History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

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 57

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Benjamin Merriam had a store before 1820 at the Corners.

Captain John Smith kept one on the east road for ten or fifteen years, but finally removed to Forestdale and built the first furnace at that place.

Of course a shoe shop was almost a necessity sixty years ago. Leonard D. Jenny kept such a concern at the Corners nearly all the time from 1822 to 1833, and employed several journeymen there in the falls and winters. His shop first stood on the site of A. E. Stanley's present house, and was afterward moved across the road.

Parley Enos built a tannery as early as 1812, on the farm now owned by Hiram Capron, and operated it until about 1830.

John Bullock had a "still " just south of the Enos tannery, and ran it from early days for many years. At first he made whisky, but after a time cider mills and orchards increased to such an extent that he turned to the manufac- ture of cider-brandy. In those days this drink was only twenty-five cents a gallon. Mr. Bullock was quite a prominent man, having served some time as the representative of the town. His still was operated without a break until not far from 1840.

Epidemic of 1813, etc .- The epidemic of 1813 was unusually severe in Leicester. The first victim of the dread disease was a soldier of the War of 1812, who was on his way home on a furlough. He was taken ill while in

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Leicester, and was placed in the house and under the care of Dr. Gile. His throat and tongue were terribly parched and swollen. He died within twenty- four hours. Jonas Barker died of it. Mr. White, then town clerk (living on the east road), and his wife both died of it, the husband, who died in the morn- ing, surviving his wife but a few hours. They left six children. The first one that recovered from it was Joseph Knowlton. His case was exceedingly severe, but from the beginning he refused to call a doctor. Everybody accused him of folly and predicted a speedy and horrible death, but he recovered. From that time the disease gradually disappeared.

The cold season of 1816 was another period of hardship. There was a frost every month during the spring and summer. The "Fife boys " planted forty bushels of potatoes and dug thirty. It was too dry even for corn, which the hogs refused to eat. Many families had hard work to make both ends meet, but there was little positive suffering.

Military .- The town was scarcely settled enough when the Revolutionary War broke out to furnish many men for the armies or many incidents for his- tory. The capture of Jeremiah Parker and son, and the killing of Samuel Daniels, the only events, have been mentioned. Many of those who afterward made the town their home, however, had borne an honorable part in the war, and are still remembered as the first patriots of the United States.

A number of men went into the War of 1812 from here. Ebenezer Jenny, father to Leonard D. and Ebenezer B., commanded a company from Leicester. They took a boat from Burlington for the battle of Plattsburgh and were be- calmed and unable to reach the scene, even though they were almost within view of the fight. A prayer-meeting was held here for the purpose of propi- tiating the Deity and securing the success of the American cause. It is said that those who would lie upon the ground and place their ear to the earth could distinctly hear the thunder of the guns.

Although upon the outbreak of the Rebellion another generation of men were creating history, they proved themselves not unworthy descendants of the patriots and pioneers of earlier days. Following is a list of men who enlisted from this town in Vermont regiments :

Volunteers for three years credited previous to call for 300,000 volunteers of October 17, 1863 :

W. S. Alden, A. Atwood, L. Baker, B. A. Bates, E. F. Beckford, D. W. Carr, H. C. Carr, G. O. Dow, P. E. Dow, B. N. Dyer, E. G. Estey, J. H. Esty, A. W. Flint, H. W. Flint, J. Foley, J. W. G. Gibbs, R. W. Henry, N. Little, E. Matot, J. P. Matot, O. Partlow, S. Partlow, M. H. Powers, E. Reneau, A. A. Rosseter, L. R. Sayles, C. Stanley.

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

Volunteers for three years .- C. J. Brown, L. M. Gibbs, G. Jenney, A. Nor- ton, H. T. Parker, A. W. Perry, W. F. Spencer.

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TOWN OF LEICESTER.

Volunteers for one year .- C. C. Bump, D. E. Gibson, T. H. Green, H. Mulloy, P. H. Mumford, A. Tremblee, H. A. Wainwright.

Volunteers re-enlisted .- E. F. Beckford, G. O. Dow, M. Foley.

Not credited by name .- One man.

Volunteers for nine months .- A. Austigan, W. Austigan, A. L. Casavan, J. V. Collette, H. Laird, J. Murray, S. Pere, W. Powers, O. A. Sayles, W. Shaise, C. Turner.

Furnished under draft .- Paid commutation, L. E. Beach, F. Dow, A. E. Stanley. Procured substitute, L. P. Barker, A. Morse, H. H. Roberts. En- tered service, C. Miles, W. H. Newton.

The Sheep Interest .- This town is not now ranked among the prominent sheep-growing districts of the county, though in former days considerable care was taken in the breeding and raising of sheep. Leonard D. Jenny used to keep ordinarily about one hundred and fifty head ; Adin A. and George Swin- ington as many as six hundred; and Erwin Barker and others raised them in considerable numbers. But for eight or ten years past, owing to the dullness of the wool market, and the increasing prominence of other departments of agriculture, this interest has declined.

Present Town Officers .- The following officers were elected at the March meeting for 1885 :

A. E. Stanley, clerk and treasurer; Darwin Johnson, C. Brownson, M. O. Oliver, selectmen; W. R. Stickney, constable; I. H. Norton, superintendent of schools; H. C. Brownson, William Powers, I. H. Norton, listers ; H. N. Morse, overseer of the poor. A. E. Stanley has been town clerk of Leicester, without interruption, since the spring of 1857.

Population Statistics .- The following figures show the growth in numbers of the inhabitants of Leicester from the first taking of the census to the last: 1791, 343; 1800, 522; 1810, 609; 1820, 548; 1830, 638 ; 1840, 602; 1850, 596; 1860, 737; 1870, 630; 1880, 634.

Post-offices .- The first postmaster in the town was John G. Perry, at the Corners, who received the appointment about the year 1825; while Leonard Jenny had his shoe shop there he often looked after the office for Perry. Thos. D. Witherell succeeded him not far from 1830, and remained two or three years, being followed by Dr. William Gile. Rev. Mr. Barrett then had the of- fice until his love for liquor unfitted him for the performance of any duties, when he gave place to A. E. Stanley. William C. Derby followed Mr. Stanley ; Mrs. D. P. Packard followed Derby; Mrs. W. P. Bushey followed Mrs. Packard in the fall of 1885.

The first postmaster at the Junction was Mr. Kellogg, who received his com- mission more than thirty years ago. The office and vicinity then bore the name of Whiting Station. Before this office was established the people whom it now accommodates were obliged to go to Whiting village for their mail. L. E. Hig-

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

gins succeeded Kellogg, and held the office about twenty years, being succeed- ed by the present incumbent, O. C. Huntley, in 1876.

The hamlet known as Leicester Junction was practically built by J. E. Hig- gins. The principal cause of its existence is the limestone ledge which crosses the town at this point. Here, as early as 1852, J. E. Higgins, John B. Matot, and L. P. White built a lime kiln, and were before long succeeded by J. E. Hig- gins alone. At his death the business was continued in the name of the estate by Conant & Bascom, as administrators thereof. John A. Conant then man- aged the klin for a time and eventually took in a partner, Charles Dennison, who afterward controlled the interest alone. The present proprietors of this kiln, J. W. Buell, of Orwell, and O. C. Huntley, who operate the kiln under the style of Huntley & Buell, succeeded Mr. Dennison June 1, 1883. They turn out on an average about seventy-five barrels of lime per day.

In 1850 when John B. Matot, father of E. L. Matot, and Peter Dumas ar- rived at the Junction, there were no signs of a settlement here. Civilization had not asserted her empire over nature, and the woods had scarcely resounded with the blows of the axe. The only house then standing in the vicinity was the one now occupied by Ed. McIntyre, then inhabited by John Matot.

Wilfred Osterguy came in 1853 and took charge of the lime kiln, and has had the actual management of the business under nearly all the proprietors.

In about 1862 L. E. Higgins ran a small store on the site of Huntley's Hotel, and remained until 1869. John Remele had preceded him in a smaller way, and J. E. Higgins had kept the same store a short time before 1862. The only store now at the Junction, besides the general store of E. L. Matot, is run by M. White, who began in April, 1885.

The lime kiln of George O. Swinington was built by the present propri- etor and George Bascom about ten years ago. Mr. Swinington almost imme- diately purchased the whole concern. The kiln produces about twenty barrels of lime daily.

Huntley's Hotel was built by L. E. Higgins about 1872 for a hotel and post- office. In the spring of 1876 the present proprietor, O. C. Huntley, bought it, and increased his business. He keeps an excellent house, and has a large custom from traveling men who are glad to pay for the privilege of riding after good horses.

Hotels Past and Present .- Among the hotels of the past of Leicester, is the old inn of Joseph Woodward in the house now occupied by Frank Chandler and occupied by Darwin Johnson, already mentioned. John Smith kept tavern, also, in the house now occupied by his grandson, Dana L. Smith, on the East street. The only summer hotel in town is the Silver Lake House, situated on the shore of the lake whose name it bears, owned and kept by Frank Chandler for a number of years. Mr. Chandler understands his business and has won an excellent reputation.

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TOWN OF LINCOLN.

The house at the Corners now occupied by W. C. Bushey and Mrs. Minnie Ranno was originally built as a store. Oliver Wright started to build it, and before it was finished sold it to Dr. William Gile, who kept a hotel in it for many years. Silas Johnson succeeded him about 1845, and remained about four years. Jehiel Griswold, his successor, stayed two years; Edward Fales, about a year; Lucius Cramton, a number of years. Dr. Gile then came back and lived in the house the rest of his days, but did not open it to the public. In 1861 it was sold to Lemuel Derby, and opened the same season by his son, William C. Derby, as a store, and continued until the spring of 1882, when Emily H., wife of D. T. Packard, succeeded him. W. C. Bushey, the present occupant, keeps a general store here, but does not keep a public house.

Ecclesiastical .- The Methodist Church of Leicester was organized by Rev. Mitchell in 1800. An association, called the Leicester Meeting-House Society, erected a brick church in 1829, which now is used as a union church by all so- cieties.

The St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, located at Leicester Junction, was organized by the present pastor, Rev. J. C. McLaughlin, October 1, 1881. Dur- ing this year the church building was erected, costing $1,200. It is capable of seating 250 persons, and valued, including grounds, at $1,300. The society has now fifty members.

CHAPTER XXV.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LINCOLN.1

L INCOLN is situated in the northeasterly part of Addison county, in lati- tude 44° 7' and longitude 4º 5'; bounded on the north by Starksboro, east by Warren, in Washington county, south by Ripton, and west by Bristol, and is nearly inclosed by mountains and rugged hills. It lies on the west side of the main ridge of the Green Mountain range. On the south and west are detached portions of the same range with less elevation, and on the north are abrupt, isolated hills. Mount Abram, more commonly known as Potatoe Hill, is a lofty and symmetrical peak on the east, just within the present limits of the town. It is 3,976 feet above the mean surface of the ocean, and com- mands one of the finest views of the surrounding country. From its barren and rocky summit nearly the whole length of Lake Champlain may be seen, the many peaks of the Adirondacks, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and many of the villages of Vermont and New York. On account of its alti- tude and prominence it has become a popular resort for pleasure-seekers dur-

1 Written for this work by M. B. Gove, esq., of Lincoln.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

ing the summer months, and on several occasions the United States Coast Surveyors have located their signal stations upon its summit.

Mount Pleasant, or Corbin Hill, is an isolated peak in the north part of the town, which also commands a fine view of the mountains, Lake Champlain, and the villages beyond. 1

Prospect Rock is a ledgy elevation in the southeast part, and from its top an excellent view may be had of nearly the entire town.

Grant Mountain, Cobb Hill, and Flat Top are prominent elevations of the Green Mountain range on the south. A portion of Bristol Mountain lies within the limits of the town in the southwest part.

The town is broken and hilly throughout, gradually descending toward the New Haven River, which flows through the town in a northwesterly direction. This stream is replenished by Beaver Brook, having its source in the southwest part of the town, and by Belknap and Cow Brooks from the east. A little below the center it is joined by Downing's Creek, a stream of considerable size, from the northeast, and at West Lincoln by the Isham Brook from the north. These streams and their small and numerous tributaries form the entire drain- age. The water in them is clear and cool, their currents rapid, their bottoms stony, and are frequently broken by descending over ledges and precipices, forming many and excellent mill privileges.

The soil is generally gravel and loam, and in some places muck is found. Clay exists only in the northwest part of the town, along the banks of the Isham Brook. In some parts the soil is rather sterile, and in others too rugged and rocky for arable purposes. Yet as a whole it is well calculated for farm- ing, and all the crops that are indigenous in the locality are successfully raised, and seldom suffer from droughts. The hillsides, abounding in numerous springs and streams of water, furnish most excellent grazing. The rocks are of the talcose schist and conglomerate, and Green Mountain gneiss, containing some iron ore, manganese, and other minerals, but not in sufficient quantities to war- rant working. Slate is found in the northwest part of the town on land now owned by Reuben Cowles. Some good specimens have been taken from there, that indicate that it may be valuable for roofing purposes; but no attempt has ever been made to open a quarry. Bowlders of from several hundred pounds' weight to several tons are quite numerous in some localities.

The timber, wherein lies the principal wealth of the town, is on the mount- ains mostly spruce, while the hard woods predominate in other sections, with now and then considerable tracts of hemlock, especially in the south part of the town. The rock maple is regarded as the most valuable of the hard wood, and numerous fields or groves are preserved for the purpose of manufacturing sugar, of which many tons are annually made.

The charter was granted November 9, 1780, by Governor Thomas Chitten- den, in equal shares to Benjamin Simons, Ithamer Hibbard, Oliver Scott, John

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TOWN OF LINCOLN.

Manley, John Williams, Jonathan Eastman, Enoch Eastman, Calvin Eastman, Henry Hyde, Shadrick Hathaway, Jesse Spaulding, Ezra Fellows, Josiah Ter- rill, Jacob Hyde, David Lee, William Boardman, Noah Chittenden, Darias Chipman, Ebenezer Hyde, Joseph Bowker, Reubin Harmon, jr., Oliver Strong, John Gray, Andrew Barton, William Slade, Abiather Waldo, Noah Smith, Joseph Barber, Reubin Harmon, Thomas Tolman, Elijah Fay, John Knicker- bocker, Dr. John Johnson, Simeon Hathaway, Stephen Middlebrook, Zebulon Parmalee, Ezra Payne, Benjamin Fowler, Ephraim Ingraham, John Stewart, Samuel Billings, John Cochran, James Mead, John Mead, John Sibley, Abner Mead, Stephen Mead, jr., Timothy Miles, Nathan Manley, Stephen Eastman, Jonathan Eastman, jr., William Gage, Thomas Chittenden, David Welch, Sam- uel Benton, Levi Taylor, Solomon Lee, Jonas Fay, Peter Pixly, Stephen Pearl, William Fitch, Samuel Comstock, Elisha Clark, Josiah Safford, Joshua Emmons, and William Marther.

In addition to the above rights or shares, one share was drawn to the right of a county grammar school in the State, one for the settlement of a minister and ministers, one for the support of schools in said town, and one for the use of a seminary or college.

The township was described in the charter as follows, viz .: "Beginning at the southwest corner of Starksboro, in the east line of Pocock, then southerly in the line of Pocock and continuing the same course six miles, then east six miles, or so far that turning northerly making a parallel line with the east line of Pocock six miles, then west to the southeast corner of Starksboro, then in the line of Starksboro to the bounds begun at, containing twenty-three thou- sand and forty acres."

The charter was conditioned that each proprietor, his heirs or assigns, should plant and cultivate five acres of land, and build a house at least eighteen feet square on the floor, or have one family settled on each right within four years next after the circumstances of the present war will admit of a settlement with safety, on penalty of forfeiture of each respective right or share; and if not so improved or settled, the same to revert to the freemen of the State. All pine timber suitable for a navy was reserved for the use of the State.

The first meeting of the proprietors, of which there is any record, was called and held in accordance with the following notice :

" Whereas, application has been made to me by more than one-sixteenth part of the proprietors of the township of Lincoln, in the County of Rutland, and State of Vermont, to warn a meeting of said proprietors ; these are, there- fore, to warn said proprietors, that they meet at the dwelling house of Mr. Jonathan Robinson, innholder, in Bennington, on the second Tuesday of Sep- tember next, at one o'clock in the afternoon, to act on the following articles, viz :

" Ist. To choose a Moderator.

"2nd. To choose a Clerk.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

"3d. To see if the proprietors will vote to lay out, or make a division of the whole or any part of said township in the mode the law directs.

"4th. To transact any other business that may be for the benefit of said propriety. Dated at Bennington July 16, 1783.

" MOSES ROBINSON, Assistant."

The proprietors met pursuant to the notice, and Colonel Benjamin Simons was chosen moderator, and William Slade, clerk. Noah Smith, Simeon Hath- away, William Slade, John Stewart and Benjamin Simons were chosen a com- mittee and authorized to proceed and run the lines of the town and lay out one hundred and five acres of the best land to each right. The five acres was an allowance for highways. The meeting, after several adjournments from time to time, convened at the dwelling house of Stephen Pearl, in Pawlet, January 13, 1784. A' vote was taken at this time to raise a tax on each right of twenty-eight shillings, to be collected by the first day of March next. It was also voted to allow any of the proprietors that were dissatisfied with their rights, to take up a hundred acre lot on any of the undivided and lay it out in such a farm, as to length and breadth, as the other lots were laid, and return a survey bill of the same to the proprietors' clerk within ten days. The meet- ing adjourned again to June, and then to the third Tuesday of February, 1785. It is uncertain whether the proprietors met in February or not, as no record of any further meetings are to be found for several years. At some time previous to July, 1794, it was discovered that the first division of lots, surveyed by the committee and drawn by the proprietors, was not within the chartered limits of the town, at least only a small portion of it. Another meeting was called and held at the dwelling house of Henry Mclaughlin, in Bristol, on the 22d day of September, 1794, the record of which is as follows, viz .:

" BRISTOL, the 22 September, 1794.

"The proprietors of Lincoln met according to warning and acted as fol- lows, viz:

" Ist. Chose John Bishop moderator to govern meeting.

"2d. Chose Henry McLaughlin proprietors' clerk.

" 3d. After a strict examination, find that the lands hereafter said to be laid out in said town for a first division, was not laid in the town of Lincoln, but a small part of them; therefore voted that there is no legal first division in said town.

" 4th. Voted to lay out a first and second division in said town to contain one hundred and five acres to each division. Each lot to be laid in the man- ner following, viz : The first division to lay on the west side of the town; the length of said first division lots to be one hundred and sixty rods east and west, and one hundred and five rods north and south. The first division to run from north to south in said town ; the second division in the same manner and form of the first. The five acres above mentioned in each lot, above one hundred acres, is an allowance for highways.

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TOWN OF LINCOLN.

"5th. Voted that Nathaniel Dean, John Furguson and Henry Mclaughlin be a committee for to superintend said business of lotting out said divisions, and that the lotting of said land be completed by the first day of July next. " 6th. Voted fifteen shillings for to defray the cost of lotting each of said lots throughout both of said divisions, except ten public lots which they are to have laid without any costs, and that Phinneas Sheldon do the work for the said proprietors for said sum of fifteen shillings on each lot, and under the direction of the above named committee.

" 7th. Voted to the following persons the lots they are on in lieu of their draught, provided they are in actual settlement from and after the first day of July next, otherways they shall take no part of this our vote. The names of the settlers are as follows: Markus Hedding, Elijah Ferguson, Loren Orvis, Moses Scott, Lawrence Delong and Shuable Clark, which are the only six in town.

" 8th. Voted that the meeting be adjourned until the second Wednesday of December next, at ten o'clock A. M., to the dwelling house of Henry Mc- Laughlin, in Bristol, aforesaid.

" Attest HENRY MCLAUGHLIN, " Proprietors' Clerk."

At the adjourned meeting in December the committee chosen to lay out the first and second divisions, having completed the survey, made a report and presented a plan of the lots to the proprietors as laid out by them. Henry McLaughlin was chosen to collect the tax of fifteen shillings on each lot, as voted at the preceding meeting. It was also voted to lay out the remainder of the undivided lands in the town, and a committee was appointed to super- intend the laying out of the third division. The surveying of this division was assigned to Henry McLaughlin for the sum of eighteen shillings per lot, he being the lowest bidder. This meeting was again adjourned to the second Wednesday in October, 1795. The records are silent in regard to any further meetings or transactions of the proprietors, and do not indicate that any of them ever settled on their respective rights. A few of the rights were trans- ferred to the early settlers; others were forfeited for not complying with the provisions of the charter, in settling and cultivating a certain number of acres in the given time, and for the non-payment of taxes that were assessed on each right to defray the expense of the survey.

There were seventy lots in each division. In the first they are numbered from I to 70 inclusive, and in the second from 71 to 137 and from 146 to 148 inclusive. The survey and the numbering of the lots was commenced in the northwest corner of the town, and seventeen lots were surveyed and laid out, one hundred and sixty rods long east and west, and one hundred and five rods wide north and south, along the west line of the town, in accordance with the vote taken at the proprietors' meeting at McLaughlin's, in Bristol, September

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

22, 1794. Then three lots were surveyed on the south line one hundred and five rods wide east and west and of sufficient length to fill the space lying be- tween the south line of the town and the south line of the seventeen lots north ; then running north again another seventeen lots were surveyed to correspond with the first, and so on throughout the entire division, with one exception. In running north surveying the east tier of lots in the second division, it was found that the last three lots would be located on the top of the highest part of the mountain, where the land was considered to be worthless, so they passed on seven hundred and thirty-five rods, or the width of seven lots, and then laid out the three remaining lots. There are twelve lots in the first and second di- visions on the south line of the town that were laid out one hundred and five rods wide east and west; all the others are regularly laid out according to the vote of the proprietors. The third division also contained seventy lots, which were mostly on the east side of the mountain, and were laid out one hundred and sixty rods long east and west, by one hundred and twenty rods wide. Lots numbered from one to six in this division were laid out near the top of the mountain, in that part of the town passed by in laying out the second division. The remaining lots of this division cover a tract of land six miles long and six miles wide.

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

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