History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 61

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

554

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

physicians from many towns fought heroically to save him, but in vain. He died "the beloved physician."

Simeon Belknap, M. D., was located at Royalton village, 1867-68. He was a grandson of the Simeon Belknap who was taken prisoner by the Indians, Oct. 16, 1780, and the son of Sey- mour Belknap of East Barnard, and brother of J. O. Belknap of South Royalton. He studied medicine with Dr. Huntington of Rochester, and graduated from the Medical Department of the U. V. M. in 1860. After spending a year in a hospital in Boston he formed a partnership with his preceptor. The West called to him, and he removed to Niles, Mich., in 1873. He took a front rank in the medical profession, and held numerous important offices. He was a member of the Pan American Medical Con- gress.

In his boyhood home at East Barnard he was an especial favorite, and he always retained that charming personality that makes friends. He married in 1860 Miss Addie M. Rice of Cin- cinnati, and had two sons, Dr. Fred R. and Simeon, Jr. He died in 1908. The esteem in which he was held is evidenced by the fact that every place of business in Niles was closed during the funeral.

The place left vacant by Dr. Morse in Royalton village was ably filled by Clayton Philemon House, M. D., a graduate from the Medical Department of the U. V. M. in 1881. Being a native of E. Bethel, he secured considerable practice in that town, and was eminently successful in his profession. He was ably assisted by his accomplished wife, who was Miss Minnie Tower, a graduate of Montpelier Seminary, an unusually bright and capable woman. It was to the great regret of the community that he left in 1888 for Spokane, Washington. In 1891 he removed to Conconully, and in 1894 to Oroville of the same state, where he is in practice at present.

There are always some disciples of the good old-fashioned way of treating disease by the use of herbs and roots, nature's simple remedies. There is room, therefore, for the botanical doc- tor, wherever the law will allow him to practice. Such a doctor, holding no degree, but skilled in decoctions, and with native and acquired ability to diagnose ordinary diseases with accuracy, was Dr. John Manchester. He removed to Royalton in 1847, and bought a small place adjoining the Gen. Elias Stevens farm. Here he lived in a quiet way, and practiced the healing art in Royalton and other towns until about 1870, when the infirmities of age compelled him to abandon effort of this kind. He was a respected citizen of the town, having friendly relations with doc- tors of a different faith, some of whom, perhaps, profited by his knowledge. One of his sons, Byron Albert, studied medicine

555

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

regularly, graduating from the Medical College at Woodstock in 1852. Dr. Byron, as he was called, opened an office in South Royalton the same year, but his health, always frail, was not equal to the strain of active practice, and he died in the spring of the next year. Another son, Constant W., was also a regular physician, an honored and successful practitioner of Lebanon, N. H., for many years.

Homeopathy has had little foothold in Royalton. It has not been learned that any physician of that persuasion settled in town prior to 1879. About this time Dr. Forrest Leavitt, a na- tive of Laconia, N. H., moved to Royalton and opened an office. He was a young man recently married, and had one infant son. Dr. Leavitt won converts to his faith quite as much by personal magnetism as by his skill. In a brief time he had secured a con- siderable patronage among some of the best families in town, which he held as long as he remained. Nothing can be said re- garding his preparation for the practice of medicine, as inquiries have not been answered. About the year 1894 he removed to Somerville, Mass., where he is at present. No other homeopathic physician has since located here.

After the death of Dr. Lovejoy, Arthur Brown Bisbee, M. D., came to South Royalton. He was educated at Barre Academy before beginning the study of medicine in 1878 with Dr. Sumner Putnam of Montpelier. He attended lectures at Dartmouth Medical College and the Medical Department of the U. V. M. He received his degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, in May, 1882. He came to South Royalton in July of that year.

His fine preparation and his native ability, coupled with a sterling character, soon won for him a lucrative practice. He was universally liked, both as a man and as a physician, and entered heartily into the interests of the people. He married in 1886, Alice M. Putnam, the daughter of his preceptor. His out- look here was promising, but he decided to remove to Montpelier in 1887, where he still resides. He has held several honorary offices in his profession, serving at one time as President of the Vermont Medical Society. Since 1888 he has been Medical Di- rector of the National Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, and has now given up general practice.

Frank Gillis Mills, M. D., was born in Topsham, Oct. 6, 1857. His preparatory education was received in the academy at Chel- sea, where he studied medicine with Dr. B. W. Braley. He graduated from the Medical Department of the U. V. M. in 1880, and came soon after to South Royalton, and entered into part- nership with Dr. H. H. Whitcomb. He was an energetic physi- cian, devoted to his work and his patients, always ready to re-

556

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

spond to the call of duty. He removed to South Natick, Mass., about 1884, where he practiced successfully for about two years. He died Jan. 1, 1886, at the home of his sister in Manchester, N. H. This sister, Mrs. Alice Mills Hadley, to whom he was warmly attached, is an artist of repute, and at one time taught drawing and painting in Wellesley College.

A quiet, unassuming man was William H. Gerrish, M. D. He was born in Portland, Me., Aug. 20, 1856. He entered the University of Maine at the early age of fifteen, and took his B. S. degree from that college. He then attended the Bowdoin Medi- cal School, and later graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. He supplemented his edu- cation by a trip abroad. He married Frances E. Berry of Port- land, Nov. 22, 1882, and had one daughter. He began practice at Merrimac, Mass., and came to Royalton village in 1888, re- maining until 1892.

Dr. Gerrish was a man of fine scholarly attainments, and a most worthy citizen, but he found the field pretty well covered by the South Royalton doctors on one hand, and by the Bethel physicians on the other. He removed to Deering, Me., where he held the position of City Physician. During his later residence in Portland, Me., he passed the Civil Service examination, and became Acting Assistant Surgeon in the Marine Hospital service. He died Dec. 12, 1900. His widow resides in Portland.

Israel Putnam Dana took his M. D. degree from Dartmouth in 1885. He soon after located at South Royalton. Though an extremely modest man, who would not sound his own praises, his sterling worth and skill soon introduced him to the homes of numerous patrons. Dr. Dana came of good stock, being a direct descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam, whose name he bore. It was some of that stubborn resistance that characterized the old hero, that enabled Dr. Dana to ward off for years the dread destroyer, consumption.

He bought the Dr. Whitcomb house, and made a brave effort to establish a permanent home in Royalton, but failing health forced him to seek the milder climate of California. He removed with his family to Otay in 1891, where he bought a ranch, and practiced as his strength would allow, until his death in 1899. His demise added another name to the list of country doctors whose arduous duties quench the flame of life, before they have had a chance to fulfil the promise of their youth.

William Lincoln Paine, M. D., a native of Randolph, gradu- ated from the two courses of the Randolph State Normal in 1872 and 1874, and from the Medical Department of the U. V. M. in June, 1879. He practiced in Weston two years, in Brad- ford two, in Thetford fourteen, and in Royalton eight years.

557

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

Dr. Paine is of a literary turn of mind, and has considerable ability as a poet. He was a decided acquisiton to the social life of the town, and helped to elevate the standard of living. While his ride was not so extensive as that of some of his predecessors, he had a fair practice. He was held in high esteem, and his de- parture from Royalton village was a loss that has not been filled. His present address is Palmer, Mass., where he is engaged in hospital service.

With the exception of Dr. Denison, Sr., and Dr. Whitcomb, no physician has practiced for so long a period of time in Roy- alton as Edgar John Fish, M. D. He began the study of medi- cine with Dr. S. N. Goss of Chelsea, a former army surgeon. He attended lectures at Dartmouth Medical College in 1872, and graduated from the Medical Department of the U. V. M. in 1874, and settled in Tunbridge the same year.

He married in 1872 Miss Eliza A. Lyman of Washington. She was a woman of far more than ordinary mental power, re- sourceful, and just the helpmeet for a young, struggling physi- cian.

Dr. Fish removed from Tunbridge to South Royalton in 1887, succeeding Dr. Bisbee in this town. He was already well and favorably known here, and his reputation was well estab- lished. He bought the home once owned by Dr. Moore, where he still resides. He is a member of the Windsor County Medical Association, the White River Valley Medical Society, of which he has twice been president, the Vermont State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was Health Officer of Royalton for about twelve years, but declined a reappointment in 1908. Being alert in judgment, and having always kept well abreast of the times and in close touch with the progress of medi- cal science, during his many years of experience, he has come to be much sought as a consultant in important cases, by neighbor- ing practitioners.

Dr. Fish represented Royalton in the General Assembly of 1902, and was elected a senator from Windsor County in 1904. In both these sessions of the Legislature his ability and leader- ship were well recognized. He held several important chairman- ships, among them being that of chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Health in 1904. In that year many important addi- tions and changes were made in the health laws of the state, some of which were measures which he framed and introduced.

Dr. Fish is a prominent member of the Masonic Order. He is a Past Master of Rising Sun Lodge, Past Worthy Patron of Rising Sun Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Past Eminent Commander of Vermont Commandery of Knights Templar, a member of the Mount Sinai Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and

558

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

has attained to the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is also an honorary member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa, a college Medical Fraternity.

Dr. Fish is more than a mere physician. He has long been recognized as a leader in matters concerning the highest inter- ests of the town and community, and his judgment and advice are sought on social and political questions.

One of the most trusted and respected physicians of South Royalton was Daniel Lillie Burnett, M. D., a native of Bethel. He received his higher education in the Randolph High School and the High School of Springfield, Mass. He then taught in the graded schools of Bethel, South Royalton, and Barnard. He attended lectures in the Medical Department of the U. V. M., and graduated from the Medical College of Baltimore, Md., in 1890. He settled in Stowe in May of the same year, where he remained until September, 1891, when he purchased Dr. Dana's business in South Royalton. He continued his practice here un- til October, 1907, when he removed to Underhill, where he has a drug store in connection with his profession.

While residing in Royalton, Dr. Burnett grew steadily in favor as a physican, and was well known in adjoining towns, where he was often called, either to his own patients, or as a consulting physician. He was strictly honorable in his profes- sion and in all business relations.

Notwithstanding his busy life, he gave thought to the wel- fare of the community in which he dwelt. He was actively con- nected with the South Royalton Village Improvement Society, and was a member of the board of directors of the South Royal- ton Graded School District. He was also a member of the Re- publican Town Committee for several years. In 1906 he repre- sented the town in the Legislature. When the Royalton Histori- cal Association was formed, he was elected a member, and served some time as its treasurer, and is still a member of the Executive Committee of the Association.

The latest native physician to practice in town is Oliver Jus- tin Ellis, M. D., and he is maintaining the town's reputation for producing bright, energetic youth. Dr. Ellis graduated from the High School in Keene, N. H., in 1881, and then served in that city three years as clerk for Bullard & Shedd. He attended the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, 1901-4, and graduated from the University of Maryland, in Baltimore, in 1905. He married and located in Pittsfield that fall, where he established â good practice, and remained until he bought out Dr. Burnett in October, 1907.

Dr. Ellis has made many warm friends since his removal to town, and has an excellent practice, which is on the increase.

559

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

His ability, gentle courtesy, and straightforwardness make him trusted by his patients, to whom he is devoted, whether rich or poor. . He has recently identified himself with the Methodist church in South Royalton. He is a member of Rising Sun Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and a charter member of Royal- ton Lodge, 74, I. O. O. F., becoming Noble Grand Junior in 1909.

DENTISTS.

Dr. Daniel L. Lyman must be mentioned as a regular prac- titioner, who chose to devote his time to the practice of dentistry. See his record in the genealogical half of this volume. Be- fore any dentist was located in South Royalton, Dr. G. D. Blanchard of West Randolph and Dr. R. M. Chase of Bethel were accustomed to make periodical visits to South Royalton for the practice of dentistry. Dr. Daniel B. Freeman, formerly a dentist in Chicago, was located in the South village for about two years.

In 1887 Dr. Harlan Carpenter came to South Royalton, and opened an office in the Block, over the present barber shop of E. H. Ashley. He was the son of Selah and Rebecca (West) Carpenter, born in Strafford, Aug. 3, 1841. He was educated in the academy at New Hampton, N. H., and studied dentistry with Dr. Blanchard of Randolph, Dr. Nelson Haskell of Wood- stock, Dr. C. B. Erickson of New Britain, Conn., and Dr. Fraim of Brooklyn, N. Y. He worked in the offices of Dr. George Modemann, New York City, and of Dr. Fred M. Hemenway, Boston. His was a well-known figure on the street, when he would leave his office for a sun bath or a talk with friends. He made monthly professional visits to Sharon during the last few years of his life. He was a Knight Templar and a 14 degree Mason. He died in Strafford, Aug. 3, 1910, and his funeral was attended by members of Rising Sun Lodge, who conducted the Masonic service in memory of their brother.

Dana E. Dearing, D. M. D., began his professional career in So. Royalton in the summer of 1904. He was born in Randolph, June 10, 1880, the son of George T. and Abbie M. Dearing. He was educated in the public schools of Randolph, and graduated from the Randolph Normal at the age of nineteen, afterwards teaching in his native town for the term of two years.

When he became of age, he began the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. E. O. Blanchard of Randolph. From there he went to Tuft's college, from which he graduated and received the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine in 1904. While in his senior year he passed the examination of the Massachusetts State Board of Dentistry.

560

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

After graduation from college he returned to his native state, and immediately located at South Royalton. He was mar- ried to Miss May F. Palmer of Jonesville, March 21, 1905. They have two children, Dorothy May, born Feb. 19, 1906, and Mary Elizabeth, born Jan. 12, 1911.

Dr. Dearing is a member of White River Grange, Rising Sun Lodge, F. & A. M., Psi Omega Dental Fraternity, the Vermont State Dental Society, Rising Sun Chapter, No. 12, O. E. S., Roy- alton Lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., White River Poultry Associa- tion, and White River Valley Horticultural Society. He has been remarkably successful in his profession, and is a faithful and prominent member in all the organizations to which he be- longs.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE VILLAGES.

As soon as nomadic peoples began to weary of their migra- tions, and to settle down to life in one locality, there grew up rude settlements, and primitive forms of community life. The nomads were accustomed to wandering in companies, and isola- tion was foreign to their nature. The reasons for the choice of location were, of course, very simple, appealing almost wholly to their physical needs. In the advance of civilization higher reasons have been a controlling force, though even today the material consideration predominates in choosing a site for the building of a village or city. A mine, promising rich returns, is the cause of one settlement, springing up almost in a night, and disappearing as quickly if the mine ceases to be productive. Good water power is the magnet which draws settlers together in another place. It is unnecessary to name all the various causes which lead to the birth and growth of new towns, villages, and cities.

The question of especial interest to us is, why did the first settlers of Royalton begin to build up a village where they did. The first pioneers of the town halted in its southern part, with one or two exceptions, and the evidence gathered from a history of the church all points to that section of the town as the place where it was thought a village should grow. There was good water power on the First Branch, a saw and a grist mill, and a blacksmith shop was early built there.

In locating a meeting-house, it would naturally be expected that the inhabitants would have in mind some central point, around which a settlement might soon follow. The first spot chosen for the meeting-house, on Lieut. Stevens' lot, without much doubt 41 Dutch, was not far from the center of the town, and near the mills. The village would probably have been estab- lished there, had not Capt. Brewster donated a lot nearer the center of the town.

When Zebulon Lyon got possession of 46 Dutch in 1788, he at once began to plan for making the place where the meeting- house was to be, a business center. There is no positive record to prove it, but the tenor of the deeds, which he gives in 1791 and 1792, seems to indicate that he improved the interval in putting 36

562

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

up buildings suitable for business purposes, or encouraged would- be merchants and others to build, with the expectation of secur- ing deeds to the land later.

Early in the year 1791 Zabad Curtis purchased a lot, but he already had a house there, where Royalton village now is, and seems to have been running potash and pearlash works. His house was probably on the upper side of the road, not far from where the academy is today. He had a store, but just when he began trade is not known. He bought several acres in what is now the village, and a considerable number of farm lots, but was evidently not successful. He had mortgaged to a Boston firm, Tuckerman and Rogers, and in 1807 he gave up all claim to what he had mortgaged, for the sum of $9,000. The village part of the released land passed through several Boston hands, and final- ly in 1818 came into the control of Stafford Smith.

Some of the townspeople evidently bought a lot or two as a speculation. Mr. Lyon sold one acre to Richard Bloss in 1791, which seems to have been in the village, and again in June, 1792, Elisha Kent bought one acre. Lots were of generous propor- tions then. Mr. Kent's joined the meeting-house lot, which served a long time in bounding lots. They were spoken of as either on it or at a certain distance from it. Mr. Kent does not seem to have occupied his lot, and sold it in a year, and the fol- lowing year Zabad Curtis bought it.

Capt. Brewster had deeded one acre to Rev. Azel Washburn, and he already had his home established near the meeting-house. The first home of Mr. Lyon was at the upper end of the village, near the Parkhurst Barrett place, about where the Kendall house now is. He soon built a fine residence on the bluff where the Moses Gage house is, in fact that is the house Mr. Lyon built. It was the home at one time of Lawyer Francis. It caught fire one night when Capt. Isaac Skinner was watching at the Cutter house, now owned by Mr. Hanks. He saw the light and gave the alarm. The ell part mostly burned, but a light snow on the roof saved that. There was a shelf fastened to the rafters on which Mrs. Lyon had stored away some mince pies, and it is said that the heat melted the plates, but the pies were still eatable. The blackened rafters may still be seen in this house.

Competition is the life of trade. This is a trite saying, but it was exemplified in 1792, when Elkanah Stevens came to cast in his lot with the little hamlet, as yet not much more than a playground cleared in the midst of hills, still thickly covered with virgin trees. He made no purchase of land until the next year, when he took a deed for 252 square rods near "Lyman's fordway." He also had a hotel, so the passing traveler could refresh himself, do his trading, find a doctor not far away, if

563

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

his dinner disagreed with him, and a clergyman, if he felt the need of spiritual ministrations.

The tiny village had a suburb when Jacob Cady, in 1794, bought the thirty-six acres now owned by Mrs. Evelyn M. Tay- lor, and the next year found Timothy Shepard a neighbor of his.

Thus far there seems to have been no special demand for a lawyer, but one can easily be created. Just as one more rarely feels the need of a doctor if he lives twenty miles away, so dis- putes are more often amicably settled, when one cannot easily resort to a lawyer. The village was extremely fortunate in se- curing for its first resident lawyer an enterprising, thoroughly prepared young man, who at once entered heartily into the hopes and plans of those interested in the growth and prosperity of the settlement. This was Jacob Smith, who purchased two lots in 1795, between Elkanah Stevens and Rev. Azel Washburn. A little later in the year he bought a lot bordering the pound, for which he paid £320. Mr. Lyon paid for the whole of 46 Dutch £480, and thus far it had been a most profitable investment. By 1799 Ebenezer Herrick is found hammering away at his bench, intent on keeping the busy villagers well shod. Mr. Lyon of- fered good inducements to him, requiring only the payment of one dollar annually forever on the first of May. It is probable that too many trusted to nature's protection for the feet to make his venture successful, for he left in 1803.

The year 1799 saw the first firm open for business in the village, though this, perhaps, was not the first firm in town. It was composed of Samuel Grant of Walpole, N. H., and Joseph Fessenden. The firm did not purchase a lot until 1801. Elka- nah Stevens shares now with the "meeting-house lot" in furnish- ing a bound for purchases. This firm bought 136 square rods on Stevens, and "Landlord Joel Dickenson" bought five and one- half acres on this same Stevens, and John C. Waller had his lot of twenty-one and three-fourths square rods on Stevens' orchard. Levi Mower had been listed in town, sometimes under the head of "faculties," since 1798, and had a large list, but in 1801 the firm of Chandler & Mower were in Royalton. They did not pur- chase the "red store" and land until two years later. They had this of Zebulon Lyon, and Mr. Lyon provided for a strip of land to be forever unenclosed as a common. It seems very probable that Mr. Lyon built the store himself, and that it was the two- story building later owned by Mrs. Sally Felch, which still later was burned. The Stevens store seems to have been opposite this, and may have been the brick building or one on the same site. In 1802 Levi Bellows became a member of the firm of Grant & Fessenden.

564

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

The house where Mr. Hanks now lives used to be called the Fessenden house. Whether Joseph Fessenden built it or not cannot be stated. The deeds are rather blind, but it looks as if this property was held by Elkanah Stevens, and he may have built the house.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 61

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280