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 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Dr. Charles Chandler, of Andover, and Dr. Henry Gray, of Weston, were called to practice in town, and did a large share of the
I20
HISTORY OF PERU.
business until 1830. Their professional skill was acquired more by practice than by study.
Dr. Amori Benson settled in Landgrove about 1825, and practiced medicine in that town and Peru for forty years, doing a good business.
Dr. L. G. Whiting, of 'Derry did a successful business in town until he moved to Chester. Since that time he has often been called to consult with the town doctors on important cases.
Dr. Barker succeeded Dr. Whiting at 'Derry, and did a good business in Peru until his death.
There is no physician in town at the present time, and when needed are called from 'Derry or Manchester.
CEMETERIES.
There were several grown persons and children buried in the south-west corner of the Holton lot. A few of the oldest residents can remember mounds, with plain headstones, in this place, but it has now been all ploughed over.
The north cemetery was given to the town by Richard Stratton in 1803. It was first enclosed by a board fence, the present wall being built by voluntary workmen.
The south cemetery was bought of Joel Adams for one hundred dollars. Asa Phillips was the first person interred in this cemetery, in 1857.
BIOGRAPHIES.
Reuben Bigelow, a native of Westminster, Mass., came to Bromley in 1797, and commenced new on the land known as the Bigelow farm. He built his first house and barn on the hill south- west from the present buildings. Mr. Bigelow married Abigail Brooks, of Princeton. On the first of March, 1800, he moved his wife and two children into Bromley. In 1806 the road was altered, and he moved his buildings to a more favorable position, when he opened a tavern. He was a strong man, both physically and intellectually, and one who was well calculated to build up society and lead in all departments of life. Mr. Bigelow was proprietors' clerk, taking part in the division of land into lots. At the organization of the town he was appointed as one of the officers, and
121
HISTORY OF PERU.
held some office every year until his death. He was town clerk and treasurer from 1812 to 1834, was also one of the first justices elected, which office he held all through his life. He had the honor of being the first representative of the town to the general assembly, filling this office several terms, also of being the first postmaster. Mr. Bigelow always took an active part in building up and sustaining the society and church, though not a member, and read the sermons when the meetings were conducted by the deacons. He was active in sustaining schools, and well he might be, having three sons and nine daughters to educate. Most of his children were educated for teachers, and the oldest daughter taught school from the time she was 14 years of age until she was 35, teaching thirteen years in Virginia. Two of the sons were educated for physicians, one of them, Dr. Miles Bigelow, died young in the Far West, and the other, Dr. Asa Bigelow, died at Toledo in 1888, aged about 67 years. The other members of the family, with the exception of one who died in Manchester, Vt., went west and south. Areunion of the eight living members of the family was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Willard ( Mrs. Willard was a daughter of Demietta Tuthill) in Anna, Ill. This was the first time that the survivors of the family had been together for fifty years. Their names were Abigail, Lucinda, Deborah, Demietta, Laura, Orrilla, Caroline, and Asa, whose united ages were 520 years, averaging 65 years cach. In May, 1887, the combined ages of the living members of this family was 632 years, averaging 79 years cach. Abigail (Mrs. Whiting) died in 1887, aged 92 years, and Dr. Asa died in 1887, aged 67 years, six of the family being still alive. The longevity of this family exceeds that of any other in town.
Esquire Bigelow commenced to keep a hotel about 1810, and continued it until the travel was diverted away from his house by new roads. Hle introduced the business of making chairs, and never left it until he died. The chair shop was erected on the brook on the east part of M. B. Lyon's land, and he also had shops near his house. Mr. Bigelow employed workmen to do the manu- facturing, doing the painting and varnishing himself. He sent his goods to Troy, N. Y., where they were sold. He had a shoemaker's shop and a blacksmith's shop, where he kept men busy all the time. At his death the business was brought to a close, and there is nothing left to mark the spot where his shops and store houses stood. Mr. Bigelow was a great advocate of temperance,
·
1 22
HISTORY OF PERU.
and although he sold liquor at the time that he kept the hotel, he would not have it in his own house. Though always a conservative man in his business affairs, he was still a man of progression and improvement. Mr. Bigelow's personal appearance was noble and commanding, and would insure the attention of all persons that he came in contact with. His well chosen words made him an agreeable and pleasant companion in all his social intercourse with his associates.
General Peter Dudley was a man strong of body and mind. His early education was limited, but what he lacked in education he made up by his strong will and native energy. He was a man of the Ethan Allen stamp, with an inspiring way of overcoming, with resolute determination, all obstacles, and conquering all difficulties. Gen. Dudley did a good deal towards building up society in the town. He was born in Littleton, Mass., in 1773, and came to Peru in ISor, when he commenced the laborious work of clearing the land of timber and preparing it for cultivation. A log house was next built, and his wife came to share with him the hardships of the early settlers. In due time the log cabin was replaced by a large two-story house, which was clapboarded with split and shaved clapboards. This was the first two-story house in town, and was the homestead of the Dudley family for more than half a century. Mrs. Dudley, whose maiden name was Lucy Barnard, was a devoted, helpful and pious wife, highly respected by all who knew her, and greatly beloved by her family. She died on August 24, 1840, and her husband followed her on August 18, 1847. Gen. Dudley was in many respects a remarkable man. His integrity and force of character was well illustrated in the building of the Peru turnpike. A company was incorporated to build the Peru turnpike from Peru to Manchester. The contract was given to Mr. Atkins, Gen. Dudley being bondsman for him to the company that the work should be done in the specified manner and time. Atkins commenced the work, but kept drawing money from the company until he had received almost the whole of the contract price. He then took his departure, leaving Gen. Dudley to settle with the company. The company exacted the penalty of the bond, and without hesitation or evasion, Gen. Dudley went to work and finished the road at his own expense. This, however, made quite an inroad in his property. He was employed by the company to keep the road in repair for more than twenty years, and by his industry and economy he made
GEN. STEPHEN DUDLEY.
ـر
123
HISTORY OF PERU.
up what he had lost, accumulating a comfortable property for himself and family. Gen. Dudley was liberal in his religious belief. yet did considerable towards the support of society, and was one of two committees for building the first church in town. He was one of the first justices, which office he held for a long time, and was also elected representative for nine terms. His military career was his glory, and he spent time and money freely for building up military affairs in Vermont. His first commission was that of captain in his own town, and he was promoted from one office to another until he became Brigadier-General, closing his military career with a brigade muster at Manchester about 1825.
Deacon Thomas Wyman came from Princeton, Mass., to Peru, in March, 1801, with a family of five children. He lived on his farm until his wife died, when he moved to Landgrove and lived with his son. Deacon Wyman was an active, useful man, of a sanguine temperament, and whatever he entered into to do was done at once. He did much to build up the institutions of the town, and was elected to all the important offices. Mr. Wyman was chosen deacon of the church at the time it was organized, holding the office for nearly thirty years, and, in the absence of a minister, leading the meetings. One morning in December, in 1844, he went into the woods to work, and on not returning at night the family became alarmed and went in search of him. They found him lying beside a log, dead, but without any external injuries. He was 82 years of age at the time of his death.
Thomas Wyman, Jr., son of Deacon Wyman, was the first child born in town. He received his education at the common school, and entered upon an active life of business. Before he was thirty years of age he was attacked with a difficulty from which he never fully recovered, but by prudence and care he was able to do light work. Mr. Wyman married Louisa Persons, of Weston, who died some years before he did. He was a useful member of society and a good citizen. He died at the age of 78 years.
Deacon Seth Lyon came to town from Princeton, Mass., in 1803, with a family of six children, and cleared a new piece of land. He was a strong man, both physically and intellectually, and well fitted to enter upon life in a new country. He was a good type of the New England yankee, laboring for the improvement of the town and the elevation of its inhabitants, filling many offices of trust. Mr. Lyon was elected deacon of the church with Deacon Wyman,
1 24
HISTORY OF PERU.
and long assisted in leading the services in the sanctuary. He had a kind of a stereotyped prayer which he used to offer in his public services, and which has been remembered by many from childhood to old age. One sentence was, "We hew out to ourselves cisterns, broken cisterns which can hold no water." Deacon Lyon was a man well read in the scriptures. He died at Peru in 1844, aged 82 years. Mrs. Lyon then went to reside with her son Joel, where she died at a very old age.
Freeman Lyon was the oldest son of Deacon Seth Lyon, and came to Peru in his boyhood with his parents, receiving his education at the first school kept in town. He was a man of giant strength, and would cut a large log quicker and smoother than any other man in town. Mr. Lyon was chosen justice of the peace, constable, selectman, and twice elected representative to the general assembly. He died in Landgrove and was buried in the north cemetery in Peru, where his son Charles has erected a fine monument to his memory.
Joel Lyon came to town in his young days with his father, Deacon Seth Lyon, and received his education at the common school. He was a useful citizen, and held many town offices. Mr. Lyon was very conservative in his way of thinking, and filled the offices that he was intrusted to with prudence and care. He married Jane Batchelder, of Peru. In 1878 they celebrated their golden wedding, and large numbers of friends and relatives were present to con- gratulate them, leaving many tokens of respect. Soon after this Mr. Lyon received a fall which caused his death. He died in 1878, aged about 80 years, and his widow died in October, 1889, aged 85 years. Mrs. Lyon was the oldest child of her grandfather's family of ten children.
Mark Batchelder, oldest son of Capt. John Batchelder, was born in Mt. Vernon, N. H., in 1803, and came to Peru with his parents when a child. He received a common school education, and worked on his father's farm until he became of age, when he went to Grafton, Vt., to learn the blacksmith's trade. After he had served his apprenticeship he came back and commenced business in a shop which he had built near the residence of O. P. Simonds. A year or two later he moved to Charlestown, N. H., where he worked at his trade until 1831. He then came to Peru and bought the place from Deacon B. Ballard, and lived on it until 1836, when he bought the Oliver Wyman farm, where Albert Simonds now resides. In 1841 he had a new house built in the village, in which place he lived until
125
HISTORY OF PERU.
he died. Mr. Batchelder was a good mechanic, and worked at his trade about 25 years. He was a good neighbor and citizen, and was always ready to attend to the wants of the community, both in sickness and death. He held several town offices, was elected delegate to the constitutional convention, and member of the legis- lature at different times. Mr. Batchelder married Rooxbury Conant, of Grafton, who died at Manchester at the age of 90 years. He died in June, 1863, aged 60 years.
Benjamin Barnard, Jr., came into town with his parents from Westminster, Mass., in 1800. At twenty-one years of age he commenced working for different persons by the month or day. In 1804 he married Rachel Philbrick, and lived in a log house which he built on the farm where Josiah H. Whitney lives. His wife died when they had been married about a year, and he then married her sister, Hepsibath Philbrick. He cleared his land, and soon had a farm which produced good crops. In 1812 he built a frame house where the present house stands, and put up a barn. Soon after this the turnpike road was completed, and he then opened his house to the public as an inn. Although the house was not very large, it was well patronized, and brought in a revenue without a great outlay of time or money. Mr. Barnard's motto was, " Time is money," and as he lived up to it he soon had a surplus which he could loan to his townsmen, much to their gratification, and his gain. He was strictly honest, giving every man his due and claiming the same himself. He kept his hotel until 1835. Mr. Barnard was a kind of a banker for that region when state banks were few and far apart. He took an interest in all the affairs of the town, and held several town offices, being elected selectman a good many times. At the last town meeting that he attended, which was in March, 1864, he said he had attended every town meeting, but one, held in the town for over sixty years. He was three times elected member of the general assembly. He always took an active part in church and society matters, and did his share towards their support. Mr. Barnard lived and died on the farm which he had commenced. He died in June, 1864, aged 82 years, and his wife died in 1870, aged 88 years.
J. J. Hapgood came to Peru in 1806, and received his education at the common schools in the town. He was a prudent, industrious, and calculating young man, and managed to save money from his earnings. In 1827 he bought the land in front of the brick hotel, which was almost a wilderness at that time, and built a small house,
126
HISTORY OF PERU
finishing half of the lower part for a store. This was the only store in the vicinity. Mr. Hapgood did a little in the potash business, and carried on the farm, while his sister attended to the store. In 1832 he married Hepsibah Barnard, who filled the place of housewife and clerk in the store. As time went on the business increased, and the farm, by hard work, was greatly improved. Mr. Hapgood erected all the buildings on his place. He always helped to bear the burdens of the church and society. He took the contract of building the new church, not including the foundation, for $1050, and finished it as agreed without any loss. With a little help from the society he put the new bell on the church. He also built the new schoolhouse at a very low figure, and he built the parsonage, above the cellar, for $400. Mr. Hapgood and his son Luke were connected in business under the name of J. J. Hapgood & Co., but sold out in 1870 to Snow & Co., who carried it on a short time and then sold it to J. J. Hapgood. Mr. Hapgood had partly filled the store with goods, when he died, and Marshall J. Hapgood then carried on the store for a time. The store was in the hands of the Hapgood family for about 57 years. Mr. Hapgood was a useful man, and used both means and time for the public good, and did more to keep up and sustain society during the years of his life than any other man in the town. He died in 1877.
In 1637 John, Joseph and Mark Batchelder came from Canter- bury, County of Kent, England, and settled in Salem, Mass. Joseph Batchelder settled in that part of Salem known as Wenham, and his farm was situated near Wenham Pond, and has been kept in the Batchelder family through all the generations up to the present time.
John Batchelder, a descendant of Joseph, was in the war of the Revolution. After the war he married, and about 1783 moved to Mt. Vernon, N. H. His son, John, moved to Peru from Mt. Vernon in 1804, bringing with him his wife, whose maiden name was Fanny Hildrith. He began in the woods on the farm where his sons, Edmund and Hildrith, now reside, and built the first buildings on the farm. In 1823 he built the house that stands on the place at the present time. Mr. Batchelder was the second captain in the militia company, and was one of the two in the committee who built the first church in town. His wife died in 1819, and he afterwards married Nancy Barnard, who died in 1879, aged 92 years. Mr. Batchelder was deacon of the church from the time of his appoint-
DEA. O. P. SIMONDS.
HENEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
A> OP ENT . AD TOIN WINE TIONS
127
HISTORY OF PERU.
ment in 1834, until his death in 1855. He was about 76 years old when he died.
Israel Batchelder came to Peru from Mt. Vernon, N. H., about 1808, his wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Wiley, of Amherst, N. H., coming with him. He bought the farm, on which he lived and died, from Marshall Bigelow, with a small house standing on it in a clearing. Mr. Batchelder was elected justice of the peace, was captain of the militia company, and was twice elected member for the legislature. He died in 1858, aged 77 years.
Edmund Batchelder came to Peru from Mt. Vernon, N. H., in 1819, with his wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Jones, of Amherst, N. H. They brought three children with them. Mr. Batchelder bought his farm from Joseph Dodge, with a small house and barn which stood on the place. He cleared the land and erected all the buildings, and also built the wall. His wife died on July 6th, 1869, aged 84 years, and he died on July 20th, 1869, aged 82 years, exactly two weeks after his wife. They had lived together about sixty years.
In most respects the three Batchelder brothers were very much alike. All had good farms and were good farmers, and they all had their farms paid for. They had good buildings, and their farms were adjoining each other. In the winter and on wet days they worked at coopering, and in the summer they manufactured sap tubs and butter firkins, for which they found a ready sale in the adjacent towns. They had a thorough New England education, intellectually, morally, and religiously. They all took great interest in having good schools, and Edmund had been a teacher in his younger days. They were members of the Congregational church, and did all they could to sustain church institutions by their presence and means. Edmund willed $500 to be kept by the church, the income to be used for helping to support preaching. All three brothers took great interest in town affairs, and were always willing to bear their share of the burdens in supporting the institutions of the town. They all three held town offices. They lived on their respective farms until they died, each one leaving a son in possession of the homesteads. These homesteads are still occupied by the Batchelders.
Deacon David Simonds came to Peru with his father in 1802, being then about 16 years of age, and received a common school education. He commenced clearing the forest on the farm south of his father's place, meeting with all the hardships that the early
128
HISTORY OF PERU.
settlers had to contend with, besides which, his house was burned down. He was a man of reading and thought. Mr. Simonds and his wife joined the church in 1816. He was more of an Armenian than a Calvinist in his theological views, not a sectarian, but could fellowship with all who loved the cause of Christ. Mr. Simonds was an active deacon of the church for thirty years, and his mantle, as deacon, fell upon his son, O. P. Simonds, who is still in office. He was a man of mild temperament, and one who could take the prosperous side of life with ease, and the unpropitious side with submission. He believed in the freedom which our Declaration and Constitution proclaimed, and could not endure oppression in any place or person, country or race, black or white. Hence he early espoused the cause of emancipation, and labored with his friends to educate public opinion up to the standard of freedom and equal justice to all and for all. He lived to see his hopes fulfilled in his own country. Deacon Simonds died in 1869, aged 82 years, and his wife died in 1888, aged about 94 years.
Peter Dudley was the oldest son of Gen. P. Dudley, and was born in Peru, where he attended school, and sometimes taught the winter term. He married Delia Davis, of Londonderry, and lived in Manchester on the Gov. Skinner farm until his wife died. He then returned to Peru and bought the Nathan Whitney farm. About this time he married a lady from Royalston, Mass. Mr. Dudley sold his farm and bought the Tuthill place in Landgrove, but sold it again and bought the hotel in North 'Derry which he kept for several years. He next moved to Rutland, where he kept a hotel and had charge of a marble mill. Mrs. Dudley died in Rutland, and Mr. Dudley then moved back to Manchester. He married Sophia Vance for his third wife. Mr. Dudley was elected a regimental officer before he was of age, filling the place to the satisfaction of all and with honor to himself. He was a strong Democrat until the rebellion broke out, when his whole soul went into the struggle for the preservation of the union and the overthrow of slavery, and took just pride in the honorable part taken by his children. Charles P., his oldest son, went out with a three months' regiment, came home after his time was up and recruited for a company in Manchester, of which he was elected captain, being afterwards promoted to Major. He received a wound in the battle at Spottyslvania Court House, which caused his death. The second son was a lieutenant in the regular army. Norton T., the youngest son, died in prison in
120)
HISTORY OF PERU.
Salisbury, N. C., in 1864. Mr. Dudley died at Manchester on January ioth, 1883, aged 80 years.
Gen. Stephen Dudley was the second son of Gen. P. Dudley, and was born in Peru on the ist of June, 1805. He received all the education that could be obtained at the common schools, but being studious and eager for knowledge, his meagre school advantages were greatly assisted by reading. By these means he became a well informed man, and many who had far greater advantages were not so well read in the history of our own country and of Europe during the period of the first Napoleon's career. This prepared Mr. Dudley for useful positions in his native town, which, although it was Republican and he a Democrat, elected him as representative. He was also elected delegate to a constitutional convention, and often held town offices. He inherited a military taste from his father, and in 1840 received a commission as lieutenant-colonel of the 26th Vermont Militia, of which regiment he was promoted to colonel in 1842. In 1843 he became brigadier-general of the 9th Brigade Vermont Militia. The military spirit of General Peter Dudley did not all die out in one generation, for out of fifteen grandsons of military age, thirteen enlisted in the service, seven were officers, six were wounded, and three died in service. Gen. Dudley married Lydia Davis, of 'Derry, and spent his active life upon the homestead in Peru. where his ten children were born, of whom seven lived to grow up to manhood. Twins were born in 1835, died young; Myron S., born 1837; George B., born 1839, died 1863; Lucy, born 1841, died 1865; H. Elmer and H. Estelle, born 1843; Homer, born 1845; 1. Caroline, born 1849; Stephen Guilford. born 1854, died 1866. Gen. Dudley sold his farm and moved to 'Derry, thence to Chester, and from there he went to Andover, where he died on October 21st, 1876, aged 72 years. His wife died about the same time.
Ira K. Batchelder, the oldest son of Edmund Batchelder, was born in Mt. Vernon, N. H., December 11th, 1811, and came to Peril with his father in 1819. He was educated at the common schools, with brief terms at the Chester Academy and at Teachers' Seminary, Andover, Mass. On coming of age he left Peru for eight or ten years, being engaged most of the time in teaching. After his return to Peru he taught several terms of school with great success. A native of Peru, and a prominent resident of Detroit, Mich., recently said, that his ideal of school teachers was best represented by Ira K.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.