The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 105

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064

USA > Vermont > Washington County > Montpelier > The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier. > Part 105

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Mr. Steele bought his farm of Nathan Morse in 1829, for $3,700, but } acre cleared, and moved on about April, draw- ing his goods on a hand-sled about 2 miles, as there were no roads. His small log-house was covered with hemlock bark, and he had to build a fire on the ground in the center of the house, the smoke going up through a hole left open in the roof; oiled paper was put up to slits in the logs to admit light, and a blanket hung up for a door. They had 3 children at the time. He came from Brookfield to Northfield.

WARREN RICE, born in Claremont, N. H., Dec. 24, 1794, married Judith Johnson, in Cornish, and moved to North- field in 1821 ; children : Ruhanna P., Al- mira T., Arial K., Willard A. Mr. Rice died Nov. 29, 1845.

Edward Ingalls, writing in the Argus and Patriot of this family, says :

Mrs. Rice's mother lived to be 98 years old, and could read without spectacles at that age. At one time the men folks were all gone, and Mrs. Rice was left alone with Mr. Rice's father and mother, they being infirm and unable to do anything for themselves, and an invalid son of her own, who was also helpless. The wind was blowing strong from the north-west at the time. Mrs. Rice thought she heard a crackling like fire. Looking about to see what it was, she found the roof of the house in flames, and burning smartly. She carried water quite a distance into the attic, and put the fire out in the inside so she could open the scuttle, when she

climbed out on the roof and put it out there also.

DAVID R. TILDEN,

writer of a "chronicle on the war made on Gov. Paine and the friends of the pro- jected railroad route through Northfield," published in the Montpelier Watchman- see Mr. Gregory's for pages 161-164 .- He was born in Williamstown in 1800, resided some years in this town, had three wives, one son Ai N., by his first, 5 children by his second, and two by his third. He died in Plattsburgh, N. Y., in 1847.

FRANK PLUMLEY.

born in Eden, was reared on a farm, and had no other advantages than farming boys generally have; for several years taught school in districts and academies both East and West; in 1866, entered the law office of Powers & Gleed, at Morrisville; in 1867, the Law Department of Michigan University, and also pursued a selected course of the Literary Department of that University, and in 1869, was admitted to practice law at the Lamoille County Court ; June following, came to Northfield, and entered the law office of Hon. Heman Carpenter ; Jan. 1870, the firm of Carpenter & Plumley was formed ; dissolved by lim- itation in 1876; Dec. 1877, became senior partner of the firm of Plumley & Johnson. In 1871, Mr. Plumley married Lamina L. Fletcher, of Eden, then preceptress of Northfield Graded School, and they have 2 children, Charles Albert and Theodora May.

[Mr. Plumley prepared the history of Eden for vol. II of the Gazetteer.]

SOME OF THE EARLY ANECDOTES OF THE TOWN.

BY HON. HEMAN CARTENTER.

Capt. Henry Knapp, one of the early settlers in the southwest part of Northfield, that part set from Waitsfield, was a well- to-do farmer, just in all his dealings, want- ing just what belonged to him, and with a due regard to the rights of others. This trait of his character was well brought out by a little incident that occurred about 40 years ago. His farm lying near the base of the mountain between Waitsfield and Northfield, the sheep-pastures and folds

ea M Mr kn of for rese rece and qua Pois 2 yea A

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were liable to be visited by bears which some seasons were very destructive to the sheep in that neighborhood. About 1839, or near that time, a great hunt was planned. The inhabitants of Roxbury, Warren, Waitsfield and Northfield were to assemble under their respective commanders. The Roxbury forces under the command of Esquire Orcutt ; Warren forces under Capt. Sargent ; Waitsfield forces under Capt. Campbell, and Northfield forces un- der the leadership of Capt. Samuel Duns- moor. The preliminaries being previously settled, the forces took up the line of march at a given hour. It was a bright October day. Capt. Knapp put up teams in his stable, and went to the hunt. Heman Carpenter, a Mr. Timothy, and Mr. Gla- zier put up their teams in the Captain's stable. After a tiresome day, climbing precipices and crossing ravines, they reach- ed Capt. Knapp's home just at dusk, tired and hungry as bears, but "nary " a bear was seen that day. The three gentlemen above named, called at the house of Capt. Knapp, just as the family were about to sit down to their supper. Mr. C. inquired of the Captain if he and his friends might sup with them, assuring him that he should be paid. "O, yes," said the Captain, " cer- tainly." They sat down ; there was a plen- tiful supply of fried pork, potatoes, brown bread and new cider, and better justice was never done to the eatables. Supper over, Mr. Carpenter says to the Captain, " what is to pay ?" The Captain replied, "that he should charge 123 cents for each horse, and should charge Mr. C. 12} for his sup- per, and the other gentlemen 10 cents each for their supper," adding, "I think Mr. C., you eat a little more than they did." Mr. C. thanked him for his kindness, ac- knowledged the justice and reasonableness of the demand, paid the bill and departed for home. In 1847 and 1848, Mr. C. rep- resented the town in the legislature, and received the cordial support of the Captain, and in consideration of the fitness and qualifications of the Captain, Mr. C. ap- pointed him justice of the peace for those 2 years.

Northfield, was a man of strong build and dark complexion. He began his "clear- ing " near the east line of the town next to Williamstown, and as was the custom in those days, a bell was hung with a strap around the cow's neck, and the cow turned into the woods to browse. One night his cow did not come up, and he could not find her. The next morning he renewed the search, and finding her trail, followed it through the woods, and in the afternoon came into a clearing in the town of Wash- ington. He was discovered by the owner of the clearing, and taken for an Indian, the man in great fright ran for his log- cabin, screaming, "The Injuns are com- ing!" "The Injuns are coming!" Mr. Robinson followed to the cabin door, how- ever, and succeeded in satisfying the in- mates he was no " Injun," but an honest settler of Northfield in pursuit of a stray cow, and finding it, he returned home through the woods, a distance of about 8 miles, contented that no worse thing had befallen him than to have been taken for an Indian.

Rev. Joel Winch [see biography, page 622], was a very shrewd, jovial, homespun kind of a man, full of fun and anecdote. He was a good farmer, and a pretty good preacher. He would work the six days, and on Sundays preach in school-houses in the surrounding neighborhoods. On one occasion he was holding forth in the school-house near the head of Berlin pond. It was haying time, and the sturdy tillers of the soil filled the house, and being wearied through the labors of the week, and having confidence in the good elder at the helm, his congregation had mostly re- clined their heads to take a gentle snooze. The Elder, discoursing upon the fall of Adam, described in the 3d chapter of Gen- esis, stopping short, and casting his eyes deliberately over the sleepy congregation, taking in the situation, cried out at the top of his voice, " Adam, where art thou ?" The sleepers awoke, surprised and aston- ished, looking at each other with amaze- ment. The preacher resumed, and there was no more snoozing in the congregation

Amos Robinson, the first settler of that day.

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About 1833 or '4, the Congregational society in town had arranged to settle a young minister by the name of Furguson, and it was said their purpose was to ap- propriate the ministerial lands in town to the use of their denomination. To head off this arrangement, and to secure the lands to the use of schools, it was arrang- ed to settle Elder Winch over the Uni- versalist society, and for him to deed the lands to the town for the use of schools. Accordingly, Elder Winch was installed over the Universalist society according to the usages of that denomination, and he deeded the lands to the town, for the use of the common schools.

The Elder for several succeeding Sun- days preached to his new society in the " old yellow meeting-house " at the Center village, on the east side of what is now the " burying-ground." On one of these Sab- baths the Elder was discoursing with great earnestness and eloquence upon the de- generacy of the race and the hypocrisy of the times, when he rounded off a climax by saying : "My Christian friends, I tell you there is more church lumber than church member in this sinful world." This utterance was characteristic of the Elder, and was original with him.

[ The newspapers had out a few years since another Northfield anecdote. A farmer in Moretown, it seems, took his fatted hog after slaughtered to Northfield to sell. The Northfield butcher in a fit of generosity patronizingly said the hog being such a fine one, he would make him a pres- ent of the head, which he accordingly did, then weighed the hog minus the head and paid for it. It took the unsophisticated seller a number of days before he could settle it in his head how the butcher could keep his usual health under such a chronic attack of generosity, but he saw the point at last, and found he had not only sold pork, but himself a little, also.]

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. FROM HON. JOHN GREGORY.

To show how the different societies in Northfield stood as to numbers when the law required the legal voters to express their preference where the ministerial

money should be distributed, from the town records the report of the committee :

June 3, 1823, division of ministerial money as follows :

Methodist Society $12 83

Congregationalist Society. 8 42

Restorationist Society . 17 24

Free Will Baptist Society. 13 23

Christian Society. 5 61

Division for 1825, as follows :

Free Will Baptist Society $7 62

Congregationalist Society 6 II

Restorationist Society . 14 33

Christian Society. 4 27

Methodist Society 25 00

Oliver Averill, Nathan Green, Virgil Washburn, Joel Winch, Harry Emerson, committee ; Elijah Smith, town clerk.

THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE,

at the Center village, was the first one built in this town, and was completed in 1820; building committee: Amos Rob- inson, Charles Jones, Freedom Edson, Nathaniel Jones and Oliver Averill.

At a meeting of the proprietors, Apr. 6, 1820, for selling the pews, it was voted one-fourth the value be paid in money, and the other three-fourths in stock or grain, and that the house should be com- pleted by the first day of November, and at that time a payment of money and stock to be made. The whole number of pews, 50, were all sold at public auction save 12, for $760.

The division of time for each denomina- tion reported by the committee was as follows :

The Methodist Society, first Sabbath in each month except February and March ; the Restorationist Society, the third Sab- bath in each month and fifth in August ; the Congregational Society, fourth Sab- bath in each month except March and August ; the remainder to the Free Will Baptist Society.

Josiah B. Strong, Oliver Averill, Na- thaniel Jones, Joel Winch, committee.

This first house built in Northfield for religious worship was of humble preten- sions, painted yellow, and there being no steeple or cupola upon it, it resembled a barn very much, and hence became a bye- word, and was called by the irreligious "God's yellow barn." In process of time other churches, more expensive and de-

a at to e Me cla nan clas wer Ric ols, T appo then Vers

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sirable, were built in town, and this plain but comfortable old-fashioned meeting- house was sold to the Catholics, and placed upon the land in the Depot village given them by Gov. Paine, where with some new improvements it made a respect- able appearance.

[ Whereupon some Catholic wag of the day wrote : ]

AN IMPROMPTU : "GOD'S YELLOW BARN."

It had the hue of gold In its color in the earlier day, And it was named In rather of an irrellglous way; The wicked Protestant boys called it a house for cattie, That Is, called It barn ! what a barn 's for certaln- naughty tattle !

And God's ! who did at length, It seems, vindicate hils claim-

So it had a regeneration and bears, at last, a Catholic name.

Ah! little did he know who painted It- that odd fellow, It had the teint of the Pope, Pat,-the Pope's flag is yellow.

Was it prophetic ? the Purltan's brush made it gold- enly so ;

That beautiful, radlant, peerless color of the sun ! Instead of some dull and clod-like, and pitiful dun; Only He who sees the " beginning and end may know;" He did know; but It "looks respectable " now, says Gregory, John;

Removed from "ye old grounds," "some new Im- provements made upon."

[" The little old yellow meeting-house," that was, soon however, was burned-by lightning, whereupon the joke seemed to return upon the author of the impromptu- who it seems took it silently. See Catho- lic record, later.]

METHODISM IN NORTHFIELD.

BY REV. A. C. STEVENS.

Northfield was first settled on East Hill in 1785, by Amos and Ezekiel Robinson and Stanton Richardson. One of these, at least, Stanton Richardson, belonged to the Methodist church. It was not how- ever till some few years later that the first Methodist class was formed. The first class-leader was William Keyes. The names of those who were members of this class, as near as can now be ascertained, were -- William Keyes, leader, Stanton Richardson, Elijah Smith, Joseph Nich- ols, and their wives.

The first Methodist preacher formally appointed to Vermont was Nicholas Sne- then, in 1796, to what was then known as Vershire Circuit. It is probable, how-

ever, that the Methodist itinerant had be- fore this date preached the word of life within the bounds of this State. The General Conference of 1800 placed the whole of Vermont, New Hampshire, Can- ada, much of Connecticut, and all of New York east of the Hudson, in the New York Conference. This large territory was divided into districts. Pittsfield Dis- trict embraced New York city, the whole of Long Island, extended northward, em- bracing Vermont, and stretching far into Canada. It was, however, not till about 1804 that regular Methodist preaching was sustained in Northfield, when the Barre circuit was formed, embracing some dozen towns, of which Northfield was one. The first regular Methodist preachers in the the town were Elijah Hedding and Dan Young ; but little is recorded of the latter ; One, however, who remembers him, speaks of him as " tall and slim in person, full of zeal for the Master, much like Stonewall Jackson in appearance." The other, Eli- jah Hedding, became afterwards well known as one of the bishops of the M. E. Church. The preaching service was held in the barns and log-houses of the people. The preachers would come around once in two or four weeks, as the extent of the circuit would admit. It was not till 1820, the first meeting-house was erected in town, a "Union Church," built at the Center village-"the old Yellow Meeting- house." The Methodists had the privi- lege of occupying it a part of the time. The names of but few of the preachers to 1820 can now be recalled by the older in- habitants of the town.

Soon after Hedding and Young left the circuit, Eleazer Wells and Warren Bannes- ter were preaching to the scattered flock in demonstration of the Spirit and with pow- er. Elder Beals and the eccentric and stir- ring Joel Winch were preachers of that early day. Elder Branch, David Kilborn and Elder Streeter, Rev. Mr. Southerland, also, a good preacher from or near Boston, came up into the wilderness to seek the lost sheep. The Union church was com- pleted in 1820. About this time, Elder J. F. Adams was on the circuit. Under

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his labors there was a sweeping revival, -whole families were converted.

From 1820 to 1830, the preachers on the circuit, as far as now can be ascertained, were : 1823, Wilder Mack and Elder Ma- hew ; 1824-5, John Lord and David Les- ley. Lesley was a massive built man, height some 6 feet, 4 inches,-A man of faith and zeal. Horace Spaulding also preached here before 1830.

In 1827, C. D. Cahoon and Chester Levings were on the circuit. Then follow- ed William McCoy, C. R. Harding and Eleazer Jordan. Most of these devoted men have gone home. 1830-40, John Nason and F. T. Dailey traveled the circuit. John Nason is spoken of as a "powerful man, burning with zeal, who had warm friends and bitter enemies." Under his labors another revival swept over North- field. About this time, the name of Elisha J. Scott appears as one of the ministers on the circuit, a young man of earnestness and piety, and this being his first appoint- ment. The names of Haynes Johnson, then a young man, Washington Wilcox, Ariel Fay, a great worker, Moses Sander- son, J. A. Scarritt and Samuel Richardson appear among those stationed here; and Elder Cowen, and about 1835, John Smith, more widely known as "Happy John," then a young man, preached on the circuit. Few who have seen or heard "Happy John" will ever forget him. He was a man of medium height, compactly built, with a bright eye, and a voice as clear and ringing as a trumpet. At camp meetings he was in his element. He was not a great preacher, but frequently one of the most powerful men in prayer and ex- hortation that Vermont Methodism has known.

In this decade Northfield is put down in the Minutes as a station by itself, able to support a minister all the time-with a membership between 300 and 400.

1840-50: From 1820 to 1842, the Meth- odist church in Northfield worshipped in the " Union meeting-house," or in private houses. In 1842, Gov. Paine, who had built a church at the " Depot Village " for the accommodation of the workmen in his

factory, gave the Methodists the privilege of occupying this house as their place of worship. A. T. Bullard, one of the fath- ers in the Vermont Conference, was the stationed preacher that year. During the decade the following ministers were sta- tioned at Northfield : A. T. Bullard, John Currier, J. H. Patterson, A. Webster, A. G. Button, John G. Dow. The most of these men are now living. They have done noble service, and their names will be inseparably connected with the history of Vermont Methodism.

1850-60 : At the beginning of this dec- ade H. P. Cushing was stationed at North- field. During his pastorate the " Paine meeting-house " became too small to ac- commodate the worshippers, and was en- larged. W. J. Kidder succeeded Mr. Cushing. The sudden death of Governor Paine occurred in 1853. His church was thrown into the market and sold at public auction, and bought by the Congregational Society, and the Methodist Society lost their place of worship. But their courage was equal to the demands of the hour. Cheered and led on in the work by their earnest and wide-awake pastor, W. J. Kidder, the foundation of a new church was laid on Main street, during the month of May, 1854; and dedicated to the wor- ship of Almighty God in December of the same year. The ministers who followed Mr. Kidder to 1860, were E. A. Rice, W. D. Malcom and I. McAnn.

1860-70: The pastors of the church during this decade were A. L. Cooper, J. A. Sherburn, S. H. Colburn, J. Gill, and R. Morgan. During Mr. Morgan's pasto- rate the church was enlarged and beauti- fied, rendering it now one of the best churches in the Vermont Conference.

The next decade (1870) opens with the pastorate of A. C. Stevens, the present pastor of the church. During the entire history of the M. E. Church in Northfield a revival spirit has prevailed among both pastors and members. It has now a mem- bership of between 200 and 300, a church valued at $12,000, a parsonage valued at $2,000.

The officers of the church now are : Pas-

81. Ro and chu

d fa b th

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tor, Rev. A. C. Stevens ; class-leaders, S. V. Richmond, Hosea Clark, John Wil- ley, Eli Latham, Hugh S. Thresher.

METHODIST RECORD, 1870-1878.

BY REV. W. J. KIDDER.

A. C. Stevens, pastor 1870-71-72; W. R. Puffer, 1873; W. D. Malcom, 1874; A. B. Truax, 1875-76-77; O. M. Bout- well, 1878.

For many years there has been a flourish- ing Sunday-school connected with the church. H. R. Brown is superintendent, with 23 officers and teachers, 200 schol- ars, and 300 vols. in the library. The present membership of the church is : Pro- bationers, 24; in full membership, 320 ; total, 344.

Several ministers have been raised up here, prominent among whom was Paul C. Richmond, many years a member of the Maine Conference, who, after a long and successful ministry, a few years since crossed the dark river, and went triumph- antly to his reward ; and others are still in the field gathering sheaves for their Master in the Vermont, New England and Provi- dence Conferences. In the year 1870 a perpetual lease of a piece of ground was secured for camp-meetings, and by an act of the Legislature, the Central Vermont Camp-Meeting Association was incorpo- rated, with power to hold all the property necessary for the purpose of holding camp- meetings, or any other meetings of a re- ligious character, Sunday-schools, picnics, or temperance meetings, and all such prop- erty to the amount of $10,000 is to be frce from taxation. This ground has been fitted up at an expense of some $2,000. Several cottages have been erecte ! thereon by the different societies of the Montpelier district, and by private individuals as family residences, and camp-meetings have been held on the ground annually, we think with good success.

H. W. Worthen was pastor in 1879, 80, 81. In 1879, the members residing in Roxbury were organized into a Society, and their connection with the Northfield church ceased.

The present membership of the church

is as follows: probationers, 42; in full membership, 185 ; total, 227.

Northfield, Jan. 19, 1882.

UNIVERSALISM IN NORTHFIELD. FROM REV. JOHN GREGORY'S BOOK.

At an early day many prominent men manifested a desire to have Universalist meetings in town, and consequently an occasional meeting was held, as a preacher of that faith came along and desired to ad- dress the people. School-houses, private houses, barns and groves were used by the early pioneers of Universalism, the friends feeling it a blessed privilege to oc- cupy such humble places, where they could listen to the preached words. Tim- othy Bigelow was the first man we have any account of addressing the citizens of Northfield, on the subject of Universal- ism. We learn by the town records that he was ordained in Barnard, Sept. 21, 1809, by the Universalist Convention, Thomas Barnes being moderator, and Hosea Ballou, clerk. He commenced preaching in Northfield about that time, and there are those now living who re- member him.

No record has been preserved of the Universalist preachers who labored in this section up to 1821, when the union meeting-house was built in the Center vil- lage, and the members of that order, by contributing to its erection, claimed as large, if not the largest portion of it for holding their public ministrations. We learn that Father Palmer, who had for- merly been connected with the Christian denomination, became a believer in “the restitution of all things," and preached with great unction and power in different parts of this town. Father Farwell, of Barre, a devout man, preached as oppor- tunity presented in Northfield and vicinity, and had great success in making pros- elytes to that faith. On dwelling on the love of God, he would frequently be so carried away with his feelings that he would cry and laugh at the same time, and men and women of other names were led to admit that he was honest in his feelings ; that he believed his doctrine was the power of God unto salvation.

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The Universalist church in the Center village was built in the summer of 1841, Jesse Averill. Harvey Tilden and Joel Parker being the building committee. Fathers Streeter, Palmer, Sampson, E. Ballou, A. Scott, and other Universalist clergymen took part in the dedicatory services. For a time it was quite a sub- stantial building, and although up to this day a majority of the pews are held by this order, others of weaker means are al- lowed to use it for funeral occasions, and occasionally on the Sabbath, without charge. But time, the great leveller, has written decay upon its walls, and soon it will be numbered with the things that were.

Rev. L. H. Tabor was the first preacher employed after this house was built, and he labored here but half the time, being engaged the other half at Plainfield. Rev. Alanson Scott followed him in 1843, and was the first clergyman of that order who resided here. Rev. R. S. Sanborn succeed- ed him, preaching a short time, and since him other preachers supplied the desk one- half or one quarter of the time, until the new church was built at the Depot village, when the old one was abandoned entirely by those who built it.

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The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 105

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press Number of Pages: 1064

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064