USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wells > History of Wells, Vermont, for the first century after its settlement > Part 4
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51
HISTORY OF WELLS.
MY CHILDHOOD'S HOME.
- BY MRS. CLARA HI. HOSFORD.
I see again " my childhood's home," The house where I was born; The rose-bush tended by my hand In childhood's sunny morn; The orchard, the old apple tree I used to call my own; The grove, the fields, where culling fruits And flowers, I loved to roam.
I see the well,-its water pure With curb secured around; Within which swings 'neath shady trees, The " bucket iron-bound;" Those dear old maple trees,-how oft Beneath their kindly shade 1
Have I in childhood's happy days, With brothers, sister, played.
The birds within their leafy boughs Warbled forth music sweet ; There robin red-breast came with joy, Spring's first approach to greet; And oft in hours of sporting glee We tossed the new mown hay, How little dreamed we then of care, Or sorrow's evil day,
I turn unto the rising sun And view the mountain high, Whose top I often wished to scale, Thinking the bright blue sky I then could reach, and nearer view The glorious source of light, Shedding o'er mountain, hill, and vale His beams so warm and bright.
52
HISTORY OF -WELLS.
St. Austin's lake that lies beneath, In beauty, oft is seen, Reflecting like a mirror bright The mountain-side so green; Reposing when the winds are hushed Like innocence asleep; Until the storm clouds hover near, And fierce winds o'er it sweep.
And yonder stands the little church Pointing the way to Heaven; Where oft we met to worship God And plead for sins forgiven : How quickly time has sped since I With another by my side, Made there the vows that last till death, And left this home a bride.
Life's changing years leave their trace-
Deep sorrow brought to me And loved ones given, have passed away, Into Eternity; He too, with whom I left this home, Has gone-forever gone; Now as I view these scenes alone
They point to Heaven our home.
This landscape is in summer robe A spot of beauty rare; But soon like all earth's fairest things
The robe of death 'twill wear; And we too, like the leaves must fall, Like them must fade, and die; Ah! many " loved ones " once with us,- In yonder grave-yard lie.
And now I go-my childhood's home And friends, a fond farewell ! Perchance I ne'er again shall view These scenes I love so well; But still-whatever may betide, I trust it may be given, That those once sheltered 'neath thy roof, May meet again in Heaven.
Hydeville, September, 1855.
HISTORY OF WELLS. 53
" COLUMBIA IS FREE !" -
BY MRS. CLARA H. HOSFORD.
- 'Tis New Year's day-'tis Freedom's day- Freemen! resound the glorious lay- . The song of Liberty. Throughout the land-from strand to strand,- Resound the song; ye patriot band! "Columbia is free!"
'Tis New Year's day-'tis Freedom's day- What power on earth will dare to stay The song of Liberty ? Resound the song-its strains prolong- Shout the glad chorus of the song- "Columbia is free!"
'Tis New Year's day-'tis Freedom's day- Let discord cease-and sing the lay- The lay of Liberty. The rebel bondmen are set free- The "woodman " has not spared the tree- "Columbia is free! "
'Tis New Year's day-'tis Freedom's day- Shall brothers mect in bloody fray ? No! sing of Liberty- Come patriot brothers ! swell the strain- Brave soldiers join the sweet refrain- " Columbia is free."
'Tis New Year's day-'tis Freedom's day- Our God holds undisputed sway- The God of Liberty. Speed the glad song! the strain prolong- Till o'er the sea it rolls along; - "Columbia is free."
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54
HISTORY OF WELLS.
This day O God of Freedom !- bless- Remember all our past distress- And give us Liberty. May we the gladsome strain prolong- Till angels join the hallowed song- " Columbia is free!"
This New Year's day-bowed hearts will pray- Thinking of loved ones pass'd away For Peace and Liberty. Prayers will arise-unto the skies- From hearts that gave a sacrifice To make Columbia free.
This New Year's day-let each heart pray- That all her stains be washed away- She bless'd with Liberty. Arise and shine-with light divine- The praise O God! shall be thine Who mak'st Columbia free.
Columbia's stains all washed away- Crown Thou! her royal brow to-day ?- With Peace and Liberty. Our heart's best blood has wash'd her stains; Shout! (for the Lord Jehovah reigns) Columbia is free!
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55
HISTORY OF WELLS.
SELECTMEN.
Herein is annexed a list of the Selectmen who have served in town since 1773, with the first and last years, and the number of years of service.
NAMES.
First year in
service.
Last year in
service.
Greco | No. of years.
NAMES.
First year in
Last year in
service.
1 3 1 2 3 2 22221149NA !No. of years.
Ogdon Mallory,
1773
1775
Benjamin Lumbard,
1813|1816
Daniel Culver,
1773
1783
9 Benjamin Lewis,
1817 1818
Joseph Lawrence,
1773 1773
1 Jared Francis,
1819 1823
Abner How,
1773|1777
5 Joseph Park,
1820 1843 17
John Ward,
1773 1773
1 Stephen Paul,
1823|1823
Zaccheus Mallory,
1775 1777
3 Seth Blossom,
1824|1824
Caleb Smith,
1775 1775
1 Aaron Tyler.
1825 1827
Caleb Lewis,
1775 |1775
- Frederick Pember,
1825|1827
Gideon Searls,
1778 1781
4 Elijah Button, -
1828 1829
Abel Merriman, -
1778 1790
Samuel Culver, Jr.,
1828 1829
Timothy Moss,
1779 1779 1| David B. Lewis,
Barnabas Moss,
1750|1780
1. Amasa Rust,
1836 1836
1
Ebenezer Sumner,
1780 1784
4 John Barden,
Joseph Spaulding,
1781|1781
1 Nelson Paul,
1839 1861
8
Reuben Searls,
1782|17S4|
3 Wesley Clemons,
1839 1849 7
Isaac Andrews,
1783 1783
1 William Lamb,
1839 1843 5
Joshua How,
1784 1786
John S. Hulett,
1844 1855|10
Jehiel Beardsley,
1785|1786
2 Nathan Francis, -
1849|1853
3
Daniel Wyman,
1785 1786
2 John C. Hopson,
1850 1854
4
Abner Cone
1787| 1790
2 James Cox,
1854|1862 4
Samuel Lathrop,
1787 1789
2 Allen Grover,
1855 1857 3
Joseph Button,
1787|1801
8 Winslow Goodspeed,
1855/1868 4
David Lewis,
1788|1807
8 Henry Goodspeed, - 1856 185S 3
James Paul,
1789 1789
1 Orlin Lewis,
1858 1859 2
Gill Mallory.
1791 |1797
4 Alonzo Stevens,
1858 1858 1
1
Israel Johnson,
1795 1796
2. Calvin Farrar,
1859 1859
1
Andrew Clark,
1796 1818 14 D. A. Everts,
1860 1860 1
Azariah Darby,
17981 1799
2 Russell Pember,
1S60 1860 1
Josiah Goodspeed,
1798 1805
9, Alvah Mitchell,
1861 |1867
3
John Pray,
1S02 1835
15 Darwin Hulett,
1861 1564
3
Jedediah Darby,
1804|1805
2 James Parks,
1862:1866 4
Elijah Park,
1800 1S07
2 Rodney Lewis,
1863|1863 1
Socrates Hotchkiss,
1505 1509
2' Phinehas Paul,
1864 1864 1
Samuel Culver,
1899 1809
1 Marcellus Francis,
1964 1864
1
Simeon Park,
1809 1811
3 Darius Park,
1865|1865
1
Alona Rust,
1810 1811
2 Martin Park,
186611866 1
Levi Lamb,
1810 1S12 3 Nathan Crandall,
1867 1867 1
Aaron Mosher,
1812 1819 8' Alfred Lewis,
1867 1868
2
Raymond Hotchkiss, -
1812 1827
8 B. F. Hadaway, -
1865 1868
1
David C. Blossom,
1795|1796
2 Wilder Lewis,
1859/1859
1837 1852 11
9
1830|1838
service.
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HISTORY OF WELLS.
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
We give below a list of those who have represented the town in the General Assembly, since 1778 : Daniel Culver, March 12th, 1778; Ithamer Hibbard, October, 1778-9; Barnabas Moss, 1780; Daniel Culver, 1781 and 4; Abel Merriman, 1782, 3, 5, 6, 8 ; Samuel Lathrop, 1787, 9, 90, 1, 3,5, 6, 7 ; Joseph Button, 1792, 4, 1811 ; Simon Francis, 1798, 9, 1800, 1, 2, 3, 5; Andrew Clark, 1804, 6, 7; Samuel Mix, 1808 ; Ira Mix, 1809 ; Wm. Potter, 1810 ; Aaron Mosher, 1812, 13, 14, 16 ; Shubael Lamb, 1815, 17, 1826 ; Ansell Goodspeed, 1818, 19, 20, 1, 9; Jared Francis, 1822-3; Seth Blossom, 1824, 5, 7, 8, 30 ; Wm. Potter, Jr., 1831, 3 ; Caleb Munroe, 1832; Joseph Park, 1834, 5, 6; Samuel Culver, 1837 ; Allen Grover, 1838-9; David B. Lewis, 1840-1, 54; John Barden, 1842, 3, 4, 5, 60, 1; John S. Hulett, 1846, 7 ; Harvey Parks, 1848, 9; John C. Hopson, 1850-1; Nathan Francis, 1852-3 ; Nelson Paul, 1853, 6, 7 ; James Cox, 1858-9 ; Hiland E. Paul, 1862-3; James Parks, 1864-5; Marcus D. Grover, 1866, 7, 8.
TOWN CLERKS.
We add here a list of the Town Clerks who have served in town since 1773, with the number of years of service : John Ward, 1773, 4, 5, 6 ; Caleb Smith, 1777; Nehemiah Higbe, 1778; Abner How, 1779-80, 1; Isaac Andrews, 1782, 3, 4 ; Asa Osborn, 1785 ; Thomas Lathrop, 1786, 7, 8,,9, 90; Elijah Park, 1791, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ; Ansell
57
HISTORY OF WELLS.
Goodspeed, from and including 1799 to 1845, making 46 years of continual service; Artemas Lewis, 1845-6; Wm. Lamb, from 1847 to 1864; Rodney M. Lewis, from 1864 to the present time.
CONSTABLES.
We give below a list of Constables from 1774 to the present time, with the date of their service : Caleb Lewis, 1774; Ogden Mallory, 1775; Abel Merriman, 1776; Samuel Culver, 1777, 8, 83, 4, 90, 1, 2, 3, (4, 5,) 6, 7, 8; Reuben Searls, 1779-80; Joshua Culver, 1781; Joseph Lamb, 1782; Shubael Sumner, 1785 ; David C. Blossom, 1786 ; Gill Mallory, 1787; Simon Francis, 1789; James Dunscomb, 1799 ; Socrates Hotchkiss, 1800-1, Ansell Goodspeed, 1802 ; John Pray, 1803 ; David Lewis, 1804-5; Seth Potter, 1806-7; Simeon Park, 1808 ; Reuben Lewis, 1809, 12; Joseph Lumbard, 1810, 11, 13 ; Aaron Tyler, 1814, 15, 16; Nathan Mitchell, 1817-18, 20 ; John Broughton, 1819 ; Levi Thompson, 1821, 2, 3 ; Wm. Lamb, 1824; Jared Francis, 1825, 6, 7; Wm. Blossom, 1828 ; Allen Grover, 1829-30, 1, 45-6 ; Apollos Hastings, 1832-3 ; Hiram Hastings, 1834, 5, 6; Orlin Pember, 1837, 8, 9; John Howe, 1840, 1, 2, 3, 4; Joseph Smith, 1847; Hiram Francis, 1848, 9; 50; Barden Beals, 1851 ; Janes Hastings, 1852-3; James J. Rowe, 1854, 6 ; Charles Lamb, 1855 ; Hiram W. Lewis, 1857, 8, 9, 60, 1, 2, 3, 4 ; Edgar Barden, 1865 ; Robert Wakely, 1866 ; Henry Clark, 1867-8.
INTRODUCTION TO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
In preparing this work, many difficulties have attended us in compiling the following family sketches of this town. Of the early settlers, none are remaining ; and our facilities for obtaining their hisotry are from the few of their descendants that yet remain, and those are impaired by age, that a full reliance cannot be placed upon their recollections of events that have so long since transpired. But the means of which we have been enabled to collect and arrange in the form of a town history, has been a subject of many difficulties. Over two years we have been collecting statistics of our early settlers. We are aware that our labors are yet imperfect, yet we still indulge ourselves in the hope that the good citizens of this town will remember, that this is the first attempt made by any of our citizens to gather facts relative to its history. And a moments reflection upon this work, they will pardon us of the errors and imperfections that may occur. In the accomplishment of this work, we have devoted much time and labor in order to have the following history as correct as possible, and have endeavored to render it such as to meet the approbation of its citizens.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Allen, David B., came into town in 1825, from Whitehall, N. Y. ; his wife's name was Mary Callender ; resided on the farm now occupied by D. S. Parks. They had a family of three children, viz : Emily, William and Mary. He removed back to Whitehall in 1836, where he still resides.
Amidon, Davis, lived on the turnpike road in the West part of the town ; he kept a public house several years ; his wife's name was Anna Stocker. The names of the children were Hannah, who married Benjamin Hadaway, of Poultney ; Harriet married James Bennett, and moved West ; Annis married a Mr. Taylor ; John and Mary both went West, and Jackson who married Phebe, daughter of David Howe, of this town. Mr. Amidon left town many years since.
Andrews, Joseph, came from Granville, N. Y., in 1801, and resided in the West part of the town ; he married Elizabeth Staples. He raised a family of four daughters : Mary who married Wm. Sprague, by whom she had two sons Elieda and Joseph ; Roxana who married Ozias Beebe, he having died, she next married Stephen Clark, Esq., and after his death she again married John L. Conant, of Pawlet, who died in 1830 ; Amelia married Joseph Ensign, of Granville, N. Y. ; Mehitabel married Richard Andrews of this town, having two children, Richard and Abigail ; she with her husband moved West. Mr. Andrews died in 1821, his wife in 1829.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Andrews, Isaac, was one of the first settlers in town ; he was town clerk some years prior to 1790 ; his wife's name was Mabel Messenger, and their children's names were Isaac, Jr., Elisha, Mary and Mabel.
Atwater, Simeon, came into town in 1800, and lived in the western part of the town, near where Mr. Henry Shaw now resides. He first came from Connecticut to Pawlet, where he lived a few years ; from thence to this town. The names of the children were Daniel, Jonathan, Stephen, Abigail and Hannah. Abigail had four husbands; the first was James Moody, the second was John Davis, the third was Caleb Lamb, the fourth was Ransom Bateman, of Poultney. Hannah married Ira George. No records of their deaths or ages can be obtained.
Atwater, Daniel, married Lois, daughter of Asa Stevens, and lived in town till his death, which occured in 1861 ; his wife died the day before, and both were buried in one grave. Their children were Linas, who now resides in Illinois; Lucius, who is now West ; David Socrates, who resides in Syracuse, N. Y.,; Loisa, Nancy, Olive and Laura. Asa resides on the homestead with his sisters Nancy and Loisa.
Atwater, Jonathan, married Sabrina Perry, of Middletown, and lived in town till 1832, when he removed to Middletown, and resided there till his death which occurred in May, 1868, aged 75 years ; his wife is still living. He left three sons and two daughters, viz: Jonathan, Merritt, Philander, Sabrina, and one name unknown.
Atwater, Stephen, married Patience Richards, of Poultney, and now resides in Middletown. The children's names were Lyman, who married Jane Gilman, of Wallingford, Vt. ; Susan married Orange Campbell, now of Poultney, she died
63
OF WELLS. .
in 1849, aged 27 years ; Mary married Orlando S. Tenner ; Sarah married George Ware; both daughters with their husbands reside in Morengo, Ill. ; Esther married James Palmer, and is now dead.
Barden, Bethuel, moved to Wells in 1816, on the Azariah Derby farm ; his wife's name was Mary. His children's names were Shubael, who now resides in Rupert ; John, Polly, who married John Cross, and Lydia, who married David Beals. Mr. Barden died in 1831, aged 69 years ; his wife, in 1835, aged 69 years. Another son, named Felix, lived in Savoy, Mass.
Barden, John, son of the above, married Susan, daughter of Levi Lamb ; his sons names are Edgar O., Adams L., Ferrin and Herbert E. ; the daughters were Mercy A., Mary A., Almira, who died young, and Amelia. Edgar O. married Gertrude, daugther of Nathan Francis, and died in 1866, aged 29 years; he left two children, Helen and Frank. Adams married Annette, daughter of Russel Lamb, 2d., and resides in town. Ferrin married Emily, daughter of Samuel Woods, of this town ; Herbert married Emily Harwood, of Rupert, Vt. ; Mercy married Robert E. Wakeley, who, for some years, lived in this town, died in 1867, his death was caused by the falling timbers of a barn, which struck his head and killed him instantly. Mr. Wakeley was a respect- able citizen, inoffensive in manners, industrious and honest. Mary married Carlos A. Parker, and lives in town. Amelia married Nathan Spaulding. Mr. Barden has represented this town several years in the Legislature, and for a number of sessions has held the office as door-keeper of the House of Assembly of the State, besides holding many different town office3.
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64
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Beals, David, married Lydia Barden ; he came from Plain- filed, Mass., in 1816, and lived in town several years ; his wife died in 1823, aged 27 years, by whom he had one son named Barden ; he next married Sally Keyes, of Middle- town. He removed to Poultney, where he died, in 1836, by being buried with earth while working in a well. His son, Barden, married Eveline, daughter of Abel Parker, he now lives in Poultney, occupied in the grocery business.
Beebe, Robert, married Abigail Martin, both from Con- necticut ; he was an early settler in the western part of the town. The children's names were Ephraim, who married Aseneth Hale ; Aaron married Clarissa Comstock; Ozias married Roxana Andrews; Silas married Levina Clark ; Robert and Sally. Mr. Beebe died in the year of 1813, with the apoplexy.
Beebe, Ozias, family consisted of five children, viz : Levi, who married Polly Simond, of Poultney, Vt., by whom he had two children. She soon after died ; he next married Electa Searls, of Whitehall, N. Y., by whom he had four children : Joseph, Roxana, who married Robert Wilkinson, who is now dead ; Henry married Lucy Cornish, of Poultney, and John. Mr. Beebe died a few years since with the cancer ; his widow still resides in town.
Beebe, Martin, married Lucinda Huff, by whom he had two children and moved West, his wife dying soon after, he returned to Wells, where he died in 1841. Ozias, jr., went West at an early day ; Harriet married Thomas Hall, of Powlet, and is dead ; Abigail married Amos Winchell, and resides in town ; they have one son living, named Carlos.
Bellamy, Samuel, came into town at an early day ; his wife's name was Margaret Woodard, both from Connecticut ;
1
L
OF WELLS. 65
he died in 1835, aged 78 years. His family consisted of five children, three sons and two daughters ; the sons names were Jared, Ahimen and Robert H. ; the daughters were Anne and Hannah. Ahimen married a Miss Searls, of Whitehall, N. Y., and left town nearly 40 years since; Robert H. went to Maine, where he married and died in 1845, aged 37 years ; Anne married a Mr. Taylor, who entered the U. S. service in 1812, and never returned. She next married Lyman Nelson. Hannah married Sheldon Geer, and died soon after.
Blossom, David, early came into town and settled on the place now occupied by H. W. Lewis, one of the first pioneers of this town ; he came from Massachusetts. His family consisted of three sons and one daughter, viz : David C., William, Joseph, and Chloe, who married Milton, son of Andrew Clark ; David C. married Lucy, daughter of Daniel Goodrich, and resided in town until 1816, from whence he removed to Pawlet ; children's names were Paulina, Anna, Laura, David G., Hiram S., Henry and Bethiah; he died in 1868, aged 84 years ; his wife, in 1852, aged 65 years. William married Phebe, daughter of David Lewis, and resided in town until the year of 1832, when he left town and has resided for the most part of the time in Pawlet; his family consisted of four children: Benoni, William, Joseph and Rebecca. Joseph was a physician and practiced in Granville, N. Y. Mr. Blossom left town in 1804.
Blossom, Peter, came with his brother David into town and lived where Rodney M. Lewis now resides ; he was twice married; by his first wife he had two sons, namely: Seth and John, and one daughter named Hannah, who married Seth Potter, Sen. John went west at an early day.
5
66
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Mr. Blossom was a privateer in the American service during . the Revolutionary War, and used to pride himself by relating some of his feats, both bold and daring.
Blossom, Seth, married Nancy Bidwell, from Pawlet, and resided in town until his death, which occured in 1859; he was a man that was blessed with worldly goods, but left no children to inherit his estate by heirship. He was Repre- sentative from this town several years. His wife died in 1864, aged 77 years.
Brookins, Philetus, married Desire Ashley; came from Poult- ney in 1828. The following are the names of his children : James who married Saphrona Smith of Middletown, and now lives in Wisconsin; Alfred and Albert (twins) the former re- sides in Wisconsin, the latter married Amoretta Hutchins, and lives in town, Lucy married the writer hereof; Emerilla married William D. Clemons, and resides in Dorset ; Eliza married Daniel Merrills, who died in 1853, aged 35; Sally, married Alexander G. Clemons, she died in 1854, aged 27; Laura married Melancton Duel of Granville, N. Y. Mr. Brookins died in 1849, aged 65, his widow still survives at the age of 84.
Bent, Earl F., from Mount Holly, resided several years on Bod-fish hill so called. His wife's name was Lepha Clark ; the children were Clark, who married Ann Pepper; Henry married Catalina, daughter of Danforth Dean ; Saphrona married Levi Munson of Poultney ; Ilona married Ashbel Pepper of Pawlet ; Mary married Charles Goddard, who left town some years since.
Bowe, Amos, from Middletown, Conn., was an early set- tler, and lived a short distance from Pond Bridge; he was twice married. By his first wife he had three children,
ยท
.
67
OF WELLS.
Titus, Amos and Emily ; Titus married Sarah, daughter of Michael Clemons, she died in 1821 ; he then moved West; Amos went west while young and died in Harmony, Chat- auque Co., N. Y., a few years ago aged 66. Emily went west where she married. By his second wife he had four children, Obadiah A, Abner, Rebecca, and Esther Ann ; Abner left town some forty years since and is dead. Mr. Bowe was a first class scholar for those times. A lover of literature. In his religious sentiments he was an Episcopa- lian. He died in 1844, in the 74th year of his age. His widow and daughters left town soon afterwards.
Bowe, Obadiah A., was born in town in 1807; in his younger days he sought to be a Printer, and by permission of his father, he obtained an apprenticeship in the Northern Spectator office, at Poultney, Vt., and for a time he was with Horace Greeley, learning the art of printing. After serving his time he went to New York city and continued his occupation as Printer for some time. He afterwards became Editor of several periodcals. He was a violent anti-slavery man, and delivered many speeches and lectures for the cause. He was a poet, and his compositions were extensively circu- lated and published. He died in 1859 while employed in the Sun office in New York city, aged 52.
Broughton, Samuel, was an early settler from Connecticut; his wife's name was Rachel Dowd, by whom he had two chil- dren: Sophia who married John Parks, and Emilla who went to Ohio and was married. Mr. Broughton moved to Moriah, N. Y., in 1825, and died there in 1864, aged 95. He was noted for his love of litigation, so much so that he became the terror to the community in which he lived. It seemed to be his ruling passion during his long life. IIe won an impor-
68
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
tant suit when nearly 90 years old. As a neighbor he was . always ready to assist or help when needed. He was often troubled with a lung difficulty, and so impressed was he, that if he could get the heart of a rattlesnake and swallow it, it would relieve him and cure him of his complaint. It so hap- pened as Mr. Joseph Parks was going to meeting one Sabbath from his house to Wells, he chanced to kill a rattlesnake ; at that instant Mr. Broughton chanced to come along, and re- quested Mr. Parks to get the heart of that snake for his own use. Mr. Parks extracted the heart as requested and put it still beating into Mr. Broughton's hand, the first attempt was too revolting, but his second trial was a complete success, this was in 1821. But he always averred that he was effect- ually cured by swallowing the heart of the snake.
Burton, Henry C., from Granville, N. Y., in 1860, his wife's name was Sarah Pierce. They have a family of two sons, whose names are Charles C. and George.
Broughton, John, brother of Samuel Broughton, came early into town, and lived on the farm now occupied by Iliram Francis. He married Betsy McGraw of Mass. The family consisted of nine children : Thomas, Carlos who went west while young; Lorrin who married Sally Johnson; Patty, Eunice, Parmelia, Calista, who married James IIamden of this town; Sally who married Henry Mosher of Tinmouth, and another son named Darwin. Mr. Broughton with his family left town in 1828.
Button, Matthias, came with his son Joseph to reside in town in 1785. He married the widow of Joshua Howe and died in 1811, aged 79.
Button, Joseph, son of the above, settled in the north east part of the town, on the farm that Nathan Francis now owns.
69
OF WELLS.
Being then an unbroken wilderness. He came from Nor- wich, Windham Co., Conn. His wife's name was Sarah Glass. The names of the children were, Rufus, Joseph, Elijah, Polly married a Mr. Butts, Phebe married Eliad Smith of Gran- ville, N. Y., Eunice married Enos Lewis of this town; Lury married Elijah Herrick also of this town; Sally married John Bently of Granville, N. Y., Charlotte married Zachariah Lathrop, both of whom died in 1795, on the same day and were buried in the same grave, leaving a daughter named Cynthia. Mr. Button was Justice upward of 40 years ; a member of the Legislature two years. His wife died in 1821; he afterwards married Betsy, widow of Simeon Parks; he died in 1826, aged 73.
Button, Rufus, married a Miss Page, and lived in Middle- town until 1827, he then moved to Westfield, Chatauque Co., N. Y .; he raised a family of fifteen children. He died in 1854, aged 80.
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