USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 39
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that place was surprised, and he related with fiendish satisfaction that he struck an old woman on her head who was unable to travel as fast as they wished to retreat, and that she made a noise like a calf when wounded on the head. He also related that at the assault on the inhabitants near Fort Dum- mer that he mutilated a woman by cutting off her breasts, and he would imitate her shrieks and cries of distress. John had two sons-Pi-al and Pial- Soosup, both very different from their father, being mild and inoffensive.
Captain Joe was a young man when he came to Newbury. He had be- longed to a tribe in Nova Scotia which had been scattered when he was young. He, with the remnant of his tribe, joined the St. François tribe and grew up. with them. Joe was amiable and never sought a quarrel, and boasted that he never "pointed the gun," meaning at his fellowman. Joe's wife Molly had two sons by a former husband when they came here. Their history is that Molly eloped with Joe, who was a great favorite with the dusky daughters of the St. François tribe. Her sons' names were Toomalek and Muxa-Wuxal. Muxa-Wuxal died, causing Joe and Molly the ordinary grief for the loss of a son, but it was otherwise with Toomalek. He was low in stature, lacking two inches of five feet, but broad shouldered and very muscular. His stiff, coarse hair grew within an inch of his eyes. He was cruel, revengeful and a murderer. At maturity he became enamored by a young squaw named Lewa ; but another Indian named Mitchell was his successful rival and mar- ried Lewa. He determined on murdering Mitchell and taking the fair Lewa to himself. It was not long while watching with gun in hand before he dis- covered the young pair seated by a fire, side by side, at the upper end of the Ox Bow, in Newbury, happy in each other's society, and unconscious of im- pending danger. Toomalek took aim at Mitchell, discharged his gun, but poor Lewa received the ball in her breast and expired that evening. Mitchell was also wounded, but soon after recovered. Toomalek was tried for his crime by his Indian peers, Capt. John presiding, and was acquitted on the ground that he did not intend to kill Lewa, and, as Mitchell would recover, he was no murderer. Old John's influence alone saved him. But Toomalek still cherished a rancorous hatred for Mitchell who had taken another wife as attractive as Lewa. Toomalek took a bottle of rum and with a white man, Ebenezer Olmstead, went to the wigwam of Mitchell and commenced treating the company. Olmstead observed that Toomalek drank but little, while Mitchell imbibed freely. Mitchell, excited by the rum, upbraided Toomalek for killing his wife and wounding him. Being tantalized and frenzied by his foe, Mitchell drew his knife and made a feeble pass at him. Whereupon Toomalek drew his, and gave him his death wound at once.
For this offense Toomalek had his trial and was again acquitted by old John, on the ground that Mitchell made the first assault, and Toomalek's plea of self defence. But Old John, who delighted in blood, and was instrumental in saving the life of Toomalek, brought upon himself a fearful calamity, but perhaps a just retribution, no less then the death of his son Pial. Tooma-
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lek, Pial and several others were over on Haverhill side, were turbulent and noisy, and showed plainly that they had been drinking. They called at the house of Charles Wheeler and asked for more fire-water, but got none. On their return they met a young squaw from Newbury, who rallied Pial on some past acts of gallantry, who returned her joke for joke. Perhaps Pial bantered her too near the truth. At all events the dusky beauty took the matter seri- ously. She called Toomalek to her side and after a brief conversation passed on. Toomalek then stepped back and walked beside Pial, and in a few minutes he drew his long knife, and, with a back-handed blow, plunged it into Pial's throat. The knife entered above the sternum and descending penetrated the lungs. Pial ran a few rods, with the blood gushing from the wound, and fell lifeless to the ground. His companions at once informed their white neighbors of this murder, and Toomalek was taken, without resist- ance or an attempt to escape, and was carried into Newbury for his trial next day. When the news of the murder of Pial came to Old John he was almost frantic with grief, and his conscience awoke to duty. The next day a court was called which tried Toomalek, which gave a unanimous verdict that Toomalek must be shot. By Indian law, Old John must be the executioner, as he was nearest by blood to the slain, and he must avenge the blood of his son. The ground floor of the old court-house was designated as the place of execution, and Toomalek came to the place himself, without guard or attend- ance, where Old John stood with his loaded musket. He seated himself on the floor, said his Catholic prayers, covered his eyes and said " Mack bence," that is " Kill me quick ?" And it was done in an instant. Joe and Molly were both present at the execution, and as soon as it was over Joe took one arm and Molly the other, and they dragged the body from the house and buried it. Molly had mourned bitterly for the death of. Muxa-Wuxal, which happened the same season ; but she shed not a tear over the grave of Toom- alek, nor was she ever heard to speak his name afterward. Old John was afterward found dead by the side of a log at the foot of the hill near the gar- den of William Johnson.
Capt. Joe was the avowed enemy of the British who had broken up and dispersed his tribe in Nova Scotia, for which he now forgave the "red coats," and did all in his power to aid the Colonies during the Revolutionary struggle, and rejoiced at the reverses and final downfall of his and their enemies. He and Molly paid Gen. Washington a visit at his headquarters on North river, and were entertained with marked distinction. To the last he boasted that he shook hands with Gen. Washington. So great was his hatred of the king of England that nothing could induce him to again put his foot on British soil. In one of his hunting excursions he had followed a moose two days with fair expectations of taking him, and when he found the moose had crossed the line into Canada, he stopped short, and said "Good bye, Mr. Moose !" and returned to his camp. One season he and Molly built them a wigwam in Derby, and while he was absent from it hunting, the St. François
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Indians, who had heard of his encampment, came and stole Molly away, hoping that lie would follow, but he would not. Joe and Molly have each a pond called after them, in Cabot. Joe survived Molly many years. When he be- came old and infirm the legislature granted him an annuity, which was in- creased from time to time to $70 annually. He spent the last years of his life in the family of Mr. Frye Bailey, in Newbury, where he died February 19, 1819, aged seventy-nine years. He was buried with honors in the cemetery near the village, where the people with whom he lived, and who cherish his memory as a patriot and benefactor, are designing soon to erect a suitable monument to commemorate the sterling virtues of this "Prince of the Red Men" and the last of his kind in the beautiful Coossuck valley.
In the spring of 1762 the first settler of Newbury, Samuel Sleeper, a Quaker preacher, employed by Gen. Jacob Bailey, came from Hampton, N. H., and located himself and family a little south of the Kent farm. He was to hold possession till the General could came on in person. Next came Thomas Chamberlin, from Dunstable, N. H., and located on Mushquash Meadow, south of the "Great Ox Bow." He was soon succeeded by Richard Chamberlin, who came from Hinsdale, N. H., and settled on Mushquash Meadow. Chamberlin landed at the ferry about noon, with his family, and before night he had erected a cabin of posts and bark that served as a habi- tation the ensuing three months. A large stump standing in the center was utilized for a table. These two Chamberlins were not in the interest of Gen. Bailey or Capt. Hazen, but were sent on by Oliver Willard, of Northfield, Mass., who was trying to supplant Bailey and Hazen. But they succeeded and Willard failed. Willard's disappointment and anger was so great that he gave out vaunting threats that if he caught Hazen out of the settlement, he would flog him to his heart's content. This hero of the French war was not much disturbed by this braggadocio. These two men eventually met in Charlestown, and Willard, in attempting to execute his boastful threat, " caught a Tartar," and received a tremendous whipping. The same year, 1762, John Haselton, from Hampstead, moved into Newbury, and first settled at the foot of the hill south of Johnson village. In 1763 his daughter, Betsey Haselton, the first white child of Newbury, was born. The same year Jacob Bailey Chamberlin, son of Thomas Chamberlin, was born. Being the first male white child born in Newbury, his parents received one hundred acres of land from Gen. Bailey.
In 1763 Newbury received its charter, as before noticed. This year Noah White came with his family and settled in Newbury, and Thomas Johnson located on the Ox Bow, and also Col. Jacob Kent came and located on the Kent place November 4, 1763.
The first town meeting under the charter was held by the freemen of New- bury at Plaistow, N. H., June 13, 1763, and not less than one hundred miles from their township. At this meeting the officers elected were: Mr. Jesse Johnson, town clerk ; Caleb Johnson, constable ; Lieut. Jacob Kent, Lieut.
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Benjamin Emerson and Capt. John Hazen, selectmen. Before this meeting adjourned they voted to unite with Haverhill in paying a preacher for two or three months " this fall or winter."
The settlement of Newbury was greatly increased in 1764, and by men whose character and influence are still impressed upon the town. Among the number was Gen. Jacob Bailey and family, who arrived in October of that year. The Rev. Peter Powers also came, and preached to the people. In the fall of that year (1764) the First Congregational church of Newbury was organized, composed of members from both sides of the river, at New- bury and Haverhill. January 24, 1765, the Rev. Mr. Powers received a call from this church and society to become its pastor, which call he accepted, and by vote of the society the installment was to take place " down country where it is thought best." The council selected for this interesting ceremony were the Reverends Abner Bailey, Daniel Emerson, Joseph Emerson, Henry True and Joseph Goodhue, with their churches, and the place thought best was Hollis, N. H., where the installation took place February 27, 1765. Rev. Mr. Powers preached his own installation sermon. Mr. Powers's goods were brought by the people of Newbury and Haverhill upon the ice on the river the last of February. We give place to the following incident which took place on this journey : Owing to the lateness of the season the ice had become weak and brittle in some places, and when the party reached the mouth of Ompompanoosuc river in Norwich, the sled of Mr. Way, an eccentric church member, broke through and came near going down, sled, team, Way and all. By the prompt assistance of the company all were extri- cated from the impending danger. As soon as Way found himself secure on the strong ice, he turned about to survey the swirling and turbulent pool from which he had just escaped, and turning to his companions exclaimed, " That is a cussed hole." This in a little time reached the ears of Mr. Powers, who at once called on Mr. Way and said that he had been told that he had been speaking wickedly. "What is it?" inquired Mr. Way. "They say that you said, speaking of the Ompompanoosuc, that it was a 'cursed hole.'" Way answered, " Well, it is a cursed hole, and I can prove it." "Oh, no, you can- not, you have done wrong and must repent, Mr. Way." "Why." said Way, "did not the Lord curse the earth for man's sin ? and do you think that little devilish Ompompanoosuc was an exception?
The first meeting-house was built of logs, 28x25 feet, and a little south of Gen. Bailey's, which they occupied some years. Then a framed meeting- house was erected near where the "Old Meeting-House " stood. The loca- tion of this house, for some reason, was not satisfactory, and it was pulled down and removed to the site west of the burying-ground and converted into a court-house and jail. In 1790 the "Old Meeting-House " was erected near the site from which its predecessor had been removed. This was an imposing edifice in its day, and said to be the first in Vermont furnished with a steeple. The Passumpsic Railroad Company purchased it on the com-
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pletion of the railroad, designing to convert it into a depot, and in attempt- ing to remove it bodily, it had an ignominious fall in transit at the hill.
As late as the Revolutionary war there were no roads for heavy teams, and goods that were not brought on the ice of the Connecticut in winter were obliged to be carried on pack-horses from Concord, N. H. The glass for Col. Thomas Johnson's house was brought in this manner. Col. Robert Johnson opened the first tavern in Newbury, in a house a little south of where his granddaughter, Mrs. Hibbard, now lives, and the supplies for his bar were brought to him in the same way.
NEWBURY is a tidy and pleasant post village and railroad station, situated on a slightly elevated plateau bordering on the " The Meadows" of the Con- necticut river, and about the middle of the eastern boundary of the town. This village enjoys the celebrity of being the first settlement of white people on the Connecticut river north of No. 4, now Charlestown, and was honored with two sessions of the state legislature (1799 and 1801), and at an early date was a half shire town. Its Congregational church was the second church organized in the state, and built the first church edifice in the state with a steeple. The present village contains an intelligent population of about 400 or 500 people, four stores, a neat and well kept hotel, two churches (Con- gregational and Methodist), the Newbury seminary, and a quiet summer resort and bathing establishment, "The Montebello Sulphur and Iron Springs." This property includes the beautiful grove situated on "Montebello," or " Beautiful Mountain," which, with Mt. Pulaski, situated on the western bor- der of this attractive village, commands an extensive range and sublime and picturesque views of the White mountains, and varied, extensive and beauti- ful valley and meadow scenery.
WELLS RIVER (p. o.) is located in the extreme northeast corner of Orange county, and' at the confluence of Wells river with Connecticut river, and it is also the junction of the Passumpsic, the Boston & Lowell, and the Montpelier & Wells River railroads. This pretty village is separated from the village of Woodsville, N. H., by the Connecticut river. It con- tains a thrifty population of from 500 to 700 inhabitants, a good graded school, two churches (Congregational and Roman Catholic), the National bank of Newbury in Wells River, one hotel, Wells River House, eight or ten stores, including dealers of all kinds, three lawyers, two physicians, one dentist, and the usual complement of artisans and mechanics. The man- ufacturers are Deming, Learned & Co., manilla wrapping paper ; R. G. Brock, furniture; W. G. Foss, agricultural implements ; J. R. Gowing, flour and meal ; A. T. Baldwin & Co. and F. & D. W. Learned, harnesses. Err Chamberlin bought of Gov. Benning Wentworth 500 acres of land, upon which is now located the present village of Wells River. Mr. Chamberlin built the first mills. Not long after this a Mr. White built a paper-mill and published " Webster's Elementary Spelling Book," which had a very large sale. In
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1808 Mr. Shedd, the father of William A. Shedd, located here, and was a very active business man.
SOUTH NEWBURY, in the southeastern part of the town, is a railroad station and post village. It has a good water-power, where are a grist-mill, two saw- mills, a chair factory, a manufactory of bee-keepers' supplies, a carriage shop, a blacksmith shop, and fifteen or twenty dwellings.
WEST NEWBURY (p. o.) is a small hamlet, and contains a store and Con- gregational church.
NEWBURY CENTER is a hamlet, with a postoffice and store.
Newbury has twenty-one organized school districts, three of which, for lack of scholars, have maintained no schools during the two years past. Eighteen school districts maintain from twenty-four to thirty-six weeks of school. By an act of the legislature of 1886, school district number one, located at Wells River, became incorporated, and has now become a graded school, occupying one of the best school-houses in this section of the state. Five of of these districts are located on the River road, those at Jefferson Hill and Boltonville being the largest among the back districts, and rank well among the most advanced in town. In 1886, 441 scholars attended the common schools, and the various teachers were paid $3,713.43. Newbury ranks second in Orange county in the amount of cash expenditures for schools. The average wages of male teachers is $9.19, and the average female teach- ers $6.21 per week. The whole number of terms was fifty-five, and the whole number of weeks of school 540, making an average of thirty weeks of school for the eighteen districts. Thirty-four different teachers were employed. The average of taxes raised by districts was 10.4 per cent., and the state school tax of fifteen cents on the dollar being added makes an amount equal to one- fourth of the grand list raised by district taxation for the support of the common schools. To this amount must be added as follows : Rents from school lands, $80.15 ; Huntington fund, $69.84 ; interest on surplus money, $279.81, or a total of nearly $6,000 for the year. In 1840 the population was 2,579, and the number of school children 748. In 1880 the popu- lation was 2,316, and the number of school children 500. . The average cost per scholar in 1840 was about $1.25, and the average cost in 1880 about $8. At their annual school meeting the village district voted to establish a school of two grades, giving the older and more advanced scholars the benefit of a higher grade-a long stride in the right direction. Horace W. Bailey is superintendent of schools.
Newbury High School was incorporated in November, 1830, as a female school, and kept in operation several terms, under the care of popular and successful teachers ; but some causes, then well known, tended to discourage further effort to sustain the school, and it was not re-opened until June, 1843. Then it was again called for and revived, under the care and tutorship of Miss Abigail Williams, of Kennebunk, Maine, and continued two terms. The ensuing winter the school was remodeled, with an extension of corporate
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privileges, and the addition of a male department. The course of study embraced every thing usually taught in New England academies. This school, as reorganized, opened with a winter term. The catalogue for the fall term of 1844 gives the names of ninety-five students.
Newbury town poor farm contains 113 acres, and is located in the valley of Peach brook, near the center of the town. The present substantial, commo- dious, and we may say elegant buildings, as fine as any in the entire state, were placed here in the summer of 1885, through the energy and influence of Mr. John S. George, who was for seven years the efficient superintendent of the poor and resident overseer. In constructing these buildings the town spared no pains in making them in every way comfortable, cheerful and homelike. The rooms are neat and airy, and among other conveniences for health and cleanliness is an adequate bath-room, which is duly appreciated .. The entire building is heated by furnaces, and the unfortunate inmates are comfortably and substantially clothed, with an extra suit in which to attend church on the Sabbath. Their food is such as is found on the tables of well- to-do farmers.
A. Allyn Olmsted's chair manufactory is located on Hall's brook, in South Newbury village. The present commodious building was erected in 1879, by the present proprietor, at a cost of about $6,000. It is furnished with new and improved machinery, affording complete facilities for the manufacture of all kinds of wood-seated chairs, capable of turning out 1,000 chairs per month, although not at present worked to its full capacity. In connection with this enterprise Mr. Olmsted has a shingle-mill, which turns out 50,000 shingles annually.
South Newbury grist-mills, (formerly known as the " Atwood mills,") H. H. Runnels, proprietor, are located on Hall's brook, which furnishes the propell- ing power, and are furnished with two runs of stones, and grinds all kinds of grain except wheat. The capacity of the mill is 200 bushels daily. The en- terprising proprietor erected a substantial dam at the outlet of Hall's pond in 1883, and now uses that little lake, with an area of about 200 acres, as a reservoir in the dry season.
Knight & Son's saw-mill, located at Newbury village, was erected by the present proprietors in the spring of 1883. The mill turns out about 500,000 feet of all kinds of lumber annually, giving employment to from six to twelve men during the season.
Andrew J. Knight's saw and planing-mills, built in 1877, are located on the site of the first mills erected in the town of Newbury, on Hall's brook, in South Newbury village. The propelling power is furnished from the brook on which they are located. Mr. Knight manufactures all kinds of plain and dressed lumber, and does a custom business, giving employment to two men.
E. S. Tuttle & Son's saw mill (originally the "Atwood mill") is located on Hall's brook, at South Newbury. The proprietors manufacture all kinds
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of hard and soft wood lumber, turning out annually about 200,000 feet, giv- ing employment to three men.
Edson Doe's carriage shop, located at South Newbury, was established by the present proprietor and his father, Thomas J. Doe, in 1861. The machinery is propelled by steam-power, giving employment to three men, in the repair- ing, painting, and manufacturing of carriages, wagons, etc.
H. D. Davis's mills, for the manufacture of apiarian supplies, are located on Hall's brook, at South Newbury village, with headquarters at Bradford. The mills are furnished with new and the most approved machinery, and manufacture the finest kind of goods, which are in demand all over the United States and Canada. The project, although in its infancy, turns out about $6,000 worth of goods per year, with fair prospects of an unlimited increase.
Deming & Learned's saw mill and box factory are located on Wells river and the Montpelier & Wells River railroad, about one mile and a half from Wells River village. The river furnishes ample power for propelling the machinery, and the railroad ample means of transportation. The mill and shops are furnished with modern and improved machinery for manufacturing and dressing all kinds of lumber, and making packing boxes for shipping pur- poses. These mills give employment to an average of twenty men, and turn out about 1,000,000 feet of lumber annually. They also cut from 800 to 1,200 cords of fire wood per year, thus utilizing the entire growth of timber from their lands, which are cleared for farming purposes. They have now about 600 acres of choice land under cultivation.
Boltonville custom grist-mill, H. K. Worthley, proprietor, is located in the hamlet of Boltonville, on Wells river, from which if derives it power. The mill is furnished with three runs of stones, with the capacity of grinding about 200 bushels of grain per day.
Rev. E. J. Ranslow's mills, for the manufacture of bone meal, are located on Wells river, near the village of that name. The machinery is run by water-power, and is capable of grinding five tons daily.
R. G. Brock's furniture manufactory is located on Wells river, from which it derives its power, and in the flourishing village of Wells River. This enter- prise was established by Messrs. Carpenter & Parker, in 1868, who con- ducted the business about two years, when Mr. Parker was succeeded by H. C. Jones, when the firm became Carpenter & Jones. In 1874 Mr. R. G. Brock obtained the interest of Mr. Carpenter, and the firm name was changed to H. C. Jones & Co., which continued until 1878, when Mr. Brock became sole proprietor, and is now engaged in manufacturing all kinds of chamber and office furniture, giving employment to six men, and turning out from $5,000 to $6,000 worth of choice furniture annually.
Wells River flour and grist-mills, J. R. Gowing, proprietor, are located on Wells river, from which stream they derive their power, and in Wells River village. The mills, which do custom work, have three runs of stones, with
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