History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 77

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 77

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1 A more extended sketch of Mr. Peck appears in later pages of this work. See biographical sketches.

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very little change in affairs for the last fifty years. As then, so now, there is one store in that place, and that the same as then. The proprietors are Jordan Brothers, who are doing extensive business. Aside from this there is no im- portant business enterprise, though the place is beautiful for situation. North Jericho is a place of considerable business. Here besides the kinds of business before mentioned, are two stores, one of general merchandise, L. C. Chapin, proprietor, the other a drug store in charge of Dr. W. S. Nay, a practicing physician. There is here also a tin-shop of some importance, and a good meat- market. It is a beautiful place, gradually improving in interest and beauty. From the time of the first settlement the Corners has been the chief place of business, as it is now, and in this respect there has been slow but constant im- provement. In addition to what has been already said of business, there are here now two boot and shoe shops, a harness shop, a wheelwright shop, three blacksmith's shops, a tin and hardware establishment, a butter market, two jewelers, a printing office, two dry goods stores, a large grocery and boot and shoe store, and milliners' shops.

Such is the town of Jericho at the beginning of the second century of its history. The first century has been marked by a steady growth in wealth, in intelligence, in social and moral elevation and in religious interest. May it be the privilege of the historian of the second century to record much greater growth, higher exaltation, and wider and deeper interest.

CHAPTER XXV.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MILTON.

THE town of Milton, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, is T in the northwestern corner of Chittenden county, and is bounded north by Georgia in Franklin county, east by Westford, south by Colchester, and west by Lake Champlain. Its name is supposed to have been given to it in honor of the blind author of Paradise Lost, as many of the towns in New England and throughout the east were named from English originals before the separation of the colonies from the mother country. The charter of the town was granted by Governor Benning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, on the 8th of June, 1763, to the following grantees : Samuel Rogers, James Wil- mott, jr., Isaac Silvester, Isaac Rogers, Josh. B-, Josh. Kirkbird, Wm. Proc- tor, Alex. Moore, Peter Cone, John Imlay, Josh. Haviland, James Haviland, Tim McCarty, Carden Lee, Samuel Dodge, John Burroughs, James Burroughs, Wm. Burroughs, Wm. Popplerdorf, jr., Josh. Zabrisker, John Zabrisker, Rich- ard Cornwall, Daniel Bates, Thomas Liscum, Wm. Smith, Wm. Smith, jr., Ja-

1. так-

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cob Smith, Thomas Willett, John Willett, Ralph William Miller, Josh. Royal, Benj. Lintott, William Ferguher, Richard Sharp, Richard Evans, Samuel Kem- ble, Michael Duff, Paul Miller, Paul Miller, jr., Christopher Miller, Thomas Shreave, Philip French, Philip French, jr., Adolphus French, Henry Franklin, Benjamin Underhill, David Buckley, Benjamin Blagge, John Bogie, John Gif- ford, John Gifford, jr., George Wood, John Turner, John Turner, jr., Alexan- der Baker, Joshua Huckins, Henry Dickenson, Hon. Richard Wilbird, John Downing, esq., Daniel Warner, esq., Samuel Emerson, jr., Major Richmond Downing.

The town was not settled, so far as can be learned, until after the worst of the War of the Revolution was over, though undoubtedly proceedings were taken to encourage immigration soon after the granting of the charter, as the land could not be much increased in value until some improvements were made. Even the records of the proceedings of the proprietors previous to the Revo- lution are lost, however, and it will therefore never be known what line of pol- icy they at first pursued. The first meeting of which a record has been kept was held at the house of Nathaniel Mallory, at Middletown, in Rutland county, on the 2d of August, 1786, at which Augustin Underhill was chosen moder- ator, Nathaniel Smith proprietors' clerk, and James Everts clerk pro tem. At an adjourned meeting held at the same place on the 5th of that month it was voted that the proceedings of the committee in "lotting out " the first division lots in Milton be accepted, together with the bill of costs presented for their labor. A tax of one pound and ten shillings was laid upon each proprietary right to defray these expenses, and Nathaniel Smith was chosen collector thereof, while Nathaniel Mallory was elected treasurer. At this meeting Ab- dial Webster and George Alford were appointed a committee to make a divi- sion of the first lots, and prepare a draft of this division. On the 4th of Sep- tember, at the same place, it was voted that the proprietors have the "privi- ledge " of " repiching " their home lots at their own expense on or before the 15th of June next.

The earliest evidence of an attempt to attract settlers by offers of unusual privileges appears in the record of a meeting held at the same place as were the foregoing, on Monday, the 14th of November, 1786, when the following vote was passed :

" That Medad and Theodore Newel have full liberty to Lay out and Pos- sess twenty acres of Land on the Second Devision to any Right that they Shall hold by virtue of a good title in the Most Convenient Place for erecting a Sawmill on Condition of their Building or Causeing to be built on Said Land Good Saw mill in two years from this day and to be kept in Good Repair for the term of ten Years after build other wise they are not to Receive any Bene- fit from this Vote."

On the 2d of May, 1788, Noah Smith, J. P., published a warning for a

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meeting to be held on the 25th of June, at the house of Colonel Stephen Keys, at Manchester, Vt. At that time and place Noah Smith was chosen moderator and Amos Mansfield clerk. It was voted to make a second, third and fourth division of the undivided land in Milton, reserving five acres out of each one hundred acres for public highways. Amos Mansfield was appointed to allot and survey these divisions, and was to receive four dollars on each right actually surveyed. On the first Monday of May, 1789, the first proprietors' meeting in Milton was held at the house of William Irish, when Aaron Mathews was made moderator. On the 3d of July, 1789, a number of the settlers having settled on lots comprised in the rights of another owner, whose title was rec- ognized by the proprietors, were excluded from the liberty of lawfully posses- sing their pitches. Another vote of greater interest, because it reveals the name of the enterprising man who first erected a grist and saw-mill in Milton, and enables us to place a just estimate upon his worth in early days, reads sub- stantially as follows : Voted to make an allowance to the person who has built the first grist and saw-mill in said town ; that No. 4 in the second division be allowed to Amos Mansfield, and that Nos. 5 and 33 in the second division and No. 63 in the third division be allowed and granted to the above said Amos Mansfield for his services in building the above said grist-mill and saw-mill. From all that can be gathered, it appears that these mills were situated a short distance northwest from the site of Checkerberry village, and were transferred to William Woods about the year 1800. Amos Mansfield died a short time before the year 1798, leaving Amos, jr., Alpheus, Nathan and Theophilus Mansfield and John Jackson heirs of his property. He was buried in the town of Georgia, it seems, and probably lived not far from the line of that town.

Such were some of the proceedings of the proprietors of the town before it was thickly settled. No reason can be given for the tardiness of its settle- ment, for it was calculated by nature to attract to its shores and fields and un- surpassed water privileges the best of pioneer thrift and energy. The surface, though rather uneven, is not so rugged as to render cultivation unprofitable. The eastern part of the town is elevated some two or three hundred feet above the general level of the other portions, affording many excellent views of the lake and the country that bounds it. A sand bar leading from the southwestern part of the town to South Hero, in Grand Isle county, renders the lake forda- ble between the two towns a great part of the year. In 1849-50 a toll-bridge was built across this bar at a cost of $25,000, making communication at all times possible. The principal elevations in town are Cobble Hill in the south- ern, and Rattlesnake Hill, in the northern part, with altitudes of about 800 or 1,000 feet each. The largest stream is Lamoille River, which takes a sinuous course through the town from northeast to southwest, and has many tribu- taries. These, with several smaller streams which discharge their waters into Lake Champlain, provide many fine mill privileges and sufficiently irrigate the

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TOWN OF MILTON.

soil. Two ponds in town are also worthy of mention - Long Pond, in the northwestern part, about a mile in length and from twenty to sixty rods in width, and Round Pond, a little to the east of it, and about half its size. The soil of the town is of the best, varying in different places from the stiffest clay to fine productive alluvium, yielding abundant crops of wheat, oats, rye, buck- wheat, Indian corn, etc.

Early Settlements .- Milton was first settled by William Irish, Leonard Owen, Amos Mansfield, Absalom Taylor and Thomas Dewey, in February, 1782. Irish located on what was afterwards the old stage road, in the east part of the town (which for convenience we will designate as the east road). After the road was opened, his house was some distance back from it. He died early in the century. The land is now owned, though not occupied, by John McIntyre, and is known as the Cary place.

Leonard Owen settled several miles south of the site of Checkerberry, on the place now occupied by Eli Nelson. The farm was originally a large one, but has suffered many subdivisions. Mr. Owen died early in the century.

Absalom Taylor lived at the lower falls, on the farm now owned by Charles Osgood. He died towards the middle of the century at the home of his son, in Canada.

Thomas Dewey was the eldest son of Major Zebediah Dewey, of Poult- ney, Vt., who took an active part in the battle of Hubbardton, and probably also in the battle of Bennington. Major Dewey was born in Barrington, Mass., in 1726, and was probably descended from one of the proprietors of Poultney. He was a great lover of hunting. He died at Poultney on the 28th of Octo- ber, 1804. Thomas married an Ashley, and moved to Milton on the 15th of February, 1782, settling on the farm now owned by Mrs. Lucretia B. Witters, about one and a half miles south of Milton Falls. He was soon followed by his brothers Zebediah and Azariah, and three sisters - Beulah, wife of Elisha Ashley, Anna, wife of Samuel Murdock, and Keziah, wife of Warren Hill and grandmother of Mrs. Witters. Zebediah Dewey settled on the farm on the corner just east of the village, on the old stage road, now the property of Jed P. Clark. The two brothers took a prominent part in the improve- ments of the town when they came, and were respected by their townsmen. They both died of the epidemic of 1813 ; Thomas in January and Zebediah on the 16th of April. Many of their descendants still reside in Milton, though there is none by the name of Dewey.

Gideon Hoxie was born at Richmond, R. I., on the 9th of September, 1759, and came very early to Milton, settling on the farm which still bears his name, on the east road, now occupied by Eli Holbrook. He is best remem- bered for his services as town clerk, a position which he filled with credit from 1797 to the day of his death, June 14, 1836. His son Stephen became his successor in this office.

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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.

Enoch and Elisha Ashley, brothers, came to Milton in 1784, the former locating on a tract of land on the east road, which includes the farm now owned by Edward W. Allen, and the latter east of Milton Falls, on the corner of the east and west and north and south roads. Enoch, who served as first town clerk, remained here until 1820, when he removed to Western New York, the place of his death. His son Beaman was born in Poultney in 1784, came here with his father, married Lucy Prentiss and had a family of ten chil- dren, five of whom are now living. He died in September, 1852. His widow survived him until 1885, when she died at the age of ninety-seven years. Elisha, as before stated, married Beulah Dewey and reared a family of twelve children, who are now represented in town by five descendants. Elisha Ashley built and for years kept a tavern in the house now owned by Rev. John H. Woodward.

Isaac Drury came from Pittsford, Vt., in 1782, and settled about a mile southeast from Checkerberry, on a by-road. Here he was a long time en- gaged in the lumber business, in the manufacture of potash, and in general mercantile business. He died in 1825, leaving seven children.

David Austin came from Rhode Island to Milton in the fall of 1786, with , his brother Joseph, and established himself in the east part of the town, on . the farm now owned by Heman Allen. In 1788 he walked back to Rhode Island, and in the following spring brought his family to their new home in the wilderness. He died in 1813, leaving a family of twelve children. His grand- son, A. N. Austin, is now proprietor of the Austin House, at Milton Falls. Joseph died in 1838, leaving a family of five children.

Nathan Caswell was one of the earliest settlers, coming from Connecticut and locating in the northeast part of the town, on the farm now owned by Abram Rugg. His son Solomon, who came with him, was born in Connecti- cut on the 5th of December, 1763, and died in this town February 16, 1845. He was three times married and had a family of seven children, one of whom, Horace, was born on the 30th of April, 1813, on the farm which he now oc- cupies.

Daniel Meeker, from New Jersey, settled in the southeast part of the town, on the farm now owned by his son, Daniel S., in 1788, the farm having been given him by his wife's uncle, Isaac Tichenor, the second governor of Ver- mont, and upon which Daniel resided until his death, in 1844. He was a blacksmith. He was married twice and had a family of eighteen children, of whom Daniel S. is the only one now living in town.

Aaron and John Swan came from New Hampshire to Milton in 1790, and settled in the northeastern part of the town, in that vicinity known as " Hard- scrabble." After living with his brother for several years, John removed to Ohio. Aaron married Azuba Bullard, raised a family of nine children, and died on the 26th of February, 1826, aged fifty-four years. His wife died in

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TOWN OF MILTON.

1868, aged ninety-one years. His only surviving son, Riley, is now a retired farmer, whose son, Charles L., carries on a large farm.

John Bean, from Goffstown, N. H., was an early settler in Burlington, and afterwards removed to Milton, settling about four miles northwest from the falls, on the farm now in the possession of his grandson, Joseph, where he died about 1840.

John Sanderson, from Whately, Mass., settled early on a piece of land now off the road, about one and a half miles northwest from the falls, a part of the land now cultivated by Anson Wheelock. Hiram Sanderson came about the same time, and was drafted into service at the time of the battle of Plattsburgh. He was a blacksmith and plied his trade at what is now called Milton Falls.

Hawley Witters was an early settler in Georgia, whither he came about 1790. He worked in earlier days with Ethan Allen, and was with that hero when the latter died. His son Horace afterward settled in this town, and mar- ried Clarissa Basford, had a family of four children, and died August 26, 1878, about six weeks after the death of his wife.

John Jackson came from Weybridge, Vt., in 1794, and settled in the west- ern part of the town on the place now in the hands of his grandson, Lucius A. Jackson. He died before 1830.

Jonathan Woods came from Goffstown, N. H., previous to 1800, and passed the greater part of his life on the farm in the west part of the town, now oc- cupied by his grandson, Henry L. Woods.

Asa Newell also came before 1800, and located near the Colchester line, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, L. N. Smith. He had a family of nine children, and his descendants are quite numerous in Milton. He died previous to 1830.

Mark Watson made Milton his home about the year 1800, coming from New Hampshire and locating on the place in the southwestern part of the town called Camp Watson. Here he remained until his death, soon after 1830. His son David was born in 1803, and remained on the old place until his death, August 22, 1878, leaving his widow and son in possession of the home- stead.

Seth Rice, from Hardwick, Mass., came to Georgia, Vt., after 1790, and . about 1793 removed to the western part of Milton, on the farm now owned by Jeremiah Flinn. He married Mary Hammond, raised a family of six children, and died June 2, 1859.

John Mears was an early settler in this town, immigrating hither in the latter part of the last century, and locating in the west part of the town on the farm now owned by his grandson, Rodney B. Mears. He had a family of five sons and four daughters. He died at an advanced age, on the 8th of February, 1860.

Isaac Blake was born at Strafford, Vt., February 3, 1781, and settled, about

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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.

the year 1800, in the west part of the town, on the farm now owned, though not personally occupied, by Jeremiah Flinn. He married Phebe Ladd, had a family of four sons and three daughters, and died on the 25th of May, 1870. His wife died in 1826.

William Powell, a soldier of the Revolution, located just before 1800 about three-fourths of a mile south of Milton Falls, on the land now forming part of the property of Jed P. Clark.

Amos Ives settled about the year 1800 near the old farm of Jonathan Woods, in the west part of the town. He came from Wallingford, Conn., and was of the same family of Ives that settled in the town of Wallingford, Vt. He died in 1867 at the age of eighty-nine years. His grandson, Charles Ladd, is now a merchant at Milton Falls.

Warren Hill came from Poultney, Vt., in 1804 to Milton Falls, and by in- dustry and gradual acquisitions became owner of all the water power in that village, which he sold to Joseph Clark in 1835. He died in 1854. Mrs. Lu- cretia Witters is his granddaughter.

Among other early settlers may be named the Mansfields, who were very numerous here in early days, but who seem to have entirely disappeared from the town. Amos Mansfield has already been mentioned as one of the most enterprising of the first residents of the town, and from all records was owner of a large estate. Theophilus Mansfield was an early lawyer in the village, and removed to Georgia ; Alpheus Mansfield was one of the first wheelwrights in the village of Milton Falls. Other prominent settlers were William Woods, who, in the beginning of the present century owned a large saw-mill and fac- tory at the lower falls, and was one of the wealthiest men in town. Stephen Mansfield was an early farmer on the old stage road, on the farm now owned by Samuel Howard. Isaac Castle was an early settler on the lake shore. Eli Hyde lived early about three miles southwest of the falls, on the place now owned by Isaac T. Sanderson. Levi Grannis was a wagon-maker residing near the Sand bar at first, and afterwards removing to Colchester Center. Levi Tomberson lived in the northwest part of the town, on the place now owned by Homer Jackson. He was a man of considerable means. Zebediah Wheeler kept a public house in Checkerberry, near the bridge. He removed to Georgia when an old man, and died there previous to 1830. Truman Fair- child, an uncle of Dr. Benjamin Fairchild, erected a large public house in early days just west of Snake Hill, and kept it for years in connection with a farm. He died about twenty years ago, though he had long before relinquished the life of a hotel-keeper The place is now in the hands of Rinaldo W. Ballard. Friend Beeman was an early settler on the Lamoille River, about three-fourths of a mile nortli of Milton Falls, on the place now owned by Hardy H. Fuller.

Andrew Van Gilder, called " Old Man Gilder," was half Indian and half Dutch, and lived for years near the Georgia line. He was the son of an Indian

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TOWN OF MILTON.

chief. His farm was on the bow of Lamoille River. Joseph Soper lived on the farm now owned by Zebediah Everest, in the midst of a settlement called Sopertown. About 1815 Philo Fairchild erected a saw-mill there, which was propelled by a stream now nearly dried up. Erastus Soper lived on the summit of the hill below the lower falls, the place being now owned by Charles Osgood. Colonel Ovid Burrell owned with Judge Noah Smith a half interest in the mills at what was then called Upper Falls, in contradistinction to the settlement at Woods's Mills, which was called Milton Lower Falls. Colonel Burrell is said to have sold out $20,000 worth of property near Hartford, Conn., to come here and build up the milling interests. He and Noah Smith failed not far from 1820.

N. M. Manley was one of the first tavern-keepers at Checkerberry. The town records as early as October, 1807, mention the sign-post near Manley's tavern. He remained there many years afterwards.

Town Organization .- Such were the names and places of residence of some of the early settlers of Milton. Many of the most important have been purposely omitted at this place, because it is deemed better to mention them in connection with the early milling and professional interests. The town was organized on the 25th of March, 1788, William Irish being moderator of the meeting, by the election of the following officers :

Enoch Ashley, town clerk; Samuel Church, Elisha Ashley, and Absalom Taylor, selectmen ; Thomas Dewey, treasurer; Enoch Ashley, constable and collector ; Thomas Dewey, Silas Rood and Elisha Farnum, listers; Nathaniel Alger, grand juror ; William Irish, Elisha Farnum, and Thomas Dewey, high- way surveyors ; Silas Rood and Samuel Church, fence viewers. At this meet- ing it was voted " that the Dower of Enoch Ashley hous shall be the Sine Post for this year." Milton was represented in the Legislature this year by Aaron Mathews, who was also the first justice of the peace.

About the year 1795 the question of building a house in which to transact the town business and to meet for public worship was agitated, resulting in the hiring for a short time of a house before that occupied by Alpheus Mans- field, standing near the center of the town. The town-house was not erected until some years afterwards, as will be shown in later pages. On the 9th of March, 1795, Amos Mansfield, Enoch Ashley, Edward Brigham, John Jack- son, and Samuel Hall were appointed a committee to "set a stake for the center of the town," and reported that they had set such stake "about two rods from the northwest corner of Alpheus Mansfield-lot 10 so called-being about three-quarters of a mile southeast of Mr. Dean's mills." Among other amusing and quaint extracts, which need no explanation, the following have been selected as revealing the methods of public business and something of the spirit of the times :

October 7, 1796 .- " Voted Not to Set of aney Part of Milton to be an- nected to Colchester."

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March 6, 1797 .- " Voted that Samuel Levitt Buildings may stand in the highway if not incroch their upon."

"Voted that Samuel hull gate may arect a potash in the highway if the same Do not encroach their upon."

" Voted that if any person or persons shall cut or girdle any timber the Lower Side of the Dugway on the Road Between William woods and william powels shall pay a fine of twenty pounds L money."

In the last years of the last century the system of inoculation for the fore- stallment of small-pox was as yet an experiment which the people in this country were slow to adopt. And when at last they were imbued with faith sufficient to give the new-fangled notion a trial, the concession was made in fear and trembling, and under the strictest surveillance of the law. Witness the following from the early records of Milton : On the 19th of November, 1799, a warning was published for a town meeting for the purpose of consider- ing the advisability of passing the following vote : " For to have a nocilation for the small Pox set up in said Town of Milton." At the meeting thus warned, held on the Ist of December, it was voted " that they will agree to set up a inoculation for the Small pox in sd town under the Regulation in such case provided by Law."

At this meeting it was also voted "that they have nothing against Samuel Hull making a dam across the north branch of the River Lemile a little Below the Bridge over Soper's Fall."

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History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 77

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