Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 52

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 52

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD.

Michael Cressy, from Chesterfield, N. H., moved to Berlin, in February, 1828, and settled on West hill. He reared six children, and died at the age of sixty-nine years.

Andrew J. Morton was born in Ellsworth, N. H. He came to Northfield in 1858, where he has since resided. He married Sarah E. Avery, and four of their six children are now living.

Jacob Wardner, born July 20, 1752, and his wife, Olive, born August 9, 1759, of Alstead, N. H., settled first in East Roxbury. He died December 10, 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Wardner were parents of thirteen children. His son Joseph, born August 25, 1798, was a farmer in Brookfield, married Lovinia Smith, and reared four sons and five daughters. Amos Wardner, son of Jacob, born October 30, 1791, married Elizabeth Belcher. He and his brothers Joel and Joseph came from Randolph, Mass., and early settled in East Roxbury. His children were Amos and G. Washington. Amos, Jr., married Mary E. Pike, and they are the parents of Mrs. T. B. R. Hildreth. G. Washington married Mary C., daughter of Rev. Joel Winch, and settled in Northfield about 1847. In that year he was accidently killed in a grist- mill, located where G. R. Andrews's mill now stands. His children are Sarah B. (Mrs. Bingham), Ursula (Mrs. L. W. Chase), and Mary A.

Leonard Pearsons was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1819, and came to North- field in 1842. He is a shoemaker and stone mason. He enlisted in Co. I, IIth Vt. Regt., in July, 1862, and served until he was discharged for dis- ability. In 1844 he married Fanny A., daughter of Thomas Houghton, who came from Putney, Vt., to Northfield, in 1821. Their children are Dennis, Ellen (Mrs. John Nichols), Betsey Ann, Hattie (Mrs. Loring Brown), Ella F. (Mrs. S. H. Stone), and Marion F., and seven deceased.

Charles E. Quimby was born in Chelsea, Vt., in September, 1848. He engaged in the service of the Central Vermont railroad at the age of nineteen years, and was promoted to the position of conductor when only twenty, and has held that responsible place the last nineteen years. December 30, 1869, he united in marriage with Ida, daughter of D. F. Andrews, and they have a family of three sons and one daughter.

Theophilus G. Cass was born in Epsom, N. H., in 1804. His father, Theophilus G. Cass, Sr., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served through that prolonged and sanguinary struggle for our independence. The subject of this sketch early engaged in the occupation of stone mason, which he has followed through a long and active life. He built the stone work of that portion of the Lowell railroad between Lowell and Billerica, Mass., the first railroad in New England. In 1836 he removed to Barre, Vt. Nine years later he removed to Northfield, and at once engaged in business. He has constructed the stone work for over a hundred buildings, mills, and dwellings in Northfield, all the stone work upon the Montpelier & Wells River railroad, and superintended the stone work upon the Niagara & Hamilton railroad in Canada. He has had numerous other large contracts. The last

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sixteen years he has resided in Gouldsville. He married Lavinia Webster, of Kingston, N. H. Their children are Ellen (Mrs. Frank Thayer), Abbie (Mrs. Calvin Smiley), George (deceased), Lewis, David, Emory (Mrs. Horace W. Thresher), Emma (Mrs. C. H. Dutton), Jeannette (deceased), Walter (de- ceased), Zora (Mrs. Cochran), and George W. Lewis served as a soldier in Co. K, 4th Regt. Vt. Vols., in the late war.

Hon. Edwin K. Jones, son of Daniel and Rhoda (Pratt) Jones, was born in Randolph, Vt., in 1828, and raised in Warren. At the age of twenty he located at Northfield village and engaged in carpentry. In 1860 he removed to the South village, to settle the estate of his brother-in-law, George S. Edson, merchant. He soon engaged in mercantile business, and continued in trade twenty-seven years. He has also been engaged in lumbering and chair man- ufacturing. Mr. Jones has also been honored and entrusted by his towns- men with most of the offices in their gift. He has served as selectman, justice of the peace, notary public, representative in 1866, and senator from 1882 to 1885. He has been interested in the success of the Dog River Valley Fair association since its organization, and has served as its president and secre- tary. In 1852 Mr. Jones united in marriage with Miss Harriet E. Dodge. Their children are Fred A., Susie E., Minnie H., and Jessie A.

Perley Belknap was born in Randolph in 1807. He was reared a farmer, and was a tiller of the soil until he was thirty-five years of age, when he came into the possession of an iron foundry, which he conducted until 1848, when, at the solicitation of Gov. Charles Paine, he removed to Northfield and established a foundry and machine shop, to do the repairing and building for the Central Vermont railroad. He made the castings for nearly all the railroad work until the death of Gov. Paine, and employed as many as fifty men. Mr. Belknap has been largely interested in erecting several of the principal buildings in Northfield, notably the Paine block and Norwich Uni- versity. He was instrumental in the organization of Northfield bank, and was its second president, and held the position when it was converted into the Northfield National bank, and was the first president of the new organization. He also assisted in the organization of the Northfield Savings bank. He, in company with Alvin Braley and T. L. Salisbury, built a woolen factory, which they operated five years. Mr. Belknap was among the first to open a slate quarry, and has largely given his aid to develop this industry in Northfield. He married Huldah, daughter of Dr. John Edson, of Randolph.

Rev. Edward Bourns, late president of Norwich University, was born in Dublin, Ireland, October 29, 1801, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He graduated with the degree of A. B. from Trinity College, July 9, 1833, and passed the theological examination in June, 1834, but did not then take orders in the ministry. He emigrated to America in 1837. In 1838 he went from Philadelphia to Geneva, N. Y., and received the degree of M. A. from Geneva College, and that year was made adjunct professor of Latin and Greek. In 1841 the same college conferred on him the degree of LL. D.,

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD.

and March 12, 1842, he was ordained a priest of the Protestant Episcopal church. In September, 1850, he was elected president of Norwich Univer- sity, which place he held for the ensuing fifteen years, and discharged the duties of professor of Latin and Greek from 1850 to near the time of his death, July 14, 1871. Dr. Bourns was a ripe scholar, an able, classical teacher, and a clear and forcible sermonizer.

Rev. John Gregory was born in Norwalk, Conn., November 18, 1810. He went to Albany, N. Y., when a lad, and served an apprenticeship of seven years at fancy painting. He commenced to study for the ministry of the Universalist denomination when he was twenty-one years of age, and made his first settlement in the ministry in Salisbury, N. Y., where he was ordained in 1832. He had several locations up to 1850, and seems to have been a good deal of an itinerant, and remained from one to three years in a loca- tion. About 1838 he went to Charleston, S. C., where he was editor of the Southern Evangelist, and supplied the pulpit of that city one year. In 1842 he was pastor of a church in Quincy, Mass., and represented that town in the legislature. In 1850 he made a permanent settlement on a farm in North- field, where he became a prominent stock grower, and was noted for raising Morgan horses, French Merino sheep, Hereford, Devon, Ayrshire, and Shorthorn Durham cattle, and for a quarter of a century occasionally preached in the vicinity of Northfield. In 1850 he represented his town in the legis- lature. In 1856 he was a senator of Washington county, and was reelected in 1857. During the administration of President Lincoln he received the appointment of assistant U. S. assessor, was reappointed by Andrew Johnson, and was in service ten and one-half years. Mr. Gregory was an active worker in the two great reforms, human freedom and temperance. He died at his residence on Main street, in Northfield, September 25, 1881.

Robert M. Gregg, a native of Johnson, Vt., in early life was an engineer on the Boston & Maine railroad. He settled in Northfield in 1852, and was an engineer in the employ of the Central Vermont railroad from that time until his death, in 1880, a period of nearly twenty-nine consecutive years. He married Eliza J. Buxton, of New Boston, N. H. Their children are Minnie (Mrs. Dr. Johnson) ; Charles A., a machinist at St. Albans ; Fred W., a graduate of Dartmouth College, and a lawyer in San Bernardino, Cal .; and Fannie, deceased.

William Stone was born in Windsor, Vt., in August, 1829. In early life he was employed in various capacities by the Sullivan railroad, and later by the Central Vermont. In 1862 he enlisted in the service of the United States, in the 15th Vt. Regt., where he served his term. In September, 1863, he reënlisted in the Third Battery and served to the close of the war. He mar- ried Lucy M. Keyes, of Windsor, and has three daughters and one son. His residence has been in Northfield for thirty-five years.

Hon. Philander D. Bradford, M. D., was dorn in Randolph, Vt., April II, 18II. His father, John Bradford, was born in Kingston, Mass., December

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD.

26, 1765, married Lucy Brooks, January 9, 1799, settled in Alstead, N. H., and later removed to Randolph, where he died November 19, 1814. Four years later his mother died. Orphaned at the age of seven years, he was cared for by the relatives of his mother in Alstead. He returned to Ran- dolph when he was fifteen and entered the Orange County Grammar School, where he received his education preparatory to the study of his profession. At the age of twenty he commenced the study of medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. Austin Bradford. In 1834 he graduated at the medical school in Woodstock, (a branch of Middlebury College,) and received the degree of A. M. from the University of Vermont in 1850. He permanently settled in Northfield in 1854, where he still resides, and has the reputation of being a skillful physician. In 1853 and 1854 Dr. Bradford represented Randolph in the state legislature, and was a prominent member of the Free Soil party, and remained steadfast and true to its interests and the cause of human freedom. In 1854 and 1855 he was elected commissioner of insane. In 1857 he was elected to the chair of professor of physiology and pathology in the medical college at Castleton, where he continued until that institu- tion was suspended, in 1862. He accepted from Gov. Holbrook the com- mission of surgeon of the Fifth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, in December, 1862, but on account of illness he was compelled to resign the position in the following March. In 1862 and 1863 he was a state senator, and also president of the Vermont Medical society the last named year. In 1860 he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F. of his state, and in 186 I was the head officer of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Vermont. He was elected a trustee, also professor of physiology, in Nor- wich University in 1867, and was a member of the Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F. of the United States in 1875-76. He identified himself in early life with the cause of human rights and temperance, and is always ready to aid and encourage every enterprise that has for its object the improvement of the human race. Dr. Bradford is quite a relic hunter, and has gathered an extensive collection of the most unique and curious "old things " found in any private cabinet in Vermont. The Doctor is an able physician, a good and instructive conversationalist, and a genial companion.

Hon. George Nichols, M. D., was born in Northfield, April 17, 1827. His parents were James and Annis A. (Dole) Nichols. His father was born in Putney, Vt., in 1796 ; came to Northfield with his father, Eleazer, in 1809 ; was an industrious and worthy man ; followed the trade of carpenter and joiner ; and died in 1873. Dr. Nichols was educated at the common school and Newbury Seminary, fitted for college, but never entered, having deter- mined to study medicine, and could not see the way clear to pursue both courses. He commenced teaching school previous to his fifteenth birthday. In 1848 he was appointed state librarian by Governor Coolidge, and received successive annual elections till 1853. He studied medicine with Dr. S. W. Thayer ; graduated at the Vermont Medical College, at Woodstock, in 1851 ;

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD.

commenced business in his native town, combining with it that of apothecary and druggist in 1854, which latter business he still retains, and continued in the practice of his profession with eminent success till his return from the army, in 1863, having served as surgeon of the 13th Regt. Vt. Vols. In 1865 he was appointed secretary of state by Governor Smith, which office he has since continuously held. In 1870 he was a member and president of the Constitutional Convention ; in 1872 a delegate to the National Republican con- vention, was made a member of the National Republican committee, and has been a member and secretary of the Republican state committee since that year. In 1868 he was elected director, and in 1874 president, of the Northfield National bank ; in 1872 chairman of the board of commissioners to receive subscriptions to the capital stock of the Central Vermont Railroad Company, and has been clerk of the same since its organization. The Doctor has been repeatedly honored by election to the various municipal offices of trust and responsibility, and what may be worthy of mention, with the exception of the years 1856, '58, '59, '63, and '66, has been moderator of the annual town meeting since 1854.

William H. Boynton was born in Pepperell, Mass., March 25, 1832. His father was a butcher, and Mr. Boynton was engaged in that business, and buying cattle for market. He was well known as a live stock buyer through- out the county. In 1859 he married Laura A. Mead, and they are parents of one son, William H., Jr., who is now in the employ of the Central Ver- mont railroad. He settled in Northfield in 1859, and there passed his after life. He was the captain of a military company of Northfield when the war broke out, and he and his company were among the first to offer their ser- vices to the government, and went to the front as Co. F, of the Ist Regt. Vt. Vols. He participated in the battle of Big Bethel, and served the term of his enlistment.

Charles A. Tracy was born in Stowe, Vt., spent his boyhood in Middlesex, and settled in Northfield in 1850. He married Ellen J. Rice. Their chil- dren are Kate M. (Mrs. Chase) and Mary L. Mr. Tracy has held the offices of lister for four years and selectman three years.

Sylvester Martin came from Rehoboth, Mass., and settled in Grafton, N. H., before 1789. His son Eleazer was born in that town, in August of that year, and spent most of his life in Canaan in trade with his brother Jesse. Eleazer Martin settled many estates, served as judge of the Probate Court of Grafton county a long term of years, and generally held some town office. He died in Manchester, N. H., in May, 1865. He married Polly, daughter of John Kimball, of Grafton, and their children are Nancy B., Albert, Ce- lina, Sophia H., and Lucien E. Nancy B., in 1848, married William P. Downing, then a merchant in Canaan, and removed that year to Washing- ton, Vt. In 1871 they located in Northfield. Their children are Sarah (Mrs. Goss), Fred B., Florence C., and Arthur E.

Dr. William B. Mayo, born in Moretown, January 3, 1854, passed his boy-

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD.

hood days on his father's farm and in attendance at the common school and Randolph Normal School. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. H. C. Brigham, of Montpelier, and graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College of New York, March 8, 1877. In April ensuing he located for the practice of his profession in Northfield, where he has gained the confidence of the people, and has a large and lucrative practice. February 13, 1878, he married Emma, daughter of Judge John Lynde, of Williamstown. Dr. Mayo has served on the board of directors of Northfield graded school six. years, and represented the town in the legislature from 1884 to 1888. His: grandfather, Barnabas Mayo, from Acworth, N. H., settled in the forest in Moretown about 1811. His father, Barnabas, Jr., resides on the homestead ..

Prof. Jesse M. Hitt was born in Martin county, Indiana, in [854. His: father was Gen. Caleb Hitt, who served as brigadier-general in the Army of the Cumberland in the late war, and died in the service. Prof. Hitt grad- uated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1876, engaged in his chosen profession of teaching, and spent the next four years in Indiana. In 1880 he was professor of sciences in the Vermont Methodist Seminary. In the fall of that year he accepted the position of principal of Northfield graded and High school, which he held until the spring of 1888, when he resigned to take a position in a publishing house in Boston.

John S. Green was born in Williamstown, Vt., in May, 1841. His father died just before he was born, and left a wife and five other children. Mr. Green's mother died when he was but six years old, and from that time until he was fourteen this orphan boy had a home with Dr. Waldo, of Williams- town. He then went to Chicago and engaged in canvassing. When but sixteen years old he was employed by a wholesale firm of St. Louis as a col- lector and buyer, and filled the position about three and a half years, and until about the time of the late war between the North and South. Mr. Green then enlisted in the 4th Vt. Regt., and served three years and re_ ceived three wounds. Most of the time of his service he was the head clerk of the provost-marshal's office. After the war he was a book-keeper, in the employ of the Miles Manufacturing Co., of New York. Since 1880 he has made a home in Northfield. Mr. Green married Annie P., daughter of Richard L. Martin, of Williamstown. They are parents of a daughter and two sons.

The First Congregational church of Northfield is located on Main street and Central square in the village of Northfield. This church was organized by Rev. Elijah Lyman and Rev. Ammi Nichols, May 27, 1822, and was composed of the following nine members : Josiah B. Strong, Virgil Wash- burn, Moses B. Dole, Samuel Whitney, Thomas Houghton, Lucy Whitney, Clarissa Strong, Rizpah Whitney, and Betsey Houghton. Rev. Calvin Gran- ger was their first settled minister, in 1836. In 1836 Gov. Paine erected a meeting-house and invited the church to worship in it. This they occupied six years, when the society built a meeting-house at the Center, and dedi-

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TOWN OF NORTHFIELD.

cated it in August, 1843. In 1854 the society bought of the heirs of Gov. Paine the meeting-house which he had erected in 1836, and has since wor- shipped there. The church, in 1887, had a membership of 135. Their church will comfortably seat 350 people. The Sunday-school has in attend- ance of 100 scholars and twelve teachers, and has a library of 350 volumes.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Northfield .- In 1804, eight years after the introduction of Methodism into Vermont, Barre circuit was formed, and Northfield was included in this circuit, and the " circuit preachers " had reg- ular appointments in the town. Rev. Oliver Beal was the first regularly ap- pointed minister. In 1805 Rev. Elijah Hedding, afterwards a bishop of the church, and Rev. Dan Young were appointed to the circuit. They held their meetings in school-houses, private dwellings, barns, and groves. In 1820 the first meeting house (Union) was built in town, and the Methodists occupied it their quota of time. In February, 1840, Gov. Charles Paine tendered to the use of the Methodist society the meeting-house owned by the Northfield factory, which the society gratefully accepted and continued to occupy until the death of Gov. Paine. In 1854 this house was sold by Gov. Paine's heirs to the Congregationalist society, and the Methodist society immediately set about building their present church edifice, which they completed at a cost of $4,734 and dedicated in December, 1854. The estimated value of the property, including buildings and grounds, at the present time, is $10,000. The house will conveniently seat 400 people. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of 129 scholars, with 18 teachers, and owns a large library. The Methodists of this district have a fine camp-ground near the village, on which there are about thirty cottages. Camp-meetings are held on these grounds yearly.

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic church in Northfield .- Before any permanent mission was established this place received occasional visits from the Rev. Fathers O'Callaghan, Daly, Drolet, Maloney, and Coopman. Father R. J. Maloney purchased the old yellow Union meeting-house in 1855,- the first meeting-house built in town,-and had it removed to a lot given to the Catholics by Gov. Paine, which is still used as a burying-ground. Rev. Z. Druon, of Montpelier, attended this parish every other Sunday from 1856 to 1864. He commenced to extensively remodel the old church in 1863, which was finished and dedicated by Rev. F. Clavier in October, 1870. The church was struck by lightning and entirely consumed in July, 1876. Father Clavier, soon after he was appointed pastor of this parish, purchased a fine residence, and on his lot near his own house he built a large chapel for week- day service, and which served as a temporary church while the present church was in process of construction. Rev. John Galligan went to reside in North- field in October, 1876, and erected their present beautiful church, which was blessed on October 24, 1877. This handsome church, the finest in town, is constructed of wood, at a cost of $10,000, and including grounds and all other church property is valued at $20,000. The church is located on Vine

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street, has seats for about 600 persons, has a large number of communicants, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Brelivet.

St. Mary's Parish of Northfield (Protestant Episcopal) was organized April 10, 1851, by Rev. Dr. Josiah Perry, who died a few months later. The first service was conducted in a school-house, but after Dr. Perry's death no services were conducted until the winter of 1856-57. At this time there were but four communicants. The summer following a change was made from the Center to their church edifice standing on Main street, in North- field. This house was formally opened for worship by the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hopkins, D. D., LL. D., on Christmas day, 1857, and on the follow- ing day was solemnly set apart as a church. Rev. William C. Hopkins was the first rector, with H. H. Camp, senior warden ; Perley Belknap, junior warden ; George Nichols, clerk ; and Ozro Foster, treasurer. The following is a list of the rectors : Rev. W. C. Hopkins, 1855-64; Rev. John B. Pit- man, 1865-66 ; Rev. Roger S. Howard, D. D., 1869-72 ; Rev. George C. V. Eastman, A. M., 1873-75 ; Rev. William Lloyd Himes, 1875-77 ; Rev. Franklin W. Bartlett, 1877-82 ; Rev. Frederick C. Cowper, 1883-85. The present rector, Rev. Homer White, commenced his pastorate in May, 1886. Their church edifice was constructed at the cost of $1, 100, and with grounds and all other church property is valued at about $3,000. It will comfortably seat 200 people. The church has sixty-seven members, and the Sunday school six teachers and forty-two pupils.

P LAINFIELD is a small town situated in the southeastern part of the county, in latitude 44° 14' and longitude 4º 35', and is bounded north- erly by East Montpelier and Marshfield, easterly by Marshfield and Harris Gore, southerly by Orange and Barre, and westerly by Orange, Barre, and East Montpelier.

Before the annexation of Goshen Gore it contained very little waste land, and its surface was moderately hilly. The timber was mainly hard wood, interspersed with spruce and hemlock in some locations, and most of the farms have beautiful sugar orchards, from which large quantities of maple sugar are annually made. A tract containing about 9,600 acres, the original town of Plainfield, was granted to Gen. James Whitelaw, of Ryegate, James Savage, of New York, and William Coit, of Burlington, October 23, 1788. The line between the townships of Truro and Kingsboro, chartered by New York, passed through about the center of Plainfield. In 1773 Samuel Gale attempted the survey of one or both of these townships; but learning the fact, probably from a hunter whom he met, that Ira Allen, with a party from Colchester, was in pursuit of him, acting upon the principle " that discretion is the better part of valor," suddenly decamped, and surely escaped being sealed with the leech seal.

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Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 52

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