USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Peru > Reunion celebration : together with an historical sketch of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town > Part 11
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this church in full remembrance of the scenes and seasons enjoyed in their earlier days, and sigh when they know that they can never enjoy them again. But the time had come when the place of worship must be changed. Three-fourths of the congregation came from the southern part of the settlement, and some of them came quite a distance. A little village had sprung up near the centre of the society, and as a matter of justice to the whole congregation the church had to be moved. It was with much misgiving with some that this temple was given up, but it could not be helped, and among those most affected were the three Batchelder brothers, who had all been liberal supporters by their means and time. To remove it one mile further away from them was a persecution, as they thought, not to be endured. After the frame of the new church had been put up it was thought best to make use of the old one in building the new. A committee of three disinterested parties from adjoining towns was called to appraise the pews in the old church. J. J. Hapgood, the contractor for the new church, said he would pay the appraised value and take the old church. He took out the inside and used a good deal of the lumber in the new building. the frame being sold to be used in the town hall at Londonderry. The spot on which the old church stood is hardly discernible now, but the common still remains. In the winter of 1845 the society called a meeting and agreed to build a new church in the village, choosing Mark Batchelder, Joel Adams, Jr., and F. P. Batchelder building committee. A plan was drawn for the church and a contract made with J. J. Hapgood by the committee for him to build and finish it, according to the plan, for one thousand dollars. This contract did not include laying the foundation. The slips were priced for enough, or more than enough, to build the church, and sold. The land was bought from Charles Lyon, and work was commenced on the foundation the 4th day of July, 1845. Gen. Peter Dudley, who was one of the building committee of the old church, was present to help lay the corner stone, and took great interest in the work. The frame was raised and the roof put on in July. A subscription was raised for a bell, and what was wanting was paid by J. J. Hapgood. George Batchelder was master mechanic, and with the aid of his brother John, did all the work on the building, completing it in the spring of 1846. It was dedicated in June, Rev. Dr. Wickham, of Manchester, preaching the sermon. Rev. A. S. Swift was the pastor of the church at this time. Dr. Wickham's sermon was very useful
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in allaying the asperity of feeling in the minds of individuals who felt that the sacredness of the old temple had been invaded and removed. His text was, " The beauty of the present temple far exceeds that of the former." After speaking for some time on his text, he said to those who felt their rights had been intruded upon, " Brethren, you can and must transfer your minds and love from yonder church on the hill to this new tabernacle, where you may sit united brethren to enjoy the blessing of the gospel of peace, and commune with the Saviour in the gospel of peace as united brethren." The effect of this sermon was like pouring oil on troubled waters; the irritation of feeling subsided and grace prevailed, while union in action and feeling continued as a blessing to the church. Religious services have been held in this church ever since it was built. In the absence of the regular preacher the services would be conducted by the deacons. In 1835 the society purchased, with the help of Rev. Justin Parsons, a parsonage, with twenty-five acres of land. They built a house on the land, moving the old house for an L to the new one, and it was occupied as a parsonage until IS50, when Rev. A. F. Clark thought the house too small and too far away from the church. The society then bought the place where the present house stands, and drew a plan for the house, which J. J. Hapgood built for $400 and the old parsonage, including three-quarters of an acre of land. In 1853 a cyclone passed over this place which moved the west end of the church from the foundation, injuring it more or less; it also carried the parsonage eight feet southerly and several feet easterly, leaving it balancing over the cellar. The family was in the house at the time, but no one was hurt. The frame being very strong it did not fall, but a good deal of the plastering cracked and fell. Mr. Lawrence, of Weston, was employed to put the house on its foundation, and, with the help of some of the citizens, had it finished in two days. The meeting house sheds and the parsonage barns were blown down, and part of the hotel roof was blown off. This gale came up in a black cloud, passed over quick and was gone. It came from the north- west, went south-east over I. K. Batchelder's pasture, and tore up some trees in his wood lot, where its force seemed to be spent. A recess for the singers was put behind the pulpit in the west end of the church, which makes good seats for the singers but does not add to the beauty of the building.
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MECHANICS.
Asa Bailey was the first carpenter in town, and lived on the place west of Jonathan Hapgood's farm. It is supposed that he built the first frame building in town. He was the master workman in erecting Gen. Dudley's house, which was the first two-story house in town, it being clapboarded with riven and shaved clapboards.
Joseph Dodge was a good workman as a joiner, and his best job was on finishing the meeting house. He lived on the place where Charles Batchelder now lives until 1818, when he left town.
Nathan Whitney came from Athol, Mass., in 1819, and was a carpenter. He built most of the houses that were put up in the town for some years, his son Alvah working with him. Nearly one half of the buildings in town in 1837 were put up by the Whitneys, but they left town about that time. W. W. Whitney and his son Charles have done considerable mechanical work in town.
Edward Messenger came from Dedham, Mass., in 1829, and worked at the carpentering and joining business until his death in 1881. He was a good mechanic, and could turn out as much work as any man in town.
George Batchelder, a native of Peru, served his apprenticeship in Massachusetts. He came back and worked at his trade for fifteen years. Mr. Batchelder was the best mechanic that ever lived in town.
John W. Batchelder learned his trade from his brother George, and was a good workman. He left town about the time that he became of age and lived several years in East Dorset, but afterwards entered the stone business at Detroit, Mich. He died in 1890.
James Wait and Eben Tuttle were both carpenters and joiners. and did considerable work outside of the town. Two of Mr. Wait's sons, Harrison and Nelson, are mechanics, Harrison working in East Dorset, and Nelson in Weston.
E. P. Chandler was a carpenter and joiner.
Isaac Hill was the first blacksmith in town, and his shop stood on the spot where M. B. Lyons's south barn stands.
Royal Bryant's father worked in the Bigelow shop that stood in the corner of the Adams road. Joseph Howard worked in the same shop.
Mark Batchelder was a blacksmith, and worked at the business for over thirty years.
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Royal Bryant worked at the blacksmith's trade in different shops for a number of years.
Lyndon Jenkins used the shop near Haynes's mill for a black- smith's shop.
Royal Bryant's four sons worked in their father's shop at different times. Mr. Walker is now working in this shop.
Jesse Warren and Hiram Messenger did some blacksmithing in connection with the furnace business from 1829 to 1833.
David Sawyer, Stephen Bennett, William Green, William B. Lincoln, Amherst Messenger, Cyrus Staples, F. P. Batchelder. and Charles Batchelder have all been in the shoemaking business.
Esquire Bigelow worked in his own shoe shop.
O. P. Simonds, a veteran shoemaker, worked at the trade for more than fifty years.
MILLS.
The first saw mill in town was built in 1803 by the efforts of fourteen men. It was erected on the Chandler brook, about 150 rods below the bridge. Three dams had to be built before they had one that would hold the water. The mill was called the Federal Mill, and did a good business. It was of great use to the inhabitants, making the lumber that grew in that vicinity more valuable. The mill and dam were washed away one night in 1816, but no one knew it was gone until one of the workmen, who had started to go to the mill as usual, reported that he could find no trace of it. It was a great loss and drawback to the inhabitants. After this the people in the south part of the town had to take their lumber to a mill in Winhall, and those in the north part to Utley's mill in Landgrove.
In 1820 the three Stone brothers built a mill on the site where the Haynes mill now stands. This mill was thoroughly built, and did a large business, very much to the advantage and prosperity of the town. In 1828 Samuel'and Josiah Stone bought out Joseph's share. They then put in a grist mill, quarrying the mill stones from a ledge in Landgrove, and also put in turning works for making chair stock. They did a good business until 1836, when they sold out to Oliver Wyman, who kept it a year or two. In 1837 the mill was damaged by heavy rains, and Mr. Wyman sold out to Isaac G. Long, who repaired the mill and dam. Mr. Long and his sons carried on the business several years, and then soll it to Holland
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Tarbell. He built a new mill and made another dam lower down the brook, also building the house and barn east of the mill. Mr. Tarbell died before these improvements were all completed, and the place was bought by James L. Haynes, who came from Fitchburg, Mass. He completed the mill, and did considerable business in the sawing line. After a few years he enlarged it and put in circular saws, also putting in machinery for turning chair stock. It is now owned and carried on by C. W. Whitney & Son, and is doing a large business.
Asa Simonds built a mill, about 1827, near Ira. R. Walker's place. For a time this mill had a run of stone for grinding. It was sold to B. S. Ballard in 1841, who put in a large breast wheel and did a good business for several years. George Batchelder and Edward Batchelder owned and carried on the mill for a time. Gustave Albee owned it a short time, but sold it to Elijah Simonds. Mr. Simonds repaired the wheel and put in new machinery. He died and his heirs sold the place to J. G. Walker. The mill is still standing, but it is in a very dilapidated condition.
In 1836 a mill was built by James Wait in the north-east part of the town, which has done, and is still doing, a good business. This mill is now owned by Jackson Chadwick.
Shepherd Aldrich owns and runs a mill, and is doing a good business.
In 1842 E. H. Tuttle built a mill in District No. 6. It has changed hands a good many times, but is now doing a good business. There is an engine connected with this mill.
H. Gould erected a mill in 1840, and did some business. It afterwards went into the hands of Sarel Sawyer, who built a new mill and put in modern machinery. Different parties have since owned this mill. It was burned down in 1887, but a new mill was erected, which is doing a good business at the present time.
The notch mill, so called by its being situated in the notch of the mountains at the junction of two creeks, these creeks forming the Mad Tom, was built in 1849 by Ira Cochran. He pushed his way up to this spot over almost unsurmountable obstacles. Ira Cochran and M. Manley sawed out many thousand birch ties for the railroads. They were two miles up the mountain, with no road on which to draw their lumber, but they conceived the idea of making a spout and running the lumber down by water. A spout was made with planks, well nailed together, and two miles long. By
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these means they could get lumber to the railroads in four days, and the spout soon paid for itself. It was used for years in taking lumber to the depot. Cochran & Manley bought several hundred acres of land with all the timber on it, and carried on the business for two or three years, in which time they built several houses and barns around the mill. About this time a road was made to the mill and it looked as though there was going to be a big business done on the mountain. Cochran & Manley sold the property to James B. Wood, of Concord, Mass., who carried on the business for ten or twelve years. After that time the mill was owned by several parties. Maltbey & Co., of Connecticut, bought the mill, with all the land that could be procured in the vicinity, built large oval shaped kilns of brick, hooped with iron, and began making charcoal. The land was soon cleared of its original growth of timber. Many tenement houses had been built in the vicinity of the mill, and it was about this time that School District No. 8 was organized. There is no business done now in this part of the town, and the buildings are all decaying, but a new growth of timber is springing up all over this section.
Barnum & Co. bought a large tract of land on the mountain in the south-west part of the town, near the turnpike, and manufactured charcoal as long as the wood lasted. This charcoal was all sent to Connecticut. There is yet a large quantity of timber in the north- west part of the town, but it is slowly diminishing.
About 1852 Daniel Davis commenced to build a mill on the stream east of the Byard farm. He made a dam, erected a frame, and built a small house. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Davis hung himself in his own house, and the mill was then sold to Mark Batchelder and C. F. Long. They finished building it and carried on business there for some time. Coolidge & Spaulding began to repair it some years later, but did not do any business there. It is now in a very dilapidated condition.
About 1847 Dana Wyman built a mill on the brook that runs through Albert Simonds's farm, west of John Walker's house. He did business there several years. It was burnt down one night without any one seeing the flames, and Mr. Wyman then built a new mill. Charles Barnard and Burkitt Simonds owned and carried on business in this mill for some time. Nahum Russell and Allen Benson bought the place and improved it. It was last in the hands of Almon Patterson. There is no business done in this mill at the present time.
HISTORY OF PERU.
M. B. Hapgood erected a steam mill on the mountain, north of George Russell's place, which was burned down. A new mill was built and a good business done, the lumber being easily taken to the depot.
A steam mill was built on the mountain north from the Dickerson place, but was only run a short time.
An engine was put into the Sawyer mill, and a good business done there. This mill was burned down, but has since been replaced. At this time there were six steam mills doing business in Peru.
HOTELS.
The first hotel in town was built by Jonathan Butterfield on the summit of the mountain, and on the old road to Manchester. Mr. Butterfield carried on business in this house several years. It was run a year or two by Mr. Fairbanks, and several other parties carried on the business for short periods. In 1816 the turnpike road was completed and the old road abandoned, which made this hotel of no use.
Reuben Bigelow began to keep an hotel about 1807, and continued it until the new road was opened.
Esquire Tuthill and his son Russell built the brick tavern in 1822. They carried it on until 1835, doing a good business, and then sold it to L. McMullen, who kept it himself a year or two. He rented it to Mr. Smalley, F. Lyon, L. Howard, and Hiram Messenger, but finally sold it to Charles Lyon. R. Gibson next bought the place, and then sold it to Leonard Howard. Edward Batchelder owned this hotel and carried on business there for a time. In 1870 it was bought by G. K. Davis, who is the present owner. It is now known as the Bromley House, and is the only hotel between 'Derry and Manchester. A good business is done in this hotel, and it is the right place to find a good dinner.
Benjamin Barnard kept an inn from 1814 to 1839, when he took down his sign.
In 1831 Hiram Messenger opened a hotel on the height of land on the turnpike road, and carried on business there for ten or twelve years. Alexander Leland rented it for two years, and J. G. Mellendy owned and occupied this place. In 1856 Mr. Mellendy sold it to Mr. Dickinson, whose heirs now occupy it.
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STORES.
In 1816 Warren Wyman kept a small assortment of goods in the old house on M. B. Lyon's place, but did not continue it long.
About 1827 J. J. Hapgood commenced business in the same building that the Hapgood store is now in. His business was small at first, his wife attending to it while he worked on the farm. His business increased from year to year, and he soon had a good sized country store, well filled with goods. The firm became J. J. & L. B. Hapgood, and it continued to do a prosperous business until 1870, when it was bought by T. K. Snow & Co., who kept it about a year. David Arnold leased this store for a short time. In 1874 J. J. Hapgood and M. J. Hapgood went into partnership and carried on business under the name of J. J. Hapgood & Co. They sold out to Richardson & Leonard in 1885.
In 1841 Francis Bennett put in a small stock of goods in the Bryant house, but sold out in 1843.
Charles W. Whitney & Co. carried on the store business for a short time, closing up about 1865.
William E. Polly erected a store opposite the hotel in 1856, and entered into the mercantile business. It proved unsuccessful, and the store was closed.
About 1872 J. P. and C. H. Long opened a store west of the Haynes' mill, and continued the business five years, when they sold the store and goods to M. J. Hapgood.
CASUALITIES.
Ezra Wyman, son of Deacon Thomas Wyman, was killed by the falling in of a clay bed as he was digging clay in the brickyard. This occured in 1816. He was 16 years of age.
Thomas H. Hall was killed by the falling of a tree in District No. 6, near James Wait's place, about 1836.
Mr. Thompson was killed about 1835 by a falling tree. He was at work on the Nourse farm.
Deacon Asa Simonds drove under a shed at the Manchester depot to escape a violent storm, and the shed fell on him. He was carried into the depot, but died two or three days after.
A. P. D. Simonds was killed by a mowing machine in 1867. He stepped between the horses that were attached to the machine, but lost control of them, they dragging the machine over him.
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Harlan E. Batchelder went to his barn one night in 1868 to get his horse, and received a kick in the bowels. He died soon after from the effects of the blow.
Daniel Davis hung himself about 1852 in the house that stood near the mill.
BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN LOST BY FIRE.
Joseph Barnard's house, which stood on the spot where G. K. Davis's garden now is, was burned about 1823. Mr. Barnard's mother was the only person in the house at the time, and it was with difficulty that she escaped. No insurance.
In 1824 the dwelling house of Deacon David Simonds was burnt. There was no insurance but the good will of friends and citizens, who turned in to assist in building a new house and furnishing what was needful.
Scammel Burt's dwelling house, which stood east of David Simond's house, was burnt about 1825. He then built a house near Stowell Barnard's place, receiving assistance from the whole community.
Edmund Batchelder's barn, which was full of hay and grain, was struck by lightning and burnt in 1843. Insurance Sroo.
Joseph Stone's barn was struck by lightning and burnt in 1845.
Mr. Lathrop's dwelling house, which was on the Hull farm, was burned down about 1854.
The schoolhouse in District No. 5 was burnt in 1864, with all the school books.
John Howard's dwelling house on the Notch road was burnt.
All the large buildings on the Dudley farm, belonging to S. L. Walker, were struck by lightning and burnt in 1882. This was the most destructive fire the town ever had.
Dana Wyman's mill, which stood east of Burkitt Simond's place, was burnt.
All the buildings on the French farm were burnt in 1879.
J. Q. Adams's house was burnt in 1881. This house was in the village.
M. J. Hapgood's steam mill on the mountain was burnt in 1885. Jacquith & Bryant's steam mill was burnt in 1887.
Nelson Weatherbee's buildings, which stood on the Staples place, were burnt in 1884.
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J. L. Haynes's mill, with all the tools and machinery, was burnt. in 1888.
M. J. Hapgood had two barns and sheds burnt in 1888. It is supposed that some one did it intentionally.
EPIDEMICS.
This town, situated as it is on the east and south slope of the mountain, ought to be, and is, a healthy location. Epidemics pre- vailed during the years of 1812 and 1814. many of the families suffering to an alarming degree, and almost every house was a house of mourning. The disease was called by some spotted fever, and by others typhus fever. To show the fatality of the disease, we give one case, which is furnished by Mrs. Abigail (Bigelow) Whiting, who is now living in Chester, Vt .: "In the family of Philemon Parker four died with this fever. They occupied a log house of one room. I was fifteen years old at this time, and with another person, watched by the bedsides of the sick ones. The four were perfectly unconscious, and did not live long, dying in the order in which they were born, as follows, Jonas, aged 24 years; Nathan, aged 22 years; Susan, aged 20 years, and Anna, aged 18 years. Mrs. Parker had the disease about this time, and never fully recovered. She died a few months after of consumption. The family was attended by Dr. Chandler, who bled his patients copiously at that time."
In 1814 the fever again prevailed, and many suffered. Esquire Bigelow, his wife, and six children were stricken down, but only one of them died, a girl six years old. Dr. Gray attended this family. There has been no prevailing sickness in town since this, and generally speaking, it is an healthy town.
In 1825 Samuel Stone and his seven children had the typhus fever. They all recovered but one son, who was 17 years of age. The mother of this family did not have the fever.
In 1850 the typhus fever prevailed in the family of John H. Sawyer. He and his nine children were sick with it at the same time. Mr. Sawyer and two of his sons died. No other family in town had the disease at this time.
About 1856 the family of Stephen Tuttle were sick with typhus fever, Mr. Tuttle and two or three of the children dying. A little girl who had lived with this family six months before the fever broke out, died about this time, but no other member of the family where she was living at the time had it.
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In 1844 the smallpox broke out in the family of Whittimore Thomas. Mr. Thomas lived in a house on the opposite side of the road from Freeman Lyon's house, near the east schoolhouse. Seven of the children were taken singularly sick, and Mr. Thomas called in a Thompsonian doctor to attend them. On the third visit the doctor said he should think the disease was smallpox, and wanted to know where they had been exposed to it. Mr. Thomas, who had recently come from the West, told the doctor that he felt a little unwell at the time he reached home, and on examination it was found that he had brought the disease with him. The selectmen called Dr. Chandler, of Andover, who was skilled in diseases, and he agreed with the first doctor. Two other families were taken down by visiting the sick ones. Twelve persons had it in the town, but all recovered. Palmer Rollins, a young man, imprudently exposed himself to it and went to Keene, N. H., where he died.
DOCTORS.
The first doctor who lived in town was Dr. Silas Clark, who came from Winhall in 1808, and settled in the south part of the town. His log house was on the farm now owned by C. H. Russell, on the old road north of Russell's house. He did not have a very large practice, as the population was not numerous at that time. He was an active Christian, and helped a great deal to make the town prosperous. His wife died of the epidemic in 1814, and he then went to Herkimer County, N. Y., where he married his second wife.
Dr. C. P. Hatch came into town in 1847, from Alstead, N. H. He was a well educated man, and very successful in his business. Mr. Hatch married Mrs. S. A. (Burton) Chamberlin, of Peru. After a short time he moved to Acworth, N. H., much to the regret of his many friends.
Dr. D. H. Marden succeeded Dr. Hatch, coming into town in 1850. He was a man of active habits, and did all the business that there was to be had. Dr. Marden was a very successful farmer, and filled up his spare time at that business until he left town. He moved to 'Derry in 1868, where he now resides. Mrs. Marden and four of the children died of consumption in 'Derry.
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