USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 65
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
October 30, 1828, and their children were John and Francis, born in Nor- wich, who died young, Frances A., John D., Silas H., Betsey J. and Thomas F., born in this town. Thomas F., with his brother John D., were among the first to enlist in the late war from this town. Thomas F. was in the first bat- tle of Bull Run, where he was severely wounded. He served two and one- half years, was discharged, re-enlisted, and served through the war. He received several severe wounds, one was caused by a large splinter which,. from a gun-carriage being blown to pieces, passed through the calf of his leg, pinning him to the ground till released by a comrade. This wound caused varicose veins, from which he now suffers. The most severe wound was made by an explosive ball, which struck him in the foot, nearly blowing it off, and leaving it in a dreadfully mangled condition, confining him to the hospital for six months. Thanks to a robust frame and strong constitution he recovered, and is now engaged in farming on East hill in this town.
Stephen and Joseph Smith, brothers, came from Gilmanton, N. H., and located in this town in 1793. They each purchased land, made a clearing and built a house of logs in the then wilderness, the nearest neighbor of Joseph being a Mr. Moody, three miles to the southeast. February 23, 1794, Joseph Smith was married to Hannah Fifield, at Gilmanton, by Rev. Isaac Smith, for whom they had both worked for several years, and soon after started for their forest home, on East hill, in this town, the place now occupied by their grandson, Walter F. Smith. Mrs. Smith deemed it no hardship to take her first child in her arms and go to Stephen Smith's, the place now occupied by George L. Swan, on West hill, a distance of five miles, her only guide being marked trees, and return the same day. Who of her great-grandchildren would be equal to the task at the present time? Joseph and Hannah Smith reared two sons and four daughters, the eldest of whom, Josiah, settled and. died in Hopkinton, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. The other son, Major Smith, remained in this town and cared for his parents in their old age. He always lived here, and is buried in the family burying-ground on the old farm. Of his children,-two sons and one daughter,-Azro A., the eldest, is pastor of the Congregational church at Johnson, and the daughter died in 1863, leaving one child.
Jonathan Adams was born in Old Rowley, Mass., in 1767, and located in Loudon, N. H., at an early day. In 1795, when twenty seven years of age, he came to Tunbridge, settling in the northeast corner of the town on a farm now owned by H. B. Colby. He resided in this town until his death, in 1842, aged seventy-five years. Seth Adams, son of Jonathan, was born in Tunbridge July 16, 1803, and is therefore eighty-four years old. He is the only survivor in a family of seven children, and during his life has followed the occupation of carpenter and joiner and farmer. He has two children,. Arthur C., with whom he now makes his home, and a daughter, Luna A., widow of Alva J. Dutton, of West Randolph. Arthur C. learned the carpen- ter and builder trade, at which he worked for a time, but now devotes his
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
whole attention to farming and stock raising. April 18, 1867, he married Rosa Lee, of Sharon, Vt., and they have one child, Sarah J., who resides at home. Mr. Adams has in his house the records of the first school meeting in his district, held in 1793.
William Noyes, son of Nathan A., came to this town from Bow, N. H., with his father, at an early age. He married Hannah Folsom, of Tunbridge, October 31, 1811, by whom he had two children, Asenath F. and Freeman W. He bought the land and felled the first trees on the farm in the extreme eastern part of the town where he resided until his death, aged eighty-one years. Freeman W. is seventy-one years old and has always resided on this farm where he was born. He married Amelia P. Carlisle, of Randolph, January 1, 1840, and they have had two daughters-Lucy M., who died May 19, 1878, and Emma Rose, who married Ed. D. Aldrich, of Sharon, and lives with her husband on the old homestead. Freeman W. Noyes is a large, mus- cular man, and, though well along in years, is as erect as though he were but forty. He was always a natural athlete, and is a remarkably well-preserved man. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes have been married forty-seven years, and have never rode on the steam cars.
Orvis P. Cilley was the eleventh child in a family of six boys and six girls, eleven of whom lived to maturity. His parents, Ebenezer and Polly (Clement) Cilley, were immediate descendants of some of the early settlers in town. Orvis P. was born September 23, 1816, in Tunbridge, where he has always resided. He has been engaged in various occupations, teaching district school in early life, later occupying positions with mercantile houses, and also acting as commercial traveler. He kept the old hotel at Tunbridge two years, which stood some distance south of the present hotel. He has held the office of selectman seven years, constable fifteen years, and represented the town in the state legislature in 1880. He has been twice married, first to Caroline H. Jones, of this town, who died April 29, 1879, and second to Carlie S. Smith, also of this town, who is still living. He has acquired a comfortable property and can now enjoy the fruits of his labor. Always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy, he is actively interested in all enterprises tending towards the improvement or benefit of his townsmen.
Zachary Bicknell, with his wife Agnes, came from England to this country in 1635. Of their descendants, Peter Bicknell, of the fifth generation from Zachary, was born in 1744. He married Hannah Kent, born in 1740, and they came from Rehoboth, Mass., to Vermont, in 1803, and settled near the Joseph Smith farm, on East hill, in Tunbridge. Of their children, Hezekiah married Hannah Carpenter, by whom he had two sons and one daughter. Elra, the eldest child, remained in this town, and of him it is said that he never tasted tea. In youth he resolved to use what money others of his ac- quaintances foolishly expended for spirits and tobacco in buying books. He accumulated the largest and best private library in the town, leaving at his death (April 17, 1887,) 160 choice volumes, besides having given many to
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
his children and grandchildren. Of Elra's family, his eldest son, Almond B., resides on the homestead farm.
Samuel Dickerman was one of the party of eighteen or twenty young men who, on December 16, 1773, being indignant at the act of the British Parliament in laying heavy duties on tea, paper, etc., destroyed several hun- dred chests of tea by throwing them into Boston harbor. He also served in the Revolutionary war, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. After the close of the war he settled in Francestown, N. H., where his son Elijah was born. Elijah came to Vermont in 1807, on horseback, and traded his horse, saddle and bridle for twenty-five acres of land in the northwest corner of this town, where he built a log cabin, and in 1808 removed here with his wife and one child. He was a blacksmith by trade, and also worked at farm- ing, was very successful financially, and at his death owned 1,500 acres of land, valued at $50,000. Lewis Dickerman, son of Elijah, has in his posses- sion the sword used by his grandfather at the battle of Bunker Hill. Lewis was born in this town September 28, 1822, on the farm first settled by his father, and there lived until he was thirteen years old, when the family re- moved to the farm adjoining, where he has resided fifty-one years. He is now postmaster at North Tunbridge, but continues farming, and has also done land surveying, commencing when but eighteen years old. July 24, 1845, he was married to Emily Goodwin, who bore him five sons and three daugh- ters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living. He has always been a leader in town and county affairs, holding many positions of trust and respon- sibility. He represented the town at Montpelier in 1861-62, served as selectman eleven years, lister and appraiser for a long time, and is now notary public. Until appointed postmaster he held the office of justice of the peace twenty-nine years. He is a Democrat in politics, is liberal in his views, and takes pleasure in entertaining his friends. He has accumulated a nice property, and owns considerable real estate in Chelsea, Randolph and Royalton, besides several fine farms in this town.
William P. Brown, son of Jeremiah and Mary (Morse) Brown, was born in Canterbury, Conn., April 10, 1805. His parents settled in Tunbridge about 18II, where he has since resided, his occupation being that of a farmer. December 9, 1847, he married Emeline Hutchinson, of this town, who died November 29, 1877. By industry, energy and fair dealing he has been able to secure a competency sufficient for his declining years. He has one child, Mrs. B. Frank Butterfield, with whose husband he is now engaged in farming and stock raising, and although eighty-two years of age takes an active interest in the business affairs of the farm. Mr. Brown has held many offices of trust in the town and county, serving as side judge at Chelsea, town treasurer and constable for many years, and is universally esteemed and respected by all who know him.
Dana B. Grant resides on a pleasant farm one and a half miles northeast m North Tunbridge village. He was born in Washington sixty-one years
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
ago, being one of a family of eleven children, all of whom lived to maturity and were married. His father, John, was one of the first settlers of Washing- ton, coming from New Hampshire, His farm consisted of 100 acres of unbroken timber land, and his early experiences were much like other pioneers of "ye olden time." During the first two years of his pioneer life his house consisted of a sap holder, in which he slept in the winter by a log fire, both for warmth and for protection from wild beasts, bears being especially familiar, even following him from the sugar camp attracted by the odor of the hot syrup. He died in 1871, aged seventy-two years. Dana B. married Caroline E., daughter of James and Henrietta Noyes, March 8, 1849, and, aided by his estimable wife, has accumulated a comfortable property. Their union was blessed with five children,-three sons and two daughters,-four of whom are living.
Major Grant, son of John and brother of Dana B., was born in Washing- ton, March 24, 1819. He removed to this town with his parents when fifteen years of age and has since resided here. March 23, 1848, he married Sarah J. Luce, who died January 24, 1868. They had born to them seven children, -five sons and two daughters,-five of whom are living, all in Tunbridge. One daughter is the wife of H. J. Williams, a well-to-do farmer residing in the eastern part of the town.
James L. Farnham, son of Harley and Mary (Leavitt) Farnham, was born in Tunbridge, February 16, 1836, and is a farmer by occupation. Previous to the late Rebellion he was a member of the state militia, and was mustered into service October 4, 1862, as lieutenant. June 12, 1860, he married Lena N. Folsom, of this town, and their union was blessed with four children, equally divided as to sex, three of whom are living. Fred W. died at the age of seven years ; Henry H., the eldest, is engaged in farming and stock raising, in Kansas; Clara M. is married and lives in this town; and Evie M., the youngest, resides with her parents.
Stephen Noyes was born in Chelsea, June 29, 1811, and is the sixth child of Nathan and Lydia (Smith) Noyes, who reared a family of twelve children. His business has been principally that of farming, although he has always im- proved the opportunity for a good investment. March 27, 1834, he married Julia Gusha, and in 1837 settled in this town, where they have since resided. Their union was blessed with four children-two sons and two daughters. He owns the woolen-mill now occupied by Gay Brothers, also four dwellings at Tunbridge Center and several farms in the town. At the age of eighteen he received accidentally a charge of shot in the left hip, from the effects of which he experiences much suffering and inconvenience. Still, at the age of seventy-six years, he looks after and manages his business affairs personally though doing but little manual labor. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes have lived to- gether as man and wife for fifty-three years. Mr. Noyes has held many posi- tions of trust, and by strict economy and close attention to business has accumulated a competency, which will serve to make his remaining years pass
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
with comfort and contentment. He is a genial, hospitable gentleman, and a good type of the genuine old New Englander.
Eugene C. Sleeper, son of Calvin N. and Sarah (Lillie) Sleeper, was- born in Strafford, Vt., February 12, 1841, and lived in that town and Chel- sea until the breaking out of the late civil war. He was the first man to en- list from the town of Strafford, was mustered into service June 12, 1861, and served to the close of the war. He was taken prisoner near Warrenton Junction, Va., by Mosby's Guerrillas, October 26, 1863, and was confined in rebel dens for thirteen months, seven months of which time was spent in the notorious Andersonville prison where so many of our brave boys met a death a hundred fold more terrible than in the mad rush of battle. The other six months were spent in five different rebel prisons. Mr. Sleeper was paroled November 26, 1864, but was never exchanged owing to the closing of the war. He is engaged in farming, but the privations and hardships of those thirteen months of confinement and cruel treatment has told upon an other- wise strong constitution, and like thousands of other soldiers he will be obliged to carry the effects of his imprisonment through life. He lives on the farm settled by his great-grandfather, John Lillie, who came from Con- necticut with an ox-team among the early settlers.
Charles A. Wight, son of Albert and Lydia (Abbott) Wight, was born in Troy, N. Y., January 2, 1837, came to Tunbridge when a child, and lived with Abel Bennett until he was twenty-two years old. He learned the shoe- maker's trade, which he followed until 1875, when he bought out the gen- eral store at North Tunbridge village and combined mercantile pursuits with . shoemaking until his growing trade compelled him to devote his whole at- tention to the latter branch of his business. He is an illustration of what a man can become by close application to business even in a small town. He married, in 1860, Sarah J. Littlefield, of Kennebunkport, Me., who has ever been a true helpmeet, and to her he attributes a large share of the credit for his success. By strict attention to business, and fair dealing, he has built up a lucrative business and secured the confidence and esteem of his towns- people. He has been postmaster and assistant postmaster since 1878.
Theodore Howe, a farmer, married Lydia Johnson, and they had born to them six boys and five girls. Mr. Howe settled in Royalton, Windsor county, at an early day, where he was accidentally killed by being thrown from a load of hay, July 25, 1805, aged fifty-eight years. His son William married, first, Fanny Foster, and settled on a farm in Royalton, thence removed to Tunbridge, where his wife died, leaving him four children. For his second wife he married Mrs. Phebe K. Griffith, daughter of Philip Farnham, of this town, and they had two children. In the spring of 1844 he removed to Barnard, Windsor county, and in May, 1852, returned to this town, locating on Whitney hill, where he died May 6, 1865, in his sixty-ninth year. His wife died January 26, 1867, in her sixty-eighth year. E. F. Howe, son of
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
William, is married and lives on the home farm. He is a deacon in the Con- gregational church and is much esteemed by all.
Henry R. Hayward, son of Reuben and Mina (Cushman) Hayward, was born in this town March 29, 1841. He was one of the first to respond to the call for troops to suppress the Rebellion in 1861, and enlisted in Co. E, 2d Vt. Vols., as third sergeant, serving three years without being severely wounded. He was promoted to 2d lieutenant for meritorious conduct, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service, when he returned to Tunbridge and engaged in the lumber and grist-milling business, which he has since followed. He married Susan E. Farnham, November 17, 1864, and they have had six children, five of whom are now living. Fred F., the eldest, is a cadet at Northfield, Washington county, and will complete the course with the class of '88. The other children reside at home.
Wallace W. Swan, son of William and Harriet (Whitney) Swan, was born in Tunbridge, November 11, 1842, and was educated at the common schools in this town. He enlisted in Co. A, 15th Vt. Vols., August 29, 1862, and was honorably discharged August 5, 1863. In 1869 he engaged in manufac- turing lumber, rakes, and fork and hoe handles, in which business he con- tinued until 1884. He served the town as constable in 1884-86, and was elected representative to the state legislature in 1886. Owing to failing health he has retired from active business. He resides in the village of North Tunbridge.
Dr. Edgar J. Fish was born in Washington, February 7, 1851, and was ed- ucated at the common schools of his native town and at the academy in Chelsea. He studied medicine with Dr. S. M. Goss, of Chelsea, attended Dartmouth Medical college, graduated from the Medical department of the University of Vermont, and located in this town in September, 1874, where he has built up a lucrative practice and has won the confidence and respect of the people by his skill and reliability as a physician and citizen.
It appears that the settlers of Tunbridge were early interested in ecclesi- astical affairs. In a warning to the inhabitants for a town meeting, dated Sep- tember 4, 1788, to be held on the 23d of the same month at the house of Capt. Alexander Stedman, articles 3 and 4 read as follows: "To see if the town will come into some method to hire preaching." "To see if the town will agree on some particular spot for the meting house." The vote on these two questions was as follows : "Voted that this town will do nothing about hir- ing preaching at present "; and " voted to do nothing with respect to pitching a spot for a meting house." In the following year the question was again brought up, the town voting at this time "to raise money to hire preaching the next summer." Previous to this a Rev. Mr. Jones had preached in town, but it appears that they were not agreed upon what remuneration he was to receive. In 1790 it was decided to locate a meeting-house near the center
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TOWN OF VERSHIRE.
of the town, and a committee of five was chosen to "stick the stake " for said house.
The Central Congregational church was organized February 5, 1792, by Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, with fifteen male and twelve female members, with David H. Williston as the first pastor. Their first house of worship, a wooden structure, was commenced in 1795 and finished in 1797. In 1838 their build- ing was destroyed by fire, and in 1839 the present structure, which will com- fortably seat 200 persons, was built at a cost of about $1,500, and is now valued, including parsonage and other church property, at $3,000. The soci- ety now consists of thirty-nine members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Thomas S. Hubbard. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of fifty, with Dea. B. F. Butterfield, superintendent.
The Methodist church, located at South Tunbridge village, was organized about 1810. Their first house of worship, the present brick structure, was built in 1833 at a cost of about $2,500, will comfortably seat 200 persons, and is valued, including other church property, at $2,000. The society numbers thirty-three members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. W. R. Davenport. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of thirty scholars, with Ira Mudgett, superintendent.
The First Universalist society, of North Tunbridge, was organized May 27, 1837, by Isaiah Bacon and Newell Ordway, with forty-five members, Rev. Russell Streeter being the first pastor. Their first house of worship, the pres- ent structure, was built of wood in 1839, at a cost of $2,000, will comfort- ably seat 200 persons, and is now valued at $600. The society consists of fifteen members, with Rev. S. A. Parker, pastor.
The North Tunbridge Free Baptist church was organized October 8, 1840, by Rev. David Swett, the first pastor. Their church edifice, a wooden struc- ture, was built in 1870 at a cost of $3,000, will comfortably seat 300 persons, and is now valued, including other church property, at $2,000. The society has a membership of seventy, under the pastoral charge of Rev. C. E. Hurd. A flourishing Sabbath school with sixty members is connected with this church.
ERSHIRE is situated a little southeast of the center of the county, in latitude 43° 57' and longitude 4° 41', and is bounded north by Corinth, east by West Fairlee, south by Strafford, and west by Chelsea. The township was granted November 7, 1780, and chartered August 3, 1781, to Capt. Abner Seelye, and sixty-four others, with one right for the support of a college, one right for a grammar school, one right for the first settled min- ister, one right for the support of " social worship," and one for the support of town schools. A condition of the grant was that each right should be set- itled, five acres cultivated, and a house at least eighteen feet square built on
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TOWN OF VERSHIRE.
it "within three years next after the circumstances of the war will admit of a settlement with safety."
The territory originally contained 21,961 acres ; but October 23, 1811, a mile square was annexed to Corinth.
The town was first called " No. 7," afterwards "Caley Town," and it was also at one time called Arlington, which name it retained but a short time, when the present one was substituted. It was also for a short time called Ely.
The first meeting of the proprietors was warned July 22, 1783, to be held August 28, next ensuing, at the residence of Lenox Titus. At this meeting Ebenezer West was chosen moderator and Jonathan Maltby proprietors' clerk. No business of importance was transacted, and the meeting adjourned to. September 4, 1783, at which time it was voted to lay out a 100-acre lot to each proprietor, also lots to fill the requirements of the charter, and one for a mill. The claims of several proprietors, who had already pitched a location, was established. Many of the original proprietors never came to the town, and no record is extant of their having transferred their claims ; but some of the settlers did quit-claim their rights of land and give a warranty deed, which fact leads one to suppose that their names were fictitious. Amos Matson was moderator of the first town meeting, which was held August 27, 1783, at which Andrew Peters was chosen town clerk, Theodore Woodward, constable, and Ebenezer West, John Woodward, and Lenox Titus, selectmen. This is in accordance with the existing records, although a claim is made that Jonathan Maltby was the first town clerk, and that the papers containing the- record of his election were burned.
The surface of the town is very hilly and broken, producing a picturesquely beautiful landscape, the whole territory being eminently composed of hill and dale. The soil for the most part is fertile, even on the hillsides, producing large crops of the grains and vegetables indiginous to the climate, also furnish- ing pasturage for goodly sized flocks and herds. But little swamp or wet lands prevail. The Ompompanoosuc river, with its two branches, furnish the principal water-course of the town, while rippling streams, sparkling in untrod- den places at their sources, penetrate the enumerable valleys, making it one of the best-watered towns in the county. Two distinct ranges of hills extend east and west through the town, also one on the west side running northerly and southerly. The north side of the town is in many places several hundred feet high. The most marked precipice is Eagle Ledge, the southern face being a bare rock reaching to an almost perpendicular height of more than 200 feet. The Vermont copper mines,* in the southeasterly part of the town, are in another ridge, which runs through the town, nearly parallel to the first, and south of it. Another ridge, on the west side of the town, next to Chelsea, extends nearly the whole length of that side, and forms the water-shed which
*An extended history of the copper mines of Orange county forms a part of the County Chapter .- ED.
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TOWN OF VERSHIRE.
divides the waters which flow into White river from those which flow into the Connecticut. The rocks entering into the geological structure of the territory are of calciferous mica schist formation, with a bed of copper and iron pyrites in the southeastern part.
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