USA > Vermont > Addison County > Middlebury > History of the town of Middlebury, in the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 31
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Dr. Lathrop, in the sketch to which we have referred, says, "The crowning trait of character of Dr. Allen, and one which harmon- ized and rendered most valuable all his other qualities, was decided and stable Christian principle. He was a firm believer and sup- porter of the Christian religion, and for many years a member of the Congregational church. He first became connected with the church in Brattleborough, in 1818, then under the pastoral charge of Rev. Caleb Burge. Religion with him was not a matter of pro- fession alone, but of principle. It exerted its benign influence on the affections of his heart, and exhibited itself, in its power and ex- cellency, in the moulding of his thoughts, and generating of his actions.
For many years previous to his death, he resided in the house next
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
north of the Congregational church, on the paper mill road, now occupied by his son, Dr. Charles L. Allen.
Dr. OLIVER BARBER NORTON was born in Easton, Washington County, New York, December 19, 1799. His mother having died when he was three months old, he was adopted as a child by Rev. Edward Barber, of Greenwich, N. Y., father of Edward D. Barber, with whose family he lived as a son, until he left it to engage in business for himselt. To those most intimate, he exhibited, from his earliest boyhood, proofs of no ordinary talents and force of character, and manifested a great thirst for learning, and extended his researches into many branches beyond the routine of a common English education. At the age of twenty-three, he selected for his profession the practice of medicine ; and continued his professional studies for two years under Dr. Cornelius Holmes. In the fall of 1822, he attended a course of lectures at the medical institution at Castleton, Vt. The summer following he became a member of Dr. J. A. Allen's summer school in Middlebury, He attended a sec- ond course of lectures the next fall, and, during the winter, he at- tended the anatomical lectures of Dr. Alden Marsh, in Albany. The following summer he again became a member of Dr. Allen's school, and "was chosen by the principal and students to give a course of lectures on Botany." The fall of 1824, he attended his third course of lectures at Castleton, and was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, which was conferred upon him at the next commencement of Middlebury College. He left the institution with a high reputation as a scholar, in the various branches of his profession.
The two following years, he assisted Dr. Allen in his practice, and in his school as a lecturer on Botany, Anatomy and Physiology ; and the year following was a partner of Dr. Allen, and afterwards, until his death, he continued his practice separately in Middlebury. In the fall of 1829, he was threatened with a pulmonary consump- tion, but by the aid of a short journey to the south, recovered his health, so that he resumed his practice in the spring. During the fall of 1830, he was attacked with a disease which terminated in ulceration of the cartilage of his left knee joint, and ended his life on the 25th of April, 1831, at the early age of thirty-one.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Dr. Norton's death was universally lamented. His talents, and his professional learning were of a superior order. He had what we may call a tact, which few possess to the same degree, in detect- ing diseases and applying the remedy ; and he never prescribed for a disease until, after a patient examination, he thought he fully un- derstood it. He was fast increasing in reputation and practice in his profession, and had already become a favorite in many families. His disposition was amiable and kind, and his manners unassuming and courteous, and he had become popular as a man as well as a physician.
Dr. RALPH GOWDEY was the son of Mrs. Lucretia Gowdey, a widow who resided in Middlebury, much respected for many years. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1819. From that time to 1822, he was employed as a teacher in the State of Georgia. The climate not proving favorable to his health, he returned to Vermont, and entered upon the study of medicine. In the year 1825, he re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the Vermont Academy of Medicine at Castleton. He immediately commenced the practice of his profession at Rutland, and in 1828 removed to Middlebury, his native place. From this time until his death he continued the practice with growing reputation, and with the increasing confidence of the people. He was unassuming in his disposition and manners, but his talents and learning were of an order to give him a high rank in his profession, and were soon duly appreciated in the com- munity.
Dr. Jonathan A. Allen, who knew him well as a physician and personal friend, published in the Boston Medical and Surgical Jour- nal a sketch of Dr. Gowdey's life and character. We knew him well also in both characters, and respected and loved him; but Dr. Allen, from his position, was a more competent judge. We therefore make some quotations from his sketch. He says, " As a scholar Dr. Gowdey ranked high. His mind was well cultivated and prop- erly balanced. In his deportment he was gentlemanly, unassuming and unofficious. He read much, reflected much, and remembered what he read. In ordinary conversation, he was affable, intelligent and interesting, so that a person could rarely be in his society for
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any considerable time without becoming interested and delighted. For public speaking and debate, he had no relish."
" His professional opinions were based on sound pathological prin- ciples. He was strictly a pathological, not a routine practitioner. He was well acquainted with modern pathology, and with the gen- eral circle of Medical sciences. And if the inscrutable hand of Providence had not prevented, he would unquestionably have given full assurance that his recent appointment to an important profes- sorship in the Vermont Academy of Medicine had been judiciously made. He possessed more than ordinary taste for the study of In- tellectual Philosophy. To this science he devoted considerable at- tention, and upon this subject he left several essays unpublished."
" In his intercourse with his medical brethren, he was frank and honorable. This secured for him the universal respect of the pro- fession. The estimation in which he was held by the public was evinced by his being twice elected a member of the General Assem- bly of the State," in 1838 and 1839. Many of the most inport- ant reports of committees, especially one on the geological survey of the State. were written by him. At this time he was laboring under the fatal disease of the lungs, which extended also to other organs, and had for some years rendered him incapable of perform- ing the more laborious duties, and which finally terminated his life.
Dr. Allen further says,-" In his personal appearance, Dr. Gow- dey was quite prepossessing, his stature being rather tall and slen- der, his countenance remarkably pleasant, his dark eye beaming with intelligence, while his hair, neither too black nor too light, spread agreeably over his well proportioned head. His constitution was not robust, nor had it been inured to hardship; yet he had, with temporary exceptions, possessed tolerable health till about four or five years since, when he was arrested, without any obvious cause, with pulmonary hemorrhage." "Some years since Dr. Gowdey became a hopeful convert of Christianity, and made a public profes- sion of his faith by uniting with the Congregational Church. It is said, of the great and solemn realities of religion he never doubted. As a Christian, he was uniform and consistent. With him the prac- tical exhibition of the cross was an every day concern. This so-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
cured to him an uncommon degree of calmness and equinimity. His confident assurance of the goodness and mercy of God sustained him, when, some time since, a beloved wife and a dear child were taken from him by death. These influences rendered him calm and composed through a trying, painful and protracted illness. When. in full view of an immediate death, he was addressed by a warm hearted visitant, in the pure language of compassion and sympathy, ' Doctor, I am sorry to see you in such trouble,' he coolly replied. 'I am not in trouble, but happy.' These were his last words." His death occurred on the 13th of June, 1840, at the age of thirty- seven.
Dr. STEPHEN PEARL LATHROP was graduated at Middlebury College in 1849. The year following he spent in teaching, as pre- ceptor of Black River Academy, at Ludlow, in this State. He af- terwards pursued the study of medicine at Middlebury, and in the meantime attended the lectures at the Vermont Medical College at Woodstock, and received his diploma, as Doctor of Medicine, at that institution in 1843. He then established himself in the practice in this place, which he continued until 1846. During this short period, his practice was not extensive, but he industriously pursued scien- tific studies, and was regarded as a distinguished scholar, in several departments of science, especially in Natural History. In this pe- riod he was appointed by the late Professor Charles B. Adams, his assistant in the department of Chemistry and Natural History, and in the geological survey of the State. From 1846 to 1849, he of- ficiated, under appointment, as principal of the Female Seminary in Middlebury. In the latter year, he was elected Professor of Chemistry and Natural History in the College at Beloit, Wisconsin, and removed to that place, and continued a teacher in that college until the latter part of the year 1852, when he was elected a pro- tessor in the State University at Madison, Wisconsin. In this office he continued until his death, which occurred on the 25th of Octo- ber, 1854.
Dr. CHARLES C. P. CLARK, from Tinmouth, was graduated at Middlebury College in 1843, and received his medical diploma at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1847, and imme-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
diately settled in the practice in Middlebury. He practiced a few years with increasing success and reputation, went to Paris to per- fect himself in his profession, and on his return removed to Oswego, New York.
Dr. J. GERRY Ross, who practiced on the Thompsonian sys- tem, established himself here about the year 1840. He continued his practice in this and the neighboring towns, much respected as a citizen, and patronized by many until the summer of 1856, when he removed to Shaftsbury, and has since removed to Brandon, where he now resides. He resided, while here, in the house next south of Moore's hotel, now owned and occupied by Mr. Valentine V. Clay, of the firm of Davenport and Clay.
Dr. EDWARD TUDOR was born in East Windsor, Conn., January 16, 1771. His father was " an eminent surgeon," who had resided " for some time in England for the completion of his medical edu- cation." Edward, who was his eldest son, had been fitted to enter college, and his father gave him his choice to enter Yale College and go through a regular classical course in that institution, or enter immediately on the study of Medicine. He chose the latter, and immediately commenced his professional studies, under the tuition of his father. In the course of his preparatory studies, he was sent to Philadelphia, under the more immediate direction of Dr. Rush, to whom he formed and retained, through life, a strong attachment. He there attended two courses of lectures, which was quite uncom- mon at that day, and received his medical degree. He continued to practice for some years, in connection with his father in East Windsor. He afterwards established himself in the practice in Orford, New Hampshire, where he was married. In 1804 he re- moved his family to Middlebury. Here he has practiced with suc- cess and high reputation, until the infirmities of age forced him to withdraw from active service. He was a diligent student, and through life sustained the reputation of a learned physician, and was an active and prominent member of Addison County Medical Society. He was a man of quiet habits and retiring disposition, and never intruded himself upon patients, or upon public notice. He left his patients to find him, instead of looking up them. But
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
he was a favorite physician in many of the most respectable families.
At the age of 87 years, while walking along the side walk, on the 3d of March 1858, he stepped upon a piece of ice, slipped, fell and broke his leg; from which he never recovered, but died of the injury on the 8th day of May following, and was 87 years of age the preceeding January. For some years he resided in the house on Pleasant Street, now occupied by Mr. David Piper. He after- wards purchased the lot and built the house now occupied by Mrs. Bell. For many of his last years, he has resided in the house where he died, next north of the Catholic Church on the Wey- bridge Street.
The following are the present resident physicians.
Dr. ZACCHEUS BASS, brother of the late Dr. William Bass, pur- sued his professional studies with his brother, and in the meantime attended two courses of lectures at the Medical School in New Haven, Conn., in the winters of 1813-14 and 1814-15. In 1829 the Corporation of Middlebury College conferred upon him the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. He commenced practice in Middle- bury in 1815, and has since been in a large and successful practice in this and the neighboring towns.
Dr. WILLIAM P. RUSSELL partly under the tuition of the late Dr. Jonathan A. Allen, and in part at the Berkshire Medical Institu- tion, in Pittsfield, where he attended the lectures of that institution and received his medical diploma in 1830. He established himself here in practice in 1831, and has continued in the active and suc- cessful practice in this and the adjoining towns to the present time. He conducts also a large establishment of drugs, medicines and groceries.
Dr. Russell was appointed postmaster on the 20th day of May 1857, and still holds that office. The office is kept in his store in the Brewster block. His residence is in the large brick house, built by Jabez Rogers, next north of Mr. Seymour's late residence.
Dr. WILLIAM M. BASS, son of Dr. William Bass, was graduated at Middlebury College in 1832. He pursued his professional stud- ies under different physicians, and at the Berkshire Medical Institu- tion, at Pittsfield, Mass. He commenced practice at Grand Detour,
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Illinois, from 1837 to 1846. At the latter period he returned to Middlebury, at the earnest solicitations of his father, whose increas- ing infirmities required his aid. Here he has continued the prac- tice of medicine, and in addition to his professional duties, resides at the homestead, and has charge of an extensive farm.
Dr. CHARLES L. ALLEN, son of the late Dr. Jonathan A. Allen, was graduated at Middlebury College in 1842. After teaching for a year or two in North Carolina, he pursued his prosessional studies under the tuition of his father, and was a part of his time at the Vermont Academy of Medicine at Castleton, where he attended the lectures and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1846. He has since been in active and successful practice in this and the neighboring towns. In addition to his practice, he was appointed and officiated as professor in the Medical Institution for a year or two ; and has delivered lectures, on appointment for that purpose, in Chemistry and Physiology in Middlebury College.
Dr. HIRAM MEEKER was originaly educated for the medical pro- fession, but relinquished it for the ministry in the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He was stationed here in that capacity for two years, and at the close of this period, in the spring of 1853, he re- turned to his profession as a physician, on account of the health of his family, and has since continued in active practice.
Dr. NORMAN D. Ross, son of Reuben Ross of this village, after completing his professional studies, commenced practice in Roy- alton, Vt. Here he continued two or three years, and in January 1854, removed and established himself in the practice in the village of East Middlebury, and has continued in active practice in that part of the town and in some neighboring towns.
Dr. NATHANIEL HARRIS, son of Lebbeus Harris and brother of Lebbeus Harris Jun., mentioned elsewhere, and a native of Middle- bury. as early as July 1838, established himself here as a surgeon dentist, and has ever since been in the successful practice in this place,-longer, we believe, than any other dentist in the State. He has also occasionally extended his practice to other towns. In the meantime he attended the lectures at the Vermont Medical College at Woodstock, and received at that institution, in June 1842, the
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
degree of Doctor of Medicine. His office is at his residence, in the brick house built by Dr. Judd, on the west side of the creek.
Dr. HENRY KINSLEY was graduated at Middlebury College in 1838, and studied theology at the Andover Seminary, and entered upon the duties of that profession. But his health failing, he was obliged to relinquish it and direct his attention to other pursuits. After pursuing the study of dentristry, under Dr. Prime at Bran- don and under several distinguished dentists in Massachusetts, he received from Dr. Prime what was called a diploma ; and in August 1857, he established himself as a dentist in this place, and has since been in successful practice. His office is in the Brewster block, in the rooms formerly occupied for the postoffice.
As we have not been able, on account of the frequent changes, to give any history, or even sketches, of the merchants, mechanics, and those engaged in other employments, as we have of professional men, we have intended to print a list of those who are at present engaged in such employments, and the date of their establishment, but neglected to procure the list until so late a period, that our list will not be as perfect as we desire. We are obliged for that reason, to omit those belonging to East Middlebury; of which we have elsewhere given a rather general account. The dates following the names designate the time of their establishment.
MERCHANTS.
Zechariah Beckwith, Dry Goods, Groceries, Furniture &c.
May 1827
S Moody, now S. & W. S. Moody, Drugs, Medicines, Groceries &c.
July 1839
Dr. Wm P. Russel, Drugs, Medicines and Groceries,
June 1842
HI. A. Sheldon,
and Dry Goods,
Aug. 1848
James M Slade & Co., Dry Goods, Groceries, &c.
1843
Harry Langworthy, 6€
March 1846
Edwin Vallette.
April
1846
Simeon Holton, Jewelry, Clocks and Fancy Goods,
July
1850
James E. Negus, Merchant Tailor, Furnishing Goods &c.
Oct. 1851
Jason Davenport, Tin, Iron, Hardware, and Agriculturai Tools,
April 1852
A. H. Copeland, Books, Stationary and Periodicals,
Sept. 1853
Wm. H. Remsen, Groceries, Provisions &c.
April
1856
Solo. Parker, successor to L. W. Clark, Books and Stationery,
March
1857
A. Magovern, Merchant Tailor,
April
1857
Chapman & Barbour, Dry Goods, Groceries &c.
May
1857
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
365
E. R. Clay, Millinery and Fancy Goods,
Sept.
1857
H. C. Wilcox, successor to H. Wilcox, Boots and Shoes,
March
1859
Mrs. A. A. Forbes, Millinery, GROCERIES.
April
1859
A. Dustin, now Dustin & Kenworthy, Sept. 1814, G. W. Dustin, 1849.
H. C. Chapman, at Rail Road Station 1849, Lucius Shaw, April 1851.
Frank Fletcher, May 1857, George Langworthy, A. M. Williamson, August 1857.
MEAT MARKET.
William T. Porter, Successor to C. Ticknor. A. M. Williamson.
MANUFACTURERS.
H. W. Pitts, Cotton Cloth and Yarn.
May
1849
Davenport & Clay, Woolen Cloths.
66
1854
Jason Davenport, Stoves, Machinery, Tin Ware &c.
1851
Amon Wilcox, Tin Ware &c.
L. W. Huntington, Spring Beds. Matresses &c.
Charles Rose, Pails &c., at J. M. Slade & Co's Factory.
Simeon Powers, and Mr. White, Axe Helves &c.
J M. Slade & Co. Potash.
C. Wheeler, Chairs, Furniture &c. F. Fales Chairs.
MECHANICS.
Ira Allen, Carriage Maker, 1814.
John Jackson, Hitler.
G. M. Brown. 1832, J, Caffrey, Tailors.
H. C. Wilcox, L. Harvey, Shoemakers.
Mrs. E. R. Clay, Mrs. P. Cleveland, Miss Thirza Adams, Mrs. A. A. Forbes, Mil- liners.
Simeon Holton, H. W. Brewster, Goldsmith.
Horace Crane 1821, Ira Allen, Louis Hope, J. Donahue, Blacksmiths.
M. Phinney, N. Brusso, Sadlers.
L. W. Huntington, Upholsterer.
A. D. Stearns, Samuel Brooks, William Kingsley, T. O. Flanegan, C. Rose, D. M. Goldrich. Painters.
John Sellick, Cabinet Maker and Turner.
Cyrus Morton, John H. Simmons, Caleb Morton, O. Severance E. B. Parker, David Piper, J. F. Bolton, W. C. Langworthy, A. S. Tracy, L. Stearns, George Lawyer, S: Pinney, H. Dean, W. Bisbee, W. Latimer, J. King , Carpenters and Joiners. Oliver Wellington, J. Barnaby, J. Morcomb, Orin Abby, Masons.
J. P. Huntington, Dyar.
A. Dustin, G. W, Dustin, Barbers.
Mead & Fuller, Printers.
H. Richardson, Book Binder.
John H. Simmons, Machinery for Plaining and Joiner Work.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Daniel Judd, 18 58, Mr. Rowe, Marble Cutters.
Edward McClure, June 1837, Baker.
OTHER EMPLOYMENTS.
H. L. Sheldon, Station Ageut, R. G. B. Rail Road.
John B. Copeland, Express Agent .* A, H. Copeland, and H. W. Brewster, Telegraphists.t
O. A. Taft, Ambrotype Artist.
James Lenard, Truckman, 1819.
Ormel Comstock, Proprietor of Stage from Middlebury to Lake Champlain. Harry Moore, 66 Bridport.
Stage owned by Lorenzo Cutler, of Bethel, from Middlebury to Bethel. Samuel Brooks, Sexton.
Jacob Dewey, Constable and Jailor. 1
L. S. Orampton, Deputy Sheriff.
Calvin G. Tilden, Insurance Agent.
*Ficke & Co's. Boston Express, and Pullen, Virgil & Co's. now the National Express Company to New York, have been established ever since the R. &. B. R. Road commenced running. Mr. John B. Copeland has been the agent here of both companies since 1852. The office is in Copeland's bookstore in Brewster's block.
"The Troy and Canada Junction Telegraph line was established in 1847. Mr. A, H. Copeland was put in charge of the station here in 1852. In 1856, the Amer- ican Telegraph Company, which has wires extending from New York to Nova Sco- tia, Montreal and to all parts of New England purchased this line, and communi- cate directly from New York to Montreal. This office is also now in Copeland's bookstore.
367
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
CHAPTER XXII.
EDUCATIONAL-COMMON SCHOOLS-ADDISON COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
THE first school house built and the two first schools opened in town for children were those mentioned in the statement of Miss Torrance, in the south part of the town, where the principal settle- ments then were. The first school in the neighborhood of the vil- lage was kept by Mrs. Goodrich, wife of William Goodrich Esq., about the year 1791. They then resided in a house on the rising ground east of Dr. Bass's, near Mr. Conroe's barn, and her school was in a small school house on the opposite side of the road. We have no knowledge of other schools established at an early day, ex- cept such as are incidentally mentioned in our history. The first official act of the town, on the subject of schools, was a vote in De- cember 1790, to divide the town into four school districts. Votes were afterwards passed, from time to time, increasing the number and changing the boundaries of the districts. The present number of districts is eleven, known by the names of the numbers attached to them. The large districts in the village, one on each side of the creek, constitute two of them. The changes have been, and prom- ise to be, so frequent, that it is more than the object is worth to trace here their boundaries.
The laws of the State require " each organized town to support one or more schools, provided with competent teachers," and if more than one is needed, the town is required to divide their territory . " into as many school districts as shall be judged most convenient." These districts are constituted corporations, for the purpose of main- taining schools, and may hold estate and assess taxes for that pur- pose. The district clerk is required to ascertain annually the num-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
ber of children in his district, between the ages of four and eighteen, and return a list of them to the town clerk, with a certificate of the number of weeks a school has been kept the preceding year. Pre- vious to the statute of 1850, the districts were authorized, if they chose, to raise money for the support of the schools " by subscrip- tion, or by apportioning the same to the scholars, who shall attend the school, or otherwise." By the statute of that year it was en- acted that " all moneys raised by school districts, for the payment of teachers' wages, shall be raised upon the grand list, and moneys, raised by a tax upon the scholars, shall be appropriated only to de- fray the expenses of fuel and teachers' board."' Provision has been made also by the legislature, authorizing large districts to establish also a higher or central school, or several districts to unite for a similar purpose ; but no such provisions have been adopted in this town.
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