USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 33
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A LITTLE.
C. M.Polter
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TOWN OF HARTFORD.
ceeding year that a permanent organization was effected. The result was the formation of the society known as the Congregational church of West Hartford, located, as its name implies, in the western part of the town. Notwithstanding the fact that this society has had an existence covering a period of sixty years, there has been but one regularly or- dained pastor, Rev. William Claggett, whose ministerial labors com- menced in 1846 and ceased in 1859. Prior and subsequent to the period of Rev. Claggett's pastorate the church has been presided over by a sup- ply minister.
The First Congregational Society in Quechee village was a creation of the year 1830, but never developed into a regular organization. Two years later, in 1832, the Quechee Village Meeting-House Society was or- ganized as a superceding society, also of the Congregational denomina tion, and continued for some twelve years. In this time a church building was erected, but this was afterward put into use as a school-house, and is now so maintained. Subsequently in 1871 another society of the same name was organized by residents of Quechee and vicinity, and a church building for it erected in 1872-73. This last society is still in existence.
In January, 1831, the society of the First Congregational church of Quechee village was organized. The church remained the state of a mis- sion until 1835, at which time Rev. Luke Wood was called to the pas- torate, but continued only two years. The pulpit was afterward supplied until 1866, when Rev. J. W. Kingsbury was installed as pastor, but in 1869 he retired. Rev. Melvin Ray succeeded to the pastorate in 1874, and remained but one year. Rev. A. B. Chase was ordained in 1876, and continued until succeeded by Rev. N. F. Carter, the latter preaching here several months before he became pastor. He was installed in 1880, and dismissed in 1887.
The formation of the society known as the United Church of Christ, at Olcott, is the latest movement in Congregationalism in Hartford, and this was the creation of certain Dartmonth theological students, aided by some of the clergymen of the town and vicinity. The society was formed some time during the year 1887.
The seed of Presbyterianism in Hartford was planted as early as the year 1771, by the formation of a society of that denomination at or about that time, having its chief seat of location in the north part of the town
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
in the neighborhood of Dothan, in regard for which the society was named. After experiencing all the vicissitudes which a church society can well endure, the church passed out of existence in 1844.
It has been said that the home of the Episcopal church in Vermont is in Arlington, Bennington county. Whether absolutely correct or not matters but little, but it is true that however old this church may have been in other localities, it was not planted in Hartford until a compara - tively recent date. St. Paul's church, the only one of this denomina- tion in this town, was organized in 1868. Rev. James Houghton was its first rector. The seat of the parish is at White River Junction, where was erected a comfortable church edifice in the year 1874.
The first Universalist Society of White River Junction dates back in organization only to the year 1878. The church building of the society was commenced in that same year, and completed in 1879. During the few years of its existence the society has had four pastors: Revs. J. C. Farnsworth, William E. Copeland, George W. Barnes and Walter Dole.
The society of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic church of White River Junction was formed in this town during the year 1870, although for a few years preceding that missionary work had been done among the Catholic-Irish residents of the locality, of whom there were not a few. The first missionary priest in the town was Rev. Father Pigeon, who commenced his labors in some convenient room, occasionally in a dwell - ing, but in 1870 he purchased what was known as the Moseley house, which was temporarily used for church services, and until the pres- ent edifice was built, in 1873. In connection with St. Anthony's parish there is an established and prosperous parochial school, which has now some sixty scholars. The succession of pastors in charge of St. Antho- ny's parish has been as follows: Rev. M. Pigeon, Rev. Daniel Sullivan, Rev. Dennis Lynch, Rev. James Booth Whitaker. The congregation of St. Anthony's is the largest in the town of Hartford.
The teachings and doctrines of Methodism were advocated in Hartford as far back as the early years of the present century, but it was not until the year 1845 that the people of this faith were provided with a church home. This building was a plain frame structure, and was erected at the place called Jericho ; but in 1874 the building was sold and moved from the town, and the society became practically extinct. It was
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TOWN OF HARTFORD.
revived, however, in or soon after the year 1877, having its seat of loca- tion at White River Junction, where a temporary place of meeting was secured. During the next year, 1878, the present church was erected and its society is now numbered among the flourshing institutions of that village and of the town.
Among the number of church or religious societies that have had a past existence in Hartford was that known as the Covenant Baptists, connected with which at one time were some of the prominent families of the town. Another society was that known as Second Adventists, which was brought into existence through the teachings of William Miller. From his name some of the societies of this denomination have been called Millerites. The society in this town has no regular church home, except as their camp-meeting grounds may be so called. The present society was formed in 1887, under the name of White River Junction Camp-Meeting Association.
Educational Institutions .- The charter of the town of Hartford made provision as ample for the support of a public school as was made for any town similarly granted ; and this provision was enhanced by the subsequent action of the proprietors in setting apart lots for the benefit of town schools. But there appears to be no record of the establish- ment of a school in the town prior to 1795, when the house of Reuben Hazen, at West Hartford, was used for the purpose. In 1796 Lionel Udall taught school in the same locality. After this time, as the popu- lation of the town increased, other schools were established in various localities as occasion demanded, and in 1807 the town was divided into school districts, and schools were established in each as soon as the people felt inclined or able to do so. The districts were seventeen in number; there are but sixteen at present. The schools of the town have ever been supported on the district system, although of late years an effort has been made to adopt the town plan.
One of the most prominent among the comparatively early educa- tional institutions of the town was that known and incorporated under the name of Hartford Academy, at White River village, in the year 1839. Its career was " brief but eventful,"-brief because it proved an unsuc- cessful enterprise, and failed to draw the attendance and consequent support its proprietors had hoped for, and eventful because every effort
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
was made to make it successful. In 1848 its ownership passed to the district in which it was situated, number seventeen.
Industries .- Manufacturing has been one of the most productive in- dustries of the town of Hartford during the present century ; but had it required the effort to establish each that has been in operation during the last three-quarters of a century, as was necessary to bring into life the first saw and grist-mills on the Quechee prior to 1770, the whole people of the town would have been resolved into a vast board of trade, and all the lands of the town would have been donated to influence milling operations. But the never failing waters of the Quechee and White Rivers have fortunately been a sufficient inducement for manu- facturers to locate in the town without asking for public donations either of lands or money.
Hartford is known to-day as one of the leading manufacturing towns of Vermont, and this branch of business is as much and more a source of profit and benefit to the whole town, as well as to the several propri- etors, as is agriculture or any other calling. The construction of the several railroads across the town has greatly facilitated manufacture, and products can now be transported to market in less than a tenth of the time formerly consumed in shipment, and is attended with far less haz- ard and expense.
To enter into a detailed description of each and all the manufacturing enterprises that have so marked the growth and prosperity of Hartford, during the past century, would require more space than is deemed expedient to devote to the subject. Moreover, it is a subject that has been written upon at considerable length, and with much care, by the author of a recent history of the town, which work being, it is hoped, in every family in the town they have the means of sufficient enlighten- ment upon the matter. The present record will therefore show only the names of proprietors and location of the present and more recent manufacturing industries of the town as a part of the description of present villages.
Of the villages of Hartford, White River Junction is by far the most important, having the larger population, the greater diversity of business enterprises, and is, in all respects, the metropolis of the locality. It has come into existence, substantially, since the building of the first line of
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TOWN OF HARTFORD.
railroad along the Connecticut River; and when diverging or branching roads were built the name, White River Junction, was given the place. The village in fact owes its very existence to these railway enterprises. It is a commercial and railway center, distinctively, and in no sense a manufacturing village; nor can it well become so as long as exist in other portions of the town the desirable water privileges now used as a motive power for driving machinery. And whatever of aspirations the people of the Junction may have to make theirs a manufacturing as well as a railroad center, that consummation must be reached by the application of steam-power, for the waterways of the locality are ill- adapted for such purposes.
In the village proper are four church edifices-Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Universalist, all comfortable and commodious buildings, each of which, with the societies that own them, are fully mentioned in an earlier portion of this chapter. The village also has one national bank-the National Bank of White River Junction ; one savings bank-the White River Savings Bank ; a steam grist-mill ; the confectionery and baking establishment of G. W. Smith ; one large and excellent hotel-the Junction House; besides which are two printing establishments and numerous other business and mercantile houses and offices, to the number of thirty-five or forty ; to all of which must be added the representatives of the several professions, of which there are several. All of these combined truly give the Junction the appearance of a prosperous, enterprising little municipality, although this distin- guishing character is not yet come to the place.
While unquestionably second to the Junction in point of population, but not second in point of importance as a manufacturing center, is the village of Quechee, situate on the line of Woodstock Railroad and mid- way between the Junction and the county seat. Incredible though it may appear, it is nevertheless a fact, that manufacturing has been car- ried on, possibly with brief intervals, at this point for a period of almost one hundred and twenty-five years ; for here a saw-mill was erected as early if not before the year 1769, and in the course of a few more years a grist-mill was put in operation at the same place.
The power for propelling machinery is derived by diverting the waters of the Otta Quechee River, from which stream the town received its
45
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
name. Common consent, however, has dropped the first part of the name-Otta-and the stream and village are called simply Quechee. And the village, besides having considerable prominence as a factory place, has been in the past and is now the home of some of the most distinguished and wealthy men that have been known to the town of Hartford. Enterprise and progress have been the watchwords of the people here from the first settlement to the present day.
The village, too, has its church societies and buildings, the Methodist and Congregational. Its leading manufacturing industries are the Dewey mills, established in 1836 by Strong & Co., for the manufacture of satin goods, and succeeded by A. G. Dewey in 1840, who commenced making woolen goods, sometimes called "shoddy." Here, too, are the extensive woolen-mills of J. C. Parker & Co., a large enterprise that had its origin in the saw-mill established by Abel and Elisha Marsh, Benjamin Burch and Joshua Dewey, as far back as the year 1771. From that until the present day the "privilege" and property have changed ownership many times, and almost as frequently have there been changes in the character of business done here. This same firm also operates a tannery at Quechee, and what is known asa wool- pulling fac- tory as well. The saw-mill here is the property of O. H. Chamberlain. Besides these are the customary stores and other business enterprises found in small but flourishing villages such as Quechee. The popula- tion of the village proper is something like five or six hundred.
The A. G. Dewey Company .- The woolen factory now occupied by this corporation is situated on the Otta Quechee River, one mile south of Quechee village. It was erected and opened in 1836 by Messrs. J. P. and C. Strong and Dewey for the manufacture of fine satinets. This firm was in existence from 1836 to 1842, but owing to the financial crisis of 1837 this company suspended operations and the factory re- mained unoccupied until 1840, when it was leased by A. G. Dewey. About the year 1840 Reuben Daniel, of Woodstock, conceived the idea of converting or reducing soft woolen rags to fibres denominated rag wool. Following up this idea, Mr. Daniel invented a machine for pick- ing rags into fibre and the first machine was put into operation in the woolen factory at Quechee village in 1840. This was the first inaugu- ration of shoddy in the United States. In 1841 Mr. Dewey leased the
AG, Query
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TOWN OF HARTFORD.
lower factory and commenced the manufacture of rag· cloth, now desig- nated as shoddy. At this time he employed a force of from thirty to sixty operators, and continued in business alone until April 11, 1848, when Urial Spalding became partner, under firm name of Dewey & Spalding. This partnership lasted until October 10, 1854. On April I, 1858, the firm of A. G. Dewey & Co. was formed by the association with Mr. Dewey of Justin F. Mackenzie and William S. Carter. In 1873 Mr. Carter died. On the first of January, 1874, John J. Dewey purchased his interest in the firm and on January 1, 1876, William S. Dewey was admitted to equal partnership. The elder Dewey and Mr. Mackenzie retained their partnership till their death. The present cor- poration was organized under the general laws of the State of Vermont, January 1, 1890, the following being its officers : John J. Dewey, presi- dent; F. S. Mackenzie, vice-president; William S. Dewey, treasurer. In 1858 the mill contained only two sets of machinery, producing about 450 yards of textile fabric daily. This capacity was increased in 1863 to 1,300 yards. In 1870 the firm bought the mill, enlarged it, substi- tuted new and improved machinery, continued improvements have been made, and their present production is now not far from 2,500 yards daily. They have six sets in operation and employ eighty hands. They manufacture two varieties of cloth, one from tailor clippings, the other from soft woolen rags of every description. Their fabrics are made from the same kind of stock used by Mr. Dewey in 1841, and have a reputation in the markets for general excellency, the varieties being known throughout the country as " Dewey's Grays." The motive power of the factory is a Hercules wheel of 150 horse-power, under a fall of twenty-five feet of water. The location of this factory is a very romantic one, being at the head of the celebrated Quechee Gulf, which has become a popular resort for tourists and pleasure seekers.
The village of Hartford, or, as formerly known, White River Village (from its location on the stream so named), is a manufacturing point of considerable importance. The chief power for this purpose is obtained from White River. The place, also, is accessible from two railroads, the Vermont Central and the Woodstock, but the latter is little used. The first mill was erected here in or about the year 1795. The village has all the business enterprises usual to such hamlets: a church,-the
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
Congregational,-a school, and a number of factories, among them the Hartford Woolen Company, manufacturers of woolen goods and satinets; French, Watson & Co. and W. L. Bugbee, agricultural implements ; Isaac Gates, shipping chairs, etc .; Moore & Madden, flour and grist-mill ; E. Johnson, furniture ; J. Bugbee, carriages and sleighs; French, Wat- son & Co., saw-mill, and others perhaps of less importance.
West Hartford is a hamlet still smaller than any heretofore mentioned, and is located in the extreme northwest part of the town, on what has been termed the Hazen Grant. This name came from the fact of the proprietors having conveyed the land to Thomas Hazen, the pioneer, in consideration of services performed for the proprietors by Joshua Ha- zen, the son of Thomas. The extent of the grant included a thousand acres, but the owner afterward acquired several hundred acres more, and at his death divided it among his children.
West Hartford, too, has its contingent of distinguished names of former residents, among them Chief Officer William B. Hazen of the signal service, and who, also, was a brigadier-general during the war of 1861-65 ; Joel Marsh, who was a captain and subsequently colonel during the Revolutionary period ; David M. Camp, who was lieutenant- governor in 1836.
This is more of an agricultural than manufacturing locality, notwith- standing the fact of its location on the White River and the Central Vermont Railroad ; still the village has a saw-mill, two stores,-F. M. Holt and C. M. Hazen,-and a few other enterprises of less importance. It has, also, a Congregational church and a school-house.
The little hamlet called Olcott, or Olcott Falls, is the latest creation in the town in the way of village settlement, although the locality was known for very many years as White River Falls, and was utilized for mill purposes as early as 1785. The village is located on the Connecti- cut River, about two and one-half miles north of the Junction. In 1882 a dam across the river was commenced, and afterward completed, thus diverting the waters on both sides for mill privileges. This is the enter- prise of the Olcott Falls Company, manufacturers of printers' news paper. At this village is the United Church in Christ Society, mentioned in preceding pages.
Centerville is the only other hamlet in the town that can boast of
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TOWN OF HARTFORD.
much more than a distinguished name. It is located, as its name im- plies, near the geographical center of the town, on the White River, and also on the line of the Central Vermont Railroad. Its business and other institutions are few, comprising a school-house, a few dwellings, a saw-mill and grist-mill.
Other localities that are honored with names, but scarcely anything else, are Jericho and Dothan, understood as having been so named by Rev. Aaron Hutchinson very many years ago. Both are located in the north part of the town.
Russtown is a name, hardly more, applied to the neighborhood in the southeast part of the town, in district number twelve, where dwell several families named Russ. Christian Street is a name applied to a lo- cality in the northeast part of the town, the neighborhood of the Gillett brick-yards.
There is perhaps no town in the county of Windsor that has been more productive of prominent men in the executive and legislative branches of National and State governments than has Hartford; and in closing this chapter it is proper that there be furnished the names at least of those who have been the leaders of the town in its civil and political affairs, and who have been exalted to positions of trust and responsi- bility, and who, by faithfully performing each and every of their duties, brought credit and honor not only to themselves, but also to the town in which they had lived.
The town of Hartford has furnished the successful candidate for the office of Representative in Congress from this district as follows : William Strong, from 1810 to 1815 ; William Strong, from 1819 to 1821 ; George E. Wales, 1825 to 1829; Andrew Tracy, 1854 to 1856.
In the State government the town has furnished officers as follows : Governor, Samuel E. Pingree, 1885-86; lieutenant-governors, Joseph Marsh, 1778-79, and from 1787 to 1790; David M. Camp, 1836-41 ; Samuel E. Pingree, 1883-84; secretary of state, Charles W. Porter, 1885-89.
As members of the Council of Censors the town was represented in 1785 by Joseph Marsh; 1806 by Thomas Gross ; 1813 by Elijah Strong; and in 1834 by William Strong.
Members of the several constitutional conventions : 1793, John Clark ;
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
1814, Frederick Mather; 1822, George E. Wales; 1828, Wyllys Ly- man; 1836, Andrew Tracy ; 1843, Andrew Tracy ; 1850, John L. Lov- ering ; 1870, B. F. Ray.
State Senate : 1839, Andrew Tracy ; 1842-43, John Porter ; 1861, Daniel Needham ; 1869 to 1871, Albert G. Dewey; 1874-75, Joseph C. Parker ; 1886-87, Daniel L. Cushing.
Representatives in State General Assembly : 1778, Stephen Tilden : 1779, Amos Robinson ; 1780-81, Elkanah Sprague; 1782, Joseph Marsh and Joshua Hazen; 1783, Stephen Tilden ; 1784, Joshua Hazen and Stephen Tilden ; 1785, Stephen Tilden ; 1786-87, Joshua Hazen ; 1788, Joshua Hazen ; 1789, Elisha Marsh; 1790-91, Joshua Hazen ; 1792, Elisha Marsh ; 1793, Joshua Hazen ; 1794-97, John Clark ; 1798- 99, William Strong ; 1800, Benjamin Russ; 1801-02, William Strong ; 1 803-04, William Perry ; 1805-09, Sherman Dewey ; 1810, Elijah Mason ; 1811-12, Nathan Gere; 1813-14, Abel Barron; 1815-18, William Strong ; 1819-20, James Udall ; 1821-24, George E. Wales ; 1825-32, Wyllys Lyman ; 1833-37, Andrew Tracy; 1838-41, John Porter ; 1842-43, Shubael Russ; 1844, John Porter ; 1845-46, Allen Hazen ; 1847-48, John Porter ; 1849, Allen Hazen ; 1850-51, Albert G. Dewey ; 1852-53, George Lyman ; 1854, Lucius Hazen ; 1855-56, Daniel Smith ; 1857-58, Daniel Needham; 1859-60, Edward P. Sprague; 1861-62, Benjamin Porter ; 1863-64, Albert G. Dewey ; 1865-66, William G. Chandler ; 1867-68, Joseph C. Parker; 1869-71, Noah B. Safford ; 1872-73, Stephen N. Pingree; 1874-75, Edwin C. Watson ; 1876-77, William Lindsey; 1878-79, Noah B. Hazen ; 1880-81, Samuel J. Allen; 1882-83, Daniel L. Cushing; 1884-85, A. L. Pease ; 1886-87, W. S. Dewey ; 1888-89, Charles B. Stone.
CHAPTER XVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HARTLAND.
H ARTLAND is counted among the largest and more important towns of Windsor county, and its proximity to the town of Wind . sor has likewise placed it among the more historic towns of the county. It was the home and place of death of Doctor Paul Spooner, than whom the whole county produced no one man more prominently identified
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TOWN OF HARTLAND.
with the early history of this State ; and although a physician by pro- fession, he became a statesman by virtue of his intellectual attainments, and the deep interest he took in the cause of the people on the New Hampshire Grants. And there were others besides Paul Spooner who were also conspicuous in the early political affairs of the State, the county and the town, and of whom mention will be made as this narra- tive progresses.
This town, under the name of Hertford, was brought into existence by virtue of a charter granted by Governor Benning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, dated July 10, 1761, to Samuel Hunt and his associates, in seventy-one shares inclusive of reservations for all customary purposes. The similarity in the names of this town and that lying next northward, Hartford, was the occasion of much inconvenience and confusion to the people of the region, and especially to strangers coming to these parts. So, at least, one or the other had to change its name, and as this was the junior of the towns, and the more recently named, the change was made here, although the act of the Legislature that accomplished it was not passed until the year 1782.
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