USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 55
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The foregoing narrative contains all the events of importance that occurred during the period of the town's history that was particularly interesting. But during the time in which occurred what is known as "Shay's Rebellion," Ethan Allen was a resident of the town, at least he was then there. There is no record of any assembly of the Shay's insurrectionists in Sunderland, but in con- nection with the events occurring about that time General Allen wrote one of his characteristic letters, which having been produced in the town, is deemed worthy of record in these pages, as follows :
"SUNDERLAND, 3d of May, 1787.
" Sir :- I consider it my duty to inform the Government of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts Bay that the malcontents of your State appear to be forming unlawful associations in this State, and that this government are taking the most effectual measures to prevent the mischievous consequences which may be consequent thereon. Your people in the meantime may do well to take care of private murders. You may depend that this government are so alarmed at the present conduct of your insurgents that they will cordially consult any measures with your government, which may be requisite for the mutual peace of both. I desire you would present this Letter with my com- pliments to the commanding Officer of the troops of Massachusetts in Berk- shire County for their information. And I am with respect, Your Humble Servant."
"ETHAN ALLEN."
"N. B. Should it be policy for the Government of your State to publish the foregoing letter at any time after the 10th instant, I have no objection. E. A."
This letter was addressed to Colonel Benjamin Simmons.
From the year 1791, and even before that time, the growth of the town of Sunderland has been steady and healthful, so that at the present time its pop- ulation is probably greater than ever before, and this respect is an exception to the condition of many other towns of the county that enjoy a more favora- ble situation. In 1791, the year of the first census enumeration of the towns, Sunderland had a population of 414, a less number than shown by any subse- quent census. Ten years later, or in 1800, it had 557 ; in 1810, 576; in 1820, 496; in 1830, 463; in 1840, 437; in 1850, 479 ; in 1860, 567; in 1870, 553; in 1880, 654. The increase shown between the years 1850 and 1860 is un- doubtedly due in a great measure to the construction through the northwest part of the town of the Bennington and Rutland Railroad, as it is now known, but which formerly was called the " Western Vermont" road. The building of this road opened to the townspeople a way of transporting their products
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
of agriculture and manufacture to profitable markets. The admirable p.r. ways of the town furnished excellent power, and manufacture became on. . the leading industries of the locality ; but this seems to have had its best di .!! at least judging from the idle factory buildings now standing in the town, cp. cially in the locality of Chiselville.
This little hamlet, the one that has for years rejoiced in the name of " Cli: . elville," is situate in the central part of the inhabited portion of the town, at. . derives its name from extensive manufacturing interests that once flourish. . there, and was known as the Arlington Edge Tool Company ; but this man ... facture has now practically ceased, therefore Chiselville is in a condition of de -- uetude. The water-power here, on Roaring Branch, is not to be excelled in the State.
Mount Pleasant is a small hamlet, still further south than Chiselville, and contains a dozen houses, perhaps, and has, or had formerly, one or two indus tries of no special importance. The people here are engaged in agriculture and lumbering.
The principal trading and manufacturing point within the township is at Sunderland, a small station on the Bennington and Rutland Railroad, a few miles northeast from Arlington. This is a pleasantly situated little hamlet of small population, on the Battenkill River, having all necessary stores and other interests to attract trade from the north part of this town, and some from the south part of Manchester. The leading industry here is the manufacture of veneering, which was established in 1871; and in connection with this the proprietor, Mr. Bacon, also has a lumber-mill and box factory. Other indus- tries of the place are Bacon's feed and grist-mill, and saw-mill. These comprise the chief industries of the locality, while there may be some others of less note.
The township of Sunderland, like the majority, perhaps, of those that com- prise the county, has a bonded indebtedness, but not to so large an amount by far as some others. The taxpayers of this town annually pay interest on the sum of seventeen thousand dollars, besides raising the necessary funds for cur- rent expenses, such as payment of officers' fees, maintenance of the poor and supporting the schools, of the last named, there being four in the town. The greater part of the town's indebtedness was created by bonding for the railroad, which crosses the extreme northwest corner, and is of no practical or substan- tial benefit to the people of the south part except as they reach the station at Arlington, some two or three miles distant; but whether of benefit or not, the indebtedness is there.
The officers of Sunderland, chosen at the town meeting in March, ISSS, are as follows : Moderator, Samuel H. Crum; town clerk and treasurer, Henry S. Burt; selectmen, Edward G. Bacon, Samuel Crum and Arnold Webb; over- seer of the poor, E. A. Graves ; constable and collector, E. J. Brown; listers, Abel Stillson, Albert P. Brown, and O. E. Dwinelle; auditors, James Graves,
475
TOWN OF WOODFORD.
HI. N. Buck and J. W. Hulett; grand jurors, David Snyder and Reuben Webb; inspectors of leather, A. R. Stillson and A. R. Webb ; pound keepers, Julius Hill and John Marble.
CHAPTER XXX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WOODFORD.
T `HIS town was chartered by Governor Wentworth on the 6th of March, 1753; therefore with the exception of the towns of Bennington and Stam- ford it is the oldest of those that form the county, but Stamford was not granted prior to Woodford but at the same time. It was the intention of the worthy governor of the province to make no township of greater than thirty- six square miles, but for some reason Woodford was made an exception, it con- taining no less than forty-two square miles of land, and being six miles in north and south measurement and seven miles east and west.
Woodford ranks with the more mountainous towns of the county, being situate almost wholly within the main range of the Green Mountain chain. Its boundaries are as follows: North by Glastenbury, south by Stamford and Pow- nal, east by Searsburg and Readsboro, and west by Bennington. The town, from its very mountainous character, is possessed of an abundant water-power; its hills are, or have been, covered with a heavy growth of excellent timber, spruce, hemlock, and other kinds. Thus, while the town can lay no claim to possessing remarkable agricultural advantages, it can, however, boast of its lumber producing interests, and this has been the mainstay and support of her population. But Woodford is not without good farming lands, some in the "hollow" and others on the mountain, still the town is not particularly well adapted to farming pursuits, and the people do not aim to make it such.
Although Woodford was chartered in 1753, settlement did not actually commence until some twenty five years later, and the town organization was not effected earlier than February, 1789. The first settlers were Caleb Moore, Matthew and Zarah Scott, and Benjamin Reed. At a town meeting held March 10, 1792 there were present and took the freemen's oath, Joseph Wil- son, Caleb Moore, Obediah Eddy, Zadock Pierce, Eli Pierce, Hezekiah Pierce, and Benjamin Orcutt. The oldest town records appear to be lost or worn out and destroyed, but in the back part of one of the old deed books are to be found the proceedings of the freemen's meetings as far back as 1797. In that year at a meeting held in March, Elkhanah Danforth was chosen town clerk ; William Danforth, Paul Phillips, and William Parks, selectmen ; Elijah Phelps,
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
collector : Jonathan Danforth, constable ; Matthew Scott, treasurer ; Will. .. Park, Matthew Scott, and Obediah Eddy, listers. At this meeting also it. voted to raise the sum of twelve dollars for town expenses. At a meet. held at Robert Hill's house, in December, 1798, there were present, Will .... Park, Ebenezer Pease, Robert Hill, Obediah Eddy, Samuel Stacy, Benjan; Reed, Paul Phillips, Isaac Cobbe, Elkhanah Danforth, Jonathan Danforth, . : Lemuel Martin. In 1799 the selectmen were Elkhanah Danforth, Willia ... Park, and Paul Phillips; the treasurer, Obediah Eddy ; listers, William Par' :. Jonathan Danforth, and Eleazer Phillips; constable and collector, Jonathan Danforth ; surveyors of highways, Paul Phillips and William Park. At tl: meeting for the election of State officers, held in 1800, these freemen were present : Elkhanah Danforth, Jonathan Danforth, Isaac Kibbe, Samuel Orcutt, Robert Hill, Lemuel Martin, Paul Phillips, Oliver Perry, William Danforthi. Obediah Eddy, Eli Pierce, John Oliver, Spencer Lyon, Jabez Knapp, Jolını Phelps, Samuel Stacy, Alhanan Perry, Hezakiah and Jonathan Ferguson.
During these early days, as well as at a later period, there was kept with the clerk a record of marriages, births, and deaths in each town. The first child born in Woodford is said to have been Benjamin Reed, jr., the son of Benjamin and Huldah Reed, pioneers of the town. This first event occurred August II, 1779. The record books of that period are now missing from the clerk's office. and the first that is to be had is of a later period. It appears that on the 24th of September, 1802, Obediah Eddy and Fanny Lyon were united in marriage : and, on the 4th of February, 1803 that James Eddy and Sally Ferguson were married; also, a further entry says that Jabez Knapp and Bethiah Knapp, "having been lawfully published, were joined in marriage by mee, Elkhanalı Danforth, justice of the peace and town clerk "
The town of Woodford cannot be said to have made much of any history, in fact none at all, during the period of the controversy with New York, the War of the Revolution, and the subsequent proceedings which preceded the admission of Vermont to the Union ; but its history really commenced with the town organization, which event occurred in 1789, as has been already narrated. At that time there were some ten or twelve families in the township and the names of most of them have been given. The leaders seem to have been Will- . iam Park and Elkhanah Danforth, while Robert Hill, Paul Phillips, and Obe- diah Eddy were lesser lights, yet quite prominent.
William Park, undoubtedly the then influential man of the town, seems to have been a surveyor, as well as pioneer, farmer, and lumberman. He became the owner of very large tracts of land in the town, and was considered a man of excellent judgment and business abilities. He held nearly all the responsible offices of the town, and was clerk for some thirty years. Elkhanah Danforth was equally prominent with Mr. Park, likewise a continuous officeholder in leading positions. As justice of the peace, an office the incumbency of which
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TOWN OF WOODFORD.
then implied a thorough knowledge of the law, he was quite a dignitary in the community, and one whose counsel was much sought. His handwriting in the old record books would seem to entitle it to be ranked with Horace Greeley's, for it is almost impossible to decipher it. Obediah Eddy was the first representative elected in the township, but Obediah obstinately refused to have this honor thrust upon him and would not serve, whereupon the meeting adjourned without voting for State officers. Such cases as this have been few, and it is believed that the town has not been similarly embarrassed since that time, at least not during late years. But Obediah Eddy was a prominent man in the town, and one whose influence and counsel were of weight in town affairs.
The town of Woodford, from its situation and physical features, was quite difficult of settlement, or if settlement was effected improvement and cultiva- tion were still more laborious. The exceedingly mountainous and rocky char- acter of the land obliged the residents to turn their attention to something else than farming, and as the region had an abundance of fine growing timber this became a lumber producing rather than an agricultural township ; and so it has remained to this day, only enough farm products being raised to supply the needs of the inhabitants, and this to a limited extent. Manufacturing com- menced in Woodford about the beginning of the present century, and in that part of the town that has ever been known as the "Hollow," that being a ra- vine of some miles in length, through which courses the stream called Bolles Brook. This pioneer industry was a forge for the manufacture of bar iron, and soon after became a furnace for making anchors for vessels. At a consider- ably later day another bar iron forge was built, which outlived the others by many years, but neither of these industries are now in operation. Another of the prominent industries, though it may not have been an ancient one, was the production of yellow ochre, a fine clay found in various places along the hollow, much used in mechanical arts. There were two paint-mills in opera- tion here at one time, the ochre being a prominent factor in this manufacture, but this too, is now at an end in this locality.
The chief products to day, that in fact has been for the last half century or more, is the manufacture of lumber in various forms, and the production of charcoal. These have been carried on to a very great extent, but the supply of raw material now shows visible signs of exhaustion. For fifty and more years the incessant attacks of the woodman have told seriously upon the native forests of Woodford, and if continued for a like time in the future their utter devastation will be the result. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to name each and every lumber and charcoal producer that has operated in this town. Many are still here that have worked for years, and others have come and gone of whom there is left no record.
That part of the town that has always been called the " Hollow," by people generally, has an advantage over the southern portion by its proximity to the
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
railroad that runs from Bennington to Glastenbury, for the manufacturer !. locality can be loaded on the cars with but little team work, and are tim: sent to market at less expense than the products of Woodford City and . region further south. The construction of this road gave to the denver the "Hollow" a dignity not previously theirs, and resulted in a change of na. at least, among the residents there, of the locality from the "Hollow" to ". City," by which it was known for some time. Then by a subsequent cha !. brought about by the extensive industries operated by the Harbour Broti. : the plice became known as Harbourville. But the reader who is not acquain. with this immediate locality must not for a moment imagine that Harbouri forinerly Slab City, formerly Woodford Hollow, is a snug little hamlet on Bi. Brook, for such is hardly the case. The " Hollow" begins as one enters the do. file between the mountains and ends where the ravine becomes lost in ti. mountains, a distance of two or more miles. The place now called Harbeth - ville, proper, consists of the mills operated by the firm of Harbour Brothers an. the few houses erected for the accommodation of proprietors and employee. This is about all there is of the place, still there are some other industries in the "Hollow."
The most extensive manufacturers in the north part of the town are the members of the firm of Harbour Brothers, already frequently mentioned, who have been operating in the vicinity for a number of years. They are large land owners and employ a number of men in their business. They have been producers of lumber and charcoal, but the former, in various forms, now mainly occupies their attention, their products including "bill stuff." lath and shingles. Harbourville with Ilarbour Brothers left out would be hardly discernible.
Above the" Hollow" there was built and put in operation in 1864 a saw and turning. mill, the property of Lyman Patchin, but after some years this passed to the firm of Aldrich & Mallory, who continued it. Of late, however, these proprietors have changed the machinery and re-arranged the building for use as a chair factory. In the lower part of the "Hollow" is the lumber, box and lath-mills of Lyman Evans and Irving E. Gibson, who do business here under the firm name of Evans & Gibson. The principal charcoal industries in this part of the town are those of J. J. Morehouse and E. C. White, (Morehouse & White), both residents of New York, and Irving E. Gibson's, formerly James Beckley's, who has some seven or eight kilus scattered about, and possibly other producers of less note.
There was a time when Woodford Hollow, throughout its entire length, was an exceeding busy community, but that time has long since passed. The old hotels that were built for the accommodation of travelers and to boarders in this vicinity, have long since lost their usefulness, and only during the fishing season does the stranger venture to remain long within the confines of the old " Hollow." The other and the principal manufacturing point of the township is the hamlet
479
TOWN OF WOODFORD.
known for at least three score of years by the name of "Woodford City." It is said that "a city set on a hill shall not be hid;" therefore here must be a city, for it is on one of the highest elevations upon which a town could possibly be built up in the township, unless, perhaps, the extreme heights of Mount Pros- pect were used for that purpose. In all the long years of its existence Wood- ford City has acquired a population varying from one to two hundred persons. Like the proverbial Irishman's pig "it is little but old." But, notwithstanding the isolated situation of Woodford City, and the difficulty with which its high elevation is reached, the place abounds in beautiful scenes that attract many visitors; in fact of late it has become quite a resort, and it only remains for some enterprising person to build the proper style of summer hotel and adver- tise judiciously to make Woodford City the rival of the other resorts so nu- merous in the mountains of Vermont. Among the many natural attractions here is the body of water called Big Pond, something like one hundred acres in extent; to the southwest there rises high above the plateau lands Mount Prospect. Here, too, is found excellent trout fishing in the waters of Stamford stream, City stream and Rake branch. The whole locality abounds in delight- ful scenes and situations to attract the presence of summer boarders.
Woodford City, although never regularly laid out, and having no corporate existence apart from the balance of the township, is a busy little hamlet, hav- ing a population of forty or fifty families, all of whom are in some manner con- nected with the lumber and other industries for which the place is noted. The first settler on this site is said to have been Zurial Cutler, but prior to his com- ing a saw-mill was in operation at the place. Soon after Cutler's settlement here William Park and his son and Henry Loveland moved to the locality and and then the city got its start. These families were at the city prior to 1820. The dense forest growth promised good returns of lumber and charcoal, and in this these and subsequent comers engaged, until the business spread over the entire central and southern portions of the township. The numerous mountain streams afforded capital power, and soon mills lined their banks at convenient points, while a multitude of charcoal kilns were scattered through the forests.
These industries have used, perhaps, the greater part of the forests, but still there remains a good quantity for the future. Where no longer than twenty years ago there was nothing but woods, may now be seen good farming lands, but this pursuit has never been considered profitable in this locality. Among the scores of industries that have at one time or another been in operation at the city but comparatively few remain, and as the decline has been here so has it been generally throughout the township, owing in great measure to the exhaustion of the supply of raw material. The present industries of the city are about as follows : F. A. Gleason, manufacturer of lumber and boxes, the latter for packing the knit goods made at Bennington ; George W. Knapp,
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
manufacturer of lumber and chair stuff; Elmer Gleason, saw-mill; Stephen 1 Gleason and Charles F. Wood, (Gleason & Wood), saw- mill ; John Bugie saw-mill, built in 1866; Anthony W. Hager, manufacturer of charcoal, to kilns.
At a point some four miles east of the city Enos Adams has a mill for the manufacture of lumber and mop handles. At the foot of the mountain the o .: "Foote" mill is starting up as a saw-mill. Also at Woodford City are to good hotels-the Mt. Pleasant House, under the proprietorship of George W. Knapp, and the Summit House, the proprietor of which is Cornelius Cutler.
The population of the township of Woodford, according to the census of 1880, numbered four hundred and eighty-eight souls. At the present time it will number about the same, but slightly less if any material variation is shown. The check list for the presidential and State election of 1888 had nearly eighty voters, but there are many persons residing in the town who are not legal voters, so as an index of what the present population may be the check list is not entirely reliable. The present grand list of Woodford is $900. The town, since 1872, has not sent a Republican representative to the State Leg- islature. John Rooney is the present representattve.
The town of Woodford has two churches, the one a Union church at Wood- ford City, at which all denominations are entitled to hold services, provided each supplies itself with a pastor. The edifice was built in 1873, at a cost of $1,200; the other church is located in the Hollow, and is of the denomina- tion known as the Advent Christian Church. The society was organized in 1871 by elders of that faith, with twelve members. The church building was erected during the same year, and cost $1,800. No services have been held here for two or three years. In the town are three schools, which are man- aged and supported according to the "town system," the freemen having voted to adopt that form of school management in preference to the "district system," but this is not wholly satisfactory, and it is more than possible that the town system will be abolished and the district system established. The school- houses are located-one at the Hollow, one at Woodford City, and the third in the extreme eastern part of the township. Fifty cents on the dollar is raised annually for maintenance of the schools. The present school trustees are as follows : George W. Knapp, chairman ; Myron H. Woodward, and Giles Har- bour.
The present town officers of Woodford are as follows: John Rooney, town representative ; Amos Aldrich, moderator; Amos Aldrich, Giles Harbour and Elmer Gleason, selectmen ; Myron H. Woodward, John Harbour, and George W. Bickford, listers ; George W. Bickford, town clerk and treasurer.
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TOWN OF READSBORO.
CHAPTER XXXI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF READSBORO.'
R EADSBORO is situated in the southeast corner of Bennington county, and bounded on the north by Searsburg, on the east by Whittingham and Wilmington, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the west by Stamford and Woodford. The population in 1880 was seven hundred and forty-four. There are at present three post-offices in town, to wit: Readsboro, Readsboro Falls and Heartwellville. Eight schools are also maintained with an aggregate at- tendance of about two hundred pupils, and at a cost of about $1,000 per an- num. Three churches comprise the church buildings in Readsboro, in only one of which are services regularly held, the Baptist society holding their meetings in the town-hall.
The first white persons who traversed Readsboro are supposed to have been seventy-four soldiers on their return from the expedition against Crown Point, in December, 1759, who, intending to go to the fort then standing near where North Adans, Mass. is now situated, got lost, and striking to the west branch of the Deerfield River in the present town of Woodford, which they followed to the town of Charlemont, Mass., before reaching any settlement, striking the Deerfield River where the village of Readsboro now stands. At this point their provisions becoming exhausted, they made a halt, killed, roasted and ate a dog that accompanied them, and then continued their weary journey. They all reached Charlemont alive, although one of their number, Daniel Davidson, who had enlisted at the early age of fifteen years, and who afterwards became a prominent citizen of Readsboro, was so exhausted and benumbed with cold that he lay down to sleep, but being soon missed by his companions they turned back and helped him along.
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