USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Ira > History of Ira, Vermont > Part 3
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Buel Parker was shortly succeeded as leader by Samuel Seff, who gave further instruction until Charles W. Ellis joined the band. Mr. Ellis soon became expert upon most of the instruments used by the others, and was later chosen leader, holding that position until, several of the members having died or left town, the band was disbanded. During the time the or- ganization existed it was frequently called to furnish music at memorial services and fairs held in adjoining towns.
Willie Whitmore's was the first death, in 1896, followed by that of Burt Lincoln in 1897, and George Curtiss and the brothers, Fred and Arthur White, died a few years later. George Curtiss was taken sick in 1900, while attending the Legislature at Montpelier as representative from Ira, and lived but a few days after returning home.
Daniel F. Coombs served in the Spanish-American war, and after his discharge from the army with impaired health, removed to Culver City, Cal., where his health has greatly im- proved and he has prospered greatly in the business of con- tractor and builder in that marvelously growing city.
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
IRA VALLEY GRANGE
The Ira Valley Grange was organized in March, 1905, by Governor C. J. Bell, at that time Master of Vermont State Grange, assisted by Mrs. L. R. Burr of Clarendon. There were 69 charter members and the following list of officers :
Master-S. L. Peck. Overseer-C. C. Cramton. Secretary-Daniel F. Coombs.
Lecturer-Walter C. Perry.
Chaplain-Rev. T. Ellis Jones. Gate Keeper-E. S. Merithew. Steward-Herbert Tower.
Assistant Steward-Cyrus Cramton.
Ceres-Mrs. S. H. Mitchell.
Pomona-Mrs. George Fish.
Flora-Mrs. Della Fish. Treasurer-Mrs. Dolly Curtiss.
Lady Assistant Steward-Miss Grace Lincoln.
Of this list the Treasurer has served continuously until the present time, and the Master also, with the exception of one year.
Since its organization the following charter officers have been called away by death :
Governor C. J. Bell, the organizer
C. C. Cramton, Overseer Rev. T. Ellis Jones, Chaplain Herbert Tower, Steward
The Grange now numbers about 100 members and seems to be doing efficient work along the lines of labor for which the organization was designed.
IRA BAPTIST CHURCH
According to the "History of the Baptist Church of Ira, Vermont," the Founder appears to have been Rev. Thomas Skeels, who had preached in this part of the state, and in this town occasionally, and who in 1783, gathered together a little company of believers, and formed a Church, he being elected Pastor, Cephas Carpenter, Clerk; and Reubin Baker, Deacon.
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
From the records of the times, it is now impossible to determine just how many, and who would be considered "Charter mem- bers," as churches are now organized, but the membership list shows forty-two members received during the first three years, 1783-1785.
For some years after the church was started, the people gathered in private houses, for worship, and the Church records
REV. GEORGE HI. WATT, 1895-6
REV. T. ELLIS JONES, 1904
TWO OF IRA'S PASTORS (See others in History of Baptist Church of Ira, Vermont)
of the times do not mention the building of the first church, or what was called for many years the "Meeting house." This was the brick building now standing on the common and often called the Town Hall, or Grange Hall. It was erected about 1800.
The present church building was erected in 1852 or 1854. No record has been found either in the church clerk's book, or elsewhere as to the exact date, but some of the older people who have long since passed away set the date at 1852, and we are of the opinion that this earlier date may be correct. At any rate, a deed for the land upon which it stands, given to the Ira Bap- tist Church Association by Rollin C. Hunter, who at that time
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
owned the farm now belonging to the C. C. Cramton Estate, bore date of December 13, 1851. Nathan Winn of Wallingford was the architect who supervised its construction, and Bradley Fish, John Mason and Leonard Mason were the Building Com- mittee. The cost was about $2,000.00.
A choir gallery was originally installed in the end of this church opposite the pulpit, but inasmuch as the audience had to turn around in order to view the choir while they were singing there was a good deal of criticism and the gallery was parti- tioned off and the choir located at the left of the pulpit in full view of the audience. This change was made some forty years ago. The original system of warming the building was with two large stoves, one on either side near the inside doors, but modern ideas again prevailed, and about 1900 a furnace was installed and the stoves removed. About the same time the old windows were removed and memorial windows were installed in memory of some of the older and more active of the member- ship during the earlier years of the church's activities, most of whom had already passed away.
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
REMINISCENCES OF IRA PEOPLE
Ira is pre-eminently a farming town at the present date, but she has sent out into the world several men who have made their mark in life, and has never produced a capital criminal- nor a candidate for state's prison.
Joseph Tower, First, came to Ira in an early day and set- tled upon the farm now owned by Dexter D. Day. He built a kiln and engaged in burning lime, as did also his son Joseph, and the industry has continued to the present time, although the scarcity and high cost of man power has curtailed the output to a considerable extent. The Tower family, in that early day, was a large one: Ruth, born February 20, 1776; Ellennor, September 8, 1779; Elizabeth, March 3, 1781; Lydia, July 9, 1783; Mason, July 25, 1785; Deborah, September 23, 1789 ; Lucy, September 21, 1797; Amos, February 21, 1799 ; Edmund, Decem- ber 15, 1800; Althedy, January 17, 1803; Ithamore, November 15, 1804; and Henry, November 26, 1805.
The Giddings family settled in West Clarendon in the part set off to Ira in 1854. They were people of considerable influence in that part of the town largely owned by the Lincoln brothers, Grant and George. Some of the family owned the farm where O. D. Young formerly lived, and many of the children were born there. They sold the farm to the Lincolns and removed to Castleton nearly 40 years ago.
Nicholas Montgomery Powers, son of Richard Montgomery Powers, born in Pittsford, August 30, 1817, married Lorette, daughter of Russell Fish of Ira, and settled in Ira. He owned the farm lately held by Gilman Gilmore, now deceased. In 1858 he sold this Ira farm and removed to Clarendon, where several of his family still reside.
Mr. Powers entered upon mechanical pursuits very early and became a successful bridge builder. He constructed several complicated bridges on the leading railway lines of the country, among them the celebrated bridge over the Susquehannah River from Perryville to Havre de Grace, Md. He also designed and built the longest single-span wooden bridge in the world, sit- uated at Blenheim, N. Y.
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
Joseph Chapman, First, was an early resident of Ira, living here about 1830 or earlier. In 1851 he sold the farm later owned by N. M. Powers and Gilman Gilmore and removed to West Clarendon, where he died. Mr. Chapman was known as an upright, dependable citizen, ready to maintain his honest convictions, and inflexible in refusing to yield where yielding would compromise his ideas of what was exactly right. One of his daughters, Marcia, married Enos C. Fish, whose son, Enos C. Fish, Jr., was late Sheriff of Rutland County.
ENOS C. FISH Father of Sheriff Enos C. Fish
JAMES C. BROWN Born 1819, died 1905
TWO OF IRA'S STRONG MEN
Enos C. Fish, Sr., and James C. Brown, stone mason by trade, were known as the strongest men ever raised in Ira. The senior Fish, with Willard Ross and Jeremiah Thornton, formed the board of selectmen that engineered the affairs of the town during the trying period of the Civil War.
Welcome Cole came to Ira from Scituate, R. I., about the year 1800. He was an early emigrant from England, a land surveyor by profession, and the Ira land records attest his fre- quent employment by interested owners in the adjustment of farm lines. He was equally skillful as a carpenter and joiner.
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
The Thornton name meant much to the people of North Ira, so-called, for they accumulated large holdings of real estate back of and below Bird Mountain and for some time had their own flocks of a thousand sheep or more. During some of those years wool was worth one dollar per pound. Jeremiah Thorn- ton, who served the town as a selectman during the Civil War, won no small distinction in securing recruits from Ira for the army. Though he was unable to look after his affairs for some years before his death, May 26, 1909, his large landed properties
1
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE CHARLES C. CRAMTON
were kept intact through the careful management and foresight of his wife, Phoebe Wing, a daughter of Captain Daniel Wing, late of West Rutland.
Although not to be classed as an early settler, Henry White, born about 1815 and always living in Ira, could safely be rated as one of its most respected citizens. His son, Elbert L. White, held the confidence of his townsmen to the extent that he was chosen selectman by the voters for sixteen years. Elbert L. White died September 15, 1917.
Among those whom the writer remembers as active in the local affairs of the town, social, political or religious, were the two Cramton brothers, Charles C. and William L., both of whom came to town from Tinmouth in early manhood, married
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
Ira women, and were from the first identified with the social and economic interests of the town.
The three Fish brothers, Lester 2nd, Leonard and Lyman W., sons of Lester and Eunice (Newton) Fish, born in Ira, were all pronounced leaders in the social and religious work of the church, and I need scarcely add that their wives gave them hearty support therein. Lyman W. served the Baptist Church as deacon for 60 years, accumulated a handsome property, but, better than that, the veneration and high esteem of all those
RESIDENCE OF ELLIS H. CRAMTON Son of William L. Cramton
who knew him best. Both Leonard and Lester Fish were for many years closely identified with Rutland County Agricultural Society either as officials or patrons and produced some of the finest road and driving horses shown upon the grounds at the annual exhibits.
The two Day brothers, Ardin E. and Leonard W., came to town about the year 1872 and bought of J. P. Giddings the old Tower farm, now owned by D. D. Day. Their wives were sisters, daughters of Amos Wetmore of North Ira, so-called, and the four made a strong team of workers in any social or religious movement in the community.
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
I cannot fail to speak of Smith Johnson, a leader of the choir in Ira Baptist church for many years, and his wife, who met a tragic death in West Rutland, leaping from the wagon when the horse she was driving became frightened; of Cornelius Lincoln, and his wife, Clara (Wilkinson) Lincoln, who lived to great age, Mr. Lincoln past 90 years; of John Mason, who served the Baptist church as deacon for nearly 40 years, and the town as town clerk for nearly as long, whose records, nicely written and neatly kept, are silent testimonials to the value
THE OLD TOWER HOMESTEAD Built by Joseph Tower, 1st, about 1810, Now owned by Dexter D. Day
he placed upon these systematic records of inestimable value to every landholder in Ira; of Leonard Mason, an early deacon of the Ira church, and his son Leonard F., who followed him in the same sacred office, and departed this life before he reached fifty years of age, and at whose grave was as large a con- course of mourning friends as was ever seen in Ira; of Willaid Ross, who was sorely missed when many years ago he sold the farm now owned by W. C. Perry, retired from active labor and removed to West Rutland; of Bradley Fish, who as farmer and
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
financier accumulated a property inventoried at the time of his death at about $120,000, and for many years a town official, serving as town clerk from 1861 until 1882; of his brothers, Daniel and Russell Fish, who endowed Ira Baptist church with generous sums of money, Daniel with $2,000 and Russell with $500. They were both members of the church when young men, and Russell up to the day of his death. Daniel removed to Lansingburg, N. Y., early in life, and at the time of his death was reputed to be worth a quarter of a million. He died child-
LEWIS PECK Father of the Author
less, and his relatives in Ira were aided materially by his econ- omy. Others worthy of mention are Joseph Tower, father and son, of the locality still called "Tower Hill," and the Carpenters, Wilson and Cephas, of whom Cephas was town clerk for several years in the early days of the town. The Cephas Carpenter homestead, built in 1786, was thoroughly repaired by Enos C. Fish, Sr., who lived there forty years, dying in 1888.
These good citizens, most of them within the distinct recol- lection of the writer, with many others that time and space forbid mentioning, lived lives of usefulness and passed to the
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
great beyond. Their memory remains green and fragrant in the recollection of those who survive them.
The founder of the Peck family in Ira was Noah Peck, who was born at Barrington, R. I., in 1765, and emigrated to West Clarendon (now Ira) in 1786. Noah Peck was twice married, first to Aura Spencer, by whom he had seven children, Mary born 1794, David 1795, Aura 1797, Hannah 1799, Betsey 1803, Noah 1807, and Sarah 1809. On the death of Aura, Noah Peck mar- ried Mehitable Yeaw, and had three sons by her, Lewis born 1813 and Alphonzo born 1817, and Daniel, the youngest. Noah Peck died August 19, 1842, aged 77 years. His son Lewis it was, that continued to reside on the farm that had been redeemed from the forest, in the old house now occupied by his son, S. L. Peck, writer of this book. Alphonzo, the next son, was blind for forty years.
CHIPPENHOOK CEMETERY Grave of Noah Peck, died 1837, and of his son Alphonzo
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
SHERIFF ENOS C. FISH
Probably no man in Rutland County has ever been instru- mental in serving legal papers, in both civil and criminal suits, over a longer term of years than Enos C. Fish, late of West Rutland, and late Sheriff of Rutland County. He was elected to the office of First Constable in the town of Ira in 1862, and was continuously on that branch of service for sixty years, as Constable, Deputy Sheriff, and High Sheriff. He was first
SHERIFF E. C. FISII Late of West Rutland, Vt., died 1922
appointed Deputy Sheriff, under William M. Field, on March 12, 1877. This appointment ran until December 1, 1878, when Daniel P. Peabody was elected Sheriff, and he was re-appointed on that date by Mr. Peabody. He was re-appointed a deputy every two years from that time until Mr. Peabody's death, when he was appointed Sheriff by Gov. Bell, on December 16, 1905. He was elected and re-elected Sheriff at each succeeding election, until, by reason of advanced age, he refused to accept the office, and Mr. Adams was elected and qualified on February 1, 1919.
Enos C. Fish was born in Ira September 11, 1836, on the farm now owned by George W. Fish, a half-brother. He was
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
son of Enos C. Fish, and grandson of Preserved Fish, an early settler in Ira, who accumulated an independent property and reared a family of ten sons and one daughter, all but one of whom grew to maturity, and most of whom became people of prominence. He grew up on his father's farm in Ira and attended the district schools of that early day. He also attended high school there for a time under the guidance of Philip Emer- son, later U. S. District Judge, if we recall correctly, in the Territory of Utah. Mr. Fish married for his first wife Miss Clarissa Peck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Peck of Ira, and had one daughter, Helen, who died in her young womanhood. Two years after the death of his first wife, he married Frances (Peck) Freeman, daughter of Frederick and Viola Freeman of West Rutland. Not long after, he rented his farm in Ira and removed to West Rutland, where he resided on Clarendon Avenue until his death, May 9, 1922, at the age of 86 years.
Mr. Fish was ambitious to become Sheriff of Rutland County, a goal which he gained with unexpected suddenness.
Sheriff Daniel P. Peabody met his death by accident in the Rutland depot in 1905, and the office of Sheriff of the County became vacant. The Vermont State Grange was in session at Montpelier at the time, and as soon as the news of the death of Sheriff Peabody reached the Capital a petition was drawn up and signed by the masters of every subordinate Grange from Rutland County present at that meeting asking Gov. Charles J. Bell to appoint Mr. Fish to succeed him. Governor Bell, who at that time was also Master of the Vermont State Grange, assured his petitioners that he would be glad to consider the petition favorably. Two days later a similar petition, signed by the bar of Rutland County, was received by the Governor, and the commission to that office was soon sent to Mr. Fish, and he at once assumed the duties of the office. When Henry R. Adams was elected Sheriff many years later, he immediately appointed Mr. Fish a Deputy, presumably as a compliment, and in order to be able to draw upon his experience during the many years he had served in the office. He continued to fill the office of Deputy up to the time of his death, in 1922.
Mr. Fish was a member of Marble Valley and Killington Pomona Grange, a Knight Templar, a member of Hiram Lodge,
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
F. & A. M. of West Rutland, and of Vermont Grand Lodge. He was chosen Master of Hiram Lodge several times and took great pride and pleasure in the work of the Masonic order. He was for many years Moderator of the Town Meetings in West Rutland, and as a presiding officer had few equals. He served the town as Representative with credit to himself and his town. Few men reared in Rutland County have led as busy a life over as wide a range of years, as Enos C. Fish, the subject of this sketch.
i
SAWMILL AT IRA, OWNED BY A. E. BUCK AND SON, OF ARLINGTON
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
AS TO THE PROFESSIONS
THE MINISTRY
Ira has never been especially noted for the great number of professional men who have been born within the limits of the town, but the quality has been good. Rev. Reuben Baker and Rev. Austin Mosher, who died many years ago, so far as the record goes, served their day and generation with fidelity and satisfaction to those whom they served. Rev. Alanson Fish died soon after he entered the ministry. The only representative of the clergy now living is Rev. Howard H. White, at present serving a large Baptist church at Lebanon, N. HI. He served several churches in Vermont and was Chaplain of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1902.
THE LAW
The profession of the law had a representative in Hon. Rollin C. Hunter, who was born August 19, 1817. He was admit- ted to Rutland County bar. Owing to natural diffidence or from a born dislike for contention, he never tried to argue a second case in County Court, but was well read and excellent counsel as to the merits of a case. Mr. Hunter went to California during the rush for gold in '49, and secured a reasonable share of the yellow dust, but came back to Ira to marry. He bought the farm now owned by the estate of C. C. Cramton, and toiled there early and late until 1860, when he sold out to Joseph Tower, and removed to Michigan, where he died at Lyon, Ash- land County, November 6, 1881. Other lawyers from Ira were Harrison J. Peck, and Leonard F. Wing of the law firm of Fen- ton, Wing & Morse of the city of Rutland.
Judge Leonard F. Wing was born in Ira November 12, 1893, and educated in the Rutland high school. He quali- fied as a lawyer in the office of George E. Lawrence and served in the World War as judge advocate in a large military camp in a Southern state. Returning to Rutland after the close of the World War, we find him busy winning his way to the confidence and high regard in which he is now held, both as a lawyer and a worthy citizen of the old Green Mountain State. No fears
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
need be entertained as to results in the later lifework of this youthful advocate.
Harrison J. Peck, eldest son of Lewis and Harriet (Brown) Peck, was born in Clarendon (now Ira), November 23, 1838, and educated in the common schools and at Barre Academy ; was graduated from that institution at the spring term in 1861 and expected to enter college at the next regular commencement date, but the Civil War interfered with his plans, as it did with those of many other young men in that eventful period of our
ATTORNEY LEONARD FISH WING Born in Ira, Vt., November 12, 1893, Now of Rutland, Vt.
nation's history. The call of his country could not be turned aside, and together with his younger brother, Charles W. Peck, he enlisted in Co. F, 1st U. S. S. S., Edmund Weston, captain, better known at that time as Col. Berdan's Regiment of Sharp- shooters, and the first of that particular arm of the govern- ment to be recruited for the service. He was with the army of the Potomac and with McClellan in the Peninsula Campaign. After McClellan was relieved from his command, and responsi- bility for further command of the army of the Potomac
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
rested upon the shoulders of Fitz John Porter, the second battle of Bull Run was fought. In this battle Corporal Peck was wounded and sent to the hospital, when, after examination by the hospital staff of surgeons, he was honorably discharged from the service for wounds received August 31, 1862, his discharge bearing date of October 26, 1862.
Returning to his home in Vermont, where care and comfort soon began to restore the disabled and weakened body of him who had given all but his life in defence of his country's
ATTORNEY HARRISON J. PECK Late of Shakopee, Minn. Died in California 1913
flag, he entered the law office of Judge David E. Nicholson, at that time a resident of Wallingford. After a course of reading in that office he took a course of lectures at the Albany Law School, following which he emigrated to Minnesota, enter- ing the office of Judge Luther M. Brown, and commenced his career as a practicing attorney after being admitted to the bar of that young and rapidly developing state.
The confidence of his constituents was expressed by electing him for several terms state's attorney of Scott County and
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
sending him to the state legislature; but politics was not his strong point, as he was accounted one of the best criminal law- yers in the state. Something of his genius with the pen can be seen in the article printed earlier in this history, "How Two Vermont Boys Shot Themselves into the Army."
He practiced his profession in Minnesota about fifty years, and then, his health failing, went to California seeking improve- ment, but the reverse proved to be the result and he died there
DR. CHARLES W. PECK Late of Brandon, Vt., died 1916
February 12, 1913. He is survived by his widow, two daughters and an only son.
His body was taken back to Minnesota and now sleeps in the soil of his adopted state.
We have written this much concerning this typical Vermont boy because so few of his early friends and associates ever get the news that filters through from that distant state.
MEDICINE
Charles W. Peck, second son of Lewis and Harriet (Brown) Peck, was born February 23, 1841, in Clarendon (now Ira), educated in the common schools and high school at Ira, and with his older brother was a student at Barre Academy at the
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HISTORY OF IRA, VERMONT
time of the opening events of the Civil War in 1861. At the close of the spring term at the Academy, he enlisted in Co. F, U. S. Sharp Shooters, with his older brother Harrison, and after the usual and necessary training in camp during the winter of 1862, was sent down the Potomac with the rest of the army under command of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan. to commence the Peninsula Campaign, the objective being the capture of the Rebel capital at Richmond, Va.
Not long after the army reached Fortress Monroe, McClellan sought to feel the Rebel strength in that vicinity and accordingly sent out a reconnoitering force toward Norfolk. The Berdan Sharp Shooters, or at least Co. F, helped to compose that force. They found the Johnnies, as the Rebels were called, and some desultory firing at long range took place. As usual, and thought to be advisable, the Sharp Shooters were at the front skirmish line, when Corporal Charles W. Peck received an ounce of Rebel lead in his leg midway between the knee and ankle. The statement has often been made and never disputed that a Vermont boy furnished the first blood to be shed in that very disappointing campaign under Gen. McClellan. This sent the younger of the Peck boys to the hospital and after a time sent him home to Vermont on furlough, where he spent most of the summer of 1862.
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