USA > Vermont > Washington County > Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889 > Part 40
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" 8th. Voted, and chose Josiah Hurlbert, " 9th. Voted, and chose Benj. I. Wheeler, " Ioth. Voted, and chose Solomon Dodge, 8 Listers.
Highway Surveyors.
"IIth. Voted, and chose Col. Jacob Davis, "12th. Voted, and chose Benj. I. Wheeler,
" 13th. Voted, and chose Clark Stevens,
" 14th. Voted, and chose Col. Jacob Davis, Fence Viewer.
" 15th. Voted to adjourn said meeting till the Ist Tuesday of September.
" The aforementioned officers were duly sworn and affirmed to the faithful discharge of their respective offices before John Taplin, Justice of the Peace for said County.
" ZIBA WOODWORTH, Town Clerk."
Accompanying this record is a list of the names of the voters who assisted in organizing the town, viz .: Benjamin I. Wheeler, David Parsons, Parley Davis, Ebenezer Dodge, Solomon Dodge, Nathaniel Peck, David Wing, Lemuel Brooks, Clark Stevens, Jonathan Snow, Hiram Peck, James Hawkins, James Taggart, John Templeton, Elisha Cummings, Jonathan Cutler, Charles McLoud, Col. Jacob Davis, Isaac Putnam, Nathaniel Davis, Ziba Wood- worth, Jerahmel Wheeler, Smith Stevens, Charles Stevens, Edmund Doty, Duncan Young, Freeman West.
It was fortunate for Col. Jacob Davis, and especially so for the town of Montpelier, that he, " The father of the town," had adequate means for clearing his farm at once, and building mills, houses, barns, etc., and consequently gave employment to all who needed immediate returns for their labor. It is per- haps more fortunate that the early pioneers were "men of great physical powers, resolution, and stability of purpose." They also possessed sound minds and good common sense. They were men of good morals, honest, persevering, and industrious-just the right material for pioneers. They located at once in all parts of the town, and at their first town meeting, in 1791, the whole territory was represented by these strong and stalwart men who came to stay, and many of the farms of these original settlers are now owned by their descendants. If the prices of farm produce and labor were low, their wants beyond what they could supply were few. The wages for the best class of laborers were $9 per month, and for occasional days from forty to fifty cents. Wheat brought sixty-seven cents per bushel, corn fifty, oats and potatoes twenty-five, the best horses $50, and the best yoke of
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oxen $40. Of imported goods, rock salt cost $3 per bushel, loaf sugar forty- two cents per pound, brown sugar seventeen to twenty cents, good green tea $2, the poorest fifty cents, calico fifty to seventy-five cents per yard, W. I. rum $2 per gallon, and dry salt fish eleven cents per pound.
The rich virgin soil produced abundant crops, and the industrious farmers saw their fields increase in area yearly, the forest recede, and their property correspondingly increase, as the following grand lists plainly show : In 1792 the total grand list was $2, 141.67 ; 1795, $5,705.83 ; 1800, $15,390.93 ; and in 1805, $22,920.55.
At the first enumeration, in 1791, the population of Montpelier was 113 ; 1800, 890 ; 1810, 1,877 ; 1820, 2,308; 1830, 2,985 ; 1840, 3,725. In 1850, the first enumeration after the town had been divided, Montpelier had a population of 2,310 ; in 1860, 2,411 ; 1870, 3,023 ; and in .1880, 3,219. It is now estimated to be more than 4,000.
Montpelier may be classed as a conservative town, and although she has had the prestige of being the capital of the state, and the shire town of the county, she has made no phenomenal or spasmodic growth. The town is especially noted for its constant and substantial growth and wealth, its ad- mirably managed banks, fire and life insurance companies, its successful mer- chants and business men, fine schools and churches, and as a good place to live in.
MANUFACTURES.
As food, clothing, and shelter are imperative necessities in civilized life, the first care after the settlements of the several towns of this state was the erec- tion of grist-mills to reduce the farmer's grain to meal, saw-mills to cut lum- ber, and wool-carding and cloth-dressing-mills to furnish clothing. Col. Jacob Davis built a saw-mill in 1788, and a grist-mill in 1789, on the falls of the North Branch, which did the pioneers of Montpelier and vicinity good ser- vice until they were burned in 1826. Four sets of grist-mills have been built on the falls of the Winooski in the village of Montpelier. The most notable one was that owned by James R. Langdon, which was enlarged from one erected and owned by his father, Col. James H. Langdon. This mill was first-class in its day and had the capacity of manufacturing 250 barrels of flour daily. Mr. Langdon conducted it successfully several years. It passed into the hands of the Montpelier Manufacturing Company, and is now used by several firms. The fourth grist-mill, built at or near this location, is now owned and operated by E. W. Bailey & Co.
Two wool-carding and cloth-dressing establishments took the farmers' wool, prepared it for spinning, then received it from the hands of the busy house- wives, after they had woven it into flannel, fulled, dyed, and pressed it into completed "homespun." This continued until these primitive manufactories were superceded by the invention of the rapid and efficient-working modern machinery.
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In 1810 Sylvanus Baldwin erected mills for manufacturing cotton sheetings. and shirtings. These mills were run successfully until December, 1813, when they were unfortunately destroyed by fire. In about 1820 Amnah Waterman and Seth Parsons erected (for that time) a large woolen-mill, which, like its. predecessor, had a short existence, and was burned March 22, 1826. An- other woolen-mill was built by Col. H. N. Baylies, in 1837, and later con- verted into lumber-mills. Medad Wright completed a woolen-mill in 1861, at his place, which he sold to William Moorcroft in 1862, who successfully operated it until it was burned in 1870.
The manufacture of paper has also been attempted in a small way. Two paper-mills have been burned. Several other manufactures have been suc- cessfully conducted, such as boots and shoes, hats, saddles, nails, linseed oil, and whiskey.
M. Wright & Son's foundry and machine shops are located on the Wor- cester branch of the Winooski river, about three and a half miles from Mont- pelier village. This establishment dates back to 1834, more than half a century, when the senior member of the firm, Medad Wright, began business at this place, and where he has been constantly engaged. This company does a special business in the manufacture of "Wright's polishing machines." They also do casting and machinists' work.
Lane Manufacturing Co .- This is one of the most flourishing industrial establishments in Vermont. The works of the company are located on the Worcester branch of the Winooski river ; the buildings are chiefly of brick, and the machinery and fixtures modern. The history of the company dates to 1863, when Dennis Lane began manufacturing machinery in a small way. In 1865 Gen. P. P. Pitkin became a partner of Mr. Lane, and in 1873 the Lane Manufacturing Co. was incorporated, the officers of which are as fol- lows: Dennis Lane (deceased), president ; Gen. P. P. Pitkin, vice-president and business manager ; C. P. Pitkin, secretary and treasurer. The Lane Manufacturing Co. conducts a general business as machinists and founders, besides which they manufacture several specialties which are in great demand and bring the company orders from all parts of the country. The leading specialty of the works is Lane's patent lever-set saw-mills-in seven sizes- This apparatus has attained a high reputation and is constantly growing in popularity, lumbermen everywhere acknowledging it to be the acme of per- fection in sawing machinery. The " Monitor" turbine water-wheel, planers for lumber and timber, matchers, clapboard machinery, shingle and lath machinery, saw-mill supplies generally, and shafting, pulleys, and hangers, are embraced in the manufactures of this company. The Lane Manufacturing Co. gives employment to about 100 hands and pays about $1,000 weekly in wages. The company issues a fully illustrated catalogue which describes their productions, and which should be in the hands of every person interested in manufactures of this kind.
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C. H. Cross & Son .- In 1828 C. H. Cross, the senior member of the above firm, began manufacturing the celebrated " Montpelier cracker." The original firm was Timothy Cross & Co. In 1840 C. H. Cross succeeded to the business, continuing until 1863, when the firm name became as at pres- ent by the admission of L. Bart Cross. This concern manufactures all kinds of confectionery and makes the celebrated "Montpelier " crackers, famous wherever known. A general bakery business is also conducted by the firm ; and a large jobbing trade in peanuts and cigars is awarded the house. The establishment covers several acres of flooring, and it is equipped with every modern appliance for the manufacture of the commodities produced. Two traveling salesmen, who sell goods from samples, are employed by the firm, and shipments are made to all parts of Vermont, the annual transactions of the house reaching a large sum. The facilities of Messrs. Cross & Son for the manufacture of superior goods are unsurpassed, and each year notes an increasing trade.
E. W. Bailey & Co's grist-mills are located on Main street, and on Wi- nooski river which furnishes an ample power. The mills are furnished with two runs of stones, and grind meal and feed. This firm does a general job- bing trade, wholesale and retail, in flour, feed, grain, etc.
Johnson & Colton are among the largest manufacturers and jobbers in saddlery hardware in the state. The firm keeps in stock a full line of harness and harnessmakers' supplies, and among their customers are the leading har- nessmakers in New England, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. They make a specialty of gold, silver, brass, and nickel plating. They possess facilities for doing all kinds of plating in a superior manner, and employ twenty-five skilled workmen in the business. Johnson & Colton are the suc- cessors of the firm of Fisher & Stratton, established in 1854. H. C. Colton entered the firm in 1861, and E. P. Johnson became a partner in April, 1885. There are but two establishments in the Union that do a larger nickel plat- ing business than Johnson & Colton. The firm does a large amount of plat- ing for New England harnessmakers, and their wholesale trade extends from Main to California. Their latest novelty is the Colton patent strap and crupper buckles, in nickel, brass, silver, and rubber, which is so marked an improvement over anything of the kind previously introduced that it is des- tined to supercede all of the old styles.
The Sabine Machine Co. has been in existence for eleven years. Its manu- factory is located near the Montpelier & Wells River railroad depot, in a three-story brick building. The company is engaged in manufacturing double acting spring butts, Sabin's lever door springs, organ springs, both bellows and exhaust, anti-rattler thrill coupling springs ; also light springs for various pur- poses to order. The firm is also sole manufacturers of patent candy cutting machinery. This company was incorporated under the laws of Vermont, in 1876. The officers are George Cook, of Boston, Mass., pres .; C. T. Sabin (deceased), secretary and treasurer. They employ from ten to twelve hands,
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and turn out of manufactured goods $15,000 to $20,000 worth annually. The manufactures of this company are in favor everywhere. The best of stock enters into the construction of their wares.
The Colby Wringer Co. manufactures and deals in clothes wringers, wash- ing machines, mangles, polishers, fluters, carpet sweepers, etc., and also do repairing.
Sabin Slate Co .- Montpelier has one of the best slate quarries in the United States. The quarry is owned and operated by the Sabin Slate Co., which was organized in 1882, and has a capital $40,000. The quarry is within a half-mile of the postoffice, and at the crossing of the Central Ver- mont and Montpelier & Wells River railroads. The company owns forty acres of land, and employs thirty-five men. The vein of slate is 200 feet thick. The product of the quarry is unfading black slate, and it is prepared for roofing purposes entirely. The Sabin slate is very hard and durable, and contains no flint or other foreign substances. Every modern device for successfully working the quarry has been procured by the company.
Weston & Smith are successors to H. Cobb in the manufacture of marble and granite. Mr. Cobb established the business in 1866, continued until his death in 1886, when the present firm purchased the business. They manu- facture all kinds of monumental work, in marble and granite, also curbing, posts, etc. They employ skilled workmen, and turn out work of high grade.
P. Roberts & Son's granite shops are located on Taylor street. They com- menced business in 1881, and manufacture every thing from Barre granite in the line of monumental work, curbing, and posts, giving employment to from eight to ten skilled workmen. They turn out work of excellent quality and fine finish.
Merrill Russell has shops for the manufacture of granite work near the Central Vermont depot. Mr. Russell commenced the business in Barre, in 1881, where he continued until 1886, when he removed his shops to Mont- pelier, where he is now engaged. He employs ten skilled workmen, and is turning out manufactured goods of fine finish and superior quality of the famous Barre granite, which in quality is inferior to none in the world. He executes every thing in granite, with monuments and statues a specialty.
T. J. Kelleher & Co., manufacturers of granite, have shops near the M. & W. R. R. R. depot, where they manufacture ornamental, building, monumen- tal, and statuary work.
Hiram B. Cross, manufacturer of monumental and statue granite, has shops near the depot of the M. & W. R. R. R.
The Wetmore & Morse Granite Co. was organized under the laws of Vermont, January 29, 1889. The capital is $80,000. The directors of the company are Albert Johonnott, W. E. Adams, F. A. Dwinell, Fred E. Smith, F. M. Corry, H. H. McIntire, and H. H. Wetmore. The officers are Albert Johonnott, president ; W. E. Adams, vice-president ; F. A. Dwinell, secre-
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tary ; and F. L. Eaton, treasurer. This company owns about twenty-six acres of quarry in Barre, and the first one opened there. In the early spring the company intends to erect spacious granite sheds in Montpelier, employ 100 men, and manufacture building granite, statuary, and all kinds of cemetery work, and will also deal in rough granite.
The Capital Granite Co. was organized in 1887. The firm is composed of Thomas Eagan and Daniel McQueeney. They manufacture from Barre granite monumental, statuary, and all kinds of cemetery work ; also ornamen- tal building work to order. They employ twenty skilled workmen, and pro- duce work of fine quality and finish. Their office and shops are located at the new granite sheds on Barre street, and on the C. V. R. R. Their polish- ing machine is run by a motor driven by Berlin water.
Stafford, Lynch & Co. Granite Co. is located at the new granite sheds, in the village of Montpelier, convenient to the Central Vermont and Montpe- lier & Wells River railroads. This company was formed April 1, 1888. The members of the firm are Thomas Stafford, Thomas F. Lynch, and Daniel C. Carey. They manufacture from Barre granite all kinds of work for the wholesale and retail trade, and give employment to twenty-six men.
Edwards, White & Co. (Thomas Edwards, George E. White, and John D. Williams), granite manufacturers, are located at the new granite sheds, in Montpelier. This company was formed June 1, 1888. They manufacture every thing in the line of granite work from Barre granite, with fine carving a specialty, and are doing a wholesale and retail business, giving employment to fifteen skilled workmen.
A. & F. Johonnott's tannery is located on Winooski river, on Berlin side, and opposite the Montpelier & Wells River railroad. This leading industry was instituted in 1863, by Messrs. William N. Peck and Albert Johonnott, the firm name being Peck & Johonnott. These gentlemen commenced by erect- ing the entire set of buildings, and continued the business until 1873, when Mr. Peck retired and the present firm was organized. The motive power is steam, and the tannery has a capacity for turning out over 20,000 sides per year, giving employment to a force of nine men. At present they market their leather in the "rough."
Pecks & Cummins's tannery and currier shops are located on Cummins street, and on the North Branch of the Winooski river. The motive power is a forty-horse-power steam engine. The capacity of this manufactory is over 20,000 sides per annum, and gives employment to a force of twenty-five men. They manufacture harness, boot, and shoe stock of all kinds. Their trade is with consumers, from Maine to Oregon, and they enjoy the reputa- tion of turning out as fine goods as are found in the market. This company organized in May, 1874, and, what is especially to their credit, they still re- tain their first customers.
Gleason & Co. (L. P. and H. C. Gleason), successors to L. W. Welch, are manufacturers of parlor furniture and dealers in furniture of all kinds.
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With the exception of the parlor furniture they purchase their goods in the white, which they set up, upholster, and finish. They are also undertakers, and have always on hand a full line of coffins, caskets, and burial cases. Their sales rooms and shops are located on Main corner of East State street. Their block, which extends 150 feet on East State street, is three stories high, and has a basement. The front on Main street is occupied by these gentlemen in the dry goods trade, in which they carry an extensive stock. This enterprising firm employs a force of ten men, and conducts the leading industry of the kind in Montpelier.
The United States Clothes Pin Co. was chartered under the laws of Ver- mont, August 22, 1887, with Gen. Stephen Thomas, president ; S. T. Newton, vice-president ; and William K. Sanderson, secretary and treasurer. They are manufacturing the U. S. clothes pin. Their machinery is all new, and made expressly for this company. Although this industry is yet in its infancy, the company now employs twenty hands, with the prospect of ten more in the near future.
The Acme Watch Key Co., incorporated, (W. N. Learned, president ; E. J. Gale, treasurer,) manufactures the Acme automatic dust-proof and "Star " watch keys. This enterprise was begun in July, 1887, and the company has already machinery and facilities to manufacture twenty-five gross of keys per day. Their power is a water-motor, supplied by the village water works.
BORING FOR SALT.
On comparing the geological formation in and around Montpelier with locations in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where salt water had invari- ably been obtained by boring, the people of Montpelier discovered that the formation was favorable to obtaining this indispensable article here. Hon. Daniel Baldwin headed a company of about sixty, organized and commenced boring the rock on the bank of the Winooski, a little below the present grist- mill, on August 8, 1827, and continued until January 4, 1830, when this well conceived and worthy enterprise was prematurely closed, by the drill becom- ing so tightly wedged that it could not be withdrawn by any means in their power. The depth of the well is 850 feet. The company designed to sink it 1,000 feet. The unfinished experiment cost the sixty subscribers only $35. each, or an aggregate of $2,100.
BANKS.
The Bank of Montpelier was chartered in 1825, and organized in 1826, with a capital of $50,000. The first president was Hon. Elijah Paine, of Williamstown. His successors in office were James H. Langdon, Timothy Hubbard, John Spalding, Thomas Reed, Jr., Rawsel R. Keith, E. P. Jewett, and George C. Shepard. This bank was recharted with a capital of $75,000,
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in 1840, and again in 1853, with a capital of $100,000. The bank continued business until 1865.
The Vermont bank was chartered in 1848, and organized in 1849, with a capital of $100,000. Its presidents were Hezekiah H. Reed, George W. Collamer, Homer W. Heaton, E. H. Prentice, and Roderick Richardson, and its cashier John A. Page. This bank closed up in 1864.
The First National Bank of Montpelier was organized immediately on the closing of the Vermont bank, December 22, 1864, with a paid in capital of $200,000, which was increased to $250,000 the next month. J. A. Page, R. Richardson, G. W. Collamer, S. Burbank, J. T. Thurston, Fred E. Smith, and Charles Dewey composed the first board of directors. J. W. Ellis was elected a director in 1866, and P. P. Pitkin in 1870. J. A. Page was elected president, and has held the position continuously since then. The present board of directors consists of J. A. Page, Charles Dewey, J. W. Ellis, P. P. Pitkin, and Fred E. Smith. The officers of the bank are J. A. Page, presi- dent ; Charles Dewey, vice-president ; F. L. Eaton, cashier ; H. M. Cutler, assistant cashier. The charter of the bank was extended in 1884 for a second period of twenty years. This bank has paid to its share-holders, in dividends, $264 on each share of $100, and has now a surplus fund of over $50,000.
The Montpelier National bank succeeded the Bank of Montpelier, in 1865, and was organized under the national banking law, with a capital of $300,000. Its officers are James R. Langdon, president, and E. D. Blackwell, cashier. October 5, 1887, this bank had a paid in capital of $250,000, a surplus fund of $60,000, and $29,239.62 undivided profits, with a contingent fund of $3,693.66.
The Montpelier Savings Bank and Trust Company was incorporated in 1870, and organized in 1871, with $50,000 capital. Its deposits, July, 1887, amounted to $1,283,234. Its officers are Homer W. Heaton, president ; James W. Brock, vice-president; and Albert W. Ferrin, treasurer. The trustees are Homer W. Heaton, James W. Brock, Whitman G. Ferrin, L. Bart Cross, and Dennis Lane (deceased).
The banks of Montpelier have been managed by men of unusual financial ability, are second to none in the state, and have always been, without ex- ception, perfectly sound and reliable.
INSURANCE.
Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company .- The people of Vermont are most fortunate in having within its borders an institution which has taken such high rank as the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company. It was chartered in 1827, began business in 1828, and has had a most successful career for three-score years. During its existence the company has issued 265,706 policies insuring property to the amount of $296,877,674. There is now at risk $47,914,079. The capital, consisting of premium notes, is
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$3,540,643.98, and the number of policies in force nearly 40,000. The total amount of losses paid since the organization of the company is $3,508,- 508.89. The record of the Vermont Mutual is a proud one. Always paying. its losses promptly, this company is held in high regard by the insuring public of the state, who appreciate its soundness, the economy of its management,. and upright and liberal dealing. The company offers the safest, cheapest, and best insurance that can be procured, on every kind of insurable risk. The enormous business of the company, representing by its policy-holders nearly two-thirds of the voting population of the state, is an important factor- of competition in the maintenance of a minimum rate of premium for the protection of property owners in Vermont against disaster by fire, and as such it is justly entitled to the liberal patronage that it receives. It surrenders to. the insured their premium notes, when requested, on the payment of their proportion of losses to the date of expiration, transfer, or cancellation of the policy, thus obviating all liability of assessment after their insurance, from any cause, has terminated. The company owns a substantial brick building, costing $47,000, from which it derives a handsome rental. The officers of the company are men of state reputation, all standing high in the community for their fidelity to trusts and business capacity. They are as follows : Fred E. Smith, president ; Charles T. Sabin, (died December 24, 1888,) vice- president ; James T. Sabin, secretary ; H. N. Taplin, treasurer.
The Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Montpelier, was incorpo- rated by an act of the legislature approved November 24, 1874. The company was organized during the following spring and summer, and its first policy was issued July 28, 1875. It commenced its business in a very con- servative manner, insuring small lines on the best class of property, and during the first two years of its business it issued only 1, 194 policies, and its entire expenditure for expenses, losses, and abatements for that period was only $9,093.32. It continued to gain very slowly for the first few years, but its busi- ness was so well placed, its risks so carefully inspected, and its expenses kept so low, that the expense of insurance averaged lower than that of other com- panies ; so commencing about August 1, 1884, its business began rapidly to increase until now it has issued 11,600 policies, and has in force over $400,000 of premium notes and property insured to the amount of more than $6,000,000. The policy of the company from the commencement has been to take small lines on the best class of property ; to carefully select and inspect its risks ; to look with great scrutiny to the moral hazard ; not to insure property for more than two-thirds of its cash value, and when losses occurred to promptly settle with the assured and pay them the amount of their losses. During the fourteen years that the company has transacted business, it has never had a claim litigated or arbitrated, but has always settled its losses promptly and liberally, to the satisfaction of both the company and its patrons. Its average assessment during the whole of this time has been but three and one-fourth per cent. on the amount of its premium notes. The company does no insur-
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