History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

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 85

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).

716

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

Williams, Henry C. Wood, Martin P. Wood, co. B, 2d regt .; Willard Wood, co. C, 10th regt .; Austin E. Woodman, co. I, 7th regt .; Stephen Woods, co. K, 2d regt .; Augustus L. Wright, co. E, 5th regt.

Credits under call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 volunteers, and subse- quent calls .- Volunteers for three years: John Crawford, co. C, 3d regt .;. James L. Hall, co. H, 7th regt .; Daniel H. Hall, jr., co. G, 11th regt .; Otis W. Harwood, Ist bat .; Edmund Hix, 2d bat .; Chester O. Hulett, Ist bat .; John O. Humphrey, co. H, 9th regt .; Alson L. Kitchell, co. I, 7th regt .; William F. Loomis, John McGrath, Ist bat .; Wyman C. Mcomber, co. L, 11th regt .; Joel A. Mason, co. I, 17th regt .; William McKelvey, John Pentony, co. I, 7th regt .; Herbert Perham, Ist bat .; Keyes Potter, co. K, 7th regt .; Colba Reed, co. H, 7th regt .; Elbridge I. Reed, 11th regt .; Benjamin B. Royals, co. I, 7th regt .; James Sheridan, Ist bat .; James H. Smith, co. C, 11th regt .; John Smith, co. G, 11th regt .; William Town, co. K, 7th regt .; Henry Towslee, Ist bat .; George Williams, 3d regt.

Volunteers for one year .- John Conlin, co. B, 7th regt .; Baptiste Lassor,. co. G, 2d regt .; Vetal Lassor, co. A, 2d regt .; Mark S. Moore, cav .; Charles Russell, 11th regt .; Henry H. Thompson, co. D, 7th regt.

Volunteers re-enlisted .- Michael Agan, co. D, 7th regt .; William H. Beld- ing, co. G, cav .; Hiram Blossom, co. C, 2d regt .; Noble C. Bostwick, co. E, 5th regt .; Justus W. Harwood, co. C, 2d regt .; Charles M. Kingsley, Patrick McGrath, Sylvanus McWain, Chauncey H. Robinson, Chester M. Vail, co. D, 7th regt .; John R. Wilkins, co. E, 5th regt. Not credited by name .- Three men.

Volunteers for nine months .- Charles Barrett, co. K, 12th regt .; John H. Black, Robert F. Black, Adoniram J. Blakeley, Andrew J. Blowers, Orlando Bushee, James W. Guild, Alonzo V. Guilder, Walace S. Guilder, Albert E. Hollister, Francis S. Hollister, Willis C. Hollister, co. B, 14th regt .; Sewell F. Howard, co. K, 14th regt .; Warner E. Huelett, Eugene Little, Samuel W. Nelson, Levi Patterson, Herbert Perham, George O. Simonds, Judson Smith, Martin Smith, Charles P. Taylor, Charles W. Towsley, William C. Weeks, Ahira E. Wood, William H. Wood, co. B, 14th regt.

Furnished under draft .- Paid commutation, Seth E. Culver, Ogden Fisher, Levi Hanks, F. M. Hollister, Levi Paris, Michael Quinlan, Warren Rice, Joel S. Wilcox. Procured substitute : J. McD. Andrus, Reuben Dillingham, Jesse C. Gray, Jacob McFadden, Charles H. Russell.

Municipal History .- The largest village in this town is Pawlet (or "Algiers," as it is frequently called), which is situated on Pawlet River 'near the junction of Flower Brook, a little south of the center of the town. We have already spoken of the early settlers at this point and many of the business men of past years. The place was once of considerable commercial and manufacturing im- portance and, it is said, did more business in 1830 than was done at Rutland ;

717

TOWN OF PAWLET.

a state of affairs that has been greatly changed by the influence of railroads on the latter village. Among the early merchants were William Fitch, Joel Harmon, Ephraim Fitch, Dorastus and Silas Fitch, Phineas and Return Strong, Hart & Judson, Reed Edgerton, George H. Purple, Horace Clark, Russel C. Wheeler, Harvey Baker, William Wallace, T. J. Swallow, George Edgerton, Martin D. Strong, David Whedon, jr., Hiram Wickham, William Sheldon, John Allen, and perhaps a few others.

The oldest merchants at present doing business in the village are D. H. & A. L. Bromley. The former began trade here in 1853, in the building now used by Mr. Huelett as a tin shop. The junior member came in the firm in 1862. WV. Rice has kept a general store since 1870, and has occupied his present lo- cation four years. M. V. B. Leach has been in trade as a general merchant since March, 1879; and S. S. Snell since March, 1885, when he bought out William Mason, who had traded about a year. Charles E. Taylor started in general trade about two years ago. D. B. Whitcomb carries on the grocery business and has for eleven years past ; has occupied his present location four years. O. Bushee is one of the older merchants and has carried a stock of drugs and groceries since about 1865. Q. A. Pratt began the grocery and hardware trade, which he continued about a year, and changed to drugs in June, 1883. H. E. Damon has kept a jewelry store since October, 1884, snc- ceeding D. A. Parker, who has been in business about six years. Fayette Hulett and his brother Chester began in the tin and hardware business in 1866; Fayette bought his brother's interest in the fall of 1885. William B. Miller does the harness-making for the place.

We have mentioned the old hotel built by Ephraim Fitch early in the cen- tury. This was the forerunner of the present Franklin House, and was next kept by Lemuel Barden for many years ; he transferred it to Deacon Griswold. Others who have kept the house were Ephraim F. Clark, Robert Clark, Har- rison Vail, Chapin Andrus, D. B. Hulett, who was succeeded by the present landlord, D. W. Bromley, in 1867. The Crescent Valley House was completed in the spring of 1884, by Amos G. Leach and John R. Crapo ; it is chiefly for the accommodation of summer guests.

There is not much manufacturing now existing in this town. F. Ham- mond runs the grist-mill at this village, on the site where Ephraim Fitch built the first mill in the town, as before related ; and the saw-mill, which was an old one when Silas Gregory ran it forty years ago, is now operated by S. P. Andrus. J. Robinson established a carriage factory here in 1850, which he still carries on. The fork handle and baby carriage stock factory, now con- ducted by M. P. Damon & Co. (Lee Simonds), was established by Mr. Damon in 1873; it is on the site of the old Lumbard woolen-mill, and turns out in the neighborhood of 60,000 fork handles and stock for 30,000 baby carriages an- nnally. The woolen-factory of E. Colvin (formerly operated by the Pawlet

718

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

Woolen Company) is located two miles south of the village. The first com- pany was organized in 1846 by Asa Jones, and reorganized in 1877. About 25,000 pounds of wool are made into cloth annually. Other minor manufac- tures of the town, which may as well receive attention here, are the grist-mill of F. S. Weed, which is operated by Charles Clark. It was built in 1879 by John Adams, who transferred it to Leach & Crapo, and they to Dwight Parker, who sold to Mr. Weed. W. B. Woodard built a saw-mill in the west part of the town in 1881, and still runs it. Blakely's cheese factory was built by Frank Blakely about ten years ago and he has operated it since; it uses the milk of about 400 cows. The Pawlet cheese factory, at Pawlet, is now carried on by Carlton Marks; it was established in 1865 by R. C. Wickham and has been successfully conducted. The Leach cheese factory, now run by William Leach, is in the south part of the town and is smaller than the others men- tioned.

The slate interest of this town is of considerable importance. The Dilling- ham quarry, at West Pawlet, was opened by Howell Dillingham in 1877-78 ; employs about ten men and produces sea-green roofing slate of good quality. The Brownell Slate and Flagging Company's quarry is in the west part of the the town and employs about forty men, turning out 800 squares of roofing and 3,000 feet of flagging per month. Rising & Nelson's quarries at West Pawlet, four in number, employ about eighty-five men. They began the busi- ness about 1876, their product being sea-green roofing slate. The firm have also a quarry of red slate in Granville. Hugh W. Hughes owns and operates five quarries in the town, which he leased in 1878, succeeding Evan J. Jones & Barnard, who had been engaged in the business about three years. George Barnard had bought property of Howard Evans, who, after Griffith Lloyd, was the pioneer in the business. Mr. Hughes employs from fifty to sixty men, produces the green slate, but deals in all shades. All of the slate industry is located at West Pawlet. (See Chapter XIII.)

The post-office at Pawlet was established early in the history of the town. Dorastus Fitch was postmaster in 1814, and George Purple probably succeeded him. Horace Clark then had the office, and as late as 1828. Then followed Daniel Taylor, Porter Fitch, Martin D. Strong, Charles Potter, James Rice and Orlando Bushee, who kept the office from about 1876 to 1885. The present official is C. E. Taylor.

West Pawlet .- This is a hamlet and station on the Rutland and Washington railroad and situated in the extreme west part of the town, across a portion of which the road passes. The post-office here was first kept by Orson F. Betts about 1854 for a short time, and he was followed by M. V. B. Pratt for about six years ; then J. A. Orr took the office for about three years ; F. Johnson six or seven years ; then G. W. Beecher until the advent of the present official, M. V. B. Pratt, who began his second term October 1, 1885.

719

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.

Rising & Nelson, mentioned in connection with the slate industry, have kept a store here since March, 1874 ; they built the store they occupy. James F. Braymer was a junior partner the first three years. Florace Johnson began general trade here nearly ten years ago. A P. Bull began grocery trade in April, 1882, and built the block a part of which he occupies. M. V. B. Pratt, the oldest merchant here, began trade about 1854 and is still in business. George R. Pratt deals in jewelry and fancy goods ; has been in business two and a half years and occupied his present store in October, 1885. G. W. Beecher and brother (D. O. Beecher) began the tin manufacturing business in September, 1874, the first named being alone until 1883, when his brother joined him.

David Woodard kept the hotel in the large building until about 1878 for a number of years - about twenty-five. This house is not now kept. The Nelson House is kept by F. J. Nelson, who opened it in April, 1885 ; he had kept hotel in the large building mentioned about a year previous.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.

P ITTSFIELD, situated in the extreme northeastern corner of the county, is a triangular piece of land bounded on the north by Rochester in the county of Windsor ; on the east by Stockbridge, also in Windsor county, and on the west by Chittenden. It derived its name from the town of the same name in Massachusetts, from which a number of the first settlers immigrated hither. The history of its origin is peculiar in the extreme. Governor Thomas Chit- tenden chartered the town on the 29th of July, 1781, to Josiah Wright, Daniel Kinne, Samuel Wilcox and nearly 130 others. The original proprietors, who, from representations made to them, supposed the territory of their infant town to contain land equal in extent to the average township and a half, held their first meeting in Danby in December, 1781, and chose Daniel Kinne modera- tor, and Solomon Stoddard clerk ; they then appointed a committee who, pur- suant to the purpose of the appointment, laid out fifty-two and one-half acres to each proprietor, and a like number of acres to each public reservation. In 1787, when another allotment of forty acres to each proprietor was made, it was discovered that the towns of Stockbridge and Chittenden had, as they charged, so over-reached their proper boundaries as to reduce Pittsfield to a mere gore, equal in extent to less than an average township. They thereupon called another meeting to be held on the 25th of September, 1787, at which

720

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

they appointed Asa Whitcomb and Charles Goodrich their agents to obtain redress from the Legislature for the unjust encroachments of their neighbors. But their efforts were fruitless ; they were told that the land was there and they must look it up, and after more than ten years of vexatious and expensive lit- igation, they were defeated, and about 14,000 acres of their land was lost to them.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Daniel Atkins, who then lived at the mills, and operated them for Charles Goodrich. There on the 26th day of March, 1793, the town was formally organized by the election of the following officers : George Martin, moderator of the meeting ; town clerk, Thomas Hodgkins; selectmen, George Martin, Stephen Holt and Joseph Adams ; treasurer, Daniel Bow ; first constable, Anthony Whitcomb ; sealer of leather, Daniel Atkins ; grand jurors, Stephen Holt and William Davis ; pound-keeper, Daniel Atkins; tythingmen, Jonas Stone and Asa Call ; hay- wards, David Daly, Jacob Jefferson and Ebb Durkee ; fence viewers, Danie Bow; highway surveyors, Ebb Durkee, Jacob Jefferson, Jacob Bow; sealer of weights and measures, Daniel Bow.

The first men to effect a settlement in Pittsfield were Daniel and Jacob Bow, who, in about 1786, cleared farms in the southern part of the town, the former beginning on the farm now occupied by Daniel Avery and the latter on the present farm of Artemas Hunt. In the same year Thomas Hodgkins set- tled in the northeast part of the town on the farm recently owned by Royal Tupper. He was the first town clerk for thirteen years, and was also the first town representative. George Martin came about this time to the Granville Farewell farm, both farms being now a part of the town of Rochester. Stephen Holt came soon after to the farm recently occupied by John Sawyer. Among the other early inhabitants were Lucius Kibbe, John Gaius, Dr. Tucker, Ira Holt and Woodward Tucker. David Waller lived on the farm lately owned by Alden Pinney ; Alba Durkee commenced on the farm where Douglas Long now lives ; Amos Jones occupied the farm of late called the Joseph Durkee farm. Timothy Durkee began on what is now known as the Gibbs farm. Zac- cheus Blossom settled on the farm formerly owned by Arlow Lamb. David Daly erected a house and small tannery near the end of the bridge, below the mill, where Guilford Parmenter now lives. The farm now owned by H. O. Gibbs was begun by Nathaniel Eddy. The first man to establish a residence on the site of the village was Uzziah Green, who built a primitive log house between the Congregational parsonage and school-house. Jonas Stone settled on the site of Andrew Ellis's residence, and Ebb Durkee where Jonathan Ran- ney now lives. David Durkee cleared the farm in later times occupied by R. Guernsey.

On the 4th of March, 1796, Benjamin Blossom, father of the late William R. Blossom, moved here with his family from Pittsfield, Mass., and occupied

721

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.

the house at the mills then owned by Charles Goodrich. He was a Revolu- tionary soldier. For ten years he operated the grist-mill and saw-mill for Mr. Goodrich, in the mean time purchasing thirty acres of land from him, embrac- ing the present site of Dr. Brigham's house and barn. William R. Blossom, who was intimately associated with the interests of the town for a period of more than sixty-five years, was the youngest child of Benjamin Blossom. He was born in Pittsfield, Mass., on the 28th of April, 1789. He obtained such education as the district schools of his home in Vermont could afford. From the time of his fourteenth year until about 1807 he passed his summers in the employment of the landholders of the neighborhood, and others who could give him employment, notably, James Goodrich and Zebedee Sprout. In the sum- mer of his eighteenth year he worked for Stone & Eddy for thirteen dollars a month, constructing the turnpike across the mountain. He camped out the whole of the time he was engaged in this work. He became by degrees the owner of a farm of 150 acres, on which he erected a house. In 1866 he sold the farm for $3,000, and moved on to the farm originally occupied by his father. At the age of twenty-five years he joined a Masonic lodge at Stock- bridge and held various offices in it until the anti-Masonic excitement of 1828. He was corporal of a company of militia men when he was eighteen years of age ; captain at twenty-five years. In 1817 he was elected town clerk, and remained in that office until 1833. When he was twenty-seven years of age he was appointed justice of the peace, and continued in that position for forty-five consecutive years. He also held every other office in the gift of the town except town treasurer. He was a delegate to a Constitutional Convention convoked by the Council of Censors in 1828, and afterwards represented the town in General Assembly five terms at two different periods. On the 6th day of June, 1822, he married Czarina Cole, a native of Randolph, Vt., by whom he had three sons and two daughters. He was a man of unusual capacity and integrity. His death occurred on the 14th day of September, 1885, when he had attained the age of ninety-six years, four months and sixteen days. He was buried with Masonic honors. Orvis G. Blossom, his son, and Czarina Allen, his eldest child, are now residents of the town.

Another early resident of Pittsfield was Erastus Holt, father of Rufus Holt. He was born in Hampton, Conn., on the 8th of September, 1777. He came to Pittsfield in 1798, and settled in the northeast part of the town on the farm now occupied by William Swift. He cleared the farm, built a log house, and the following year married Sallie Parmenter, of Pittsfield, by whom he had a family of nine sons and three daughters. He achieved a wide reputation for his ability in acting as attorney in law suits, although he was never admitted by the courts to practice. He represented the town seven consecutive years at one time, and eight at another; attended three constitutional conventions and was justice of the peace for thirty-two consecutive years. When he tendered

722

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

his resignation, Esquire Blossom observed that it would be accepted on condi- tion that Rufus Holt would fill the vacancy. (For a sketch of Rufus Holt, see biography in later pages.)

The writer was fortunate in securing an interview with William R. Blossom a short time before his death, and while his memory seemed to have lost none of its earlier vigor. When he came to town in 1796 with his father, the country had not assumed the aspect of civilization ; the empire of nature had not been strenuously disputed by man. The road over the mountain past Townsend's had been recently opened, but was full of roots, stumps and almost insurmount- able rocks. Another road which was seldom traveled had been constructed between Pittsfield and Rutland, past the present residence of Mr. Chamberlain ; it was called the Derby road. The village of Pittsfield was not yet. The large and umbrageous elm tree which now casts its gratifying shadow on the village common, was then a mere sapling. Mr. Blossom and his brother Zaccheus, then boys, were working for James Goodrich clearing this tract. Goodrich directed William to cut down the tree, but was persuaded by the latter to leave it stand- ing because of its promise.

The industries were then exceedingly rude and primitive. Jonas Stone ran a potato distillery on the site of Andrew Ellis's present residence, and con- tinued it to about 1826. The product of this distillery has been called poor whisky. Stone also made potash near the distillery and shipped it to Boston. June & Hayden at one time ran an ashery back of the blacksmith shop of Frederick Morrill.

The first store in town was kept about 1816, by John Gould, who came here from Rutland, and traded across the stream from the residence of Lyman Par- menter. He did not remain long. While there he was arrested and tried on a charge of perjury, but was acquitted. The next store was kept by Drancis June and Philotus Hayden, under the firm name of June & Hayden. Their store, which was opened about 1830, was situated on the site of Mr. Lewis's house in Mill Village. After two or three years they sold out to Spaulding & Hodges ; Samuel Spaulding, of Brandon, attending to the business. Even as late as this, the modes of life here and, indeed, throughout the State, were ru- dimentary. Mr. Blossom related that while he was in the General Assembly, the law-makers of Vermont were obliged to travel to Montpelier on horseback, and the farmers thereabouts would vie with each other like Niagara hackmen for the privilege of taking the horses of senators and representatives to pasture on their farms for a pecuniary consideration. That was when the old State house was in use.

About a dozen men, including William R. Blossom, started for Plattsburg during the War of 1812, but did not reach there soon enough to participate in that celebrated battle.

The cold season of 1816 caused considerable suffering in Pittsfield, as it did

723

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.

in all the towns which were cut off by natural barriers from the centers of busi- ness activity. In the following season the suffering was increased. Seed of any kind was scarcely procurable. Money was scarce, people took wagons, articles of furniture, etc., out of town to barter for provisions.

The first mills built in town were erected about 1780, by Charles Goodrich, of Pittsfield, Mass., who derived his rights and privileges directly from the pro- prietors. They also gave him the privilege of naming the town. which he did. The crank for the saw-mill, weighing 200 pounds, was brought from Pittsfield on the shoulders of two men. Goodrich also built the first framed house in town, which was used at once for a dwelling, a school-house and town hall.

The first tavern in town was that of old Captain Daniel Bow, at the foot of the mountain just off the old turnpike past Townsend's. The first one kept in the village stood on the site of Mr. Dingman's present residence. Captain Elisha Holt kept it for a short time. The oldest house now in town is the Vose House, which was built about sixty years ago for a man by the name of Caleb Sparks. Asa Gaines followed him for a number of years and until 1838 or 1839, when Pennel Child succeeded him, and remained in business there for twelve or fifteen years, and was followed about a year by James Furman. The next proprietor, Lyman Gibbs, it is said, remained here as many as fifteen years. George Orcutt also kept the house for a short time. Albert Vose, the present proprietor, has been here since December, 1876.1

The Green Mountain House was first kept in the fall of 1874, by Rufus Holt, he having converted it from a private dwelling into a hotel. Justin Spaulding kept it after Mr. Holt and was here nearly two years. James Fletcher who remained six years followed Spaulding. Rufus Holt again kept the house after April 1, 1884, until November 17th of the same year, when the present proprietor, William Sherburne, commenced his term here.

The first postmaster of Pittsfield was Daniel Bow, jr., who could not have received the appointment earlier than 1825. His office was on what is now known as the Charles Avery place, formerly " the old Bow farm." Previous to the establishment of this office the male residents of the town took turns once a week and went to Rutland after their mail, often on foot, but more fre- quently on horseback. Asa Gaines succeeded Bow about 1840 and kept the office a long time. The present postmaster Amos Guernsey, received the ap- pointment in August, 1885. C. B. George, his predecessor, had the office five years. Ira Holt also kept it five years before that, and was preceded by T. C. Hubbard.

This little town exerted herself nobly in behalf of the Union during the late war, as the following list will abundantly testify : -

Volunteers for three years credited previous to the call for 300,000 volun- unteers of October 17, 1863. - Herman D. Bates, co. C, 10th regt .; Frederick

1 For several years, including 1864, there was no hotel in town.

724

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

C. Bennett, co. G, 5th regt .; Truman O. Brown, co. E, 2d regt .; Martin B. Davis, co. B, 11th regt .; Albert R. Freeman, co. G, 5th regt .; James C. Free- man, co. B, 9th regt .; Christopher C. George, Henry Miner, co. C, 10th regt .; James D. Parmenter, Stephen H. Preston, co. G, 5th regt .; Allen Rogers, John L. Shannon, co. C, 10th regt .; Melville C. Spaulding, 4th regt. band ; Frank- lin B. Swan, co. C, 10th regt.

Credits under call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 volunteers and subse- quent calls. Volunteers for three years. - Oliver P. Blaisdell, co. E, 8th regt .; Morton H. Davis, co. E, 2d s. s .; Romain J. Eggleston, co. D, 5th regt .; Stan- islaus Flanders, co. B, 9th regt .; Stephen Harrington, co. C, 5th regt .; Edric D. Leonard, co. D, 17th regt .; Edward S. Lovell, co. B, 11th regt .; William H. Mitchell, co. F, 10th regt .; Austin S. Parkhurst, co. D, 17th regt.

Volunteers for one year. - Charles H. Chambers, co. A, 8th regt .; Charles L. Doty, Lucius T. Grout, co. B, 11th regt .; James W. Parmenter, 6th regt .; Lorenzo T. Parmenter, co. H, 6th regt .; Alliston E. Shepard, co. A, 8th regt .; John C. Thomas, co. A, 17th regt.

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

History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

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