History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 64

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 64

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Robert Lyman was the agent, P. M. Randall in 1877, J. H. Haynes in 1882, M. H. Hazen, 1886-99, W. H. H. Luckett, 1899-1903, A. W. Bohonnon, 1904-08, J. J. Blanch, 1908 to present time.

The first agent at Royalton village was Moses C. Gage. His successors have been Dr. D. L. Lyman, Robert Lyman, Horace E. Stoughton, W. W. Culver, 1871-77, P. M. Randall, 1877-78, M. H. Hazen, 1878-86, Silas Williams, 1886-90 ( ?), J. W. Waldo, 1890, C. T. Southgate, 1891-1903, Ernest L. Oimette, 1903-04, W. W. Tinkham, part of 1904, L. A. Willard, 1904-05, F. X. Cedelotte, 1905-07, S. D. Nichols, 1907, part of the year, E. N. Smith, 1907- 11. Mr. Smith was obliged to give up the station on account of ill health, and died in a short time. His place was filled by Ben Joy for a few weeks, when W. Heatherington was transferred from the Jonesville station to Royalton.

The train service in the early history of the railroad was not always to be commended. Heavy storms even now, with all mod- ern appliances for clearing the tracks and dispatching trains are by no means so regular as to delight the busy man who has no idle minute to spare. In those days trains were much more uncer- tain. It is related of Judge Marcy, that he had at one time an important case to try at Woodstock. It had snowed all day Sun- day and the wind was busy in piling it up in drifts on Monday, when the Judge took his way to the station for the south bound train, due, as now, about 11 o'clock. There was no means of knowing whether the train was snowbound on Roxbury hills, or would steam in as usual on such occasions an hour late. He waited there all day and through the night. Then he bethought him of breakfast, and as he had waited so long, he thought he would risk going home. When about half way there he heard the whistle, and rushed panting back in season to see the last car rounding the curve out of sight. He took all the time he needed for breakfast, and the next day tried again, with similar experi- ence, except that he reached home before the train passed. At the third trial he vowed he would not leave the station again, except by train. The stage had now got through and other pas- sengers were waiting. A mischievous boy at the further end of the platform set up a fine imitation of the shrill car whistle, and all rushed out in the shivering cold to listen for the oncoming train. When the Judge saw the boy's trick, his adjectives were not chosen with the fine discrimination that characterized his pleas before a jury. However, the train soon came in, and he reached the court room in Woodstock two days late, but found witnesses, as well as judge, had been snowbound. The case was tried and his able pleading won the case.

Of course, soon after the railroad began running regular trains, the day of stage coaches declined, and less freight teams

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and travellers in private conveyances were seen on the turnpikes. One tradition of the early days of travel was well told by Miss Gertrude Denison in a paper prepared at one time for the Wom- an's Club. It is given in her own words :

"Tradition tells us of a man, who came to Royalton one day in early spring, dragging along in a sleigh on his way to Randolph; the road was unknown to him, and he must needs ask his way. His first inquiry was at the old Martin Skinner farm, of Porter Lyon, a half- witted boy to whom his uncle Calvin stood for all knowledge. His reply was, 'Ask uncle Calvin. He'll tell ye.' The man drove on, and the Fates ordained that, just after he entered the village, he should again interrogate a half-witted boy, Phy Rix, who replied as he ran off, 'You'll hurt me, you'll hurt me!' Next the traveller overtook a woman, Hitty Gaines, who was deaf. Her answer, 'I buy my snuff ter Lyman's,' showed the popular store of the town. Somewhat amazed he drove on. As he reached the brick house at the end of the village, he saw a man in the dooryard and his hopes rose; but alas! Mr. Bliss Thatcher, though sound mentally, stammered most woefully, and being asked if this were the road to Randolph, went through various facial contortions only to end with this remark, 'Golong-ye'll git thar 'fore I kin tell ye.'

Next he met John Safford walking, but the mild question started him into a brisk run shouting, 'Catch me if ye can!' By this time the traveller had reached the Rix farm, and was passing the old house which stood in the field between the graveyard and the present barn. Standing in the doorway was Mrs. Conkey watching for her lazy hus- band's homecoming, and to the oft repeated question, 'Is this the road to Randolph?' came the sharp reply, 'He's down to the tavern, where he allers is.' The wayfarer's heart sank as he dragged on, one runner on snow and the other on bare ground, but overtaking Parker Chaffee walking (Parker was a very deaf man) he ventured to ask once more, 'Is this the road to Randolph?' 'Don't care if I do,' was Parker's response, as he jumped into the sleigh. One cannot wonder that the question had changed by the time the man had reached Bethel, and he was asking, 'What's the matter with the town back there? Be they all lunatics?' "

CASUALTIES AND ACCIDENTS.

A number of accidents and deaths have occurred on the rail- road since it first ran through the town. A Mr. Cummings was walking at one time through the railroad yard at S. Royalton, when trains were moving both ways. In avoiding one train he stepped in front of another, and was instantly killed. Daniel W. Noyes, a native of Tunbridge, was walking on the track near the residence of Irving Barrows on May 14, 1887. He was sub- ject to bad attacks, and seems to have had one at this time. A train came up behind him unnoticed, throwing him up the bank, and mutilating him so badly that he died.

David Crow, a section master, one Sunday hitched his hand- car to a freight train, in order to get a load of ties. A wheel to his car broke, and the train ran over him, killing him instantly.

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Mr. Hawes was killed by stepping in front of a part of a train which had broken in two. About 1886 a brakeman, who lived in Roxbury, was killed by falling from the train near the ledge by the railroad bridge.

A man who had been working in a fork factory at Brookfield, and was on his way to a factory in Hartford, was killed in S. Royalton, when stealing a ride. The two platforms of the steps for brakemen came together, crushing out his life. On July 16, 1878, Carleton Smith, son of Stillman Smith of Royalton village, while trying to board a train in motion, was drawn under the cars, and his leg was so badly mangled that he died the same day. On Mar. 5, 1879, the body of Hubbard Baker was found near the track in Royalton village, in a mutilated condition. It was never known whether death was accidental or intentional.

A very bad collision occurred Jan. 18, 1907, when the 2:30 passenger north collided with a through freight going south. They met south of the cut near the railroad bridge. The postal clerk and an engineer were badly injured, but no one was killed. An inquiry into the cause of the accident did not prove very fruitful.

A most heart-rending accident occurred on Dec. 1, 1909, when Ernest John, Jr., the six-year-old son of E. J. Hewitt, was struck by a train and hurled down the embankment near the crossing by Hewitt's elevator. He was on his way to school, and in fear of being late, did not notice that trains were running in both directions, and when one had passed by he stepped on to the track, and was caught by the train going in the opposite direction. He lived a few hours. The Railroad Commission decided that the C. V. R. R. Company was not responsible. Suit was brought, but the case was settled without a trial.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS.

RISING SUN LODGE, NO. 7, F. AND A. M.

The sketch of this lodge is based in large measure upon an historical address prepared by E. J. Fish, M. D., and delivered at the Centennial of Rising Sun Lodge in South Royalton, Oc- tober 8, 1907. Dr. Fish was aided in the preparation of this his- tory of the lodge by its "faithful and efficient secretary, Mark J. Sargent."

Rising Sun Lodge was chartered October 8, 1807, by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Vermont, then convened at Windsor. The Grand Lodge itself was then young in years, having been formed by representatives of five lodges, who met and organized at Manchester in 1794. John Chipman was its Grand Master. Those named as petitioners for a lodge in Roy- alton were Bibye Cotton, Willard Pierce, Stephen Cleveland, Phineas Parkhurst, Thomas Bingham, Benjamin Day, Jr., and George Daney (Dana). They were empowered to receive and enter apprentices, pass fellow crafts, and raise to the sublime degree of Master Masons, to make choice of Masters, Wardens, and other office bearers, to receive and collect funds "for the relief of poor and decayed Brethren, their Widows and Orphan children." John Woodward was appointed first Master, Ste- phen Cleveland first Senior, and Phineas Parkhurst first Junior Warden. The lodge was to be known as No. 28, which was changed January 10, 1849, to No. 7.

The records from 1807 to 1839 inclusive exist in part for each year, but nothing has been found from 1840 to 1847. From 1848 to 1851 they are fragmentary, but from 1852 to the pres- ent time they are complete. The records in the early days were made on loose sheets of paper and dropped into a wooden box, where they were recently found. The missing records are said to have been borrowed about 1870 by a visiting Mason, who never returned them.

The communications of the lodge were held in Royalton vil- lage or its vicinity until the building up of South Royalton. Daniel Tarbell, Jr., erected the hotel in the new village in 1850, and on December 11th of that year he rented the hall in "the

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attic" of the hotel, and two adjoining rooms to John S. Austin, Moses Hoyt, Edwin Pierce, Coit Parkhurst, and Andrew Backus for the use of Rising Sun Lodge of Free Masons as long as they chose to occupy them at $10 a quarter. The lodge returned to Royalton village in 1857, where it remained until 1887, when it returned to its present quarters in South Royalton.

While in Royalton it held meetings in Asahel Cheney's hall, Stevens' hall, probably Elkanah Stevens, Fox's hall, at North Royalton probably, and Stafford Smith's hall. Mr. Smith was in the hotel in the village.

By an order of the Grand Lodge in 1807 the expulsion of any member was to be printed in some newspaper in the state, with a request to the printers of the United States to insert the same in their respective papers. Rising Sun Lodge preferred a petition to the Grand Lodge for a repeal of this ordinance. However, it conformed to the order on Dec. 14, 1831, when a member was expelled, and his expulsion was printed in the Wood- stock Observer. Punishments seem to have been meted out with- out any fair trial.

About the average expense and quality of refreshments served at their communications are shown by the following bill for April 19, 1826:

"The Rison Son Lodge Bot of Moses Cutter-

1 qt. Gin, $.38; 1 qt. W. I. Rum, $.38; 1 qt. Brandy, $.38; 31/2 lbs. Cheas, $.38; 4 doz. Crackers, $.48." Mr. Cutter acknowledged payment at the hand of B. Cozzens.

The agitation which had begun over the liquor question had its effect upon the Grand Lodge. It voted Oct. 11, 1826, that no ardent spirits or public dinner should be thereafter furnished the lodge, and recommended to the subordinate lodges to dis- pense with the use of ardent spirits on all public occasions. Ris- ing Sun Lodge had its discussions on the subject, as is shown by a recorded vote of Jan. 6, 1830, to reject the J. Warren reso- lution relating to ardent spirits, which had been proposed at the last communication. Whether this resolution was for or against the use of spirituous liquors is not known, but the item proves that the subject was receiving attention in the lodge.

The original by-laws were adopted Dec. 7, 1807. Some pro- visions at variance with present customs are noted. One arti- cle provided that, in the absence of the Master the "seignor" officer present should have the right to preside, and no limit as to his necessary rank was provided. The same regard for the proprieties of place and station, as was noted in regard to town meetings, obtained in the lodge. One by-law read, "When the master shall give notice to attend to business, all debate shall cease and entire silence shall ensue."

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No history of a Masonic lodge can be complete without a reference to the anti-masonic movement, which swept the coun- try, especially New England, at the time of the Morgan episode. To understand the cause of this, it is necessary to give a few facts regarding that event. Those which follow were accepted by Henry Swan Dana, the Historian of Woodstock.

In the year 1826, William Morgan was residing in Batavia, Genesee County, N. Y. In the summer of that year it became known that he proposed to publish a work which would reveal the secret signs, obligations, and ceremonies of Freemasonry. When it was found that he could not be persuaded to desist, he was arrested September 11, 1826, on some civil process, and con- veyed to Canandaigua, forty-eight miles distant, there examined before the justice who issued the warrant, and discharged. He was immediately re-arrested for a debt of two dollars, judgment entered against him, execution followed at once, and he was committed to jail the evening of the same day. The next even- ing he was taken from the jail, placed in a carriage and taken to Lewiston on the Niagara river. From Lewiston he was taken to the ferry at Youngstown, where those in charge of him took him by ferry boat into Canada. The arrangements for his re- ception in Canada were not completed, and they returned, and placed Morgan in the magazine in Fort Niagara. Here he re- mained several days, when one morning, supposed to be Septem- ber 19th, he was missing. He remained missing, though many rose up and said, "Lo, here!" and "Lo, there!"

This led to the anti-masonic movement, which had its origin in Batavia. Its main strength was in the seceders from its own ranks. Papers, pamphlets, public meetings were not sufficient to kill Masonry, which was the object of the agitation. Its sup- porters determined to make a political matter of it. It was at the polls that the blow was to be dealt. An Anti-Masonic party sprang up. It grew by what it fed on, and it fed on the con- tinued revelations of seceders.

It was not strong enough in Vermont to put a State ticket in the field until 1829, and even then it had a candidate for Gov- ernor, Heman Allen, who had refused to identify himself with the party. At this election they polled 7,346 votes, a little more than half the number received by the successful candidate. The next year the party was strong enough to prevent an election by the freemen, and it was thrown into the Assembly in Joint Ses- sion with the Governor and Council. Thirty-two ballots were cast before the National Republican party succeeded in electing Governor Crafts and Lieut. Governor Richards. The strength of the two parties was measured again the following year, when the Anti-Masonic party polled the larger number of votes, 15,258,

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but not a majority. It elected the Councilors, but not the Treas- urer. After nine ballots in Joint Session, William A. Palmer, the Anti-Masonic candidate, was declared elected Governor. The situation was the same in 1832, only it required forty-three bal- lots before the new party won. In 1833 this party succeeded at the polls in the re-election of their candidate for Governor, Mr. Palmer. The next year there was again no election by the free- men, but Governor Palmer was re-elected on the first ballot. A reaction was now setting in. Opposition arose to the Governor, and he failed of re-election, though the Lieut. Governor on the same ticket was elected. The Joint Assembly balloted unsuc- cessfully from October 9 to November 2, and then dissolved, and the Lieut. Governor became acting Governor. The Anti-Masonic party disappeared and the Whigs came to the front in 1836.

This brief review of political conditions in the State may help to understand the proceedings in Rising Sun Lodge during those years. In the interest of peace some lodges had voluntarily surrendered their charters. On October 28, 1830, the Governor and Council concurred in passing a bill entitled, "An act to repeal an act incorporating the Grand Lodge of the State of Vermont, and an act incorporating the Grand Chapter of the State of Vermont." Morgan's book was out, and created great excitement. The following circular letter is still preserved in Rising Sun Lodge :

"Reading, Dec. 20, 1826.

Dear Sir :- I am directed to address you on the subject of 'Mor- gan's Book,' which has lately made so much noise in the state of New York of which you have undoubtedly heard. Our brethren of the Masonic fraternity, when the publication originated, undoubtedly con- ducted very imprudently. They ought to have treated the publication as false and spurious and spoken of it in no other light, than as a gross imposition upon the public, as it really is. You will please to enjoin it on the brethren of your lodge to be cautious and have no communication on the subject of Masonry with any person, except such as they personally know to be regular Masonic brethren. Should the book make its appearance within the jurisdiction of your lodge, treat it as a false and spurious imposition, and give such other directions as you may deem most expedient for the good of Masonry.

By order of the Most Worshipful Grand Master,

Thomas F. Hammond, Dist. Dep. G. M., 1st Masonic District."

It is doubtful if a single lodge in the state did not have its seceding members, or those who believed that both policy and interest required a surrender of their charters. Those who were long-headed must have foreseen that the platform of the Anti- Masonic party was made up of temporary planks, that if Ma- sonry were really dead, there would be no party, or when cooler reason and judgment should prevail, it would go to pieces. Tak- ing this view, they could afford to bend to the storm for a brief time, and come out all the stronger at the end.

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The question of surrendering its charter came up in Rising Sun Lodge September 21, 1831, at which time twenty-seven mem- bers and three visiting brethren were present. The lodge rec- ords are quoted :

"Motion shall the charter be surrendered.

"Voted not to surrender the charter.

"Voted to instruct our delegates to Grand Lodge to vote against giving up the charter.

"Voted to appoint a committee of two in each town in the juris- diction of the lodge to ascertain how many Masons are in favor of surrendering the charter and how many against it.

"Chose John Warren and George Lyman for Royalton, Samuel Lil- lie and J. P. Cleveland for Bethel, William Gifford for Sharon, Steven A Cozzens for Tunbridge."

Dr. E. J. Fish in his address asserts that William Pierce, who was present when the surrender of the charter was consid- ered, told him that Judge Collamer introduced the motion to surrender. Judge Collamer was a Past Master of the lodge. His full record is found in the chapter on the "Legal Profession." It is sufficient to say, that at this time he already had a reputa- tion for legal ability which assured him political promotion with- out his seeking it. His character for sincerity and honesty of purpose had been, was then, and ever after proved to be above reproach. The man who "carried the ten commandments in his face" must have been actuated by honest motives. It would not become us to think otherwise, especially, as that elo- quent tongue can no longer defend himself. If he felt that the order should cease, he doubtless lived to regard the matter in a different light. He removed to Woodstock in 1836. At that time there was no Masonic lodge in that town. In fact, a con- vention of Masons of Windsor County had been held in Wood- stock Sept. 30, 1834, and had voted that for the sake of tranquil- ity, and believing that the institution was no longer necessary, it was expedient that the Masonic institution be dissolved. A new lodge, Woodstock Lodge, No. 31, F. and A. M., was char- tered Jan. 12, 1854. The next year that lodge elected Hon. Jacob Collamer and ten others to honorary membership.

Notwithstanding the powerful influence of Judge Collamer, Rising Sun Lodge voted not to surrender its charter. The fol- lowing excerpt is an apostrophe of Dr. Fish to the loyalty of those men who stood by the lodge in the days of bitter antagonism :

"The memory of their lives and their deeds is enshrined forever in the hearts of their brethren, and there it will remain bright and honored long after tablets of stone and statues of bronze or marble would crumble into dust. They have all gone to their last reward in the Great Beyond. Honor to their memory! Peace to their ashes! I had the honor and good fortune to know personally some of these men, among them Zebina Whitney, William Pierce, and James P. Cleve- land, Sr. I have heard them relate the story of some of the events of those dark and troublous times. Brother Cleveland lived to be the

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sole survivor of those early defenders of the faith. He was a member of Rising Sun lodge seventy-six years. He was present in the lodge room and was secretary pro tem at the communication of Sept. 21, 1831, when the motion to surrender the charter was made. I shall be able to describe to you in considerable detail just what occurred on that really momentous occasion. The written record is still as clear and legible as when it was made by Brother Cleveland's own hand, and also I had the story by word of mouth from both Brothers Cleve- land and William Pierce. I have said that Brother Cleveland became the sole survivor of all the early defenders. He was buried with Ma- sonic honors at Randolph, Vt., Sept. 17, 1900."

Though the charter was retained, the affairs of the lodge began to decline. They met in secret, and records were not prop- erly kept, and finally disappear altogether from 1840 to 1847. Quoting again from Dr. Fish's address :

"The furniture and loose belongings of the lodge were carried about secretly from place to place for safe keeping. The great lights were carefully preserved. The old Bible, printed in Scotland in 1796, is still in use. The old altar, quaint in design, made in 1826, and still in use by the lodge, was at one time hidden in the basement of Bro. Zebina Whitney's barn. At another time it was buried in the woods on the rocky hill now called 'the Pinnacle,' rising in a northwesterly direction from Royalton village. This was at a time when if it had been dis- covered it very likely would have been burned or destroyed by a mob in the street, so bitter was the hatred of everything Masonic."

Since 1849 the lodge has had a course of uninterrupted pros- perity, with the single exception of the year 1870, at which time some dissensions existed. Among the earlier members of the lodge not already noted were Dr. Jo Adam Denison, Phineas Parkhurst, Gen. Elias Stevens, Capt. Joseph Parkhurst, and Gen. Lovell Hibbard, whose records will be found in other parts of this book. The Phineas Parkhurst here mentioned was probably the son of Benjamin Parkhurst, and the father of Mrs. Danforth Day of South Royalton. Dr. Phineas Parkhurst lived at Leb- anon, N. H., after the Indian raid, and it is hardly likely that he joined this lodge nearly thirty years after that event. His father was Tilly Parkhurst. There was a Phineas Parkhurst in Sharon also, son of a Dr. Phineas Parkhurst. This Sharon Phineas re- moved to West Hartford, where he died in 1830.

Regarding the membership of the lodge during its exist- ence, Dr. Fish states, that as nearly as can be ascertained 686 men have become members by initiation or affiliation. The larg- est membership was 142, thought to be in 1870. The first burial service attended by the lodge was the funeral of Thomas Church of Tunbridge, May 6, 1813. Simon Bingham was Master, and thirty-six Masons were present.

Since 1865 but six secretaries have served the lodge. Mark J. Sargent has held the office twenty-six years, the last twenty- four being a continuous service. So far as has been learned there have been forty-two Worshipful Masters. Judge Collamer

Jen

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was Master in 1819. Gen. Lovell Hibbard held the office seven years, and Edwin Pierce, Edmund Skinner, and Dr. E. J. Fish served nearly as long periods. Sumner D. Chillson was W. M. in 1892 and 1894. He was buried with Masonic honors at E. Bethel, Mar. 22, 1897, "an unassuming, simple-mannered, faith- ful soul." The present incumbent is Ernest J. Hewitt.

Asa Perrin in his diaries made the following entries :

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 64

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