Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 26

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836-, comp; Adams, William, fl. 1893, ed
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Vermont > Washington County > Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889 > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Damon was an early settler of Cabot Plain. He was a man of energy and ability, and opened a store. He had been preceded in the business by John W. Dana, also a man of ability, and in a short time they owned nearly all the land in the vicinity, comprised in 1,000 acres. They often wintered one hundred head of cattle. Mr. Damon also opened his house as a tavern. Later he built a hotel at the village, which he conducted. Mr. Damon was a son of Rev. George Damon, of Woodstock, Vt. He married Nancy Strong, of Connecticut. His son John H., born in 1822, married Nancy T. Coffin, of Cabot, and has always resided in his native town except two years spent in Michigan. His children are George F., who resides in Kansas City; Lizzie C. (Mrs. M. M. Whitney), of Marshfield; and Julia H. (Mrs. Albert H. Steele), of Worcester, Mass.

Benjamin Smith, born in Claremont, N. H., came to Cabot in his early boyhood. In 1826 he married Betsey C. Grant, and reared ten children, all of whom were born in the same house. Joseph V. Smith, their eldest son, was born April 17, 1828. He married Orilla St. Clair, of Cabot, and resides on road 71 (Molly Brook road). They have two children, Laura G. (Mrs. Hiram A. Wilson) and Albert J., both of whom reside with their father.

James Patterson was born in Annandale, Scotland, in 1818. When he was nineteen years old he immigrated to America and lived in the vicinity of Bos-

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ton about a year. He then went to Ryegate, Vt., married Mary Jane Whitehill, and settled in that town. In 1847 he removed to Cabot, where Mrs. Patterson died. He afterward married Laurie A. Berret, who was the mother of his two children. Mr. Patterson has been industrious and prudent, and the aggregate of his savings is now a fine competence.

Abel Merrill, of Cabot, son of Abel, was an early settler of Danville. He married Margaret McLean, daughter of Capt. Donald McLean, a Scotchman, and captain in the Revolutionary war. The three eldest of their eight children died early. The oldest of the survivors, Edwin Jack Merrill, enlisted in the 2d Vt. Artillery, and was commissioned captain of Co. A. This regiment was stationed at Washington two years to guard the Capitol. Gen. Grant called them to the field. They were so unfortunate as to be captured by the enemy, on the Weldon railroad. Capt. Merrill was shot and fatally wounded in an attempt to escape, en route with other prisoners, to Macon, Georgia. Hec- tor McClure Merrill left home for California, and the family have had no tidings from him for years. Oscar F. Merrill married Clara B. Kimball, of Cabot, and remained at the old home on the farm with his father. Their children are Edwin Jack, who is married and resides with his father, and Charles Oscar, a school boy. Abel Merrill, Jr., enlisted as a private in the 3d Regt. Vt. Vols., left Vermont with his regiment when it went to the field, remained with it through all vicissitudes, and for his courage at the battle of Antietam he received a lieutenant's commission, and was later adjutant of the regiment. He fell in the terrible battle of the Wilderness. Merrill Post, G. A. R., No. 71, of Cabot, was named in honor of these brave soldiers. Jennie Merrill, their sister, married Dr. A. M. Ruggles, of Barton.

Ames Walbridge, son of Eleazer, who was an early settler of Randolph, Vt., was born in Randolph, and was an early settler of Cabot. He married Rachel Laird and settled on the farm where Levi J. Walbridge now lives. He was a man of great physical strength, just the right material for a pio- neer. He was greatly interested in fruit growing, and planted seeds which he brought from Randolph, and in time he had a large and thrifty orchard. He died of measles April 2, 1833, aged fifty-six years. His wife survived him fourteen years. They were parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom married and raised families. Only four are living. Leander and Lyman reside in Cabot. Leander married Nancy J. Wood, of Greensboro, who is a lineal descendant of Robert Johnston, one of the earliest settlers of Newbury, Vt. They have two children, Robert P., who married Lilla E. Farr, of Craftsbury, January 1, 1887, and Gertrude J.

Allen Perry was born in Cabot, October 29, 1815. He was a son of Anthony and Submit (Wheatly) Perry, who were among the first settlers in town. Mr. Perry was from Waterbury, Me .; his wife from Brookfield, Vt. They located where Addison Laird now lives. They had nine children, seven of whom lived to maturity, viz .: Nathaniel W., Anthony P., Mary V. (Mrs. Joseph Hoyt), of Cameron, Mo., Elijah, Susan (Mrs. Ames Walbridge),

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Charles, and Allen. Nathaniel W., a physician, is deceased. Elijah was for thirty years in business in Cabot. Allen is the youngest child and the only son living. At the age of twenty-three he engaged in freighting between Cabot and Boston. He drove a six-horse team without lines, and his was the first covered wagon, which created quite a sensation when it arrived in town. It took three weeks to make the round trip at an expense of $75. Mr. Perry handled freight nine years. He has always taken an active interest in town affairs, and held many town offices ; represented the town in 1846-47 ; was town treasurer over twenty years, and town clerk twenty-seven years. He mar- ried Almira Philpot, of Limerick, Me., who was a daughter of Andrew and Martha Philpot.

Benjamin Cate came to Cabot in 1818, when a lad of twelve years. In 1830 he married Samantha Goodell and settled on the farm where their son Joshua now lives. Seven of their ten children lived and raised families. Mr. Cate cleared the farm and built the stone house. This aged pair resides in Littleton, N. H. Mr. Cate is now eighty-two and Mrs. Cate eighty-four years old. Joshua Cate, before mentioned, resides on the homestead. In January, 1868, he married Mary L., daughter of Saulsbury Bullock, of Bethlehem, N. H. Mr. Cate is a highly respected citizen, and a good representative of the Cate family.

Joseph Hopkins was born in Strafford, Vt., September 15, 1806. His wife was born in Walden, Vt., October 4, 1810. They were parents of nine children. Their only daughter and one son died in childhood. The others lived to adult age. Mr. Hopkins died in Cabot, March 16, 1884, and Mrs. Hopkins died April 19, 1884. Their son Eastman T. Hopkins, born in Cabot, February 21, 1834, married Miss Mary Laird, daughter of John Laird, of Woodbury. Their children are a son and daughter. Mr. Hopkins is a. practical farmer, and thorough in all the details of his business. He consid- ers that the best of farm implements and stock are none too good. Besides giving close attention to his farm, he has aided in town affairs and other busi- ness interests.

Calvin Whittier was born in Cabot in 1802. His wife, Martha Lyford, was born September 24, 1803. Their children were Frederick, William P., Harry H., Sylvester D., and Lewis H., who died in Cabot, January 10, 1865. Harry H. Whittier, born December 31, 1833, married Helen Cate, Novem- ber 13, 1875, and settled on the homestead where he now resides. His father married in 1823, and resided on the homestead until his death, November 17, 1879, and by hard work and economy amassed a comfortable fortune.

James Stevenson was born in Barnet, Vt., September 26, 1824. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Cabot with his brother William, and bought a tract of wild land, and cleared it, which James still owns. He also owns a saw-mill at the outlet of Onion River pond and 400 acres of timber- land in Peacham. Mr. Stevenson is a man of sterling integrity and is highly

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esteemed. His father, William Stevenson, was born in Barnet in 1792, and spent his whole life on the farm where he was born. His mother, now ninety- seven years old, resides at the old home in Barnet, where she reared eight children to maturity, only one of whom ever married.

Jesse Mason, son of Nathaniel and Sally Mason, of Fitzwilliam, N. H., was born in Sullivan, N. H., in November, 1802. About 1831 he settled as a farmer in Cabot. He married, in the "Yellow Hotel," Mary Leavitt. In 1842 he removed from the farm where Frank Paquin now lives to the one where his youngest child, Nathaniel, now lives. He improved his farm and made it is home, and died here in 1877. His widow is living with her son before mentioned. Nathaniel Mason married Sarah Scott, of Niles, Mich., October 29, 1870.

Daniel Gould was born in Stoneham, Mass., September 5, 1799. He mar- ried Betsey, daughter of Joseph Smith, and they settled in Cabot in 1836, on the farm where their son George now lives. He was very industrious, and was probably able to perform more manual labor than any other man in town, and was acknowledged the champion chopper. His integrity and ability commanded the confidence of his townsmen, who chose him to represent them in the legislature of 1850 and 1851. Mr. Gould was father of five children. His son David died in California. Another son is a lawyer with a lucrative business in Los Angeles, Cal. George, born in Cabot, July 1, 1840, went to California in 1860, remained there seven years, and returned to the old farm in Cabot where he now resides. He has been selectman seven years, held other town offices, and represented Cabot in the legislature in 1880. In 1869 he married Olive A., daughter of Walter Stone, who lost his life in Libby prison in the late war. Daniel Gould was one of the trustees who built the first Congregational church in town, and was a liberal contributor for its erection.

Moses S. Haines, son of Horace and Lucinda (Stone) Haines, was born on the farm where he now lives, November 27, 1842. He married Delia, daughter of Stephen Hoyt, and they have three sons. Mr. Haines is a prac- tical farmer. He is an affable Christian gentleman, and a worthy successor of his late father who died in 1862.

Eben Bruce and Elmira (Blackmer), his wife, were natives of Greenwich, Mass. They emigrated to Woodbury, Vt., in 1825. Their children were Warren, Edwin, Lucius, Charles, Mariva, and Roland B. Mr. Bruce repre- sented Woodbury several times in the legislature, and although he was not a member of the bar his advice was often sought on questions of law, and he had quite a practice in justice courts. He was an assistant judge of the County Court for a term of years. Roland B., his son, born in Woodbury, December 24, 1832, married Sarah R. Ball, of his native town, who is the mother of two children. He represented Woodbury in the legislature of 1866, and has since held offices of trust in Cabot.

Dr. M. P. Wallace commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Asa George,

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of Calais, attended lectures at the Medical department of Dartmouth College, and commenced the practice of his profession in Cabot in 1843, which he continued until 1864. January 8, 1839, he married Mary L. Tucker, and resided at Lower Cabot until the decease of his wife, December 19, 1884. Since then he has resided with his only child, Mrs. L. C. Fisher. Besides giving attention to his duties as a physician, Dr. Wallace has filled many of the offices in his town, and represented Cabot in the legislature of 1863-64.

John M. Stone, son of Rev. John F. Stone, of Montpelier, (deceased,) was born September 18, 1835. He served as a soldier three months in Co. F, Ist Vt. Regt., and was then transferred to the quartermaster's department, where he remained to the close of his term of service. Mr. Stone is a pen- sioner. He married Miss Harriet L. Kimball, daughter of Dea. John H. Kimball, of Berlin, and settled on the farm where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are parents of six sons.

Francis L. Knapp, son of Liscomb and Rebecca (Langmaid) Knapp, was born in Waterbury, July 6, 1838. He married Elvira Eddy, of Peacham, and settled in Cabot soon after he attained his majority. Mr. James Eddy, aged ninety-six years (1888), the father of Mrs. Eddy, resides with them. Mr. Knapp enlisted in Co. D, 6th Vt. Regt., August 21, 1864, and was wounded at Charlestown, Va., and in consequence of his wound and other disabilities was discharged April 5, 1865. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Knapp were Eliza G., who died at the age of eighteen years ; Ellen E. (Mrs. Clarence Knapp), of Moretown ; Caroline G. (Mrs. Byron Webster), of Cabot ; and Myra L., who died aged about fifteen years.

N. K. Abbott is a farmer, born in 1825, and one of twelve children born to Amos W. and Betsey (Knight) Abbott, of Ryegate, Vt. April 6, 1852, he married Miss Sarah C., daughter of Capt. Leonard Johnson, of Peacham, and on their wedding day settled on the farm which has since been their home. Mr. Abbott's abilities are so much appreciated by his townsmen that they chose him to represent them in the legislature of 1874-75. He has also served as justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and has been selectman, lister, etc. In 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Abbott united with the Congregational church, which he has served as deacon twenty years, and of which they have been worthy members. They are parents of seven children, viz .: Mary P., Elizabeth M., Charles K., Willie S., Jane S., Lester K., and Walter I.

Mrs. Rebecca Goodwin was born in Danville, Vt., June 12, 1817. She was the eleventh child of Capt. Solomon Langmaid, who was the father of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to adult age. Rebecca was ambitious, and at the tender age of nine years commenced to assist in providing for her own support, by working out. At the age of thirteen years she was living with the family of Mr. Phillips, of Danville, where her life was not a flowery one. In addition to the general house work she fed a large pen of swine with potatoes that she carried from the cellar and boiled for that purpose, milked the cows, and performed other work that is usually done by men

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and boys. Neither was her diet such as is found on the tables at first-class hotels. But it was of the coarsest kind, and partaken of at a table by herself. The little time she attended school she arose early in the morning to do these chores, and walked one mile and a half to the school-house. At the age of eighteen she married Liscomb Knapp, of Waterbury, Vt., who died in 1840, and left a son, Erancis L., who now resides in Cabot. In 184t she married Jotham Goodwin, of Waterbury, and were parents of one daughter, Mrs. Abbie J. Yaw, of Plainfield. In 1846 Mr. Goodwin and family removed to Peacham, Vt., where they remained about ten years, and then removed to Cabot, where the family has since resided. Mr. Goodwin died in 1884, after an illness of three years. Only Mrs. Goodwin and an older sister are now living of this large family.

S. L. Wiswell, M. D., son of Leonard and Lucy (Perry) Wiswell, was born December 19, 1826. He attended school at Hyde Park, and graduated from the academy at Johnson, Vt. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. P. Barber, of Johnson, and continued with Dr. Ariel Huntoon, of Hyde Park. He attended a course of lectures at the medical college in Woodstock, Vt., and at the medical college in Pittsfield, Mass., and gradu- ated in 1851. He then spent six months at Deer Island hospital, Boston. He commenced practice at Wolcott, remained one year, practiced four years in Hyde Park, and in 1861 succeeded Dr. D. M. Goodwin in Cabot, and has proved himself a skillful physician ; and, as a consequence, he has an exten- sive and very lucrative practice. Dr. Wiswell has been a pension examiner since 1868. In 1885 he was appointed by the U. S. pension department a member of the Montpelier board of examining surgeons. He married Seraphina J. Crosby, of Hardwick, and they have a daughter, L. Gertrude.

E. D. Waldo, son of William E. and Mary (Kimball) Waldo, was born in Cabot, January 4, 1845. His parents removed to Peacham in 1852. At an early age he enlisted in Co. D, Ist Regt. Vt. Cav., and served to the close of the war. He then returned to Peacham and engaged in farming. He mar- ried Mary L., daughter of Capt. Ira Stevens, of North Danville. In 1870 they settled in Cabot, where they have since lived. Mr. Waldo is notary public, and since 1883 he has spent some time at Washington, D. C., prose- cuting pension claims.

Andrew and Margaret (Stevens) Barr immigrated from Dunlope, Scotland, to America, in 1840, and settled in Walden, Vt. In 1851 they removed to Greensboro, and seventeen years later he went to Nebraska, where he died in 1871. Robert S. Barr, their son, born in Scotland, May 30, 1840, bought the farm known as the Bickford place, where he now lives, in Cabot. He came to this town about 1866, and in 1874 married Miss Julia A., daughter of William M. Davis, of Northfield. They have one son. R. S. Barr started to make the voyage across the Atlantic when he was only two weeks old.

Mial D. Warren, M. D., was born in Denmark, Maine, May 20, 1852. At the age of twenty-three he went to Brattleboro, Vt., and was employed in the

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asylum about two years. He then entered Dr. Henry D. Holton's office as a medical student, and graduated from the medical college at Burlington, Vt., in the class of 1879. He practiced medicine in Wolcott about two years, and in December, 1880, settled in Cabot, where he has constantly gained in the estimation of the people, and has a large practice, not only in Cabot, but in adjoining towns. Dr. Warren united in marriage with Miss Orcenia B. Foss, of Hyde Park, Vt., and they have one child.

Fred P. Gale, M. D., son of Dea. Sullivan B. and Laura (Bailey) Gale, was born in Plainfield, May 5, 1853. He studied in the office of Dr. W. F. Lazell, of Plainfield, and graduated from the medical college of Burlington, Vt., in the class of 1880, and at once settled in Cabot, where he has a large practice, and in some of the best families in town, and is always in readiness to respond to the calls of those who need his aid. Dr. Gale married Mary, daughter of the late David Nevins, of Cabot.

The "Green Mountain Boys " have always been patriotic, and without a doubt. Cabot may well be proud of her military record. The following is a list of Revolutionary soldiers who settled in town : Lieut. Thomas Lyford, Jonathan Heath, Starling Heath, Thomas Osgood, Samuel Warner, Nathaniel Webster, Fifield Lyford, Nathan Edson, Trueworthy Durgin, Lieut. John Whittier, Maj. Lyman Hitchcock, Lieut. David Blanchard, and Ensign Jerry McDaniels.

The volunteer soldiers of 1812 were Luther Swan, Simon Walker, Leander Corlis, Samuel Dutton, Ezra Kennerson, Peter Lyford, Jesse Webster, David Lyford, Royal Gilbert.

At the commencement of hostilities with the South, Cabot at once called a war meeting, when stirring and patriotic speeches were made by some of her citizens, and a vote was passed to raise a company and offer its services to the governor. The following list of young men enrolled their names: J. P. Lamson, John Derine, F. L. Drown, H. L. Collins, H. M. Paige, G. W. Wright, E. S. Hoyt, Nathaniel Perry, Charles H. Newton, L. B. Scott, S. H. Bradish, L. S. Gerry, H. Perkins, Horace Carpenter, Luke A. Davis, C. H. Goodale, G. P. Hopkins, E. H. Scott, E. Gerry, Lyman Hopkins, Fayette Hopkins.

The total number of soldiers furnished during the war was 138. Of this number nine were killed in battle, eighteen died of disease, five of wounds received in battle, and of the number who returned many had contracted diseases from which they have since died, or are now suffering. The town paid $9,000 bounty to soldiers, and at the close of the war had paid it all.

In the warning for the March meeting of the town, in 1873, an article was inserted for considering the subject of erecting a monument to the memory of these soldiers. Final action was taken on the question in 1875, when an appropriation of $1,500 was made, and the town's committee, J. P. Lamson, M. P. Wallace, and Milton Fisher, purchased a Barre granite monument at

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the cost of the appropriation, and placed it on the highest ground on the common.

The Congregational church of Cabot is located in the village of Cabot .. This church was organized October 25, 1801, at the old school-house at the Center, by Rev. Mr. Ransom, of Rochester, and Rev. Mr. Hallock, a mis- sionary from Connecticut, with thirteen members, viz .: Clement Coburn, Gershom Beardsley, Stephen Clark, Oliver Walbridge, Elias Hitchcock, Lene Orcutt, Hepzebah Osgood, Ruth Beardsley, Miriam Clark, Elizabeth Wal- bridge, Peggy Hitchcock, Anna Church, and Lucy Osgood. Clement Coburn, who had been a deacon in Massachusetts, was first deacon and moderator. They held meetings at the Center school-house, and at a dwelling house in that vicinity, and in Esquire Mercer's and Oliver Walbridge's barns, until about 1810, when their first house of worship was completed. In 1824 it was. removed to the village, and in 1849 it was taken down, and their present edifice was built on the same site, at a cost of $3,500, which, including grounds and other church property, is valued at $4,000. The church is built of wood, and will comfortably seat 275. This church was without a settled pastor until October 27, 1823, when Rev. Moses Ingalls was ordained and installed. Rev .. Henry A. Russell is now acting pastor. The church has 153 members, and the Sunday-school 150, with thirteen teachers.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Cabot was organized in 1811, and as near as can be ascertained consisted of eight members. Judge J. W. Dana, Daniel Smith, and Dr. Scott joined soon after. The first Methodist sermon in town was preached by Rev. Thomas Branch, in 1807 or '08. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Stearns. The first presiding elder who offici- ated on the circuit including Cabot was Rev. Eleazer Wells. The first house of worship was erected of wood in 1822 or '23. The land and timber were given by Judge Dana, and by his influence and liberality the church was. built. Up to this time their meetings had been held in houses and barns, and in the summer of 1816 in the tannery. Their present nice and commo- dious church edifice was completed in 1853. The society is indebted to the late Joseph Lance, for by his liberality and efforts its completion was secured. The estimated value of the property now, including buildings and grounds, is. $5.500. There are now 113 members of the church and eight probationers. Rev. James E. Knapp is their pastor.

The Advent church, in Cabot, was organized February 16, 1858, with forty members, Nathan Wheeler and Erasmus L. Burnap, deacons, and M. P. Wallace, scribe. Samuel W. Thurber was the first pastor. Their meeting- house was built in 1857, mainly through the efforts of Dr. M. P. Wallace, and dedicated in June, 1858. Then followed a powerful revival. The church has suffered severely by deaths and removals, and at present it has no regular pastor. The Sunday-school was organized before the church, and has the largest library of any in town. The largest number of scholars enrolled was, about fifty.

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The Freewill Baptist church was organized in 1803, at the house of Lieut. Thomas Lyford, by Elders Benjamin Page and Aaron Buel, of Strafford, Vt., with eighteen members. Rev. Benjamin Page was ordained pastor the same year, and as he was the first settled minister in town, he had a clear title to the minister's lot, which he received. But he left his charge about as soon as he got his farm in condition to sell. Their first and only meeting-house on the west hill was built in 1829, and about 1850 the church lost its organi- zation.

C ALAIS lies in the northeasterly part of the county, in latitude 44° 22 and longitude 4° 42', and is bounded northerly by Woodbury, easterly by Marshfield, southerly by East Montpelier, and westerly by Wor- cester. It was granted October 21, 1780, and chartered to Jacob Davis and Stephen Fay and associates to the number of sixty, and contains 23,040 acres.

The charter was granted pursuant with the following resolution passed by the General Assembly of the state in session at Arlington, Vt., October 21, 1780 :-

" Resolved, That there be, and we Do hereby, grant unto Colonel Jacob Davis, Mr. Stephen Fay, and Company to the number of Sixty, a Township of Land, by the Name of Calais, Situated in this State, Bounded as follows, and lying East and adjoining to Worcester, and north of Montpelier, Con- taining Twenty-three Thousand and forty acres, and the Governor and Coun- cil are hereby Requested, to State the fees for Granting Said tract, and Isue a Grant under such Restrictions and Regulations as they shall Judge Proper."

The same date the Council

" Resolved that the fees for granting the said tract be, and they are hereby, set at four hundred and Eighty Pounds Lawful Money in silver, or an Equiv- alent in Continental Currency, to be Paid by the said Jacob Davis, Stephen Fay, or their Attorney, on the Execution of the Charter of incorporation on or before the first Day of January Next."

" At Public Meeting of the Proprietors of the Township of Calais, at the house of Mr. Elisha Thomson, Inholder in Charlton, Mass., November 20th, 1780, came to the following votes. [viz.] [58 Present] : Istly. Voted and Chose Colo. Jacob Davis, Moderator.

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Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 26

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836-, comp; Adams, William, fl. 1893, ed Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers Number of Pages: 898

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836-, comp; Adams, William, fl. 1893, ed
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers
Number of Pages: 898