USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25
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The Woodstock Bank .- On the 26th of October, 1844, the Legisla- ture of Vermont incorporated an institution by the name of Windsor County Bank, to have its principal place of business at Woodstock ; but one of the conditions of the charter was that the bank should not begin its business operations before the Ist of January, 1847, and not later than the Ist of May of the same year. Its capital stock was fixed at $60,000 in two thousand shares. But on the 22d of October, 1845, the Legislature passed another act, by which the former was amended, and the name changed to Woodstock Bank, by which name it was known when its doors opened for business in January, 1847. This bank was well managed and did a successful business under the presidency of Oliver P. Chandler, and the cashiership of Eliakim Johnson. Before the charter of the Woodstock Bank expired the National banking act had
1 " Thompson's Vermont,"
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
gone into effect, and the directors of the bank decided to avail them- selves of the provisions of the act, and not.ask for a renewal of their charter under the State law.
The Woodstock National Bank .- This bank was the direct outgrowth of the Woodstock Bank, just mentioned, and was incorporated April 17, 1865, with a capital stock of $100,000. Its first officers were: Presi- dent, Oliver P. Chandler ; vice-president, Philo Hatch ; cashier, Elia- kim Johnson; directors, Oliver P. Chandler, John Porter, Philo Hatch, Julius Converse and Eliakim Johnson. Mr. Chandler resigned from the presidency and direction of the bank in January, 1869, and was suc- ceeded by Frederick Billings, who still remains in that office. The orig- inal cashier, Mr. Johnson, continued in the position of cashier until his death, October 21, 1862, upon which Henry C. Johnson was elected cashier, and has so remained to the present. On January 14, 1873, William E. Hazen was appointed assistant cashier, and in August, 1875, was succeeded by the present incumbent, Frederick W. Wilder.
As has been stated, the original capital stock of the bank was fixed at $100,000, but on the 14th of July, 1865, it was increased to $150,000, and, again, on January 11, 1867, to $200,000. On June 10, 1872, the stock was still further increased to $300,000. The Woodstock National Bank has a present surplus of some $60,000, and is officered and man- aged as follows : President, Frederick Billings ; vice-president, Oliver P. Chandler ; cashier, Henry C. Johnson ; assistant cashier, Frederick W. Wilder ; directors, Frederick Billings, Oliver P. Chandler, Frank N. Billings, William E. Johnson, William E. Dewey.
The Ottauquechee Savings Bank .- This institution, the only savings bank ever established in the village, was incorporated November 13, 1847, and opened its doors for business in January, 1848, under the manage- ment of the following board of trustees and officers : Trustees, Thomas E. Powers, Thomas Russell, Owen Taft, Joel Eaton, Lyndon A. Marsh, Henry W. English, Charles S. Raymond, Nahum Haskell, Charles W. Warren, Oel Billings, Reuben Daniels and Otis Chamberlin. Officers : John Porter, president ; Ammi Willard, vice-president; Elihu Johnson, treasurer ; Norman Williams, secretary.
The Ottauquechee Savings Bank has ever been looked upon and re- garded as one of the substantial business institutions of the village, one
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that has ever been well managed, and a source of profit to its managers and depositors as well. When started, and for a number of years thereafter, it was usual to open the bank for business on but two days of the week, but the business of the concern at length became so extensive, and de- positors to numerous, that the doors were opened every business day of the week. The bank, too, owns the building at present occupied, having acquired the same by conveyance from Morris Fairbanks. The deposits of the bank at present amount to about $530,000. The present officers are as follows : James B. Jones, president ; Crosby Miller, vice-president ; Charles F. Chapman, secretary and treasurer ; trustees, James B. Jones, Alvin Hatch, Edwin Hazen, Norman Paul, Crosby Miller, Charles H. Maxham, Henry W. Walker, William S. Dewey, J. Walker Parker, Frank S. Mackenzie, William S. Hewitt ; board of investors, James B. Jones, Alvin Hatch, Edwin Hazen, Norman Paul, Charles F. Chapman.
Industries .- As a manufacturing center Woodstock has never attracted any considerable attention, nor does there seem ever to have been a great desire on the part of the people here to build up such enterprises, al- though the facilities for cheap and abundant water power along the Que- chee and South branches are all that could be desired for manufacturing purposes. But however inconsiderable may have been the manufactur- ing industries of the village, the place has by no means been entirely de- void of them, and those that have been carried on were of some impor- tance and extent.
Manufacturing in the vicinity of the village, or what afterwards became the village, may be said to have commenced when Joab Hoisington put into operation a saw and grist-mill, somewhere about the year 1776. But the product of these mills was used entirely in the home market. The first considerable industry of prominence was the oil-mill of Jacob Wilder, which was established during the latter part of 1792, and had its seat of operation on the South branch of the Quechee, not far from the village proper ; but this old establishment experienced all the vicissitudes any industry could well be subjected to ; passed through various owners, and was the seat of various munufactures, being finally converted into a foun- dry by R. D. Granger, and by him sold to Daniel Taft, and then moved from the locality to become a part of the Taft industry at Taftsville. This was about 1836.
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In the west part of the village, on the north side of the river, stands a large brick building, a monument to past prosperity and subsequent ad- versity, and which is generally known as the old Woodstock woolen- mills, or the Woodward Mills. In former times this location was known as Mower's Mills, although the water at this point was first diverted and utilized about the year 1790, when Dr. Powers built the dam and erected a saw and grist-mill. This property passed to the ownership of Henry Mower & Co. in 1803, and five years later to Samuel Chandler. From this time forward, for some twenty-five years, the property underwent many changes in proprietorship as well as manufactures, and finally, in 1835, was purchased by the Woodstock Manufacturing Company, a cor- poration having an authorized capital stock of large proportions, and, what was still better (for certain purposes), a shrewd manager named Samuel Ford, by whose persistent efforts a number of local capitalists were induced to make investments in the enterprise. This company erected the extensive brick factory building and others in the neighbor- hood, for the use of the company and its employees. The company, however, never developed manufactures to any great extent, but did suc- ceed in building up an indebtedness of splendid proportions, upon which the property was sold to Solomon Woodward in 1847 to be used as a woolen factory. Extensive alterations and repairs to the building and adjoining property were made, among which was the removal of the old saw and grist-mills, and the erection of more substantial structures in their places. Mr. Woodward continued business here until about the year 1877, but the returns were not particularly gratifying, especially during the later years of operations, and the property finally passed into the estate of the late A. T. Stewart, of New York, and then into the charge of Judge Hilton, and now the whole Stewart-Hilton property, here and elsewhere, is the subject of litigation, cannot be transferred or perfect title given.
Near the site where now stands the extensive tannery buildings and works of B. F. Standish, Elder Jasper Harvey, in 1832, located the building formerly known as the West meeting-house, which he had pur- chased and moved here, and converted into a tannery. It was operated by Clement & Stillson for a few years, changed hands frequently, and finally became the property of Perkins & Standish. The buildings were
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Norman Paul
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destroyed by fire in September, 1873, but a new and more commodious tannery was soon afterwards built by Mr. Standish, who has carried on the business ever since. Concerning the Standish tannery, it may be said to be about the only present industry of the village, the product of which is shipped to and sold in other than local markets.
The Woodstock Gaslight Company, one of the two local improvement companies of the village, was chartered by an act of the Legislature on the 9th of November, 1855. During the succeeding year the company was in full operation, although a number of years passed before the street and service pipes were laid to their present extent. The first board of directors was composed of Thomas E. Powers, Solomon Wood- ward and George Mellish. Mr. Powers was chosen president of the company.
Hotels .- The history of hotel life and business in Woodstock village commenced when Joab Hoisington procured an inn or tavern-keeper's license from the Cumberland County Court in 1772, and arranged his humble log cabin for the accommodation of the traveling public. This worthy resident must have recognized the necessity for such a house of entertainment and rest for the wayfarer, but just how long he acted in the capacity of host or landlord is not known, but it was only for a short time, a few years, perhaps.
In 1787 Captain Richardson erected a tavern on the park tract, but the building was afterwards moved to a location further north, off the common, and is still standing, next east of the Hatch House. Its use for tavern purposes was discontinued about 1822. In 1793 two hotel buildings were put up in the village, one on the corner where now stands the Churchill dwelling, but which was only used as a tavern for a short time, and the other on the site of the present Eagle Hotel ; in fact, the same building, although during the nearly hundred years of its exist- ence it has been so frequently repaired and remodeled as to have lost all of its original appearance. It was built by Captain Richardson, and was a plain, two-story frame building with a single story extension. It afterward became the property of Titus Richardson, who, in 1822, built the brick addition on the east end of the house. In 1830 Cutting & Phillips were proprietors, under whom the piazzas were built and the house enlarged by building a third story. Under their ownership, also,
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the house was christened " Eagle Hotel," and a gilded eagle "hung out" for a sign. In 1867 another story was added to the main part of the house. In 1848 the brick addition on the east was sold to the Sons of Temperance for a hall, and was so used until the early part of 1885, when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. F. B. Merrill then bought the property, rebuilt the burned part, and made it a part of the hotel. He retired from the proprietorship of the hotel in 1889, being succeeded by Arthur B. Wilder, who is now its proprietor.
Another of the old hotel buildings of the village was that which was erected at the corner of Elm and Central streets, by Elisha Taylor in 1796, and known as the Village Hotel. In 1819 this became the prop- erty of Robert Barker, and was one of the most popular resorts in the town. In 1835 it was sold to Samuel Whitney, and by the latter, in 1856, to Gilman Henry, both of whom were proprietors of the hotel during the periods of their ownership. The old building experienced nearly as many changes as did the rival house, the Eagle, for one land- lord seldom allows himself to be outdone by a competitor. But, un . fortunately for the old Village Hotel, and possibly for its owner, too, the whole concern was, in March, 1867, destroyed by fire, and in its place there was erected the present substantial business block.
The "Park Cottage " Hotel, now owned and managed by "Landlord " Fales, is one of the later-day institutions of the village, having been made over into a hotel in 1884. The old building here has been vari- ously used : was erected early in the century, and occupied as a store, saddler's shop, school-house, dwelling, and finally put to its present occupancy by Mr. Fales in 1884.
The Woodstock Acqueduct Company .- The subject of supplying the village of Woodstock with pure and wholesome water from some of the outlying streams of the town began to be agitated about the year 1878, and the matter was made the subject of consideration at the vil- lage meeting held in January, 1879. At that meeting Oliver P. Chand. ler, Justin F. Mackenzie and Charles Chapman were chosen a commit- tee to "inquire as to the feasibility of obtaining a supply of water from Blake Hill, or other hills of the vicinity." The committee made diligent examination into the matter of their duty, and on January 5, 1880, re- ported to the meeting the results of their investigations, together with
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VILLAGE OF WOODSTOCK.
an estimate of the probable expense of the entire enterprise, which they placed at seventeen thousand dollars. The report was accepted and ordered to lie on the table. It may be stated, further, that the report remained on the table, and the village made no further discussion of the project.
In the year 1880 a number of enterprising citizens of the village pro- cured from the Legislature an act of incorporation of the Woodstock Acqueduct Company, having a capital stock of $36,000, in shares of $50 each. The company, however, did nothing in the matter of carry- ing out the object of its incorporation until the year 1887, when a reser- voir was built on Thomas Brook, and water mains laid from that point to and through the streets of the village, under the management and direction of the following persons: J. J. Randall, designing engineer ; T. William Harris, constructing engineer and sub contractor ; con- tractors, R. D. Wood & Co. The main pipe from the reservoir is of eight-inch iron, while the street pipes are six and four inches in diam- eter, the latter size predominating. The company now has about seven miles of main laid, and is patronized by about one hundred and sixty water takers. The village is supplied with twenty-eight hydrants, located at convenient points, ready for instant use in case of fire.
The company is under the following management : President, Frank N. Billings; vice-president, Frank S. Mackenzie; secretary, H. C. Phillips ; treasurer, Frederick W. Wilder.
The Windsor County Agricultural Society .- While this organization may be, perhaps, one of the institutions of the county rather than of the village, it has always had its chief seat of operation and its location for annual exhibitions in or near Woodstock, and has come to be regarded as one of the established institutions of the locality ; and, so being, it is proper that some mention be made of it in this connection.
As far back as the year 1820 there was organized what was known as the Agricultural Society for the County of Windsor; and in that year officers were chosen as follows: President, William Jarvis; vice- presidents, Zebina Curtis, Jabez Proctor and Titus Hutchinson ; secretary, Norman Williams. The first exhibition given under the direction of the society was that of September 20, 1821. The society held one or two annual exhibitions and then quietly passed out of existence.
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
In 1846 a new society, the present one, was organized, and from that time to the present has given an annual exhibition. In 1855 the present "fair grounds " were purchased, and here the society have erected buildings sufficient for the accommodation of all stock and other exhibits, of every character, that may be offered. It has been the great aim of the gentlemen that comprise the society to offer to exhibitors as good inducements by way of accommodations and premiums as does any similar organization in the State; and that their efforts in this direction have been entirely successful is attested by the fact that the attendance and display at the annual meetings of the society are not inferior to those of any other county. The premises and buildings, too, are kept in the best condition possible, and premiums are paid in full, without con- ditions. During the year 1889 various improvements were made, at an expense to the society of three or four thousand dollars. The officers of the society are as follows: President, Joseph C. Parker of Hartford ; first vice-president, Edwin C. Emmons of Woodstock; second vice- president, Homer W. Vail of Pomfret ; secretary, Henry B. Reed of Woodstock ; treasurer, Norman Paul of Woodstock.
Masonic .- The first Masonic organization that found a resting place in Woodstock is understood as having been Warren Lodge, which was instituted in the year 1804; and of which Alexander Hutchinson was master; Benjamin Emmons, senior warden; William Perry, junior war- den; Benjamin Swan, treasurer; and William Strong, secretary. The lodge dissolved its organization and surrendered its charter in the year 1827. This was followed by another similar organization which has been called "Washington Mark Master's Lodge," and which was in existence for some ten or fifteen years prior to 1829.
Woodstock Lodge, No. 31, F. and A. M., was granted a dispensation by the Grand Lodge on the 13th of January, 1853, and was chartered on the Ist of January, 1854. The lodge was organized under the dispen - sation, and the following were its first officers: Luben Putnam, W. M .; O. H. Mckenzie, S. W .; Eben Tracey, J. W .; John A. Pratt, secretary ; Joel Eaton, treasurer ; Augustus Palmer, S. D .; Daniel Taft, jr., J. D.
Past Masters .- Luben Putnam, O. H. Mckenzie, Ebenezer Tracey, Augustus Palmer, Edwin Hutchinson, Edwin Hazen, Joseph S. Rich- mond, Owen T. Marsh, Robert S. Southgate, John S. Eaton, Orlando W.
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Sherwin, Ezra H. Lovell, Joseph S. Richmond, Charles M. Marsh, E. P. Tewksbury, George H. Moss, James W. Hazen, J. K. Hoadley.
Present Officers .- C. R. Montague, W. M .; George W. Marble, S. W .; George Aitken, J. W .; W. S. Hewitt, treasurer ; F. R. Jewett, secretary ; C. F. Merrill, S. D .; F. B. Dana, J. D .; M. E. Hapgood, S. S .; W. H. Brown, J. S .; A. B. Jaquith, tyler.
Ottauquechee Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M .- An application for a dispen- sation for a chapter of Royal Arch Masons was made to the Grand Lodge of this State in March, 1867 ; and on the 18th of October follow- ing a charter was granted that established Ottauquechee Chapter, No. 21. The petition was signed by D. L. Howe, Nathan Cushing, Edwin Hazen, J. S. Richmond, Ira Wood, Nathan Woodbury, O. E. Ross, Norman Williams, Julius Converse and Lyman Mower. The first officers were J. S. Richmond, H. P .; Edwin Hazen, K .; O. E. Ross, scribe ; Luben Putnam, C. H .; D. L. Howe, P. S .; Nathan Cushing, R. A. C .; Lyman Mower, M. 3d V .; Ira Wood, M. 2d V .; Daniel Taft, M. Ist V .; Julius Converse, treasurer ; Nathan Woodbury, secretary ; Joseph Churchill, tyler.
Past High Priests .- Joseph S. Richmond, Edwin Hazen, Owen T. Marsh, O. W. Sherwin, W. J. Boyce. Officers for 1889: W. J. Boyce, H. P .; E. P. Tewksbury, king; O. L. Richmond, scribe; C. W. Say- ward, treasurer; G. H. Mass, secretary ; A. N. Logan, C. H .; C. R. Montague, P. S .; O. L. Seaver, R. A. C .; W. H. Seaver, M. 3d V .; George Aitken, M. 2d V .; W. F. Jones, M. Ist V .; I. C. Mower, senti- nel. Present membership, 70.
Grand Army of the Republic .- The first steps in the matter of organ- izing a post in Woodstock were taken during or about the year 1881, and the result was the granting of a charter by the State Department, G. A. R., to Sheridan Post, of Woodstock. This post was at one time a flourish- ing organization, at least so far as membership was concerned; but on ac- count of certain regulations that required too much time, it was thought to become a full member, (passing through the several degrees-recruits, soldiers, and veterans,) the post became unpopular, lost its organization, and finally passed out of existence.
George C. Randall Post, No. 82, Department of Vermont, G. A. R., was organized at Woodstock, December 15, 1884, with the following of-
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ficers : Colonel Thomas O. Seaver, commander ; William C. Whipple, S. V. C .; Edwin C. Emmons, J. V. C .; Dr. Henry Boynton, surgeon ; John S. Eaton, officer of the day ; Lucius W. Wilson, officer of guard ; Henry H. Woodbury, adjutant; John Gilman, Q. M ; George W. Paul, Sergt .- Maj .; Charles H. English, Q. M .- Sergt .; Rev. H. A. Van Dusen, chaplain (appt. January, 1885).
Randall Post has a present membership of one hundred and sixteen persons, which includes nearly every ex-soldier of the village and vicin- ity. Regular meetings are held each month, on the Saturday before the " moon fulls." An annual camp-fire is held on the 22d of February, and Memorial Day is regularly observed.
Present Officers .- Henry Boynton, M. D., commander ; E. C. Em- mons, S. V. C .; W. C. Vaughn, J. V. C .; H. H. Woodbury, Adjt .; Na- than Cutting, Q. M .; Lucius W. Wilson, O. D .; Andrew McKain, O. G .; Henry B. Reed, surgeon; George W. Paul, Sergt .- Major ; Charles H. English, Q. M .- Sergt.
Connected with the post is a Relief Corps known as " Randall W. R. C., No. 26," comprising about forty ladies of Woodstock and adjoining towns.
The Town Representatives .- The position of Representative in the General Assembly is without doubt the principal town office; and as other chapters have contained the succession of incumbents of this office, it is proper that the same be given in this connection, that is, the names of the several persons who have been elected to the General Assembly from the town of Woodstock, as follows: 1778, (March) John Strong, Joseph Safford ; 1778, (October) John Strong, Phineas Williams ; 1779, Phineas Williams, John Strong; 1780, John Strong, Warren Cottle; 1781, Jesse Safford, Warren Cottle; 1782, John Strong, Jabez Cottle; 1783, Jesse Safford, Phineas Thomas; 1784, Jabez Cottle, Jesse Safford ; 1785, Jesse Safford ; 1786-7, Benjamin Emmons ; 1788, Jesse Safford ; 1789, War- ren Cottle; 1790, Jesse Safford ; 1791, Jesse Safford (January), Benja- min Emmons (October) ; 1792-94, Benjamin Emmons ; 1795, Jabez Cottle ; 1796, Benjamin Emmons ; 1897-8, Jesse Williams ; 1799, Jabez Bennett ; 1800-1803, Benjamin Emmons ; 1804, Titus Hutchinson ; 1805, Jabez Cottle ; 1806-10, Titus Hutchinson; 1811, Joseph Wood ; 1812, Titus Hutchinson ; 1813-15, Henry C. Denison ; 1816-17, Ste-
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phen Farnsworth; 1818-19, Daniel Dana ; 1820, Howland Simmons; 1821, Titus Hutchinson ; 1822-3, Jasper Hazen; 1824-5, Titus Hutch- inson ; 1826, Richard M. Ransom; 1827, Billy Brown; 1828, Richard M. Ransom ; 1829, Sylvester Edson ; 1830, Lysander Raymond ; 1831, Billy Brown ; 1832-33, Jason Kendall; 1834, Daniel Taft ; 1835, Lysan - der Raymond; 1836, Tracy Brigham; 1837-8, John Moulton; 1839- 41, Oliver P. Chandler ; 1842-4, Andrew Tracy ; 1845-6, Nathan T. Churchill; 1847-9, Julius Converse; 1850-52, Thomas E. Powers; 1853-4, Peter T. Washburn; 1855-6, Thomas E. Powers; 1857-9, George R. Chapman ; 1860-61, Eliakim Johnson; 1862-3, Oliver P. Chandler ; 1864-5, Lewis Pratt ; 1866, Charles Marsh ; 1867-8, Julius Converse; 1869-71, Lorenzo Richmond; 1872-5, Henry Boynton ; 1876-7, Warren C. French; 1878-9, Horace C. Lockwood; 1880-81, Justin F. Mackenzie; 1882-3, Larnard C. Kendall ; 1884-5, George B. French ; 1886-90, Charles P. Marsh.
CHAPTER XV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WINDSOR, AND OF THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF WINDSOR.
D URING that period of our country's history that has always been referred to as the period of the early French wars, the valley of the Connecticut River was a prominent and frequently traveled thoroughfare for the passage of troops and other smaller bodies of armed men be- tween the New England colonies on the south and the upper Connecti- cut country, the Canadas, and the Champlain region on the north and northwest. Thus the vicinity wherein is situate the present town of Windsor became known to the pioneers of New England long before any settlement was made in the locality, and before any provincial gov- ernor had assumed to make grants of towns in the region of Vermont east of the Green Mountains.
In 1724 the New England colonies had become sufficiently large to warrant an extension of settlement in various localities, to the northward, and some of the venturesome spirits moved up the valley of the Connec-
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ticut and planted a settlement and built a fortress, which they called Fort Dummer, under the belief that the location lay within the provincial boundaries of Massachusetts. This action opened anew a controversy that had previously existed between the authorities of the provinces of New Hampshire and Massachusetts relative to the boundary lines be- tween them ; and this dispute was finally terminated by the royal decree of 1740, by which the north line of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, as it was called, was fixed upon as being somewhat to the southward of the Dummerston settlement, and the latter was therefore brought within the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, and has ever since been conspicuous in history as the first civilized settlement within the borders of what afterward became the State of Vermont.
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