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 6
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HISTORY OF SHORENIAMI.
Gov. Jenison, in his address delivered before the Addison Coun- ty Agricultural Society in 1844, showed by the United States Census of 1840, that " Addison County had in the latter year, in proportion to territory or population, a greater number of sheep, and produced more wool than any other county in the United States." " Taking eleven towns," he says, "most favorable to the keeping of sheep, one half of the number in the county, they will be found to have possessed more than one sheep to each acre of improved and unimproved land in those towns, or more than six hundred and forty to the square mile." At the taking of that census, Shoreham had more than one sheep and five-eighths to each acre of land, improved and unimproved, which shows a greater number then in this town than in any other town of equal extent in the United States, and a greater amount of wool, and more than twenty-four sheep to each inhabitant. A comparison of the census returns of the several towns, in 1850, would doubtless lead to the same result. And it may be safely predicted, that the census of 1860 will show that this town has not fallen behind any other town in this or any other State, in improving her flocks.
SPANISHI MERINO SHEEP .*- As this town has not probably been
*The Merino Sheep of Spain gave character to the woolen manufactures of Se- ville as early as the thirteenth century, during the occupation of the Moors. Their name is taken to indicate a foreign origin, - Mareno, from the sea,-and they are supposed to be traced to the Tarentine species, introduced from Italy into Spain by the Roman Emperor Claudius. In modern times, the race was preserved in Spain in the hands of royal and distinguished families, as an exclusive source of revenue, protected by peculiar legal privileges, and its exportation strictly forbidden. In 1723 it was first introduced into Sweden; in 1766, into Saxony by the Elector, where the breeding has been carefully conducted; in 1786, into Prussia; into France in the same year, which importation was the foundation of the Rambouillet flock; into England successfully in 1791. These exportations were made by special favor of the government of Spain. under the governmental patronage of the several coun- tries mentioned, when the stock in the former kingdom exceeded ten millions of an- imals.
In 1801, M Delessert, a French Banker, purchased two pairs of Rambouillet sheep, and shipped them early in that year for New York. He succeeded in pla- cing a single ram, the survivor of them, on his farm near Kingston, N. Y. Mr. Seth Adams, since of Zanesville, Ohio, claims to have obtained a premium offered by the Massachusetts Agricultural Society for the first importation of Merinos, for
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
surpassed by any other town in the country in successful efforts to improve the pure Spanish breed of sheep, I have carefully sought to give a truthful history of their origin, and the manner in which they have been kept pure by the owners of a few of the most cel- ebrated flocks. These all originated from the celebrated flock bred by Andrew Cocks, of Flushing, Long Island, who made his first purchases from the importations of Richard Crowninshield, as the following certificate will show, published in the Albany Cultivator, in New Series, Vol. 1, 1844.
Judge Lawrence's Statement.
Yours is duly received in which you refer to a conversation we had on the subject of Merino Sheep, and particularly of the quality and purity of the flock of Andrew Cocks, who was my near neigh- bor. We were intimate, and commenced laying the foundations of our Merino flocks about the same time. I was present when he pur- chased most of his sheep, which was in 1811. He first purchased two ewes at $1,100 per head. They were very fine, and of the Escurial flock, imported by Richard Crowninshield. His next pur- chase was thirty of the Paular breed, at from fifty to one hundred dollars per head. He continued to purchase of the different impor- tations until he run them up to about eighty, always selecting them with great care. This was the foundation of A. Cocks' flock, nor
a pair also from France, imported into Boston in the same year. Chancellor Liv- ingston, then United States Minister to France, purchased at Chalons near Paris, two pairs, which he shipped for New York, and placed three of them on his own farm. Gen. David Humphreys, at the close of his term as Minister to Spain, was permitted to purchase a flock of one hundred pure Leonese Merinos, which were shipped at Figueira at the mouth of the Mondego in Portugal, April 10, 1802, and arrived at New York in the last week of May. The enterprise was pursued by Gen. Humphreys in the establishment of a manufactory of fine woolens at Derby, Conn. Hon. William Jarvis, then Consul at Lisbon, in 1809 obtained by special favor two hundred Escurials, and soon after, upon the second French invasion, be- came interested in large purchases at the sale of four distinguished flocks, confis- cated by the ruling Spanish Junta and sold with the permission of exportation. Twenty-six hundred Merinos of pure blood, of these purchases, were shipped to the United Statos and distributed from different ports between Portland and Nor- folk, in 1809, 10 and 11; and an equal number,by other parties, in the same years.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
did he ever purchase any but pure blooded sheep to my knowledge or belief. Andrew Cocks was an attentive breeder, saw well to his business, and was of unimpeachable character. His certificate of the kind and purity of blood, I should implicitly rely on. I recol- lect of his selling sheep to Leonard Bedell, of Vermont.
Flushing, 1844.
EFFINGHAM LAWRENCE.
In 1823 Jehiel Beedle, Elijah Wright and Hon. Charles Rich, sent Leonard Beedle, son of Jehiel Beedle, to Long Island, to pur- cbase the flock of Andrew Cocks. He took the whole flock, con- sisting of about one hundred, and brought them to Shoreham. In the division, Beedle took one half, Wright one fourth and Rich one fourth. Those belonging to Beedle were bred pure for a few years ; but after his death they were separated, and became mixed with other blood. The portion belonging to Wright was mingled with Saxony, and ceased to possess a distinctive character.
After the death of Judge Rich, in the division of the estate, his whole flock was assigned to his two sons, John T. Rich and Charles Rich, and divided equally between them. After the death of J. T. Rich, his flock went into the hands of his two sons, John T. and Virtulon Rich, and has been bred pure by them in the same flock to the present time. No ewes were sold from the flock originally belonging to Judge Rich until 1844, when that portion owned by John T. Rich amounted to more than five hundred, which, he says, in a certificate published in the same volume of the Culturater, al- ready referred to, "I have kept pure to this day. Some of the flock have recently been . crossed by bucks of the importation of Consul Jarvis, which said bucks were purchased from the flock of, and regularly attested by said Jarvis, as being pure Spanish Merinos."
The flock belonging to John T. and Virtulon Rich, now numbers about two hundred and fifty, and for several years has yielded on an average over six pounds of washed wool per head.
The portion of the flock that went into the hands of Charles Rich, son of Judge Rich, was sold by him about him, about 1835, a por- tion to Erastus Robinson, and a part to Tyler Stickney, which have been bred pure Merinos to the present time.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
The Rich, the Robinson, and Stickney flocks are now held to be among the best in the country, and command high prices. Since 1844 sheep from these flocks have been distributed among many of the farmers in this and the adjoining towns, and in the far west, from which many valuable flocks have sprung.
HORSES .- From an early period much attention has been given to improvement of the breed of horses by the farmers in this town. It is believed that no other town in the State, previous to the intro- nuction of Black Hawk into Bridport, could exhibit a greater num- ber of valuable horses than this, during the last sixty years. Many of them have originated from the best races ever bred in America, as the following list of celebrated studs, kept at different times in this town will show.
A horse named Brutus, of pure English blood, was brought to this country by a British officer in the time of the war of the revo- lution. Gen. Timothy F. Chipman became the owner of him at an advanced age, and kept him eight or ten yeprs. He was said to be of the hunting breed, of a red roan color, about fifteen and a half hands high ; in every point well proportioned, and in form and movement was regarded as a perfect model of his race. In activity and gracefulness, he was never excelled by any one ever kept in this State. With Gen. Chipman mounted on him, he would leap almost any fence or ditch, enjoying such feats as a pastime. He left much of his blood here, traces of which the author of this work has frequently seen within the last twenty-five years. To him, as a sire, we attribute that superiority in the race for which this town was noted at an early day. Ile was as celebrated at that time, for his qual.ties, as Black Hawk is now.
Bishop's Hamiltonian was introduced about forty years since, and was kept here several years. Ilis progeny were of a dark bay col- or, well formed ; rather tall in proportion to weight of body ; were good travelers, high spirited ; among the best horses for the road, and were favorites in the market in their day. Much of the valu- able stock in this town originated from him.
Post Boy, introduced by Col. Joel Doolittle, was kept here sev- eral years. He was the sire of a race compact in form, of hardy
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
constitution, which were regarded as a valuable stock for all pur- poses, and by some they are thought not to have been excelled by any other.
The Sir Charles was introduced about the year 1825, by Abraham Frost, and was kept several years in this town by David Hill, Esq.
Tippoo Saib was brought to this town soon after, from Long Island, by Abraham Frost. The progeny of both these horses were generally dark bays, well formed, stout, capable of performing much service, good for the carriage and the road, and were highly esteemed for their many valuable properties. Their sires were of pure Eng- lish blood.
About fifteen years ago David Hill's Black Hawk began to at- tract attention, at first from beauty of form and speed, without ref- erence to the purposes of farm work. A thorough trial, however .. has produced a general conviction that the mode of breeding pur- sued here, by judicious crosses of Morgan blood, of various families, and other breeds, has produced a race superior to any other in this country, combining all the qualities requisite for speed and work on the farm, the most perfect docility with life and spirit, ease of ac- tion with unsurpassed power of endurance, easy keeping with hard every day work and good condition. It was feared at first that the Morgan horses would not be heavy enough for the draft. But it is now a well known fact that the old Justin Morgan, from which the race now in this country sprang, could beat any other horse in Eastern Vermont in pulling at a log. Though smaller in size than many others, they will generally draw heavier loads than most of those of greater weight, and travel over greater distances without tiring. They are, at the same time, fancy horses and horses of all work, combining soundness of wind and limb, and proportions of bone and muscle, that it would be difficult to improve upon.
The introduction of this breed of horses has proved highly bene- ficial to the farming interest in this town. They have found a ready sale at high prices, ranging from $150 to $2500 each.
Ethan Allen, sired by old Black Hawk, has been kept here by his owners for three years past, and has done a large business at one hundred dollars the season. Messrs. R. S. Dana and E. D. Bush,
9
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
also Mr. Orvin Rowe, one of the owners of Ethan Allen, have large farms stocked almost exclusively with horses, and furnish the market with many of the finest animals to be found in the country. Several other farmers keep from ten to fifteen horses on their farms, and attract purchasers from every State in the Union.
CATTLE .- There have been no herds of pure blood imported cat- tle kept in this town ; but several bulls and a few cows, pure blooded Durhams and Devons, have been owned by a few individuals, and for many years valuable crosses have been made with these breeds.
Joseph Smith, Esq. and John N. Hunt, Esq. purchased a full blooded Durham bull, and kept him some time in this town, whose stock proved valuable.
Hon. John S. Larabee kept a bull of the Durham stock many years ago, which was a fine animal.
Azel Chipman had a full blood Durham bull, celebrated for the excellence of his stock.
At a still later period, James F. Frost & Co. purchased of John Rockwell, of Cornwall, a full blood Durham sire,-a superior animal.
Marvin North has some pure blood Durham cows, and others of mixed blood, from which he breeds from pure Durham bulls.
Orville Smith has a few full blood Durham cows, from which he is raising a valuable stock.
By the introduction of the animals named above, and perhaps of others, not known to the author, the stock of cattle in town has been much improved, and it is thought by those better qualified to judge than the writer of this article, that the native stock and im- proved breeds, will compare favorably with the three towns in the county that are reputed to stand highest for the excellence of their cattle.
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MISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XI.
MERCHANTS-CHARACTER AND AMOUNT OF TRADE.
The first store kept in this town was by George and Alexander Trimble, at Larabee's Point. They commenced business about 1789, and closed about 1800.
Josiah Austin at the Doolittle place, about 1792, continued in trade one or two years, and removed to Orwell.
John B. Catlin, from Litchfield, Conn., at Richville about 1795; did a successful business for about five years, and left and went to Orwell in 1800.
Nathaniel Callender on Cream Hill, in 1798; left and went to Burlington in 1801.
John McLaren kept a small store of goods on the place recently owned by Mrs. Zerubah King, from 1793 to 1795 or 1796.
Charles Rich commenced selling goods at Richville in 1799, in the old house next east from the grist mill, and kept tavern in the same building at the same time. He closed his business March, 1811.
Page and Thrall at Richville, for a short time, from 1811 to 1813.
Davis Rich at Richville, from 1815 to 1821.
D. Rich and K. Wright did business from 1821 to 1830.
K. Wright from 1830 to 1833.
D. and G. Rich at Richville, from 1833 to 1851.
Union Store, at Richville, from 1851 to 1860.
Barzillai & Eleazur Cary, at the four corners, from 1808 to 1819, did business on a small scale.
Jesse and Alvin Wolcott on Cream Hill, for a short time in the house now occupied by Calvin Wolcott, about the year 1802.
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HISTORY OF SHOREIIAM.
Philemon Wolcott and John Sunderlin, on Cream Hill, closed their business about 1818.
Augustus Hand at Larabee's Point, from 1817 to 1821.
Thomas J. Ormsbee, from Warwick, Mass., set up the first reg- ular store at the centre of the town in the year 1802, and did a successful business about two years.
Alvin and William Wolcott at the centre in 1804 or 1805, con- tinued about one year.
Dr. Luther Newcomb at the centre, from 1805 to 1815.
Spaulding Russell, where Ashbel Catlin now lives, from 1818 to 1817.
Truman Turrill at the centre, from 1816 to 1823.
Samuel H. and John Holley, at the centre of the town about 1819 ; continued one or two years.
Ansel Chipman on Cream Hill a short time; afterwards at the centre of the town about 1820.
Perez Sanford in the same place previously.
James Rossman at Larabee's Point about 1802, continued two or three years.
Hiram Everest at the centre from 1816 to 1830 or 1831, when he removed to Moriah, N. Y.
Abiel Manning at Larabee's Point, from 1826 or 1827, continued about two years.
David Hill, James Turrill and Levi Thomas at the centre from 1830 or 1831 to 1832.
Moses Seymour at the centre, 1829, 30.
Delano, Hitchcock & Co. at the centre, from 1830 to 1832.
A. C. & E. S. Catlin at the centre, from 1832 to 1836.
Kent Wright, for a short time in company with Loyal Doolittle, and afterwards in his own name from 1832 to 1849, excepting one year, during which he was connected with E. D. Bush.
E. S, & L. Catlin commenced in 1839, and continued less than a year.
Atwood & Jones commenced in 1843 and continued to 1846.
. E. S. Atwood from 1846 to the present tlme.
Brookins and Birchard from 1849 to 1850.
.
N.ORR.CO.JC
WATCH POINT.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN SIMONDS, ESQ.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Union Store at the centre, from 1851 to 1858.
Wright & Hall, 1858, one year at the centre. Hall & Hunsden, at the centre, 1859.
Among those who have done business at Larabee's Point, we mention Joseph Weed from 1828 to 1830. Afterwards in different years, Walter Chipman & Co., Azel Chipman, P. W. Collins & Rockwell, John B. Chipman, Abbott and Brown.
About 1825, a small storehouse was built at Watch Point, in which business was done by William S. Higley, until about 1828. The accommodations were extended, and business was done by Tur- rill & Walker, from 1828 to 1831; from 1831 to 1834 by M. W. Birchard ; by John Simonds from 1834 to 1849; John Simonds & Son, from 1849 to 1853; J. J. & W. C. Simonds, from 1853 to 1857; W. C. Simonds & Co., from 1857 to the present time.
Respecting the amount of business done by the several merchants and firms named in the forgoing list, I have been able to obtain but little information. George and Alexander Trimble, who kept the first store at Larabee's Point. it is said, sold a large amount of goods. They received for pay large quantities of wheat, ashes, salts of ley and potash, in exchange for goods, especially for heavy articles, such as iron, nails, salt, &c. They drew trade from most of the towns east of this to the Green Mountains. While the in- habitants were clearing their lands, vast quantities of ashes were saved and worked up into potash, in this and all the adjoining towns. The places in this town where potash was made, were too numerous to be particularized. Great quantities of this article were sent to Quebec to market, where it was sold at a much higher price than it commands now. It was an important article of production and commerce, while the circulating medium here was so limited and diffi- cult to be obtained. The traffic in this article was mutually benefi- cial to the merchant and farmer.
The opening of the Lake Champlain Canal, from Whitehall to Albany, gave a great impulse to mercantile business in this town, especially to that portion of it done on the Lake shore. The mer- chants received large quantities of grain in exchange for goods, and sold the leading heavy articles, such as flour, salt and iron for cash,
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
or its equivalent, at a small advance from cost and transportation. Trade was drawn from a distance of twenty or thirty miles to this town.
The Messrs. Chipmans, Walter, Azel and John B., did a large business for several years at Larabee's Point, as also did Kent Wright at the centre of the town ; the Messrs. Riches at Richville, and John Simonds at Watch Point.
Mr. Simonds sold in one year 2400 barrels of flour .! ! His sales of this article have of late years been very much diminished, fall- ing sometimes as low as 400 barrels a year. Mr. Simonds has, since the year 1834, been largely engaged in the packing of beef in this town. During the last twenty-five years he has killed 86,645 cat- tle, costing one million eight hundred fifty-nine thousand seventy-four dollars and twenty-nine cents, ($1,859,074,29,) and filling 159,- 216 barrels. He has, in the same time, sold and used in the busi- ness of packing, more than two hundred thousand bushels of salt. For several years he was engaged in purchasing wool in this town and vicinity, and has paid for this one article more than one million of dollars.
Both of the above branches of business have been pursued by others, on a more limited scale, but to what extent, and with what success, I am not informed.
Since the Rutland & Burlington Railroad went into operation, trade with the eastern towns has been diverted to places on the line of that road, and has been considerably diminished in this. There are, however, four stores now in town which are doing a fair busi- ness. In all its diversified interests of husbandry and trade, this may still be considered as a prosperous and thriving town.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XII.
LAWYERS - PRACTITIONERS IN SHOREHAM - CIIANGE IN LEGAL BUSINESS.
MOSES STRONG was the first Lawyer established in this town. Hle was a son of the Hon. John Strong, of Addison, the first Chief Justice of the County Court; was licensed at the March Term of the County Court in 1797, and commenced practice at Richville in 1800. The town was then rapidly filling up and advancing in re- sources, and Mr. Strong engaged in an extensive professional busi- ness, which continued until 1810, when he removed to Rutland.
Samuel HI. Holley commenced practice at the centre of the town in 1809. He was from Bristol in this County ; studied at the Ad- dison County Grammar School and was an early graduate of the Military Academy at West Point. He was licensed at the Febru- ary Term of Addison County Court in 1809 He received a com- mission in the army in 1812; served during a considerable portion of the war with Great Britain ; resigned and resumed his professional business here. In 1821 he removed to Middlebury, but after 1824 relinquished professional business. He was repeatedly in public of- fice, and a resident at different times both of Bristol and this town. He died March 20th, 1858, at Whitehall, on his return from a visit at the West, and was buried at Bristol. His wife Sophia, a daughter of Hon. John S. Larabee of Shoreham, survived him about two years, and died leaving a son and daughter residing at Larabee's Point.
Udney Hay Everest commenced business here in 1812, and con-
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
tinued in it until the time of his death, which occurred January 1st, 1845, and was engaged in most of the cases arising bere in his profession. He was born in Addison, January 18th, 1785 ; fitted for college with Rev. Dr. Swift, of Addison; graduated at Middlebury College, 1808. He read law with Chipman and Swift, Middlebury, was licensed August, 1811; practised a year at Mid- lebury, and removed to this place.
These gentlemen all sustained positions of influence in society in their respective spheres. Only Mr. Everest continued for many years exclusively in the social relations which they successively es- tablished here, and these were habitually cherished with the warm regard of those whom he most respected. The career of each was protracted through the active period of life, and all were favored to its conclusion with the respect and attachment of friends and the confidence of the public.
Samuel Wolcott commenced practice in Shoreham, his native town, in 1821. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1817, and studied his profession at the Litchfield Law School, in Connecticut. He was a fine classical scholar, a man of superior genius, possessed of many excellent social qualities ; had a pleasing manner of ad- dress and great facility in the use of language. He was in the class in college with Silas Wright, the distinguished and influential Senator of the United States, from New York, and Governor of that State, who, at the time of his death, in 1847, though not in office, was universally regarded as enjoying the highest position, in respect to the confidence of his party and his own future prospects. In scholarship, Wolcott had excelled him, and in quickness of per- ception, vigor of intellect and power in debate, was not his inferior. But the want of steady aim and of self-command, was fatal to the hopes cherished for him. But for an unfortunate habit into which he was early drawn, he might have risen to any position of emi- nence in political or private life, or in the practice of his profession. His career was short and its termination a melancholly one, in his death, which occurred February 20th, 1828, in the 34th year of his age.
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Albert G. White, practised from 1845 to 1847, and removed to Whitehall, N. Y.
Charles K. Wright, born in Shoreham, 1825, graduated at Mid- dlebury College, 1844 ; read law with Hon. E. N. Briggs, of Bran- don ; practised in this town from 1847 to 1855. He now resides in California.
The change which occurs in legal business, is incidental in our country to the progress of society. At first there is the expense, to the settler, of the cost of land and a simple outfit for clearing it ; perhaps some difficulties in obtaining necessaries. There follows but little expense for living, but little variety of business, and though much of debt may exist, but little urgency for collec- tions. Crops are waited for, labor is sought in payment, and a spirit of accommodation prevails. A second period comes of more activity in business, but of greater stringency of means. There is more to be done, more to be had from abroad, while the general sys- tem of credit and narrowness of circumstances weighs upon the en- terprising and liberal. Debts are incurred to supply the means of improvement, to meet the wants of living, and collections must be made to pay them. Where there has been universal credit, there must be an universal enforcement of demands. One demand is met by the assignment of others, all go together to the lawyer, who is the medium of settlement, and the process of suing becomes an hab- itual refuge of delay. A change is effected gradually, for it is long before the prudent and prosperous obtain a surplus, or that the habit of debt is corrected so that arrearages are generally wiped away. This has been the harvest time of lawyers, who have become the wealthy citizens of the period in some districts, where trade has of- ten been the grave of enterprise. As the point of greater maturity is reached and exchanges at home become reliable, the business of the courts is rapidly diminished to the permanent standard of that, in which legitimate questions of the rights of parties unavoidably arise. *
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