USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 64
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Tracy reared a family of five children and accumulated a handsome property. He was a devoted christian, ever abounding in good works, and died at an advanced age. Miss Jerusha S. Tracy, who resides on a part of the old farm, is the only one of the family now living.
Cyrus Tracy, a brother of the Deacon, came into town with his family about 1786 and settled on West hill. He built the third frame house in town, and reared a family of seven sons and six daughters, no death occurring in the family for over sixty-four years. He built the first saw and grist-mill in Tunbridge, at what is now known as "The Market." Alexander Sted- man, who was the first town clerk, built a house where the first settled minis- ter, Rev. D. H. Williston, afterwards lived. . Dr. Cowdry, the first physician in town, settled on the " Spring road " near C. W. Smith's present home. Peter Branch, a very tall man, commenced a settlement a little above the north village. Dea. Dewey, a quiet and very good man, cleared a farm near the present town farm.
The population now increased rapidly, by numerous new settlers and by births. As has been mentioned Mrs. Cyrus Tracy became the mother of thirteen children, Mrs. Seth Austin of fourteen or fifteen, and Capt. John Moody, who lived on the East hill, reared a family of ten sons and daughters. Capt. Moody built the first frame barn in town, and "snaked " the boards through the woods from Strafford with one horse, his unmarried sister riding the horse.
In 1787 the town elected Seth Austin its first representative to the state legislature, and he rode to the capitol on horseback. At this time so many new families ware coming to town it was impossible to procure grain enough to supply their needs, and much suffering ensued. Dea. Elijah Tracy and Dea. Hezekiah Hutchinson built frame houses at about the same time, which was the first is an open question; but Dea. Hutchinson certainly has the honor of being the first to erect two frame houses in the town. He had scarcely finished the first when it caught fire and burned to the ground. He had been to Connecticut for money and was returning with it in his pocket, to pay the men who were finishing the mansion, into which his family had just moved, and just as he came in sight of his new house it was in flames. This was towards night. The fire caught in the shavings and spread with such rapidity that the family barely escaped. The mother, missing her little son of two or three summers, saw him through the window, curled up in the large fire-place, calling for help. She implored the men to rescue him, but they, thinking it was impossible, refused, when she rushed through the flames and brought him out safely just as his father arrived. Dea. Hutchinson was not the man to be discouraged, however, though his new house, furniture and provisions were distroyed. He paid off his men and went to work again to erect another house on the same spot, into which he soon moved his family and erected an altar unto the Lord where he daily held family prayers. He was apt, and sometimes eccentric, but carried his religious influence .
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wherever he went. He bore his share of the burdens in town and church affairs, reared seven children, and lived to the extreme age of ninety-nine years.
Philip Farnham was born September 22, 1764, and died September 1, 1850. He came from Connecticut to Tunbridge when a young man, and married Hannah Bement, April 6, 1786. Nine children were born to them, viz .: Freelove, Horace, Philip, Jr., Harley, Patty, Heman, Phebe. Kirtland, Os- man, Peter, and Oramel. His wife died, and he then married Hannah San- born, in July, 1804, by whom five children were born, viz .: Caroline, Polly, John, Mason, and Clarissa. Freelove, born April 13, 1787, married Daniel Sanborn, settled in Lowell, Vt., and was the mother of nine boys and two girls. Horace was born July 8, 1789. He married Sarah Hibbard, and set- tled in this town on the George Cushman farm, where he built a saw-mill, in which he labored. He had six children, viz .: Milo, Horace, Jr., Hibbard, Abigail, Sarah Ann, and William. Milo married Laura Howe and they had three children-Charles, Hibbard, and one who died in infancy. Milo lived in this town the greater part of his life, and died here. Of his two sons, Charles removed to Illinois a few years ago, and Hibbard married Mary Jane Tucker and resides on a farm in Royalton, Windsor county. Horace, Jr., married - Cilley and removed to Illinois. Hibbard died when a young man. Abigail married Hazen Alexander and lived on the farm where their son John now resides. Sarah Ann married Norris and moved to the northern part of the state. William married, first, Sarah Hutchins, by whom he had one child, William, Jr., and second, Laura Hutchins, a sister of his first wife, and resides on a farm in Royalton with his son William.
Philip Farnham, Jr., was born August 15, 1791. He married Nellie Clem- ent, and their five children were William, Wallace, Emily, Martha, and one who died in infancy. Philip lived in Tunbridge the most of his life and worked at blacksmithing. His last years were spent in Illinois, where he re- moved with his family, and where he, his wife, and two children, Wallace and Emily, have since died.
Harley Farnham, born May 25, 1793, married Leavitt, by whom he had two children, James L. and Mary Ann. He worked at the tanner's trade in Brookfield for a number of years, then came to this town and built the house where William Nobles now lives, and afterwards bought and moved onto the farm now occupied by his son James L. The latter married Lena Fulsom and they had four children-Henry, Clara, Effie, and a son who died in infancy. Henry is married and resides in Kansas. Clara married Bija Whitney, has one child, and resides on a farm in Tunbridge. Mary Ann is dead.
Patty Farnham was born March 17, 1795, married Elias Lyman, of Royal- ton, and they had eleven children-nine girls and two boys.
Heman Farnham was born January 9, 1797, and died March 30, 1878. He married Sally English and removed to Geneseo, N. Y., where his wife
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died, when he married Mrs. Elizabeth Van Gorder, by whom he had one child, Annie E. He removed to Bennett, N. Y., where he soon after died of pneumonia.
Phebe Kirtland Farnham was born April 12, 1799, and died January 26, 1867. She married Horace Griffith, by whom she had six children, when her husband died, and she married William Howe, by whom she had two chil- dren. She resided successively in Duxbury, Moretown, and Reading.
Osman Peter Farnham was born April 30, 18or, and died June 28, 1884. He married Lucy Felton, by whom he had six children, viz .: Amos P., Nancy A., Delia L., Luna B., Marcia O. and George D. The first years of their married life were spent in Tunbridge, in the house now occupied by Mason Farnham, when they bought and removed to the farm now occupied by their son George. He was a good carpenter and an excellent hand to build stone bridges. His son Amos P., who resides on a farm in this town, married Phebe Jones, by whom he has had eight children, viz .: Flora E., Elien L., Levinnie L., Myrtie M., Hattie L., James S .. Park Elwin, and Mable, of whom Flora married Lorenzo B. Kibby, of Brookfield, and has three children, and Ellen married Myron C. Flanders and resides at North Tunbridge village. Nancy A., daughter of Osman P., married Royal H. Gove, by whom she has six sons and two daughters, and resides in Rochester, Minn. Delia L. mar- ried Joseph Ross, has two sons and three daughters, and resides in Strafford. Marcia O. married, first, Dexter Godfrey, by whom she had two children, and second, Deacon Prescott, of South Strafford. George D. married Mrs. Susan A. Bailey.
Oramel Farnham was born April 30, 1803, and died August 28, 1830. He removed to Lowell, Vt., and lived with his sister Freelove until he was married. He had two or three children.
Caroline Farnham was born January 7, 1805. She removed to Plattsburgh, N. Y., when eighteen years old, and married Walter Thew, by whom she had ten children.
Polly Farnham was born July 15, 1807. She married Andrew H. Rey- nolds and spent the greater part of her life in Tunbridge. She had four chil- dren, all of whom are dead.
John Farnham was born August 29, 1809. He removed to New York, where he married and had born to him several children. He became insane and died in the insane asylum at Buffalo, N. Y.
Mason Farnham, born September 5, 1810, married Cylinda Thompson and located in Tunbridge, where he had born to him five children-Carlos, Fred, Susan, Harriet, and Henry. Carlos married, first, Mary Ann Tenney, who died after bearing him three children, only one of whom, Clara, is living. Fred is married and is proprietor of the hotel at West Fairlee. Susan married Henry Hayward, of this town, by whom she had six children. Harriet mar- ried George W. Comstock, of Post Mills, and they have one child. Henry died at the age of ten years.
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Clarissa Farnham was born October 9, 1812, and died May 8, 1887. She married George Turner, settled in Duxbury, and was the mother of five chil- dren.
Capt. John Moody, of English descent, married Elizabeth Weeks and came from Gilmanton, N. H., and settled on East hill, in this town, about 1786. He was an active, enterprising man, and entered heartily into the task of clearing up the land and making for himself a home. He was eminently successful, owning at one time a thousand acres of land. He had born to. him ten children,-four sons and six daughters,-all of whom grew to ma- turity, married, and settled near the old homestead. The eldest, Betsey,. married Aretus Haskell, and had three children ; Sally married Joseph Bad- ger, and also had three children ; John married Sally Smith, who bore him: nine children ; Abigail married John Noyes, and had seven children ; David married, first, Martha Smith, by whom he had three children, and second, Mary Tucker, who bore him one child; Dudley married Clara Hunt, by whom he had six children ; Washington married Sally Hall, and they had five children ; Thirza married John Hall, and had two children ; Mahala. married Burham Hunt, and had four children ; Judith married Hazen Little,. and also had four children. This large family have all passed away except John Hall, who still resides in this town. The grandchildren, great grand- children, and great-great-grandchildren are scattered over many states of the Union, and only two of the decendants bearing the name of Moody remain in Tunbridge,-Florentine D. and his son George W., son and grandson of Dudley,-and they reside near the old homestead. Capt. John Moody and two of his sons, David and Dudley, were volunteers in the War of 1812. Charles H. Moody, son of David, was a volunteer in the civil war. Mrs. Charles F. Avery, a daughter of Dudley, resides in Strafford. Harriet F. Buzzell, another daughter of Dudley, was born February 7, 1840, and Har- riet E., daughter of Harriet F., was born February 7, 1879. Florentine D. Moody, born September 9, 1834, married Mary H. Cram, of Chelsea, No- vember 18, 1856, and their children were Volney H., born March 26, 1859, married Nancy I. Gage, of Derry, N. H., September 3, 1885, and is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Derry ; George W. D., born April 23, 1865, mar- ried Alice P. Preston, January 1, 1887, and is engaged in farming with his father in this town ; and Adran D., born November 5, 1871, died April 13, 1887, aged fifteen years and five months. Volney H. has one son, Howard G., born July 29, 1886.
Eld. Nathaniel King, the first Freewill Baptist minister of Tunbridge, was born in Hampstead, N. H., April 4, 1767, of English parentage, his father with one brother having emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary war. At the age of eight years he removed with his father to Sutton, N. H., and there resided until he was twenty-one years of age. At the age of twenty two he visited Tunbridge, purchased a tract of land, and immedi- ately commenced making improvements by clearing the land. The coun-
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try was then new and sparsely settled. He erected buildings upon his land, :and, in 1794, married Miss Lydia Noyes, with whom he maintained marital rela- tions for fifty-eight years-until his death. They had born to them thirteen children,-five sons and eight daughters,-all of whom arrived at mature years and married. Having previously felt the importance of engaging in the service of the Lord, he consecrated himself unreservedly on the last day of March, 1799, and soon commenced preaching the gospel. July 1, 1804, he was publicly set apart to the work of the ministry. Being a pioneer in a new country he preached nine Sabbaths standing in a chair in the woods. " Since that period," he remarked a few years previous to his death, " these hands have been spread out over perishing sinners." During his ministry he held many interesting and fruitful revivals, and was instrumental in impart- ing the bread of life to thousands. His abundant labors and extensive use- fulness still live in the grateful remembrance of those who survive him, while his remains are turned to dust. His sympathies were deeply enlisted for the good of others. The heathen, and slave, and poor around him shared in his hospitality, and were remembered in his liberal contributions and prayers. He contributed largely for benevolent institutions, for the Bible cause, and for missions. He refused to receive remuneration for preaching, believing that God called his servants to preach without money and without price. He would work hard upon his farm during the week and preach on the Sabbath. He was a man of literary mind, and possessed a great memory, ·combined with pathos, and power to thrill an audience and move them at his will. In person he was large and athletic, in mind equally as strong, and an honest, upright, and patriotic citizen. As a christian, he was humble, faith- ful and consistent ; as a minister, in deportment unassuming and exemplary ; in doctrine, orthodox ; in his public ministrations, plain, direct and fearless ; in labors, untiring, persevering and successful. He was a kind and affec- tionate husband and parent, and was long spared to bless his family, the church and the world. Forty-two years of his useful life were spent in Tun- bridge, seven in Randolph, and fourteen in Northfield, where he died Octo- ber 18, 1852, aged eighty-five years and six months. In each town where he resided he held the confidence and esteem of his townsmen, was elected to many offices of trust, and for thirteen years represented this town in the state legislature. Although he received no remuneration for his services as a preacher, he was blessed with this world's goods, and acquired a compe- tency by hard labor and frugality. His funeral was attended at Northfield, Rev. M. C. Henderson, now of St. Johnsbury, preaching the sermon from 2 Tim. 4:6-8, assisted by the resident clergyman. Eld. King's widow sur- vived him seventeen years, dying February 5, 1869, aged niney-one years. Of their thirteen children only six are living, viz .: Eliza H. (Mrs. John Hunt), of Antwerp, Mich .; Sally H., widow of Moody Smith, of Tunbridge ; Nancy F., widow of Jeremiah Brown, of Waterbury, and now a resident of Burling- ton ; Daniel P., of Northfield ; Harvey, of Boston, and Aaron N., of this
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town. Harvey was of the firm of Lyman & King, merchants, of Montpelier, which partnership was dissolved and Mr. King continued in trade alone for a number of years, finally removing to Boston, where he was engaged in the wholesale dry goods trade for a quarter of a century, when he retired from business and removed to New York city, where he resided six years. About three years ago he returned to Boston and is now a resident of that city. Aaron N., the youngest of the family, has been engaged in the mercantile business for over thirty years, has held many offices of trust in the town, and is president of the First National bank of Chelsea.
Cyrus Chapman came to Tunbridge from Cornish, N. H., about 1789, when twenty-one years of age. He was a tanner and currier by trade, which business he followed here for a short time, when he engaged in tilling the soil. December 3, 1795, he married Mehitable Lasell, of this town, by whom he had four sons and two daughters, viz .: Isaac, Ciba, Albert, James, Amanda and Delia. James resides in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Delia is dead. By a second wife, Rachel Cheney, he had two sons and two daughters, viz .: Alondier, David F., Mehitable and Emeline, of whom David F. and Emeline are the only survivors, and they reside in this town. Cyrus, familiarly known as " Square Chapman," was justice of the peace here for more than twenty-five years.
David F. Chapman, mentioned above, was born June 5, 1822. After arriving at manhood he occupied a position in a mercantile house four years, when he embarked in trade in company with Francis Sturtevant, with whom he was associated five years, when Mr. Sturtevant retired from the firm. Mr. Chapman then conducted the business alone for about five years, when he engaged in farming, to which business he has since given his attention almost exclusively. He owns, with A. N. King, the Union Agricultural society's grounds, and has been prominent in town and county affairs, hold- ing many positions of trust and responsibility. He was county judge four years, county commissioner, selectman eleven years, has been town agent eight years, town clerk twenty-one years, lister eighteen years, and is the present town clerk, agent, chairman of the board of listers, and county auditor. He married Martha D. Trow, of Barre, September 18, 1848, and their union was blessed with three sons and three daughters, viz .: Florence, born Sep- tember 30, 1849, resides in Methuen, Mass .; Jennie, born January 2, 1852; George, born July 11, 1855, died May 24, 1856; Fred, born January 1, 1857, lives in Montpelier ; Harry, born July 17, 1859, resides in Haverhill, Mass .; and Kate, born May 14, 1862, died January 16, 1884. Mrs. Chapman died October 20, 1879. Mr. Chapman resides in this town, at Tunbridge Cen- ter village.
Daniel and Hannah (Colby) Hackett, with two children, came from Dun - barton, N. H., settling in Tunbridge in 1790. The year previous he had come here and made some preparations for a permanent home, building a log house and clearing some land. He served with his father, Ebenezer, in the Revolu -
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tionary war, and was among those detailed to dig in the trenches at Bunker Hill. He had four children, all boys, viz .: Rev. George, John, Capt. Ephraim and Ebenezer. Capt. Ephraim Hackett married Mary Corwin, January 5, 1808, and their union was blessed with seven children,-five sons and two daughters,-six of whom lived to maturity and were married, and two of whom are now living-Hannah and J. Spencer. When Daniel Hackett came to Tunbridge he settled on East hill, on what is now called the old Hackett. farm. The soil was productive, and, being an energetic, hard-working man, he was quite successful. In a short time others had taken up and improved land in this part of the town, and, feeling the need of christian worship, a church was erected called the " red meeting-house." A society was organized by Elder Randall, called the " Freewill Baptist Church," and the meetings were attended by all the settlers and great interest manifested. Eld. Nathaniel King was the first settled minister, and he served without pay. After Elder King removed from town Rev. George Hackett, son of Daniel, became the settled minister, and remained in charge most of the time until his death, working on his farm during the week and preaching the gospel on the Sabbath " without money and without price." He was quite successful financially, and reared a large family of children who became scattered throughout the country, one dying in California, and one in Beloit, Wis. Ephraim and Ebenezer remained on the old farm until they were married, when Ebenezer bought and removed to a farm in the same district. He represented the town in the state legislature a number of years. Ephraim lived with and cared for his parents. until their death. He was a captain of militia at the time of the Indian raid, receiving the news while at church on Sunday evening, and the next morning. started in pursuit of the red fiends with those of his company whom he could get together on such short notice. Both he and Ebenezer were successful. financially, investing largely in Vermont Central railroad shares and bonds.
J. Spencer Hackett, son of Ephraim, remained on the old farm most of. the time, and with his wife cared for and witnessed the peaceful departure from earth of his parents in 1864. Hannah was married, March 7, 1832, to. Daniel Cram, settled in Chelsea, and reared a family of seven children, all girls. Soon after the death of her parents Mr. Cram purchased the old home- stead farm, where he remained until his death, after which the place was sold to F. D. Moody, his son-in-law, who now occupies it. James Hackett, son of Ephraim, left at his death two sons, Corcellas H. and James H., the former being for many years a member of the firm of Minot, Beals & Hackett, of Boston, and now engaged in the wholesale and retail clothing business in. New York city. James H. lived with his uncle J. Spencer until he was. eighteen years of age, when he located in Jacksonville, Ill., and engaged in. the clothing trade for a number of years. He next engaged in the flouring business, being of the firm of Scott, Hackett & Co. He is now treasurer of the Fort Scott Real Estate and Investment Co., of which his son James is secretary. J. Spencer Hackett married Sarah A. Noyes, March 7, 1843, and.
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they have no children. Mr. Hackett's principal occupation has been farming, in which business he has acquired a competency. He has been prominent in town affairs. They have an adopted son, who is married and lives with them, to cheer their declining years and lighten their burdens. They are a social and generous couple, esteemed by a large circle of relatives and friends. Ebenezer Hackett married Sally Alexander, of this town, in March, 1818, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, of whom Daniel and Mary E. are now living, near the old church on East hill, where was built the first meeting- house in town.
Josiah Whitney, of Welch and English descent, was born in Grafton, Mass., about the year 1688, and his son Josiah, Jr., was born in Littleton, Mass., April 21, 1713. Peter Whitney, son of Josiah, Jr., was born in Wellington, Conn., April 21, 1738. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, came from Connecticut to this town in 1790, and purchased two lots of land in the southwesterly part of the town. His family consisted of three sons and six daughters. Of the sons, Jonathan, the eldest, was born February 20, 1766. He came to Vermont about the year 1787, at the age of twenty-one years, and was employed as a surveyor. That season he surveyed the town of Chittenden, and the old town of Philadelphia, since annexed to Chittenden, after finishing which he returned to Connecticut. The next year he surveyed the town of Barre, and on his return home succeeded in pursuading his father to make a settlement here. He came with his father, assisting him in clearing the land in the summer and teaching school winters. He afterwards came into possession of the farm, upon which he lived until his death, April 12, 1853, aged eighty-seven years. Of his family of eight children, four sons and two daughters lived to mature age. The eldest child, Zabad, was born December 10, 1797, and died in Royalton in April, 1830. Only three of Jonathan Whitney's children are living, viz .: Zebina, aged eighty-seven years, A. G., aged seventy years, and James M., aged sixty-six years. The latter has two sons, James A. and Henry D., both living in Tunbridge. James A. has two sons, and Henry D. is unmarried.
Abel Whitney, born in Pepperell, Mass., came with his wife, Phebe Scott, to Tunbridge in 1791. They had seven sons and three daughters, two of whom, Henry and Nancy (Mrs. Roswell Durgee), are living. George Whit- ney, born in 1812, was reared on a farm on Whitney hill. He married Arathusa, daughter of Jonas and Anna (Robinson) Gates, in 1839, and their children were Albert, Milo F., John S., Orlando L., Lewis and Lester. Five of these sons served in the war for the Union, and one, Orlando, died in the service in 1864. Mr. Whitney died July 11, 1865, and his widow survives him, residing with her son Albert on the old homestead in this town.
John Broughton married Abigail Dean, in old Hadley, Mass., and with four other familes came to Tunbridge about 1792. They had six sons and four daughters. Ira, the second child, and Humphrey, the seventh, were the only ones who remained in town. Humphrey married Hannah Cook, of Norwich,
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