Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888, Part 27

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 27

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

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TOWN OF BRADFORD.

large copper plate for the printing in constructing this instrument (Wilson's Planetarium) was engraved by Mr. Wilson after he was eighty-three years of age. He died at his home in Bradford, March 22, 1855, at the age of ninety-two years and twelve days.

Moses Swasey, Sr., who married a Miss Page, was born in Haverhill, Mass. Their son Moses, also born in Haverhill, August 5, 1768, emigrated to Newbury early in life, where he engaged in mechanical business a num- ber of years. Later he bought a farm on the Ox Bow, and continued the mechanical business, cultivating his farm at the same time. He married, at the age of twenty-five years, Miss Elizabeth Merrill, daughter of. Nathaniel and Sarah (Hazen) Merrill. Nathaniel Merrill, also a native of Haverhill, where he was born March 2, 1747, emigrated to Newbury when quite a young man and settled on the Ox Bow. In a few years he built a house on his farm across the river, in Haverhill, N. H., where Hubbard Eastman now lives, to which he removed, carrying on the farms on both sides of the river. Later Mr. Merrill sold these farms and removed to the farm where Benjamin Hibbard now lives, in Piermont, N. H., where he resided the remainder of his life. George Swasey, son of Moses, Jr., was born in Newbury, August 3, 1818, and was educated in the common schools and Newbury seminary. He married, first, December 25, 1844, Miss Louisa Lang, of Bath, N. H., who died December 25, 1881, on the thirty-seventh anniversary of her wed- ding day. Their children are Elizabeth M., born in Newbury, September 30, 1845, married Joseph Poor, a merchant of Haverhill, where she now resides ; and Sherburn L., born March 3, 1850, married Leona A. Worthen, of Newbury, and is a druggist and jeweler doing business in his native vil- lage. January 18, 1883, George Swasey married for his second wife Mrs. Mary B. (Parker) Holt, of Willington, Conn. After his first marriage he settled on the "Ox Bow," and conducted his fine farm and dealt in agri- cultural implements, until March, 1867, when he sold the farm and located in the village where he is now engaged in the fire insurance business. Mr. Swasey is a member of the Congregational church and has been its clerk for many years. In politics he is a decided Republican but not an " offensive partisan."

Dr. Bildad Andross settled in Bradford previous to 1777, and was one of the earliest practicing physicians of the town. May 29, 1777, the town elected him and Benjamin Baldwin to attend a convention of delegates at Windsor to take measures to form a state government for Vermont. His wife, Mary S., was an aunt of Dr. Arad Stebbins, who succeeded Dr. Andross in practice in this town. Their residence was on the lower plain north of the road that leads to Piermont bridge, and near the Connecticut river. Their children were Naomi, Lucy, Cynthia, Mary, Levi Stebbins and John. Levi Stebbins Andross, eldest son of the Doctor, married Prudence Spafford, of Fairfax, Franklin county, settled in this town, and they were the parents of children as follows : Prudence S., Naomi, Mary, Bradstreet and Bildad.

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Bradstreet married Mary Kimball, of this town, and during the summer months, for several years, was engaged in rafting timber down the Connecticut river. One evening at Greenfield, Mass., when he and his companions had secured their raft to the shore, and were about leaving for their hotel, he heard a splash in the water, and, on going to see the cause, discovered a boy helpless and sinking in the river. He unhesitatingly plunged in, seized him, and rescued him from drowning. The boy, when grown to manhood, re- peatedly visited Mr. Andross, and after the latter's death presented Mrs. Andross with a silver goblet, on which was engraved, " A tribute of gratitude from John Munn, rescued from drowning by Bradstreet Andross, A. D., 1816." The five sons and three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Andross were natives of this town, and were as follows : Stebbins, born October 1, 1813, married Keziah Libbey, of Maine, and later removed to New York ; Harriet K. (deceased) married John K. Homer, of Fairlee ; Charles L., born August 4, 1818, married Harriet Clark ; Mary S., born September 14, 1820, died at the age of twenty-two years ; Col. Dudley K., born September 12, 1823, of whom more will be said hereafter ; E. Porter, born December 25, 1825, mar- ried Sarah Whitcomb, served nine months in the late war, in the 15th N. H. Vols., and now resides in Piermont, N. H .; and Moses C., born January 26, 1836, emigrated to California, and engaged in mining. The latter served as United States assistant assessor six years, and as senator in the state legis- lature four years.

Col. Dudley K. Andross, before mentioned, was the first man from Brad- ford to visit California, and there labored successfully in the gold mines for two years. At the call of Governor Fairbanks for volunteers, in April, 1861, the Bradford Guards, as a company, responded, and entered the service for three months, with Col. Andross as their chosen captain. They were stationed at Newport News, Va., were engaged in the battle of Big Bethel, June 10, 1861, and were honorably discharged at the expiration of their term of service. Capt. Andross again enlisted, in the 9th Vt. Regt., commanded by Col. Stannard, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. This regiment was eventually engaged in the unfortunate battle of Harper's Ferry, where 11,500 of the Union forces were taken prisoners. They were sent to Annapolis, Md., and thence on parole to Chicago, where they were employed to guard 3,500 rebel prisoners waiting, like themselves, for an exchange. Lieut .- Col. Andross, for his gallant conduct at this time, was honored with the com- mission of colonel, and in April, 1863, was duly exchanged, and again en- gaged in active warfare. Col. Andross resigned his commission and returned home, after an honorable service of two years, and was united in marriage with Mrs. Marcella Wason, widow of George Wason, and daughter of Rev. Horatio Harris, by whom he has had two children, viz .: Mary Kimball and Walter Harris.

Ephraim Martin, born in Goffstown, N. H., was one of the first settlers in this town. He first located where Bradford village now stands, and owned

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the lands from along the main street, from the residence of George Jenkins: to that of Joshua Gerry, and including a large portion of the meadow along Wait's river easterly. He also owned the first grist-mill where the present fine brick mills of J. B. Peckett now stand. His residence was on the site of what was afterwards the Bliss tavern, and his orchard on the opposite side included the site of the savings bank. His son Jonathan settled where Frank Chamberlain now lives, where he worked at his trade of carpenter and also- engaged in farming. He was married three times. His first wife, a Miss Bowen, was the mother of six children, viz .: Loraine, Ira, Sally, Christopher, Jonathan and Jacob. His second wife, Dinah Bailey, bore him eight chil- dren, viz .: Benjamin, Susan, Mary, Mehetable, Lydia, William B., Hiram and one who died in infancy. His third wife was Lydia Stearns, who survived a few years after his death, which occurred in 1832, at the age of eighty-five years. The only survivor of this large family is William B., who resides with his son-in-law. J. F. Cushman, at the great age of eighty-six years.

William B. Martin, mentioned above, married, first, Hannah Banfield, with whom he settled in the west part of the town, where he lived fifteen years, when he removed to the place where he now resides. His first wife died in 1857. and, in 1860, he married Miss Frances J. Wilmot. Of his children, Sarah B. (Mrs. James Kelly), of this town, and Prunella (Mrs. Nelson Mar- tin), of Randolph, daughters by his first wife, and Alice A. (Mrs. J. F. Cush- man), a daughter by his second wife, are living, the latter on the homestead with her aged parents.

David Wilson, of Scotch-Irish descent, and brother of James Wilson, the first American globe maker, was born in Londonderry, N. H., December II, 1768. He married Margaret Doak, and they came up the Connecticut river in an open boat propelled by oars and a pike-pole, landing in Bradford in June, 1795, settling in the wilderness a little northwest of the summit of Wright's mountain, where he resided about sixty-eight years, dying here February 23, 1863, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. The lot upon which he settled was then considered of so little value that it was sold at auction to pay its charter fees, and was bid off for one bushel of wheat and a gallon of rum. No wagon road across the mountain had been opened at this time, and his first habita- tion was a log cabin. Many narrow escapes from wild beasts occurred to the early settlers. At one time Mrs. Wilson had set out to visit her sister, Mrs. McDuffee, about one mile distant over the mountain, leading her little son James and carrying David, then a baby, when she was confronted by a huge bear, who was setting in the pathway and disposed to be master of the situa- tion. Mr. Bruin allowed her to return home, however, which she did without much hesitation. On another occasion, a little before harvest time, Mr. Wilson found so much of his wheat trampled down that he concluded his neighbor's hogs had paid it clandestine visits, and decided to keep a sharp lookout for them. A short time after this he saw the grain in rapid motion and ran to drive away the supposed swine, when a bear sprang up before him,

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then another, and still another. He sprang upon a stump and gave a terrific shout, when the equally terrified bears ran away and left the field in posses- sion of its rightful owner. The first sheep he had he brought from Newbury, and as it had become nearly dark before he got over the mountian, the wolves howled around him in pursuit of his little flock. He reached home in safety, however, but before morning he heard an uproar that convinced him the wolves were among his sheep. He was not mistaken, and bravely went to their rescue, succeeding in driving the wolves off, but not before they had killed and partially devoured three of his choicest sheep. As soon as he had cleared land enough, Mr. Wilson planted the largest orchard in that part of the state, chiefly grafted trees, from which he harvested from 100 to 175 barrels of choice apples annually. He sold a great many young fruit trees, thus promoting fruit growing in this and adjoining towns. He served his town gratuitously as selectman for six or seven years, and officiated as justice of the peace fifteen years. He was constant in attendance at the Freemen's meetings for more than sixty years, always voting. He was always opposed to slavery, and his patriotism born with him and inspired in his youth by the stirring times of the Revolution, ceased only at his death. Mrs. Wilson died March 6, 1853, about ten years before her husband, aged eighty-three years. Their children were Robert, William, James, David, Fanny, Samuel, and John. The latter was born August 11, 1806, married Nancy Cockran, June 29, 1834, and their children were Mary W., Byron B., Persis A, John D. and Boyd H.

Byron B. Wilson, mentioned above, was born November 18, 1836. He enlisted in the War for the Union, September 5, 1861, for three years service, or until the close of the war, and was with the 4th Regt. Vt. Vols., partici- pating in several bloody battles. On one occasion he wrote : "No friend of mine shall blush to think I feared or failed to meet the foe." This patriotic and talented young man was instantly killed at the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, a bullet passing through his head.

Boyd H. Wilson owns and occupies the old homestead, which has been in the possession of the Wilson family since 1795. Mrs. John Wilson died June 20, 1885, aged eighty years.

Capt. Ezekiel Sawyer was born May 9, 1743, removed from Rowley, Mass. to Bradford about 1795, and purchased the farm on the Connecticut river which is now owned and occupied by his grandson, Dea. John H. Sawyer, where he resided to the close of his life, Jaunary 13, 1817. Mary (Payson) Sawyer, his wife, died July 6, 1819. They were parents of four sons and seven daughters. Their son John, born October 27, 1786, married Lydia W. Dike, of this town, March 19, 1816, and they spent their days on the old homestead. Of their children, Mary Dike, born February 27, 1817, married Dea. George Burroughs, of Newbury ; John Hiram, born November 22, 1818, married Sarah Hibbard, of Piermont, N. H., and as before stated, resides on the homestead ; Emily Payson, born in January, 1822, married Charles P.

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Blanchard, September 3, 1862, and removed to Concord, N. H .; Henry Ezekiel, born February 2, 1824, married Amanda Chamberlin, and removed to Chicago, where he now lives ; Lydia, born June 13, 1826, has lived in the vicinity of Boston several years ; Joseph, born April 24, 1829, married Susan Sawyer, of Newbury, February 14, 1865, removed to Chicago and engaged in the livery business ; Elizabeth, born September 14, 1831, married Ellis McDuffee, of this town ; Edward, born February 20, 1837, resides in Chicago, and is engaged in the express business ; Jane, born February 20, 1837, mar- ried E. Robie, of this town. John Hiram Sawyer, in addition to his farming interest, carried freight to and from Boston up to 1848, his team consisting of eight horses with a huge wagon carrying eight tons. This industry he aban- doned when the Passumpsic railroad was built, and was engaged as a con- tractor in its construction until 1854. Since November 10, 1871, Mr. Sawyer has officiated as deacon of the Congregational church of Bradford. He has also held the position of selectman, is a man of sterling worth, a good citizen and an obliging neighbor.

Aaron Smith, born in Hartford, Conn., married Abigail Kendrick, and first settled in Hanover, N. H. In 1798 he came to Bradford and made a pitch in the wilderness on the farm where his grandson, Eppephas Newton Smith now lives. While he was engaged in clearing a small field and building his log cabin, by the courtesy of his neighbors, Jonathan Austin and Jerry San- born, his family was housed alternately at their homes during the first sum- mer. In the early fall they took possession of this "lodge in the wilderness," and he and his posterity have held it in their possession continually to the present time (1887), a period of eighty-nine years. He gave his attention closely to clearing and improving his farm of 190 acres, and by constant and continued industry transformed it from a wilderness to productive fields, built new and commodious buildings, and surrounded his family with the com- forts of a thrifty farmer's home. He reared eight children, viz .: Eppephas, Moses, Aaron, Harvey W., Abigail, Hadasah, Judith and Ann. He died on the farm on which he settled, in 1839, aged eighty-seven years. His wife died a little more than a year previous, also aged eighty seven years. Harvey W., his youngest son, born March 17, 1788, who succeeded him on the home- stead, married Ann Sawyer, who was born April 8, 1789. He was a man highly respected, and was honored with many offices of trust by his towns- men. He resided on the old homestead until his death, in July, 1862, aged seventy-four years. His wife survived him until 1867, aged eighty years. Their children were Charles, who resides in Nebraska ; Eppephas N., who resides on the old homestead as before mentioned; John, who died in early manhood ; Moses, who died in March, 1886, in Florida; and Mary, who resides in this town with her brother. Eppephas N. married Harriet Pierce, daughter of George Pierce, of Bradford village.

Peter Welton, born in Watertown, Conn., removed at a very early day to Piermont, N. H., performing the journey on horseback, his wife riding on

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the same horse behind him, and their infant son on the pommel of the sad- dle. At this time the few inhabitants suffered from the depredations of In- dians and bears and wolves, and the many privations incidental to back woods settlements, such as the want of grist and saw-mills, and traveling with no roads, guided only by marked trees. When they arrived at their destina- tion in Piermont, an Indian attack on the settlement was imminent, and they buried their few effects in the earth and repaired to the fort in Haverhill, with all the other inhabitants. In about six or eight months he settled on a farm in the Goshen neighborhood in this town, where he remained many years. He resided about ten years in Corinth, and finally removed to Fairlee, where he died at an advanced age. His sons Peter, James and Josiah settled in Bradford, and Job in Groton. His four daughters married and removed from their native town. Peter, the eldest son, settled where his grandson, Josiah D. Welton, now lives, and remained there to the close of his long life, dying at the great age of ninety-six years and six months. He married Lucy Norcross and their children were Jeremiah, who settled in Thetford, where he now lives, aged eighty-nine years, and George Washington. The latter was born February 4, 1800, and settled on the homestead, where he remained until his eldest three sons were of school age, when, to give them the advantage of school, removed to the place where he now lives, in Bradford Center, but still retaining the home- stead. He has been twice married. In 1836 he married Almira Manson, who bore him three sons, Manson M., Josiah D. and Edward H., dying in 1842. About 1844 he married Mary Corliss, who was the mother of Edwin C., Jonas A., Carlos, Almira, Lydia, and Betsey. All this large family are now living. Manson M. is a farmer and resides in Fairlee ; Josiah D. resides on the old homestead ; Edward H. resides in Bradford village and is an extensive dealer in lumber; the others have all removed from their native county. The second wife of George W. Welton died in 1878. Mr. Welton survives at the advanced age of eighty-six years, is hale and well preserved for his age, and daily performs manual labor on his large landed estate of over 300 acres.

Daniel Kelley was born in Newton, N. H., May 13, 1747. He located in this town, as near as can be ascertained, in 1797, on the place now occupied by Silas Shumway, where he remained the residue of his life, following the dual occupation of carpenter and farmer. Mrs. Kelley died November 16, 1833, aged eighty-six years, and Mr. Kelley July 10, 1837, aged ninety years. Their children were Mary, born August 23, 1768, married Joseph Lund, of Warren, N. H., and died about 1862 ; William, born August 16, 1770, mar- ried Mercy George, and settled in Warren, where he died July 16, 1848; Mary, born August 29, 1772, married Levi Barker, and died in this town ; Benjamin, born in Hawk, N. H., of whom more anon ; Lydia, born July 23, 1779, married Lemuel Osborne, and settled in this town where she died, December 4, 1871, aged ninety-two years; Daniel, born April 19, 1786,

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married Persheba Bliss, and died in Bradford, November 16, 1861 ; Sally, born December 2, 1788, married Charles Davis, located in this town, and later removed to Fairlee, where she died February 11, 1864; and Joanna C., born September 4, 1792, married Loren Farr, and resided on the old home- stead, where she died May 25, 1878. Two of Mr. and Mrs. Farr's children are living in this town, viz. : Hartwell L. and Harriet L. (Mrs. Silas Shum- way), twins. One son, George W., married Lizzie Powers, of Newbury, located in Bradford village, and later, in 1884, removed to Kansas City, Mo., where he now lives, pursuing successfully the avocation of architect and builder. Hartwell L. married Esther Pillsbury and resides near Bradford village.

Benjamin Kelley, before mentioned, married Mary Homan, of Warren. October 17, 1797; and located permanently in this town as early as 1804, on the place where his son Benjamin and wife now reside with their son-in-law, David Derby, who married their daughter Levina. He also, like his father, followed the double occupation of carpenter and farmer. His wife died Feb- ruary 4, 1857, aged eighty-three years, and he June 10, 1857, also aged eighty- three. Of their children who lived to mature age, Joseph was born April 3, 1801, married Chastina Osborne, of Piermont, N. H., first settled in this town where James Kelley now lives, and later removed to Haverhill, N. H., where he died December 26, 1884, aged eighty-three years ; Cynthia, born September 29, 1802, married Joel Osborne, settled in Chelsea, where she died May I, 1862 ; Benjamin, born February 14, 1806, married Anna Bailey, of Topsham, February 14, 1827, who was born August 30, 1805. The last named son was a natural mechanic, and at different times worked at shoemaking, and also at blacksmithing, although his principal occupation was carpentering and farming. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, now aged eighty years, are well preserved both physically and mentally. Their eight children were as follows : Mary Ann, born June 6, 1828, married and settled in Manchester, N. H., where she now resides ; James W., was born May 11, 1830; Philinda, born August 19, 1833, married James M. Shumway, of Fairlee, and died August 10, 1863 ; Anna A., born June 6, 1836, married William Moore, of West Fairlee ; Hannah B , born March 7, 1839, married, first, James McLane, of Topsham, who died January 9, 1868, and second, in 1872, Asa M. Gray, of Coventry, Orleans county, where she now resides ; Kimball B., born September 9. 1841, married Lydia Barber, of Fairlee, and lives on a portion of the homestead farm ; Levina F., born January 29, 1845, married David L. Derby, with whom she resides with her aged parents on the old homestead, as previously men- tioned ; and Sarah H., born January 13, 1847, married Hartwell H. Pills- bury, and died January 25, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Derby have two children, viz .: Gabie, born in 1862, who married Alexander Lang, a farmer of Newbury, where she now resides, and Sadie, born in 1869, who lives with her parents.

Simeon Wright, born in New Ipswick, N. H., in 1772 married Betsey Blan- chard, and located in this town in 1800. He settled on a farm near the center

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.of the town where he remained about twenty years, when he removed to Pittsburgh, N. H., where he died, aged about seventy-five years. His son Winchester E., who was born in New Ipswich, N. H., in 1798, married Rhoda Bailey, of Newbury, located in Bradford village, where he followed the occu- pation of shoemaker. He was a man of enterprise and energy, and built several dwelling houses which he occupied until he had an opportunity to sell them. Of his family of eight children all but one lived to mature age, and two are now living. viz .: George W. and John E. P. George W. was edu- -cated in the common schools of his native town, where he is now working at his trade of carpenter and builder. He married Harriet A. Cummings, in 1852, and their children are Emma H. (Mrs. F. W. Kenyon) and Mary E. (Mrs. Charles R. Craig), both of whom reside in Bradford village. John E. P. Wright married Melissa Hathaway, of Burlington. He was employed as inspector of lumber in the United States collector's office about twelve years, and served in the War for the Union, where he lost an arm. He now resides in the city of Burlington.

Ellis Bliss, Jr., was born in Hebron, Conn., April 9, 176r. He served nine months in the war of the Revolution, married Abigail Taylor, emigrated to Bradford, and made a permanent settlement as a farmer in the south part of the town. Capt. Ellis Bliss, son of the above named Ellis Bliss, Jr., was born July 25, 1787, married Mary Worthen, December 4, 1807, and settled on the farrn where his son Edmund P. now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss were parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom lived to mature age. Mr. Bliss died May 8, 1851, in his fifty-fourth year, Mrs. Bliss surviving until March 2, 1873, aged eighty-three years. Their children were Ellis, born May 10, 1810, married Lucy Richards, of Piermont, N. H., and kept a hotel in Bradford village several years. George, born October 17, 1811, graduated at Dart- mouth college, studied medicine with Dr. John Poole, in Bradford, removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of his profession, where he married, and is still in active practice. Edmund P., born October 14, 1813, remained with his parents till their death, and resides as previously mentioned, on the homestead. Mary A., born August 6, 1817, married Jesse Johnson, · of this town, removed to Fairlee, where Mr. Johnson died, when she returned to Bradford, and now resides with her brother, Joseph W. Abigail, born August 16, 1819, married Manly Harriman, who died in 1840, Mrs. Harriman dying in 1857. Susan, born December 23, 1821, married Ira Clark, a physician, resided some time in Bradford, then removed to Orford, N. H., and finally to Lexington, Mich., where she, a widow, still resides. Joseph W., born Janu- ary 3, 1824, married Cynthia Paterson, of Piermont, N. H., who died March 26, 1863, at the early age of twenty-seven years. Their children are two daughters, Mary and Abbie. Mr. Bliss represented his town in the legislature in 1874, '76 and '78, was selectman nineteen years, and chairman of the board most of that time. He was overseer of the poor twenty-one years, and held the position at the time tramps so infested Vermont, when 518 of these

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Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888, Part 27

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers Number of Pages: 836

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers
Number of Pages: 836