USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 58
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 58
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A. M. Beattie's lumber-mill, in the southern part of the town, on Cutler brook, also does a large business. It is managed by George E. Allen.
The settlement of Maidstone was probably commenced in 1772, but its population has increased but slowly. In 1791 it had 125 souls, nearly half what it contains to-day. The early settlement was attended with great diffi- culties. The nearest place where provisions could be had, grain ground or a horse shod was at Haverhill, N. H., fifty miles down the river. If the freight could not be brought on horseback, the journey must be made on the river, as the best road was a bridle path marked by blazed trees. The first settlers were Arthur and Thomas Wooster, who received from the proprietors one hundred acres of land each. Before 1774 the settlement was increased by the arrival of Micah Amy, John Sawyer, John Sawyer, Jr., Deliverance Sawyer, Benjamin Sawyer, Mr. Merrill, Enoch Hall, Benjamin Whitcomb, John French and Jeremy Merrill, each of whom received a bounty of a hundred acres of land. Capt. Ward Bailey was an early settler, also a Mr. Marder who lived near the small brook which still bears his name. David Gaskill, Abraham Gile, Benjamin Byron, John Hugh, E. Torrey, Joseph Wooster, Reuben Hawkins and others came into the town about 1780.
Jeremy Merrill was killed by the falling of a limb from a tree, probably the first death in the town. The first public school was taught by Mrs.
478
TOWN OF MAIDSTONE.
Amy, in 1786, in a log house which stood just east of the present residence of J. W. Webb. Dr. Cheeney was the first physician. He remained but a short time. The first tavern was kept by Isaac Stevens. Abraham Gile kept the first store, and Isaac Smith the second.
The St. Francis tribe of Indians had a trail passing through this town, and were a great annoyance to the early inhabitants. During the Revolutionary war these Indians received a bounty of five dollars for each live captive, or scalp, taken by them. The young wife of Caleb Marshall, after seeing the most valuable of her household goods buried in the earth, mounted her horse, with a child of about two years and an infant of three weeks old, and went on unattended through the wilderness to her own and her husband's parents in Hampstead, N. H., a distance of 160 miles, where she arrived in safety. The infant of three weeks became the good and faithful wife of Col. Moody Rich. A party of savages and Tories from Canada went to the house of Thomas Wooster, in the northern part of the town, and made captives of Wooster, John Smith and James Luther, the latter of whom was visiting the girl at Wooster's who subsequently became his wife. The captives were after- wards taken to Canada. Luther was redeemed, married the girl from whom he was suddenly taken, and Wooster and Smith made their escape. It has been related that a Mr. Chapman, while working in the field, was attacked by Indians and his head split open with an axe in sight of his wife, who took her three children and fled to the woods. While hid under the trees and thick foliage she could hear the Indians come to the house and, imitating her husband's voice, say, " come back, Molly, the Indians gone ; come back, Molly, come." The Indians finally went away, and the mother and her children were saved. The Indians at one time went in the night to the house of Hezekiah Fuller, who, hearing them coming, slipped down behind the bed. They asked Mrs. Fuller where he was, who replied that he had gone. They then took her large apron, filled it with sugar and left, much to the relief of the frightened ones.
John Hugh, a Scotchman by birth, was an early settler of Maidstone, locat- ing here in 1781. He served in the Revolution, and fought at the battles of Bunker Hill, Bennington and Ticonderoga. He married Anna Harriman, and his children were as follows : Jolin, Jesse, James, Jacob, Samuel, Anna, Sally and Dorcas.
Benjamin Byron came to this town about 1780, was a blacksmith by trade, and located in the northern part of the town. He built a log-house and a little shop here. .
David Gaskill and family moved to Maidstone about 1780. He was elected justice of the peace in 1788, which position he held as long as he lived.
Major James Lucas, born at Rochester, N. H., in 1752, moved to Maid- stone in 1785, and served in the Revolution as paymaster and lieutenant of
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TOWN OF MAIDSTONE.
a New Hampshire regiment. Mr. Lucas was a useful and influential citizen, and died in 1835, aged eighty-three years.
Major Haines French was one of the early settlers of the town, and with his three sons, Homer, John and Ovid, served in the War of 1812. Homer was killed at the battle of Chippewa, in 1814, and Major French also died while in service. Volney became an eminent lawyer, spent many years trav- eling in the Holy Land, and in many parts of the Old World, and when he returned, became a resident of Wisconsin.
Colonel Rich Stevens, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Rich) Stevens, came to Maidstone in 1790 when only two years of age. He married Fanny, daugh- ter of Jacob Schoff, and in 1817 built the first brick house in town. Colonel Stevens was deputy United States marshall several years, was high sheriff five years, and was also surveyor. He was drowned in the Connecticut river, in 185r. Of his three sons, Orson, Michael and Charles, the latter is the only one living. Charles, born here in 1809, married Emeline, daughter of James Batchelder, in 1835. His six sons and three daughters were as follows : Maria (Mrs. H. M. Lamkin), Nelson S., of Maine, James, who died at the age of eight years, Albert, who died at the age of two years, Charles, Jr., Henry, who died at the age of twenty-one, Edward S., born in 1838, Lillie M. (Mrs. Irving Smith), of Lancaster, N. H., and Emeline (Mrs. Guy Hayes), of Maidstone. Edward S. married Alice M. Clotfeller, in 1869, and has one son and one daughter. Charles, Jr., was born in January, 1842, and at the age of twenty-one years moved to Boston. He has been contractor on various public works and railroads, and married Sarah A., daughter of William M. and Ruth M. (Gordon) Perkins, of Boston, in 1876. Mr. Stevens owns and occupies the William Rich farm, on road 12.
John Rich, born in Germany, in 1729, came to America when a young man, married Catherine M. Whiteman, and located in Maidstone, in 1784. He bought a large tract of land, since known as the Rich meadows, which he divided into four farms, for his sons, John, Henry, Jacob, reserving the home- stead for his youngest son, Moody. The sons all lived and died on the farms purchased by their father. Mr. Rich died in 1813, aged eighty-four years. His widow died in 1818, aged eighty-two years.
Jacob Rich, one of the five children of John and Catharine, was born in town in 1801, and married Harriet Clark, of Cornish, N. H., about 1830. Of his seven children, three sons and two daughters are living, viz .: Henry, Eliza P., Sylvester S., of Springfield, Mass., Helen M. (Mrs. Albert Curtis), of Nebraska, and Edwin C., of Springfield, Mass. Eliza P. married Wayne Cobleigh, in 1860, and they have two sons and one daughter, namely, Flor- ence N., Irving W. and Paul R. Mr. Cobleigh resides on the Jacob Rich homestead. Harriet Rich resides with her daughter, and is seventy-nine years of age. Jacob Rich died in 1875.
March Norris was born in Corinth, Vt., came to Maidstone, with his wife {Polly Marshall), and three sons and three daughters, about 1840, and located
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TOWN OF MAIDSTONE.
on the place where his son Heman R. now resides. The latter was born in 1829, married Eliza Morrill, of Canaan, Vt., in 1852, who has borne him three sons and one daughter, namely : S. Taylor and Frances G. (Mrs. Franklin Green) twins, Eugene R. and William G., who died young. Mr. Norris is a farmer, and resides on the homestead, on road 4. S. Taylor, born in 1853,- married Mary Jane, daughter of Rufus and Olive Jane (Derby) Remick, in 1880, and has one son, Heman Rufus. S. T. Norris is a carpenter, and re- sides on road 4.
John W. Webb, son of Azariah and Elizabeth (Weeks) Webb, was born in Lunenburgh, in 1814, and at the age of twenty-seven years came to Maid- stone, and bought the Col. Gleason place. He married Lucretia G., daugh- ter of Thomas and Sally (Duncan) Webb, in 1850, who has borne him two sons and three daughters, viz .: Charles F., who lives at home; Isabelle L. (Mrs. Richard Beattie), of Maidstone; George W., at home; Sarah E. and Mary B. Mr. Webb has been town clerk thirty-five years, selectman many times, was town representative in 1860-61, and now resides on road 12.
Dr. John Dewey received his medical degree at Dartmouth college, prac- ticed in Canada, New Chester, N. H., Lancaster, N. H., and was a success- ful practitioner at Guildhall for nearly twenty years. He married Mary P. Carlisle, of Lancaster, and came to Maidstone in 1841. He died July 11, 1862.
David H. Beattie, son of James, of Ryegate, was born in 1816, and at the age of twenty-one years, went to Savannah, Ga. He was commission mer- chant three years, and came to Maidstone in 1843. He bought the Jesse Hugh place, married Harriet D., daugther of Thomas Carlisle, of Lancaster, N. H., in 1846, who has borne him four sons and two daughters, as follows : James H., of Brunswick, Gillespie, Stella, Richard, born in 1851, Harriet C. and Thomas G. Richard married Isabell L. Webb, and has one son, Neal W. D. H. Beattie served as senator in 1861 and '62, was sheriff in 1857, '58 and '59, has been town treasurer and selectman several years, and was judge of probate in 1885 and '86. He is a farmer, and resides on road 12.
Haville M. Lamkin, son of Grant, was born at Brunswick, in 1824, and married Maria, daughter of Charles and Emeline (Batchelder) Stevens, of Maidstone, in 1854, who has borne him one son and three daughters, viz .: Ada M., who married H. W. Smith, of Lancaster, N. H., and has one son, Clesson H. ; Delight E., who married L. G. Barrett, of Lisbon, N. H., James, who died in 1878, aged eighteen years, and Nellie Belle. Mr. Lamkin has held the offices of town clerk, selectman, lister, justice of the peace, and served as town representative in 1884-85. He came to Maidstone in 1839, and bought the Calvin Perkins farm of 240 acres, on road II.
Josiah H. Benton, son of Samuel S., was born in Waterford, Vt., in 1816, and moved to St. Johnsbury Plain about 1828, where he lived about twelve years. He taught school several years in Montpelier, Vt., married, first, Mar- tha Danforth, in 1841, who bore him three sons and three daughters, of whom
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TOWN OF MAIDSTONE.
Josiah, Jr., is a lawyer, in Boston, Martha E. married Charles Fisbee, of Haver- hill, N. H., Mary I. died in 1865, aged seventeen years, Franklin died young, and Robert F. died in 1865, aged eleven years. His wife died in 1855, and he married for his second wife Harriet, daughter of Nathaniel and Silence (Sawyer) Niles, in 1856, who has borne him five sons and three daughters, viz .: Samuel S., Harriet M., Benjamin B., Joseph, Carrie E., Hugh H., John E. and Mary E. Mr. Benton came to Maidstone in 1865, and located on the Dr. John Dewey place. He was a member of the constitutional convention, and has been selectman several times. He resides on road 6.
Horace Adams, son of Luther, was born in Lunenburgh, in 1828, married Emily, daughter of George Carpenter, in 1852, and has had born to him two sons and one daughter, namely, Frank G., born November 28, 1854, Charles G., born in 1857, and Carrie M., who married Rufus K. Pool, of Guildhall. Mr. Adams came to Maidstone and located on the John Morse farm, on road. 12, in 1869, where he now resides, with his son Frank G.
Almon M. Grout, son of Asa, was born at Weathersfield, Vt., in 1828, and married Eliza A., daughter of Aaron and Mary (Merrill) McClelland, of Woodstock, N. H., in 1854, who has borne him one son and three daughters, viz .: Alice J., who married Frank P. Rodgers, of Colebrook, N. H., Alice, who died at the age of two years, George A. and Vinnie A. Mr. Grout bought the Moody Rich place in 1878, and now resides on road 12.
William E. Crown, son of George W., was born at Milton, Vt., in 1846, and learned the carpenter's trade. He married Ella H., daughter of Charles A. and Huldah A. (Hathaway) Foster, in 1870, and has one son, George H. Mr. Crown came to Maidstone in 1879, and resides on road 12.
George N. Taylor, son of Nelson N. and Mary Jane (Jordan) Taylor, of Brunswick, Vt., was born in 1852. He married Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Lucinda (Stone) Connary, in 1874, and has one son and three daughters, viz .: Dora May, Celia Ann, Annie Lucinda and Leslie V. Mr. Taylor lives on road 6.
Sheridan W. Allin, son of Horatio N. and Betsey (Coady) Allin, was born at St. Johnsbury, in 1839, and moved to Guildhall in 1845. He attended school at Lancaster, N. H., married Louisa J., daughter of Charles B. W. Tilden, in 1864, who has borne him two sons and three daughters, namely, Della L., a teacher, Eva Gertrude, Charles H., Ritie May and Sheriden W., Jr. Mr. Allin resides on road 6.
Alexander E. Smith, son of Gideon, was born in Lancaster, N. H., in 1822, and learned the stone mason's trade. He married Martha A. Leevey, of Bloomfield, in 1853, who has borne him three sons and two daughters, viz .: Byron F., born in 1854, Oscar M., born in 1857, Myra E., Elmer G., born in 1864, and Isabell B. Mr. Smith bought the Norris farm, on road 4. His son Byron F. married Flora L., daughter of George and Esther J. Lathe, in 1877, has had three children, two of whom are living, and resides with his father, on road 4.
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TOWN OF NORTON.
Augustus Drew, son of Israel, was born in Cabot, Vt., in 1834, and at the age of seven years, moved to Guildhall, where he lived with J. H. Hopkin- ton. He married Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Susannah Philbrick, in 1858, and has reared two sons and two daughters, viz. : Thomas R, Ella Frances, Satie Maria and Albert M. Mr. Drew resides on road II.
N ORTON lies in the extreme northwestern corner of the county, in lat. 44° 58', and long. 5º 6', and is bounded north by the Canada line, east by Averill, south by Warner's Grant, Warren's Gore and Avery's Gore, and west by Holland, in Orleans county. When the town was chartered, or to whom, we are unable to state, for the charter was destroyed by fire many years ago. It matters little, however, when this charter was. granted, for its conditions must have necessarily been violated as the town had no settler previous to 1860.
The surface of the land is rough and uneven and heavily timbered. The soil is said to be good and durable. Two ponds of considerable extent lie in the northern part of the township. The outlet of Norton pond is the head branch of Coatacook river, which unites with the Massippi, in Askot, and then unites with the St. Frances, at Lennoxville. Farrands river, also, heads here and runs south.
In 1880 Norton had a population of 239. The town system of schools. was adopted at the organization of the township, and now it has two common schools, with sixty scholars, which were taught during 1886 by three female teachers, to whom was paid an average weekly salary, including board, of $6.00. The entire income for school purposes was $57.77, while the total expenditures amounted to $400.60, with W. H. Bishop, superintendent.
NORTON MILLS (p. o.), located in the northern part of the town, on the G. T. railroad, is the only village in the township. It has a store, steam mill, and about thirty dwellings.
Woodard & Lyster's steam saw-mill is located in the eastern part of the town, on road 2, near the town of Averill. It was built by R. M. Woodard and W. L. Ball. It was commenced October 1, 1874, and finished in April, 1875. Shortly after it was finished Mr. Woodard bought out his partner and was its proprietor until August, 1885, when a half interest was sold to P. H. Lyster. The mill is operated by steam, furnishing employment for about seventy men, and cutting about 25,000 feet of lumber per day. The mill cuts dimension timber, clapboards, shingles, lath, etc.
Cameron's saw-mill is owned and operated by D. H. Cameron. The mill is located about one-half mile from the boundary line, in the town of Barford, P. Q., although the lumber is drawn to this town before it is loaded on the cars. The mill was built in 1879, by F. B. Cleveland. Mr. Cameron bought
483.
TOWN OF VICTORY.
it in 1882. The mill furnishes employment for seven men, cutting about 7,000 feet of dimension timber per day. Water-power is used.
A. M. Stetson's steam saw-mill is located on road 2. It was built by George B. James, in 1873-74, and has been owned by Mr. Stetson since the failure of Mr. James. It emplovs about seventy fine men and cuts over 10,000,000 feet of lumber per annum. It was built at an expense of nearly $90,000.00.
The first permanent settler in Norton was Samuel Cleveland. He came here from Canada in 1860 and erected a saw-mill, forming a co-partnership with John Thornton and a Mr. Remick. The mill was operated by them only a short time, when it was sold to C. W. Pierce, George B. James, A. M. Stetson and J. Wilder, who assumed the name of Norton Mills Company .. In 1868 Mr. Stetson and Mr. Wilder withdrew from the firm, and the mill was operated two years by Pierce & James. In 1870 Mr. James bought out his partner and was sole proprietor until 1874, when he became financially embarrassed to such an extent that he was obliged to suspend business. A short time previous to his failure he built the large steam mill now owned by A. M. Stetson. In 1867 Mr. James commenced clearing land, and from that date up to 1874, the time of his failure, he had cleared over 1,000 acres, upon which he raised large quantities of oats, rye, potatoes, etc.
The town was organized March 6, 1885, when the following officers were elected : William G. Nelson, moderator ; Albert McLean, clerk; W. G .. Nelson, Hazen E. Ames and L. F. Jones, selectmen ; Albert McLean, treas- urer. The road from this town to Canaan was built in 1867, by the Norton Mills Co. The first store was opened by the Norton Mills Co., in the build- ing now occupied by A. McLean & Co.
Robert J. and William Carpenter were sons of Willett Carpenter. They were natives of Brunswick. Robert came to this town in November, 1865, as a surveyor of timber for the Norton Mills Co. His brother William came in the fall of 1870. They are both still living in this town. Robert J. is a shipper of lumber, and William is the proprietor of the Stetson House.
The town has no church. Most of the inhabitants are of the Roman Catholic faith, and belong to the church at Barnstead, P. Q.
V ICTORY lies in the western part of the southern half of the county, in lat. 44° 32', and long. 5° 5', bounded northwest by Burke, north- east by East Haven and Granby, southeast by Lunenburgh and Con- cord, and south and southwest by Concord and Kirby. It was granted No- vember 6, 1780, to Captain Ebenezer Fisk and sixty-four others, though the charter was not issued until September 6, 1781. By the terms imposed by the charter deed, five rights, of 300 acres each, were to be reserved for pub- lic use, viz .: One right each towards the support of a college, grammar
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TOWN OF VICTORY.
schools, common schools, the church and a minister. This 1,500 acres was to be taken from the full township of 23,040 acres ; but by an act of the legis- lature, passed in 1856, however, a tract of land lying between Victory and Concord, known as Bradleyvale (in Caledonia county), was divided. and a portion annexed to Victory, so that the town now has an area of 2,500 acres more than its original territory.
The surface of Victory, as compared with the surrounding mountainous territory, is level and unbroken, a large portion of the town being included within the valley of Moose river. But as the distance increases from the river, the land becomes more elevated, until it forms a portion of Burke moun- tain on the west, an elevation of some 3,000 feet ; Mount Tug and Miles mountain on the east and southeast, and Kirby mountain on the southwest. There is also an elevation on the north, on the line between Victory and Granby, called Round Top. There is but one mountain proper, however, wholly within the limits of the town, Umpire mountain, an elevation of about 2,000 feet. The Moose river rises in East Haven, and runs in nearly a southerly direction through the town, affording several excellent mill privileges. There are also several other streams which empty into this river, as Alder brook, Umpire or Bog brooks, on the west, and Granby stream on the east, which are sufficiently large for manufacturing purposes. The timber along the banks of the Moose river, and its tributaries, is mostly evergreen, consisting of pine, Tamarack, hemlock, spruce, fir and cedar, together with a small quantity of elm, maple and birch. As the land becomes elevated there is a much larger proportion of the timber hard wood, consisting of birch, beech and sugar maple; and in some sections, especially in the western part of the town, there is a very large proportion of the latter, affording excellent sugar orchards, from which considerable quantities of sugar are manufactured. The soil is generally fertile, and will compare favorably with that of adjoining towns. It is well adapted to the growing of potatoes, and most kinds of English grains. Two miles and a half from the southern boundary of the town, at the junction of the Bog brook with the Moose river, is a tract of land known as the bog. It consists of some 3,000 acres of low, marshy land, which is usually overflowed once a year, and frequently oftener. Near the mouth of the brook there is what is supposed to be a beaver meadow. It is said that it was once so soft that a man, by stepping upon it, could shake half an acre. It is now, however, so much hardened that carting can be done over the most of it with safety.
In 1880 Victory had a population of 321. In 1886 the town had five school districts and five common schools, with ninety-four scholars, taught during the year by six female teachers, who received an average weekly salary, including board, of $5.10. The entire income for school purposes was $1,604.64, while the total amount expended was $718.35, with Mrs. S. M. Day, superintendent.
SOUTH VICTORY (p. o.) is a hamlet located in the southern part of the town.
485
TOWN OF VICTORY.
DAMON'S CROSSING (p. o.) is a station on the B. & L. R. R., and contains three or four houses.
Gallup's lumber mills, on road I, were built by the late Dudley P. Hall, of Lyndon, about forty years ago. They passed through the hands of various parties, who did a small business, drawing the lumber to St. Johnsbury in the winter, as there was no highway which was worthy of the name until within the last twenty years. In 1880 O. M. Gallup bought the old mill, and seeing the needs of the business and place, he began a series of improvements which few would believe a man would contemplate alone, but which have resulted in there now being a railroad and telephone line here, and instead of one house, there are twelve and a store, while several others are being built, to- gether with an hotel. The mill has the capacity for turning out 1,000,000 feet of lumber, and a large amount of shingles, lath, clapboards, etc., per year.
L. D. Hazen's lumber mill, on road 9}, was built by him in 1882. It is operated by both steam and water-power, and does a very extensive business. Since the mill was built, about twenty dwellings and a store have sprung up about it, constituting the largest village in town. Mr. Hazen, who is a resi- dent of St. Johnsbury, was also an influential factor in inducing the building of the Victory Branch railroad. The mill gives employment to from eighty to one hundred hands, and turns out about 5,000,000 feet of lumber, 700,000 shingles, 2,400,000 lath, 300,000 feet of clapboards, piano sounding-boards, and a large amount of chair-stock per annum. The store and office are con- nected with Mr. Hazen's main office at Miles Pond, and with his residence at St. Johnsbury, by telephone.
The Kneeland mill, on road 14, now owned by G. A. Colby and G. B. Day estate, was built by Judge Kneeland about twenty years ago, and came into the possession of the present owners in 1880. It has the capacity for turning out about 1,500 feet of lumber per day.
Weed, Wyman & Co.'s steam saw-mill was built by them in 1885. It em- ploys about twenty-two hands and is well equipped with machinery for man- ufacturing all kinds of lumber.
The New England Lumber Co's steam saw-mill, off road 9, turns out about 2,000,000 feet of lumber, 400,000 shingles, 50,000 feet of clapboards, and 500,000 lath per year.
Charles A. Wells's lumber-mill, on road 9, was built by Daniel Lee, in 1876, and came into Mr. Wells's possession in 1882. The mill is operated by water- power, gives employment to twelve men, and turns out a large amount of lumber per year. Mr. Wells has here, also, the only grist-mill in town.
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