History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 81

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 81

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"September 6, 1804, the Baptist Church was organized. It consisted of twenty-nine members. These had previously been connected with the church in Wallingford, but wishing to withdraw and organize a separate church, a council was called for that purpose, which was presided over by Elder William Harrington, of Clarendon. The petitioners were granted their wishes, and thus was organized the Baptist Church of Mount Holly. Elder Cyrus An- drews was the first resident preacher of the denomination here. His salary, as shown by the records, was $30 per year. Elders Sylvanus Haynes, of Mid- dletown, and William Harrington, of Clarendon, and others, came from time to time to preach the word to this band of pioneers assembled at the dwelling of Jacob White, which was enlarged by vote of the society for the purpose. March 11, 1811, Rev. Daniel Packer was ordained pastor. The services were conducted in a grove near the hotel kept by Dr. Clark. The church grew in numbers and wealth until 1815, when they erected their first house of worship, in the north part of the town. Its style of architecture was like that of its day - a large gallery and a pulpit with a "sounding-board." The labors of Rev. Daniel Packer were wonderfully proficient in success, so many being added to the church that in 1820 was erected another meeting-house in the south part of the town. This was a Union Church, and was owned by Bap- tists, Methodists, Congregationalists and Universalists. It was built in the very respectable style of architecture of the day, numerous evidences of which are now left standing. In front a portico, with front supported by large col- unins in the style of the Pantheon at Rome. There was a gallery on three sides of the interior, one of which was reserved for the choir, led, in those days, by a clarionet and bass-viol. This was a proprietary house, each family having a deed of one of the high pews. Under the pulpit were seats reserved for the deacons.

"The original subscription paper for this church is in existence, and is in the hands of C. W. Priest A copy is below. It is worth preserving, both from its peculiarity of literary composition and the names it contains. Oppo- site nearly each name are such expressions as "Paid by note," " Deed of

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TOWN OF MOUNT HOLLY.

pew," etc., showing how these hardy pioneers obtained possession of their ec- clesiastical advantages.

"' MOUNTHOLLY Feb Ist 1819

"'We whose names are hereunto subscribed being Impressed with a belief that it is our duty to contribute a part of our substance for the purpose of building a Meeting-house in the south part of Mountholly that we may be thus better prepared to bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. and that we ourselves better prepared to wait upon the Lord and attend to the word of his Grace. and thereby promote virtue and Expell vice from among us, do cordially unite and form ourselves into a society for that purpose and by these presents bind our selves to pay to John Crowley David Hoyt and Rich- ard Lawrence as a committee to superintend the building of said house the several sums to our names respective annexed to be paid one half in Merchant- able beef Cattle and the other half in good salable neat cattle not over eight years old (bulls and stags exempted) to be paid on the first day of October A. D. 1820 provided said committee build said house, which is to be completed by the first day of December A. D. 1820 for which said sums so by us paid we are to receive a deed or deeds of the pews which we bid off a record of which is to be kept by Horace Newton, and we further agree too and adopt the con- stitution which has this day been read to us as our constitution by which we will here after. Said house is to be built on the East Side of the country road a little Southerly from the store of Newton & Hoyt and is to be forty feet by fifty and finished in a goodworkman like manner & well painted.

Newton & Hoyt, $1.30 1 David Paland, 48.00

Jonah Ives, 0.97

Daniel Wing,

Elijah Davenport, 30.00 Clark Haven, jr., 27.00

Nathaniel Pingry, 1.05 Elias Kent,

Ezra Burke,

Enoch Jaquith, 29.00

William Earl, 0.92

Frances White, 37.00

Aaron Warner,

Isaac Randall, .90

Daniel Jaquith, 36.00

Silas Warner, 23.00

William Kent, 86.00

Daniel White, 37.00

Moses B. Russell,

Martin Cole, 71.00

Seth Livingstone,

Henry White, 48.50

John Ellis, 70.00

John Crowley, 34.00

Arba Tucker,

Edmond Briant, 66.00

Samuel Hosmer, 31.00

Stephen Graves, 30.00

John Crowley, 58.00

John Hadley, jr., 31.00 Abijah Cole, 30.00

Pheneas Carlton, 21.00

Chester Spencer,

Abraham Dodge, 36.00

Charles Hosmer, 20.00

Jerial Andrus, 55.00 Ruel Todd, 61.00

Wm. Graves, 35.00

Jacob Earl, 26.00 Russell Farwell, 15.00

Asa White, 50.00

Joseph Frost, 30.00

Jedediah Hammond, 10.00

Moses B. Russell, 40.00

Thaddeus Cook,

Daniel Packer, 9.00

John Moor, 37.00

William Poland, 30.00

James Tarbell, 18.00

Richard Lawrence, 54.00

Edmond Tarbell,

Martin C'ole, 9.00

" The subsequent years were full of prosperity for this communion. In 1826 the records show an addition of 100 persons. This body embraced much

1 As expressed, certainly indicating the trifling sum of one dollars and thirty cents ; but probably the notation of those days gave license to divide into periods of two figures each, which would make one hundred and thirty dollars as the amount indicated; which is made probable by the position it oc- cupies as commanding the best pews, and preceding amounts of nearly one hundred dollars.

John Wing. 43.00

Warner Scott, 27.00

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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

of the wealth of the town, and most of its men of influence. In 1830 forty- two members were dismissed to form the church at East Wallingford, and, three years later, as many more to organize societies in Plymouth and Shrews- bury. Still, in 1842, the members of the church in this town were 466 The year 1850 witnessed the demolition of the church in Mechanicsville, the erec- tion of which is narrated above. It was succeeded by the more modern one but last summer destroyed. One year later the first meeting-house built in Mount Holly was likewise torn away, and upon its site was erected the edifice which is now, after many repairs and furnished with modern improvements, oc- cupied as a place of worship. January 1, 1846, Rev. Daniel Packer, after a continuous pastorate of thirty-five years, closed his labors with the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Joshua Clement, recently deceased. After his re- tirement, the pioneer preacher, who had baptized more than 1,600 persons, re- sided with his son, J. D. S. Packer, until his death, June 30, 1873, at the age of eighty-six years and nine months. Since the date of his resignation, the church has profited by the labors of Joshua Clement (1846), Ariel Kendrick (a few months in 1848), Richard M. Ely (1848-52), Winthrop Morse, Samuel Austin, Daniel Borroughs, Nathaniel Cudworth, Charles Coon, T. H. Archi- bald, Stephen Pillsbury, G. W. Gates, A. McLaughlin, Silas F. Deane, F. White, W. H. Lawton, O. J. Taylor, and the present incumbent, L. W. King. Under the latter's pastorate, the church building put up in 1850 as a Union house (with the land deeded to Deacon John Eddy, F. L. Frost, and Edward Par- menter, as representatives of Baptist, Methodist and Universalist), upon the withdrawal of the Methodists, who owned a commanding interest, has been succeeded by the elegant and tasty structure recently dedicated, upon the site of the old one, as a Baptist Church. Its cost was $5,400. The body now numbers ninety resident and thirty-two non-resident members (1881). Ed- mund Briant was the first deacon, and was elected November 21, 1805. Fol- lowing him have been Ichabod G. Clark, Martin Cole, Isaac Dickerman, Har- vey White, John C. Eddy, Jacob Pingrey, Alvah Horton, Warren Horton, Harvey Livingstone, David P. Gibson, Windsor Newton, and Andrew L. Mar- shall. The first church clerk was Simeon Dickerman, elected September 6, 1804. He held office until 1828, when he was succeeded by Daniel Packer (1828-46), Jacob Pingrey (1846-64), M. H. Dickerman (1864-68), David P. Gibson (1868-84), and Andrew L. Marshall (elected 1885).

" The Baptist society of this town has furnished the following preachers for other communities : Cyrus Andrus, William Grant, Jared Doolittle, Larkin B. Cole, Harvey Crowley.

" The Universalists have never had an organization. They have owned property in our Union Churches, and their ministers from abroad have some- times supplied the pulpits. Among the early settlers were some of this faith, and our town has always contained a certain number who have immigrated

685

TOWN OF MOUNT HOLLY.

hither. Their children and others within their influence have in some cases adhered to the belief, but have lived without church connection ; others have become assimilated with the orthodox churches, which have been in the as- cendancy. Revs. Royal T. Sawyer and Edwin Headle have gone from this town to preach that faith.

" Quakers .- The ecclesiastical followers of William Penn in this country had, at an early date, a body of worshipers in this town. If the Congrega- tionalists had no meeting-house prior to the erection of the Baptist Church in the north part of the town, the Quakers probably had the first meeting-house in town. The building was scarcely worth dignifying as a church. It was a small wood structure, standing a few rods north of the road above Mechanics- ville, which leads to the Dodge farm occupied by N. P. Weaver. It was moved in 1825, after about twenty years of usage, into the village, and is now a dwelling-house. This order never obtained a very numerous following. About a dozen families composed the number. Among them were those of George Crowley, Peter and Stephen Baker, Snow Randall, Samuel Cook, and Daniel Kelley.

" The cemetery in use in the south part of the village was at that time the Quaker burying-ground. In it rest the remains of some of the above worthy pioneers, who " counted not the world dear unto themselves." Peter and Stephen Baker removed to Danby ; the other primitive members died here. The children generally repudiated their birth-right; and, receiving no additions from abroad to remain as permanent members (though others came from Weston and Danby to worship with these), the society became extinct."

Perhaps no more appropriate place will be found than this for the insertion of the following memoranda regarding the Quakers of this town, as a sect, which was kindly furnished us by Nelson W. Cook : -

"The Quakers were quite numerous in Mount Holly and settled principally in the south part of the town, in the vicinity of what is now Mechanicsville. They were men of courage and sterling character. They went into the wilder- ness with the single purpose of making for themselves and their families con- fortable homes, not realizing the great work in which they were to take an active part, namely, that of converting the primitive forest into fruitful fields, organizing towns, counties and States, and the building of churches for relig- ious worship. That they were the most influential, wealthy and enterprising need not rest upon the assertion of the historian alone; of that fact there is abundant recorded evidence. To them belongs the credit of building the first meeting-house in town (1803) and it was the only one for twelve years suc- ceeding that date. They also organized the first district school. The meeting at which the town was organized was presided over by one of their number, who was also chosen as the first representative of the town. Among those of this sect who were prominent may be mentioned Samuel Cook, Abraham Jack-

686

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

son, David Southwick, Uriel Crowley, Snow Randall, Stephen Baker, George Crowley, Asa Abbott, Peter Baker, David Kelley, Jethro Jackson, Daniel Cook." Sketches of several of these are given in earlier pages of the history of this town.

Methodists .- "Very early in the century the followers of John Wesley brought the burning zeal of that then great reformer to the solitude of this then mountain fastness. Inspired with the spirit of their leader, who said ' the world is my parish,' these burning exponents of 'free grace' were among the first bands of hardy adventurers who sought and made their homes with no pleasanter neighbors than the primeval forest sheltered. No dates are at hand which exactly determine the introduction of Methodism in this town. Prob- ably not more than forty years after the first Methodist sermon was preached in this country, or fifteen years after the death of Wesley, in 1791, were there among the settlers persons who professed this behalf. Many years previous to the organization of these persons into a society by Rev. Jacob Beeman, in 1815, were they assembled for religious worship and singing in private houses and barns, when they were ministered unto by some of the 'saddle-bags-men,' who were ever active, fording rivers and sleeping in the wilderness that they might travel their circuits.

" The first meeting of this sort known to have been held in town was prob- ably in the house of John Moores, on the farm now owned by H. C. Carpenter. Afterwards meetings were held in the first school-house in the Mechanicsville district, until some persons in the district objected to their using the wood bought for school purposes. This building stood near the site of the new school building erected in 1880, was square, had a hip-roof, and after it ceased to be used for school purposes was moved near the spot where now stands the town-hall, and was used on each alternate Sunday by the Methodists as a chapel.

" These persons were organized into a society by Jacob Beeman in 1815. Among the members of that organization were Captain Joseph Kinne and wife, David and William Poland, Luke and Silas Warner, Clark Haven, John Chandler and Mathew Wing. Thus organized, they continued to worship in barns and school-houses, holding their quarterly meetings, which were often attended by large loads of people from Clarendon and other towns. In 1820 they had an interest in the Union Church, then built as described in our last paper. In this they held services a portion of the time ; in their chapel the balance. Some of the circuit-riders, who in those days and immediately suc- ceeding came across the mountains from the more thickly populated regions of New York, sent out by the older Conference (for the Vermont Conference was not organized until 1844), were Revs. Samuel Drapon, Jacob Beeman, B. Goodsell, Anthony Rice, -- Wescot, - Meeker, - Rider, John White- horn, John B. Stratton, Tobias Spicer, Cyrus Prindle, John M. Weaver, David Poor, Joshua Poor, John Alley, A. Lyon, W. Heirs, - Hanover, C. B. Mor-

687

TOWN OF MOUNT HOLLY.

ris, L. Prindle, Ira Bently. These men preached the word to this pioneer church prior to its becoming a 'charge' within the limits of the Troy Con- ference. They were all circuit-riders, never having a residence here. After the discussions in the Methodist Church regarding church discipline, and the episcopacy and presiding elder-ship, which resulted in the estrangement of a body of believers in 1830, calling themselves Protestant Methodists, and dis- carding the above offices, that faith had a small following in this town. They held meetings in the old brick school-house at Tarbellville. Their numbers were few. They had preaching each two weeks by Revs. Vaughan and Fasset, respectively. They never effected an organization in this town. When the Vermont Conference was organized in 1844, it only embraced the three dis- tricts east of the Green Mountains formerly belonging to the New Hampshire Conference, and this town still held its allegiance to the Troy Conference. It had for pastors the following men : W. I. Pond, B. D. Ames, - Cooper, -Haselton, L. S. Walker, T. Dodgson, E. Gale, A. Dickinson, A. Howard, T. B. Taylor, Caleb Fales, Zeb. Twitchell, Isaac Smith, H. H. Smith, Z. H. Powers, J. E. King, S. Smith, J. H. Stevens, J. F. Chamberlain, Robert Brown, C. A. Stevens, M. A. Wicker. At the general Conference of 1860 the two districts lying west of the mountains were transferred to the Vermont Confer- ence (though in 1868 one district was retroceded again to the Troy Conference), thus placing this town within the limits of the Vermont Conference. Prior to this time Cuttingsville became associated with this place as a preaching ap- pointment. The following clergymen have in the order indicated held appoint- ments here since, preaching at the two places alternately : Hubbard Eastman, 1861-63 ; C. A. Stephens, 1863-64 ; A. Newton, 1864-66 ; H. G. Day, 1866- 67 ; Moses Adams, 1867-70 ; Joseph Enright, 1870-73 ; T. Mackie, 1873- 75 ; Leonard Dodd, 1875-77 ; J. I. Cummings, 1877-78 ; James E. Knapp, 1878-81; W. C. Oliver, 1881-83 ; W. M. Gillis, 1883-85. In 1883 this so- ciety, with a bequest of Mrs. Mary Knights as a nucleus, secured funds for the erection of a new house of worship more compatible with their growing needs. As a result, the new Gothic edifice which now adorns our village was erected at a cost of $5,800. There is preaching service each Sunday at 10.30 o'clock, followed by Sabbath-school, and prayer service in the evening. The present pastor is Rev. W. M. Gillis, and the society now numbers 145, with thirty-five probationers. There is an enterprising Sunday-school of about 200 members at present. The church has a commodious parsonage built at an expense of $2,280."

The church officers are as follows : Stewards, P. E. Chase, Anthony Adams, Warren Underwood, R. R. Parker, Sylvester Tucker, P. L. Allen, S. B. Flan- ders, B. E. Foster, F. F. Cady, A. W. Graves, Asa Meyers (including the charge at Cuttingsville). Class leader, David E. Eddy. Sunday-school su- perintendent, Z. B. Babbitt.

688

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

" Adventists .- Some time about 1840 the Advents commenced a scries of meetings at the brick school-house in Tarbellville. They were largely attended, and attracted much attention. Such preachers as Locke, Lyon, Bosworth and Tiff preached. Among those of that faith who in those days were earnest for its propagation were the families of Daniel Chatterton, Horace Newton, Rufus and William Jackson, Nathan Doolittle, Gabriel Bishop and Orlin Russell. So earnest did these become in the belief of the personal coming of the Lord that they met upon fixed days to prepare themselves by prayer and exhortation, and be thus assembled to meet him. Some, in 1844, refused to harvest their crops. During the summer of 1846 they were organized into a society by Elder D. Bosworth, of Bristol, who became and has since been their pastor. A chapel was erected at Bowlville, at a cost of $1,000, having a seating ca- pacity of 300 persons. Here preaching service is occasionally held by the pas- tor. The society is few in numbers, but they have usually been men of sterling integrity.

" Roman Catholic .- The last church organization was the Roman Catholic. This was in 1874, and by Patrick Kelly and John Dorsey. It consisted of thirty-four members. Their church edifice was erected in 1875, and cost $4,000. Rev. Charles Boylan was the first priest. They have now a mem- bership of more than eighty families, mostly of Irish and French descent. Rev. Father Lane, of Rutland, presides over the church. Such has been the origin and growth of the several church bodies. They have each been defended with true Puritan zeal and steadfastness. Each has contained followers with tenacity equal to the early Puritans - and some at times with a spirit akin to the Mathers at Salem. They have been the bulwarks of our civilization, containing our most earnest and reliable citizens, and have ever been respected and respectable."

Schools. - Mount Holly is divided into twelve school districts, in which schools are maintained several months of each year. The inhabitants of the town have always shown a commendable degree of interest in the cause of edu- cation, and particularly in more recent years; several commodious and com- fortable school houses have been erected and care taken to secure excellent teachers.

The Professions. - For an account of the physicians who have practiced in Mount Holly in past years the reader is referred to the previous chapter devoted to the medical profession. The venerable Dr. John Crowley is still a resident of the town, and in that chapter a sketch of his life will be found. Dr. T. A. Cootey was born in Barnard, Windsor county, Vt., February 27, 1855. Stud- icd his profession at Woodstock and Burlington, where he graduated in 1880. He began practicing at once in Mechanicsville.

The only lawyer who ever resided in this town was Ira V. Randall. He was a native of the town and remained here about three years after his admis- sion to the bar in 1850. He removed to De Kalb, Ill., and became quite prom- inent in his profession.

689

TOWN OF MOUNT HOLLY.

Municipal, Manufacturing, etc. - There have never been any villages of prominence in Mount Holly ; but there are several hamlets bearing distinctive names, at which more or less business is carried on. The largest of these is Mechanicsville, which is situated near the central part of the town.

One of the early business industries of this place was the tannery which was started by Deacon Dan Peck, more than sixty years ago, on the site now occu- pied by Dr. T. A. Cootey's house. Daniel Tubbs, of Clarendon, subsequently carried it on for some time and was succeeded by Stone & Derby, who ran it for a long time. Leander Derby, in company with Alanson White and later with Henry W. Ball, operated it until it was abandoned some years since.

The toy manufactory of Phillip E. Chase I is located here and is an import- ant industry. It was started in 1863 by his brother, A. P. Chase, who sold an interest to Philip E. soon after. It has continued under Mr. Chase's control since. Water and steam power are used and forty to fifty styles of children's wagons, wheelbarrows, carts, etc., are made. About fifty men are employed in the establishment. On this site was formerly a grist-mill for many years, which was last run by Benjamin Priest ; a part of its old frame was used in erecting the toy factory. Mr. Chase has a saw-mill in connection with his fac- tory and uses annually about 800,000 feet of lumber in his business.

Frederick Parmenter carries on a chair stock factory, which he, and for a time at first with his father, Edwards Parmenter, has run nearly thirty years ; he purchased his father's interest.

I. A. Russell & Son (F. L. Russell) carry on a general store at Mechanics- ville. It was built by Samuel Hemenway in 1843 or 1844, who conducted the business a short time and was succeeded for a year or so by Parker Sawyer. After he left it E. R. Fay kept it for five or six years; it was then run as a union store for a short time, Frank Parmenter being clerk. This was succeeded by Harvey Dickerman four or five years; D. L. Dawley, eight years ; N. B. Pinney, a number of years; B. J. Powell, one year; Charles W. Priest, eight years; the present proprietors succeeded Mr. Priest February 1, 1884.

Samuel Hemenway kept a hotel at Mechanicsville many years ago in the house now occupied by Mrs. Abigail Livingstone, and there were inns in the town even before that. The hotel now kept by E. R. Chase and owned by him, was opened in January, 1883.

1 Elijah Chase, father of P. E., came to Mechanicsville about fifty years ago; he was a shoemaker. His son, Phillip E., started on a whaling voyage in 1852 from New Bedford, Mass .; cruised about the Azore Islands a few months and then sailed for the coast of Brazil where several months were spent around the Rio de la Platte ; thence he sailed around Cape Horn and at one of the Chili ports he left the whaling vessel and spent a few months along that coast and Peru, returning then to Boston. He also made a second voyage to the West Indies. In 1855 he entered the regular army, in the 2d regiment of cavalry, and spent over four years in Texas, returning home in 1860. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company I, 2d Vermont Regiment and went out as ser geant ; was made second lieutenant of Company A, same regiment, and promoted to first lieutenant appointed captain of Company G, same regiment, and was mustered out with the organization.

690

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

A post-office has been maintained here fifty years or more, of which Dea- con Dan Peck was postmaster in its early existence. On the Ist of April, 1884, F. L. Russell was appointed to the office, as successor to C. W. Priest. In the fall of 1885 Frank Parmenter superseded Mr. Russell.

Tarbellville is a hamlet about a mile west of Mechanicsville; it received its name from Marshall Tarbell, a prominent citizen. A store is kept here by M. G. Williams, which was originated by Marshall Tarbell about 1871, in which year he built it. S. H. Livingston kept it until 1876; Puffer & Pettingill, 1877 ; F. H. Puffer, two years, 1879; M. Tarbell, one year, 1880; C. F. Ives, two years, 1882; Morse & Ranger, two years, and were succeeded by the present proprietor.

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History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 81

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