The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 140

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 140

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BUTLER SKETCHES -CONTINUED.

EARLY FAMILIES.

We have briefly sketched three or four early families of our town ; if space permit- ted, we might notice some others, perhaps as worthy of such distinction in the Gazet- teer. Without attempting particulars in re- gard to most of them, Stiles Sherman had a family of 12 children, several of them died young ; only one survives, Mrs. Bebee of Burlington ; she was the youngest daugh- ter. Seth Chandler Sherman was the youngest son. He took the honors of the graduating class of 1829, in the Vt. Uni- versity. A few years after he setttled in Quincy, Ill., and lived there many years, and was much respected. He died two or three years since, and with his companion was buried in the same grave. The oldest brother, when young, settled in Central New York. Heman, the next older brother of Chandler, died a few years since in Ogdensburgh, N. Y., and was buried in this, his native town. An older sister mar- ried Elam, a brother of the late Judge Dan Carpenter. He died young, and his widow afterwards married Luther Cleaves. This family consisting of a son, Sherman Car- penter, and two sisters with their parents, moved West many years ago, and lived in, or in the vicinity of St. Louis, where Mrs. Cleaves died perhaps 20 years ago, having lived some years in her second widowhood. Thus might other similarly interesting sketches of families be made. We will only give the names of many, as they oc- cur in our recollection. There were Wil- sons, Perrys, Hills, Parchers, Guptils, Atkins, several families, Cadys, Wrights,

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Fisks, Hawleys, Roods, Robbins, Stevens, Austins, Allens, Scagels, Jones, Parkers, Murrays, Woodward, several large families, Greggs, three families, Smiths, two of Pecks, John and Hiram, Henrys, several Shermans, Kneeland, Palmers, Thomp- sons, Richardsons, Georges, Eddys, Bry- ants, Towns and Demmons, and still others whose names were familiar as household words 50 years ago. Of the recent names of business men or others, there are, omitting professionals, Seabury, Selleck, Knight, Wyman, Richardson and Fuller- ton, Arms, Haines, Bruce, Warren, Ran- dall, Brown, Hopkins, Clark and Freeman, Stockwell, Davis, Cooley, Crossetts, Rem- ington, Cole, Atherton, Muzzey, King, Morse, Picketts, Moodys, Evans, Taylors, Griggs, Watts, Collins, Foster, Jackman, and others.

LARGE MEN.

Some half century and more since, our town could boast of numbering among its inhabitants several families whose name stood high in the alphabet, but who, in their corporal dimensions, stood quite as high, and in their circular measurements quite respectable ; indeed, they would hardly fall short of the more recent Moody families. The Atkinses were numerous as well as of powerful frames, altitude over 6 feet, weight over 200, and some of them were men of wit, as most were of genial humor and good mental endow- ments. Any jokes at Henry's or Albro's expense were sure to be promptly paid in ready coin.

Horace and Henry were carpenters and joiners, and the builders of the first meet- ing house in town. Capt. George, the militia captain, was with his company at the battle of Plattsburgh. David was one of the town officers in early days, and, as well, a good deacon, I doubt not, as he married my father's sister, and belonged to his church. John was a man of some peculiarities ; it was said gathered sap with one pail only, most sugar makers use two if without a team.

JERUM ATKINS, his son, has a biogra- phy we would take pleasure in giving the reader were it possible to do justice in

the brief space allotted to this closing part of the history. Suffice it to say of him, from mere childhood he had a remarkable inclination for mechanism, and soon after developed an inventive genius of superior order. He worked with Henry Carter, a millwright, some years, and went West at about the age of 19, where he became somewhat famous as the inventor of the first grain-raker attachment to McCormick's celebrated reaper. This was an important invention, to the great grain growing region, especially, but owing to want of means, and want of health, he was obliged to di- vide the value of his invention with some one able to manufacture and introduce the raker into market. By injudicious man- agement, after many had been disposed of, a change of manufacturer ruined the credit of the article, and others took advantage of this mismanagement of his manufacturer and reaped the profits of the invention. The history of Mr. Atkins is too long for these pages, and many interesting particu- lars must be omitted.

GEORGE W. RANDALL,

was born in Waterbury in 1826. Few men have had more varied experiences and the events of his youth, and adven- tures in two trips to California have trained him to self-reliance and readiness in emer gency. From poverty he has risen to wealth, and conducts an extensive busines with little help from clerks. His farming and lumbering enterprises give employmen to many ; and some of his feats in fillin orders for dimension timber upon shor notice, are surprising. His bills of lum ber sent to several different States, amour to many thousands of dollars annually.

OUR MERCHANT FIRMS

have not very much changed in the last I years. In the ten preceding there were moi changes in manufacturing, business ar merchant firms. The Colby busines somewhat divided up, a part going to Mon pelier, a part to the state of Michigan, al a part remaining. Mr. B. F. Goss, wl had been a merchant here 20 or 30 year moved to Vergennes, Mr. J. G. Stimso who commenced trade here in 1844, we

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to Norwich, his native town, we think. Both these men were prominent in busi- ness, in politics, and in church, and will long be remembered byjour older citizens. Mr. Goss became very successful in his new business, the manufacture of kaolin, in a town adjoining Vergennes. [See Montpelier, p. 471.] Of business changes at the Centre, we note that of Mr. Stock- well succeeding Mr. Hayes; Clark and Freeman continue. William Cooley con- tinues his creamery.

It would seem hardly excusable in us to pass the names of Messrs. Goss and Stim- son, after their long residence here, and having such social and business relations with us as they had, without somewhat more notice. Both Mr. and Mrs. Goss [Frank Goss, see family of Samuel Goss, history of Montpelier.] were genial in their manners, public spirited, sympathiz- ing in all the vicissitudes of life and liberal to all benevolent enterprises.

Mr. Stimson was with us a man thor- oughly schooled in business; he was in early life, we think, in partnership in trade with Senator Morrill. His oldest son, William, served in the recent war, and has since been in mercantile business in New York. His second son is a doctor in Con- necticut ; third, probably with his parents. The youngest is a missionary in some for- eign land, and is a graduate of Dartmouth ; also a theological graduate.

Mr. Stimson has built two stores here, and given much for benevolent objects and the church of which he was a member.

THE LAST FIRE IN THIS PLACE,

of considerable account, was in the night, of July 27, 1878, in a central part of the vil- lage, when 4 stores, some of them, in part, occupied as dwellings, were consumed. The owners were M. M. Knight, J. A. Burleigh, F. B. Taylor and M. O. Evans. In the first was a large stock of dry goods ; total losses about $25,000, insured about two-thirds or three-fourths. These stores in 1879 were all replaced by two brick blocks, creditable to the builders and to the village.

One of the heaviest individual losses by

fire, that ever occurred in our town, was that of Dr. Fales, May 15, 1877. The fire was not discovered till several barns and sheds, with ten or a dozen head of cattle and three or four horses, were past being rescued. The fire rapidly approached the house, and the firemen were unable to save it on account of the insufficient supply of water. This house which had been, for sixty years, one of the most conspicuous in town, has since been replaced by a much more valuable one of brick. Dr. Fales was insured to considerable amount.

LONGEVITY.

The widow of Judge Carpenter died aged 93; a Mrs. Woodward, about 95 ; Elizabeth Corlis, 94: Mr. Heaton, 96; Daniel Stow- ell, about 92; John Montgomery, living, 85; Enoch Coffran, living, 87; Moses Nelson, living, 85 : Nancy Frink, 86; Mrs. Daniels, 89 or 90 : Mr Janes died aged 87 ; Mrs. Janes, 3 months of 82 years ; John Seabury, 87 ; L. Hutchins, about 80.

1880 .- Zenas Watts, who has been en- quiring after the ages of the old people in town, says he has learned of 41 persons whose average age is over 83 years. Of this number 5 are females over 90 years. Governor Dillingham is 83 ; John Mellen, 86; Elias Parcher, 86; Mrs. Spelacy, 86; Betsey Brown, 86; Jerry Brown, 82.

TOWN CLERKS.

Ezra Butler, 1790-97, 98, 99, 1800 ; Ebenezer Reed, 1797; Roswell Wells, 1801-6; Abel Dewolf, 1806; Dan Carpen- ter, 1807-10-12-29; John Peck, 1810, 11 ; Paul Dillingham, 1829-44; William Car- penter, 1844-51 : John D). Smith, 1851-74 ; Frank N. Smith, 1874-82.

THE BANK OF WATERBURY.

The act of the Legislature chartering the Bank of Waterbury, was approved Dec. 5, 1853, and the commissioners appointed were : Wm. W. Wells. Paul Dillingham, W. H. H. Bingham, V. W. Waterman, T. P. Redfield, Rolla Gleason and Dan. Richardson. The bank commenced busi- ness Apr. 18, 1854, with the following di- rectors : Leander Hutchins, Paul Dilling- ham, Wm. W. Wells, Orrin Perkins and V. W. Waterman; Leander Hutchins,

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president, and Samuel H. Stowell, cashier ; paid up capital, $80,000. At different times the following persons were elected directors to succeed others resigned, etc. : Samuel Merriam, B. F. Goss, J. H. Has- tings, A. R. Camp, H. A. Hodges, O. W. Drew, C. N. Arms and Healy Cady. Benj. H. Dewey succeeded S. H. Stowell as cashier, Mar. 6, 1856, and served until May I, 1865, when James K. Fullerton was appointed. Sept. 1, 1865, the bank re-organized under the National Bank Act as the Waterbury National Bank, with a paid up capital of $100,000, divided into 2, 500 shares of $40 each. Officers : Leander Hutchins, president ; James K. Fullerton, cashier ; directors, Leander Hutchins, Paul Dillingham, O. W. Drew, J. H. Hastings, H. A. Hodges, C. N. Arms and Healy Cady. Mr. Hutchins served as president until Jan. 13, 1874, when, declining a fur- ther election, Paul Dillingham was chosen. Mr. Fullerton was cashier until Apr. I, 1870, when Curtis Wells was appointed. At different elections the following persons were chosen to fill vacancies in the board of directors : Nathaniel Moody, Wm. P. Dillingham and W. H. H. Bingham, and Jan. 9, 1877, Wm. P. Dillingham was elected vice president. Atthe present time the capital of the bank is $ 100,000 ; surplus fund, $30,000 ; number of stockholders, 138. W. P. DILLINGHAM.

WATERBURY MEN ABROAD.

Waterbury has sent many of her sons, or of her former residents, to other states. A few of them merit some mention. Two assisted in forming the constitution of Wisconsin, George Scagel and George Gale, both natives of this town. Mr. Gale founded a village and a university, and was a judge of one of the higher courts.

S. C. Sherman was many years a prom- inent citizen of Qnincy, Ill. Several have been among the comparatively early cit- izens of Chicago, and some have long been residents in Louisiana'. Our boys may be found in various parts of New York state and in the city, in most, or all of the New England states, in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, California, and other states in every direction, many of them being suc-

cessful farmers, merchants, doctors, min- isters, lawyers, editors, inventors and man- ufacturers, and, indeed, in most avoca- tions of life, Waterbury is represented creditably abroad as well as at home.

MRS. FANNIE BUTLER JANES,

widow of the late Hon. Henry F. Janes, died in Waterbury, Nov. 5, 1881. She was the daughter of Governor Ezra Butler, the first permanent settler in Waterbury, born Feb. 1, 1800, in the house on the Burlington road, now occupied by E. H. Wells. There in her childhood days she had given refreshment to the soldiers going to the battle of Plattsburg, and her ears had listened to the cannon thunder of that combat. Before her father's door Gov- ernor Van Ness had halted to introduce LaFayette. In 1826, she married Mr. Janes. In sight of her birthplace, beneath the shade of the two great elms on the site of her son's new residence, their mar- ried life was wholly spent. The great elms were little trees then, a child could clasp them. She passed her declining years peacefully with her son, Dr. Henry Janes, and a brother, Russell Butler, Esq., survives her. In these centennial years we think our nation is growing old until we stand by the graves of the aged ; then we are impressed with our country's youth, for how much of its history one such life can span !

THE STAR OF NATIONS,

Is the title to an unfinished religious poem of length, that Mrs. Julia Wallace Hutch- ins has long had under way :

O, Morning Star, in the Old World's east, Beyond the storm-cloud's wreath,

When the thunder lowers on the Himalay, And the earthquake sleeps beneath,

How dark would be the coming hour, Thy single ray withdrawn,

Till the thunder wake, till the tempest break, In the day of Esdrælon;

Till the rocks be rent, and the wrath is spent, O, Star of Hope, shine on. J. M. W.

The space is filled left for Waterbury, i was thought we would only have materia for, when our compositors had set all th copy in, and had to enter Woodbury ; bu we will give, in 3d appendix later, a fer more papers received since, than can b entered here.

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WOODBURY.

BY HON. FERNANDO C. PUTNAM.

The early history of Woodbury is some- what obscure from the absence of any re- cord of its organization. In 1804, there was a deed recorded by Wm. West, town clerk, by which it may be inferred that the town had been organized.

First settlement was commenced in the east part of the town, and settlements were continued to the east and southern parts of the town several years,-or until 1809 or 10, when Nehemiah and Nathan Jack- son, two strong, athletic men, moved from Randolph, and settled on the west side of the mountain. The first saw-mill was built in the south part of the town. near the Sabin pond, on a stream running from Dog pond. Soon after, there was a saw and grist-mill built half a mile south of the Center, on a stream running from Long pond .

Polly Sabin was the first female child born in town, Frederick Ainsworth the first male child. Wm. West was doubtless the first town clerk, and one of the first justices of the peace; Elisha Benjamin the first representative.

COMFORT WHEELER, settler and Revo- lutionary soldier, little is known of his early life, or when he was engaged in the service of his country ; but it is told of him when recruiting service was going on in Massachusetts, he was considered quite too small to enter the army, but securing a block, he placed himself in the midst of the crowd on this, and when the recruiting officer observed him, he said of the boy, if he had so much energy as that, he would take him. His last years were made com- fortable by a pension.

Capt. JOEL CELLEY among the early settlers, a man of energy and persevering effort, did much to give character to the town ; was representative several years, and held many town offices. He was a shrewd farmer, and was reported to have one of the best farms in the county.

JABEZ TOWN came here when the town was yet young, and resided for years in a log-house, and maintained his family by

hard labor ; was a shoemaker, and made boots of a superior quality, which afforded him some income ; but after the invention of a last-machine by his son, Abner Town, yet a minor, the sales of his lasts gave him a good income, which furnished him ample means for the remainder of his life.

CHARTER.

August 16, 1781, the Legislature of Ver- mont granted a charter of the town of Woodbury to William Lyman, Esq., and Col. Ebenezer Wood, and their associates as follows :

Joshua L. Woodbridge, Seth Murray, Elihu Murray, Israel Chapin, John Stone. Benjamin Sheldon, Samuel Cooke, Elisha Porter. John C. Williams, Thomas Hunt, Nathaniel Edwards, Ezra Phillips, Nahum Edgar, Asahel Pomeroy, Park Woodward, John Woodward, Asa Woodward, William Potter, Benedict Eggleston, Thos. Wood- ward. Joseph Clark, Henry Champion, Jr., Epaphroditus Champion, Thomas Miller, Joel Day, Anne Hathaway, William Gould, Nathaniel Chipman, Stephen Pearl, Joseph Jay, Thomas Tolman, Oliver Wright, Daniel Wright, Samuel Clark, Stephen Jen- kins, Zebina Curtiss, Abel Adams, Moses Gifford, Thomas Chittenden, Timothy Brownson, John Fassett, Jr., Noble Ever- ett, Jonathan Brace, Gustavus Walbridge, Rodolphus Walbridge. Caleb Benjamin, John Knickerbocker, Daniel Benjamin, Howel Woodbridge, Samuel Bishop, Noah Smith, Daniel Smith, Israel Smith, Chloe Smith, Simeon Hathaway, Shadrack Hath- away, Jale Hathaway, Jonathan Burrill, Enoch Woodbridge, John Burnham, Timo- thy Follett, Silas Robinson.

A copy of the charter and original grantees was obtained from the State rec- ords as recorded in the first Book of Char- ters of Lands, pages 166, 169, dated at Montpelier, " 31st day of May, A. D. 1805." Signed by David Wing, Jr., Sec- retary of State.

Certified as follows :

" This may certify that the above and foregoing is a true Copy of the Original Charter of Woodbury.

Attest, ELIPH. HUNTINGTON,

Proprietors' Clerk."

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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

This town was called Woodbury, for the name of Col. Ebenezer Wood, one of the original proprietors.

The first action of the original proprie- tors was to lay out the town into three di- visions, of which there is no record of the time, or by whom it was done, as will appear, as the notice of the first meeting of the proprietors was signed by Reuben Blanchard, a justice of the peace of Peach- am, dated Aug. 8, 1804, to be held at the dwelling-house of Daniel Smith, in Wood- bury, Oct. 8th, after. At said meeting Daniel Smith was chosen proprietors' clerk, and it was voted to lay out the whole of the undivided lands into lots of 100 acres each, in the same form in which the first division was laid, and John W. Chandler and James Whitelaw were chosen a com- mittee to make said allotment. The above meeting was adjourned to Nov. 20, and again adjourned to May 25, 1805, when Eliphalet Huntington was chosen proprie- tors' clerk ; Daniel Smith having previously moved out of town; and it was voted to accept the plan and field book of the west- erly part of the town reported by their committee, and it was voted to assess a tax of $2.60 on the 2d and 3d division rights, to defray the expenses of surveying and lotting the 2d and 3d division of said town, and other incidental expenses, and Jonathan Elkins, Esq., was chosen col- lector. This meeting adjourned to June 4th, following. At this time the allotment of the 2d and 3d division having been completed, Mary Kenaston, an indifferent person, was chosen to draw the lots of said divisions ; James Whitelaw, Esq., was chosen a committee to look up and procure the records of the former proceedings of the proprietors of Woodbury relative to their former divisions. Notice of the next meeting was signed by Jabez Bigelow, a justice of the peace of Ryegate, dated July 26, 1805, to be holden on the first day of October, following; at said meeting, the proprietors' clerk reported that the original plan and draft of the first division of lots in the town of Woodbury cannot be found, though considerable pains had been taken to obtain the same, and a new one was

submitted and accepted, and it was voted " that it shall hereafter ever be considered the draft of the said first division as be- fore stated." Jonathan Elkins, Esq., of Peacham, was appointed collector to collect the $2.60 on each right of the 2d and 3d division, unless paid immediately to him at Peacham, the same would be sold at public auction for said tax and costs, which sale was at the dwelling-house of Joshua Kenaston's in Woodbury, on the first day of October, A. D. 1805 ; attested by Jon- athan Elkins, Jr., collector. At this sale John W. Chandler of Peacham, purchased about 50 lots for the sum of $3.32 per lot, being the amount of the tax and costs which he and his heirs have since sold from $50 to $200 per lot; the aforesaid first division was surveyed by one Cham- berlain into lots of 100 acres each, being in all 91 lots, commencing to number at the S. E. corner of the town, counting east and west, each lot being known by its number and survey. The balance of said town was surveyed by Nathan Janes, being designated as " Janes' survey," containing I 33 lots of 100 acres, each commencing to number at the S. E. corner of the 2d and 3d division, counting east and west, same as in the first division.

The first settler in the town was Gideor Sabin, who located in the east part, in the year 1795, or '96, and was followed the same year by Joseph Carr, and soon afte by William West, all locating in the east erly part of the town ; and according to the best information to be obtained, th next who located in town was in the yea 1801, when Benjamin Ainsworth and Joh: Bettis located in the south part of th town. The first 12 settlers are as follows Gideon Sabin, Joseph Carr, Wm. West Benjamin Ainsworth, John Bettis, Ephrair Ainsworth, Thomas Ainsworth, Ezekie Ball, Daniel Rugg, Ferdinand Perry Daniel Smith, and Samuel Mackres.

The first town meeting on record wa Mar. 4, 1806, when said officers were cho: en : moderator, Samuel Mackres; Wn West, town clerk and treasurer; selec men, Samuel Mackres, Joshua Kenasto1 and Smith Ainsworth ; constable, Benj

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min Ainsworth ; listers, David Rugg, Josh- ua Kenaston and Smith Ainsworth ; grand- juror, Joshua Kenaston. At a subsequent meeting, there was a committee appointed to look up the early records of the town ; but their labors were unavailing, and they were discharged, The oldest deed now on our records is dated Oct. 10, 1804, attested by Wm. West, town clerk.

The first birth in Woodbury was Polly Sabin ; the second, Timothy Thomas : the third, Peter Sabin. The first death, that of an infant child of Gideon Sabin. The first grown person dying in town was the wife of Ezekiel Ball. The first mar- riage was John Thomas to Ruamy Ains- worth, married by William West, Esq., justiće of the peace.

MIL.L.S.

The first settlements being made on the east side of the town, adjoining Cabot. the inhabitants went there to get their logs sawed and grain ground, and also their store goods and mail, and which has been continued to the present time, it being their nearest business place ; but soon after settlements were commenced in the south part of the town. In 1806, Anthony Bur- gess built a saw-mill on a stream which has its rise, or is the outlet of Dog pond, and empties into Sabin's pond, this mill being near the pond. This stream is about 3 miles in length. For many years there has been 4 saw-mills on it. all kept in run- ning order. In 1818, Phineas K. Dow built a saw and grist-mill near the center of the town, on a stream which has its rise in Long pond, emptying into the Sabin pond, near the other, which mill under his supervision did a fair business many years. He also built, soon after, a saw-mill on a stream running from East Long pond in- to Nichols pond. Some portion of the time since there has been 10 saw-mills, which number is now reduced to 6, three of them recently built on improved plans. There is one grist-mill, which is located at South Woodbury. There are in town a wheelwright shop, which has an enviable reputation, doing a successful business, sales amounting to near $10,000 per an-

num; a sash, blind and door shop, and a last-factory, the latter having been estab- lished nearly 50 years, is now doing a good business-the best ever done, employing both steam and water power. There are also 3 lumber mills, which do an extensive business, one at the Centre, one at South Woodbury village, and one in the east part of the town ; also, at So. Woodbury there is a machine shop, which manufactures J. W. Town's patent last-machines, also job work on a small scale.

SCHOOLS.

The first school taught in the town of Woodbury was by Sally White, in the year 1808.

The first record we find was in 1812. when three districts, which had been formed out of the new territory, and were desig- nated as the northwest. southeast, and northeast school districts; but there had been short terms of school before this date in all of these districts, commencing at the northeast district, now No. 1; this portion of the town being first settled ; next southeast, No. 2; northwest, No. 4. There was in 1812, in district 3, 73 schol- ars; in 1820, dist. 6, 176; 1830, dist. 9, 299; 1840, dist. 11, 363: 1850, dist. 11}, (fractional dist.,) 350; 1860, dist. 11, 330 ; 1870, dist. 10, 308.

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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 140

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