Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888, Part 47

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 47

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Joseph Beede came from Sandwich, N. H., and settled in Corinth, Vt., at an early date. He had four children, all of whom are dead. One son, Alvah, married Ruth Carr, and removed to this town in 1860. He had thirteen children, five of whom, Adaline, Washington, Caroline, Joseph and John, are dead, and eight are living, as follows : Clark in Corinth ; Asenath (Mrs. John Ford) in Piainfield, Vt .; Mary (Mrs. Norris Carr) in Williamstown ; Joanna (Mrs. J. L. Patterson) in Chelsea ; Frances in Manchester, N. H .; Chestina (Mrs. Bradley Marston) in Topsham ;. Moses in Corinth; and Bliss D. in this town. The latter married Rosan E. Philbrick, by whom he had four children, viz .: Alice (Mrs. Andrew Marston), of Topsham ; Walden, Francis, and Cora, of this town. Bliss D. Beede enlisted in the 11th Vt. Regt., and served in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Charles- town, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, second Petersburg, and Sailor's Creek.

The Union church at East Randolph, occupied by the Freewill Baptists and Methodists, was organized in 1823, by John Chubb, Benson Aldrich, J. P. Sargent, and others, with twenty-five members. Their first house of wor- ship, a wooden building, was erected in 1825. In 1850 another wooden building was erected at a cost of $2,500. This church was burned in Novem- ber, 1887, and the society immediately took measures to rebuild, which structure, when completed, will seat about 250 persons, and will have cost about $2,500. The society now has sixty members, with C. E. Davis and H. J. Reynolds, pastors. The Sunday-school has a membership of eighty.

R ANDOLPH lies in the western part of the county, in latitude 43º 56" and longitude 4° 25', and is bounded north by Brookfield, east by Tunbridge, south by Bethel, in Windsor county, and west by Braintree. The territory now included within the limits of this town has been twice granted. On the 22d of January, 1770, letters patent were issued by Lieu- tenant-Governor Cadwallader Colden, then acting-governor of New York, for the township of Middlesex, the township containing 35,000 acres, including not only what is now known as Randolph, but also a great part of Bethel, in Windsor county. In May, 1778, a company consisting of twenty persons was formed at Dresden (now Hanover, N. H.,) for the purpose of purchasing this township, and they subscribed to the following covenant :-

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" We, the Subscribers, hereby mutually agree to Purchase that part of Middlesex in the State of Vermont, (so called,) which is not included in the township of Bethel, viz., the northerly part of the Township formally called Middlesex, adjoining to the northerly line of Said Bethel, and abutting to the Western End of Tunbridge, and to bear our Equal Proportion in the Cost and Expense of the Same. And we hereby Covenant to Acquiesce in, and abide by, the Votes and resolves of the Major part of us, or the future Pro- prietors in the meeting or meetings of the Said Proprietors, regularly warned and convened, from time to time, to Transact the affairs of said Middlesex as we may hereafter agree .- Witness our hands at Dresden, this 19th day of May, 1778.

" Joseph Marsh, David Woodward, John Ordway, Joel Marsh, John Sloan, John Payn, Joshua Hindee, Simeon Curtiss, John Payn, Jr., Abel Marsh, Zenas Coleman, Jehiel Woodward, Elijah Mason, Aaron Storrs, Joseph Marsh, Jr., Elisha Marsh, Comfort Sever, John House, John Slafter, Abel Curtis."

The foregoing covenant being signed, the following votes were then passed :-

" Appointed his Honr. Govr. Marsh, Moderator of this meeting.

" Appointed Capn. Aaron Storrs, Clerk.

" Appointed Capn. Abel Marsh, Agent for the Said Propriety of Middlesex. Proposed to find out the Owners or Claimers of said Tract of Land, who may be in the State of New York, or Elsewhere, and to purchase the Same for, and in behalf of, said Proprietors, of those who are able to give indisputable Title thereto.

" Appointed his Honor, Govr. Marsh, agent for Said Propriety, to Prefer a Memorial to the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Vermont at their next Session, for the fee of such Lands, in said Township, proposed as may be found to belong to the State, and for a charter of incorporation of A Township by the name of Middlesex, as proposed.

" Appointed Capn. Aaron Storrs Treasurer for this Propriety.

" Voted to raise a tax of five dollars on Each Proprietor immediately, to defray the Expense of Our Agent to the State of New York.

" Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the 30th Day of June next, one o'clock P. M., to the House of Mr. John Payn, in Dresden."

At a subsequent meeting of the proprietors Captain Marsh reported that he "journeyed through the State of New York and in the Jerseys, but could find no owners to Said Township," whereupon he was voted seventy five dol- lars for his services and expenses. At a still later meeting Abel Curtiss was appointed clerk, "in room of Capn. Storrs, resigned "; and it was also voted at this meeting "that the number of Proprietors of Middlesex Pro- posed shall not Exceed Twenty." Col. Marsh, Dea. Ordway, Dr. Slafter, Capt. House and Lieut. Payn, the latter a surveyor, were appointed a com- mittee to " Lay out A Division of Lots in Said Township."

At a meeting of the "original twenty" proprietors, held at Capt. John House's, in Middlesex, on the second Wednesday in September, 1779, it was " Voted, that the number of Proprietors consist of forty-each of the pres- ent proprietors to introduce one Proprietor." And a month later it was ' " Voted, that all the Proprietors to the number of sixty, shall have the

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privilege of Pitching two hundred acres of land Each, in sd. Middlesex, in A regular, uniform manner." Previous to the granting of the charter in June, 1781, the number was increased to seventy-one.

The following extracts from the journals of the General Assembly at their sessions held in Bennington, October and November, 1780, show the steps that were taken by the proprietors to obtain good titles to the lands upon which they were settling :-

" Wednesday, Oct. 25th, 1780.

" The committee appointed to take into consideration the ungranted lands and the several petitions filed in the Secretary's office, sent the following request to the House, viz .:

" Your Committee having made considerable advancement in the business of their appointment, have found it necessary to take the sense of the com- mittee in what manner the several locations made by virtue of the authority of New York since the King's prohibition shall be considered, who are unanimously of the opinion that they ought not to be considered as a sufficient bar against granting the same to other respectable and worthy petitioners ; they there- fore wish to know the sense of the Assembly on this subject, that they may govern their future conduct in the premises accordingly. By order of Com. " PAUL SPOONER, Chairman.

" Which request was read and thereupon-

" Resolved unanimously, that the several locations made by virtue of the authority of New York since the King's prohibition, be and is hereby con- sidered not a sufficient bar against granting the same to respectable and worthy petitioners.

" Thursday, Nov. 2d, 1780.

" The committee appointed to take into consideration the ungranted lands and the several petitions filed in the Secretary's office, &c., brought in a report which was rejected and thereupon-

" Resolved that there be and hereby is granted unto Aaron Stores and sixty-eight of his company whose names are annexed to the said petition, a township of land situate and lying in this State, being part of the tract formerly called Middlesex, (alias Randolph,) bounded as follows, viz : as drawn on the charter plan exhibited by the Surveyor General, and marked No. 4, containing six miles square, and the Governor and Council are hereby requested to issue a grant or charter of said tract by the name of Randolph, unto the said Stores and company, being sixty-eight in number, under such restrictions, reservations, and for such considerations as they shall judge best."

The following is a copy of the Vermont charter issued by the governor and council June 29, 1781 :-

" The Governor, Council and General Assembly of Vermont :

" To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting :-

" Know ye, that whereas it has been represented to us by our worthy friends, Capt. Aaron Stoors and Company, to the number of seventy-one, that there is a vacant Tract of Land within this State which has not been heretofore granted, which they pray may be granted to them.

" We have therefore thought fit, for the due encouragement of settling a new plantation within this State and other valuable considerations herewith moving. And Do by these Presents and in the name and by the authority of the Freemen of Vermont, Give and Grant unto said Aaron Stoors and

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the several Persons hereafter named, his associates, viz .: Thomas Eddy, Jas. Blodgett, David Woodward, Asahel Woodward, Elijah Pember, Jehiel Woodward, Jos. Kneeland, Steph. Burroughs, Henry Blodgett, Jas. Blodgett, Jr., Henry Walbridge, Dan Parker, Silas Adams, Moses Belknap, Joshua Hindee, Jona. Wales, Ezra Edgerton, John Payne, Barnabas Perkins, Huckins Stoors, Huckins Stoors, Jr., Caleb Clark, Barnabas Haskell. David Hodges, Samuel Richardson, Benjamin Biggsbee. Joseph Green, Stephen Bond, Joel Kilburne, John Lord, John Mandevilles, Wm. Lewis, John Goodrich, Stephen Fisk, Abraham Wallace, Asa Edgerton, Zebulon Lathrop, Jr, Eleazer Hunt- ington, Israel Converse, Bildad Kibbee, Ariel Edgerton, John Woodward, Zebulon Hibbard, Dyer Hibbard, Caleb Clark, Jr., Edmund Shattuck, Noa- diah Bissell, Col. John House, Joseph Griswold, James Steel, Zadoc Steel, James McKenney, Jr., Andrew McKenney, Moses Vincent, Zenas Alden, Oliver Pinney, Experience Davis, Elijah House, Bela Turner, John Throop, Esquire. Experience Stoors, Samuel Benedict, William Evans, Timothy Miles, Bozaleel Woodward, Esquire, Elisha Burton, Elisha Hyde, Jeremiah Griswold, Samuel Steel, together with five equal shares, or rights to be appro- priated to the public uses, following, viz .: One share or right for the use of a Seminary or College within the State; one share or right for the use of the County Grammar Schools throughout the State ; one share or right for the first settled Minister of the Gospel in said Township, to be disposed of for that purpose, as the Inhabitants thereof shall direct ; one share or right for the support of the ministry ; one share or right for the benefit and support of the school or schools within said township. The following Tract or Parcel of Land: Beginning at the northwest corner of Tunbridge, then sixty-one degrees west, six miles ; then south, thirty-six degrees west, about six miles and one-half to the northwest corner of Bethel; then South sixty- one degrees East to the N. E. corner of Bethel, then westerly to the southwest corner of said Tunbridge ; then north thirty-six degrees east six miles in the line of said Tunbridge, to the bounds begun at :

" And that the same be and is hereby incorporated into a township by the name of RANDOLPH, and the Inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit said township are declared to be Enfranchised and entitled to all the Privi- leges and Immunities that other towns within this State do by law exercise and enjoy : TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted premises as above ex- pressed, with all the Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, to them and their representative Heirs and Assigns forever, under the following conditions and reservations, viz. : that each Proprietor of said Township of Randolph, his Heirs and Assigns, shall plant and cultivate five acres of Land and build a. house at least eighteen feet square on the floor, or have one family settled on each respective share or right of land in said Township within the term of four years, next after the circumstances of the War will admit of it with safety, on the pain of forfeiture of his respective Share or Right of land in said Township: And the same to revert to the said Free- men of this State, to be by their Representative regranted to such persons as shall appear to settle and cultivate the same : That all pine timber suita- ble for a Navy shall be reserved to and for the use and benefit of the Free- men of this State. IN TESTIMONY whereof we have caused the Seal of this State to be affixed hereunto, the twenty ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, in the Fourth year of the Independence of this State and fifth of the United States.

" THOS. CHITTENDEN.

"Joseph Fay, Sec'y."

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About four-fifths of this township is situated directly between the Second and Third branches of White river, which beautiful streams run parallel and in nearly straight lines, north and south, through the whole length of the township. These, with their brooklet tributaries, and the lesser intermediate -stream of Ayer's brook, water the township, furnish it with water-power and agreeably diversify its surface with sparkling streams and pleasant meadows. From the banks of both the eastern and western branches, just named as embracing the great body of the township between them, the land rises with gentle and almost uniform acclivity to the broad plateau, forming the central elevation of the town, the gradual ascents on both sides attaining to a height of some 400 feet above the beds of the streams from which they commenced.

We have called the ascent from these opposite streams uniform and of the same height, and in their general features they are so. But the eastern slope is more acclivous than the western, and the ascent higher, the bed of Sec- ond or East branch being considerably lower than that of the Third or West branch. This central platform extends north and south through the whole town, and, with its slopes gradually falling away on either side, constitutes one of the most extensive and beautiful swells of land to be found in this or any other country. And, as if to bring beauty and utility into their most perfect combination, arises the remarkable fact that over the whole swell, comprising about 20,000 acres of land, there is not a single acre which may not be easily cultivated by the plow and harrow, while there is no part of Ver- mont where more abundant crops of all kinds are found to reward the hus- bandman for his labors. The rocks entering into the geological structure of the town are of talcose schist, clay slate, and calciferous mica schist formation, the latter predominating, occupying about two-thirds of the entire territory, in the eastern part. Adjoining this and extending through the town is the clay slate, while in the extreme southwestern corner is found the talcose schist. Traces of gold in alluvium have been discovered in the southwestern part.

The population of Randolph in 1880 was 2,910. In 1883 the town sys- tem of schools was adopted, and in 1886 Randolph had twenty-one common . schools, employing two male and twenty-four female teachers, to whom was paid an average weekly salary, including board, of $17.45 to the former and $5.99 to the latter. There were 571 scholars, three of whom attended pri- vate schools. The entire income for school purposes was $5,425.91, while the total expenditures were $5,630.33, with P. E. Grow, superintendent.

WEST RANDOLPH, a post village and station on the Vermont Central rail- road, twenty-three miles south from Montpelier, is pleasantly located on the First branch of White river, in the southerly part of the town. It is an im- portant local commercial center, containing five churches (Baptist, Christian, Congregational, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic), a first-class High school with N. J. Whitehill, principal, two hotels (Red Lion Inn and Newton House), à grist-mill, two saw-mills, a planing-mill, sash, door and blind factory, butter tub factory, furniture manufactory, marble works, force and suction pump

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works, with dry-goods stores, groceries, liveries, undertakers, clothing stores, lawyers, doctors, dentists, etc., etc. Here, also, is located the office of state treasurer, W. H. DuBois, and judge of probate, William H. Nichols. An excel- lent system of water works was erected by the village in 1887, and is in good working order. Numerous seekers after health and pleasure find this a delightful place in which to spend the summer, and many palatial summer residences have been and are being erected by people from various cities. A destructive fire destroyed a number of buildings here a few years since, which have been replaced by fine brick structures, with many improvements, so that West Randolph may now be classed among the most beautiful of New England villages.

EAST RANDOLPH post village is pleasantly located on the East branch of White river and contains two churches (Baptist and Universalist), two hotels, two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one furniture and undertaking establishment, a grist-mill, livery stable, and about forty dwellings. The old turnpike from Burlington to Hanover passes through this village, making this, in the early days, a place of considerable importance. The following comprises a partial list of the early settlers here : Beginning at the bridge on the easterly side of the street Sprague Arnold built and carried on a grist-mill, saw-mill, and carding-mill, where he did an extensive business, and with his brother Henry manufactured cider brandy, potato, rye, and corn whiskey. A little further on John Moxley, a tailor, attended toll gate ; Shubael Converse kept a hotel, where he sold whiskey. Joseph Cummings also kept a store a little further on, and Henry Arnold made boots and shoes in a shop near by. Mar- maduke Waite kept a store, and John Wheatley a tavern ; John Glidding had a store where Carter & Osgood are now located. Lewis Spencer manu- factured furniture and did the small amount of undertaking necessary ; Ansel Fish was the hatter, and Amos Abbott manufactured wagons and sleighs. Crossing and turning north on the west side of the street we find Timothy Brooks, farmer; Timothy Higgins, wheelwright ; Ebenezer Frizzle, tanner ; Bethuel Keith, manufacturer of foot and spinning-wheels ; Samuel Blodgett run an oil-mill and tannery, kept hotel and run a line of stages ; Samuel Webster made harnesses and saddles ; Levi Bruce did cloth-dressing ; Porter Converse was the village lawyer ; Leonard Farewell kept a distillery and store ; Benjamin Sargeant manufactured scythes, axes, etc .; Nathaniel King looked after the spiritual welfare of his little flock of Freewill Baptists ; Gersham York took up the tract of land now occupied by the village ; and Stephen Fish kept hotel where W. R. Holden now lives. " It is said that East Ran- dolph was a flourishing village when West Randolph was known as 'Slab. City.'"

NORTH RANDOLPH (p. o.) is a small village located in the northeasterly part of the town, on the Second branch of White river, and contains a hotel, store, grist-mill, saw-mill, turning works, tannery, and blacksmith shop, with about twenty dwellings. The ladies have erected a commodious hall to be used for

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a library and for public entertainments. A mail stage runs daily between this village and Royalton.

RANDOLPH CENTER (Randolph p. o.) is located near the center of the town upon a table-land between the branches of White river. The main street is very wide and beautifully adorned with shade trees. The Randolph academy, or Orange County Grammar school, was established here in 1806, and became a State Normal school in 1866. Edward Conant, A. M., is principal. The village contains three churches (Congregational, Episcopal and Methodist), a general store, hotel, two wagon shops, a foundry, blacksmith shop, and about thirty dwellings.

The Randolph academy, or Orange County Grammar school, was estab- lished in 1806 in the building now occupied as a dwelling house by Franklin Doten. It was first located on the site of the present Normal school. Of this school we can judge only by its Alumni. Its value is attested by such sons as Hon. Jacob Collamer, Rev. Azariah Hyde, Rev. Constantine Blodgett, for fifty years pastor of the First Congregational church of Pawtucket, R. I., Amos Dean, Esq, a celebrated attorney, and principal of the Albany Law school, Gov. Converse and Judge Barrett, Hon. Justin S. Morrill, and a score of lesser lights, whose names will occur to our older readers. The early principals of the school as given by Thompson's Vermont are as follows : William Nutting, 1807-13 ; D. Breck, 1813-14; Rufus Nutting, 1814-18 ; George Bush, 1818-19 ; Samuel Wor- cester, 1819-20 ; Joseph Sawyer, 1820-21 ; Rufus Nutting, 1821-28 ; Clem- ent Long, 1828-31 ; John Fairchild, 1831-32; T. G. Brainerd, 1832-36 ; Samuel A. Benton, 1836-38 ; Azariah Hyde, 1838-41 ; Edward Cleveland, 1841. Complete records of the later principals we have not obtained. In the last decade came R. M. Manley, Andrew Freeman, George Dutton, Mr. Willard, Edward Conant, and doubtless others. Next preceding Mr. Conant was Mr. Fisher. Edward Conant has been fitly styled "The Father of Ver- mont Normal Schools." The propriety of this title will be recognized by all witnesses of the discussions which marked the last years of the Orange County Grammar school, and ended in the establishment of a training school for teachers. The Normal school, already an institution in many states, was viewed distrustfully by trustees and people. The citizens of Randolph had a just pride in their Grammar school, an institution of wide influence and repu- tation, which had been for many years a powerful factor in the educational work of the state. The Normal school had but one advocate among them, but that advocate was a man having the courage of his convictions, slow to change his opinions, but unyielding when his opinions were once formed. The academy, in Mr. Conant's view, was not the need of the hour. The in- terests of the state demanded better training for its teachers. All the argu- ments which much thought and study of the matter could evolve, were brought to bear upon the trustees, and with their consent the change was made in 1866. The results are before us. For years the most bitter oppo-

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nents of the change have been, if not ardent admirers of the new system, at least acquiescent.

Randolph National bank, at West Randolph village, was organized May 8, 1875, with a capital of $100,000, and with William H. DuBois, president ; John W. Rowell, vice-president ; and Royal T. DuBois, cashier, all of whom retain their respective offices. The bank now has a surplus and individual profits amounting to $20,467.

Green Mountain Stock Farm .- The enterprise of breeding trotting horse stock of the Messenger blood through the Hambletonian, Clay, Star, Abdal- lah and Morgan families was begun by the Moulton Bros. at the old home- stead farm in 1867, by the purchase of a few trotting-bred mares, for five of which they paid $4,250, and a young son of " Rysdyke" Hambletonian they purchased at a cost of $1,600. The business of breeding horses exclusively was pursued until 1880, at which time it was determined to reduce the horse stock, then consisting of seventy-five or eighty head, and establish a herd of thoroughbred registered Jersey cattle. Adjoining farms were pur- chased, which now comprise 750 acres, suitable stock barns and a model dairy was built, and from year to year the very best and most popular Jersey stock was bought at a high average cost, twenty-six cows of the herd having cost over $1,000 each. The herd now numbers upwards of 200 head, in- cluding 150 milch cows, and the horses number thirty-five head. It is the purpose of the proprietors to increase the number of breeders and dairy cows to 300, and to establish the business on such a basis as will insure its perpet- uity, and to that end a joint stock company has recently been organized under the title of the Green Mountain Stock Farm Co., with a capital stock of $200,000.

George J. Prince's butter tub factory, at West Randolph village, was built by John Prince, father of the present owner, in 1870. George J. suc- ceeded to the business in 1875. He employs thirty men and manufactures 200,000 butter tubs annually.

A. W. Tewksbury & Sons' steam saw and lumber-mills, at West Randolph village, manufacture large quantities of lumber and dimension timber an- nually.

George W. Blodgett's flouring and grist-mill, on the Second branch of White river, at North Randolph, has four rups of stones and does custom and merchant milling. Mr. Blodgett also has a saw-mill at the same place.

A. W. Tewksbury & Sons' door, sash and blind manufactory, located on Pleasant, corner of Mill street, was established by Charles E. Abbott & Co. in 1866, and continued by that firm until 1871, when C. E. Abbott be- came proprietor and conducted the business until 1879. A. W. Tewksbury & Sons then purchased the concern, and now do an extensive business, em- ploying about sixty men, with C. E. Abbott as manager. They also manu- facture adjustable window screens.

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Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888, Part 47

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