USA > Vermont > Addison County > History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 68
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Calice Bessette's carriage and wagon factory is the prominent business in- terest of the town. The business was established by Eleazer Abbey, father of Gideon Abbey, in 1825, who conducted it until Mr. Bessette succeeded him, May 15, 1860. Business increased rapidly with the latter and was flourishing when, December 31, 1869, the buildings took fire and were entirely consumed, together with the stock and tools they contained, causing a loss of $10,000 . over and above the insurance, which was only $1,800. The factory was soon
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
rebuilt, however, and business resumed, which has increased till Mr. Bessette now employs twelve men, and does an annual business of about $20,000, in the manufacture and repair of all kinds of wagons, carriages, and sleighs.
First National Bank of Orwell, located at Orwell, Addison county, was or- ganized in 1863, with a capital of $50,000, which was increased in 1865 to $100,000. It succeeded to the Farmers' Bank of Orwell, which was organized in 1832, and went into liquidation in 1863. The first board of directors of First National Bank were as follows: John L. Hammond, G. A. Austin, E. S. Catlin, Marvin North, and M. C. Rice; cashier, H. C. Holley. John L. Ham- mond was president of the bank from its organization in 1863 up to his de- cease, in February, 1882. He was succeeded by Virtulon Rich, who has been president since that time. Officers elected at annual meeting in January, 1886, are as follows: Virtulon Rich, T. A. Hammond, Cyrus Jennings, William B. Wright, and C. E. Bush, directors; V. Rich, president ; T. A. Hammond, vice-president; C. E. Bush, cashier, and J. S. Wilcox, assistant cashier. Cash- ier and assistant cashier have held their positions since 1870 and 1872, respect- ively. The bank has paid in dividends up to January 1, 1886, $160,000, and has a surplus and undivided profit account of $110,000. The real estate of the bank consists of a substantial brick banking house and dwelling combined, which was rebuilt and enlarged in 1879. It is provided with a fire-proof vault and one of Diebold's largest and best burglar-proof safes, with Sargent's time- lock.
The Vermont Investment and Guarantee Company, of Orwell, Vt., was or- ganized under act 193 of the laws of 1884, to succeed to the real estate loan- ing business of Hammond, Bush & Co., and makes Western farm mortgages a specialty. It has a paid-up capital of $150,000, in addition to which its stock- holders are made personally liable beyond their stock for an amount equal to the par value thereof. Among its stockholders are a number of prominent banking and business men of the State. At the annual election, January I, 1886, the following directors and officers were elected: Cyrus Jennings, Virtu- lon Rich, T. A. Hammond, William B. Wright, George Briggs, T. M. Chap- man, and C. E. Bush, directors; Cyrus Jennings, president; William B. Wright, vice-president; C. E. Bush, treasurer, and D. L. Wells, secretary ; Hon. E. J. Ormsbee, Brandon, and T. A. Hammond, and J. S. Wilcox, Or- well, are trustees for holders of debentures.
The hotel here was built by Jeremiah Boynton, father of the present pro- prietor, in 1816. He came from Pittsfield, Mass., in 1806, and built a log house about a mile and a half east of the village, on the present A. C. Young's farm, and subsequently moved about half a mile west of that location, and later to a lot opposite the present hotel. About 1813 he sold to Dr. Baker and opened a small tavern just east of where the bank now is, where he re- mained till he built the prese. t hotel, in 1816, which he kept till about 1852.
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TOWN OF ORWELL.
The present proprietor, Joshua W. Boynton, born September 16, 1808, began to assist his father in the management of the house about 1842, and has been sole proprietor since 1852, making him probably the oldest hotel proprietor in the State of Vermont. He was in the mercantile business several years pre- vious to 1842.
There are two other post-offices in the town, North Orwell and Chipman's Point. The former is at the station of the Addison Branch of the Central Vermont Railroad in the northern part of the town, and C. D. Abell is the postmaster ; the office was not established until after the railroad was built, about ten years ago. The latter is on the lake shore, where is gathered a small hamlet of about eight dwellings, a store, and hotel. The office was established about 1830, W. Chipman being the first postmaster.
The Orwell grist-mill -James F. Lillie, proprietor - which we have men- tioned on a previous page, is located about a mile west of the village. It is operated by water power, has three run of stones, and does custom work.
East Orwell Cheese Factory, located in the eastern part of the town, was built by a stock company in 1867, and is now operated by I. T. Branch.
Orwell Cheese Factory, located in the western part of the town, was built by a stock company in 1866, and is now operated by W. O. Ray.
The Professions .- There was no regular physician in the town until the year 1788. In the early part of that year Dr. James Benedict came into town. He was thorough-bred in his profession, and a very amiable and worthy man, as well as an active and influential member of the Congregational Church, which was about that time organized in town. He died in 1794, much la- mented.
Dr. Luman Pettibone, who resided where Dr. Gale now lives, came into town in the year 1792. He also was a very respectable man, and accounted a skillful physician. Though not possessed of as much medical science as Dr. Benedict, he was nevertheless thought to be a good practitioner. He entered into co-partnership with Thomas Scovell and Jabez Warren about the year 1795, in the mercantile business; but they were not successful and the enter- prise proved a failure. Dr. Pettibone removed to the north part of the State of New York in the year 1803.
Dr. Pettibone was succeeded by Dr. James Q. McFarland, who came into town about the same time that Pettibone left; lived in the village for a time, then moved to where Charles Cook now lives. He was a skillful physician and an able surgeon. In the years 1818 and '19, he represented the town in the State Legislature. He died in 1820.
Dr. Lemuel Wicker came into town about the same time with Dr. McFar- land, and settled near the lake. He was a thorough-bred physician, but never acquired an extensive practice. Dr. Nathaniel Shuril succeeded Dr. McFar- land in 1808. He absconded from the town under cover of the night to save 37
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
himself from arrest. He removed to Western New York, and has since died. He was in town eight or nine years.
Dr. Artemas Robbins came into town about the year 1808. He was a man of much science in his profession, and had acquired a great stock of general knowledge. After staying several years he removed to Rockingham, in this State.
Dr. Ira Bascom, a graduate of Middlebury College, a profound scholar and thorough-bred physician, and a native of the town, after having practiced sev- eral years in Granville, in the State of New York, located himself in Orwell in 1819, and offered his services in his profession, but soon after was seized with a pulmonary affection, which soon incapacitated him for actual business, and to which he fell a victim in 1820. He was both a scholar and a gentleman, and died much lamented. He lived where C. Bessette now resides.
Dr. Isaac Humphrey came into town from Goshen, Conn., about 1810. He continued in town nine or ten years, but did not practice much, except among his relatives. He was also a good mechanic, and employed himself mostly at his trade. He removed to Western New York.
The latter was succeeded by Dr. Joel Barber, Dr. Cushman, and Dr. Gale, who is still in practice here.
Dr. Nathan Gale has been here since October II, 1826. His father, Phin- eas Gale, was one of the early settlers of Panton, and subsequently removed with his son Somers to Bridport, and thence, in 1807, to Cornwall, where he died in January, 1826. Nathan was born on the old farm in Bridport July 30, 1801, studied medicine with Dr. Jonathan B. Allen, of Middlebury, attended lectures at Castleton three terms, graduating in 1825. He married Esther, daughter of James and Mary Conkey, January 8, 1828. Mrs. Gale was born February 3, 1803, and is consequently now nearly eighty-four years of age.
Dr. Walter H. Vincent, the only other physician in town, was born in East Montpelier March 31, 1859, studied three years at the University of Vermont, and graduated from the University of New York March 4, 1884. He came here July 28, 1884.
For members of the legal profession the town has never been a favorite location. The first attorney that came into town with a view to settle was J. C. Thompson, a native of Connecticut. He came into town in 1812, but not meeting with such encouragement as satisfied him, he remained here about six months only, when he removed to Burlington, Vt., where he acquired a very respectable standing as an attorney. About three years after, Elijah Parker came into the town from Brandon, and remained three or four years, but did not succeed in obtaining much business. In 1823 James Breckenridge, an at- torney, made a short stay of a few months here. During his stay he managed to get into his hands something of an amount of business for collection, with the avails of which, when collected, he absconded. He was succeeded about
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TOWN OF ORWELL.
two years after by Robert Holly, a very worthy and respectable man. He remained about two years, possessed fair talents, and was a very good lawyer, but did not find sufficient business to induce him to stay longer. The town now has no lawyer.
Public Schools. - The town was originally divided into nine school districts. As early as 1792 every district had a school-house, where early instruction was given. It is not known that a single individual has ever been raised in Orwell from its first settlement to the present time, who has not been taught to read and write ; and if any have not received a fair, common school education it has been the result of his own stupidity, for it was among the earliest efforts of the settlers to provide and foster means for educating the rising generation. The town now has ten school districts.
ECCLESIASTICAL. .
The first religious society organized in the First Baptist Church of Orwell, December 21, 1787. Its first pastor, Rev. Elnathan Phelps, was the settled minister in the town. Their church building, located in the eastern part of the town and built in 1810, was sold to A. P. Cutting June 30, 1881.
The Congregational Church was organized in 1789, with seven or eight members, viz .: Ebenezer Hurlburd and wife, Stephen Spaulding and wife, David Leonard, and James Benedict. The early records of the church were probably written on sheets of paper, and have been lost, so that the exact date of the organization is not known. Rev. Mr. Harwood, of Pittsford, was present at the organization ceremonies. The first settled minister was Rev. Sylvanus Chapin, of Belchertown, Mass., who studied divinity with Rev. Eben Burroughs, D. D., Hanover, N. H. Mr. Chapin was ordained and installed pastor of the Congregational Church in Orwell May 30, 1791 ; dismissed May 26, 1801. In 1798 there was a general revival of religion. From 1801 to 1808 the church was without a settled pastor, enjoying in the mean while stated supply. Rev. Mason Knapen was called to become its pastor March 22, 1808, and was installed on the first day of June following. There had been connected with the church at the time of his installation one hundred and eleven members. In 1810 a revival of great power was enjoyed, and ninety persons, as the fruits of it, were added to the church. Mr. Knapen was dis- missed August 24, 1819. Rev. Ira Ingraham was installed pastor June 14, 1820, and was dismissed at his own request October 23, 1822. A general re- vival was also enjoyed in the summer of 1821. Rev. Sherman Kellogg was installed pastor March 14, 1826. In 1829 another revival was enjoyed. Mr. Kellogg was dismissed April 13, 1832. Rev. Seth Sacket supplied the pulpit several months in the interim which followed. Rev. Henry Morris was installed pastor October 3, 1834, and was dismissed October 4, 1841. In the winter of 1834-5 a revival of great interest was enjoyed. Rev. Rufus S. Cushman was
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
installed pastor December 21, 1843. There were seasons of unusual religious interest in 1847 and 1855, also a good degree of interest in 1861. Mr. Cush- man was dismissed May 7, 1862, at which time seven hundred and twenty-two persons had been connected with the church, of which number one hundred and twenty-one were added during his pastorate. Rev. Lewis A. Austin was ordained and installed pastor June 25, 1862, and was dismissed August 4, 1868. In the winter of 1867 there was an extensive revival, and on March 3 forty-one persons united with the church. Rev. M. L. Severance commenced his pastorate January 1, 1869, and was installed February 27 following. Re- ligious interest was manifest in the years 1870 and 1873, and again in 1877. Mr. Severance was dismissed December 28, 1880. Rev. S. F. Calhoun was installed pastor December 28, 1880. There have been connected with the church (January I, 1881) 874 persons. The church has had three houses of worship. The first, a framed structure, stood down in front of the present town hall, a rude edifice with seats of slabs, widely in contrast with houses of worship at the present day. The second was built by Deacon Paul Spooner in 1804-5, and stood a little south and east of the present edifice. It was the same size as the brick church, was finished off with box pews, mostly square, gallery ex- tending on three sides, and a high pulpit. The present brick edifice was built at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, and in December, 1843, was dedi- cated to the Lord.
St. Paul's Catholic Church of Orwell was organized by Rev. Joseph Doug- ley, the first pastor, in 1860, with forty-five members. The church building was erected the same year, a brick structure capable of accommodating 200 persons with seating room, and at a cost of $1,500, the whole property being now valued at $2,000. The society has at present forty-five members, with Rev. Father E. D. Coffey, pastor.
CHAPTER XXIX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PANTON.
P ANTON is one of the lake shore towns of Addison county, lying in the northern part, and is bounded on the north by Ferrisburgh and Ver- gennes ; east by Waltham and Vergennes ; south by Addison, and west by the lake. In its natural features the surface is somewhat low and quite level, a heavy clay soil predominating and furnishing excellent grazing lands ; good crops of wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, corn, and potatoes are also raised. The only streams of much importance are Otter Creek, which forms a portion of the eastern boundary of the town, and Dead Creek, a sluggish stream, bor-
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TOWN OF PANTON.
dered by low, marshy lands, which flows through the central part of the town, from south to north.
Panton was chartered by New Hampshire on the 3d of November, 1761, to James Nichols and sixty-three others, who were mostly citizens of Litch- field county, Conn. These grantees supposed they were acquiring title to 25,000 acres of land, "extending seven miles west and six miles south from the lower falls of the Great Otter Creek."1 It was learned, however, when the first survey was made, that a tract embracing the amount of land named in the charter would extend a long distance into the lake. It is known that some effort was made by the proprietors to obtain other lands in place of those thus lost, as hereafter shown.
Proprietors' Records .- The first meeting of the proprietors of which there is existing record was held at Canaan, Conn., on the 20th of July, 1762, at Lieutenant Daniel Horseford's. At this meeting Isaac Peck was chosen clerk, and Captain Josiah Dean moderator. Isaac Peck, John Clothier, and Abra- ham Jackson were appointed a committee to proceed to lay out the township of Panton, " in the province of New Hampshire."
At a meeting held on the second Tuesday of October, of that year, it was voted that the rights of those who had not paid their rates should be sold at public vendue.
On the first Tuesday of November, 1762, it was voted that Captain Dean go as "agent to Portsmouth." Voted, also, "that each man's lot that does not join the lake may join it, deducting the same out of the next division."
The following from the records of a meeting held on the 25th of April, 1763, at Canaan, explains in part the efforts of the proprietors to recover the full number of acres of land demanded in their charter, to which we have alluded. We quote as follows: "Captain Josiah Dean was chosen agent to go to Portsmouth, and there make petition of the survey of s'd township of Panton, to the governor of New Hampshire, or of the proper officer for s'd re- turn to be made, and, whereas there is not room between Otter Creek and Lake Champlain for s'd township of Panton, to be laid agreeable to the charter there- of, by reason the Lake and Otter Creek at the northern end of s'd Township are found on a mensuration to be nearer together than were supposed to be by the Governor of New Hampshire when he granted the charter of s'd Township-Therefore the s'd Josiah Dean at s'd meeting was appointed (when
1 With reference to these boundaries the following extracts from the charter are pertinent : " Begin- ning at a tree marked standing on the west side of Otter Creek, so called, near the head of the Falls in said Creek, from thence running west seven miles, then south six miles, then turning off and running east to Otter Creek afores'd, then down the creek as that runs to the bounds first above mentioned, then beginning again at the end of the south line aforesaid which in the grant of the town of Weybridge is called the southwesterly corner of Panton and is the northwesterly corner of Weybridge and from thence running west to Lake Champlain, thence northerly by the shore of Lake Champlain, thence northerly by the shores of said lake to a stake and stones there standing in the side of the seven miles west line aforesaid."
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
he makes return of the survey of s'd township) to lay the Premises before his Honor the Governor of New Hampshire, and make application in Behalf of the Proprietors of s'd township of Panton, for a suitable compensation in some of the ungranted lands adjoining or elsewhere if it cannot be had adjoining, and to endeavor to obtain the same for s'd Proprietors in the best manner he can on Acct of lands falling short in the place specified by charter," etc.
The military exigencies of the times under consideration are shown by the following extract from the records of a meeting held October 25, 1763 : " Voted, that Captain Samuel Elmore proceed to Gen'l Amherst and endeavor to obtain a Pass for any of the Proprietors of s'd township to come and go to and from s'd township as Occation shall require for the settlement thereof."
It appears that during the year 1763 little was done toward the settlement of the town or by the proprietors; but the following year was an important one, as it witnessed the first attempts toward permanent settlement. At a meeting held on the second Tuesday of December, 1764, it was voted "That whereas M'ssrs. James Nichols, Griswold and Barns, David Vallance, Timothy Harris, Joseph Wood, Capt. Samuel Elmore, Wm. Patterson, Elijah Smith, Za- dock Everest, Amos Chipman, Sam'l Chipman, &c., to the number of 15 did go the last Summer to the Township of Panton near Crown Point, and did there build, clear and fence and do the duty on 15 rights in s'd Township pur- suant to a vote of the Proprietors of s'd Township convened on the first Mon- day of Aprell, 1764, as on record, but did not finish and compleat the same, Voted that the s'd James Nichols, Griswold and Barns, &c. be allowed till the last day of June next to finish and compleat the s'd Duty, and make the same evident to the proprietors."
This conclusively fixes the date of the first steps towards permanent settle- ment of the town. In April of the same year, at a meeting held in Canaan, the proprietors took action for the building of that urgent necessity to the pi- oneer, the first saw-mill. The record says, "Voted, that Capt. Samuel Elmore, David Griswold, esq., and Mr. Simon Smith, all of Sharon, be a Committee to agree with Mr. Isaac Peck, Jeremiah Griswold, and Daniel Barns, jun., relative to their building a Saw-mill on the falls in Otter Creek, at the northeast corner of Panton, and empowered to dispose of a convenient privilege; and further, the s'd Persons, (viz.) Peck, Griswold & Barns, may have liberty to lay out 150 acres of land adjoining to s'd mill place in a suitable form &c., reserving to s'd Proprietors convenient highways to s'd mill place. Then s'd Committee are to deliver to them one good set of sawmill Irons at Fort George as soon as they want them on the cost of the Proprietors." This saw-mill was begun that year, but not finished until the next fall, and was the same mill of which they were dispossessed by Reid, as fully detailed in Judge Smith's history of Vergennes, in later pages of this work.
It is probable that little was accomplished in the way of clearing land in
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TOWN OF PANTON.
the town during 1765, but some of the acts of the proprietors may be noted : At a meeting on the first Tuesday in December it was voted " that a highway Ten rods wide be laid out in the Township of Panton north and south through the center of the Home lots or as near the centre as the land will admit of ac- cording to the direction and best judgment of the Committee after named, to be laid out through the whole length of the town."
Jedediah Ferris, Joseph Pangborn, and Peter Ferris were chosen a commit- tee to lay out this broad road, and were directed to " clear a road in s'd high- way one rod wide."
At the same meeting it was voted that Joseph Pangborn have the right to build a grist-mill on the falls on Otter Creek, " with the privileges for horses to pass and repass to and from the mill, provided that he build a good grist-mill and have it fit to go by the first day of May, 1767."
The following record of a vote shows that several men intended to, and probably did, come to the town early in 1766: On the second Tuesday in March "Timothy Harris, Joseph Pangborn, Jedediah Ferris, Zadock Everest and David Vallance were chosen a committee to Fence the whole town of Pan- ton into one common field, to do it immediately, and as soon as they get there in the spring."
Referring again to the action of Colonel Reid and his associates from New York, in taking possession of the mills, the following vote of the proprietors passed at a meeting held at the house of David Bebee in Salisbury, Conn., is of interest : "Voted, that whereas, the Proprietors of Panton were engaged and zealous to settle and make improvements on s'd township, yet they have met with many discouragements and Hindrances which have obstructed and Re- tarded the Progress of settling, particularly the summer past, Gov. Moore's Proclamation, and from Col. David Wooster's obtaining a Patent from the Gov. of New York, that laps on s'd Township, and from his threatening the People, warning some off the Land, and harrassing one of them with a law suit, and also from Col. Reed's taking possession of the mill at the falls on Otter Creek which we have built, whereby the Progress of settlement of s'd Town- ship is greatly obstructed and the People terrified, therefore it is voted to choose a committee to join with the committees from other towns to prepare a petition to present to his Majesty's clemency that he will be pleased to confirm and ratify the original grant or charter given by Gov. Wentworth, and that he will be pleased to lengthen the time allowed in s'd charter for compleating the settlement of s'd Township to five or ten years longer, or any shorter time he shall please," etc. The committee named for this duty were Captain Samuel Elmore, Captain Charles Burrell, and Daniel Griswold.
In April, 1769, owing to the fact that those to whom the mill privilege had been granted had allowed Reid to dispossess them, the proprietors voted to re- sume possession of the privileges at the falls, and Samuel Elmore was appointed
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
agent to "enter in their names and take possession of s'd saw-mill," etc. Be- tween June 15 and July 15, 1772, Ethan Allen and his party dispossessed Reid and his agents; but the latter again took possession in the following summer, only to be again routed by Allen's men in August.
In the fall of 1773 the number of settlers in the town and the importance of its interests warranted the transfer of the proprietors' meetings hither, where they continued to be held for many years.
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