USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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Assuming to be correct the compilation of district officers published in the school catalogue of 1887, the same is herein copied literally, except that the names of such officers as have been elected subsequent to that publication are here added. The following list is designed to show the names of such persons as have been officers of the school district from the time the same was organ- ized.
Moderators .- George W. Harman, 1870 to 1880; John T. Shurtleff, 1880 to 1884; John V. Carney, 1884 to 1888.
Clerks .- Thomas J. Tiffany, 1870 to 1880; Charles E. Graves, 1880 to 1885; Henry D. Fillmore, 1885 to 1888 ; Dr. Henry C. Day, 1888.
Treasurers .- George W. Harman, 1870-'71 to 1880-'S1; Ellis A. Cobb, 1871 to 1880, 1881 to 1884; Luther R. Graves, 1884 to 1885; George F. Graves, 1885 to 1888.
Collectors .- Rudolph Goldsmith, 1870 to 1872 ; James B. Meacham, 1872 to 1882, 1883 to 1888; David Carpenter, 1882 to 1883.
Auditors .- Hiram Bingham, 1870-'77; Henry E. Bradford, 1870-'74; Wil- liam S. Southworth, 1870-'74; Daniel McEowen, 1874-'77; John T. Shurtleff, 1874-'81 ; Orrin D. Adams, 1877-'80; A. P. Childs, 1877-'82 ; Olin Scott, 1880-'82; L. P. Norton, 1880-'S1; Charles E. Dewey, 1882-'84; John V. Hall, 1882-'84; Thomas White, 1882-'84; John V. Carney, 1884-'88; Irving E. Gibson, 1884-'88; George W. Harman, 1884-'87 ; John T. Shurtleff, 1887- '88.
Trustees .- Bradford, Henry E., 1874.'77 ; Bradbury, Levi, 1881-'84; Ben- nett, E. D., 1886-'89; Carney, John V., 1870-'71; Carpenter, David, 1870-'71; Childs, A. P., 1882-'85 ; Cole, Charles G, 1884-'86; Cooper, Charles, 1884- '86; Day, Henry C., 1884-'90; Dewey, Charles E., 1870-'71, 1874-'82; Drys- dale, William, 1871-'74; Graves, Luther R., 1870-'71 : Hall, John V., 1874- '78; Hawks, William E., 1875-'81, 1883-'84; Hamlin, Lafayette D., 1871-75; Harman, George W., 1874 '80; Hubbard, Chauncey H., 1871-'74; Hurlburt, H. H., 1877.'83; McEowen, Daniel, 1870-'73; Morgan, E. N. S., 1878-'83 ; Peelor, Sylvester, 1870-'75 ; Pierce, Charles A., 1887-'90; Potter, Andrew, 1884-'87; Potter, Henry J., 1875-'81; Rockwood, Buel, 1870-'74; Scott, Olin, 1882-'88; Scranton, J. N., 1884-'87 ; Squire, F. N., 1886-'88 ; Tiffany, Eli, 1883-'89; Tiffany, Thomas J., 1880-'84; Valentine, Alonzo B., 1873-'82; Walbridge, J. Ed., 1887-'90; White, Francis C., 188.1-'84; Wood, George A., 1871-'74. The present officers of the district are as follows: Moderator, John 41
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V. Carney ; treasurer, George F. Graves ; collector, James B. Meacham ; clerk, Henry J. Fillmore; auditors, Irving E. Gibson, John T. Shurtleff and J. Ed. Walbridge; trustees, Charles A. Pierce, Ist ward; F. N. Squire, 2d ward; Henry C. Day, 3d ward; Lyman F. Abbott, 4th ward ; E. D. Bennett, 5th ward ; J. Ed. Walbridge, 6th ward, and Eli Tiffany, 7th ward. Lyman F. Ab- bott is the present president and Dr. H. C. Day, secretary of the board of trustees.
Churches of Bennington .- It has been said by some one that the village of Bennington is not at all noted for its churches. What spirit may have an- imated the utterer of this assertion is quite uncertain, but it is positively a fact that the church edifices of the village are equal to those to be found in any other place similar to this, and the congregations are as large at every service, whether on Sunday or any other occasion, as is the case in any like commu- nity. At all events, he who says that the spiritual welfare of the people of the village is not as carefully looked to by the several pastors and their co-workers in the societies, is most assuredly laboring under a misapprehension of fact, to use the mildest contradiction. It may be true that there are villages in Ver- mont whose church edifices are more pretentious in appearance, but it is ex- ceedingly doubtful if any village no larger than Bennington can show much better churches than the Second Congregational or the First Baptist, and the new Catholic Church when completed will probably compare favorably in architectural design and construction with any in New England. And the other church buildings, while not erected with reference to elegance, are sub- stantial and convenient for their intended use.
The First Baptist Church .- This is the oldest established religious society of the village, having been organized in April, 1827, although it was not until 1830 that a church home was erected. The early meetings were held at vari- ous places about the village until the society was sufficiently strong in num- bers and means to build an edifice for church worship. The old building stood on the site of the present one and was taken down that the latter might be built in its stead. The first church was used by the society for forty-eight years, and at the time of its reduction was too small to accommodate the growing society. The present edifice of the Baptist Society is one of the most at- tractive, and, withal, one of the best arranged and most desirable churches of Vermont. Its interior is arranged according to the most modern idea of church architecture, the seats being in the form of circles, and the rear part of the au- ditorium some three feet higher than the front, thus affording equally desirable sittings in the back part of the room. The building is of brick with appropriate trimmings about corners, doors and windows The cost of the edifice was less than twenty-five thousand dollars, but the value of the entire church property is considerably in excess of that sum. The first pastor of the Baptist Society was Rev. F. Baldwin, who officiated from 1828 to 1830, when he was succeeded by
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Kev. Thomas Teasdale who also remained in charge for two years. The third pastor was Rev. Jeremiah Hall, who stayed until 1835, when Rev. Samuel B. Willis succeeded for one year only. In 1836 Rev. Stephen Hutchins was called to the church, remaining until 1841. Rev. William W. Moore succeeded Rev. Hutchins, and in the fall of 1843 was himself succeeded by Rev. Cyrus W. l lodges, whose pastoral relation continued until the latter part of 1848, and he, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Edward Conover. Following the retirement of Mr. Conover, in 1852, the succession of pastors has been as follows: Revs. A. J. Chaplin, Warren Lincoln, W. S. Apsey, S. K. Dexter, R. M. Luther, (from 1871 to 1880), C. G. Baldwin, jr., L. Martin, the latter being the present in- cumbent.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The organization of the Methodist So- ciety of Bennington village took place in the year 1827, but one month later than the time of organizing the Baptist Society. The society, like that last above mentioned, also held its early meetings at convenient places, and did not acquire a regular church edifice until the year 1833, when the stone church on Main street, between North and School streets, was built. This is a small, plain stone building and will comfortably seat about four hundred and seventy-five persons. The church has undergone occasional repairs and enlargements, but retains much of its original appearance and form. It is not what might be styled a modern building, but, notwithstanding that, its old appearance, to- gether with the fact of its being the oldest structure of its kind in the village, lend a charm to the place that is hardly desirable to remove. Some of the first families of the village have been connected with this society. The custom of the Methodist Church is to have the records kept at the seat of the conference of the district; therefore it is difficult to obtain a succession of pastors from local sources. The Methodist pastor is not generally stationed long in a single society, but changes frequently, according to the laws governing the church. But among the earlier ministers in charge of the society the names of some can be recalled, as follows : Revs. Cyrus Prindle, John M. Weaver, Wright Ha- zen, Henry Burton, Henry Smith, - Hubbard, C. R. Wilkins, Jesse Craig, J. W. Belknap, H. B. Knight, R. Wescott, Merritt Bates, H. R. Smith, Ensign Stover, J. E. Bonner, C. R. Morris, and others. All of the above, except, perhaps, the last named, were here prior to the year 1860. The present men- bership of the church numbers about three hundred persons, and the society is is under the present pastoral charge of Rev. Frederick Widmer. In 1883 the society erected a comfortable pastor's residence at the corner of School and Pleasant streets.
St. Peter's Church, (Episcopal.)-The society of St. Peter's was organized in Bennington on the 24th of July, 1834, but not until two years later was the church edifice built. Among the persons and families prominently connected with this society during the early period of its existence there can be recalled
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
the names of Norton, Squires, Doolittle, Leavenworth, Safford, Canfield, I .: erett, Thatcher, Rouse, Lyman and others, leading families of the community
In 1836 the church edifice was built. It stands at the northeast corn .. of Pleasant and School streets, a small though substantial brick building, de- signed for a comfortable and modest church home rather than a display ... architectural skill. The church was consecrated with appropriate services o: the 22d of July, 1839.
The first rector appointed to the parish was Rev. Nathaniel O. Preston, whose pastorate continued until 1844, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. I Todd, the latter remaining but one year. The third rector was Rev. C. Ben- nington, who remained but a few months. Rev. Dr. George B. Manser came to the rectorship of the parish in 1850, and continued many years. Under his charge the church grew largely in influence and membership, increasing be- tween the years 1850 and 1863 from fifty to one hundred and twenty commu- nicants. Subsequent to Dr. Manser's retirement the rectors have been Revs. Phillips, Bliss, Jones, Graves, Barrow and Walker, the latter, the Rev. Wil- liam Bogert Walker, having assumed pastoral charge of the parish in February, 1888, succeeding Rev. A. J. Barrow. The present number of communicating members in St. Peter's is about one hundred and fifty.
The Second Congregational Church .- This society was organized in April, 1836, by residents of the town of Bennington, who had theretofore been con- nected with the old Congregational Society of Bennington Center, but who, desiring a church of their denomination at the East village, more convenient for their people living in that part of the town, separated themselves from the old organization and formed the new, taking the name of "Second Congrega- tional Church of Bennington," under the pastoral charge of Rev. Aretas G. Loomis. In 1838 the society built a church edifice. This was a plain wood structure of sufficient size at the time of its erection, but the society rapidly increased in members, necessitating the building of a large addition; but on August 11th, 1864 the edifice was destroyed by fire, leaving the society with- out a church home, in which situation it remained until the erection of the large and elegant structure that now adorns the northeast corner of Main and School streets. This was built in 1873 at a total cost of from $45,000 to $50,000.
The church proper fronts on Main street, and in the rear, and connected with the main edifice is the chapel or lecture-room. Beyond this, and occu- pying the corner of School and Pleasant streets, is the pastor's residence, a convenient and attractive brick dwelling. Thus the church property of this society extends from Main to Pleasant street, and has a frontage the entire dis- tance between these on School street, a most desirable and valuable location. The main edifice is of brick and stone, tastefully trimmed, and the architecture of the whole property is appropriate and beautiful, although not extravagant,
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leaving to the observer the impression that comfort, convenience and dura- bility were the aim of its designers rather than unnecessary display.
The society of this church is unquestionably the largest and most affluent of Bennington, if not of the entire county. The present membership is two hundred and fifty-two. As is elsewhere stated, the first pastor was Rev. Aretas G. Loomis, whose connection with the society continued until the early part of November, 1850, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. M. Beverage, the son- in-law of the former pastor. Since that time the succession of pastors has been as follows : Revs. C. H. Hubbard, C. B. Hurlbert, E. G. Reed, F. J. Mundy, Dr. C. C. Kimball, and Charles R. Seymour, the latter coming to the church October Ist, 1888.
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, (French Catholic.)-Prior to the year 1880 there was no Catholic Church whatever within the corporate limits of this village, and all the people of this faith were obliged to travel to the west vil- lage in attending church service. Among the Catholic population of the place were a number of French families, who believed themselves sufficiently strong to organize a French Catholic Society. Accordingly application was made to the bishop of the diocese, and by that officer the church was established in 1880, although it was two years later that a church edifice was built. It stands on School street, about a block north from the Graded School building. The society is not large, and is composed almost exclusively of the French people of the village and township. Prior to the erection of the church build- ing the services of the society were held in Noyes' Block, on Main street. The Rev. Father Joseph Audet is priest of the parish.
The New Catholic Church .- On a large and elevated tract of land, situate just west of the Dewey homestead, is already laid the foundation for an elegant Catholic Church edifice, to be occupied when completed by the society of St. Francis De Sales' Church, who are now compelled to attend the service near Bennington Center, nearly a mile west of the large village of Bennington, while the majority of the congregation reside at the village last named. It this structure is built according to the present design, it will unquestionably be the most elaborate and costly building of its kind in southern Vermont. The priest in charge of the work is Rev. Father Michaud, who also is pastor of St. Francis De Sales' Church on the hill. The latter was established in 1855 by Father Druon.
Banks of Bennington .- The first banking institution established at the vil- lage of Bennington was the old Stark Bank, which was brought into existence in 1848, with William S. Southworth, president, and George W. Harman, cashier. Its capital stock was $100,000, in shares of $50 each. The bank building was on the site now occupied by Counselor Meacham as a law office, on Main street west.
The career of the old Stark Bank, while not particularly brief, was at least
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
eventful. It did not "live out" its charter, but liquidated under the State law on account of a ten per cent. tax, the payment of which the business of the in- stitution would hardly warrant. Mr. Harman remained cashier throughout the existence of the bank, but Mr. Southworth was succeeded in the presi- dency by David Love, and the latter, in turn, by Isaac Weeks. When the affairs of the bank were closed it was found that four thousand dollars of its currency was not returned for redemption, and it never came. The Stark Bank succeeded the still older Bank of Bennington, an institution of the " village on the hill."
The First National Bank .- Had it not been for a slight defect in the orig- inal application for the charter for the First National Bank of Bennington that institution would have been the first organized in Vermont under the National Banking Act; but on account of the delay occasioned by the error this bank had to take a place " further down the line." However, it was incorporated in 1863, and took the number one hundred and thirty in the country's banks. The capital stock was $110,000. The bank opened its doors for business dur- ing the fall of 1863, with officers as follows: President, Luther R. Graves ; vice-president, Henry E. Bradford ; cashier, Henry G. Root ; board of direct- ors, Luther R. Graves, Henry E. Bradford, Henry G. Root, William R. Graves, and Willard Gay of Troy. The original charter expired in 1883 and was then renewed.
Luther R. Graves has continued president since incorporation ; Mr. Root, after the first year, was elected vice-president, Ellis A. Cobb succeeding to the cashiership. The institution now shows a surplus of about $55,000, and is in all respects a successful concern. For five years the bank did business in the building next west of its present location, but in 1868 it was moved to the sub- stantial brick building now occupied, the cost of which was some $11,000, with $5,000 additional for vault and safe.
The present officers of the First National Bank are : President, Luther R. Graves ; first vice-president, Henry G. Root ; second vice-president, Lyman F. Abbott ; cashier, George F. Graves ; directors, Luther R. Graves, Henry G. Root, Lyman F. Abbott, William R. Graves, and Willard Gay.
The Bennington County National Bank .- This corporation was chartered in August, 1878, having a capital stock of $100,000, and organized with the following officers : President, Charles Thatcher ; vice-president, S. M. Sibley; cashier, Ellis A. Cobb ; directors, Charles Thatcher, S. M. Sibley, J. T. Shurt- leff, William E. Hawks, Charles E. Houghton, George A. Wood, Luman P. Norton, David Carpenter, Noble Phillips.
No material change has been made in the board of executive officers, ex- cept that upon the death of Cashier Cobb, Clement H. Cone was appointed to that position. The bank does a business in the Park Building, on South street. Its surplus is over $16,000. The present board of directors is Charles That-
L. F. abbott
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cher, S. M. Sibley, John T. Shurtleff, William E. Hawks, I. F. Paddock, George A. Wood, since deceased, David F. Squires, E. D. Fillmore, Charles E. Hough- ton.
Bennington County Savings Bank, chartered October 27, 1876, organized January 12, 1878. First officers : President, Henry E. Bradford ; vice-presi- dent, Luman P. Norton ; treasurer, Ellis A. Cobb; trustees, Henry E. Brad- ford, Luman P. Norton, George W. Harman, Alonzo B. Valentine, David Car- penter, William E. Hawks, George A. Wood.
In 1879 Luman P. Norton succeeded Mr. Bradford as president, and Major Valentine was elected vice-president in the place vacated by Mr. Norton ; also, January 8, 1879, Judge Harman was made treasurer. On April 21, 1883 Ma- jor Valentine was chosen president, William E. Hawks becoming vice-presi- dent at the same time, in each of which positions they have since respectively remained. In February, 1886, Judge Harman resigned his office as treasurer and John T. Shurtleff was appointed in his stead ; at the same time Judge Har- man was chosen secretary of the corporation, and keeper of the records. The deposits of the savings bank now amount to about a quarter of a million dol- lars. The funds are placed with the Bennington County National Bank by whom the business of the savings bank is done, a peculiar but not objection- able manner of operating savings funds.
Bennington's Manufacturing Interests .- In the early part of this chapter, relating to the village of Bennington, mention was made of some. a few of its pioneer manufacturing interests, but not all of its early business enterprises of this character were noted, nor is it possible that all can be noticed in this branch or division of the subject. But there were some not heretofore named that will be mentioned incidentally as having formerly stood on the site of some prominent industry of the present time, while there were probably oth- ers that may now be entirely forgotten. The question is often asked : "How is it that the comparatively small village of Bennington possesses so many knit- goods factories ?" The answer is simple enough. When the Bradfords, Gen- eral George and Henry E., started the business in the village (for these persons are conceded to have been the pioneers of this industry in the place) their en- terprise was in a measure experimental, but before long it became known that the experiment was decidedly successful. This induced others to engage in the like manufacture, which also being being a success, firm after firm was or- . ganized, and the final result came that gave Bennington its present enviable reputation as an important manufacturing village.
The Bradford Mills .- The name just used is coined for convenience, and is not used by the proprietors as a distinguishing term. In 1853 Henry E. Brad- ford built a little frame building just back of the present factory, and in the following year commenced the manufacture of woolen cloths, and so continued for about three years, when he changed the machinery and commenced the
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manufacture of knit underwear, shirts and drawers. The building he occupied was twice destroyed by fire, but as frequently rebuilt. After a short time George Bradford became interested with his brother, and so continued until 1863, but at the latter date withdrew and took what was known as the Upper Works. When George Bradford went into the concern the firm style of H. E. Bradford & Co. was adopted, and has ever since been used, and that notwith- standing the fact that Henry E. Bradford has been dead for more than ten years.
Upon the withdrawal of General Bradford from the business Lyman F. Ab- bott, who had been for some years an employee in the mills, became one of the firm, and one year later, in 1864, John Kelso also acquired an interest in the concern, and thereafter the mills were conducted with excellent results to the interested partners. In April, 1878, Mr. Bradford, the senior member of the firm, and founder of the business, died. At that time the remaining members were Lyman F. Abbott, John Kelso and William H. Bradford, the latter a son of Henry E. Bradford. Upon Mr. Bradford's death Edward W. Bradford, an- other son, took an interest in the business, which was thenceforth conducted until 1884, at which time Mr. Kelso withdrew. From that until the present time the firm styled H. E. Bradford & Co. has been composed of Lyman F. Abbott, William H. and Edward W. Bradford. The extensive factory build- ing was erected in 1874, but during the same year an accidental gas explosion resulted in the burning of the west wing, but that was at once rebuilt. The present firm are using six sets of machinery and employ about one hundred and twenty-five persons.
The site upon which General George Bradford first started in business in the village was that formerly operated by R. S. Macumber as a wood shop, and was sold by him to Lincoln Raymond and turned into a clothes-pin factory. By the latter it was sold to the Bradfords. General Bradford built just west of Rockwood's factory, and had a knitting-mill there for some time. The build- ing was burned in 1884. General Bradford died in 1876.
The Valentine Knitting Company (incorporated) .- On the smooth sur- face of a large stone cap over the main entrance to this extensive establish- ment are engraved these words: "Business established by Joel Valentine, A. D., 1824, Building destroyed by fire 1836. Rebuilt 1845. Enlarged by A. B. Valentine 1865-1882. Destroyed by fire in 1883. Rebuilt by A. B. Val- entine in 1885."
This is a reasonably concise history of the building, but something else in the same connection is worthy of notice. In 1824 Joel Valentine commenced the manufacture of woolen cloths in the little old frame building that then stood on the site, but before that, and even as far back as 1812, so it is said, there stood on this " privilege " a little fulling-mill.
Joel Valentine engaged in business here until the year 1865, at which time
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Charles Cooper
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his son, Major A. B. Valentine, took the plant, fitted it for and commenced the manufacture of knit goods, which has ever since continued, and is now one of the most extensive concerns of the village. After Major Valentine rebuilt the factory, subsequent to its destruction in 1883, an incorporated company was formed which is. now known as the Valentine Knitting Company, the officers of which are as follows : President, H. C. Lindoff; vice-president, Alonzo B. Valentine ; secretary, A. B. Perkins ; treasurer, Wells Valentine. The capital stock of the company is $60,000. The capacity of the mill is eight sets of ma- chinery and employment is given to one hundred and fifty persons.
Rockwood's Mills .- In 1861 George Rockwood started a hosiery knitting- mill and conducted it about six months as such, but at the end of that time commenced the manufacture of shirts and drawers. The firm name of Rock- wood & Co. is derived from the partnership of Mr. Rockwood and Mrs. Mar- tha E. Pratt, the latter representing the interest her father had in the business. The Rockwood mill is situate in the eastern part of the village, on Main street, runs five sets of machinery and employs about one hundred persons.
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