History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 24

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Vermont > Addison County > History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24

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The first officers of Libanus Lodge, at Bristol, were Harvey Munsill, mas- ter; Horatio Needham, senior warden; and Winter H. Holley, junior warden. Munsill was a member of the Legislature in 1829-31, a member of the Senate in 1842-43, and was for thirty years judge of probate, an able, upright and just man. Needham was a lawer of ability and of great geniality of temper and fine social qualities. He was in the Legislature in 1835, '37, '39, '47, '48, '52, '53, and in 1853 was speaker of the House. In 1863, at the time of his death, he was grand commander of Knights Templar. Holley was a prosper- ous merchant, director of the Vergennes Bank, and 1841 was a member of the Legislature.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Among the other prominent members of the lodge have been the follow- ing: Levi Hasseltine, a leading physician, and member of the Legislature in 1855-56. Oliver Smith, of New Haven, who has served in the Legislature and two years as assistant judge of the County Court. Lewis L. Beers, of Monkton, a member of the Legislature in 1849-50, and who has served two years as as- sistant judge of the County Court. Henry B. Williams, of Monkton, who has served in both branches of the Legislature and as an assistant judge of the County Court. Noble F. Dunshee, who has served in both branches of the Legislature and was sheriff of the county from 1868 to 1885. Edwin D. Barnes, who served as master, and was a member of the Legislature in 1874. Dr. E. M. Kent, physician and druggist, who has served as master, and was a member of the Legislature in 1880. Titus B. Gaige, a member of the Legisla- ture in 1843-44. Rollin Dunshee, a member of the Legislature in 1857. Erwin A. Hasseltine, past master of the lodge and a member of the Legislature in 1884, and Harvey C. Munsill, past master of the lodge and high priest of Gifford Chapter.

George L. Deming was the first master of the Simonds Lodge No. 59, at Shoreham, with Colonel Charles Hunsden senior warden, and Julius N. North junior warden. Deming was for some years the hotel keeper at Shoreham village, and afterwards removed from the State. Hunsden enlisted and served through the late war, and after repeated promotions became colonel of the Eleventh Vermont Volunteers. After his return from the war he was chosen to the Legislature, and afterwards removed to Albany, N. Y. North was sev- eral years master of the lodge, and was a member of the Legislature in 1869- 70, and in the Senate of 1880.

Among the other prominent members have been the following : Thurman Brookins, for some time master, a member of both branches of the Legislature, and two years assistant judge of the County Court. H. S. Brookins, a mem- ber of the Legislature in 1856-58. Charles E. Bush, cashier of the bank at Orwell. Gustavus A. Cutting, for many years master of the lodge, and Edgar N. Bissell, a prominent breeder of Merino sheep, and a member of the Legis- lature of 1882.

Among the clergymen who have resided in the county and have given to Freemasonry their influence and support may be named the following : Thomas Tolman, of Middlebury, the first grand secretary of the Grand Lodge; Eben- ezer Brown, of Middlebury; Increase Graves, of Bridport; Ira Ingraham, of Orwell ; J. J. Mathias, of Middlebury ; Josiah Hopkins, D.D., of New Haven ; Alexander Lovell, of Vergennes; Henry Boynton, of Bristol ; Robert Hast- ings, of Orwell; Kittredge Haven, of Shoreham; William H. Lord, of Mid- dlebury ; S. F. Calhoun, of Orwell ; Frederick S. Fisher, of Vergennes, and Clarence S. Sargent, of New Haven. This is far from a complete list, but enough to show that Freemasonry has had its firm adherents among all classes and professions.

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It is not strange that an institution, supported and upheld by such men as have been enumerated in these pages, should have a powerful and most benefi- cent influence in the community, and should go down to posterity with a record honorable among men.

CHAPTER XIV.

SHEEP HUSBANDRY AND LIVE STOCK IN ADDISON COUNTY.

Antiquity of the Sheep - First Accounts in the Scriptures - First Peoples who Raised Sheep - Changes of Locality - Origin of the Merino - Improvement in Breed - History of the Merino Sheep - Addison County - Early Mutton Sheep - Their Marketable Qualities - The First Merinos in the County -- The Early Breeders - Beginning of Improvement - Mag- nitude of Improvement - The Saxony Sheep - Wool Bearing Qualities- Comparisons Be- tween the Early and the Modern Merino -Descriptions of the two Types - Great Change of Purpose by the Breeders - Sheep Breeders' Associations-Objects and Success - Comparisons of Wool Product -Peculiarities of High Bred Sheep - How Improvement has been Accom- plished - Noted Breeders of the County - General Benefits to the County - Horse and Cattle Breeding in the County.

T HE first account we have of the genus ovis (sheep) is found in the sacred Scriptures. Their habitat was Western Asia. Not only wool-bearing sheep, but another genus that produced only hair existed in those countries. Sheep were the most numerous and the most necessary of the domesticated animals. They furnished not only meat and clothing, but their milk produced butter and cheese before the milk of cows was used for that purpose. While the improvement in cattle is confined to the last two hundred years, and that of horses dates no farther back than the seventh century, it is known that the improvement of sheep commenced at a much earlier period.

The first people that became specially noted for the production of fine wool were the Colchians, who lived between the Black and Caspian Seas. This country could be reached by vessels passing through the Dardanelles, Bos- phorus and the Black Seas. It was to this country that Jason went for the "golden fleece," twelve hundred years before the Christian era. A learned author says : "This country and its neighborhood form the favored nursery whence the improved fleece-bearing animals have gradually spread over the world. One country after another became impressed with the advantages to be derived from the husbandry of sheep. Nation after nation improved its agriculture by the introduction of the animal, till at last the Romans became pre-eminent for their attention to its culture and to the manufactures of which it is the fruitful source. It is believed that the Colchians long monopolized the growth of fine wool."

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Just at what time and by what means this breed of sheep found its way into Europe is unknown. As these people migrated westward they probably took some of these animals with them to the various localities where they settled. In later times the Greek and Roman conquests in the East favored their intro- duction into Southern and Western Europe. Those governments were eager to seize upon any advantages that would enrich their treasures. We now come to a more interesting period, because better known, in the history of fine-wool sheep. During the first century before the Christian era the improvement of sheep was well advanced in Italy. The flocks of Colchis and Pontus "still held their own." For a thousand years they had maintained the reputation of hav- ing the finest wool. About this time a single sheep from Pontus sold in Italy for more than seven hundred and fifty dollars. The sole object in the im- provement of sheep at that early time seemed to be the production of wool of the finest quality. At length the flocks of those eastern countries began to decay. We find no records of Italian breeders resorting there after the Ist century, A. D., for animals to improve their own flocks. Sheep producing the finest wool were regarded as the best, without regard to other qualities. The Italian flocks soon attained the reputation of being superior to all others, which they maintained for several centuries. The management of flocks was brought to such perfection that a late English writer states that " as much seems to have been known about sheep two thousand years ago as at the present time." The extreme care and labor which had been bestowed on fine-wool sheep gradually relaxed, and they finally gave way to breeds better adapted to mutton pur- poses. The density of the population, the high price of land, and the use of lighter clothing fabrics, all tended to the decadence of fine-wool sheep. Fine' wool could naturally be obtained in Spain, then a Roman province, where sheep husbandry had become a leading pursuit, for less cost than it could be grown at home. The chief sources of information relating to sheep husbandry of these early times, of which modern authors have availed themselves, are said to be the writings of Virgil, Solinus, Varro, Pliny, Strabo and the two Colum- ellas, Marcus and Lucius.

The breed of sheep called "Merino" was undoubtedly formed in Spain. There is much obscurity as to its origin, and there seems to be no less doubt about the derivation of the word " Merino." Webster defines the word, " mov- ing from pasture to pasture," " a royal judge and superintendent, or inspector of sheep walkers." Jarvis says: "The Spanish orthography is 'Mareno,' which signifies from or beyond the sea." Blacklock affirms that "they have received the name 'Merino' from a peculiar buff or reddish hue," while Liv- ingstone's definition is, " governor of a small province," and likewise, " him who has the care of the pasture or cattle in general."1

1 At what stage of improvement or in what century these sheep first took the name Merino is also uncertain.

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The various breeds from which the Merino appears to have been formed have been described as " tawny," "reddish," " buff," and " black" in color. Modern writers ascribe the red and black spots that sometimes appear on the Merino of the present day to the law of atavism, a breeding back to the colors of the original sheep from which the Merino breed was formed. These instances are cited as proof of "the primary determining power of blood." In the begin- ning of this century Tessier informs us that "an opinion prevails in France that the Merino sheep are of American descent." The balance of evidence seems to be in favor of their Italian origin. Doubtless there was more or less admixture with other breeds. Whatever their origin may have been, and whatever the colors of the progenitors of the Merinos were, the Spanish breed- ers came to have a preference for white-wooled sheep. A writer of that day condemns the use of rams with black spots as being likely to produce black lambs.

Before the Moorish conquest in the seventh century Spain had become noted for its sheep husbandry. The three countries, Caucasia and the neighbor- ing regions, Italy and Spain, nearly monopolized the production of fine wool for nearly three thousand years, to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Per- haps we have underrated the difficulty of forming a new breed of sheep, like the Spanish Merino, out of material so unlike. The labor, patience and skill necessary to accomplish it seem to surpass the vaunted success of modern breeders. But little is known concerning the improvement of the Spanish flocks for several centuries. The history of manufactures and the wool trade throw a faint side-light on the condition and numbers of the flocks. The Spanish language is said to be specially barren of works on sheep husband- ry. When at length more information concerning their sheep was obtained, it was found that they existed in immense flocks; that they had been bred " in and in" from time immemorial; that each flock had its own peculiar characteristics, and that they were mainly in the possession of a comparatively few men who had sufficient influence to control the legislation of the kingdom. Merino sheep had now become the admiration and envy of every nation of Europe. While exportation of the sheep was forbidden, the country was en- riched by the sale of the wool; a contraband trade in Merinos was continually carried on across the Eastern Pyrenees into France. The countries of Europe felt keenly the injury they sustained by being dependent on a foreign country for all their fine wool. Attempts were made to supply themselves by improving the indigenous breeds. This was a slow and discouraging process. At length various governments of Europe negotiated with that of Spain, and Merinos were taken to Sweden, Saxony, Silesia, England, France, and perhaps other countries. The sheep descended from all these flocks, except Sweden, have been imported to Addison county. France took the lead in improvement by establishing ten flocks in various sections, all under the control of the govern-

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

ment. These were located at Malmaison, Perpignan, Arles, Rambouillet, Cere, and five other places best calculated to accommodate breeders and test the hardihood of the sheep under different conditions. There has undoubtedly been more money paid for imported French sheep by Addison county breeders than for all other Merinos ever brought to the country. The amount paid by S. W. Jewett, A. L. and M. Bingham reached nearly one hundred thousand dollars. It is doubtful if many of these imported French sheep were of pure Spanish origin. Tessier, who was inspector of all the government flocks, states: "A belief prevailed that at the fifth, fourth, or third mixture, according to the breeds, rams issued from cross-breeds might be regarded as full-blooded, true Merinos; they were made use of and sold accordingly. This opinion spread itself with great rapidity, as it was entertained by Daubenton and Gilbert. The error took deeper root from the authority of these two able men."

In tracing the history of Merino sheep in Addison county and the impor- tant industry resulting therefrom, it will not be expected we should enter into the general history of sheep, nor of Merinos in particular, further than given in our opening pages. Interesting as that history might be, we can only refer the inquiring reader for specific and exhaustive treatment of the subject to such treatises as that of Youatt, Lasteyrie and Livingstone ; nor can we in these pages analyze or explain the terms and technicalities used to express stock, breed, genus, variety, family, etc., but deem it sufficient to use the word variety to designate local flocks in this country.

Somewhat partisan discussions have been at times indulged in, and affirma- tions made as to whether any flocks of to-day can be traced, with any degree of certainty, pure, to any of the flocks or cabannas of the choice Transhumen- tes, or to the plains of Estremadura and Leon. On this point we will make only a single remark: the discussion of this subject in a spirit of candor and fairness, as has usually been the case, has not only led to careful research in regard to the origin of flocks, but to spirited and kindly strife and emulation in efforts to make the favorite flocks really the best, thereby enhancing the value of each. The all-important question for these pages is, what was the condition and status of the Merino sheep when introduced into the county more than seventy years ago, and what progress and improvement has from time to time been made? What the condition and developed interest, or industry, at the present time ? If improved, by what means and by whom, and the crowning results as an historical fact in the county ?

The first Spanish Merinos that came into Addison county were from the importations of Consul Jarvis, which took place in 1809 and seq. They did not reach Addison county until 1816. Horatio Seymour's sheep came from the Jarvis flock and were brought in about 1816 and 1817. In 1820 he was reported to have the best flock in the county. Colonel Sumner, of Middle- bury, had some of the same kind and part of the same flock. The Spanish

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SHEEP HUSBANDRY AND LIVE STOCK.

Merinos that were brought from England were from Lord Western's flock, and were pure blood; they arrived in the country in 1845 or 1846; they were light color, thin fleece, long necked, free from wrinkles, and heads and legs not well covered. S. W. Jewett brought them here. These English sheep proved to be inferior and died out. In 1851 William R. Sanford made a tour in Europe for the purpose of investigating and purchasing ; he went to Spain, France and Germany, and examined the flocks of Saxony, Silesia, France and Spain, and purchased in France and Silesia; he brought in some small, choice flocks; they soon passed away, however, because they could not com- pete. The Rich and Atwood flocks and their descendants have largely driven out other varieties.

Previous to 1816 the wool grown in this county was of a very inferior quality, grown on a common or native sheep and manufactured for the garment of the family, and home-made. In the year above named Merino sheep were introduced into Shoreham (Addison county) by Zebulon Frost and Hallet Thorn.1

In an agricultural address delivered in 1844 by the Hon. Silas H. Jenison, late governor of the State, he says: "Several individuals, awakened to the wants and capabilities of the county by privations and embarrassments, ex- perienced during the interruptions of our commerce with foreign countries be- fore and during the war with Great Britian, did, with great expense and incur- ring the penalty of all innovations, being laughed at by their neighbors, introduce into the county the Merino sheep." Among others besides those mentioned who engaged in this beneficent work were R. Weeks, Daniel Chip- man and George Cleveland. About that time, or a few years subsequent, the writer remembers well the introduction of quite a flock into Bridport by John B. Catlin, and into Addison by General David Whitney. Others whose names are not now remembered introduced them into different towns. It is remem- bered that there was much talk about the new sheep, some approving and others holding it to be a useless innovation.

In 1823 the Andrew Cock's flock of about one hundred were brought to Shoreham by Jehial Beedle,2 Elijah Wright and Hon. Charles Rich. This flock was divided, and by an arrangement between the parties Mr. Beedle be- came the owner of one-half, and Mr. Rich and Elijah Wright of the others ; these latter were subsequently divided and one-half came into the hands of J. T. Rich, son of Charles Rich; one-fourth went to Tyler Stickney, and one- fourth were bought by Erastus Robinson - which three flocks became prin- cipally the foundation of one of the great divisions of the two leading varieties at the present time.

It is safe to say there was not much improvement made on the original

1 Goodhue's History of Shoreham.

2 The modern spelling of this name is Bedell.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

stock first introduced in 1816 for twenty years after their advent into the country, nor until the Saxony fever of 1826 and 1827 (the time of their intro- duction) had had its run and died away, after which the few flocks that had not been absorbed, either in the native crossing or with light-wool and tender Sax- ony (Escurial Merinos), once more began to claim the attention of far-seeing breeders, who found that if the beautiful little animal was to be saved from an- nihilation as a distinct race, and the pecuniary benefits that might accrue from their preservation were to be realized, they must set earnestly about breeding them pure and improving them as best they could.

Notwithstanding the amalgamation of the races at, and for many years after, their introduction and the near obliteration of them as a pure breed, they had, with surrounding circumstances, accomplished a wonderful revolution in the county. During the war with Great Britain in 1812 a very great demand sprang up for even the native wool. Manufactories being established at the same time, helped the demand. Hence the Merino, coming in this very favor- able time, soon made good returns for investment, there being a large demand for rams to cross on to the native sheep. Many rams were raised besides the pure breed ; half-bloods found a ready market at one price, and as fast as three- quarter blood ewes could be raised, three-fourths blood rams could be sold for about twice the value of half-blood, to use on the improved ewes, as very many farmers were not able to purchase what were then called full-bloods, which were sold from $40 to $1,500.

In the mean time flocks of sheep, well kept on the then almost virgin soil, increased rapidly, and the weight of fleece per capita increased as fast as the size of the flocks, which added to the farmer's wealth in a double ratio, and to the happiness and comfort of their families as well. While wool sold at from fifty to seventy-five cents per pound, wealth increased ; farms were enlarged, and this soon became the greatest wool-growing county of the State, or of the United States.1

Governor Jenison, before alluded to, showed (same address) by the census of 1840 that Addison county in that year, in proportion to territory and pop- ulation, had "a greater number of sheep and produced more wool than any other county in the United States. Taking eleven towns (one-half of the num- ber in the county) most favorable to the keeping of sheep, they will be found to have possessed more than one sheep to each acre of improved and unim- proved land, or more than six hundred and forty to the square mile." It is re- membered by the writer that almost every small farmer kept one hundred or more, and from that up to one and two thousand, as their means and facilities for keeping permitted. Those large flocks, by continual crossings of Merino blood, became, as far as fineness of fiber, felting properties and weight of fleece, essentially Merino. In general appearance, also, they had put on the Merino

1 Goodhue's History of Shoreham.

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type ; and one riding along and passing many flocks, unless he had the prac- ticed eye of one who had studied the habits and characteristics of the race, might easily mistake the high-bred grade for the pure-bred sheep. Thus, as before stated, no effort had been made to improve the imported Merino itself, they being considered perfect. The only quality sought was fine wool to sup- ply the multiplicity of manufacturing interests springing into existence through- out the Northern States. With the introduction of this variety of sheep at this favorable time, and under the auspicious encouragement of large manufactur- ing interests, the solid foundation of an industry was laid, the finished super- structure of which is now enjoyed by the third and fourth generation.

Allusion has been made to the Saxon sheep ; they are so interwoven with the sheep husbandry of the county, that a brief notice of their introduction and the results will prove of interest. The first importation, and a prominent one, as showing a good representative flock, was, according to Consul Jarvis, imported into Boston by Messrs. Searl Brothers in 1824; this was followed by numerous other importations. With the Searl importations came Saxony shep- herds, and, most of all, the dangerous diseases foot-rot and scab ; diseases very fatal to sheep and wool interests, because highly infectious.

About 1825 General Sumner, of Boston, brought into Bridport six or seven hundred splendid Merino sheep, and, on the arrival of the Searl importation of Saxony, bought for crossing on his flock quite a number of rams of this blood, brought them to his flock, and with them introduced the foot-rot. He had Saxony rams for sale and held them for about twice the price of Merinos.

The improvement of the average sheep from the introduction of the Meri- nos in 1816, as far as weight of fleece is concerned, with a commendable ad- vance in quality, was, upon the introduction of Saxony in 1826, very satisfac- tory. The average fleece was raised from about two and a half pounds to four per head, and the best flock to five pounds brook-washed wool. The rage for fine wool and the almost universal crossing of the very fine and short broad- cloth wool, which was encouraged by the highly discriminating tariff of 1828, in favor of fine over medium wool, reduced the gain as above given back again (in 1840) to the low average of two pounds and five ounces each sheep, without any corresponding advance in the price of wool, as was confidently expected.1

A decided reaction in the fine-wool mania had set in as early as 1834, and breeders began to look about for the pure-bred Merinos again ; but most of the splendid flocks had been entirely lost by absorption. Only here and there a flock throughout the whole country could be found that could be traced with any degree of certainty to importations of the Spanish Merino. The flocks left, and with which we are most concerned in this history, originated from the flocks of Stephen Atwood, of Watertown, Litchfield county, Conn., the An- drew Cock flock of Long Island, N. Y., known as the Rich and Beedle sheep, and the Jarvis, imported by himself.

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 24

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co. Number of Pages: 988

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 988