USA > Vermont > Washington County > Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889 > Part 25
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LOWER CABOT, on the Winooski river, one mile southwest from Cabot village, is a post village, and contains two meeting-houses, a woolen-mill, a dry goods and a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, and about thirty dwellings. The first settlement here was commenced by Reuben Atkins, in 1799.
SOUTH CABOT (p. o.) is located on Molly's brook, in the southeastern part of the town, and was formerly called Hookersville. Parker Hooker settled here in 1810 and built up the place. This village contains the Hooker saw- mill, owned by Harvey Clark, a carriage repair shop, a blacksmith shop, one store, a school-house, and thirteen dwellings.
EAST CABOT (p. o.) is a hamlet on Molly's brook, a short distance below the outlet of Molly's pond. John Heath commenced here in 1817. His team with which he cleared land, went to mill, and to meeting, was one stag.
Ira F. Haines's woolen-mills are located on road 41, at Lower Cabot, and on the Winooski river, which furnishes the motive power. Mr. Haines man- ufactures cassimeres and flannels and does custom carding. These mills were built about 1825, by Horace Haines and William Ensign, for the purpose of wool-carding and cloth-dressing. After a number of years Mr. Haines sold his interest, but in 1849 became its owner, and since then the business has been conducted by some member or members of the Haines family.
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Fowler S. Ford manufactures butter boxes and dairy utensils, and makes a specialty of stamping designs, at Lower Cabot, at the shop formerly occupied by True A. Town, in the manufacture of boot-trees and novelties. Mr. Ford commenced this branch of business in South Peacham in 1878, and pur- chased and removed to his present quarters in 1885.
Two of the earliest settlers, David Lyford and his neighbor Blanchard, had each built a log cabin and barn of the same material partly in rear of the house. These pioneers were separated by a narrow swail, and their cabins stood facing each other, not more than thirty rods apart. This low ground was still a bit of the forest, with large trees and thick bushes on either side of the narrow foot path. These neighbors had held peaceable possession of their claims, without molestation, and had been prosperous; each had cleared sev- eral acres around his buildings, and had enough for the support of his family. About the middle of one afternoon in August of the third year of this embryo settlement, David Lyford and his efficient helpmeet, Judith, had just finished a job of dressing flax. Mr. Lyford had plied the heavy break, and Judith had performed her part by hatcheling the flax. Judith remarked to David that while he was putting the break away she would run across to neighbor Blanchard's and return the borrowed hatchel. Mrs. Lyford carried the dressed flax into the house and laid it away until she could spin it, and started on her errand, fortunately leaving the heavy plank door open. About half way home, in passing a short curve in the path, she found herself in arm's length of a cub bear, weighing fifteen or twenty pounds, and through the thick bushes she caught a glimpse of the old bear and another cub. Not the least intimi- dated, in a defiant way, she caught up the cub by the hind legs and ran. The cub squealed and began to scratch and bite; she instantly wrapped him in her stout homespun apron, and kept on at her utmost speed. She heard the old bear crashing through the bushes in hot pursuit. The impulse that im- pelled her to seize the cub prompted her to keep it, and keep it she did. With a determination to win the race she dashed along the pathway, con- scious that the furious beast was gaining on her at every leap. She reached the house, darted through the open doorway, flung the cub from her, swung the plank door to, and dropped the wooden bar into its socket, but none too soon. The enraged mother bear instantly threw her great weight against it, but it was made for just such an emergency, and did not yield. Imagine the surprise and anxiety of her husband, as lie caught a glimpse of his wife darting in at the door with a full-grown and furious bear not a rod behind her ! He ran to the window behind the house ; but Judith was there before him, with their trusty gun, always kept loaded for instant use. The cries of the cub had rendered the bear frantic. In her efforts to break through the door she did not see David, who, with a well-directed shot, laid her dead. The cub in the house shared the fate of its dam, and David went to the swamp in search of the other, but it had escaped.
Nathaniel Webster, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Chester, N. H., in
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1753, and settled in Cabot in 1783. He married Mahitabel Smith, of Hol- derness, and twelve children were born to them. Their sons Abel, Harvey, and Alpheus settled in Cabot, and were identified with the early interests of the town.
Lieut. Fifield Lyford was born in Exeter, N. H., in 1763. At the age of thirteen years he entered the Revolutionary war as a servant to his father, Lieut. Thomas Lyford, and was with him one year at Ticonderoga. He then went to West Point and was one of Gen. Arnold's life-guards, until the Gen- eral proved a traitor to our country. He remained with the army until the close of the war. He married and settled in Cabot in 1788, and built on his farm the first framed barn in town. He served as a lieutenant in the War of 1812, was honorably discharged, and received a pension. He died at the home of his son-in-law, T. E. Wilson, in Cabot, April 18, 1846, aged seventy- nine years.
Hector McLean was born in Milton, Mass., in 1790, and came into this town on foot at a very early date. He married Lucretia, daughter of Salmon Elkins, of Greensboro, and four of their seven children are now living (1888). He was a merchant over forty years in Lower Cabot and Peacham. In 1836 he opened a hotel and aided in building up the village by starting a potash manufactory and blacksmith shop. He was also postmaster. He was hon- est and careful in deal and made his contracts in writing. His son Samuel E., who resides at Lower Cabot, says that his father would draw a written contract so binding and strong that it would ruin both parties to it. Samuel E. McLean is a farmer and painter, and was a soldier in the late war.
Thomas Osgood came to Cabot from Claremont, N. H., about 1793, and settled where his grandson, Albert Osgood, now lives. He commenced clear- ing a farm when there were but few settlers in town and was obliged to. encounter all the hardships and inconveniences incidental to this new settle- ment. He married a Miss Catlin, and eleven children blessed their union. Mr. Osgood served the town as clerk from 1795 to 1832, with the single ex- ception of 1822, when Josiah Fisher held the office. He was town treasurer in all forty-two years. His son Thomas, Jr., born here June 19, 1804, suc- ceeded him on the homestead, and, because of the infirmities of his age, he also succeeded his father as town clerk, and served until 1858, a term of twenty-six years, when, on account of illness, he resigned, dying soon after. He too was town treasurer and held the position fifteen years. December 9, 1829, he married Almira Buck, and six children were born to them, viz .: Albert, born October 7, 1830; Fanny, born April 12, 1834; Joshua, born February 18, 1840; Emily, ,born February 5, 1843; William H., born August 26, 1845 ; Benjamin F., born March 18, 1849. Thomas Osgood, Jr., died June 9, 1858, and his wife died July 31, 1858. His sons Albert and Benjamin F. now live on the old homestead. Albert married Mrs. Fanny P. Hall, and five of their eight children are living.
Dr. Parley Scott was born in Worcester, Mass., in July, 1765. He married
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Lydia Day, about 1790, and settled for the practice of medicine on Cabot Plain, in 1794, and removed to the village in 1804. He died in 1850, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Scott died before him at the age of eighty-three. They had eight children, only one of whom, Mr. George W. Scott, of Mont- pelier, is now living. Dr. Scott was a successful physician more than fifty years in Cabot. He made his professional visits on horseback, and was the physician of the poor as well as of the rich.
Joseph Fisher, born in Dedham, Mass., in 1769, remembered distinctly the: battle of Bunker Hill. He married Sarah Osgood, and settled in Cabot soon after he attained his majority. He died in 1853, aged eighty-seven years. Mrs. Fisher died in 1839, aged seventy years. They had four sons and three daughters. Mr. Fisher and his sons were public-spirited and enterprising, men, and filled many of the offices in town.
John Stone was born in the town of Claremont, N. H., January 15, 1775, and about 1797 settled in Cabot, on the " Dean farm," where he resided about forty years, and then removed to the farm where his son Matthias Jones Stone now lives, and where he spent the remainder of his life. About 1803 he mar- ried Betsey Huntoon, of Kingston, N. H. They had ten children, all of whom lived to be over sixty-three years of age, and six are yet living. Four of their sons were ministers of the gospel. Matthias J. Stone, before men- tioned, was born in Cabot, February 24, 1818. In April, 1843, he married Adaline Kennon, of Cabot. Their children are William L., Susie A., and Justin. Mrs. Stone died October 28, 1866. February 29, 1876, Mr. Stone married Sarah C. Gove. He possesses a comfortable competence for his ap- proaching old age.
Ezra Hoyt was born in Deerfield, N. H., in September, 1776. In March, 1802, he married Sarah Cram, of Meredith, N. H., who was born in February, 1781. Mr. Hoyt was a farmer, and settled in Cabot in 1797, and experi- enced the hardships and privations of a pioneer settler. Their children were Sarah, Mary, Sophronia, Enoch, and Asenath. Enoch was born on the home- stead, January 15, 1812, where he resided until December, 1863. He was four times married, first, to Huldah Kenaston ; second, to Lucia (Hop- kins) Orcutt ; third, to Irena Lyford ; and fourth, to Ann Lyford. He was the father of three children. His first wife was the mother of his daughters Emily A. and Martha S. His second wife was the mother of his only son, George, who resides with his father. In 1863 Mr. Hoyt removed to the place where he now resides. He enjoys the confidence and respect of his towns- men, was captain of a company of artillery, has served as selectman for a number of years, and in other town offices. His son George married Eva Seabury, daughter of C. M. Seabury, who died in March, 1888. They are the parents of a son and daughter.
Dea. Joseph Blanchard and his wife, Phebe (Abbott), from Plainfield, N. H., settled in Cabot about 1797, on the farm where James Marsh now lives. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and in the War of 1812. He was one 14 **
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of the first deacons of the Freewill Baptist church (the first church organized in Cabot), and selectman in 1808-09. Late in life he was a pensioner. He died in 1833, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Blanchard died in 1831, aged seventy-one. His oldest son was a soldier in the War of 1812. His daughter Hannah, born in Cabot, August 3, 1806, married Horace Beckley, of Barre.
Elihu Coburn, born in Charlton, Mass., came to Cabot on horseback in the summer of 1799, and selected the pleasant valley among the hills where his son Elihu F. Coburn now lives and where Elihu was born in 1815. Mr. Coburn commenced immediately to clear a space in the forest and build a frame house, one of the first in town. He remained until winter, when he returned to Massachusetts and married Abigail Putnam, and in January they came to their abode in the wilderness. Four years after his parents followed him to Cabot, and a few years later her parents joined them. Mr. Coburn converted his wilderness into fertile fields, and surrounded himself and family with the comforts of a farmer's home. He was highly respected and a most estimable man. Eight children were born to them. Mr. Coburn died at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Coburn survived him about six years. They kept the celebrated " Farmers' Tavern " about thirty years.
Reuben Atkins was the first to settle in Lower Cabot. In 1799 he built a log house on the site where his grandson, the late William S. Atkins, lived. He made maple sugar in his door-yard the first season. The next year he built the framed barn now standing on the place and in good condition. Mr. Atkins was prominent in town affairs and was one of the board of selectmen in 1799 and 1800. His son Jeremiah was born on the farm in 1800, and here resided his entire life. He married Serepta Hincher, of Bethel, Vt. They had eight children, four of whom lived to rear families. Col. Atkins took an active interest in the military organizations of Cabot, and rose to the rank of colonel, by which title he was afterwards distinguished. He died in August, 1873, and Mrs. Atkins died in July, 1879. His son William S. was born in 1832. He married Mary Converse, of Lyme, N. H., who survives him and resides on the homestead. They were parents of four children, one of whom is a son. William S. Atkins was a true Christian gentleman, of sterling integrity, and the religion that he professed attended him in his daily life and governed him in his dealings with others. He was a faithful and earnest worker in the M. E. church, and superintendent of the Sunday- school twenty years.
Nathaniel Farrington, a native of Dedham, Mass., married Elizabeth Whiting, of his native town, and settled, first, in Lyndeboro, N. H. About 1799 they settled in the southern part of Walden, Vt., near where the South Walden church now stands, and kept the first public house in the town, in their log cabin. This was soon replaced by a framed building ; and still later by the present house, at the Corners, which was kept in the Farrington name about seventy years. Edward W. Farrington, the only surviving son of Nathaniel, was born August 26, 1804, and has always been a farmer. He
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resided in Walden until 1867, when he removed to Cabot, where he now re- sides, aged eighty-four years. He married Sarah M. Rogers, whose mother was the daughter of Benjamin Webster, one of the first settlers of Cabot. She was a cousin of Daniel Webster. Mr. and Mrs. Farrington had born to them nine children, five of whom are now living. His son John A. is a merchant in Cabot. Mr. Farrington is well preserved for one of his great age, and takes great interest in current events.
James Marsh was born in Salisbury, N. H., July 23, 1775. In 1801 he married Miriam Walbridge, and in that year settled in Cabot. Only three of their eight children are living. Henry, their son, lost his life in the service of his country in the late war. James, the youngest of this family, also enlisted, in Co. G, 4th Vt. Regt., and received a gun-shot wound in his hip, and for this disability he is now a pensioner. He united in marriage with Lydia Merrill, of Cabot. Their only surviving son, Fred, married Bertha Lance, October 26, 1886, and resides with his father.
David Cunningham and his wife, Jane (Ritchie), natives of Scotland, settled in Cabot on the farm now occupied by their son David about 1842. Their children were Jane (Mrs. Roswell Laird), of Cabot; Lizzie (Mrs. Robert Urie), of Craftsbury ; Janet and Margaret, also of Craftsbury ; and David, before mentioned. The latter married Selah A. Knapp, of Moretown. David, Sr., died at the age of sixty years, and his wife at the age of sixty-five.
Matthias Stone, son of Matthias, was born in Cabot on the " Payne farm," April 21, 1802, and here he lived twenty-three years, when he settled on the farm now occupied by his son Eli H. B. Stone. He married Perrilla Davi- son, and reared a family of six children, viz .: Charles, Henry, Huldah J., Matthias, Eli H. B., Annette, and Demis. There were but few farms cleared in town when Mr. Stone was born, and he experienced with others many hardships incident to new settlements. He was possessed of great courage and energy. His daring sometimes led him into dangerous encounters with the bears which then inhabited the forest. As an illustration, at an organized bear hunt he had only a pitch-fork for a weapon, with which he bravely attacked bruin, who refused to surrender, and closed in for a genuine tussle. Mr. Stone was a match in strength and grit for his shaggy adversary, and he conquered, but carried the scars of a wound on his hip to his grave. He died at his home, March 2, 1888, aged eighty-six years. His wife died December 20, 1882. Eli H. B. Stone resides on the homestead as before mentioned. He married Martha Badger, of Danville, and they have three children.
Hon. John W. Dana, son of John W. Dana and Hannah, daughter of Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame, was born in Pomfret, Vt., in 1777, and settled in Cabot in the spring of 1802, and very soon became its most prominent citizen. He settled on the Plain, and was an extensive dealer in real estate, cattle, and produce, and conducted a well stocked store for the times. About 1812 Mr. Dana moved from the Plain, to the valley
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where the village of Cabot now stands, and was largely instrumental in build- ing it. He gave to the town the land which now constitutes the beautiful Village park, furnished most of the means to build the first Methodist church, and gave liberally to benevolent objects. He was respected and honored by his townsmen, and was chosen to all the important offices in their gift. His wife was the daughter of Rev. Mr. Damon, of Woodstock, Vt. They had born to them four sons and four daughters. One daughter still survives and resides in Wisconsin, and also one son, the Hon. O. F. Dana, for many years a trusted and efficient officer in the treasury department at Washington, D. C. In 1839 Mr. Dana sold his property in Cabot and removed to Wisconsin, where some of his married daughters had settled. He died in 1850. Mrs. Dana survived until 1872.
Moses, son of Reuben Clark, was born in Cabot, November 14, 1803. Mr. Clark has been married four times and has outlived his early associates. He commenced active life when Cabot was very sparsely settled and has seen the forests disappear, and generations come and go. He says there is not one person living on the road between Cabot and Peacham villages that was there- in his early recollection. Mr. Clark has in his day given his influence in molding affairs of his town, and now, in his well preserved old age, is fond of giving incidents, reminiscences, and anecdotes of the early times and early settlers.
Abiah Colburn came from Hartford to Cabot in 1804, and settled on the farm now owned by S. S. Batchelder. September 1, 1804, their son Zerah .. the world-renowned boy mathematician, was born. His parents were poor and obscure, but respectable. It is said they considered Zerah the most backward of any of their children, until in the beginning of August, 1810,. when he was a little less than six years old, while his father was at work at. a joiner's bench, the child was at play on the floor with chips, the father was astonished by hearing Zerah, saying to himself, " 5 times 7 are 35 ; 6 times 8. are 48," etc. Mr. Colburn at once proceeded to examine him in the multi- plication table, and found him perfect in that, and then asked the product of 13 by 97, to which 1,26I was instantly given. In twelve months his fame as a mathematical prodigy spread over America and all Europe, without the aid of a telegraph. His father soon had him on exhibition in Danville at the time of the session of the court, at Montpelier before the legislature, and at Boston. Questions of two and three places in figures in multiplication, in proportion, extraction of the roots, exact squares and cubes, were proposed and. correct answers given without apparent effort. In Boston he received liberal offers to educate his son. One was to raise $5,000, and give the father $2,500, the remaining $2,500 to be devoted to Zerah's education ; but to these proposals Mr. Colburn would not accede. From Boston Mr. Colburn took his son to New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. In these places he did not receive the encouragement that he hoped for pecuniarily. April 3, 1812, he embarked for England, and arrived in London May 24. Here
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Zerah was called upon by the high and the noble, and invited to visit the crowned heads. Here his mathematical powers were subjected to the sever- est tests. He was able to solve the most difficult questions.
During all this time his education had been neglected, and men of influ- ence generously offered the means for his education. After a delay of about four years, when the lad was twelve years old, he was placed at school, and while in school received liberal gifts of money for his support. He was moved from school to school by his father and consequently was often in straitened circumstances. Suffice it to say Mr. Colburn died February 14, 1823, and in destitute circumstances. By the contributions of Zerah's friends he was en- abled to sail for America July 3, 1825, and arrived in Cabot after an absence of thirteen years. In a few months he connected with the Methodist church as a preacher, and in his ministry of seven years he had as many different appointments. On account of poor health he gave up preaching in 1834, and accepted a professorship in Norwich University. He died March 2, 1839, of consumption, at the early age of thirty-four years and six months.
He did not retain his wonderful mathematical powers after he was educated and entered the ministry. So said his daughter to Mr. J. M. Fisher, to whom we are indebted for this sketch.
Robert Lance was born in England in 1771. He emigrated to America, and married Hannah Heath, of Chester, N. H., and in 1804 removed to Cabot. He was the first to make regular trips to Boston to haul freight. His team was a pair of horses and two pairs of oxen. He carried whiskey, salts, and pork to Boston and returned with molasses, codfish, and other goods in- dispensable to new settlements. It then required from four to six weeks to make the round trip. Mr. Lance died in 1847, aged seventy-six years. Mrs. Lance died several years earlier. Four sons and five daughters were born to them. One of the daughters, Mrs. Dean, is now living in Cabot, aged eighty- one years. The sons, William, Robert, Joseph, and John, were all citizens of Cabot and identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. Joseph was born in Chester, N. H., in 1799. In 1830 he engaged in mercantile business in Calais. He represented Calais in the legislature of 1837 and '38, and held many other offices of trust. In 1839 he purchased the entire estate of Hon. John W. Dana, in Cabot, and in 1845 removed to this town where he held many town offices, and managed all these interests with marked ability. He dealt largely in real estate and live stock, and was a successful financier. He was liberal to the poor and gave freely to benevolent objects, and often remarked that the money thus spent was well invested. He mar- ried Cynthia Tucker in 1833. They had four children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Lance died in October, 1865. Mrs. Lance still survives.
John D. Lance, the youngest son of Robert, was born in Cabot, August 27, 1812, and died April 2, 1886. March 12, 1833, he was united in mar- riage with Prudence, daughter of Dea. Silas Jacobs, who was born June 22, 1818, and who still survives. At the time of his marriage Mr. Lance settled
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on a farm, but devoted most of his time in speculation in cattle, sheep, and horses, and two or three years later, in addition, he was a heavy dealer in butter. In 1838, to secure a debt, he came in possession of a store and a heavy stock of goods at Lower Cabot, and was from necessity, not choice, a merchant the ensuing two years. From 1862 until the close of the late war he was United States agent in the purchase of horses for the army. Mr. Lance continued to deal successfully in live stock up to 1870, when he retired to his farm. On account of his practical knowledge of men and business he was kept by his town at the head of the board of selectmen, and in the office of town agent. He is now represented by four sons, viz .: George Lance, born November 17, 1836, resides in South Woodbury, where he has been postmaster the last twelve years, and town clerk the last six years. He con- ducts a country store, and is a trainer, breeder, and dealer in fine horses. Paul Lance, born September 11, 1841, is an enterprising farmer, and resides in Cabot. Dr. Robert W. Lance, born May 28, 1848, is a practicing physi- cian, and resides at South Woodbury. Dr. John B. Lance was born in Marshfield, March 13, 1851, commenced the study of medicine at the Hom- eopathic Medical College of New York, and graduated from the Huron Hos- pital College of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1877. He commenced the practice of his profession in Cabot, and subsequently removed to Campton village, where he had a large practice. September 9, 1888, he located in Montpelier, where he has every prospect of success. April 15, 1885, Dr. Lance united in mar- riage with Miss Emma F. Wood, of Campton, N. H.
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