USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 53
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The second division of lots in the town of Rupert was made in 1768, and included the fertile bottoms along the valley of White Creek, and over to the west side of the town, near the New York State line. Settlements began here soon after the division was made, and Oliver Scott built a grist-mill here as early as 1773. But it was the pioneers of this region that were called upon to defend their property and liberty from the New York claimants, and while the intruders were generally repulsed in any proceeding against the settlers, and their officers sent off under the smarting impression of the "beech seal," cases were not wanting in which the inhabitants were dispossessed of their lands and improvements. During the war for independence, and especially about the time of Burgoyne's conquering tour of the valley of the Hudson River, were the inhabitants disturbed in their possession, not by any actual invasion by the British, but through fear of such an event, and nearly all left for places of greater safety, while a few, and only a few from Rupert, sought the protection of the royal arms and became full-fledged Tories. After the departure of the loyal people from the vicinity, the Tories, reinforced by others of like ilk, re- turned to the settlement, took possession and played sad havoc with all save their own property; and emboldened by the nearness of the British army they made an attempt to effect the capture of Major Gideon Ormsbee, of Manchester, but not finding that person at home, they compelled his son to return with them
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Dwight Taylor
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
to the White Creek country. A pursuing party was organized, and the young man was rescued a few days later. But after Baum's defeat at Bennington and the withdrawal of the British army from the vicinity it was rather unsafe · for any Tory to show his face, much less his presence, within reach or shooting distance of the committee of safety of the town. After the close of the Revo- lutionary War, and after the proceedings were consummated by which Vermont was admitted to the Union of States, the growth and settlement became very rapid and healthful. All through its fertile valleys fine farms were cleared and put under cultivation. Nothing occurred to disturb the settler in his posses- sion for many years; the arts of peace superseded the tumults of war and con- tention, and joy and plenty were seen on every hand. This was the period of Rupert's greatest prosperity, in which she made rapid strides in the march of advancement; and her maximum population of sixteen hundred and forty- eight souls was reached in the year 1800.
Among the many who came during these years, and during the last cent- ury, the names of some can be recalled. David Sheldon, a veteran of the Rev- olution and a native of Connecticut, came to reside in the town in 1770. He became a deservedly prominent and influential man in the town and county, and was chosen to a number of offices of trust and importance. He had a nu- merous family of children, the descendants of whom still reside in the town. The name Sheldon has for more than one hundred years stood for a thrifty, in- dustrious, progressive and worthy class of residents. Also among the early set- tlers were two Smiths, Israel and Martin; the former a lawyer, one of the first in the county, and the latter a farmer ; but authorities do not assert any rela- tionship between them. Israel Smith began law practice in this county in 1783, and after living in the town some years and representing it several times in the Legislature, he moved to Rutland ; became chief judge of the Supreme Court in 1797, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1803. The other Smith, Martin, came to the Indian River Valley in 1773, and lived there until his death. The pioneer physician of the town is generally believed to have been Dr. Josiah Graves, whose settlement commenced in 1788. However this may be cannot now be determined, but Dr. Gaius Smith and Moses Robinson represented the town of Rupert in the convention at Windsor in 1777. The title "doctor," implies that he was a physician; he lived in the town, but whether he was an active practitioner or not is a query we cannot now attempt to an- swer. Robert Cochran. he of fame during the controversy with New York, was also at one time a resident of Rupert. All that is necessary can be learned of Robert Cochran's career during that period by reference to the early chapters of this volume. Soon after the year 1790 Joel Taylor, a former resident of New Hampshire, came to make for himself and family a home in Rupert, taking up his first place of abode on Rupert Mountain. Further mention of this family will be found among the biographical sketches.
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TOWN OF RUPERT.
Although not an old resident of the town this chapter would be incomplete without some mention of William Root, a resident of East Rupert, and withal one of the most progressive and influential men of the township. William Root was born in New York State in 1818, and came to Rupert about the year 1833, taking up a home with the family of Philo Smith. At the age of thirty-one years he married Caroline Eastman, of Rupert. Three children were the issue of this marriage. Mr. Root has not been an active man in political life, but he has been an energetic farmer and a straightforward business man, and that has given him an enviable position and reputation among his townspeople that po- litical ambition could never accomplish. George A. Robinson of East Rupert commenced to build cheese factories something over twenty-five years ago, and it was that occupation that brought him to this locality, although his na- tive town was Pawlet, only a few miles from his present residence. When he came to Rupert Mr. Robinson bought the Hiram Eastman farm on which be now resides. His first wife was Ann Derby, of Rupert, who died in 1872. In 1878 Mr. Robinson married Sarah A. Guild of Pawlet.
While the township of Rupert is acknowledged to be one of the foremost towns of the county so far as the social and business character of its people is concerned, and while the people are progressive and enterprising in all that pertains to their personal comfort and welfare, they have been none the less interested in the spiritual and educational welfare of all that belongs to their town. The first church society organized here was the Congregational, that which leads in number of members in the State, which first took definite form at a meeting held June 6, 1786, having then but seven members. The first pas- tor was Rev. Increase Graves. The church edifice is at Rupert " street." The society at present numbers about seventy- five members, having made no sub- stantial increase during the last twenty five or thirty years.
The West Rupert Baptist Church society was organized under the direction of a council in the year 1803, and the first settled pastor was Rev. Alvin Wales. The members of this society number about forty persons.
The Church of the Disciples of Christ was the last organized of the socie- ties of this description in the township, and came into existence in 1839. The edifice was built soon after the society was formed. This has, or has had, the largest membership of any church society of the township.
The statement has already been made that the town of Rupert reached its maximum population in 1800, as shown by the Federal census of that year, be- ing an increase over the population of 1791 of 615. In 1800 the town had a population of 1,648. From that until the present time there has been an almost continuous decrease, as will be shown by reference to the following facts taken from the census reports from the time of the first enumeration in 1791 to that of 1880, inclusive. In 1791 the population of the town was 1,033; in 1800, 1,648; in 1810, 1,630; in 1820, 1,332; in 1830, 1,318; in 1840, 1,091; in 1850, 58
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
1,IOI ; in 1860, 1,103; in 1870, 1,017; in 1880, 957. This decrease is no. single to Rupert; the same or a similar showing is to be found in a majority of like towns throughout the State. This is explained by the fact that the younger generations have gone to other States, but why should that be so ?
CHAPTER XXVIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERU. '
PERU, lying at the northeast corner of Bennington county, was chartered by Governor Wentworth on October 12, 1761, under the name of Bromley. It was to have contained by admeasurement 23,400 acres, but considerable more was allowed on account of the excess of mountains and unimproved lands. It is bounded north by Mt. Tabor, east by Landgrove, south by Win- hall, and west by Dorset. This tract was to be divided into seventy two equal shares, one to each proprietor, five hundred acres at the southeast corner to Benning Wentworth ; one right for the society for propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, one for glebe, one for the first settled minister in town, and one for schools The eastern and southern parts of the town are thickly set- tled by thrifty though not extensive farmers. The soil consists of coarse loam and gravel, with a slight mixture of clay, especially productive and well ad- apted to the cultivation of oats, barley, corn, and potatoes. The pastures, espe- cially those that slope to the south and east, afford sweet grazing for horses, cattle, and sheep. The western portion is mountainous, though not so rugged but that lumbermen can cut the timber upon every lot and find feasible routes to the different mills on the mountain side. This portion of the Green Moun- tain range forms a watershed so that the different streams flow east, south and north on their way to the ocean. There are two natural ponds in this town, Buffain's Pond in the northwestern part, and Mud Pond in the eastern part. The first is quite a curiosity on account of its elevation, and is noted for being the home of large trout ; the second is a natural curiosity, as the water is not more than three feet deep, but the longest sounding line that has been used has failed to reach the bottom.
The charter of the town required the grantor to cultivate five acres for every fifty in a limited time ; also when fifty families were in town they might hold a fair, and have a market open two days in a week. Probably no white man had stood on the land at this time. There is no evidence that any one of
1 By Hon. George K. Davis.
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TOWN OF PERU.
the original grantors were ever in the town. Most of the first settlers came from Princeton, Westminister, and adjacent towns in Massachusetts, and some from the south part of New Hampshire. They were descendants of the immi- grants from the south of England who landed at Salem. In the year 1773 William Barlow, of Woodstock, made the first settlement. In 1778 the soldiers crossing the mountain to Manchester, on their way to the battle of Benning- ton, cut the first roadway through this township. In 1797 the original propri- etors divided the town into lots of one hundred acres each In 1800 there
were but four families living in town, viz. : David Stratton's, Aaron Killam's, Jonathan Butterfield's, and Reuben Bigelow's. It was in this year that the first public road was surveyed through this town. In the years 1800, 1801 and 1802 the following named families moved into town : Benjamin Barnard, Thomas Wyman, a Mr. Holt, Joel Adams, Josiah Hapgood, Isaac Hill, Jolin Curtis, E. Hurlbut, David White, and David Colson. In the autumn of 1802 there were fourteen families residing in town. The first town meeting was held at the house of E. Hurlburt, who resided on the west side of the mountain In 1803 the town was divided into two school districts, and for four years subse- quently all the schools were taught in private houses. It was in this year that the first saw-mill was built. The first religious meetings were held in 1803 at the house of Reuben Bigelow.
In February, 1803, the governor's council, agreeable to a petition from the inhabitants of Bromley, changed the name of the town to Peru. It is said that Bromley had a reputation abroad of being a poverty stricken place, and that Peru was substituted on account of the reported mineral wealth of Peru in South America; and it appears to be a fact that soon after the change new settlers came into town quite rapidly In 1805 a militia company was formed of which Peter Dudley was made captain.
In 1807 the first school-house was built. It was used for town meetings, also for a church until 1816. In 1814 a turnpike road was built between Peru and Manchester, being selected as the most feasible route for crossing the moun- tains in the southerly part of the State.
During the year 1814 a Congregational meeting-house was raised near where the Methodist Church now stands, in the middle of the town. It was not completed until 1816. As was the custom of the day the church was built after the old style of architecture, being a large two-story structure The body of the house was divided into apartments or pews, being finished with pine, and without paint. The pulpit was of gigantic proportions, being some twelve or fifteen feet high. This church was occupied until 1846. In after years the old church was sold to the town of Londonderry. Its framework was used for the building of a town house. In the meantime a small village had sprung up in the south part of the town, at which place a new church was erected after a more modern style of architecture.
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HISTORY . OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
The Methodist Society commenced building a church in 1831, but it w not finished until 1848. This church stands near the site of the old Congo . gational edifice. This society being of a limited number of members, tl .. church has not been occupied but a small part of the time, and at present !! members attend worship at Landgrove.
Church Statistics .- The Congregational Church was organized Decemi, . 23, 1807, by Rev. Mr. Fairley, of Manchester, and his delegate, Captain Ber- ton, Benjamin Barnard, sr., and wife, Thomas Wyman and wife, Seth Lyon, st and wife, and William Green and wife joined the church at this time. There was no settled minister until 1813, missionaries and neighboring ministers off- ciating previous to that date. Thomas Wyman and Seth Lyon were elected deacons, and from the organization of the church, regularly as the Sabbath came, the people have congregated and held meetings, whether they had any preacher or not. The first settled minister was Rev. Oliver Plimpton, who commenced his labors the latter part of 1812, and was ordained December 28. 1813. Soon after his ordination he went to Wardsboro, intending to be mar- ried, but was taken sick there and died. After this several missionaries visited the place. Amos Bingham supplied the pulpit two different times. In 1826 Mr. Rosson supplied the pulpit. Then a Mr. Hurd preached for a time, and during his ministration, by the assistance of Rev. Mr. Martingale, from Wal- lingford, a large number united with the church. Mr. Boman Brown suc- ceeded Mr. Hurd for a short time. In 1835 Thomas Baldwin, of Plymouth, was ordained and settled, and preached here ten years. The next pastor was Rev. S. S. Swift, who preached over two years. In April, 1848 Rev. Asa I. Clark commenced preaching here. His labors extended over a period of ten years. He married Mary, daughter of Asa Simonds. Mr. Clark was a classi- cal scholar, conscientiously devoted to his work both in the church and among his people. Rev. R. D. Miller commenced his pastorate in 1859 and was set- tled the same year. He remained for a period of four or five years, after which the following named ministers have supplied the pulpit from one to four years each : A. G. Gates, Asa F. Clark, - Scott, S. Amsden, Charles Rockwell. Charles Scott, S. L. Vincent, T. J. Clark, A. B. Peffers, and William R. Dugan, the present pastor.
Schools .- In 1803 Reuben Bigelow taught the first public school in Seth Lyon's log dwelling house. James Grant was the next teacher, and taught sev- eral winter terms. The first school- house was built in 1807. It was a good sized, well finished house, convenient for schools and meetings. In 1821 three schools were taught in town. Thie.average price paid to male teachers was eight dollars per month. The number of districts have increased so that at the present time there are seven.
The first select school was taught in 1828. After that there was no select school until 1849. Since that time select schools have been well supported.
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TOWN OF PERU.
The district schools compare favorably with those of surrounding towns. Many of the young people of the town availed themselves of the privilege of academic courses at Chester, Townshend, Ludlow and Manchester.
Succession of Physicians .- Horace Ballard, R. Miles Bigelow, Asa B. Brown, William B. Lincoln, Hiram Howard, Asa Bigelow, R. B. Burton, Malilon Priest, James W. Marsh, Joseph Wright, and Charles W. Ray.
Industries .- A large portion of the town being mountainous and heavily timbered by both hard and soft wood, the increasing demand for manufactured lumber and charcoal induced capitalists to erect saw-mills and coal kilns until at the present there are six steam and two water-mills in the town, and five of the steam and the two water-mills are engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and the other steam mill manufactures chair stock. There are ten brick coal kilns, which for ten years manufactured coal for Barnum, Richardson & Co., and C. S. Maltby.
The first store in town was kept by Warren Wyman in 1816, who carried on business for a few months only. In the year 1830 J. J. Hapgood com- menced mercantile business, and for about thirty years conducted the same personally. He then took into partnership his eldest son, and this firm con- tinued until 1870, when they sold their stock of goods to T. K. Snow & Co., of Troy N. Y .; who carried on the same one year. Soon afterwards David Ar- nold leased the store for a terin of years. In 1874 J J. Hapgood formed a partnership with his son M. J. Hapgood, doing business under the name of J. J. Hapgood & Co. In 1875 J. J. Hapgood died. His son continued under the same firm name until 1885, when he sold to Richardson & Leonard. About 1860 William E. Polly and Whitney & Russell engaged in mercantile business for a short time but failed to make it a success. About the year 1875 J. P. & C. H. Long opened a store in the north part of the town and continued in busi- ness for about six years.
The first hotel in town was built on the summit of the mountain, and was kept by Jonathan Butterfield. It was afterwards known as the Leland Stand. This house continued open to the public until 1850. The brick hotel in the village (since 1870 known as the Bromley House) was built about the year 1822 by Russell Tuthill. It was kept by various parties up to 1870. It was then purchased by George K. Davis, the present proprietor. During the sum- mer season it is well patronized by people crossing the mountains for business or pleasure, and by parties from summer resorts in Manchester and Dorset.
Personal Sketches .- Reuben Bigelow was born in Westminster, Mass., in 1775 ; married Abigail Brooks and came to Peru in 1800. He was college bred ; taught the first school, was the first representative to the State Legisla- ture and held all the of offices of the town within the gift of the people. He raised a family of twelve children, two boys and ten girls, all of whom grew up. Mr. Bigelow died in 1834, aged fifty-nine years. His widow lived in town un- til her death, September 1, 1857, aged eighty-one years.
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
Deacon Thomas Wyman came to Peru in February, 1801. He resided here until 1842, when he moved to Landgrove. He raised a family of eleven children, ten boys and one girl. His eldest son, Thomas jr., was the first ma ‹ child born in town.
Peter Dudley was born in Littleton, Mass., November 4th, 1773; marri. : Lucy Barnard in March, 1800; moved to Peru in 1801. He was captain of thir first militia company formed in 1805, and was afterwards brigadier general of the State militia He raised a family of thirteen children, five boys and eight girls. Of these Peter and Stephen imbibed the military spirit of their father. Peter being made an officer before he became of age, while Stephen, like his father, became a brigadier-general.
Aaron Byard was born in Westminster, Mass., May 16, 1778; married Ann Dunster and moved to Peru in September, 1802. They raised a family of ten children, one boy and nine girls.
In 1810 Jesse Brown moved into the town. In 1860 he died at the ad- vanced age of ninety three years. His son, Jesse, and his grandson, Asa, both live on the old homestead.
In 1817 Moody Roby settled in town. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He lived for sixty years on the farm on which he first settled.
Benjamin Barnard, jr., was born at Westminister, Mass., March 19, 1783; came to Peru with his father, Benjamin Barnard, sr., in March, 1800; married Rachel Philbrook in 1807. She lived but two years. In 1810 he married" Hepsabeth, sister of Rachel, and raised a family of three boys and four girls. Stowell Barnard, son of Benjamin, sr., married Mary Burton, sister of Aaron Burton and lived on the old homestead. They raised a large family, two boys and six girls.
Joel Adams and wife came to town in 1804.
Deacon David Simonds was born in Gardner, Mass., in 1776, came to Peru in 1803. He married Anna Byam of Jaffrey, N. H,, and raised a family of eleven children. One, Deacon Oliver P. Simonds, has always resided in town and held the offices of town clerk and postmaster in all more than forty years. Asa Simonds, brother of Deacon David, was born in Gardner, Mass., in 1790; married Sophia Lyon of Princeton, Mass. They raised a family of twelve children.
About the year 1807 three brothers, John, Edmund, and Israel Batchelder, came and settled in the north part of the town. They all raised large families. Many of their sons became prominent residents of the town; among whom were Ira K, Porter, Amos, Daniel and Charles, sons of Edmund; Edward and Dexter, sons of Israel; Mark and Edmund, sons of John ; all of whom oc- cupied leading positions in society.
About the year 1808 Samuel, Josiah, and Joseph Stone came and settled in the north part of the town. Samuel and Josiah with their families moved
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TOWN OF PERU.
West about the year 1833. Joseph remained and his two sons, Harvey and Hezekiah, and daughter, Leonor, now reside on the old homestead.
About the year 1800 Seth Lyon moved from Princeton. He was one of eight who organized the Congregational Church, and was chosen one of its deacons.
Among those who were early settlers or had lived in town many years, we End by the records that fifty lived to be over eighty years old, quite a number who lived to be over ninety, and one centenarian, Mrs. Sarah Killum Stiles, who died in 1868, aged one hundred and two years.
In many parts of the town the scenery is delightful, especially so at the summit of the mountain on the turnpike leading to Manchester. It is two thousand feet above sea level. Looking south and east a grand panorama of of nature is discernible. It is said by tourists that it excels in beauty and grandeur any scenery in the State from the same altitude. Looking southerly, Old Stratton, with her lofty dome, seems to stand as a sentinel over the vast basin of hills, dales, mountains, and woodland.
Succession of Town Officers .- 1802, town clerk, John Brock ; selectmen, David White, Aaron Killam, E. Hurlburt.
1803 .- Town clerk, William Pollard ; selectmen, Moses Hill, John Brock, Thomas Wyman ; representative, Reuben Bigelow.
1804 .- Town clerk, William Pollard; selectmen. Reuben Bigelow, Thomas Wyman, John Brock ; representative, Ruben Bigelow.
1805 .- Town clerk; William Pollard ; selectmen, Reuben Bigelow, Samuel Cooper, Elias Bebee ; representative, Ruben Bigelow.
1806 .- Town clerk, William Pollard ; selectmen, Aaron Killam, Seth Lyon, Elijah Simonds.
1807 .- Town clerk, Joseph Fairbank; selectmen, Joseph Fairbank, Peter Dudley, J. Bruce.
1808 .- Town clerk, Joseph Fairbank; selectmen, Joseph Fairbank, Peter Dudley, J. Bruce ; representative, Peter Dudley.
1809 .- Town clerk, Joseph Fairbank ; selectmen, Joseph Fairbank, Peter Dudley, J. Bruce.
1810 .- Town clerk, Joseph Fairbank ; selectmen, Joseph Fairbank, Peter Dudley, J. Bruce.
1811 .- Town clerk, Joseph Fairbank; selectmen, Joseph Fairbank, Thomas Wyman, John Batchelder.
1812 .- Town clerk, Reuben Bigelow ; selectmen, Reuben Bigelow, Thomas Wyman, John Batchelder.
1813 .- Town clerk, Reuben Bigelow; selectmen John Batchelder, Elijah Simonds, Israel Batchelder.
1814 .- Town clerk, Reuben Bigelow ; selectmen, John Batchelder, Elijah Simonds, Israel Batchelder.
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
1815 .- Town clerk, Reuben Bigelow ; selectmen, Reuben Bigelow, Jolin Batchelder, Elijah Simonds.
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