History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

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 36

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Company E, of the Fourteenth Regiment, was raised almost wholly in Mid- dlebury. Edwin Rich went out as its captain ; Henry B. Needham as first lieutenant, and Andrew J. Child as second lieutenant; he was of Weybridge. For sketches of these regiments and others, the reader is referred to Chapter VIII.

The second company raised in the county (which it is proper to refer to here) was largely from Addison and captained by Solon Eaton. Amasa S. Tracy went out as first lieutenant of this company, which was, chiefly through his in- fluence, transferred to the Second Regiment from the Third, to which it had been assigned. Colonel Tracy was promoted to captain of Company H, Jan- uary 24, 1862; April 2, 1864, he was promoted to major, and to lieutenant- colonel June 17, 1864. He was wounded May 3, 1863, and October 19, 1864 ; received brevet-colonel April 2, 1865, for gallantry in the assault of Peters- burgh, and mustered out with his regiment. Colonel Tracy's military record is one that does him honor in every sense, and his services are appreciated by his fellow citizens at their true worth.

Lyman E. Knapp, at present town clerk of Middlebury, went into the serv- ice as captain of Company I, of the Sixteenth Regiment, his commission bear- ing date of September 20, 1862 ; was wounded July 3, 1863, and mustered out August 10, 1863, at the end of his term of service. He then re-entered the service as captain of Company F, Seventeenth Regiment, and was promoted to major November 1, 1864; was wounded May 12, 1865, and April 2, 1865 ; December 10, 1864, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and mustered out with his regiment.

The following list shows the enlistments from this town in Vermont organ- izations, as recorded in the State papers :

Volunteers for three years credited previous to call for 300,000 volunteers of October 17, 1863 : O. Abby, J. Alexander, C. H. Bain, F. Baker, D. G. Bannor, E. D. Barber, D. Barrett, jr., J. Barrett, E. S. Bidwell, B. W. Billings, J. F. Bolton, P. Brady, L. J. Burton, J. Caffrey, P. Champagne, H. J. Carpen- ter, A. Carr, A. W. Chalmers, A. Chambers, R. W. Champlin, H. Clark, H. H. Cobb, C. Collins, I. N. Collins, L. Comstock, O. Comstock, J. Cox, J. Cum- mings, F. Cunningham, M. Cunningham, W. Daniels, W. Dewey, P. Donahue, P. Donnelly, M. Dudley, A. Durand, I. L. Eels, A. A. Enos, M. S. Fales, C. Ferris, E. M. Finney, D. Fitzsimmons, F. L. Forbes, P. Foer, J. A. Freeman, H. M. Frost, J. Galvin, M. Gilligan, H. E. Gilman, L. E. Gilman, F. Goodnow,

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

W. H. Goodnow, J. Grace, J. W. Grant, A. R. Green, S. Hartley, O. L. Heath, E. M. Hosmer, E. Howe, C. C. Huntington, L. Hyatt, J. M. Hyde, J. Isabell, G. H. Jackson, J. W. Jackson, jr., O. Johnson, W. F. Johnson, W. Latimer, J. Manney, R. Manney, E. Marion, J. Marshall, W. Martin, W. Masters, C. Mc- Cormic, W. H. McFarland, J. McSorley, H. H. Moore, J. H. Morrison, N. Murdick, A. M. Nash, J. M. Nash, C. Noirell, J. Noland; C. O. Norton, B. Owens, E. B. Parker, J. E. Parker, H. E. Perkins, F. H. Piper, G. H. Piper, H. M. Porter, J. W. Porter, G. Portwine, H. M. Pottie, G. W. Randall, J. Roach, J. Roberts, T. Rodd, J. Rooney, C. W. Rose, W. J. Rose, P. Ryan, P. S. Severance, A. M. Shaw, A. C. Sherwood, A. Smith, D. H. Smith, J. Smith, W. Smith, J. St. Mary, P. Stone, J. Sullivan, F. L. Sumner, L. W. Sumner, F. Swift, E. Tatro, P. Tatro, G. C. Taylor, J. W. Taylor, W. Taylor, A. S. Tracy, J. Trudeau, J. L. Turner, A. F. Walker, J. Ward, H. C. Wheeler, A. William- son, C. H. Williamson, E. S. Williamson, H. S. Williamson, J. T. Williamson, A. B. Wilson, D. O. Wilson, C. Wright, R. S. Wright, W. D. Wright, D. W. Yale.

Credits under call of October 17, 1863, far 300,000 volunteers, and subse- quent calls :

Volunteers for three years .- M. W. Bentley, W. Bradley, J. A. Collins, P. Donahue, L. F. Dow, O. C. Gage, L. E. Gilman, A. Lacaille, R. H. Linsley, J. E. Nash, W. H. H. Parker, C. Pemberton, G. H. Ploof, H. J. Porter, W. Smith, G. F. Taylor.

Volunteers re-enlisted .- H. M. Adams, J. W. Adams, D. E. Barrett, J. Barrett, L. Barton, E. Bidwell, R. W. Champlin, C. A. Collins, P. Donnelly, I. L. Eells, A. English, A. Gaulin, H. H. Gilman, J. Grace, G. Greenleaf, E. Howe, J. M. Hyde, W. F. Johnson, W. Martin, W. Masters, C. McCormick, N. Murdick, A. M. Nash, J. M. Nash, H. E. Perkins, H. L. Perry, F. H. Piper, G. W. Randall, I. Scott, A. Smith, E. Tatro, H. Taylor, J. W. Taylor, A. Var- ney, N. Varney, H. S. Williamson.

Naval credits .- D. R. Wheeler.

Veteran Reserve Corps .- W. Daniels.

Miscellaneous, not credited by name .- Four men.

Volunteers for nine months .- O. Abbey, G. W. Abbott, D. W. Adams, G. W. D. Blazo, H. R. Brown, J. Brunelle, C. Brush, C. Bruya, F. Bruya, C. L. Clark, W. B. Cobb, L. H. Cogswell, I. F. Cotton, J. W. Donnally, T. Dutton, J. Farrell, L. Forbes, A. Fontaine, W. Galvin, H. C. Goodrich, C. Grant, C. W. Greenleaf, J. Haley, J. F. Haley, G. E. Huntington, M. C. Kendrick, J. W. Lawrence, A. M. Lee, G. E. Makinster, J. Marion, J. McCue, C. McGoldrich, J. McSorley, J. H. McWhirter, S. McWhirter, E. Mullen, P. Mulligan, H. B. Needham, A. Olmstead, E. J. Olmstead, W. H. Olmstead, A. Palardy, P. Paydy, A. Peck, H. T. Powell, J. F. Powell, H. C. Rice, E. Rich, C. W. Ross, C. C. Smith, T. Stapleton, L. St. Mary, H. Taylor, A. M. Williamson, W. H. Wilson.

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

Furnished under draft .- Paid commutation, W. Brown, H. Crane, jr., M. E. Day, J. Fales, G. W. Hewett, S. S. Hill, H. R. Holder, W. J. Mead, H. H. Nichols, H. G. Peabody, A. J. Severance, E. C. Severance, M. T. Shackett, E. Vallette. Procured substitute, H. W. Hammond, W. S. Longworthy, F. N. Nason, L. D. Sessions. Entered service, O. W. Heath, N. Hyer.

In the town records the first notice of official action in relation to war measures appears to be under date of April 19, 1861, when a resolution was passed that Calvin Hill is a suitable person to act as agent for the town in dis- tributing the State bounty.

On the 9th of September, 1862, it was resolved "that the town will vote a tax to pay a bounty of $50 to all town residents who enlist under Captain Rich, and are accepted and mustered." This prompt and liberal action resulted in rapid enlistments.

At a special meeting held December 7, 1863, it was resolved that a bounty of $300 be paid to all who enlist from the town to the number eight, under the required quota in the then last call for 300,000; a tax of thirty cents was voted for this purpose.

On the 18th day of July, 1864, a call was made for 500,000 men, and if the number was not raised in fifty days a draft was ordered made. To avoid this draft the selectmen were authorized to enlist and secure credit for twenty- five men and pay such bounties as their discretion prompted; and to borrow money for the purpose at six per cent. interest, payable in ten annual install- ments. The selectmen were instructed to proceed with this work without any unnecessary delay. Re-enlistments under this call relieved the town from raising but very few men, and at a special meeting, held September 26, 1864, it was resolved to pay all such recruits $300 each.

On the 19th of December, 1864, another call for 300,000 men came from the president, which if not filled before was to be followed by a draft on the 15th of February following. The selectmen were again authorized to procure the necessary volunteers and to pay such bounties as were necessary to effect that result. For the sums necessary for this purpose the town borrowed funds and gave its bonds payable in five annual installments. The preceding list gives the number of volunteers under these various calls and the other partic- ulars relative to volunteers from the town.

Since peace again settled over the land nothing has occurred to disturb the progress and growth of the town : and to-day there are few communities in the State that are more happily situated in all respects than this.

Present Town Officers .- Following are the principal town officers at the present time : Clerk, Lyman E. Knapp; treasurer, C. E. Pinney ; selectmen, W. H. Allen, J. W. Halladay, Augustus Matthews; constable, M. A. Munroe ; superintendent, Ezra Brainerd; listers, P. S. Severance, E. Vallette, G. L. Porter; agent, James M. Slade.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

The following figures show the population at the dates given : 1791, 385 ; 1800, 1,263; 1810, 2,138; 1820, 2,535; 1830, 3,468; 1840, 3,161; 1850, 3,507 ; 1860, 2,879; 1870, 3,086; 1880, 2,996.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

The site of the village of Middlebury possesses much natural beauty, and at the same time could scarcely have been much better adapted by nature as a point for the location of a thriving community. It is built on both sides of Otter Creek, from the immediate banks of which the land rises in gracefully rounded hills which stretch away on the east to the Green Mountains and on the west gradually become more level as the shores of the beautiful lake are approached. Otter Creek at this point is a beautiful stream which is fully en- titled to rank as a river ; it sweeps into the village with a graceful curve and placid surface until the head of the falls is approached, when the waters in tumult break over jagged rocks, which lash them into snowy foam. This de- scent supplies an almost unlimited water power, the utilization of which led to the selection of the site and has been one of the prime factors of its growth in later years.

Of the site in early years the following account is given in Judge Swift's work :

"None but an enterprising and persevering population would have under- taken to build up a village where it stands. The thick hemlock and pine for- est which covered it, as well as the soil, was uncommonly forbidding. The first settlements were made only with reference to the establishment of mills and the necessary dwellings for that purpose. The settlers were poor, and were induced to open in the forest only a sufficient space for the erection of their buildings, and perhaps gardens. The trees on the common on the east side of the creek were probably cut down in 1789, two years after Judge Painter moved here.

"Mr. Abram Williamson, of Cornwall, then fourteen years of age, came into the country, in March, 1790, and drove an oxen team loaded with the goods of the family, while the snow was melting. He states that the trees on the common were cut down and lying on the ground ; that a passage for a team was opened through them; that when driving through his sled was several times fastened on the ends of the logs, and that he was obliged to get help to disengage it ; and there was very little clearing about the village. At that time, he says, there were six or eight pine trees about Stillman Foot's house, near enough to fall on it, if falling in that direction. There was no framed house at that time on the west side of the creek but Stillman Foot's, and no other on either side, unless Judge Painter's was such. Samuel Miller had the year be- fore built his office, which probably was a framed building. Mrs. Williamson, his wife, daughter of Samuel Blodget, and granddaughter of Asa Blodget, says

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

that the elder James Bentley lived on the ridge south of Davenport's new house, with his daughter, Mrs. Johnson, wife of Hop Johnson, who had then left the country, and she recollects no other dwelling house on that side of the creek except Foot's. Mr. Williamson states further that the stumps of the pine trees remained on the common many years after ; that the young men in the neighborhood associated together and had a "play day" on Saturday afternoon, and one of their by-laws was that every man who got drunk should be subjected to the penalty of digging up a stump. By this means many of them were removed. But we can testify that several years after the com- mencement of the present century many remained. Mr. Williamson says also, that several years after he came into the country, probably in 1794, he was hired with his team, by Anthony Rhodes, to draw off and roll into the creek the logs on the land where Rhodes built his house, near Mr. Starr's office.

" Horace Loomis, esq., of Burlington, in the spring of 1790, then fifteen years old, on his way to Burlington, where his father was beginning a settle- ment, passed through this village with a drove of sheep, cattle and horses. He states that the timber on the common was cut down, and that John Deming was then getting out timber for his new house ; and he was told there was no frame house in the village.

" Mrs. Simmons, widow of John Simmons, esq., and daughter of Harvey Bell, senior, was only four or five years old when her father came to Middle- bury, which she thinks was in 1791. She says there was then a grist-mill where Stillman Foot's mills were, and that Appleton's mills were built after- wards; that there was little clearing where her father built his house, or on the opposite side of the road to the creek, and that there were no buildings or clearing on the Weybridge street. The first school on the east side of the creek was kept by Samuel Southworth, the young man who was drowned in the creek in company with Samuel Painter, in June, 1797 ; this she thinks was the first district school. Lyman Pierce set up an opposition school, because Southworth taught the Assembly's catechism. Pierce succeeded Southworth and kept in the same place. Salmon Bell kept a school two sum- mers in her father's shop on the west side, previous to the schools above men- tioned. Miss Huntington kept a school in the court-house before Miss Strong came, and Mrs. Simmons attended her school there in 1800."

" Mrs. McLeod, who came to the village with her father's family in 1796, states (to Dr. Swift) that at that time there were nine families on the west side of the creek besides her father's, and thirty on the east side; that Stillman Foot had a grist-mill where the north part of the woolen factory stands, and a saw-mill further up the stream on the rocks back of the factory dry-house ; be- low these Appleton Foot had a stone grist-mill and saw-mill ; and below these Jonathan Nichols, jr., had built and then carried on a forge and gun factory, which afterwards fell into the hands of Anthony Rhodes. Mrs. Mc-

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Leod further states that when she came here the grammar school common was a hemlock swamp, and the academy was built in 1798; that the native forest still covered the land from the mills westward to Weybridge street, and that her father's house was exposed from the fire in those woods. John H. Sherrill then had a store, erected by Jabez Rogers, and afterwards occupied by Benja- min Seymour."

Benjamin Lawrence came to Middlebury in 1797, and informed Judge Swift that there was then no house on Weybridge street and the land was cov- ered with woods ; that Anthony Rhodes's was the only two-story house on the west side of the bridge, and there were only five on the east side, including the old jail building.

Captain Thomas M. Fitch, who came here from Windham, Conn., in De- cember, 1794, when he was fourteen years old, stated that Mattocks's tavern was then built and Samuel Foot kept a tavern in the Deming house; those were the only two-story houses in the village. Stumps and logs still remained on the common, and there was a muddy hollow just north of the bridge over which " there was a bridge for persons on foot, and it was very miry near the Congregational Church, where there has been generally in the spring a spot of deep mire. Only about an acre was cleared on the lot where Mr. Chipman afterwards built his large house." Captain Fitch was able to reckon up but about thirty-two dwelling houses of all descriptions in the village.

It is well known that Rev. Timothy Dwight, D.D., then president of Yale College, made several trips through this region, the first of which was in 1798. In his journal he wrote as follows :

" The township of Middlebury began to be settled about the year 1783. About 1794 the inhabitants began to build a village on both sides of the river, at the falls in the northwest part of the township. The number of houses when we were on the spot was perhaps thirty. Several of them were pretty build- ings." "Several mills had been erected at this place in 1798. A brewery had been established, several stores had been built, a considerable number of mechanics and several gentlemen in the liberal professions had chosen this spot as their residence. An academy was also nearly completed, which was intended to be the germ of a future college. Upon the whole the seeds of future re- spectability were already sown."

These pictures of early scenes on and near the site of the present beautiful village may seem to indicate an almost primitive wilderness; but the site was, in fact, as far advanced as almost any other in this vicinity which had not been much longer settled. The young manufactures which have been described, and the first mercantile business held out what seemed to the inhabitants of that day sufficiently bright promise for the future. In any event they did not hesi- tate to invite the Legislature to hold its session for the year 1800 in the little village, and made Herculean efforts to provide such accommodations as would

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

impress the members with the importance of the place. New houses were built, older ones enlarged, and all made preparations for the reception of guests. When the Legislature of 1806 met here, still more ample accommodations awaited the members.

A traveler named Edward Augustus Kendall made a tour through this State in 1807-08, and published an account of his observations, entitled Travels through the Northern parts of the United States in the years 1807 and 1808. In volume III we find the following, relative to Middlebury and vicinity, which is both interesting for these pages and of great value, as the old work men- tioned is now scarce :

" Following Salisbury is Middlebury, which contains one of the principal villages in Vermont. A cataract of considerable volume, formed by the water of the Otter Creek, has afforded seats for numerous mills, and this, as has been before represented, is in most situations a sure foundation for a flourishing vil- lage. On this cataract, besides forges, fulling and flour-mills, and the ordi- nary works, is a saw-mill, applied to the purpose of sawing marble. All the surrounding rock is marble, and the mill, which has the river at its back, has a quarry at its door. Specimens are shown of white, gray and brown marble, of which the two latter are very pleasingly veined. The slabs receive a very high polish, and are well adapted for chimney-pieces ; but they are also in demand for grave-stones, of which latter, some that are first fancifully engraved, are sold at forty dollars. The saw, which, in sawing timber, moves vertically, moves, in this marble saw-mill, in a horizontal direction. This application of the in- strument originated with Dr. Judd, the present proprietor.

" Middlebury contains a college, or university, by which, at its commence- ment this year, degrees were conferred on seven students and others."

In the Vermont Mirror of September 15, 1813, appears the following let- ter, which is pertinent to the subject under consideration :

" To the editor of the Vermont Mirror :

" In April, 1793, I came to Middlebury, and I counted every building in the village of Middlebury Falls, and found the number to be 62 ; and in the year 1813, I have counted them again, and find the number to be 316, of which 146 are dwelling-houses, 14 ware stores. The dwelling houses, which stood here in 1793, were chiefly log houses, and almost wholly mere temporary buildings built with small expense. There are now twenty dwelling houses in this vil- lage, either of which cost more than every building standing in 1793.

" JABEZ ROGERS.

" Middlebury, 28th August, 1813."

The little village began to grow and give promise of its future. In 1791 the population of the entire town was only 395. In 1800 this had increased to 1,263, and in 1810 to 2,138. This was a remarkable growth for that period and was not exceeded nor approached by that of any other town in the county.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Early in the century many of the older houses and business buildings began to give way for more commodious and pretentious structures. In Dr. Dwight's records of his journeys made in 1806 and 1810, he says : " In both these jour- neys, and particularly in the latter, I found Middlebury changed into a beauti- ful town, consisting of about one hundred and fifty houses. The inhabitants had finished a large and handsome church. The private dwellings are generally neat, and in several instances handsome. The town contains a book-store, a printing-office, twelve or fifteen stores, belonging to merchants and druggists, and a great number of mechanics' shops." "At the same time religion had prevailed in this town more than any other in the State ; and controls very ob- viously the manners and the character of the inhabitants, in a degree uncom- mon and delightful." "On the whole Middlebury is one of the most prosper- ous and most virtuous towns in New England."

Between 1810 and 1820 the business interests of the village rapidly multi- plied, as will be noted in our account of the mercantile and manufacturing in- dustries further on. According to Dr. Swift, during this period Middlebury village " was the centre of mechanical and mercantile business to a much larger extent than afterwards. In no place were the mechanics especially more pros- perous, and several were ruined by their prosperity." The population of the town increased from 2, 138 in 1810 to 2,535 in 1820, and all material interests were very prosperous.

Succeeding 1820 advancement was not rapid ; indeed, there was almost a standstill, and particularly as the end of the third decade of the century was approached. Villages sprang up and maintained mercantile and manufacturing business which had previously been attracted to Middlebury ; and the opening of the Northern Canal in 1823 created a heavy draft on the place, by building up important points along the lake; much of the trade of the northern and northeastern towns, which had been drawn to this village, went to Vergennes, on account of its navigation facilities. Between 1830 and 1840, according to the census, the population of the town decreased more than three hundred, of which the village lost its share ; though during the succeeding ten years a fair rate of increase was shown, and it has been supposed possible that the census of 1840 was carelessly taken. When Dr. Swift published his work he request- ed David S. Church to make a census of the village, which showed a popula- tion of 2,070 ; but the town population of 1850 (3,507) has never been reached since. This condition might, as believed by sagacious men, have been changed had proper enterprise and liberality been shown in all cases to the development of manufactures, as the splendid water power and the shipping facilities se- cured by the building of the railroad would seem to have warranted.

Incorporation, etc .- One of the earliest demands upon the public in all young villages is to provide means for the extinguishment of fires, and such was the case in this village. As early as 1808 the Middlebury Fire Society

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

was incorporated by the Legislature, a company was formed and an engine purchased. This first fire company was finally disbanded and the engine sold to satisfy a small indebtedness.

The next effort towards separate village government was made in 1816, when the Legislature passed an act incorporating the "borough of Middlebury with power to hold property for the use of the borough, erect public buildings, levy and collect taxes, make by-laws, appoint fire wardens," etc. On the 7th of April, 1817, a code of by-laws was passed, which was signed by Samuel Swift as clerk, and Daniel Chipman, moderator. Ozias Seymour had acted as the first moderator, and Harvey Bell, clerk. Among the other early provisions the bailiffs of the place were directed to furnish each of the fire wardens with a staff, of such length and color as they think proper, so they might be distin- guished in time of fires. The destructive fire which burned the hotel on the site of the Addison House, and other structures, no doubt stimulated the in- habitants to efficient action in this direction. On the 29th of April, 1818, a tax of one cent on the dollar was levied " for purchasing fire hooks," etc. But the village was still small and the taxes necessary for the proper conduct of the village affairs were a considerable burden. The organization fell into disrepute and was finally discontinued.

The act of incorporation was revived in 1832 by the Legislature, and on the 2d of January, 1833, the government was organized by the selection of the fol- lowing officers : Harvey Bell, clerk; Ira Stewart, Charles Linsley, J. Hagar, Lavius Fillmore, Elisha Brewster, Cyrus Birge and Zacheus Bass, trustees ; James McDonald, treasurer ; Wm. Sargent, collector. A most destructive fire had occurred on the 24th of March, 1831, in which were burned six buildings in the center of the village. This occurrence convinced the thoughtful people of the place that some kind of organized government, which should have the power to provide effective means for the extinguishment of fires should be es- tablished. The boundaries of the corporation were fixed as follows :

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

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