USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 33
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In 1865 the Methodist denomination had established a society and purchased the property before used for a Presbyterian Church, and continued meeting there until about three years since. In 1868 the village of North Bennington having increased in population, and there appearing to be a demand for another society, as one could not bring in the different elements of which the village was composed, there was a Congregationalist Church organized which held meet- ings in Bank Hall for a few years and then erected a house of worship. There has seemed to be room for both societies to grow, and the congregations in each have been usually as large as attended church when there was but one place for worship, the number of course increasing or diminishing as the business and population of the village has varied.
The present pastor of the Baptist Church is Rev. A. S. Gilbert, who suc- ceeded Rev. George Shepard a little more than a year since. He came from the northern part of the State, bringing with him the experience necessary for mak- ing a pastorate the most successful. Rev. Charles H. Peck, of Griswold, Conn., accepted a call to the pastorate of the Congregational Church, and entered upon his duties April 21, 1889. He came from his first settlement of seven years to fill the place vacated by Rev. G. R. Hewitt the preceding December.
With railroad facilities unequaled by any village in this part of the State, there has seemed to be a fatality attending some of the business enterprises here which has in a measure crippled the prosperity of the place. The manu- facture of print cloths which was formerly carried on here in both mills, has been for the last decade prosecuted by the larger mills, both north and south, to such an extent that competition has rendered it unprofitable generally to make them. The Vermont mills have for two or three years been making yarns of different kinds as affording a better margin, which is being sent into different sections of the country. With the wheel running at the Stone Mill, which by a vote of the town this spring the capital invested in any business which might be started there would be exempted from taxation for five years, the village would again be on the highway of progress and prosperity. The filling this mill with knitting and other paying machinery would make, with the other enter- prises already here, the large paper interest, the manufacture of stereoscopes, with which the three factories nearly supply the world, and the manufacture of erasive rubber goods, and of hat, coat, and towel racks, would give an outlook that would encourage others to invest their capital.
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The large reservoir made by the railroad embankment, and which has taken the name of Lake Parva, has become quite a place of resort for boating, and its shores are often used by families or gatherings for promenade or tea parties. It may not be generally known that about the year 1783 a grist-mill was built on the north side of the stream near where the water ceases to set back, which was known for years as the Allen Mill, it having been erected by Zebulon and Abial Allen. Gideon Olin of Shaftsbury purchased a half interest in the mill and retained it till April 12, 1791. It continued to be operated until after 1800, when it was abandoned. About the year 1832 a flax-mill was built here which was used for a year or two when it was given up.
Bennington Falls has received quite a business impulse within a few years. Charles W. Roberts has erected an extensive pulp-mill here, having first nearly doubled the water. power by blasting out the wheel-pit and raceway, and turn- ing the water from the tail-race some ways down the stream. His residence is fitted up so as to be attractive, and the mill property is in such condition as to suggest thrift and prosperity. Mr. Roberts is engaged with Olin Scott, of Ben- nington, in manufacturing his improved machinery for grinding wood into pulp, which machines are sold into many of the States of the Union.
This town furnished, in answer to calls for troops by the government dur- ing the war for the Union, from April, 1861, to the close of the war, three hundred and fifty-eight men, which is a surplus above its quota of fourteen. The response shows that the patriotism of her sons had not died out in the Rev- olutionary struggle or in the War of 1812, for if the free States and Terri- tories had raised an equal proportion, according to their population, it would have made an army of over one million and a half of men. The following is a roster of the field, staff, and company officers, from the town of Bennington, their age at the time of entering the service, and the date of their last commis- sions: Colonel, James H. Walbridge, age 34, com. February, 9, 1863; New- ton Stone, age 23, com. April 2, 1864; lieutenant-colonel John E. Pratt, age 26, com. March 14, 1865 ; major, Eugene O. Cole, age 27, brevet lieutenant- colonel, April 2, 1865 ; William D. Collins, age 37, com. November 19, 1861 ; Nathanial B. Hall, age 36, com. September 25, 1862; adjutant, Guilford S. Ladd, age 30, com. June 11, 1861 ; captain, William H. Cady, age 24, com. May 21, 1862 ; Alvah R. Haswell, age 19, com. May 9, 1865 ; Frank Ray, age 23, com. April 28, 1863; Ronsom O. Gore, age 28, com. August 27, 1862; Madison E. Winslow, age-com. September 1862 ; lieutenant, Abel K. Parsons, age 32, com. August 27, 1861 ; Dennis M. Blackmer, age 22, com. April 10, 1862; Edward N. Thayer, age 28, com. August 27, 1862; Edward W. Appleton, age 23, com. January 25, 1862 ; Gideon H. Burton, age 23, com. July 17, 1862; second-lieutenant, Otis V. Estes, age 25, com. October 17, 1862; Charles Albro, age 22, com. August 27, 1862; George Hicks, age 23, com. April 9, 1864; brevet-captain, July 6, 1864; sergeant-major, Rus- 37
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sell Fisk, age 36, com. June 7, 1865; quartermaster Fourth Regiment, J. Hal- sey Cushman, age 32, com. September 21, 1861; Henry T. Cushman, age 18, com. January 29, 1863, enlisted as regular quartermaster-sergeant March, 1862; captain commissary of subsistance, Alonzo B. Valentine, age 32, com. March 2, 1864, enlisted as quartermaster July 31, 1862, brevet-major, June 28, 1865 ; colonel com. of subsistance, George D. Harrington, age-stationed most of the time at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, enlisted May 3, 1862, com. July 24, 1865 ; captain of regimental band, in service at Washington, July 1, 1861, Frank M. Crossett. The names of privates and non-commis- sioned officers are no less deserving of mention, but the space alloted will not allow of their being enumerated here.
William S. Southworth, esq., was born in Dorset, Vt., July 14, 1807, and was the second in a family of four sons, all of whom he survived. His father, Gordon B. Southworth, was for many years a justice of the peace, and for eight years an assistant judge of the County Court. The influence of the in- telligent father, who was a friend of education, good morals and religion, and that of the mother, a daughter of the Rev. Daniel Kent, of Benson, a woman, of eminent piety and strength of character, was not lost upon the children and they became, though self taught, with the help of the common schools, well-read and able men. Being the son of a farmer he pursued the occupation of farming until he began the study of law in this town, with the exception of teaching in a district school. After being admitted to the bar he entered into partnership with Highland Hall, under the firm name of Hall & Southworth. Soon after, Mr. Hall being elected to Congress, the firm was dissolved, and he continued in practice for a number of years in Bennington Center. Of studious habits he became posseesed of high legal attainments, and was soon acknowl- edged to be one of the first lawyers in southern Vermont.
When the march of events foreshadowed that East Bennington was the future ground for the largest practice in his profession he removed his office and home here, and, as it seemed, was located permanently. But he was called to become managing agent of the Lawrence Manufacturing Company, in Lowell, Mass., in 1849, to succeed llon. John Aiken, formerly of Manchester. The situation was a lucrative one, and could be satisfactorially filled only by a man of good legal ability and sterling integrity. He had been selected, and the invitation came to him unsolicited, and to his great surprise. He accepted it, leaving his large law business, and fulfilled the duties of the responsible trust for the period of seventeen years. He had united on profession of faith, with the First Church at Bennington Center about the year 1835, and thence- forward had been an active Christian, his example and influence as such being felt in all his work, municipal, educational, humane and religious. He was a member of the prudential committee of the American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions from 1860 to 1865, and his services as such
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were highly valued. He resigned his position in Lowell in 1866 and returned to Bennington, where he again built up a good practice in his profession. The following to his memory is taken from a more lengthy sketch by ex- Governor Hiland Hall: " His thorough knowledge of the principles of law, his readiness in applying them, as well as his ability in presenting them to the consideration of the court and jury, enabled him to take a leading position at the bar, while his courteous demeanor towards the court and opposing counsel secured him universal attention and respect." We also quote a sentence from the resolutions of respect by the Bennington county bar, adopted September 3d, soon after his decease : "As a lawyer, studious and learned; as a coun- selor, faithful and always trustful; as an advocate, earnest, eloquent and digni- fied; and as a citizen one against whom no word of calumny was ever justly spoken. In his death we recognize a great public and private loss. He was married May 10, 1840, at Westmoreland, Oneida county, N. Y., to Miss Jen- nette Miller, who survives him. To them were born three daughters-the widow of the late William T. Horribin of Cohoes, N. Y., Mrs. Henry Hopkins, wife of Rev. Henry Hopkins, D. D. of Kansas City, Mo., and one who died in early youth. Mr. Southworth went to Cohoes, to reside with his son-in-law in April 1874, and to assist him, who was then in poor health, in his extensive business. His health, however, began to fail the next spring, and his deatlı occurred August 31, 1875. His remains were brought to Bennington, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. Calvin B. Hulbert, pastor of the Sec- ond Congregational Church, of which Mr. Southworth and wife were members, assisted by Revs. C. H. Hubbard and Isaac Jennings. The interment was in Bennington Center Cemetery.
Hon. Abraham B. Gardner, a prominent lawyer of Bennington, and ex- lieutenant governor of the State, was born in Pownal, September 2, 1819. His father, David Gardner, was a respectable farmer, and his mother, Eunice Wright, was of the best blood of the town. He was a good student, and ob- tained his preparatory education in Bennington, entering Union College, Schenectady, where he graduated in 1841. He studied law with his uncle Isaac T. Wright in Castleton, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in 1844. After entering upon the practice of his profession he resided in Bennington Center, having his office there until during the later years of his life, when he was asso- ciated with Henry A. Harman with an office also in Bennington village. He was register of probate nine years from December 1, 1857, state's attorney two years from December 1, 1855, and bank commissioner twelve years from 1855. He represented the town five years, from October 1860, and was the last two years speaker of the House of Representatives. He was elected lieu- tenant governor in 1865-66, and in 1870 was made county senator for the term of two years. He was a lawyer of much ability and of high character, ever demonstrating a deep interest in the prosperity and welfare of the town.
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Both as an advocate and legal adviser Mr. Gardner held a high rank, and his name attached to many of the cases upon the court docket always showed the confidence those who had business in the courts had in his ability and reputa- tion. The endorsement of the nomination of Horace Greeley by the Demo- cratic party in 1872 drew over Mr. Gardner to its support, and he afterwards affiliated with that party, though President Hayes's candidacy received his cordial support. He was connected with the business of the Eagle Square Manufacturing Company of Shaftsbury, and for years its president, and also a vice-president of the Bennington Battle Monument Association. He was presi- dent of the Bennington and Rutland Railroad at one time and counsel for it, and also attorney for the Troy and Boston Railroad. He was a firm sup- porter of the old First Church, and habitually attended worship there. His death occurred November 23, 1881, and the funeral services were conducted by his old pastor, Rev. Isaac Jennings. A large number assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to his excellence, the bar of the county being present in a body. He was thrice married, one of his daughters being the accomplished wife of Dr. Charles G. R. Jennings.
Dr. William Bigelow was born in Middletown, Vt., November 7, 1791. He studied medicine, and removed to Fairhaven in this State, and entered upon the practice of his profession. He had married Miss Dorinda Brewster of Middletown, October 9, 1815. She was a lady of rare worth, abounding in the Christian graces, and as a mother while willing to gratify her children and delighting in all that should give them pleasure, she was firm and inflexible in her opinions, and in their prosecution of what she considered right and proper. She was a lineal descendant of Elder William Brewster, one of the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, having left home and friends for the privilege of worship- ing God according to the dictates of their own consciences. The family tree shows hers to have been the - generation from this renowned " Elder of Plymouth," who was born at Scrooby, England, in 1566, and died at Ply- mouth April 16, 1644. At Scrooby was the starting point of the Pilgrim Fathers, and in his father's residence the "Protestant Nonconformists " gath- ered as a church, with Brewster as ruling elder, and John Robinson as teacher. In 1607, after repeated persecutions, he with the little band emigrated to Amsterdam, where they stayed a year and then went to Leyden. He became quite poor from the charities he dispensed and his aid to his struggling breth- ren, and was compelled to give lessons in English, adopting a grammar of his own composition for the use of his pupils. In 1620 a part of the congregation sailed for the "wild New England shore," with Elder Brewster as their spirit- ual head. Not having been ordained he did not administer the sacraments, but preached regularly on the Lord's Day
Dr. Bigelow came to Bennington in 1829, and entered at once upon an extensive practice, immediately taking a high position among the eminent phy-
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sicians who were already located here. He possessed uncominon social quali- fications, and with his native affability he was a most genial gentleman to meet, and if the conference continued there would be ideas imparted that would in- struct as well as interest. He was a graceful speaker, and being gifted with an easy flow of language he was sometimes called upon for an impromptu speech, as it was expected he would be ready for any extreme occasion. It is said of him, "he was an impressive speaker. Gracefulness of mind and person con- tributed to this. His manner was dignified, and his feeling gennine. This talent he frequently exercised in gatherings of his fellow-citizens, but more constantly in the prayer and conference meeting. He regarded the duty as sacred. In no place was his influence more happy than in business meetings of the church." His pleasant, cheerful bearing, with the Christian spirit ac- companying it, ever gave a moral atmosphere to the sick room, and he is re- membered not only as the physician of the body, but as often giving hope and comfort to the wavering. questioning soul. He was elected to represent the county for one term in the Senate of the State, which position he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Owing to failing health he was obliged to give up his professional practice, and in 1858 he went to Springfield, Mass., where his son Edmund lived, and with whom he afterwards resided. He died at Springfield April 13. 1863, and by his request the inter- ment was in Bennington. Mrs. Bigelow lived a widow twenty years after his decease, most of the time with her daughter Sophia, Mrs S. B. Sanford, in Bennington, where she died July 16, 1883, at the advanced age of 88. They rest side by side in the cemetery of the old village where they had lived so long together.
Benjamin F. Morgan, M.D., was born in Pownal, Vt., September 30, 1799. His early education was in the common schools of his town, and with what he could obtain by his own exertions he entered Williams College. He was obliged to battle against pecuniary difficulties, and left college in his senior year to earn the means, by teaching, to pursue his chosen profession, that of medicine. He began his medical study with Dr. Noadiah Swift, of Bennington, with whom he remained some time, supplementing it with a course at the Medical School in Castleton, Vt. He graduated with the highest honors of the class, and pur- sued a further course of instruction at a celebrated Philadelphia institute. Having completed so thorough a preparation he settled into the practice of his life work in his native town. Though not forward in pressing his opinions in regard to town affairs, his good judgment went far in the quiet way in which he gave any advice that was asked, so that his influence was felt more than that of many of more stirring ways. His practice was extensive, he being for a long time almost the only physician in town, as any other must be called from Bennington or Williamstown. Thus the people became much attached to him, and, in addition to their honoring him with various town offices, he was elected
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to represent them in the State Legislature, and also by the county as its sen- ator. In 1856 he removed from Pownal to Bennington Center, leaving his practice there to be prosecuted by his son, Dr. E. N. S. Morgan, who after- wards removed to Bennington, and who died before his father. His ac- quaintance with a large number of the inhabitants, and having been so often called as physician or counsel by many, he at once had all the calls he could well attend to. He became a member of the Mount Anthony Lodge of Ma- sons in 1857, and was faithful in his obligations to the society, as he was in all other duties which he assumed. In 1862 he received the appointment from the
government of surgeon inspector-general for this department, with his head- quarters at Rutland. The office he held until the close of the war when he was regularly discharged, receiving the approbation and thanks of "the proper officials for the most complete and perfect reports and suggestions rendered to them during the war." He was a constant and thorough student in medical science of the best and latest authors, and in the most advanced thought of the profession.
In 1880 when it was doubtful as to the success of the Republican party he was selected as the standard bearer, and his personal popularity made it an easy victory to elect him to represent the town in the General Assembly. In his younger days he had an office temporarily with William Lloyd Garrison, near the residence of Charles W. Swift, in which they, with some others, it is said, organized the first anti-slavery society, long before such a party was known, or the subject had become a matter of national politics. Dr. Morgan made a public profession of religion late in life, and united with the old First Church at the Center. He was married to Miss Harriett Jewett of Pownal in 1825, who still survives him, and with whom he shared over sixty years of happy conju- gal life. His death occurred February 4, 1886, and at the funeral services Rev. Isaac Jennings said: "He professed religion late in life, but those who knew him, saw him at the couch of suffering, cannot doubt but that years before he had taken the course of practical Christianity, which needed only the public profession for the crown to his character."
Seth B. Hunt was born in Bennington in February, 1811. He was the son of Jonathan Hunt who came here about 1795, and was permanently located as a jeweller. At an early age he went to New York as a clerk in the store of Arthur Tappan & Co., then the largest dry goods house in the city. Al- though a youth he made rapid progress, taking a high position for his commer- cial ability. He drank in the spirit of earnestness and benevolence of the senior member of the firm, and was through life a friend of the slave or the needy under all circumstances. Soon after he became of age, he, with his brother Jonathan, the sixth of the same Christian name in direct succession, went into business at No. 18 Exchange Place. They were successful mer- chants, and being popular with country dealers who then visited the city at
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least twice a year, they received the patronage of most of the merchants from this section of the State. He went to Manchester, England in 1849, and was a member then of the firm of Stavert, Hunt & Zigomala, whose business rela- tions were extensive, reaching over much of the continent. He returned in 1854, but did not enter again into business until 1860, when he organized the firm of Hunt, Tillinghast & Co., of which he was the senior member. They were manufacturing woolen shawls at Leeds, N. Y., and the business being very profitable he was led to erect the large mills in Bennington village, cost- ing nearly a half million of dollars. He also erected on the old homestead a fine summer residence in connection with which there is a fountain throwing water hardly second only to any in the world. The residence is now used as the Vermont Soldier's Home. -
Mr. Hunt was an energetic business man, and with good judgment and executive ability his well laid enterprises generally succeeded. His strong ab- olition views gave offense to many of his Southern customers before the war, so that his business suffered considerably, but his wealth enabled him to stem the tide and continue master of the situation. He aided largely the Free Soil party in Kansas in its early struggles, and did much, financially, to bring that territory into the Union as a free State. A firm supporter of the war, he was liberal in his gifts and means towards raising and fitting out regiments for ser- vice. In church matters he was particularly helpful He contributed gen- erously to Oberlin College. Ohio, and assisted in founding several churches in New York and Brooklyn, as well as giving liberally to churches in his native town. He was a long tried friend of Rev. George B. Cheeam, D.D., in New York and an attendant at the Broadway Tabernacle Church. With T. W. Park he presented the village of Bennington with the Free Library building, and the library which has done so much for the education and reputation of the village.
His first wife was Frances Raymond, of Bennington Center, who died in 1866, leaving a daughter, Mrs. Julius Catlin, whose husband was at one time his partner in the importing and commission business. He was married the second time to a daughter of the late Rev. J. P. Thompson, D.D., of the Broadway Tabernacle Church, New York. Mr. Hunt died April 20, 1880, at his winter residence, No. 35 West Nineteenth Street, New York, leaving a widow and four children as the fruit of the second marriage. The funeral ser- vices were conducted by Rev. William M. Taylor, D.D., of the Tabernacle Church, and the interment was in Greenwood Cemetery.
HISTORY OF THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF BENNINGTON.
It was not that the people of the pretty little hamlet of Bennington "on the hill," seriously opposed the project of building up a town on the site of what they were pleased to term " Algiers," that created the strong feeling of unpleas-
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antness between the citizens of the two places. The residents of the upper vil- lage realized full well the fact that the lower village possessed natural advanta- ges of situation along the Walloomsac with its abundant water power that made it certain that a village would sooner or later grow upon the lands bor- dering on that stream ; but it was when the lower village had attempted to take from the older town the county buildings, the post-office, and other of her loved institutions, that an unpleasant feeling began to manifest itself. But the lower or east village soon threw off its " Algerian " condition and took the name of East Bennington by the establishment of a post-office there January 14, 1844, with General Henry Robinson as postmaster. At this time the pop- ulation of the village numbered several hundred, and was considerably larger than the older town on the hill. It had also no less than four established and prosperous church societies-the Methodist, Episcopal, Congregationalist, and Baptist.
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