USA > Vermont > Windham County > Guilford > Official history of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961. With genealogies and biographical sketches > Part 21
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The old covered bridge across Broad Brook was then in place, and had been closed for two or three days while the floor was wholly removed and rebuilt, and this work was finished and the bridge re- opened for travel only the night before. Had the team passed over the road one day sooner, it must have been precipitated to the rocks of the brook bed, twenty-five feet below, and the inevitable result is not pleasant to contemplate.
William W. Barney became Town Clerk in 1882 and served until 1900. He seem to have been the only town clerk to have died while holding the office. Mr. Barney first lived on the Earl Clark farm and later where Harold Jaqueth now lives. Mr. Barney was a man of sound judgment and was often consulted about business matters. His three maiden sisters lived near him. "Aunt Lucy" as she was called was often heard to say of some particular man, "He had the best of advice, Brother William and I advised him." Mr. Barney was a staunch Republican and held the office of Justice of the Peace for over 30 years as well as many other town offices. He was a grandson of Aaron Barney the tenth Town Clerk of Guilford.
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The famous blizzard of 1888 cost the town $748.41 and each person dug out his own dooryard at least. Another interesting item in the 1888 Town Report reads "Reformer Publishing House, printing 300 Town Reports (12 pages) $16.35."
The Guilford Free Library: Under the provisions of the will of Mrs. Chauncey (Cynthia A.) King One Thousand Dollars was given to the Town of Guilford for the purpose of "purchasing books for a public library, in case the town will build a suitable building for a library".
In the Guilford Town Report for the year ending February 11, 1892 the statement appears that G. W. Franklin was paid the sum of $300 for building the town library. In 1892 the Library report showed that $591.95 had been spent to purchase books. There were 576 vol- umes in the Library; 146 cards were issued; 1300 books were borrowed during the year.
The 1893 report showed 800 volumes in the Library with about 35 books being taken out weekly.
Mrs. Lula Wellman was the first Librarian and continued her duties until 1898.
The 1893 Town Reports listed the following as Library Trustees: S. A. Richmond, F. G. Taylor and John E. Gale. At that time W. W. Barney was Town Clerk and Treasurer, and J. C. Cutting, F. G. Taylor and S. A. Richmond were Selectmen.
The following year the Board of Trustees increased to 5, with Mr. Richmond, Mr. Taylor, J. L. Bullock, G. B. Miller and D. A. Henry serving.
Following Mrs. Wellman as Librarian was Mrs. W. G. Worden who served until April 1902. Other Librarians were: Emma Alex- ander, Etta Hobart, Mrs. F. E. Ward, Charles F. Ramsdell, Jr., E. W. Legate, Mrs. E. W. Legate, Mrs. Merton Clark, Mrs. Asa Wyman, Mrs. James Thayer, Mrs. E. P. Goodnow, Miss Ruby Thayer, Miss Phyllis Sherman, Mrs. Nellie Simmons, Miss Nellie Miner, and from 1934 to 1952 Mrs. A. E. Falby. Since that time Mrs. Harold Jaqueth has served as Librarian.
During recent years several local people, including summer resi- dents, have donated a variety of books to the Library collection.
In 1960 an Open House was held to better acquaint people with the Library and to give the townspeople opportunity to see the recent improvements including painting of the interior, addition of books and book shelves. Special guest of honor at this event was Mrs. Lula Wellman, the first Librarian.
Library Trustees in 1960 were: Miss Eleanor Bullock, Chairman; Mrs. Homer Thomas, Mrs. Walter Greenleaf, Miss Faith Fairbank and Mrs. Fay Jacobs.
CHAPTER VII The Turn of the Century
In 1893 the individual district system gave way to the town system and the first Town School Directors were elected. They were Solon Richmond for 1 year, John E. Gale for 2 years and Worthy G. Worden for 3 years. Among the expense items of this time we find: wash dish 10¢, dust pan 10¢, stove polish 10¢, broom 22¢, pail 35¢ and chalk 15¢.
The state law passed in 1894 making it mandatory for the town to furnish text books, was a great advance in education as each child had an equal chance. In that year the law required 26 weeks of school. Supt. of Schools John E. Gale, in a report dated Feb. 20, 1894 stated, "I wish to remind all good citizens that no person has any legal or moral right to deprive his child of a good common school education."
Clifford A. Baker became Supt. of Schools in 1896, followed by Charles A. Ward, Dr. John A. Peterson, Anna Baker Richmond, Mrs. Mary E. Bullock and Mrs. Etta Hobart Ward. In 1907 the change was made from Town Superintendents to the Windham South District. Wesley E. Nims was the first Superintendent of the Union District followed by Frank M. Rich, Harold Moffitt and Miss Ethel Eddy who faithfully performed the duties of this office for 34 years from 1917 to 1951. Dr. Harlan B. Allen and Floyd C. Rising have succeeded her.
In 1898, as a result of the sinking of the battleship Maine, the United States declared war on Spain. After a brief period of hostilities Cuba was freed from Spanish rule and Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands and Guam were ceded to the United States. Those soldiers known to have taken part in the Spanish-American War, who are buried in Guilford, are Lester Aldrich, William Petrie, Charles A. Prouty and Emmett Young.
In 1900 the American troops took part in the occupation of Peking (Peiping) China as a result of the Boxer Rebellion, an outbreak against the national embassies to that country. Frederick Ashworth is the only Guilford resident known to have served in this occupation.
The Horse Trade: Back in the palmy days of the Valley Fair, An- tone Geiger, a very worthy citizen of Brattleboro, bought the farm in Guilford just off the main road to Greenfield, which had long been known as the Hollis Boyden farm. Antone had, for a long time, been a faithful and competent employe of the S. A. Smith Company in Brattleboro, and did light trucking for them between their factory
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and the freight office and yards. He had for a long time driven and cared for the truck horse, a stolid, dependable old fellow of sorrel color and quiet disposition.
After Antone went to Guilford to live, the company gave him the horse and it was taken out to the farm, where all went well until au- tomobiles began to infest the highways, to the great trepidation and danger to horses, cattle, fowls, children, cats, dogs and even the wild animals. Now Antone's horse was especially suspicious. He was timid and very greatly disturbed and frightened by those great machines, with their rushing speed, their dazzling lights, honking horns and the sharp shots from their backfiring motors, to say nothing of the malevo- lent odors from the gasoline, oil and smoke, and could hardly be con- trolled when he met one, but would rear, dodge and plunge so forcibly that Antone was nearly wrecked upon several occasions. He finally decided that he would stand it no longer, but would dispose of old Dobbin before serious damage resulted.
This was his frame of mind when the annual Valley Fair opened for its three days of festivities, and naturally Antone had to go as a matter of duty of all good citizens, whose disposition to labor would be seriously impaired if they stayed at home and worked hard all of the time. Antone was so intrigued by the wrestling bouts, horse racing, blanket games and other strictly educational attractions, that he stayed rather late and it was somewhat dusky when he left the fairground with his horse and buggy.
On his way home a short distance south of the fairground road, on the west side of the main road, several teams were hitched in the light woods by the roadside. At that point Antone was hailed by a stranger with a Canadian accent, who suggested trading horses, but Antone was so late that he could not wait, as he must get home and do his chores. Asking where he lived, the Frenchman unhitched his horse and followed Antone home, where he so fluently enlarged upon the admirable qualities of his steed, especially its fearlessness and travel- ling qualities, that Antone finally changed horses with him, with the understanding that either being dissatisfied, he might change back the next morning. The Frenchman gave a name and his location in Gill, Mass., as his home, and departed. It was dark and Antone was late about his work, and being tired with the long busy day, went to bed early.
As soon as he was up the next morning he went to see his new horse and found it to be the most worthless animal possible to describe. Was Antone mad? He was. He would take the disreputable beast back to that Frenchman, lice, ticks, sprains, spavins, fistulas and all, and get his own horse back or completely exterminate the Frenchman before he left him.
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Now Antone had a good neighbor, known locally as "Al" Weather- head, the blacksmith, who lived on the main road nearby. He would take Antone with his own horse and buggy down to Gill, leading the unwelcome steed behind, so they started at once for the habitation of the loquacious Frenchman. Some hours later they arrived at the vicinity described by the delinquent as his home, and at a doorway made inquiry, giving the name which they supposed to belong to the Frenchman, were directed to a very substantial, prosperous looking place, apparently occupied by people of quality. The owner of the place answered the bell and informed Antone that the name given to him by his trader friend was his own. After hearing the story, the gentleman was convinced that the person they sought lived in the town, but at some little distance further on, and gave careful directions to the place where he could probably be found. Another half hour brought them to the place described, and by its appearance they had no doubt that the man they trailed belonged there. No one was in sight so Antone went to the door and knocked cautiously. Not a sound was heard. The silence was ominous and Antone stood determinedly await- ing developments. Suddenly the door opened and the wanted man ap- peared with a shotgun in one hand. Instantly and simultaneously Antone's arms went into action. He grasped the gun in one hand, the horse trader with the other. With a quick swing he smashed the gun to pieces on the stone doorsteps, then started for the barn, the French- man under his brawny arm, feet off the ground, arms and legs waving in the air.
Antone found his own horse, untied it, led it to the buggy, untied the led animal, released it and tied his own horse there. He then proceeded to give the Frenchman a reasonably good thrashing, got into his buggy and started for home. He soon stopped the team, having decided that he had not administered a modicum of correction fully sufficient to impress the culprit with the certainty of unpleasant con- sequences as required in the administration of justice in such cases, for the prevention of future offences. So once more Antone got out of the buggy, went back, collared the Frenchman and proceeded to exemplify the final degree needed to fully initiate him into the mysteries of the Original Order of Interstate Horse Traders.
The Frenchman, however, was somewhat displeased with the sum- mary character of the proceedings, went at once to the nearest tele- phone, where he called to Officer Chapin in Bernardston, on the route to be travelled by the Guilford men on their way home, and demanded that Antone and the sorrel both be arrested and held. The officer stopped the party according to instructions and heard what Antone and "Al" had to say. Officer Chapin called another neighbor of An- tone, in Guilford, whom he knew well. After talking with him and
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well knowing the reputation of the complainant, the officer apparently decided that the ends of justice had been fully served, as nothing further was ever done about the matter.
The White Arrow Head: On November 28th, 1913, more than two hundred years after the Deerfield captives were marched through Guilford a young man named Walter Needham was hunting deer in the easterly part of the town, and upon a bare ledge in the Slate Rock woods a few rods distant from the brook crossed by the captives, he discovered an Indian arrow head of milk white quartz of goodly size, about one and one half inches in breadth at its base, and two and one half inches long. So far as known, this is the only Indian relic ever discovered within the limits of this town. The place where it was found is about midway between the camping place in Bernardston and the mouth of West River and is without question at or near the spot where the French and Indians rested the third night after the historic massacre at Deerfield.
Guilford Creamery: The Guilford Creamery was built in 1916 on land deeded to the company by the Lyons family. The first officers and directors were Pres. Roy Ingraham, Sec. & Treas. B. A. Whittemore, C. K. Farnum, and Arthur Yeaw. Later Merton Thomas, J. L. C. Whit- temore, and Warren Yeaw were directors. The first butter-maker was Fred Bates who stayed about three years. Christopher Sorenson was next and ran the creamery until 1924. It was run for about one year more with Reeve Bolter in charge. The building was later used for a garage. Within the past few years the garage has been razed.
J.O.U.A.M .: The Junior Order United American Mechanics was a secret order for man which was backed by John Clark in 1913. The main purpose was of social nature, although many joined because of the $500.00 Insurance clause which was obtained by each one who belonged to the order. The members met at the Falby home at Guil- ford Center. At one time there were at least 16 members, however it became difficult to obtain a quorum. Halifax members joined the Guilford order when its order was disbanded.
Dues climbed so high that the Guilford order surrendered its Charter to the Springfield Vermont order.
All in all the order lasted about 20 years in Guilford.
4-H Club History: 4-H clubs were first organized in Guilford in 1921 at which time the "Busy Bee Club" was started with Mrs. Clar- ence Shaw the leader and nine members. In 1922 the Happy Gardeners Club was founded and during the 35 years of its existence it was a
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most active group and held a prominent place in 4-H work throughout the county and won several awards. Leaders were Mrs. C. W. Clark, Eleanor Ogden, Earl W. Jaqueth, Ernest Paulman, Margery (Clark) Evans, Mrs. Arvine Boyd, Emery Evans, Theodore Pratt, Emerson Thurber and Arvine Boyd.
The Sunny Valley Club was organized in 1933 in the Baker District and was most active in 1945-46 when in 1946 it won the Honor Club award. Leaders in the 20 years of its existence were Clayton Baker, Mrs. E. D. Franklin, Mrs. Hazel Canedy, Perley Canedy, Arnold Canedy, Mrs. Carl Canedy, Arthur Yeaw, Mary Franklin, Richard Canedy, Mrs. Catherine Kemp, Duane Scranton and Mrs. Mildred Scranton.
The United Workers Club was formed in 1932 in Algiers and went for seven years. Leaders were Elbridge Thomas, Richard Tracy, Bill Hinton and Robert Gaines.
In the Slate Rock District in 1933 the Slate Rock Workers was formed under Edward Starkey, Ernest Starkey and Sidney Gaines and lasted for five years. Also in this area the Guilford Plow Boys organ- ized in 1946, but later when girls joined the group the name was changed to the "Green Mountaineers". A cattle judging team of Alfred and Wilfred Franklin and Michael Nebelski were first in the state. Leaders during its 10 years of existence were Rudolph Heins, Robert Gaines, Michael Nebelski, Lawrence Franklin, Mrs. Maxine Johnson and Mrs. Shirley Gaines.
The Sunny Workers Club organized in 1941 and is an all girl club. In 1947 Mary Joyce (Houghton) Pratt was a clothing delegate and in 1948 Shirley (Searles) Squires was a "girls best records" dele- gate to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. The club has received several state and county awards and at present is the only active club in Guilford. Leaders have been Alta (Paulman) Barber, Mrs. E. S. Houghton, Mary Joyce (Houghton) Pratt, Sylvia (Bullock) Kinney, Mrs. Marguerite Evans, Mrs. Dora Kaiser, Mrs. Marilyn Jaqueth, Mrs. Vivian Greenleaf, Mrs. Jean Ogden, Mrs. Shirley Gaines and Mrs. Pauline Thurber.
Several clubs were organized through the schools in the early '20s with teachers being the leaders. These only lasted for a year or two as did other clubs in later years.
Charles Henry Robb was born in 1869 in the northwestern part of Guilford near Hinesburg. He was educated in the public schools of Guilford and Brattleboro, then read law in the office of Haskins & Stoddard at Brattleboro. He was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1892 and subsequently to the bars of Massachusetts, the United States District and Circuit Courts and to the United States Supreme Court.
After his admission to the Vermont Bar he located in Readsboro,
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Bennington County, Vermont, where he practiced for a time, removing to Florence, Massachusetts. In 1894 he went to Bellows Falls, Vermont, where he practiced for several years, during which time he was States' Attorney for Windham County. In 1897 he married Miss Nettie M. George, daughter of Dr. O. M. George of Bellows Falls.
Soon after the enactment of the federal inheritance tax law Con- gress provided for the appointment of an official to take charge of the collection of those taxes throughout the United States and Mr. Robb received that appointment and went to Washington. After a short time he was appointed by Attorney-General Knox as Special Assistant Attorney in the Department of Justice, in which position he served until appointed as Assistant Attorney General for the Post Office Department in April, 1904. His efficient services in connection with the prosecution of frauds and conspiracies in this department brought him national reputation, in recognition of which he was ap- pointed Assistant Attorney General of the United States, which office he held until appointed a Judge of the District Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. His successful career is due wholly to his untiring energy, integrity and courage, and stands a monument of inspiration to every young American who begins life wholly dependent upon his personal efforts.
Amos Gilbert Gallup was born in Guilford, Vermont on October 18, 1872. In his younger days he was known to his friends as Gibbie and later to many as "A.G." He was an ambitious young farmer, hav- ing a fine herd of registered Ayrshire cattle, which he exhibited at the Franklin County Fair and the Brattleboro Valley Fair. He also raised Morgan colts and kept some fine "driving" horses.
Gibbie Gallup started his logging career at the age of 10. He cut pulp wood on the "Pinnacle" north of the Barney farm house and hauled it to the buildings after school and week-ends with his big dog, Lion, and a calf the same size. His father, Stib, made a pair of harnesses for the dog and the calf. He drove them like horses in a two wheel cart. With the money he got for the wood, he bought a pair of cow hide boots which he recalled were so stiff he could never wear them much. It was disappointing to him that the first money he had earned was not better invested.
For many years he held various town offices including school di- rector, road commissioner, lister and moderator at the annual town meeting. In 1912, he represented his town at the Vt. Legislature in Montpelier. He was a prominent appraiser of real estate and personal property and dealt in lumber and real estate.
He was perhaps best-known as the Yankee auctioneer in this locality for fifty years. His first auction was in April, 1903 at the David
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Robbins farm on the Brook Road, west of Pulpit Mt. near Green River Village. In 1907 he graduated from the Missouri Auction School at Trenton, Mo.
His country and antique auctions afforded much pleasure to the natives and the summer residents-plus their bargains. Many pictures were taken and articles written about his auctioneering. "Roots of America" by Chas. Morrow Wilson has a chapter on Mr. Gallup's auction career. Pictures are shown in "Along the Connecticut" and in the Vermont Life Magazine together with various magazine arti- cles written by summer residents.
"A.G." possessed a rare sense of humor and he had an uncanny understanding of human nature. Often times when he was trying to get one more bid on an article he was selling-he'd look at left and right-grin and say "I think I would, I think I wo-ould-I believe I would!" Usually he'd grab another bid out of the excited crowd. Then likely he'd say "Sold! Mark that cheap, Bookkeeper" or "It's gone to a good home!" Frank Foster of Leyden was associated with him in his earlier career and later his son, Forest. Mr. Gallup was active in business until a few months before his death September 26, 1952.
Frank E. Ward, living just across the road from the Barney place, in the old hotel, served as Town Clerk from 1900 to 1904. Here was located the Post Office with Mr. Ward as Postmaster until Rural Free Delivery was established in 1899. Mr. Ward had been active in town affairs for many years, but being an elderly man he was unable to carry on the duties of the office longer. The end of his term completed fifty consecutive years that the Town Clerk's office was located in or near Guilford Center. The Ward house has since been taken down.
John E. Gale, the town's only lawyer, a brilliant man, with a thor- ough understanding of town affairs, became the next Town Clerk (1904-15). Through his previous experiences as Auditor, Superintend- ent of Schools and other offices of trust, he was well qualified for the office. His alert mind gave him a keen perception of the past and the future of the town. Seeing the need for an index to the vital statistics he painstakingly hunted the records and made an index, which is still carried on as he arranged it. All deeds were still recorded by pen as loose-leaf record books were not then allowed. Mr. Gale's eleven years as Town Clerk were busy ones. His family consisted of his wife (Abbie Kerr) and their two sons. He carried on a large farm, his law practice and his duties as Town Clerk and Treasurer, as well as nu- merous outside activities. He declined re-election in 1915, hoping to gain time to write the History of Guilford, for which he had long been collecting material.
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Emery F. Evans, a new-comer from Halifax was the next Town Clerk (1915-28). His son, Charles H. Evans was his assistant. The two families moved from Halifax in 1913 and built the two story farm house and large barn on the old George Bond place.
The big event of Mr. Evans' term of office was the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving nation-wide suffrage to women in 1920. Check list had to be revised to include the names of women. The sawdust carpet no longer adorned the floor of the Town Hall for Town Meetings. Some of the men came to meetings a little better shaven and shorn than of yore. The strong descriptive words were sometimes restrained. Women were tolerated but scarcely welcome intruders in a man's world. Republican wives of their Democrat husbands did not always choose to vote. In 1920 an article taken from the Guilford news touches on women's suffrage. "Election tangles in the town of Guilford may require a ruling by the supreme court before the situation is straightened out. Incidentally right of women to vote for school mat- ters in town meeting without having been assessed for a poll tax is involved, and in a special town meeting Tuesday afternoon women's votes for a school director were refused. A controversy over the closing of certain schools precipitated the resignation of Ernest R. Thomas, and the meeting was called to elect his successor. William C. Baker was elected over James Thayer, 56 to 48."
Charles H. Evans, Town Clerk: Being assistant town clerk for thir- teen years before taking office himself in 1928, gave Charles H. Evans great insight into the duties which were his from 1928 to 1958. It has been said of him that he was associated with the office even longer than the Democratic Administration was in power. During his term of office many things happened most of which meant more forms to fill in and more reports to make out. The withholding of Federal and State taxes from the wages of town employees greatly increased the duties of the town treasurer. When hunting and fishing seasons rolled around they greatly decreased the hours-of sleep.
We hope that when Mr. and Mrs. Evans recall the years of service they will pass lightly over the depression, the war years and the hard work. Rather let them remember the tribute paid them on behalf of a grateful town for service, "unto the third and fourth generation."
Marguerite C. Evans became town clerk in 1958. She was the first woman elected to that office in Guilford. A new town clerk's room was made in the ell of the house to accommodate the large safes, desk, files and other things necessary to carry on the business of the town. This year the town will reach the bicentennial milestone, two hundred years since the first settlement in Guilford.
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