Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 55

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 55

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).

453

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

out, did ye ?" Mr. Robertson possessed a strong mind and was not afraid to express his convictions. His house was called the " minister's tavern," where they were made welcome and treated to discussion besides, if they happened to be stiff Baptists or Calvanists. He was also a great reader, quite a poli- tician, and never failed to vote every year after he attained his majority until his death. He died September 6, 1872, at the great age of ninety-seven years.

Jacob Wardner came to Roxbury in 1801, built a log house, and next year moved his family into it. He was a German, and was born on board the ves- sel in which his parents were emigrating to this country. He used to boast that he " was not born on God's earth."

Moses Woodard came from Tolland, Conn., and settled on East hill, in 1802. His son Billa was for many years a prominent figure in Roxbury. He gained his notorietry by manufacturing saddle-trees, and for years was the only one in the business in all New England.

Benjamin Samson came to Roxbury in 1810. He was a veteran of the Revolution, rang the church bell to call out the minute men, on Lexington Green, on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, and participated in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. His son, Hon. Charles Samson, accompa- nied his father to Roxbury, and bought and settled on the place previously occupied by Dr. Spafford, where he had kept the first tavern in town. He became identified with the affairs of the town, was closely interested in its success, and held many important positions in the town and county. Mr. Samson represented Roxbury in the legislature of the state thirteen sessions, and by his influence Roxbury was transferred from Orange to Washington county in 1820.

Joel Richardson, a relative of Samuel Richardson, the second settler of Roxbury, came to this town with his parents in 1802, at the age of four years. He married Susannah Batchelder, and settled in Roxbury. Their son Sam- uel A. was born April 11, 1832. In 1863 he was drafted into the United States service, entered the army, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Richardson was the only drafted man who entered the service from Roxbury. He married Emily C. Rich, of Berlin, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Richardson died January 11, 1886.

George Williams was born in Northfield, November 25, 1807. He mar- ried Julia Spear, of Braintree, April 13, 1831, settled in Roxbury and cleared a farm on road 58, and died January 31, 1867. His wife died May 1, 1876. They had nine children. Their son Salmon was born on the homestead where he now lives, April 4, 1840. October 29, 1862, he married Lucy A. Dowen, of Saratoga, N. Y. Mr. Williams is an honest and capable business man, one of the reliable citizens of his town, and is now overseer of the poor. One of his sons resides with him.

Deacon William Gold was born in Springfield, Mass., October 30, 1780. He came to Roxbury with Samuel Robertson, in the spring of 1802, and af-

454

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

ter working for him one year settled on one of the highest mountains in the town. Any one looking over his location would see that he began under un- favorable circumstances. In 1847 Mr. Gold removed to Northfield. He married Anavera Dewey, and they had seven children. Deacon Gold died in 1859, and Mrs. Gold in 1856. He was a deacon of the Baptist church. At his first location in Roxbury the bears visited his corn field. Mr. Gold disputed bruin's right, and on looking into his field one evening he saw a large shaggy fellow helping himself. The trusty gun was loaded, and bruin received its contents, and apparently was nearly dead. Mr. Gold seized an axe, and to make a final finish aimed a heavy blow at his head. The bear knocked the axe out of his hands by a stroke of his strong paw, and then came the tug of war : the bear clasped him in so hearty an embrace that he had almost squeezed his life out when his friend, Mr. Paddleford, arrived at the scene, and came to his rescue with the axe. " Don't cut the hide," gasped the Deacon with the little breath he had left. Notwithstanding, he dealt the brute a heavy blow that cut off two of his ribs, and the Deacon was saved. The next day the bear was tracked and easily dispatched. Deacon Gold always denied trying to save bruin's skin whole, and it is presumed the episode was added to make a good story.

Job Orcott, a carpenter, came from Stafford, Conn., in 1803, and settled on " the highlands," where the business for the town was transacted for many years. In his declining years he resided with his son, Captain Samuel M. Orcott, who was an enterprising and influential citizen of Roxbury. Capt. Orcott married Mary Buel, of Lebanon, Conn., who came to her home in the wilderness of Roxbury on horseback. At the time of the invasion of our country in the War of 1812, he led his company, as their captain, to Platts- burgh. The town meetings were held at his house from 1817 until 1841, a period of twenty-five years. He held most of the offices in the gift of his townsmen ; was selectman fifteen years and town clerk twenty years. Capt. Orcott was injured by falling timber when he was assisting at the raising of a building, from which he did not recover. He died in 1835. Captain and Mrs. Orcott had seven sons and two daughters. Their son Benjamin F. emigrated to Michigan. He enlisted from his home there and served in the Mexican war. At its close he returned to Kalamazoo, Mich., and for many years filled the office of sheriff. In the late war for the Union he entered the service as lieutenant-colonel of the 25th Mich. Regt., and served to the close of the war. He was again elected sheriff, and was fatally shot by a desperado while on official duty. He died December 12, 1867, aged fifty- three years.

Orin W. Orcott, son of Samuel M., a native of Roxbury, has resided in town since he was born, with the exception of one year spent in Massachu- setts. He received a good common school education, and when twenty-five years of age he entered the mercantile business. His business abilities were appreciated by his large acquaintance. He has been sheriff, deputy sheriff,

455

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

constable, and collector thirty-three years, and postmaster twenty-eight years. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Angeline Spaulding, who died in June, 1874, and left no children. Mr. Orcott is now engaged in the sale of farming implements, and is an agent for the prosecution of pension claims and fire insurance.

William B. Orcott, son of Samuel M., was born in Roxbury, January 15, 1820, and married Catherine Ainsworth, of Northfield, in 1847. They have one son who married Ida E. Wells, of West Randolph. Mr. Orcott has always lived in his native town, is a successful business man, and has succeeded in accumulating a fine property. He owns a large amount of real estate, and is also engaged in lumbering and the sale of wood. He is not without political honors. He represented Roxbury in the legislature of 1859, '60, '78, '79, '80, '81, was associate judge of Washington County Court two years, town treasurer nine years, and selectman several years, and during the late war was state agent. Mr. Orcott is honest, fair, and liberal, and enjoys the respect and high esteem of a very large acquaintance.

Asa S. Simonds, born in Canterbury, Conn., moved to Royalton, Vt., with his mother and step-father, in 1794, and to Roxbury in 1806, when he was but sixteen years old. In 1815 he married Hannah Spaulding. He has been a prominent citizen of Roxbury and filled satisfactorily many town posi- tions. He served as town treasurer nearly thirty-five years, and died in 1861. His oldest daughter, Hannah, married Asa Perrin, of Royalton, and died in 1860. His daughter Weltha married Elisha Andrews and settled in North- field. Her husband died in early manhood, and she is now the wife of Ira Perrin, of Royalton. Azro A., second son, first married Lucy Green, who died in 1850. He married, second, Margaret Day, and resides on the old home- stead. W. I. Simonds married Lucy W. Darling, of Berlin, who died about three years later, and left a daughter only two weeks old. He married, sec- ond, a sister of his first wife, with whom he has lived more than thirty-five years. Mr. Simonds has been an enterprising farmer, and has kept pace with the age. His leading industry is his diary, and by judicious breeding and liberal feeding he is able to produce 300 pounds of choice butter per cow annually. Mr. Simonds was the first in the state to build a silo and feed en- silage.

Jedediah Smith married Esther Fuller, and came from Randolph to Rox- bury, with his wife and ten children, about 1812, and settled on the farm where his aged daughter, Mrs. Lucy Steel, now lives, on road 33. Lucy was born in Randolph, Vt., February 11, 1805, and came to Roxbury with her parents at the age of seven years. At the age of nineteen she united in mar- riage with Phineas Steel, whose father was a soldier and served through the whole of the long struggle of the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Steel resided awhile in Brookfield, but returned to the Smith homestead in 1855. They had eleven children. Like other mothers in her day, Mrs. Steel spun and wove the cloth to clothe her husband and children. The hides of their

456

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

beef cattle were taken to the tanners, who converted them into leather which was manufactured into shoes by an itinerant shoemaker, who, with his bench and kit of tools, went through a neighborhood from house to house for that purpose. His labor in this way was termed " whipping the cat." Mr. Steel died March 4, 1880. Only four of their large family are now living. Mrs. Steel, now aged eighty-four years, is hale and healthy, and is able to do her own work and attend to her business interests. One of her sons resides with her.

Ira Roys is the son of Silas and Lois (Graves) Roys, who came from Clare- mont, N. H., to Northfield, Vt., when it was a wilderness, and where he settled and reared to maturity a family of eleven children, three of whom are now living, viz .: Titus in Northfield, aged ninety years ; Henry in Greenfield, Mass., aged seventy-eight years ; and Ira, the subject of this sketch, in Rox- bury, aged seventy-five years. At the age of twenty-seven he married Caro- line, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Richardson) Samson, who came from Fitzwilliam, N. H., and settled in Roxbury at an early date. Mr. Roys en- listed, in September, 1861, in Co. E, Ist Vt. Cavalry, served six months, and was discharged by reason of illness. Mr. and Mrs. Roys are parents of seven children. Their son Fred W. is postmaster at Roxbury.

Hira G. Ellis, son of Charles and Esther (Wiley) Ellis, was born in North- field, in April, 1832, and has resided in Roxbury since he was quite a young man. He is a farmer, and resides on his fine farm near the village. He is one of Roxbury's reliable citizens, and has served his town as constable and collector and superintendent of schools. At the age of twenty-eight he mar- ried Mary A. Wiley, of Rochester, Vt. Three of their children and an adopted son are living, and are school teachers.

George B. Stanton was the youngest child of Ezekiel and Annie (Berry) . Stanton, and was born in Barrington, N. H., February 14, 1809, and came with his parents to Washington, Vt., to reside, in early childhood. His op- portunities for obtaining an early education were exceedingly limited, as he never attended school but a few weeks; but he always had a keen interest in public affairs, and was a constant reader of current news and the history of his own country. He came to Northfield, Vt., before attaining his majority, and was for several years in the employ of Gov. Paine, at the then called " Factory Village." January 10, 1841, he married Lucretia, daughter of Zedekiah and Esther (Holden) Silloway, of Berlin, and soon after went to re- side on the farm in Roxbury that was ever after their home. Mrs. Stanton is a woman of great energy and force of character, and truly was a helpmate to her husband, and together they built up from the then wilderness one of the finest farms in town. Mr. Stanton died July 28, 1888.

David R. Stanton, son of George and Lucretia Stanton, was born in Rox- bury, October 24, 1841, and has always resided in town. Mr. Stanton has repeatedly held the offices of lister and selectman, and other minor positions.

457

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

He never married. He was educated at the common schools of his native town.

Zed S. Stanton, son of George and Lucretia Stanton, was born in Rox- bury, May 1, 1848. After attaining his majority he attended Northfield Graded School, where he received an academical education, and taught school for a portion of the year, for several years, in various towns in Washington county. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Washington county, March 15, 1880, and has since practiced his profession in Roxbury, with the exception of one year. He has continuously held the various offices in town since 1873, and represented Roxbury at the biennial sessions of the General Assembly of Vermont for 1884 and 1886. He held the office of assistant judge of Washington County Court from 1884 to 1888, inclusive. Mr. Stanton was married, May 31, 1880, to Jennie Smith Walbridge, of Roxbury, who was born in Northfield, July 7, 1854, and they have one child, Jessie Lucretia, born December 23, 1884.

Alvin L. Brigham was born in Marlboro, Mass. He removed from Fays- ton to Roxbury in 1823. He married Flora Baxter, and they were parents of eleven children. Ozro, the eldest, fell defending his country in the late war. Don, the youngest, also enlisted in the Union army and died soon after he was discharged. Two died early. One son and four daughters live in Lowell, Mass., and William B. resides in Northfield. Alonzo G. died in Northfield. Alvin L. Brigham was prominent in the church, and led the choir a long time before instrumental music was introduced into church service. He died in 1871, aged seventy-two years.

Deacon Samuel Edwards, born in Massachusetts, May 20, 1809, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Eliza Rood, in Bethel, Vt., June 21, 1888. He came to Roxbury with his parents, Samuel and Lydia, in 1823, and was a resident of the town sixty-five years. At the organization of the Congre- gational church of Roxbury Mr. and Mrs. Edwards became members, and in that year he was chosen deacon, and held the office to the close of his life. He lived a faithful and exemplary Christian, and was ever ready to contribute generously for the support of the gospel and for benevolent objects, and left a generous bequest to the church, the income to be applied towards its sup- port. In 1837 he married Nancy J. Edwards, who died in 1874. Their children were Wilbur F., Sarah, and Eliza. Wilbur F. Edwards was born in Roxbury, March 1, 1839, and has always resided in his native town. At the age of twenty one years he married S. Emma Howe, and settled on the home - stead. Their only child, a daughter, was born in September, 1864, and died April 19, 1888. She pursued her academic studies at Randolph Normal School, at Montpelier, and graduated in the Business department of Green Mountain Seminary, at Waterbury Center. She was an apt and thorough scholar, a consistent Christian, and possessed most amiable qualities. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have kindly given their nephew, Charles A. Howe, a home with them for several years. They are staunch and substantial members of the

458

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

church and prominent in society. Sarah (deceased) married Rev. Aldin Ladd. Eliza (Mrs. Rood) resides in Bethel, and kindly administered to the comforts of her aged father the last few months of his life.

Henry S. Boyce married Mary Wales, December 27, 1827, and settled in Roxbury, on road 33, where he cleared land and made a good home for his family. He died October 17, 1859, aged fifty-five years, and left his widow a good property. Mrs. Boyce still survives and resides on a portion of their old farm. Four of her children reside near her in Roxbury. Her daughter, Mrs. Jason Freeman, resides in Washington, D. C. One resides in St. Paul, Minn., and another in Brookfield. Mrs. Boyce is the daughter of Shubael and Polly Wales, who came from Plainfield and settled in Roxbury in 1824.

Stephen Clark Wiley, son of Jonathan and Phebe (Clark) Wiley, was born in Rochester, Vt., January 27, 1812. His parents came from Rochester to Roxbury about 1817, and here he has lived since that time. December 6, 1833, he married Lucinda Ford, of Roxbury, who was the mother of four children, one of whom died in childhood, and two sons reside in Roxbury. Their daughter married Charles Walbridge, deceased. His second wife, Betsey J. Merrill, bore him five children, and died in May, 1872. He next married Melinda Gove, of Cavendish, Vt. His children all live in town ex- cept one son, who is in business in Massachusetts, and two daughters, who reside in Warren.

Azro J. Boyce, son of Henry and Sarah (Wales) Boyce, was born in Rox- bury, January 22, 1837. At the age of twenty-four years he married Sophro- nia E. Ryder, of Coventry, Vt. They have had born to them three children, and all are living. Mr. Boyce is a butcher, and commenced dealing in meats in 1863. He has succeeded by industry and fair dealing in building up an extensive trade for a country place. He does his own buying and selling, in a business that amounts to about $7,000 per year. He served as constable seven years and lister three years, and performed the duties of these offices to the satisfaction of his townsmen. Mrs. Boyce died December 6, 1887.

Horace A. Thayre, son of Albert and Lydia (Cleveland) Thayre, was born in Braintree, Vt., and in 1851 came to Roxbury, and settled on the farm where he now lives, on road 36. Mr. Thayre has been twice married, first, to Laura A. Howard, of Braintree, who was the mother of two daughters, one of whom is deceased. Mrs. Thayre died in September, 1860. In 1861 Mr. Thayre married Almira E. Ditty, of Roxbury, who bore him one daughter, Mrs. Charles H. Flint. Since Mr. Thayre came to Roxbury he has observed many changes. On the road from Northfield to West Randolph only " Aunt Sally Richardson," aged eighty, remains of the residents there in 1851. He says many have come to town and gone.

Phineas Wiley came to Roxbury with his parents when he was but eight years old. The family lived a short time in the first house built in that part of the town. He married Polly Ellis and settled in Middlebury. In 1837 he returned to Roxbury, where he continued to live the remainder of his long

459

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

life, and died at the age of ninety years. His son Philander was born in Middlebury, July 21, 1819, and came Roxbury with his father in 1837. At the age of twenty-five years he married Lucy, daughter of John M. and Betsey Spalding, of Roxbury. Early in his life he learned the trade of builder, which he followed nearly thirty years. When Mr. Wiley came to Roxbury there was only a hotel, one store, and a dwelling house where the village is now. The ground now occupied by the church was a field sur- rounded by a log fence. Mrs. Wiley died December 23, 1883, and their only daughter resides with her father.

Ebenezer L. Waterman, a native of Connecticut, was born June 5, 1798. He emigrated with his parents to Royalton when he was a small boy. In 1848 he moved to Roxbury and settled where he now lives, on road 2. De- cember 28, 1843, he married Polly A. Fuller. Six of their eight children are now living. Mr. Waterman has made diligent exertions in business, which have been crowned with success.

Erastus N. Spalding, son of John M. and Betsey G. (McClure) Spalding, was born in Roxbury. In his youth he entered the store of the late Judge Tilden, at Northfield, where he had a short experience in mercantile busi- ness. His active and energetic temperament impelled him to build up a business of his own. At the age of eighteen years he is found conducting a grocery store and manufacturing potash in his native town. He gathered the ashes from the farmers, by driving from house to house with a box of grocer- ies, which were bartered for ashes which he converted into potash and sent to Boston. In 1845 and 1846 he was a jobber in constructing the Central Vermont R. R. At its completion he received the appointment of station agent at Roxbury, and filled the position the next fourteen years ; and at the same time did an extensive lumbering business. In 1865 he built a saw- mill on the site of his present steam mills, which he soon changed from water- power to steam-power. This was destroyed by fire December 5, 1872, and bis present extensive mills were erected on the old site, within the same month. The output of his mills is 1,000,000 feet of lumber annually. His supplies of timber are taken from his tract of about 4,000 acres of timber- lands. Mr. Spalding is a gentleman of great energy and comprehensive bus- iness ability. Besides giving his attention to this leading industry of his town he has found time to serve as selectman and representative in the legislature. At the age of twenty-three years he united in marriage with Miss Amanda A. Richardson, of Waitsfield. Their children are Willie S., a mail agent on the C. V. R. R., and a daughter, who resides with her parents. One son died at the age of eighteen years.

Dr. Ira H. Fiske, the first homeopathic physician who settled in Roxbury, was born June 15, 1850, in Topsham, Vt. His parents, Hiram and Mandana (Holden) Fiske, came from Topsham that year, and resided in Northfield, Vt., until their deaths. Hiram Fiske was known as an honest, upright man, a painter by trade, yet he acquired an excellent education, and taught school

460

TOWN OF ROXBURY.

for thirty-six consecutive winters in Orange and Washington counties. Man- dana (Holden) Fiske was a friend to everybody, rich or poor, and was a sin- cere Christian woman, gave much in charity, and never turned a beggar from her door hungry. Sickness and distress found in her a ready comforter. The epitaph on her tombstone reads: "She never grew weary in well doing." There were five children, viz .: Carrie M., Almira N., Elbridge Gerry, Ira Holden, and Edwin P. Carrie died at Woodstock, Vt .; Almira lives at Calais ; Elbridge died at Brownsville, Texas, a soldier in the 7th Vt. Vols. He inherited his mother's disposition, and his death was occasioned by a long march on a terrible hot day, when, in addition to carrying his own knapsack and gun, he also carried a sick comrade's gun, and received a sunstroke on the way. This brave boy's death was a terrible blow to the family, and the shock hastened his father's death. Edwin lives at Morrisville. Ira H., the subject of this sketch, was a cripple in his boyhood, suffering from a fever sore occasioned by wading in the river, when overheated; but notwithstand- ing his enfeebled, crippled body, he had inherited an indomitable will, and at the age of nine years had learned without a teacher to read, write, and cipher, and had commenced the study of philosophy and Latin. During a number of years he attended school at the Northfield Academy ; though very lame he walked the distance, three miles, each day, and in 1868 began the study of medicine. In the meantime his father bought him a rifle, and in roaming the woods and mountains, hunting and fishing, he regained health and became a stout, athletic young man, and commenced to teach school in the winters, and kept up the study of medicine at Woodstock. He began the practice of medicine in Hardwick, Vt., in 1871, at twenty-one years of age. He married, in 1872, Marion E. Averill, of Roxbury, and in 1875 moved and settled in that town, where he now resides. They have two children, Harold A. and Maud Carol. Dr. Fiske is a member of the Hom- eopathic Medical society of Vermont, has been superintendent of schools in Roxbury from 1884 to December, 1888, inclusive, and represented Roxbury in the session of the legislature of 1888.

Ai N. Tilden, son of David R. and Mary (Newcomb) Tilden, was born in Williamstown, Vt., in January, 1826. He removed to Northfield with his parents about 1832, where he lived until 1850. He then went to Roxbury and was a clerk for J. S. White. In 1857 he engaged in mercantile business for himself, which he has continued to the present time, (December, 1888,) and is now a member of the firm of Tilden & Son. In 1852 Mr. Tilden united in marriage with Betsey A. Spalding. Their son George A. is of the firm of Tilden & Son, and their daughter, Mrs. Ira A. Bradley, resides in Auburn, Mass. Mr. Tilden is one of Roxbury's substantial and reliable cit- izens. Besides giving his attention to his own business he has taken time to aid in the business of his town. He represented Roxbury in the legislature in 1876-77, and has served as clerk of the town since 1856, a term of thirty- two consecutive years. He is how clerk and treasurer of the town.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 55

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