History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 64

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 64

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In an interview with the venerable Julius L. Eldredge, whose name has been mentioned among the early settlements, he gives his recollections of the region of Brooksville as far back as 1815. There was then a trip-hammer shop, where scythes, hoes, and other tools were made. Near by was a "pocket furnace," run by a Mr. Aiken. Just above, on the same side of the stream, was a wagon shop, carried on by Mr. Fitch. On the other side, beginning at the bridge, was the saw-mill of Alfred Stowell, the clothier's shop and carding- machine of Gideon M. Fisk ; next below, a wagon shop and fanning-mill fac- tory by Horace Smith ; farther down was the saw-mill of John Wilson, and still farther another "pocket furnace," also run by Wilson; then came the wooden-clock shop of Russell Richards and a blacksmith shop by Joshua Scott, and the oil-mill owned by Aaron Haskins. All, or nearly all, of this manu- facturing property was swept away by the flood of 1830.

After the flood William Wilson, brother of John, built a saw-mill, which has been taken down; on the opposite side of the stream he also had a trip- hammer shop, and Julius and Bela Eldredge built a saw-mill; this mill was about on the site of the present shops of Norman C. Brooks. On the site of the finishing shop of Mr. Brooks, Amos Weller built a grist-mill, which was subsequently burned. In 1883 Frank B. Brooks built a store at Brooksville,

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

which was carried on by Norman C. Brooks, but has recently passed to the hands of W. W. Warren. Barzillai Brooks came to Brooksville some forty years ago with his four sons, and since that time they have been the life of the little hamlet. An axe and tool factory was built by Edward, Milton, and Mc- Donough Brooks, for whom Norman C., the younger, then worked. The elder Brooks was an experienced steel worker, and tempered the tools so successfully as to give them an excellent reputation. The axe factory was entirely de- stroyed by fire in 1881, but was rebuilt by Norman C. Brooks.

Deacon Julius L. Eldredge married Polly Cowles, sister of Martin Cowles, and lived on his father's farm in Brooksville until within a few years, when he went to live with his son, Loyal D. Eldredge, in Middlebury. He represented his town in the Legislature in 1850-51. His son Loyal D. graduated at Mid- dlebury College, and entered the legal profession. He was for many years a partner of ex-Governor John W. Stewart. He was a member of the Vermont Senate in 1876.

Isaac Gibbs, who resides on the farm originally occupied by Josiah Cowles, and later by Henry, son of Martin Cowles, was born in Middlebury in 1802, where he resided until sixty-two years of age. He remembers hearing the first Methodist sermon ever preached in that town, by Rev. Mr. Girdley. He, being required to preach a sermon before they would grant him a license, took for his text, "By the lips of Pharaoh ye are all spies."

Loren Richards, of Cornwall, bought in 1863 of William H. Dunton the place long owned and occupied by John Crane, three-fourths of a mile north of Brooksville. Mr. Richards has always devoted much attention to the breed- ing of Merino sheep.

Seth Langdon came from Framingham, Mass., in 1782, settling upon the farm now owned by Charles Peck. As early as 1791 he was one of the select- men. He died in December, 1851, at the age of ninety-two years. Seth Langdon, jr., was born on the homestead July 7, 1799. He married Laura, daughter of Wait Squier, and reared a large family. He was for several years constable, and held various other offices, and in 1845 and '46 was chosen to the Legislature. He died in 1881.

David, Giles, Joel, Silas, and Isaac Doud were five brothers who came from Terringham, Mass., the latter part of the last century and settled on Town Hill. Of the descendants of the five brothers only those of Silas remain in town.

Harry W. Carter, of Monkton, bought the Osmond Doud farm of two hun- dred and twelve acres, which he successfully manages in connection with his son-in-law, George S. Russell, who married his only daughter.

Moses Stowe was born in Massachusetts in 1796. He purchased the front- age of the farm upon which Loyal W. Stowe and E. A. Doud now reside. He was twice married, rearing a large family, of whom his son Loyal W. only re- mains in town. Moses Stowe died in 1849.

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TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.

Mahlon L. Taylor built the house now owned by James H. Mack, who is a speculator, dealing in live stock. The place was owned for several years by Mr. Foster, father of Mrs. Harry Langdon, late of New Haven. The farm for so many years occupied by Eleazer Taylor is now owned by Charles H. Wicker, whose wife was Miss Mary Champlin. Their oldest son, George, died there January 15, 1885, leaving a wife and four daughters. The oldest daughter, Lou, married Silas D. Doud, who lives with his father, Sylvester, at the foot of Town Hill. Eliza, the second daughter, married Charles Rogers, and lives at the Center, in the house so long the home of Dr. George B. Sanborn (now a homœopathic physician of Rutland). The son, Charles G. Wicker, is engaged in the lumber business in Hastings, Neb. The youngest daughter, Abbie, lives at home. Mrs. Wicker died the 6th of March, 1886.

Nathan Barton came from Litchfield, Conn., with his father in 1770, and settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, George W. Barton. He was a surveyor, and was often called upon to survey plots of land, roads, and pitches. He was at different times selectman. His son, Walter Barton, oc- cupied the same farm more than seventy years, and was succeeded by his son, George W. Barton, who has held several of the principal offices of the town.

Wait Squier came to Cornwall in July, 1788, built a log blacksmith shop, cleared several acres of land and sowed to wheat, and returned to Massachu- setts in the fall. In 1789 he pursued a similar course. In 1790 he married Hannah Powell, of Lanesboro, and came to Cornwall and took up his residence, and remained there four years. In 1794 he removed to New Haven and bought the farm now owned by Edward S. Dana, and somewhat later built the hand- some and commodious residence which was destroyed by fire in 1865. About 1830 he sold his farm to his son Calvin, and built the house and store on the corner at the village, now owned by Caroline Eaton, where he resided until his death, January 9, 1858, aged ninety-one years. He had three sons and four daughters, who reached maturity - Wait, jr., Calvin, Miles P., Laura, Lorinda, Aurelia, and Huldana. Laura and Lorinda married and lived in town, as else- where stated. Huldana married William G. Henry, of Bennington, who re- moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and afterward to Detroit, and she died in 1880. Her daughter is the wife of General R. A. Alger, the present governor of Mich- igan. Aurelia married P. M. Henry, of Bennington, a prominent citizen of that town, who about 1865 removed to Geneva, N. Y., where they still reside. Miles P. Squier, D. D., was graduated at Middlebury College and entered the ministry. He was a pioneer preacher in western New York, held services in a barn in a settlement which has since enlarged to be the city of Buffalo, and did missionary work in various other places; was for many years professor in Be- loit College, Wisconsin, where he endowed a chair in mental and moral phil- osophy, and finally located in Geneva, N. Y., where he died in 1866. He was an able and scholarly writer, and the author of several religious works. Wait,

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

jr., removed to Michigan and established a colony at a place which took the name of Vermontville. Calvin Squier, who was born April 4, 1795, and always resided on the farm where he was born, was a highly respected citizen, a man who took great interest in social, religious, and educational matters, and lent his influence and used his means to strengthen and uphold whatever would tend to benefit and improve society. He was for many years a magistrate, and deacon of the Congregational Church. He died May 6, 1880, having reared a large family, but three of whom survive - Mary, widow of Edward S. Dana; Mar- tha, wife of D. M. Hill, of Pasadena, Cal., and David Henry, who lives on Town Hill. Another son, George W., graduated at Middlebury College in 1858, and was preparing for professional life, but died suddenly in 1864.

Edward S. Dana purchased the farm of Calvin Squier in the spring of 1877. He was born at Cornwall April 27, 1834, and was the son of Austin Dana, who was for forty years a prominent citizen, farmer, and town officer of Corn- wall, and who died in 1870. His mother was Susan (Gale) Dana, daughter of General Somers Gale, of Cornwall, who was a prominent military man in the early part of the century, and served as major under General Strong at the battle of Plattsburgh in 1814, in command of the Vermont yvolunteers. Mr. Dana married a daughter of Deacon Calvin Squier September II, 1861, and for ten years thereafter held official position at Washington, D. C., as clerk and examiner-in-chief in the U. S. Pension Office, and as assistant clerk of the U. S. House of Representatives. Returning to Cornwall in 1871, he held the office of selectman four years, and other town offices, and in 1874 was elected to the Legislature, removing to New Haven in 1877. In 1880 he was elected to the Vermont Senate. He has been for several years president of the board of trust- ees of Beeman Academy, and in 1885 was appointed town clerk. He has been frequently called upon to preside over public meetings, having been twelve times elected moderator of town meetings and often chosen chairman of politi- cal assemblages. He devoted considerable attention to literary matters, and had the largest private library in the county.1

David Henry Squier, son of Calvin, married in 1859 Anna Loomis of Champlain, N. Y., and resided there for several years. In 1865 he purchased of Dr. G. R. Sanborn the place where he now lives. He has held various town offices, and is at present one of the selectmen.

Within the extended and somewhat diversified area of territory lying be- tween the railroad and Otter Creek, and which has to a considerable degree become isolated from the rest of the town in its business, religious, and social relations, the Wrights have long been important factors. Samuel S. Wright is a magistrate and first selectman, and owns 600 acres of land. Daniel H. Wright owns 300 acres, and Caleb Wright 220 acres. These large farms are

1 Mr. Dana had nearly finished the history of New Haven for this work, when he was called from earth on the 24th of February, 1886.

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TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.

prudently and carefully managed, making excellent returns to their owners. Daniel Wright was born in New Marlboro, Mass., February 4, 1780. He was the third son of Ebenezer Wright, who was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1752. He married Rebecca Stannard, and she became the mother of fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to be more than forty years old. In 1784 Eb- enezer Wright came with his family - then comprising the wife and five chil- dren - to Weybridge, Vt., and located on the farm now occupied by Edwin S. Wright, where they resided during life. She died in 1794 and he in 1832, and both were buried on the farm in Weybridge. Daniel spent his minority at home and in the adjoining town of Addison, except a year, more or less, passed with his grandfather, Caleb Wright, at Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y. March 25, 1802, he was married to Bathsheba Frost, of Cornwall, Vt. She was born in Williamstown, Mass., May 18, 1781. They commenced business life together in 1802 on a small farm lying between the farm of his father and that of the late Samuel Child. He cleared the land and built the first dwelling house thereon, and the same is still standing. He lived on that place five years, then purchased of Dr. Benjamin Bullard the farm on the west side of the river near the "Reef bridge " in Weybridge, and occupied the same until 1820, when he removed to New Haven and purchased the farm where S. S. Wright now resides, and occupied it until his death, September II, 1866. He was at the battle of Plattsburgh, in Captain Silas Wright's company, and died fifty-two years from that historic day. His wife survived him, and died in October, 1869. He was a man of more than ordinary native ability, but the lack of an early education prevented the development of his real mental strength. He was a successful farmer and financier, and left a competency to his family. He was noted for his liberality toward educational and benevolent institutions, especially in aiding and building up the Baptist and Methodist Church edifices in his neighborhood, as also the Congregational Church in Weybridge, of which he was a lifelong member.

His family consisted of seven sons and one daughter, the latter becoming the wife of John Child, late of Weybridge, and dying in that town in July, 1843, aged thirty-five years. One of the sons died in infancy, the others are still living. The eldest, Alanson L., born August 4, 1803, married Delight Hastings, of Greenfield, Mass., spent a few years on the farm on the river in Weybridge, and in 1835 purchased a valuable farm in St. Albans, Vt., and became a wealthy farmer ; he subsequently sold the farm and made a home in the adjoining town of Swanton, where he now resides. Daniel H., born Au- gust 9, 1805, married Betsey Calkins, of Waltham, March 14, 1827. Caleb Wright, born February 13, 1810, married Harriet Rockwood, of Bristol, No- vember 1, 1831. Samuel S., born December 4, 1822, married Wealthy E. Wright February 2, 1841. All reside in New Haven, have reared families, and all are prosperous farmers. Emerson R., born April 10, 1815, was a grad- 35

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

uate of Middlebury College in the class of 1838; he studied law in the office of E. D. Barber, was admitted to the bar of Addison county, and practiced law several years; was postmaster in Middlebury during the administration of James K. Polk, and again in that of Franklin Pierce ; he married Clara A. Pond, of Addison, January 1, 1845, and resides in Middlebury, Vt. William Silas, born January 6, 1819, married Lucy C. Phillips, of Pittsford, Vt., resided with his parents at the homestead until the decease of his father in 1866, when he purchased a farm in Waltham, Vt., where he now resides. He was repre- sentative from Waltham in the General Assembly in 1874 and '75, and at the present time is one of the associate judges of Addison County Court, by ap- pointment of the governor.

Ezra C. Smith, son-in-law of D. H. Wright, lives near him, but formerly lived at New Haven Mills. He has filled various town offices, and was in the Legislature of 1870.

Samuel Chalker, from Saybrook, Conn., located in 1790 upon the farm now owned by Elizabeth, Catharine, and Charlotte Chalker. Daniel E. Chalker, his son, born there in 1801, died in 1863. The sisters above named success- fully manage the large farm of 440 acres.

Rev. Ward Bullard, brother of Dr. Cullen Bullard, was born in Weybridge in 1810. He spent his earlier years on his father's farm in New Haven, fitted for college and was graduated from Middlebury in 1834. He was licensed to preach the gospel by a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and entered the Christian ministry about 1838. He was stationed at various places in Ver- mont and New York, and labored with considerable success several years ; but the state of his health and other influences induced him to suspend public labors, and he came back to New Haven, purchased a part of the old homestead, and there spent twenty years or more of his life, and died in 1880. He was a deep thinker and fine writer, and was often called from his retirement to preach in the pulpits of neighboring towns. He was superintendent of common schools several years, and represented New Haven in the General Assembly in 1866 and '67. Dr. Cullen Bullard was born in Weybridge December 4, 1806. He was the eldest son of Dr. Benjamin Bullard, who came from Massachusetts and commenced the practice of medicine in Weybridge and vicinity, probably about the year 1800. In 1807 he removed to Massena, N. Y., but returned after a year's absence and located on a farm bought of Enoch Sprague in New Haven, a short distance north of the Reef bridge, but continued the practice of his profession until his decease in 1828. Dr. Cullen, then a recent graduate of a medical college, immediately commenced the business of his father, and was the leading physician in the west part of New Haven and adjoining towns more than fifty years. He was an excellent nurse, a skillful physician and sur- geon. He died suddenly of heart disease at the family homestead in New Haven January 2, 1882, deeply lamented by a community which he had long

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and faithfully served. In politics Dr. Bullard was a pronounced Democrat ; in religion, a zealous and earnest Methodist. Too generous in his habits, he failed to accumulate a competency like many of his profession, but made am- ple provision for his wife, who survives him.

Josiah Clark, born in Lebanon, Windsor county, Vt., in 1757, came to New Haven about 1790, locating on the "west side" upon the old homestead, which has never since been owned outside of the Clark family. The farm was then a swamp, supposed to be a worthless tract of land ; but which, by perseverance, has been reclaimed, and is now a productive farm. Mr. Clark married Lucy Ball, had a family of three children, Joel T., Ira, and Laura, and died June 17, 1835. Joel T. married Amy Sprague and located in Waltham, where he be- came a prominent man, while Ira remained on the old homestead, and had four children who arrived at maturity, one of whom, Norman, graduated from Mid- dlebury College, and subsequently from the New Hampton Theological Insti- tute. One, Almon, afterward came into possession of the old homestead, and was the father of three children, Huldah, Ira W., and Edwin A., only one of whom, Ira W., now survives. The widow of Almon still lives on the home- stead.

Nathaniel H. French, of Trumbull, Conn., came to New Haven in 1789, settling on the farm now owned by Charles W. Mason. He served through the War of 1812 and died in 1851, aged ninety-two. His son Nathaniel died in 1885, aged eighty-four years, at the home of his son, William N. The latter has been considerably interested in breeding Merino sheep, and recently in rearing fine poultry, including the bronze turkey, which weighs from twenty to thirty pounds when dressed. He married Mary Dorson, of Franklin.

James Thompson came from Salisbury, Conn., in 1794 and settled on the farm now owned by Hiram Wheeler; a few years later he removed to the brick house recently occupied by his son James, where he died in 1842 ; James, jr., died in 1885. Hiram and Alfred Thompson of this family are now resi- dents of this town. Alfred J. lives on the place for many years owned by Peleg Fisher, south part of the village, and married a sister of Dr. E. F. Preston.

Ira Ward, a veteran of the War of 1812, and an early settler in Waltham, came to town and located on the farm now owned by Hiram Wheeler in 1820, where he remained until 1837, when he removed to the farm he now occupies with his son George W. Ward. At the age of eighty-eight years he is still vigorous, and has lived with his present wife about sixty-five years. George W. married Sarah Jane Chase, and is a thrifty farmer and breeder of fine stock. He with his brother, Henry W., are the only children now in town of Ira Ward's large family.

Charles W. Mason was born in Potsdam, N. Y., but since he was thirteen years old has resided mostly at his present home, which was the home of his

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

mother before her marriage. He has been extensively engaged in the breed- ing and sale of Merino sheep for twenty-seven years past, his flock much of the time numbering one hundred or more. He has shipped two thousand five hun- dred Merino sheep to western New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois since 1875. He has also sent about nine thousand to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. His father, Lawrence S. Mason, married Sarah French, daughter of Nathaniel H. French; she was born on this farm, and died here in 1879. Charles W. was married to a daugh- ter of Jabez and Helen (Ward) Rogers ; they have five children ; one, Hattie, is a student of Amherst, Mass .; Nellie, a graduate of Beeman, is now in Pots- dam, N. Y. Andrew J. Mason, the oldest son of Lawrence S. and Sarah (French) Mason, married Ann Ward, and lives on the farm that was the family home of the Hickocks. He is a farmer, and breeder of registered sheep. He was one of the three-years volunteers of the last war, and was enfeebled from hardship and exposure. His son, Fred C., is running a sheep ranch in Colorado.

E. and I. M. Knowles, two brothers, own 1,200 acres of land, 150 head of young stock, sixty cows, and are extensive breeders of all kinds of fine stock. Ezra resides in Monkton ; Ira M., in the north part of the town. Near them live Erastus C. Peck and his son Warren, whose homes are near each other.

Ira Ward, who was previously spoken of, celebrated his ninetieth birthday on the 9th of April, 1886. There were four generations present. Mrs. Ward is in her eighty-eighth year. Ira came to town in 1820, and in 1837 located on the farm where he now lives. He, however, many years since gave up its management to his son, G. W. Ward, who married Sarah Jane Chase, who, with three children, resides under the same roof.

New Haven Mills, a post-village located in the southeastern part of the town, on the New Haven River, contains, aside from its manufacturing inter- ests, one church, one school-house, and about twenty dwellings. At an early date there was quite a village and considerable manufacturing here. A saw-mill, wagon shop, carding-machine, cooper shop, and tannery were in op- eration at the lower village. The tannery was built by a Mr. Pier, and the carding-machine and trip-hammer shop by Mr. Hendee. At the upper village, three-quarters of a mile distant, was the grist-mill and saw-mill run by D. P. Nash, and the clothier's shop by Othniel Jewett, and a tannery, shoe shop and store by Henry S. Walker. Barzillai Brooks carried on blacksmithing, and Mr. Nash had a distillery. At a later date a woolen factory was in operation at the Mills, which was last operated by Edward P. Thayer. The building is still standing, and is the same one run by Othniel Jewett. The grist-mill was burned down many years ago and never rebuilt. The saw-mill was operated until about 1868, and by H. O. Gifford & Co. last. P. M. Landon has a but- ter-factory here which was started in 1885. It will be noted that almost all

A.LITTLE

Du Ward

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TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.

of the former manufacturing interests of New Haven have become things of the past - wiped out of existence by the active competition of more favored localities.

Of the settlers and residents in the vicinity of the Mills may be mentioned William Lampson, who settled on East street about 1800. Curtis M. Lamp- son was born here September 21, 1806. He attended the district school and built the fires, receiving the ashes therefrom as his reward. When about sev- enteen he joined his brother William, a fur trader in Canada, who was con- nected in some way with the Hudson Bay Company. He traveled among the Indians and hunters of British America, and acquired valuable knowledge of the fur trade. He went to New York and in the employ of John Jacob Astor's agent, and other dealers, went repeatedly to London with cargoes of fur. In 1830 he established himself in London in the fur business. His success was wonderful, and he soon had the largest depot for peltry in Europe. He accumulated an immense fortune, reckoned by millions of pounds sterling. He was the special friend of George Peabody, the American banker, who died at his house. He was very active in aiding Cyrus W. Field in laying the first At- lantic cable. For this he received the honor of baronetcy from Queen Vic- toria November 13, 1866, in acknowledgment of his distinguished services. With immense wealth he was very charitable. He remembered the early days of his own poverty, and never turned away his face from any poor man. Mr. Lampson was in America for the last time in 1857, when he visited the home of his early youth. He gave eight thousand dollars in 1868 for the erection of a fine school-house at the Mills, and furnished it with a handsome library of nearly one thousand volumes, selected by himself. He died March 12, 1885.

Colonel David Phelps Nash was born in Connecticut in 1775, and came to New Haven in 1793 or '94, and purchased land on the river and kept a store about one and one-half miles below the Mills. The farm of David P. Nash was purchased of Grant Prime, and formerly owned by Justus Sherwood, the Tory, whose lands were confiscated when he fled to Canada. Not long after he pur- chased the water privilege at the Mills, and from that time was largely inter- ested in the grist-mill, carding-machine, plaster-mill, saw-mill, and forge; was also largely engaged in farming. He was married in 1804 to Elizabeth Wil- cox, of Connecticut ; he built one of the largest and best houses in town, in which he died in 1852. He was colonel of militia in 1812, and was at the bat- tle of Plattsburgh. He twice represented the town in the Legislature, and was known through the State as a man of great business ability, and liberal to a fault. His son, Hon. Samuel P. Nash, is the only surviving child of a family of ten children. He married Mary S. Munger, who died in 1883, at the home of their only son, Edward P. Nash, of Salisbury, where Mr. S. P. Nash now resides. One daughter died some years since, and Jennie Nash, the remaining one, has been a teacher in Hoosick Falls for some years. Hon. Samuel P. Nash was senator in 1858-59, and held other offices.

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 64

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