USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Arlington contains but a small proportion of tillable land. The soil is fer- tile, and if properly cultivated yields large returns. Sheep raising is an impor- tant industry. The mountains and hills are covered with quite a variety of timber, consisting principally of chestnut, oak, beech, birch, maple and elm. There is also considerable pine and some walnut in the town. On the Batten- kill are located, near the west line, the woodworking shop and saw-mill of Will- iam's & Teft, and at the "street," the shop and mills of E. M. Lathrop. Near the railroad station are the woodworking shops and saw-mill of D. G. Barney, and the old car shop works and machine shop of G. W. Miltimore, each driven by steam power. At East Arlington are located the extensive chair shops of H. A. Hale, the saw frame factory of Judson & Deming, the machine shop of Ira Canfield, the grist. mill of A. R. Brown, and the woodworking shop of B. W. Safford.
A. S. Canfield and Warren Cole also own and operate a saw-mill in town. Arlington has for many years produced a large amount of manufactured wooden goods of different varieties, and furnishes a profitable market for the wood and timber of the surrounding towns. It is also the shipping point for a large amount of lumber from Sunderland and Sandgate. The mercantile interest is represented by Judson & Deming, and N. G. Hard, at East Arlington ; Woodworth & Canfield, O. E. Adams, and C. B. Viault, at the "street; " and H. T. Eaton, at West Arlington. The hotel is located at the "street," and is conducted by W. C. Bartlett. In beauty and magnificence the scenery of Ar- lington is unrivaled. Nowhere can be found more picturesque drives than among her hills and valleys, and a clear sunset in June, when old "Sol" goes to rest in the notch where the "Kill" breaks through between the mountains. is a sight when once seen is never to be forgotten. From near the house where dwelt Governor Chittenden, gazing westward, one beholds the landscape rep- resented on the State seal. The legend is that an English officer who had secret business with the governor was so impressed with the beauty of the view
405
TOWN OF ARLINGTON.
vom the west window of the house that he engraved the same upon one of the overnor's drinking cups. This cup was made of the horn of an ox, and had a wooden bottom. The engraved cup afterwards came to the attention of Ira Allen, and with a slight alteration was adopted for the State seal.
Churches .- The exact date of the organization of the Episcopal Church is unknown. Its records open at August 16, 1784. Meetings for public religious worship were held, and the church society undoubtedly had an organization long before the Revolution. Jehial Hawley was for several years lay- reader. James Nichols, the first settled minister, was hired in 1784, at an annual salary of twenty-five pounds, and to increase as the grand list of the members increased but not to exceed thirty pounds per annum. The services for public worship prior to 1784, and probably most of the time prior to 1804, were held in pri- vate houses. The records of the society show that on the 6th day of Novem- ber, 1784 a committee was appointed to confer with Governor Chittenden con - cerning the location of the church. At a meeting of the society held on the 15th day of the same month it was voted to build a church in the east part of the town, and a committee appointed to superintend the work. In 1788 Mr Nichols was dismissed, and from that time until 1803, when it was voted to complete the church, there were, so far as the records show, but three or four business meetings of the society. From this, and the fact that the town sup ported religious worship in the interim, it is safe to say that the church society did not. November 7, 1791 the town voted to and subsequently did hire Rev. Russell Catlin for four years on the following terms : seventy pounds for a set tlement and an annual salary of fifty pounds, to increase as the grand list in- creased, but not to exceed sixty pounds yearly. The settlement was payable in cattle and grain, and the salary in grain. A tax was voted on the grand list of the town to defray this, and a collector appointed to collect the same.
Mr. Catlin preached under this contract until November 7, 1796, when by a vote of the town he was dismissed at his own request. During his incum- bency the records of the town meetings show that it was voted to finish the church, but nothing appears to show that the vote was carried out. With the expiration of Mr. Catlin's service the support of preaching by the town as such seems to have ended, and so far as appears from the records of either town or church no settled minister preached in town after Mr. Catlin until February 1, 1803 when the Rev. Abram Brownson was hired. The church was finished by the society about this time, and preaching has been maintained by it ever since. The building was known as the "Yellow Church," and occupied the site of the present stone church. At this time a goodly portion of the members of the Episcopal Society resided at the west part of the town, some four or five miles distant. And in the latter part of the year 1802 those persons met and voted to build a church. It was finished in 1804, and is the same church now stand- ing on what is known as the "Green," in West Arlington.
406
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
The "Yellow" church was for a long time known as " Bethel," and Li, - one on the "Green " as " Bethesda." " Bethel" has now for many years bory called "St. James." In 1823 the society at the "street," in compliance with er general act of the Legislature, was formally organized under the name of. Protestant Episcopal Church of Arlington. In 1829-30 the old " Yelt. church was torn down and the present stone edifice erected. This socich ways has, and does now hold and collect the rent of what is known as . "glebe," vested in it by virtue of the town's charter. In course of time . control of "Bethesda" church seems to have passed, by tacit consent, from ' Episcopal Society, and is now used for public worship by a Union society
As a curious circumstance connected with the hiring of the minister by .: town it is recorded that the question of hiring a candidate to preach was so. eral times that year brought up in the town meetings. At one of these th committee appointed for that purpose reported that there was no prospect f finding any. At another it was voted to hire none. And the evident fi : . culminuted in a motion " to have the town divided into two separate and dis. tinct societies so far as appertains to religious worship, supporting a minist ... of the Gospel, building houses of public worship, etc." On this motion ti . vote was sixteen ayes and sixteen nays. At the next meeting harmony seenie to prevail, and the town voted to hire its preacher without a dissenting voice
November 2, 1843 the Congregational Church Society of Sunderland and East Arlington was organized with nine members. The present Congreg :- tional Church in East Arlington was completed and dedicated July 20, 184> Rev. Mr. Kitchel and Rev. A. W. Nott supplied the pulpit for the first six years. Preaching has been maintained most of the time in the church. The Rev. Joshua Collins who was ordained and installed March 27, 1860 being the only regular pastor.
In 1856 a Methodist Society was organized in East Arlington, and a churc !: was completed and dedicated February 22, 1857, Rev. S. W. Clemens bein .: the first appointed minister. At the present time the pastor has charge of this church and also the one at Sandgate.
The St Columbia Roman Catholic Church, located at the "street," wa- dedicated in 1878, Rev. T. J. Gaffany filling the pulpit for the first ten years.
407
TOWN OF DORSET.
CHAPTER XXIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF DORSET.I
D ORSET is situated immediately north of Manchester, and borders on Rut- land county on the north. It is midway between Bennington and Rut- land, and is located on the Bennington and Rutland Railroad, which passes through the eastern portion of the township. The general aspect of the town is mountainous ; the extreme eastern part being bordered its entire length by the Green Mountain range, while through the center of the town, running northerly, extends a branch of the Taconic Mountains, of which Mount Æolus, or Dorset Mountain is the highest, with the exception of Mount Equinox, be- ing 3,148 feet above tide water. On this mountain are several valuable marble quarries some of which are about 1,400 feet above the railroad in the valley, less than two miles to the cast. Above the south quarry is Dorset Cave, its elevation being nearly 1,Soo feet above the village of East Dorset. It opens into the mountain on the almost perpendicular wall, and slopes down- ward towards the west, the entrance being from twelve to fifteen feet in diame- ter, and extending with uniform size 100 feet or more, when several narrow passages are found, leading into rooms of considerable size. Beyond these the passages continue farther than have been explored. Geologists claim this cave to have been the bed of a river, and on account of currents of air coming from the narrow passages, suppose openings to exist on the western slope of the mountain.
A peculiarity of the climate of this township is the light fall of snow in win- ter, as compared with towns on the corresponding eastern slope, which are covered with a great depth of snow.
It may be proper to add in this connection that in 1860 the senior class of Amherst College, in company with the able geologist, Dr. C. H. Hitchcock, visited this neighborhood and Dorset Mountain in particular, christening the latter, with appropriate ceremonies, Mount ÆEolus. The solution furnished by this scientific body for the somewhat singular phenomenon above referred to is as follows: Æolus, God of the winds, fled from fallen Greece, and took up his abode in the caves and marbled halls of this mountain. When this God, so goes the myth, calls home Boreas, driving before him snow and hail, then
1 By George M. Viall, esq., of East Dorset.
-
408
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
comes Auster (the south wind) too, with warm breath and weeping showr: and volute frost work and scroll soon disappear. 1
" We'll tell again that old, old tale, Of Æolus of yore, Who from his cave hard by the vale, So loudly used to roar.
CHORUS .- " Blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, North, South, and East and West, Blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, With ne'er a place to rest.
"He left that home long years ago, That home of Auld Lang Syne, Many a land he's wandered through, And o'er the ocean's brine. We've brought him here with us to-day, We'll leave him here to rest, While wind and storm shall come alway And go, at his beliest. CHORUS .- " Blow, blow, etc.
"This mountain grand, henceforth all men, Mount Æolus shall call, Till earth shall sink, and loose again The giant's mighty. thrall. Then blow ye winds, ye breezes all, Obey your king's command, He sits in this grand marble hall, Ye are his servant band. CHORUS .- " Blow, blow, etc."
A portion of Equinox Mountain lies in the southwestern part of the town, with West Mountain farther to the north.
Thus it will be seen that the town is divided into two parellel valleys, in one of which is located the village of West Dorset, or Dorset proper, while
' "Saturday morning, October 13, 1860, about thirty members of the class, in company with Mr. Charles H. Hitchcock, visited the quarries and cave, and on the natural platform just below its entrance performed the christening ceremonies. Mr. Hitchcock spoke briefly of the geological structure of the mountain, especially remarkable for the horizontal position of its strata. The existence of a cave, evidently an old river bed, at such an elevation showed how wonderful had been the transformation in this section of the country. He poured a bottle of pure water upon the mountain and christened it Mount Æolus, a name well corresponding to Mount Equinox, near by, and appropriate because this is a region of winds, and because the lofty mountain so much affects their direction and power in the neighboring valleys. Suitable. moreover, because Eolus dwelt in a cave-very likely in this, for no one could prove that he lived anywhere else, and this mountain is higher and better adapted for his residence than Stromboli, where he was fabled to dwell. Mr. Frederick Field, who accompanied the party up the mountain, in the name of the citizens of Dorset expressed to the class. their gratification ... this visit, and their acceptance of the name bestowed upon the hoary mountain, to which they all looked up with so much love and reverence. An appropriate poem was then read, and the song, of which the following is an extract, was sung :"
409
TOWN OF DORSET.
three miles to the south is the village of South Dorset. In the eastern valley .... , villages are found, East Dorset and North Dorset, three miles apart, through which passes the Bennington and Rutland Railroad. In this valley ste found the sources of Otter Creek and Battenkill River, the former wind- in; its way to the north and emptying into Lake Champlain, the latter flow- mg southerly and westerly to the Hudson. In the western valley are also two nivers; one, the Mettawee or Pawlet River, flowing to the north, the other flowing south and joining the Battenkill in Manchester. These apparently deep valleys are thus shown to be a watershed. It may be well to mention a peculiarity in regard to the mountain springs and streams, all waters from the Green Mountains on the east being very soft, while those from the west are hard, being impregnated with lime.
The soil is mostly gravelly on the hills ; all along the rivers it is loam, free from stones, quite fertile, and good grazing land. The scenery from the moun- tain roads, and especially from Mount /Eolus, is magnificent. The thriving villages of Manchester and those beyond, with fruitful fields in the broad val- ley of the Battenkill, are plainly to be seen to the south, while on either side, the hills and mountains rise in pleasing succession as far as the eye can reach, and give a sublime beauty to the background of the picture. As one passes from this point northward on the east side of Mount ÆEolus is seen almost at our feet the villages of East and North Dorset, with the Green Mountains ris- ing abruptly on the east, forming a narrow valley, which seems to lose itself in the mountains to the north. Northwesterly from Mount AEolus stands Owl's Head, with a chain of other lesser peaks, until the last member of the arm, called the Pinnacle, " is laid in the lap of the valley " just back of Dorset vil- lage. The western slope of Mount ÆEolus is much less abrupt than its eastern, and the valley between it and the Equinox range on the west is much broader and more fertile than the valley on the east. The village of South Dorset, devoted exclusively to the marble interest, is nestled to the southwest, while the village of Dorset, well to the north, occupies quite an arca of fertile land, and is the oldest and most attractive village in town. This model village, cradled between hills, with a tiny lake set like a gem in its midst, with its shaded and well kept streets beautified by handsome residences, and neat cot- tages, has many objects suggestive of memories of early days.
This town was chartered by Benning Wentworth, the governor of New Hampshire, August 20, 1761, to about sixty proprietors. It may be interest- ing to give the original charter of Dorset, as found in the town records.
" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
"George the third, by the grace of God, of Grate Britan, France and Ire- land King, defender of the Faith, etc.
"To all persons to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye that 52
410
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
we of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion for the duce couragement of settling a new plantation within our said province, by and w the advice of our truly and well beloved Benning Wentworth, esquire, our .. ernor and commander-in-chief of our said Province of New Hampshire, in .\. England and of our council of the said province, have upon the conditions ..: reservations hereinafter made, given and granted, and by these presents for our heirs and successors, do give and grant in equal shares unto our lov. subjects, inhabitants of our said Province of New Hampshire and our ot. . governments, and to their heirs and assigns forever, whose names are enter .. on this grant, to be divided to and amongst them into seventy equal shares, . that tract or parcel of land situate lying and being within our said Province ( New Hampshire, containing by admeasurement twenty-three thousand am: forty acres, which tract is to contain six miles square and no more, out of which. an allowance is to be made for highways and unimprovable lands by rock . ponds, mountains and rivers, one thousand and forty acres free according to a. plan and survey thereof made by our said governor's order, and returned inte. the secretary's office and hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as follow .. viz., at the northwest corner of Manchester from thence due north six mile .. from thence due east six miles, from thence due south six miles to the norti,- east corner of Manchester aforesaid, thence due west by Manchester aforesaid to the northwest corner thereof, being the bound first began at -- and that the same be and hereby is incorporated into a township by the name of Dorset And the inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit the said township are hereby declared to be enfranchised with and entitled to all and every the privi- leges, immunities that other towns within our province by law exercise and enjoy, and further that the said town as soon as there shall be fifty families resident and settled thereon shall have the liberty of holding two fairs, and that as soon as the said town shall consist of fifty families a market may be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may be thought most ad- vantagious to the inhabitants. Also that the first meeting for the choice of town officers agreeable to the laws of our said province shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in November next, which said meeting shall be notified by Gideon Lyman, esq., who is hereby also appointed the moderator of the said first meeting, which he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and cus- toms of our said province, and that the annual meeting forever hereafter for the choice of such officers for the said town shall be on the second Tuesday of March annually. To have and to hold the said tract of land as above expressed, together with all privileges and appurtenances, to them and their respective heirs and assigns forever, upon the following conditions, viz .:
"First, that every grantee, his heirs, or assigns shall plant and cultivate five acres of land within the term of five years for every fifty acres contained in his or their share or proportion of land in said township, and continue to improve
411
TOWN OF DORSET.
and settle the same by additional cultivation on penalty of the forfeiture of his grant or share in the said township and of its reverting to us our heirs and suc- cessors to be by us or them regranted to such of our subjects as shall effectu- ally settle and cultivate the same.
"Second, that all white and other pine trees within the said township fit for masting our royal navy be carefully preserved for that use, and none to be cut or felled without our special license for so doing first had and obtained upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such grantee, his heirs and assigns to us our heirs and successors, as well as being subject to the penalty of any act or acts of Parliament that now are or hereafter shall be enacted.
"Third, that before division of the land be made to and among the gran- tees, a tract of land as near the center of the said township as the land will admit of shall be reserved and marked out for town lots, one of which shall be allotted to each grantee of the contents of one acre.
"Fourth, yielding and paying therefor to us, our heirs and successors for the space of ten years, to be computed from the date hereof, the rent of one ear of Indian corn only on the twenty-fifth day of December annually, if lawfully de- manded, the first payment to be made on the 25th day of December, 1762.
"Fifth, every proprietor, settler or inhabitant shall yield and pay unto us, our heirs and succesors yearly and every year, forever, from and after the expira- tion of ten years from the above said 25th day of December, which will be in the year of our Lord 1772, one shilling proclamation money for every hundred acres he so owns, settles or possesses, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser tract of the said land, which money shall be paid by the respective persons above said, their heirs or assigns. In our council chamber in Portsmouth, or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, and this to be in lieu of all rents and services whatsoever. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentworth, esq., our governor and commander-in-chief of our said province, the 20th day of August, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hun- dred and sixty-one, and in the first year of our reign. By his Excellency's command.
B. WENTWORTH.
"With advice of Council. " THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y.
"Province of New Hampshire, August 20, 1761. Recorded according to the original under the province seal, pages 137, 138.
"Per THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y.
"Copy of Record
" Examined by George King, D. Sec'y."
In the list of original grantees of Dorset we find the following:
" His Excellency Benning Wentworth, esq. A tract of land to contain five
412
HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
hundred acres which is to be accounted two shares, one whole share for the ... corporated society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts; one sh . - for a glebe for the Church of England as by law established ; one share for t first settled minister, and one share for the benefit of a school in town."
The first settlement was made in 1768 by Felix Powell, from Massachuset Isaac Lacey, from Connecticut; and Benjamin Baldwin, Abraham Under !!: John Manley and George Gage, from New York. The first record to be found in regard to the organization of the town is a warning of a proprietors' meet- ing to be held at the house of Isaac Lacey, on Tuesday, May 23, 1769, which meeting was holden agreeably to said warning, and Ebenezer Lacey was chosen moderator ; Isaac Lacey, proprietors' clerk; Abraham Underhill and Ebe- nezer Lacey were chosen committee to lay out lands and highways. At this meeting Felix Powell was voted fifty acres of land gratis, on account of his be- ing the first settler, said land to be chosen where he saw fit. The first record of proprietors, treasurer and collector was in January, 1782, when Benjamin Baldwin was chosen treasurer and Abijah Dunning collector ; and a little far- ther on we find it was voted to raise a tax of five shillings on each proprietors' right of land in Dorset, to be paid in wheat. Thus it appears that the land proprietors levied and collected taxes for the purpose of defraying expenses incurred in the division and laying out of lands, and the building of highways independently of the ordinary town expenditures, and their meetings related exclusively to this business.
The first warning for a town meeting as recorded is as follows :
" Warning .- These are to notify and warn the freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Dorset to meet at the house of Mr. Abraham Underhill, inn- holder in said Dorset, on Tuesday the eighth day of March next at two of the clock in the afternoon for the following purpose : First to choose a moderator to govern the meeting. Second to choose town officers agreeable to the char- ter of the said Dorset. Given under our hands this 26th day of February, A. D. 1774, at Dorset. " ASA BALDWIN,
". A true copy test, "ASA BALDWIN, Town Clerk."
" AB'R. UNDERHILL.
At a meeting held in accordance with above warning Cephas Kent was chosen moderator ; Asa Baldwin, town clerk; Cephas Kent, John Manley and Asa Baldwin selectmen, and George Gage, constable. This is believed to be the first town meeting held in Dorset. The first committee of safety was chosen in March, 1778, and consisted of Cephas Kent, John Manley, Asahel Hermon, Ebenezer Moise and Ephraim Reynolds. The first town treasurer, Cephas Kent, was chosen in 1778. First tax voted fourpence on the pound, 1780. According to Deming Cephas Kent was the first representative chosen in March, 1778, while both Deming and the " Vermont Historical Magazine" say that Abraham Underhill represented the town in the General Assembly in
.
413
TOWN OF DORSET.
october, 1778, '80, '81 and '84, but we find no record of either in Dorset. The Congregational Church of Dorset was organized September 22, 1784 by Rev. Elijah Sill, from New Fairfield, Conn.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.