USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 13
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Dodge & Merrill occupy a fine store in Woolson's Block, having a choice stock of drugs, medicines, watches, jewelry and fancy goods. This firm succeeded M. D. Fisher & Co. in 1892. Mr. E. E. Parsons has charge of the watch and jewelry depart- ment and of the optical goods. He is a graduate of Philadelphia Optical College. Messrs. Dodge and Merrill are registered phar- macists.
The telephone office is in this store, and connection is had with Boston, New York, and Chicago.
C. H. Moore, proprietor of the famous "Blue Store " in Wool- son's Block, has established one of the leading clothing stores in Windsor County, and carries a large stock in all departments. This store is also headquarters for bicycles, and the agency for Wheeler's steam laundry of Bellows Falls.
O. E. Noyes, merchant tailor and general agent for sewing machines, has been in business in town nearly twenty-five years. He occupies rooms in Dillon's Block at head of Main Street, and
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
employs only the best skilled makers. Mr. Noyes is a native of Weathersfield.
C. M. Keyes, dealer in furs and millinery, has rooms in Com- monwealth Block. After W. H. Wheeler, Mr. Keyes is the next oldest merchant now in trade, having located in town in 1854. Miss Abbie Goddard has charge of millinery and cloak depart- ment.
Miss M. A. Soper of the Boston Store in Sparrow's Block has been in the millinery business here since 1891.
Miss Cowles has a millinery store in Dillon's Block at the head of Main Street.
The Five and Ten Cent Store, opposite Sparrow's Block on Main Street, was established by Miss Brown in 1893.
The Springfield Furniture Company was established in 1891. The partners are Herman Dressell and Herman Dressell, Jr. Their rooms are in Brown's Block. Mr. Dressell, Sr., has had a long experience in furniture and upholstering business. They also carry on undertaking business.
Charles Walker carried on the furniture and undertaking busi- ness in the Fairbanks Block for a time. He was succeeded by Atwood & Angell. They located in town in August, 1893. The members of the firm are J. P. Atwood and W. H. Angell. Mr. Atwood is a native of Londonderry, Vt., son of Loring Atwood, who for forty years was a manufacturer of chairs, most of the time in Rutland, Vt. Mr. Angell is from Windsor, Vt., where for twelve years he was with the furniture house of Wilder & Rice.
John C. Hooper, who succeeded to the harness business so long carried on by William Sparrow, has a fine shop and store in Hotel Block where he keeps a good stock of harnesses and horse clothing.
Springfield Harness Shop, L. B. Hurd, proprietor, with a shoe- making department connected, is located in the new rooms in the Chase Block.
Everett B. Cook deals exclusively in boots and shoes. The business was established by his father, Selden Cook, who was long connected with the business of this town. Mr. Cook's store is in the Chase building.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Fred G. Field is a dealer in general merchandise at North Springfield. The business was established by his father, the late Abner Field, in 1831, and is probably the oldest business in town that remains in the family of the original founder.
Putnam and Kenrick are the proprietors of the meat market opposite the hotel, having succeeded in 1894 to the business so long carried on by R. L. Lovell. Mr. Putnam was for many years in the business while Mr. Lovell was proprietor. Mr. Kenrick is a native of Walpole, N. H., and for five years was em- ployed by the Lelands.
Levi Bouffard established a first-class bakery in town in 1888. He has fine rooms in Brown's Block and supplies adjoining towns.
W. H. Deal succeeded Charles Stone in the eating rooms and restaurant on Main Street in 1893.
T. W. Sexton has a restaurant and eating rooms in Woolson's Block next door to the Reporter office.
E. A. Hulett conducts a fish market in Corporation building near Falls bridge, supplying Springfield and vicinity.
PHYSICIANS.
The first physician in town was Dr. Samuel Cobb, who located on the France place in Eureka in 1781, where he practised until his death in 1806.
Dr. Simon Brown also located in Eureka about 1789 on the farm now owned by Lucius Streeter. In 1806 or 1807 he built a house in the village, where C. F. Sheldon now lives, and moved there.
Dr. Day practised in the north part of the town early in the century.
Dr. Moses Cobb, son of Dr. Samuel, built, in 1814, the house in which Robert M. Colburn now lives, where he lived and practised until he went to Michigan in 1845.
Dr. Pliny Safford was here in 1844.
Dr. Eleazer Crain came to town in 1815, and was a leading physician until his death.
Dr. Jonathan Webster was in practice at the North village from 1816 to 1846.
Dr. Ariel Kendrick located at the North village in 1827, and
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
practised there over forty years. Dr. H. F. Crain, son of Dr. Eleazer Crain, practised here from 1831 to 1882, when he went to Rutland. A Dr. Hoyt was in company with Dr. H. F. Crain from 1835 to 1840. Dr. Amasa Houghton was a botanic physician here about 1840.
Dr. Calvin Hubbard practised here from 1839 to 1841, lived in the house where the Drs. Hazelton now live (1894).
In 1843 Dr. E. A. Knight commenced practice here, and soon had a very large business, which continued until his death in 1872.
Dr. Langdon Sawyer located in town in 1844, and was a very successful practitioner until. his death in 1879. Dr. Ranney was here a short time in 1846. Dr. L. M. Tuttle practised here a few years, then went to Holyoke, Mass., where he has an extensive practice. Dr. Mark Richards Crain, son of Henry F., was in practice here with his father from 1879 to 1882, when they moved to Rutland.
Dr. Granville Knight had a large practice here from 1867 to 1888, when he sold out to Dr. A. A. Haig, and went to Malden, Mass., where he is still in practice (1894).
Dr. D. W. Hazelton came here from Cavendish in 1879. His son, Dr. W. F. Hazelton, located here in 1886, and together they now do a large business.
Dr. George Worcester came in 1884. In 1887 he sold his practice to his brother, Dr. F. D. Worcester, who is still in prac- tice here (1894). Dr. George Worcester went to Newburyport, Mass. Dr. A. A. Haig bought the practice and house of Dr. Granville Knight in 1888, and is now in practice here.
Dr. Micajah Martin settled at North Springfield in 1851, and is still in practice. He has a son in practice with him.
Dr. A. E. Willis practised in Springfield from 1873 to 1875.
DENTISTS.
It is but a few years since the only practitioners of the dental art were the "country doctors," who limited their operations to the " pulling" of teeth with the old-fashioned turnkey with a vengeance. Dr. Amasa Houghton had a dental office here from 1835 to 1840.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Dr. George Bowers located here in 1862, and remained until 1877, when he removed to Nashua, N. H.
Dr. F. E. Pomeroy opened an office here in 1879 and is still in business.
Dr. Olin Stoughton has been in the business for about three years.
Dr. Hazeltine had an office here a few years, locating in town about 1870.
Dr. F. C. Gill located here in 1876, and three years later was succeeded by Dr. F. E. Pomeroy.
Dr- Olin Stoughton has had an office here since 1890.
LAWYERS.
The legal profession has always been well represented in this town and many of the lawyers became eminent here or elsewhere.
The Windsor County Court was organized in 1782 with Joseph Marsh as presiding judge and Lewis R. Morris of Springfield as clerk. They held office until 1796, when Gen. Morris succeeded Judge Marsh and was chief justice two years. Samuel W. Porter was county judge from 1828 to 1837. Thomas T. Barrett was assistant judge from 1845 to 1849, and Joseph W. Colburn from 1859 to 1863. Henry Closson was judge of probate in Wind- sor district from 1856 to 1868.
The first lawyer in town was Hon. Jonathan Hatch Hubbard, who had an office in a part of the residence of his brother Calvin, in Eureka, and practised here in 1790. Later he moved to Wind- sor, and was afterwards judge of the Supreme Court.
Daniel Heald practised here as early as 1803, and John Holton had an office early in the century on the triangle between the present residence of H. T. Boutelle and that of Grace Chipman.
Nomlas Cobb began practice here in 1816.
Samuel M. Lewis did some legal business in the early years of the century.
Hon. Samuel W. Porter came here after the death of John Holton, about 1815, and remained until his death in 1882.
Hon. Henry Closson was in practice here from 1836 until his death in 1880; was States-attorney in 1840 and 1842. For about half a century these two men, Judge Porter and Judge Closson,
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
were eminent lawyers in this town and in the county, and for counsel were accounted to be second to none. Hon. Wm. M. Pingry was in practice here a short time before he went to Per- kinsville in 1841.
Asa Aiken was a lawyer here and became noted as the author of " Aiken's Forms," a book still in use. Charles Aiken resided and had his office in the Gen. Perkins's house, now the home of W. H. H. Slack, from 1839 to 1842.
William E. Smiley was a lawyer here a short time, and Noah B. Safford was a student in the office of Judge Henry Closson and practised here for a brief time about 1845. Later he went to Windsor and was in company with Gov. Carlos Coolidge.
Josiah W. Hubbard practised here a few months in 1849, then went to Boston and practised there forty-three years.
John Ward took Mr. Hubbard's place, and was here ten years, then moved to Detroit, Mich., where he has had a large and lucrative business, especially in real estate transactions. He was States-attorney in 1856-1858. Bezaleel W. Lovell had an office here from 1848 to 1852, then went to the West. Don H. Woodard was here for a little time, then went to Keene, N. H., where he has good business and standing as a lawyer.
Hon. Wheelock G. Veazey opened an office here in 1860. He was one of the first volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. He raised Co. A of the Third Vermont Volunteers, and went out as its captain ; was promoted to the colonelcy of the 16th Vermont Regiment, and awarded a medal of honor for distinguished gal- lantry at the battle of Gettysburg. After the war he located at Rutland and became eminent in his profession, and as a man; was judge of the Supreme Court, and afterward, and at present, a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
J. W. Pierce located here in 1862, and is now (1894) in active practice. John W. Rowell practised here a short time, and also John W. Marsh, about 1870. Mr. Marsh went to Detroit. W. R. Reardon had an office here a short time.
Albert M. Allbe located here in 1874, and is still in practice. Herbert D. Ryder had an office here a few months ; now in prac- tice at Bellows Falls. Fred C. Davis opened an office here in 1892, and is now in practice.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper in Springfield was the Record of the Times, published by Horatio W. Houghton, son of Amasa Houghton, in 1834. His brother, Horace Houghton, was at the time publishing a paper at Castleton. He printed there one side of the paper and sent it to Horatio, who printed the other side in Springfield. And so these brothers originated the system of "patent inside," by which ten thousand papers are now supplied. The business was carried on in the second story of the Brooks's store, loca- tion of Woolson's Block. It was not a financial success, and Houghton's creditors sold it in 1835 to Coolidge & Sprague. After two or three years it was discontinued.
The next paper was issued in 1853 by L. T. Guernsey, called the Springfield Telegraph. This suspended at the end of two years.
In November, 1866, D. L. Milliken, who had established the Record and Farmer at Brattleboro, opened a branch office at Springfield, and G. W. Foggett came here to take charge of it. After about two years Millike" sold the paper at Brattleboro to Ackerman Bros., and the Springfield branch and list to L. J. McIndoe of the Windsor Journal.
The next was the Good Templars Advocate, a temperance sheet, by G. W. Faggett.
Then in January, 1873, F. W. Stiles started the Enterprise, which lived one year. In March of the same year, E. D. Wright began the publication of the Weekly News, but at the end of six months sold out to the Woodstock Post.
In November, 1875, O. A. Libby started the Springfield Bulletin. Financial disaster overtook it in eight months.
The Vermont News was published for seven weeks in 1879.
It was not until January, 1878, that a paper came to Spring- field to stay. F. W. Stiles then began publication of the Spring- field Reporter, and has continually increased the circulation, until it is now upon a basis of substantial prosperity, and ranks favor- ably with the other county papers. Much credit is due Mr. Stiles for his persistent efforts in establishing and sustaining this paper.
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OF SPRINGFIELD, V'T.
BANKS.
The Springfield Savings Bank was incorporated Dec. 6, 1853, and began business May 3, 1854, when the two first deposits were made, one thousand dollars by Lewis Belknap, and five hundred dollars by Mrs. Electa Steele, who is now living, 1894.
The following named persons were original members of the corporation : Samuel W. Porter, George Johnson, George Wash- burn, James Whipple, Sr., John White, Calvin Hubbard, Samuel Whitcomb, James Lovell, Henry Barnard, Hamlin Whitmore, Abner Field, John Holmes, John Farnham, George Kimball. Before commencing business three others were chosen: Henry Closson, Leonard Chase, George W. Porter.
The following officers were elected April 22, 1854 : president, Henry Barnard; vice-president, George Johnson; treasurer, George W. Porter. Trustees : Henry Barnard, Leonard Chase, George Washburn, Henry Closson, Calvin Hubbard, James Whipple, Sr., George Johnson, John White, John Farnham.
Henry Barnard was president ten years, to 1864, when Henry Closson was elected, who also served ten years, and in 1874 declined a re election, and Charles A. Forbush was chosen, who served until he was elected treasurer in 1881. Samuel Rollins was then elected, and served until his death, Feb. 13, 1892, eleven years, when Horace H. Howe was elected.
George W. Porter was treasurer from the organization in 1854 to the time of his death in 1879, twenty-five years, and the prosperity and financial standing of the bank was in a large degree due to his business sagacity and integrity, and his careful and systematic methods. He was succeeded by Charles A. For- bush, the present treasurer, under whose management the bank has had a marked degree of success, and is known as one of the soundest financial institutions of the State.
George C. Porter was assistant treasurer from 1879 to 1889, when he removed from the State and was succeeded by Frederick W. Porter, the present assistant treasurer (1894).
From January, 1867, to July, 1876, this bank paid nineteen con- secutive semi-annual dividends of four per cent; and the dividends
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
from its organization in 1854 to July 1888, averaged three per cent semi-annually. It is believed that no savings bank in the country can show a better record.
The amount of deposits at the end of eight months from begin- ning business was, -
January 1, 1855
1860
$19,468.10 28,659.62 88,752.80
" 1870 # 1880
280,948.63
66
578,175.63
66
1890 1894
839,430.45
The present officers of the bank are as follows :--
President, Horace H. Howe ; vice-president, Albert M. Albee ; treasurer, Charles A. Forbush. Trustees : Horace H. Howe, Albert M. Albee, Lucius Streeter, Rodney G. Britton, Miles Smith, Frederick W. Porter, Charles A. Forbush, Samuel Brown, Henry A. Fletcher.
The Exchange Bank was chartered by the Legislature of the State of Vermont Dec. 5, 1853, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, the charter to expire Jan. 1, 1872. The charter desig- nated Wm. M. Pingry, N. B. Roundy, Barnabas Deane of Weathersfield, Jo D. Hatch of Windsor, John Perkins, Leonard Chase, and George Washburne of Springfield, commissioners to receive subscriptions for stock for the space of ten days. At the closing of the books it was found there were more subscribers than shares, and the commissioners awarded one share to each of the first one thousand subscribers, the shares being fifty dollars each.
The stock was fully paid in Sept. 1, 1854.
Regular dividends were paid in March and September of each year, and extra dividends July 28, 1862, of ten per cent, and Aug. 15, 1865, of twenty per cent. The average annual dividend during the time of its existence was over twelve per cent.
The first directors, elected March 8, 1854, were: Joseph W. Colburn, John Perkins, Aaron L. Thompson, John Holmes, Syl- vester Burke, Samuel Alford, Jr., and Mason C. Richardson.
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors, March 25, 1854, Joseph W. Colburn was elected president, and John Perkins, clerk. On the 15th of April, Albert Brown was elected cashier.
The changes in the Board of Directors were as follows : -
Jan. 8, 1856, Levi C. Fay of Reading was elected in place of John Holmes. Jan. 12, 1864, Amasa Woolson was elected in place of Levi C. Fay. Jan. 10, 1865, Albert Brown was elected in place of Amasa Woolson, Mr. Woolson having become a di- rector in the First National Bank.
In the call for the annual meeting of 1865 the following articles were inserted : -
First. "To see if the stockholders desire the present corporation to be closed and wound up."
Second. "To see if the stockholders will organize the said bank as an association for banking under the law of the United States, or consolidate their stock with any other national bank now organized."
The record of the annual meeting shows that there was no definite action taken on these articles.
A call for a special meeting of the stockholders was issued Jan. 31, 1865, as follows : -
" Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the stockholders of the Exchange Bank will be held at their banking house on Wednesday, the first day of March next at one o'clock P. M., to see if the stockholders will vote to surrender its charter so as to close and wind up its business, to the end that said stockholders may subscribe for stock in the First National Bank of Springfield, in accordance with a proposition from said National Bank, which will be fully explained at said meeting."
At this meeting the president fully explained the proposition of the First National Bank. It was shown from the stock ledger that there were fifty-eight shares which could not be voted on, and that five hundred and twenty-nine was the total vote that could be cast, and only two shares voted "No."
The terms by which the stockholders were to transfer their stock to the First National Bank, which then had a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, were, that this capital was to be in- creased to two hundred thousand, and the stockholders of the Exchange Bank had the option to take fifty thousand dollars of this increase at $105 per share, the par value being $100.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
To aid them to pay for the stock in the National Bank, the Exchange Bank loaned to the stockholders the par value of the stock held by each, they giving their notes for the same.
On May 1, 1865, the transfer was complete, and the Exchange Bank was in process of closing up its business.
In the records of this bank under date of Jan. 29, 1866, is the following: -
" At a meeting of the directors of the Exchange Bank held this day, a full Board being present, -
" Voted, To accept of a proposition made by Albert Brown to purchase the entire assets and property of said bank, and assume the payment and dis- charge of all its liabilities in whatever form, with a view of making a final settlement with the stockholders on the first day of March next, to wit: --
"Said Brown to pay the stockholders seven dollars on each share free of government tax. To those stockholders who gave their notes to said bank to invest in the First National Bank, interest will be charged from the twenty- fifth day of April, 1865, to Jan. 1, 1866, at which time interest will cease. Such interest as there may be due will be deducted from the dividend of seven dollars per share, when the notes will be given up on the surrender of the certificates for the capital stock, now held by the stockholders.
" To those stockholders who did not give their notes thus, interest will be paid by the said Brown from and after January 1, until March 1, or such stockholders can have their money for their stock at any time before March 1, or receive it in U. S. Government Bonds or 730 Treasury Notes."
The following is from the records: -
" Some of us feel as though you will receive as much, while others of us think you will receive more than by closing it in any other way, while it makes a speedy and final settlement at once.
" To Mr. Brown, who has been your cashier from the organization of your bank, for his faithful discharge of his duties, for his fitness for the position, and for his honesty and integrity, we tender in your behalf, and for our- selves, our gratitude and our thanks.
" Signed, J. W. COLBURN, President, JOHN PERKINS, A. L. THOMPSON, SYLVESTER BURKE, SAMUEL ALFORD, Jr., M. C. RICHARDSON,
Directors."
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The National Banking System came into being by the exigen- cies of the great War of the Rebellion. Secretary Chase con- ceived the idea as a method to create a demand for the securities
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
of the government, and as an efficient agency in placing the gov- ernment loans among the people, and it fully met his expectations.
Soon after the passage of the Act by Congress in February, 1863, Henry Barnard, who was a foresighted man in financial matters, foresaw a profitable investment, and invited some of his fellow-townsmen to meet and consider the advisability of forming a national bank in Springfield.
The first meeting of record was held in a chamber over the old " Forbush Store," which stood on the spot where now stands the Leland Block. The capital stock was placed at fifty thousand dollars and the preliminary certificate signed. Articles of Asso- ciation were adopted May 30, and a board of directors chosen. They were: Henry Barnard, Dr. Leonard Chase, C. A. Forbush, Udney Burke, and Daniel Rice. Henry Barnard was elected president and George W. Porter cashier. The organization cer- tificate was dated Nov. 11, 1863, and the number of the bank was 122, but the bank did not open for business until Jan. 12, 1864. Its first place of business was in the front room of Mr. Barnard's house, now owned by Dr. Haig, which the bank soon after bought. Afterward they sold the house and moved to the rooms they now occupy in the second story of Woolson & Thompson's Block in the spring of 1869.
The capital stock was increased to one hundred thousand dol- lars in 1864, and again increased to two hundred thousand in 1865. This last increase was to take in the stockholders of the Exchange Bank, which was wound up when the government im- posed a ten per cent tax on all other circulation than that of national banks or of the government itself. In 1878 the capital stock was reduced to one hundred thousand dollars, which is its present capital.
In 1869 Henry Barnard was succeeded as president by Albert Brown, and he by Joseph W. Colburn in 1871. Mr. Colburn's death occurred in March following, and Amasa Woolson was elected to the vacancy.
Henry Barnard again became president in January, 1872. He died in November, 1873, and was succeeded by Samuel Alford, Jr., of Perkinsville. In January, 1878, Amasa Woolson was
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
again elected to the presidency. Mr. Woolson died in 1891, and C. E. Richardson, a former cashier of the bank, was elected presi- dent and still holds the office (1894).
The cashiers were as follows: George W. Porter, 1863 ; E. P. Gilson, 1864 to 1866; C. E. Richardson, 1866 to 1870; Al- bert Brown, 1871 to 1877 ; Benjamin F. Aldrich, 1877 to 1887.
Mr. Aldrich was obliged to resign on account of ill health, and Gershom L. Closson, the present cashier, was elected.
THE CAMPBELL FUND.
In 1876 David Richard Campbell, who was born in Rocking- ham in 1794, donated to the inhabitants of Springfield the sum of five thousand dollars, the same to be safely invested, and the yearly income thereof to be applied to the support of the poor of the town of Springfield. The town voted to accept said fund, and that three commissioners be chosen, one at each annual March ineeting, to hold office for three years, to disburse the income of the said fund, according to the spirit of the liberal giver, among the poor of the town.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In 1833 the selectmen organized a village fire department, under authority of an act of the Legislature passed the previous year. The department owned a hand engine, and members of the organization who were householders, were provided with leather buckets, in proportion to the number of fires in their dwellings, from one to four, which buckets were expected to be kept in the most accessible place in the house. The engine house was then on the present site of Woolson's Block.
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