History of the town of Waitsfield, Vermont, 1782-1908, with family genealogies, Part 17

Author: Jones, Matt Bushnell, 1871-1940
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Boston, Mass., G. E. Littlefield
Number of Pages: 1102


USA > Vermont > Washington County > Waitsfield > History of the town of Waitsfield, Vermont, 1782-1908, with family genealogies > Part 17


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Dr. Emery G. Judkins was born in Unity, N. H., and after practicing a short time in Claremont, came about 1860 to Waits- field, where he lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Harvey Wait. He was an able man, but the dread disease of diphtheria, contracted through devotion to his patients, cut him off June 29, 1863, at the age of 33.


Dr. Emory G. Hooker, born February 19, 1839, in Cabot, Vt., graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1865, and in the same year settled in Waitsfield, and practised his profession until 1881, when he removed to Waterbury, where he remained until his death, August 13, 1902. He was throughout his life an able and successful physician.


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PROMINENT CITIZENS.


Dr. Gurley A. Phelps was born in Waitsfield, June 30, 1822. His education was received at Montpelier, Vt. and Castleton, Vt., and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York. He settled in Jaffrey, N. H., and speedily acquired a reputation as an especially skilful physician.


Dr. Walter Alonzo Jones was born in Waitsfield, July 27, ' 1840. He graduated at Barre Academy in 1860, and at once entered the University of Vermont. Ill health cut short his college course before the close of his freshman year, but with returning ability to take up his work, he entered at once upon the study of his profession at the same institution, and, although most of his work was done there, he took his degree at the Berkshire Medical College in 1865. After practising a short time at Fabius, N. Y., he returned in 1868 to his native town, and took the practice of Dr. George W. Nichols, who was about to remove to Northfield after a four years' stay in Waitsfield. Dr. Jones did not follow his profession long, however. It was not congenial to him, and in 1869 he became interested in a mercantile business that soon engrossed all his attention, and this he pursued successfully until his death, February 9, 1892. Perhaps no man was more closely identified with the life of the town during the twenty years from 1870 to 1890, and certainly no man was more effectively so identified. During that entire period he was an unusually efficient clerk of the Congregational Society, and from 1875 to 1889 was superintendent of its Sunday School. From 1875 to 1886 he was town Superintendent of Schools, and during a much longer period was closely identified with them. His work for the so-called town system of schools in the early years when a return to the district system was yearly threatened, was especially effective, and during his term as superintendent all the school buildings in town were thoroughly renovated and refurnished. He was chairman of the Board of Auditors from 1873 to 1890, was Representative, 1880-84, and Senator from Washington County, 1888-89, his natural term in the latter position being cut short by ill health. During his legislative service he was the chairman of one of the taxation committees, and was the author of many of the present provisions of the tax law. Almost his last public service was to prepare and deliver the admirable historical address which he presented at the meeting held in celebration of the centennial of the settlement of the town, in August, ISS9.


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HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.


Dr. James M. Van Deusen, a son of Abraham Van Deusen, born in Middlebury, Vt., March 28, 1822, was educated in the Homeopathic School of Medicine, and in 1870 settled in Waits- field, where he continued in practice until his death, October 13, 190I.


After the removal of Dr. Hooker his practice was taken up by Dr. Clayton F. Camp, who was born in Orange, Vt., in 1855, but after a stay of a few years he removed to Barre, Vt., where he now resides.


In 1882 Dr. Henry T. J. Howe began the practice of his profession in Waitsfield, and is at the present time (1908) the only physician in town. He is a native of Northfield and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Vermont in 1876, and, until he came to Waitsfield, was a prac- titioner in the adjoining town of Moretown.


Dr. Clarence Jean Allen, eldest son of Edwin and Ruth L. Allen, was born in Pomfret, Vt., July 24, 1853. After graduating at the Green Mountain Perkins Institute at South Woodstock, Vt., and the Randolph State Normal School, he engaged for some years in the profession of teaching, but at length devoted himself to the study of medicine, attending lectures at the Dartmouth Medical College and at the University of Vermont, receiving the degree of M. D. from the latter school in 1884. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Waits- field, and remained there for five years. During much of this. time he was prominently identified with the schools of the town. In 1889 he removed to Peterboro, N. H., and in 1898 to Win- chester, Mass.


Other physicians who have spent a few years in Waitsfield are Dr. George S. Bidwell, now of Waterbury, Vt .; Dr. Frederick K. Jackson, now of Burlington, Vt., and Dr. Harry D. Hopkins.


Prominent Men.


Jason Carpenter was born August 15, 1772, in Coventry, Conn. In early life he removed with his parents to Sharon, Vt., where he resided until he came to Waitsfield in 1818. From this time until his death, October 1, 1845, he was one of the leaders in the life of the town. The judicial qualities of his mind were often availed of for the settlement of neighborhood disputes, and he was much in demand as a trial justice. Ile


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PROMINENT CITIZENS.


represented the town six times in the General Assembly, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1828, and in 1836 was chosen Judge of Probate for Washington County; but it was in the affairs of the town that he was peculiarly useful, where he served four years as selectman, eleven years as treasurer, and presided as moderator at no less than twenty-eight town meetings.


Jennison Jones was born in Claremont, N. H., January 1, 1777, and came to Waitsfield when twenty years of age. From the first a successful farmer, he found time as a young man to serve acceptably as a school teacher, and at an early date be- came an active factor in town life. For thirty-six years he was a justice of the peace, and many times held the offices of select- man, treasurer, town clerk and Representative. Shortly before his death, December 22, 1852, he prepared a sketch of the early history of the town and a list of the freemen resident there in 1797, from which much valuable material has been drawn.


Matthias Stone Jones was born in Claremont, N. H., April 12, 1778, and, like his brother, Jennison Jones, came to this town when twenty years of age. He had a strong, forceful character, and it is safe to say that until his death on June 25, 1851, no man was more prominent in the life of the town. For thirty-five years he was a justice of the peace, much sought after to preside at trials; for ten years he was town clerk, and for fourteen years town auditor, and served often as selectman. In 1822 and 1835 he represented the town in the Constitutional Conventions, and for seven years was Representative in the General Assembly, a length of service never exceeded, and equalled only by that of General Wait. For many years he occupied a farm in the southerly portion of the town, but late in life builded a home in the village.


Hiram Jones, eldest son of Matthias Stone Jones, was born in Waitsfield, June 26, 1808, and, like his father, was throughout his life a leader in the affairs of the town. He was often moderator of the town meetings, was three times Representative, and in 1855-6 served as Assistant Judge of the Washington County Court; but for his services as selectman, especially during the trying period of the Civil War, when the burden of filling quotas, providing bounties and looking after the needs of the soldier boys fell largely on his shoulders. the town is chiefly indebted.


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HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.


Roderick Richardson, sr., was born in Tolland, Conn., February 15, 1779, and in early life removed to Stafford, Conn., where he plied his trade as saddler. In 1807 he came to Waits- field, and almost immediately established a store at the northerly corner of the Common, which he operated in connection with a large farm. From the first he demonstrated himself to be a successful business man, and rose quickly to affluence. About 1817 he removed to the site of the present village, and after a few years became the owner of a large part of the old Wait farmn. He was often selectman, and in 1835 and 1837 was Assistant Judge of the Washington County Court. From 1823 to 1829 he was post-master. Through his influence the Uni- versalist Church was established in Waitsfield in 1830, and in 1836 the Union Meeting-house was built under his supervision, and largely at his expense. His death occurred June 8, 1844.


Roderick Richardson, jr., was born in Stafford, Conn., August 7, 1807. Soon after reaching his majority he became associated with his father in business, and was a successful merchant throughout his residence here. For fifteen years, 1829-44, he was post-master, represented the town five years in the legislature, and for four years was a Senator from Wash- ington County. In 1848 he was Assistant Judge of the County Court. It was through his endeavors that a church of the Episcopalian faith was established in the town in 1852, and after his removal to Montpelier in 1855 he was an active member of Christ Church. While resident in the latter town he engaged in banking, and was first president of the Montpelier and Wells River Railroad. About 1870 he took up his residence in New- ton, Mass., and engaged with his sons in the commission business in Boston. He died at Newton, December 13, 1882.


Ira Richardson was born in Waitsfield, October 6, 1816. During his youth his family resided in Fayston, but as a young man he returned to this town and established himself upon the large farm since owned by his family. Throughout his life he was an active and successful business man, establishing a tannery, lumber mills, and a store that led to the building up of the thriving hamlet that has been called Irasville after its founder. Mr. Richardson was Representative in 1856 and 1866, Assistant Judge of the County Court in 1868-9, and Senator for Washington County 1876-8. He also held num- erous town offices. His death occurred December 17, 1877.


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PROMINENT CITIZENS. .


Jonathan Hammond Hastings, the youngest son of Gar- inter and Hannah (Olcott) Hastings, was born in Waitsfield, February 10, 1824. During his childhood his father occupied the farm which lay next north of Gen. Benjamin Wait's home farm, and there kept a tavern. After a few years the family removed to a farm just south of Irasville. From early manhood Mr. Hastings showed the traits which have made him throughout his life a successful business man, and, as well, those qualities which have led the people of his native town to confer upon him through his long life practically every honor that it was in their power to confer upon him. Mr. Hastings has also served his county as Sheriff, Assistant Judge of the County Court, and State Senator. Although long since retired from business, Mr. Hastings is, as always, a leader in town life, a courtly gentleman, a typical "country squire."


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CHAPTER XVII.


LODGES, SOCIETIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.


Masonic Order.


The first secret organization to establish itself in Waitsfield was the King Hiram Lodge, No. 45, F. and A. M.


It would seem that numerous citizens of the town had affiliated themselves with the Masonic Order at an early day, for on July 7, 1817, a meeting of Masons residing in the vicinity was held at the home of Roderick Richardson, at which meet- ing L. Q. C. Bowles was chosen chairman, and Matthias S. Jones acted as Clerk. It was voted to petition the Grand Lodge for a warrant of constitution for a local lodge, and on October 6, 1817, the petition was granted and a charter issued.


The first meeting of King Hiram Lodge was held November 6, 1817, at "Masons Hall," with the following officers:


John Wakefield, Worshipful Master. Henry Jones, Senior Warden. Matthias Stone Jones, Junior Warden. Giles R. Eldridge, Treasurer. Jennison Jones, Secretary. Timothy Dolbear and Levi Wilder, Deacons. Lewis Holden and Jonathan Shattuck, Stewards. Edward Fales, Tyler.


The first "work" of the new lodge was conferring the third degree upon Abijah Cutting and Zerah Munsel, November 19, 1817. The following members of the lodge served at various times as Worshipful Master:


John Wakefield, elected Nov. 6, 1817. Ezra Jones, elected Dec. 15, 1820. Matthias Stone Jones, elected Dec. 24, 1822. Denslow Upham, elected Dec. 17, 1823. Ezra Jones, elected Dec. 1, 1824. H. B. Peabody, elected Dec. 21, 1825. Jesse Carpenter, elected Dec. 13, 1826. H. W. Carpenter, elected Dec. 5, 1827. Oramel Williams, elected Dec., 1828. Joseph Sawyer, elected Dec. 9, 1829. Orange Smith, elected Dec. 29, 1830. Joseph Sawyer, elected Jan. 18, 1832.


دلتيساعد (هـ٢٠٠


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LODGES, SOCIETIES, ETC.


From June 1, 1832, to September 25, 1834, the society seems to have been inactive, as all records are lacking, and on the latter date, the anti-Masonic agitation being then at its height, the lodge unanimously adopted a resolution dissolving the organization and its union with the Masonic institution.


Mad River Lodge, F. and A. M.


For more than thirty years after the dissolution of King Hiram Lodge, No. 45, no Masonic organization was in any way identified with the town, but in April, 1867, Mad River Lodge, No. 77, was organized by members of the order resident in Waitsfield and Moretown, and headquarters were established at Moretown. In November, 1882, the lodge was moved to Waitsfield by an order of the Grand Lodge, and has since that time maintained lodge rooms in the Belden Block, the first meeting in this town being held March 5, 1883. The charter members of Mad River Lodge were E. C. Smith, William M. Sawyer, Austin G. Prentis, Freeman Parker, Nathan R. Spauld- ing, I. S. Bailey, Wilder S. Drew, and Hiram Carleton.


E. C. Smith was appointed Grand Master by a dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, and held his office until October, 1869, since which date Masters have been regularly elected as follows:


1869, William M. Sawyer. 1884, George W. Bulkley.


1870, Austin G. Prentis. 1885, Pliny Parker. 1871, Freeman Parker. 1886-89, Chandler A. Prentis.


1872, Nathan R. Spaulding.


1890-93, James R. Dale.


1873-74, William S. Badger. 1894-95, Dr. Henry T. J. Howe.


1875-77, James R. Dale. 1896-98, John Ferris.


1878-79, Pliny Parker.


1899-1900, Edwin R. Prentis.


1880-81, Chandler A. Prentis. 1901-04, Daniel Mclaughlin.


1882-83, James R. Dale. 1905-07, Walter Cyrus Joslyn.


Valley Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


On January 25, 1883, Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized in the hall of the Eaton Block, so-called. Its membership included residents of the towns of Waitsfield, Warren, Fayston and Moretown, although the town of Warren has since with- drawn from this lodge and organized independently. The charter members were:


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HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.


O. F. Childs Orville M. Eaton Moses John Long


William E. Slayton


Harlan Page Stoddard William Mitchell Strong


and the first officers were:


Noble Grand, William Mitchell Strong.


Vice Grand, Moses John Long.


Secretary, Orville M. Eaton. Treasurer, Harlan Page Stoddard.


The lodge maintained its quarters in the hall where it was organized until 1895, when it removed to the Norton Block, and occupied commodious rooms to the time of the destruction of that building by fire in 1902, in which disaster the lodge lost all its records.


In 1903 the old Union Meeting-house, which had been for a long time practically unused for religious services, was purchased from the remaining members of that society, and the whole building thoroughly remodeled, at an expense of about $5000. The first floor of this building is utilized as a public hall, and at the present time the town makes use of it for all gatherings of its voters.


In 1905 the Rebecca Lodge was organized in connection with the Valley Lodge, and has maintained a prosperous exist- ence.


Owing to the destruction of all records of the lodge it is . impossible to give a list of the officers in the order of their election, but the following members have served in the capacity of Noble Grand:


William Mitchell Strong


Arthur J. Neill


Orville M. Eaton


Charles Henry Newcomb


Oscar G. Eaton


Warren J. Robinson


Thomas J. Ferris


George W. Wallis


John J. Kelty


Frank E. Story


Moses John Long


Walter Cyrus Joslyn


Willard Edmund Long


Charles A. Cady


Robert J. McAllister


Frank E. Atkins


Edward E. Neill


Frank H. Sawyer


Temperance Societies.


The great temperance movement of the first half of the nineteenth century found its expression in this town in the organization and active work of numerous temperance societies.


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LODGES, SOCIETIES, ETC.


Among them was the Young Men's Temperance Society in Waitsfield, organized in 1835. Its constitution was a pledge "to abstain altogether from, the use of intoxicating liquors, and to discourage by all proper means and on all fit occasions the use thereof by others," and the names of nearly two hundred and seventy-five of the younger men and women of the town are found upon its rolls. William Morrill Pingry was its first president, and Dr. Orange Smith its first secretary.


Occasional meetings were held at which resolutions dealing with various phases of the temperance question were formally debated.


After some years of activity this society ceased to exist, but its place was taken by a chapter of the secret temperance order of Rechabites, which flourished for some years.


In 1868 a lodge of the Order of Good Templars was organized in town, and for thirty years did active work in promoting the objects of the order, but about 1900 this society also became inactive. Coincident with the early years of the Good Templars the Waitsfield Reform Club, also a temperance organization, held frequent meetings but it was disbanded in 1877 because of the feeling that its work duplicated that of the Good Templars.


Waitsfield Band.


The first band organization in town was that connected with the militia company. It was called the Regimental Band, and attended regularly on June Training. The earliest records now existent are for the year 1824, but it is probable that it was organized a few years earlier.


Levi Smith was the leader for some years, with title of major, and after him came Ezra Jones, jr., and Daniel Kimball, jr. The following names appear 'at various times upon its roster as "equipt" in accordance with the statutes: Levi Smith, Arad Sherman, Danford Cutler, Ezra Jones, jr., Nathan Thayer, jr., John Kimball, Daniel Kimball, jr., Amos Robinson, Daniel Shepherd, Leonard Loomis, Loren Gilson, William Lamson, Jacob C. Steele, Jared S. Wilder.


January 15, 1859, the Waitsfield Cornet Band was organ- . ized largely through the efforts of James M. Richardson, who served as leader. Among its members were Richardson James Gleason, Ezra Osgood Joslin, Cassius Joslin, James R. Dale,



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HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.


Albert Frederick Richardson, Loren B. Reed, Oscar C. Reed, Charles Cullen Reed, Allen Gorham Matthews, Henry F. Matt- hews, Henry Skinner, and Romeo W. Green. A teacher was obtained in the person of James Rice, of Burlington, and several concerts were given in Waitsfield and neighboring towns. The organization maintained an existence until 1865 but the out- break of the Civil War weakened it and its last public service was to escort Company G, Sixth Vermont Volunteers, on its march to Montpelier.


During the fall of 1872 a second organization started under the leadership of Ziba Hamilton McAllister, which for a dozen years or more furnished music on public occasions. Among those who were members at various times were Julius Carlisle Joyslin, Herbert C. Gleason, Charles Henry Newcomb, Melvin J. Waterman, Benjamin A. Holmes, George A. Berry, Charles W. Richardson, Burton Dewey Bisbee, Edward Wyatt Bisbee, Arthur Bisbee, Clarence M. Davis, Frank Azro Bragg, William C. Bragg, Fred C. Carroll, James R. Dale, Leslie O. Reed, Orlo Linfield Barnard, Charles W. Locklin, William M. Strong, George E. Dumas, W. F. Bates, Charles Hammond Hastings.


During the late "nineties" the band was again reorganized, and has since continued its existence under the leadership of Fred C. Carroll and Harry W. Belden.


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CHAPTER XVIII.


BURIAL GROUNDS.


Cemetery on the Common.


The old cemetery on the Common is the only one in Waits- field that was from the beginning under town control. As else- where noted the Common was acquired by gift and purchase, and on September 6, 1796, the town raised money "to Chop over the Public Yard," and a year later the vote to clear this patch of forest was renewed.


A section on the westerly side was at once devoted to the uses of a burial ground, and the oldest tombstone bears date March 19, 1797, although it is not improbable that interments were made at a slightly earlier date.


Not until 1807 was formal action taken relative to this burial ground. The permission given to the Congregational Society to erect its meeting-house on the Common and the consequent necessity of fixing its location, led to the appoint- ment of a committee in March of that year to "stake out the burying ground," and it was actually surveyed as follows:


Beginning at a Stake II Rods from the Southwest corner of the Common; thence Running 20 rods Northerly on the westerly Line of said Common to a Stake; thence Easterly eight Rods parrallel with the Northerly Line of said Common, thence southerly parrallel with the Westerly Line of said Common 20 rods, thence westerly to the first Mentioned Bounds.


Bissell Phelps, - Committee.


Aaron Minor,


Waitsfield, 30 April 1807.


The meeting-house was constructed a little to the south- east of the cemetery, there being room between for a line of horse-sheds and an ample passageway. In later years, after the demolition of the meeting-house, all this land was incorpo- rated into the cemetery, and is now largely taken up.


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HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.


The elder Roderick Richardson, whose store stood at the northerly corner of the Common, and had slightly encroached upon the town property, was very desirous of obtaining a narrow strip across the north end. In 1807 he made an offer that was liberal, but attached a condition that the money be expended in clearing and fencing the cemetery, and the town refused. In fact, little was done to better its condition, and so rough and unkempt was it that in September, 1810, General Benjamin Wait, Col. Elias Taylor, and Capt. Bissell Phelps were chosen to enlist volunteers to level the Common and to act as a committee of arrangements, but the work was by no means completed, for in 1814 another committee was chosen to "plan and level the burying-grounds," and again in 1817 the selectmen were instructed to seed it down and repair the fence, which by 1822 had fallen into such disrepair that sub- scriptions were by vote of the town solicited to renew it, and this method failing, a tax was voted for the purpose in the following year. Indeed, the only attention paid to this spot for nearly a century consisted in an occasional renewal of the fences.


Here were buried most of the early fathers of the town, but the removal of the business and religious centre to the village on the river accentuated the lack of interest in this cemetery until it fell into a deplorable state of neglect, from which it has happily been rescued by an efficient Cemetery Commission chosen for the first time in 1904.


Meadow Cemetery.


The little cemetery located in the meadows northerly of the village was the second in point of age. It stands upon a mound or hillock that is supposed to mark closely the site of General Wait's first house, and was started as his family burial ground, although other neighboring families were soon allowed to acquire rights in it; it was until 1882 exclusively controlled by the lot owners. In 1863 the town voted to procure title to the various cemeteries in town if possible, but it was not until May 13, 1882, that Roderick Richardson and Lewis R. Joslin, as trustees for the proprietors, deeded this one to the town, it being the last to come within general control.


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BURIAL GROUNDS.


Methodist or Irasville Cemetery.


This cemetery was started as the churchyard of the Metho- dist denomination. On January 16, 1847, Rufus Barret deeded to the stewards of the Society a parcel of land lying in lot 138, on the flat northeasterly of the meeting-house and parsonage. Its convenient location led to its use by many families resident in the southerly part of Fayston, and the ground soon ceased to be closely identified with one denomination. Nothing was done by the town looking to acquiring title under the vote of 1863 until after the removal of this church to the village, but in 1872 it was voted to take control if the Society could give good title, and soon after this the transfer was made. Lots were rapidly taken up, and in 1877 and again in 1897 it was found necessary to enlarge the grounds by purchase of adjoining property.




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