History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 83

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 83

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Masonic .- The charter of Dorchester Lodge, No. I, F. and A. M., of Ver- gennes, dates back to October 12, 1798, though there are documents showing assembling of Masons as early as May 24, 1792. The first officers appear on record under date of February II, 1795, and are Samuel Whitcomb, W. M .; J. B. Fitch, S. W .; William Goodrich, J. W .; Richard Barnum, S. D .; Asa Strong, tiler. No further records appear until 1807. On the Ioth of January, 1848, the lodge number was changed from 3 to I, which it still retains. The charter members were Enoch Woodbridge, John Chipman, Roswell Hopkins, William Brush, and Samuel Strong. Since its organization it has initiated 456 persons, and is in a prosperous condition to-day, with a membership of 116 persons and the following officers: Frank A. Goss, W. M .; Olin A. Smith, S. W .; Edward A. Field, J. W .; Charles T. S. Pierce, secretary ; D. Henry Lewis, treasurer ; R. R. O'Bryan, S. D .; Walter J. Sprague, J. D .; C. H. Mar- shall, S. S .; E. C. Scott, J. S .; E. D. Roburds, marshal; A. B. Tabor, tiler.

Royal Arch Masons .- Jerusalem R. A. C., No. 2, dates its charter back to April 4, 1805. It was organized by Zebulon R. Shipherd, deputy grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New York State. Its charter mem- bers were John Chipman, Smith Booth, Asa Strong, Jesse Lyman, Durand Ro- burds, Ezra Perry, Jared Brace, David Edmonds, Calvin Harmon, Solomon Miller, Charles Buckley, Solomon Williams, Carter Hitchcock, Benjamin Chan- dler, Seth Storrs, David Chipman, and Samuel Hitchcock. At the first elec- tion the following were elected officers : John Chipman, M. E. H. P .; Samuel Hitchcock, E. K .; Josias Smith, E. S .; Solomon Williams, C. of the H .; Jesse Lyman, P. S .; Samuel Clark, R. A. C .; Durand Roburds, G. M. 3d V .; Jabez G. Fitch, G. M. 2d V .; Asa Strong, G. M. Ist V .; David Edwards, secretary ; Calvin Harmon, treasurer. This chapter, until January, 1869, held its meet- ings alternately here and at Middlebury. At that time an amicable division was brought about and this chapter has been in a flourishing condition ever since, with a present membership of eighty-five, though 220 appear on its rolls; but some have gone to other chapters, and others to the ministrations of the Grand High Priest above. Its present officers are Ransom R. O'Bryan, M. E. H. P .; Olin A. Smith, E. K .; Richard Maldoon, E. S .; C. T. S. Pierce, secretary ;

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

George F. O. Kimball, treasurer ; S. A. Tuttle, C. of the H .; F. A. Goss, P. S .; A. B. Tabor, R. A. C .; F. T. Hodgdon, G. M. 3d V .; E. A. Field, G. M. 2d V .; W. L. Beray, G. M. Ist V .; E. C. Scott, M. T. Bristol, Stewards ; S. J. Allen, sentinel.

Vergennes Council, No. 2, R. & S. M .- This Masonic body was organized January 13, 1818, by Deputy John H. Cotton, from Baltimore, Md. Its char- ter members were Martin Stone, Amos W. Barnum, Oliver Bangs, Enoch D. Woodbridge, Asa Strong, Abijah Barnum, Russell A. Barnum, Amasa Bel- knap, and Horace Wheeler. It was first officered by Martin Stone, T. I. G. M .; Amos W. Barnum, D. I. G. M .; Oliver Bangs, P. C .; Seth Gere, C. of the G .; E. D. Woodbridge, treasurer ; S. H. Tupper, secretary ; Asa Strong, G. stew- ard. In 1855 a new charter was granted, and the society is working with the following officers : Stiles A. Tuttle, T. I. G. M .; R. R. O'Bryan, D. M .; W. S. Hopkins, P. C .; Wm. W. Booth, recorder; M. T. Bristol, treasurer ; J. L. Grandey, C. of the G .; R. Maldoon, C. of the C .; H. H. Burge, steward ; S. J. Allen, sentinel.1

Physicians .- The medical profession has been honored in Vergennes by the labors of several eminent men, sketches of some of whom have been given in this work. Brief notes of those at present practicing here may not be with- out future historical value. Dr. W. S. Hopkins is the physician of the longest practice in the city ; but we have not been favored with memoranda of his life. Dr. George F. B. Willard, born in Boston July 26, 1853, was graduated at Middlebury College in 1876, studied medicine at the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, and was graduated in March, 1883. He has practiced in Vergennes since that date. Dr. E. W. Chipman, born in Brooklyn July, 1862, studied his profession at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, and in the University of Vermont, graduating in June, 1885; practiced first in New York, and in November, 1885, came to Vergennes, entering the office of Dr. Kidder. The latter is one of the oldest physicians in this part of the State. Charles W. B. Kidder was born in Wethersfield, Windsor county, Vt., in 1819, stud- ied medicine at Castleton, and was graduated in 1843; practiced first in Provi- dence, R. I., about five years ; then in Peru, N. Y., about three years ; then in Troy about four years, coming to Vergennes in 1857. Since that date he has enjoyed a long and successful professional career. Dr. L. E. Dionne was born in Quebec and studied medicine in Magill College, Montreal, graduating in 1862; practiced in New Market, N. H., until 1884, going thence to Canada, and removing to Vergennes in 1885. Dr. A. A. Arthur, homœopathist, born in 1842 in Keeseville, N. Y., studied his profession in Bellevue Hospital, New York, graduating in 1865; practiced first in Elizabethtown, N. Y., one year, and came thence to Vergennes. Dr. Enoch D. Woodbridge, member of an honored family in the professions, is in the practice of medicine here ; but we are without data of his life.

1 Compiled for this work by C. T. S. Pierce, of Vergennes.

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CITY OF VERGENNES.

In the dental profession in Vergennes Dr. Coe had an experience extend- ing over a period of forty years. With him studied Dr. F. F. Pierce, who was born in Salisbury, Vt., in 1832. He began practice in Brandon in 1860, and came to Vergennes in 1884. E. McGovern was born in Canada in 1848, and studied his profession in Middlebury and in New York. He began practice in Vergennes in 1873.

The legal profession, which has been so honorably represented here, has been sufficiently treated in the chapter devoted to the Bench and Bar of the county.

The following is a list of the names of the volunteers who enlisted in Ver- mont regiments during the late war, as compiled from the adjutant-general's report :

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

F. Adams, G. W. Adams, E. Allen, G. Ayres, S. Ayres, J. Bartley, J. Bart- ley, P. Barton, W. L. Boyden, E. E. Burroughs, J. Champaigne, J. Cokeley, T. Corcoran, T. Dompier, E. N. Drury, C. H. Edwards, J. Fales, E. J. Fisher, W. Fisher, J. Fitzsimmons, B. L. Fortin, A. Gilmore, S. Green, H. Hoy, J. January, C. W. B. Kidder, C. King, E. King, E. King, L. King, G. W. Law- son, L. Liberty, D. Martin, J. Martin, C. G. McAllister, W. G. McCarter, D. McKinn, R. E. Mclaughlin, G. Meigs, F. Miller, J. Miller, D. Morgan, H. Noble, P. O'Brien, W. E. Owen, S. Packard, A. Palmer, W. Palmer, C. E. Parker, G. Parker, jr., H. Phair, C. H. Platt, C. Price, F. Price, J. A. Prindle, J. Rock, A. Sands, E. Sheldon, J. Sheldon, H. Smith, F. Snay, E. D. Squires, H. D. Stowell, H. Stowell, C. B. Strickland, F. B. Strickland, L. Torville, C. A. Tredo, J. Wheeler.

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

Volunteers for three years. - C. Jandreau, J. Thompson.

Volunteers for one year. - J. Douglass, J. Lafountain, I. Miller, A. J. Pres- ton, J. Preston, J. Riley, J. Scanlon, O. Thibeault, M. Welch.

Volunteers re-enlisted. - W. F. Brink, L. Brooks, W. Hall, E. King, C. G. McAllister, F. Miller, W. Palmer, J. A. Prindle, C. Price, L. Torville, T. Train, A. Williamson, L. Woodward.

Veteran reserve corps. - E. F. Squires.

Not credited by name. - Three men.

Volunteers for nine months. - F. Barton, J. Fosha, E. January, H. Miller, J. Miller.

Furnished under draft. - Paid commutation, C. Bottsford, J. Breman, C. Sherman, W. H. Smith.

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXV.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WALTHAM.1

W TALTHAM was chartered in 1761 by Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, in common with New Haven, of which it was formerly a part. It contained about nine square miles, and by special act of the General Assem- bly of Vermont was taken from the northwest corner of New Haven, after the city of Vergennes was incorporated in November, 1796. At a meeting of the citizens, March 30, 1797, its organization was perfected by the election of P. Brown, moderator; Andrew Barton, jr., town clerk and treasurer; Doctor Griswold, constable and collector, and Phinehas Brown, Joseph Langworthy, ' and Moses Pier, selectmen. The name of Waltham was suggested as a proper one for the new town by Phinehas Brown, who came from Waltham, Mass. It has no post-office and never had a separate charter, and had no common busi- ness center within its limits, being a strictly agricultural town, the business of its citizens in trade and commerce being transacted in the city of Vergennes and the adjoining towns of Weybridge and New Haven. A range of high hills intersects the town north and south near its center, and at one point assumes the proportions of a mountain, called " Buck Mountain." On either side of this range the land slopes gradually ; on the east to the line of New Haven and beyond, and on the west to Otter Creek. It has a variety of soil well adapted to grazing and cultivation, and many of the farms rank with those most noted in the beautiful Champlain valley. No settlement was made in the town prior to 1769, when a few families from Massachusetts and Connecticut came in and commenced clearing the unbroken wilderness. Many of these families took up lots contiguous to each other and at about the same time, and by their native energy and necessary industry made such progress in clearing the lands, build- ing comfortable though rude dwellings, opening roads, and other general im- provements, that their success as pioneer settlers would have been permanently assured but for the jealousy and greed of the Yorkers, who seemingly allowed no opportunity to pass by which they could harass and annoy their less nu- merous and poorer neighbors. It is well understood that several of these fam- ilies, or members thereof, who resided here previously to the war, were, with others from adjacent towns, carried away by bands of Tories and Indians and never returned, while others by some means escaped after years of priva- tion and suffering, and returned to occupy their lands. Among the first set- tlers in Waltham were a few of the grantees of New Haven, or their immedi- ate descendants, and others, who are not included in the list of grantees. It appears of record that John Everts, of Salisbury, Conn., was deputed by the

1 Prepared for this work by William S. Wright.

. .... PHILA.

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TOWN OF WALTHAM.

grantees to obtain a charter of a township from Governor Wentworth, and ac- complished the business of his mission, at the date first mentioned in this sketch. It is not certain that John Everts ever resided in Waltham, yet his family was represented in the early settlement of the town, and several families of the name of Everts of successive generations have been, and still are, perma- nent and influential citizens in town. One author gives the name of John Ev- erts as the first town clerk of New Haven, but in searching the records the statement needs confirmation, and is doubtless erroneous. He might have been proprietors' clerk, but another name appears as first town clerk, and stands affixed to official papers, placed upon the early records. All agree that An- drew Barton, jr., was the first town clerk of Waltham, and also the first justice of the peace, elected in 1791. He was a well-educated man for his time, and his native talents were much above the average. He died in 1802, in the prime of his manhood, aged forty-one years. His residence was on the West street near the center of the town, at present occupied by his grandson, A. B. Rose, and one of the finest locations in this or adjoining towns. He had sev- eral brothers, residents of Waltham and New Haven.

In addition to the names of first and early settlers mentioned, may be here noticed others who figured conspicuously in giving character to the commu- nity and promoting the general and important interests of the town. Before the war came John Griswold, sr., and his five sons, John, jr., Nathan, Adoni- jah, David, and Doctor; Eli and Durand (father and son) Roburds, Andrew and Dyer Barton, Phinehas Brown, and others. About that time, or a little later, came Isaac Hobbs, Ichabod Cook, Ebenezer, Zebulon, and Roger Haw- kins, Joseph Almy, Nathaniel Chalker, Jesse Ward, Joseph Langworthy, Moses Pier, William and George Fisher, Daniel Chipman, Luther and Calvin Everts, and Christopher Dennison. He and the four eldest sons of John Griswold were taken prisoners by a band of Indians and carried with others into Canada. John, jr., induced by a promise of liberty, went as a hand on board a transport ship that sailed from Quebec for Ireland, and was never after heard from. The others returned at the close of the war. Adonijah located in the east part of the town, near the residence of H. Everts, reared a family of five sons, left the town about 1830, and went with his family to Illinois, where he died at an ad- vanced age. Nathan lived and perhaps died in Vergennes. David located on the farm lately owned and occupied by H. C. Hunt, in New Haven, and spent the remnant of his life there. Doctor located on the West street in Waltham, and built the stone house now occupied by C. D. Bristol. He was many years a prominent citizen and public officer, and died an old man.

Andrew and Dyer Barton located on West street and occupied lands now owned by F. D. Barton, grandson of Dyer, the latter dying in 1808, aged fifty- nine years, leaving his estate to his son John Dyer and a daughter, Fanny, who became the wife of Jeptha Shead, a bookbinder and dealer in the city of

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

Vergennes. The widow of Dyer Barton subsequently married Aurey Fergu- son, and died July 23, 1842, aged eighty-nine years. The first fifty acres owned by John D. Barton, who subsequently became a large land owner, were given him by Andrew Barton for his care and support during his natural life. He (Andrew) died soon after this arrangement was made, January 10, 1813, aged seventy-three years. The south part of the farm was early owned and occupied by William Barton, son of Andrew B., sr., until 1835, when he sold out to Abijah and Judson Hurd, from Cornwall or Bridport, and. moved to Middlebury, where he resided several years, but died in Indiana at an advanced age. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1832. The Hurd brothers occupied the farm six or eight years, then sold to John D. Barton. The farm occupied by David Hare was first settled by Calvin Everts, son of Luther Everts, sr., who lived but a few years, and died, leaving a widow, who subsequently married Luther Hunt, the father of H. C. Hunt, of New Haven, and Newman Hunt, of Waltham. Mr. Hunt died at the residence of his son Newman in 1844, aged eighty years. A dwelling house was built on the site of Mr. Hare's house about 1830 by Josiah Bailey, a shoemaker by trade, and a representative of the town in 1835. After following business a few years he sold the premises to J. D. Barton and went to Franklin county, N. Y. The house built by Bailey was burned about 1845 while occupied by Amos M. Bar- ton, son of J. D., and after the division of J. D. Barton's estate (Mrs. Hare being one of the heirs) Mr. Hare built the beautiful dwelling house now stand- ing thereon. Mr. Hare is an active, prompt man, and a good farmer and dairy- man. John D. Barton was widely known as a large land owner, a judicious farmer and successful breeder of horses, sheep, and cattle. He died in 1865 at the age of seventy-five. The farm now owned and occupied by John H. Sprague & Son on West street was occupied at an early day by Anthony and Lewis Sprague, the former being the father of J. H. Sprague, sr., into whose hands the property soon drifted. John H. Sprague, sr., was a stirring business man, and in addition to his farming was a large dealer in livestock, especially of fat cattle, large numbers of which he purchased to be slaughtered. He built the fine residence now standing, and died in 1863, aged sixty-seven. His son, John H., jr., succeeded to the occupancy of the homestead, and erected the commodious and convenient out-buildings standing thereon. Carlton W. Sprague, son of J. H., jr., occupies a farm adjoining his father's, which formerly belonged to the territory of J. D. Barton; it was purchased a few years since of Calvin Bragg, whose wife was a daughter and heir of J. D. Barton. The Spragues have been thorough farmers and general business men, and everything around them gives evidence of enterprise and thrift. The present owners are breeders of fine-wooled sheep and fine horses. The residence of A. B. Rose is the place on which Andrew Barton, jr., resided, who is supposed to have been the first settler on that farm. He had brothers-Nathan, of New Haven, and

F. D. Barton

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TOWN OF WALTHAM.

William, of this town, both of whom were large land holders and men of much shrewdness and good sense; yet Andrew, jr., is said to have been a more brill- iant man in practical ability and intellectual strength. Polly Barton, his widow, subsequently married one Manchester, who kept a country tavern on the Bar- ton farm, and the old sign, "Manchester's Inn," is now in possession of Mr. Rose. No one seems to know, and no record shows, what became of Man- chester ; but the old lady lived long after he disappeared, and when she died, in 1842, was buried by the side of her first husband. One of the daughters of Andrew Barton, jr., married Newton Rose, a Connecticut man, who resided in Waltham several years last before his death, which occurred in 1865, aged seventy-five years. He was three years a representative in the General Assem- bly and two years a door-keeper in the same. Andrew B. Rose, son of the last named, succeeds to the ownership of most of the homestead of his grand- father Barton, and is an excellent farmer and dairyman ; has held various town offices and was its representative in 1876 and '77. The farm now owned by J. and E. J. Hurlburt was first occupied by Christopher Dennison, jr. It soon passed to the ownership of Lewis Coolidge, from Boston, Mass. He was a good citizen, but never a practical farmer. He occupied the farm some fifteen years, then sold the same to Philemon Alvord, who in turn occupied the same about twenty-five years, then, in 1860, sold to Isaac Hallock and removed to the State of Minnesota, where he has since died. This farm has since been owned and occupied by H. W. Phillips, O. M. Chapin, George Hallock, N. Rose, and now by Julius and Edward J. Hurlburt. The " town plot " is on this farm.

The so-called Bacon farm is the same that was early occupied by Christo- pher Dennison, jr., the first representative elected from this town. It passed to the occupancy of Charles Bacon in 1833, who lived upon the same until his death in 1873. He represented the town three years, held the various offices of the town, and was a first-class farmer. The row of beautiful, thrifty maples standing by the wayside, opposite the dwelling house, is a living monument to the memory of Charles Bacon. Oscar C., son of Charles, succeeded to the ownership and occupancy of the farm, until his death in 1879. Both of the Bacons were successful breeders of fine-wooled sheep, and a valuable flock is still kept on the farm by Frank H., son of O. C. Bacon, who is the present oc- cupant of the same.

The Saxton farm was a part of the territory early settled by Timothy Turner, and conveyed to him by his father, John Turner, in 1809. Mr. Turner sold to George Fisher, who came from Addison and located here in 1815. Mr. Fisher occupied and improved the farm, until, in 1841, he sold the same to his sons-in-law, N. A. Saxton and John P. Strong, who subsequently divided the same, and occupied his division until the death of Mr. Saxton in 1874, and the sale of Mr. Strong's part to Henry S. Cross in 1850. Mr. Fisher was

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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

many years a leading man in town; a justice of the peace thirty years, town clerk fifteen years, and town representative in 1833, '34, and '38. He died in 1865, aged eighty-five years. Mr. Saxton was a noted breeder of fine-wool sheep, and ranked high among the best breeders of his day. He held various town offices and was its representative in 1867 and '68. Mrs. Saxton now re- sides on the farm formerly belonging to her husband and father. After her decease it passes, by Mr. Saxton's will, to the Congregational Church Society in Vergennes.

The farm now occupied by Messrs. Wright & Jackman is that of which mention is made as belonging to John P. Strong, and after him to H. S. Cross, who occupied the same until 1867, when Mr. Wright purchased it; he still owns and occupies the same, in company with his son-in-law Henry S. Jack- man. A part of the farm was the residence of Joseph Langworthy, one of the first board of selectmen and an early settler in the town. He died October IO, 1823, aged eighty-seven, and his wife December 3, 1823, aged eighty-four years. The enterprising Langworthy brothers, well-known and thorough bus- iness men and merchants in Middlebury, Vt., are grandsons of the venerable patriarch Joseph Langworthy. The present owners of the farm have made marked improvement thereon, and are successful breeders of choice Merino sheep. Mr. Wright has held the office of town clerk fourteen years, was town representative in 1874 and '75, and has been superintendent of schools since 1871, except for one year. Mr. Jackman has held various town offices and was a member of the General Assembly in 1884 and '85. The farm now oc- cupied by John Gregory was first settled by Solomon Strong, who lived upon the same until his death in 1822, aged eighty-five years. Solomon Strong, jr., owned and occupied a farm with his father, and subsequently sold it to Azro Benton in 1830, and moved to Hinesburg, where he died in December, 1846, aged seventy-three. Mr. Strong was one of the best men of the town, a man of refinement, and withal a good blacksmith. He built the large house now standing on the farm. Mr. Benton occupied the Strong farm about thirty years, when he sold the same to Isaac Hallock, who lived thereon ten years and died in October, 1870, aged fifty-four years. Mr. Hallock was employed eighteen successive years by Samuel E. Chalker, of New Haven, as a foreman in his large farming operations, at the nominal sum of fifty cents per day during the entire period. He was married, and during his long term of service with Mr. Chalker raised a family of five children. The rent of a house and fuel for the same, also the keeping of a cow or two, were furnished gratuitously to Mr. Hallock by his employer. Mr. Hallock commenced business life empty handed and left an estate valued at $20,000. He was twice married; the second wife survived him and is now the wife of John Gregory, a native of Ferrisburgh. Anson M. Hallock, his son, succeeds to the ownership of a large part of his father's farm, is a good farmer, and one of the present board of se- lectmen.

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TOWN OF WALTHAM.

The farm on West street, first settled by Phinehas Brown, first representative of Hew Haven, at his decease came into possession of Elijah Benton, of Corn- wall, Vt., who married one of Mr. Brown's daughters, and who occupied the farm until his decease in 1875. It is now owned and occupied by E. F. Ben- ton, by whom it has been much improved, and its present appearance is very creditable to the good taste of the owner. Richard Burroughs married an- other daughter of Mr. Brown and resided on a part of the Brown territory many years, but died in Illinois in 1850, while visiting his only son. Mr. Bur- roughs was a man of liberal culture, having been graduated at Dartmouth College with a prominent standing in his class, and prosecuted his studies long after his graduation. He edited and published a grammar of the English lan- guage; was town clerk several years ; town representative in 1831, and a prac- tical surveyor in this and adjoining towns. One of Mr. Burroughs's daughters became the wife of Azro Benton, who is still living at the age of eighty-four. A. Benton has been a successful farmer, and several years a constable and col- lector for the town.

The farm and residence of the late Warren W. Pierce was first occupied by a son-in-law of Mr. Brown, named Abram Mckenzie. It is now the property of Wyatt W. Pierce, whose temporary residence is Franklin Furnace, N. J. The elder Pierce was noted as a careful breeder of Jersey cattle and a success- ful dairyman. Fine Jersey stock is still kept on the place.

The Sutton farm was early owned by Edward Sutton, a prominent mer- chant in Vergennes, and at his decease in 1828 became the property of his daughter, now residing in New York city. It contains 200 acres and is among . the best farms of the town. It has been occupied at various periods by some excellent citizens and first-class farmers, viz., John C. Buckley, Henry Hawley, Midas P. Faggart, and others. Its agency was for many years in the person of Daniel W. Buckley, and is now in that of the Hon. J. E. Roberts, of 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 83

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