USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 38
USA > Vermont > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 38
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TOWN OF SWANTON.
ment, May 2, 1861. This was a three months' regiment, and went in response to the first call for volunteers made by President Lincoln. L. D. Clark was captain ; A. B. Jewett, first lieutenant; and F. E. Bell, sec- ond lieutenant. Quite a large proportion of the men who went out in this company returned later to the service, and some became quite prominent as officers, discharging duty with great credit to themselves and honor to the town of Swanton.
Nothing ever occurred in the history of the town that so disturbed the social fabric and embittered the landowners, one against another, as the measure resulting in bonding the town for $75,000 to aid in the construction of the Lamoille Valley Railroad. The feeling engendered at that time was so strong that even now, after more than twenty years have passed, the survivors have not forgotten the pet names by which each side was called. It is claimed, but without any foundation in fact, that Rufus L. Barney, who had a large grand list and favored bond- ing, so regretted his course that just before his decease, in February, 1874, he provided by will a legacy of $20,000, which sum was duly turned over to the town of Swanton. If this railroad has been, and is, a ben- efit to the village of Swanton Falls it is well to remember that no one man contributed so largely to its success as Colonel A. B. Jewett, de- ceased. His labor in connection with this railroad enterprise shortened his days.
Manufactures .- The first effort in this town was at the Falls, where a saw mill for manufacturing lumber (pine logs into plank and boards) was built in the days of the French settlement, some years prior to the French and Indian war; the exact date cannot be ascertained. The enor- mous growth of white pine in this section, and the demand at Quebec, to which there was water communication, led to the erection of a saw- mill here at so early a period. When Thomas Butterfield and others came here under Ira Allen's directions, in 1789, they found hundreds of pine saw-logs piled up on both sides of the river above the falls, ready to be rolled into the river and floated down to the mill at the falls to be cut up. Many of these logs were still quite sound, though having been cut many years before. The French settlers had gone and the mill had been destroyed. Before any dam was built across the river at the Falls water-power was provided by cutting a channel around the rapids, on
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ÍSLE COUNTIES.
the east bank from Tinker's Bay (so called), just above the Lamoille Valley Railroad bridge, to the site of the present dam. In many places may be seen evidences of the old channel.
The next year after the dam was completed, the year 1791, Mr. Allen caused a saw and grist-mill to be put in operation on the east- erly side of the river. The grist-mill was built on the same site now owned by the village of Swanton Falls, where the building is in which are the pumps used for the water system of the village. The next grist- mill was erected on the ledge of rocks on the west side of the river at the head of Goose Island (so called), just below the brick wagon shop, owned by James Bullard, built in 1804-05 by Isaac Hull, and carried off by a flood in 1813. The next grist-mill was put up on the east side of the river at the upper end of the old tannery property, in 1808 or 1809, and was called the "Little Mill"; and the next was on the same side of the river a few rods below, and built in 1816, and was suc- cessfully run as such for many years, attended by John Dunbar and his son, grandfather and father of George B. Dunbar and Almon C. Dun- bar, who are also millers. George B. is now a merchant of our village, and Almon C. is a modest farmer living on the bow of the river a mile above the dam. The large brick grist-mill now standing near the east end of the dam was next in order, and was built in 1833 by J. A., V. S., and E. M. Ferris. This was erected at great expense, and when com- pleted was equal in equipment to any in the state. This has been in successful operation since its erection, and now is owned and managed by Vilas, Hawly & Lapelle. In the years 1889-90 the owners made ex- tensive repairs, extending the plant and largely increasing the facilities in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for grinding corn and other grain for their trade. They erected quite a large grain elevator on the west side of the river, directly across the road from the old Scott house, and sheds adjacent, for storage of flour and feed ; built a side-track to the elevator and connected with the Central Vermont Railroad, and then put in a conveyor which carried the grain from the elevator on a wide, flat rubberbelt, running on numerous little round rollers, through an inclosed box to the grist-mill, where it was emptied, ground into meal or feed, and then returned to the elevator in the same way, there to be loaded into cars and shipped to customers. The conveyor runs overhead
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TOWN OF SWANTON.
through the covered bridge that spans the river. It is said a car-load of corn can be unloaded at the elevator and carried across to the grist- mill in the conveyor in thirty minutes. This mill does a large business, and often grinds and ships several car-loads in a day. The mill, ele- vator, and conveyor are run by water-power furnished under the grist- mill. This company attached to their plant in 1890 a large steam en- gine for use in case of low water or accidental loss of water-power. The firm laid out by way of said improvements nearly $25,000. The busi- ness is managed by Captain Frank J. Hawly and Frank D. Lapelle, two enterprising and first-class business men, who moved into town some eighteen years ago from New York state as young men, and have grown up with the town and village, enjoying an enviable reputation among the citizens.
Another grist-mill was erected in 1863, on the east side of the river, right along side of the big brick grist-mill, further out into the stream, by Lorenzo Laselle, by whom it was operated for quite a number of years, and then sold. It is now owned by A. Lapelle (father of F. D. Lapelle), and run as a custom mill. This mill has a large custom patronage and is run acceptably to the public. Mr. A. Lapelle is a born miller, honest, happy, and clever, and never tires of conversation.
In an early day there was erected, on the west side of the river, on the site where stands the saw and plaster-mill now owned by George Web- ster, forges for making wrought iron from the bog ore which was ob- tained from the swamp land just east of the village. The manufacture of iron commenced in November, 1800. The first forge was erected and operated by Captain Rufus Barney and his brother, Elisha Barney, who came here in the fall of 1798, and purchased of Silas Hathaway a one-half interest in 200 acres of land on the westerly side of the river, at the Falls, which included all the water-power below the dam on the west side. The Barneys commenced work, getting ready to make iron, in the spring of 1799, building a forge-dam, a long flume from the main dam to what is now Forge Pond, and from there digging a channel through to the forge-dam below, and then a ditch or channel to the · river. All along where the channel was dug at that time stood a heavy growth of pine. This channel made an island and a brook, now called Goose Island and Forge Brook.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
The first frame house on the west side was erected by the Barneys in the summer of 1799. It stood a few rods east from where now stands George Webster's saw and plaster-mill. After the above purchase had been made, and plans agreed upon for prosecution of work, the brothers returned to their homes, Captain Rufus to Bennington, Vt., and Elisha to Taunton, Mass. Captain Rufus Barney returned in the spring of 1799, with men and teams, and commenced work, giving the enterprise his attention until it was completed and well under way doing a success- ful business ; in 1803 he gave up his interest to his son, Lemuel Barney, and son in-law, Levi Scott, and returned to his home in Bennington, Vt., where he died.
Elisha Barney returned with his family, wife and two children (Rufus and Evaline), in February, 1800, and at once moved into the small frame house built the previous summer. The advantages of this locality for manufacturing wrought-iron led to the settlement of the Barney family in Swanton, where they have been ever since more or less conspicuously connected with the business interests of village and town.
The manufacture of iron continued for many years under the man- agement of some of the Barney family, and in fact until wood for coal was too costly and bog ore too scarce to make the business profitable. The drainage of the swamp lands east of the village destroyed the accumulation of ore, and nothing has been done in the business for many years.
One of the enterprises commenced here at an early day, in 1808-09, was manufacturing potash from wood ashes for the Montreal market. This business was engaged in by many, for in this way a little money (which was hard to get) could be obtained by sale of ashes and potash, and at the same time clear up the land.
Lime was manufactured here to a considerable extent before 1800. The first limekiln it is believed was built at the lime rock ledge near " John's Bridge." Benjamin Joyal carried on this limekiln seventy or eighty years ago.
Subsequently the Ferrises carried on the lime business on a large scale. In 1850 C. W. Rich, esq., erected some kilns of an improved kind, from which great quantities have been made and shipped to market, and are still in successful operation, being run by John P. Rich, son of
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TOWN OF SWANTON.
C. W. Rich. W. Beecher Fonda has carried on an extensive lime busi- ness on what is called the Gadcomb farm for twenty years past. In 1878 E. W. Jewett & Co. (Col. A. B. Jewett, C. W. Rich, and E. W. Jewett) commenced burning lime from the Nelson Bullard ledges, one- half a mile south of the village. The lime is first-class and known as " Champlain lime." This plant is now owned by John P. Rich, whose careful attention and business ability has won for him an enviable repu- tation among the consumers of lime in New England, and he is doing a large and prosperous business. The lime rock is first-class and inex- haustible, and the advantages of this plant for manufacture and ship- ment are superior. This industry is one of the best and most valuable in town, giving constant employment to a large number of men. There are three separate plants, all operating some fifteen kilns, which run most of the time during the year ; hundreds of barrels are made each day, and immediately shipped to New England cities and towns for use in manu- facturing establishments. The lime rock is a "gold mine" to this town, producing many thousand dollars every year, mostly paid out for labor and fuel (wood), adding to the prosperity and wealth of the village and town. The increased demand for Swanton lime is constantly developing the business.
Woolen-mills, so far as this town is concerned, are industries of our earlier history ; not even buildings or machinery remain to tell the story of the busy past, when the manufacture of wool into cloth was the lead- ing business. The first establishment or mill was erected in 1806, by Luther Drury, at first starting with a carding machine, and from that date down to 1872 many at different times were engaged in the busi- ness, who achieved more or less success, and among the men who en- gaged in it may be mentioned the Hopkins, Robinsons, Ferrises, Reed, Jackson, Platts, Tuttle, Story, Laselle, Ives, Carlton, Higgins, Twitchell, Converse, Story, Smith, Hinkley, and last E. S. Miegs; and all of these men, who ever made it a regular business, except Alanson Platt (now living in Highgate), are dead. These mills were run by water- power now used to propel other industries.
The Marble Industry .- Sawing of marble at the Falls from Swanton quarries, in mills erected for the purpose, has been a leading business since the construction of the first mill in 1812. Time and customs have
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
made many changes as to the purposes for which the products have been used, as well as the kind and amount at different periods required. Swanton for many years has monopolized in the market production of many articles finished at her mills. The calico marble (called Lyon- nais) is found here in great abundance and variety, mottled in beautiful shades of red, white, chocolate, dove, yellow, black, and gray, blended in such a manner that each successive layer in the same quarry is differ- ent, is unsurpassed in texture, and not found elsewhere in this country. To Joseph Atkinson belongs the distinction of erecting the first mill in this section of the state for sawing marble. It was located on the east side of the river, where once stood the old tannery, between the high- way and the Barney Marble Company's present marble-mill. In 1815 John Ferris, of New York, built a marble-mill on the easterly side, close up to the old dam. In the year 1820 Underhill & Ferris, of New York, erected a marble-mill on the site now occupied by A. Lapelle's grist-mill. This last mill was especially designed for get- ting out mantels and pieces for furniture for the New York city mar- ket. It was shipped direct by water, and the first boat-load of finished marble from here was sent to New York city in 1823. Julius H. Rice put up a mill on the T. B. Marvin privilege, now owned and used by Swanton village for obtaining power for the village water system. The next mill put in operation was in 1825, and was located near the high- way, on the upper end of the old tannery plant. This was built by one Seth Edson. It was burned in 1831, and re-built by V. S. Ferris & Company the same year. In the year 1829 Elisha Barney erected a marble-mill on the west side of the river, on the site where stood E. M. Prouty's manufacturing establishment, which was burned June 18, 1891.
The year 1840 marked a new era in the marble industry, which led George Barney to build a large mill with six gangs of saws, on the east side of the river, nearly on the same ground where now stands the large mill of the Barney Marble Company. Mr. Barney's mill, for a number of years, was principally engaged in sawing and finishing hearths from Isle La Motte marble, shipped in boat-loads to New York city. Another mill for the same purpose was built just below James Bullard's wagon shop, on Goose Island, by H. B. Farrar in 1843. The increased de- mand for hearths and mantels from Isle La Motte black and gray and
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TOWN OF SWANTON.
Swanton dove marbles induced Lorenzo Perry to put up a mill, and this was located on the east side of the river, below the bridge and op- posite A. Lapelle's grist-mill, about the year 1852.
Hervey and H. M. Stone, also about this time, repaired and fitted up the Julius H. Rice mill for manufacturing hearths. The supply very soon exceeded the demand and hearth and mantel business declined, and operations in these two mills were suspended. All of the above mills were, from time to time, changed and repaired, and most of them owned by many different parties. The demand for grave stones and mantels from Swanton dove, hearths and mantels from Isle La Motte black and gray marble, made the business lucrative until about 1837, when from change of fashion to cheaper, light-colored, Italian marbles, and the general financial disaster of the country, the marblemen of Swanton were compelled to suspend and wait for better times or a new demand for the marble.
In 1840 there was a fair demand for hearths from what was called the Isle La Motte hearth marble, and some of the mills started up and con- tinued in this line for a few years, and the other mills were either con- verted into other uses, or suffered to go to decay.
George Barney, the most enterprising and successful of all, continued in the marble business from the time he commenced in 1840 to his death, October, 1883. The first mill was built for sawing out grave- stones from Swanton dove marble, for which there was a great demand, and the numerous stones set up in the burial-places throughout North- ern Vermont and New York is evidence of the amount of business done, and the durability of the marble for the purpose.
The peculiar color of this dove marble attracted the eye of the New York city Quakers, and very soon a demand came from there for man- tels, and a large business was done in this line for many years. From the same quarter came a little later a demand for a black marble for hearths and mantels, and this was quarried at Isle La Motte, and in Can- ada just across the line, brought to Swanton, sawed and finished, and shipped by water to New York. This marble took a very high polish, and for years was very popular among the well-to-do builders of the cities. Swanton, and Glen Falls, N. Y., controlled the market, and prices went up, and then Italian white marbles for the same purposes were thrown on
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
the market so cheap that the demand for black native marble was very much limited. This change was a serious blow and discouraging to the dealers of Swanton, and then followed the manufacture of hearths for a season, for which there was only a limited demand. The above men- tioned conditions and circumstances compelled the local dealers to look for some other use for the products of their mills or abandon the business of sawing entirely. About this time, 1848, George Barney, the principal man in the business, impelled by a strong desire to keep up the business at the Falls and to continue in it as an occupation, began an investigation and ascertained that all the tile used in this country for floors was imported from Italy, and, the color being of a light and dark blue, concluded that the Isle La Motte black and gray and other Vermont marbles might be successfully introduced in competition with the Italian tile, and so the same year commenced sawing and finishing tile from Isle La Motte marble. The first made were used for the floor of the then new Free Masons' building, Grand street, New York, and these were the first made in this country. This new avenue thus opened revolutionized the marble industry at Swanton Falls; the mills were changed and fitted up for tile- making, and for many years after tilemaking was the principal business of the mills; even now tile is one of the leading products of the Barney Marble Company, made from Vermont marbles. About 1870 the vari- gated marbles of Swanton began to be used for inside finish of costly buildings. The demand was largely due to the efforts of George Bar- ney and his son, R. Lester Barney, who were in partnership, and sawed and finished the Lyonnais marble for their trade.
Very soon after George Barney's decease R. Lester Barney induced the Hon. John N. Baxter, of Rutland, Vt., and others to come to Swan- ton and examine the marble quarries there with a view of engag- ing with him in the marble business. The effort resulted in the organi- zation of the "Barney Marble Company" in 1888, and preparations were at once commenced for extensive operations. All the marble quarries of value in the vicinity were either bought or leased. The new mill erected by George Barney just before his death was thoroughly repaired and equipped with the most improved machinery and appliances, and everything done regardless of cost to make the plant first-class in every particular. The old mill was operated until the new was ready, but
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TOWN OF SWANTON.
long before business was commenced in the new mill the new firm was flooded with orders that would take them months to fill, and thus has it been to the present time, the mill running night and day to meet the increasing demand.
The new firm opened a quarry on the farm of Charles L. Bullard, where they found a great variety of mottled marble of fine texture, and in shades from dark solid red to light red, mottled with many shades of red and chocolate, spotted with white, yellow, green, and other colors, making when finished a beautiful surface of superior quality. It has no equal in this country.
The Barney Marble Company sends their finished marble all through the United States and Canada. The demand is so great that they have recently purchased the old tannery property, and are contemplating to erect soon a large mill, and thereby more than double their present ca- pacity. They employ now from sixty to seventy-five men in the mills and in the quarries, paying out weekly for labor and other expenses from $700 to $1,000. The pulsations of business in village and town are quicker, and the outlook for Swanton on account of this industry alone is quite flattering. It makes a home market, and thousands of dollars are paid out annually that find their way into the legitimate channels of trade, and the grocer, merchant, and farmer find quick sale for their wares in exchange for ready cash, and are happy. John N. Baxter, esq., is the head and front of the concern and business manager, and so long as he remains identified with the enterprise prosperity will attend. The colored marbles of Swanton are inexhaustible and accessible. The Mis- sisquoi River furnishes ample power to propel the numerous gangs for sawing the marble and rubbing beds for smoothing and polishing the same. Shipping facilities are good by rail or water. The Lyonnais marbles of Swanton have already made the town famous, and the indi- cations are that only a few years will be required in developing our marble to have it do for the town what the white marbles have done for Rutland, Vt.
Tanning and Tanneries .- As early as 1814 the business of tanning hides into leather at Swanton Falls was commenced,and the first to en- gage in it was Henry Steinhour, who located his plant on the flat land on the banks of the Missisquoi, just above the dam, and between the public
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
mall or park and the river, directly in the rear of Merchants' Row. The tanning business has been carried on in town ever since, but often, as at present, in a limited way. E. W. Babcock came here from New Hamp- shire in 1840, purchased the old Steinhour plant, made extensive repairs, and did a good business for many years, down to about 1854, in the meantime moving the plant and business down below the bridge at the east end, to have water-power and better facilities for using modern appliances and machinery in the process of tanning. Nelson Gallup bought this plant at the end of the bridge in 1856, made general repairs, put in new machinery, and carried on a large business until he sold out to Richard Skinner and Cadmus S. Gates, in 1868. Skinner & Gates carried on the business for a year or two, when the property went back into Nelson Gallup's hands, and he then sold out, in 1872, to A. M. & P. D. Moore, of Plattsburgh, N. Y., who were owners of several tanneries in Northern and Eastern New York, conducting an immense trade. A. M. & P. D. Moore made such repairs as were necessary, and at once com- menced and did a thriving business. Mr. Richard Skinner, who was engaged by the Moores as foreman, having died in 1872, H. F. Martin, of Peru, N. Y., came here and became a partner with A. M. & P. D. Moore, and assumed charge and managed the business until the fire of February 7, 1874, which destroyed the building and contents.
The burning of the tannery threw out of employment a good many men, besides being a heavy loss to the owners, and depressing to the business community, who depended on the earnings of the men em- ployed for trade and continued prosperity. The village people were deeply interested, and were much grieved to have so prosperous an in- dustry so suddenly and disastrously terminated. The regret and sym- pathy of the enterprising citizens were so intense that substantial induce- ments were offered the owners if they would re-build. Very soon a stock company was organized with a capital of $25,000, under the name of the Swanton Tanning Company, The stockholders were A. M. Moore, of Plattsburgh ; P. D. Moore, then of Boston ; A. L. Wright, George Barney, and Edwin S. Miegs, of Swanton.
Additions were made to the plant by purchase of the old woolen - mill (then owned by E. S. Miegs), a vacant lot and water-power owned by George Barney, and a new brick building erected, and everything fitted
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TOWN OF SWANTON.
up in the best possible manner for tanning and manufacturing upon a large scale. The good will of many citizens was manifested by their generous contributions, which influenced the Moores in their decision to re-build and continue the business at Swanton. The Swanton Tanning Company commenced business in tanning and manufacturing leather in the spring of 1875, and continued until 1882, employing, in connec- tion with the business, on an average forty men per day, doing an im- mense business, tanning mostly South American hides, and finishing the leather for Boston market, where the Moores owned a leather store.
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