USA > Vermont > Washington County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury, Vermont, 1763-1915 > Part 6
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In these days when an Act of the Legislature is found necessary to simplify legal procedure by making it still more incomprehensible we read with astonishment that the limits of a justice's jurisdiction in the first part of the nineteenth cen- tury was $13! Naturally the county courts were made the tribunal where most cases were tried and Mr. Carpenter's professional life was a busy one. The second lawyer, Honorable Henry F. Janes, had not then come into the field nor did he until 1817. The high estimation in which Mr. Carpenter was held is evinced by his public service as town clerk from 1808 till 1828 in successive terms, excepting one; he was first select- man most of this time and town representative from 1817 till 1827, except for the 1818 term. He became an assistant judge of Washington County Court in 1827 and held that post for eight successive years. As a presidential elector in 1824, he carried the state ballots to Washington. In 1823 Mr. Car- penter took as law partner Paul Dillingham, Jr., who succeeded to the practice on Mr. Carpenter's taking the bench.
Notwithstanding his manifold interests, Mr. Carpenter embarked in mercantile pursuits with Charles R. Cleaves in 1820. Acquiring Mr. Cleaves' interest, he took as partner his son, William Carpenter, in 1824. Ten years later the firm erected the brick store now occupied by Brisbin & Brisbin. W. E. Carpenter, a grandson, succeeded to the business. Judge Carpenter died December 2, 1852, and his wife, Betsy Partridge Carpenter, surviving him many years, passed away
DOORWAY OF CARPENTER RESIDENCE
Erected in 1816 Now occupied by Mr. Franklin Carpenter
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PERIOD 1800-1830
in 1875 at the age of ninety-two. His son, William, died March 17, 1881. Any estimate of the worth of Judge Car- penter as a citizen would fall far short of adequacy if it omitted to mention his kindly, courteous and respectful demeanor; his conscientious habits of life and his quick and practical sym- pathy for those in distress. He is described as a man of fine personality, nearly six feet high, slim, lithe and graceful.
Of the third generation of Carpenters, sons and daughters of William and Mary E. (Partridge) Carpenter, there were: Sarah Louisa, born October 28, 1832, who married Erastus Spicer, December 24, 1864, and died February 17, 1887; George Henry, born September 25, 1835, who married Helen Wallace of Aurora, New York, January 23, 1866; Mary Partridge, born October 7, 1838, who married M. O. Evans of Waterbury, May I, 1860, and died November 15, 1872; Julia Eliza, born June 10, 1842, who married George W. Wheeler of Burlington, Kansas, November 12, 1867; Franklin, born June 19, 1845, who married Ellen Eliza Shurtleff September 22, 1868, and now occupies the old Carpenter residence on Main Street erected in 1816, and William E., who married Sarah Moody June 4, 1872, and now resides across Main Street from the old Car- penter residence, the home of his brother Franklin.
Interesting reminiscences of the decade between 1823 and 1833 are still extant, which were reduced to writing by Mr. Charles G. Calkins, whose boyhood was spent in Waterbury and whose later life was passed in Ohio. At this time the "street" or what is now Main Street was the main artery of traffic and travel. A small settlement had sprung up on the Mill or Thatcher Brook; a turnpike led across the "interval" over the farms of General Peck, Amasa Pride and the Wells estate. This turnpike crossed the river near Deacon Mun- son's and continued up a slight hill to the level place where was located the old-time "tavern." Mr. Calkins also speaks of the small common which later became the site of the meet- ing house built in 1824. East of this stood the stores of Car- penter & Cleaves and other firms, as that of Pride & Hutchins near the brow of the hill facing on the Stowe road. The post office was maintained in the law office of H. F. Janes, Esq., from
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY, VERMONT
which issued quarterly bills for postage which were described as "models of neatness and economy of ink and paper." Stamps and envelopes were yet to make their appearance; postage was rarely prepaid and "used to range from six and one-fourth cents to twenty-five cents on single pieces of paper."
Other homes on the street were those of Esquire Carpenter, Doctor Pierce and neighboring families. The "interval" was occupied by a tannery and a few other shops and later the brick dwellings of L. Hutchins on the Stowe road and of Es- quire Janes on the south side of the road, on the lower plateau west, near the brook. The tavern on this plateau was erected later by a Mr. Allen and was a building of three stories and was a famous landmark with its dead black barns, sheds and outbuildings. Wholesome cheer was furnished man and beast by the owner and landlord, Mr. Parmalee. Important build- ing additions made toward the end of this decade were the brick dwellings of Mr. Pride and Mr. Charles Cleaves, which latter stood next east of the meeting house. (This was sold to Paul Dillingham, Jr., about 1830-1835 and is now occupied by Mrs. W. F. Minard.) This place of worship was built in 1824 and is described by Mr. Calkins from memory as
A substantial and capacious two-story building with a steeple comprising a square section, then an open belfry, surmounted by a cupola with blinds covered by a tinned dome above which was a spire with a vane from which extended a lightning tractor to the ground. The interior was nearly square, with two ranges of body pews and one next each wall. The pews were finished with pine unpainted and were a medium between the high built box pews of older times and the modern slips. Each had a panel door with a wood button and they were not numbered. They were all private prop- erty held as real estate. There was a gallery all round; the choir occupying the semi-circular section towards the front of the building and the commo- dious pulpit was in front of and below the choir and had a crimson curtain inside of small turned half-columns inclosing all the semi-circular front, with crimson tassels hung around the cornice and a somewhat gorgeous cushion with tassels surmounting the book stand. The front of the pulpit was supported by a single pillar and the communion table stood in the open space underneath.
It seems that attendance on the services at the new meeting house included a few families of the Congregational persuasion as well as a number of non-communicants. Reverend Daniel
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PERIOD 1800-1830
Warren was the first minister to occupy the pulpit as the regu- lar incumbent. Mr. Calkins describes with photographic accuracy the impressions produced upon the retina of his youthful memory by these awesome services; how Judge Butler would enter alone usually and walk solemnly to his pew; how Esquire Carpenter with his mother and daughters and Paul Dillingham, Jr., his law partner and son-in-law, were wont to be in attendance; how Mr. Pride and his wife sat in front of these in the same tier and how distinctly were remembered the locations of the pews of Doctor Drew, Deacon Dutton, Pitt Butler, Asa Austin, Enoch Bean, Deacon Allen, Deacon Mun- son, John Stearns, Luther Cleaves, Sayles Hawley, the Wells families, and others. Speaking of the performances of the choir, Mr. Calkins whimsically and feelingly remarks that they were "never listened to critically then but now it seems no choral effort could or need transcend its effect on the soul of a half-awakened boy."
Mr. Calkins speaks entertainingly of visits to his home near the mills in Waterbury, of Governor Butler and how, as a boy, he sought to propitiate the governor into relating his experiences by running out to feed his fine, fat bay chaise horse till Elder Butler forbade him, saying, "a horse don't want to eat all the time more than a man."
The meeting house described by Mr. Calkins was the edi- fice erected thirty-four years after the town's organization. Meetings had been held in schoolhouses, residences and barns before this. Every project for a union meeting house had proved abortive. It was not until Judge Carpenter, Amasa Pride and Roswell Wells took the matter in hand that the building of the Congregational Meeting House became an assured fact.
With the year 1820 the population of Waterbury had at- tained to 1,269 souls. The "era of good feeling" had arrived at its apogee under the administrations of Presidents Monroe and John Quincy Adams and the State Governors from Martin Chittenden to Samuel C. Crafts. Political capital was sought to be made over the circumstance that Governor Martin Chittenden declined to order out the militia for the defence of
5
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY, VERMONT
Plattsburg, instead of calling upon them as volunteers. Chit- tenden's answer to this must have effectually stopped the mouths of the malcontents when he pointed out that "as no portion of the Vermont militia had been detached by the President for the service of the United States, a call upon pa- triotic citizens for their voluntary services was, in this case, . considered to be the only mode by which efficient and timely aid could be afforded."
Martin Chittenden was no weakling as his record attests. While acknowledging with gratitude the providential inter- position which frustrated the hostile attempts of the enemy and averted from our borders the horrors of war, he stoutly ad- hered to his original opinion as to the propriety of the war, declaring that he "conscientiously disapproved of it as un- necessary, unwise and hopeless in all its offensive operations." The several terms of Governor Galusha, succeeding Martin Chittenden, were comparatively uneventful. When Richard Skinner became governor in 1820, Waterbury's sterling citizen and able town representative, Judge Dan Carpenter, improved his opportunity of voting for a resolution of remonstrance against the admission of Missouri into the Union with a con- stitution "legalizing slavery and the cruel and unnatural traffic in human blood, and instructing Vermont's senators and repre- sentatives in Congress to exert their influence and use all legal measures to prevent it." The succeeding administrations of Governors Skinner and Van Ness were noteworthy for legis- lative attempts at securing to Vermont the passage of an act of Congress appropriating to the use of the state, for the pur- poses of education, such portions of the public lands as should be equitable and just; also in 1824 on the recommendation of Governor Van Ness the Legislature passed an Act giving the choice of presidential and vice-presidential electors to the people by a general ticket, which measures were supported by Waterbury's representative, Judge Carpenter.
It was during Governor Van Ness' administration that the Marquis de La Fayette made his memorable visit to Vermont upon invitation extended by the governor at the instance of the Legislature. The distinguished guest entered the state
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PERIOD 1800-1830
at Windsor June 28, 1825, and came to Montpelier where an enthusiastic reception was given him. On his way to Burling- ton, through Waterbury, he passed the Butler home and tar- ried to greet Miss Fannie Butler (afterwards Mrs. Henry F. Janes), to whom the state's distinguished guest was presented by Governor Van Ness.
When, upon the expiration of Governor Van Ness' last term as chief executive, Ezra Butler was elected governor in 1826, the lottery traffic had become rampant, Mr. Butler sought to curb the evil and made strong recommendations in his speech to the Assembly. A law was passed prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets without a license under penalty of a heavy fine. His next term for the year 1827 marked the first attempt at a systematized department of education in the state. Governor Butler recommended the appointment in each town or county of commissioners whose function it should be to examine teach- ers and to exercise general supervision over the schools. Ac- cordingly, a new plan tending to improvement of the schools and insuring uniformity in methods of instruction was adopted by the Legislature. This provided for the appointment of a superintending committee annually in each town; that no teacher should be employed in the public schools who had not been examined by the committee and who had not received from them a certificate of his qualifications for teaching (II Thompson's Vermont, page 100). Five commissioners, having general supervision of educational matters in the state, were also provided for. They were required to procure and circulate information on the subject, recommend suitable books to be used in the schools, inquire into the necessity for changes in the school laws and file an annual report addressed to the Legislature.
Perhaps no written or printed words of Ezra Butler reflect the uncompromisingly devout spirit of the man as do those of his Thanksgiving proclamation dated October 25, 1827, which runs in part as follows:
If the inspired Psalmist deemed it important to pay his vows of thanks- giving and praise unto the LORD, IN THE COURTS OF THE LORD'S HOUSE, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, for the individual blessings
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY, VERMONT
which he had received, how much more becoming it is for a whole com- munity, when they enjoy common blessings, to unite at one time and with one consent, in publick and social acts of thanksgiving and praise, to the common author of all their mercies? Such common blessings are enjoyed by us as a commonwealth and therefore, such social acts of praise, such a concert of thanksgiving highly becomes us as a community.
In conformity, therefore with the usage of our forefathers, and with the · fullest conviction of the fitness of that usage, I do hereby at the request of the General Assembly, and by advice of the Council, appoint Thursday, the sixth day of December next to be observed, throughout this state, as a day of PUBLICK THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE. With the spirit of thanksgiving, stands connected also, a sense of dependence, and a con- viction that all our future blessings must come from the same merciful hand that has hitherto supplied us. Our praises, therefore, should be mingled with prayer, that the God of love would, for the sake of his SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD still continue his favors; that he would continue to bless our state, its officers and its citizens; that he would bless the United States, the President, and all the officers of the general and several state governments; that he would bless and prosper the cause of political liberty, in this and the other hemisphere; and especially that he would bless the gospel of his Son, and extend and strengthen its influence through the whole earth, until the Kingdoms of this world, shall become the Kingdom of our LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
Given under my hand, in Council Chamber at Montpelier this twenty- fifth day of October, in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, etc., etc.
By his excellency the Governor
[SEAL]
DANIEL KELLOGG, Secretary.
EZRA BUTLER.
Attempts were made as early as 1829 to crystallize the anti- Masonic sentiment in the state into party issues and to nomi- nate a complete list of state officers at an Anti-Masonic State Convention, held August 15, 1829. This movement took its origin in the alleged abduction of William Morgan in 1826 for certain disclosures he was supposed to have made regarding Masonry. A letter to Ezra Butler, a delegate to the State Convention, from Royal Makepeace Ransom of South Wood- stock, dated July 23, 1829, is interesting as showing that though the writer himself was personally opposed to Masonic candidates for office yet he deplored pressing the nomination of an anti-Masonic ticket. "It appears to me," says the cor- respondent, "that such a course would be very impolitic to
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PERIOD 1800-1830
say the least of it. If we are to make a ticket what do we attempt to do but to act on the same principles that we believe govern Masons? That is, to bias the votes which should be free, and set up our standard for others to be gov- erned by in the discharge of a duty concerning which they have sworn to follow the dictates of their own consciences, alone, guided to be sure by their oaths to support the Constitution. Besides, shall we not in that case plead guilty to a very serious charge of opposing Masonry as a hobby to ride into office upon and ought we not to give a clear, unequivocal and full denial of such a charge and to act accordingly? It appears to me that these questions should be answered in the affirmative and, if so, some measures I think should be taken to bring the minds of the convention to the subject and above all things avoid acting out the same principles we condemn in others."
Feeling on the subject ran high and many unavoidable clashes occurred; indeed, the subject was uppermost in the minds of the clergy, as well as the laity, as is shown by the following extract from a letter from a correspondence committee to Ezra Butler asking his presence at a meeting in June, 1830, in Randolph: "The object of this meeting is to bring Specula- tive Free Masonry, before an ecclesiastical tribunal, for public examination. The object is, or ought to be interestingly dear to every Christian and one in which the churches, under present circumstances are deeply interested. Some of the most wealthy and reputable gentlemen in Randolph are afford- ing us all aid in their power in making arrangements to ac- commodate the meeting, etc., etc."
Governor Butler's public life practically closed with his second term as governor. During a busy political and public career he continued pastor of the Baptist Church without salary or remuneration until within a few years of his death. No authentic likeness of him has been preserved, but he is described as having a slightly stooping form, dark and sallow complexion, keen black eye, calm, authoritative tone and intellectual cast of countenance. When he died, July 12, 1838, at the age of seventy-five years, he left an invaluable
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY, VERMONT
bequest to Waterbury in the example of a life well spent in the faithful service of the community.
Governor Samuel C. Crafts, who had been chosen in 1828 and 1829, was again chosen in 1830,-though his choice was possible only after thirty-two ballots in the Legislature, and this date brings us to the beginning of the last half of Water- bury's second historical period.
CHAPTER III
1830-1850
Politically, the injection of the anti-Masonic issue was directly the cause of three successive failures by the people to elect a governor. In 1830, as we have seen, the National Re- publican and Masonic candidate was Mr. Crafts; the anti- Masonic candidate was Mr. William A. Palmer, and the ad- ministration candidate was Mr. Meech. In the Legislature, where the choice rested, Mr. Crafts was the successful candi- date. The same routine was undergone in 1831 and Mr. Palmer was chosen by the Legislature. Again in 1832 the Legis- lature was obliged to intervene and chose Mr. Palmer as governor on the forty-third ballot. In 1833 Mr. Palmer was again elected, this time by the people, but in 1834 there was another failure of election by popular vote and Mr. Palmer was reëlected by the General Assembly. Apparently the elective function of the people had fallen into partial disuse, for the year 1835 still found the three parties an obstacle to a popular election, excepting that of Lieutenant-Governor Jeni- son and the state treasurer. Fruitless attempts were made for the greater part of three weeks by joint committees of the Assembly to agree upon a governor, but they were finally obliged to call on the lieutenant-governor to fill the office of chief executive. The year 1836 was important from the fact that it marked the abolition of the Council which, with the governor, had come perilously near to usurping coordinate legislative powers with the House of Representatives. The Constitution was so amended as to provide for a Senate in the place of the Council, having powers similar to those of the senates of the several states.
Silas H. Jenison was elected this time, by the people, as governor and again in 1837 and 1838. Meanwhile the nucleus of the Whig party had been formed with the choice of presi- dential electors in 1832, under the anti-Masonic designation.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY, VERMONT
The combination of the national Republicans and the anti- Masons formed the Whig party, which soon came into control. There had been an acute financial panic, an abortive rebellion in Lower Canada which some of our too eager Vermonters were reckless enough to support, and the first concerted efforts of those who afterwards formed the anti-slavery party. These · were some of the matters engaging the attention of the people of Waterbury during the successive administrations of Gover- nor Jenison, down to and including the year 1840.
Properly of this period, though born in Brimfield, Massa- chusetts, October 18, 1792, was the Honorable Henry F. Janes, the third son of Solomon and Beulah Fisk Janes. When a mere lad he came with his father's family to Calais where his boyhood was passed, and from which town his brother, Pardon, was representative in the Assembly. Henry F. Janes studied law in Montpelier, and it was during his residence there that he received his commission as ensign with the Vermont troops in the War of 1812, going with his company to the Battle of Plattsburg. He came to Waterbury in 1817, where he made his home and lived for sixty-two years. "Esquire" Janes, as he was known, practiced law here, having as a rival practi- tioner Judge Dan Carpenter. He was married in 1826 to Miss Fanny Butler, the daughter of Ezra Butler, who was born in 1800 and died in 1881.
Mr. Janes received the appointment of postmaster soon after coming to Waterbury and held the office till about 1829. He was one of the State Council five years, commencing in 1830; a member of Congress three years, commencing in 1834; state treasurer, three years, commencing in 1838; a member of the Council of Censors in 1848, and town representative in 1854, 1861 and 1862. His postmaster's appointment reads:
RETURN J MEIGS, Jun. Post Master General OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To All Who Shall See These Presents, Greeting:
Know ye, That confiding in the Integrity, Ability, and Punctuality of Henry F. Janes Esq. I do appoint him a Post-master, and authorize him to execute the duties of that Office at Waterbury, Washington County and
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PERIOD 1830-1850
State of Vermont according to the laws of the United States, and such Regulations conformable thereto, as he shall receive from me: To HOLD the said office of Post-master, with all the Powers, Priveleges and Emol- uments to the same belonging, during the pleasure of the Post-master General of the United States, for the time being.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of my office to be affixed, at Washington City, the twenty ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Twenty and of the independence of the United States the Forty fourth.
R. J. MEIGS Jr.
Registered 19th day of April 1820
THOS. ARBUCKLE Clerk.
Mr. Janes is described as a man who "without avarice acquired a competent fortune; and without lust for power or a resort to sinister means, but solely through the solidity of his judgment and the unquestioned probity of his character, early attained a commanding influence in his town, his county and his state." Mrs. Janes is said to have been a lady "of the gentlest refinement without the least affectation, or love of display, inheriting the religious traits of her father and was greatly beloved and esteemed by all who knew her."
An appreciation of Mr. Janes, by Edwin F. Palmer, Esq., sums up his character in the following striking manner: "No man ever saw more clearly than he, that in the very nature of God's moral government nothing is, or can be even expedient, that is not intrinsically just; and no man ever pursued more willingly or tenaciously what his conscience, illumined by a powerful judgment, taught him was just."
The Janes home was on the site of the residence so long occupied by Doctor Henry Janes and devised by him to the Library Association.
Henry F. Janes was elected to represent the Fourth Congres- sional District in Congress for the term of two years, from March 3, 1835, and also to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Benjamin F. Deming. His certificates of election were both dated November 25, 1834, one of which reads:
STATE OF VERMONT.
Be it remembered that at a freeman's meeting legally warned and holden in the fourth Congressional District in said State on the second
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY, VERMONT
Tuesday of November A. D. 1834, Hon. Henry F. Janes was duly elected a Representative to represent this state in the Congress of the United States for the term of two years from and after the 3rd day of March next.
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