USA > Vermont > Windham County > Guilford > Official history of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961. With genealogies and biographical sketches > Part 18
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was the first public library in Vermont. One of its books is still extant, in the Gale family, the "Oeconomy of Human Life" purporting to be a translation by an ancient Brahmin from an Indian manuscript, published in 1784 in Norwich, Conn., by John Trumbull.
Cyrus Martin's name again appears as Town Clerk (1817-19). Next is Cyprian Stevens (1819-21). A cellar hole beside the old road to Guilford Center, above the Bullock place, marks the spot where this town clerk once lived.
At Town Meeting on March 6, 1820 school District Number 6 was divided to form District No. 15. This last district located on Green River hill, existed for only 15 years, (1820-35). It was established as a School District only and not as a Highway District also, as were the other districts. Land was deeded for the building of a school house but as there is no record of a house being built it is probable that the school sessions were held in a home. The purpose of the district was to accommodate some of Zephaniah Shepardson's 15 children and a few other families.
Again Willard Martin was Town Clerk (1821-24.) It is still a pleasure to read his precise penmanship. It was during this term of office that the Town House was built.
Tontine Building: Tontine, from the Neopolitan banker, Lorenze Tonti, who originated the scheme in France about 1653, is a financial scheme whereby an annuity is shared by a number of persons on such a plan that the shares of those dying are divided among the survivors until all goes to the last survivor. It has been called a strange and exciting form of gamble, part lottery and part insurance. The most famous Tontine followed the Battle of Waterloo and paid for pensions for the soldiers.
The Abby Hemenway History records, concerning Nathan Cutler:
"Returning to Guilford in 1802, he devoted his future to building up manufactures and business generally. A company comprising him- self, Elihu Field, Artemas Gale and others set in operation a carriage- maker's shop, blacksmith's shop, a cotton factory, distillery, etc.
"They erected a building for stores, and shops called the Tontine, in which there was at one time a drug-store. The national flag was often seen flying from it." The building was erected in 1819.
The property was sold by Solomon C. Pratt to Benjamin Jacobs on July 15, 1819 the sale including the "land and a large frame build- ing now erected for a tontine". In this year Jacobs sold to Ebenezer and Wilson Jacobs, Ebenezer selling his interest in 1820 to Wilson; the latter sold in 1821 to S. C. Pratt, who sold to Arad Hunt in 1822. In 1825 Arad Hunt's heirs sold the property to Grindal R. Ellis and John R. Blake, they selling in 1829 to John Boyden, who sold in 1835
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to Cyrus Carpenter 2nd. he selling in the same year to Geo. W. Tyler, who sold in 1838 to Nathaniel S. Tyler the latter reconveyed to Cyrus Tyler 2nd. He leased the property in 1852 for seven years to Edward Childs and in 1858 sold it to A. M. Carlton. He sold in 1868 to Henry S. Smith who sold to his father, Stephen, in 1869. After his death his widow Ann L. occupied the property with their daughter Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen died June 22, 1937. In 1946 it was deeded by Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Smith to Gustave Holmes and is presently owned by Mr. & Mrs. Allen Dearborn.
Town House: For sixty years following the first settlement of the town, Guilford had no town house of its own, but after the erection of the White Meeting House the town meetings were held in that edifice until after the defection of a considerable number of its leading attendants, who left the old church on the hill for the new one built in 1818 at East Guilford. Their congregation being divided, the com- municants at the White Meeting House served notice on the voters of the town before the March meeting of 1819, to the effect that "no Town Meeting shall be holden at their Meeting House after the next March meeting." An article was thereupon inserted in the warrant for that meeting "to see what order the Town will take in regard to building or preparing some house or place to hold town meetings in". The meeting was warned to convene at the meeting house; It was called to order and voted to adjourn forthwith to the new store of Edward Houghton & Son. The usual business was transacted, but no action was taken concerning the building of a town house until the following year, 1821, when a tax of two cents on a dollar of the grand list was voted to pay the cost of building one. Another meeting was called for May 1 of that year, at the meeting house. The voters met at the door steps, the warrant was read, and the meeting adjourned to the house of Capt. Loring Kingsbury. Another meeting was called for June 11th, and also adjourned to Loring Kingsbury's Tavern. The freemen's meeting of 1821 was held at the White Meeting House, but the meeting for election of Congressman was held at Kingsbury's tav- ern on October 22.
Under the vote taken in March, 1821, the location and construction of the town house were to be in charge of the selectmen, Aaron Barney and Joshua Lynde, for that board made their report to the town meeting held in March, 1822. The contract was sold at auction to Edward Houghton for $582. Land for the site was bought of Houghton-on the west side of the road-for $35. The supervisors charged $10 and $9.60 was paid for extra window lights.
Edward Houghton & Son and Willard Martin contributed $226 to the expenses. After the purchase of the land on the west side of the road, Willard Martin gave the town a deed of the land where the
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house stands, on the east side of the road, on condition that the land bought of Houghton should remain the property of the town, but the land was reconveyed to Houghton by the selectmen the following year. The deed of the site selected was dated Oct. 6, 1821, and the land was described as "being a part of lot No. 100, on which a town house has lately been erected, on the south side of the road, and the same side that Willard Martin's dwelling house stands, being all the land that said town house covers, and the land in front of said town house to the highway leading from said Martin's store to Abel Hough- tons."
The first meeting held in the new building was on Feb. 4, 1822, it being called for the election of a delegate to the convention of Feb. 25, at Montpelier, to consider amendments to the Constitution of Vermont. Joseph Boyden, Esq., was chosen.
In 1842 Amos Hart deeded to the town a tract at the northeast corner of the town house, 18 ft. east and west, by 13 ft. north and south, where a hearse house was built.
Town Common: On March 2, 1822, a plot of ground for a town common was deeded to the inhabitants of Guilford by Edward Hough- ton, the description being as follows: Beginning at the southeast cor- ner of Willard Martin's store, thence running southwardly in a straight line with the east and front side of said store until it intersects the road running from said Willard Martin's store to Abel Houghton's thence northwardly on the west side of the highway until within a line of said store, thence west to place of beginning.
Propagation Lots: Daniel Chipman, Abraham Bronson & Anson J. Sperry appoint Dana Miller of Rockingham as Agent and Attorney of said Society to lease lands and collect rents, leases to be so long as wood grows and water runs. Apr. 30, 1823. (9-386) said Chipman et als act as "Agents and Attornies for the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts established in that part of Great Britain & Ireland called England, by virtue of authority in us vested, etc.
50A #64. Dana Miller, Agt. to Desire Jacobs, Jul. 18, 1823, 50A. lot formerly leased by selectmen of Guilf. to Rufus Jacobs, de- ceased. $15 rental (9-404) = whole of 50A. lot #64.
#114. Dana Miller, Agt. to Lemuel Lynde, Jr., July 18, 1823, lease of part of No. 114, all Ao. of road leading Guilford to Hali- fax, 10A .- or-, $3, per annum. Feb. Ist. (9-402).
#114. Dana Miller, Agt. to Wm. Chase, July 18, 1823, part #114 = 31A. NW part. (9-403) rent = $10.43.
#114. Dana Miller, Agt. to Joshua Lynde, Jul. 18, 1823, part of #114,- 59A., East & South parts, $16.57. (9-406).
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#165. Dana Miller, Agent, etc, to Otis Shepardson, July 18, 1823, lease of land formerly leased by Selectmen to Saml. Shepard- son, 100A. Lot No. 165., rental $10 per year, payable Feb. 1. (9-401).
#195. Dana Miller, Agt. to James Packer, Jul. 18, 1823, 100A. Lot #195. $22.50. (9-405).
Cyprian Stevens became Town Clerk (1824-25). This was the last time that a former Town Clerk was to serve a second term.
Ward Bullock, a neighbor of Cyprian Stevens, was next elected Town Clerk (1825-39). It was he who built the Bullock house in 1814. This is one of the Century farms and is now occupied by John and Ralph Bullock, great grandsons of Ward Bullock.
The records at this time, show what seem like a crude and per- haps cruel way of caring for the town's poor. "Voted to set up Mrs. Littlefield separate to the lowest bidder, and Thaddeus Bixby was the lowest bidder and bid her off for thirty-six dollars for her support for one year, if she live so long, if not in that proportion the time she does live. Sold all the poor, except Mrs. Littlefield, to Austin Weatherhead for two hundred and thirty-five dollars, for their support for one year, commencing March 20, 1831, he being the lowest bidder."
March 3, 1834, "Voted that no cattle or horses be allowed to run at large on the highway except the poor man's cow and that to be Yarded nights."
March 21, 1836, "Voted to leave it to the Selectmen to make the road in Greenland where the former Selectmen laid it in 1835, or survey and make a new road around the hill." Thus the main road to Guilford Center was no longer to pass by the Town Clerk's home.
After years of faithful service as a public servant, Mr. Bullock seems to have grown weary of his duties and perhaps lack of appreciation, for his own clear handwriting he made his last entry in the Land Record book in use at that time. It was dated Feb. 28, 1839 and is as follows: "Here close the arduous duties of fourteen years services as Town Clerk. I now bid adieu to the cares and troubles of office with pleasure and with pleasing anticipation of enjoying in quiet, the sweets and pleasures of private life the few remaining days of my earthly pilgrimage, and with a devout and fervent prayer to the Father of the spirits of the flesh, that the richest and choicest blessings of heaven may rest on my immediate successor in office, that he may be endowed with wisdom from on high to guide and direct him in all the duties of his official station, as well as in the more pleasing ones of private life, and be so fortunate in the discharge of those duties as to receive the approbation of an approving conscience, an approving people, and the approbation of his God. And may God save the people."
Attest, Ward Bullock, Town Clerk
CHAPTER V The Middle 1800's
The man who made New York possible ran a sawmill and a car- riage and wagon shop in Green River in the late 1830 to mid 1840 period. He was Elisha Graves Otis, born in Halifax, Vermont August 3, 1811. When 19 he went to Troy, New York where he engaged in building operations. Illness forced him to give up this work so he se- cured a wagon and horses and for three years hauled goods between Troy and Brattleboro. With the money thus realized he built the saw- mill and small house in Green River.
The following is from an article by Charles E. Crane published in the Brattleboro Reformer. "In 1845 he moved to Albany, New York, where he took a job as master mechanic in a bedstead factory, and in- vented machinery that turned out four-posters at a record speed. He later started a machine shop of his own and invented a turbine water wheel, but in 1851 the city of Albany took over Patroon's Creek for its water supply and thus robbed the Otis shop of its source of power.
This led him back to the bedstead business. His employers shortly built a factory at Yonkers, N. Y., and Master Mechanic Otis was put in charge of construction.
A hoist or elevator was wanted, and Otis built one. It was not the first-Britannica will tell you devices were in use in 236 B.C. for rais- ing weights. But these were windlass or capstan operated. It was not until after the invention in 1853 by Elisha G. Otis (the Vermonter) of a safety device to prevent falling of the elevator in case the hoist rope broke that the manufacture of elevators began to assume the character of an industry in America-and it was not until the perfection of the elevator (to which Otis and his two sons contributed so greatly) that the skyscrapers shot up all over the United States.
In 1853, two hundred years after its founding, New York City had grown vertically only as high as man could comfortably climb stairs. Buildings seldom exceeded four stories. Today, 100 years later, you need only to look at Manhattan's fabulous skyline to judge the pyra- miding success of Elisha Otis' initial idea. There are 50,000 elevators in the New York Metropolitan area. Most of them were installed by the Otis Elevator Company.
The following is from a full-page advertisement in the New York Sunday Times supplement of February 1, 1953 commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Manhattan:
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Official History of Guilford
"It was just 100 years ago that our Vermont farm boy built the first elevator with automatic safety device, and a year later he made a spec- tacular demonstration of it in Bryant Park (behind the present New York Public Library). At the Crystal Palace Exposition held there Mr. Otis mounted his elevator platform, carried himself to quite a height of three or four stories, and ordered the hoist rope cut. The minute the rope parted this 'wagon spring' safety device spread and the plat- form held firmly. Mr. Otis then removed his tall Vermont hat and said 'all safe, gentlemen, all safe.'
When the word got around that there was a safe elevator on the market, orders started coming in from various parts of the country. By 1855 twenty-seven Otis elevators were in service. All were freight machines. In 1857, Elisha Otis installed the first passenger elevator in the world, in the five floor store of E. V. Houghwout & Company, dealers in glassware and china, at Broome Street and Broadway, New York City.
Otis died at 50 before he realized what an impetus he gave to the living and working habits of future generations. He died of diphtheria in the epidemic prior to the Civil War.
He had two sons, Charles and Norton, however, who lived long and who built up the elevator business. Son Charles invented elevator brakes and made other contributions to safety in vertical travel. Charles left an estate of $1,250,000."
John Lynde, a bachelor was Town Clerk from 1839-54. He lived in or near Guilford Center. He leaves no record of how arduous his duties may have been, but the fact that he held the office for 15 years and that by his will he left the town $500.00 shows that he must have had a fondness for Guilford.
Schools were getting more attention. March 7, 1848 "Made choice of Jeremiah Greenleaf Supt. of common schools, with the understand- ing that the said Superintendent make no charge against the town in visiting schools." Mr. Greenleaf was Superintendent for several years and examined teachers as to their qualifications. He was the author of several text books. Greenleaf's Grammar was considered one of the best. He served in the War of 1812 and in 1847 he wrote of his family, "The Greenleafs must have sprung from a family of giants. My grand- father was an Ajax in strength, and my father and several of his brothers were the same, being from six feet to six feet four inches in height. I am only six feet high and weigh only about 225 pounds." He lived where Hugh Evans now lives.
Edwin Putnam, son of Lemuel and Tabitha Putnam was born in Guilford in 1820. He learned the machinists trade with Hines & New-
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man in Brattleboro. Later he worked for John Gore and helped to build the first motor vehicle for highways ever produced in about 1835. It was the wonder of the time and made ten to twelve miles per hour over the common roads. It was run from Brattleboro to Green- field. It cost $600 and was used more or less for five years, but its use on the roads was finally forbidden by the selectmen of Brattleboro who ordered Putnam off the roads "with his useless and dangerous ma- chine." He afterward helped Gore to build an engine and boiler for a steamboat which was taken to North Carolina, where it was used as a river boat. Putnam operated it as engineer for a considerable time. He is said to have been one of the most skilled machinists ever produced by this part of the country and the excellence of his work brought him continuous employment. He made machines for special purposes-for making rules, the most accurate in America, surveying instruments, paper machinery, and the finest of tools for machine work, all made in Brattleboro.
Integration in the poultry business is not new in Guilford, as it was carried on as far back as the middle eighteen hundreds. On the state line west from Packer Corners, on the place now called the White place, a family went into the turkey business. They put out the poults in May, called monthly on the farmers who had undertaken to raise them, saw to it that they had grain to carry them through, and in the fall they gathered up the turkeys and drove them on foot to the market at Brighton. Sherman and Stanford Billings must have had other help, perhaps other sons of Amos Billings, as it is recorded that four horses were required to keep the turkeys marching.
When "Stib" Gallup was fourteen years old (1854), he helped two Westminster, Vt. farmers drive a flock of turkeys to Boston to be sold for Thanksgiving dinners. They left early in October and it took about three weeks to make the trip. It was Stib's job to round up the "strays." As soon as the sun began to set, the turkeys flew into trees to roost for the night. The men slept on the ground near the birds.
Samuel Lyman Hunt was elected Town Clerk on March 6, 1854 (1854-82), thus returning the office to the Willard Martin (Falby) house in Guilford Center, for a period of 28 years. For nearly fifty years Mr. Hunt was an important man in town affairs. He represented the town in the Legislature for several terms. He was a devoted mem- ber of the Universalist Church in Guilford Center and gave the beau- tiful chandelier, still hanging in the Church. Our country had eight Presidents during Mr. Hunt's term of office, the most noted one being Abraham Lincoln, during the troublous times of the Civil War.
Changes were taking place in Guilford as well as in the nation.
-
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J. M. Tyler was Superintendent of Schools (1859-60) and did much to raise their standards. The first school report was printed in 1860 and in it parents were urged to provide their children with suitable books. In 1861 a financial report of the town was included, this being the first Town Report issued. These old Town Reports contain many interest- ing items, as in 1872, "L. Wellman breaking whiffletree and spilling whiskey $4.75." A safe was bought in 1861 for $209.99 and is still in use. Another big expense in 1874 beside the covered bridge, was the re- locating of the Weatherhead road through the valley instead of keep- ing to the hills. The two freshets of '69 and '79 were also very costly. The first dog account appears in 1878, the forerunner of numerous accounts to be added to the Town Clerk's duties.
1859: J. M. Tyler was Superintendent of Schools. His report of the school in each district is printed in the Town Report of 1860 (the old- est report in the Town Clerk's office). Following the facts and figures for each school are remarks concerning each teacher. These remarks are intimate enough to cause embarrassment. The same pattern was followed in 1861, by Mr. J. H. Richmond, the next Superintendent. District No. 1, Hinesburg: "The Superintendent saw no deficiency in the teacher unless it was a failure in the faculty of managing small children." District No. 12, Higley: "The summer term was under the instruction of Miss Annis F. Henry, a very superior scholar and ener- getic teacher, yet there was some disaffection manifested by the parents, and the teacher did not receive the credit her talents de- manded." She was paid $24.50 for 14 weeks. "The winter school was commenced by Miss Celia D. Rice, a lady whose education was not su- perior and had the appearance of lack of energy". District No. 8, Baker: "Mr. Silas Bullard, the teacher of the winter school is a man well qualified to teach in point of education, yet the school was desti- tute of Heaven's first law."
The 1861 Town Report gives a summary of the total costs of the schools for the preceding year:
Cost of fuel and incidentals
$ 131.34
Board of teachers
551.00
Wages paid female teachers
581.38
Wages paid male teachers
381.50
Total expense of school for the year $1,645.22
Number of scholars in town 365 (ages were from four to 18 or 21 years).
Average expense per scholar $4.50.
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Official History of Guilford
During the same year we find this item: "Two High Schools have been taught in town, one at Guilford Center by Mr. M. D. Collester, the other at Green River by Mr. Dana Morse, both teachers gave gen- eral satisfaction." They were attended by about 100 scholars. These must have been private schools as no expense account was given.
Perhaps comparisons are always odious, they are also interesting so these are a few items from the town report of 1960.
Heat (without incidentals) Teachers salaries $18,101.78
$ 1,287.85
Total for the year
$74,192.44
Number of scholars in town 191 (first grade through high school) Average expense per scholar $388.44
SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE TOWN OF GUILFORD FOR THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
Bixby, Charles
Hill, George A.
4th Vermont Received no Bounty Lynde, Lewis H. Taylor, Herbert E. Shepardson, Lucius B.
8th Vermont
Burrows, George P.
Gregory, Edward P. Hill, Elbridge G.
Cateley, Andrew
Gregory, Stephen Rice, Fred
Fisher, Edmund
Grover, Henry E. Thorn, Rufus C.
1st Vermont Cavalry
Cutting, Samuel C. Pierce, Henry
Three Year Men Received $50.00 Bounty 11th Vermont
Akeley, Lifus
Lynde, Francis J. Stoddard, Grove
Burdick, Thompson
Martin, William Toby, Thomas E.
Chase, Henry R.
McClure, Gilbert Tubbs, Emery S.
Frissle, Lorenso
McClure, Gilbert D. Tubbs, Roger A.
Grover, Henry A.
Moore, Patrick Tyler, John E.
Jaqueth, Elisha Lynde, Elbridge F.
Nelson, Osmond
Warren, Horace S.
Spears, Lewis
Williams, Charles S.
190
Official History of Guilford Enlisted for 9 months Received $50.00 Bounty
Baker, John B.
Hill, Austin A.
Rider, George H.
Bangs, Herbert J.
Hunt, Samuel S.
Shepardson, Loran
Bardwell, Charles R.
Jacobs, George A.
Smith, Sanford A.
Boyden, Samuel B.
Jacobs, Henry W.
Thompson, Fred A.
Burnett, H. H.
King, Fred H.
Tyler, William H.
Burnett, John F.
Mann, Jason
Ward, Samuel
Flagg, Joel Jr.
Mason, Elmer
Wilson, Warren F.
Volunteers enlisted in various Regiments for 3 years
Barret, Henry D.
2nd. Regiment
Bounty $500.00
Carroll, John
8th Regiment
Bounty $500.00
Child, Otis F.
1st Cavalry Bounty $500.00
Clark, Gilbert
1st Cavalry
Bounty $500.00
Dolan, William
1st Cavalry
Bounty $500.00
Dyer, Frank
1st Cavalry
Bounty $475.00
Erwin, Thomas
4th Regiment
Bounty $475.00
Howard, Charles P.
1st Cavalry
Bounty $500.00
Masters, Franklin
6th Regiment
Bounty $475.00
Masters, Joseph
6th Regiment
Bounty $475.00
Monohon, Thomas
6th Vt. Cavalry
Bounty $475.00
Neal, John C.
6th Regiment
Bounty $475.00
Puffer, Frank J.
8th Regiment
Bounty $500.00
Smith, Amos F.
1st Cavalry
Bounty $500.00
Wells, George
9th Regiment
Bounty $475.00
Wells, George A.
4th Regiment
Bounty $500.00
Winslow, William
8th Regiment
Bounty $500.00
Veterans who reinlisted in various regiments
Bartliff, Thomas E.
Ist Vt. Cavalry
Bounty $350.00
Boyden, Samuel B.
11th Vt. Reg't 1 year
Bounty $300.00
Burrows, George P. 8th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $350.00
Fisher, Edmund
8th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $350.00
Flinn, Thomas 4th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $350.00
Grover, Henry E.
8th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $350.00
Kelpinger, Edward R.
4th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $350.00
Prouty, Harvey
8th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $300.00
Thorn, Rifus C.
8th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $350.00
Warren, F. E.
8th Vt. Regiment Bounty $350.00
Worden, Alfred S.
8th Vt. Regiment
Bounty $300.00
191
Evans, William
Official History of Guilford Drafted 6th Regiment Packer, Willard Wallen, John
Volunteers & Substitutes raised under last call
Grover, Landon J.
8th Vt. 1 yr.
Bounty $500.00
Plum, Ezra W.
8th Vt. 1 yr.
Bounty $524.00
Potter, Allen J.
8th Vt. 1 yr.
Bounty $500.00
Robinson, Moses W.
8th Vt. 1 yr.
Bounty $500.00
Warner, James W.
8th Vt. 1 yr.
Bounty $524.00
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