USA > Vermont > Orange County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Vermont, from the discovery of the Coos country to present time > Part 27
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Two men, one of whom was a college graduate, were discussing an abstruse point in mathematics. One of them declared that he must be correct because he was told so at college. The other replied, "I am sure I am right, for Simon Carter told me so." "Well," replied the other, "if Simon Carter said so, it must be so."
When there were few books, people read those that they had over and over, and the faculty of memory was more fully cultivated than now. There were several men in Newbury sixty years ago, who could repeat the whole of the New Testament and most of the Old. One of the Renfrews could render the entire Pilgrim's Progress word for word. Some of the Scotch Presbyterians could repeat the Westminister Assembly's Shorter Catechism, questions and answers, and the references. Such men were not easily worsted in argument. Jeremiah Boynton, a farmer well remembered, and a regular attendant at church, would, after his return home, repeat to his wife, an invalid confined to her room and bed, the greater part of both sermons.
When we speak of the schools of those times it must be borne in mind that people were poor, and these schools were the best they could provide. They had only what they could pay for. The era of municipal extravagance had not begun sixty years ago.
The school lands comprise certain lots which were set apart by both charters of the town for religious and educational purposes. These are: One of the eighty-one shares into which the proprietorship of the town was divided, was granted to the Church of England, one to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and one for the benefit of a school. Portions of certain farms on Leighton hill, and others in the north-western corner of the town, comprise these lands. The farm near South Ryegate, once called the Scott place, later "The Hermitage" of Hon. Peter Burbank, and now owned by the heirs of William Nelson, is on the glebe or church lands. These lands formerly paid rent to the Episcopal church, and Hon. C. B. Leslie recalls the fact that in his carly days of practice, he used to carry the rents from Mr. Nelson, to an agent of the Episcopal church at Chelsea. Later a law was passed, not without opposition, which took these revenues from the
-
MIT. LAFAYETTE.
WoonsVILLE.
MOOSILAUKE.
CONNECTICUT VALLEY. WELLS RIVER VILLAGE FROM THE "LEDGE."
WELLS RIVER.
CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
WELLS RIVER LOOKING WEST FROM BACK OF RAILROAD STATION.
THE LEDGE.
239
MONTEBELLO INSTITUTE AND OTHER SCHOOLS.
Episcopal church, and gave them for the support of the schools. These tracts are known as "leased lands," and conveyance of title in them is by lease and not by deed. The income from the school land was $104 in 1899.
These lands have caused the town some trouble from time to time. Sometimes tenants failed to pay the rents, and once or twice there was suspicion that these sums were diverted from the town treasury. In 1827 Asa Tenney was appointed agent for the school lands in town, and such an agent is still annually chosen. The following particulars regarding various schoolhouses are worth preserving :
The first schoolhouse at Wells River was near the upper bridge on the main street. The one which was removed to make way for the present brick building was a one-story building, having two school-rooms.
In the Ox-bow district schoolhouses have stood upon several different sites. For some years the schoolhouse was near Mr. Farnham's house. The present building, now disused for some years, was built in 1851. In 1779, Col. Robert Johnston conveyed land to District No. 4, (the village district) as a site for a schoolhouse. The brick schoolhouse, now used as an office by Horace W. Bailey, Esq., was built in 1839, at a cost of $475.
There was, formerly, a schoolhouse on what is now Mr. Greer's land, near Mr. Kimball's line, on the east side of the road. The one on Rogers hill was built in 1862, and took the place of one standing before 1820. In 1827, a schoolhouse of brick, and of very peculiar internal arrangement, was built at the foot of the hill, below William Putnam's, at West Newbury, taking the place of one which was burned. This building gave way, in 1871, to the one now standing there, for some years disused.
The schoolhouses on Jefferson Hill, at the Lime Kiln and at Boltonville, are elsewhere mentioned. The first one in "Scotch Hollow," now the Center, stood at the top of the hill above Mr. Buchanan's. The second one, on the "school road," was built in the early fifties. The first one on Leighton hill, was a log house, burned in 1847, and stood on the road from the present one to M. B. Abbott's at the top of the long hill. The second one stood on the same site, and was demolished in 1873. The first school in the town house neighborhood was taught in 1823 in the "square room" of William Peach's house, by Adeline Gibson. In 1824 a schoolhouse was built below his house, which was removed about 1845, to the road which goes to Hall's pond, near the main road. In 1850, one was erected near the lily pond, which was in use just fifty years.
In January 1869, the schoolhouse near Mr. John Kendrick's was burned, and a new one built in that year. In the winter of 1862-63, the schoolhouse near Harriman's pond burned so quietly
240
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
one night, as not to be observed by its nearest neighbors, and in the summer following a new one, now disused, was built.
In 1857 schools were held in twenty-one districts in Newbury. In several of these there are not now children enough to make a school, and the few there are sent elsewhere. Two, and in some cases three, districts, have been consolidated, and a new house built which should accommodate all. At present there are twelve schools in town, and there are seven old schoolhouses, either vacant, or turned to other uses.
In 1887, the village district purchased the old seminary building, and began its interior reconstruction. In 1892, the Ox-bow and village districts were made one. In 1893 the town central school was begun, and is a graded school with free tuition to residents of the town. Its principals have been :
Elmer E. French, 1890-93,
Tufts College, Mass.
Fred E. Prichard, 1893-95,
Dartmouth College.
Ethan A. Shaw, 1895-97,
Norwich University; Vt.
Charles L. Orton, 1897-98,
Vermont University.
Gay W. Felton, 1898-90, Geo. D. Osgood, 1900,
Vermont University.
The following is a list of college graduates who were natives of Newbury. It is not assumed that this list is by any means complete, but it includes all the names which could be gathered.
Abbott, George N.
Vermont University, 1849,
Teacher.
Abbott, William T.
Dartmouth, 1882, Lawyer.
Atkinson, Frances M.
Vermont University, 1895,
Librarian.
Bates, Mary E.
Vermont University, 1894,
Librarian.
Bayley, John M.
Unknown, 1816,
Merchant.
Boyce, Nathaniel S.
Michigan University, 1854,
Physician.
Brickett, Harry
Dartmouth, 1840,
Teacher.
Chalmers, Edward E.
Dartmouth, 1887,
Lawyer.
Chamberlain, Remembrance
Middlebury,
Minister.
Chamberlin, Preston S.
Physician.
Dean, Samuel H.
Harvard,
Teacher.
Doe, Orlando W.
Harvard,
Physician.
Eastman, Samuel L.
N. W. University, 1859,
Teacher.
Eastman, Horace T.
Vermont University, 1871,
Business.
Farwell, Julia H.
Mt. Holyoke,
Teacher.
Johnson, Haynes
Dartmouth, 1822,
Minister.
Johnson, Moses
Dartmouth, 1834,
Business.
Johnson, Alexander G.
Dartmouth, 1837,
Editor.
Johnson, Edward C.
Dartmouth, 1840,
Merchant.
Johnson, Jonathan Keyes, Henry W.
Wesleyan,
Lawyer.
Harvard,
Business.
Keyes, Charles W.
Harvard,
Keves, George T.
Harvard,
Ladd, John J.
Dartmouth, 1852,
Teacher.
Leslie, Charles E.
Dartmouth, 1877,
Lawyer.
MeIndoc, George J.
Dartmouth, 1895,
Business.
Vermont University.
MONTEBELLO INSTITUTE AND OTHER SCHOOLS. 241
McLeod, Robert D.
Michigan, 1888,
Lawyer.
Olmsted, Perley A.
Vermont University, 1876,
Business.
Powers, Jonathan
Dartmouth, 1787,
Minister.
Powers, John Hale
Wesleyan, 1869,
Business.
Porter, Timothy O.
Dartmouth, 1822,
Editor.
Porter, George
Dartmouth, 1831,
Editor.
Quimby, Carl
Wesleyan, 1889,
Optician.
Rogers, Edwin A.
Harvard,
Lawyer.
Ruggles, Henry E.
Dartmouth, 1845,
Minister.
Smith, Raymond U.
Norwich University, 1894,
Lawyer.
Shurtleff, William S.
Yale,
Lawyer.
Spencer, John W.
Boston University, 1891,
Minister.
Swasey, Samuel
Dartmouth, 1828,
Lawyer.
Tewksbury, William A.
Middlebury, 1865,
Lawyer.
Tucker, George
Beloit, 1853,
Minister.
Wallace, John
Dartmouth, 1808,
Lawyer.
Watkins, Harris R.
Dartmouth, 1888,
Physician.
The following were at some college for a longer or shorter time but did not graduate:
Carleton, John H.
Wesleyan,
Business.
Cargill, Charles G.
Norwich,
Physician.
Clark, Carrie
Oberlin,
Teacher.
Lang, Caroline H.
Women's College, Baltimore,
Teacher.
Powers, Mathew
Dartmouth,
Farmer.
Ropes, Arthur,
Dartmouth,
Editor.
Scott, Orange W.
Wesleyan,
Minister.
Tenney, A. B. W.
Dartmouth,
Business.
Wallace, Dudley C.
Dartmouth,
Physician.
Wason, Thomas,
Dartmouth,
Died in college·
16
CHAPTER XXXII.
LITERARY NEWBURY.
EARLY BOOKS .- NATHANIEL COVERLY .- THE FIRST NEWSPAPER .- NEWBURY BIBLICAL MAGAZINE .- THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER .- L. J. MCINDOE .- THE AURORA OF THE VALLEY .- OTHER PAPERS .- HAVERHILL PAPERS .- PAPERS TAKEN A CENTURY AGO .- BOOKS PRINTED THEN .- THE PUBLICATIONS OF COVERLY .- BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NEWBURY.
T HE first settlers of this town compared favorably in intelligence with those of any other, but they could not have had many books, still, doubtless, every family, not wholly indigent, owned a Bible, and it was thoroughly read and studied. It took time to accumulate in the whole settlement as many volumes as any intelligent farmer will now have. The few treasured books and pamphlets which have come down to us from the pioneers, are, generally, of a semi-theological character, dealing with the most abstruse subjects upon which the human intellect can exercise its powers of inquiry and inference. Some of these works, which our fathers loved, are of so profound a character that few of us, shallow moderns, possess resolution enough to sit down and resolutely grapple with their contents. The mental giants of those days produced volumes whose intelligent study calls for their comprehension, the concentrated attention of all the mental faculties which their readers possess. One of these works, "An Inquiry into the so-called Freedom of the Human Will," written by a New England clergyman in a country parish, before the revolutionary war, is considered one of the masterpieces of the human intellect. Upon such books, and by sermons modeled upon them, were our forefathers trained.
The first settlers of Newbury were illiterate, if we consider illiteracy to consist in poor spelling. Of all the men who were in Newbury before the revolution, counting out certain Scotchmen, there were, probably, not three, besides the minister, who could
243
LITERARY NEWBURY.
write a short letter without making mistakes in orthography. General Bayley could not, nor Colonel Johnson, nor Colonel Kent. It is easy to laugh at their letters, but one of their descendants, who should undertake to hold an argument with his ancestor, would have little reason to laugh. The men who carried the Coos country safely through the revolutionary war, had found little time to learn the niceties of spelling, but they did know the whole subject of the controversy with Great Britain, to the last particular.
Newspapers began to be taken in town as early as 1768, but their reception could have been only at irregular intervals, as some one happened to come up from the seacoast: A newspaper was a treasure in those days, and was passed from hand to hand, and from family to family. One reason why so few papers from the early days survive, is, that they were worn out with reading. Many of the pamphlets against tyranny printed between 1770, and 1775, found their way here, and a very few originated in the Coös country. After the war the circulation of papers increased, and all the wealthier families took at least one.
In 1794, Nathan Coverly, Jr., came here from Salem, Mass., and started the first printing office in the Connecticut valley, north of Hanover, in a building since burned. It stood on the other side of the road from the dwelling of the late Miss Swasey, at the Ox-bow. He did a considerable amount of printing, including a few small books, in a creditable manner. Of one of these, Flavel's "Token for Mourners," a few copies are still owned in this vicinity. He carried on a store for the sale of books and stationery in the front part of the building, the printing office being at the rear. In 1796, probably in May, he began the publication of a newspaper called the "Orange Nightingale and Newbury Morning Star." A part of No. 15, of the date August 25, is preserved. It was well printed, carefully made up, appears to have been Federalist in politics and bore the motto: "Here truth is welcome-Candour guides the way." It had the latest news from London, dated June 1st, and speaks of the French victories in Italy under Bonaparte. There is very little local news. A criticism upon the proceedings of a church council, which was held to adjust some difficulties between the churches of Newbury and Haverhill, an account of a woman killed by a bear in St. Johnsborough, (St. Johnsbury) and a poem upon the death of a daughter of Josiah Page of Ryegate, are about all.
This paper was short-lived for want of funds and patronage, and Mr. Coverly closed out his business here, and returned to Salem, where he was living in 1808. The type and fixtures were sold to Farley & Goss of Peacham, where they were used in the publication of a paper called the "Green Mountain Patriot." This paper came to grief in its turn, and the materials of the office were taken to Danville and used in starting the "North Star," in 1804. No further attempt was made to publish a paper here in Newbury for
244
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
more than fifty years, as far as can be learned. Ira White, however, had a printing office at Wells River, where he did a great deal of miscellaneous printing, and published school, and other books. For some years after 1840, when Newbury Seminary was at its highest prosperity, there was a printing office at Newbury village. Hayes & Co., were printers, succeeding a Mr. Rand, who later became the publisher of Zion's Herald.
When the theological department of the seminary was established, it was believed that there was sufficient encouragement to warrant the starting of a magazine, devoted to reviews, essays, and general religious intelligence, and which would, it was hoped, find its way into the more cultured circles of the Methodist church, in the country generally. The "Newbury Biblical Magazine" was begun in May 1843, and issued on each alternate month. Professor William M. Willett was the able editor, and the other professors seem to have been contributors. The first number was a pamphlet of forty-eight pages, which was afterwards enlarged, and in its general character compares well with other reviews of the time. It was singularly free from controversy and some of its critical essays were very profound. It may be questioned if the Methodist church possesses, even at this day, a more able publication, when we consider that it was conducted in a small and remote country village, far removed from any large library, such as is indispensable to the critical student, and that its editor and chief contributor was engaged in labors which would seem enough to keep one man busy. The magazine came to an end with the twelfth number, that of March, 1844. The reasons for its discontinuance as given by the editor, are the great amount of labor which it imposed upon a man not strong in health, and want of financial support. From a bound volume of this excellent production, owned by the late Andrew Grant, much that is valuable regarding Newbury Seminary was obtained. The first six numbers of the Biblical Magazine were printed by Haves & Co., and the remainder by L. J. McIndoe.
"The Christian Messenger" was commenced March 12, 1847, and was edited by the seminary professors, and resident ministers, and was, for many years, the religious organ of the Methodist church in Vermont. Its stay, however, in Newbury, was short, as after a little more than a year it was moved to Montpelier. It was discontinued a few years ago.
In 1848, an anti-Catholic paper, called "The Northern Protestant and American Advocate," was started, but its life, at least in Newbury, was brief. In 1845, Lyman J. McIndoe removed his printing office from Haverhill to Newbury, and in April, 1848, began the publication of the "Aurora of the Valley," a semi-monthly literary publication, which soon became very popular, and which he enlarged. It did not collect much news at first, and depended mainly upon contributions to its columns from local
LYMAN J. MCINDOE.
245
LITERARY NEWBURY.
writers. Some of its short stories and essays were very good. It was, later, changed to a weekly newspaper, still possessing a literary character, and supported the Whig, and afterward, the Republican party. D. B. Dudley was its assistant editor for a time. About 1857, the paper was removed to Bradford, and later, to Windsor, where it was merged into the Vermont Journal.
Mr. McIndoe was an able editor, who was successful financially, and his paper was a great benefit to the town. A literary taste displayed in the selection of stories for the Aurora caused its introduction into many families, and was the medium whereby much valuable literature was brought into the homes of Newbury people. Mr. McIndoe had his first printing office in the "old depot building," and afterward in a two story structure with a high basement which stood between James B. Hale's house and his store. In this he did an extensive business, printing religious books and tracts. He also kept an excellent book-store, which was continued by his brother David, till about the time of the removal of the seminary. During the existence of that institution, several papers were sustained by the students at different times, which had their little day and expired. A small publication was conducted by the pupils of Montebello Ladies Institute for a short time. It was called "The Montebello Critic," and was published in the spring of 1880.
At Wells River an eight-page weekly paper was commenced in 1878 by W. S. S. Buck, called "The Riverside," but was discontinued after some time. A monthly paper in the interest of the Congregational church at that place, edited by Rev. R. C. Flagg, was begun in March, 1889. It was called "Church and Home," and was published by F. Sherwin and Son. Its existence was two years, the last number being published in February, 1891. Mr. Sherwin and his son are the sole representatives of the printer's craft in this town.
Mention should be made of two or three Haverhill papers which had a large influence and circulation in Newbury. The "New Hampshire Post and Grafton Advertiser," was begun in 1827 and continued till 1848. Its politics were Whig, and it had several owners. In 1828, Hon. John R. Reding began the publication of the "Democratic Republican," which was continued by his brothers till 1863. He married a sister of Hon. Isaac Hill of Concord and the paper, which was ably edited, was the strenuous advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, as represented by Andrew Jackson. A bound volume of this paper, which contains most of the numbers from January 9, 1833, to February 22, 1837, has been of much value in the preparation of this book. It is owned by Joseph C. Johnston. The first daily paper taken in town is believed to have been the "Boston Daily Atlas," in 1848. Col. O. C. Hale
246
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
began to take it about the time the railroad was built. The breaking out of the civil war caused a great increase in the number of both daily and weekly papers taken here, and daily papers were first sold on the trains about that time.
The first religious paper was the "Boston Recorder," and it was taken as early as 1818 by one family and perhaps by others. Some post office bills which remain among the Johnson papers show that among the papers taken here just one hundred years ago (1800) were "The Boston Centinel," "Portsmouth Chronicle," "Worcester Spy," and the "Connecticut Courant." The Centinel was, long ago merged into the "Boston Advertiser." The others are still published. There were three copies of "The Museum" taken, a paper which the editor cannot identify, also the "Cabinet." The "Worcester Gazette" had two subscribers.
In these days, when every family receives many requests to subscribe for newspapers every year, it is hard to comprehend the difficulty our ancestors had in subscribing for a paper at all. When in 1795, Hon. Thomas Tolman of Greensboro, whom we have mentioned before, and General Crafts, of Craftsbury, who afterwards became governor of the state, decided to take a paper printed at Philadelphia, they did not know how to obtain it, and addressed the following letter to Colonel Thomas Johnson :
DEAR SIR :-
GREENSBORO, Mar. 21st, 1795.
It having been agreed to take 2 or 3 newspapers from the other states, thro' your hand as Postmaster, and from Newbury to be conveyed in the best manner to this Town and Craftsbury. will you be so kind as to take the trouble of contracting (thro' the mail) with Mr. Bache of Phila. for his General Advertiser, printed twice a week, for one year, for me, and direct them enclosed under cover and directed "Thomas Tolman, Greensborough, by the Newbury mail, Vermont," or something like it, with the terms conveyed in the first conveyance, for which if you will make yourself accountable to him, I will to you.
I am, Dear Sir, Your obed't and humble servant, THOS. TOLMAN.
It had been intended to give a list of all books printed in Newbury, but it was found to be impossible. No record was kept of them, and only a few copies remain. Ira White printed school books, and several religious works, including an edition of the New England Primer. A small volume entitled, "The Female Wanderer, Written by Herself," bears his imprint. Hayes & Co. printed small volumes, biographies, and reprints of English classics. In addition to several works which bear his name, L. J. McIndoe printed a number of Sunday school books for Rev. Orange Scott, which bear the imprint of the Wesleyan Association.
How many books Mr. Coverly, our first printer, published, is unknown. The complete titles of the following are here given :
247
LITERARY NEWBURY.
THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION, OR MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING PENAL AND SANGUINARY LAWS, THE MODE AND NATURE OF EVIDENCE, AND AN INQUIRY INTO THE PROPRIETY AND POLICY OF PUNISHMENT.
BY JOHN YOUNG, ESQ., OF NEWHAMPSHIRE IN NEW ENGLAND.
NEWBURY, VERMONT, PRINTED BY NATHANIEL COVERLY, AND SOLD AT HIS BOOK-STORE NEAR THE COURT HOUSE.
This formidable title ushers in some observations upon the duties and privileges of the citizen. John Young lived in Haverhill at one time, and in his life played many parts in many places. This little volume is a curiosity. It consists of one hundred pages, measuring six inches by four, and is bound, literally, in boards, thin sheets of wood, covered with paper, forming the covers. The type is clear, and the edges of the leaves are untrimmed. A copy is owned by Hon. Horace W. Bailey.
A TOKEN FOR MOURNERS. BY JOHN FLAVEL. PRINTED BY NATHANIEL COVERLY AT NEWBURY, VERMONT, NEAR THE COURT HOUSE, 1796.
A copy owned by Mr. Sherwin, at Wells River, has 132 pages. What follow are missing. There is a complete copy in the library of the Vermont Historical Society at Montpelier.
HYMNS. SILAS BALLOU, UNIVERSALIST.
NATHANIEL COVERLY, NEWBURY, VERMONT, 1797.
This title is furnished by Hon. Albert S. Batchellor.
The following bibliography gives, by authors' names, the titles of all books or pamphlets written by natives of Newbury, as far as they could be ascertained; of all addresses delivered in this town, or elsewhere by persons residing in Newbury at the time of delivery, with a few which do not come under either of these heads :
ABBOTT, GEORGE N. Essays and Reviews. (A short time before his death, Prof. Abbott had begun to collect the titles of his works, which consisted mainly of contributions to such publications as the "University Magazine," "The Mercers- burg Review," and the like. They were upon topics which appealed to scholars like himself. A few were printed separately.)
"The Christologic Problem." An essay read before the Winooski Association, January 8, 1867, Andover, Mass., 1869, 20 pp.
ADAMS, REV. HENRY W. Discourse delivered before the preachers of the Danville district, in the Methodist church at Newbury, March 24, 1843. Newbury, Hayes & Co. pp. 43.
ATKINSON, REV. GEORGE H., D. D. Biography.
248
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
BAILEY, HORACE W. Report as superintendent of schools, 1886. Catalogue of the Library and Philosophical apparatus of Dr. Cutting of Lunenburg.
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