USA > Vermont > Addison County > History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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NEWPORT, R. I., 10th Jan'y, 1870.
Wm. H. Ireland, Boston, Mass., Treasurer Addison County Marble Co.
DEAR SIR :-- Yours of the 7th inst. reached me yesterday, and I should have answered it immediately, but I was much occupied in receiving and placing the marble of my statue. Since working the two blocks which I received from your quarry I have been confirmed in the good opinion I first expressed to you of the valuable qualities of your marble, the only marble of this country that I am yet acquainted with fit for the purposes of sculpture. Marble used in sculpture is known by its quality and character. Its quality is rated according to its fine- ness and firmness of grain and freedom from spots. Its character depends upon its freedom from faults, such as cracks, sand holes and foreign substances. A marble may be of excellent character if second quality, or faulty character if first quality.
All the marble that I have seen brought from the Addison county quarry for the purposes of sculpture is of first quality, and the character of the blocks which I have used is perfectly
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satisfactory to me for color, texture and durability. The richness of its color is that of an old, well-preserved statue, and as I am assured it bleaches without softening in the sun, it seems to meet the requirement of one who said that "we ought to be born old and die young." Its grain or texture is as fine as is desirable, and much resembles the " Pentelic" marble. It is admirably adapted to flesh, and receives a high polish.
In conclusion let me say that it is the only marble, native or foreign, that I should be will- ing to place out of doors in our climate. It is not the metallic ring and firmness under the chisel that gives me confidence in this respect, but from observing how sound it was in its native bed, where it had been exposed to the changes of the seasons for ages.
I remain yours very truly, RICHARD S. GREENOUGH.
At a later date the artist wrote as follows :
NEWPORT, Jan'y 17, 1870.
William H. Ireland, Esq.
DEAR SIR :- Since I wrote in reply to your question concerning the "color, texture and durability " of your marble, I have been working upon the statue, and am delighted to be able to say that highly as I thought of the marble in which the bust was executed, this last block quite exceeds my expectations ; I have no hesitation in assuring you that I prefer it to any marble I have ever used, and as I have always worked in the best marble of Carrara and Ser- ravezza, I cannot say more in its praise.
I would mention among the many valuable qualities of your marble its entire freedom from sand holes ; a fault most frequent among the best Italian marbles, and one which has obliged me to throw aside many blocks. I have never yet seen one in Middlebury marble.
Yours very truly,
RICHARD S. GREENOUGH.
" It would seem that this valuable quarry of marble should be worked, if only for statuary purposes, as when last worked the vein was uncovered to a depth of forty feet and is three feet thick, from which statues and other works of art could be executed of any reasonable size."
The Foot Street Quarry, as it is known, is about three-quarters of a mile farther south, in the same range of the marble deposit; it is about two and a half miles east of Middlebury village. This quarry was first opened by Wm. Barnes and Charles G. White, as superintendents for Perry Fletcher, John and Dugald Stewart, Rufus Wainwright, W. P. Nash and Phelps Nash, who pur- chased in 1859 a large tract of land. Two openings were made and some marble taken out of a nearly white color and good texture, but it was generally lacking in soundness. The quarry was operated to some extent for a few years and then leased to others. Work was finally abandoned as unprofitable. R. L. Wainwright is the present agent of the property.
An opening was made about 1850 a mile north of Middlebury by William Y. Ripley, but it was abandoned after one season of work, chiefly on account of unsoundness in the deposit.
The Toledo Company, composed largely of Toledo men, opened a quarry some twenty years ago directly east of the Addison County Company's quar- ry; William Mulchahey, of Middlebury, was superintendent. It was operated two or three years, the product consisting of white, water-colored and clouded marble of a pretty good character; it was mainly sent west. This company
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rented a mill two miles north of their quarry, which was built by the Cheshire Marble Company. The Toledo Company was forced to abandon its enterprise as unprofitable.
The Cheshire Company was formed at about the same time as the Addison County Company, and opened a quarry and built a mill. It operated a few years and abandoned the business as unprofitable.
It will be readily seen by the foregoing pages that the marble industry in this county is now at a low ebb. What its future, particularly its distant future, may be is largely a matter of conjecture. Men of experience in hand- ling marble and working quarries are confident that when the capital is forth- coming for more extensive and deeper workings, a deposit will be found out- rivaling the best products of other localities, which now have a practical mo- nopoly of the business; at the same time men of broad scientific knowledge, who have made this particular subject one of deep study, do not hesitate to express their belief that the marble deposit of this county is too much affected by unsoundness to ever be worked with much profit.
It must be admitted that the general manufacturing interests of the town have not improved since the early years as they might have done under a more liberal appreciation of their value to the town and to their projectors, and of the water power here. A few other minor establishments demand attention. In the fall of 1851 N. H. Hand purchased the former marble factory of Mr. Judd and established a pail factory, to which he added a saw-mill. When this factory was worked to its full capacity it was capable of turning out six hun- dred pails daily. The establishment within a few years passed into possession of J. M. Slade & Co. It has since passed through many changes which need not be noted, and is now owned by A. P. Tupper.
The Middlebury woolen mills were built in 1840 and were operated not long afterward by the Middlebury Woolen Company. In 1867 Chadwick Brothers took the property under a lease and have since carried on a success- ful business. They manufacture fancy cassimeres, which are sold in New York. In 1880 H. J. Chadwick purchased the factory.
In the fall of 1883 the Green Mountain Pulp Company was organized, at which time what is known as their number one mill was in process of erection at the falls a little below Middlebury village. The company was at that time also running one machine in the manufacture of wood pulp, where a rude structure had been erected to test the Cartmell patent wood pulp-grinder ; this machine proved a success ; the first wheel, which is still running, has been in operation about three and a half years, day and night, with little repairs. The company is now running eight of these machines, four in the number one mill, on the old paper-mill site before mentioned, and four in their new mill on the upper Weybridge falls; the first-named mill has a capacity of eighteen tons and the other of twenty tons of pulp daily. This is one of the most impor-
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tant industries of this section. The present officers are A. H. Fisher, presi- dent; A. N. Burbank, treasurer.
The firm of Smith & Allen (Clinton Smith and W. H. Allen) are architects, contractors and builders, and manufacture house finishing materials, sash, doors, etc. The firm was formed in 1875 and built their present shops in 1881. The court-house, town hall, Beckwith's block, and many other of the finest build- ings in the county were erected by this firm.
Henry Langworthy runs a foundry and machine-shop near the railroad track. Colonel A. S. Tracey, Wallace Dewey and Mersille & Hayes, carry on wagon-making to some extent, and T. Kidder and Solomon Lapire manufac- ture and sell harness, etc. Other industries will be noted in the account of East Middlebury.
Financial .- At the session of the Legislature which convened in Middle- bury in 1806 a law was passed establishing a State bank, with two branches, one at Middlebury and one at Woodstock, and appointing directors. Daniel Chipman, Horatio Seymour and John Willard were the directors for this branch. Titus Hutchinson, of Woodstock, was chosen president, and Dr. William G. Hooker, cashier. All business was then done in the institution on the State credit, no capital being paid in. According to Dr. Swift, " the pe- cuniary condition and habits of the people were hardly adapted to the long continuance of a bank on such principles. It was an agricultural country, and too remote from market for readily converting its produce into money, which of course was scarce. The country was in debt, and punctuality was not to be expected from the habits of the people. The traffic was generally con- ducted, among farmers and mechanics, by an exchange of their respective pro- duction, and the foreign goods were generally paid for in the same articles. These were transported by the merchants to market twice a year, to pay for their goods. Notes were generally made payable in cattle or grain, or other specific articles; and, when payable in money, they were not generally con- strued according to their tenor, but according to the convenience of the makers , if the patience of the creditor was not sooner exhausted. Notes taken to the bank for loans too generally received the same construction. But the Legis- lature, at their next session, established two new branches at Burlington and Westminster.
" The directors did what they could to supply their vaults with specie to meet the pressing demands upon them, by exchanging their bills for gold and silver, and by inducing persons wanting accommodations to refund their loans in specie. The Legislature also adopted various measures to keep up the credit of the bills and enforce greater punctuality. Among others to promote the former object, they passed an act at their session in 1809, and others after- wards, making the bills a 'lawful tender ' in payment of all land taxes. And to promote the latter, at their session in 1810 they passed an act authorizing
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the cashiers, instead of the regular but slow course of law, forthwith to issue executions on all notes unpaid."
But all efforts made to float the institution were unavailing and it was ap- parently approaching dissolution, when, in the summer of 1812, the banking house was entered by a false key, and a large amount of money, bills in sheets and other valuables stolen. No trace of the perpetrators of the crime was ever discovered ; but the key was subsequently found crowded above a rafter in the attic of a house in the village. In 1813 the bank was closed by the Legisla- ture, and agents appointed from time to time to properly wind up its affairs.
On the 10th day of November, 1831, a charter was granted by the Legis- lature to the " president, directors and company of the Bank of Middlebury," with a capital of $100,000, to be managed by seven directors. Thirty dollars on each share was to be called in. The existence of this institution was lim- ited to fifteen years. William Nash was chosen president and Joseph Warren cashier. Mr. Nash continued in his office during the life of the original char- ter, when he was succeeded by Paris Fletcher. At the session of the Legisla- ture of 1845 the charter was renewed for fifteen years; other renewals have been made and in April, 1885, the charter was extended for twenty years. The institution has always been wisely and safely managed and now stands high throughout the county. In 1865 it was incorporated as the National Bank of Middlebury, with a capital of $200,000. In January, 1882, A. A. Fletcher was made president, Calvin Hill, being then and now the vice-presi- dent. Charles E. Pinney was made cashier in April, 1885, succeeding John G. Wellington.
The Middlebury Savings Bank was incorporated November 12, 1836, and for about twenty years was a successful and well-managed institution ; but an unfortunate investment in railroad bonds and other causes rendered the bank insolvent and it did not resume business.
Attorneys .- The town of Middlebury, being the county seat, has naturally been the residence of many of the ablest lawyers of the county and several who have gained a State or national reputation. Of many of these the reader will find sketches prepared by Judge J. D. Smith in the preceding chapter on the bar of the county, among them being Samuel S. Phelps, Dorastus Wooster, Samuel Miller, Daniel Chipman, Horatio Seymour, William Slade, Joel and Charles Linsley, Edward D. Barber, Julius A. Beckwith, Dugald Stewart, Peter Starr, and others whose brilliant talents won in past years high honors in law and politics. It remains for us here to pay brief tributes to other members of the profession, both dead and living, who have practiced here.
Beaumont Parks practiced here several years and removed to Indiana; he was admitted to the bar in 18II.
Robert B. Bates was admitted here in 1813 and practiced fifteen or twenty years ; represented the town six years, three of which he served as speaker. He removed to Albany and later to New York, where he died.
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Hon. George Chipman, son of Hon. Daniel Chipman, was admitted in 1821 ; practiced with his father at first and for some twenty years in all ; was State's attorney from 1827 to 1830 inclusive. After a short residence in Canada he returned to Ripton and was judge of the county from 1846 to 1849. He re- moved to Washington.
Erastus W. Drury was admitted to the bar in June, 1836. When he came to Middlebury, a few years earlier, he acted as editor of a newspaper, at the same time studying law ; he was postmaster six years directly after his admis- sion to the bar. He afterwards practiced a few years, principally with Charles Aiken; they both subsequently removed to Wisconsin.
Ozias Seymour, son of Hon. Horatio Seymour, graduated from Middlebury College in 1820; studied in the Litchfield Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1824. He continued in practice during most of his life, a part of the time with his father. He was chosen State's attorney for six years from 1839, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1850. He died in this village in 1861.
William F. Bascom graduated from Middlebury College in 1838, and was for several years a tutor in that institution ; he was afterwards principal of va- rious literary institutions and also of the Female Seminary in this village ; was admitted to the bar in 1855 and in 1857 removed to Minnesota, but returned to Middlebury in 1859 and resumed practice, which he continued four years.
The following are brief notes of the attorneys who are now in practice in Middlebury : John W. Stewart, son of Ira Stewart, graduated at Middlebury College in 1847, and immediately began study in the office of Hon. Horatio Seymour. He was licensed in 1849 and at once opened an office; he has ever since had an extensive practice. He has been honored with many high offices, the duties of which have been performed in a most efficient manner. He was State's attorney three years from 1851, and has repeatedly represented his town in the Legislature. In 1870 he was elected governor of the State, and outside of political life has always occupied a very prominent position in the commu- nity. His interest in educational matters has ever been paramount, and he officiated for many years as secretary of Middlebury College. (See biography in later pages.)
Philip Battell came to Middlebury from Cleveland, Ohio, where he had been in practice and was admitted to the bar in December, 1839; he was a graduate of Middlebury College in class of 1826. He has not devoted himself to active practice in later years, preferring the pleasanter paths of literary labor and leis- ure. He has given much attention to local history and is, perhaps, the best authority in the county on such subjects; he may also be called the father of the Middlebury Historical Society. He is son-in-law of Hon. Horatio Seymour. Joseph Battell, a resident of the village, is his son.
Emerson R. Wright graduated from Middlebury College in 1838 and stud-
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ied law with Edward D. Barber, and was licensed in 1842. He began prac- tice as a partner of Mr. Barber, and soon after separated and continued practice alone. In his old age he has largely relinquished active business. He was post- master under President Pierce.
Rufus Wainwright, son of Rufus, sr., before mentioned, was graduated at Middlebury College in 1852, having prepared himself at the Addison County Grammar School. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1856, and opened his office in the rooms occupied by Julius A. Beckwith, who was his brother- in-law. Since April, 1870, he has held the office of clerk of the County Court.
Loyal D. Eldredge, born February 5, 1831, graduated at Middlebury Col- lege in 1857; studied law with William Nutting, of Randolph, Vt., and R. C. Benton, of Lamoille county ; he was admitted there in November, 1859. He began practice in Grand Isle county as a partner of the late Giles Harrington, and remained there until October, 1862; he then came to Middlebury and was connected with the internal revenue service until 1867, when he became a part- ner with John W. Stewart; this connection continued until 1880. His present partner is James M. Slade. Mr. Eldredge was State's attorney of Grand Isle county in 1861-62 ; senator in 1876-77, and assistant assessor of internal revenue for his district from 1864 to 1879, and from 1870 to 1874 was deputy collector. (For a record of the Eldredge family see history of New Haven herein.)
James M. Slade was born in Middlebury June 27, 1844; attended a course of lectures in the Albany Law School, having previously, in 1867, graduated from Middlebury College; he was admitted in December, 1868; was elected to the Legislature in 1874-75 and was secretary of civil and military affairs from 1870 to 1872; from 1870 to 1874 he was deputy collector of internal revenue, and State's attorney from 1878 to 1882. Mr. Slade is a grandson of Governor Wm. Slade, and son of James M. Slade, and nephew of Hon. Wm. Slade, present consul of the United States at Brussels, Belgium.
Lyman E. Knapp was born in Somerset, Windham county, Vt., November 5, 1837 ; educated at Burr Seminary, Manchester, and graduated at Middle- bury College in 1862. Studied law in Middlebury and admitted in 1876; practiced here since 1879. He entered the service of the country a captain of Company I, Sixteenth Regiment Volunteers; was subsequently captain of Company F, Seventeenth Regiment, and promoted to major, and from that office to lieutenant-colonel. He had been judge of probate for the Addison District since 1879, and town clerk since March, 1879; was clerk of the House in 1872; chairman of the Republican County Committee about ten years. He edited the Register for thirteen years, leaving it in 1879.
Henry S. Foote was born in New Haven, Vt., in 1837 ; studied law with Governor Stewart, after graduating from Middlebury College in 1857; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1860 ; has been State's attorney three consecutive years,
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and register of probate. Was a partner with Governor Stewart from 1862 to 1867, when he went to Providence for one year ; from 1871 to 1882 he was in New York city, returning thence to this village.
A. P. Tupper was born in Middlebury April 24, 1835; studied law with Ozias Seymour, and admitted to the bar in about 1858. He practiced at East Middlebury until 1874, since which time he has been in active practice here.
Thomas H. McLeod was born in Elizabethtown, N. Y., March 3, 1823 ; studied law with Horatio and Ozias Seymour ; was admitted in 1859; gradu- ated at Middlebury College in 1854 and has ever since his admission practiced here.
Charles M. Wilds was born in Bristol in February, 1856; graduated at Middlebury College in 1875, studied law in Burlington, and was admitted to the Addison county bar in 1880; is now in the office of Governor Stewart.
J. E. Stapleton was born in Albany, N. Y., 1851, studied with Stewart & Eldredge, and was admitted in 1877.
Physicians .- In the preceding chapter devoted to the medical profession of the county will be found sketches of Drs. Wm. Bass, Zacheus Bass, Jona- than A. Allen, Oliver B. Norton, Ralph Gowdey, Stephen P. Lathrop, Charles C. P. Clark, Edward Tudor, Wm. P. Russel, and a few others whose promi- nence and ability have lent distinction to the profession in this town. Below we give brief notes of the present physicians of Middlebury :
Dr. M. H. Eddy was born in Winhall, Bennington county, Vt., January 25, 1833; was educated in the common and select schools, and graduated at Mid- dlebury College in the class of 1860; he studied medicine at Harvard and the University of Vermont, and graduated in 1865. He has been in practice in Middlebury since 1866. He was delegate to the National Medical Convention in Chicago in 1877, from the Vermont State Society, and delegate to the State Medical Society of New York, and has received other similar professional honors.
Dr. Edward O. Porter was born in Cornwall, Vt., December 12, 1836; edu- cated in common schools, and at a high school in Troy ; studied medicine with his father, Marcus O. Porter, and at the Castleton Medical College ; graduated in 1859. He practiced one year in Cornwall, and entered the army as assistant surgeon of the Fifth Regiment, and later held the same position in the Eleventh Regiment. He served the term and afterwards practiced in Corn- wall until 1878, since which time he has been in practice in this town.
Dr. B. F. Sutton was born in Shelburne, Vt., in 1835; was educated at the Barre Academy and studied his profession in the medical department of the University of Vermont, graduating in 1860. He practiced in Alsted, N. H., and then in Stowe, Vt. After ten years at the latter place he came to Mid- dlebury, and has been in practice here since.
Dr. E. P. Russel, son of Dr. Wm. P. Russel, was born in Middlebury July
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27, 1840 ; educated at Burr Seminary and the Middlebury Academy ; studied medicine in the University of Vermont, graduating in 1866. He began prac- tice here and a year and a half later went to Council Bluffs, where he remained six years ; he has been here since. He served as hospital steward in the First Vermont Regiment and was first lieutenant of Company E, Fifth Regiment, for three years.
Dr. M. D. Smith, homœopath, was born in Addison, April, 27, 1848, and was educated at the common and select schools; he graduated at the Eclectic Medical College in Philadelphia in 1870; practiced in Pennsylvania until 1874, coming thence to Addison, where he remained to 1881. He then attended lectures in New York in Bellevue Hospital, and after the course practiced in West Cornwall; he matriculated at Hahnnemann College in 1883, graduating in 1884.
The Dental Profession .- Some of those who practiced dentistry in Mid- dlebury in early years have been mentioned. Henry Kingsley was here in the business many years ago and before the late war, and followed it some twenty years. Nathaniel Harris practiced from 1843 to 1878. W. H. Kingsley was born in Brandon June 13, 1850; studied his profession in New York, and in Paris, France, and in this town. He practiced first in Europe and came here in 1876.
Dr. L. E. Mellen was born in Washington, N. H., October 18, 1848; studied in Hillsboro, N. H., and graduated at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in 1875; practiced in Keene, N. H., three years, and here since.
EAST MIDDLEBURY.
This pretty little village is situated in the southeastern part of the town on Middlebury River, its site (or the principal part of it) occupying lots 34 and 35 and the mill lot pitched by Joshua Hyde. Middlebury River runs through the village, the rapid descent of its bed at this point furnishing a most valuable water power. Many of the early settlements in this vicinity have already been sufficiently dwelt upon in preceding pages. The first utilization of the exten- sive water power here was the erection of John Foot's saw-mill in 1790. In the following year he built a house for his miller, who was Nathan Carpenter, and he occupied the house with his family ; he was father of Nathan and Gid- eon Carpenter, and his was the first family to settle here. Joshua Hyde and Eber Everts then owned the mill lot and they deeded one-half of it to Foot, who then lived on the west side of the falls in Cornwall, in consideration of his erecting the mill. Hyde soon afterward built a mill on what has been known as the upper dam. In 1811 Foot moved from New Haven, as stated in earlier pages, to the East Middlebury mill lot, rebuilt the saw-mill, and successively erected works for dressing cloth and carding wool, a grist-mill and a gambrel-
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