USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wallingford > People of Wallingford, a compilation > Part 4
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In Wallingford village most of the damage was done by Roar- ing Brook, which became a raging torrent that dammed its own course with boulders and gravel, then overflowed its banks, mak- ing new channels in fields and roads, undermining the railway and making highways impassable. In the gulf east of the village the road was entirely destroyed. West of Main Street the channel of the brook became clogged with rocks and débris until it made a new course to the left across the railroad; then it broke over the right bank, flowing across gardens and down Railroad Street, finding an outlet under the railway track between Elm and Frank- lin Streets. The electric supply was cut off, telephone service was interrupted, and in two instances water supply pipes were broken where they cross the Brook on Main Street. The highway was flooded both north and south of the village for several days.
On Sunday following, electric service was partially restored, and on Monday the Creek Road to Rutland was opened by way of Center Rutland. Train service on the Rutland Railroad was not re-established until November 21st. During the suspension mails were carried by motor after the flood abated.
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THE SCHOOL HOUSE AND GYMNASIUM
TRUE TEMPER INN
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
The wooded hills and mountains of Vermont provide an ample supply of timber and the mountain streams furnish economical waterpower which have made possible the establishment of nu- merous woodworking industries throughout the state, and sev- eral in Wallingford. Already mention has been made of wooden bowls, oxbows, sash, blinds, sleds and wagons as manufactured products of this village. The pitchfork industry, which since 1835 has given the largest employment, consumes large quantities of ash timber for its handles. Since November, 1933, the Christopher Swezey Incorporated has occupied the building originally built by Batcheller & Sons for a triphammer shop, where it has manu- factured wooden clothespins which differ from those most com- monly used in being square instead of round. Considerable quan- tities of beech, birch and maple timber have been cut up into these small household implements each year since the business was established. The plant, employing eight men and four women, has a daily output of about one hundred eighty thousand pins.
In these last days many changes have taken place; highways and roads are no longer either solely or chiefly for the conven- ience of the townspeople but for the people of the state and the nation. They are no longer built and maintained by the farmers who work out their taxes. The reason for these changes is well understood. By act of the legislature of 1931 the State of Vermont took over about one thousand miles of its highways and named them "State Highways," assuming the control of their mainte- nance but requiring the towns through which they pass to con- tribute to the cost of maintenance. Since they were taken over the federal government has contributed to their improvement.
The highway through Wallingford from Danby to Clarendon is a part of the State Highway System which has been improved by the state with the approval and assistance of the federal gov- ernment, and is designated Route No. 7. In 1936 it was graded and paved with concrete from the north boundary of Danby to
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PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
the Munson school house. In 1937 the location of the highway just south of the village was changed in order to build a com- bined bridge across the Creek and an over-pass across the rail- road. At first it was proposed to make the bridge and over-pass at the south entrance of the village without changing the location of the road, but due to protests of the village people who visual- ized the injury that would result to adjoining property and to the beauty of the village, the bridge and over-pass were located farther south, necessitating a bend in the highway. The old and the new locations of the highway are shown on Plate II, facing page 14. These highway changes were followed by the laying of concrete pavement from the Munson school house, where it stopped the previous year, northward to the bridge and railway over-pass project, and from this project through the village dur- ing 1937.
The population of Wallingford township has fluctuated some- what in the century and one half of its existence. It increased from the beginning until 1830 when it reached a maximum of 1,740 persons, then fell off for two decades but regained somewhat and reached another maximum of 2,023 in 1870. Since then it has declined and in 1930 was 1,564. While the population of the township has at times declined, that of the village has increased pretty steadily, showing the trend of population from the rural sections to the villages. By a recent count the population of Wall- ingford village is 793, and the number of dwelling houses 251. On the map in the Rutland County Atlas of 1869 the number of houses shown is 110. If the population has varied in proportion to the number of houses then the population of the village in 1869 was 347.
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II. PIONEERS
FROM AN ADDRESS OF REV. H. H. SANDERSON AT THE CENTENNIAL OF WALLINGFORD, 1873
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HIS township derives its name from Wallingford, Connecti- cut, from which place came a number of its early settlers, who, doubtless, heartily attached to their native place, desired to give its name to their new home. Its history commences by its charter by New Hampshire, Nov. 27, 1761. At this time the Canadas, by the reduction of Quebec had passed from the power of the French into the possession of the British government, so that the long continued hostilities between the two nations in this section were at an end; in consequence of which the lands on the upper Con- necticut and west of that beautiful river began to be considered of value. They were therefore eagerly sought, both by speculator and those who desired to make actual settlements upon them. This will account for the fact that there were 18 townships sur- veyed by New Hampshire on the east side of the Connecticut River and 60 I think on the west side in about a year subsequent to the cessation of hostilities. Up to that time these lands had been entirely closed against emigrations, on account of fear of French incursions and Indian depredations. Thus, over twenty years had passed and not a single settlement had been made above Charles- town-the old number 4, from which I come to address you. But the causes by which emigration had long been deterred being re- moved, it again received a new impulse and the excitement of
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the people to obtain the new lands laid open to them was intense. And though New Hampshire had really no right to the soil, yet her governor assuming that it belonged to her if to any existing state, freely gave charters and titles of what she did not possess, and events ultimately demonstrated that she could not hold. Under these circumstances it is hardly needful that I should say that these lands did not all fall into the possession of persons de- sirous of making actual settlements upon them, but that a con- siderable share of them were obtained by speculators to be turned to their own interests. We cannot go back to enquire what were the motives of the proprietors of Wallingford. We will suppose they were good, but that they were in no hurry to settle on their lands or induce others to do it is evident from the fact that they allowed nearly twelve years to pass before they saw fit even to call the first proprietors' meeting. This took place at Walling- ford, Connecticut, September 12th, 1772. Of this meeting Captain Eliakim Hall was moderator; and all the business transacted at it was to vote "to lot out 100 acres to each proprietors right and to choose Mr. Isaac Hall 2d a committee to superintend and Captain Eliakim Hall and Miles Johnson a committee to draft said allotments." The amount of land in the original township was 23,040 which if I mistake not was the usual number of acres embraced in the New Hampshire charters.
To those who are familiar with the controversies which took place in respect to the territory now embraced within Vermont it will not be a matter of surprise to learn that the proprietors afterwards obtained a charter from the State of New York con- ceding the same rights. This illustrates their foresight, for it shows that they meant to be certain of their title whether New York or New Hampshire should become victor in the possession of the spoil.
There is another fact which I may as well state here, and that is, that though the town originally and at its organization, March
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MRS. MILLINDA IVES CHATTERTON, 1772-1867
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10th, 1772, contained the number of acres which I have stated, its boundaries since that time have been somewhat changed, October 31st, 1792, there were taken from it 3,388 acres to form, with what was previously called Jackson's Gore, and a portion of Ludlow, the present township of Mt. Holly. The next year, Oc- tober 19th, 1793, the legislature passed an act annexing to Wall- ingford a portion of the town of Tinmouth. The land annexed is what is now usually known as West Hill and which was a full equivalent to Wallingford for all that had been taken from it on the eastern side.
These preliminary matters being disposed of we are now pre- pared to come to the consideration of the settlement of the town. This was made in the spring or summer of 1773 by Dea. Abraham Jackson who came from Cornwall, Connecticut, where he was probably an officer in the church, whence his title. His family, when he came to the place, consisted of a wife and ten children, to whom another Loraine, was subsequently added. He then had the blessing pronounced upon the good men-""Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house, thy children like olive plants round about thy table."
It has happened to Dea. Jackson to be accredited by tradition with honors which belonged to others and which we would gladly permit him to wear in the memories of posterity if in this way we could be just to those to whom they are due. But as this is impossible you will allow me to say that the honors of being the first town clerk and first representative with which he has been invested by common report, belong to his eldest son, who bore the same name and who was a man of very great energy of character, as well as superior ability. Tradition has also assigned to Dea. Jackson the honor of being the first Deacon of the Con- gregational Church. But this belongs to Nathaniel Ives, the father of the late Millinda Chatterton. But, though it was not his lot to hold these offices, still he was one who ought not to be held
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less high in the estimation of his posterity, for he has left to them an untarnished name. He was a great lover of good order and a profound respecter of religion and never failed to give to both the benefit of his example. And need I say that such men require not office to distinguish them, for are they not dignified by their characters with the highest title to respect? They are the right kind, too, for pioneers, inasmuch as we see that as a settlement begins, it often continues. For in this matter the old proverb, "birds of a feather," &c., is probably as true as in any other. You who are citizens here, then, may very possibly owe much more to Deacon Jackson than you have been accustomed to suppose. For his claim to a place of respect in our memories is not merely that he came here and cut down the first trees, and let the sun shine in where it had not shone before, but that here, by his instructions to his family, and by the influences which he radiated around him, he laid the foundations of social and religious order, which might have been laid very differently had it not been for him.
I have referred to the large number of children in the Jackson family; and I would like to draw a picture of them with their father and mother seated around their table here in their rude home in the wilderness. Behold them then, with nothing but a rough log cabin to shelter them, its floor the bare earth or hewn sticks put clumsily together; its walls mud-plastered, and only pleasant from the fact that they would keep out the wind and the cold; its windows of rude construction, placed very high for fear of the entrance of wild beasts, so that the children could not look out. And their table! oh, it was not of mahogany or black walnut, such as their posterity sit at, but was good clear pine, which was kept as clean as the nicest human hand could keep it. And round it what a company-thirteen in all-to be supplied with food, and what a pile it must have taken! But the hearts of the parents leaned trustingly on God, and it has not come down to us that they were ever left destitute of the needful supply. But I
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have no time to dwell on this picture, and can therefore only say further that Deacon Jackson, through his descendants, has gone out into all the earth. His numerous family, most of them, grew up to act well their part in their day and generation. This was emphatically the case with two of his sons, the eldest and the youngest. Abraham held many places of trust in the gift of his fellow citizens, which he filled, as we have reason to believe, with the highest acceptance; and Vermont has had few more able sons than William Jackson, or who had either in education or religion extended wider or more beneficent influences. The descendants of Loraine, too, as well as her own true life, entitle her to a re- spectful remembrance on this occasion. But, although Deacon Jackson was the first legal settler-that is, the first who had any title to his land-George Scott and family were the first inhabit- ants. The dwelling of this individual was nearly opposite the spot where the school house now stands, in the Marsh district. It was a mere shanty, and scarcely worthy to be called a human dwelling. . . . . Scott was a natural vagabond, and continued to live in town; though the proprietors wished to get rid of him, and he finally died at the poorhouse, perhaps within the recol- lection of some here. If so, and any of you wish to drop a tear to his memory, you can.
In addition to Scott and family, one other individual settled within the present limits of Wallingford prior to the advent of Deacon Jackson. This was John Hopkins, from Salem, New York, who came in 1770, and cleared about three acres of land on West Hill, which was then within the bounds of Tinmouth. Hop- kins was 18 years old, and boarded, while clearing his farm, at Danby Corners. He sowed it with wheat, which grew so tall that he could go into it, and while standing erect, tie it over his head. In the following year he settled on the land, and built a log house. He subsequently married and had six children, and I suppose
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that some of his descendants still reside on the Hill. He was a Presbyterian in his religion, and a good man.
Now from what has been said of George Scott and John Hop- kins we are by no means to infer that Deacon Jackson was not the first settler, for this honor is undoubtedly his due. For as the Hopkins' place is not within the original bounds of Walling- ford, no claim to it can be put forth for him, and that the advent of Scott here constituted Wallingford in its beginning we are unwilling to concede. We prefer to regard his arrival here as a little before its beginning, and as really having no connection with it. Let no one then hereafter on account of the facts men- tioned above, attempt to deprive Deacon Jackson of the honor of having been the first settler which has been universally con- ceded to him.
The settlement of Deacon Jackson having been made, others very soon followed. Among those were Abraham Ives, Lent Ives, Daniel Bradley, Benjamin Bradley, Joseph Jackson, Ezekiel Miles, Ephraim Andrus, and Jonas and Edmund Bumpus, and Stephen and Goodyear Clark. Most of these were men of decided charac- ter, and suited to the times which were approaching. Men on whom the defenders of liberty and the independence of the New Hampshire Grants could most perfectly rely. Some of you have looked upon the venerable form of Lent Ives, for heaven gra- ciously spared his life till his locks were whitened with the win- ters of four score years, but of Abraham Ives and the Bradleys you know less. Perhaps to some of you their names may even sound strange. Yet in their day they had no little celebrity. Abra- ham Ives, both as a business man and a political man, was known throughout the territory which now constitutes the state. That he was a person of influence may be inferred from the report that he was a member of the convention which met at Dorset, July 24th, 1776, and consisted of 51 members, representing 35 towns. This convention was called to consider one of the most im-
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portant subjects which ever came before a deliberative assem- bly in this state: viz., in what relation Vermont, then the New Hampshire Grants, should stand to the states of New Hampshire and New York, and the Continental Congress by which the in- dependence of the then 13 states had been only 20 days before declared. The result of this meeting was that the convention agreed to enter into an association among themselves for the liberties of the country, but that they would not associate with either of the countries or with the Provincial Congress of New York and that any of the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants who should enter into such an association should be deemed enemies to the common cause. On the 25th of September following the convention met again when without a dissenting vote they resolved to take suitable measures as soon as may be to declare the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate dis- trict and that no law or laws, direction or directions from the State of New York should be accepted.
This shows in what estimation Mr. Ives was held when such important business was committed to his hands.
Mr. Ives was a man of great energy of character and was never happier than when he was full of business. He held the various offices of Captain, Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff. He also kept a store and tavern, the first that were opened in the town. These establishments were not on a very large scale for the house in which they were first kept had only one room and a bed room. But this was only the beginning and greater things came afterwards. For according to my informant, Mrs. Millinda Chat- terton, he subsequently built a frame house where he kept his store and tavern and had it painted and papered and was pretty smart.
In order to show what changes have come over us in a cen- tury, I will relate one incident:
Mr. Ives one day started out to go up to Mr. Richmond's, near
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the Eliakim Ballou place, to carry home an iron wedge which he had borrowed a few days before; but having gone about half way, what should he encounter but a huge panther, which, with glaring eyes, stood only a few feet distant in the path before him. Of course, the uppermost question in his mind was what he should do. It occurred to him that contending with such a crea- ture with only an iron wedge might be rather a serious business. But though fighting might be dangerous, any attempt to flee might not be adapted to better his situation. So making up his mind to stand his ground he hurled his wedge with all his strength at the head of the creature. With a terrible scream it darted off into the forest, leaving the valiant captain in indisputable posses- sion of the path.
As the offices which were held by Mr. Ives will be brought in in another connection, I will only say here that his residence was at what has since been known as the Meecham place on the west side of the street, a few rods (second house) below Mill Lane (Elm St.). I will also say that Mr. Ives did not continue in Wall- ingford beyond the years 1786 or '87. Getting involved it was thought through the dishonesty of his agents in the sale of wild land for taxes he thought it best to leave the state. He therefore exchanged farms with Mr. Samuel Hull of Connecticut, the grandfather of our most respected citizen, Alfred Hull, Esq., and went to Connecticut and Mr. Hull came here.
Like the Ives, the Bradleys were staunch men and true. Mrs. Esther Bradley, the wife of Daniel Bradley, was a sister of the Ives and was a very excellent woman. Parthena, her daughter (so our lamented venerable friend Mrs. Chatterton was accustomed to say) was the first child born in town. It has been usually thought that Loraine, the youngest daughter of Deacon Jackson, had that honor. At the time of the birth of Parthena, Mr. Bradley lived on the Oliver Ballou place. When the British occupied Castleton he took his family and went to Connecticut; and when
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he returned, not being satisfied with his farm, Mr. Johnson the proprietor of whom he had purchased it took it back and let him have the place about midway between the village and South Wall- ingford, for so many years subsequently occupied by Deacon Mosley Hall.
Benjamin Bradley, whose wife was the daughter of Ezekiel Miles who lived on the Thomas Hulet place just below our beautiful cemetery [next to the railroad]. It has more recently been owned by Hon. David E. Nicholson. Mr. Bradley being sick could not like his brother go to Connecticut, and some persons who were half Tories came to him and advised him for his per- sonal safety and the better protection of his friends to put himself under royal protection-that is to go to Castleton and get a cer- tificate from the officer commanding there that he was a true and loyal subject. But when Mrs. Bradley understood the object for which they had come her patriotic blood was at once up and she gave them a lecture and bade them begone and never to come there again on such an errand.
An incident of the war perhaps may properly come in here. A Tory from Manchester seeking to go and put himself under royal protection at Castleton, got as far as Greenhill, in Wallingford, on his way. The citizens learning that he was on the hill went out after him. He pointed his gun at them when they immediately shot him down. His gun was not loaded but they supposed it was. He was brought down to Mr. Benjamin Bradley's where he was kindly cared for, but soon died of his wounds. Mr. Bradley buried him on his own land on the spot which is now the village cemetery. He was the first that was buried there. When Mrs. Chatterton, with her father Nathaniel Ives, came to town in 1779 the cemetery contained eight graves. It is now the resting place of hundreds.
In speaking further of the settlers who almost immediately fol- lowed Deacon Jackson, I will say that Chrispin Bull built the first
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grist mill in town at what is now South Wallingford, and that Joseph Johnson built the first in the village. What Ephraim An- drus did I hardly know, save that he was a poet and a wit and often created a good deal of amusement for the people.
Ezekiel Miles was a staunch patriot, as were also Edmund and James Bumpus. We may therefore say that Wallingford was truly fortunate in her early settlers. And we may owe them a greater debt of gratitude perchance than we know.
In the year 1779 came into town two good men; the one was Joseph Randall, the other was Nathaniel Ives. The first was the second deacon of the Baptist Church; the other the first deacon of the Congregational Church. Mr. Randall was a man of eminently correct principles and habits, and none of our earlier and later citizens have been deserving of more regard. Briefly, to sum up his various services he was Deacon of the Baptist Church 56 years, supplying gratuitously the place of pastors for more than a third of that time. He was clerk of the church 54 years and leader of the singing 36 years. Justice for the past 50 years-Representative four years, Judge of Probate four years. He was also in 1793 a member of the Constitutional Convention. In addition to this he bore his part in the War of the Revolution and also in the War of 1812. An honorable man, a Christian, a patriot, he was of very great benefit to the town and performed no inconsiderable service for the State. Mr. Ives was less distinguished yet was ever held in great esteem by his fellow citizens.
The house where Nathaniel Ives first lived was near the spot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Randall [south corner of Main Street and Florence Avenue]. Mrs. Chatterton who was 7 years old when her father moved to the place used to give the following description of it and of the state of things then exist- ing here. It was a log cabin, as all the houses of the settlement then were. It had a chimney but it had no hearth and it had no door until some time after they had moved into it. For a door
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they used to hang up a coverlid until it become convenient to get one.
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