USA > Vermont > Addison County > History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 84
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The Day farm, now owned and occupied by Mrs. N. S. Day, was owned in small parcels by William Mckenzie, Beers Tomlinson, and Francis Bradley, from whom it passed to Dr. W. M. Day in 1865. He died there in 1874. Dr. Day was town clerk and superintendent of schools several years, and was the only practicing physician who ever had residence in Waltham.
The farm of John Preston was probably settled by William Spalding. Mr. Preston, the present owner, was born in Ireland, came to this neighborhood when a lad, and has resided in town nearly fifty years and raised a large family of sons and daughters. One of the sons was a graduate of Middlebury Col- lege, class of 1880, and is now a successful teacher at Mamaroneck, N. Y. Another son was a graduate of the medical department of Vermont Univer- sity in 1882, and is now located at New Haven, Vt., and gives promise of suc- cess in his chosen profession.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
The residence of Mrs. Maria Thorn, also the adjoining farm, now occupied by George Bostwick, was first settled upon by Wm. Fisher, of Addison. He was a very prominent citizen, but died early, aged about forty-five years. The farm was subsequently divided between his two sons, Peleg and Hiram, who lived upon the same until well advanced in age, when they both removed to New Haven, where they have since died. Mr. Bostwick came to town in 1884, the successor of Daniel Hawley, who bought of the Fishers.
Luther Everts, born about 1760, and son of Luther Everts, sr., was an early settler on East street; reared a large family and spent a long life there. He was a very bright, keen-witted man, social, but sensitive; was a surveyor, and held many of the offices in town by repeated elections. His death occurred at the homestead in 1846. His son, Harry Everts, succeeded to the ownership of the farm and is the present occupant. He was town representative in 1869 and '70, and held other principal offices in town. A younger brother of the last named, the Hon. Edwin Everts, was a graduate of Middlebury College in class of 1839; studied law and was admitted to the bar in Addison county; represented Waltham in the General Assembly in 1863 and '64, and served as assistant judge in Addison County Court. His residence is now in Illinois. He and Richard Burroughs were the only college graduates who ever resided in the town, except the Preston brothers above named.
Other early settlers, and their entire families, have died or left the town or country, so that no one of the name or kindred remains in the town. Of these, many of the older residents will remember the names of Ebenezer and Zebu- lon Hawkins, Daniel Chipman, Wm. Spalding, George S. and Benjamin Chase, Ichabod Cook, Nathaniel Chalker, Joel T. Clark, Elkanah Brush, George Field, Lyman and Leman Husted, John Peck, Josiah Bailey, Philemon Alvord, Chris- topher Dennison, and others. The farm first occupied by Ichabod Cook, after- ward by J. T. Clark, is now owned by Harry Everts and son, who are large land holders in Waltham and New Haven, and also noted breeders of fine Jersey cattle. The farm owned and occupied by Numan Hunt and his son-in-law, C. D. Smead, is that on which Zebulon Hawkins lived many years, and died there more than fifty years ago. The farm now owned by Nicolas Foster was occu- pied by Ebenezer Hawkins, one of the early settlers. Mr. Foster purchased the farm in 1836, and has since resided thereon. Adjoining the Foster farm was the residence of Roger Hawkins, who purchased the same in 1813 and lived thereon till his death, about 1840, aged eighty years. The farm is now owned by Samuel S. Wright, of New Haven. The Hobbs farm, on East street, was probably first occupied by Isaac Hobbs. He kept a public house for the entertainment of travelers, and lived to a great age. Previous to his decease the farm had been transferred to his son Solomon, who spent many years thereon, but at an advanced age moved to Vergennes, where he died. The farm is now the property of Mrs. E. A. Hulburd, only daughter of Sol-
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omon Hobbs, who was the wife of Rev. David P. Hulburd, formerly a preacher and presiding elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died February 14, 1885, aged sixty-five. Jesse Ward was probably the first settler on the farm now owned and occupied by Numan Hunt. He came from Lee, Mass., aud located in town in 1803; passed the balance of his life in town, and died about the year 1838. His son Chester settled near the former in Waltham and was a prominent citizen until his death in 1882, aged over ninety-two years. Two sons succeeded to the ownership of his large and very valuable farm, and one of them, Watson W., is the town's treasurer and has often held the other principal town offices. Ira, another son, resides in New Haven. These men have been successful farmers, accumulating a competency, and possessing the respect of the community. Daniel Chipman was an early settler and a very prominent citizen in the town; was a good farmer and reared a numerous family ; but they are all gone away, and his fine farm is now owned by the Ward fam- ily and heirs of George Fisher, jr. George S. Chase was a sea-faring man in early life, but came to Waltham in 1806 and located on the farm north of the Chipman territory. He died an independent farmer in 1867. His brother, Benjamin Chase, owned and occupied the farm now belonging to Field & Frisbie, and came to reside thereon as early as 1867. He died in Ferrisburgh about 1870. W. F. Frisbie, the present occupant of the B. Chase farm, came from Westport, N. Y., and located in town in 1870. He is a successful farmer and has made marked improvements on the premises, having erected an ele- gant and convenient dwelling house and remodeled the farm buildings. He is an active business man and has held various town offices. The farm now, and since 1838, owned by Stephen M. Burroughs, was first settled by Joseph and Benjamin Almy. It appears from the records that Elkanah Brush was the first owner, and sold to Joseph Almy. He, in turn, transferred the farm to White & Brush (Reuben), merchants of Vergennes. New lands frequently came into possession of the merchants by mortgages given to secure the payment for goods purchased by new-comers into this and neighboring towns, and very likely this farm came to Mr. Brush in that way. Mr. Burroughs has made very marked improvements on the farm, having, in connection with his sons, George E. and Solon, stocked a large area with a variety of fruit and shrub- bery. He has been noted as a successful horticulturist, a good farmer and stock-breeder. His dwelling house is supposed to have been the first two- story framed house built in the town, and it was erected in 1786. It stands on high ground about a mile south of the city of Vergennes, and commands a grand view of the same and the surrounding country. The Adirondack range of mountains for more than thirty miles, Lake Champlain with its numerous islands and floating vessels, Otter Creek valley with its beautiful farms, to- gether with the spires and villages of surrounding towns, are all spread out as a grand panorama from the place of Mr. Burroughs's residence. On the north
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
road leading from Vergennes to New Haven, and the easterly section of the Burroughs territory, is the residence of Solon Burroughs, the present constable and collector of Waltham, and also one of the justices of the peace. He also is an extensive fruit grower.
On the East street again, and opposite the farm of Mr. Burroughs, is the residence of William W. Booth. His excellent farm is the same that was owned in the early history of the town by William White, first cashier of the first bank of Vergennes. It was purchased of the White family by Mr. Booth in 1875.
The residence of W. R. Bristol on West street was erected by Francis Brad- bury, a native of Vergennes, who spent his early life at sea, but settled here in 1841; was town clerk a few years, and sold out to Deacon J. Parker in 1844, who occupied the same till his death in 1872. Mr. Parker was town repre- sentative in 1847 and '48; he was a deacon of the Congregational Church in Vergennes several years. The place passed to the ownership of Mr. Bristol in 188I and has undergone extensive improvement, so that it is one of the finest residences in town. Mr. Bristol is a dealer in farm produce and has an office and place of business in the city. He is one of the justices of the peace, and has held various town offices. F. D. Barton, son of John D. Barton, is the present owner of the large and beautiful farm where several members of the Barton family first located in town. He has been a successful farmer and breeder of fine-wooled sheep. In 1880 he built upon his premises a magnificent barn, the best one probably in the county. It was designed for the accommo- dation and convenience of his large flocks and herds, and the storage of large quantities of hay and grain which his well-tilled farm is capable of producing. The barn is built on an inclined or sloping surface and in the form of the letter T. The size of the part designed for sheep is 96 x 40 feet, and the basement is occupied by his flocks. The cattle department is 108 x 50 feet. The whole is three stories high, with a sub-basement under the cattle for storing manure. All the hay is carried in upon the third floor and thrown down into the deep bays until they are filled, the grain in suitable places for convenience of thresh- ing. It is thoroughly built and finished throughout, and has capacity for hold- ing an immense quantity of hay, estimated at least at 300 tons, and stock enough to consume it all can be accommodated under its broad canopy. Its expense was probably not less than $8,000. Alanson Edgerton, of Charlotte, Vt., was the architect and builder.
H. S. Cross resided seventeen years on the farm now owned by Wright & Jackman, and was a prominent citizen. He removed in 1867 to Bridport, Vt., where he died in 1881, aged seventy years.
Rev. John Howard was a clergyman of the Baptist denomination and the only one who ever resided in the town while engaged in the active service of his profession. He was a good man, and died December 26, 1826, aged sev-
.
W. W. WARD.
ALITTLE. PANÍ.
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TOWN OF WALTHAM.
enty years. His residence was on the farm now owned by W. W. Pierce. No church edifice has ever been erected in this town ; yet religious meetings have been frequently held in the several school-houses, and appointments often been made by the clergy of adjoining towns and as often filled. A large num- ber of the citizens are members of Christian churches, and their attendance in many cases has been regular and punctual.
The town has an agricultural library and most of the families supply them- selves liberally with books and the current literature of the day. There are three school districts in Waltham, and each is supplied with a good school build- ing ; no mill privileges or mill in town; no public buildings except school- houses, and no professional man living within its limits. Yet all these good things are close at hand, but just within the boundaries of adjoining towns. No section of a railroad lies in Waltham, yet the bed of the Rutland and Bur- lington Railroad is about thirty rods outside of her limits.
Except the legal quota of justices of the peace the citizens of Waltham have held but few of the county offices, the more populous towns properly claiming and bestowing the offices upon the worthy citizens of the larger mu- nicipal corporations. Hon. Edwin Everts was an associate judge of Addison County Court two years, in 1865 and '66, and William S. Wright was appoint- ed by the governor to the same office in November, 1885, vice Hon. E. A. Doud, of New Haven, resigned. Andrew Barton, jr., was a justice of the peace five years, George Fisher held the same office thirty years, Chester Ward seventeen years, and Peleg Fisher fifteen years. Other citizens have held this office through periods varying from three to fifteen years. Waltham had no representative in the General Assembly until 1824, when Christopher Denni- son, jr., was made her first representative. Since that time the town has been regularly represented, except in the year 1826.
The names of persons filling the various town offices in 1885 are : Clerk and school superintendent, William S. Wright; selectmen, James Sneden, Ar- thur D. Everts, and Anson M. Hallock; constable and collector, Solon Bur- roughs ; treasurer, Watson W. Ward; listers, W. W. Ward, W. S. Wright, and W. F. Frisbie ; grand jurors, Numan Hunt and W. R. Bristol; town agent, W. R. Bristol ; trustee of United States surplus fund, William W. Booth.
This town has only about 250 inhabitants, and that has been about the number during the three last decades. Her quota of men to be raised under the several calls of the president in the War of the Rebellion was promptly furnished, submitting to a draft on one occasion only, when two of her citizens were drafted and paid a commutation of $300 each. There are now residing in the town several citizens of Waltham who were in the army; some reside in other towns, and some were killed or died in the service. Among the for- mer are H. S. Jackman, Cornelius Gainey, Henry P. Fisher, Dustin Barrow, and Angus Burns. Cassius A. Cross, who was a sharpshooter, was killed at
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
the battle of the Wilderness. Other men than the above named were fur- nished in obedience to the call, as shown in the following list :
Volunteers for three years credited previous to call for 300,000 volunteers of October 17, 1863 :
S. Baker, D. Beaura, J. Blayes, A. C. Burns, A. C. Cross, J. Fuller, J. W. Jackson, J. Obin.
Credits under call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 volunteers, and subse- quent calls :
Volunteers for three years .- F. Colomb, jr., F. Eno, H. P. Fisher, J. Vere. Volunteers for one year .- A. J. Hobon, E. Matot, G. A. Quilty.
Volunteer for nine months .- C. N. Dickenson.
Furnished under draft .- Paid commutation, E. F. Benton, J. Tatreau.
There is no record at hand which furnishes a list of men enlisted in the War of 1812, but well-authenticated tradition includes the names of George Fisher, Newton Rose, Josiah Parker, Abram Mckenzie, Elijah Benton, Solo- mon Hobbs, Solomon Strong, jr., Charles Bacon, Coleman Jackman, and Christopher Dennison, jr., and some others, perhaps, who were present as vol- unteers and participated in the battle of Plattsburgh in 1814.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEYBRIDGE.
T HIS town is situated in the central part of Addison county and is bounded on the north and east by New Haven, east by Middlebury (which towns. are separated from it by Otter Creek), south by Cornwall, and west by Brid- port and Addison. The surface of the town may be described as rolling, while the soil is varied in character from rich alluvium to clay, and many excellent farms exist. Wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, corn, and potatoes are grown, and sheep-raising and the dairy are not unimportant industries. The surface of the town presents sufficient variety to give it much natural beauty. A large portion approaches a level, while other parts are rolling and hilly; Snake Mountain, near the center, rises to the most conspicuous eminence, and ex- tends north and south across a considerable portion of the town; the north- west part lies on this mountain. The principal streams are Otter Creek, which bounds the northern and eastern sides, furnishing by its different falls unlimited water power; Lemon Fair River, which flows along near the east side of the mountain and joins Otter Creek, and Beaver Ledge Brook.
Weybridge was chartered by the governor of New Hampshire on the 3d of November, 1761, to Joseph Gilbert and sixty-three associates, with the cus-
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TOWN OF WEYBRIDGE.
tomary reservations, in seventy shares, comprising in the aggregate, according to the charter, 25,000 acres. In the survey of the towns Weybridge lost from the west side a tract about seven miles in length, which was covered by the char- ters of Addison and Bridport bearing earlier dates; but this loss was partially made up by annexations. October 28, 1791, about 700 acres from the north- west corner of New Haven were annexed, and on October 22, 1804, about 2,000 acres from the northeast corner of Addison, lying east of the summit of Snake Mountain; the town was still further enlarged by the annexation of about 100 acres from the southeast corner of Panton. In 1857 the line be- tween Weybridge and Addison was surveyed, and established by a commission appointed and authorized by act of Legislature passed in 1856. In November, 1859, about 500 acres of the northwest corner of Weybridge were annexed to Addison, a measure which was opposed by the inhabitants of the former town. These various changes have left Weybridge with an area of about 10,000 acres.
Settlements .- Thomas Sanford and Claudius Britell have been frequently given the honor of being the first settlers of Weybridge, and the date of their coming placed in the year 1775; but Colonel Isaac Drake, from whom we have obtained much valuable information, states that Sanford came prior to the year named. He first settled on the place now occupied by Oren K. Britell, and shortly afterward removed to the site of the house on the place now occupied by Edward G. Child, on the north side of the present road. A year or so later Claudius Britell bought the place where Sanford first located, now occupied by Oren K. Britell. Sanford has no descendants in the town. His son Ira was the first child born here. Oren K. Britell is a direct descendant of the pioneer Claudius Britell. Martin E. Sprague, Madison E. Sprague, and Mrs. William Newton are also descendants.
David Stow came in about the same time as Britell, and settled on the north side of Otter Creek, in what was then the town of New Haven; the homestead farm is still occupied by Azro J. Stow. It has always been in the possession of the family.
Justus Sturdevant (now spelled Sturtevant) came to the town about as early as Stow and settled about a mile farther up the creek from Stow's, on the same side, and also in the then town of New Haven. The farm is owned principally by members of the Sturtevant family and occupied by Leonard and Charles Sturtevant. Martin Sturtevant, living in the village, is a descendant of the pioneer. Leonard and Charles have families, and two sons of the latter, Wat- son C. and Albert, are married and live in the town.
The pioneers came in by way of Otter Creek, and pursued their labors toward clearing some land and making for themselves comfortable homes in peace and fancied security. But an enemy was at hand ; and just as they were getting a few of the comforts of home and civilization about them the raid of Tories and Indians, in November, 1778, which has been described in these
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pages, was made, and the little movable property of the settlers was carried away or destroyed, their rude dwellings burned, the men taken prisoners, and women and children left destitute. These defenseless creatures took refuge in an out-door cellar belonging to one of the burned houses, where they lived for ten days on a few potatoes left by the enemy, when they were discovered by some American soldiers and taken to Pittsford.
In 1856 a handsome marble monument was erected over the site of this cellar by some of their descendants. The following inscription upon its base tells the whole story : " Weybridge was chartered by New Hampshire in 1761, settled in 1775 by Thomas Sanford, David Stow, Justus Sturdevant, and Clau- dius Britell. November 8, 1778, a party of British, Tories, and Indians de- stroyed their house and effects, and carried T. Sanford and son Robert, D. Stow and son Clark, C. Britell and son Claudius, and J. Sturdevant prisoners. to Quebec. Their wives and children, after occupying a cellar at this place ten days, were taken to Pittsford by our troops. D. Stow died in prison De- cember 31, 1778. T. Sanford escaped, and the others were discharged in 1782. Erected in 1856 by David, Milo, Jason and Miller Stow, John and Orange Britell, John Sturdevant, Ira Sanford and others."
The captors took Thomas Sanford and his son Robert, Claudius Britell and son of same name, David Stow and his son Clark, and Justus Sturtevant, and carried them to Quebec. Mr. Stow died in prison December 31, 1778. Thomas Sanford succeeded in escaping, and after a long journey through Maine and New Hampshire joined his family. The other prisoners, after undergoing extreme hardships, were discharged in 1782. In the succeeding year these families began to feel a degree of security which impelled them to- return to their ruined homes, and they were soon followed by others. Of the. new-comers, Ebenezer Wright settled on the east side of Snake Mountain (then in the town of Addison), on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Edwin S. Wright; Ira S., a brother of Edwin, formerly occupied a part of the farm. Samuel Child came about the same time, and settled about three-fourths of a. mile south of Ebenezer Wright, on the same street; the farm is now occupied by John A. Child, eldest grandson of Samuel. Edward Child is another grand- son of Samuel, and lives in this town. Willis B., son of John A. Child, lives. in the town and has a family. In 1793 David Belding 1 came in and located at what is known as Belding's Falls, on Otter Creek, in the east part of the town; the farm is now occupied by Sylvia Drake and Polly A. Shaw, who are granddaughters of Belding and sisters of Colonel Isaac Drake. Besides these, there are in town as descendants of David Belding Mrs. John A. Child, a great- granddaughter; H. Emily Bowditch; Louisa B. Drake, daughter of Rev. Cyrus. B. Drake, D. D., brother of Colonel Isaac; Delena D. Willard, daughter of
1 This name is spelled in various ways, and very often thus - " Belden "; but from the best author -. ity we can obtain, the version here given is correct.
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Colonel Drake's eldest sister. Mrs. Willard has four children living, one of whom is Dr. George B. F. Willard, of Vergennes; Mrs. A. D. Everts, of Walt- ham, is a daughter; and Asaph D. and Lucy H. Willard live with their mother. The mother of Willis B. Child is a great-granddaughter of David Belding. About the time of Belding's arrival here Ebenezer Scott came in and located west of him, on a road that is discontinued. The farm is divided among various persons, and there are no descendants of Scott in the town.
Scott's wife was a daughter of David Belding.
Aaron Parmalee settled early on the farm now occupied by J. F. Cotton ; no descendants here.
Solomon Bell settled on the road from Weybridge to Middlebury about one and one-half miles from the court-house in the latter place, on the farm now occupied by Walter Wright. William D. Bell, now living in the town, is a grandson of Solomon, and son of Dennis. Mrs Samuel E. Cook and Helen M. Bell, of Middlebury, are granddaughters of Solomon.
Samuel Clark, another of the early settlers, located on the road from the Wright Monument to Middlebury ; none of his descendants now in town.
Samuel Jewett settled early on the place now occupied by A. D. Hayward, near the monument, and subsequently built the brick house now there. Of his descendants there are now living in the town Philo Jewett and his son, Silas Jewett and his daughter, Mrs. Jno. A. James. Samuel Jewett's daughter Betsey became the mother of the poet, John G. Saxe. Samuel Jewett was the first town clerk of this town, and died in October, 1830. His was the fifth family in town. He came from Bennington to Rutland and thence to Pittsford with an ox sled. There he built a raft and continued the journey by water. Mr. Jewett held the office of town clerk twenty-six years and represented his town eight- een years, besides holding other offices. His son Philo was also in the Legis- lature five years, and selectman twelve years.
Daniel James was among the first settlers and located on the farm now occupied by Samuel James and his sons, John A. and Frank, on the south line of the town. Samuel James also has a son named Charles, and three daughters. Curtis, the oldest son of Samuel, lives in Cornwall, and Rev. H. P. James, an- other son, lives in Corinth, Vt.
Roger Wales settled about 1790 on part of the farm now occupied by Colonel Isaac Drake. He had three sons, Benjamin, Shubael, and Charles ; they settled about half a mile west of Colonel Drake. John Wales, now in the town, is a son of Shubael. Ruth, wife of Daniel Wright, is a daughter of John Wałes; another daughter (Emma) married Rollin Shaw and is deceased. Benjamin Wales has a grandson, H. O. Wales, living on his grandfather's home- stead. B. F. Wales, a Middlebury merchant, is another grandson of Benjamin. Mrs. Sardis Dodge, living in Middlebury, is a daughter of Benjamin.
Asa Dodge settled very early in the town, and later lived on the school lot ..
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