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 6
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Daniel Wood commenced on the place where his son John lives. They built the house and barn and cleared the land. Daniel and his wife died on the farm at a good old age. John is still living on the farm.
Thomas Wyman bought the land where Royal Bryant's house stands, with all the land in M. B. Lyon's pasture, in 1832, and built the house on it. In 1839 he sold the place to Francis Bennett, and about that time O. P. Simonds bought the house with four acres of land from him. Mr. Simonds occupied the place for some time, then sold it again to Francis Bennett in 1842, who kept a small store in the west end of the house for two years and built a small barn. In 1845 Thomas French bought the premises, rented them a year, and then moved on to the place himself, remaining some years. Dr. D. H. Marden bought the premises in 1850, built an addition to the barn and improved the place in every 'respect. He sold the place to Royal Bryant, who built the blacksmith shop, repaired and painted the house. J. G. Walker bought the place from him. Royal Bryant was a strong, muscular man, he lived in many different places in town, and worked out a good deal in order to support his family. He would sometimes imbibe a little too much, but was a good hunter and fisher, and never forgot his gun when he started for a tramp on Sunday morning. Later in life he changed his course, and instead of taking his gun and fish pole on Sunday morning, he carried his Bible and went with his wife to church, where he could unite in spirit with those who were singing the songs of Zion. He had a family of ten children, six boys and four girls. Four of his stalwart sons volunteered for service in the Union army, two serving three years in the Army of the Potomac, one was killed, and the other one served until he was mustered out at the close of the war. Mr. Bryant furnished more soldiers than any other family in town. He died in Massachusetts in 1889, and his wife died in 1881.
CHILDREN OF ROYAL BRYANT.
George M., lives in Texas. Clark M., lives in Massachusetts. Cynthia M. Asa Philips, who died in the army,
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Angeline 3. Mr. Brown, lives in Massachusetts.
Warren lives in Texas.
Leroy enlisted and was killed in battle.
Calvin M. Nancy Simonds, daughter of Oscar Simonds, lived in Peru, now in Pennsylvania.
George was in Texas when the war commenced, and was compelled to join the Confederate army.
Thomas Wyman, jr., bought the place near the school house, on which he lived about forty years, from his brother Parker, who built the house. Thomas made additions to the house, built the barn, and cultivated more land. This piece of land was part of Deacon Wyman's farm. Person T. Wyman now owns and' occupies this place, and it is hoped he will improve it as much as his father did, and that four stocks will grow where two did under his father's cultivation.
Mark Batchelder built the house in which A. T. Byard lives in 1841, and lived in it until he died, in 1863. He built the barn and shop, where he worked at blacksmithing. In 1872 his widow, Rooxby Batchelder, sold the place to A. T. Byard.
CHILDREN OF MARK BATCHELDER.
Jane M. Royal Manley of Dorset, died some years ago.
Martha M. C. F. Long, lived in Manchester, Dorset, and Detroit, Mich .; died in 1889.
John L. M. Rachel Slocum of Factory Point, lives in Detroit, Mich.
Mahala M. Baker Wilson of Dorset, lives at Factory Point.
O. P. Simonds erected his house in 1841, where, with the excep- tion of a year or two that he lived in Wallingford, he has lived since.
CHILDREN OF O. P. SIMONDS.
Francis M. Martha George, lives in Natick, Mass., now in Chicago.
Sarah Ann M Platt Quackenboss for her first husband. He died in the war. She then married O. N. Russell. He died in Arlington.
Mary M. Lysander Russell, lived in Natick, Mass.
Jane M. Charles H. Bean, died in Lawrence, Mass.
Urial M. Emma Simmonds, lives in Natick, Mass.
J. B. Simonds is a musician, unmarried, lives in Brattleboro.
The house where W. Whitney lives was built by J. J. Hapgood in 1843, Ruel Gibson being the first one to live in it. George Batchelder bought it of Mr. Hapgood, and lived in it a few years, then selling it to W. Whitney, who built the out-buildings.
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CHILDREN OF W. WHITNEY.
Louise, unmarried, lives with her father.
Charles M. Matilda Baker of Danby, lived in Peru.
Josiah H. M. Mary Jane Walker, lived in Peru.
J. J. Hapgood bought his land of Joseph Barnard in 1827, and built all the buildings on the place. The Tuthill hotel was the only building near the place at the time. Mr. Hapgood was a builder, trader and farmer up to the time of his death in 1877.
CHILDREN OF J. J. HAPGOOD.
Charlotte, unmarried, a music teacher in Cambridge, Mass.
Luke B. M. Ellen Davis of Peru. He was one of the firm of L. B. & J. J. Hapgood, doing mercantile business in Peru until 1870, when he went into the shoe business in Boston, residing in North Cambridge, but is now in the shoe business in Easton, Mass.
Charles M., lives in Easton, Penn.
Marshall J. M. Flora Higgins of Dorset; he owns the old homestead in Peru, and does a large mercantile and lumbering business.
Wm. E. Polly built a store east of the parsonage house about 1854, and traded in it three or four years, when he closed up the business and left the place. John Q. Adams bought the building and made it into a dwelling house about 1876, C. W. Whitney living in it for a time. John Q. Adams owned and occupied it at the time it was burnt.
The brick tavern was built in 1822 by Daniel and Russell Tuthill of Landgrove. This is the only brick house in town, and is thoroughly built for a public house of bricks made in Deacon Wyman's brickyard. Esquire Tuthill opened the house to the public in the autumn of 1822, and it has been used as a hotel for more than sixty years. It had a large run of custom until 1850, when the railroads began to divert the travel and freight in other directions. Esquire Tuthill and his son Russell knew how to keep a good public house, and they did it, which secured for them a large patronage until they sold out to Lawrence McMullen in 1836. The family moved to Southern Illinois, and consisted of Esquire Daniel Tuthill and wife, Russell and wife and three children, Sally, who married Thomas Ross, Betsey Purdy, old lady Tuthill's daughter, and Silas, the youngest in the family. Silas is manufacturing chairs on the banks of the Mississippi river. They had to endure all the hardships incident to settling a new country, being so far south that
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they did not have any market for their produce, and were completely isolated from the outside world. On the opening of the Illinois Central railroad they had the means to be connected with all the world, and a great blessing it was to them. Russell moved to Duquion, where he and his family had all needful advantages. Esquire Tuthill and his wife died soon after settling in Illinois, and Thomas Ross and his wife lived but a few years. Russell and Miss Purdy are both dead. It was a great loss to Peru to lose this family, and no one has come to fill the vacant place.
Lawrence McMullen bought the hotel of Esquire Tuthill in 1836, and carried it on some years, building the east addition. He rented it to Mr. Smalley, who run it two or three years. Freeman Lyon rented the place several years at different times, and Hiram Messenger a year or two. Mr. McMullen sold the place to Charles Lyon, who kept it a short time, selling out to Ruel Gibson, who run it two years. He sold the place to Leonard Howard, who kept it several years, when Edward Batchelder bought and run it for a time, selling it to G. K. Davis, who now owns and occupies it, going by the name of the Bromley House. If you want a good dinner this is the place to get it.
John Chandler, whose wife was a half sister to Deacon Wyman, came into town from Princeton in 1801, and commenced new on the farm now owned by Wallace West. He cleared it of the forest and built the first house and barn. Mr. Chandler was a farmer, and a mechanic, making the best of hand rakes, and turned the bows and teeth with a foot lathe. He sold the place to Jonathan Walker, who occupied it for a time, but sold out to Freeman Lyon, who lived on the place a few years. Simeon Lyon owned it and lived there about four years, then selling to Charles Lyon, who sold out to Lawrence McMullen, who died on the farm in 1850. Charles Batchelder owned and lived on this place some years, but sold out to S. B. Russell, who rented it to Rev. A. G. Bowker. Mr. Russell sold the place to Nathan Lillie, who improved the buildings and sold out to Wallace West, the present occupant.
CHILDREN OF JOHN CHANDLER.
Mary M James Lincoln, died in 1843 at Peru.
Dorcas M. Lawrence McMullen for her first husband, and David Garfield for her second; died in Landgrove in 1889.
Mabel M. Simeon Lyon, lives in New York State.
Eunice M. Barney Richardson, lives in Manchester.
0
MRS. J. J. HAPGOOD.
J. J. HAPGOOD.
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Sally died young in Peru.
Harriet M. Amos Lawrence, lived in Manchester; died in February, 1885.
Ezra M. Elizabeth English of Hartland, lived in Peru; died in November, 1885.
CHILDREN OF E. P. CHANDLER.
Clarence M. Mary Lombra of Connecticut. He was a chip of the old block in mechanical ingenuity, having been employed as a scientific mechanic in Providence, R. I. He died in 1889.
Aden M. Isa Ackley of Bennington, Vt .; he is foreman in a newspaper office in Meriden, Conn.
Mary M. Henry C. Lombra, lives in Springfield, Mass.
William Green, Sen., came from Princeton, Mass., and began new where the James Lincoln house stands, and built a log house. He was one of the early settlers. Mrs. Green died about 1814, and he returned from whence he came, taking his youngest son with him. William, an older son, married Dorcas Lyon, and remained on the farm until 1830, when he sold out to James Lincoln. Mr. Green and his family, which was quite large, left town and went to Ohio, but returned two different times. He lived for a while in the old house on the parsonage lot, near M. B. Lyon's place, and afterwards began on a wild lot west of B. Barnard's place, where he built a log house. He went west again and settled down. James Lincoln lived on this place until he died in 1882, aged 74 years. He was a hard working, industrious, useful man, and did more work for other people than any other man in town. He stuck the corner of an adze into his knee, which caused him to have a stiff knee and almost cost him his life. His first wife was Mary Chandler, who died in 1844, leaving seven children; his second wife was Syble Hale, who died in 1866, leaving three children; he married the third wife, who died before he did.
Elisha Whitney was one of the first settlers, and came from Westminster. He began on the Gould farm, building his log house in the pasture north from the present buildings. He was a good citizen and a member of the church. Both he and his wife died about 1816. Four children came to Peru with them.
CHILDREN OF ELISHA WHITNEY.
Joseph M. Hannah Towns of Andover.
Sally M. Cyrus Staples, lived in Peru; died there.
Tryphosa, unmarried, died in Putney at her brother Norman's.
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Norman M. Belinda Batchelder of Landgrove, moved from Peru to Andover, then to Putney; died there.
Joseph inherited the homestead, and enlarged and improved the buildings. Living under the mountain he frequently had an opportunity to try his trusty rifle for the benefit of the bears, and those he could not shoot he caught in traps, being a terror to wild animals. He raised a large family, the oldest daughter marrying R. Stone in Peru. In 1835 Mr. Whitney emigrated to Ohio, settling near Oberlin with all his family, who have been remarkably prosperous. Joseph Howard bought the place and lived on it until he died in 1843, when his son Leonard lived on the farm several years, and then sold out to A. D. Lincoln, who kept it a year or two, Amos Batchelder then buying the place. James Farnum had what was south of the brook, but lived there only a few years, selling out to Horace Gould, who occupied it until he died in 1878. Ira Wait next bought the place, and resides on it at the present time.
CHILDREN OF H. GOULD.
Horace, unmarried, died in 1837.
Lucia, unmarried, lives in Peru.
Emily M. Shepherd Aldrich, lives in Peru.
Sullivan, unmarried, lived in Peru; died in 1887.
The farm on which M. B. Lyon resides was first begun by Wm. Barlow in 1773, but very little is known of him. It is supposed that he died in town and was buried in the corner of the Holton lot. The first house known on the place stood below the road north of the gate, the foundations still remaining. It was a house of some dimensions, and evidently put up at different times. More families have lived in this house than in any other in town. The first that we know of was Joseph Fairbanks, who lived on the place from 1805 until 1812; Isaac Hill occupied it a short time; Deacon Benjamin Ballard lived there a short time; Warren Wyman occupied it for the first store in town; Mr. Bryant, a blacksmith, lived in it about 1822. These occupied the place as tenants, David Brooks being the owner. He sold out to Peter Allen, who carried on the farm a few years. Freeman Lyon lived on this place in our time. Joseph Howard came from Athol, Mass., about 1825, and bought the farm from Peter Allen. He and his family lived in the old house until 1833. when he built a new one. In 1838 he sold the place to Francis Bennett, who built an L. to the house and moved the middle barn from T. Wyman's farm to its present location. I. K. Batchelder
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then bought the place and moved on to it in the spring of 1840. He moved the L for a shed and shop, put up a new L, and finished the house as it is at the present time, painting it white; he also built the sheds to the barns and moved the south barn to its present location. In 1869 he sold the place to M. B. Lyon, who now occupies it.
CHILDREN OF JOSEPH HOWARD.
Louisa, went to Ohio, died there.
Harriet M., went to Ilinois, died there.
Hiram studied medicine and settled in Ohio; died in 1880.
Leonard M. Betsey Gibson, died at Derry in 1881.
Olivet settled in Pittsburg, Penn. Married there.
Joseph died in New York State.
Jonathan lives in East Dorset. Married there.
Sylphronia and Silas went to Ilinois when young.
The house near M. B. Lyon's was built for a parsonage about 1837. William Green owned the place and lived in the old house. The Congregational society bought it about 1833, and Rev. Mr. Parsons assisted in paying for it. Rev. Mr. Baldwin was minister at the time, and did much of the work on the house, living in it until 1846. His successor. Rev. A. S. Swift, lived there about three years, and Rev. A. F. Clark two years. J. J. Hapgood had the house in part payment for building the new parsonage, and several families lived in it as his tenants. He sold the place to Widow Roxana Dale, who occupied it a few years and then sold out to Widow Nancy Banks, she living in it until 1867, when she sold the place to Widow Mary Barnard, who afterwards married Edward Messenger, both dying there. A large number of families have lived in this house since Mrs. Dale bought it of Mr. Hapgood. Old Mr. Fisher died here about 1850. The present owner and occupant is John Q. Adams.
The farm on which Dexter and Robert Batchelder live was begun in 1795 by the Stratton family, of whom very little is known. Lady Stratton died at the house of Jonathan Walker, who was one of the family, about 1825. The Strattons deeded the north cemetery to the town in 1803. Jacob Odell of Mount Vernon, N. H., bought the farm of Richard and David Stratton, and erected a frame house. He deeded the common to the town, on which the first church was built. Mr. Odell did not live on this place, but sold it to Nathan Whitney, who came from Athol, Mass., in 1819, with a large family. Mr. Whitney was a man of great energy and push, and
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would make things boom. He finished the house and made great improvements on the farm. Being a carpenter by trade, he framed and finished many buildings in the town. He was constable for many years. In 1836 he sold out to Peter Dudley, Jr., and emigrated to Pittsfield, Ohio. Mr. Dudley lived on the place three years, then sold out to Jonas Bennett, who came from Boston in 1839, he living on it until 1842. Jonas Bennett sold the farm to Aaron Burton, who occupied it several years, improving the farm. Jesse Rider then bought and occupied it until after the war, when he sold out to Wesley Woodward, who lived on the place until 1871, and then sold it to Dexter Batchelder, the present occupant. He has made great improvements in the buildings and farm.
CHILDREN OF NATHAN WHITNEY.
Alvah M. Lydia Heald of Chester, moved to Ohio; died in 1888. Ira M. Susan Thurston, moved to Pittsfield, Ohio; died there. Ann M. S. W. Lincoln of Peru, moved to Oberlin, Ohio. William M. Persis Hapgood, lived in Peru; died in 1888. Louisa M., lived in Ohio; died there.
Lucina M., lives in Ohio.
Elmira M., lives in Ohio. Lucinda M., lives in Ohio.
Nathan and George moved to Ohio.
Isaac Bigelow commenced new on the farm now owned by J. P. Long, building a log house and barn on the spot where the new house is built at the forks of the road. He came from Westminster, Mass., and was a man of good ability intellectually. It is said that he was not very fond of work, and of course if the soil was not cultivated and sown, it did not produce very abundantly. He sold the place to Joseph Stone in 1819, and moved to Pawlet with a large family.
The old farm of Dexter Batchelder was begun new by Marshall Bigelow, who came from Westminster, Mass., and was one of the early settlers. He was a very superior singer. Mr. Bigelow built a small house south-west from the Chase factory, and then sold out to Israel Batchelder, emigrating to Granville, Ohio. Israel Batchelder came to town in 1809, and lived on his farm until he died in 1858, aged 77 years. This farm was mostly covered with hard wood timber, the soil was strong and very productive when first cleared. He built the large two-story house in 1816. Dexter and Robert Batchelder are the present owners.
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CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BATCHELDER.
Mary Jane M. Joel Lyon, lived in Peru; died in 1889.
Abigail M. Joel Adams, lived in Peru; died in 1880.
Nancy M. James Curtis, lived in East Dorset; died in 1886.
George M. Elvira Peck of Royalston, Mass .; died in East Dorset.
Edward M. Harriet Wyman, lives in East Dorset; his wife died there.
Susan M. Ira Cochran, died in East Dorset in 1883.
Dexter M. Susan Bloomer of Dorset, lived in Peru: died in March, 1888.
Margarette M. Joseph Griswold, lives in Bellows Falls.
John M. Frances Sayles, lived in Detroit, Mich. Died in 1890.
The place on which Amos Batchelder lives was begun by Capt. James Lincoln in 1818, who came from Keene, N. H. He built some of the buildings and lived on the place until 1844, when he sold it to his son Amos and moved to Michigan. Amos Lincoln built the large barn and shed. In 1850 he sold the place to Amos Batchelder, the present occupant, and moved on to the Smith farm, where he died of consumption.
CHILDREN OF CAPT. JAMES LINCOLN.
James M. Mary Chandler, lived in Peru; died in 1882, aged 74 years.
Stillman W. M. Ann Whitney, moved to Oberlin, Ohio; died in 1882, aged 72 years.
William B. studied medicine, moved to Ionia, Mich., in 1834; died in 1882, aged 70 years.
Prentice M., settled in the west.
Amos D. M. Olive Mann of Dover; he died in Peru in 1854, aged 41 years.
Lucy married in Michigan, died there.
Henry M. in Pittsfield, Ohio. He enlisted in the army and went to the war; died there.
Chauncey M., lived in Michigan.
Dexter M. in Michigan, lives there.
The farm Edgar Batchelder lives on was begun early by Philemon Parker, who came from Westmoreland, N. H. He built a log house on the corner of the lot north of the road that leads to Mr. Bell's place. In 1812 his family were all sick with what was called the spotted fever. Mrs. Dr. Whiting, who at that time was
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only fifteen years of age, and two or three other persons, watched over the sick ones. The children all died in the order they were born: Jonas, aged 24 years; Nathan, aged 22 years; Susan, aged 20 years; Anna, aged 18 years. Mrs. Parker had the fever and died soon after. Philemon Parker sold the place to Joseph Barnard and went to Westmoreland. Henry Whitney came from Athol, Mass., bought the place from Joseph Barnard, and built the house and barn now on the place. In 1830 he sold it to Alvah Whitney and moved to Walpole, N. H. Alvah sold it to his brother, Ira Whitney, who sold it to W. W. Whitney. The Farnums bought it from him in 1840, and lived on the farm until 1831, when it was sold to Edgar Batchelder, the present owner and occupant.
David Smith came from Marlboro, Mass., in 1804, and began on the farm where Mr. Bell now lives, clearing the land and erecting the buildings. He was a strong, athletic man, and could tell the biggest story of any man in the crowd. He lived on the farm until 1828, when he sold it to Jonathan Walker, who kept it a few years and then sold it to Capt. James Lincoln. He sold part of the land and buildings to Mr. Follansbee, who improved the buildings and sold the place to A. D. Lincoln. He died on the farm and his widow sold out to C. F. Morrill, who lived on it a few years and then sold to Mr. Hazzeton, he selling it to Jcel Bell, who occupies it at this time.
CHILDREN OF DAVID SMITH.
Martin was a tanner and went to Pawlet to live.
David was educated for a teacher; his whereabouts are not known.
Oliver is a shoemaker; he is married and lives in Massachusetts.
Abigail and Nathaniel went to Marlborough, Mass., with their parents in 1828.
Jonas Stone commenced on the Rollins farm about 1827, built a log house, but did not clear much of the land. In 1830 he sold the place to Joseph Rollins, who came from Swanzey, N. H. He erected the buildings and cleared the land, having a good grass farm. Augustus Albee, from Rockingham, next bought the place, and lived on it until he sold it to Barnard & Gibson, who sold it to Elder Stevens. Rev. Amos Bowker carried on the farm several years for Mr. Stevens, who sold it to the present owner, Samuel Stiles.
Elijah Carlton and his brother began on the lot west of the
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Rollins farm, where they built a log house and barn, but only lived on it a year or two. They sold the place to J. J. Hapgood and left town. No one has lived on the place since.
In 1819 Mr. Harris, who came from Springfield, cleared about 20 acres on the lot north of the Rollins farm, but did not move on to it. Willis Aldrich, from 'Derry, built a house and barn on this lot in 1835. He sold the place to Charles Barnard and Mr. Gibson, who sold it to T. J. Lakin in 1850. After he had built a new barn he sold out to Sarel Sawyer, who occupied it for a long time. It is now in the hands of J. P. Long. Elijah Carlton came from New Hampshire and married Maria, daughter of Jonas Bennett, who died, leaving two daughters. He then married Mary Long, and is now living in 'Derry.
CHILDREN OF WILLIS ALDRICH.
Shepherd M. Emily Gould, lives in Peru.
Hiram M. Miss S. Bennett, moved away.
There was another daughter who went west.
Jacob Bennett built a log house on the lot west of the Sawyer place in the woods, but did not clear the land. He lived in the honse a few years and then left, no one living in the house since. Mr. Bennett was a mason by trade, and several of his sons have excelled in that business.
Horace Gould commenced on the Sawyer place about 1837, and built a log house and barn. In 1840 he built a saw mill, placing it where the present one stands. He sold the place to John Sawyer in 1846, who built the present house in 1848. In 1850 all the family had the typhus fever, Harvey, the oldest, being the first one down, but they all took it one after another. Mr. Sawyer was taken sick and died in October. They had been a strong, healthy family previous to this, but it left them consumptive. After his death Mrs. Sawyer, with the help of the boys, carried on the farm and built the present barn. A few years later Mrs. Sawyer deeded her right in the farm to her son John, he agreeing to pay the debts and maintain his mother. John soon sold his share to his brother Sarel, with the encumbrances on the farm, Sarel agreeing to fulfill all John's obligations. Mrs. Sawyer died in 1871, aged 76 years.
CHILDREN OF JOHN SAWYER. HIarvey died of typhus fever, aged 21 years.
John M. Sarah McClennan, lives in California.
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Sarel M. Jane Conable, lives in Peru.
Ambrose M. Ellen Hill, died in Chittenden, buried at Peru.
Hannah M. Thomas Cross of California, died in Peru on July 13th, 1871, aged 35 years.
Ann M. Charles Morrill, died in Peru in 1875, aged 35 years.
Harlan died of typhus fever in 1850, aged 11 years.
Seth died in Peru of consumption in 1871, aged 24 years.
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