History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n; Rann, William S
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39

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TOWN OF RUTLAND.

was a native of Pittsford and lived for many years on the corner of Main and Washington streets ; he was a prominent man, held the office of sheriff many years, and other positions ; he died in 1871 at the age of eighty-four years. Otis Fisher was one of the early butchers of the town and grandfather of Harrison and Wilson Fisher ; he died in 1845. Moses Perkins was an early settler of the town of Clarendon, and was afterward a farmer on the east side of Main street in the southern part of the old village. He died in 1858 at the age of seventy-two years. Henry O. Perkins, of Rutland, is his son, and a daughter is the wife of Henry Hayward. William Gilmore come from Lon- donderry with his father and located in the town of Fra before 1800. About the year 1810 William removed to West Rutland, where he carried on the farm now occupied by his son, James L. Gilmore. He died in Ira, where he also owned a farm. Captain William Gilmore, now living in Rutland, is a son of the elder William, and has been prominent in the business circles of the town. He was associated with George T. Hodges as a merchant, and in the firm of Clement, Gilmore & Barnes in the marble business, when it was in its infancy. He has now retired from most active business. The foregoing names must suffice to inform the reader of a very large majority of the pio- neers who devoted their lives to the establishment of homes, and the intro- duction of early manufacturing operations and mercantile pursuits in the town of Rutland. Though in many cases the memory, even, of their deeds is lost, and in others but meagre details of their lives can be gleaned, it is eminently fit that whatever is known of their coming and going and the part they per- formed in the up-building of the town should be set down in a permanent record.

Coming down to a later period the town saw the immigration from various localities of a class of men, many of whom have left the deep impress of their life-work on the general, social, and industrial interests of the community ; men of marked characters, powerful intellect and eminent in moral qualities. A brief mention of some of these must complete the personal sketches of the town.

Moses Strong was one of the foremost citizens of Rutland and the present generation still profits by the results of his energy. He was a son of John Strong, of Addison county, and was born in Connecticut. He studied for the legal profession and married in Shoreham for his first wife a daughter of Dan- iel Smith, in 1810, about which time he came to Rutland. He lived first where Charles Ross now resides, and about 1840 removed to what is known as " the Strong place," on Main street.1 He held the office of county judge, was fore- most in the legal profession and a leading citizen. His family consisted of Moses M. Strong, now living in Wisconsin and seventy-five years old ; John,

1 An architect from the East passed through the State at a very early day and made plans for sev- eral of the largest houses in the village, the Strong house among them.

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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

who lives in Washington ; George W., died in 1859; 1 and four daughters. He died September 29, 1842. His brother, Samuel Strong, was a conspicu- ous figure in the battle of Plattsburg, and bore the title of "General ; " he was of Vergennes. Moses Strong became one of the foremost men of Rutland ; owned large tracts of land and was very prominent in the early railroad opera- tions of the State. (See chapter on the Internal Improvements of the County.) His son, Moses M., was a prominent attorney, and went to Wisconsin where he now lives and is a prominent citizen.

Robert Pierpoint, who was a resident of Rutland after about the close of the War of 1812, was a man of eminence in the State. He was born May 4, 1791, at Litchfield, Conn. At seven years of age he went to live with an uncle in Manchester. He studied law with Governor Richard Skinner, and though of feeble constitution, was indefatigable in the pursuit of a knowledge of his chosen profession. In June, 1812, he was admitted to the bar in Ben- nington county. Soon after his removal to Rutland he was made deputy col- lector of the direct tax, which duty he successfully performed. He was sent to the Legislature in the years 1819, 1823 and 1857 ; was a member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1822 and 1828 ; from 1825 to 1830 inclusive was a member of the State Council ; was State senator from 1836 to 1839 inclusive ; was county clerk from 1820 to 1839; judge of probate 1832-33; in 1848 was elected lieutenant-governor of Vermont; received the degree of M. A. from Middlebury College in 1826, and from the University of Vermont in 1838; in 1850 he was made judge of the Circuit Court, continuing to 1859. He died in 1864 with honors thick upon him. Evelyn Pierpoint, now a prominent citizen of Rutland, is his only son.

Charles Burt, who was born at Bellows Falls in 1791, came to Rutland in 1813. His father was Leonard Burt, son of Benjamin Burt who died at Bellows Falls at the age of ninety-four years. Charles Burt was a nephew of William Fay, the eminent publisher of Rutland village (see history of the County Press), and engaged in business with him and Mr. Davidson as publishers and book- sellers. A few years later he formed a partnership with Barnard McConnell in mercantile business; the firm afterward changed to Burt & Mason (Lester Mason) and then to Burt & Son (the latter being B. H. Burt) ; this began in 1850 and continued ten years. B. H. Burt continued the business to 1873, and took in Eugene Sherman; two years later the latter retired and Mr. Burt still continues trade alone, and is one of the leading dry goods houses of Rut- land. Of his children, Charles Fay Burt died in Rutland; George, in St. Au- gustine, Florida ; James B., is now in Palatka, Florida, and William is in busi- ness in Chicago; Henry died in New Orleans; Helen was the wife first of J. C. Dexter, the first sheriff of San Francisco, and, second, of General Hall, of Wallingford, and, third, of Hosea Eddy of that town; Margaret is the widow of A. F. Spencer.

1 See biography of George W. Strong in later pages of this work.

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Ebenezer Mussey came to Rutland before 1800 and in that year built the house on the old Mussey place, which is still standing, a mile south of the vil- lage, and owned by A. C. Bates. His sons were Harry, Charles, George and Edward; the latter the father of W. B. Mussey, a merchant in Rutland; he also had two daughters. Edward, who was born in 1798, went to Mendon, where he kept a tavern until 1850, known as " the old Mussey stand; " he subsequently removed to Middlebury, where he kept tavern, and then to the farm north of Middlebury village now owned by Joseph Battelle ; he died there in 1878. Besides W. B., he had several sons and three daughters. Harry Mussey lived and died on the old homestead, had a large family, one daughter becoming the wife of Gen. Benjamin Alvord, of the U. S. army, and now lives in Washington.

Francis Slason, who died in 1884, was born in Stamford, Conn., in March, 1790; he went to Troy, N. Y., in 1804, and nine years later removed to West Rutland, where he purchased the store of Nathan Bristol and carried on a mercantile business for forty years. He also became interested in the marble and other interests, as will hereafter appear; he was a director in the National Bank of Rutland, from its organization in 1824 to the time of his death ; he lived to the great age of ninety-four years and was one of the foremost citizens of the town ; his widow and a number of descendants now live in the town.

Luther Daniels came from Kcene, N. H., to Rutland in 1814, and became one of the leading business men and prominent citizens of the village. He first engaged here as a clerk in the store of Daniel Chipman for three years, when he returned to Keene and remained until he reached his majority. He then came back to Rutland and began business in the old Daniels store, which now forms a part of the " Cheney store " on Main street, continuing in trade there for a period of thirty years and doing the largest business in the place. Daniel P. Bell was associated with him for a number of years and the firm of Daniels & Bell was favorably known throughout the county. He was chosen treasu- rer and president of the Rutland Savings Bank in 1850 and held the office until 1879. He represented the town in the Legislature and in the Senate for four years, and was foremost in all good works. He died in August, 1885, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His first wife was Caroline Bradbury ; she died in 1837 and in 1844 he married the daughter of Moses Strong and widow of Rodney C. Royce. Mr. Royce was one of the leading attorneys of the place and died in 1836, at the age of thirty-six years. A daughter of Mr. Daniels is the wife of the Rev. Dr. Norman Seaver ; another daughter is unmarried.

Avery Billings came to Rutland in 1818, from Guilford, Vt., and located on the west side of the creek, where Jesse L. Billings now resides. The place is a portion of the ministerial lot, and was purchased by Mr. Billings from the first settled minister. Mr. B. held various offices of honor and trust, and as a farmer accumulated considerable wealth. He married Mary Packer, a sister of

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Rev. Daniel Packer, who was so long and favorably known in the township of Mount Holly. The Packer family are descendants of the Packers who came to this country from England about the year 1651, and settled in Connecticut. Mary Billings married John Cain, who was a prominent man in Rutland for many years. Mr. Billings died in 1860, at the age of seventy-seven, much lamented.

James Barrett came to Rutland from Concord, Mass., in 1819, locating in the village, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a period of about forty years. He was a prominent man of the town for many years, dying in 1875, in the eighty-third year of his age. When he first came to the village he occupied the house now owned by E. A. Morse, and subsequently a house located on the site now occupied by J. B. Harris's residence, and finally the house corner of Main and Washington streets, in which he resided for a period of forty years. Mr. Barrett was a descendant of Col. James Barrett, who com- manded the first regiment raised in Massachusetts, and which contained the companies who took part in the battles of Concord and Lexington. He was also one of the Committee of Safety, and also had charge of the collection of provisions and supplies, for the destruction of which the British troops were sent to Concord. Of the descendants now living in town there are : the wife of Evelyn Pierpoint, the wife of Hon. W. C. Dunton, Ellen C. Barrett, un- married, and Rockwood Barrett, treasurer of the Columbian Marble Company.

Robert Patterson came to Rutland from Montpelier, Vt., in 1816. He served in the War of 1812 and was at the battle of Plattsburg. While in the army he contracted a disease which resulted in paralysis, from the effects of which he never recovered. He died in 1848, in his sixty fifth year. He was the father of six children, three of whom are now living. Robert E. resides in the town about four miles north of the village.

The Hodges family were of the town of Clarendon, but George T. became a resident of Rutland in early life. He was the third son of Dr. Silas Hodges, and born in 1788. He became one of the staunch business men of Rutland and was called to fill many positions of trust and honor; he represented the town in the Assembly and the county in the Senate, several years in each office, and on the death of Hon. James Meacham, member of Congress, in 1856, Mr. Hodges was chosen to fill the vacancy. He was a director in the old Bank of Rutland from its organization to his death, and a director and vice-president in the Rutland and Burlington Railroad Company. He died in August, 1860.

Few if any families in the county have greater claims upon the attention of the annalist than the Sheldons. Medad Sheldon came to Rutland before the beginning of the present century ; his wife was Lucy Bass, of Sharon, Conn. He built a hotel at"Center Rutland and other buildings, and carried on black- smithing there. He died July 27, 1846, while on a visit to St. Lawrence county, N. Y. His eldest son was Lorenzo, born in 1801, died September 5,

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1880. He studied medicine at the Castleton Medical College and graduated in January, 1820, returning to Rutland to begin practice with Dr. Jonathan Shaw, with whom he formed a partnership; one year later Dr. Shaw removed to Clarendon Springs. Dr. Sheldon removed to St. Lawrence county in 1826, but remained only two years, when he returned and resumed practice in Rut- land. In 1835 he became interested with William F. Barnes, and then began the marble industry, which has since been developed to enormous proportions by his descendants. Later he was associated with Francis Slason, which con- tinued until 1865, when he sold out and retired from active business in that direction. (See biographies of Charles and John A. Sheldon). He continued to carry on a large real estate business during the remainder of his active life. He was married in 1823 to Mahala Smith, of West Rutland, a descendant of the pioneer John Smith ; their children were Sophronia, born 1823, died 1872 ; Darwin Rush, born 1826, died 1834; Charles S., born 1834, died 1835 ; Lucy Amorette, born 1836, died 1837; Lucy Lorenda, born 1838, widow of Har- mon Goss, of West Rutland; Harley G., born 1840, lives at West Rutland ; Mary Kate, born 1844, died 1869. The other children of Medad Sheldon were : Mary Lyman, born 1802, died -; Caroline, born 1804 and de- ceased; Sophronia, born 1806, deceased ; Lucy Amorette, born 1809, deceased ; Richard Preston, born 1811, drowned in Florida ; Charles, born 1813, now liv- ing in Rutland, and the senior member of the great marble firm of Sheldon & Sons; Henry Aaron, born 1815, deceased ; Chandler, born 1820, deceased ; Emily Janette, born 1821, wife of Edward Sheppard, of West Rutland. The sons of Charles Sheldon, who are associated with him in the marble industry, are John A., Charles H., Archie L., and William K. (See history of the mar- ble industry of the town).

In this connection it is proper to give a brief sketch of William F. Barnes, who has been mentioned as the partner of Lorenzo Sheldon and the pioneer in the West Rutland marble business. He was born in Pittsford in 1806. His parents went West, but he remained here and took up his residence while a boy with Elijah Boardman, in West Rutland. His younger years, and down to the time when he was about thirty years old, appear to have been a period of considerable vicissitude, and developed the remarkable energy, industry and perseverance that characterized his after life. In 1836 he discovered the mar- ble deposit at West Rutland, and was convinced that it was of inestimable value ; he purchased a tract of hill and swamp lands and began the task of opening the marble deposit and reclaiming the low lands. A considerable tract of before worthless land now presents a surface of excellent meadow, and the Barnes House and another large brick block, erected by him at West Rut- land, stand upon soil that was made by him. His energy was tireless; his perseverance in the face of many difficulties almost phenomenal ; fortunes have been made from the quarries that he was instrumental in opening, and yet Mr.

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Barnes, although having a considerable estate at one time, did not become wealthy. He represented Rutland two years in the Legislature and gained the esteem of his fellow-citizens. He was killed in May, 1871, by a block of mar- ble which fell in the quarry and struck him on the head, crushing his skull. (Further reference to his work and life will be found in the chapter devoted to the marble industry of the county).

Thaddeus Dunklee, from New Hampshire, came to Rutland in 1812, where he married Elizabeth Capron, July 29, 1822, by whom he had five children, Benjamin F., Hiram, Sarah, Samuel and George. But two are now living, George in Boston, Mass., and Benjamin F. in Rutland. He died in 1859.

Hon. James D. Butler came to Rutland among the pioneers before 1790, and was one of the early merchants of the village ; his store was situated where J. M. Haven now lives ; he was a partner for a time with T. J. Lyon, and the firm dissolved in 1796, the business being continued by Mr. Butler. He died in 1842, aged seventy-seven years. He was father of James Davie Butler, who was born in Rutland in March, 1815 ; the latter, after proper preparation, en- tered Middlebury College in 1832 and graduated four years later. In 1840 he graduated from the Theological Seminary at Andover. In 1842 he started on a European tour, returning in December, 1843. At different periods down to 1867 he was professor of ancient languages in Norwich University (1845), pro- fessor of Greek at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind. ; professor of both Greek and Latin in the University of Wisconsin, and filled several congrega- tional pulpits. In 1867 he began another European tour and has been in Europe twice since. He has also traveled extensively in this country. Pro- fessor Butler is an able writer in both prose and verse, and has published sev- eral volumes. He now resides in Madison, Wisconsin.

William Y. Ripley came from Middlebury to Rutland in 1837, locating at Center Rutland, where he engaged in mercantile business. He soon after acquired an interest in the marble business, and founded the large industry now carried on by his sons. (See description of the marble industries of the town). In 1861 he was elected president of the Rutland County National Bank, holding the office until his death in September, 1875 ; he was succeeded by his son William Y. W. Ripley. Edward H. Ripley, another of his sons, is a prominent citizen of Rutland village. His daughter, Julia Caroline, is now the widow of Hon. Seneca M. Dorr and lives at the beautiful residence known as the " The Maples," just outside of the limits of Rutland village. Mrs. Dorr evinced literary talent of a high order early in her life. This was developed in later years until she has gained a reputation throughout the country as a poet- ess and novelist of the first rank.

David Billings came into Shrewsbury from Sunderland, Mass., before 1800. His son, Benjamin B., was born in that town in 1801, and now lives in Mount Holly. His sons Benjamin, jr., and David C. are in the grocery trade in Rut-

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land. John S., Franklin, and Lorenzo, the other sons, live in Mount Holly. Benjamin came to Rutland in 1856.

Simeon Post came to Rutland before 1800 and located about three miles north of the village. Levi Long lived a half mile from him and was then his nearest neighbor. Mr. Post died December 11, 1841. His son, Alpha A., was born in Rutland, and died here April 13, 1871. James E. Post, now a manufacturer of sewer pipe in Rutland, is a son of Alpha A. Post.

John Cain, a native of the Isle of Man, came to America in 1832, and soon after to Rutland ; he became prominent here as an architect and builder. His wife was Mary, daughter of Avery Billings. They had five children, William J., John, Avery B., Jewett P., and Mary. Mr. Cain was conspicuous in Demo- cratic politics. He died in Rutland in 1880. (See biography in later pages of this work).

The names of many others who have been instrumental in building up the psosperous manufacturing and mercantile interests of Rutland, or have shone in professional careers, will appear as we proceed. The long list of names which we have inserted with brief notes of the personages, although partaking of the character of mere biographic notes, will yet stand as indicative of the human elements and powers that have served to develop this town to its pres- ent position in the front rank of the communities of the State. The pioneers laid deep the foundations, and their descendants have builded upon them a structure which is entirely to their credit.

Town Records .- The recorded acts of the pioneers in any locality always bear a surpassing interest ; and fortunate is the town or county which has pre- served them from the beginning. This is not the case in the town of Rutland ; still the existing records extend back nearly to the first organization and pub- lic proceedings of the proprietors and town officers.

The first proprietors' meeting of which records are in existence was held on the second Tuesday of October, 1773; this must have been one of the earliest public meetings in the town, for it was but little more than three years after James Mead made his first settlement. It was at this meeting that a vote was passed adding Joseph Bowker to the committee to find the center of the town, as stated a few pages back. It was held in the meeting house, then re- cently erected on what was long known as " Meeting-house hill " at West Rut- land. At the same meeting it was "voted that there shall be a proprietors' Meeting held at the Dwelling House of James Mead in said Rutland on the 3d Wednesday of November next at 12 o'clock noon."

On this occasion Nathan Tuttle was appointed moderator, and one of the first votes was " that the Proprietors come to another Division of Land of One Hundred acres of land to each Right." That they draw for their lots and for the pine timber land and that each proprietor, after having laid out his lot, " shall notify the Proprietor next to him by draught, where they have made 22

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their pitch." In that year the south line of the town was established. A vote was also passed " that there shall be a Highway laid through the Town on a line known by the name of Cockburn's line, lying 3 rods on each side of the Line and to begin at Joshua Raynals [Reynolds] Line, thence to Continue on said line till it Meets the south line of the town."

It will readily be understood that the proceedings of those earliest meetings were generally very brief and on many occasions insignificant in character ; there were but thirty or forty families in town. As fast as they came their lots were assigned, they settled down, and for a number of years there was little public work to be done. This was particularly the case at that period when the anxieties caused by the prospect of the great struggle for freedom were uppermost, and during which the homes of the county were almost deserted. At the meeting held in 1775 it was voted " to lay out fifty acres to etch Rite," and that " we will begin to lay out by the first Munday of April next ; that one surveyor shall lay them all out, the drafts of the fifty acres pitches."

Between the years 1775 and about 1780 there was little public business of importance transacted. Rutland county was not organized (until 1781), the town being a part of Bennington county, and almost every able-bodied man was under arms against the tyranny of the mother country. Civil progress was arrested and the land was filled with the troubled scenes of war. There was, however, more or less done in transferring lands by the proprietors, who had secured two hundred and fifty acres to each right, in the several divisions. While there was heroic pioneer work done in the town anterior and to some extent during the war of the Revolution, still the real progressive settlement and growth of the community did not set in until peace took up her gentle reign throughout the country.

The town officers of 1780, as given in the earliest town meeting records now existing, were as follows : Town clerk, Joseph Hawley ; town treasurer, Joseph Bowker ; selectmen, Lieutenant Roswell Post, John Smith, Ist, Lieu- tenant Moses Hale, Captain Zebulon Mead and Reuben Harmon. These offi- cers took up the business of the town with commendable energy. Several highways of more or less consequence had already been laid out and others were projected. The work of establishing and opening roads has always oc- cupied a large share of the attention of pioneer officials ; compared with this feature of the early public work, the remainder was trifling. Roads were al- most the first necessity ; without them progress was impossible ; with them neighbors could communicate with each other and reach whatever business centers existed ; they could transport their household necessities to their homes and carry away the few surplus products that could be spared ; they could reach the outer and older parts of the country. In the proceedings of the meeting of 1780 one of the first measures adopted was to approve of the action of the selectmen in laying out roads. A highway described as having been

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laid out by the selectmen in this year was as follows : " A highway 6 Rods wide in the Easterly part of the town Beginning at a Large Rock Standing near the Northeast corner of Mr. Reynolds Meadow west of the road, thence north- erly as the Road now goes from Clarendon to Pittsford, till its comes to where s'd road crosses East Creek, thence a northerly course continued and upon s'd road till it comes to the north line of Rutland." This highway was spoken of in early years as the Great Road.

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History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n; Rann, William S Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co. Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n; Rann, William S
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1170