USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Cavendish > History of Cavendish, Vermont > Part 3
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During its long career the bank was broken into once but thieves only succeeded in destroying the outside of the vault. They never reached the inner safe where the valuables are kept.
The Proctor-Piper State Forest was established in 1914, gift of 424 acres from ex-Governor Redfield Proctor. A recent gift from Gay Brothers increased the size to 1500 acres.
The Proctorsville Library Association was organized in 1858. The first funds were raised by an entertainment given by a dramatic society of the village, to which sum ex-Governor Redfield Proctor added a like amount. Its library is now lo- cated in Proctorsville.
The Proctorsville Marble Co. furnished marble for the floors of the National Gallery of Art building which was erected in Washington, D.C. The architects, after inspecting specimens of various colors and grades of marble, decided on the Proctors- ville product, which is green Verde Antique Marble with beau- tiful veinings and markings of light-green shades.
The First Episcopal Church was organized through the per- sistent efforts of Aunt Sally Parker, an aunt of ex-Governor Redfield Proctor. Miss Parker gave a small building and helped to furnish it so that a handful of members might worship. As the membership grew Gethsemane Chapel was built.
St. James Methodist Church was organized at an early date as many of the early settlers were Methodist. The church was built in 1840 and in 1882-83 a new edifice was built.
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church is believed to have
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been erected around the year 1860 with Father Charles O. Reilly in charge. In 1894 the church was closed and services were held in Ludlow. In 1899 Mass was held in a home in Proc- torsville. However, the large congregation made it necessary to use the Engine Hall. The original church was renovated and re- opened in 1905, and Father Dwyer served as pastor until 1913. On September 11, 1946, Rev. Buckley was appointed as pastor. The first Midnight Mass was celebrated on Christmas of 1946. The first High Mass was celebrated the following Easter in 1947. The present membership is approximately 130 individuals.
On the grounds of the lodge home of the Odd Fellows, Re- bekahs and Masons stands the beautiful marble monument given by ex-Governor Redfield Proctor in honor of the boys who served in the World War. The building was formerly The Eagle Hotel.
Most of the records of the incorporated village of Proctors- ville are kept comparatively free of fire hazards, being located at the bank. Other records may be located at the various homes of village officers and may be inspected at reasonable hours by appointment.
Cornelia Otis Skinner in her book, "Family Circle" writes: My father's boyhood days (Otis Skinner) were spent largely in the observance of stern routine. His happiest interludes were the summer months when the family went to Vermont to stay with Grandfather. Grandfather Skinner was laid to rest beside his wife and amid his forebears in the little mountain ceme- tery in Proctorsville.
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CHAPTER FIVE
Early Cavendish 18II
O NE who seeks a brief escape from the turmoil of the world of today would do well to follow a zigzag trail up the steep side of a ravine in Cavendish, until he comes to the last rest- ing place of the old settlers. This secluded spot is entirely theirs. No newcomer has come among them for more than one hun- dred years and nothing will be found that does not belong to the past; the rude stone walls, the rough headstones, the un. even turf, the pious epitaphs, the old Yankee names-all are of bygone generations.
Having so recently left a rollicking brook in the valley be- low, the visitor is pleased and soothed by the peace and quiet that reigns about him on all sides. Perhaps the early settlers also felt the charm of the little clearing in the forest that was to be their eternal home. One of the headstones gives a hint of this, the inscription reading:
Lucy, wife of Enos Baldwin, died in the City of Albany, N.Y., Oct. 28, 1807, in the 27th year of her age, and was removed to this place soon after. (Lucy was the daughter of Aaron and Lydia Spaulding Parker)
When one thinks of the long, rough road through the forest, the slow jolting ride on cart or sled, the nights of waiting along the way, it seems that some strong feeling must have been at work. It could not have been a desire to bury Lucy beside those who were near to her by blood, for none is to be found in the cemetery to this day.
Near at hand by the eastern wall is another grave of much interest, if not of mystery. It stands alone, the only gravestone facing eastward. The inscription reads:
Henry Proctor, died June 19, 1778, age 51. Thus indicating that it marks the first burial in Cavendish, earlier by eight ycars than any death of record.
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Who was this lone man of mature years, and what brought him into the wilderness when only three families were living in town? A little research has thrown some light on this subject. taking us away from the seclusion of the little cemetery, away from Vermont, then back again, to one of the oldest, best known farms in town.
Henry Proctor was not closely related to others of that name who were to live in Cavendish. He was the son of Gershom Proctor who, in his day, had been a well-to-do citizen of Chelms- ford, Mass. Gershom had owned slaves as well as land and other property. He had also been one of the proprietors of a land bank which issued currency on the basis of land and bonds, until suppressed by an Act of Parliament as unsound in prin- ciple and inflationary.
In January of 1778, after the death of his parents, Henry Proctor sold home and land in Chelmsford for a large sum suf- ficient to insure a good living in such a well settled community. But Henry chose to forego the comforts of his home at the age of fifty years and to subject himself and family to the hardships of pioneer life in an undeveloped section of Vermont, then known as the New Hampshire Grants. He bought 1076 acres of wild land from the original grantee at the price of 600 pounds. Well chosen, the tract included within its bounds two of the best farms of Cavendish, long known respectively as the Wheeler and the Densmore farms. (Land Records of Middlesex County, Mass. and of Cavendish, Vt.)
In coming to Vermont, Henry Proctor made a fateful deci- sion and must have been moved by compelling motives. prob- ably a strong desire to get away from a scene of religious strife and perhaps, also, an unwillingness to pay rates for the support of a church he did not care to attend. It is significant that a number of his associates followed him to Cavendish, among them Dr. Asaph Fletcher, who became the first physician in town and a leading citizen of the new state of Vermont. (His- tory of Chelmsford, Mass.)
Dying in June of 1778, Henry Proctor did not live long in Cavendish but it is supposed that he spent much of the winter
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here. It is strange that no record can be found of the administra- tion of his large estate, either in Massachusetts or Vermont. Members of Henry Proctor's family lingered in Cavendish for a number of years after his death. His daughter, Rebecca, sold two thirds of the land to Levi Stevens of Townsend, Mass., who then sold tracts of it from time to time until finally it passed into the hands of four local men who soon sold it to the Rev. erend Joseph Brown of Alfred, Maine-little suspecting the comedy that was in the making.
Shortly before the day set for making payment and taking over the newly purchased farm, Reverend Brown started out on horseback from his home in Maine. In his saddle bags was the purchase price, so much in bullion, so much in bank notes- $800.00 in all.
We may suppose that the good man began his journey in a hopeful mood. Behind him was a scene of trouble and sorrow. He had been minister in Alfred four years and had seen fit to give up his church three years previously. Finally during the current year, 1811, his wife Rebecca had died.
In Vermont, then a new state in its boom period, the Rev- erend Brown had good reason to anticipate a much happier ex- perience. There were no threats of quarrels over religion in Cavendish and he would be welcomed in that town by three sisters, all wives of leading citizens, and by other Congrega- tionalists whose pastor he was to be for many years. Yes, he was assured of a welcome in Cavendish and of a good home there, but what about a mistress for it, a mother for his two children, an aid to him in his pastoral duties and in many other ways? Surely there were attractive girls in that growing town who would consider it an honor to be the wife of a minister of the gospel, a man of some education and of good family. While we cannot be sure that such thoughts were with the traveler on his journey, we do know, as will later appear, that they came to him.
Arriving in Cavendish after several days on the road, the Reverend Joseph Brown reached the farm at the specified time and found the people of the neighborhood on hand to witness
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the change in ownership by "turf and twig," this being in ac- cord with an ancient custom that prevailed when the written word was not trusted or generally understood.
After greeting his new neighbors, many of whom were to be members of his church, Reverend Brown took the saddle bags from his horse and brought them into the east room of the farm house where he began to count the money. He counted and recounted the gold, silver and bank notes but one note was constantly missing. No end of searching and checking brought the missing note to light. His Reverence was perplexed and greatly upset. He was certain that the full amount of money had been placed in the bags and the disappearance of any part of it was a very great mystery indeed. It was also most embarrass- ing to be in this position at his first meeting with the people of Cavendish, but nothing could be done. The frustrated man was compelled to return to Maine without paying for the farm in full.
The loss of the money was disturbing to the people because many considered it to be a reflection on their honesty. It be- came so distressing to one William Bond that he journeyed to Plymouth to consult a conjurer of that town.
Unable to return with Bond in person, the conjurer was willing to tell him what to do to solve the mystery, namely: cause the people to re-assemble and to bring to them the great bible* and key of the Meeting House. Bond was shown how to suspend the bible from the key by means of a cord and was taught a jargon which each man was to repeat while he in his turn held the bible by means of the cord and key, well up in the air in the sight of everybody. The innocent would have no trouble in holding the bible in this manner, said the conjurer, but the guilty would let it fall.
Certain that he had the means of detecting the guilty party, Bond rushed home and called a meeting of the people of the neighborhood, convincing them that they should submit to the test.
* In original story the word "bible" is not capital zed.
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The beginning was without event. Several men met the test in triumph but when James Bates, the local blacksmith, seized the key and began to repeat the magical words, the bible fell violently to the floor to the astonishment of many. Mr. Bates was a man of good repute, one of the joint owners of the farm being sold. His wife and daughter wept copiously and he ap- peared to be greatly disturbed himself.
After the confusion had subsided a little, it was proposed that the test be continued and the bible was held by otliers without mishap until Mr. James Smith, an outstanding citizen, dropped the bible to the amazement of the people; later, Mr. Proctor, another leading citizen and joint owner of the farm, similarly failed in the test!
At this stage Bond, a small, nervous man, became greatly excited. He had expected that some lowly fellow would be ex- posed by the test and frightened into admitting his guilt. The exposure instead of three joint owners of the farm, all men of substance and influence, was more than disconcerting-it was alarming. What would the people think of the test and what would these strong, shrewd men do? While hot and bothered by the course of events, Bond met with another surprise that was most disturbing. Some inconsiderate person suggested that he, the instigator of the test, should submit to it in his turn. This was not according to plan. Considering all the trouble he had taken it seemed ungrateful, but the people insisted and he could not refuse.
Seizing the key Bond raised the bible from its resting place, well in sight of everybody, trembling with excitement. He be- gan to mumble the prescribed jargon and then disaster over- took him. The good book broke loose and fell to the floor with a crash, to his intense distress and that of his family.
The frantic man proclaimed his innocence to the high heav- ens but the people were not impressed. They could not believe that the three leading citizens would stoop to petty theft but it was conceivable that Bond, who was favored neither with much of this world's goods nor sound judgment, might have yielded to temptation. Why had he taken on himself the task of detect-
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ing the thief unless he aimed to hide his own guilt by throwing suspicion on others?
The meeting broke up in confusion and poor Bond departed for his hillside farm, bewildered, discouraged, shamefaced. Conscious of his own innocence and good intentions, he felt that he had been badly used by his neighbors whose good names he had tried so hard to preserve. Whether his faith in conjury waned at this time we have no means of learning, but it must have occurred to him that the conjurer who had been "unable" to attend the meeting in person was a man of discretion, much too sagacious to challenge the intelligence of the early settlers of Cavendish. They were by no means an ignorant, superstitious . lot, as the future was to demonstrate. In the little group that stood for the test were several keen, understanding men whose sons inherited qualities that brought them great wealth, pro- fessional reputation, a seat in the Governor's chair, in the U.S. Senate and in the Cabinet of a President. Could the magic of the conjurer have told him as much? (Redfield Proctor, Riland Fletcher, Richard Fletcher, James H. Bates)
But no man was to suffer loss or incur disgrace because of the missing money. Shortly after the day of the test a letter came from Maine. It told how the Reverend Joseph Brown had taken another look into his saddle bags after returning to his home and there, to his great astonishment, was the bank note that he had overlooked in Cavendish, to the grief and confusion of many!
And then it came out that Bond had been the victim of a plot. The three men who had dropped the bible, sceptics one and all, had done so intentionally in order to make a farce of the test and to have a little fun at the expense of the superstitious little busybody in their midst.
The purchase of the farm was duly consummated and "Priest Brown" as he came to be known, made it his home for sixteen years. He died in 1840 and the Congregational Society of Cav- endish also came to an end at about that time. It is not known that he ever threw any light on his strange failure to see the ten pound note, but the mystery was explained by curious people somewhat as follows:
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As intimated previously, this middle-aged widower had a variety of hopes and interests in Cavendish. When he arrived in town with business in mind and met the people who had as- sembled at the farm, his quick eye caught the pretty face of Lucy, the daughter of Benjamin Proctor. It was a case of love at first sight. Matters of business lost much of their importance at once as did the sorrows of a widower. This was in April of 1811; in November of that year, say the Cavendish records, the Reverend Joseph Brown and Lucy Proctor were joined in matrimony. Is it strange that the fast-working pastor was unable to see a mere bank note while his heart was pounding like mad and his eyes were dazzled by the first sight of his future bride.
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CHAPTER SIX
Soldier's Monument Dedication 1 883
P ROMPTLY at twelve o'clock, a train consisting of fifteen cars drawn by two powerful engines, left Rutland depot bound for Cavendish. The cars were filled with members of organiza- tions who had participated in the exercises in Rutland, and a large number of excursionists. At every station were numerous persons who joined the party, and at Ludlow two extra cars were attached to the train. The band rendered several selections and the Kingsley Guard made the passage lively by songs.
Arriving at Cavendish, the procession was formed as follows, under the direction of W. J. Sperry, chief marshal:
Weston Cornet Band; veterans from surrounding towns, C. C. Johnson, Captain; Springfield Cornet Band; veterans; Chester Cornet Band; Henry Post G.A.R. Chester, J. C. Jones, Commander; Howard Post G.A.R. Ludlow, R. E. Ha- thorn, Commander; Hatch's Military Band of Rutland; Kingsley Guard, Captain C. C. Kinsman commanding; Rob- erts Post No. 14, G.A.R. of Rutland, A. T. Woodward, Com- mander; Sons of Veterans of Rutland, H. C. Green, com- manding.
The procession moved from the depot with the firing of cannon and music from bands and made a fine appearance. The line of march was from the depot to the Main Street, down the Main Street to General Geo. F. Davis' house, where they took under their escort Colonel Holbrook, the orator of the day; thence countermarched and returned to the town hall where the monument stood and where the first part of the program was carried out. The monument is a beautiful shaft, a full de- scription of which has been published in this report. It stands in a square directly in front of the Town Hall, and was draped with the Stars and Stripes. A hollow square was formed about it by the different organizations, and the services of the day commenced by the unveiling of the monument and throwing to the breeze the American colors, simultaneously with the firing
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of cannon and the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" by Hatch's Military Band. The following letter of presentation from Governor Proctor was read by A. S. Burbank of Proctors- ville:
"To the Selectinen of Cavendish
Gentlemen: I enclose herewith a deed of the lot on which the monument stands.
I have often wished that memorials, however simple in char- acter, might be so frequent in the land that no one in years to come could fail to see them and learn their meaning; learn that we once had a War of Seccession and Rebellion; learn what it was for and what it cost; who was right and who was wrong; who won the fight and what was decided by it.
In the struggle Cavendish was a good representative of all Vermont towns. The muster roll of her soldiers bears the names of the families who have been identified with the history of the town from its early settlement. Her soldiers were citizens and the sons of citizens. Our sons must learn that to be citizens of a republic carries with it the duty to be soldiers in time of need. It is of vital consequence to the future welfare of the nation to keep alive the patriotic memories of those four great years. If these memorials do this, they benefit us all. They will teach the very school boy a better lesson than his books.
Besides its general and better purpose, this conveyance is a slight acknowledgement of the many obligations upon me and mine in this town. My ancestors, and also my wife's, came to it- then a wilderness-one hundred years ago. In it our fathers lived and were respected and honored. In it we lived more than half our lives. In your churchyard all our kin, who have gone before, are laid. The names of your villages attest the close re- lations of the past. The old homesteads still stand on your books as they have for a century, in the family names, and no act of mine shall change the record. All these things make strong ties, which, I trust, may never be weakened.
I ask you to accept the lot and the monument for the people of the town.
Very Respectfully,
Redfield Proctor"
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Soldier's Monument, Cavendish, Vermont
The gift was accepted and response made on behalf of the town by Hon. F. Deane as follows:
"Mr. President: I have been selected as the humble organ of the town to acknowledge and accept this gift-thrice wel- comed because it comes from one of our citizens. It bears upon it the names of those who took their lives in their hands and went forth to crush the Rebellion, and that we might live. The gift is important, because it brings back recollections of that time, and what would have been the end of that war had not those soldiers gone forth. Again it is important, because it calls to mind the going out of the old Whig Party and the incoming of the Republican Party. It is important, because it shows first in the history of our country a President elected by the voice of the people who had to steal his way disguised to Washington from Harrisburg. Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated without bloodshed and all remained quiet until the state of South Caro- lina fired upon Sumter. This startled the North from its se- curity, and from the North came the thunder tones that Rebel- lion must be put down.
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There was a company in Cavendish which at once responded to the call and helped make up the 75,000 men called for by President Lincoln. All the calls for men, as stated in Governor Proctor's letter, were responded to by Cavendish men.
We accept this monument as a token of gratitude which Governor Proctor bears to the town; and for the lessons which it will teach those who come after us. In behalf of the town I extend a cordial welcome and the right hand of fellowship to his Excellency, the Governor, and the distinguished citizens of adjoining towns."
At the conclusion of Mr. Deane's speech, three cheers for Gov- ernor Proctor were called for by General Davis, the President of the day and they were given with a will and a heartiness.
After music by the Rutland band the exercises were con- tinued in a large tent erected for the purpose in the rear of the hall. A platform was erected at one end and from this the ad- dresses were delivered. The exercises were opened by music of the Springfield band and a song by the Rutland Glee Club.
The orator of the day, Col. William C. Holbrook, 7th Ver- mont regiment, was introduced by Gen. Davis with a few ap- propriate remarks.
Col. Holbrook said that when asked to take part in these memorial exercises, he felt impelled by a sense of duty to the old comrades to respond. It was his good fortune to serve with a considerable number of Cavendish boys almost from the be- ginning to the close of the Rebellion. He knew whereof he spoke when he said no better or braver soldiers were sent from any community than from this. The largest number of men from this town in any one regiment were enlisted in the sev- enth, which he had the honor to command during the greater portion of its long and arduous period of service, and before joining the seventh he was lieutenant in the fourth, commanded by Captain Atherton, largely made up of Cavendish men.
A response in behalf of Cavendish soldiers was made by Cap- tain H. B. Atherton of the Fourth Vermont Regiment. Capt. Atherton paid tribute to his comrades in arms, both living and dead, his friends and fellow townsmen, and gave a review of the War in general. At the conclusion of his address, a medley
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was sung by George F. Clark and Hank White, the veteran minstrels.
Rev. Enright of the Methodist church of Cavendish, then read President Lincoln's address at the dedication of the Get- tysburg cemetery.
Music was then furnished by the Rutland Drum Corps.
Ex-Governor Fletcher was then called upon by Gen. Davis to introduce a living Governor. Gov. Fletcher came forward with the remark, "Don't be alarmed, friends; I am not called out for a speech." He said he always had an attachment for living governors, and, with a few pleasant remarks, introduced His Excellency, Governor Barstow.
Governor Barstow said he owed it to himself to say that he had no idea of speaking until he arrived in Cavendish; he knew of no town more worthy of honor than Cavendish; her sons are represented in every branch of the service, and the files on record show that she more than filled the quota when the de .. mand for troops was made, and was credited with six more than her share, and they will stand to her credit forever in case of another war. In times of peace, those who gave their lives for the country's defense must not be forgotten; and it is through one's patriotism and generosity that their names will be perpetuated.
Gen. Davis then said he would call on a colonel, a gen- eral, and an ex-member of Congress-all in one man-William W. Grout. Gen. Grout said, when he got off the cars at the station he was handed a programme and he saw that it was an- nounced that something was expected of him. He said he was glad to meet all present and be in the town that gave up so many lives that liberty might be preserved. This monument is the magnificent gift of one with whom he had been in service and had known since youth and one whom he honored.
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