1878. The Rev. C. F. Morse then came to the society, as acting pastor, about October 1878, and so served till De- cember, 1881. The Rev. C. M. Winch has labored here as acting pastor since April 16, 1882. The church building was erected in 1859, and dedi- cated January II, 1860. It will accommodate 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $4,000.00.
W HEELOCK lies in the northwestern part of the county, in lat. 44 33' and long. 4° 50', bounded north by Sheffield, east by Sutton and Lyndon, south by Danville, southwest by Stannard and west by the county line. It is very irregular in outline and contains an area of about six square miles. The circumstances which brought it into a corporate exist- ence are peculiar, and are lucidly set forth by Hon. T. C. Cree, in Hemen- way's Historical Magazine, as follows :-
" In 1785 the legislature of this state gave, by charter, this town to Dart- mouth College and Moors Indian Charity School, institutions situate at Han- over, N. H., one moiety to the college and the other moiety to the school. In the same instrument the town was incorporated, and named after Presi- dent Wheelock, the first officer of the aforesaid institutions. In the charter it is provided that so long and while the said college and school actually apply the rents and profits of this land to the purposes of the college and school, the land and tenements in town shall be exempt from public taxes ;. so that the town has never been called upon to pay state taxes. This, in the mind of the writer, was a great oversight in the legislature, and it is doubtful whether such wholesale exemption from the public burthens is constitutional. The town enjoys all the rights and privileges of other towns, and yet pays but little of the expense of maintaining the state government. There being no list of real estate returned to the legislature accounts for the smallness of the grand list reported."
The general surface of the town is rough and uneven, though there are no elevations of sufficient altitude to warrant their being designated as moun- tains. Still there is much land unfit for the purpose of cultivation on account of brokeness. In the southern part of the town there are many fine farms, and a large amount of land possessing a rich, arable soil, while the soil in gen- eral is well adapted to the production of grass, making the town a fine grazing territory. The timber is mostly beech, birch, maple, ash, hemlock and spruce. The principal streams are Rapid brook, Miller's run, Fall brook and West brook, which, with their tributaries, form a perfect drainage system. The
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TOWN OF WHEELOCK.
first mentioned is in the northwestern part of the town, while the other three are in the eastern half, flowing an easterly direction into the town of Lyndon. A continuous chain of hills extends from north to south across the western part of the town, about one sixth of the township lying west of this range. There are two ponds, Wheelock pond, in the southwestern part of the town, and Chandler pond, in the southeastern part.
In 1880 Wheelock had a population 829. In 1886 the town had nine school districts and nine common schools, employing two male and thirteen female teachers, who received an average weekly salary, including board, of $6.33 and $4.15 respectively. There were 190 scholars, eleven of whom at- tended private schools. The entire income for school purposes was $1,575.51, while the total expenditures were $1,422.04, with Miss S. E. Rogers, super- intendent.
WHEELOCK is a post village located in the northeastern corner af the town, on the stream known as Miller's run. The Caledonia county sulphur springs in this village were once quite noted for their medical properties. The water contains a large per cent. of sulphur. The village has one hotel, one church, a store, machine shop, carriage repair shop, two blacksmith shops, and about thirty dwellings. Samuel Weeks built the first house in Wheelock village, where C. Rogers now lives, also the first saw and grist-mill on the same site now occupied, receiving a right of land which included the site of the present village, for establishing the mills. The brothers Joseph, Erastus and Thaddeus Fairbanks established the first store here, and sold to Ward Bradley.
SOUTH WHEELOCK (p. v.) is a hamlet located in the southern part of the town. It boasts of no village population, but is surrounded by energetic farmers, whose farms are far superior to those in the northern part of the town.
W. H. Jones's saw-mill was built by its present proprietor in the fall of 1878. It is located on a small stream which flows from Chandler pond into West brook, at the corners of roads 51 and 50. Two mills have been built on this site previous to the present one, the first about 1795, by Isaac Stan- ton. The present mill is fitted with a board saw only, doing custom sawing. It employs three men.
S. G. Cree's machine shop was erected by himself in 1867. He purchased, in 1865, the business of Osborn Ward, who, about 1852, began the manufac- ture of threshing machines, in Wheelock village. Mr. Cree manufactures the Wheelock threshing machine, horse-powers and wood-sawing machines, does job work, lumber dressing, etc., employing two men. The shop is fitted with three lathes, iron planer, wood planer, sawing machine and blacksmith outfit. Water power from Miller's run.
The town was originally surveyed by Ebenezer Hill, Archelaus Miles, Arche- laus Miles, Jr., and Timothy Chamberlin, and in 1790 the first settlement ·was made, by Joseph Page, who was joined soon after by Abraham Morrill
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TOWN OF WHEELOCK.
and Dudley Sweasey. The first town meeting was held March 28, 1792, when Dudley Sweasey was chosen moderator ; Abraham Morrill, town clerk ; Dudley Sweasey, Abraham Morrill and Joseph Venen, selectmen ; Gideon Leavitt, constable; David Pillsbury, tythingman ; Thomas Dow, grand jury- man, and James Glines, Samuel Sargent, Samuel Leach and Ephraim Nichols, surveyors. In the records of this meeting, also, we find the following :-
" Chosen, Dudley Sweasey, James Glines, David Pillsbury, John Venen and Joseph Venen, a committee to look out a road through said town of Wheelock, where it will best convene said town, and to say where and on what road Abraham Morrill shall do the work that he is to do agreeable to an obligation he gave the Honorable John Wheelock, Esq., president of Dart- mouth College, respecting cutting roads and building bridges in said town of Wheelock ; and furthermore, said committee is to say . when said road is done agreeable to said articles, and also to say when the grist-mill and saw- mill that said Morrill is to build in said town are completed agreeably to the conditions of settling said town, which was signed by said Wheelock."
In the records of the town-meeting under date of March 11, 1793, we find the following :-
"Voted, to choose a committee to look out a place as near the center of the town as can conveniently be had, of about two acres and a half of land, for a burying-place and public parade, and to see how and at what price it may be had for ; and to make a return at the adjournment of this meeting. Chose Dudley Sweasey, Abraham Morrill and Thomas Noyes as a committe for the above purpose of looking out a place for a burying-yard and parade, agrèe- ably to the above vote."
Under date of April 8, 1793, we find as follows :-
"The committee which was appointed for the purpose of looking out a spot of land suitable for a burying-place near the center of said town made report that they had looked at two places, one on the east and one on the west end of Mr. Samuel Sargent's land, where he lives. A vote passed in favor of the place on the east end near a great brook, but after further talk and consideration on the subject the above was reconsidered, and whereas it was thought that a road four rods wide would be laid out between Mr. Sargent's and two lots of land, that the place for a burying-place should be on said road near the middle from east to west, and that the place should contain two acres on the south of said road eight rods wide and twenty rods long on said road, and another piece on the opposite side of said road, four rods wide, so that taking the roads will make the piece twenty rods square each way."
The first physician in town was Dr. Griffin, the next Dr. Thomas Peach, then Dr. John Meggs. The latter's office was in the south part of the town. The first blacksmith was Joseph Harris. He lived where Welch Brothers now live, on road 15. The first grist-mill in town was built at South Whee- lock, by a Mr. Chamberlin. It was a grist-mill and a liquor distillery com- bined: Abner Hoyt was the first postmaster. He had an office at South Wheelock, on road 55, near the corner of road 54. It was established about 1803. Mr. Hoyt came to this town about 1800, from Canterbury, N. H. Their household effects were brought into town on a hand-sled, Mrs. Hoyt coming on horse-back.
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TOWN OF WHEELOCK.
John Chase, from New Hampshire, moved to this town in 1806. He and a man by the name of Edward Gilman were the first to commence opera- tions in the village. They both moved into a rude log house built in the spring of 1806, but by the following fall they had each erected frame houses. In the spring of 1807 Mr. Gilman, being a clothier by trade, fitted up a room in his house for dressing cloth. In the following fall Mr. Chase became his successor and carried on the business for nearly twenty-five years, when a woolen factory was erected by a stock company. This company did quite a business, at one time employing over forty hands ; but owing to some dis- satisfaction among its owners, the machinery was sold to parties in Barre, Vt., and the building torn down. The company did business for about seven years.
James Sherburn was the first of this family to come to this town. He moved here from Greenland N. H., when there were only about a dozen families residing in town. He first located on road 24. Several descendants- of the family are still living in this locality.
David Bean moved into the town at an early date. He cleared the farm where J. Donnelly now lives, on road 59, and died July 29, 1881. His son William W. is a resident of this town.
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