USA > Vermont > Addison County > Salisbury > History of Salisbury, Vermont > Part 7
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The advantages derived by the inhabitants of Salis- bury from the nature and location of their water priv- ileges, have been very great. Otter creek forming the western boundary of the town, can be navigated at low water, by boats of a hundred tons burthen, from Sutherland's Falls, in Rutland, to Middlebury, a distance of about thirty miles ; and Leicester river, which runs through Salisbury village, and is a tri- butary to the creek, is navigable about three miles above its mouth. These streams are of great con- venience to those living in the south and west parts of the town, for floating wood and timber to Middle- bury and Vergennes, to supply the markets in those places, while those who live in the north and north- eastern parts of the town can avail themselves of Mid- dlebury river, which is also a tributary to the creek, for the same purposes.
But other streams and rivers deserve notice. The Beaver brook takes its rise in two small branches among the mountains in the easterly parts of Middle- bury and Salisbury, which meander along the moun - tains in both towns until they unite in the northern extremity of the town of Salisbury, at the foot of the mountain. From this point their united waters course
121
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
their way along near the mountains, in a south-west- erly direction, nearly to the centre of the town, where they are used by Mr. Charles Eager for propelling a good saw mill and other machinery. This stream, at this place, enlarged by its little tributaries and by the great spring already mentioned, is increased to the size of a considerable river. . Here also it changes its course to a north-westerly direction, and forms some excellent interval land along its banks for nearly two miles, and finally empties into Middlebury river, near the northern boundary of the town.
The outlet of Lake Dunmore forms a most beautiful river of pure, clear water, of sufficient size to propel any desirable machinery. This stream, in the course of its meanderings for about two miles, descends about two hundred and fifty feet, and will admit of at least twenty mill seats, several of which are already occu- pied. Three saw mills, a grist mill, two or three forges, a shovel factory, trip hammer shop, clothiers' shop, two woolen factories, together with machinery for the manufacture of wagons and other vehicles, buzz- saws for sawing and splitting boards, turning lathes and shingle machines have already been erected here.
This stream of water affords as great if not greater facilities to the manufacturer than any other stream of the same power in this state. Its advantages are many. Its water is pure and clear, and is admirably 10%
122
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
fitted for the use of the paper maker, and for cleans- ing the raw material for cloths of all kinds. Dams, buildings and machinery on this stream are perfectly secure from floods under all circumstances ; no other streams of water empty into it, except occasional springs along its border ; and the lake at its outlet is so constructed in its natural formation that all the surplus water in flood seasons may be shut back and retained, in readiness to be used, if necessary, in sea- sons of extreme drouth. The first dam here was erected by Colonel Thomas Sawyer, for a saw mill and grist mill, as early as 1783, some of the timbers of which still remain in the dam where Colonel Saw- yer placed them.
And during this long lapse of time-more than sev- enty years-no dam on this stream has been injured by freshets, nor any inconvenience suffered, as is most always the case in other localities, from the formation of anchor-ice.
The amount of water here, is amply sufficient for the purposes of any ordinary manufactory, and it is hoped that the time will come when all this valuable power will be usefully appropriated. Salisbury vil- lage is situated on this stream.
There is another river of considerable size, which we cannot pass over in silence, more familiarly known by the name of "Sucker Brook."
123
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
This stream has long been known by the sportsmen for the excellent trout found in its waters, and by the lovers of the beautiful for the scenery about it, and especially for its falls, which, until lately, rejoiced in the homely name of "Sucker Brook Falls."
It was given a new and more appropriate name, in this way. A party of pleasure, consisting of several individuals, among whom were General Wool, of the United States' army, and his aid, Lieutenant Symms, Joseph Barret, of the Middlebury Register, William Sargeant, Horatio Seymour, J. A. Beckwith, E. D. Barber, and others, were visiting the romantic scenery of this river in the autumn of 1850, and, having reached the falls, concluded that a place so beautiful was worthy of a more poetical name than that which it had previously borne.
So it was decided that General Wool should give it its new and better name. But, while he was consid- ering the subject, the thought struck one of the com- pany that it would be a good opportunity to bestow a deserved honor upon the distinguished general, and the whole matter was taken from him and vested in the company, when Lieutenant Symms proposed that this stream be called " The Lana Water," and these falls " The Falls of Lana." (Lana or Llana, in Span- ish, means wool; and the inhabitants of Mexico used to call General Wool, General Llana.)
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
It was then voted that E. D. Barber should perform the ceremony of consecration, who, taking the appropri- ate libation in his hand, said :- Forever after let this stream be called THE LANA WATER, and these falls THE FALLS OF LANA, in honor of one whose fame as a hero shall live in the hearts of his countrymen and on the page of history, as long as this stream and these rocks shall endure," and then poured the libation into the water.
The ceremony then closed by giving three times three cheers in honor of the occasion, which was done with true Green Mountain enthusiasm, and the party, delighted with the events of the day, returned, leaving "The Lana Water" flowing and tumbling along, rejoicing in its new and excellent name.
The name Sucker Brook was given to this stream, from the fact that countless numbers of the fish called suckers run into its mouth every spring, from Lake Dunmore, and there deposit their spawn. More than a thousand of these fish have been taken in this river, by nets and spears, in a single night.
It takes its rise far back in the mountains, probably in Hancock, and in its course runs through Goshen, in which several saw-mills have been erected upon it. From Goshen it finds its way among the mountains in the eastern part of Salisbury, where, in the immediate vicinity of an abundance of good sawing timber, sev-
125
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
eral good saw-mill seats may be found, and finally passes over its falls, "some hundred and fifty feet, through chasms in the rocks, and through a natural open sluice or tunnel, worn out of the solid rock," and thence into Lake Dunmore.
126
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
CHAPTER XII.
MECHANICS, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, PATENT RIGHTS, MANUFACTURES.
THE following table contains the names and voca- tions of most of the early settlers who were mechanics. Their localities are distinguished by the number of the school district in which they lived.
School district No. 1 lies in the north-west cor- ner of the town. No. 2 in the south-west corner. No. 3 in the middle .. No. 4 in the north-east corner, on east stage road. No. 5, the village. No. 6, the glass factory district.
DATE. NAMES.
OCCUPATION.
DIST.
1783.
Thomas Sawyer,
Mill-wright,
Carpenter,
Collier, 5
1784.
- Call,
Traymaker,
1785. William Graves,
Carpenter,
1
1786. Joseph Graves,
Wheelwright,
1787. Abram Hard,
Cloth dresser,
4
1788.
Holland Weeks,
Cooper,
John Fyfe,
Brickmason,
NO.
Blacksmith.
5
Stephen Gill,
127
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
DATE. NAME.
OCCUPATION.
DIST.
1788. Penuel Stephens,
Tray maker,
2
1789. Hooker Sawyer,
Cut nail maker,
5
Asa Lawrence,
Carpenter,
1
1790.
Aaron L. Beach,
Blacksmith,
1
1791.
Captain Samuel Keep,
Bloomer,
5
Ira Smith,.
Joiner,
1
1794.
John Deming,
Blacksmith, 5
Cut nail maker,
5
Nathaniel Chafey,
Blacksmith,
5
1795. David Graves,
Carpenter,
1
1796.
Reuben French,
Tanner and currier,
3
1798. Harvey Deming,
Blacksmith,
5
1799. Jacob Bartholomew,
Steelyard maker,
5
1800.
William Copeland,
Wheelwright,
3
1801.
Stephen Hard,
Cloth dresser,
4
1802.
William Yates,
Tailor,
5
1803.
Aaron Goodrich,
Tailor,
3
1804.
Nathaniel R. Field,
Tailor, '.
1
Sylvanus Toby,
Carpenter,
3
1805.
Jonas Hildreth,
Clockmaker,
3
66 Joel Bigelow,
Basket maker,
4
1806. Abner More, jr.,
Blacksmith,
5
1807. Jeremiah Morton,
Cloth dresser,
5
1808. Elijah Woodman,
Hoemaker,
1
Ellery Howard,
Cloth dresser,
5
1809. Jeremiah Rockwell,
Tanner and currier,
5
1810. Haskell and Nelson,
Millers, 5
1811.
Joshua Seaver,
Cooper, 5
5
Jacob Chase,
Bloomer, 5
1812. Noah Hubbard,
Distiller,
1
Moses Hitchcock,
Bloomer,
NO.
Stephen Rossiter,
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
DATE.
NAME.
OCCUPATION.
NO. DIST.
1813.
Ep. Jones, Harry Johnson and Co.,
Shovel makers, 5
1814. Sam'l Holt,
Saddler,
5
66
Eliakim Weeks,
Sawyer,
5
John U. Seymour,
Bloomer,
5
Levi Holman,
Chair maker,
5
1815.
Leonard Lamb,
Mill-wright,
5
Artemas Moses,
Carpenter and joiner,
3
66
Benoni Porter,
Shoemaker,
5
66
E. and O. Rice,
Shoemakers,
5
66 Joel Johnson,
Blacksmith,
5
66
Harvey Savery,
Blacksmith,
5
Samuel Johnson,
Blacksmith,
5
Jacob Leonard,
Bloomer,
5
Edward Phelps,
Cooper,
5
Charles Cadwell,
Tanner and currier, 5
Chair maker,
5
1816.
Orrin Ray,
House joiner, 5
Demetrius Crampton,
Carpenter,
5
Warren Rockwell,
Chairmaker,
5
Origen Bingham,
Goldsmith,
5
1817. Jarvis Deane,
66 Isaac Blake,
1818. Joshua Heminway,
Brickmason,
5
1819. Charles Filley,
1820. Wm. S. Copeland,
Wheelwright,
5
1821.
Geo. M. Copeland,
Blacksmith, 5
Shovel maker,
5
1823. Nehemiah Pray,
Blacksmith, 5
1824. Sylvester Barrows,
Hatter, 5
Hatter, 5
1825. Nevins Kelar,
Glass maker, 6
Turner, 5
1822. Tubal Cain Pray,
Cotton manufacturers, 5
Seth Bolcom,
129
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
It may be well to notice a few individuals whose names appear in the foregoing table, who had consid- erable excellence in inventive genius.
Deacon Aaron L. Beach invented and made the first die screw plate-the first not only in this town, but in this country.
Mr. Beach had, previous to this time, manifested much skill in his calling as a blacksmith, but never thought of speculating in patent rights, and did not secure his right on this invention by letters patent, as he might have done, to his great pecuniary advantage.
Perhaps he did not at first realize the vast impor- tance of his invention, nor until it had passed beyond his reach, for he sold the plate which he had made for his own use, to a friend of the same calling with him- self, at a very low price, which was afterward taken to the city of New York.
In New York it soon became known, and was eager- ly sought as one of the most important tools to the blacksmith. Mr. Beach's pecuniary interest was thus taken away in the very beginning, though he did af- terward make a few of these instruments, at prices without profit, for the convenience of some of his neighbors.
This invention has proved to be of almost incalcu- lable value, not only to the blacksmith, but to all machinists ; for now there is no factory nor machine-
11
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
shop throughout the country which is not supplied with this screw plate.
But, if Mr. Beach did not acquire a fortune through his invention, he had the consolation, in common with many other inventors, that he had not lived in vain. He also escaped the competition and litigation into which he might have been drawn by other claimants ; for, indeed, it has come to that pass, that law-suits and strife are, in this country, a part of the patentee's re- ward.
This invention has been improved in some minor respects, by others, but no new principle has been added to it.
Jacob Bartholomew made an invention in steel yards, and applied his improvement to scales or bal- ances about the year 1819, and secured letters patent on the same, about that time.
Mr. Bartholomew did not get rich by his invention, though it was a valuable and useful contribution to the public, and was so considered, wherever it was known. Afterward E. & W. Fairbank's scales came into use, which superseded all other contrivances for weighing, except for some few purposes, to which the common steel yards were better adapted.
The author is not aware that any other patent has been granted to any individual in this town, for im- plements used in any of the mechanical arts.
131
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
John M. Weeks secured letters patent for an im- provement in the construction of the bec-hive in 1836. This invention at that time, and for many subsequent years, was deemed of great importance in bee culture, for it brought into existence the first chamber-hive of general use in the United States, which would admit of the removal of the surplus pure honey, by means of drawers and slides.
This patent was managed at a small profit for three or four years; but as the patentee accompanied all his sales with a manual containing instructions in the management of bees, and as he spared no pains in disseminating what knowledge he had of the habits and instincts of these interesting insects, many others began to devise means, not only to obviate his patent, but by some slight variations, or new combination of principles, to secure a patent for themselves.
Mr. Weeks, observing this, and realizing its effects in a considerable degree, again sought the protection of the patent office, and in the year 1841 secured let- ters patent on eight classes of bee-hives, intending, as far as possible, to cover the whole ground ; but in doing this, he only laid the foundation for as many more hives as these would make, multiplied into their own number.
Every stratagem which could be made to appear plausible, was resorted to by the various patentees,
132
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
and by their agents, to supersede each other in the sales of their rights-neither having much regard to truth, in making assertions which might promote their own interests.
Finally, it was found that the patent office was not willing to grant patents on drawers or boxes, unless in connection with other parts of a hive which might be new and valuable; and as the great improvement in bee-hives consisted principally in its drawers, the number of applications in this department began to diminish. Undoubtedly the drawers are the princi- pal improvement in bee-hives which can be made over the old-fashioned box, or tub; and, at this day, a patent on these is of little use to the inventor, as our patentees will testify-for none have been the re- cipients of any great profits arising from a patent on them.
The first saw-mill in this town was erected by Col. Thomas Sawyer, in 1783. A grist-mill was also put up in the same building, and settin successful opera- tion early in the year 1784. These mills were after- ward repaired, and, if the author is correctly informed, were at least once rebuilt.
The first forge was also erected by Mr. Sawyer, in 1791. Samuel Keep was his first bloomer, and Ste- phen Gill made his first coal, and rendered him some other assistance in making iron.
133
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
Nathaniel Chafey erected the first trip-hammer shop, a little below the place now occupied by Ches- ter Kingsley's woolen factory. Mr. Chafey erected this shop about the year 1794, and was a celebrated axe maker.
Another trip-hammer shop was put up by John Deming, about the year 1795, but it was afterward converted into a shovel factory.
In 1811 a charter was granted by the legislature of the state for the manufactory of glass, to Ep. Jones and other individuals, and accordingly a glass factory was put up on the western shore of Lake Dunmore. in the following year, which went into successful op- eration under the direction of Mr. Jones, in 1813. About forty operatives were employed in this factory several years. So great was the business done by it, that money was made more plenty among us, a good home market was furnished for a part of our agricul- tural products, and all kinds of business rendered more active.
As the company made their deposits at the Farmers' Bank of Troy, New York, they issued orders in the form of bank bills, which were stamped and struck off on bank-bill paper, and were in denominations of $1.00, $1.25, $1.50, $1.75, $2.00, and $3.00. These bills, or rather orders, were equally current with any other bank-bills for a number of years.
11*
134
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
But owing to the sudden changes in the prices of glass, and other unforeseen casualties which took place at the close of the war with Great Britain in 1815, the company was compelled to wind up its business, leaving at the same time a valuable property in lands, glass-factory buildings, and other appendages, useless for any purposes except for making glass.
As the Farmers' Bank, at Troy, New York, had at this time refused to redeem any more of the glass- factory bills, the creditors of the company and holders of bills undertook to secure themselves by attach- ments which finally swept the entire property.
Eliakim Weeks rebuilt the saw-mill in the village in 1814, and Christopher Johnson rebuilt the grist- mill the same year.
About the year 1815 a number of individuals liv- ing in Salisbury and vicinity procured a charter from the legislature of the state forming a company to manufacture cotton cloths. The stock in this com- pany was chiefly taken by the farmers in this and neighboring towns, and by mechanics in the village. A factory building was erected on the site where Chester Kingsley's woolen factory now stands, under the guid- ance of John Whiting, who was made their agent. But as many of the stockholders were unacquainted with the business of manufacturing cotton, and as mat- ters concerning the management of the factory by the
135
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
agent were disapproved by some of the company, many concluded to forfeit what they had already paid, yield up their shares, and make no further outlay. But as the company disapproved of this course, a great number of suits were commenced in our courts against these individuals, to compel the payment of the sev- eral assessments on their shares. Most of the subscri- bers for stock, fearing the law, settled up and paid their assessments, while others, more wise, went to trial, and were cleared from further responsibility. Many of the stockholders in this company became bankrupt and left the place, and those remaining were unable, for want of means, to furnish machinery and raw materials to go on with the work; so the whole property changed owners in 1823. A year or two afterward, other machinery was procured, and a lim- ited business in cotton and woolen manufacture was carried on by Peter Lever, until the factory was burnt, which occurred in 1827. This fire closed the cotton factory speculation in this town.
This factory was not without its use in town; for, although it never proved a very profitable underta- king to those immediately interested in it, yet it gave employment, as all such works do, to the poor, and afforded a temporary market to all.
The trip-hammer shop in the village, which had done a good service for many years in hammering
136
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
iron for its various uses, in the year 1813 was con- verted into a shovel factory.
From this factory several thousands of these useful implements, of a superior kind, were sent out an- nually for many years.
Here many hands have found profitable employ- ment, and from this source much benefit and profit has accrued to the town and to the surrounding country.
New York markets have had some portion of their supply of shovels from this factory, and most of the towns in Western Vermont have come here to com- plete their stock.
Like other manufactories in this country, this has had its reverses ; it has been stopped for short periods, but only to commence again, and although it is now at rest, we hope and expect to see it in full and suc- cessful operation before many days.
About the year 1832, Geo. Chipman and one or two other enterprising young men, repaired the old glass factory buildings at Lake Dunmore, and ex- pended thereon quite a large sum of money. The factory and its collateral buildings, and also the dwel- ling houses (about a dozen in number), which had been put up at this place, were at this time in a de- caying condition, for they had remained unoccupied more than a dozen years, during which time they had
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137
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
also received much injury from the depredations of unprincipled visitors.
To these buildings, well repaired, were added a new and convenient tavern, with a good barn and other buildings necessary for the convenience of vis- itors and of the operators in the factory, which was again set in successful operation.
The factory was now managed with some profit, until about the tenth year, when foreign competition reduced the price of glass so much that the manufac- ture of it, in this town, could not any longer be made profitable. And since the spring of 1842, the old glass factory property has, for the most part, been used for agricultural purposes, or as a resort for pleasure seekers.
In 1853, this glass factory property was purchased by E. D. Barber, of Middlebury, Vermont, and soon after, through his agency, a stock company, called the Lake Dunmore Hotel Company, was formed, and the moneys thereof appropriated to the building of a magnificent hotel and the purchase of accompanying lands.
The tavern above referred to was taken down to make room for its more commodious successor ; the old glass factory buildings were no longer allowed to stand, but made to give up their place to the graded walk and the more sightly greensward; the old cot-
138
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
tages were repaired or new ones built-and in all things the art of the place began to be less ashamed of the grandeur and beauty of its surrounding scenery.
But in making all this improvement an immense outlay was made-the company became insolvent- the property was mortgaged, and finally passed into the hands of Messrs. Jones, Pratt, Wood and Dodge, of Florida.
In 1833, Hinsdale Mc Hurd built a small woolen factory on the ground previously occupied by the cot- ton factory, and manufactured the first woolen cloths made by machinery.
This factory was burnt down in 1843, but was re- built during the same year on a more extensive scale, by Henry W. Walker, and has continued in success- ful operation, in different hands, up to the present time.
Forty-nine thousand yards of cloth were made in this factory in 1849, and its present capabilities are such, it is said, that it might manufacture more than twice that number of yards, every year.
Subsequently, a forge was erected by A. B. Hunt- ly, a young and enterprising man, near the eastern part of the Indian Garden, and on the stream which flows from Lake Dunmore.
This forge was built on the most approved modern plan, and was capable of doing an extensive business.
139
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
A good number of hands here found a profitable employment for several years; but the expense of building having been very great, and the reduction in the price of iron, on account of foreign competi- tion, rendering Mr. Huntly unable to meet the ex- pense of carrying on his business, after having made a few hundred tons of excellent iron, he was com- pelled to give up his business and to surrender his property to the grasp of his creditors.
Mr. Huntley has since left the town and settled in Brandon, though it was hoped with great confidence, that he would overcome his pecuniary difficulties here, and again put the forge in operation.
This forge has for several years been successfully managed by Israel Davy, its present owner.
In 1851, Ebenezer Weeks and James Fitts, jr., put up a grist-mill in Salisbury village, which has been a great convenience to the town. This mill was made after the most modern plan, and fitted throughout with new machinery.
Mr. Weeks afterward sold out his interest in the concern to Mr. Fitts, who in turn sold to E. A. Ham- ilton, its present owner.
The following table contains the names of mechan- ics in town, as appears from the census of 1850. It also shows the locality of each :
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
NAMES.
NO.
NAMES. NO. DIST.
Charles Eager,
4
Seymour Waterhouse, 5
Ethuel Collins,
1
Sumner Briggs,
5
Oscar Waterhouse, 5
Stephen Woodbury, 5
Nehemiah Fayson,
5
Wm. Waterhouse,
5
Epinetus Brush,
6
Aaron Barrows,
5
Lorin Holman,
5
Martin Allen,
Darius Holman,
5
Marshall Holman, 5
Charles I. Soper,
5
Francis Carey,
5
Caleb Holman,
5
Nathaniel R. Field,
5
Amos King,
4
Samuel Thomas,
5
Demetrius Crampton,
5
Samuel Ranno,
L
Horace W. Sheldon,
1
Francis Ranno,
I
George Eager,
4
Ellery Howard,
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