USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Morristown > History of Morristown, Vermont > Part 24
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The local newspaper of December, 1881, contains an item to the effect that the first specimen of pulp was run off at the pulp mill which, under the management of the Lamoille Valley Pulp Co., did a good business for some years. This plant was taken over by the National Fibre Board Co. about 1890, and for several years was one of the leading industries in town. The fibre board was made from the screenings of pulp mills. The material was ground in the basement of the three-story building and pressed into the desired thickness; on the second floor the sheets were cut into boot and shoe counters and on the third floor was the drying room. The main office of the company was in Boston, with plants in different parts of the country and most of the time Mr. H. M. Gordon was their local manager. The factory was located at the junction of the Boardman Brook and the Lamoille River near the site now occupied by the power house, and was destroyed by fire.
The manufacture of monuments, headstones and cemetery memorials of all kinds has been carried on in town for a long period of years. Among the early dealers were Josiah Trow, E. E. Foster, and W. W. Pike, while at present F. M. Ober & Son handle this line of work, and set and letter monuments. In addition to this, granite sheds have operated here many years. The first sheds were built in 1895, with Mr. John Brechin of Barre as manager, and the company was known as the Arnold Granite Co. Later they were taken over by Stearns & Daniels, who moved here from Hardwick and employed a considerable force. They in turn gave place to Mould & Davis, and in 1908 Mr. F. M. Mould bought out his partner, and the business was carried on by him alone.
In 1911 another granite shed was built near the rail- road track on Waban Avenue by the Wallace Brothers, Robert, William and George, who moved here from Hard- wick, and for nearly twenty years they had one of the largest payrolls in town. One by one these brothers died, Robert being the last survivor, and in the depression of 1929 these sheds were closed down.
As has been noted, the tanning industry was connected with the earliest history of the town, but in pioneer days it was only a local market that was supplied. In 1889 the business was reopened on a larger scale when Messrs. Edward Webster and C. H. A. Stafford of Stowe came here and built north of the station in the bow of the river a
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plant which has since been one of the most stable indus- tries of the town. In 1900 this firm sold out to Mr. Charles Warren of Waterbury, with whom were associated H. C. Fisk and C. H. Slocum, and the firm name continued to be the Warren Leather Co., even after Mr. Warren with- drew and Mr. Slocum became the manager. Later the business was sold to a group of men from Worcester, Mass., with Mr. J. G. Parks of that city as manager. For many years the firm specialized in the manufacture of leather for harness. When the demand for that declined, they made leather for belting and the lacings of belts which was shipped in the rough to Worcester, Mass. This
plant was badly damaged by the flood which was later followed by the depression so that it suspended operations, and in December, 1932, the property was sold at public auction to a New York firm who operate under the name of the Vermont Tanning Corporation. At a special town meeting, called early in 1933, the business was exempted from taxation for a period of years, and then the buildings were repaired and business resumed.
The oldest business in town which has been carried on at the same place is that of the Morrisville Foundry Co. Soon after the coming of the railroad was an assured fact, in 1872, Mr. E. B. Merriam erected a building near the proposed site of the road to house a small foun- dry business. Mr. H. H. Morgan became proprietor of it in 1874, and different ones managed it until 1889 when the property was bought by a group of men incorporated as the Morrisville Foundry Co., of which Hon. George W. Hendee was the president.
In 1893 the company engaged as foreman Mr. Chan- ning B. Greene, who came from St. Albans, where he had been employed in the shops of the Central Vermont Rail- road. Mr. Greene was not only a practical workman, he also had a great deal of inventive genius. His brother, C. Porter Greene, is a skilled pattern maker and a son, Morris, succeeded his father as manager. The foundry proper is only a part of their work, as jobbing and general repair work is done for a large section of northern Ver- mont, while plows and drag saw rigs are among their regu- lar products; and novelty lathes, shoe last lathes, machines for making clothes pins and many others are made. One of their most ingenious pieces of work was the dome of the astronomical observatory, the gift of Mr. George G. Grout to the town in 1930.
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Many of the industries of Morrisville center around the timber supply of this and surrounding towns and among the concerns of this character is the G. A. Morse Lumber Co. Mr. G. A. Morse, the founder of the com- pany, came to Morrisville to reside in 1893, and at that time had mills located in Wolcott, Elmore and other towns. In 1907 he established his hardwood dressing mill here that furnishes a product which the firm ships to all parts of New England.
Another industry dependent upon the hardwood sup- ply is the manufacture of veneer or plywood. The local plant was built by C. H. A. Stafford & Sons, but was bought by the Atlas Plywood Co. in 1925 and is one of the many units operated by this company in New England and in the South. All kinds of hardwood are used in making the plywood packing cases which are used for shipping textiles, radios, and heavy articles like refrigerators, pianos, etc. When operated at capacity, this firm has employed the largest force of any industry in town.
Another woodworking industry is the last block fac- tory of C. H. A. Stafford & Sons, which was built on Wabun Avenue in 1917. For a time this firm owned and operated a similar factory in Bristol, and their business connections extend beyond the limits of the United States.
Other shops, dependent in part upon the waste products of these larger establishments, have been main- tained which have manufactured novelties and small wooden utensils, such as bread boards, rolling pins, towel racks, etc.
The chief industry in this section of Vermont has always been agriculture with dairying its main factor. For many years each farmer kept his herd, for which he raised his grain, set his milk in pans, skimmed off the cream which he churned into butter, and used the skimmed milk for feeding his stock. The quality of the butter produced depended upon the individual maker. But the business of dairying has been revolutionized. The introduction of the silo and more scientific methods of feeding, of the milk separator, and of the milking machines were all significant steps, but the greatest change has been the coming of the creamery.
Hood and Whiting, both leading factors in the distri- bution of milk in Boston as well as local men began in the early 90's to maintain plants here for manufacturing butter
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and cheese and pasteurizing milk. Among the resident firms were C. H. A. Stafford & Sons and H. Waite & Sons.
The largest factor is the United Farmers' Cooperative Creamery Association, Inc., which was established in 1920. It began in a small way with 200 patrons doing a business of less than $100,000, which has grown to one of more than $3,000,000 and 1,900 patrons. While the main plant is here and the business is done through the local office, it has plants in Wolcott, Johnson, Hardwick, and Troy, and in March, 1933, the stockholders of the Franklin County Cooperative Creamery voted to join it. The enterprise began in a small inconvenient building, but it now owns a modern plant equipped with all modern devices while three tank cars each with a capacity of 6,000 gallons transports its milk to Boston and a plant at Charlestown, Mass., looks after the marketing. Thus it has become a real factor in the milk, cream, and ice cream business of New England.
The town has always been generous in exempting new industries from taxation and the very low rates for elec- tric power and for water are two factors making Morris- ville a desirable place in which to locate manufacturing plants.
So gradually do changes come in the life of a com- munity that it is only by surveying a period of years that they become apparent. Of the business firms now operat- ing here most of them are comparatively recent.
The firm of H. A. Slayton & Co. was in the feed and grain business more than fifty years ago and is the oldest enterprise doing business under the same name. In this case the son, A. H. Slayton, has succeeded his father, now deceased, as manager of the firm.
The Munson Store has been operating since the late 80's with the son, Levi, succeeding his father, Harlan P. Munson.
The next oldest business house is that of H. Waite & Sons, whose founder, Mr. Henry Waite, came to Morris- ville in the late 80's and first ran a bakery, then he opened a grocery store to which he added a wholesale produce business. Before his death, one son, Arthur, took over the grocery department, while the second son, Jesse A., remained with his father in the produce business, which is continued under the old firm name.
The Campbell Jewelry Store still retains the original
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name, although it has passed entirely out of the hands of the family which managed it so successfully for more than a quarter of a century.
At one period in its history, Morristown was known throughout the state and well beyond its borders because of the trotting horses which were trained here in the Utton Stables. In 1871 the Utton brothers, John and Thomas, came here from Worcester, Vt., purchased adja- cent lots on Maple Street, then containing only a few dwellings, and built their homes and large barns for the accommodation of the handsome blooded horses which were brought here from all parts of New England for training. At times twenty to twenty-five trotters were handled by these men and their assistants and made the circuit of Vermont Fairs and of races outside the state. While the stables were supported largely by outside patronage, there was much interest in blooded horses among residents of the town. Ex-Gov. G. W. Hendee, after the press of public duties allowed, pursued the raising of fine carriage horses, especially of the Morgan breed, as a hobby and at one time Charles R. Page, for some years the owner of the Malvern Stock Farm, was engaged in raising them and built a race track on the level field in front of his residence for their training.
Another horse lover of the 80's was James M. Joslyn. While running a grocery store was his business, the keep- ing of blooded horses was his avocation.
John Utton usually drove the trotters until he was thrown from his sulky while racing on the local fairground, and fractured one hip, which practically ended his career as a driver, though he recovered enough to train young horses. Later both brothers died and John's son, William, moved to Barton, Vt., where he still carries on his father's calling.
That the stables had more than local reputation is shown by items such as the following taken from the "News and Citizen" of August, 1883: "The horse, George C., owned by Utton and Clark, has been sold to Philadelphia parties for $1,300." Some idea of the range of their clientele can be gained by a survey of their stables in the spring of 1897. At the beginning of the season the string included two belonging to Governor Hendee of this place, three owned by H. R. C. Watson of the Forest Park Farm, Brandon; three belonging to Thomas A. Lake
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of Rockville, Conn .; two of H. H. Peck's of Waterbury, Conn .; one of A. P. Wheelock's of Boston; one owned by G. L. Clark of Hartford, Conn .; and one owned by E. F. Carpenter of Ramsay, N. J. Many of them already had fast records to their credit.
The Smalleys, E. A. and H. A., father and son, are among the men who have maintained an interest in racing and the names of Utton and Smalley have been given to two of the stakes at the local fair. In 1929, after the death of Mr. E. A. Smalley, his son, Herbert, donated a silver cup to be presented to the winner of the Smalley stakes at this annual event.
Thus they and Dr. A. M. Goddard, C. H. A. Stafford & Sons, and W. C. Tripp, who also trains horses, and a few others have carried on the traditions of the town in this respect, even though the automobile has so largely sup- planted the horse.
CHAPTER XVIII MORRISTOWN IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS
TT is a well known fact that the majority of the coun- 1 try's leaders in the business and political worlds have come from the smaller centers of population. A survey of the men who have gone from Morristown into different fields of activity indicates that the town has fur- nished its quota; in fact, it is doubtful if many places of less than 3,000 inhabitants have sent three of their residents to Congress.
The first of these men to represent the town and state in the broader field of national politics was George Whit- man Hendee, who was born in Stowe, Vt., in 1832, the son of Jehial P. and Rebecca (Ferrin) Hendee. His father tried to supplement his meager salary as minister by pub- lishing the first paper in Lamoille County, the "Christian Luminary," a short lived periodical; and it was necessary for the boy to work on a farm and later to teach school in order to obtain his education. After the removal of the family to Morrisville, the son attended Peoples Academy, and then went to study law in the office of his uncle, W. G. Ferrin, of Johnson, and afterwards completed his studies with Thomas Gleed of Morrisville.
The year 1855 marked his admission to the Lamoille County Bar and his marriage to Melissa Redding, who died six years later. He began to practice his profession at Waterville, but in the spring of 1858 moved to Morris- ville, became a partner of Thomas Gleed, and entered upon his political career by being elected state's attorney. He also represented Morristown in the Legislature in 1861 and 1862. During the Civil War he was deputy provost marshal, and after a warmly contested election was chosen senator from Lamoille County in 1866. He was unani- mously elected president pro tem of the Senate and his election as lieutenant-governor in 1869 was a natural con- sequence of his service in the Senate. A contemporary,
writing of him, said: "Nature had anointed him a pre- siding officer." Upon the death of Gov. Peter T. Wash- burn, in February, 1870, Mr. Hendee took the oath of office as governor, thus gaining the title by which he was com- monly known the rest of his life. In less than a month
GEORGE WHITMAN HENDEE
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he was seriously ill of lung fever, and for a time it looked as though the state would face an unprecedented condition so far as its chief executive was concerned. However, Governor Hendee lived to complete his term, and did it so acceptably that he was a prominent candidate to succeed himself, but he withdrew his name in the interests of party harmony. Political gossip said he had his eye on a larger stake, that of representative from the Third District, but he refused to be considered for that office, preferring to wait until he had united party support.
In 1873 he was elected representative to Congress by a good majority, succeeding Worthington C. Smith. For three terms, from 1873 to 1879, he served at Washington, where he had the reputation of being a hard working, conscientious congressman. He was a member of the committee on private land claims and the District of Columbia, and was instrumental in drafting and securing the passage of a bill changing the form of government of the district.
After his return from Washington, he was national bank examiner for six years; and, although he continued to maintain his law office, having entered into partnership with his half-brother, H. C. Fisk, in 1877, business claimed more and more of his attention. He had been one of the prime movers in securing a railroad through the Lamoille Valley and the stiffest local opposition for office that he ever received was due to differences of opinion in regard to building the Portland & Ogdensburg, now the St. Johns- bury & Lake Champlain road, of which he naturally became a director. For many years he was president of the Montreal, Portland & Boston Railroad of Canada. He
was closely identified with the Union Savings Bank & Trust Co., having been a director from its establishment, its vice-president, and for the last nine years of his life its president. He loved a good horse and during his later years owned many and this interest doubtless led him to give freely of his time and thought to the affairs of the Lamoille Valley Fairground Association, of which he was president more than a quarter of a century.
After the death of his first wife he married Viola S. Bundy in 1863, who shared his success until her death in 1901. On January 10, 1906, he married Mary Watts of Stowe, but in less than a year's time he died, thus removing one who for nearly half a century was a familiar and honored figure here.
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It has been said of him that, "As an advocate at the bar he had but few equals in the state, but his great good nature so overcame his lawyer's natural craving for popu- larity and pelf that his clients were frequently brought to a compromise advantageous to themselves and honorable to their attorney." He was an impressive looking man, tall and portly, but the kindliness of his manner dispelled any diffidence which he might naturally have inspired. The much abused word genial accurately described him.
HORACE HENRY POWERS
Another man destined to be known beyond the borders of his native state was Horace Henry Powers, born on May 29, 1835. His father, Horace Powers, was that most useful citizen, a country doctor, who had also served the community in various public offices after coming here from New Hampshire with his young wife, Love E. Gilman.
The son, H. Henry, was given the best educational advantages which were available, studying at Peoples Academy and then entering the University of Vermont, from which he was graduated in the class of 1855, a class which contained an unusually high percentage of young men who were highly successful in various walks of life. Among them were Charles Heath and Benjamin F. Fifield, well known Vermont lawyers; Benjamin L. Benedict, clerk of the United States Circuit Court and United States com- missioner more than twenty years; Moses Parmalee, well known missionary to Turkey, and author; C. Liberty Goodell, a clergyman of national reputation; Norman Williams, Chicago lawyer, first president of Crerar Library and known to Vermonters through his gifts of the Norman Williams Library at Woodstock, Vt., and the Williams Science Building at the University of Vermont.
After graduation Mr. Powers taught for a few months at Huntington, Canada, and then became the first prin- cipal of Lamoille Central Academy at Hyde Park. He was at the same time carrying on the study of law, at first under the direction of Thomas Gleed of Morrisville and later in the office of Child & Ferrin of Hyde Park. The year 1858 marked his admission to the Lamoille County Bar, his marriage to Miss Caroline Waterman of Cadys Falls, and his election. to the General Assembly from
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Hyde Park, where he was the youngest member of that body. In 1861-1862 he served as state's attorney and in the latter year he entered into partnership with P. K. Gleed at Morrisville, forming a firm which soon gained an enviable reputation throughout northern Vermont. In 1869 he was one of the twelve men composing the thirteenth and last Council of Censors, a body which was at that time peculiar to this state. The year following he was a member of the Constitutional Convention, being chairman in the committee of the whole of that body. Among the changes made by this body was the abolition of the Council of Censors and the adoption of biennial elec- tions. In 1872 he was senator from Lamoille County and two years later represented Morristown in the General Assembly and was elected speaker, serving as such until his election to the Supreme Court Bench. He held this position until his election to Congress in 1890.
On his career as lawyer and judge the following com- ment is taken from Crockett's "History of Vermont":
"In the practice of his profession Judge Powers took high rank, and the firm to which he belonged was one of the leading ones in northern Vermont. Judge Powers had unusual grace and power as an advocate; he possessed a wealth of wit and sarcasm; was well equipped in the law, and had a personality that was winning. He was a hand- some man, and would attract attention in any public gathering. Besides these elements of advantage, he had good business judgment, and an assurance that made him fearless on the firing line. He inspired his clients with confidence, and knew how to acquire and hold an extensive clientage. In the legislative duties which he performed he was naturally in places of leadership, and commanded attention and respect whenever he spoke. His speeches in political campaigns were careful and convincing presenta- tions of the issues that were before the public.
"When he came to the bench in 1874, he was at the right age, and had had the right preparation in every way for a useful career as judge. His studies and his prac- tice had qualified him for the service, and his temperament was ideal for the discharge of his duties. He looked the judge in every way, and this lent not a little to his charm as a presiding officer. He was personally an attractive and interesting man, and it is natural that he should have enjoyed the confidence and warm personal friendship of the bar. .
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"In the Supreme Court he wrote opinions in 161
cases. These are his permanent monument. They show clear thinking, careful examination of authorities, good reasoning and simplicity and beauty of diction. In his capacity for direct statement in plain and perspicuous terms he was exceptionally happy. His personality was such that his influence was bound to be felt strongly whether he sat around the counsel table as an attorney, or with the judges in chambers. He saw a point quicker than most others and led for the adoption of his views with a great deal of insistence."
Previous to Judge Powers' election in 1890, he had received scattering votes for the office of both United States senator and representative, but he had declined to be a candidate. So when he did enter the contest, he was nominated without opposition. He was early appointed a member of the judiciary committee, a position which his experience made him particularly well qualified to fill. In
the Fifty-Fourth Congress he was chairman of the com- mittee on Pacific railroads. No question came before that session that involved more money than this one. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads at the time of their construction had not only received large land grants, but also subsidies ranging from $16,000 to $48,000 per mile. In spite of the assistance given, the roads were at this time unable to pay the $190,000,000 owed, and there were many difficult legal problems involved. Yet. the help of the roads in developing the country had enriched the government far more than the amount at stake, and justice demanded the consideration of all these factors.
The "Louisville Courier Journal," in January, 1895. commenting on Congress and its activities, gives the fol- lowing pen picture of Vermont's representative from the First District:
"He is typical of the state that gave Thad Stevens to Pennsylvania, Stephen A. Douglas to Illinois and Matt Carpenter to Wisconsin. He is one of the few men in public life who has attained a distinguished position in the national councils without uttering a word calculated to ruffle the feelings of a political opponent. His speech in support of the Sibley claim, a southern war claim, gave him the heart of every southern congressman, as all his utterances had commanded their respect. He is a man of massive head and frame -- one of the handsomest men
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in Congress .. It is a great pity that there are not more statesmen like him."
After five terms in Congress, he had enjoyed a longer term in that body than has usually been given the repre- sentative from this state, and he was defeated in one of the most exciting campaigns and conventions ever held in Vermont, being succeeded by D. J. Foster of Burlington. After his retirement to private life, he resumed the prac- tice of law and acted as counsel for the Rutland Railroad for several years.
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