History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 42

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 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The following is a list of those who have occupied the offices designated :

Secretaries .- Seth Storrs, esq., from 1800 to 1807; Hon. Peter Starr, from 1809 to 1815 ; Hon. Samuel Swift, from 1815 to 1826; Hon. Harvey Bell, from 1826 to 1843; Rev. Lucius L. Tilden, from 1843 to 1851 ; John W. Stew- art, esq., from 1851 to 1858 ; Rev. Lucius L. Tilden, from 1858 to 1862 ; Rufus Wainwright, from 1862 to 1881; Charles G. Wainwright, from 1881 to 1883 ; James M. Slade, 1883.

Treasurers .- Hon. Darius Matthews, from 1800 to 1803; Samuel Miller, esq., from 1803 to 1806; Hon. Samuel Swift, from 1806 to 1810; John Sim- mons, esq., from 1810 to 1829; William G. Hooker, from 1829 to 1830; Rev. William C. Fowler, from 1830 to 1837; Hon. Samuel Swift, from 1837 to 1839; Hon. Peter Starr, from 1839 to 1842 ; Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, from 1842 to 1852 ; Julius A. Beckwith, esq., from 1852 to 1854; Rev. Joseph D. Wickham, from 1854 to 1855 ; Prof. W. H. Parker; Loyal D. Eldredge, present treasurer.

Faculty .- The present Faculty of the college is constituted as follows : Ezra Brainerd, A. M., president and professor of physics and applied mathe- matics ; William Henry Parker, A. M., Baldwin professor emeritus of mathe- matics ; Rev. George Nelson Webber, D.D., pro tempore professor of psychol- ogy, ethics, and political science ; Henry Martyn Seely, A. M., M. D., Burr professor of chemistry and natural history ; William Wells Eaton, A. M., pro- fessor of Greek and German; Charles Baker Wright, A. M., professor of rheto- ric and English literature ; Henry Edwards Scott, A. B., professor of Latin and French ; Brainerd Kellogg, A. M., instructor in elocution; Professor Scott, librarian.

Ezra Brainerd was born in St. Albans, Vt., December 17, 1844 ; graduated at Middlebury College in 1864; was tutor in the college until the summer of 1866. He graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1868, and was then appointed to the chair of rhetoric and English literature in Middlebury College; this position he filled until 1880, when he was appointed to his present chair, taking the place of Professor William H. Parker. In 1886 he was elected president of the college.

Professor William Henry Parker, A. M., has been intimately associated with 23

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

the educational interests of this region for more than fifty years. He was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1809; was educated in Middlebury College, graduating in 1830. He taught two years in Bennington, which was followed by two years (1832-34) as tutor in Middlebury College. He was then two years in Andover Seminary, at the end of which term he taught twelve years in the St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, N. Y. In 1848 he took the chair of mathematics in Middlebury College, which he capably filled to 1881, since which date he is carried on the roll of the faculty as Baldwin professor emeri- tus of mathematics.

Professor Henry Martyn Seely, A.M., M.D., Burr professor of chemistry and natural history in Middlebury College, was born in Onondaga, N. Y., Oc- tober 2, 1828. His preparatory education was obtained in Cazenovia, N. Y., since which he has graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale Col- lege ; studied in the Mining School, Freiburg, Germany, and in the Heidel- berg University ; received the degree of B.Ph., and A.M., from Yale College in 1856, and of M. D., from the Berkshire Medical College, Mass. From 1857 to 1863 he taught at Berkshire, and after the latter date in the University of Vermont to 1867, since which date he has been connected with Middlebury College.

Female Seminary .- About the time of the establishment of the grammar school and the college, and before the latter was incorporated, the citizens of Middlebury further showed their devotion to the cause of higher education by taking steps towards the founding of a female seminary. Through the agency of Hon. Horatio Seymour, Miss Ida Strong, who had been educated at the then celebrated school of Miss Pierce, in Litchfield, Conn., was invited to establish a similar institution here. She did so, and at first opened her school in the court-house. It soon gained a high reputation and pupils came from all parts of the State. A few years later the school was removed to a room in Dr. Campbell's house, which had been used as a store. The school rapidly advanced, and in 1802 a voluntary association was formed by the citizens to erect a suitable building for its accommodation. Mr. Seymour donated the land, and a subscription was circulated and the requisite funds raised. In the following season the two-story building, occupied in later years by Ozias Sey- mour for a residence, was erected. Unfortunately the health of Miss Strong failed, and she died in 1804 at the age of twenty-nine. The school was closed until 1807, when Miss Emma Hart, from Berlin, Conn., was invited to take charge of the institution. Although but twenty years old she enjoyed an en- viable reputation and made the school successful from the first. After two years of teaching it she was married in 1809 to Dr. John Willard. During the vacancy in the school above mentioned the Addison County Grammar School was removed into the seminary building; the lower story was divided into rooms and fitted up for the ordinary school exercises, and the upper room

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

was now given up to Miss Hart's school; she began with thirty-seven pupils. The male school was removed before the second winter. In the spring of 1814 Mrs. Willard opened a female school at her own residence. This school she afterwards looked back upon as the germ of the Troy Female Seminary, to which city she removed her school in 1821 ; it became one of the most suc- cessful institutions of the kind in the country, and Mrs. Willard occupied a po- sition attained by few, if any other, women in the land, in an educational sense.

The school in Middlebury was next taught by Esther North, of Goshen, Conn., and several years later she was succeeded by Phebe Smith (who was before her marriage Phebe Henderson, of Bennington, and later the wife of Rev. Joel H. Linsley). The school was probably closed soon after 1814 and was not revived until 1827. In the mean time the building had been again given up to the Addison County Grammar School. A new association was formed, and the " Female School Association " was incorporated in October of the year named. In the course of the year the association purchased the three- story building which was erected by Daniel Chipman for a law school and re- fitted it for the school boarding-house. Among those who subsequently had charge of the school were Miss Ann H. B. Mahew, about one year ; Mrs. Har- riet B. Cook, widow of Milo Cook, to August, 1834; during her administration the school prospered exceedingly, and additions were made to the boarding- house, and a new school building was erected in rear of the boarding-house. Mrs. Cook was succeeded by Miss Nancy Swift, four years; in the spring of 1840 Rev. Lucius Tilden took charge of the school, assisted by Mrs. Tilden ; in 1846 he was succeeded by Dr. S. P. Lathrop, who continued until 1849. For two years only temporary teachers were employed, when in 1851 S. W. Hitchcock, from Burlington, was employed ; his health failed and he died in 1852. William F. Bascom succeeded in the school, assisted by his wife. In 1856 he relinquished the school to begin practice of law, and it was continued through the winter by Miss Eliza Merrill. On the 9th of March, 1857, Miss Agnes Gordon, assisted by competent teachers, took charge of the institution. She was followed by Rev. Harvey and Mrs. Leavitt, and they by Professor Nelson Z. and Mrs. Graves, who were the last teachers, and the school closed in 1869. In 1880 the property was sold to liquidate an old indebtedness.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The Congregational Church of Middlebury .- This denomination was almost the only one known to the early immigrants to Addison county. The pro- vision for and support of the gospel in this denomination constituted a large share of the business of many of the early meetings of the inhabitants. Some of the records relative to this subject are of deep interest. At the annual town meeting of 1788, only two years after the town organization, the following votes were passed :

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

" Voted to choose a committee to stick a stake for the meeting-house and pitch on a place or places to bury the dead."

" Voted, that Mr. Daniel Foot's house be a place to meet for public wor- ship for the present."

" Voted Daniel Foot, Benjamin Smalley, Abraham Kirby and Nathaniel Munger be a committee to procure preaching for the present year."

January 1, 1789, "Voted that the town be divided into two distinct socie- ties." " Voted that the committee that was appointed last March hire preach- ing for three months, as they, in their wisdom, shall think proper." March 2, 1789, "Voted that we will try to procure preaching for the ensuing year. Voted that we will raise a tax of three pence on the pound to be paid in wheat at 5s per bushel. Voted that Benjamin Smalley, Abraham Kirby and Jona- than Chipman be a committee for the purpose of procuring some suitable per- son to preach in the town on probation for a settlement. Voted that we will meet one-half of the time at the north end of the town, and the other half at the south end of the town on Sundays for public worship. Voted that Cap- tain Stephen Goodrich's house for the north end and Mr. Bill Thayer's for the south end for to meet at, at present. Voted to reconsider the vote passed last town-meeting concerning dividing the town."

July, 1789, " Voted that the committee try to hire Mr. Parmelee, on pro- bation five Sabbaths more, when he comes back. Voted re-consider the former vote that was passed, to meet one-half the time at the north end and the other half at the south end of the town for public worship, and will meet at Mr. Daniel Foot's for said purpose."

February 8, 1790, " Voted to have the Rev. Mr. Parmelee to preach for the term of six months on probation, if the situation of his family is such that they can be removed by sleighing, otherwise for three months in the town of Middlebury."

March II, 1790. Meeting warned " to see if they will raise a tax to pay Mr. Parmelee for preaching in said town for the space of six or three months." " Voted Samuel Miller, esq., moderator, and tried to get a vote for the above purpose, and it passed in the negative."

Other proceedings of this character have already been mentioned. In 1793 it was voted " to hold meetings in the future in Mr. Ebenezer Sumner's barn until such times as he shall fill it with hay."

Rev. John Barnet was ordained as pastor of the church on the IIth of No- vember, 1790, the church having been organized on the 5th of September pre- ceding. The following persons composed the church at the time of its organ- ization :

Daniel Foot, Elijah Buttolph, Moses Hale, Bethuel Goodrich, Abraham Kirby, Ebenezer Sumner, Simon Farr, Prudence Preston, Silence Goodrich, Abigail Foot, Sarah Farr and Deborah Buttolph.

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

From 1798 until the first church was erected, meetings were held in the court-house. In December, 1801, incipient measures were adopted towards building a church edifice. The proposed location was several times changed, and at a meeting in August, 1805, it had been decided " that the expense of building the house shall be defrayed by a public sale of the pews ;" a com- mittee of seven, including Judge Painter, was appointed " to draw a plan of a meeting-house, and expose the pews for sale by public auction," twenty per cent. to be paid in money "and the remainder in neat cattle or materials for building."

The first church was finally begun in 1806, but it was not finished until the spring of 1809; it was dedicated on the 3Ist day of May that year. In 1854 it was thoroughly repaired and partially reconstructed, and is now a handsome building, seating seven hundred and fifty and valued, with its grounds, etc., at $20,000. The church has over four hundred members and a large and flour- ishing Sabbath-school. The following pastors have served the church :

Rev. John Barnet, installed November II, 1790; dismissed March 31, 1795. Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, D.D., installed December 19, 1805; released from pastoral duties December 19, 1842; died April 29, 1855. Rev. Samuel G. Coe, installed July 17, 1844 ; dismissed October 30, 1850. Rev. R. S. Ken- dall, installed April 14, 1853 ; dismissed July 7, 1856. Rev. James T. Hyde, installed June 10, 1857 ; dismissed November 4, 1867. Rev. E. P. Hooker, installed September 14, 1870; dismissed January, 1881. Rev. S. L. B. Speare, since June 1881.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- It is uncertain just when Methodism was introduced into this town, but the first mention of the town as a circuit is in 1810, and it is believed that a society was formed here several years prior to that date. Rev. Ebenezer Washburn traveled in Western Vermont and was on the Vergennes Circuit in 1801. In later years he wrote as follows :

" At Middlebury I found a small and persecuted class. Our preaching was· at the house of Lebbeus Harris; and in the midst of that village our average congregation was from twenty-five to thirty. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were deeply pious, and ready to greet the preacher with joy at his coming, and to render him every service and accommodation to make him comfortable and happy while he stayed."

Mr. Washburn became a noted preacher and accomplished great good. Writing further of his early experiences here he said : "I have had stones and snow-balls cast at me in volleys. I have had great dogs sent after me, to frighten my horse, as I was peacefully passing through small villages. But I was never harmed by any of them. I have been saluted with the sound of ' Glory, hosanna, amen, hallelujah,' mixed with oaths and profanity. If I turned my horse, to ride toward them, they would show their want of confi- dence, both in their master and in themselves, by fleeing like base cowards."

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Mr. Washburn was succeeded by Joseph Sawyer, Henry Ryan (1800) Elijah Chichester (1802), William Anson, James M. Smith (1804), Samuel Cochrane (1805), Samuel Draper (1806), Dexter Bates (1809), and Andrew McKean. Rev. Phineas Peck was the first resident pastor, about 1810. Fol- lowing is a list of those who were in full connection with this faith in 1809: Lebbeus Harris, Sarah Harris, Daniel Bigelow, Betsey T. Bigelow, Abel Knights, Nathan Alden, Barbara Alden, Thomas Carpenter, Aurelia Carpen- ter, Azuba Babcock, Sarah Weaver, Amelia Farnsworth, Chester Haskins, Hulda Fisher, Josiah Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Anna Johnson. Meetings were held for a time in the old block now owned by Henry L. Sheldon ; in 1813 the first chapel was erected on the street leading to the old paper-mill. In 1837 the present neat church was built on the corner of North Pleasant and Seminary streets, at a cost of about $5,000. In 1880 it was repaired and frescoed at an expense of $2,800. We cannot spare space to follow the long list of pastors who have labored for the good of their fellows in this church. The present pastor, J. J. Noe, came in 1884. The membership is now one hundred and eighty. Prof. H. M. Seely is Sunday-school superintendent. Class leaders, H. D. Langworthy, J. Noland, J. W. Morse, W. J. Mead, Ira Pond, E. J. Boyce; stewards, H. M. Seely, A. F. Manley, W. S. Alden, O. F. Comstock, J. W. Mead, Charles H. Bain, J. R. Ford, P. Severance, George E. Marshall, J. C. Cady, Charles Cady, J. W. Lovett, Clinton G. Smith, O. P. Moore; recording steward, J. W. Lovett. A parsonage belongs with the church property.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church .- This society was organized in December 5, 1810, under the name of "The First Episcopal Society in Addison County." The first signers of the association were Horatio Seymour, Joel Doolittle, William B. Sumner, Samuel Clark, Daniel Henshaw, Daniel Chipman, Lavius Fillmore, John Willard, Lewis Stearns, Eben W. Judd, Stephen Weston, Roger Haskell, of Middlebury; John A. Sumner, John Alexander, Luther Barnard, of Bristol ; George Cleveland, Joseph Brackett, of Weybridge ; Isaac Landon and William Kellogg, of Cornwall. The first services were held by Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, a brother of Governor Chittenden, in an upper room of Captain E. Markham's public house. Services were afterward held in the court-house. In 1817 Daniel Henshaw fitted up one of his buildings for that purpose, which was used until the completion of the stone church, which was consecrated on the 14th of October, 1827. Rev. Philo Adams, S. S. Sanford, George Leonard and A. Baldwin were the pastors from 1811 to 1821. Ben- jamin B. Smith, afterwards presiding bishop of the United States, was the first rector from 1823 to 1828, under whose direction the church was built.

A chapel and vestry-room have since been added. Several very gifted preachers have served the church, which now has a membership of eighty-nine. Rev. Alva E. Carpenter is the present rector ; he succeeded Rev. William J.

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TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.

Tilley in September, 1883. Albert Chapman is senior warden; Edwin Val- lett, junior warden; Henry L. Sheldon, George C. Chapman, E. W. Judd, E. P. Russel, William Chadwick, vestrymen. The rector is superintendent of the Sunday-school.

Baptist Church .- This church was formed December 10, 1809, the first regular pastor being Nathaniel Kendrick, from 1810 to 1817. The society generally attended public worship in the court-house until 1838, when they purchased the building formerly occupied by the Methodists. This was re- fitted and occupied for several years. Subsequent to 1843 the church had be- come so reduced by the removal of members that the house was sold, and the society, as such, ceased to exist. At this time the Baptists had established a paper here, devoted to the interests of the church, and which was recognized as its peculiar organ throughout the State. It was ably conducted, but for want of proper support was soon abandoned. In May, 1879, the society was reorganized by its pastor, Rev. Charles Hibbard, with twenty-four members, since increased to over forty. Having no church building, public services were conducted in the court-house until 1882, when the neat new church was erected at a cost of about $8,000. Rev. Mr. Hibbard remained to June, 1883, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. De H. Palmer, the present incumbent. H. J. Chapman is Sunday-school superintendent. The deacons are J. B. Benedict and H. J. Chapman.

Roman Catholic Church .- The following brief account of this church down to about 1850 was furnished to Dr. Swift's work by Timothy O'Flanagan : " The first missionary Catholic priest that came to this town was the Rev. James MacQuaide in 1822. He left here the following year, and we had none here until 1830, when the Rev. Jeremiah O. Callaghan came as a missionary of the whole State-coming here occasionally - until 1834. Then the State was made into two missions, and the Rev. James Walsh came on this part of the mission and left in 1835. In 1837 Rev. John B. Dailey came here, and built the present brick church, which is sixty feet by forty, in 1839, and remained on the mission until 1854. Then the first and present Catholic bishop of this diocese, the Right Rev. Lewis Goesbriand, sent the Rev. Joseph Duglue." He was succeeded by Rev. Father Cunningham, who officiated for about fourteen years previous to 1881, when Rev. E. R. Moloney came. Within a short time Rev. Henry Lane became pastor. The church has now about 180 families. A Catholic cemetery was established in 1883, embracing six acres, west of the college.

The First Universalist Church of East Middlebury .- This society was organized in 1849, and for a number of years was in a prosperous condition. Soon after the organization the society built the church still standing, and had at that time about sixty members, with Rev. C. D. Miller as pastor. From various causes the church declined, and no settled minister has preached here

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for a long time. At the present time Rev. Mr. Heath preaches one sermon each Sunday, and the church is attended by all denominations.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Freemasonry .- This ancient and honorable order has been represented in Middlebury for almost a century. Union Lodge No. 2 was chartered in 1794, and by the Grand Lodge of Vermont in 1797. The charter members were John Chipman, Joel Linsley, James Bradley, Abraham Bethrong, Lewis Mc- Donald, Abiel Linsley, Joseph McDonald, Thomas Tolman. The first officers were John Chipman, W. M .; Joel Linsley, S. W .; Lewis McDonald, J. W. The lodge prospered until the blight of anti-Masonry fell upon it, when it sus- pended, its last meeting being held May 3, 1830. It remained dormant until December 17, 1847, when it was revived with the following officers: Daniel L. Potter, W. M .; Jacob Dewey, S. W .; Gideon Carpenter, J. W .; John B. Cope- land, treasurer ; Allen Mills, secretary. The present officers of the lodge are as follows: W. H. Kingsley, W. M .; H. E. Smith, S. W .; A. J. Field, J. W .; C. E. Pinney, treasurer; Samuel Brooks, secretary; H. J. Nichols, S. D .; John M. Nash, J. D .; Thaddeus M. Chapman, marshal.

Potter Chapter No. 22 (originally Jerusalem Chapter) was chartered Octo- ber 7, 1868. It met alternately in Vergennes and Middlebury, until Jerusalem Chapter went to Vergennes. The officers were Samuel Brooks, H. P .; Wm. P. Russel, K .; Charles J. Soper, S .; Henry L. Sheldon, secretary ; John H. Simmons, C. H .; Lorenzo H. Stow, P. S .; Charles M. Waller, R. A. C.

The present officers are C. E. Prentiss, H. P .; B. B. Brown, K .; H. J. Nichols, S .; H. L. Sheldon, treasurer ; Samuel Brooks, secretary ; W. H. Cobb, C. H .; W. B. Bristol, P. S .; A. J. Field, R. A. C.

Middlebury Council No. 14 was chartered October 7, 1868, with the fol- lowing officers : Henry L. Sheldon, T. I .; John H. Simmons, R. I .; Henry S. Putnam, P. C. At the last election, held in 1883, the following were elected : Edward S. Dana, T. I .; Lorenzo H. Stow, R. I .; Henry L. Sheldon, P. C .; Peter F. Goodrich, treasurer; William H. Goodnough, Rec.

Mount Calvary Commandery No. I was chartered February 20, 1824, with the following officers : Joel Clapp, E. C .; Samuel H. Holley, G .; Ezra Meech, C. G .; Daniel Chipman, P .; Justus Foot, S. W .; John M. Weeks, J. W .; Asahel Parsons, treasurer; Lebbeus Harris, Rec.

The present officers of the commandery are William C. Bradley, E. C .; George A. Kimball, G .; Frank N. Manchester, C. G .; Charles E. Prentiss, P .; William H. Cobb, S. W .; W. H. Kingsley, J. W .; Thaddeus M. Chapman, treas- urer ; Peter F. Goodrich, Rec.

Odd Fellows. - There is but one lodge of this order in Middlebury, and its records were all destroyed in the fire of 1875. Its name is Lake Dunmore Lodge No. II. The officers elected in December, 1875, were as follows :

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TOWN OF ADDISON.

James M. Slade, N. G .; Norman F. Rider, V. G .; William H. Cobb, secretary ; C. E. Pinney, treasurer. The present officers are Charles E. Youtt, N. G .; H. A. Peck, V. G .; R. W. Pitts, secretary ; C. E. Pinney, treasurer ; George Langworthy, R. S. N. G .; A. B. Smith, L. S. N. G .; S. E. Meekin, R. S. V. G .; T. Kidder, L. S. V. G .; A. B. Colby, warden; N. F. Rider, R. S. S .; James Norton, L. S. S .; Henry Langworthy, I. S .; C. M. Foot, Con.

It will have been seen by the reader that very many of the leading men of Middlebury have been connected with one or both of these orders.

CHAPTER XVI.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ADDISON.

T HE town of Addison lies on the shore of Lake Champlain, in the western part of Addison county, and is bounded on the north by Panton ; east by Waltham and Weybridge; south by Bridport, and west by Lake Champlain. The surface of the town is level or with a gradual slope towards the lake, ex- cept the extreme eastern part, which becomes hilly or mountainous, the highest elevation being Snake Mountain (or Grandview Mountain, as it is now called ; this elevation rises to a height of 1,310 feet above sea level, and is the highest point in the county west of the Green Mountains). The soil is principally clay or marl, mixed to some extent with loam, and in the mountains a strong loam prevails. The principal streams are Otter Creek, which forms the eastern boundary between this town and Waltham, Hospital, Ward's and Dead Creeks ; the latter is formed by what are known as the east, middle and west branches, which flow in a northerly course from the town of Bridport, Dead Creek con- tinuing northward into the town of Panton. Ward's and Hospital Creeks flow through the southwest part of the town. There is no valuable water power in the town and no manufacturing of importance is carried on. The town was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, of which pine, cedar, maple, basswood, oak and elm were the principal varieties.

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 42

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