USA > Vermont > Addison County > Statistical and historical account of the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 11
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Since the last organization in 1842, the society has been in efficient and successful operation. The meetings have generally been regularly held and attended ; and we judge many of them most interesting and profitable. A member at one meeting was often appointed to make an address or read an essay on some important subject at the next, and at all the meetings it was made the duty of each member to report such interesting and difficult cases of disease as had occurred in his practice, and each case was discussed by the other members of the society. It was one of the rules of the society that each person appointed president should make an address at the close of the term for which he was elected. At the annual meeting in June, 1847, Dr. Jonathan A. Allen, having officiated as President the previous year, read an address which was published. From this we make a quotation, principally to show how he regarded the influence of the organization. He says, "It is now five years since the Addison County Society was organized in its present form. During this period twenty meetings have been held, generally well sustained by the attendance of the members. Many facts, highly interesting to the profession, and consequently useful to the public, have been presented. Much valuable informationat has been elicited by our discussions, and we have every reason to believe that not a member has failed of adding
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120
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
to his general stock of practical knowledge. In addition to these advantages, valuable acquaintances have been formed, generous, elevated and kind professional feeling promoted. Many of these endearments will reciprocally remain among our members until the closing period of their existence. Jealousy, 'suspicion and want of confidence have been almost entirely removed from our ranks. . Our members meet as friends. Consultations now, in lieu of being . objects of bickering, are generally desired, and usually, by the mutual and kind expression of opinion, result beneficially to the sick." The whole community would feel safer if such an influence should prevail generally among the doctors.
At a subsequent meeting in February, 1848. the death of Dr. Allen was announced by Dr. Russel, who stated that " the princi- pal object of, the meeting was to adopt measures suitable to the occasion " of his death. "The President, Dr. Bradford of Ver- gennes, read a short but expressive paper concerning his life and death;"' and appropriate and commendatory resolutions were adopted. The Society also appointed Dr. S. P. Lathrop, of Middlebury, to prepare a biographical sketch, which was afterwards ordered to be published in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
The following have been the Presidents and Secretaries of the Society.
. FROM PRESIDENT. TO
FROM SECRETARIES. TO
1842 Jona'n A. Allen, Middlebury, 1844. 1812 David Goodale, Addison, 1844.
1844 Joel Rice, Bridport, · 1845. 1844 S. Pearl Lathrop, Middlebury, 1846.
1845 Dan C. Stone, Vergennes, 1846. 1846 W. P. Russel, 1847.
1846 Jonathan A. Allen, 1847. 1947 Charles L. Allen, still in office.
1847 A. Bradford, Vergennes, 1848.
1848 E. D. Warner, New Haven, 1850,
1850 Earl Cushman, Orwell, .1856. 1856 E. D. Warner, still in office.
Dr. Allen is also Treasurer and Librarian.
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121
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
POPULATION-CHARACTER-ADVANTAGES-DANGERS.
The population of Addision County does not materially differ from that of the other Counties in this State, and other New Eng- land States. The whole exhibits the influence of the spirit of emi- gration and colonization, which has prevailed and increased since the first settlement of the country. The character of the whole population of the country has been modified and, in many respects, we think, improved by this disposition, especially in its spirit of en- terprise and individuality. An individual, who has courage to leave the place of his birth, and remove three hundred or a thousand miles to the outskirts of civilization to better his condition, learns that there are other places and people besides those he has left behind, and per- haps equal or superior to them. His views are enlarged, and his inqui- ries are no longer confined to the limited sphere of his early home, and he begins to think there may be still other regions beyond and elsewhere. If he has energy to remove once, he has still more to remove again, when profit or pleasure tempt him. He learns also that there are other countries beyond the oceans, which encircle him, and he looks to them as fields for indulging his thirst for spec- ulation or his curiosity. Wherever he locates himself, he finds other men and other customs and manners and ideas which are new to him, and which he studies, and thus improves his own, and shakes off his provincial habits and prejudices.
Added to this cause, which to some extent is common to all the States, the early settlers of Vermont experienced a long course of discipline in the hardships and self-denial and energy required for their hard contested controversy, in defending themselves and their property against the oppressive claims of exterior powers, and especially in the contest for their separate independence.
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122,
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Although we cannot boast of large numbers of learned men, like some other States, more favorably situated, we do not shrink from a comparison of the mass of cur population, for general intelligence and practical energy, with any other. Not a few intelligent men, who have long resided in other New England States and elsewhere, have expressed to the writer of this sketch the conviction, that in no State is the population of the same classes, and especially the farmers, superior, if equal, to that of Vermont. No State, we believe, has sent out more efficient, practical and useful emigrants to people the "new countries." Vermont is an inland State, and agriculture is the pursuit of the great body of its inhabitants ; and she has no foreign commerce to build up large cities, where great wealth is accumulated, and learned men congregate.
Among the most important influences, which operate in modifying the character of our population, are our liberal institutions, placing, as they do, every man in the dignity and responsibility of a man. And paramount to all others perhaps is that of town corporations, which are common and almost peculiar to New England. They are not only pure democracies, but they are schools, in which the prin- ciples of democracy are taught; where all meet on a common plat- form, with equal rights and powers, not only as voters, but as can- didates for office. So numerous and extensive are the legislative and administrative powers within their limits, that all have an opportunity to become acquainted with our laws and institutions, acquire habits of public business and qualify themselves for higher political trusts.
Our common schools and seminaries of learning for the instruction of all classes, and our churches of various denominations, where all may meet for public worship and for instruction in their religions, social and civil duties, are means of spreading general intelligence and virtue through the community. Besides these every family is more or less supplied with books and periodicals, which keep them informed of the passing events, and remind them of their duties to their country and the world. The writer of this sketch has been as long and as advantageously situated as any one to ascertain the ability of all classes of men in this County to write, and he has no
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123
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
recollection of more than one or two native Americans, residing in the County, who could not write his own signature ; and these were brought up in regions remote from schools. The twenty-five native Americans, who are reported in the census of 1850, in this County, as being unable to read or write, were probably similarly situated in the early settlement of the country.
If the population of Addison County is distinguished from that of any other County, it is occasioned by the influence of Middlebury College situated among them. This influence is not confined exclu- sively to this County ; but no person, who has been long acquainted with the history of that institution, has failed to observe its influ- ence upon the intelligence of the community in its neighborhood, and in raising the standard of education in the subordinate institu- tions. Few towns, if any, in the country, have afforded a larger number of young men for a collegiate education, in proportion to their population, than many of the towns in Addison County.
It may be mentioned as an evidence of the peaceable and orderly character, as well as prosperity of the inhabitants, that courts of justice have less business in this County, in proportion to its popu- lation, than in any other County. No person has ever been convicted of a capital offence in the County. Four have been tried for murder, one in 1815 and one in 1825; but both were con- victed of only manslaughter. Another was since tried twice, but the jury failed in both cases to agree on a verdict, and he was dis- charged ; and the other was acquitted on account of insanity.
From the foregoing sketches. it will be seen. that the County of Addison has sufficient resources for wealth and material prosperity, and that its citizens have sufficient intelligence and enterprise, in due time to develope them. . It will be seen also, that they have the means of intellectual, moral and religious improvement. And we may well congratulate ourselves that we live in an agricultural district, where there is a general social equality ; where there are few so rich as to excite the envy and ill-will of their neighbors, or to be free from tlie necessity of some active occupation or so poor as to need charity. We have no large cities with their accumulated masses of wealth, poverty and crime. We have no such wealth to
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124
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
foster extravagance, luxury and a factitious aristocracy, with its arbitrary conventional ceremonies, as in large cities sets at naught . the equality, simple manners and sober verities of the country. We are not like them, beset on every hand by temptations to dissi- pation and debauchery, and we have no such masses of corruption to spread a moral pestilence through the atmosphere. We have no such large collections of the refuse population of Europe-its paupers and criminals-broke loose from the restraints of govern- ment and law at home, that they may riot here in their imaginary freedom from all restraints ; who nightly disturb the peace of the community with riots and quarrels and murders; and who are ready at the call of designing politicians, to control our elections. The institution of the family, so important in the country, for its restraints and the cultivation of the social affections, is to a great extent obliterated in some of the large towns. There hundreds of children have no home but in the streets, and no associates but their fellows in the same condition. The crowded population everywhere, and the artificial conventionalisms of the more wealthy households forbid the salutary restraints and separate and undisturbed inter- course of the family circle. And thus the young grow up with the feeling that they belong rather to the great public than to the family in which they were born. These evils are not to be charged to the inhabitants generally of larger towns, but are inci- dent to, and inseparable from, their position. No more moral, pious and philanthropic men are anywhere to be found. And yet the evils exist.
We ought to bear in mind, that there is danger from this source to the whole country, and that a serious responsibility rests upon the people in the rural and agricultural districts, like the County of Addison, in relation to them. The influence of large commercial towns is gradually extending itself over the country for evil, as well as for good. The evil influence may, and should be counter- acted by an influence from the country. A large proportion of the teachers and influential professional and business inen, and of the annual increase of the population, in the large towns, are educated in, and are emigrants from the country. There is besides a constant
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125
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
intercourse and mutual influence going on between the city and country. From the distinguished advantages enjoyed by the rural districts, it is, we think, their province to save the rest of the country. Our free institutions, as every one understands, will depend on the intelligence and virtue of the people. It is therefore the first duty of all patriotic citizens of Addison County, as well for their own safety as for that of the country, to encourage and support all needed educational and religious institutions. in efficient operation.
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.
APPENDIX.
No. 1 .- CHIEF JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURT UNTIL THE NEW ORGANIZATION OF THE JUDICIARY IN 1525.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
Years in Ofice
John Strong.
Addison,
1785
1801
16
Joel Linsley,
Cornwall,
1801
1807
6
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1SOT
1303
1
Joel Linsley,.
Cornwall,
1803
1810
2
Henry Olin,.
Leic ster,
1810
182-1
14
Dorastus Wooster,.
Middlebury,
1821
1825
1
ASSISTANT JUDGES OF COUNTY COURT.
Gamaliel Painter,
Middlebury,
1785
1786
1
Ira Allen,.
Colchester,
1785
1786
1
William Brush,
Vergennes,
1786
1787
1
Abel Thompson
Panton,
1786
1787
1
Hiland Hall,
Cornwall,
1780
1789
3
Samuel Lane,
1780
1787
1
Gamaliel Painter,
Middlebury,
1787
1795
8
Abel Thompson,
Panton,
1789
1801
12
Joel Linsley,
Cornwall,
1795
1801
6
Abraham Dibble,
Vergennes,
1801
1805
4
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1801
1807
6
Samuel Strong,
. Vergennes,
1805
1808
3
Charles Rich.
Shoreham,
1807
1813
6
Henry Olin,.
Leicester,
1808
1810
2
Mathew Phelps, Jun.
New Haven,
1810
18122
2
Samuel Shepard,
Panton,
1812
1813
1
Samuel Strong,
Vergennes,
1813
1815
2
Ezra Hoyt,
New Haven,
1813
1818
5
Charles Rich,.
Shoreham,
1815
1816
1
William Slade, Jr ..
Middlebury,
1810
1322
6
Stephen Haight, Jr.
Monkton,
1818
1823
5
Elisha Bascom,
Shoreham,
1822
1824
2
Ezra Hoyt,.
New Haven,
1823
1824
1
John S. Larabec,
Shoreham,
1821
1825
1
·
/
127
APPENDIX.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
Yearsin Office
Daniel Collins,
Monkton,
1824
1825
1
Dorastus Wooster,
Middlebury,
1825
1881
6
Eben W. Judd,
" 6
1825
1829
4
Silas H. Jenison,
Shoreham,
1829
1835
6
William Myrick,.
Bridport,
1831
1833
2
Samuel H. Holley.
Bristol,
1833
1842
9
Calvin Solace,
Bridport,
1835
1838
3
Davis Rich,.
Shoreham,
1838
1842
4
Calvin Solace,
Bridport,
1812
1844
2
Fordyce Huntington,.
Vergennes,
1842
1844
2
Dorastus Wooster,
Middlebury,
1844
1846
2
*Jesse Grandey,
Panton,
1814
1845
6 mo.
*Ville Laurence,
. Vergennes.
1845
1847
2
George Chipman, Elias Bottum,
New Haven,
1847
1849
2
Calvin G. Tilden,
Cornwall,
1849
1851
2
Nathan L. Kcese,
Ferrisburgh,
1849
1851
2
Joseph Haywood,
Panton,
1851
1854
3
Roswell Bottum. Jr.
Orwell,
1851
1854
3
+Dorastus Wooster,
Middlebury,
1854
Jan. 1855
2 mo.
Erastus S . Hinman,
New Haven,
1854
1856
2
#Samuel Swift,
Middlebury,
1855
1857
3
John W. Strong, ..
Addison,
1856
1858
2
M. W. C. Wright.
Shoreham,
1857
· 1855
Harison O. Smith,
Monkton,
1858
1855
COUNTY CLERKS.
Samuel Chipman, Jr.,.
. Vergennes,
1785
1786
1
Roswell Hopkins,
1786
1803
17
Darius Matthews,
Middlebury,
1803
1808
5
Martin Post,
1808
1810
2
John S. Larabee,
66
1810
1814
4
Samuel Swift,
1814
1846
32
George S. Swift,.
1846
1855
9
John W. Stewart,
1835
1855
6 mo
Dugald Stewart,.
1855
STATE'S ATTORNEYS.
Seth Storrs,
Addison,
1787
1797
10
Daniel Chipman,.
Middlebury,
1707
1804
7
Julge GRANDY diel before June 1st, 1815; VILLE LAW ENCE was apruintel by the Governor in his place.
t Diel January 1853 .
# Appointed in place of D. Wooster
1
Ripton,
1846
1849
3
128
APPENDIX.
Names.
Re idence.
Appointed.
Loft.
Yearsin Office
Loyal Case,.
Middlebury,
1804
1808
4
David Edmond,
Vergennes.
1808
1810
2
Horat'o Seymour
Middlebury,
1810
1813
8
David Elmond
Vergennes,
1813
1815
2
Horatio Seymour,
Middlebury,
1815
1819
4
*David; Edmond,.
Vergennes,
1819
1824
5
t Noah Hawley,
1824
1824
5 mo
Enoch D. Woodbridge,
1824
1827
3
George Chipman,
Middlebury,
1827
1830
3
William Slade,.
1830
1831
1
Ebenezer N. Briggs,
Salisbury.
1821
1833
8
Ozias Seymour,
Middlebury,
1809
1845
6
George W. Gran ley,
.Vergennes,
1815
1848
3
John Prout,
Salisbury,
1848
1851
3
John W. Stewart,
. Mid Hlebury,
1851
1854
3
Frederic E. Woodbridge, .. Vergennes, .
1854
SHERIFFS.
Noah Chittenden,
Jericho,
1785
1786
1
Gamaliel Painter
Middlebury,
1786
1787
1
Samuel Strong,
Vergennes,
1787
1780
2
John Chipman,
Middlebury,
1789
1801
12
William Slade,.
Cornwall,
1801
1811
10
Jonathan Hoyt, Jun.
.New Haven,
1811
1812
1
John Willard,
Middlebury,
1812
1813
1
Samuel Mattocks,
1813
1815
2
Jonathan Hoyt, Jun.,
New Haven,
IS15
1819
4
Abel Tominison,
Vermont:cs, .
1819
1824
5
Stephen Haight,.
Monkton.
1824
1828
4
Seymour Sellich,
Middlebury,
1828
1831
3
Marshall S. Doty
Addison,
1831
1833
2
Azariah Rood,
Middlebury,
1823
1835
2
William B. Martin
1835
1836
1
Azariah Rocd,
1836
1837
1
Ethan Smith
Monkton,
1837
1839
: 2
William B. Martin,
Middlebury,
1630
1840
1
Adnah Smith,
1840
1842
2
Gaius A. Collamer
Bristol,
1842
1844
2
David S. Church,
Middlebury.
1844
Jan. 1859
14
+William Joslin,.
Vergennes, Jan. 1853
1
* Died in spring of 1824.
t Appointed by Court in place of D. Edmond.
# Appointed by the Governor on the death of D. S. Church.
.
129
APPENDIX.
HIGH BAILIFFS.
Names.
Residence.
Appointed.
Left.
· Yearsin Office
Samuel Mattocks,
Middlebury,
1798
1806
8
John Warren,.
1806
1808
2
Artemas Nixon,
1808
1810
2
Moses Leonard,
1810
1812
2
James Jewett,
1812
1813
1
Benjamin Clark,.
Weybridge,
1813
1814
1
Eliakim Weeks,
Salisbury,
1814
1816
2
Wightman Chapman,
Weybridge,
1816
1826
10
Nathaniel Foster,
Middlebury,
1826
1829
3
John Howden,
Bristol,
1829
1830
1
Marshall S. Doty
Addison,
1530
1931
1
Myron Bushnell,.
Starksboro,
1831
1883
2
Milo Winslow,
Middlebury,
1833
1835
2
Gaius A. Collamer,
Bristol,
1835
1837
2
Wightman Chapman,
Weybridge,
1837
1839
2
Harry Goodrich,
Middlebury,
1830
1840
1
Asa Chapman,
19-10
1849
9
George C. Chapman,
1849
1850
1
William Joslin,
. Vergennes,
1850
1853
3
G. A. Collamer, Brislol,
1853
JUDGES OF PROBATE-District of Addison.
John Strong
Addison,
1837
1801
14
·
Darius Mathews,
Cornwall,
1801
1819
18
Samuel Swift
Middlebury,
1819
1841
22
Silas H. Jenison
Shorcham,
1812
1847
6
Horatio Seymour,
. Middlebury,
18-47
1855
8
Calvin G. Tilden,
Cornwall,
1855
DISTRICT OF NEW HAVEN.
Ezra Hoyt,
New Haven,
1824
1829~
5
Noah Hawley,
Vergennes,
1820
1831
2
Jesse Grandey
Panton,
18:1
1833
2
Adin Hall,
New Haven,
1833
1835
2
Harvey Munsil,
Bristol,
1835
130
APPENDIX.
NO. 2.
The following statement of " Agriculture, Farms and Implements, Stock, products," &c., is taken from the census of 1850.
Addison County. Acres of improved land 248,312, unimproved 115,287. Cash value of farms $7,799.257. Value of farming implements $256,270. Horses 5,921. Asses and Mules 1. Milch Cows 10,691. Working Oxen 2,815. Other Cattle 13,248. Sheep 188,154. Swine 5,822. Value of Live Stock $1,289,608. Value of animals slaughtered $176,856. Wheat, bushels of 103,44. Bushels of Rye 20,096. Bushels of Indian Corn 175,478. Bushels of Oats 211.385. Pounds of Wool 622,504. Peas and Beans 26, 355. Bushels of Irish Potatoes 318 421. Of Barley, 149. Of Buckwheat 15,650. Value of Orchard products $41,696. Gallons of Wine 114. Pounds of Butter, 876,771. Cheese 817,149. Tons of Hay 88,793. Bushels of Clover Secd 5. Other Grass Seed 1,580. Pounds of Hops 5,962. Of Flax 1,232. Busheis of Flax Seed 51. Pounds of Silk Coccoons 76. Of Maple Sugar 205,263. Gallons of Molasses 65"). Beeswax and Honey pounas of 40,654. Value of Home Manufactures 99,618.
131
APPENDIX.
NO. 3.
The following table shows the population of the several towns in the County of Addison, at ench United States Census, since Vermont was admitted into the Union.
1701
1800
1S10
1820
1830
1810
1850
Addison
401
734
1100
1210
1306
122)
1279
Avery's Gore,.
13
29
78
Bridport,.
4-10
1124
1520
1511
1774
1480
1393
Bristol,.
211
665
1179
1051
1274
1233
1344
Cornwall
826
1163
1279
1120
1264
1163
1155
Ferrisburgh,
481
956
1047
1581
1822
1755
2075
Goshen,
4
S6
200
555
621
486
Granville,
101
185
321
328
403
545
603
Hancock,.
56
140
311
442
472
455
430
Leicester, .
843
522
600
543
633
602
596
Lincoln,
97
255
278
630
770
1057
Middlebury
$35
1263
2183
2535
3168
3162
3517
Monkton, ..
450
880
1218
1152
1361
1310
1240
New Haven,
723
1135
1CSS
1506 .
1834
1503
1663
Orwell
778
1386
1849
1730
150S
1504
1470
Panton,
220
363
520
546
605
670
553
Ripton,.
15
42
278
357
567
Salisbury,
445
614
721
907
942
1027
Shoreham
721
1417
2059
1881
2137
1675
1601
Starksboro,
40
350
720
914
1342
1263
1400
Vergennes
201
516
835
817
301
283
270
Weybridge,
175
502
750
714
$50
797
S04
Whiting,
250
404
565
609
653
660
629
7,207
14.745
21,649
21,879
26,503
25,074.
26,549
1017
1378
Waltham,.
247
24-
204
18]
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APPENDIX.
CENSJS OF 1850. WHITES.
FREE COLORED.
Males. K'ma'es. Total. Malcs. Females. Total Ag'gate.
Aldison,
659
620
1279
1279
Bridport, .
735
658
1303
1393
Bristol,
668
644
1312
16
16
32
1344
Cornwall,
576
577
1153
2
2
1155
Ferrisburgh,
1013 .
1023
2069
2
4
6
2075
Goshen,.
261
225
480
486
Granville,
314
283
603
603
Hancock,
236
194
430
430
Leicester ...
200
305
595
1
1
596
Lincoln,
564
483
1052
3
2
5
1057
Middlebury,
1730
1769
3499
8
10
18
3517
Monkton, ..
600
646
1216
1246
New Haven,
825
832
1657
5
1
6
1663
Orwell,.
727
742
1460
1
1
1470
Panton,.
287
267
554
3
2
5
559
Ripton,.
303
264
067
567
Salisbury,
526
501
1027
1027
Shoreham.
822
779
1601
1601
Starksboro,
725
675
1400
1400
Vergennes,
653
694
1347
13
18
31
1378
Waltham, ..
14
129
270
270
Weybridge,
399
405
804
804
Whiting,
311
317
628
1
1
629
13,398
13,043
26,441
5-1
54
108
26,549
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F843028
5918H
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