USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 7
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' How blest is our brother bereft Of all that could burden his mind ; How easy the soul that has left This wearisome boly behind.
' Of evil incapable thou, Whose relics with envy I see; No longer in misery now, No longer a sinner like me.'
He then said " I feel like one shut up in prison, but shall soon be released." While thus conversing, his head suddenly reclined . and he became insensible ; in a few moments without a struggle, or a groan, or relaxing a muscle, he ceased to breathe, and his spirit took its flight. His prediction was verified ; he was released. Like Enoch 'he walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.' "
Jacob Peck settled north of the Reeve farm, and on the east side of the highway. He was born in Farmington, Conn., in 1753, and came to Cornwall in 1786, and continued on the farm where he made his first pitch, until his death in 1837, at the age of 84 years. He reared a large and highly respectable family of sons and daughters. A portion of his original farm is still in the occupancy of his son, Capt. Alanson Peck.
On the west side of the road north of Dea. Samson, and opposite Jacob Peck, Cory Mead settled on a small farm which he bought of Stephen Tambling. His house has disappeared.
Still further north, on the same side of the road, Reuben Bing- ham settled and built nearly opposite the farm of Benjamin San- ford. His house has also disappeared. He removed, after a few years, to the farm which we shall have occasion to mention as occu-
J. H. Bufford's. With Roston.
Janab Sanford D
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pied by Hiland Hall, but left vacant by his decease and the removal of his family from town.
Benjamin Sanford, whose farm adjoined that of Jacob Peck on the north, was born in Litchfield, (south farms) Conn., in 1756, and came to Cornwall in 1784. He first settled on the farm on which he died, now owned and occupied by his son, John Sanford, Esq., and his grandson, Edgar Sanford.
Like many of the earliest settlers of Cornwall, the only capital of Esq. Sanford, was a resolute purpose to meet and overcome every obstacle that might beset his path. He came as far as Ben- nington with a pair of steers and a pair of small cart wheels, with some flour and pork and farming tools. Here, as there was no road for his wheels further north, he cut a crotched tree, and made a dray of it. On this he placed his load and drove as far as Souther- land's Falls, at which point, in connection with a fellow immigrant who also had a pair of oxen, he built a raft, on which they placed their effects, and his companion guided the raft down the stream to Asa Blodget's, at the Ox Bow, at that time the principal place of entertainment for travelers on the Creek, while he drove the cattle by a line of "blazed " trees, through Hubbardton, Sudbury and Whiting, to his future home in Cornwall.
Esq. Sanford, from his first residence in town, was an active and influential citizen; took part in most of the carly measures relating to the location and building a meeting-house ; several times served on committees for these purposes ; was often called by his towns- men to places of trust, and two or three times represented the town in the State Legislature.
The house erected by Esq. Sanford, was many years occupied by his son, John Sanford, who has recently built a beautiful structure in its stead. This was the birth-place of Patrick II. Sanford, Esq., a son of John Sanford, and a graduate of Middlebury College ; now established in the legal profession in Knoxville, Illinois.
One of the sons of Benj. Sanford, Hon. Jonah Sanford, was born in 1791, and in 1811, removed to Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County, N. Y. In 1812, owing to the unsettled condition of that part of the country, and to his desire to engage in military service,
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ke returned with his family to Cornwall in 1812, where they remained till the close of the war with Great Britain. Since that period they have resided in Hopkinton. The following sketch of him is from a recent number of the New York Tribune :
" AN OLD SOLDIER,-The veteran Col. Jonah Sanford, whose regiment-the 92d N. Y. V .- is now stationed in the Park Barracks, is a man who deserves more than a passing notice, Col. Sanford was born in the town of Cornwall, Vt., in the year 1791, but since the year 1814 has been a resident of the town of Hopkinton, N. Y. He is practically a farmer, but has held the following civic offices: That of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor of his town, Judge of the County Court, Member of Congress, for the unexpired term of the late Sias Wright (when the latter was elected Controller) ; and member of the Constitutional Convention of 1846. In the military service he began as a volunteer private in the war of 1812. His first pro- motion was to the rank of corporal, from which position, through successive grad- ations, he rose to the position of Brigadier-General. In the latter capacity he was the successor of Gov. Wright. Although somewhat advanced in years he has all the power of endurance and enthusiasm of youth, which qualities, together with his experience in both civil and military duties, render him an able, energetic and reliable officer. Col. Sanford is a man of considerable means, and has, as his rec- urd shows, commanded the esteem of the citizens of Northern New-York. At & public meeting, held in the latter part of September last, Col. S. remarked that if a door opened he would himself enter the service of his country. A petition was you after sent to Gov. F. D. Morgan, soliciting His Excellency, if consistent with his duties and public service, "to authorize Gen. Sanford of Hopkinton, in the County of St. Lawrence, to raise a regiment or battalion for the service of the United States, under the late call of the President for 25,000 volunteers from this State," This petition was signed by many influential citizens of St. Lawrence and vicinity .-- Immwhately atter receiving this petition the authorities grantedl Gen, Sanford power to organize a regiment of infantry. Within a short space of time this reg- Emnent has been organized, and its discipline has been, to a great degree, perfected. Aimost perfect harmony has existed not only between the officers, but also among all the men who compose the several companies. This is as might naturally be expected of men who think for themselves, and who are actuated by one princi- ple-in entering the service of their country. May success crown the efforts of the 92d and their gallant Colonel."
A pleasant exhibition of Col. Sanford's sense of his moral respon- sibility as a military officer, is apparent in a brief narrative copied from the " Bible Society Record."
For the donation of copies of the New Testament and Psalms to his regiment, just before their departure from the seat of war, Col. Sanford returned thanks to the donors,-the St. Lawrence Bible
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Society, --- at the same time assuring his men "that the little book just donated is the best gift of Heaven to man, and exhorting them to read it and conform their lives to its sacred precepts. Then turning to the Chaplain, he committed the distribution of the cop- ies to him, and charged him, as an officer of the regiment, to be faithful in the inculcation of the truths contained in that book, among the men whose spiritual interests were committed to his charge."
North of Benj. Sanford, on the west side of the road, Dea. James Parker, from Saybrook, Conn., settled in 1789, and built a house. His farm be sold in part in 1804, to Martin Post, Esq., who was succeeded by Ira Bingham and his son Harris Bingham, the pres- ent owner. After the death of Ira Bingham, his widow was mar- ried to Dea. Ichabod Morse, by whom the farm was occupied sev- eral years. Dea. Morse was killed in 1840, while at work with his team in Ripton. After his decease Harris Bingham continued to occupy the dwelling, until he built where he now lives on the road from West Cornwall to Shoreham. This was the birth-place of Rev. Ammi J. Parker, a son of Dea. Parker, and subsequently of Rev. Martin M. and Aurelian II. Post, sons of Martin Post, Esq.
At a very early day, Nathaniel Cogswell pitched a lot north of Esq. Sanford's on the same side of the road. His first log cabin was situated about sixty rods from the road, and northeastwardly from the house of Mr. Sanford. The farm was soon divided among various owners.
Joshua Stockwell, from Enfield, Conn., came to Cornwall about 1793 or '94. He had been for some years a pedler, and had in this way, become familiar with the mercantile business. Possessing great energy and shrewdness, he opened a store and house of enter- tainment, at the intersection of the north and south, and east and west roads, and the neighborhood was known as "Stockwell's Cor- ner," until the establishment of a Post Office, gave it the name of West Cornwall. Having formed a partnership with Josiah Austin of Shoreham, they conducted their store in company, and engaged, also, in the manufacture of potash ; their ashery being on land in the vicinity of F. H. Dean. Mr. Stockwell purchased of Isaac
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fall, the building lot now occupied by the "Stockwell Cottage." He also purchased eighteen acres on the opposite corner, on which built the store which was long occupied by his son-in-law, Ben- istain F. Haskell, but which has given place to a spacious and well Arranged structure, recently erected by Mr. Haskell as his place of business. Few lots have passed through more changes of owner- sip than the one last mentioned; its owners have been Isaac Hull, John Mazuzan, Thomas Clark, Minturn and Champlain, Francis Delong, Samuel Peck, Joshua Stockwell, B. F. Haskell.
Mr. Stockwell was successful in accumulating property, and was active in town affairs, having often been called to fill important · Dices. Ilis house has within a few years been remodeled and greatly improved for his own residence, by Dr. Oliver J. Eells, whose in, E. C. Eells, since the Dr.'s decease, has been its occupant.
Nathaniel Blanchard came to Cornwall, soon after the war, from Radand, where he had resided a short time. He first built a log s Din some distance north-east of Edwin Walker, whose house now tin is on or near the spot occupied by the first school-house built 's that neighborhood. Mr. Blanchard afterward built on the oppo- "Ate corner where William Hamilton and Edward, his son, now reale. He was in active service in the revolutionary war, and foutolly filled important town offices.
on the farm where Franklin HI. Dean now lives, Joseph Cogs- w ..!! first settled, It was afterwards occupied by Elder Henry The limits of the farm have been greatly varied under " rent proprietors, and much enlarged under the ownership of Ir Dean. who has recently erected upon it a costly and beautiful willing.
Abijah Davis, a tanner and shoemaker, established his business in that vicinity, and probably built the first house on the place, now copied by II. S. Rust.
On the rising ground east of Mr. Dean, and on the north side f the road, Matthew Parker, a brother of James Parker, bought Lemuel Stickney sixty acres in 1791, and built accommodations for tus family. He was the father, and this the birth-place of Mar-
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tin and Francis Parker, both of whom entered the medical profess- ion, and will be noticed elsewhere.
Still further east, on the south side of the road, Stephen Abbot "rambling built a log cabin in which he lived a few years. This house was occupied a short time, as already mentioned, by Dr. Sol- omon Foot, previous to his settlement on the main road north of Maj. Field's. A few remaining fruit trees indicate the location of the buildings on both the last mentioned lots.
Roswell Post, from Saybrook, Conn., in 1783, made a pitch west of Nathaniel Blanchard, and built a log cabin on the site where he afterwards built a framed house, in which he lived until his decease. HIe had resided during the war in Rutland, but embraced the earli- est practicable moment to become fixed in his new home. He used to say that "when he left his father's house, his only property was his axe, a clean shirt tied in a pocket handkerchief and a de- termination to succeed." These were to him, as to many of his fellow settlers, a fortune, which, under the control of industry and economy, increased with sufficient rapidity. He was the father of Martin Post, Esq,, and of Rev. Reuben Post, D. D. He died in 1827 aged 74 years.
The farm of Roswell Post has been divided, and is at present mostly in possession of Harris Bingham, and Alonzo L. Bingham, who has recently erected spacious barns near the site of the former dwelling.
Directly south from Mr. Post, Benjamin Atwood settled in 1786, on a small lot which he bought of William Jones, and on which he built a log house some forty rods from the road. Atwood remained but a short time and sold to Mr. Post. This lot is now embraced in the farm of Harris Bingham.
In 1798, Sanborn Bean, a carpenter, bought of Harry Hood a lot of nine acres west of Roswell Post's, which was afterward sold to Reeve Peck. This lot had once been a part of the Post farm.
South-west from Roswell Post, on the farm since known as the Benj. Sherwood place, now owned by F. H. Dean, William Samson, from Londonderry, N. II., made a pitch at a very early date. He built his first cabin near the present dwelling. He had a large
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fataily of sons, two of whom became permanent settlers, viz : Dan- iel, already noted, and Eliphalet, whom we shall have occasion hereafter to notice as having settled in the north part of the town. Win. Samson died in 1798, aged 66 years. He was an early dea- con of the Congregational Church.
South of Wm. Samson, Ebenezer Squier settled and built a house on the east side of the road. This house has disappeared. Still further south, Henry Gibbs settled in 1787, upon a lot pur- chased, perhaps, of Barzillai Stickney. The farm is yet owned by descendants of the family.
In 1788, David Sperry, originally from New Haven, Conn., came to Cornwall from Wallingford, in Rutland County, where he had resided during the war, and settled on the farm since owned by the late Charles Delong, now the residence of Wm. Delong. He built his first cabin north-west of the present dwelling, on the site of which his second house was afterwards erected. He purchased some four or five hundred acres of land of Wm. Jones, probably intending to provide farms for a part of his sons, eight in number, some of whom had reached manhood when he came to Cornwall. The old gentleman had the reputation of being a man of activity and energy. It is related of him that he was wont to rise early in the morning, and at a seasonable hour take his stand at the bottom of the chamber stairs, and call the roll of his sons :-.
" Daniel and Levi,
David and Lyman, Heman and Dimon,
Ebenezer Peck, and Harvey, -- turn out."
Some of these sons are known among the early settlers of the town, and are noted as such in their proper place. Ebenezer P. Sperry became a Congregational clergyman.
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*
CHAPTER X.
LOCATION OF SETTLERS CONTINUED -- DAN'L SPERRY-JACOB LINSLY SEN .- KINNE BUTTON-WAIT WOOSTER-SIMEON SANFORD --- DEA. AMZI JONES - JARED IVES -- ENOS IVES -- DAVID PRATT - JOHN ROCKWELL - EZRA AND ISAAC MEAD -- JACOB INGRAHAM NATHAN JACKSON-RUFUS MEAD -- SOLOMON MEAD-SILAS MEAD -DAVID INGRAHAM - DAVID FOOT SEN. AND SONS - WILLIAM DWINNELL ---- MOSES WOOSTER - GEN. SOMERS GALE - ZEBULON JONES - SIMEON POWERS-WAREHAM BROWN -- EPHRAIM PRATT - MATTHEW LEWIS -- SAMUEL RICHARDS SEN .-- ABEL PRATT ROGER AVERY-AMOS PENNOYER.
Daniel Sperry, son of the preceding, settled just north of his father, having built for himself a cabin on the same side of the road, Eighty or a hundred rods still further north, on the same side of the way, Jacob Linsly sen., obtained a small lot, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred very carly. One of his sons, Walker Linsly, who still lives at very advanced age, informs me that his father was the first man who died of disease in town, one, David Baxter, having previously been killed by accident.
North of Daniel Sperry, on the cast side of the road, Wait Wooster, and still further north, a Mr. Martin, settled on lots which they severally bought of Mr. Sperry. Mr. Wooster continuod
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upon this farm until he reconveyed it to Mr. Sperry, and removed to the farm already mentioned in the south part of the town.
Upon the farm once owned by Alonzo L. Bingham, but now owned by Hon. Rollin J. Jones, Simeon Sanford from Litchfield, Conn., settled at an early day, having obtained his land from his his father, Jonah Sanford, an original proprietor. Still further north a small farm was bought of Jared Ives, and settled by David Pratt in 1793, from whom it passed to Dea. Amzi Jones, who came into town from Hoosick, N. Y., about 1792, and first settled on a fifty acre lot just north of the bridge across Lemon Fair, upon which he remained about seven years. Dea.Jones died several years since, having reached advanced age, and having been held in high esteera by his neighbors, as a man of Christian principle, and an exemplary and consistent officer in the Baptist Church. Among his sons, three have entered the Baptist ministry,-Amzi, Zebulon, and Ahira- the two former being graduates of Middlebury College ; the latter of Waterville, Maine. Ilis son, Hon. Rollin J. Jones, the present owner of the farm, has largely extended its boundaries by the pur- chase of adjoining lands.
North of David Pratt, Jared Ives, from Cheshire, Conn., settled in 1787, on the west side of the road, and Enos Ives very nearly opposite on the east side of the road. The houses of both have been removed, and the lands divided between R. J. Jones and Sim- eon S. Rockwell.
John Rockwell Jr., from Ridgfield, Conn., came to Cornwall in 1784, and settled on the farm where his grandson, S. S. Rockwell, Esq., now lives. He first built on the west side of the road. By pitches, and by purchase from Jeremiah Osgood and others, he acquired an extensive and valuable farm, which after his decease, Sept. 5, 1825, at the age of 71, was owned and improved by his son John Rockwell 3d, who, some years since, conveyed the pater- nal homestead to his son, its present occupant, and erected for him- self commodious buildings further north, where he still resides.
John Rockwell sen. came to Cornwall after the arrival of his children, who are elsewhere mentioned as early settlers, and spent the evening of his life with them. At the advancel age of 92
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years he died, Sept. 9, 1825, only four days after the son abow named, who bore his name.
North of John Rockwell Ezra and Isaac Mead settled in 1786 and severally built west of the present highway. The projected road on which they and the other settlers between them and the Fair bridge built their cabins, was located on the verge of the allu- vial lands bordering en that stream, in accordance with a theory then generally prevalent that it is better to travel around a hill than over it. After the road was changed to its present position, the settlers built upon it. The Meads, Ezra and Isaac, sold to Jacob Ingraham who resided on the farm until his death. It has since passed partly into the hands of John Rockwell 3d, and partly into those of the late Rufus Mead.
Nearly opposite Jacob Ingraham, Nathan Jackson, a blacksmith, established himself on the east side of the road, and followed his trade. He was engaged in military service in the revolutionary war. It is said that Gen. Washington, having learned that he was a fearless and trustworthy man, was accustomed to employ him as a messenger in conveying dispatches between different, and sometimes distant posts. Certain it is, that he was proud of having enjoyed the confidence of the Commander-in-Chief, and he cherished for his person the most profound reverence. As an illustration, the follow- ing incident is related of him :
On one occasion a collection of wax figures was exhibited, among which was that of General Washington. As Jackson was passing around the room he reached the figure of the General, and came to a stand in front of it. Assuming an erect posture, and deliberately taking off his hat and placing it under his arm, he said-"General, I never did stand covered in your presence, and I never will."
North of Ezra and Isaac Mead, their brother Rufus, who bought of Abel Wright, settled in 1786, and built, like his brother, at the base of the hill. He afterward built on the present highway, the house in which he died, since occupied by his son, Rufus, and now by his grandson, Horace J. Mead. Of the sons of Rufus Mead last named, three have been graduated at Middlebury College ; Hiram, Martin L. and Charles M .- the first and last named, having
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entered the ministry, and the second having entered the medical pro- fession. Another son, Rufus, has been for several years, and is the present Editor and one of the publishers of the Middlebury Register.
On the farm now held as dower by Mrs. McLean, widow of the late Reuben P. Bingham, once lived Solomon Mead, who bought of Abel Wright in 1795. From Solomon Mead this farm passed to Timothy Turner, Zonas Skinner, and Rouben P. Bingham .- Silas Mead settled still further north on the farm subsequently owned by Dea. David Ingraham, Zachariah Benedict, Eldad An- drus, Ethan Andrus, Calvin Foot and Samuel Andrus. The first buildings on these farms, as above intimated, were located at the base of the western declivity of the high ground.
Upon the spot where Jared A. Foot now lives, his grandfather David Foot, from Watertown, Conn., settled at an early day, and became the owner of an extensive tract of land, lying mostly north and east of his dwelling. He had several sons, who settled on parts of his farm, or on lands contiguous to it-Russell on the homestead ; Elijah where he still lives, and David Jr. on the farm now occupied by his son Col. Abram Foot. David Foot Jr. early became an active and influential citizen, though he died in com- paratively early life. He was the father of Rev. David Foot who graduated at Middlebury College in 1838.
The dwelling south of the Fair bridge now occupied by Samuel" Richards is a comparatively recent structure, having been erected for the accommodation of a Select school. When it ceased to be used for that purpose, it was by its present occupant converted into a dwelling-house.
On the farm just north of the Fair bridge, known as the "Woos- ter farm," William Dwinnell first settled and built a log cabin & few rods from the stream, near a spring on the east side of the road. This farm was sold by Dwinnell to Dea. Amzi Jones, who sold to Moses Wooster. Mr. Wooster emigrated from Virginia, and was the brother of Rev. Benjamin Wooster, the second pastor of the Congregational Church in Cornwall. IIe was in service in the revolutionary war, and was taken prisoner by the British on Long
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Island. His captors treated him with great inhumanity, and, to adopt his own description, "all but killed him. He was afterward confined in the Sugar House in New York, and fed on damaged provisions. At length he was exchanged, and returned home with his clothes in tatters, his body emaciated, his hair falling from his head, a spectacle of grief and horror to his friends."
Moses Wooster was the father of Hon. Dorastus Wooster, long settled in the legal profession in Middlebury.
Upon the farm afterward owned by Gen. Somers Gale, and now by his son-in-law, Austin Dana, Isaac Mead was a temporary set- tler, and built a log house some rods northward of the present dwelling. Gen. Gale was an influential citizen, bearing an active part in town affairs. His promotion to a Brigadier-Generalship, secured him the title which has been associated with his name. He commanded a detachment at Plattsburgh in 1814. He was the father of Dr. Nathan Gale of Orwell, and of Dr. George Gale, late of Bridport, now of the United States army.
The farm now owned by Victor Wright was settled by Zebulon Jones, the grandfather of the present occupant,
Simeon Powers settled upon the farm northward of Zebulon Jones, and in 1799 sold it to Matthew Lewis, who also purchased additional lots of Wareham Brown, Ephraim Pratt and Elisha IIurlbut. On this farm, Alanson Lewis now lives, owning it in connection with his son-in-law, J. Monroe Peck.
On the farm now owned by John Benedict, Samuel L. Smith was an early, and probably the first, settler.
Samuel Richards sen., first settled where his grandson, Asa M. Richards, now lives. He was several years connected with the army during the revolutionary war. But I have been unable to obtain a description of his services.
Abel Pratt owned the farm at present owned by Edwin Ellsworth. A title to it was acquired by Jesse Ellsworth, through whom it passed to his son, its present occupant.
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