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 61
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 61
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TOWN OF GRAND ISLE.
in the year 1737, but the survey of the island region was made in 1732. This, as the reader will observe, was prior to the French and English wars for the possession of American soil, and was during the period in which both these nations were extending their line of possessions, the former from the Canada provinces toward the south and the latter from the New England and New York provinces toward the north. As is well known these wars had their final ending in 1763, by the treaty of peace, and with the result of all the American and Canadian provinces being ceded to the English government. Therefore when this treaty was agreed to and signed the region now included by Grand Isle, with others as well, ceased to belong to the French, and their grants of seign- iories became void. And it is not understood that there was any oc- cupation, and certainly there was no permanent settlement, within the limits of the island by the subjects of France. Under the French do- minion the whole of the " Two Heroes " was known as la Grande Isle, and so described on the maps and in the grant ; but it was otherwise called in French Isle Longue, meaning long island. From the first mentioned of these names la Grande Isle, the present designation of Grand Isle both for the county and this town, is derived.
The first settlement was made on that part of the island which is now the town of Grand Isle when the whole region was known by its char- ter name of the Two Heroes, which name was preserved until Octo- ber 21, 1788, when the islands were separated and named respectively North Hero and South Hero, the latter embracing the territory of this town. In 1798, by an act passed November 7th, South Hero was divided, and its northern portion erected into a town of limited jurisdic- tion and given the name of Middle Hero. The limitation just men- tioned lay in the fact that the town was given no separate representa- tion in the state legislature until the year 1810, but in connection with the lower Hero it was represented as a part of that town, and the officer chosen may have been, at times, a resident of the north part of the is- land.
It seems to be conceded by most past writers and authorities that set- tlement on the island commenced with the coming thereto of Ebenezer Allen, in the year 1783, but there are certain traditionary evidences tending to show that settlement was made here as early as 1781. If
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
such was the fact that settlement could hardly have been in pursuance of established authority, for it is not understood that the proprietors had made their organization complete before that year, 1783, and the survey of the town was not made until the organization of the proprie - tors was effected. Both of these events occurred in 1783. The first clerk of the proprietors was John Knickerbocker, who was succeeded in 1784 by Ebenezer Allen. The proprietors' meetings were held regu- larly from 1783 to 1786, and for the purpose of arranging for and com- pleting the division and sale of the rights to whomsoever desired to purchase and settle on the lands. The survey was made under .the supervision of Captain Jedediah Hyde, who also became the owner of a part of the lands by purchase from William Williams, the consideration being £12.
The honor of the first settlement on that part of the island called Grand Isle seems to belong to Enos Wood, who came with Ebenezer Allen and Alexander Gordon, and these worthies are said to have "drawn cuts" for the first choice of lots, and Wood, being in luck, was given the choice ; and he chose for his location a tract within the pres- ent district of this town, where in more recent years was located the John Knight farm. Alexander Gordon made his "pitch " also in the northern part, in the locality more recently called Ladd's Ferry. Allen located in the southern portion and became the landlord of a hotel. According to a recent and reliable authority the settlers who followed those mentioned, and who came to the locality as early as the year 1785, were as follows: Cyril Reed, William Hyde, Jonathan Griffith, Uzzel Clark, William Campbell, Jacob and Abraham Vantyne, John Minckler, William Hazen, Barnabas Minckler, John Sawyer, Reuben Clapp, John Gibson, and Ephraim Sawyer, jr. From 1784 to 1787 these came and settled on the north part of the island: William Lawrence, Robert Barnes, Willard Gordon, Abishai Allen, Samuel Davenport, Benjamin Bell, Abel Bristol, Samuel Stark, John Folsom, Warren Corbin, Wesson Macomber, Daniel Hoag, John Thomas, Andrew Hazen, Daniel Davis, Isaac Atkins, Daniel Samson, William Samson, Reuben Clapp, Joseph Samson. From 1787 to 1796 settlement continued rapidly, among those coming to the island during the period being Jedediah, jr., Jona- than, and Elijah Hyde, Jeremiah Armstrong, James Tobias, Jesse Fair-
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TOWN OF GRAND ISLE.
child, Eleazer and David Slosson, Francis Delong, Conrad and William Rossman, Joseph Adams, Andrew Ladd, Stephen Pearl, Simeon Clark, James Gilbert, John D. Fish, Peter Minckler, Daniel Wilcox, Timothy Nightengale, Abel Peters, Samuel, sr., Samuel, jr., and Enoch Allen, Asa Callender, James Brown, Levi Vaughn, William Hodgkins, and David Merrihew.
Within the boundaries of Grand Isle town was organized the local government of the Two Heroes, as the territory originally comprising all there is of North and South Hero and this town was called. This was on the 28th of March, 1786, at a meeting held at Alexander Gordon's dwelling house at Ladd's Ferry. At that time officers were chosen as follows: Town clerk, Nathan Hutchins ; selectmen, Ebenezer Allen, Jacob Smith, Alexander Gordon; constable, Nathan Hutchins. This organization lasted but little more than two years, as, in 1788, on the 27th of October, the legislature passed an act dividing the territory and forming the towns of North and South Hero. The locality of which we write of course formed a part of the Lower Hero, which had its own distinct organization and elected its own officers from the whole of the island, and so continued to do until the year 1798, when its territory was divided and Middle Hero erected.
The subject of the division of South Hero was agitated and the town voted for a division as early as 1792, but it was not until 1798 that the legislature passed the act that operated to complete the same, and brought into existence the Middle Hero. On March 1, 1799, the first town meeting was held at the house of Isaac Atkins, in pursuance of a warning by Justice of the Peace Reuben Clapp. The officers chosen were as follows : Moderator, Reuben Clapp; town clerk and treasurer, James Brown; selectmen, Abel Bristol, Thomas Cooper, and Reuben Clapp; listers, Thomas Cooper, sr., James Tobias, William Hazen ; first constable, John Thomas. In addition there was chosen a commit- tee-James Tobias, Reuben Clapp, and Jedediah Hyde, jr .- to settle the claims of South Hero. It was also voted to tax the town one cent per pound on the grand list for town expenses ; also was voted a proposi- tion to build a pound, which was accordingly done by Joseph Merrihew and Timothy Nightengale, at an expense of $27.50.
Thus organized the town continued to annually elect officers and ad-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
minister its own affairs without material change or noticeable occur- rence until the year 1809, when, on the 26th of October, the legislature passed an act that authorized the election of a town representative, but none such was in fact chosen until the succeeding year, when Rev. Asa Lyon was elected to the office. And during the year 1810, by an act of the legislature passed November 3d, the name of the town was changed from Middle Hero to Grand Isle, by which it has ever since been known.
During the period of disturbance that followed the close of the Revo- lutionary war the people living in the Middle Hero were not seriously affected, but with the enactment of the federal embargo laws, and their enforcement by the presence of customs officers and armed troops, they were deprived of many of the necessaries and comforts of life, and con- sequently suffered in common with the whole population of the northern region of the state. That some of the settlers had recourse to the com- mon practice of smuggling there can be no reasonable doubt, but there is an almost total absence of evidence tending to show that it was re- sorted to in any considerable extent, and whatever was done in that direction was accomplished with such secrecy that the offender was not apprehended. But considering the peculiar situation of the people, and the custom they enjoyed of trading with the province merchants, the enforcement of the embargo laws was a severe blow to the established privileges of the people, and if violated it was for the benefit of suffering humanity, and not through feelings of malice or hatred of the law, or mere wantonness. And during the period of the War of 1812-15 the people of Grand Isle were entirely and wholly loyal to the cause of the Americans; and they furnished not only loyalty and patriotism to aid that cause, but as well a number of men who served throughout the period and some in the memorable battle of Plattsburgh. The occasion of this battle, and particularly the naval engagement, had a peculiar in- terest for the islanders, for in its result in a great measure depended the future of their fortunes. But the people had no cause for great alarm, as the British commander had promised by his proclamation that all who remained quietly at their homes should be in no wise disturbed. However comforting may have been the assurances contained in this proclamation it had not the effect of alienating from the American cause
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TOWN OF GRAND ISLE.
the loyalty or affection, for when the call for volunteers was promulgated many of the Grand Isle townsmen crossed over to Plattsburgh and took part in the land battle. At this time the greater part of the men of the town were members of the organized militia, a company of which ex- isted on the island, and which was provided with arms and ammunition and under command of Captain Abner Keeler, of South Hero. The persons who crossed the lake and participated in the land battle, as far as can be determined, were Joel Allen, Abisha Allen, Brush Allen, Na- than Adams, Jonathan Hyde, Willard Hyde, William Hodgkins, James Hodgkins, John Atkins, Jesse Reynolds, and Theopholis Bangs.
The militia organizations of the town, or rather of the island, during this period were both infantry and cavalry, being composed in part of representatives of both towns. The first company of which there appears to be any record was formed in 1794, and of which Adon Ames, Grin- dall Reynolds, and Daniel Samson were captains in the order stated. After the division of South Hero, and in 1800, two companies were or- ganized, one infantry and the other cavalry, the former being the Third Company of the Fourth Regiment of state militia. From the time of organization down to about 1843, when it ceased to exist, the infantry company was commanded by these principal officers, in succession, viz .: Captains, Benjamin Darling, Daniel Wilcox, James Griswold, Samuel Adams, Solon Tobias, Luther Tabor, D. E. Griswold, Nathan Witherell; lieutenants, John Chamberlain, Solon Tobias, Jacob Kent, R. P. Conroy, G. W. Hyde, Hiram Tobias. In 1825 J. W. Huddleston was lieutenant commanding and in 1826 Helmer Kent was captain.
During the period of what has been commonly known as the Papineau war, from 1837 to 1839, the events then occurring had no disturbing effect on the people of this particular locality, for they were too far removed from the seat of operations to feel more than a passing interest in what was taking place; and there appears no record to show whether or not the local militia company or any other organization of armed men went from the town to the seat of operations.
During the war of 1861-65 the town of Grand Isle raised from all sources, both by tax and voluntary gift, the gross sum of $11,893.50 for the purpose of paying bounties and the support of families of volun- teers of the year 1861. The reports of the state adjutant and inspector-
82
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
general credit the town with a total of fifty-one men, of whom twenty- two were non-residents. From the town fifteen persons were drafted, of whom five entered the service, one paid commutation, four were ex- empted, and six sent substitutes. The volunteers numbered thirty-six men. A preceding chapter of this volume furnishes the names of the soldiers from the town, which, therefore, need not be repeated in this connection. 1
Summary of First Events .- The first settlement in Grand Isle town, or that part of the island which is now so designated, was made in 1783, by Enos Wood and Alexander Gordon. The first merchant in the town was John Ferguson, who in 1792 started in trade at Ladd's Ferry, formerly known as Gordon's Ferry. He sold dry goods, groceries, lumber, and liquors. 'Some of the successors in business to Mr. Fergu- son were G. V. Edwards, A. & W. Brown, Griswold & Brown, Abel Brown, J. W. Brown, Brown & Clark, M. G. Brown & Co., and others. The first highway was surveyed in 1790, but little progress was made in its construction prior to 1798. In 1806 the legislature passed "an act granting the right of making and keeping a Turnpike Road from the lower bridge over Onion River in Colchester to the ferry from Mid- dle Hero to Cumberland Head." In 1790 John Folsom built a sailing vessel called the Admiral, which was commanded by its owner. In 1828 Solon Tobias built the wharf at the place more recently known as Griswold's Landing. The first tavern or public house was kept by Alexander Gordon, and opened in 1790. The first postoffice was estab- lished in 1810. The first physician was Jacob Roebeck; subsequent to him were Simeon Clark, George Howes, Melvin Barnes, A. H. W. Jackson, Benton Haynes, Henry H. Reynolds, Ezekiel Minckler, Will- iam Adams, William R. Hutchinson, A. G. Butler, Jesse Reynolds, E. B. Griswold, Melvin J. Hyde, A. B. Hanna, and Albert Reynolds, all of com- paratively old residence in the town. The first resident lawyer was Giles Harrington, from 1825 to 1829, but later a resident of Alburgh. Following Mr. Harrington were William W. White, from 1851 to 1854 ; H. C. Adams, from 1856 to 1863; Josiah H. Adams, from 1857 to the present time. James A. Brown, Ezra Dean, Henry Adams, H. R. Beardsley, and others have lived or practiced in the town. The first grist-mill was built in 1821 and the first saw-mill in 1822, both by
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TOWN OF GRAND ISLE.
Enoch Allen. The forge or furnace was built by Isaac Goodwin about 1827, and here were made plows and other utensils. The first tan- nery was built and operated by pioneer Lamberton Allen ; subsequent tanneries were run by John Thomas and Simeon S. Wright. The pioneer blacksmith was Samuel Davenport, who has had numerous successors, Samuel Belding, Reuben Clark, Isaac Goodwin, and Luther Tabor being among the earlier " smiths " of the town after Davenport's time. The first carpenter was Fox Fowler, who flourished about 1796. The first shoemaker was Lamberton Allen, who also was the pioneer tanner.
The only settled community in the town of any consequence is the hamlet called Grand Isle, which is situated in the eastern part at the cross roads. The village has a postoffice, school, Congregational and Methodist churches, about fifteen or twenty dwellings, and one or two business interests. The post station here is called after the town. Other offices have been established at other points and called Pearl and Adams, both in honor of leading families in the town.
As early as the year 1786, at the town meeting at which the "Two Heroes " were organized, the town voted to hire a minister to preach for the inhabitants; but this vote was rescinded at the next annual meeting, and no minister was hired until some years later. In 1795 the society of the Congregational church was organized, embracing in its membership residents of both the north and south parts of the island, and was known as the Congregational church of South Hero. The first minister was Rev. Asa Lyon, who preached without compensation for many years, being merely the minister and not the pastor, for he was never ordained. In Grand Isle the separate society, so far as it has ever been separated, was organized in this town, and the first pastor was Rev. O. G. Wheeler, ordained November 5, 1840. This society is and ever has been in association and conjunction with that of South Hero, and the associated name still remains the "Congregational Church of South Hero and Grand Isle." The brick church edifice was commenced in 1853 and finished the next year, at a cost of about $3,000. It was dedicated in September, 1854. Mr. Wheeler remained in the pastoral charge of this society for many years, and until succeeded by Mr. Harris. In the chapter devoted to the history of South Hero the
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
reader will find further mention of the church societies of this denom- ination in both towns, and also a reference to the famous oyster suppers by which they are in part supported. The Methodist Episcopal Society of Grand Isle had its origin in the primitive meetings held as early as 1802, if not before that time, and while this town formed part of a cir- cuit that included the entire county and some of the Canada towns For the first score and a half of years the meetings of this society were held in school-houses, dwellings, barns, groves, and in fact in any conven- ient place in which a considerable number could be accommodated, but in 1832, on lands leased from Dr. Melvin Barnes, a church home was com- menced, and finally completed in 1834. The Congregational Society also occupied this building for their services on alternate Sabbaths until their meeting. house was erected. In 1857 the house was rebuilt and remodeled. It was occupied by the town under an arrangement with the stewards of the society. The first pastor was Rev. William Anson, who was succeeded by Daniel Bromley, Samuel Cochran, John Rob- ertson, David Lewis, Justus Byington, and others, in the successive or- der named, all of whom preached during the early period of the church's existence.
Over in the western part of the town of Grand Isle, in the year 1827, the Friends' meeting-house was built. The people who were of this denomination or sect were among the earliest settlers in the town, and numbered some of the most thrifty families of the island. About the year 1800 their first meeting-house was built, of logs, which gave way to the more substantial house of brick erected in 1827.
In the town is also a mission organization or society called St. John's Episcopal church, the parish of which includes all the church people on the island. The church owes its existence to the labors and generosity of Rev. Charles Fay, of Chicago, Ill., who maintained a summer abode on the island and within the town of Grand Isle.
Grand Isle Representatives in Assembly .- Asa Lyon, 1810-14; Enoch Allen, 1815-16; Seth Griffith, 1817; James Brown, 1818-22; Joel Allen, 1823 ; Jedediah Hyde, jr., 1824; Melvin Barnes, 1825-26; Sam- uel Adams, 1827-31 ; Henry C. Boardman, 1832-33 ; Samuel Adams, 1834-38; Lewis Ladd, 1839-40; Jabez Ladd, 1841-42; Benjamin Griffith, 1843; Guy Reynolds, 1844 ; Samuel Adams, 1845; Guy Rey-
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TOWN OF ISLE LA MOTTE.
nolds, 1846; Abel Brown, 1847-48; Samuel B. Gordon, 1849; Will- iam Brown, 1850; Samuel B. Gordon, 1851 ; Wesson Macomber 1852-53 ; William Brown, 1854-55; William Chamberlain, 1856; R. E. Griffith, 1857-58 ; Edwin Adams, 1859-60; Henry C. Adams, 1861 ; John A. Chamberlain, 1862-63 ; James McGowan, 1864-65 ; William C. Irish, 1866-67; S. P. Gordon, 1868-69; S. G. Macomber, 1870; Wesson Macomber, 2d, 1872 ; Mathias Le Fevre, 1874; Wyman W. Pearl, 1876; William C. McGowan, 1878; James A. Brown, 1880; George W. Hyde, 1882; Juan Robinson, 1884; Solon S. Griswold, 1886; Wyman W. Gordon, 1888 ; Horatio Donaldson, 1890.
CHAPTER XXXV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ISLE LA MOTTE.
T' HE first record evidence which history furnishes of an occupation of the little Gem of the Lake called Isle La Motte is that by which is made known the fact that the French commander, Captain La Mothe, built upon the island Fort St. Anne in 1665. Most past writers have agreed that the first civilized settlement within the state of Vermont was that made at Fort Dummer, in the extreme southeastern part of the state, in the year 1724, and that the settlement was then and there made under the belief that the region was a part of the province of Massachu- setts. But more recent investigators have disclosed the fact that within what is now this state were at least two previous settlements, one of of which was that made by the French officer on the island of which we write. And it is believed that the first white civilized visitor to the island was Samuel de Champlain, the adventurous French navigator who sailed up the lake during the year 1609 on a voyage of discovery in the then new and unknown country. There is nothing tending to show that Champlain did more than visit the isle and other places farther south, but he paved the way for after settlement and the French occu- pation and possession, which was finally terminated by the fortunes of war in 1763.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
But prior to the overthrow of the French power in America the rep- resentatives of the country or nation then in possession of the region had made considerable grants of what we call towns, which were by the French themselves called seigniories, and which grants included the greater portion of the lands lying on both sides of the lake and also the islands; and while an ancient French map discloses the names of the several persons to whom the seigniories were granted, and the extent and boundaries of the grants as well, there does not appear any evidence to show that this island was specifically granted other than has been inferred that it was a part of the possessions of Captain La Mothe, for whom the island was named, though by common consent the name is changed and accepted as La Motte. But it cannot become important for this chap- ter to present these ancient events at much length, for the French grants in the region were generally set aside and nullified by the conquering power, and after the year 1763, by the terms of the treaty, were ceded to the British government and treated thereafter, and until the estab- lishment of the western boundary of Vermont, as a part and parcel of the province of New York. But if the reader will turn to the early chapters of this volume the fact will appear that, notwithstanding the claim of jurisdiction made by New York, the authorities of the separate jurisdiction, the so-called New Hampshire Grants, also claimed the right of authority over the same district of territory, and in pursuance of that claim, and for the purpose of procuring funds wherewith to manage their government and prosecute the war then in progress against Great Brit- ain, made grants of towns in much the same manner as did New Hamp- shire, one of which grants, made the 27th of October, 1779, brought into existence the town of Isle La Motte.
The town of Isle La Motte was granted under and in pursuance of a petition presented to the Governor and Council and General Assembly of Vermont by Benjamin Wait, sheriff of the county of Cumberland, and others, his associates. The matter was first presented for the consider- ation of the authorities of the state at the session holden at Manchester, on the 26th of October, 1779, and at that time the Governor and Coun- cil recommended to the Assembly that they "proceed as soon as may be and grant to Major Benjamin Wait and his associates the Isle of Mott, agreeable to his petition." On the next day, the 27th, the Assembly
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TOWN OF ISLE LA MOTTE.
resolved to grant, among other towns, one to "Major Benjamin Wait and his associates, the Isle of Mott, agreeable to his petition." The proceed- ings of the state authorities disclose nothing bearing upon the amount of consideration money or other valuable thing or service paid for the grant of this island, but the records do show, inferentially at least, that there was an interruption of the proceedings in some particular, for on the IIth of November, 1779, the Governor and Council " resolved to grant to Major Benjamin Wait and ninety-four others, his associates, 8,000 acres of land on the Isle Mott in Lake Champlain, including three public rights. Beginning at the south end thereof and extending so far northward as to contain the aforesaid quantity of 8,000 acres." And further it was resolved " that the said grant be made out on condition that the proprietors pay to the committee appointed for that purpose on or before the 10th day of January next £36 on each grantee's right or share."
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