History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 82

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 82

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).

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CITY OF VERGENNES.

below, and a room over the store for a women's school and a Masonic hall. It is said that Miss Scisson did teach school there at one time and that the building was burned and the school moved across the street to a room in what is now the Fortin block. Since the establishment of the graded school in Ver- gennes in 1864 the public want in regard to schools seems to have been fully met and satisfied. The Bank of Vergennes, under a State charter granted in 1826, elected their officers March 1, 1827, choosing Thomas D. Hammond, Paris Fletcher, Samuel Strong, Belden Seymour, Benjamin Field, Fordyce Huntington, and Amos W. Barnum as directors. Barnum soon resigned and William Nash was elected in his place. Samuel Strong was made president, and William White cashier. The bank commenced discounting May 2, 1827, in a building on the present site of Bartley's tin shop, with a capital of $100,- 000. The same year a stone building was erected on the corner opposite the hotel for a store in front on Main street, and small banking room in rear, with a strong vault, the entrance to the bank from Green street and from the store. On May 14, 1865, the change was made from the old State Bank to the Na- tional Bank of Vergennes, and capital increased to $150,000. The twenty years' charter first taken was renewed in 1885. At present Carleton T. Stearns is president; Andrew Ross, cashier; Charles H. Strong, assistant cashier. The Farmers' National Bank was chartered May 25, 1880, with $50,000 capital, since increased to $75,000. Walter Scranton is president; D. Henry Lewis is cashier; S. W. Hindes, assistant cashier. The present banking house of the National Bank was erected in 1842.

Representatives from Vergennes .- Samuel Chipman, 1789; Jabez Fitch, 1790; Enoch Woodbridge, 1791 ; Gideon Spencer, 1795 ; Amos Marsh, 1796; Enoch Woodbridge, 1802 ; Amos Marsh, 1803 ; Samuel Strong, 1804; Thomas Byrd, 1806; John H. Sherrill, 1807; David Edmond, 1808; Amos W. Bar- num, 1810; E. D. Woodbridge, 1811; A. W. Barnum, 1812; David Edmond, 1813; E. D. Woodbridge, 1816; David Edmond, 1817; E. D. Woodbridge, 1818; William White, 1819; David Edmond, 1821; Edward Sutton, 1822; E. D. Woodbridge, 1824; A. W. Barnum, 1825; Noah Hawley, 1827; Philip C. Tucker, 1829; Belden Seymour, 1831 ; John H. Sherrill, 1832; E. D. Wood- bridge, 1834; Jahaziel Sherman, 1835 ; Belden Seymour, 1837; Fordyce Huntington, 1838; William T. Parker, 1840; John Pierpoint, 1841; E. D. Woodbridge, 1842 ; George W. Grandey, 1843; Villee Lawrence, 1845 ; Ed- ward Seymour, 1847; F. E. Woodbridge, 1849; George W. Grandey, 1850; F. E. Woodbridge, 1857; George W. Grandey, 1859; Edward Seymour, 1860; C. M. Fisher, 1862; William S. Hopkins, 1864; B. F. Goss, 1866; George W. Grandey, 1868; Paschal Maxfield, 1870; Walter G. Sprague, 1874; F. E. Woodbridge, 1876; Walter Scranton, 1878; G. F. O. Kimball, 1882; D. H. Lewis, 1884.

Mayors of Vergennes .- Enoch Woodbridge, 1794; Roswell Hopkins, 1796;

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Thomas Byrd, 1799; Roswell Hopkins, 1801; Thomas Byrd, 1802; Amos Marsh, 1807 ; Josias Smith, 1810; Samuel Strong, 1811; Smith Booth, 1815 ; David Edmond, 1819; Amos W. Barnum, 1824; John H. Sherrill, 1828; Bel- den Seymour, 1830; John D. Ward, 1833; Belden Seymour, 1836; Elliott Sherrill, 1838; Villee Lawrence, 1839; E. D. Woodbridge, 1842 ; Villee Law- rence, 1845 ; John Thompson, 1846; John Pierpoint, 1848; George W. Gran- dey, 1855; F. E. Woodbridge, 1861; George W. Grandey, 1864; John E. Roberts, 1867; George W. Grandey, 1871; John D. Smith, 1872; William S. Hopkins, 1875; F. E. Woodbridge, 1879; George W. Grandey, 1880; Joel H. Lucin, 1881 ; Charles E. Parker, 1884; N. J. McCuen, 1886.

Post-office in Vergennes, Addison county, Vt., established in 1792. Post- masters .- Alexander Brush, March 2, 1793; Josias Smith, August 10, 1793 ; Asa Strong, October 1, 1795 ; Samuel Chipman, April 1, 1799; William Fes- senden, April 1, 1802 ; John Wilcox, December 1, 1802; John Green, October I, 1808; Abel Tomlinson, April 1, 1811 ; Joseph Tomlinson, February 3, 1812 ; Abel Tomlinson, July 1, 1814; John H. Sherrill, January 29, 1816; William R. Bixbey, April 8, 1824; John Parker, July 29, 1845; Elijah W. Blaisdell, jr., May 23, 1849; Philip C. Tucker, May 24, 1853; George W. Grandey, April 1, 1861 ; John D. Smith, December 18, 1865 ; Hiram C. Johnson, April 21, 1869; George F. O. Kimball, July 16, 1885.

Mercantile Business .- Very many of the early business enterprises and the men who carried them on have already received mention in these pages. One of the older merchants of the city gives us the names of the following men who were in trade here about 1830-35 ; G. & W. T. Parker carried on mercantile business, and Villee Lawrence also, in his own building on the site of the pres- ent stone building. William R. Bixbey was in trade, and Onion & Morgan were located in a building now occupied by Mr. Haven. John B. Lovell traded where Kidder now is, and William H. White where Mr. McCuen is now in business. William T. Ward had a store on the west side. Harry B. Sey- mour manufactured and sold hats, and Samuel Sedgwick was the city tailor. A hotel was kept by Roswell Hawkins in the building now occupied by C. W. B. Kidder, and Thomas Stevens kept the old Stevens House in the building since known as the American House.

Coming down to merchants of later days and those of the present time, we may mention C. A. Booth, who served as clerk in 1836 for G. & W. T. Parker, where Lawrence Bartley's tin-shop now is. He began trade on his own account before 1850, first where N. J. McCuen is in trade. That block was built by William H. White. The stone building where Mr. Booth is now located was built by - Russell, and was known as Russell's block. In that store Will- iam R. Bixbey was the first merchant, and he sold out to Mr. Booth. The lat- ter began trade in his present location in 1877, and is now associated with his son, William W. Booth, who began as clerk for G. & W. T. Parker in 1863.

Fr.9 ª by HB Hall's Sms ITE J

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CITY OF VERGENNES.

Between then and the time of the formation of the present firm there were several changes which need not be further detailed. Their business is in hardware of all kinds. F. K. Haven has been in business here since about 1850, beginning where Charles Kidder is now located. After a short period in Albion, N. Y., he returned and opened trade where William Dalrymple now is. The firm was then Strong & Haven, Foster Strong being the partner. This continued until 1867, since which time Mr. Haven has been alone. He occupied his present store in 1855, and carries a stock of hats, caps, boots and shoes, furnishing goods, carpets, etc. C. E. Kidder began his general mercan- tile business in March, 1879, in the store now occupied by J. B. Husted. He removed to his present location in October, 1881, succeeding I. H. Smith & Co. Chamberlain & Co. (the firm comprising W. P. Chamberlain, Frank Huntress, and W. H. Patten) began the dry goods trade in 1879, and occupied their present site in October, 1885, succeeding George W. Ross, who had done a general business for a number of years. Lawrence Bartley occupies the store where a hardware and stove trade had been carried on for a good many years by M. J. Graves, Stewart & Baldwin, and J. N. Hawley. Mr. Bartley began in September, 1884. Smith & Ketchum (I. H. Smith and H. Ketchum) be- gan their furniture trade about 1872, succeeding Charles Adams on the same site. Charles Dennison began the sale of drugs and medicines in his present store in January, 1884, succeeding W. G. Sprague, one of the old druggists. His location is in the Dyer block, built and owned by J. M. Dyer, of Salisbury. J. B. Husted, merchant tailor and dealer in clothing, began business about the year 1842, first where G. W. Grandey's office now is. He removed to his present location when the block was built in 1867. F. H. Foss, who was formerly connected with the manufacture of shade rollers, as manager, began his present business in 1884, and carries a large stock of hardware, jewelry, books, stationery, etc. I. H. Donnelly has been engaged in merchant tailor- ing here since about 1878, coming from Keeseville, N. Y. E. C. Scott began the grocery and provision trade in Green street in 1873, and removed to his present store in 1880. O. C. Dalrymple has carried on a grocery and crockery trade since 1880, and occupied his present location in 1883. D. R. Young succeeded J. E. Young in the sale of drugs and medicines in 1882. The latter had been in business here since 1869. George E. Stone began business in selling boots and shoes and groceries, and dealing largely in produce in 1883, succeeding P. & M. T. Bristol ; they were in the trade many years. W. R. Dalrymple formerly sold groceries and crockery where O. C. Dalrymple is located, and began his present business in boots and shoes, hats and caps, in 1882. E. G. Norton succeeded J. N. Norton in the sale of feed and grain in I882. Robert Hudson began the sale of stoves and tinware on his present site in 1882. E. T. Barnard & Co. succeeded James J. Barnard in the manu- facture and sale of harness and saddlery in 1876. The latter had been in the business since 1862.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Banks .- The Farmers' National Bank was established in June, 1880, with a capital of $50,000, which was increased to $75,000 in 1885. The president is Walter Scranton; M. F. Allen, vice-president ; D. H. Lewis, cashier ; S. W. Hindes, assistant cashier. The directors are Walter Scranton, H. W. Le Roy, N. F. Dunshee, C. W. Read, M. F. Allen, and D. H. Lewis. The Bank of Vergennes was established in 1827 with a capital of $100,000; Samuel Strong was made its president, and William White cashier. The bank was located on the site occupied by N. J. McCuen until 1843, when it was removed to its present location. In 1865 the bank was rechartered as the National Bank of Vergennes, with a capital of $150,000. The charter was renewed in 1885 for twenty years. The present officers are as follows: C. T. Stevens, president; David Smith, vice-president; Andrew Ross, cashier ; Charles H. Strong, assistant cashier. The directors are Marshall Smith, Herrick Stevens, Thomas S. Drake, Russell T. Bristol, Joshua M. Dean, with the president and vice-president.

Manufactures .- In the face of the fact that Vergennes possesses a magnifi- cent water power, and the place would seem to be admirably situated for car- rying on extensive manufacturing operations, still industries of importance are less numerous to-day than they have been at times in the past. The causes that have brought about this state of affairs we shall not attempt to discuss ; but the inhabitants of the city feel the consequences keenly, at the same time that they cannot, or do not, successfully attempt to place the manufactures of Vergennes upon the high plane where they belong. Chief among the manu- facturing establishments of the present time is the National Horse Nail Com- pany, which was formed in the fall of 1868. It is an incorporated company, with Lawrence Barnes, of Burlington, as president ; D. H. Lewis, Vergennes, secretary and treasurer ; J. G. Hindes, manager. The buildings are owned by the Vergennes Water Power Company, an organization which was formed in 1866 and purchased the property known as the Vergennes Iron Company, with its water privilege, on the west side of the creek, and about eighty acres of land. Its purpose was to erect buildings as demanded and lease the water privileges to manufacturers. The buildings in use by the nail company were erected for their particular use. The company employs about fifty hands. In the large wooden building adjoining the nail works, the Flanders pump was formerly extensively manufactured by J. P. F. Flanders & Co. The business was closed about 1876 and removed to Burlington. G. W. Kendall carries on the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, in which business he has been en- gaged either alone or with partners since 1869; the business was at one time much larger than at present, and employed between thirty and forty men. Mr. Kendall occupies a building, owned by the Vergennes Water Power Com- pany, which is stocked with excellent machinery. Alden & Cotey (C. E. Al- den and L. C. Cotey) are also engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash and

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blinds, and bee-keepers' supplies, and are contractors and builders, which busi- ness they began in 1884, succeeding Erastus Daniels. This factory is also a part of the property of the Vergennes Water Power Company. The Ver- mont Shade Roller Manufacturing Company, located at the west end of the bridge, was established by George D. Wright and F. H. Foss, and W. and D. G. Crane in 1877, for the manufacture of shade rollers, slats, etc. In 1883 it was changed to a stock company, with W. Crane as president; Daniel Robin- son, vice-president ; A. G. Crane, treasurer. The capital is $60,000. The first buildings were burned, and the present ones erected in 1884. S. A. Tuttle is superintendent and one of the stockholders. The Island Grist-mill, located on the island at the head of the falls, stands on the site of the old Bradbury mill, which was burned in June, 1877. The mill is operated by N. G. Norton, who also carries on a lumber trade and handles the Syracuse chilled plow. I. H. Smith and Harvey Ketchum, under the firm style of Smith & Ketchum, began the manufacture of furniture at their present loca- tion in 1878. They bought out Holland & Parker and do a large business, employing twenty-five hands. Bartley, Fisher & Co. (Lawrence Bartley, J. G. Fisher, and John Fusha) began the manufacture of furniture in 1880. They succeeded Hayes, Fallardo & Parker, who manufactured doors, sash and blinds. The building occupied by them was erected by Wm. E. Green and John E. Roberts, for the Sampson Scale Company, which remained in business but a short time. F. M. Strong is engaged in the manufacture of wagon hubs and spokes, which business he has followed since about 1879, a part of the time with a partner. His business reaches $25,000 a year. Joseph Paradee and Napoleon Roy are carriage and wagon makers in the city, both of whom have been in the business for many years. Morris Dubuke and A. Graveline are blacksmiths here, the latter also manufacturing wagons.

Hotels. - The Stevens House stands upon a site that has almost from the earliest history of the city been devoted to hotel purposes, and a portion of the present structure dates back to about 1800. It has been many times enlarged and rebuilt, the brick portion having been added in 1848. The house is at present well managed by S. S. Gaines. What was for many years kept as the American House has been lately taken by G. W. Peck, who has established a livery in connection with the house.

Insurance. - J. S. Hickok does an extensive business in insurance, in which he has been engaged since 1875. He now represents the Ætna, of Hartford ; the Insurance Company of North America, Philadelphia ; Phoenix, of Hartford ; German American of New York; Springfield Fire and Marine; the Niagara of New York; Liverpool, London and Globe, and in life insurance the North- western and the Travelers.

W. G. Sprague began the insurance in 1884, and represents the Commer- cial Union of London ; Phoenix, of London ; Continental Fire, of New York ;

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the Vermont Mutual, of Montpelier; and in life insurance the Ætna, the State Mutual, of Worcester, Mass., and the Accident Insurance Company of North America at Montreal.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Congregational Church. - Of this church the Rev. Daniel C. Sanders wrote in 1795 as follows :

" Future successive ages may have a laudable curiosity to know the history of the beginning of this particular church of Christ, first established in the in- fant city of Vergennes. To gratify them the following remarks are submitted to the eye of the candid and inquisitive. The population of the place was rapid beyond the most sanguine calculations. In a very few years they had numbers to make a respectable congregation. Circumstances, obvious in a new, un- cultivated country, prevented them from having any regular preaching of the Word for some time. In the year 1790 they procured a regular candidate for a short period. They had little regular preaching until the year 1792, in the month of May, when a candidate, Mr. Daniel Clark Sanders, A. M., educated in the University of Cambridge, New England, came among them and con- tinued several months. He received an invitation to settle in the work of the ministry among them, but circumstances at that time were thought to be un- favorable. In the fall of 1793 he again received an invitation to settle in the gospel ministry, with which he at length complied. Previous to this a regular church was organized under the superintendence of Rev. C. M. Smith, of Sha- ron, who had been sent as a missionary from Connecticut to the northern in- fant settlements in Vermont. This reverend gentleman, at the request and with the assistance of several individuals, framed the Articles of Christian Faith and Covenant of the Church, and regularly declared them, on September 17, 1793, a regular Church of Christ."

Mr. Sanders was ordained June 12, 1794, and remained here until August, 1799, when he removed to Burlington, and soon afterward accepted the presi- dency of the University of Vermont. Six members only are recorded as hav- ing been added to the church previous to 1807. After being without a pastor and dependent on occasional supplies for several years, Mr. John Hough was hired for three months, and finally ordained March 12, 1807. He continued here as pastor until August 25, 1812, when he was dismissed at his request. He was afterwards for many years a professor in Middlebury College.

During his ministry sixty-nine members were added to the church. The church remained without a pastor for five years, but was supplied with preach- ing much of the time by candidates and neighboring ministers. During this time sixty-five members were added to the church. Mr. Alexander Lovell was ordained October 22, 1817, and remained pastor of the church until No- vember 10, 1835, when he was dismissed by advice of council and at his own

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request. During his pastorate of eighteen years, one hundred and forty per- sons united with the church. In 1834 the present house of worship was erected and dedicated. Previous to this, for several years after its organization, the church held its meetings in private houses and in school-houses. In 1797 a large building was erected on the highest land in the city for a State house. The Legislature occupied it only one year, 1798. It was afterward used as a court-house, and on the Sabbath as a place for religious worship. From the dismission of Mr. Lovell, November 10, 1835, to August 31, 1836, the church was again without a settled pastor. In this interim one hundred and seventy- six united with the church, most of them on profession. This large increase in so short a time was the result in part of a great revival under the lead of Rev. Jedediah Burchard. Rev. Harvey F. Leavitt was installed August 31, 1836, and continued the active and efficient pastor of the church until March 19, 1860, when he was dismissed by a mutual council called at his request. His death occurred November 11, 1874. During the twenty-four years of his ministry there were three hundred and twenty-four admissions to the church. The pulpit was supplied during most of the next year by Rev. Calvin Pease, president of the University of Vermont. Rev. George B. Spalding was in- stalled October 3, 1861, and was dismissed August 1, 1864, to become the pastor of the North Church in Hartford, Conn. During his ministry nineteen persons united with the church. Rev. H. A. P. Torry was installed May 3, 1865, and dismissed August 18, 1868. During his pastorate twenty-five per- sons united with the church and in the succeeding interim thirty-six more. Rev. Horace P. V. Bogue was installed November 25, 1869, and was dismissed Sep- tember 24, 1872. Seventeen persons were received into the church at this time. Rev. William P. Aiken was installed April 9, 1873, and dismissed January 30, 1876. Thirty-seven were added to the church during his pastorate. Rev. George E. Hall was installed May 2, 1877, and continued until the installation of the present pastor, Rev. A. A. Robertson, on the Ist of July, 1884. The deacons of the church are Josiah Parker and Andrew Ross; clerk, Julius S. Hickock; Sunday-school superintendent, Isaac H. Smith. The present mem- bership is about 230.

St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church .- This church was organized in 1833, by Cyrus Booth, Belden Seymour, John Pierpoint, George and William Parker, W. H. White, William T. Ward, and others. Rev. Charles Fay was secured as the first pastor. The church edifice was erected in 1834, of brick, capable of seating 250 persons. To this church the Rev. Charles John Ketch- um ministered recently, and was succeeded in the present year (1886) by the Rev. D. B. Taylor. The present membership is about one hundred. The church officers are C. A. Booth, senior warden; Dr. F. W. Coe, junior ward- en ; C. A. Booth, F. W. Coe, Charles E. Parker, vestrymen ; Charles E. Parker, superintendent.

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Baptist Church .- This church was organized in September, 1868, and was: chiefly the result of the labors of the first pastor, Rev. Joseph Freeman. There were at first only nine members, and services were held for a time in the town hall. The vestry of the church building was erected and dedicated in 1877, but the entire building is not yet finished. The membership at present is. eighty-six. James A. Austin and E. H. Daniels are the deacons. Rev. R. H. Sherman assumed the pastorate in 1885.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- This society was organized with about thirty members in 1840, through the labors of the first pastor, Rev. C. R. Wilkins. The house of worship was erected in 1841 at a cost of $7,000. The property is now valued at over $10,000, and there it no debt on the church. A fine parsonage has been built and lately considerably improved. The church officers are Ira Knowles, John Clark, W. R. Dalrymple, Henry A. Haw- ley, E. J. Bristol, W. W. Ward, Eli Roberts, stewards; H. E. Goodere, class leader; H. A. Hale, superintendent of Sabbath-school. The church mem- bership is 225, including the Ferrisburgh church, and about 150 in Vergennes. alone.

The Holy Family Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1834, and in 1854 the first church edifice was erected of wood; this continued in use until 1872, when the present brick structure was built at a cost of $2,500. Rev. P. A. Campeaux assumed charge of the church in 1884, succeeding Rev. Father Joseph Kerlidon. The church is now called St. Peter's Church.

Schools .- Reference has already been made to the early schools of the city, and it only remains to describe those of the present time. The city is now di- vided into two districts, the creek forming the dividing line. In the east dis- trict is a graded school, which is provided with a commodious three-story school building erected in 1863. This school has an average attendance of about 250 scholars, and is in charge of Aaron B. Clark as principal, with a competent corps of assistants. The west district has only a one-story brick building, erected in 1830, and employs only one teacher. W. G. Fairbanks is superintendent of schools in the city at the present time. The two districts. were united in 1885, and now form one district.

The Champlain Arsenal, a United States institution, was formerly in exist- ence here, comprising extensive buildings and twenty-eight acres of land, val- ued at over $100,000. The State was given the privilege of storing a quantity of war munitions here while the institution maintained its military character. In 1865 this farm and arsenal property were purchased by the State and trans- formed into the Vermont Reform School. The buildings were altered to suit the requirements of the school, and the young of both sexes who have been led into crime are cared for upon a system believed to be based upon more humane ideas than those that prevail in ordinary prisons.

Champlain Valley Agricultural Society .- This society was permanently

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organized in January, 1881, but it had under temporary organization held two fairs previous to that time. The grounds are located near the city and are now supplied with proper buildings for the display of stock and other products. The grounds are now the property of John M. Dyer, who guarantees the pay- ment of the premiums offered, placing the society upon a firm basis. The offi- cers are H. S. Jackman, of Waltham, president; A. T. Booth, of Ferrisburgh, William E. Greene, of Vergennes, vice-presidents; secretary, M. T. Bristol, Vergennes ; directors, F. E. Sears, Panton; Warren H. Peck, New Haven ; O. H. Fisher, Addison ; E. S. Wright, Weybridge ; G. F. O. Kimball, Ver- gennes.

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History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 82

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