The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 107

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 107

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This place received occasional visits from the Rev. Fathers O'Callaghan, Daly, Drolet, Maloney and Coopman, O. M. I., before any permanent mission was estab- lished. Father R. J. Maloney purchased an old meeting-house in 1855-the old Yellow Union Meeting-house-which was the first meeting-house built in the town. See page 649. He had it removed to a lot which had been given by the late Gov. Paine for the benefit of the Catholics, and which has been and still is used as a burying-ground. Rev. Z. Druon, then of Montpelier, attended this parish every other Sunday from 1856 till 1864. Father Druon commenced remodeling extensively the old church in 1863, which was finished

by Rev. F. Clavier, and dedicated in Oct. 1870, under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. This church was burned by light- ning-entirely consumed, July, 1876; the loss, however, mostly covered by insur- ance. Father Clavier also purchased, immediately after his appointment as pastor of Northfield Catholic parish, a fine resi- dence, on which, in 1875, he built a large chapel adjoining his own house for week day services. It is used now on Sundays as a temporary church till the new church can be erected. Rev. Z. DRUON.

Aug. 21, 1876.

The Bishop of Burlington writes : "The present pastor of Northfield, Rev. John Galligan, came to reside in that village Oct. 1876, and the present handsome church edifice which he erected was blessed on Oct. 24, 1877."

The newspaper record of the time : " The Catholic church, of wood, 513 x 125 ; a 125-foot spire ; which will seat about 600 ; cost about $10,000 ; upon Vine street ; was blessed according to the Roman ritual ; high mass by Father Casey, of St. Albans. Te Deum by choir, and sermon by Rev. Father Cunningham, of Middlebury, his text being from Psalms : 'I love the house of God and the place where his glory dwelleth.' A collection of $300 was then taken. A large number of prominent clergymen were present from various parts of the State. The church numbers from 600 to 700 communicants, and is in charge of the Rev. John Gallagher, for 10 years priest of the parish at Waterbury.

JUDGE ELIJAH AND GOV. CHARLES PAINE, who were not Northfield men by birth, and one not even by residence, but who did more for the town in its early settle- ment and aftergrowth than any other cit- izens. Judge Elijah Paine, the leading spirit among all the settlers in this vi- cinity, did not live in our town, but on our very borders, just over in Williams- town, which town has already the honor of having his biography-written up by the Paine family, recorded upon her page of history in this work, vol. II, p. 1150-but it is our privilege, and a very pleasant

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duty, to record his interests, and his heart was always largely with Northfield. He built the first grist and saw-mill and factory in this town. Full of energy and enterprise, just the man to clear up a new country, he had much to do with the be- ginnings of Northfield, and induced many others, sturdy and responsible settlers, to come into this town. His factory, says Mr. Gregory, which he built in Northfield when a wilderness, 180x42 feet, with 6 sets of woolen machinery, cost $50,000 ; employed from 175 to 200 workmen, and indirectly several hundred more.

The proprietors of Northfield, at a meet- ing held at Burch's Inn, in Hartford, Vt., 2d Tues. of Nov. 1784, voted he should have the privilege of pitching 200 or 400 acres of land in Northfield at his option,

on condition he would build a good saw- | to mill on horseback in the " Mill woods,"

mill in said Northfield within 18 months, and a grist-mill in a year. He built the mills, in what is now called the mill woods on the road to Williamstown, and the re- mains are lying in the water near the bridge that crosses over to the poor farm. The ravine is one of the wildest and most romantic places we know of, and the very last place (with our abundance of water- power), that would be selected at the present day for that purpose. For many years this place was the only one in town where milling was done. Customers who came quite a distance frequently brought their grists upon their backs, or on horse- back. Vehicles were few in those days. Occasionally a " one-horse shay " was seen, and the early settlers did not think it be- neath their dignity to go to mill or meeting in an ox-cart.

Judge Paine cleared the first land in Northfield, near his mills, which was sub- sequently owned and occupied many years by John Averill, and then by D. T. Av- erill.

The Judge had rare executive ability, and could manage a gang of men with success, making everything count to his advantage and profit. He kept from 1400 to 1500 sheep, and worked his wool into flannel and broadcloths. In the haying season it was no uncommon thing to see

30 or 40 men in the field, all steady at work, for the owner was around with his eyes open, seeing that they earned their wages. Many clever anecdotes are told of him. His punctuality was proverbial. On a time when the inmates of his house had all retired, he remembered he had not paid a note due Mr. Ainsworth, of Wil- liamstown, on that day, and going to the chamber door he cried out. " John, John, get up and harness my horse." Before twelve at midnight the note was paid. Upon Mr. Ainsworth's saying, " You need not have taken the trouble to come to-night, to-morrow would have answered," the Judge replied, in his quick, nervous style, "Did I not promise to pay it to-day?"

Hon. Daniel Baldwin lived in Ber- lin, on Dog river, when a lad, and went when but few buildings had been erected on the route. When he had become a merchant in Montpelier, Judge Paine call- ed upon him for the loan of $1,000 for a few days. He said that amount was due him at Washington for his services as United States Judge, and he had expected it every day for some time, and would return it as soon as he could get it from the govern- ment. Baldwin told him he would loan it . to him if he could be sure and have it at a given time, as he should then want it to buy goods with in Boston. The Judge promised that he should have it, and re- ceived it, but not hearing anything from him up to the day previous, Baldwin made arrangements to go after his goods, think- ing he would call on the Judge on his way, and get his money. But as he was about taking the stage, he looked out of his store, and saw the Judge hurrying along to be " on time." He had the money, and made explanation : He had waited for it until the day before, but not receiving it, as expected, he went to Woodstock some 40 miles and obtained it. He paid Baldwin according to agree- ment by going without sleep, riding all night, traveling not far from 80 miles in order to keep his word good, so punctual was he in his business transactions.

Men are now living in Northfield who

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can well remember the time when a log cabin was put on wheels, improvised by Gov. Paine, and drawn to Burlington, July 12, 1840, in the days of " Tippecanoe and Tyler too." It was a unique affair, and attracted immense attention by its novelty, and one of our most esteemed cit- izens remembers tapping a barrel of cider and dispensing it to the distinguished crowd who rode inside of this rustic ve- hicle. We take an extract from an article written by De Witt C. Clark, editor of the Burlington Times, giving a graphic de- scription of the celebration. He says :

But what attracted most our attention, next to the imposing display of numbers, was a beautiful log cabin from Northfield, mounted on wheels and drawn by 12 su- perb grays, decorated with flags and fes- toons. This team, we are told, belongs to an honest yeoman in Brookfield, and is ordinarily engaged in transporting produce to Boston ; but, said the patriotic owner, this is the proudest load that ever my team was attached to, and to the country the most profitable. Without rein or check, these noble steeds promptly responded to the "Gee up!" "Whoa, Dobbin !" of the brave mountaineer who directed them, and when we saw them proudly treading our streets and doubling the shortest cor- ners, with a rural tenement large enough for a country school-house, we could not help exclaiming, in the language of the old song :

I've often thought, if I were asked Whose lot I envied most, What one I thought most lightly tasked, Of man's unnumbered host, I'd say I'd be a mountain boy, And drive a noble team, wo-hoy! Wo-hoy! I'd cry. Now by yon sky

I'd sooner drive those steeds Than win renown, Or wear a crown, Won by victorious deeds.

The cabin itself was a very fine one, constructed of peeled logs, 20 x 10 feet, covered with bark, fitted up with paper curtains, a rough door. and a leather string, which hung out. The antlers of a noble stag graced one peak, while the outer covering of some unlucky coon stretched upon the gable bespoke the fate of sub-treasurers and cornfield poachers. This tenement, too, was well filled with the early tenants of log cabins, and bore this significant motto : " The people are coming !" Exclamations were heard from . every rank by the surrounding thousands,

with three times three for old Washington, Paine and the Northfield cabin.

GOV. CHARLES PAINE.

[For his early life see Williamstown, in vol. II.]

[From Mr. Gregory's History of Northfield.]

" To Hon. Charles Paine we are in- debted, first, for our beautiful Depot vil- lage, which was the center of the first rail- road projection in our Green Mountain State. This being the headquarters for the " Vermont Central," the shops were here located by his influence, and had Provi- dence lengthened his life to this day, we can imagine what great prosperity would have blessed our town. Well may North- field consider Charles Paine her great ben- efactor. No other man in Vermont could have interested, like him, Peter C. Brooks, Harrison Gray Otis, and others, men of great wealth, to favor the project of build- ing a railroad in this Mountain State at that time. Having been the Chief Magis-' trate of Vermont, and becoming aequaint- ed with these leading minds, while in col- lege, he carried an influence that but few, if any, could, and which brought him di- rectly into intimate relations with the best men in New England, and the road was built.

Many citizens of Northfield will remem- ber with what rejoicing ground was broken near the depot by Gov. Paine, for the Vt. Central Railroad, the spade he used being still preserved by the railroad officials. This was Jan. 8, 1847, and the first train came into Northfield depot, Oct. 11, 1848, at 20 minutes past 9 o'clock, P. M., con- ducted by Charles Paine Kimball.

[Nov. 4, 1848. The Governor made the first excursion on his new railroad, which is thus described in a letter to his wife the next day by Gen. D. W. C. Clarke :

An hour ago I returned from Northfield, from the excursion on the Central Railroad, yesterday. We left Montpelier-the Gov- ernor, and about 200 members of the Legislature, Secretary of State, and other dignitaries- a few minutes after 7 o'clock, yesterday morning, and at half-past nine left Northfield, in a special train for Leba- non, 53 miles-the whole length of the Central road now opened. In two hours,

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ten minutes, we found ourselves at Leba- non. We remained a little more than an hour, undergoing the hospitality of Mr. Campbell,-the great Bridge-Making En- gineer, who built the bridge across the Hudson at Troy-and arrived at North- field, again, a little after 3 o'clock, P. M., having travelled from Montpelier about 116 miles.

No persons were admitted to the special train provided by the Governor for this Legislative excursion, excepting specially invited ; and very few special invitations were extended. Ex-Governor Eaton, Professor Benedict, Mr. Brainerd of St. Albans, Mr. Upham, and a few others. There were about 250 on the train, and probably, two-thirds of them had never before seen a railroad. This class of leg- islators (?) was very inquisitive about the

whole matter, asking a thousand questions that a well-informed boy might as well have answered. . . But I only want to tell you about my participation in the excursion : In the cars between Northfield and Bethel, I wrote off a song for the occa- sion, which, for its local allusions and hits, was received with great good feeling, and which Mr. Houghton, Mr. Shafter and I had to sing, tolerably often, before we got back again. I really don't think it worthy of publishing abroad. But Fred Houghton made a copy which will probably appear in the Tuesday's Boston Atlas. I say this to you, to invoke your charity for me, and my vanity, or good nature in con- senting to have it printed. But I did, and " there is the end on't."

Caroline (the Governor's sister,) is now on a visit to the Governor's. She

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wanted to go with us on our excursion over the road, but as there were no other ladies on the train, she declined.

A long and glowing description of the new railroad, and the first great excursion ride of the Vermont Legislature upon it, appeared in the Thursday issue of the Bos- ton Argus, following, if we rightly remem- ber, filling a page or more of the Argus, and with the impromptu song born of the ride-which it was stated in the paper was sung some thirty times aboard the train, going and returning, at the flush feast of Belknap-his grand dinner to the Legisla- ture-which was sung more and more up- roarously as on waxed the hour.

" THE RAILROAD SONG.

WRITTEN BY GEN. CLARKE ABOARD THE CARS BETWEEN NORTHFIELD AND BETHEL.

Tune-" DEAREST MAE."

We took an early start to-day, And braved a rough old ride, To reach the place where PAINE, they say, Wins people to his side ; The iron-horse was breathing gas In the " sequestered vale,"

And every one ambitious was

To ride upon a rail !

Hurrah! Hurrah!

For Governor P'AINE, the Rail-er ! He builds his roads o'er rocks and hills, AND GOES FOR GENERAL TAYLOR!

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! If it don't beat all natur'!

To see the " wisdom and the virtu'" Of our great Legislatur'

A riding through the hills and vales, From Northfield to the river, On Governor Paine's new-fashioned ralls! I'mever! did you ever?

Hurrah! Hurralı! &c.

I tell you what it is, old boys, This ride we are not loth in, Especially when we do the thing Free gratis and for nothin'! And when, besides, the dinner comes On just such terms again,

I'd like to know who will not sing, Hurrah for Governor PAINE! Hurrah! Hurrah! &c.

I wish to introduce a bill- I offer it quite humbly, And move Its passage through these cars, By this 'ere J'int Assembly :- Section 1 provides that PAINE Shall have the right to go

With his old Railroad where he will; He'll do it whether or no ! Hurrah! Hurrah! &c.

The 2d section has a clause, As sharp as any cat's, That when old BELKNAP comes along, We'll raise our cotton hats,-

Because he has a rough old way In that old pate, 'tis said, Of doing things when he takes hold; They call it " GOING AHEAD! " Hurrah! Hurrah!

For BELKNAP, high and low ! He goes ahead because, you see, He's got a lead to go !

In section 3, It is declared, That that 'ere long man, MOORE, Who straddles this old iron horse, And brings us through secure, Shall be the Chief old Engineer, By special legislation, Of this 'ere J'int Assembly here,- As ZACH shall of the nation! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Let's make the echoes roar!

Though other roads are safe enough, The Central Road is MOORE!

In section 4, it Is set down, That 'mong these mountain ridges, The name of CAMPBELL shall resound : The HERO OF THE BRIDGES! And that the man to carry out A project very mighty,

And show that "it Is bound to go," Is that 'ere same "OLD WHITEY!" Hurrah! Hurrah! Let's keep the chorus humming! For word has passed along the line -- That same old " Campbell's coming! "

As an amendment to the bill It's moved to add a section, Which has a tendency to raise A rather sad reflection :- It Is that Governor PAINE do seek- (Why, what's the man about?)

To keep the family on earth- The race must not run out! Hurrah! Hurrah!

For PAINE, the bachelor ! The wonder groweth every day, What's he unmarried for ?

Amendment 2d is proposed :-- It is to make provision That shall our thanks to CAMPBELL show With very nice precision. He has a head that's great to plan, A will that never flinches :

We wish you'd find a bigger man Than CAMPBELL, of his inches. Hurrah! Hurrah!

For "Whitey," brave and true! His heart goes fitly with his head ? So say I-what say YOU? .

Now if the President will rise, And put the thing to vote, I'd like to know your sentiments Upon this bill I've wrote; And so, to end the matter well, Before we take a glass,

I hope you all will answer " AYE! " And let the old bill pass. Hurrah ? Hurrah!

Please put this vote agaln; All you who are affirmative, Hurrah for Governor PAINE!

P P ab

an ed les wh

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1 think I may declare the vote- I'll do It if you will,

And now announce to this J'int House The passage of the bill;

It Is before the Governor- We care for no Veto-

- If Governor PAINE won't sign the act, Our COOLIDGE will, we know! Hurrah! Hurrah! &c.

It now is moved that we adjourn, And in the usual way ;

For plain it Is, at this late hour, We break up " without day;" And when we'reach our homes again, We'll tell the wondrous tale,

How PAINE las rode this J'int

Assembly on a roll!

Hurrah! Hurrah! &c.

As for the title of our blll. It is decreed to be :-

" An act to lighten public cares, And aid festivity."

So now farewell to Governor PAINE, To BELKNAP, CAMPBELL, MOORE! This J'int Assembly is dissolved; 'Twas liquorfied before!

Farewell! Farewell!]

Gov. Paine felt an interest in education and religion. He donated the land on which was built our Academy, and $500 in money, and gave the institution an excellent apparatus. His executors donated (that is he gave in his will), the Catholic church the land for their church and cemetery. He gave the land for Elmwood cemetery, according to his expressed desire before he went to Texas, and he built the church in the Depot village, now occupied by the Congregational society, from his own funds, wishing to have a convenient place for the people to attend meeting. By all which we see the desire of his heart for the wel- fare of his race.

The Rev. Ezra Gannett, D. D., of Boston, remarked, in preaching his funeral sermon :

The early life of Charles Paine was passed under circumstances suited to pre- pare him for the part he afterwards filled. Born almost on the commencement of a century remarkable for its control of me- chanical agencies, and the development of popular institutions, he entered on the period of his vigor at a time for the favor- able exercise of his peculiar abilities. His father, the late Judge Paine, was one of the most honorable citizens of the State, and merited the respect which was award- ed him. The influence of his home doubt- less laid the foundation of that character which in subsequent life raised the son to

a not less conspicuous position. Amidst the green hills of his birthplace he breath- ed the air of a manly freedom and a vir- tuous energy. Nature spoke to him in her clear and sweet tone, and he listened in the uncorrupted delight of youth. Sur- rounded by a yeomanry that have ever maintained a frank independence, in union with honest industry, intelligent, brave and hospitable, free from the vices of suburban communities, and strong in their local attachments, he acquired the traits which ripened into a wise and noble man- hood. The love of his native State, the inborn passion of every son of Vermont,lost none of its fervor as his judgment grew more mature. He loved her mountains and her streams, her history and her people ! At the age of 17 he became a member of Harvard college. It was there my acquaintance with him began, and there that the bonds of friendship, which 4 years of various fortunes served but to strengthen, were knit between him and his fellow-students! Among them was not one who regarded him with any other feel- ings than those of respect and esteem. Thirty-five years after," added Mr. Gan- nett, " they first met in the halls of Cam- bridge ; nearly one-half of the surviving members of his class were assembled, by his invitation, around the board, which was spread with an ample hospitality. I recall that scene with special interest, for it shows me the host and friend happy in the sympathy of an occasion which he made delightful to others. I see his erect form, his open face, his princely demeanor. I hear his words of cordial greeting, and feel no painful obligation, since I am sure of his enjoyment of the re-union, for which we were indebted to him, whose hand we shall never grasp again, for the ineffable recollections of that day.

Governor Paine was not a man of pro- fessions. His words were not many, and they never were uttered to secure admira- tion or to forestall an impartial judgment. It is not strange, therefore, that he said little on the subject of religion. But such actions as speak more loudly than words attest both the reality and the character of his faith. This edifice is a memorial of the value he set on the institution of public worship, and an unsectarian administra- tion of religious truth. On this point he was strenuous and consistent. The most emphatic disapproval of dogmatic exclu- siveness which he could have left, as well as the most decisive testimony to his faith in the great Christian truths, is given in the paper by which he makes a final dis- position of his property.

This remarkable document contains also

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unimpeachable proof of that disinterested concern for the good of others, and that desire to see all classes of the people en- joying the means of knowledge, virtue and happiness, which I think gave to his char- acter its largest claim on our fond remem- brance. As a testamentary provision, I should not be surprised to learn that it is without a parallel. Brief but distinct in its language, it is as peculiar for the mod- esty as for the liberality which it evinces. Leaving all details to the friends in whom he reposes the utmost confidence, and avoiding any suggestion that might have the effect of connecting his name with the uses to which his bequests may be put, he only requires of those whom he appoints as trustees that, after assisting such per- sons as they may think have any claim arising from consanguinity, friendship, or obligation incurred by him, they ' use and appropriate whatever property he may die possessed of for the best good and welfare of his fellow-men, to assist in the improve- ment of mankind ; recommending that they do it without sectarianism or bigotry, ac- cording to the intention of that God whose will is found in the law of the Christian re- ligion, in which,' he adds, 'I believe and trust.' What could be more characteristic or admirable ?

The manuscript from which I have quoted bears a date somewhat distant from the present time. But if evidence were need- ed that he retained the same feelings to the close of his life, it is furnished, to say nothing of other facts, by an incident which I am permitted to relate. A short time before his departure for Texas, Mr. Paine was reminded by a friend that he had never made an explicit declaration of his religious belief, and was requested to say what doctrinal tenets he had adopted. After a moment's hesitation, he took from his pocket a slip of paper bearing the stains of age and use, which he gave to his friend, and said, ' There is my creed :'

"Abou Ben Adhem-may his tribe increase- Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the presence in the room he said, "What writest thou ?' The vision raised its head."

" And with a look made all of sweet accord, Answered, 'The names of those who love tlie Lord.' 'And is mine one ?' said Abou. 'Nay, not so,' Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still, and said, ' I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow men.' The angel wrote and vanished. The next night It came again, with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blest, And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest."

This admirable sermon concludes : "A gloom hangs over the village in the warm summer's day. The sky is clear, and. the air is healthful ; yet every aspect of nature

is sad, and the scene around us impresses us like a funeral monument. And such it is. Our hearts cast their own shadows upon the landscape. We have come to lay the remains of him whom we loved in the grave. He died far away from us, and far from the spots that were dear to him, but we could not leave his dust in that dis- tant land. The hope, tenderly expressed in their first anguish of bereavement, is realized :

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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 107

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