USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 86
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712
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
The domestic habits of Governor Chittenden were of the most simple and unaffected nature. Agriculture was his favorite occupation. He regarded the " blandishments of dress " and the punctilious formula of etiquette as certain evidences of human weakness. He was a keen observer of men and things. The secret of his peculiar abilities and of his pre-eminent success in all the re- lations of life was, it has been well said, that "his mind, heart and judgment all centered upon one point, and that point was justice." He died on the 25th of August, 1797, a few weeks after his resignation of his office as Governor, be- cause of his last sickness. His remains rest in the little cemetery at Williston village.
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Organization of the Town and Early Proceedings .- The first town meeting of Williston was held on the 28th day of March, 1786, and was presided over by John Chamberlin, moderator. The records of these early meetings are un- fortunately very meager, not even all of the first officers being named in them. Robert Donelly was the first town clerk, and Joel Brownson was the first con- stable. . No other officers are mentioned until the second annual meeting, March 27, 1787, which was governed by Amos Brownson, moderator. Robert Donelly was again chosen clerk; Jonathan Spafford, Deacon David Talcott and Asa Brownson were elected selectmen ; Nathaniel Winslow, constable ; Lemuel Winslow and John Chamberlin, grand jurors ; Felix Auger and Lemuel Winslow, tithingmen ; Lemuel Winslow, Jonathan Spafford and Robert Donelly, listers. At this meeting forty pounds was voted to use in improving and lay- ing out roads. On the 25th of March, 1788, the selectmen were con- stituted a committee to "provide a place to bury the Dead." At another meeting, held at the house of Colonel Spafford on the first Friday in October, 1788, it was voted that the roads be four rods " wyde," and a tax of two pence on the pound was levied, to be paid in grain, wheat at six shillings per bushel, and corn at three shillings. On the 24th of March, 1789, it was voted "to find the center of the town of Williston," and Felix Auger, Amos Brownson David Talcott, Joel Leonard and Nathan Allen were chosen to ascertain the spot. Governor Chittenden was one of the selectmen in 1790, and his yard, with that of David Talcott, was constituted a pound for that year. At the March meeting for 1790 Solomon Miller, Lemuel Winslow and David Talcott were appointed to agree with some person for a burying-ground in the west part of the town ; and further, John Porter, Joel Brownson and Joshua Cham- berlin were chosen a committee "to agree with Jesse Everts for land for a bury- ing place, and to see it cleared," etc.
During the War of 1812 Williston took an active part in furnishing troops for the Americans, a partial list of whom will be found in the company mentioned in the history of Richmond.
Williston in 1825 .- At only one period in its history has this town been more populous than it was from 1825 to 1830, viz. : in 1850, when according
713
TOWN OF WILLISTON.
to the United States census the population numbered 1,669. In 1825 the population was not far from 1,600. The most prominent men in town will be gathered from the paragraphs immediately following. At the annual meet- ing held on March 15, 1825, Martin Chittenden was chosen moderator of the meeting ; Chauncey Brownell was made town clerk; Jeremiah French, Martin Chittenden, and Roswell Morton, selectmen ; Timothy M. Bradley, treasurer ; Truman Chittenden, Calvin Morse, and Zadock Coleman, listers; Samuel Smith, first constable and collector ; John Wright, grand juror ; John Brown, town grand juror ; Truman Chittenden, Milo Winslow, Caleb Munson, Philip Walker, Jotham H. Hall, Jeremiah French, Hezekiah Morton, Josiah N. Bar- rows, James Talcott, Martin Chittenden, Alexander Lee, David A. Murray, Solomon Morton and Samuel Smith, surveyors of highways; Nathan Johnson, - Zadock Coleman, Zachariah Hart, fence viewers; Jonathan G. Talcott and John L. Corning, pound-keepers ; Josiah N. Barrows, sealer of leather ; Samuel Smith, sealer of weights and measures ; and Rufus Chapin and Leonard Hodges, tithingmen.
There was only one village in the town. There were a good many taverns, a natural result of the geographical situation of the town on the old turnpike road, and as the center of a number of stage lines. Among the more promi- nent taverns were : one kept by Isaac French at what was called the Four Cor- ners, in the western part of the town; one kept on the opposite side of the street on the south side of the turnpike, by Calvin Morse, the building still standing. These were both old fashioned, and managed to obtain their share of transient patronage. There were two taverns at the west end of the village, one kept by Epaphras Hull and the other by Mr. Arnold. Linus Atwater had one in the center of the village. The site of the Methodist Church was then occupied by a large tavern kept by Benjamin Going, and afterward by David French and others. It was called the Eagle Hall. Isaac Morton kept a tavern on the road to Hinesburg, in the southwest part of the town. There were a number of distilleries, most of the merchants being interested in them and taking grain for their distilleries in payment of debts. John Bradley and afterward John Washburn operated a "still " on the site of the house now occupied by William Miller. Another one stood in the west part of the town, on the east side of Muddy Brook. John and William Bradley had one in the northwest part of the town, and one of the Ishams ran a cider-brandy distillery in the southwest corner of the town. There was one tannery here then, the one formerly owned by Luther Loomis, but in 1825 in the hands of John and Harry Bradley. Willard Moore operated a saw-mill at the east end of the village, afterwards owned by Hiram Winslow and others. Another one stood on Muddy Brook near the town line. At a later day Samuel Brownell built and operated a saw-mill in the northwest part of the town on Winooski River. At this time the carding-mill of Caleb B. Smith, before mentioned, was run- ning at the east end of the village below the saw-mill.
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714
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
Eagle Hall was kept about 1830 by David, brother of William H. French, and afterwards by Eli, son of Giles Chittenden. It burned about 1850, while James Hurlburt was keeping it. It was for many years one of the best hotels in the county. Four and six-horse teams and stages passed very frequently along the turnpike road, and the passengers and drivers were accustomed to stay over night at Eagle Hall. About 1840 the house now occupied by George Brownell was a hotel under the management of William Brown. The house now occupied by the widow of John Forbes was in 1840 a hotel kept by Cap- tain Lathrop. The other village, North Williston, was not in existence until after the opening of the railroad, when John Whitcomb and R. B. Fay built it up.
Present Business Interests .- The store building now occupied by George L. Pease & Co. was erected not far from 1835 by A. J. Fuller, who had previ- ously traded for a time in the house now occupied by Mrs. E. R. Crane. After Mr. Fuller's failure in business this building remained vacant for a short time, the next occupant being James W. Hurlburt, who remained eight or ten years and failed. For a number of years after this a union store was conducted here very successfully, the goods being sold by George Morton. In 1864 Mr. . Morton bought out the union store, and for about eight years, in company with his son Henry, conducted a very successful mercantile business. Hon. Smith Wright then purchased the property and traded in the building for about two years, followed by his son-in-law and associate, E. C. Fay. The goods were soon sold to Carl Macomber and the building to L. A. Bishop, the former trading there for a short time. From 1881 to July, 1883, Smith Wright and his son-in-law Gilbert Harris carried on a mercantile business here, and at the latter date were succeeded by George L. Pease and Jason Clark, who still trade under the firm name of George L. Pease & Co.
The building now occupied by Charles D. Warren was erected about 1840 by George Morton and Philo Clark, whose successors have been as follows : James and Henry Hurlburt, three or four years ; A. B. Simonds, about fifteen years; Smith Wright, two years; E. R. Crane, for some time ; George Miller, George Button, Henry S. Joslin, and since September, 1885, Charles D. Warren. Mr. Warren carries a stock of about $3,500.
At the north village R. B. Brown, the present merchant, began in the spring of 1886, succeeding John Whitcomb. The building was first used for a storehouse, and opened as a store about 1865 by Frederick Simonds. His successors have been H. W. Thompson, J. R. Talcott and John Whitcomb.
For a history of the refrigerator and cold storage buildings of Smith Wright, see the sketch of his life in later pages.
Whitcomb & Fay's steam mill at North Williston was originally established by Hiram J. Fay, in 1862 or 1863. In 1866 he took Roswell B. Fay and Al- mon Rood into partnership with himself, and the new company enlarged the
715
TOWN OF WILLISTON.
saw-mill and built a grist-mill. The whole was destroyed by fire in 1871. A stock company was soon after formed, under the title of the North Williston Mill Company, which soon erected the present buildings. The business is now in the hands of John Whitcomb and R. B. Fay, who manufacture about 850,000 feet of lumber per annum.
The North Williston machine shop, started by R. B. Fay, E. F. Whitcomb and Addison M. Ford in 1872, did a good business for a number of years in the manufacture of chair stock, but is not in operation at the present writing.
The cider-mill of George Patten was started about fifty years ago, and has been continued to the present time.
E. R. Cole's blacksmith shop at North Williston was built for its present use more than thirty years ago, and has been occupied by Mr. Cole for about seven or eight years.
The North Williston cheese factory was erected in 1868 by E. R. Crane and Mr. Brown, who after a year or two sold it to L. E. Dunlap. It now re- ceives milk from about three hundred cows. The property is owned by Smith Wright.
Lewis H. Talcott, who has the largest dairy farm in the State, owns and operates a cheese factory which receives the milk from about seven hundred cows.
The private cheese factory of H. S. Johnson was built several years ago, and manufactures into cheese the milk from about one hundred cows, about sixty of which are his property.
T. L. Frary, at North Williston, started several lathes in Jonesville in 1876 for the manufacture of spools, bobbins, etc., and in June, 1882, removed to his present place.
The town farm, consisting of about two hundred acres of land in the northwestern corner of the township, is owned jointly by the towns of Willis- ton, Essex, Jericho, Shelburne and Hinesburg. It was established to its pres- ent uses about 1856.
There is no lawyer and but one physician in town. Dr. A. L. Bingham was born at Fletcher, Vt., on the 26th of June, 1853 ; was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1875, and from the Med- ical University of New York in 1880, after which he came at once to Williston.
The Post-office .- The exact date of the establishment of a post-office at Williston is not known, though it must have been very soon after the admission of the State into the Union in 1791. One of the earliest postmasters in town was Eben Judson, who held the position in 1804. Since about 1824 the suc- cession has been as follows : To 1828, David French ; to 1844, Horace L. Nichols ; to 1846, A. V. Holly ; to 1850, Jonas G. Chittenden ; to 1854, James W. Hurlburt; to 1870, Truman A. Chittenden; to 1873, E. R. Crane; to 1885, Smith Wright ; and the present postmaster, Jason Clark.
716
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
The office at North Williston was established about 1865, by the appoint- ment of F. H. Simonds, who retained the place until 1868. His successors have been : To 1873, H. W. Thomson ; to 1879, J. R. Talcott; since which time the present postmaster, John Whitcomb, has served.
Present Town Officers .- The officers elected for the year 1886 are as fol- lows : Charles D. Warren, town clerk ; Dr. A. L. Bingham, Obed Walston, A. C. Fay, selectmen ; George W. Patten, William B. Douglass, D. I. Talcott, listers ; Jason Clark, treasurer ; L. W. French, overseer of the poor; L. J. Chapin, constable ; E. Whitney, S. A. Caswell, J. E. Metcalf, auditors ; Enos Taft, Oras Bradley, C. W. Brown, fence viewers ; L. W. French, poor-farm director ; Smith Wright, town agent ; Mrs. J. C. Draper, superintendent of schools.
For a history of Williston Academy, see Chapter X, by Professor J. E. Goodrich, of the University of Vermont.
Ecclesiastical History .- The early settlers of Williston felt the same diffi- culty in obtaining the means for public worship that was common throughout the State. Money was so scarce that it was almost impossible to support a minister, unless he could be induced to accept his salary in farm produce. The first church edifices were barns, for even the houses were too small to accommo- date the thirsting worshipers that crowded to hear the occasional sermon of an itinerant preacher of some or of no particular denomination. The earliest mention of the subject found in the town records appears under date of March 25, 1788, when Amos Brownson, Jonathan Spafford and Asa Brownson were constituted a committee to " see if we can join Jerico and Essex in hiring a minister," the instructions being to hire the minister for six months with the other towns, or for three months independently, " the committee to hire a min- ister with country produce." The outcome of this is not known. On the 24th of March, 1789, it was voted to " hire a minister on probation for settlement ;" also that " meetings, particularly when we have preaching, shall be holden at the house of Nathan Allen the one-half and at the house of Mr. Walston, or in Mr. Auger's barn the other half." On the 20th of September, 1790, it was voted to build a meeting-house to accommodate the whole town. The division of the ecclesiastical society, formed in conformity with the laws of the State, consequent upon the change of the town boundaries, delayed the execution of this purpose for several years ; and though it was voted in 1793 " to draw logs to the mill this winter for boards for a meeting-house," and in 1795 the site was chosen " on a knoll southerly of Dr. Winslow's barn," the building was not commenced till 1796. It was 50x 57 feet, and built in the style of "ye olden time," with galleries upon three sides, square pews, and a lofty pulpit standing upon a single shaft. The preaching of the gospel had been enjoyed as yet only during brief periods. In 1791 we find the curt record, "Voted to discon- tinue Mr. Abiel Jones as minister in this place." Mr. Bradley was " hired on
717
TOWN OF WILLISTON.
probation" in 1792. Mr. Hutchinson " preached two Sabbaths " in the winter of 1794.
The Congregational Church was organized on the 23d of January, 1800, with the following members: David Bates, David Talcott, Beriah Murray, Jabez Dart, Daniel Shaw, Edward Taylor, Eben Bradley, Lemuel Winslow, Enoch Judson, Daniel Shaw, jr., John Taylor, Rhoda Shaw, Elizabeth Win- slow, Diantha Bradley, Lovine Allen, Neony Bradley. David Bates and Da- vid Talcott were the first deacons. Six days after the organization of the church Rev. Aaron C. Collins was installed its first pastor.
Mr. Collins was dismissed " otherwise than by death " May 4, 1804. In 1813 the church was reorganized, as the only means of eliminating certain heresies which had crept in. Rev. James Johnson became its pastor in 1818.
The present church edifice was erected in 1832 and rebuilt in 1860. The present pastor is the Rev. James Bates, who has been here about three years. The present membership is about seventy-two. The average attendance at Sabbath-school is about fifty-five. William Miller is one of the deacons and clerk. The pastor is the Sabbath-school superintendent.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was also organized in 1800, under the pastorate of the Rev. Stephen Randall. The present house of worship was erected in 1843 and rebuilt in 1868. It will accommodate 500 persons, and together with the parsonage and other church property is valued at about $14,000. The present pastor, the Rev. S. D. Elkins, succeeded the Rev. Robert W. Smith in 1883. The present church membership is about sixty ; the average attendance at Sabbath-school is about sixty-seven. Following are the present officers : Stewards, Jason Clark, Leet A. Bishop, Hiram Phelps, Hiram Walston, Watson Cady, Marion W. Clark, A. C. Lamson, James Bry- ant, Loyal Foster, Joseph Pine, Wesley H. Metcalf and Jairus Metcalf. The class leader is Theodore Cady. Wesley H. Metcalf is the Sabbath-school su- perintendent. The church is free from debt and is firmly established on a solid basis of prosperity, with an indefinite prospect of growth.
The Universalist Society was organized in February, 1844, with a mem- bership of fifty-one. The first pastor was the Rev. Eli Ballou. At first they worshiped in the town hall, but in 1859 began their neat and commodious church structure, and dedicated it to divine service in 1860. The society con- tains many of the most liberal-minded and charitable people of the town, and has well fulfilled its stated mission of "sustaining the preaching of the gospel, and promoting the cause of truth, righteousness, humanity, liberty and char- ity." The present pastor of the society is Miss Myra Kingsbury. 46
718
CENSUS TABLEY
Population of the several Towns in Chittenden County at each Census since 1791 inclusive, showing the Loss and Gain in each Town.
TOWNS.
1791.
1 800.
1810.
1820.
1830.
1840.
1850.
1 860,
1870.
1880.
Bolton.
88
219
249
306
452
470
602
645
7II
678
Buel's Gore.
...
815
1,690
2, III
3,226
4,271
7,585
7,713
1 14,387
11,374
Charlotte
635
1,23I
1,679
1,526
1,702
1,620
1,634
1,589
1,430
1,342
Colchester. .
I37
347
657
960
1,489
1,739
2,575
3,041
3,91I
4,42I
Essex.
354
729
957
1,089
1,664
1,824
2,052
1,906
2,022
2, III
Hinesburgh.
454
933
1,238
1,332
1,669
1,682
1,834
1,702
1,573
1,330
Huntington. .
167
405
514
732
929
914
885
862
864
8II
Jericho.
38I
728
1,185
1,219
1,654
1,684
1,837
1,669
1,757
1,687
Milton.
282
786
1,548
1,746
2,100
2, 1 36
2,451
1,963
2,062
2,006
Richmond ..
718
935
1,014
1,109
1,054
1,453
1,400
1,319
1,264
Shelburne
389
723
987
936
1,123
1,089
1,257
1,178
1,190
1,096
South Burlington.
57
65
28
I20
I35
I21
127
121
III
93
Underhill.
65
212
490
633
1,052
1,44I
1,599
1,637
1,655
1,439
Westford
63
648
1,107
1,025
1,290
1,352
1,458
1,231
1,237
1,133
Williston .
47I
836
1, 185
1,246
1,608
1,554
1,669
1,479
· 1,44I
1,342
Total
3,875
9,395
14,449
15,995
21,202
22,696
29,054
28,17I
36,480
32,816
.
.
·
..
.
1 Population in the village at this census, 6, 110; and in the rest of the town, 1,475.
2 An error of several thousand was made in the footings ; population was actually less than in 1880.
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
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..
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. ...
.
791
664
St. George ..
29
24
Burlington ..
332
719
LAWRENCE BARNES.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BARNES, LAWRENCE. The subject of this sketch, to whom it is due at the out- set to say that he, more than any other man, rescued Burlington from a threatened decline in importance, and by his energy, sagacity, and influence imparted to the de- sponding village an impetus which is the proximate cause of its present commercial prominence, was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, on the 8th of June, 1815. He came of Pilgrim stock, his ancestor, Thomas Barnes, having crossed the Atlantic to America in the historic Speedwell, in 1656. Asa Barnes, a descendant of Thomas, was a respected citizen of Marlboro, Mass., where he died in 1812, aged fifty-six years. Eber, his son, removed with the other members of the family, when he was three years of age, to Hillsboro, N. H., where, after he reached maturity, he carried on the business of a farmer and carpenter, and died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, née Mary Adams, a native of Henniken, N. H., was a woman of strong character, good sense, and deep piety, a great reader, thoroughly familiar with important passing events and contemporaneous thought. Of the seven children born to Eber and Mary (Adams) Barnes, Lawrence was the fifth. He passed his boyhood on his father's farm, in attend- ance at the district school, and for one or two terms at a neighboring academy. At twenty years of age he bought his time of his father, the price being the value of the service of a hired man for the unexpired year of minority, and with three dollars which he had borrowed from a lady neighbor, and a parcel of spare clothing, he set out for himself. The first three years he passed in the employment of his brother at Nashua, N. H., as a carpenter, his remuneration being but one dollar for each day of twelve hours' labor. At this place his budding generosity and public spirit were forcibly dis- played by his subscribing the sum of one hundred dollars towards the erection of a house of worship which the Second Baptist Church of Nashua was endeavoring to build, and which subscription was paid by installments, after he had liquidated the prior claims of his father. Mr. Barnes then accepted a position with J. & E. Baldwin, of Nashua, manufacturers of spools and bobbins. His tact and sagacity so attracted the confidence of his employers that two or three years later they sent him to Saco, Me., to establish and conduct a branch manufactory. After an experience of ten years' duration in this position he resigned and engaged in business on his own account. Besides what little money he had been able by frugality and industry to accumulate, he was fortunate enough to obtain a sum from the Saco Bank on his promissory note, with which he purchased 10,000 acres of timbered land on Saco River, near the White Mountains. Soon afterward he sold half the property to his former employers for twice the amount of the original cost, and in company with them began lumbering operations. Owing to the rapid rise of streams and the uncertainty of floating logs, however, the enterprise did not prosper, and for some years Mr. Barnes remained with Messrs. Baldwin, soliciting orders for them in the manufacturing towns and cities of New England. He then again ventured upon independent action, and purchased a half interest in a lumbering business at Island Point, Vermont. Misfortune again overtook him in the person of an inefficient partner, and in a few months his entire investment was lost, together with several thou- sand dollars of borrowed money. With characteristic intrepidity Mr. Barnes rose above
720
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
discouragement. Within a few weeks he had bought several million feet of lumber at Three Rivers, Canada, giving his note for the value, and with the skill of an experi- enced carpenter he sorted the lumber into lots adapted to different building purposes, and made from the enterprise, when the lumber was sold, three times as much as it had cost him. His next speculation was equally original in conception, but through no fault of Mr. Barnes, was disastrous in its results. He contracted with several large houses of Portland to supply them with several ship loads of sugar-boxes, then in great de- mand, and to deliver them at New York. The beginning was auspicious; but suddenly the demand for sugar boxes ceased, contracting firms failed, lumber, boxes and ma- chinery became almost worthless, and under the heavy pressure of indebtedness for liquidation Mr. Barnes was forced into insolvency. He sold his property to the best advantage, divided the proceeds among his creditors, and gave his notes for the residue of the debts. This was in 1855. Burlington was then a small place of about 4,000 in- habitants, with little business, and with its merchants suffering under the embarrass- ments of railroad complications, as recited in the sketch of Mr. Thomas H. Canfield. Mr. Barnes made another purchase of lumber at Three Rivers, which he began ship- ping to Burlington by boat for distribution by rail to different points in New England. He soon hit upon the idea of dressing the lumber before shipping it, thus saving twelve and a half per cent. in freight expenses, and imparting a new impulse to the lumber trade. Upon the destruction by fire of the Pioneer Shops (see Burlington chapter), the citizens of Burlington at a public meeting offered a bonus of $8,000 to any one who would rebuild the shops and equip them for business. The proffer was accepted by Lawrence Barnes, who finished the structure in ninety days. During the panic of 1857 his lumber business suffered considerably, but he survived the shock, and in 1858 the current turned in his favor. Trade rapidly increased in extent and profit. In 1859 a partnership was formed with Charles and David Whitney, jr., known at Burlington as L. Barnes & Co., and at Lowell, Mass., as C. & D. Whitney & Co. Two years later D. N. Skillings was admitted to an interest in the business, the new firm being known at Burlington, Whitehall, and Montreal as L. Barnes & Co., at Boston as D. N. Skillings & Co., and at Detroit, Ogdensburgh, and Albany as C. & D. Whitney, jr., & Co. In 1862 Mial Davis was admitted to the firm, from which he retired in 1869, the remaining partners retaining the trade under the name of Skillings, Whitney Bros. & Barnes. In January, 1873, Mr. Barnes sold out his interest in the business outside of Burlington, and formed a part- nership here with his son, L. K. Barnes, and D. W. Robinson. After a continuance in busi- ness for two years the firm was dissolved and reorganized with Lawrence Barnes and D. W. Robinson as partners. In 1878 Mr. Skillings and Whitney Bros. proposed a consolidation of the firms, which was effected, under the name of the Skillings, Whitneys & Barnes Lumber Co., with headquarters at Boston. On the death of Mr. Skillings in 1880 Mr. Barnes was made president of the company, a position in which he remained up to the time of his death.
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