USA > Vermont > Addison County > Middlebury > History of the town of Middlebury, in the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 11
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Since the last organization in 1842, the society has been in efficient and successful operation. The meetings have generally been regularly held and attended ; and we judge many of them most interesting and profitable. A member at one meeting was often appointed to make an address or read an essay on some important subject at the next, and at all the meetings it was made the duty of each member to report such interesting and difficult cases of disease as had occurred in his practice, and each case was discussed by the other members of the society. It was one of the rules of the society that each person appointed president should make an address at the close of the term for which he was elected. At the annual meeting in June, 1847, Dr. Jonathan A. Allen, having officiated as President the previous year, read an address which was published. From this we make a quotation, principally to show how he regarded the influence of the organization. He says, "It is now five years since the Addison County Society was organized in its present form. During this period twenty meetings have been held, generally well sustained by the attendance of the members. Many facts, highly interesting to the profession, and consequently useful to the public, have been presented. Much valuable information has been elicited by our discussions, and we have every reason to believe that not a member has failed of adding
120
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
to his general stock of practical knowledge. In addition to thesc advantages, valuable acquaintances have been formed, generous, elevated and kind professional feeling promoted. Many of these endearments will reciprocally remain among our members until the closing period of their existence. Jealousy, suspicion and want of confidence have been almost entirely removed from our ranks. Our members meet as friends. Consultations now, in lieu of being objects of bickering, are generally desired, and usually, by the mutual and kind expression of opinion, result beneficially to the sick."' The whole community would feel safer if such an influence should prevail generally among the doctors.
At a subsequent meeting in February, 1848. the death of Dr. Allen was announced by Dr. Russel, who stated that "the princi- pal object of the meeting was to adopt measures suitable to the occasion " of his death. "The President, Dr. Bradford of Ver- gennes, read a short but expressive paper concerning his life and death;" and appropriate and commendatory resolutions were adopted. The Society also appointed Dr. S. P. Lathrop, of Middlebury, to prepare a biographical sketch, which was afterwards ordered to be published in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
The following have been the Presidents and Secretaries of the Society.
FROM PRESIDENT. TO
FROM SECRETARIES. TO
1842 Jona'n A. Allen, Middlebury, 1844.
1842 David Goodale, Addison,
1844.
1844 Joel Rice, Bridport, 1845.
1844 S. Pearl Lathrop, Middlebury, 1846.
1845 Dan C. Stone, Vergennes, 1846. 1846 W. P. Russel, 1847.
1846 Jonathan A. Allen, 1847.
1847 Charles L. Allen, still in office.
Dr. Allen is also Treasurer and Librarian.
1847 A. Bradford, Vergennes, 1848.
1848 E. D. Warner, New Haven, 1850,
1850 Earl Cushman, Orwell,
1856.
1856 E. D. Warner, still in office.
121
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
POPULATION-CHARACTER-ADVANTAGES-DANGERS.
The population of Addision County does not materially differ from that of the other Counties in this State, and other New Eng- land States. The whole exhibits the influence of the spirit of emi- gration and colonization, which has prevailed and increased since the first settlement of the country. The character of the whole population of the country has been modified and, in many respects, we think, improved by this disposition, especially in its spirit of en- terprise and individuality. An individual, who has courage to leave the place of his birth, and remove three hundred or a thousand miles to the outskirts of civilization to better his condition, learns that there are other places and people besides those he has left behind, and per- haps equal or superior to them. His views are enlarged, and his inqui- ries are no longer confined to the limited sphere of his early home, and he begins to think there may be still other regions beyond and elsewhere. If he has energy to remove once, he has still more to remove again, when profit or pleasure tempt him. He learns also that there are other countries beyond the oceans, which encircle him, and he looks to them as fields for indulging his thirst for spec- ulation or his curiosity. Wherever he locates himself, he finds other men and other customs and manners and ideas which are new to him, and which he studies, and thus improves his own, and shakes off his provincial habits and prejudices.
Added to this cause, which to some extent is common to all the States, the early settlers of Vermont experienced a long course of discipline in the hardships and self-denial and energy required for their hard contested controversy, in defending themselves and their property against the oppressive claims of exterior powers, and especially in the contest for their separate independence.
122
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Although we cannot boast of large numbers of learned men, like some other States, more favorably situated, we do not shrink from a comparison of the mass of our population, for general intelligence and practical energy, with any other. Not a few intelligent men, who have long resided in other New England States and elsewhere, have expressed to the writer of this sketch the conviction, that in no State is the population of the same classes, and especially the farmers, superior, if equal, to that of Vermont. No State, we believe, has sent out more efficient, practical and useful emigrants to people the "new countries." Vermont is an inland State, and agriculture is the pursuit of the great body of its inhabitants ; and she has no foreign commerce to build up large cities, where great wealth is accumulated, and learned men congregate.
Among the most important influences, which operate in modifying the character of our population, are our liberal institutions, placing, as they do, every man in the dignity and responsibility of a man. And paramount to all others perhaps is that of town corporations, which are common and almost peculiar to New England. They are not only pure democracies, but they are schools, in which the prin- ciples of democracy are taught ; where all meet on a common plat- form, with equal rights and powers, not only as voters, but as can- didates for office. So numerous and extensive are the legislative and administrative powers within their limits, that all have an opportunity to become acquainted with our laws and institutions, acquire habits of public business and qualify themselves for higher political trusts.
Our common schools and seminaries of learning for the instruction of all classes, and our churches of various denominations, where all may meet for public worship and for instruction in their religions, social and civil duties, are means of spreading general intelligence and virtue through the community. Besides these every family is more or less supplied with books and periodicals, which keep them informed of the passing events, and remind them of their duties to their country and the world. The writer of this sketch has been as long and as advantageously situated as any one to ascertain the ability of all classes of men in this County to write, and he has no
123
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
recollection of more than one or two native Americans, residing in the County, who could not write his own signature ; and these were brought up in regions remote from schools. The twenty-five native Americans, who are reported in the census of 1850, in this County, as being unable to read or write, were probably similarly situated in the early settlement of the country.
If the population of Addison County is distinguished from that of any other County, it is occasioned by the influence of Middlebury College situated among them. This influence is not confined exclu- sively to this County ; but no person, who has been long acquainted with the history of that institution, has failed to observe its influ- ence upon the intelligence of the community in its neighborhood, and in raising the standard of education in the subordinate institu- tions. Few towns, if any, in the country, have afforded a larger number of young men for a collegiate education, in proportion to their population, than many of the towns in Addison County.
It may be mentioned as an evidence of the peaceable and orderly character, as well as prosperity of the inhabitants, that courts of justice have less business in this County, in proportion to its popu- lation, than in any other County. No person has ever been convicted of a capital offence in the County. Four have been tried for murder, one in 1815 and one in 1825; but both were con- victed of only manslaughter. Another was since tried twice, but the jury failed in both cases to agree on a verdict, and he was dis- charged ; and the other was acquitted on account of insanity.
From the foregoing sketches, it will be seen, that the County of Addison has sufficient resources for wealth and material prosperity, and that its citizens have sufficient intelligence and enterprise, in due time to develope them. It will be seen also, that they have the means of intellectual, moral and religious improvement. And we may well congratulate ourselves that we live in an agricultural district, where there is a general social equality ; where there are few so rich as to excite the envy and ill-will of their neighbors, or to be free from the necessity of some active occupation, or so poor as to necd charity. We have no large cities with their accumulated masses of wealth, poverty and crime. We have no such wealth to
124
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
foster extravagance, luxury and a factitious aristocracy, with its arbitrary conventional ceremonies, as in large cities sets at naught the equality, simple manners and sober verities of the country. We are not like them, beset on every hand by temptations to dissi- pation and debauchery, and we have no such masses of corruption to spread a moral pestilence through the atmosphere. We have no such large collections of the refuse population of Europe-its paupers and criminals-broke loose from the restraints of govern- ment and law at home, that they may riot here in their imaginary freedom from all restraints ; who nightly disturb the peace of the community with riots and quarrels and murders ; and who are ready at the call of designing politicians, to control our elections. The institution of the family, so important in the country, for its restraints and the cultivation of the social affections, is to a great extent obliterated in some of the large towns. There hundreds of children have no home but in the streets, and no associates but their fellows in the same condition. The crowded population everywhere, and the artificial conventionalisms of the more wealthy households forbid the salutary restraints and separate and undisturbed inter- course of the family circle. And thus the young grow up with the feeling that they belong rather to the great public than to the family in which they were born. These evils are not to be charged to the inhabitants generally of larger towns, but are inci- dent to, and inseparable from, their position. No more moral, pious and philanthropic men are anywhere to be found. And yet the evils exist.
We ought to bear in mind, that there is danger from this source to the whole country, and that a serious responsibility rests upon the people in the rural and agricultural districts, like the County of Addison, in relation to them. The influence of large commercial towns is gradually extending itself over the country for evil, as well as for good. The evil influence may, and should be counter- acted by an influence from the country. A large proportion of the teachers and influential professional and business men, and of the annual increase of the population, in the large towns, are educated in, and are emigrants from the country. There is besides a constant
125
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
intercourse and mutual influence going on between the city and country. From the distinguished advantages enjoyed by the rural districts, it is, we think, their province to save the rest of the country. Our free institutions, as every one understands, will depend on the intelligence and virtue of the people. It is therefore the first duty of all patriotic citizens of Addison County, as well for their own safety as for that of the country, to encourage and support all needed educational and religious institutions in efficient operation.
17
APPENDIX.
No. 1 .- CHIEF JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURT UNTIL THE NEW ORGANIZATION OF THE JUDICIARY IN 1825.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
Years in Office
John Strong.
Addison,
1785
1801
16
Joel Linsley,
Cornwall,
1801
1807
6
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1807
1808
1
Joel Linsley,
Cornwall,
1808
1810
2
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1810
1824
14
Dorastus Wooster,
Middlebury,
1824
1825
1
ASSISTANT JUDGES OF COUNTY COURT.
Gamaliel Painter,
Middlebury,
1785
1786
1
Ira Allen,
Colchester,
1785
1786
1
William Brush,
Vergennes,
1786
1787
1
Abel Thompson,.
Panton,
1786
1787
Hiland Hall,
Cornwall,
1786
1789
3
Samuel Lane,
1786
1787
1
Gamaliel Painter
Middlebury,
1787
1795
8
Abel Thompson,
Panton,
1789
1801
12
Joel Linsley,
Cornwall,
1795
1801
6
Abraham Dibble,.
Vergennes,
1801
1805
4
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1801
1807
6
Samuel Strong,
Vergennes,
1805
1808
3
Charles Rich
Shoreham,
1807
1813
6
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1808
1810
2
Mathew Phelps, Jun.,
New Haven,
1810
1812
2
Samuel Shepard,
Panton,
1812
1813
1
Samuel Strong,
Vergennes,
1813
1815
2
Ezra Hoyt,.
New Haven,
1813
1818
5
Charles Rich, ..
Shorcham,
1815
1816
William Slade, Jr.
Middlebury,
1816
1822
6
Stephen Haight, Jr.
Monkton,
1818
1823
5
Elisha Bascom,
Shoreham,
1822
1824
2
Ezra Hoyt,.
New Haven,
1828
1824
1
John S. Larabee,.
Shoreham,
1824
1825
1
127
APPENDIX.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
Yearsin Office
Daniel Collins
Monkton,
1824
1825
1
Dorastus Wooster,
Middlebury,
1825
1881
6
Eben W. Judd,
1825
1829
4
Silas H. Jenison,
Shoreham,
1829
1835
6
William Myrick,
Bridport,
1831
1833
2
Samuel H. Holley
Bristol,
1833
1842
9
Calvin Solace,
Bridport,
1835
1838
3
Davis Rich,
Shoreham,
1838
1842
Calvin Solace,
.Bridport,
1842
1844
2
Fordyce Huntingto
Vergennes,
1842
1844
2
Dorastus Wooster,
.Middlebury,
1844
1846
2
*Jesse Grandey,
Panton,
1844
1845
6 mo.
*Ville Laurence,
. Vergennes.
1845
1847
George Chipman
Ripton,
1846
1849
3
Elias Bottum,.
New Haven,
1847
1849
2
Calvin G. Tilden
Cornwall,
1849
1851
2
Nathan L. Keese,
Ferrisburgh,
1849
1851
2
Joseph Haywood, .
Panton,
1851
1854
3
Roswell Bottum. Jr.
Orwell,
1851
1854
3
+Dorastus Wooster,
Middlebury,
1854
Jan. 1855
2 mo.
Erastus S . Hinman,
New Haven,
1854
1856
#Samuel Swift,
Middlebury,
1855
1857
3
John W. Strong,
Addison,
1856
1858
M. W. C. Wright.
Shoreham,
1857
1855
Harison O. Smith,
Monkton,
1858
1855
COUNTY CLERKS.
Samuel Chipman, Jr.,.
. Vergennes,
1785
1786
1
Roswell Hopkins,
1786
1803
17
Darius Matthews,
Middlebury,
1803
1808
5
Martin Post,
1808
1810
John S. Larabee
1810
1814
4
Samuel Swift,
1814
1846
32
George S. Swift,
1846
1855
John W. Stewart,
.€
1855
1855
6 mo
Dugald Stewart,.
1855
STATE'S ATTORNEYS.
Seth Storrs,
Addison,
1787
1797
10
Daniel Chipman,
Middlebury,
1797
1804
7
.* Judge GRANDY died before June 1st, 1845; VILLE LAWRENCE was appointed. by the Governor in his" place.
t Died January 1853.
# Appointed in place of D. Wooster
128
APPENDIX.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
Yearsin Office .
Loyal Case,
Middlebury,
1804
1808
4
David Edmond,
Vergennes,
1808
1810
2
Horatio Seymour
. Middlebury,
1810
1818
8
David Edmond.
Vergennes,
1813
1815
2
Horatio Seymour,
Middlebury,
1815
1819
4
*David Edmond,
. Vergennes,
1819
1824
5
¡Noah Hawley
1824
1824
5 mo
Enoch D. Woodbridge,
1824
1827
3
George Chipman,
Middlebury,
1827
1830
3
William Slade,.
66
1830
1831
1
Ebenezer N. Briggs,
Salisbury,
1821
1839
8
Ozias Seymour,
Middlebury,
1889
1845
6
George W. Grandey,
.Vergennes,
1845
1848
3
John Prout, .
Salisbury,
1848
1851
3
John W. Stewart,
. Middlebury,
1851
1854
Frederic E. Woodbridge, .. Vergennes,
1854
SHERIFFS.
Noah Chittenden,
Jericho,
1785
1786
1
Gamaliel Painter,
Middlebury,
1786
1787
1
Samuel Strong,
Vergennes,
1787
1789
2
John Chipman,.
Middlebury,
1789
1801
12
William Slade,.
Cornwall,
1801
1811
10
Jonathan Hoyt, Jun.,
New Haven,
1811
1812
1
John Willard,.
Middlebury,
1812
1813
1
Samuel Mattocks,
66
1818
1815
2
Jonathan Hoyt, Jun.,
. New Haven,
1815
1819
4
Abel Tomlnison,
Vergennes,
1819
1824
5
Stephen Haight,
Monkton.
1824
1828
4
Seymour Sellick,.
Middlebury,
1828
1831
3
Marshall S. Doty,
Addison,
1831
1833
2
Azariah Rood, .
Middlebury,
1833
1835
2
William B. Martin.
1835
1836
1
Azariah Rood,
1836
1837
1
Ethan Smith,
Monkton,
1837
1839
2
William B. Martin,
Middlebury,
1639
1840
1
Adnah Smith,.
1840
1842
2
Gaius A. Collamer
Bristol,
1842
1844
2
David S. Church,
Middlebury,
1844
Jan. 1859
14
#William Joslin,.
Vergennes,
Jan. 1859
1
* Died in spring of 1824.
+ Appointed by Court in place of D. Edmond.
# Appointed by the Governor on the death of D. S. Church.
129
APPENDIX.
HIGH BAILIFFS.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
Yearsin Office
Samuel Mattocks,
Middlebury,
1798
1806
8
John Warren,.
1806
1808
2
Artemas Nixon,
1808
1810
2
Moses Leonard,
$5
1810
1812
2
James Jewett,.
1812
1813
1
Benjamin Clark,.
Weybridge,
1813
1814
1
Eliakim Weeks,
Salisbury,
1814
1816
Wightman Chapman,
Weybridge,
1816
1826
10
Nathaniel Foster,
Middlebury,
1826
1829
3
John Howden,,
Bristol,
1829
1880
1
Marshall S. Doty,
Addison,
1830
1931
1
Myron Bushnell,
Starksboro,
1831
1863
Milo Winslow,
Middlebury,
1833
1835
63
Gaius A. Collamer
Bristol,
1835
1837
2
Wightman Chapman,
Weybridge,
1887
1839
Harry Goodrich,
Middlebury,
1889
1810
1
Asa Chapman, ..
1940
1849
9
George C. Chapman,.
1849
1850
1
William Joslin,
. Vergennes,
1850
1853
G. A. Collamer,
Brislol,
1858
JUDGES OF PROBATE-District of Addison.
John Strong,
Addison,
1887
1801
14
Darius Mathews,
Cornwall,
1801
1819
18
Samuel Swift
Middlebury,
1810
1841
Silas H. Jenison.
Shoreham,
1842
1847
C
Horatio Seymour,
. Middlebury,
1847
1855
9
Calvin G. Tilden,
Cornwall,
1855
DISTRICT OF NEW HAVEN.
Ezra Hoyt, .
New Haven,
1824
1829
5
Noah Hawley,
Vergennes,
1829
1831
2
Jesse Grandey,
Panton,
1831
1833
2
Adin Hall,
New Haven,
1833
1835
2
Harvey Munsil,.
Bristol,
1835
130
APPENDIX.
NO. 2.
The following statement of " Agriculture, Farms and Implements, Stock, products," &c., is taken from the census of 1850.
Addison County. Acres of improved land 243,312, unimproved 115,287. Cash value of farms $7,799,257. Value of farming implements $256,270. Horses 5,921. Asses and Mules 1. Milch Cows 10,691. Working Oxen 2,815. Other Cattle 13,248. Sheep 188,154. Swine 5,822. Value of Live Stock $1,289,608. Value of animals slaughtered $176,856. Wheat, bushels of 103,44. Bushels of Rye 20,096. Bushels of Indian Corn 175,478. Bushels of Oats 211,385. Pounds of Wool 622,594. Peas and Beans 26, 355. Bushels of Irish Potatoes 318.421. Of Barley, 149. Of Buckwheat 15,659. Value of Orchard products $41,696. Gallons of Wine 114. Pounds of Butter, 876,771. Cheese 817,149. Tons of Hay 88,793. Bushels of Clover Seed 5. Other Grass Seed 1,589. Pounds of Hops 5,962. Of Flax 1,282. Busheis of Flax Seed 51. Pounds of Silk Coccoons 76. Of Maple Sugar 205,263. Gallons of Molasses 650. Beeswax and Honey pounds of 40,654. Value of Home Manufacturos #9,618.
131
APPENDIX.
NO. 3.
The following table shows the population of the several towns in the County of Addison, at each United States Census, since Vermont was admitted into the Union.
1791
1800
1810
1820
1830
1840
1850
Addison,
401
1100
1210
1306
1229
1279
Avery's Gore, ..
18
29
78
Bridport,.
449
1124
1520
1511
1774
1480
1393
Bristol, .
211
€65
1179
1051
1274
1233
1844
Cornwall,
826
1163
1279
1120
1264
1163
1155
Ferrisburgh,
481
956
1647
1581
1822
1755
2075
Goshen,
4
86
290
555
621
486
Granville,
101
185
324
328
403
545
603
Hancock,
56
149
311
442
472
455
480
Leicester,
313
522
600
513
633
602
596
Lincoln,
97
255
278
639
770
1057
Middlebury
305
1263
2188
2535
3468
3162
3517
Monkton, ..
450
880
1218
1152
1884
1310
1246
New Haven,
723
1185
1688
1566
1884
1503
1663
Orwell,
778
1886
.1849
1730
1593
1504
1470
Panton,.
220
303
520
546
605
670
559
Ripton, ..
15
42
278
357
567
Salisbury,
4.48
614
709
721
907
942
1027
Shoreham,
721
1447
2083
1881
2187
1675
1601
Starksboro,
40
350
726
914
1342
1263
1400
Vergennes,
201
516
S35
817
999
1017
1378
Waltham,.
247
244
264
301
283
270
Weybridge,
175
502
750
714
850
797
804
Whiting,
250
404
565
609
653
660
629
7,267
14,715
21,613
21,879
26,503
25,071
26,549
132
APPENDIX.
CENSUS OF 1850.
WHITES.
FREE COLORED.
Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total Ag'gate.
Addison
659
620
1270
1279
Bridport,
735
658
1303
1393
Bristol,
663
614
1312
16
16
32
1344
Cornwall,
576
577
1153
2
2
1155
Ferrisburgh
1016
1023
2069
2
1
6
2075
Goshen,.
261
225
486
486
Granville,
314
283
603
603
Hancock, ..
286
194
430
430
Leicester
290
305
595
1
1
59
Lincoln,
564
488
1052
3
2
5
1057
Middlebury
1730
1769
3199
8
10
18
3517
Monkton,.
600
646
1216
1246
New Haven,
825
832
1657
5
1
6
1663
Orwell
727
742
1469
1
1
1470
Panton,.
287
267
554
3
2
5
559
Ripton
303
264
567
567.
Salisbury,
526
501
1027
1027
Shoreham.
822
779
1601
1601
Starksboro
725
675
1400
1400
Vergennes,
653
694
1347
13
18
31
1378
Waltham,.
141
129
270
270
Weybridge,
399
405
804
804
Whiting,
311
317
628
1
1
629
13,398
13,043
26,441
54
51
108
26,549
„ HARufford's with
MIDDLEBURY.
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY, 9
IN THE
COUNTY OF ADDISON, VERMONT:
WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBURY,
BY SAMUEL SWIFT.
MIDDLEBURY : A. H. COPELAND. 1859.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by A. H. COPELAND,
In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Vermont.
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PREFACE.
WHEN I was persuaded, against my conviction and inclination, to collect materials and compile a history of Middlebury from its first settlement, I adopted the plan to make it as minute and complete, as the accessible materials would allow,-from an apprehension, that facts, which can now be collected, would be beyond the reach of any future historian. I designed to state, as far as I could, the division of the ter- ritory into lots among the proprietors, who were the original settlers, and when and where,-that is, on what lots, -- they become such. The best sources of informa- tion had already disappeared, in the deaths of the first settlers; and their descen- dants and successors were rapidly passing away. As one of their successors, I be- come a resident here so early, that I was personally acquainted with nearly all the first settlers, and knew where they settled. Although I had no disposition to col- lect the necessary facts for a history, my personal knowledge may have aided me more in the work, than the recollection of those, whose acquaintance had began later. In pursuing my plan, I have perhaps given a more complete history of the early settlement, than any other town history contains, although I have somewhat abridged both my plan and materials. But it has led me into a minute and forbid- ding detail, which I did not anticipate, and which, I fear, few persons will have courage to work through. I have perhaps stated no fact, which will not interest some one, and some land owners may become better acquainted with the history of their possessions, than they now are. But I am aware, that the persons will be few, who will feel an interest in any part of the work, limited as they must be, to those who have been, are, or may be residents of the town; and that the number, who will be interested in the whole, will be fewer still. The facts have been gath- ered in scraps, and many of them since the work was written, and were crowded in, as they could be, and, of course, are Icosely strung together. But I could not, to my own satisfaction, find a stopping place, and have therefore retained the facts, and, to help the reader through as soon as possible, I have compressed the details into as few words as practicable, instead of adopting a more diffuse and untram- meled style. I advise any one, who cares much for his style, not to enlist in any such composition. And the reader, whose patience is not likely to hold out, I ad- vise to skip the chapters. which contain the most tiresome details.
This history is not designed to contain,- and could not properly-a biographical
4
PREFACE.
or other notice of all, who have been, or are, inhabitants of the town; and many most respectable citizens and families are not mentioned at all, because they do not fall directly into the current of the story. But, so far as I have the materials, or they are furnished by others, I have wished to make the readers somewhat ac- quainted with the character of some of the first settlers and prominent citizens. These notices occupy considerable' space, and are not printed separately by themselves, as is sometimes the practice; but to afford relief to the reader, they are inserted in the body of the history, where they belong, as a part of it.
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