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 46
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 46
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The first permanent residents of this part of the town were Tristum C. Colcord, John Hammond, Reuben Currier, Reuben Towle, James Stevenson, William Sisco, Asa Fay, Eleazer Olmstead, and others. T. C. Colcord died in 1815, and at so late a date no clergyman could be found to attend the funeral services, and Elder Dean, previously mentioned, made a prayer on the occasion.
Where some of these early settlers failed to make a living, and emi- grated westward with ox-teams, others took their places, and by dili- gence and economy transformed the wilderness into fruitful fields, where to-day are to be found some of the best farms in town. This is particularly the case upon the eastern side of the pond, where Dolphus Dewing, Asa Hammond, Lathrop Marsh, and James W. Beatty finally settled and became proprietors of large and productive farms.
This part of the town is now known as South Franklin. A little dis- tance south of the church John Hammond, from Clarendon, Vt., settled in 1800. He had a family of fourteen children, and was one of the lead- ing farmers of his town, paying much attention to the raising of good stock. A little further on Vernal Himes located quite early, reared a large family, and followed the occupation of blacksmith and farmer. The writer has some carpenter tools made by him in those early days. East of the church Samuel Stanley settled upon the farm that has re-
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mained in the family since. He had a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to be married. Three families in the neighborhood at one time sent seven children each to the district school.
One thing worthy of note is the fact that, particularly in the eastern part of the town, so many of the farms and homes remain in the same families, even until the fourth generation. It will be difficult finding other places where there are so many instances of this kind.
Having thus briefly sketched the early settlement of the town refer- ence will again be had to the records for such items of interest as may deserve a place in this chapter. At the first proprietors' meeting held in this town, October 3, 1792, it was voted to choose a committee of three to scale the two ponds and pay them. At a meeting of the propri- etors held May 26, 1807, Samuel Hubbard, of this town, Ebenezer Mar- vin, jr., of Sheldon, and Adolphus Waldbridge, of Burlington, were ap- pointed a committee to scale the several ponds in town to ascertain the number of acres covered by each; also the number of acres contained in the swamps and other lands unfit for cultivation, and to survey all the undivided land in town for a third division.
This committee was also to prepare a correct chart or map of the town, with the allotments of the several surveys, divided into sixty- nine rights or shares, with the different ponds, swamps, streams, etc. The report of this committee stated the quantity of land covered by the Great Pond to be 1,684 acres and eighty rods ; by the Little Pond, 140 acres water and marsh; and by Cranberry marsh, 224 acres and eighty rods. Amos Fay surveyed the town for the committee for the third division of land made March 25, 1811. This closes the proprietary records.
The name of the town was changed from Huntsburgh to Franklin, October 25, 1817. The legislative proceedings in relation to the change are as follows :
" In General Assembly, October 14, 1817, Mr. Samuel Hubbard, on motion and leave, introduced a bill entitled 'an act altering the name of the town of Huntsburgh to that of Franklin', which was referred to the members from Franklin county. (Journal page 33.)
"October 18. The members aforesaid made a report that the bill ought to pass and become a law. (Journal page 63.)
" October 20. The bill was read a second time and referred to Dr. Farnsworth, of Fairfield, for amendment. (Journal page 72.)
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"October 22 the bill was passed to be engrossed for a third reading, and October 25, 1817, it became a law."
The inhabitants of Franklin are mostly farmers and, in general, intelli- gent and successful. Dairying is the leading occupation. Formerly a large amount of cheese was made upon the farms, but that was gradu- ally changed to butter many years since. Now a considerable portion of the milk is made into butter at creameries, and there are located at different points in town several separators, so called, for the purpose of obtaining the cream from the milk. The farms vary in size from 100 to 500 acres or more each, and are generally well improved and contain good buildings.
Franklin Center, a small and pretty village, contains a well-kept hotel, three stores, shoe store, millinery store, furniture store and undertakers' supplies, marble shop, three blacksmith shops, tin shop and hardware store, wheelwright shop, meat market, three churches, postoffice, and fifty or sixty dwelling houses.
East Franklin has a church, store, postoffice, blacksmith shop, and several residences. The only telegraph office in town is at this place. Eleazer Olmstead was the first settler here, having come from Canada in 1821. His descendants reside in this part of the town, and are thrifty farmers. Bartholomew Whitney came from Clarendon, Vt., to this town in 1812, and settled near the Canada line, a mile from East Franklin, where he lived until his death, leaving numerous descendants. On the road from East Franklin to the Center village Joel Powers settled in 1806, William Giddings in 1814, Matthew Grice in 1818, and Silas N. Hefflon in 1823. Edwin Prouty has been a local Methodist minister for forty years. He represented the town in 1890.
There are no railroads in town. The Canada Junction Railroad, so called, intending to connect West Farnham, P. Q., with the roads at Sheldon Junction, was surveyed through the town several years since, running through East Franklin, along the eastern shore of the pond, and thence into Sheldon Junction. The road was mostly graded and the rails laid to East Franklin, but the financial failure of the projector stopped further work, and the road remains uncompleted. Whether it will ever be put in running order is a question of time and expediency. The only telegraph office in town, belonging to the Great Canada Northwestern
62
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Company, is located at East Franklin. There is a Masonic organization in town of long standing, a lodge of Good Templars in the west part of the town, and a Farmers' League recently formed.
Ebenezer Marvin, jr., was the first attorney in the town ; first birth, John, son of Samuel Hubbard, August 4, 1791 ; first marriage, No- vember 29, 1792, by Samuel Peckham, esq., Paul Gates to Zerniah Spooner; first death, Susanah, wife of Samuel Peckham, January 30, 1796; first cemetery laid out in town, the one adjoining the Center village ; the first person buried therein, Mrs. Susanah Peckham; first highway surveyed, the one leading south through the town from Sam- uel Hubbard's to some point on the Missisquoi River, in Sheldon, time unknown. John Webster kept the first articles of merchandise for sale, composed of groceries, ironware, nails, etc., which he brought with him into town from New Hampshire. Thomas and Uri Foot kept store in a log building belonging to Samuel Hubbard, and Thomas erected the first building for this purpose about the year 1810. The first military company was formed in 1808: Samuel Hubbard, captain; Ephraim Joy, lieutenant; Thomas Foot, ensign; and William Felton, sergeant.
The first inhabitants of this town, realizing the great importance of education, early made provision for this purpose. Three grants of land were made for educational purposes in the charter of the town : one for the University of Vermont, one for the first county grammar school-which goes to St. Albans,-and one for the schools in town. The rent from these lands goes annually for the purposes mentioned. For 1890 it was about as follows: University of Vermont, $34; St. Al- bans Grammar School, $18; schools in town, $19: total, $71.
In 1795-96 a school was taught by Josiah Allen in a log house near the dwelling of Samuel Hubbard, a mile north of the Center. This school was small and supposed to be the first in town. In the summer of 1796 Miss Easton taught school in the house of Samuel Hubbard. In the winter of 1796-97 Dr. Enoch Pomery taught in a house in this vicinity, to which scholars came from all parts of the town. There were no school- houses in the town up to this time, the schools often being held in private houses. These were supported by voluntary contribu- tions, Mr. Hubbard paying one-half and others the remainder. In 1798 the town was divided into two school districts known as the North and and South districts.
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TOWN OF FRANKLIN.
The first school-house-a log one-was built near where Judge Cleaveland now lives. In 1800 a log school-house was built in the North district near the residence of Ethan Vincent. Judge Barnard, a man of liberal education, taught here, and scholars from St. Albans and Vergennes attended the school. In 1809 a school was taught at the Center by John Hubbard. The first school-house built here was in 1800. In 1809 a school was taught by Miss Warner on the east side of the pond, in South Franklin, three families furnishing twenty-one schol- ars for the same. The first school-house built here was in 1815. In 1810 there were five districts in town, from which 250 scholars were re- turned.
In 1820 there were 227 scholars; in 1830, 325; in 1840, 400; in 1850, twelve districts and 500 scholars; in 1860, fourteen districts and 525 scholars; in 1880, ten districts, eleven schools, and 385 scholars. At the present time (1890) there are ten districts and eleven schools-there being two at the Center. In 1860 the expense of the schools amounted to $1,250, and amount of public money to $440. In 1880 the cost of the schools was $1,290. The expense of maintenance, under the new su- pervision, must be somewhat increased from 1880. Both the schools and the school-houses here will compare favorably with the other towns of the county.
Franklin Academy was incorporated in 1849 and went into successful operation the following year. A Mr. Smith was the first preceptor. He was followed by ex-Governor Roswell Farnham, Professor A. M. Butler, Miss M. A. Pomery, C. W. Gates, and others. At one time this school enjoyed great popularity, but after a time others came into oper- ation and finally this was discontinued. The academy building is now occupied by the Center district schools.
Biographical Sketches .- Dr. Enoch Pomery was a native of South- ampton, Mass., and came to this town in 1794, where he taught school and practiced medicine for a year or two. After this he was married to Miss Mary Tinney, of Bennington, and became a permanent resident. He followed the occupation of farming along with the practice of medi- cine, having made choice of the farm now owned by his grandson, Henry C. Pomery, where he lived until his death. In those early days there were either no roads or very poor ones, and the doctor used to
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
visit his patients on horseback, guided on his way by marked trees to the scattered settlements. He reared quite a family of children, one of whom, at least, J. N. Pomery, of East Fairfield, is still living. He and his wife were worthy people and held in high esteem in the community where they lived. He died in January, 1833, aged sixty-two years, and his wife in August, 1863, aged eighty-five years.
Reuben Towle was a native of New Hampshire. He joined the army of the Revolution at the age of sixteen, and was at West Point when the traitor Arnold undertook to deliver that post to the British. As he lay sick at this place he was visited and talked very kindly to by General Washington. At the close of the campaign he returned home without pay, sick and on foot, and obliged to beg for food and lodging on the way. Not discouraged he enlisted again the following year and served through another campaign. At the close of the war he married and moved to Enfield. In February, 1815, he with his family removed to Franklin and settled in the eastern part of the town, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. His wife, Sarah Towle, traveled from En- field, N. H., to this town, a distance of 130 miles, and back again on horseback, part of the way being through the wilderness with little or no roads,-a feat which the ladies of the present day would hardly care to undertake even with good roads. Mr. Towle had seven children, all of whom married and settled near each other. Descendants of the fifth generation are now living here. He died September 15, 1849, aged eighty-seven years, venerated and esteemed by all.
James Stevenson was a native of Ireland and came to this country with Burgoyne's army. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Saratoga, and afterwards joined the American forces and served with them during the rest of the war. He was one of the first settlers in the eastern part of the town, living on the farm now occupied by Reuben Towle, where he died in 1822. In common with others of the early settlers he en- dured many hardships in endeavoring to make a home in the wilderness of a new country.
William Sisco was one of the first settlers on the east side of the pond. He lived on the farm now occupied by the Asa Hammond family. He served during the entire war of the Revolution. As showing some of the privations to which these early settlers were subjected, it is related
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that he had been known to go to Swanton, a distance of fifteen miles, work for a bushel of potatoes, and then bring them home on his back. Notwithstanding privations and unfavorable conditions the people were industrious, thrifty, and excellent managers. Everything that could be raised or manufactured upon the farm was done. Flax and wool were produced in abundance and made into fabrics for home use or to sell. The itinerant shoemaker and tailoress were a necessity in those days, but they have long since ceased to ply their trades, and the spinning wheel and loom are stored away, treasured only as relics of the past. The woolen-mill, also the starch factory, the ashery and tanneries even, have disappeared in the march of time and the changed conditions of production and manufacturing.
Hon. Samuel Hubbard was born in the year 1763 and spent the early years of his life in Northfield, Mass. He is spoken of as a very industrious boy, exhibiting while young those traits of character that afterwards made him a leading man in the town where he spent the most of his life. He was associated with Jonathan Hunt and others in the proprietorship of the town of Franklin,-then Huntsburgh,-and as- sisted in obtaining the charter in 1787. He helped survey the town the next year. Succeeding this he was married to Miss Elizabeth Swan, and in the spring of 1789 came to Franklin with his family, provisions, fur- niture, etc., with horse teams by way of Whitehall, N. Y., and Rutland, to Missisquoi Bay, P. Q. He had previously made his "pitch " a mile north of the center of the town, so long occupied by his son, Hon. J. H. Hubbard, and now owned by J. E. Wilder. He was a leading proprie- tor of the town, and many of those who afterwards became settlers purchased their lands of him. He was noted for his business ability, perseverance, and thrift, and the settlers were indebted to him for many of the advantages which they were permitted to enjoy at this time, as he was a leader in most of the early enterprises of the town. He reared quite a family of children, but one of whom we think, Rev. Thomas Hubbard, is now living. At the age of seventy-two he became inter- ested in religious matters, and with his wife and children became identi- fied with the church and was an exemplary member during the remainder of his life. He died in 1844, at the ripe age of four-score years, honored and respected by all.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Dr. Ebenezer Marvin was a native of Connecticut, and his birth dates back to about 1741. Part of his life was spent in New York and the southern part of this state. He came to this town in 1794 and was one of the original proprietors. He also acquired considerable landed property in the towns of Berkshire and Highgate. He did not here fol- low so extensively his profession as physician and surgeon, but attended more to his farming interests. He was possessed of unusual legislative and executive ability, which being early recognized, he was intrusted with important offices, the duties of which he performed with great fidel- ity and exceptance. For twenty years or more he was a member of the Executive Council of the state and for a time chief judge of the county of Chittenden, then including the town of Franklin. Upon the organization of the county of Franklin he was elected chief judge, which position he held until 1801. Although not educated for the legal pro- fession he is stated to have possessed uncommon qualifications for the important positions he was called upon to occupy, and honored them in the best sense of the word. Succeeding the time of which we speak the remainder of his life was mostly passed in retirement from public duties. Having acquired sufficient competence he was a liberal provider and hospitable entertainer. He lived to a good old age, passing away in 1820, being nearly eighty years old.
Ebenezer Sanderson, a native of Petersham, Mass., came to Frank- lin in 1790, and settled on a tract of land a little to the south of the Center village, now known as the Chadwick farm. Upon the organ- ization of the town in 1793 Mr. Sanderson was elected clerk, which office he held until his death, which occurred April 19, 1800, his being the first adult death in town. As showing the obstacles these early settlers had to encounter in the wilderness, it is stated that in the spring of 1791 the snow was so deep that Mr. Sanderson was obliged to re- move or transport the most necessary articles of housekeeping for his family on a hand-sled from Missisquoi Bay, P. Q., to his home in Frank- lin, a distance of ten miles. Their first house was constructed of logs, roofed with bark, and had a floor of rifted logs, there being no saw-mill near in those days. The chimney was built of sticks and clay, and a blanket served for a door. This was a fair specimen of the houses of these early settlers.
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TOWN OF FRANKLIN.
John Webster was born in Franklin, N. H., in 1755, and was first- cousin to Daniel Webster. He received a liberal education and gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in the year 1778. In the spring of 1789, in company with Samuel Hubbard, he came to this town and settled on lands at the Center, still occupied by his descendants down to the fourth generation. According to reliable information Deacon Webster kept the first articles of merchandise for sale in town, consisting of groceries, nails, ironware, etc., which he brought with him from New Hampshire. He always followed the occupation of farming, and was very retired and unobtrusive in his habits; consequently he never took an active part in town affairs. He was the principal founder of the Congregational church in Franklin, of which he was a worthy member and officer until his death, which occurred January 7, 1838, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
Elias Truax is supposed to be the oldest person ever having lived in town. He was born July 4, 1772, and died February 4, 1875, being nearly 103 years old. He possessed remarkable vitality, as may be seen from the following : January 1, 1863, then being in his ninety-first year, he skated across Franklin Pond and back again, a dis- tance of one and one-half miles, and is said to have done it as cleverly as a boy of fifteen. He came from Albany, N. Y., in 1792, and at this time there was not a frame building in the large village of St. Albans, the shire town of Franklin county.
Religious History .- The different religious denominations in town are the Methodist, Congregationalist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic. There was provision made in the charter for the support of the gospel, and two grants of land were devoted to this purpose, the income of which is divided, annually, equally among the different societies. This amounts to nearly $50 a year. Rev. Mr. Nichols, sent out by the society for the promotion of Christian knowledge, from Montreal, is either the first or one of the first who conducted religious services in town. Rev. Mr. Stewart preached here about 1807. He afterwards became bishop of the Diocese of Quebec. Others will be noticed in connection with this history.
Centenary Methodist Church .- This society occupies that part of the town west of Franklin Pond. In the year 1799 Lorenzo Dow was sent
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
by the New York Conference to labor in Northern Vermont and Can- ada, and preached several times in the south part of this town. The following year Russell Bigalow came from New Hampshire and became the first resident Methodist in Franklin. Religious meetings were held here about this time by a Mr. Wallace from Sheldon, and several con- versions occurred, among them Dr. Pomery and wife and three children of Mr. Bigalow. In 1812 Rev. Henry Ryan formed the first Methodist class, of twelve members, with Mr. Bigalow as leader. There was only occasional preaching at this time, and no place of worship other than a private house or barn, but each year witnessed addition of numbers and increase of strength. In 1820 the New York Conference extended into Canada and a young man by the name of William Ross preached here. Regular preaching has been maintained ever since. In 1822 the first Sunday-school was organized with Winsor Pratt as superintendent.
In 1828 the Methodist and Congregational societies united in building a house of worship, to be occupied alternately by each, and this was so occupied until 1843, when the Methodists sold their interest to the other society and erected an edifice of their own, which they occupy at the present time. In 1860 there were 200 members connected with this church. There are at present 141 members, and three Sunday- schools located in different parts of the town. The church edifice has recently been repaired, and Rev. G. L. Story is the present pastor.
Methodist Church at South Franklin .- Previous to 1809 there was a Methodist class formed on the east side of the pond, in South Frank- lin, with Salmon Warner as leader. But little is known of this class, as most of the members soon went away and it was broken up. In 1822 or '23 another class was formed of six members, with Simeon Welch as leader. The last surviving member of that class, Mrs. Sally Chadwich, of Swanton, died only a few years since. At this time there was no stated preaching, but the people assembled on the Sabbath for religious worship, and enjoyed great spiritual prosperity. In 1825 this society was embraced within the limits of Sheldon circuit, when for the first time stated preaching was enjoyed, and which has been continued since. It now belongs with West Berkshire and East Franklin charge, with Rev. W. C. Robinson as pastor. The greatest number of members at one time was eighty, when the society embraced a large extent of terri-
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tory. In 1860 there were thirty-five, and at the present time fifty- five. There is a flourishing Sunday-school connected with the church. The society worshiped in school-houses until 1886, when a very pretty church edifice was erected.
Methodist Church at East Franklin .- A Methodist class was formed here in 1838, which at first consisted of only five members. Soon after- wards there was an extensive revival and the number was largely in- creased. Circuit preaching was established in 1838, and has been maintained since. In 1860 this society united with other denomina- tions in building a union meeting-house, to be used by each. There is a Sunday-school at this place. The present number of members is forty-seven ; total membership of the Methodist church in town, 243.
The Congregational Church .- This church was organized October 9, 1817, and consisted of fourteen members. Like most of the other pioneer churches in this part of the state it had no pastor or stated preaching for years, but succeeded in keeping up its organization and conducted the ordinances of the gospel in accordance with the rules of the denomination. In 1824 the number of members was twenty-seven ; January 1, 1855, forty-four; May 1, 1861, forty-four; and in 1890 twenty-eight, representing twenty families. In 1828 they united with other denominations in building a house of worship, to be used alter- nately by each. In 1844 this society purchased the interests of the others and in the fall called Rev. L. S. French to preach to them. The following May he was installed their first pastor, and for sixteen years held this relation to the church. He has been the only resident pastor up to this time. He died July 10, 1879, aged eighty-two years. Since 1861 the church has been supplied with preaching by different clergy- men living out of town. The society has re-constructed its church, built a pretty parsonage, and secured the services of Rev. Wilmot M. Mayhew, of Whiting, Vt., who is to commence his labors at once. There is a flourishing Sunday-school connected with the church.
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