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 7
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*The number of new entries of suits in a single term of Addison County Court, in 1787, was 44; 1700, 47; 1801, 247; 1806, 227; 1811, 301: 1818, 403; 1820, 220; 1827, 227. At present the usual number of new cases is less than 100.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM,
CHAPTER XIII.
PHYSICIANS AND DISEASES.
TIMOTHY PAGE, the first regular physician in town, came from Troy, N. Y., in 1788 or 1789. He lived the first winter in the same house with Thomas Barnum; afterwards built the house where Orrin Cooper now lives. For many years he had an exten- sive practice, and died in this town in 1810.
Tyler Stickney practised from 1798 to 1800 or 1801.
John McLaren from 1792 to 1800.
John Willson, at Richville from 1801 to 1822. Dr. Willson was born at Oxford, Mass .; studied medicine with Dr. Campbell of Ox- ford ; married Cynthia Gould, of Sturbridge, Mass., and settled, professionally, in Warwick, Mass., in 1781. He removed to Shore- ham in 1800 ; from this place to Greenfield, Erie County, Pa., in 1822; to Detroit, Mich., in 1825, where he died February 6th, 1829, aged seventy-four.
Erastus Blinn entered into practice with Dr. Willson some time before he left, took his place, and continued it, with the exception of about one year, until his death. Dr. Blinn was born in Great Barrington, Mass., August 29th, 1786, and removed with his fa- ther's family to Pownal, Vt .; thence to Orwell, in 1800. He mar- ried the daughter of Dr. Willson, mentioned above, and commen- ced professional studies with him in 1809; was licensed by the Ad- dison County Medical Society, January 1st, 1813. He formed a partnership with Dr. Willson which continued for three years, and
75
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
subsequently continued his practice here till his death, March 28th, 1842, at the age of fifty-seven.
William H. Larabee, for a short time, about 1802.
Nicanor Needham, from 1808 to his death, in 1847. He was re- puted to be a skillful physician, and for many years did a large bus- iness.
Caleb Hill, from 1826 or 1827 to 1833, when he went to Me- dina, N. Y.
Nelson G. Chipman, from 1833 to 1834.
William A. Hitchcock, from 1824 to the present time.
David E. Page, from 1842 to 1856.
DISEASES .- When the country was new, it was accounted un- healthy. This opinion operated for a while to retard the progress of the settlement. The diseases which most prevailed at an early period, were bilious fevers, and fever and ague, which few were fortunate enough to escape ; but since the land has been most- ly cleared, this may be regarded as a healthy town, the number of deaths averaging, generally, about 15. The last year the number of deaths returned was 27, a number unusually large, many of them aged people. Most of the early settlers lived to a very ad- vanced age, as will be seen in looking over the catalogue of names.
The dysentery prevailed in 1798, and many children died of that disease. It appeared again in 1803, and proved fatal in an unusu- al degree. In School District No. 10, twenty-seven children, un- der ten years of age, died of that disorder that season. For many days in succession, Thomas Bissell says he made two coffins a day.
In 1812-13, what was called the spotted fever prevailed, which, in many cases proved fatal in a few hours. In the winter of that term, over sixty persons died of this disease, mostly in middle life and heads of families.
In the years 1841-42, the erysipelas prevailed, and proved fatal in many cases.
From the records of the town, it appears that it has not been wholly exempt from the visitations of the small-pox, though I have not been able to learn that it proved fatal in any considerable num- ber of cases.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM,
CHAPTER XIV.
POLITICAL HISTORY-TOWN REPRESENTATIVES-COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS-PARTY DIVISIONS.
As with many other towns in Vermont, there has always been & lively interest taken by the people of this in political affairs. The people of this State, individually, were called early to contend for both personal and political rights. A spirit and aptitude for pub- lic questions may naturally have arisen from this fact, and may continue to characterise the communities whose own institutions were founded amid agitations so critical. The leaders, also, of the early settlers, to a larger extent than in older states, belonged to the pop- ular class, and the general sympathy of those engaged with them, of course, was more intimate, and their influence more cordial with those so nearly identified with their success. This fact has given a general unity to the movement of the people of Vermont in public affairs, a sense of design and character animating the pop- ular body, and depending less than is usual upon the conceded wis- dom of unknown guides. In Shoreham this has been peculiarly and honorably so. From the class, of which the people almost uni- versally were members, their leaders have sprung, and in obtaining the public approval have honored the confidence of the town.
In the early conventions of the settlers upon the Grants, we have no evidence of any immediate representation from this town. The first convention was held at Manchester, in the Fall of 1766, the first year of the settlement of Shoreham. This was attended by delegates from towns west of the Green Mountains, and was the first development of that spontaneous principle of order, which, with a free and thoughtful people, assumed as was necessary the
77
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
direction of public affairs. A similar convention was held at Man - chester, August 27th, 1772, at which eleven towns were represent- 'ed, including Rutland, Pittsford and Castleton. Through Town Committees of Safety delegates were obtained or appointed, and a general committee constituted, which sat at different times. By this the executive posse, known as the Green Mountain Boys, was duly organized, with which individuals in Shoreham are known to have been connected. A convention was called at Dorset, July 24th, 1776, intended to consider the question of a government, and was held at that place, by adjournment, September 25th, at which thirty-five towns, of both sides of the mountains, were represented, including Addison, Middlebury, Panton and Bridport, in the pres- ent Addison County. Only preliminary measures were considered, and the weight obtained to their proceedings which is due to delib- eration. The independence of the State was declared at an adjourn- ed meeting, held at Westminster, January 15th, 1777, and its char- acter as a free political jurisdiction asserted. A Declaration and Petition was addressed to the American Congress, itself the deputed organ of a new nation. By adjournment, a committee was appoint- ed at Windsor. in June, to prepare a draft of a Constitution, and a new convention was summoned to meet at the same place, July 2d, 1777, to consider it. Amidst the pressure resulting from war, the constitution was adopted : subsequently, the first elections under it were ordered to take place on the succeeding first Tuesday of March. The Town was legally organized November 20th, 1786; Addison County had been established previously, October 18th, 1785. The first Reprepresentative was chosen in September, 1787, thus accept- ing a place in the councils of the State. March 4th, 1791, by the Act of Congress, Vermont was "received as a new and entire mem- ber of the United States," the sister first-born of the Revolution, and thus was the circle of those wide political relations completed in which the humblest member bears so high a part.
James Moore, Josiah Pond, Thomas Rich,
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
1787,91, 92,94, 4 years.
1788, 90, 95, 96, 97, 99, 6 .
1798,
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HISTORY OF SHOREIIAM.
Ephraim Doolittle,
1793,
harles Rich,
1800-02, 04-12, 15,
13 years. 3
john S Larabee, Elish Bascom,
1803, 21, 23,
1813. 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 39-41,
9
Joseph Smith
1814, 16 19, 23, 24,
5
Silas 11. Jenison,
1-26-30,
5
..
John S. Hunsden,
1831-33,
3
Isaac Chipman,
1834-36,
3
Davis Rich,
1837-38,
2
Kent Wright,
1842, 43, 49,
3
Bela Howe,
1844, 45, 50,
3
Myron W. C. Wright,
1846, 59,60,
3
Alonzo Birchard,
1847. 48, 51, 53,
4
Alphonzo B. Bascom,
1853, 54,
2
James M. Lamb,
1855, 56, 2
Gasca Rich, 1857, 58,
The following persons have represented the town in the several Constitutional Conventions, called by the Council of Censors ;
Josiah Pond, 1791; Ephraim Doolittle, 1791 ; Charles Rich, 1814; Elisha Bascom, 1822, 1829; Kent Wright, 1836; Silas H. Jenison, 1843; Davis Rich, 1850 ; Bela Howe,* 1857.
The following persons have held the offices annexed to their re- spective names, in the County and State :
ASSISTANT JUSTICES OF THE COUNTY COURT.
Charles Rich.
1807-12.
6 years.
John S. Larabee,
1824.
Elisha Bascom,
1822 23,
2
Sılas H. Jenison,
1829-34,
6
Davis Rich,
1838-41, 4
Myron W. C. Wright,
1858-59, 2
CLERK OF THE COUNTY COURT.
John S, Larabee, 1810-13, 4 years.
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
Silas H. Jenison,
1841-46, 6 years.
SENATORS FROM ADDISON COUNTY.
Isaac Chipman,
1849, 41,
2 years
Davis Rich,
1844-46,
Bela Howe,
1851, 52, 2
COUNCIL OF CENSORS.
Charles Rich,
1820.
*Chosen from Addison County, as a District.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.
Silas H. Jenison, *
1834, 35, 2 years.
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE.
Silas H Jenison,
1836-40, 5 years.
The usual divisions of the people into political parties, have been duly represented here. Leading men have been found on both sides, especially of the old dividing line, and the controversy was conduct- ed both with zeal and intelligence.
A majority of the carly settlers of this town, were exceedingly jealous of the exercise of power by the general government. Many of those who came here from Massachusetts, were dissatisfied with the high taxes imposed upon them by the government of that State, and were in favor of stay-laws to relieve the debtor, in a time of unprecedented pecuniary distress, or of laws compelling the credit- or to take lands, or other kind of property, in satisfaction for debts, at some affixed or appraised value. They urged a restriction of the exercise of power, and a reduction of the salaries of government of- ficers. At the breaking out of the French Revolution, a majority of the people here fell into the current of popular sentiment in that country, as more favorable to liberty, and looked with a jealous eye upon England as the great, leading representative of kingly gov- ernment. They were also suspicious that the general government was arrogating to itself the exercise of power, that would prove dan- gerous to the independence of the States and the liberties of the people. When, therefore, the lines were drawn between the old federal and democratic, or republican parties, a majority of the vo- ters in this town was found to side with the latter. Mathew Lyon was their favorite candidate for Congress, and in 1797 and 1799, he received a decided majority of the votes in this town. Charles Rich, the youthful and popular leader of the democratic party, was chosen to represent the town in the State Legislature, and continued as its most prominent and influential leader so long as that distinc- tinction of parties was known.
*At the election in September, 1835, there was no choice of Governor made by the people, and as the Legislature failed to elect one, Mr. Jenison performed the duties of the office during that year.
80
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
From about the year 1830 to 1836, the Anti-Masonic party had the ascendancy, and when that party lost its distinctive name, and was merged in the Whig and Democratic parties, the former had a majority of the votes. After 1836, the Whig party had a decided majority, while it remained a distinct organization. Since the organ- ization of the Republican party. after the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, taking as its distinctive principle, opposition to the ex- tension of slavery in the Territories of the Union, nearly all the votes have been cast for its candidates.
At the annual elections of the several years stated below, the di- vision being between the Federal and Democratic parties, the latter being called Republicans, of that day, the vote for Governor in this town stood as follows :
1801, 90 d 38 f
1809, 175 d 99 f
1802, 102 d 44 f
1812,
206 d 109 f
1803, 70 d 50 f
1814, 183 d 113 f 1808, 145 d 102 f
1815, 192 d 111 f
In 1831, William A. Palmer. the Anti-Masonic candidate, had 203 votes, and Heman Allen, Whig, 120.
Two principal national parties again divided the vote of the town in the following years, as follows :
1836, 199 Whig, 49 Dem.
1841. 155 w 46 d
1837, 220 w 61 d 1853, 122 w 23 d 1843. 241 w 55 d 1854, 121 w 3 d 1858, 120 Republican, 5 Democratic.
The Congressional vote, of different periods, for the two highest candidates, is given below, the candidate elected being first named. In 1814, and for three succeeding terms, the election was made by general ticket. Mr. Rich was first elected in 1812.
1798. Matthew Lyon, 82 1826. Rollin C. Mallory, 60
Daniel Chipman, 68 Ezra Butler, 1
1810. Martin Chittenden, 62 1834. William Slade. 156
Ezra Butler, 95 Robert Pierpoint, 73
1814. Daniel Chipman, 118 1844. George P. Marsh, 210
Charles Rich, 177 John Smith, 32
1816. Charles Rich, 161 1850. James Meacham, 152 David Edmond, 105 Heman K. Beardsley, 19
E. P. Walton was elected in 1856.
81
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XV.
PROGRESS OF EDUCATION -- SCHOOLS -- TEACHERS-NEWTON ACADEMY.
THE first school in town was taught by a lady on Cream Hill, probably as early as 1785 or 1786. A school was kept up in that neighborhood a portion of every summer and winter, for three or four years before there was any other in town.
About 1789, a log school-house was built at the Four Corners, near Deacon Lewis Hunt's. For several years the children in the Birchard and Larabee Districts were sent to the school kept there. A school was also commenced about the same time on Smith Street. The log school-house in the Birchard District (No. 2,) was built in 1794. Gideon Sisson. who had a knowledge of the Latin and French languages, taught a school there in 1785, and was employ- ed as instructor several years. Since that time, school districts have been formed in different parts of the town, sufficient in number to bring the advantages of common school education within the reach of all. At one time the number of districts was fourteen. In con- sequence of the great decrease in the number of children, during the last twenty-five years, in some instances two districts have been merged into one. The number of districts is now twelve.
Forty years ago the number of scholars attending school was twice as large as it is now. Some schools, which once had eighty or ninety scholars, are now reduced to twenty-five and thirty-five. In other districts the diminution has been in a like proportion.
At an early day, little was taught in our common schools be- yond the rudiments of Reading, Spelling and Arithmetic. The 11
82
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
number of branches of education had been increased since, includ- ing Geography, English Grammar, and in some instances Geometry and Algebra. The studies and manner of teaching are not dissim- ilar to those in the schools in other towns in the county. The time the schools are kept in the d. fferent districts varies from three to four months in the winter, and from four to six months in the summer. There are no children among us, who are not taught reading and writing, and the use of figures, sufficient to answer the practical wants of life.
The name of the first female teacher has not been obtained. It has been suggested to the author, that a brief notice ought to be inserted in this place of Gideon Sisson, who was so early employed in this town, and continued in the avocation of a School-master so many years. He is said to have been a thorough scholar, and one of the best disciplinarians, in the common school, that has ever been employed in this town. He was a proficient both in the Latin and French languages, in the latter of which he could converse with as much ease and propriety as if it had been his vernacular tongue, understood and was capable of teaching, in the best manner, the sciences of Geometry and Algebra ; of Astronomy and the Nature and Use of Logarithms; of Navigation and Surveying. He had the happy art of inspiring his scholars with an enthusiastic love of study and desire to excel, and to make them masters of all the branches he taught. He had a clear, sonorous voice, pleasant to the ear and well modulated to the expression of every sentiment, and was one of the best of readers. He wrote a hand that in legibility and ele- gance has been rarely surpassed. It was under his training that so many young men in the vicinity in which he lived became good readers, and wrote a hand that is seldom equaled at the present day. Several young men, at an early period in the history of Shoreham, when they could not be spared from the labors of the farm to attend school, were in the habit of reciting to him the lessons which they had learned at home, feeling the most perfect liberty in resorting to him at any time to have the difficulties resolved which they met with in their studies. As a teacher, Mr. Sisson was for several years highly useful. He was extremely fond of books; and, as
83
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
remembered by the author in his old age, was not a little egotisti- cal and vain of his acquirements. He was irritable in temperament and at this time in many respects singular. Some anecdotes are re- lated of him, of which one will be found in another place.
The school funds, and tax appropriated by the Town for the sup- port of Common Schools, are stated below. That called the Pro- prietors' Fund, is the share realized for schools in the disposition of the ministerial right ; the school lands were assigned by the charter. Other support is furnished by the Districts.
FUNDS FOR COMMON SCHOOLS.
Proprietors' Fund, $2682.31,
Income, $160.94
Rents of School Lands,
199.23
U. S. Surplus Fund,
Interest, 205.06
1 1-2 per cent. Tax,
92.83
$658.06
The pay of Teachers at present varies much ; of male teachers, from fourteen to twenty dollars per month; of female teachers, from one dollar twenty-five cents to three dollars per week. The school-houses, with two or three exceptions, are good, costing from four hundred to seven hundred dollars.
NEWTON ACADEMY was incorporated in 1811. Whether it was so named in honor of an early citizen of the town, from whom a benefaction may have been expected, or of Sir Isaac Newton, has been a disputed question. From the time of its organization, a school of the common order of our Academies has been kept up, with a few intermissions. The enterprise was undertaken with a liberal spirit, the original building having cost two thousand dollars. In 1853, a subs iption of sixteen hundred dollars having been pre- viously raised, a new organization was formed, called the "Newton Academy Association," to which the existing property was convey- ed. Measures were adopted for effecting repairs already in contem- plation. A boarding-house was attached to the Academy building, and an expenditure made of two thousand two hundred dollars. The work was accomplished in 1854, and has left no debt upon the asso- ciation. The premises are inviting in appearance and furnish
84
HISTORY OF SHOREIIAM.
for school purposes a large room for recitations, a hall for public declamations, a chapel, and private rooms for students. An appa- ratus for chemical and philosophical purposes was formerly procured at a very liberal expense : this is still respectable. The Shoreham Un- ion Library has recently been removed to the Academy for the ben- efit of the pupils, and has a good selection of five hundred volumes. The present Principal is Mr. E. J. Thompson.
The following list is given of the Principals of the School :
Benjamin Nixon,
1813.
J. B. Eastman, 1841.
Alonzo Church,
1816.
Eber Douglass Munger, 1842.
Samuel Wolcott,
1817,
Patrick Henry Sanford, 1846.
Asa Messer,
1816.
Stephen Martindale, 1847.
Jonathan Coleman Southmayd, 1818.
Asa Stowel Jones, 1849.
David Laurens Farnham, 1823.
John Ormsbee Haven, 1852.
Amzi Jones, 1823.
Edson Fobes.
1854.
Hiram Carlton,
1833
Rev, Archibald Fleming, 1856.
Peola Durkee,
1834.
E. J. Thompson,
1860.
David Mason Knapen, 1839 or 1840.
The Academy has an attractive situation, and if duly cherished, cannot fail to impress itself upon the highest interests of the com- munity, in those things which pertain to character and prosperity. With cultivated intelligence, the common mind's treasures assume a preciousness and interest analogous to the artificial value which jewels receive from filing and polishing. The business of life is equally aided by the amount of information which study may have elicited, with regard to the subjects and processes with which it is employed. Eventually it is to be hoped, perhaps from many bene- factors, who have enjoyed its advantages or appreciate its benefits, the Academy may receive such an endowment as shall relieve it from the implication of past neglect, and give it the permanent hon- or it deserves. It has exerted a salutary influence upon the youth of the town, in disciplining their minds, enlarging the sphere of their knowledge, elevating their taste, and forming them for usefulness in the different departments of life.
The Shoreham Union Library Society was formed December 31st, 1821. Its collection now consists of five hundred volumes. The second article of its constitution prescribes the character of the
85
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
works of which it is to be formed. "The Library shall consist of books in real History, Theology, Natural Philosophy, Poetry, Ethics, Geography, Astronomy, Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Hus- bandry, Travels, Journals, Periodical Publications, and such oth- ers as may serve to improve the mind in useful knowledge, excite benevolence and humanity, and inspire pious devotions, endear the rights of society by the consideration of mutual dependence and mutual advantage, with the exclusion of all such as may have the least tendency to corrupt the morals, establish erroneous principles, or mislead the imagination, by ficticious, false or imaginary repre- sentations of human nature." The design of this limitation, if lib- erally construed will exclude but little material of true interest, and may lead at least to discrimination in that department of literature usually esteemed the most dangerous.
86
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
CHAPTER XVI.
ECONOMICAL HISTORY - SOIL - FACE OF THE LAND - TIMBER- CROPS - VALUE AND QUALITY OF LANDS - CENSUS OF FARM PRODUCTE.
THE soil on the Lake shore is generally a strong, fertile clay, until an elevation of two hundred and fifty or three hundred feet is reached above the surface of the lake. This prevails through the greater part of the township, where the land lies below the eleva- tion just mentioned. About one mile east of the lake, the land rises above the clay formation, where an argillaceous slate appears, in a range of hills, occasionally broken, extending more than half way through the town, commencing near the south line. Beyond the first range of hills there is a depression into vallies, in which are the beds of small streams, the clay soil predominating ; and thus there are alternate depressions and elevations forming hills,gen- erally running north and south, until the east line of the town is reached. Most of the higher portions of the land are constituted of a strong loam, good for grains of all kinds, as well as grass. Cream Hill, which is two miles in length and one in breadth, lying more than one mile east of the Lake, in the north part of the town, is of this class. It received its name from its remarkable fertility. Its slopes are very gradual on every side, and it affords sites for beautiful and rich farms scarcely surpassed in New England. Bar- num Hill, south of the centre of the town, extending to Orwell, and Worcester Hill, north-east of the centre, and extending nearly to Bridport, present a similar soil, still more free from admixtures
87
HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
of clay, and are good lor all kinds of crops congenial to the climate In these locations are some of the best farms in town. About three miles east of the lake, there is a range of hills and bluffs, where the limestone crops out and the land is rough and stoney, not ad- mitting of cultivation ; but valuable for the wood and timber which it furnishes. Mutton Hill, lying in the north part of the town, east of the road leading to the centre, is a rocky elevation covered with timber. It is said to be indebted for its name to the reputa- tion of a family residing on one of its declivities, that was thought to have made too free with the neighbors' flocks. Barnum Hill took its name from that of a number of families who first settled on it. Worcester Hill was settled mostly by families from Worces- ter, Mass., and hence its name.
The Pinnacle, about two miles east of the centre of the town, is the highest elevation in the township, rising probably five hun- dred feet above the level of the Lake. From the top there is a fine view of Lake Champlain at several points ; of the Old Fort, at Ticonderoga ; of the Green Mountains on the east, from Killing- ton Peak at the south, to Camels Hump, and Mansfield at the north; and the Adirondacs beyond the nearer elevations, at the west. It commands a view, almost unsurpassed in beauty, of several neigh- boring towns, with Otter Creek and Lemon Fair, with their mean- dering and rich vallies. From the same stand-point there may be counted the spires of nine meeting houses, and several villages are seen in the surrounding towns on both sides of the lake. In these views, in each direction, as much that is graceful in outline, attrac- tive in social, or impressive in historical association, or alluring in extent, may be seen as from any elevation in the scenery amid which it rises.
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