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 40
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 40
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424
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Town Clerks and Selectmen .- 1798 : Isaac B. Farrar, clerk; Charles Follett, Samuel Little, Martin Deming, selectmen. 1799: Wheelock Peet, clerk; Martin Deming, Isaac B. Farrar, Martin D. Follett, select- men. 1800: Challis Safford, clerk ; Edward Baker, Nathaniel Gris- wold, Wheelock Peet, selectmen. 1801 : Amos Fassett, clerk ; Martin D. Follett, Nathaniel Griswold, Samuel Little, selectmen. 1802 : Will- iam Barber, clerk ; Amos Fassett, Stephen House, James Tracey, select- men. 1803 : William Barber, clerk ; Amos Fassett, Stephen House, Martin D. Follett, selectmen. 1804: William Barber, clerk ; Amos Fas- sett, Challis Safford, James Tracey, selectmen. 1805 : William Barber, clerk ; Challis Safford, James Tracey, Henry Hopkins, selectmen. 1806: William Barber, clerk; Thomas M. Pollard, Ephraim Adams, Nathaniel Griswold, selectmen. 1807 : W. Barber, clerk ; T. M. Pollard, E. Adams, N. Griswold, selectmen. 1808 : Wm. Barber, clerk; Ephraim Adams, William Barber, Harvey Durkee, selectmen. 1809: William Barber - clerk ; Ephraim Adams, William Barber, Challis Safford, selectmen. 1810: William Barber, clerk; Martin D. Follett, John C. Waller, Harvey Durkee, selectmen. 18II : Eliphaz Eaton, clerk ; Martin D. Follett, Ephraim Adams, John Adams, selectmen, 1812: E. Eaton, clerk ; Martin D. Follett, Jehiel R. Barnum, Jonas, Boutelle, selectmen. 1813 : E. Eaton, clerk; Martin D. Follett, Jehiel R. Barnum, Jonas Boutelle, selectmen. 1814: E. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Boutelle, William Barber, Nathaniel Griswold, selectmen. 1815 : E. Eaton, clerk ; Jonas
Boutelle, William Barber, Thomas Fuller, selectmen. 1816: E. Eaton, clerk ; Caleb Stevens, Joseph Waller, Levi Nichols, selectmen. 1817 : E. Eaton, clerk ; Levi Nichols, Solomon Williams, Joseph Waller, select- men. 1818: E. Eaton, clerk ; Joseph Waller, Charles Stevens, Challis Safford, selectmen. 1819: E. Eaton, clerk ; Jonas Boutelle, Joseph Waller, Charles Stevens, selectmen. 1820 : E. Eaton, clerk; Joseph Waller, E. Eaton, Charles Stevens, selectmen. 1821 : E. Eaton, clerk ; John Adams, Samuel Todd, Jonas Boutelle, selectmen. 1822 : E. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Boutelle, John Adams, Samuel Todd, selectmen. 1823 : E. Eaton, clerk ; Jonas Boutelle, John Adams, Samuel Bessee, select- men. 1824: E. Eaton, clerk ; Jonas Boutelle, Samuel Bessee, William Ovitt, selectmen. 1825: E. Eaton, clerk; William Barber, Austin Fuller, Thomas Fuller, selectmen. 1826: E. Eaton, clerk ; William
425
TOWN OF ENOSBURGH.
Barber, John Adams, Austin Fuller, selectmen. 1827 : Thomas Fuller, clerk; Jehiel R. Barnum, John Adams, Martin D Follett, selectmen. 1828: Thomas Fuller, clerk; J. R. Barnum, John Adams, Jonas Bou- telle, selectmen. 1829 : Thomas Fuller, clerk; J. R. Barnum, Samuel Bessee, Jonas Boutelle, selectmen. 1830: Horace Eaton, clerk ; Jonas Boutelle, J. R. Barnum, Samuel Kendall, selectmen. 1831 : Horace Eaton, clerk ; Jonas Boutelle, J. R. Barnum, Samuel Kendall, selectmen. 1832 : H. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Boutelle, Jehiel R. Barnum, Bennett Eaton, selectmen. 1833 : H. Eaton, clerk; Samuel Kendall, Thomas Fuller, Timothy K. Adams, selectmen. 1834 : H. Eaton, clerk; Tim- othy K. Adams, John Adams, Jonas Boutelle, selectmen. 1835 : H. Eaton, clerk ; Timothy K. Adams, Harding Allen, Bennett Eaton, selectmen. 1836: H. Eaton, clerk; Timothy K. Adams, Horace Adams, Bennett Eaton, selectmen. 1837: H. Eaton, clerk ; Timothy K. Adams, Horace Adams, Bennett Eaton, selectmen. 1838 : H. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Boutelle, Charles B. Maynard, Horatio N. Barber, select- men. 1839: H. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Boutelle, Horatio N. Barber, C. B. Maynard, selectmen. 1840: H. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Boutelle, H. N. Barber, P. E. Smith, selectmen. 1841 : H. Eaton, clerk; Jonas Bou- telle, H. N. Barber, P. E. Smith, selectmen. 1842 ; H. Eaton, clerk ; Will- iam N. Smith, Timothy K. Adams, Clark Barnes, selectmen. 1843 : H. Eaton, clerk ; William N. Smith, Clark Barnes, Chester Waller, selectmen. 1844: H. Eaton, clerk ; C. B. Maynard, Clark Barnes, Chester Waller, selectmen. 1845: H. Eaton, clerk; C. B. Maynard, Clark Barnes, Jonas Eaton, selectmen. 1846: H. Eaton, clerk ; C. B. Maynard, Clark Barnes, Bennett H. Eaton, selectmen. 1847: H. Eaton, clerk; C. B. Maynard, Bennett Eaton, Caleb R. Brewer, selectmen. 1848 : Theo- dorus Platt, clerk ; C. B. Maynard, Bennett Eaton, F. C. Kimball, selectmen. 1849: Theodorus Platt, clerk; C. B. Maynard, George Adams, F. C. Kimball, selectmen. 1850: T. Platt, clerk ; C. B. Maynard, George Adams, J. M. Dean, selectmen. 1851 : T. Platt, clerk; C. B. Maynard, J. M. Dean, Caleb R. Brewer, selectmen. 1852 : T. Platt, clerk ; J. C. Bryant, George Adams, Clark Barnes, selectmen. 1853: T. Platt, clerk ; J. C. Bryant, F. P. Leach, A. S. Ladd, selectmen. 1854 : T. Platt, clerk; J. C. Bryant, F. P. Leach, A. S. Ladd, select- men. 1855 : T. Platt, clerk; F. P. Leach, A. S. Ladd, J. P. Baker, 54
426
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
selectmen. 1856: T. Platt, clerk ; H. N. Barber, John P. Baker, C. F. Eish, selectmen. 1857: William R. Hutchinson, clerk ; H. N. Barber, John P. Baker, C. F. Fish, selectmen. 1858: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk ; H. N. Barber, L. Nichols, J. C. Parker, selectmen. 1859: W. R. Hutch- inson, clerk ; J. C. Bryant, J. C. Parker, E B. Ladd, selectmen. 1860: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk ; E. B. Ladd, C. R. Brewer, A. B. McAllister, selectmen. 1861 : W. R. Hutchinson, clerk ; E. B. Ladd, C. R. Brewer, A. B. McAllister, selectmen. 1862: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; E. B.
Ladd, C. R. Brewer, A. B. McAllister, selectmen. 1863 : W. R. Hutch- inson, clerk; Ellison Maynard, John P. Reed, A. H. Baker, selectmen. 1864: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; C. R. Brewer, A. H. Baker, Daniel B. Stetson, selectmen. 1865 : Caleb R. Brewer, Daniel B. Stetson, T. P.
Baker, selectmen. 1866: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; C. R. Brewer, F. P. Baker, C. S. McAllister, selectmen. 1867: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk ; C. R. Brewer, D. B. Stetson, Samuel H. Dow, selectmen. 1868 : W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; Samuel H. Dow, A. W. Woodworth, J. B. Croft, selectmen. 1869 : W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; S. H. Dow, A. W.
Woodworth, J. B. Croft, selectmen. 1870: W. R. Hutchinson, clerk ; S. H. Dow, A. W. Woodworth, J. B. Croft, selectmen. 1871 : W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; A. W. Woodworth, J. B. Croft, E. H. Sayles, select- men. 1872 : W. R. Hutchinson, clerk; Gardner S. Fassett, F. R. Per-
kins, John G. Jenne, selectmen. 1873 : W. R. Hutchinson, clerk ; G. S. Fassett, J. G. Jenne, F. R. Perkins, selectmen. 1874: W. R. Hutchin- son, clerk; G. S. Fassett, E. B. Ladd, B. H. Rice, selectmen. 1875 : William W. Hutchinson, clerk ; C. R. Brewer, B. H. Rice, William H. McAllister, selectmen. 1876 : W. W. Hutchinson, clerk ; C. R. Brewer,
1877 : W. W. Hutchinson, B. H. Rice, W. H. McAllister, selectmen. clerk ; C. R. Brewer, W. H. McAllister, L. S. Woodworth, selectmen. 1878 : W. W. Hutchinson, clerk ; C. R. Brewer, W. H. McAllister, L. S. Woodworth, selectmen. 1879: W. W. Hutchinson, clerk ; A. M. For- sythe, D. B. Stetson, G. S. Fassett, selectmen. 1880-82 : W.W. Hutch- inson, clerk; A. M. Forsythe, D. B. Stetson, G. S. Fassett, selectmen. 1883 : W. W. Hutchinson, clerk ; G. S. Fassett, Lyman Gilbert, S. N. Howe, selectmen. 1884: W. W. Hutchinson, clerk ; G. S. Fassett, Lyman Gilbert, A. M. Gladden, selectmen, 1885 : W. W. Hutchinson, clerk; S. N. Howe, G. H. Nichols, A. M. Gladden, selectmen. 1886 :
427
TOWN OF ENOSBURGH.
W. W. Hutchinson, clerk; S. N. Howe, G. H. Nichols, John Whitney, selectmen. 1887: W. W. Hutchinson, clerk; G. H. Nichols, Richard Smith, A. P. Leach, selectmen. 1888: W. W. Hutchinson, clerk; G. H. Nichols, Richard Smith, Alpheus P. Leach, selectmen. 1889: W. W. Hutchinson, clerk; Richard Smith, Lyman Gilbert, Allen H. Manley, selectmen. 1890: W. W. Hutchinson, clerk ; Gardner S. Fassett, Stan- ley Sayles, Allen H. Manley, selectmen.
Representatives in General Assembly .- William Barber, 1798-1800 ; none in 1801; Stephen House, 1802-07 ; Martin D. Follett, 1808; William Barber, 1809; Martin D. Follett, 1810 ; John Adams, 1811-15 ; Nathaniel Griswold, 1816-17; Martin D. Follett, 1818-23 ; Austin Fuller, 1824-25 ; Thomas Fuller, 1826; Jehiel R. Barnum, 1827-28; Horace Eaton, 1829-30; Oliver H. Robinson, 1831-32; John Adams, 1833-34; Horace Eaton, 1835-36; Jonas Boutelle, 1837-38; Samuel Kendall, 1839-40; Horatio N. Barber, 1841-42 ; Bennett Eaton, 1843- 44 ; Charles B. Maynard, 1845-46; Caleb R. Brewer, 1847 ; James M. Dean, 1848-49; Henry Walbridge, 1850; none in 1851-53 ; C. A. Cramton, 1854-55 ; Anson S. Ladd, 1856-57 ; A. W. Woodworth, 1858-59; none reported in 1860-63 ; William R. Hutchinson, 1864- 65 ; Hazen B. Ladd, 1866-67; Caleb R. Brewer, 1868-69; none found in records for 1870-73 ; Silas Hopkins, 1874-75 ; George Adams, 1876- 77 ; John G. Jenne, 1878-79; Charles Allen, 1880-81; William Wat- son Hutchinson, 1882-83 ; Lyman Gilbert, 1884-85 ; Moses P. Perley, 1886-87 ; Samuel H. Dow, 1888-89; Olin Merrill, 1890-91.
By reference to preceding pages it will be noticed that many names there appear as pioneers of Enosburgh, or as town officers, which names also appear in connection with other towns of the county. The early settlers of Enosburgh were many of them from other and older towns of this county, while others were from more distant localities of the state. The lands through this region of the county had become known to the people living southward as early as the period of the French wars, but it was then hardly imagined that settlement and improvement could ever advance into a locality so remote from inhabited districts; and, more than that, before the final extinguishment of the French dominion in America it seemed more than probable that the early wars with the Indians would never terminate. But the close of the French and Eng-
428
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
lish war in 1763 had the effect of subduing the Indians in a measure, but their depredations were continued with less frequency until just be- fore the close of the Revolutionary war, thus rendering settlement in the extreme northern region not only hazardous, but actually impossi- ble. The state authorities of Vermont were not ignorant of this condi- tion of things at the time the grant for these towns were made, and the governor wisely provided that the conditions of the grants need not be complied with so far as settlement was concerned until it could be accomplished with safety.
The grant and charter of Enosburgh were made during the year 1780, yet settlement could not be made with safety until some years later ; but it appears that no settlement was in fact made until about the year 1796, a delay that may be in part accounted for in the fact of the troubles existing in the proprietary, and the tardy action of that body in opening the road to settlement and improvement. These land compa- nies and speculators (for they were nothing else) held their estates and towns for some time beyond that provided by the charters in which occupancy should commence; they had influence with the governing power, and therefore had no fear that their rights would be forfeited, and by holding the lands unoccupied they were able to realize larger prices in their sale when other regions should be taken up and fully settled.
And another reasonable explanation concerning the delay in settle- ment in this region is that, at the period between the granting and ac- tual occupancy, there was a disturbance existing between the subjects of Great Britain in Canada and the United States; and although there was no open rupture between the countries, there was a feeling of un- pleasantness growing out of land controversies, and the Canadian gov- ernment felt it incumbent upon them to maintain an armed force in the region of now Grand Isle county, and at other points on the frontier. With this feeling existing, it is not surprising that the pioneers of this town, and others as well, were somewhat reluctant about coming earlier than they did. But after John Jay's treaty of amity and commerce the British troops were withdrawn from the state, thus admitting of per- fect security in settlement. In 1800 Enosburgh had a population of 143, or its equivalent of about 30 families. By 1810 the number of persons had increased to 704, or about 140 families.
429
TOWN OF ENOSBURGH.
Although the pioneer settlers of Enosburgh found many difficulties and obstacles in effecting a permanent lodgment in the town, they were not embarrassed by the almost incredible hardships that attended set- tlement in many other localities at an earlier day. Fortunate it was for the pioneers of this town that their early life here was favored by the trade relation with the Province, for it enabled them to easily obtain such commodities as they themselves could not produce; and their own productions found a ready market for exchange and barter for such necessaries as were required for their comfort. But the President and Congress of the United States felt impelled to enact and enforce the pro- visions of the embargo and non-intercourse laws; the people of Enos- burgh were directly injured, and had recourse to such methods as were employed in other similarly affected towns; and when the Federal au- thorities sent armed troops to compel obedience to the laws, and char- acterized as insurgents all who were injured by the provisions of the law, and sought to avoid it in order to obtain the common necessaries of life, then the people met, almost with one accord, and expressed their indignation at what was deemed the Federal outrage. On the first Monday in April, 1809, a meeting was held in the town to take action concerning the situation. A committee consisting of Thomas M. Pol- lard. William Barber, Ephraim Adams, Stephen House, Martin D. Fol- lett, Nathaniel Griswold, and Eliphaz Eaton prepared resolutions ex- pressive of the sentiment of the town, which were read, discussed, and adopted, and voted to be transmitted to the President of the United States. The resolutions were as follows :
" Resolved, That it is the sense of this town that the several embargo laws passed by Congress, and more especially the act approved on the 9th day of January last, does contain provisions for exercising arbitrary powers grievous to the good people of this community, and dangerous to their common liberties, incompatible with the Constitution of the United States, and encroaching on the immunities of this state.
" Resolved, That we will ever support the Constitution of the United States according to the true letter and spirit of the same, Embargo acts, Non-intercourse laws, Standing armies, and Proclamations declaring us in a state of insurrection to the contrary notwithstanding.
" Resolved, That when we have witnessed our common highways
430
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
guarded with armed troops, seen the property of our fellow citizens wrested from them by an armed force without the least shadow of legal authority, we are constrained to say and declare that, should we continue to suffer all these abuses with patient, submissive silence, the spirits of our patriarch fathers, who nobly fell to purchase our freedom, would reproach us as being unworthy to be called their descendants.
" Resolved, That we are in duty bound, and shall ever respect those officers and soldiers that are called in defense of their country to repel an invading foe ; but that we do highly disapprove the recent transac- tions of the armed force stationed in this vicinity, and view their conduct incompatible with the laws of this state, for the safe-keeping of the peace, and also of the Embargo laws under which they pretend to act.
" Resolved, That the minority in Congress are entitled to the thanks of all honest men, and that they ought to have the grateful remem- brance in the heart of every independent American for their faithful and unwearied exertions in supporting the precious liberties of their country."
The expression of these sentiments disclosed unmistakable tendencies of Federalism on the part of those who participated in the meeting, but it cannot be said that the people were at all disloyal to the Federal gov- ernment, for they expressly affirmed allegiance to the constitution of the United States, and only protested against what was considered an un- just and unwarrantable violation of their established rights and recog- nized custom. But the loyalty of the people of Enosburgh was proved in another way, for, during the War of 1812-15, the town contributed its full proportion of men to the service, although there is no record to show in what particular branch of the service they were engaged, ex- cept duty on the northern frontier. In common with the people of the whole region the men of Enosburgh rallied in response to the call for volunteers just preceding the battle of Plattsburgh, but that engage- ment was virtually ended before the majority of the men reached the front ; but although their names cannot be recalled at this time, it is generally understood that a number of men from this town participated in the events of September 11, 1814.
Preceding the actual outbreak of the war Enosburgh had its organ- ized militia of the same character as had other towns, and the local or- ganization was known as the " Enosburgh Rifle Corps." The company
431
TOWN OF ENOSBURGH.
volunteered for duty on the 14th of October, 1813, and continued in service until the 17th of November following. The personnel of the company was as follows: Captain, Martin D. Follett ; lieutenant, Ben- jamin Follett; ensign, John Lewis; sergeant, Andrew Farnsworth; pri- vates, Josiah W. Potter, Thomas Hill, Nelson Brown, A. Fassett, John Stone, Benjamin Austin, A. F. Stone, B. Shaw, Josiah Randall, Anson Sherwood, Raymond Austin, William Colton, Anthony Bessee, James Brown, Salmon Dodge, Henry Follett, John Flint, Page Gould, Samuel Hall, Caleb Hill, Horace Gates, Barnabas Hedge, Nathan Hedge, Sam- uel Hedge, Talman Hendricks, John Lewis, J. Taylor, R. Essex, Aaron Martin, Chauncey Brown, Harris Streeter, John Miller, James Miller, Tolman Miller, John Martin, William Martin, William Osborn, H. Palmer, Obadiah Sherwood, Luther Taylor, Job Thompson, Moses Wal- lace, Lyman West, John Wright, Martin D. Follett, jr., Samuel Cooper, Robert Watson, Anson Curtis, Elijah Cooper, John Thompson, Sanford Fay, Aaron Jackson, George Town, William Rood, William Haskins, E. Bishop, John Douglass, William Wells.
In explanation of the foregoing roll it should be stated that an error has possibly been made, for there appears to be a conflict of statement between past writers on the subject. By reference to the above roll it will be seen that names appear that were not then known to the town, and the company, moreover, appears to be very large for a town so small in population as Enosburgh was at that time ; still, it may be a fact that Captain Follett's company was comprised not only of Enosburgh men, but of men from other towns in the vicinity. The papers of Samuel Kendall purport to furnish a list of the persons of the town who were in the service during the War of 1812-15, by which it appears that the per- sonnel of the local company was quite different from that above given ; but which is right and which is wrong the reader must be the judge. Again it is quite possible that both accounts are correct, and that Cap- tain Follett had different companies under his command during the period of the war. According to the Kendall papers the officers and soldiers of Enosburgh were as follows: Captain, Martin D. Follett ; lieu- tenant, Benjamin Follett ; corporal, Alvin Fassett ; musician, Hiram Fassett; privates, Solomon Dodge, Henry Follett, John Flint, Samuel Hedge, Barnabas Hedge, Nathan Hedge, Talma Hendricks, Samuel
432
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Kendall, James Miller, John Miller, William Miller, John Martin, Joseph Pollard, Anthony Bessee, Abijah Rice, Enoch Pease, John Osborne, Laban Brown, Asa Ladd.
After the close of the War of 1812-15 the town of Enosburgh, in com- mon with the various other sub divisions that comprise the county of Franklin, entered upon an era of peace and prosperity not before en- joyed by its people during the period of its existence; but the history of that period is written particularly in the general building up and improve- ment of farms throughout the town; in the founding and operation of almost innumerable industries for manufacture on the principal streams, the Missisquoi River and the so-called Tyler's. Branch. Each of these has afforded an abundant water-power for manufacturing purposes, than which there is none superior in the county ; and while the facilities thus afforded have never been utilized to their fullest capacity, they have, nevertheless, been operated to an extent equal to almost any town in the county. This possession has been of immense advantage to Enos- burgh, and has been a powerful factor in establishing for the town the good repute it has as one of the leading towns of Franklin county. More than this, it may also be said as a fact that at least four of the seven villages or hamlets of the town owe their existence to the devel- opment of the water privileges offered by the Missisquoi and the branch, while Bogue's Branch has likewise been instrumental in contributing to the general progress of the locality in which it has its course. And in the same connection, too, should be mentioned Cold Hollow Branch, for that has done a full share in the lumber manufacturing interests of the town for many years. But of each of these localities and their indus- tries mention will be made in later pages of this chapter.
For a period of nearly fifty years after the War of 1812 the people of the town continued in the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of their prop- erty, and were not disturbed by any event of unusual importance, or more serious than the rather amusing Canadian rebellion, or the Patriot war, as it has been commonly called, that had its period of occurrence during the years 1837-39. This event furnished a topic of much in- teresting conversation among the people at the fireside and at the usual places of resort, but none of the people for a moment entertained the serious thought that a mere handful of political adventurers would
433
TOWN OF ENOSBURGH.
be able to overthrow a government so strong as that which then, as now, ruled Canada, and there is no record to show that the local militia com- pany was called upon for frontier duty, although many citizens went to the " line" to watch the proceedings there taking place.
But during the period of 1861-65 the town of Enosburgh was seri- ously called upon to contribute both men and means for the prosecution and conduct of the civil war then in progress ; and the support given by the town, both in volunteers and money contributions, forms one of the grandest chapters of its history. But this is a subject that has been so fully discussed in one of the general chapters of this volume as to demand but a passing notice here. In the chapter referred to there will be found not only a record of the part taken by Enosburgh's soldiery in that great struggle, but as well a record of all from the town who parti- cipated in the war. In view of this, and not to hazard a repetition, the present reference will be confined to a summary of the town's part in furnishing men for the service. By reference to the reports of the adju- tant and inspector-general of this state it is found that Enosburgh fur- nished the equivalent of 188 men for the service, of which number only four did not go to the front, making a total of 184 that actually entered service. Of this number there may be made the following classifica- tion : Furnished under first call in 1861, for three months' men, four ; volunteers for three years previous to call of October 17, 1863, sixty-six men ; volunteers for three years subsequent to October 17, 1863, thirty men ; volunteers for nine months, twenty-nine ; for one year, twenty- seven ; volunteers re-enlisted for three years, veterans, ten; drafted and entered service, one; drafted and procured substitutes, six; enrolled man who furnished substitute, one; miscellaneous credits to the town not named, ten. Of the men who entered the service from the town four were killed in battle, twenty-two died of wounds and disease, twenty- five were discharged for wounds, disabilities, etc., seventeen deserted, eighteen were not accounted for, three were in part not accounted for, and eighty- five were mustered out of service.
One of the established present institutions of Enosburgh, and one which cannot be said to have a fixed seat of operations, but extends throughout the town, is that commonly known as the Enosburgh Young Men's Total Abstinence Society. This organization has been in contin-
55
434
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
uous existence in the town for a period of more than sixty years, having been organized in February, 1830, and numbering among its original members such men as Horace Eaton, Bennett Eaton, George Adams, Levi Nichols, Moses Wright, Brigham B. Williams, Thomas P. Law- rence, Jonas Boutelle, and others, men who were prominent, not alone in town affairs, but in state as well. And this organization was brought into being and grew and prospered at a time when indulgence in strong drinks was popular, and was considered rather in the light of a credit than otherwise. But one peculiar feature of the society lay in the fact that none but young men, those of the ages of thirty years or less, were eligible to hold any office in it, and this feature has been productive of much good in the society, and kept its ranks well filled with young per- sons, but in the selection of officers the older members of course have a voice. The membership in the society may be counted by hundreds ; it was the first of its kind in the county, one of the first in the state, and is the oldest, perhaps, now in existence. Annual meetings are regularly held at the Center, at which addresses are made and the numerical strength of the society increased by signers to the pledge, which act constitutes membership. The present president of the society is Wes- ley R. Ovitt, and the secretary is Marshall P. Hubbell.
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