History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

Author: Rann, W. S. (William S.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1054

USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 71

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for that purpose by Deacon A. J. Watkins. In August, 1855, the school was opened under the charge of Henry Buckham, of the U. V. M., as principal. The pupils numbered one hundred and twenty-five. At a later period the building was remodeled inside, an addition made to it, and it was made in part a boarding-school, under the charge of Asa Anderson, as principal. Still later the building, with nearly all its contents, was destroyed by fire. It was imme- diately rebuilt, its friends again subscribing liberally for that purpose. The school was interrupted only for a short time and has been in progress ever since. The history of this school, now known as Essex Classical Institute, from its inception to the present time, is the history of the progress of educa- tion in this town. Students have been graduated from it into all the walks of life. Some have become prominent as teachers; some in the professions of law, medicine and theology ; and some in the ordinary employments of life. It is among the best established and permanent institutions of the State. Just previous to his decease Hon. T. R. Fletcher, who was for many years a mer- chant and citizen of Essex, but later of Burlington, gave to the institution the sum of $10,000 as an endowment. The sum was invested in real estate under his direction, and yields an annual income equivalent to six per cent., which can only be used for the support of the school. At a later period his daugh- ter, Mary Fletcher, donated the sum of $2,000 to the corporation, which was appropriated to the purchase, repairing and furnishing the large building near the institute for a boarding-house, and is now used for that purpose.

Among the natives of the town who have been liberally educated are Samuel, son of Deacon Samuel Buell, who died when about to enter upon the preparation for the ministry, in 1819, after his graduation ; Irad C. Day, son of David Day, who was eminent as a lawyer in town for many years and after- ward at Muscatine, Iowa, where he died ; Franklin Butler, eldest son of B. B. Butler, who was for many years pastor of the Congregational Church at Wind- sor, Vt., afterward agent of the American Colonization Society, and later editor of the Vermont Chronicle and Vermont Journal, and died at Windsor May 22, 1880; John E. Hamilton, son of Deacon David Hamilton, who taught school in Williston for a time, then went to Oswego, N. Y., where he was at one time mayor of the city, superintendent of schools in the city, and princi- pal of the high school ; Sanford Halbert, son of John Halbert, who became a minister of the Methodist Church, was for a time editor of the Northern Chris- tian Advocate, and now resides in Buffalo, N. Y., where he is engaged in secu- lar business ; Henry E. Butler, D. D., youngest son of B. B. Butler, who was- for seventeen years pastor of the Congregational Church in Keeseville, N. Y., and now of the Congregational Church in Jacksonville, Ill. ; Milton R. Tyler, son of Daniel Tyler, who was at one time principal of the Chittenden County Institute, judge of probate in Orleans county, and afterwards city judge of Burlington, and is now practicing his profession of law in Minnesota ; D. Sher-

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wood Kellogg, who is a graduate of the medical department U. V. M., and is now practicing medicine in Plattsburgh, N. Y. ; and Walter Freeman, son of Walter, who engaged in business West and died there. These were all gradu- ates of the University of Vermont. In addition to these there are several persons who have been long-time residents of the town, and become identified with its associations and interests, who are also graduates and have received an honorary degree from the U. V. M. Among these are Silas C. Freeman, of the class of 1820; John R. Herrick, D.D., son of Russell Herrick, who for thirteen years was pastor of the Congregational Church in Malone, N. Y., then professor of theology and biblical literature in the Bangor, Me., Theolog- ical Seminary, then pastor at South Dudley, Mass., later president of the Pa- cific University, Oregon, and now president of the Dakota University, Ver- milion, Dakota ; George F. Herrick, brother of John E., who was ordained as a missionary of the American Board of Missions in Turkey, and was for a time a member of the Bible Translation and Revision Committee in that coun- try, is now connected with its schools and college, and resides at Marsovan ; Edward P. Butler, son of Dr. L. C. Butler, who is now pastor of the Congre- gational Church in Lynn, N. H., one of the largest churches in the State ; Asaph M. Butler, son of B. B. Butler, who was for many years principal of the high school in Georgia, Vt., and of the academies in Franklin and Peacham, one of the professors in the New Hampton Institute at Fairfax, and for some years the efficient secretary of the State Sunday-school Association, and died September 20, 1883 ; Miss Laura Ann Day, daughter of Horatio Day, who was a graduate of Oberlin College, Ohio, and for many years has been a mis- sionary of the A. B. C. F. M., in South Africa. None of them - men and women - can be accounted great in the sense of wielding influence in the world, or in occupying stations of distinguished honor in the world's estima- tion, but they are mentioned with pride as representatives of the town of Essex, in positions which are beyond comparison more elevated, important and commanding, in which their influence is broadening and deepening to- ward the ocean of eternity beyond.

Professional History .- The first physician located in town was Elkanah Billings. The first town meeting was held at his house, and he was the first town clerk, but how long he was here, or what were his qualifications as a phy- sician, it is not possible to ascertain. Dr. Garlick and Dr. Spelman succeeded him, the latter locating at " Hubbel's Falls." He is spoken of as an excellent physician, though quite eccentric and skeptical in his religious sentiments. Dr. Pearly Warner located in the eastern part of the town, and was the ancestor of Dr. Benjamin F. Warner, who was for many years a practitioner of the botanic system of medicine. He resided on the farm now occupied by C. H. Nichols, where he died. Drs. Truman Powell and John Perrigo were successively lo- cated at Page's Corners. In 1809 we find the latter mentioned in connection

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with a claim upon the town for attending upon one Larkin Green, and that is all the information to be obtained of him. Dr. Powell was quite noted as a physician and was contemporary with Drs. Pomeroy and Cole, the older class of physicians. He spent his declining years at Essex Junction, where he died. Still later Dr. Mason Mead began practice at Page's Corners and afterward removed to within a few rods of the geographical center of the town. He was a very successful practitioner, moderate and very deliberate in his motions, too slow to satisfy the Johns who were his contemporaries, but he was well posted in his profession, safe and generally accurate in his diagnosis of disease and in the application of remedies. He removed to Plattsburgh, N. Y., in his later life, where he died at a good old age. Later still Dr. Harmon Howe . located at Page's Corners. He was an excellent practitioner, a thorough stu- dent, kind hearted, sympathetic and a good citizen. He died, after a few years' practice, in the midst of the brightest prospects for future usefulness and emi- nence in his profession. After him came Dr. John W. Emery, who located also at Page's Corners, where he resided for many years. Dr. Emery was quite the antipode of Dr. Mead. He was wide awake, energetic, ambitious, well posted in professional knowledge. His practice was extensive in this and ad- joining towns. In later life he went West and spent the evening of his long, busy and laborious life with his children at Paw Paw, Mich. Following him was Dr. Marcus Swain, who was a student of Dr. Emery. He located at the Center, and enjoyed largely the confidence of the people in his practice. Later he removed to Westford and thence he went West, residing and continuing practice at Wanpon. Contemporary with them was Dr. Simon Tubbs, who was a student of Dr. Truman Powell. He occupied the old homestead near Page's Corners, where he died in 1859. He had the reputation of being a well-read physician, but his practice was limited. He was honored by his fel- low-citizens with positions of trust and responsibility in town affairs and served faithfully and well. Dr. Ira Hatch was also a resident physician of the town. He removed to Swanton, Vt., where, after many years of successful practice, he died, leaving as a legacy to his heirs a noted preparation of his " Dr. Ira Hatch's Febrifuge." Succeeding these were Dr. H. N. Curtis, a good man and a successful practitioner, who later removed to Jericho and thence to Can- ada, where he died ; and Dr. J. M. Work, who removed here from Hunting- ton, and after a few years' practice died. Both of them were located at the Center. Upon the departure of the one and death of the other, Dr. L. C. Butler, a graduate of the Vermont Medical College at Woodstock in 1843, then just returning from a two years' residence in Philadelphia, in attendance upon the hospitals there, located at Page's Corners, establishing an office at the Center. Dr. Butler received the honorary degree of M. D. from Dartmouth College. Several years later Dr. C. M. Ferrin, a graduate of the medical de- partment U. V. M. at Burlington in 1865, and hospital surgeon in the Eighth

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Regiment of Vermont Volunteers in the late war, removed from East St. Johnsbury to Essex Junction, and they are at this date, 1886, the permanent, resident, active practitioners of medicine in town.

The legal profession was represented fifty years ago by David B. Webster, who located at Butler's Corners and occupied the present residence of Murray Fay. He was not in town many years, and was followed by Irad C. Day, a son of David Day, and a graduate of the U. V. M., who located at the Center, to which place he removed the building occupied by Mr. Webster as a law office. Mr. Day was thoroughly posted in his profession, a good citizen, highly respected and honored. Litigation was more common in those days than now, and Mr. Day had a very successful practice. Later he emigrated West and died. A Mr. Huntoon succeeded him, but soon left under a cloud connected with the post-office department. Then followed Jesse Carpenter, who re- mained in town several years, and was a fairly successful lawyer. Upon his departure West there was no lawyer in town for many years. Jacob Maeck was for a time a resident lawyer in town, but he soon removed to Burlington, where he became a leading lawyer at the bar. At this date, 1886, the legal profession is represented by M. A. Bingham, who resides at Essex Junction. For the first fifty years of its existence the town was unrepresented by any member of the legal profession. Litigation was comparatively unknown. The second fifty years was the era of law suits, long, bitter, uncompromising. The "appletree " and the " sheep " suits are among those which have passed into history as illustrating the tenacity of such contests.

Military History .- The Revolutionary soldiers who lived and died in this town were Samuel Bradley, Stephen Butler, David Day, Gideon Curtis, Wm. Ingraham, Jonathan Bixby, and Thomas Chipman. The first four named were pensioners. Mr. Bradley was in the battle of Bennington, and was distin- guished for his courage and coolness in the hour of battle. He was one of the first deacons of the Congregational Church; pious and exemplary and re- garded as a peace-maker by all who knew him. He held several important offices in town. Mr. Butler enlisted at the age of nineteen years, being then a resident of Litchfield county, Conn., and served until the peace of 1783, when with his entire family, the youngest two years old, he emigrated to Vermont and settled in this town. He was town treasurer for many years and held other offices of trust and responsibility. All these Revolutionary soldiers were true patriots and lovers of their country.

In the War of 1812 Essex furnished a number of men, who as volunteers were in the battle of Plattsburgh. Quite a number who volunteered to go were unable to reach the battle-ground for want of transportation. Among those who were in the battle were Colonel George Tyler and Ensign, after- ward Colonel, Samuel Page. Colonel Tyler commanded a portion of the militia under General Strong. They were encamped near Salmon River,

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awaiting orders to march. The order soon came, and they took up the line of march in quick time. Observing some delay and flagging in one of the com- panies, General Strong rode up to Colonel Tyler and with some spirit accosted him : " Why all this delay ?" Colonel Tyler replied, " I've got a d-d coward on my left." " March on and leave him then," was the command. Colonel Samuel Page was one of the company of United States soldiers stationed at Swanton in 1808 to guard the frontier, to intercept smugglers and seize con- traband goods. On one occasion, with a squad of men at Windmill Point, he discovered a boat loaded with potash in full sail for Canada. He ordered them to " heave to" or he should fire into them. They did so and surrendered their valuable cargo. Threats of recapture were made and sixty men were ready to carry the threat into execution. The little squad determined, pre- pared themselves for the encounter and resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible if attacked. But orders came to sail the vessel into Burlington, and saved the contest. In 1812 Colonel Page was one of the first to volunteer in defense of his country, leaving his newly-married wife and pleasant home to mingle in the strife and bloodshed, then quite likely to be fierce and prolonged. But a single defeat ended the war. Colonel John Parker, who was for many years a resident of Essex, was in the battle of Lundy's Lane under General Winfield Scott.

The following names have been sent to the editor as being the names of a part of the men from this town and Jericho who formed one company, and were present at the battle of Plattsburgh. We disclaim responsibility for mis- takes in spelling :

Captain Joseph Sinclair, Samuel Strong, Calvin White, Samuel Page, Eli . Smith, Henry Bliss, Daniel Hamilton, William Allen, Daniel Littlefield, Harry Hurlburt, Elijah Collinger, Elin Hamilton, Cormon Sinclair, David Pino, Orange Buell, Walter Fairmon, Charles Hapgood, Enoch French, E. Bliss, Amos Blin, Daniel Bliss, Nathan Barney, Uriah Brigham, Martin Hyde, Nathan Woodruff, David Hyde, Adolphus Knowles, John Thomson, John Bassett, Daniel Hoorkin, John Joyner, Samuel Stanton, Hazen Sinclair, Samuel Patten, Petiah Bliss, Moody Blood, Israel Blood, Ira Whitney, William Parker, Benjamin F. Holbrook, Benjamin Tubbs, William Burnett, John Blood, Joseph Chamberlin, Jacob Miller, Luther Freeman, Nathaniel Blood, jr., Hiram Bar- ney, Charles McArthur, Ezra Galusha, David Sinclair, Joseph Ewers, Matthew Marvin, Jonathan Woodruth, Asaph Woodruth, Eli Wheaton, Theron Bradley, A. Wheaton, Ebenezer Thomson, John Hill, H. Day, David Tyler, Chester Henderson, Hermon N. Hurlburt, Henry Kelley.

In the war of 1861-5 this town had representatives in nearly every regi- ment that was raised in the State, and in a large proportion of the hard fought battle-fields. Some were buried upon the field of victory they helped to win. Some carry the evidence of their valor in the wounds they received.

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Some passed unscathed through all the perils of camp, battle and prison. Essex had four representatives in the First Vermont Regiment. The whole number of men furnished by the town during the continuance of the war was 140. Of this number twenty-six died from diseases, and seven were killed in battle ; nine were taken prisoners, one to die in Andersonville and one in Salis- bury prisons ; eight deserted, but none of them were natives of Essex; thirteen were wounded. One was elected captain at the organization of a company ; two secured that honor by promotion ; several were made lieutenants and ser- geants in the same manner ; many of them held minor positions; most of them were privates, and the large majority were not subject to draft on account of age. The amount expended by the town for bounties and attending expenses was $37,567, equivalent to nineteen dollars for each inhabitant of the town, more than one hundred dollars to each voter, or nearly eight hundred per cent. of the grand list of 1865. At the close of the war the town directed the preparation and publication of a "Memorial Record " which was written by L. C. Butler, M. D., and contains a complete history of the part taken by her citizens in the war. A copy of this "Record " was placed in every family in town. By the generous liberality of Hon. Josiah Tuttle, a " Memorial Tablet " of Vermont marble was placed over the entrance of the town hall, on which is inscribed the names of the dead soldiers, and the following inscription : "In grateful remembrance of the brave soldiers of Essex, who lost their lives in the service of their country during the war for the preservation of the Union."

In General .- The town of Essex has always been more specially noted for its agricultural than for its mechanical or manufacturing industries. Its smaller streams, like Alder Brook, were, early in its history, utilized in run- ning saw-mills spring and fall, but the Onion River, at Hubbel's Falls, was its principal water power, and has always been the center of its manufacturing industries. The manufacture of carriages and sleighs was for many years a large and prosperous industry at Page's Corners by Colonel S. Page, at But- ler's Corners by M. Wool, and at the Center by Harry Aldrich. Other minor industries were carried on, such as the " tailor," the " shoemaker," the " black- smith," the " tanner," etc., etc., but most of them have been rendered unprofit- able by modern improvements and have been discontinued for other pursuits. The face of the town is diversified. The northern and eastern portions are hilly though not mountainous. The southern, central, and western are more nearly level, sinking in some parts to a swamp, soft and wet. There are no mountains or natural ponds in town. On the south the Winooski forms the boundary line. The eastern portion of the town is watered by Brown's River and its tributaries. It is extremely tortuous, running many miles in its circuit to make one in length. In its passage through the town it does not afford a single fall sufficient to make a mill privilege of any value, though they are found both above and below. On the borders of these rivers the soil is a rich

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alluvial mould. In other parts of the town there is more of the clay forma- tion, with a rich deposit of muck in certain localities. In general the soil is rich and exceedingly productive. There is scarcely any land but what may be cultivated, or is well adapted for grazing purposes. The attention of the people is hence directed mainly to growing stock and the products of the dairy ; and these are the leading industries. The advent of the railroad was thought by many to be the forerunner of destruction to all the industrial pur- suits of the town and the State ; but the result has proved otherwise. They have been stimulated rather than depressed. The dairy interest has improved. Prices have ruled higher. The people are brought into more immediate com- petition with those who have long enjoyed the monopoly of the market, and prices of dairy and farm products. So far from injuring or depressing the business interests of the town, the railroads have developed our resources, opened new avenues of trade, and brought the great centers of trade and population within speaking distance of rural districts and population. The evidences of it are seen in the increase of population and business, the im- provement of the farms, the introduction of new implements of farm work, the increase of production of all farm products, and in the general thrift and public spirit which is everywhere manifest.

CHAPTER XXII.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HINESBURG.

HIS town is situated in the southern part of the county, is bounded north T by Shelburne, St. George and Richmond, east by Huntington and by Starksboro, in Addison county, south by Starksboro and Monkton, in that county, and west by Charlotte. The charter of Hinesburg was granted by Benning Wentworth on the 24th of June, 1762, to the following grantees :

David Ferriss, Abel Hine (from whom the town received its name), John Brownson, Zechariah Ferriss, Daniel Bostwick, jr., Thomas Oviatt, jr., William Goold, Moses Johnson, Benjamin Brownson, Isaac Canfield, David Hall, Josiah Brownson, Samuel Brownson, Samuel Brownson, jr., Samuel Canfield, John Carrington, Thomas Weller, Tilly Weller, Abel Weller, Ebenezer Hotchkiss, Isaac Baldwin, jr., Abel Camp, John Comstock, Samuel Hitchcock, jr., John Hitchcock, Isaac Hitchcock, Asahel Hitchcock, Zadok Noble, Benjamin Gay- lard, Samuel Comstock, Asahel Noble, John Warner, Merton Warner, Orange Warner, Thomas Darling, Partridge Thatcher, James Bradshaw, Thomas No- ble, William Vaughan, Joseph Wooster, Andrew Burritt, Isaac Bostwick, Noble Hine, Daniel Burritt, Job Goold, Job Goold, jr., David Goold, Amos Bostwick,

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Joseph Underhill, Edward Burling, Samuel Underhill, Andrew Underhill, Thomas Underhill, William Van Wyck, William Van Wyck, jr., Hugh Rider, William Field, Joseph Pearsall, Thomas Pearsall, Benjamin Ferriss, " the Hon. John Temple, esq., lieutenant-governor, Theodore Atkinson, esq., Mark H. Wentworth, esq., John Nelson, esq., Benning Wentworth, esq."

The charter was recorded by Abel Hine, register, on the 18th of February, 1763.

In outline the town is very regular, being a perfect square, with each side six miles in length, enclosing a tract of 23,040 acres. Unlike most of the other towns in the State, Hinesburg at the beginning really contained the area as- cribed to it, and has suffered neither increase nor diminution from then up to the present time. The soil in the western part of the town is principally clay and very fertile, while the surface is not mountainous, though in many places the limestone formations have been thrown up into small ridges or hillocks, some of which are rough and precipitous. In the eastern part the soil is a sandy or gravelly loam, overlying a talcose formation which meets the lime- stone layer of the western part, making a succession of north and south ridges extending through nearly the center of the town, which are some of them ara- ble to their summits. Numerous streams afford ample irrigation, and contain excellent mill sites, which have been a source of great wealth to the town. The principal streams are Lewis Creek and La Plotte River.

The original forests of this vicinity were generally of the common varieties of hard timber found in Vermont, with scattering pines and small swamps of cedar. Several beaver meadows, one containing more than 100 hundred acres, were of value to the early settlers by furnishing considerable quantities of hay, though of a poor quality.

Early Records. - The fact that few of the grantees named in the charter entertained the thought of settling on the wilderness lands which had been granted them, is clearly betrayed by the early records of transfers of land. Within a few days after the date of the charter, Job Goold, jr., sold his original right to Benjamin Ferriss for eight shillings ; and in December, 1762, David Hall sold one full right to Henry Franklin and Benjamin Underhill, merchants of New York city. Most of the proprietors lived in Litchfield county, Conn., - and manifested no eagerness about their lands in Hinesburg, except to make them habitable for the sake of speculation. It is worthy of note, too, that while meetings were frequently held up to May 16, 1776, and at that date an adjourn- ment was voted to "the first Monday of September, 1776," there is no record of that adjourned meeting, nor of any other until the 8th day of May, 1783. This is one proof showing how instantly and completely the whole interest and enterprise of the men of the Revolution were engaged in carrying on the war while it lasted.

The first meeting of the proprietors was held at New Milford, Conn., on the

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last Friday of July, 1762, and their last meeting at that place was held on the 9th of May, 1783. One week later a warning was issued through the " public papers," signed by Ira Allen, at Sunderland, for a meeting to be held " at the House of Abner Chaffee, in said Hinesburg, on the fifth Monday of June next." At that time and place Noble Hine was chosen moderator, and Isaac Hitchcock clerk; whereupon the meeting was adjourned to the house of Isaac Lawrence, July 7, 1783. At this meeting, and at others held on the 9th and Ioth of the same month, the following votes were recorded, among others :

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History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

Author: Rann, W. S. (William S.) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1054

Author: Rann, W. S. (William S.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1054