USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 23
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But I may be told that, though there might have been, at the adoption of the Constitution, no such compromise in favor of slavery as is now contended for, yet that there should be such a compro- mise now ; that, since the South are so excitable on the subject. it is not best to agitate it ; but to refrain for the sake of preserving the Union. Sir, I am willing to yield much for the sake of peace ----- which none can prize more highly than I do-and for the Union -whose benefits are, by no means, to be lightly put at hazard. But I am not willing to yield every thing. There is a point where yielding must stop, or every thing will be demanded and surrend- ered.
Compromise ! What is a compromise but a mutual concession ? And what are the South prepared to concede ? Nothing ! As usual in the contest between freedom and slavery in this country, the concessions must all'be on one side. While slavery is reaching forth the arms of her power in every direction-lengthening her cords and strengthening her stakes, and grasping, by a bold and daring policy, the entire control of the Union, the People of the North must stand still -- shut their mouth-throw away their pens -break their presses-and sit down in silence, without even the poor privilege of praying for deliverance from her all-grasping dominion ! And all in the spirit of compromise ! for the sake of peace ! and the Union ! Sir, it is enough to sicken the soul of a freeman to hear this cant of compromise-a compromise of silence ! of death ! not the death of slavery, but the death of freedom !
This speech convinced the Southern Representatives of the abil-
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ity of its author, if it did not convict them of their own inhuman- ity and injustice, while it furnished the constituents of Gov. Slade gratifying evidence of the soundness of his principles, and of his fearlessness in their defence-evidence which had never indeed for a moment been wanting during his previous Congressional career.
His services in Congress having terminated in 1843, he was the same year appointed Reporter of the Supreme Court of Vermont, in which capacity he served until he was elected Governor of the State in 1844. In this office lie was continued two years, and in it performed his last political service. It probably would not be exaggeration to say, that between 1816 and 1846, he held a greater variety of civil trusts, in this State and under the National Gov- ernment, than have ever been held by any other native of Vermont. From 1846 to the time of his decease he was Corresponding Seere- tary and General Agent of the Board of National Popular Ed- ucation. He possessed versatility of character which prepared him to fill these numerous and varied offices with credit to himself and with benefit to his country. Whatever the post assigned him, he always appeared equal to its demands. We have seen that in his labors as editor and compiler, he exhibited sound judgment and discrimination, and in his speeches while a member of Congress, he showed himfelf a fearless, as well as an able defender of the right, when arbitrary power menaced its subversion.
But it was as Secretary of the Board of National Popular Edu- cation, that Gov. Slade found most congenial employment. Here his benevolence, and his ardor had full scope. Did our limits al- low us to indulge in extracts from his Annual Reports and Addresses on the subject, we should discover the most enlarged views of edu- cation, modified by a profound knowledge of the intellectual wants of our race and especially by Christian principle.
" Education, " he remarks, " is the true and proper, and harmo- nious developement of all the faculties of the human soul - the conscience, the heart, the understanding. What is man worth, without a conscience sensitively alive to the distinction between right and wrong ? And what, without a heart, trained promptly to obry the voice of God thus speaking within him ? Shall we
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bestow years of labor in sharpening the intellect, leaving the con- science to blindness, and the heart to hardness, and call it educa- tion ? And yet this is what thousands on thousands are doing with their children !
" The people of this nation must be educated - all educated - rightly and truly educated. The strength of our institutions is in the consciences and hearts of the people. To neglect conscience and heart education, is to give ourselves over to inevitable ruin. The well known examples of the downfall and extinction of nations, in which science flourished, and the arts were carried to perfection, but in which the conscience and the heart were left to darkness and debasement-men being given over to a reprobate mind, and 'filled with all unrighteousness,' are warnings to us of fearful and terrific import. Free schools, an open Bible, and moral training, are to be our sheet anchor in the gathering storm."
As companies of female teachers were, from time to time, pre- pared for their chosen vocation, under the auspices of the Society he served, Gov. Slade accompanied them with all a father's solici- tude, to their several fields of labor ; saw them properly located, and inducted into their work of enlightening and training the minds and hearts of the rising myriads of the West. In this, as a loved employment, he continued even after the destroyer had marked him as a victim. To this he clung with a grasp which was relaxed only by death.
The crowning excellence of Gov. Slade's character, was his piety, which pervaded alike his public and his private life, and was best known to those most familiar with his daily walk. It made him scrupulously an honest man, disposing him to render to every man his just due, even though misfortune had curtailed his means, and involved him in temporary embarrassment. He availed himself of no exemption from honest liabilities because he might have been dis- charged by a decision in chancery, or by the statute of limitations. He exhibited rather the noble determination, so rare among even Christian men, to discharge every equitable claim upon him, wheth- er or not it could be enforced, resolved, at all events, to keep a "conscience void of offence." Few men, it is believed, have acted so prominent a part, and left behind them a reputation so spotless and so pure --- so eminently honorable to a Christian profession.
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" His care was fixed To fill his odorous lamp with light And hope that reaps not shame."
The decease of Gov. Slade occurred in Middlebury January 16, 1859, at the age of seventy-three years.
To the preceding I add the names of several gentlemen of the legal profession, who, though not natives of the town, were here from early childhood, and were ever accounted Cornwall men.
MILO COOK was born in Connecticut, January 2, 1783, the year previous to his father's removal to Vermont. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1804. Having studied law in the office of Samuel Miller, Esq., of Middlebury, and been admitted to the bar, he commenced the practice of his profession at Williston, and there remained till 1813, when he removed to Middlebury, and was en- gaged in mercantile pursuits till 1817. In 1817-18 he was pre- ceptor of Addison County Grammar School, and then removed to Augusta, Ga., where he became the principal of the English de- partment of Richmond Academy. In this station he remained un- till his death, by yellow fever, Aug. 20, 1820.
MARTIN POST, born in Rutland November 11th, 1778, has already been noticed in the list of professional men of Cornwall, and as having resided also in Shoreham and Middlebury, in which lacter place he died in middle age.
GILBERT T. THOMPSON was born in Swanton, December 20, 1807, and came to Cornwall with his father in early childhood. He graduated at Middlebury in 1830, and was, the three following years, preceptor of Addison County Grammar School, during which period he also studied law with Hon. Joel Doolittle of Middlebury. He was several years connected with Geneva College, N. Y., as Tutor and Professor of Languages, but he returned to the legal pro- fession, to which he had devoted himself with bright prospects of & successful career. It soon became apparent that pulmonary disease had marked him as a victim, and forbade his engaging in his chosen pursuit. He died at Northampton, Mass., in 1852, and his remains were interred at Mount Auburn.
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Hon. DORASTUS WOOSTER came with his father to Cornwall when a child. Though denied the advantages of a liberal educa- tion, he secured a respectable standing at the bar, esteemed especially for his probity, and high sense of professional honor. However his brethren might question the soundness of his logic, no man questioned the purity of his intentions. He was "an Israelite, in- deed, in whom there was no guile." Previous to the change in the organization of the County Court in 1825, he was Chief Judge one year, and after the change, was Assistant Judge six years, from 1825 to 1831, and again from 1842 to 1844. He was reelected to the same office in September, 1855, about two months before his decease. He died suddenly of disease of the heart in Dec., 1855.
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CHAPTER XXV.
NATIVES OF CORNWALL WHO HAVE ENTERED THE PROFESSIONS- PHYSICIANS-TEACHERS - EDITORS -- THOSE IN OTHER EMPLOY- MENTS -- LIST OF GRADUATES.
I next notice the natives of Cornwall who have entered the Med- ical Profession. ..
JOHN V. BAXTER, a son of Elihu B. Baxter, pursued pro- fessional study at the Casticton Medical School, and has been a successful surgeon and physician. He now resides, engaged in medical practice, at La Crosse, Wisconsin.
FRANKLIN BOND, born April 15, 1821, pursued his medical studies with Dr. Marcus O. Porter, and at the Vermont Academy of Medicine at Castleton, from which Institution he received his degree. He was several years located at Sheboygan Falls and at Fox Lake, Wisconsin, in the practice of his profession. Thence he removed to Cornwall, and has been chiefly engaged in agricul- tural pursuits.
ELIPEALET ELLSWORTH pursued medical study in the office of Dr. Ford. His history I have not learned.
JONATHAN FOOT, brother of Hon. Solomon Foot, was born in 1804. The following facts of his history from one who has known him intimately, have been furnished for my use :
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" Jonathan Foot, M. D., pursued his medical studies with the late Drs. Allen of Middlebury and Woodward of Castleton, and graduated at the Vermont Medical College at Castleton in 1829. The following year he settled at Whitby, Canada West. He now re- sides in the village and parish of Brookline, in the township of Whitby, and County of Ontario, Canada West. Here, for the last twenty-nine years, he has had an extensive practice, and has attain- an eminent position in his profession. In reputation, wealth and influence, he stands among the foremost men in Canada West." .
FREDERICK FORD has already been noticed among the profess- ional men of Cornwall, as having been born in 1787; as having received his medical education at Hanover, N. H., and as having been engaged in practice with his father. The reader is referred to that article.
NATHAN GALE having completed his professional studies, set- tled in Orwell, where he still resides successfully engaged in practice.
GEORGE GALE has for many years been established in his pro- fession in Bridport. He is now serving as Surgeon in the First Regiment of Vermont Cavalry in the war of the great rebellion.
CALVIN LEWIS was born in 1797. He pursued the usual course of medical study, graduated at the Castleton Medical Acad- emy, and established himself in professional practice at Rochester in this State, where, after a brief period of labor, he was stricken down by death in 1829, at the early age of thirty-two years.
MARTIN L. MEAD was born in in 1834, fitted for College mostly at the Flushing Institute, L. I., and graduated at Middlebury in 1855. He spent one year as a teacher in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and two years in the same employment in the English Depart- ment of Phillips Academy at Andover. He pursued professional study at Albany and was a graduate of the Medical College in that city, where he is also etablished in medical practice.
BURRILL S. MINER was born in 1797. Having pursued his medical studies in the office of Dr. Carpenter of Whiting, and at the Medical School of the University of Vermont, he received the degree of M. D. in 1825. For a short period he practiced in the
J.E.Bufords Lich .
JONATHAN FOOT, M. D.
Brocklin C.W.
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south part of Cornwall, but removed to Cambridge, Lamoille County, in this State, where he has since pursued the practice of As profession. He has also held political office, having been two Fears a member of the State Senate from Lamoille County.
MARTIN PARKER pursued professional study with the Drs. Ford, and settled in Montreal, C. E .. After a successful career of several sears, he died in the midst of life and usefulness.
FRANCIS PARKER, brother of the preceding, also studied with the Dis. Ford, and settled in Parishville, N. Y. He died three or four years since, after having enjoyed for a long period an extensive practice, and established high professional reputation.
JACOB PECK is a son of Jacob Peck, senior. After com- pleting his medical education, he settled in Bridport, where, after a period devoted to professional practice, he removed to Lower Canada. He has for some time resided, and still continues in Nor- folk, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.
STEPHEN G. PECK was born July 19, 1803. His parents moved in his childhood to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he remained till he entered College. He graduated in 1822, and having prepared himself for the medical profession, settled in Panama, N. Y., where he still continues.
ALANSON A. PECK studied with Dr. Carpenter of Whiting, and became established in this town, but after a brief period, removed.
ELIJAH PRATT was born in Cornwall in 1786. He has been settled many years in the practice of his profession in Kingsboro, N. Y.
EDWARD O. PORTER, pursued professional study with his father, MI. O. Porter, late of this town, and at Castleton Medical College. His father having removed to Middlebury, the son offers himself as his successor in business.
EZRA SCOVEL received the degree of M. D. at the University of Vermont in 1825, and soon after was commissioned as Surgeon in the United States Navy. While in the service he was connected with the ship Columbia, but failing health rendered his resignation
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necessary, and he died after a brief, but promising professional career.
CHARLES A. SPERRY studied medicine with Dr. Porter, and at the Castleton Medical Academy. He is settled in Pomfret, Windsor County, Vt.
ROLLIN J. WARNEN Was born in 1825. His professional studies were pursued under the instruction of M. O. Porter, M. D., and at the Vermont Academy of Medicine, at Castleton. He first settled in Addison near Chimney Point, but after a brief residence at that place, an inviting field of professional labor presented itself at Port Port Henry, N. Y., and he removed thither, and there still resides, engaged in extensive and lucrative business.
I add the names of a few physicians not natives of Cornwall, but resident lere in early childhood, and while acquiring their edu- cation.
OLIVER J. EFELS has already been mentioned as among the pro- fessional men of Cornwall, and a sketch of his history may there be found, to which the reader is referred.
JAMES LANE pursued professional study under the direction of the Drs. Ford, and has many years been engaged in the practice of his profession, in Ohio.
SOLOMON SHERWOOD settled in northern New York, and his field of professional labor, was for years partly in Canada. He at length removed to Wisconsin, where he continued in practice till his decease, two or three years since.
TEACHERS.
ASAHEL H. BINGHAM was born May 26, 1822. His life has been devoted to teaching as a profession, and he has at different periods, labored in several localities.
BENJAMIN F. BINGHAM, brother of the preceding, was born April 7, 1824. He began his career as a teacher by instructing a common school. He then for two or three years taught successfully a select school in West Cornwall. Having received an invitation to become the Preceptor of a flourishing Academy at West Rut-
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hrad, be removed to that place several years since, and his labors Lave been highly appreciated by his patrons.
ANSON HURLBUT was born in 1722, and was engaged, more par- wealaily in teaching the art of writing. Ilis residence was Lock- port, N. Y., where he recently died.
DARIUS M. LINSLY was born in 1820, and graduated at Mid- dlebury College in 1841. Ile taught at Middleport, N. Y., and was subsequently several years Principal of Jefferson County Insti- tute, Watertown, N. Y. He now resides at Kalamazoo, Michigan, as financial agent of a Female Seminary.
AURELIAN HI. POST, second son of Martin Post, Esq., was born in 1807, and graduated at Middlebury College in 1832. He com- menced a course of theological study at Andover, but was compell- el to abandon it, by the failure of his health. In the hope that teaching would better comport with his delicate state of lungs, he resorted to it, and established a private school in Medford, Mass .; but found himself unequal to the rigors of a Northern climate, and attempted to prosecute his work in the milder latitude of Mississippi. Compelled by disease, which made rapid inroads on his system, to abandon his employment, he visited his brother, Rev. M. M. Post of Logansport, Indiana, and there died Oct 5, 1834.
ELIAS D. ROCKWELL was several years associate Principal of a Commercial College in Chicago, Ill., but decided to enter the med- ical profession. Having just completed his course of medical study, he was engaged in the care of the sick and wounded in a mil- itary hospital at Chicago, where he died in 1862, from disease sup- posed to have been induced by over exertion.
Several of the sons of Cornwall who ought, in this connection, to be mentioned, have engaged in various employments originating in the enterprise and discoveries of modern times.
JOSEPH PENNOYER entered Middlebury College, but did not com- plete his collegiate course. He has been employed from early life as a Civil Engineer in Canada East, making Sherbrooke his place of residence. Proving himself an accomplished officer, he was many years eraployed by the British Government in conducting
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their land surveys, and since railroad surveying has been in demand, has found ample and lucrative employment in that department of labor.
WM. E. Rost was employed as a telegraph operator in Boston, and is now a clerk in the Boston Post Office.
ROLLIN S. WILLIAMSON has been employed as an operator in the office of the Electric Telegraph, first in Massachusetts and more recently at Palatine, Ill., where he now resides ; acting also as an agent of the Chicago and North-Western Railroad.
STRONG B. THOMPSON, Esq., for many years held a Lieutenant's commission in the United States Navy, and was engaged in active service. But frail health and the demands of his private business induced him to resign his place, and he has since resided in Boston, conducting a farm in that vicinity.
EZRA FOOT, a son of Russel Foot, has devoted his time to giving instruction in music. IIe has been accustomed to hold musical conventions, attended by one or more assistants, and has prosecuted his labors extensively and successfully in the West. His residence is in Western New York.
EDWARD S. DANA, a son of Austin Dana, is Clerk in the Pension Office at Washington, D. C.
Rurus MEAD was born in 1825. After the retirement of J. II. Barrett, Esq., from the editorial department of the Middlebury Register, Mr. Mead succeeded to that office, which he continues to hold to the acceptance of his patrons. He was some years partner of the late proprietor, Justus Cobb, Esq. For the past three years, he has been joint proprietor, with Win. J. Fuller, of the paper and its office of publication.
MOSES PRATT was editor in Albany, N. Y.
. Though the names of most of the College graduates from Corn- wall appear in the preceding lists, it may be gratifying to many readers to have the catalogue, both of natives and of those resident here when graduated, drawn out in full, in the order of graduation, including several who are not mentioned above.
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
GRADUATES.
Milo Cook, 1804.
Luther P. Blodget, 1805.
William Slade, 1807.
Orson Rockwell, 1834.
Ebenezer P. Sperry, 1808.
Zebulon Jones, 1836.
Joel H. Linsly 1811.
Thomas P. Matther 811.
Miles P. Squier, ** 1811.
Joseph R. Andrus, 1812.
David Foot,
1838.
Ashley Samison, 1812.
Hiram Bingham, .1839.
Reuben Post, 1814.
Henry N. Hudson, 1840.
Lucius C. Foot, 1815.
Ir Ingraham,
1815.
Luther G. Bingham 1821.
Ezra Scovel, 1822.
Lyman Matthews, 1822.
Lucius L. Tilden, 1823.
Jedediah Bushnell, 1826.
Deodatus D. Haskell, .1853.
Gilbert C. Lane,
1833.
Martin L. Mead,
.1855.
Charles M. Mead,
1856.
S. Leroy Blake,
1859.
Geo. C. V. Eastman,
1829.
Lyman Peet,
1861.
Gilbert T. Thompson
1830.
Ahira Jones,
Wm. R. Baxter,'
Joel Linsly,
Hyman A. Wilder,
The above are graduates of Middlebury College, except those marked * who are graduates of other Colleges.
** Removed with his parents in childhood.
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Aurelian HI. Post .1832.
Lyman B. Peet, 1831.
Ashley Samson, 1836.
Chauncey Abbott, 1837.
James M. Douglass, 1888.
Darius MI. Linsly,
1841.
Milo D. Cook,
1812.
Carlos H. Samson,
1845.
Patrick H. Sanford,
1846.
Stephen W. Remele,
1818.
Hiram Mead ;-
1850.
Solomon Foot. 1826.
Martin M. Post. 1826.
Samuel Everts, 1828.
Anzi Jones,
1828.
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
CHAPTER XXVI.
POPULATION - THE FIRST MALE CHILD BORN IN TOWN-THE FIRST DEATHS BY ACCIDENT, AND BY DISEASE - LONGEVITY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS - CENSUS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS - WHY NO INCREASE ?
After careful inquiry on the subject, I think there can be no question that the first male child, and probably the first child born in Cornwall; was Jesse Silkriggs Foot. He was born May 17th, 1776, and was the eighth child of Dr. Nathan Foot, whose family we have already had occasion to notice as having been here before the revolutionary war, and as having consisted of eleven chilren, of whom five were born in Watertown, Conn., one in Williamstown, Mass, anl one in Clarendon, in this State, before the Doctor's removal to Cornwall. Jesse was born bere while the Continental forces held possession of Ticonderoga. Two other sons were born in Rotland after the flight of the settlers in 1777 ; and one daughter of the family, Parthenia M., was born here in 1784, after her pa- rents' final return.
Several of the first settlers had children, and some of them large families before they came to Cornwall. Among the earliest born in town were Luther P. Blodget, Horace Linsly, William Slade, Asahel Bingham, Frederick Ford Jr., Horace Janes, Eli Parkill, Nathan Peck, Roswell Post.
The first males who died in Cornwall, were Jacob Linsly and a Mr. Lee - the former by disease, the latter by accident. Mr.
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Lee was engaged in chopping for the purpose of clearing a lot near Mr. Stebbins', when, by the breaking of a lodged tree he was in- stantly killed. David Baxter was killed a few years later by the axe of a companion with whom he was chopping - the axe having slipped from its handle, and lodged in his abdomen.
It is a fact of sufficient interest to demand a passing notice, that a large proportion of the early settlers lived to advanced age. Mrs. Mercy Andrus, the mother of Eldad Andrus, was aged 106 years at the time of her death. Jeremiah Bingham lived to the age of 94-Isaiah Gilbert 96 -- Ebenezer Stebbins 96-John Rockwell sen 92-Felix Benton 90 - Enos Morgan 90 - Abraham Williamson 87 -- Samuel Blodget 87-Israel C. Janes 87 - Daniel Foot 89- Reuben Peck 88 -- Samuel Ingraham 80. Several others reached extreme age, but I am unable to give their ages with precision. An equally large number of females have been spared to very advanced years, among whom were Mrs. Felix Benton, Mrs. Wm. Baxter, Mrs. David Parkill, the last exceeding 90 years. A few still linger among us, past four score years, the representatives of the past, -- the tie which connects those now living with the venerable dead, whose energy felled the forests and subdued the fields ; whose piety and wisdom established our churches and schools ; whose principle and forecast, in a word, laid the foundation of many gen- erations. Among these are Mrs. Roxalana Peet, Mrs. Rhoda Williamson, Frederick Frost and Walker Linsly.
Baltus, a colored man, died in January, 1862, at an age prob- ably not much, if any, less than one hundred years. He is said to have come to Vermont as a servant in the family of Mrs. Bushnell's father, and from that circumstance to have become an inmate of her family. He was trained as a house servant and was willing to be useful in that capacity, but was quite averse to field labor. His last years were spent in decrepitude, but were rendered compara- tively comfortable by a liberal provision for his wants at the charge of the town. Like most of the aged colored men of New England, he claimed that in early life he was acquainted with Gen. Wash- Fagton, and was, once, his servant.
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