USA > Vermont > Addison County > Shoreham > History of the town of Shoreham, Vermont, from the date of its charter, October 8th, 1761, to the present time > Part 15
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On the 24th of May, 1786, he married Polly Smith, daughter of Capt. Stephen Smith. To them were born eleven children, two sons and nine daughters. By persevering industry and economy he succeded in subduing the forest; in bringing under cultivation fruitful fields ; in adding lands from time to time to his original purchase, until he had one of the most valuable farms in the town, with commodious buildings erected thereon. For many years he kept a public house, and sustained it as a quiet home for the weary traveler.
He was honored by the confidence of his fellow citizens, in being
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selected to several offices of trust in the town, and by the General Government of the United States in appointing him assistant asses- sor of lands and dwelling houses, in District No. 1, in the Fourth Di- vision of Vermont, the duties of which office, he discharged satis- factorily to the people and government.
At a period in the history of our country when military honors were held in higher estimation than at present, he was raised through various grades, from a private soldier to the rank of Major General of the Fourth Division of Vermont Militia. At the invasion of our country by the British forces under Gen. Prevost, as they crossed the line on our northern frontier, he volunteered his services in the defence of his country, took a musket from the stores at Vergennes, crossed Lake Champlain at Burlington into the State of New York, beyond the limits of his Vermont commission, and with the rank of Colonel, was placed at the head of the Vermont Volunteers there assembled. The enemy commenced their retreat the day before he arrived at Plattsburgh.
In his declining years, he resigned his public stations and retired to private life. In the year 1810, during a revival of religion, he became a hopeful convert, and with his wife and several of his chil- dren, united with the congregational church in Shoreham. Ile sus- tained his christian profession unblemished, and found the doctrines and promises of scripture the joy of his soul, until the day of his death, which occurred at his homestead on his original purchase, in the seventieth year of his sge. His widow survived him until March 5th, 1849, when she died at the homestead, aged 81.
Hon. ELISHA BASCOM, was born in Newport, N. H., in 1776, from which place he came with his father Elias Bascom, to Orwell. From Orwell he came to Shoreham, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Ira Bascom, in 1806.
In person Judge Bascom was very tall and erect in stature, not corpulent, but of a large frame, well proportioned in every part, adapted at once to attract attention. His countenance, which was a true index to his mind, wore an expression of benignity, self pos- session, and sound judgment, and freedom from all base and malig- nant passions ; his whole appearance making the impression on all
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
who saw him, that he was an intelligent, discreet and honest man, who could be safely trusted in any position. His conduct was in good keeping with such an outward manifestation. These qualities won him favor with his fellow-citizens, who conferred upon him many important offices of trust and honor, at different times during his life. IIe was chosen by them Town Representative, nine times. He was Judge of the County Court two years. He was often. se- lected to administer on the estates of deceased persons, and the wid- ow and orphan confided in his good judgment and integrity, feeling that their interests were safe in his hands. Judge Bascom was twice married, first to Charlotte Hawley, Dec. 30th 1802, and the second time to Loura Bush, October 20th 1806. He had many friends, and no enemies. With limited means, he was still liberal. He was a member and a supporter of the Universalist Society, and died in this town August 1st 1850, aged 74.
Deacon STEPHEN COOPER was born in East Hampton, Long Island, June 22nd, 1746, and became a hopeful subject of divine grace at the age of eighteen, but on account of his great distrust of himself he did not unite with the church until twenty years after, although pious people thought favorably of his christian character, and often requested him to take part in their social relig- ious meetings. Soon after he united with the church in that place, he was chosen to the office of deacon, the duties of which he dis- charged for five years. " In the autumn of 1789, says Rev. Mr. Morton, in the sermon delivered at his funeral, he removed with his family to this town, then a wilderness. After his removal, for some time his mind was seriously disquieted. He had left a highly favored people, who enjoyed all the ordinances of the gospel, and had from time to time been favored with the special visitations of the Holy Spirit. But here, no place was recognised as the hill of Zion ; here was no sanctuary, no preached gospel; no ordinances. The religious prospects of the people looked far more dreary than the wilderness which surrounded them. Indeed, Deacon Cooper began scriously to suspect he had done wiekedly in leaving his native town ; that he had come away from the presence of the Lord. He did not however sink down in sluggish and gloomy discouragement.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAML.
The solemn fears and inward searchings, which agitated his mind, excited to vigorous effort. He spent much time in looking over the town, and in visiting the scattered population, for the sole purpose of finding some followers of Christ, who would unite with him in statedly maintaining the worship of God. He spent three succes- sive days in this service. These labors of love were in some degree successful. He found some scattered sheep, who, like himself, had been called in Providence to wander far from the fold where formerly they were nourished. These lonely disciples assembled. and in the name of the Lord, they set up their banners. From that day to the present, the public worship of God has been statedly maintained in this town.
" For thirteen years he led the Congregational Church as first Deacon and Moderator. By request of the people he visited the sick and attended funerals, with nearly or quite as much regu- larity and frequency as if he had been a minister of the gospel." Deacon Cooper was distinguished for meekness, fervor of devotion, Christian prudence and love for the cause of Christ; and had the happy faculty of kindling in the hearts of his brethren the same glowing emotions which were ever cherished in his own. The closing scene of his life was invested with a peculiar interest. A short time before his death he took his final leave of his family, taking first the grand-children of one family and then the grand- children of another family, and then his own children each by the hand, saying to them, "God bless you-I have prayed for you-I have warned you-remember what I have said." "His parting with his aged and beloved companion was the most affecting part of the whole scene. He pressed her hand a long time, and then very earnestly and devotedly commended her to God," as he did likewise the whole family circle. Being then very feeble, he was occupied in this service about three hours. "He had now in his own estimation finished his last work. His mind appeared to be in a remarkably elevated and delightful frame. Every cloud had vanished. He said he longed to go, and take his whole family to Heaven .?? January 29th, 1827, he gently breathed out his spirit. and entered into rest.
24
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Deacon Cooper found worthy companions in his labors of love in Deacon Eli Smith, of the Baptist Church, noticed elsewhere, and Deacon Nathan Hand, of the Congregational Church.
Deacon NATHAN HAND, was also from East Hampton, and came a year or two after Deacon Cooper. Though he was less fluent, on account of an impediment in his speech, he was superior to him in education, and not inferior to him in strength of mind or consis- tency of Christian character. He served his day and generation faithfully, and is held in grateful remembrance by those who were intimately acquainted with him. To these three men, and others associated with them, the town is no less indebted for the salutary influence which they exerted, than to others who acted a more con- spicuous part in civil life. It was by such men that the public worship of God was instituted, and maintained for many years without a minister, and a healthful tone of religious feeling and action kept up. Seasons for conference and prayer were held so highly in estimation, " that individuals, after having literally borne the burden and heat of the day, would walk cheerfully from one to four miles to attend these meetings. Frequently did a lighted torch guide individuals in a foot-path through miles of wood to the place.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XXIX.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, CONCLUDED-HON. SILAS HI. JENISON- HON. CHARLES RICH- CONCLUSION OF TIIE WORK.
SILAS HEMENWAY JENISON, son of Levi Jenison and Ruth Hemenway his wife, was born in this town May 17th, 1791. When he was about a year old his father died, and he was left an only son to the mother's care. How perilous to the youthful boy is such a circumstance, is known to all. The farm on which his father com- menced only two years before his death, was at the time of his set- tlement an unbroken forest. Only a small improvement had been made when he was taken away. The widowed mother, who is still living at the advanced age of eighty-nine, was a woman of uncom- mon energy and industry. By the strictest economy, and good management of affairs in the house and on the land, in neither of which did any sense of delicacy restrain her from labor, she not only succeeded in retaining the farm, but lived to see, before her son arrived at manhood, most of that which was a forest at her hus- band's death, turned to fruitful fields. Thus did she secure an inheritance for herself and her son.
In his youthful days, Gov. Jenison had very limited advantages for attaining an education. While quite young he attended the district school, where he learned to read and spell, during the brief season in which the school was kept ; but as soon as he became able to labor, his services were needed at home, and after that only a few weeks in a year did he enjoy the benefits of school instruction. While very young, he developed a decided taste for reading and study. The company and sports of other boys had little attractions
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for him. Most of his time he spent at home, as a matter of choice. Rarely did he come into the house, and sit down without a book in his hand. While a youth, he was more interested in reading than in the affairs of the farm, though in after life he took much satis- faction in the study of agriculture as a science, and in making improvements in all the various branches of farm husbandry. This early predilection was fostered by School-Master Sisson, who was ever ready to furnish him with books, or render assistance in his studies. His evenings, and his leisure hours, which were not greatly restricted by the authority of the mother, who it may be natural to suppose, took no little satisfaction in witnessing her son's progress, were devoted to his books. Some kind of study engaged his attention, and during some portions of the year when business was not urgent, he went to Mr. Sisson, who was a near neighbor, to recite his lessons. It was doubtless from him that he learned to write that round and beautiful hand; became expert, in all the rules and questions of arithmetic, and became so perfect a master of the theory and practice of surveying, in which he was so often em- ployed in this and other towns, after he became Governor of the State. Governor Jenison kept up his habit of reading and study through life, and had a mind well stored with general information.
In person he was tall, stoutly built, had a large well formed head ; was simple, unaffected, and pleasing in his manners. He was easy in conversation, but through distrust of his powers or extreme caution, he never ventured to engage in public debate. If he pos- sessed little of the brilliancy of genius, he had what is no less val- uable, in a sound judgment, great prudence, a correct, though not the most highly cultivated taste; and what contributed most per- haps to his advancement in public life, facility and accuracy in the transaction of business, and general knowledge of matters pertaining to civil government and its administration.
The first office of any importance to which Mr. Jenison wa's elected, was that of Representative of the Town in the State Legis- las ure in 1826, which office he held six consecutive years. He was Assistant Justice of the County Court six years, member of the State Council three years, Lieut. Governor two years, the
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last of which, he acted as Governor, no choice of Chief Magistrate having been made cither by the votes of the people, or by the Leg- islature. In 1836 he was elected Governor by the popular vote, and discharged the duties of that office six years. The issuing of his proclamation at the time that the sympathies of many were enlisted in favor of the insurgents in Canada in 1837, warning the citizens against violationg the neutrality laws, was censured by some, and contributed for a time, to diminish his popularity ; but when the subject came to be better understood, the course he took was approved by the people ; and the firmness and good judgment which he displayed at that critical time rendered him one of the most popular Governors the State has ever had. In the year 1840, in the most exciting canvass ever witnessed in Vermont, Gov. Jen- ison's majority over the administration candidate, was 10 798, much larger than it ever had been before, when the lines of party were distinetly drawn. In that year he declined a re-election, but for six years after was Judge of Probate for Addison District, the duties of which office he discharged to universal acceptance. After a protracted season of sickness and suffering, he closed his life in this town in September, 1849.
CHARLES RICH, son of Thomas Rich, was born in Warwick, Mass., September 13thi, 1771, and died October 16th, 1824. He arrived in this town in August 1787, having traveled all the way from his native place, in company with some others, on foot. He labored diligently here four or five years, assisting his father in erecting his mills, and clearing up the land around them, until he was married at the early age of twenty, to a lady born in his native town, daughter of Nicholas Watts, a worthy neighbor of his father. Between them there had grown up an ardent attachment from the days of their childhood, although from feelings of delicacy, it had not been distinctly avowed by either party, until a few months pre- vious to their marriage. In a series of letters addressed by Judge Rich, while he was a member of Congress at Washington, to his daughter then residing in Montreal, I find many interesting facts in relation to this early attachment, to his family history, and to the labors and privations of himself and companion, with whom he
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lived until the time of her death on the 24th of April 1817, in the reciprocation of the most tender affection, and confidence. It is but justice to say, that though there is a free and unreserved expression of thought and feeling given, there is not the slightest tinge of egotism, for it is of the wife and mother that he writes, whose death both the father and daughter deeply deplored .* On the 16th of April 1791, they commenced house-keeping in very humble cir- cumstances, " possessed of no other property than one cow, one pair of two year old stears, six sheep, one bed and a few articles of household furniture, all which were valued at sixty-six dol- lars, and about forty-five acres of land, given him by his father and valued at two hundred dollars." The first year he took the grist mill to tend, of his uncle Nathaniel Rich, who owned but one half of it, and when not engaged there, he worked on his land, and cleared six acres and a half that season, and sowed it with wheat. He says, " While at the mill, I constructed a number of articles of furniture which have been in daily use from that time to the pres- ent." Though not bred to a trade, Judge Rich was remarkably ingenious in the use of tools. It is said that while engaged in tending his sugar-works he constructed a water pail, which was afterward used in the family for many years, with no other instrument than a jack knife.
While a boy, he had very little opportunity to attend school, Ins services being much needed at home. After the age of fifteen, he attended school only three months. But limited as his opportuni- ties were, he was often called upon, before he attained the age of thirty years. to deliver orations on the Fourth of July ; was chosen to represent the town in the General Assembly when he was twenty- nine, and received that office twelve times. He was one of the Judges
*A political correspondence, of an earlier date, occurred between Judge Rich and Samuel Hemenway, Esq., on the questions which at the time divided the Fed- eral and Republican, or Democratic, parties. It was conducted in an amicable spirit and with no little resource and acumen on either side. For some years a copy of this correspondence was accessible to their friends, and regarded with much inter- est, and if not now lost wou'd be of still higher value, as a key to the real senti- ment of an earnest time.
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of the County Court six years, a Representative in Congress ten years, and a ready debater in all public bodies, and useful and popular in every station which he occupied.
If it be asked to what it was to which he was indebted for such honors, I answer, not to any peculiar brilliancy of original genius, for nothing of this appears in any of his writings which I have seen, or have been able to learn of him, but to diligent application of leisure hours, especially of his evenings ; for though he labored during the day as many hours as others, he took less sleep. With diligence, he had the strong desire and determination to understand and master whatever he undertook to investigate, which is indispen- sible to eminence in any station. He formed in early life the habit of writing down his thoughts, and kept it up till life was closed, and cultivated his taste by reading works of such easy and pure style as Addison's Spectator, of which he was very fond. An orig_ inally well-ballanced mind, sound common sense, intuitive knowl- edge of human nature, kind disposition, and native benevolence of heart, retentive memory, honesty of intention, simplicity of char- acter, open and bland personal appearance, ease of address and pleasing manner of communication, were some of the mere promi- nent qualities which won him favor, and not anything which was dazzling and great. If there were found in himn no very uncommon powers, no thrilling and overpowering eloquence, there was a happy union of those qualities, which form the man of usefulness and intelligence. By industry and economy he acquired a handsome property. In all the relations of domestic and social life, he was an example worthy of imitation. It was by such qualities as these, united with habits of self cultivation, carly formed, and sustained without remission, that he held for so long a time, a distinguished station among his fellow citizens. During the vacations of the sit- tings of Congress, he was found at home, laboring diligently, and overseeing his business, until the autumn of the year 1824, when, in consequence of working in the water for several days in repairing his mill-dams, he caught a cold, followed by a fever, which put a speedy end to his life, in the fifty-third year of his age, dying respected and lamented by all who knew him.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
I here close this history, with the delineation of the characters of a portion of those persons who contributed most to forward the set- tlement of a town, which ninety-three years ago was an unbroken wilderness, now turned into productive farms, dotted over with com- fortable, and in many instances with spacious and tasteful dwellings, that have taken the place of the rude log huts of former days : who in their time toiled to open for their posterity and to others, a ter- ritory, which in the productiveness of its soil and in all the elements which contribute to material prosperity, is scarcely excelled by any other. We have reason to recognize with gratitude the" toils and sufferings of those, who laid the foundations of all that we now en- joy here ; to emulate their virtues, and avoid their errors. Let us be thankful for the rich legacy they have bequeathed to us : for all they transmitted to us through the schools and churches which they established. Be not in haste to relinquish advantages, with the hope of finding better elsewhere. Strive to improve upon what was so nobly and so well done by those who have passed away and left us their worthy example, that when we shall leave the inheritance they leftus, others, who shall follow us, may find it still more highly advanced toward the ideal perfection, to which it is the dictate of true wisdom to aspire.
INDEX OF NAMES,
Of Residents of Shoreham and others mentioned in this work, not occurring in special lists or tables. Those of persons not residents are distinguished by an asterisk.
A
Abbott & Brown, page 30.
*Adams, Samuel 20 * Seth 61 Allen, Ethan 12, 14, 152, 156, 164
Ira 156 IIeman 80
Ames, Barnabas 32 Henry 32 Elijah 32
*Amherst, Lord 39 *Arnold, Benedict 13, 14, 20.
Atwood, Jacob 28, 36, 49 Ebenezer 33, 126 Parker 33 Francis 28, 36
Edwin S. 36, 68 Amos 126 Nathaniel 37
Thomas 37 Samuel 124
Richard N. 32 Atwood & Jones, 68
B
Babbitt, Rev. James 127
Baird, John 51, 126 Bailey. Joseph 33 William J. 126 Benjamin 126 Bealy 126 *Ballou, Rev. Hosea 125-6 Barnum, Stephen 22, 33, 49, 143 Mrs. Stephen 98 Zaccheus 28 Thomas 30, 49, 74, 110, 133, 139. 143. Jabez 30, 124, 145 Solomon 33 25
Barnum, Jasper 34 Oliver 29 Barter, Robert 144 Bascom, Elisha 50. 123, (B. S.) Ira 21, 183 Elias 183 Bates, Rev. Joshua 119
Bateman, Jonathan 35
Beadle, Jehiel 63 Beardsley, Hesekiah 36 Rev. Evans 35, 113
*Beach, Major 13
*Beckley, Rev. Hosea 12
Bedell, Leonard 63
Beman, Samuel 10, 12, 14, 16
*
Nathan 12, 14 Rev. N. S. S. 14
Benton, Rimmon 92
Birchard, Levi 29 Andrew 30, 89
Nathan 29
Horatio 30
M. W, 38, 69
Levi 0. 30, 50, 92 Rollin, 51 Alonzo, 8, 9. 93
Birge, Rev. Lathrop 35
Bissell, Benjamin 26, 33, 126 Thomas 33, 75 Solomon L. 33 Henry 29 Blinn, Erastus 74
Brookins, Silas 32 Thurmon 32
Brookins & Birchard, 68
Brown, Jeremiah 34 Roswell 46 B. B. 38
Bosworth, Lieutenant 104
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INDEX OF NAMES.
Bowker, Charles 32 Boynton, Rev. Stephen 125 *Burchard, Rev. Jedediah 109 Bush, Ebenezer Senr. 28, 109 Ebenezer 35, 51, 104, 106, 109 Edson D 11, 19, 65, 68 Henry 22 Sarah 28 *Bushnell, Rev. Jedediah 112 Butler, Joseph 82
C Callender, Amos 8, 12. 14, 15, 47, 49 Mrs. Amos 10 Noah 14. 16, 126, 137 Reuben 24 Clark 32 Nathaniel 67, 137
L Carey, Barzillai 67 Eleazer 67
Carleton Sir Guy 40
Carpenter, Comfort 133
Carrigue, Rev. Richard 127
Campbell, Doctor 96 Catlin, Ashbel, Senr. 33, 126, 143 Ashbel 33, 36 John B. 33, 37, 67, 136, 143 A. L. & E. S. 68 E. S. & L. 68
Chamberlain, Elder 98, 110, 123-4
Chamberlin, Rev. E. B. 51, 120, 149
*Chandler, Gardner, 3 Cheever, Rev. Samuel 113-14
Chipman, Timothy F. 22, 48, 64, 106, 137-8, 181 (B. S.) Isaac 1st 134
Isaac 22, 50, 51
John B. 69, 70 Ansel 68
Azel 66, 69, 70 Nelson G. 75 Daniel 163 John 181
Samuel 182
Thomas 181 Bethia 181
Lorenzo 30 Russell 30
*Chipman & Swift, 72 *Chittenden, Gov. Truman 106, 15G *Cocks, Andrew 62 Collins, Joseph 35 P. W. 69 Conant, Davis 101 Stephen 101 Cook, Reuben 92 Alvin 92 Cooper, Stephen 34, 110, 184 Enoch 101
Cooper, Orrin 74 Crigo, John 7, 8, 11, 12 Paul Shoreham 134 *Crowninshield, Richard 62 Cudworth, Edwin 27 Culver, Eliakim 28-9, 100 Cutting, David 32 German 24
D
Decelles, Mr. 36 Delano, Earl R. 32 Thomas 136 Delano, Hitchcock & Co. 68
Delaplace, Captain 14
Denny, R. L. 65
Denton, Joseph 30 William 30
Doane, Schuyler 29 George W. 33, 125
Doolittle, Ephraim 1, 6, 8, 45, 46, 47, 134 Joel 8, 64, 126
Douglass, Edwin 19 *Dow, Lorenzo 124
Draper, Rev. Samuel 125
*Duane, 168 Dunbar, Samuel 24 Joshua 24
E Eldridge, William 101 Everest, Udney H. 71 Mrs. 35
Hiram 68 Extell, Samuel 101
Eager, Jason 100 Hiram 101
F
Farwell, Elder 127
Flagg, Isaac 22, 35
Fleming, Odell 101 Rev. Archibald 119
Forbush, James 7 *Frasier, Captain 42 Frost, Zebulon 59 Abraham 65 William Penn 30 James F. 32 James F. & Co. 66 Fuller. Joseph 32 James 33 Thomas 49
G Gale, Henry S. 38 Gardner, Mrs. Anna 33, 139 Gooda'e, Timothy 33, 126
195
INDEX OF NAMES.
Goodeno, Isaiah 101 Goodhue, Rev. J. F. 50, 119, 120 Goodwin, Zebedee 28 Gray, Robert 7
* Captain 106 Green, Rev. Henry 122-24
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