The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 31

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 31

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A clapboard mill owned by Brigham brother, on Shepherd's brook, was ruined. Not a mill in town escaped a good deal of injury. Many people left their houses, expecting them to be carried down the seething flood, and but one bridge of any account was left in town, and the roads were completely demoralized !

This storm seemed a local one, not doing much damage except in the towns in the Mad river basin and on tributary streams. I have heard it speculated that two rain clouds met on the mountain ridges. Be that as it may, I think two hours' rain seldom did such damage in any locality.

In the freshet of 1869, Fayston suffered less than many other towns, but several bridges were carried off, the roads cut up badly, mill dams swept away, etc.

The mill rebuilt on the site of the one swept away in 1858, this time owned by Richardson & Rich, was again carried off, but as considerable of the machinery was afterward found, Mr. Richardson deter- mined to rebuild, putting it a few rods lower down the stream. He has built a

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fine, large mill there, and feels secure this mill shall stand.

Fayston is a very healthy town. There are several living in town over 80 years of age.

[This was written in 1867.]

ELISHA BRIGHAM

was born in old Marlboro, Mass., 1792. In the common school he obtained all the education he ever had beyond the poor chance of gleaning a little, here and there, from a limited supply of books, amid a multitude of cares at home; but at the age of 12, he had mastered most of Pike's Arithmetic ; performing more examples by the feeble light of an old-fashioned chimney fire-place, than at school. So engaged was he that he often went to bed on a difficult problem, to dream it out on his pillow. From Old Marlboro, the fam- mily removed to Winchester, N. H., and there hearing of the emigration to the Winooski, and Mad River Valleys, they cast lots with the pioneers to this then wilderness country, and removed on to the tract of land owned in the present homestead. Elisha, now 16, began to take the lead in business, his father being very infirm. About half a dozen families were settled in the south part of the town, having made little openings in the forest, with no well worked road into the town. He and two other members of the family, came the first year to roll up the log-house. The next year all came on, and a family of 8 persons, several children younger than himself, seemed to be dependent on him, even so young, as a foster-father and a guardian. He commenced levelling the old forest trees, and bringing into tillage, meadow and pasturage. Early and late he toiled, and year by year the meadow widened, and the line of woods receded.

In the earliest business transactions of the town, we find the name of Elisha Brig- ham. There was hardly a year from that time till his death, but what he held some town office. But what most distin- guished him was his exact honesty. No man could ever say that he defrauded him of the least in this world's goods. He would rather suffer wrong than to do

wrong. He never could oppress the weak, as, instinctively, his whole nature prompted him to espouse their cause. And his reli- gious example was the crowning glory of the man. He was the real pioneer of Methodism in the town; for many years leader in all their social meetings, and around him grew up a thriving class. In this earlier history of the community it might well have been christened the home of the good. Class-leader and chorister, he guided them encouragingly on, and yet his manner was never exciting, hardly, even, could it be said to be fervid or warm ; but solid goodness, tenderness, and genu- ine interest in all that pertained to the soul's welfare, were manifest. The waver- ing came to him, for he never faltered ; the weak, because he was- a pillar of strength. He was a man of no doubts in his religious belief, and a man living not by emotion, but principle, and his home was one of hospitality ; particularly was the preacher his guest.

In 1816, collector, often juror and select- man, many years lister, nearly always high- way-surveyor, district clerk or committee man. In all his more active life, however, he was nearly alone in his politics, he being a thorough whig, while the town was intensely democratic. For which rea- son probably he was never sent to the Legislature of the State, as this seems to be the only office of importance which he at some time has not held.

At the age of 24, he married Sophronia Ryder. They had 12 children, but one of whom died in infancy; the rest were all living in 1863. One daughter died in July, 1866; the rest are all living, 1881. And in the fullness of affection and ten- derness all will say he was a good father. Daily he gathered them around his fam- ily altar, while they lived with him, and sought for them the reconciliation of God. He walked before them soberly, patiently, peaceably. His soul seemed like an unruffled river, gliding ever tran- quil and even in its banks almost alike in sunshine and in storm. He had no enemies ; but was Grandfather, and “Un- cle Elisha," to all the neighborhood. Even

W. W. PORTER.

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the old and young far out of his own im- mediate neighborhood, called him by the sobriquet of Uncle Elisha, and seemed to mourn for him as for a good old uncle. His family physician remarked of him after his decease, that he was " the one man of whom he could say, he did not know that he had an enemy in the world. He was a peacemaker."

ONLY A LITTLE WHILE.

BY MRS. LAURA BRIGIIAM BOYCE. Only a little while

Lingers the springtime with its sun and dew And song of birds, and gently falling rain. Aud springing flowers, on hillside and on plain, Clothing the earthi in garments fresh and new.

Only a little while

The summer tarries with its sultry heat; Showering its smiles upon the fruitful land, Ripening the harvest for the reaper's hand, Ere autumn shall the fruitful work complete.

Only a little while

The autumn paints with gorgeousness the leaves, Ere wintry winds shall pluck them from the bough To drape the earthi's dark, corrugated brow,- Then hasten, loiterer, gather in thy sheaves.

Only a little while

The winter winds shall moan and wildly rave, While the fierce storm-king walks abroad in might, Clothing the earth in garments pure and white, Ere the grim monarchi, too, shall find a grave.

Only a little while,

Life's spring-time lingers, and our youthful feet Through flowery patlıs of innocence are led, And joyous visions fill our careless head ; Too bright, alas ! as beautiful as fleet.

Only a little while

Life's summer waits with storm and genial sun, With days of toil and nights of calm repose; We find without its thorn we pluck no rose, And spring-time visions vanish one by one.

Only a little while

Ere autumn comes and life is on the wane ! Happy for us if well our work be done, For if we loitered in the summer's sun,

How shall we labor in the autumn rain ?

Only a little while,

And winter comes apace; the hoary head, And palsied limbs, tell of the labors past, And victories won-ah ! soon shall be the last,- And they shall whisper softly " he is dead."

W. W. PORTER

vas born in Fayston, July 24, 1826. He zas the 4th son of Elliot Porter and Sidney Vard, the former a native of Hartford, the itter a native of Poultney, Vt., and a aughter of Judge William Ward, judge in utland Co. 22 years.

Wilfred spent his time until he was 17 1 the farm, and attending school winters ;

at which time he commenced studying falls and springs, and teaching winters, attend- ing the academies at Montpelier and Ba- kersfield, and working on the farm during the summer months until he was 22 years of age.

As early as fifteen he had set his mind upon the medical profession for life, and bent all his energies in that direction. Having studied medicine some time pre- viously, he, at 22, entered the office of Dr. G. N. Brigham, and began the study of medicine, which he continued summers, teaching school falls and winters for 1} year, when he entered the medical college at Woodstock, where he remained one term, and afterwards at Castleton, Vt., for two terms, graduating from that college in the fall of '51, when he came to Syracuse, and entered the office of Dr. Hiram Hoyt for a short time; May, 1852, entered the school at Geddes as principal teacher for one year, and May 16, 1853, opened an office in that place to practice his profession, which he has continued until the present.

At the close of his first year, the res- ident doctor of Geddes died, leaving him in full possession of the field. Dr. Porter rose rapidly, and by integrity of purpose and dealing, grew into a very large and lu- crative practice, which he carried on for 15 years, as it were, alone, after which he had partners in the practice of medicine.

His practice gradually extended to the city of Syracuse, when, in 1875, the de- mand upon him for medical treatment from that city became so great that he opened an office there, which he alternately at- tends upon, with his home office in Geddes. He has been for 25 years a member of the Onondaga County Medical Society, and for one term its president, and a permanent member of the New York State Medical Society ; also a member of the American Medical Association, and upon organiza- tion of the College of Medicine of Syracuse University, in 1872, he was appointed clin- ical professor of obstetrics and gynæcology the first year, and at the end of the year, professor in full, which position he still re- tains.

His skill in the treatment of diseases has

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won for him a position in the esteem of the people to be envied by young practitioners, and his indomitable perseverance and en- durance of body have enabled him to grat- ify, in a great measure, the laudable am- bition of his earlier years-to be among the first in his profession. He was one of the first movers in the organization and establishment of a university at Syracuse, and since its beginning has been a trustee and closely identified with all its interests, and has been largely identified with the pub- lic schools of his town since his first resi- dence there, being supt. of the schools of the town for some 2 years, and trustee of the village school for some 25 years ; also being president of the board of educa- tion.

He and his wife are warmly attached to the Methodist Episcopal church, and are not only liberal supporters of the same, but of any enterprise they regard as look- ing to the building up of good society.

In the year 1853, Nov. 13, he married Miss Jane, daughter of Simeon Draper and Clarissa Stone, of Geddes ; children, Clara A., George D. (deceased), Wilfred W. Jr., Jane and Louie.

LONGEVITY RECORD IN 1881.

Ruth Chase died in 1865, aged 84 ; Tim- othy Chase in 1875, 93; Benj. Corliss, in 1865, nearly 91 ; Henry Morgan, 1868, 84. The wife of Henry Morgan (in Northfield), over 80 years. Her home was in Fayston. James Baird died in 1870, aged 81 ; Geo. Somerville, 1870, 80; Margarett Strong, 1870, 98 ; Elizabeth Lamson, in 1872. Her friends differed as to her age ; some claim- ed she was 104; others that she was but 102. Her husband, Jonathan Lamson, died some 20 years since, aged between 80 and 90 ; Jane. McAughin died in 1872, aged 82; Capt. Elliot Porter, 1874, nearly 90 ; Sidney Porter, his wife, 1875, 86; Joseph and Susan Marble, over 80 ; Zeviah Boyce, 1856, aged about 90; Mehitable Tyler, 1855, between 80 and 90. Elizabeth Bar- rett died in Waitsfield in 1873, aged 93. She was for many years a resident of Fays- ton, but moved to W. a short time before her death.

TOWN OFFICERS 1871-1881.

Town Clerks, Willard B. Porter, 1871 to '80; D. S. Stoddard, 1880; S. J. Dana, 1881. Representatives, 1871, none ; S. J. Dana, 1872; M. S. Strong, 1874; D. S. Stoddard, 1876; Seth Boyce, 1878; Na- than Boyce, 1880. Treasurers, D. S. Stoddard, 1871, '72; A. D. Bragg, 1875, '79; Seth Boyce, 1880, '81. First Select- men, C. D. Billings, 1871 ; Dan Boyce, 1872 ; C. S. Dana, 1874 ; Seth Boyce, 1875 ; J. Patterson, 1876; M: S. Strong, 1879; John Maxwell, 1878, '79; J. P. Boyce, 1880, '81. Constables, Cornelius McMul- len, 1871, 72 ; H. G. Campbell, 1873, '74 : C. M. Fisher, 1875, '76, '79; S. J. Dana, 1877, '78; Allen S. Howe, 1880; M. S. Strong, 1881. Grund Fury, G. O. Boyce, 1871, '72, '73, '75 ; W. B. Porter, 1874, '76; C. S. Dana, 1877, '78 ; Seth Boyce, 1879, '80 ; R. Maxwell and Wm. Chipman, 1881. School Supt., Grey H. Porter, 1871, '72, '73; Rev. J. F. Buzzel, 1874 to 1881. Trustees of the Town, Seth Boyce, 1873, '79; Geo. Boyce, 1877, '78, '80, '81. Fus- tices of the Peace, Willard B. Porter, 1872, '74, '76, '78; G. O. Boyce, 1872, '74; D. S. Stoddard, 1872, '76, '78, '80; Z. W. Boyce, 1872, '74; H. H. Morgan, 1872; C. D. Billings, 1874 ; E. Ainsworth, 1874 ; S. J. Dana, 1876, '78, '80; O. S. Bruce, J. Z. Marble, 1878 ; Nathan Boyce, Stephen Johnson, Dan Boyce, 1880.

GERSHOM NELSON BRIGHAM, M. D.,

for 20 years a practicing physician at Mont- pelier, was born in Fayston, Mar. 3, 1820, was son of Elisha Brigham, who made his pitch in F. with the first settlers. His mother, Sophronia Ryder, whose mother was Lucy Chase, a relative of the Hon. Dudley Chase [See Randolph History, vol. II], was a woman of vigorous consti- tution and an active, original mind. Sev- eral ancestors in the Brigham line have been physicians, one of whom was Gershom Brigham, of Marlboro, Mass., the old an- cestral town of the Brighams of this coun- try, the stock tracing back to the parish of Brigham in Northumberland Co., Eng- land. Dr. G. N. Brigham received his education in our common schools, with a

EM Brigham

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year in Wash. Co. Gram. Sch. and a half year at Poultney Academy, and studied medicine with Dr. David C. Joslyn, of Waitsfield, Dr. S. W. Thayer, now of Bur- lington, Prof. Benj. R. Palmer, now of Woodstock, graduating at Woodstock Medical College in 1845, attending three courses of lectures. He has practiced 3 years at Warren, then 3 years at Waits- field ; removed to Montpelier, 1849; at- tended lectures at the college of Physicians and Surgeons, N. Y., spending much time in the hospitals of the city, about which time he became a convert to homœopathy, and was the second person in middle Ver- mont to espouse the cause at this time so unpopular, and one of six who founded the State Homœopathic Society. He has ed- ucated quite a number of students in his office, among whom, his own son, Dr. Homer C. Brigham, of Montpelier, and Prof. Wilfred W. Porter, of the Medical Department in the Syracuse University. While at Montpelier he served a while as postmaster ; was town superintendent of common schools ; lectured on education, temperance and sundry scientific subjects, and has been a contributor to medical journals, and known to the secular press in essays and poetical contributions for over 25 years. He delivered the class poem be- fore the Norwich University in 1870; pub- lished in that year a 12 mo. vol., pp. 180, " The Harvest Moon and other Poems " at the Riverside Press, which with additions came out in a second edition.

The Doctor has since issued a " Work on Catarrhal Diseases," 126 pp., and re- ports a work on "Pulmonary Consump- tion," nearly ready for press ; that he has written this year, 1881, a play in tragedy, " Benedict Arnold," that he expects to publish. He is regular contributor to three medical journals, and has written for as many as thirty of the leading newspapers, East and West. He married, Ist, Laura Elvira Tyler, dau. of Merrill Tyler, Esq., of Fayston ; children, Homer C., Willard Irving, Julia Lena, Ida Lenore. His first wife died Mar. 12, 1873. He married, 2d, Miss Agnes Ruth Walker, dau. of Ephraim Walker, Esq., of Springfield. They have

one child. Dr. Brigham has resided since 1878, at Grand Rapids, Mich. His son, Dr. Homer C., is in practice at Montpel- ier. In his poetical writings-not a few- the Doctor has always inclined to the pat- riotic.

Aug. 16th, 100th anniversary of Benning- ton battle. At the meeting of the Ver- monter's Society in Michigan, at Grand Rapids, Hon. W. A. Howard delivered the oration, and Dr. G. N. Brigham, the poem. We give an extract. In our crowd- ed pages we have scarce room for poetic extracts, even, and this appears to be the musical town of the County. Such a flock of native poets, all expecting by right of manor, to sing in the history of their birth town, with the one who has written the most in this prolific field, we must begin to be brief. Haply, he has published too widely to be in need of our illustration :

FROM "THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON."

When Freedom's cause in doubtful scale Hung trembling o'er Columbia's land, And men with sinking hearts turned palc That ' galnst the foe there stood no brand, Vermont, thy banner rose.

Green waved thy lofty mountain pine, Which thou didst make thy battle sign, Then from the mountain fastness thou Didst sally with a knitted brow, And tyrants felt thy blows.

The bugle blew no frightful blast Where th' sulphrous smoke its mantle cast, For oft thy sons in forest field

The heavy broadsword learned to wield In their old border frays.

Bred to reclaim the native soil With sinewed limb and patient toil, The forest path to stoutly fend, Where foes did lurk, or wild beasts wend, No danger did amaze.

Free as the mountain air they breathe,

1 The vassal's place they dare disown; The blade from scabbard to unsheath And see the slaughters harvest sown, Ere wrong shall rule the day.

So when the midnight cry, "To arms! " Did reach them at their northern farms, They snatched the musket and the powder-horn, And shook their brand with patriots' scorn, And gathered to the fray.

Vermont, thy soul's young life was there, There from thy rocks up leapt the fire That made thy hills the altar-stair To holy freedom's star-crowned spire, While all the world did doubt. In native hearts and native blades The freeman's hope forever lives; The soul that first in sorrow wades, The most to human nature gives

In sorest times of drought.

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The hosts of Albion sleep secure, The mountain path to them Is sure, And In their dreams they wait the day To feast and drive the mob away, And forage on the town. That dream to England sealed her doom; They roused to hear the cannon boom, And see the mountaineers they scorned In serried line of battle formed, And on them coming down.

And who here making pilgrimage, When told how, with their muskets clubbed, Our sires from breastworks drove the foc, How here were English veterans drubbed By plowmen gloved in steel, Shail say, the race keeps not to-day The Spartan fire-

Shall say, if with this trenchant warp There runs not through a thread of gold; Or if the Attic salt still flows Through pulsing veins of later mold, And picdges colored wine. · .

From hence the field of Bennington With Concord and with Lexington, Upon the patriot's scroll shall blaze, And virtue's hearts proclaim her praise, Till chivalry's page shall end- Shall tell how Mars did glut his rage, How sereamed the eagle ronnd her nest, When death or freedom was the gage, While war unioosed her battle vest, And carnage rode a fiend.

. .

And where the nations strive and hope, And in the breaking darkness grope. Here may expiring faith still burn, And see the patriot's emblem turn Above this crimson sea.

From another poem on the same sub- ject :

How grand thy towering cliffs, where twines The hemlock's green to wreath thy crown; How bright thy peaks when day declines, As there thy glory settles down.

When stirred the border fend, how rang The note of war;

And where the wolf ran down her prey By grange girt in with woodland dun, The ranger hurried to the fray,

There flashed the border-guardsman's gun.

And when a mightler cause called for Thy sons to draw the sword

. ·

The bngie gave the hiils Its blast.

And men in buckskin breeches came, Their walsts sinng with the powder-horn, Their hearts with freedom's spark aflame, And battled till the STATE was born.

thy border cry Rang to the Northern cliffs for help, When Alien mustered for old TI., And drove from there the llon's whelp.

From there to Hoosick's bloody flume

Marched forth our sires with hearts aflame,

And snatched the British lion's plmne. And wrote for ns a storled name.

From a remembrance to Vermont :

O, bring the spring that plumes the glen, And hearty be the greeting; We'll think in kindness of the men Whose hearts to ours gave beating; Nor shall their armor rust Taken by us in trust.

Bathed in the noon of peace, green, green Forever, be those hills; Green where the hoar-frost builds her screen, And winter's goblet fills, The frost and cedar green!

Queen Virgin of the Ancient North, Throned spirit of the crags, Who called the sturdy Allens forth To weave thy battle-flags. We take the sprig of pine, Proud of our lineal line. Vermont! Vermont! Our childhood's home, Still home where'er we roam.

MISS SUSAN GRIGGS. BY ANNA B. BRAGG,

Many efficient teachers of our district schools have been reared and educated in this town, though the greater part have followed teaching but a few terms before commencing " life work," but Miss Griggs has made teaching the business of her life, and in years of service, number of pupils, and different branches thoroughly learned and imparted to others, has no equal here, and perhaps but few in our whole country. She was born in this town, Feb. 1814. From her earliest schooldays, her book was her favorite companion, often upon her wheel-bench, that sentence after sen- tence of some coveted lesson might be committed to memory, while her hands spun thread after thread of wool or flax, working willingly for herself and her brothers and sisters, as was the custom in those days.

When 12 years of age, her father, an earnest Christian man, died, leaving his wife and little ones to struggle along the path of life alone in God's care. But as in his life he had often said, " Susan is out student," so in all her young days after she seemed to hear his voice encouraging her to give her time, talents and life to the work of Christian education. She begar teaching in the Sabbath-school at 13, and at 16 in a district-school, where for many years her time was spent, and in attending school, as she completed the course c

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study at Newbury Seminary. In 1850, she was one of the teachers sent out to the South and West by Gov. Slade. She taught one year at Wilmington, N. C., and then went to Wolcottville, Ind., under the direction of Gov. Slade, a small village in a new town, first teaching in the family of George Wolcott, with the addition of a few neighbors' children ; then in a small school-house. The school so increased, Mr. Wolcott, the founder of the village, built a convenient seminary at his own ex- pense, furnished with musical instruments, library, apparatus, etc. Here she taught for 17 years, principal of the school, hav- ing sometimes one or two assistant teach- ers, and often a hundred pupils. Beside the common and higher English branches, there were often classes in German, Latin, French and painting, and always in music, vocal and instrumental, and always a lit- erary society, and always a Sabbath-school, in which she taught a class, and was some- times superintendent. She says "these years were full of toil, but bright with hope that minds were there awakened to the beauties of the inviting realms of purity and truth."

After a short rest with a brother in Mis- souri and another in Wisconsin, she re- sumed teaching in Fort Wayne College, Ind. ; afterward in Iowa about 2 years, and s now in Kendallville, Ind., one of a corps of 12 teachers ; 60 pupils under her charge. ' Many will rise up and call her blessed." Mrs. Celia (Baxter) Brigham, of Evart, Michigan, contributes the following for the Baxter family :

EBER H. BAXTER AND FAMILY

, an his the as in 5 our after ame to Fayston in April, 1831, and lived iere 20 years. They had 14 children ; he died in infancy. They removed to ichigan with 10 children-two remained Fayston-in 1851. Albert Baxter, eldest n, had then lived in Mich. about 6 years. nagingte has been for the last 20 years connected to the began th the Grand Rapids Eagle ; is now ed- r of Grand Rapids Daily Eagle. Albert, , and lia-Mrs. C. B. Brigham ; Rosina-Mrs. many mending B. Cadwell, now in California ; Edwin, vyer in Grand Haven, Mich .; Uri J., nurse Cryer in Washington, D. C .; Sabrina-

Mrs. S. B. Cooper, Evart, Mich. ; and Vi- enna I .- Mrs. V. I. B. Corman, Lowell, Mich., of the Baxter family, are more or less known as occasional authors in prose and poetry. Twelve children, the father now in his 80th year (1879) still survive. Ira C., sixth son, left his body on the field of Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1863. E. H. Baxter was town clerk and justice of peace in Fayston for several years.

MRS. CELIA B. BRIGHAM

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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 31

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