Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 60

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 60

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April 27, 1880, a most cruel murder was perpetrated in Waterbury, though none concerned in the crime, nor the victim, were residents of this town. It was planned in Duxbury, at the home of the criminals, but executed in this town. In the arrangements some originality of invention is seen, but it in- volved too many details and too much exposure to observation to make it easy of concealment. Little Alice Meaker, the victim, was, if we remember rightly, a half-sister of Mr. Meaker, an orphan, or half orphan, and a pauper in another town, the overseer of which had agreed to pay a certain sum in money to Meaker to take Alice to support during her minority. Mrs. Meaker disliked or had become tired of the child, and planned to get rid of her by a cruel crime. She and her son got a team at Mr. Bates's stable, in Waterbury, and a supply of poison of Mr. Carpenter, a druggist here. The Meaker mother and son and Alice left Waterbury village between nine and ten in the evening, to go some five or six miles up Waterbury river, and on · the way administered the poison, probably finding compulsion necessary. If particulars are here omitted, the reader may imagine how they proceeded and some of the incidents of that awful ride. By some means the child came to her death, was concealed in a hole in the ground partly filled with water, dug probably by road makers, and being ready-made was used by the Meakers. The disappearance of the child immediately raised suspicion in the neighborhood; the result was Sheriff Atherton succeeded in drawing out from young Meaker the fate of the child, and the disclosure of the place of concealment, which was verified by Atherton and Meaker going to the place and finding the body, and their taking it to Meaker's house, the young man telling his mother he had told the story, to the consternation of the mother. The result of their trial for the atrocious deed was the sentence of death for both mother and son. The mother was hanged, and the son's death sentence was commuted to imprisonment in the state's prison for life.

Hon. Ezra Butler, son of Asaph, was born in Lancaster, Worcester county, Mass., September 24, 1763. About 1780 he was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary army. In 1785 he went to Waterbury in the early spring, cleared a small piece of land, planted it with corn, and returned to Weathersfield, where he married, in June, Tryphena Diggins. On making the discovery that the title to his first pitch was not good, he abandoned it, and selected another farther down the river, made a clearing, built a log house, and in September, 1786, moved into it with his wife and child, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying July 12, 1838. "He officiated over the Baptist church over thirty years. He was a firm man in his opinion, on whatever

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subject he made up his mind was right. He had a hand in many of the political movements of the day; was of the Jeffersonian school in politics, and remained so as long as that division of parties lasted. He was honored by the town in being appointed to many of its important offices. He was eleven years a representative in the House of Assembly, and fifteen years a member of the Council. In 1803 he was appointed first assistant judge of Chittenden County Court, which he held till 1806, when he was elected chief judge, and held the same to 1811, when Water bury was put into Jefferson county, now Washington, when he was again promoted to first judge and held that office twelve years, ending December 1, 1826. In October, 1826, he was chosen governor of the state, and held the office two years. In 1822 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention ; in 1806 he was a member of the Council of Censors, and from 1813 to '15 was a member of Congress, making fifty-three years' service in the various offices, besides the town offices at home. This, added to his religious duties, might be supposed would keep him tolerable busy. He was true and faithful in all the various duties as- signed to him." He was dark and sallow, not very straight, but his keen black eyes showed that he had a mind and will of his own, and the ability to use it. He is represented as being a man of the people, who knew their wants by visiting them in their homes. Hence his great popularity both as a preacher and politician.

Thomas Wheeler came over from England about 1640, and settled in Con- cord, Mass. He died December 24, 1704. One of his sons, Timothy, was born July 24, 1667, and died April 14, 1718. Timothy also had a son by the same name, born March 8, 1696, who died May 7, 1782, leaving a son by the name of William, born January 17, 1734 or '35. This William left a son William, who was born August 24, 1767, and who settled in Washington county in 1795, and here resided until 1821, when he died, leaving a son William, who was born September 17, 1791, and died October 9, 1845. Among the children of the last named William were Timothy and Joseph, who are now living in the village of Waterbury Center. Timothy was born December 17, 1820. Joseph was born November 25, 1836. He has a son, Steadman C., born March 1, 1867.

Deacon Asaph Allen was born in the fort in Deerfield, Mass., October 25, 1751. While he was a small boy his father moved with his family to Bernard- ston, Mass. At the age of nineteen years Asaph was appointed a deacon of the Orthodox Congregational church of Bernardston. In early life he did some service in the militia, and at the call of his country in the struggle for our independence he served as a soldier, and later in life received a pension from the government. In 1773 or '74 he married Persis Sheldon, of Ber- nardston, who was born in 1757. In February, 1796, he came to Waterbury with his family and settled on the fine farm now owned by G. E. Moody, about half a mile east of the village of Waterbury Center, where he spent the remainder of his long life. He was a gentleman of the old school, upright

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and honest. He died March 19, 1840. His worthy wife survived him until February, 1852, aged ninety-four years and ten months. Their children were Roxana, born August 16, 1777 ; Zebulon, born in 1779 ; Sophia, born cember 10, 1781 ; Eliakim, born February 24, 1785 ; Asaph, born in 1788 ; Horace, born August 15, 1792 ; Charles S., born February 24, 1795 ; Persis, born in Waterbury, July 2, 1797 ; and Seba, born in Waterbury, August 16, 1801. Roxana married Jared George, in Bernardston, Mass., about 1795, and in January, 1796, they removed to Waterbury, where they both resided until the close of their lives, leaving four children, viz .: Joshua, Jared, Mi- randa, and Horace P. Zebulon Allen married Rachel Moore, about 1798, and lived in Stowe, Waterbury, Massena, N. Y., Ogdensburg, N. Y., and finally in Rochester, N. Y., where he died. Sophia Allen married David Harrington, of Middlesex, Vt., about 1803. Mr. Harrington was a carpen- ter, a man of good abilities, and was high sheriff and judge of probate. He removed from Middlesex to Montpelier in 1835, emigrated to Worthington, Ohio, in 1842, thence two years later to Iowa, where he died.

Eliakim Allen married Deborah Godfrey, of Waterbury, May 1, 1808, and succeeded his father as owner of the old homestead, where he resided until about 1846, when he removed to the village of Waterbury Center. Mr. Allen was always a farmer, and a man of sterling integrity. He represented Water- bury in the state legislature, and held other offices of trust. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist church over fifty years. Mrs. Deborah Allen died October 19, 1857. January 21, 1858, Mr. Allen married his second wife, Achsah Kingsbury, of Stowe, who survives at the great age of eighty-six years. The children of Eliakim and Deborah Allen are Climena M., born August 8, 1809; Harriet R., born November 9, 1812 ; Aurelia A., born October 12, 1814; Julia E., born July 2, 1817 ; Pamelia R., born April 23, 1820 ; Alma A., born June 28, 1824 ; and Frances P., born July 16, 1832. Climena, daughter of Eliakim Allen, was twice married, first to Persons Lyon, who was the father of four of her children, none living in Waterbury. Her second hus- band was Alexander Fergurson, who died in Burlington. He was the father of four of her children. Mrs. Fergurson now resides with her daughter, Mrs.

H. Walker. Mr. Walker is of the firm of O. J. Walker & Bros., of Burling- ton. Harriet R. Alien married Elymas Newcomb, of Waterbury, and was the mother of two sons. The eldest, Francis, died at the age of twenty-one years. The other, E. Allen Newcomb, resides in Waterbury Center. Julia E. Allen married True B. Colby, a farmer, and they were parents of a son and two daughters. The son, Lucius, resides in Manchester, N. H. Mrs. Colby died October 27, 1887. Pamelia R. Allen married Lucius Marshall, who was a millwright, carpenter, and farmer. Mr. Marshall died in 1870. Their children are Willis E., a farmer, who resides in Waterbury Center, who married Miss Hattie Smith, of Waitsfield ; and Francis N., who is a merchant in Vancouver, Washington Territory. Mrs. Marshall resides with her son Willis E.

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Asaph, son of Deacon Asaph Allen, was twice married. He resided awhile in Middlesex, Vt., but subsequently removed to Ohio. He was the father of thirteen children.

Horace Allen married Polly Field, was a farmer, and died in Waterbury Center. He had one son, Charles S., who died in the service of the United States in the war with Mexico.

Charles S. Allen married Nancy Hale, and was always a farmer. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Their children are Ransom, who married Ellen Drew, of Essex, N. Y., and is a business man of Chicago; Cornelia (Mrs. Cornelius Eddy), who resides in Waterbury Center ; Romelia (Mrs. O. W. Stearns), whose husband is an enterprising farmer of Waterbury ; and Persis, wife of C. F. Clough, who is a leading lawyer in Waterbury village.

Persis Allen, daughter of Deacon Asaph, married Harry Atkins, both deceased. They were parents of two children, one of whom, Persis, is now living. The latter married Dr. Charles Cleveland, who died on duty as a surgeon at Memphis, Tenn., in the late war.

Aurelia Allen, third daughter of Eliakim, married, first, George Calkins, and resided on a farm in Waterbury. She was the mother of two children by her first husband, of whom only one, Franklin, is now living, in Pittsburg, Pa. She married, second, Charles Hicks, and they had one daughter, Emogene (Mrs. Edwin M. Woodworth), whose husband is an enterprising mechanic of Waterbury Center. Mrs. Hicks died in 1857.

Alma A. Allen, daughter of Eliakim, married Storrs Clough, and resided in Waterbury. Both are deceased. They left two sons, Lynn B., who resides in Vancouver, W. T., and Guy A., who resides in West Randolph, Vt.

Frances P., youngest daughter of Eliakim Allen, died at the age of five years.

Silas Loomis was born in Torrington, Conn., April 12, 1771, and emigrated to Waterbury, Vt., as early or earlier than 1796. He came to the town to locate a home, and spent some time in selecting a location; and while thus engaged he made his home with Gov. Ezra Butler. He purchased a lot of land about two miles from Waterbury Center, on Loomis hill, so-named in honor of him. He cleared a small place in the dense forest, near where the Loomis school-house stands, built a log cabin, covered it with bark, and re- turned to Torrington for his wife and two children. He was two weeks on the journey to Waterbury with one horse and sled, which conveyed his family and household goods. When settled in this wilderness home he exclaimed, " Here will I live, here will I die, and here will I be buried !" which was lit- erally fulfilled. By constant industry he added to his possessions until he owned 400 broad acres. He was small in stature, never weighed 125 pounds, very light complexion, large, lustrous, dark hazel eyes, and bright red hair, which he never had cut, but wore it in a cue to the close of his life. He dressed in homespun wool garments in winter, made by the deft hands of his competent wife, and linen in summer. His stockings were long, reaching

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above the knee, and over all he wore a long frock. He was scrupulously neat, and his farm, barns, sheds, and tools were kept in perfect order. He- was opposed to buying, and maintained that farmers should raise their own provisions and clothing. All he had to do, he did well. He despised fraud, deception, and dishonesty, and if a man cheated him once he never had an opportunity to do it again. He had a mind of his own, and never endorsed an opinion because some one else had. At the call of his county in the War of 1812 he hastened to its defense. He acquired some knowledge of astron- omy ; knew the names and revolution of all the planets, and when they were in conjunction. This he learned, as he said, while at work by moonlight when clearing his land. For many years he was familiarly called Governor Loomis. In his last illness he talked cheerfully of his near decease, and com- plimented' his physicians for their honesty in apprising him of it; and re- marked that death had no terrors. He died March 2, 1853, aged eighty-two years.

Caleb Sanford Wrisley, son of Caleb and Dorcas (Dickinson) Wrisley, was born in Greenfield, Mass., October 8, 1799. The Wrigley family came of English descent, the subject of this sketch being of the third generation from England. His father emigrated to Waterbury in 1800, settled on a farm on the east road, where he resided until his death, at the age of seventy-four years. He was the father of six sons and three daughters. When about. nineteen years of age he found his father's farm incumbered with debt, and resolved to earn means to discharge these debts and give his father a sub- stantial home. To accomplish this worthy object he returned to his native town (Greenfield) and labored for seven successive years for the farmers, going and returning on foot, and carrying provisions for the journey ; only using money enough to pay for his lodging. He finally had the satisfaction of re- ceiving a deed in full. Mr. Wrisley then purchased a farm adjoining his father, married Sarah Carpenter Richardson, daughter of Frederick and Betsey (Orms) Richardson, also of English descent. Mr. Orms, father of Mrs. Richardson, was killed in the war for independence. Mr. Wrisley was a man of the old school style, honest to the letter, and whose integrity was never doubted or questioned. He was a reliable citizen, a generous and obliging neighbor, and an attendant of the Free Baptist church, which he helped sup- port. He died September 29, 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Mrs. Wrisley died February 22, 1848. Their children were one son and three daughters, viz. : Ellen B., who married John Herrick, a farmer of Hyde Park, both deceased ; Alvin S., who married Miss Emeline M. Clark, and is now a practicing dentist in Waterbury Center; Harriet F. (Mrs. R. G. Gilbert), whose husband is a dentist, and resides in Morrisville, Vt .; and Louisa B.,. the wife of J. K. Darling, a farmer in Morristown.

Amasa Pride, a native of Newington, Conn., came from Brookfield, Vt., to Waterbury, in 1802. He was the first successful merchant of the town. Tim. Yeomans and a Mr. Farnsworth had opened small stores, but had done:

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very little business. Mr. Pride had but little capital, but by his energy and integrity he grew up with the town, and became a leading man in wealth and influence. The trade of Mr. Pride and the farmers (and nearly all the in- habitants were then farmers) was a barter trade. In clearing the lands the settlers converted their ashes into black salts, which they exchanged with Mr. Pride for his goods. Mr. Pride found a cash market in Montreal for this. commodity, and in that city obtained his fine goods, none being then found in Boston. He also purchased the surplus cattle in exchange for goods, and drove them in herds, or "droves," to Boston. In those early days the farmers and their wives, sons, and daughters were clad in "homespun." Every family had its spinning-wheels and looms, and every village its wool -- carding machines and cloth-dressing-mills. Mr. Pride was, as soon as his. circumstances permitted, one of the foremost in every enterprise to advance. the educational and religious interests of Waterbury. Although Waterbury had three organized churches as early as 1800, up to 1824 they had no meeting-house. The meetings were held in school-houses, private houses, and barns. One day in the spring of 1823 Judge Dan Carpenter and Mr. Pride met, and their conversation turned upon the necessity of a meeting-house. The fact that the town had none they considered a reproach, and they resolved' it should be so no longer, though neither of them was then a member of any church. That day they laid the matter before their neighbor Roswell Wells, and found him ready with a hearty response, and before night the matter of building a meeting-house was settled by these three men, who re- solved to build it if need be at their own expense. The house was completed and dedicated the ensuing year, and is still owned and occupied by the so- ciety of the Congregational church. As a merchant and farmer Mr. Pride was assiduous, enterprising, honest, and industrious, and fairly successful. As a citizen, neighbor, and friend he was warm and genial, kind and gener- ous to the poor, and never oppressive to one of his many debtors. He died in August, 1872, aged eighty-six years, having outlived nearly all his early as- sociates. His widow and a daughter are the only ones of his family who survive.

Richard Kneeland was born in Westford, Mass., April 1, 1778. He mar- ried Miss Catherine Knights, of Claremont, N. H. In the spring of 1803 he settled in Waterbury village and engaged in the occupation of house joiner. Several structures now standing in the village are specimens of his skill. In 1813 he removed to the farm now owned by John Parker, and finally died at the home of his son William in February, 1868. Mr. Kneeland was justice of the peace a long time, and presided as trial justice, and officiated at a great number of weddings. Mr. and Mrs. Kneeland were parents of nine children, all of whom lived to adult age, viz .: Ortensia, who died at the age of fifty-one years ; Willard H., who died at the age of ninety-one years ; Martha, who married Ralph Parker, and died at the age of forty years ; William, who married Dorothy Jackman, of Thetford, Vt., settled on the farm with his

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father, where he remained until the farm was sold, in 1853, and now resides on a farm in the near neighborhood of the old homestead; they have an only son, born in 1852, who resides with his parents ; Mary A., who married Baxter Whitney, and died October 14, 1887, aged seventy-three years ; Cath- erine M., who died at the age of twenty-one years; Henry, who married Maria Sherman, was a tanner, and resides in Waitsfield ; Lucius, who died in Florida at the age of thirty years ; and Adaline, who married William M. Wade, and resides in the little hamlet of Colbyville.

Dan Carpenter, son of Simeon and Anna Burton Carpenter, was born in Norwich, Vt., November 21, 1776, where he lived and was educated. He studied law and was admitted to the bar of Windsor county in the spring of 1804. During the summer of that year he came into what is now Washing- ton county and settled in Waterbury. At that time Waterbury and several other towns now in Washington county were in Chittenden county ; and there was no lawyer nearer than Williston. Mr. Carpenter's choice of location was a fortunate one for him, for there had been for several years a growing desire that a reliable lawyer should settle in that vicinity. He opened his office for business October 1, 1804. He was a sound lawyer, a man of most excellent practical judgment, and he proved almost at once that he was a safe advisor. Having fixed upon Waterbury as his future home he at once became identi- fied with all its interests, and was soon a leading man in all its affairs. When Mr. Carpenter began business in Waterbury justices had no jurisdiction in cases involving more than $13. This threw a heavy business into the County Court, and his income was large for quite a number of years. He had no competitor in town until 1817, when Henry F. Janes also settled in Waterbury. Mr. Carpenter was a gentleman of fine personal appearance, nearly six feet high, slim, straight as an arrow, and lithe and graceful in every movement. In manner he was respectful, courteous, and kind to every one. He rapidly gained favor, and strong attachments grew up between him and a great proportion of his townsmen. He was a conscientious man, very kind to the poor, and forbearing to all his debtors. The evidence of the estima- tion he gained in town, county, and state are the following facts : In his town he was chosen town clerk in 1808, and held the office by successive elections (save one) till 1829, when he declined to hold that office longer. He was first selectman during most of those years. In 1817 he was representative in the General Assembly, and with the exception of 1818 represented the town till 1827, when, in the fall of that year, he was chosen first assistant judge of Washington County Court, and held that office by successive elections for eight years, when he declined further service. In 1824 he was one of the state electors of President and Vice-President, and by his associates was deputed to carry and deliver the electoral votes of the state in the city of Washington. From April, 1823, he had Paul Dillingham, Jr., as junior law partner. The firm was Carpenter & Dillingham, which continued until he became judge, when the business was given to Mr. Dillingham. From 1820

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he had a mercantile interest in Waterbury, in company with Charles R. Cleaves. In February, 1824, he purchased Mr. Cleaves's interest in this bus- iness, with all his real estate, and his son, William Carpenter, became his partner. In the summer of 1834 he built the brick store where his grandson, W. E. Carpenter, now lives and conducts a mercantile business.

January 27, 1805, he married Betsey, daughter of Elisha and Margaret. (Murdock) Partridge, of Norwich. She was born January 23, 1783. They commenced housekeeping in the spring following, in a one-storied house,. convenient for a small family, and in the year 1815 he built and finished the two-story house where his grandson, Frank Carpenter, now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter had eight children, four of whom died in infancy, and four lived to maturity, viz .: William, born October 25, 1805, who died March 17, 1881 ; Sarah P., born in May, 1807; Eliza, born December 11, 1810 ; and Julia, born December 3, 1812. Julia, the wife of Hon. Paul Dillingham, is now the sole survivor. Sarah P. (Carpenter) Dillingham died September 20, 1831. Judge Carpenter died December 2, 1852. His memory is still cherished by many now living. His wife survived him many years, and died November 5, 1875, at the great age of ninety-two years.

William and Mary E. (Partridge) Carpenter were parents of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are Sarah Louisa, born October 28, 1832, who married Erastus Spicer, December 24, 1864, and died Feb- ruary 17, 1887 ; George Henry, born September 25, 1835, who married Helen Wallace, of Aurora, N. Y., January 23, 1866, and now resides in Griswold- ville, Mass .; Mary Partridge, born October 7, 1838, who married M. O. Evans, a merchant of Waterbury, May 1, 1860, and died November 15, 1872 ; Julia Eliza, born June 10, 1842, who married, November 12, 1867, George W. Wheeler, of Burlington, Kan., where she now resides with her husband, who is a farmer ; Franklin, born June 19, 1845, who married Ellen Eliza Shurtleff, September 22, 1868, and resides at the homestead of his grandfather ; and William E., before mentioned, who married Sarah Moody, June 4, 1872.

John Stearns, son of Asaph and Kesiah (Palmer) Stearns, was born in Conway, Mass., January 23, 1783. He married Tabitha Warren, of his native town, lived in Conway about three years after his marriage, and then emigrated to Waterbury, in February, 1807, and settled on a farm on Loomis hill in the eastern part of the town. The farm of 106 acres contained a log house so poorly constructed that the foxes ran through openings between the logs. There was only fifteen or twenty acres of cleared land. He was young and industrious, and at once set to work with a good will and soon erected a comfortable frame house and other buildings, cleared up his farm, and placed himself and family in comfortable circumstances. As his finances increased he added to his farm from time to time until it contained 300 acres. He was not an office seeker, but by the votes of his townsmen he reluctantly held the positions of selectman and lister several years. He was a reliable, honest, and trusted citizen, and a kind and obliging neighbor. He died on

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Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 60

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