Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 61

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 61

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TOWN OF WATERBURY.

the farm where he settled, January 3, 1863, at the advanced age of eighty years. Mrs. Stearns survived until April 11, 1863. They were parents of nine children, viz .: Diantha, born November 30, 1804, who died July 31, 1843 ; John, Jr., born August 15, 1806, who married Abigail Tobey, of Con- way, Mass., was a farmer, and resided in Waterbury until his death, February 26, 1855; Cynthia, born September 17, 1808, unmarried, resides with her brother O. W., in Waterbury ; Palmer, born July 25, 1810, went to Illinois in 1883, married Polly Reynolds, and settled permanently in Rock Island, Ill., where he now resides; Elizabeth, born May 13, 1812, who married Leonard L. Morse, of Waterbury, and removed with her husband to Illinois in 1833, where she died in December, 1842 ; George W., born April 26, 1815, mar- ried Mary Marshall, in 1841, and settled in Waterbury, where he was a farmer ; Samuel F., born August 12, 1817; Keziah, born June 29, 1820, who mar- ried Caleb Simmons, in June, 1842, and settled in Waterbury, where she died March 17, 1851 ; and Orren Warren, born August 23, 1828.

Samuel F. Stearns married, first, Julia C. Murray, March 16, 1843, who died March 25, 1879, and second, Lutheria Barnes, February 24, 1880. Mr. Stearns has always been a farmer, and has the confidence of his townsmen. He has served as selectman and lister for several terms, and gave to the du- ties of these positions the same care and attention that he did to his own busi- ness.

Orren Warren Stearns married Romelia Allen, March 17, 1851. Mr. Stearns was educated in the common schools of his district, with one term at the High school of Waterbury Center. Like other farmers' boys he had schooling in winter and discipline in industry at hard labor on his father's farm, a season of about nine months, from spring to winter. Mr. Stearns settled on the homestead and administered to the comforts of his aged parents in their declining years, ably assisted by his sister Cynthia. The homestead is now owned by Orren W. and Cynthia. Mr. Stearns has not been much in public positions, choosing rather to give his attention to his farm, but has served as lister. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stearns are Lizzie D., born October 14, 1852, wife of Richard N. Demerit, proprietor of a bakery and confectionery establishment at Plattsburgh, N. Y., with a residence at Water- bury Center, Vt .; Winnie A., born November 24, 1857, who died November II, 1868; and Carrie C., born January 24, 1862, wife of Lem A. Lyon, officer of the Reform school with temporary residence in Vergennes, Vt., and per- manent residence at Waterbury Center.

Daniel Smith, Jr., was born in Waterborough, Me., about 1780. In 1802 he married Polly Straw. In 1812 he set out on foot for Vermont, and settled near Waterbury Center. Here his wife joined him with their five children, in 1814. This journey was made with an ox-team. The families of Mr. and Mrs. Smith represented wealth and influence in Maine, and were descend- ants of the earliest settlers. Whether it was ambition or adventure that in- fluenced Mr. Smith to settle here, is not known ; but it is certain that he

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never rose to distinction. He worked several years in the saw-mill of S. Jones, and labored in other places, until he was nearly disabled by a stroke of shaking palsy. His son Thomas bought for him a home on Alder brook, and afterwards assisted in his support to the close of his life. Mr. Smith died in 1854 and his wife in 1853. Rebecca, the oldest of their children, remained in Maine with her friends. Valentine married Lizzie Bridges in 1827. In 1865 he emigrated to Illinois, where he died in 1870. In 1828 Sarah married Israel Straw and emigrated to Ohio. Ruth married Hiram Parcher, resided in Waterbury and Duxbury, and died at the latter place in 1880. One of her seven children was a soldier in Co. B, 10th Vt. Regt., in the late war. Mary died at her father's home, in 1828, aged twenty years, and another died in infancy. Thomas, before mentioned, twin brother of Valentine, married Laura Knight, and spent his whole life in Waterbury, dying in 1880. His wife died in 1874, and later he married her sister Abigail, who had always lived in the family, and who yet survives. Thomas Smith possessed an un- blemished character, was fearless, generous to a fault, and physically very strong. His feats of endurance are almost incredible. He went from his home to Stowe, six miles distant, and split 525 hemlock rails for Samuel Hart, and returned home the same day. On another occasion he cut the timber and split 400 rails in one day for Erastus Parker. In 1849 his son Emory fell twenty feet and eight inches from a tree, and struck with the full force of the fall on the bridge of his nose, across the edge of a cauldron kettle, and nearly severed the top of his head. Mr. Smith then went on foot three miles for a doctor, and returned in forty-four minutes. On account of his great strength his aid was sought for at raisings and bees, and he was heavily taxed in consequence. Mr. Smith devoted his life to the care of his chil- dren, and to the aged members of his and his wife's families. He was the father of twelve children, all by his first wife. Five died in infancy, and one at the age of ten years. His third son went West at the age of twenty-two years, and three years later was murdered in Wisconsin, by his employer Hub- bard, to avoid paying him his wages. Hubbard soon after left the place and was shot from a boat in Kansas. The remaining four sons and one daughter are living, and all are married and well settled in life.

The fourth son, Horschel F. Smith, married Elizabeth M. Young, in 1858, and settled, with his father's family, on the place where he was born, and which is now, as it always has been, the roof-tree for all, and has always been the home of from four to five generations at once .. The present occupant has not only kept up the place, but he has greatly improved it. Horschel F. Smith has had a very busy life. He and his brother William C. were soldiers of Co. I, Ist Vt. Regt., and were with the regiment from the time it went out until its discharge. At Gettysburg he carried a wounded prisoner from the field on his back, and single handed took two stalwart prisoners into camp. He is a practical surveyor, and in the last twenty-eight years has done much labor in this line in the survey of the timberlands in this section

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of Vermont. He has also erected a large number of buildings, and repaired many. Mr. Smith is the originator of the " Polaris" potato, which is a fine new variety, and is becoming very popular. He has served as clerk of his church and his school district a number of years, and has been the superin - tendent of the Sunday-school fifteen years. He is the father of six children.

Patrick Bryan, the first Catholic in Waterbury, was a tailor. He came from London to Quebec, and from there directly to Waterbury about 1814 or '15. His family were six sons and two daughters. The father and mother and one or two, if not all, of the children, who have died in Waterbury, were buried in Burlington. Mr. Bryan did not remain at the village long. He soon purchased and moved to a farm near the Center. Many years ago his house was a resort for Irishmen, and Catholic meetings were held there.

Solomon Newcomb was born in Shelburne, Mass., August 2, 1780. Sep- tember 24, 1803, he married Sarah Pulman, who was born August 10, 1782. Mr. Newcomb was a farmer and joiner. He settled in Waterbury, Vt., in 1816, where he died December 9, 1845. Mrs. Newcomb died December 21, 1841. Their children were Elymas S., born February 4, 1805; Sarah T., born September 13, 1806; Wealthy W., born November 28, 1808; and Irenaeus P., born April 23, 1814. Elymas Newcomb married Harriet R. Allen, September 16, 1832. He died September 5, 1869. His widow still survives him. Judge Newcomb was a prominent citizen of his town and county, and a solid pillar of his church.

George W. Randall was born on Ricker Mountain, September 18, 1825. His father, Oliver C., and grandfather, William Randall, were the pioneer settlers there about 1820. His father died in 1830. About a year later his mother, who was the daughter of Moses Coffin, removed to Stowe, and soon after married George Akely. Mr. Randall passed his early boyhood with his aunt, Mrs. Davis, whose wants he now takes pleasure in supplying. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Randall chose the trade of blacksmith, and became an apprentice in Waterbury, and boarded in the family of R. C. Smith, Esq., where he remained three years. In prosecuting his trade later he was injured by a horse, and was obliged to abandon it. This injury probably changed the current of his life. While with Esquire Smith he observed that it was necessary to obtain a fair education in order to gain a standing in good society and success in life. He had access to the common school, and later finished an academic course at Bakersfield Academy. The three succeeding winters he taught a district school. Since that time he has experienced an eventful and busy life. At the breaking out of the "gold fever," in 1849, he abandoned the profession of law, which he had commenced in the office of Hon. Paul Dillingham, and went to California, over the Isthmus of Panama ; run the gauntlet of cholera, reached San Francisco, paid fifty cents for the privilege of sleeping on a pile of shavings, went into the mines, remainin fourteen months, and returned to Waterbury, after an absence of seventeen months and eight days, with an accumulation of $5,000. Two years later,

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in January, 1853, he again started for California, contracted yellow fever, was the only one of a company of thirty who survived the attack, and in conse- quence of it had poor health and returned home without financial success. Since that time he has been engaged in dealing in real estate, farming, and lumbering. He now cultivates about 700 or 800 acres, and owns of timber- land 3,000 acres. His mills cut about 1,000,000 feet of lumber annually, and he gives employment to a force of fifty men. Mr. Randall has found time to give his attention to the interests of his town, and although he first cast his lot with the Democrats he had the courage to follow his convictions, and at the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks. He has been auditor, lister, and selectman, and in 1872 represented his town in the state legislature, and again in 1882, when he was instrumental in obtaining the charter for the incorporation of Waterbury village.

Thomas Eddy, born in Middlebury, Mass., married Elizabeth Putnam, a relative of Gen. Putnam. Mr. Eddy served three years in the Revolu- tionary war, was crippled, and received a pension. In 1821 he came to Waterbury with his son William, with whom he lived until his death, in 1840. William Eddy, just mentioned, ultimately settled on the fine farm on Thatcher's Branch, where his son Harvey now resides. Mr. Eddy was a prominent man and held inost of the town offices. Nancy Eddy, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Putnam) Eddy, was born March 31, 1797. She married Elinas Humphrey, February 24, 1820. Mr. Humphrey was born May 18, 1799. They settled in Waterbury before 1824, as their oldest son was born there in that year. Mr. Humphrey was a farmer and joiner, and one of the finest workmen in the state. He was a man of good abilities, very well informed, and a self-made man. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey reared nine children, viz .: William, Horace W., Juliet, George S., Morton, He- man E., Ann Maria, Charles O., and Mason W. Horace W., born Febru- ary 8, 1824, married Ruth W. Knight, of Pelham, N. H. In 1861 he enlisted from Pelham in the Union army, went to the front, and remained in the service the ensuing four years, participating in the battles of Cedar Creek, Winchester, and Fisher Hill, and was discharged at the close of the war without a scar, but broken in health. He now resides in his native town (Waterbury). Charles O. Humphrey, born October 24, 1838, married Eliza Grover, and is a farmer in Waterbury. He has a good academic edu- cation, and in early life taught district schools. He served as a soldier in the Union army in the late war. Mason W. Humphrey, born June 27, 1841, also received an academic education, and taught district schools. He also enlisted in the Union service, as a private, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and was killed in battle June 3, 1864.

The Clough family in America, as near as can be ascertained, are of Eng- lish origin. One branch very early settled in Guilford, N. H., and intermar- ried with the Chase family. Simon Clough, after serving through the Revo- lutionary war, removed to Barnston, Canada, where he remained the residue

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of his life. His brother Joseph located at Three Rivers, and their brother Aaron came from Guilford, N. H., to Stowe, Vt., and settled as a farmer, and died there, aged about eighty years. Aaron Clough was born in Sea- broke, N. H., January 21, 1763. He married Elizabeth Clark, October 17, 1781, and their ten children were Elizabeth, born July 29, 1782 ; Patience, born December 29, 1785; Abigail, born November 9, 1789; Marcy, born January 2, 1792 ; Aaron, Jr., born March 23, 1795; Moses, born April 23, 1798; Thaddeus, born October 9, 1801 ; Eli, born June 9, 1803 ; Solomon, born April 9, 1808 ; and Relief, born August 18, 1809. His son Thaddeus married Clarissa Morse, of Waterbury, and after a few years' residence in Stowe made a final and permanent settlement in Waterbury, where he was a successful farmer, and gained the confidence of his townsmen, who honored him with the offices within their gift. He was selectman twelve successive years, and representative in the state legislature in 1836, 1847, and 1848. He died November 28, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. His wife died September 30, 1876, aged eighty-four years.

Columbus F., son of Thaddeus and Clarissa (Morse) Clough, born in Stowe, June 28, 1833, spent his time, like other farmers' boys, in hard labor and at- tending the common school of his district, and later attended the academies of Morrisville and Bakersfield, where he fitted for college at the early age of seventeen years. By the advice of Hon. Paul Dillingham he gave up his intention of taking a college course, and entered the law office of Mr. Dilling- ham, and was prepared to practice at twenty years of age, but was obliged to wait until the session of the court and his age would allow of his admission to the bar. During the four and a half years which he spent under the tutelage of Gov. Dillingham he was required to assist in the trial of his cases in justices' courts, and did his entire work of that kind the last year. Mr. Clough was admitted to the bar of Vermont, March 11, 1856. About this time he was encumbered with business matters, in the closing out of which he was detained in Waterbury, and prevented from going West, where he had offers of unusually fine business connections. The business before referred to, and some practice in his profession, occupied his time for five or six years. January 26, 1861, he removed to Waitsfield, where he soon built up an ex- tensive and successful practice, in Washington, Windsor, Orange, Chittenden, and Lamoille counties. He remained in Waitsfield until October 17, 1867, when he returned to Waterbury. He has been connected in partnership with Hon. Hiram Carleton, judge of probate, now residing in Montpelier, and also with Edwin F. Palmer, Esq., of Waterbury. July 29, 1861, Mr. Clough united in marriage with Persis L., daughter of Charles S. and Nancy Allen, of Water- bury. He is independent in politics, but has decided convictions on the question of finance and other national questions. He is a member of the Congregational church.

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TOWN OF WATERBURY.

S. Raymond Huse, son of Eben B. Huse, was born in Brookfield, Vt., in 1828, and came to Waterbury with his step-father, Ziba Smith, in 1832. His father died when he was but six months old. Mr. Huse spent his time, like other farmers' boys, at work in summer and at school in winter, and finished his education at Bakersfield Academy, under the able instruction of Prof. Spaulding, A. M., LL. D. At the age of twenty-one years he bought the fine and productive farm where he now lives. He has devoted his energies in its constant improvement, and with marked and satisfactory results. Mr. Huse is not a politician, but is a Republican, and has been persuaded by his townsmen to serve them as selectman, auditor, and lister, which positions he gave the same attention that he does to his individual affairs. Mr. Huse ranks with our most intelligent farmers, is an extensive reader, and has accumulated a fine library. He married Augusta S. Miles, of Acton, Mass. Their children are George R., an engineer in Troy, N. Y .; Louis N., a farmer with his father ; and Joseph S., yet in school.

Dr. Henry Janes, son of Henry F. and Fanny (Butler) Janes, was born in Waterbury, January 24, 1832. The following sketch was condensed by Hon. Edwin F. Palmer from biographies of the members of the "Rocky Mountain Medical association," published at Washington, D. C., in 1877 :-

The Doctor received his education at Morrisville and at St. Johnsbury academies. His medical studies were commenced in 1852, at Waterbury, under Dr. J. B. Woodard. He attended his first course of medical lectures at Woodstock College, in 1852, and two courses subsequently at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, where he graduated in 1855, and was appointed assistant and afterwards house physician in Bellevue hospital, New York city. In 1856 he went into practice at Chelsea, Mass., and in 1857 returned to Waterbury, where he soon acquired a good professional bus- iness. In 1861 he entered the army as surgeon of the 3d Vt. Regt., in 1863 was commissioned surgeon of the U. S. army, and in 1865 was breveted lieutenant. , The greater part of his military service was spent in hospital duty. In the fall of 1862 he was in charge of a hospital at Burkettsville ; in 1863, in the winter, at Frederick, Md .; in the spring in the hospitals of the 6th Army Corps, and in the summer and fall in the army hospitals in and about Gettysburg, and at the Letterman general hospital, in which were about 2,000 severely wounded from the Gettysburg battlefield. In the winter and spring of 1864 he was in South Street general hospital, at Philadelphia, and in the summer of the same year was in charge of a hospital steamer. From the fall of 1864 till the close of the war he was in charge of Sloan gen- eral hospital, at Montpelier. He left the army in 1866, and spent a portion of that year in New York, making a special study of injuries to the bones and brain. In 1867 he returned to Waterbury, where he has since been actively engaged in practice, with the exception of a portion of 1874, when he was traveling in Europe. His practice is large in the treatment of nervous diseases, surgery, and in consultations with neighboring physicians. In 1869

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and '70 he published, in the "Transactions of Vermont Medical society," a paper on the treatment of gun-shot fractures, especially of the femur ; in 1871, '72, and '73 papers on some of the incidents following amputations ; in 1874 amputations at the knee-joint ; in 1877 a paper on spinal hemiplegia. At the 9th International Congress held at Washington, D. C., Dr. Janes read two papers, one on non-fatal penetrating gun-shot wounds of the abdomen, treated without laparotomy, and the other, gun-shot fractures of the femur, giving the results of treatment of 427 cases, and also 263 cases treated con- servatively-a larger number than has been treated by any other living per- son. In 1880 Dr. Janes was elected by the unanimous vote of the legislature a trustee of the University of Vermont, and he is also one of the medical committee of the Mary Fletcher hospital, at Burlington.

Joseph Moody married Avis Chesley, and settled in Vershire, Vt., where he was a farmer and an extensive dealer in live stock and real estate. In January, 1835, he came to Waterbury and continued his farming and buying and selling, until his shattered health, at the age of sixty-six years, compelled him to retire from active life. He died in Waterbury, April 15, 1857, at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Moody died September 7, 1848, aged sixty-six years. Nathaniel Moody, son of Joseph and Avis (Chesley) Moody, was born in Vershire, Vt., June 18, 1806. He was inured to hard labor on his father's farm, received a little "schooling " in his district, and at the age of twenty-one years he struck out for himself and was a farm laborer to the age of twenty-six years. March 26, 1832, he united in marriage with Miss. Huldah Chandler, of Strafford, Vt., and settled on a farm in his native town. He at once engaged in farming and dealing in cattle which he drove to Boston market. His earliest trips to Boston were performed on foot both ways. In March, 1837, Mr. Moody came to Waterbury, where he continued a farmer and increased his trade in live stock, dealing with the farmers of Washington and adjacent counties. In 1852 he removed to the pleasant village of Waterbury, where he now resides (1888), at the advanced age of more than four-score years. Mr. Moody has yet a vigorous mind, transacts all his own financial affairs, and is giving his attention to the business interests of the Waterbury National bank, of which he has been one of its able directors for fifteen or twenty years. Mrs. Moody died March 14, 1879. September 7, 1880, Mr. Moody married Miss Martha J. Joslyn, his present wife. Mr. Moody is a staunch citizen, and a member and pillar of the Meth- odist church. George W. Moody, son of Joseph and Avis, was born Septem- ber 20, 1822, and came to Waterbury in 1835. December 7, 1843, at the age of twenty-one years, he married Miss Lucia, daughter of Capt. William and Jane (Smith) Eddy. Mr. Moody, like his father and brothers, has been a farmer and speculator. The children of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Moody are G. Eugene, born January 6, 1845; Edwin B., born August 18, 1846; L. Euphrasia, born November 8, 1848 ; Sarah E., born September 1, 1850 ; Emma C., born October 11, 1852 ; Calvin B., born October 26, 1855; and

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Nettie E., born February 23, 1860. G. Eugene Moody married Alma Huse, March 8, 1866. He is one of the large proprietors of cultivated real estate, and a bold speculator in all kinds of property. He holds the positions of representative and selectman.

Dexter May, a pioneer of Berlin, settled at a very early date, before 1804, on the Winooski river, on the first farm below Montpelier Junction. He was the father of twelve children, and died on the farm at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His son Silas, born on the homestead, July 13, 1804, was educated in the common schools, was an extensive reader, and accumulated quite a library, and by his course of reading and habits of close observation acquired a fund of practical knowledge. September 1, 1833, he married Betsey Farrar, of Moretown, and settled at once on a farm in Montpelier, on the Middlesex road, about half a mile west of the State House. In May, 1836, he removed to Waterbury and settled on the Stowe road, one mile north of the Center village, where he resided until his death, July 21, 1859. He was a man of influence and highly respected. In politics he was an " old line Whig," and held the offices of selectman and justice of the peace. He was an active member of the Methodist church, and a liberal contributor to all its interests. Mrs. May survived her husband until 1873, aged seventy-one years. Their children were Oscar W .; Sarah, who died in infancy ; Josephine, who married George N. Greely, and resides in this town on a farm on Gregg hill ; and S. Aurora, who married Orlow W. Bickford, and resides in Kansas. Oscar W. May, born July 22, 1834, spent his time, like other farmers' boys, at work a portion of the year, but received a good practical education at the district schools. When about eighteen years of age he commenced teaching in the common schools, which he continued with fine success for six successive winters. January 11, 1865, he married Emma A. Atkins, of Waterbury, and bought of the heirs of the estate the homestead, which he still owns. He is a Republican, and has been in office constantly the last twenty-five years. He was a selectman during the war for the Union, and served in that capacity about five years, lister sixteen years, and constable the last eleven consecu- tive years.

Thomas Montgomery was born in Duxbury. His father emigrated from Scotland to America, and settled in Duxbury at a very early date in the his- tory of that town. Thomas, before mentioned, married Lucy Blanchard and settled in his native town, where he always resided. He was a mason and farmer, and reared a large family, dying at the age of about eighty-six years. His son John, born in Duxbury, November 19, 1794, married Thyphena Towle, and settled on the homestead. In 1836 he removed to Waterbury and first settled on a farm on Perry hill. About 1873 he removed to a fine farm at the mouth of Cotton brook, on Waterbury river, where he died May 7, 1887, aged over ninety-two years. Mr. Montgomery was a Democrat, and held several offices of trust. He possessed a very retentive memory, which remained unimpaired until the close of his long life. He was highly respected

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Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889, Part 61

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