USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 38
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
Joseph Humphrey came to Rutland in 1783 from Winchester, N. H. He was employed soon after his arrival by Isaac Chatterton and others in building operations. About his first employment was on the old jail, on Main street, now the residence of George E. Lawrence. He purchased sixty acres of land of John Sutherland in about the year 1790, where R. S. Humphrey recently lived, for which he paid " £60 lawful money." He died in 1851. He became prominent in the very early marble industry at Sutherland Falls. (See account of Sutherland Falls for other members of the Humphrey family; also descrip- tion of the marble industries of the town in later pages).
323
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
Jabez Ward came from New Marlboro, Mass., in 1784, and settled three miles north of West Rutland in Whipple Hollow, where Jay Cook now lives. His sons were Artemas Ward, now living at West Rutland, and eight others, all deceased but Artemas. The latter was born in 1805 and came to West Rutland in 1829.
Edward Dyer settled in Rutland in about the year 1789; he was from Greenwich, R. I. His first wife was Sally Bowman, daughter of Lieutenant Bowman, of Clarendon, and his second wife was Hannah Hoxie, daughter of Gideon Hoxie, a Quaker of Chittenden county. Horace H. Dyer, who now resides a little south of Rutland village, is a son of Edward. It was on Mr. Dyer's farm that Captain Josiah Hart and a party of Revolutionary soldiers camped while on their way from Bellows Falls to Ticonderoga. Soon after the war Mr. Hart visited Rutland, sought out the spring near which the encamp- ment was made and resolved to settle there, which he did. He was a practical builder, aided in constructing the first church at Rutland village and other buildings, and died in 1811, aged seventy-two years. His grandson, George W. Hart, lives on the homestead.
We have mentioned Isaac Chatterton ; he settled on a farm now owned by Colonel Redfield Proctor and recently by German H. Chatterton. Leverett Chatterton was his son, and was born on the farm in 1789, and resided on the place until his death in 1877.
Three brothers named McConnell came to Rutland soon after the Revolu- tionary War ; their names were John, Samuel and James. They located south of Rutland village, John on the farm now owned by John C. Doty. He had a son James, who lived on the homestead until his death in December, 1877. Samuel died in 1832, aged seventy-two years; and John died in 1839, aged seventy-seven. They were all respectable farmers, and have descendants now living in the county. William McConnell, son of one of the three brothers, lived south of the village, and was a prominent citizen. He died in 1850. Thomas was brother of James, jr., and died in Rutland.
Jesse Thrall settled in the town in the last decade of the last century, locating in the west parish in Whipple Hollow. His wife's maiden name was Mabel Rose. There the venerable Reuben R. Thrall was born December 5, 1795. In 1814 he came to the east part of the town and settled ; he was clerk in the post-office early in the century, when William D. Smith was postmaster. Mr. Smith was a lawyer, and Mr. Thrall studied with him, and finally was ad- mitted to the bar and became Mr. Smith's partner. Although he is now ninety years old he occasionally does legal business, and is believed to be the oldest practicing attorney in the world. His wife was Elizabeth Gove, daughter of Jesse Gove. A daughter of Mr. Thrall married Frederick Chaffee, now of Rutland, and his son William B. lives in Rutland ; George lives in Denver. Aaron Thrall died in 1810 at the age of forty-seven ; he lived at the time on
324
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
a farm now owned by the Dr. Sheldon estate. Chauncey Thrall settled early where R. C. Thrall now lives. He was a prominent man - member of the Legislature, justice, etc., and died in 1844. His son Chauncey died in 1874. Jonathan G. Thrall, one of the leading farmers of the town, and a man of strong character, lived one-half mile north of Rutland village, and died in 1852 at the age of fifty-eight.
Nathaniel Gove was the pioneer of that name in this town and himself and descendants have filled prominent stations in the community. He was born in Coventry, Conn., on the 21st of April, 1739, and died in Rutland September 9, 1813. We have but very meagre details of his settlement here, but he came at an early day ; his son, Colonel Jesse Gove, was born in February, 1784, in Bennington. He early came to Rutland and read law with Cephas Smith, jr., and was admitted to the Rutland county bar at the March term of 1818. He married Sophia Ingersoll in 1809, and in the same year was appointed clerk of the United States District and Circuit Courts for the district of Vermont, and held the office until his death. He was appointed postmaster at Rutland in 1841. His military title was gained by his rank of colonel in the militia. He died April 30, 1842.
Jude Moulthrop came to the town about the year 1792, at which time Na- than Osgood deeded to him the greater part of the farm now occupied by Mrs. H. J. Moulthrop ; the northern part of the same farm was deeded to him by Gideon Tuttle. Jude Moulthrop died December 10, 1800, and left among his children, Truman Moulthrop, Nathan Moulthrop and a daughter named Laura, now widow of Daniel Gleason. Truman became a prominent citizen. Tru- man's third child and first son was Robert Moulthrop, who was born on the farm now occupied by his heirs, December 8, 1825. Truman Moulthrop held various town offices and was much respected.
Daniel Graves removed from Whately, Mass., to Rutland county in 1792, locating first in the town of Ira, where he established a tannery, shoe shop, hat manufactory and kept a tavern. He may have lived a few years at West Rut- land, as we find him in 1796 advertising a " good dwelling, shoemaker's shop, tan-yard and tan-house, with one acre and forty-seven rods of land situated a few rods south of the meeting-house, West Parish, Rutland." In any event, after his death his son George carried on the business until 1832, when he re- moved to Rutland and built up the tanning business north of the village at what became known as " Tan-yard Village." This establishment was destroyed by fire. He also owned a tannery at Chase's Mills, N. Y., in company with his sons, George and Charles E. He died in 1879 and his sons took control of the business. George E. Graves now carries on a drug store in Rutland village.
The eccentric John A. Graham was a resident of Rutland in the last decade of the last century, and we find him making in 1795 the newspaper announce-
325
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
ment that his creditors must pay up as he was about to leave the State. He was the first lawyer located in Rutland and wrote a book of early reminiscences and memoirs of Vermont men, from which we quote in later pages. He built his dwelling three stories high, on the corner occupied in later years by Dan- iels & Bell, Main street, and placed his coat-of-arms on a part of the roof. The heavy tornado of 1789, which unroofed several buildings, moved his house from its foundation and blew down the coat of-arms.
The Cheney family was a prominent one in the town in early times. Ger- shom (see extracts from his diary a little further on), Samuel and Abel came here from Londonderry in 1793 and located on what has been called " Cheney Hill," north of Rutland village. Abel had six children, one of whom was Ben - jamin, father of Lyman S., who now lives in the village. Abel lived in Rut- land only a few years and died in Canada in 1860. Gershom became a con- spicuous figure in pioneer times ; he was an architect and builder of promi- nence, planned and helped to build the old brick church, and erected many of the oldest houses in the place, including that recently occupied by Luther Daniels, and the old Kilburn house next south of the Governor Page residence. He held most of the town offices, was selectman in 1812-13 and '14, and made the grand list after he was eighty years of age. He built the first aqueduct from a spring in the town of Mendon to supply Rutland with water; there was then no reservoir; he also kept a tavern on his place north of the village for eleven years. He had no children and died much respected in September, 1855. Gershom Cheney, now living in Rutland village, is a nephew of the elder Gershom and son of Abel. He was proprietor of the old Franklin House from 1854 until it was destroyed by fire in 1868.
Eliakim Cheney, belonging to another branch of this name, came to Rut- land from Dedham, with his brother Abner, before the beginning of the pres- ent century and located on South Main street. On their land brick were man- ufactured for many of the early brick buildings in this section. Eliakim had two sons, Warner and Hiram L. ; they were among the early masons here ; the former now lives in Troy, and Hiram L. died in 1880 ; he had also one daughter, Rosina, now widow of Moses Curtis. George H. and Henry W., now in mercantile business in Rutland, are sons of Hiram L. Cheney.
John Ruggles came to Rutland from Pomfret, Conn., in 1794, locating on what has been called the Ruggles farm, included in which was the site of the railroad depot. He died in 1831, and his farm was inherited by his son, the late Gershom C. Ruggles, who died in 1885. He was a prominent man in the community. His oldest son was named John and another was Henry, now of Boston, and still another, George R., of Aurora, Ill.
The Rev. Samuel Williams, LL.D., removed to Rutland in 1788, having held the professorship of mathematics and natural philosophy in Harvard Uni- versity. He was born in Waitham, Mass., about 1740. He was during his
326
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
life here one of the very foremost men of the county ; indeed, of the State. In 1794 he preached the election sermon, and was chaplain of the Assembly the same session. (For his connection with the Rutland press see Chapter XV.) In 1794 he published The Natural and Civil History of Vermont, which was extended in 1808 ; he was one of the founders of the University of Vermont. In writing of him John A. Graham said : " He is the most enlight- ened man in the State, in every branch of philosophy and polite learning." He died in January, 1817.
Hon. Samuel Williams was also one of the earliest settlers and most dis- tinguished residents of Rutland, and one of the few Whigs who remained in Rutland after the evacuation of Ticonderoga. He was for many years town clerk and selectman ; represented the town in General Assembly from 1783 to 1794, except 1786, and in 1798-99; councilor from 1795 to 1798; judge of Rutland County Court from 1790 to 1793 inclusive ; chief judge from 1794 to 1799 inclusive, and held this office at the time of his death. He, with the Rev. Samuel Williams, were the founders of the Rutland Herald, and published it several years. To him is also to be credited the existence of the Rutland vil- lage " green," or park, on Main street, most of the funds for its purchase being contributed by him and he being the first grantee named in the deeds (" To Samuel Williams and other inhabitants of said town of Rutland.") The tablet above his remains in the old North Burial Ground bears as a part of the in- scription : " He was a pillar of church and of state and lived and died the Father of this Village and the Friend of Mankind. Over the remains of his mortal part, as a testimony of his virtues, this marble placed by his Masonic brethren, June 24th, A. L. 5800." He died February 28, 1800.
Levi Long settled in Rutland in 1799, coming from Coventry, Conn., and locating about three miles northeast from the village. He had seven sons and one daughter.
Matthias Ames settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Matthias, in 1785. He was a Revolutionary soldier, from Stockbridge, Mass.
Gad Daniels, from Worthington, Mass., settled in Rutland in 1783, on the farm now occupied by S. L. Daniels, on the road to West Rutland. His son Stephen was killed while assisting to build a bridge at Center Rutland in 1835.
John Hall came to Rutland in 1798, when he was but four years old. He subsequently learned the saddler's trade, and later became a merchant in the village, with his brother William. Later in his life he gave up trade and re- tired to his farm in the northern part of the town, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died in 1868, at the age of seventy-five years. John M. Hall, now of Rutland, is his son, and the only descendant here. William Hall was born in November, 1780, and died September 13, 1850. He became judge of probate and held other positions of trust and responsibility. Henry
327
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
Hall, now residing in Rutland, and a historical writer of ability, is son of Hon. William Hall.
Noah Griswold settled in Whipple Hollow in 1800, where his grandsons now live. He was the father of Edwin L. Griswold, who lives in West Rut- land ; the latter has been in the Legislature. Frank Griswold is another son.
James Porter was son of a surgeon of the British army who was in this country during the Revolution ; he came to Rutland when ten years old to reside with his uncle, Ezekiel Porter, where he remained until he was eighteen years old ; he then began the study of medicine and, graduating at the age of twenty-three, began practice in Rutland, and was prominent in the profession for more than fifty years; he was also one of the foremost citizens in all the affairs of the village. His eldest son, Henry W. Porter, resided at the old homestead, No. 83 Main street, until his death in 1884; other prominent representatives of this family were Dr. Cyrus Porter, Dr. James B. Porter and Dr. Hannibal Porter, and Dr. Charles Porter, of Boston. (See Chapter XVI.)
Among the earliest settlers of Pawlet was Captain Simeon Edgerton, from Stamford, Conn. He died in 1809 at the age of seventy years, leaving a widow and twelve children. Jacob Edgerton and two others remained in Paw- let. Jacob had twelve children, of whom nine lived to maturity, and he died in 1845. But two of this family are now living. Jacob Edgerton, jr., is still living in Rutland at the age eighty-five. He has been a prominent citizen in business and politics ; held the office of sheriff for twenty-two years, and other positions of honor.
Moses Hale and Stephen Hale were among the early settlers. The latter located about one and one-half miles east of the village on the turnpike, and resided there till his death. Franklin S. Hale is his son. Moses Hale was a prominent man at a very early day and his name appears frequently in the town records, in land transfers, etc. He was father of Deacon Asa Hale, who lived at " Tan-yard Village," where he owned a large farm, and of Thomas Hale, who died in 1812, in middle life. Deacon Asa died in 1843 at the age of eighty-four years, and was a man of prominence in the community.
The foregoing brief sketches embrace the names of a large proportion of the pioneers who settled in the town previous to the beginning of the present century. Relative to others of whom less is known the reader must content himself with the briefest memoranda, and such other mention as will appear in the description of the trade and industries of the town.
Solomon Smith settled in the town early-probably before 1800, and lived a little east of the village ; he had a son, Deacon John, but his descendants are all dead. Henry Gould was a prominent citizen in the early years of the century ; was jailor in 1807, and we find him offering " $50 reward for the ar- rest of Abner Hayes, the well-known counterfeiter, who broke gaol July 2, 1807." Henry was a brother of Nathaniel and died in 1820. Nathaniel
328
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
Gould kept the old Franklin House in early years, when it was known as " Gould's Tavern." He was born in Claremount, Vt., September 22, 1786, and died in Westminster, Vt., March 25, 1853. He had several daughters ; Clarissa married Daniel P. Bell, the early Rutland merchant, and lives in Flor- ida ; Helen Mary married Elisha Avery, of Detroit; Priscilla married a Mr. Elmore, of Peru, N. Y .; Narcissy married Mr. Hawley, of Detroit, and is dead ; Jane married Dr. Cyrus Porter and now lives on the old Porter home- stead in Rutland.
Jonathan Shaw, born in 1771, died in 1839. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Obadiah Boss. Dr. Shaw formerly lived in the house now occu- pied by C. H. Sherman at West Rutland and was a conspicuous man in the community. He owned a grist-mill at Clarendon Springs at one time, and died there of a cancer. Moses Lester was a prominent citizen and lived where Frank Duncklee now owns. He died in 1857 at the age of eighty-seven years. Captain William Boland was an early settler and died in the town in 1810 at the age of seventy-three years; he has descendants now living in the town, the wife of Horatio Mead being one of them. Seth Gorham died August 29, 1852, aged ninety years. He was a man of consequence in the town. His son, Judson Gorham, married Theodocia Thrall. Dr. John A. Mead, of Rut- land village, is a grandson of Seth Gorham. Lieutenant Samuel Campbell lived on what was known as " Campbell's Hill," one and one-half miles from Rutland; he died in 1819, aged eighty-eight years. David Tuttle, who bore the military title of " Captain," was one of the very early settlers and lived on the south part of Main street ; he died in 1820, aged sixty eight. Robert Temple, from Braintree, Mass., was born in 1783 and died in 1834; he was father of Charles Temple and grandfather of Edwin L. Temple, now of Rut- land ; he was a lawyer, and the family have always been prominent in the com- munity; Admiral William G. Temple (retired), of Washington, and Robert Emmett Temple, of New York State, are sons of Robert Temple. Charles K. Williams came to Rutland in 1790, and died March 9, 1853, aged seventy- one years ; his wife was Lucy J. Langdon, daughter of Chauncey Langdon, of Castleton. Mr. Williams was an attorney ; held prominent political of- fices-judge, justice, governor, etc.,-and was one of the foremost citizens in all respects ; Charles K. Williams, now a practicing attorney of Rutland, is his grandson. (See Chapter XVII.) Jonathan Wells was one of the first settlers and owned large tracts of land ; the stone that marks his resting place bears the following inscription : " As a tribute of affection to his memory and respect for his industry, fidelity, integrity and uprightness, this stone is erected by his mourning brethren." He died in 1813. Issacher Reed was conspicuous among the early settlers, having come here as early as 1794 ; he for a long per- iod kept the Reed Hotel, a well-known tavern on Main street, which was burned; the records show that he owned a farm of thirty-five acres on the
329
TOWN OF RUTLAND.
post road "one and one-half miles from the court-house, well situate where a tavern has been kept for five years and is now licensed." This announcement appeared in the Herald ; Mr. Reed also kept a store for a time near West Rut- land. He died in 1838 at the age of eighty years. Truman Squire Reed, who died in Wallingford, was a son of Issacher. Hon. Israel Smith was a leading man in Rutland after about the year 1791, and was the fourth gover- nor of the State; he held many other important offices, and he died in 1810. (See history of the Bench and Bar of the County). Dr. James Ross, who has been sketched in the chapter devoted to the medical profession, died in 1856, aged forty-five years. Charles E. Ross, now of Rutland, is his son. Deacon Ezekiel Green, who lived where Ruel Todd now resides, died in 1829; his son, William Green, succeeded him on that farm and died there ; he had another son, Enoch, who lived opposite the homestead ; Enoch's son, Hiland E., now lives on the homestead. Daniel Gleason, Ist, was an early settler and died in 1835 at the age of seventy-three years ; he had sons Charles and Daniel, 2d ; the latter was a prominent farmer and lived where Caleb Buffum now resides, south of Rutland village; he died in 1855; his wife was Laura Moulthrop, sister of Truman Moulthrop. Deacon William Barr was a prominent early churchman and much respected. He died in 1813 at the age of sixty-four years ; he was selectman several years beginning with 1785; on his grave- stone appears the following : " As an officer in the church, highly respected ; as a neighbor, kind, peaceable and benevolent ; as a citizen, firm in the support of the constitutional rights of his country ; a lover of good men, himself be- loved by all." Deacon Daniel Ford was another conspicuous church officer of early years ; he was a farmer and lived at the North Mills; he died in 1829, aged sixty years. Ozias Fuller was a tanner and lived on Main street, where Dr. Allen now resides ; he died in 1819. Captain Nicholas Goddard was a well-known character early in this century ; he was a jeweler, his shop being on the corner of Main and West streets, and was associated there with Captain Benjamin Lord; there they manufactured the old-fashioned hall clocks, which to- day command a higher price than when new. Joseph Allen lived, down to 1858, when he died at the age of ninety-six years, about two miles east of the village. William Alvord came from Northampton, Mass., at an early day and died here in February, 1853, aged eighty-seven years. He was a cabinet- maker, one of the first in the place, and had a shop on the east side of Main street where Richard Spaulding is now located ; he was the father of Cephas and General Benjamin Alvord, former paymaster-general of the army, who died in Washington in 1884. Dr. Joel Green, who was a partner of Dr. Joel Porter in 1820, lived where Moses Perkins afterward resided, corner of Main and Green streets ; Mrs. C. C. Alvord is his daughter and Dunham G. Green his son. Samuel Merriam was an early settler and a miller at the North Mills, or " Merriam's Mills," as they were called ; he operated the mills and also had
330
HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
charge of Barrett's distillery at that point ; he lived on Cottage street and died there in 1867. Frequent allusion has been and will hereafter be made to William Fay, the early publisher of the Herald ; he was a prominent man in the community for many years. One of his daughters, Mary, became the wife of Richard Gookin, the manufacturer of Center Rutland ; another married Silas H. Hodges, and another Horace T. White, then of Rutland; still another be- came the wife of Senator Solomon Foot, and the fifth daughter married Al- bert Robinson, who died in Washington, D. C. A further sketch of Mr. Fay will be found in the chapter giving a history of the county press. William Page was born of a family which was prominent in the early history of this State, in September, 1779. He graduated from Yale College and became a leading lawyer in Rutland. He was made the first cashier of the Bank of Rutland in 1824, and was otherwise honored by his townsmen. He had a large family of children ; Hon. John S. Page, of Rutland (lately deceased), was his son (see biography in later pages), and Mrs. Newton Kellogg, Mrs. Pease, Mrs. J. B. Hollister and Mrs. William Barnes are daughters; another daughter, Mrs. S. D. Winslow, resides in Pittsford. Dr. George Page, of Crown Point, and Eg- bert Page, who lives in Iowa, are sons. Abner Moon was an early settler and a tanner one-half mile south of the village, on Moon's Brook; he died in 1836 and has no descendants about here. Joshua Osgood, who died in 1833, was a prominent farmer and father of Phineas Osgood, who lives on the old home- stead four miles north of the village. Jonathan Bell was among the first set- tlers, and died in 1804 ; he was a prominent man in the early history of the town, and, according to the inscription on his grave-stone, " was seventeen years sheriff of the county of Rutland, the duties of which office he discharged with high reputation to himself and usefulness to the public ; " he has no de- scendants here now. William Eayres, who died in 1834 at the age of seventy years, lived where William, his grandson, now resides, in the Greeno neigh- borhood north of the village; George N. and James are also grandsons ; the former is now superintendent of the House of Correction. Cephas Smith was a prominent man in Rutland early in the century ; we find him in 1811 offer- ing for sale " a beautiful situation in the southwest corner of Rutland Green containing twelve acres, dwelling house, etc .; also in the southwest corner of the green half an acre of land and a good dwelling-house." The latter was the Strong place; he died in 1815. Colonel John Ramsdell appears to have been a prominent man and held the office of selectman several years ; he died in 1807 and has no descendants hereabouts. Lewis Meacham, also, who died in 1813, was a respected citizen and father of Hon. James Meacham, of Addi- son county, and of Lewis Meacham, of New Haven, Vt. Both died in Addi- son county. Daniel Squier, who died in 1858, at the advanced age of ninety- six years, lived near the Osgood place and had a large family. Harwood Squier, now living on Woodstock avenue, is of this family. Jonathan Dike
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.