The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 48

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 48

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1833, John M. Currier ; 1834, John M. ustin ; 1835, B. H. Fuller, J. Wright ; 36, J. Wright ; 1837-8, John Gregory ; 39, J. Wright, J. Boyden ; 1840 to 1866, i Ballou ; 1867-70, J. O. Skinner ; 1871, Ballou.

UNITARIAN CHURCH AND SOCIETY.

There had been occasionally missionary forts for this denomination, but no stated aching and permanent organization

until after the coming of Rev. C. A. Allen in 1865. A church and society has been formed, consisting of Universalists and Unitarians, and a handsome church edi- fice has been erected on the corner of Main and School streets, called "The Church of the Messiah." The list of min- isters embraces but two names : Rev. Chas. A. Allen began his labors in Mont- pelier in 1864, and remained here 5 years, receiving leave of absence for a year in 1869, and resigning his charge before that leave had expired. Rev. J. Edward Wright became pastor in 1869, and is now (1881) in charge.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1842, a church of this denomination was organized, consisting in part of mem- bers dismissed by request from the first Congregational church, among them being the first rector. A small church edifice was immediately built, and in 1867-8, an- other elegant one on State street, near the centre of the village, which superseded the first. It is called " Christ Church." The list of rectors is as follows :

1843-49, George B. Manser ; 1850-53, E. F. Putnam; 1854-65, F. W. Shelton ; 1866-8, D. C. Roberts ; 1869-70, Wm. J. Harris ; 1871-79, A. Hull ; 1880 and since, H. F. Hill. [An additional paper is prom- ised by the rector, Rev. Mr. Hill .- Ed.]

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

No record is found of regular ministra- tions according to the forms of the Cath- olic church for any considerable period previous to 1850, but there had been fre- quent visitations before that date, notably by " Father O'Callaghan," of Burlington. The old court house was first converted to the uses of a church, and was again con- verted into the priest's residence, when a convenient brick edifice had been erected near the State House, now known as “ St. Augustine." The congregation is the largest in the town, being gathered from Montpelier and neighboring towns. The clerical list is as follows, gathered from Walton's Register :

1850-53, Hector Drolette ; 1861-63, Z. Druon ; 1864-81, J. M. P. Duglue, in whose

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absence Father Savoie officiated. [Anad- ditional paper will be given hereafter .- Ed.]

LITERARY INSTITUTIONS, NEWSPAPERS, &C.

The history of the common schools-at least until the establishment of a graded school by the union of all the districts in the village-is that of every other town of like population, and need not be given. Preliminary to a notice of the chartered literary institutions in their order, four so- cieties designed to supplement the formal schools are worthy of notice.

LIBRARIES AND DEBATING SOCIETIES.

The first was a Circulating Library, of about 200 vols., established in 1794, and lo- cated in the centre of the old town, probably under the care of the late Parley Davis. One feature was the exclusion of all novels as well as all religious books, thus limit- ing the selection of books to works of history, travels, biography, the sciences, philosophy, agriculture, mechanics, and such poetry as was admissible under the rule ; and the second was the establish- ment of a similar library in the village, Feb. 28, 1814, which was not quite so ex- clusive in character. Both libraries ex- isted for many years, and were undoubtedly useful to all who were disposed to profit by them. The third was a literary society formed about 1807, for theme writing and debate, called " The Franklin Society," of which the apprentices in the printing- offices and other mechanical trades were the members. Its rules required gentle- manly language and deportment ; and one who was an originator of the society, (the late Gen. Ezekiel P. Walton,) informed the writer that all the members became intelligent, valuable and influential cit- izens, except one alone, who was expelled for profanity. Another society, with the same name, existed in 1828. A similar but small society was in existence some few years, dating also from about 1828, and with like results ; at least three of the members became editors, two of them Members of Congress at the same time, and another a judge of the superior court

of one of the large Western States .* Th fourth was

" THE MONTPELIER LYCEUM,"

formed Nov. 18, 1829, which was contil ued for several years. Its design wa " mutual improvement in useful know edge," and the means were, by addresse lectures, essays, reports upon assigne topics, and oral debate upon selected que tions. The members were not only tl young people of both sexes from tl schools, but also professional men, me chants and mechanics of all ages. Tl lad in his teens met his minister, 1 teacher, his doctor, or the judges and la' yers of the village, in public debate, ar all were encouraged to take part in the e ercises. The fruits were indeed "ir provement in useful knowledge," and t. art of imparting knowledge ; making go writers and keen debaters, sharpening tj intellectual powers, educating in all t members a taste for whatever is excelle and useful in literature and science, a inspiring a zeal for personal and pul improvement. Its first president, and pre ably its originator, was the well-below principal of Washington County Gramr School for 12 years-the late Rev. Jo than C. Southmayd.

WASHINGTON COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHO

Nov. 7, 1810, Montpelier Academy 1; incorporated, the name being changed) 1813 to Washington County Grams School, and endowed with the rents of Grammar School lands. The first ac,- emy building was of wood, 44 by 36 t

on the ground, and two stories in heigl. It was located on what is now the triar on Main at the intersection of Spring stri, near the " Academy bridge." This bu - ing was burned in 1822, when a more co- modious brick building was erected, wlh was used until it was superseded by e larger and still more commodious UIn School building, erected at the heaof

* Three of the graduates from Gen. Walton's pit- ing-office were serving in Congress at the same in 1857-'59-two as Members of the House from M . chusetts and Vermont, and a third. hailing frda Western State. in the post-office of the House ad afterward in the Clerks' Department, and as master in the Army in the Rebellion war. Two graduates from that office became clergymen of bd reputation.

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School street in 1858-9. The principal instructors of the Academy and Grammar School, until its union with the Graded School, were: James Whorter, James Dean,* Joseph Sill, Benton Pixley,ț Ira Hill, Thomas Heald, Justus W. French,} Seneca White, Heman Rood, John Stev- ens, Jonathan C. Southmayd, J. B. East- man, Augustus A. Wood, | Aaron G. Pease,§ Calvin Pease, { J. H. Morse, M. Colburn, Geo. N. Clark, ** Davis Strong, Horace Herrick, J. E. Goodrich, Charles Kent and C. R. Ballard. Others were temporarily employed, and among them was the late Hon. Joshua Y. Vail, in the early years of the school, and Robert Hale in the later ; and in the interim between the destruction of the first academy building and the completion of the second, the want of an academy was measurably sup- lied by a classical school under a Mr. Sherard. For many years, dating from he preceptorship of Mr. Southmayd, Washington County Grammar School was, mong others of its day, of the very high- st reputation in the State, sending out as eachers, clergymen, lawyers, physicians nd public men, a long roll to the high onor of the institution and its instructors.

MONTPELIER UNION GRADED SCHOOL.

Prompted in part by a bequest of $1,000 7 Hezekiah H. Reed, land was purchased ply sufficient for school purposes for any generations, and a school-house ected at a cost of $19,000, when, under e general statute and special acts passed 1858-9, the four school-districts in the lage were united into one Union School trict. The special acts gave full powers respect to the course of study, and with nion of Washington County Grammar

School with the district, a course was adopted embracing all studies necessary, from the primary to the highest grades re- quired for admission to colleges and the highest institutions for the education of females. Thus was formed a Union and Graded School, which has endeared itself to children and parents, and is an honor and a source of just pride to the town. The principals have been : 1859-61, M. M. Marsh; 1862-71, Daniel D. Gorham ; 1872-74, C. W. Westgate ; 1875-77, J. E. Miller ; 1878-9, A. W. Blair ; 1880, W. W. Prescott ; 1881, H. R. Brackett.

NEWSPAPERS AND AUTHORS.

The first newspaper established in Mont- pelier was The Vermont Precursor, by Clark Brown, in November, 1806. Mr. Brown had not been fortunate as a preach- er, having failed in a few months, and he was little more fortunate as publisher, since he sold his paper in less than a year to Samuel Goss, the first proprietor of The Watchman, which was afterwards, from January, 1826, the Vermont Watch- man & State Gazette, and from Dec. 13, 1836, and still is, the Vermont Watchman & State Journal ; and the oldest newspa- per in Montpelier. The real germ of the Watchman, however, was not the Precur- sor, but the Green Mountain Patriot, es- tablished at Peacham, Feb. 1798, by Sam- uel Goss and Amos Farley, and discontin- ued in March, 1807, the year in which Mr. Goss moved his office to Montpelier. The editors of the Watchman have been Sam- uel Goss, Ezekiel P. Walton, E. P. Wal- ton Jr., [so known to the public, the true name being Eliakim P. Walton,] Joseph & J. Monroe Poland. The period of Mr. Goss was from 1807 to 1810; of Mr. Wal- ton senior until about 1830, after which his brother Joseph S. Walton assisted for awhile, and E. P. Walton Jr. until Sept. 1853; the latter was editor and proprietor until Jan. 16, 1868, and editor until Mar. 1868; and from March 1868, the Messrs. Poland were in charge until J. M. Poland retired. During the 40 years of service by Walton, senior, the business of book-pub- lishing and selling was connected with the

Afterward Professor of Mathematics in the Uni- Vsity of Vermont. [See vol. I, Burlington Paper on t University by Prof Clark-Ed.]

Clergyman iu Williamstown and missionary among t Western Indians.

'lergyman in Vermont, New York and New Jer- S 'lergyman in New York.

lergyman in Vermont.

Professor and President of University of Vermont, died while pastor of a Presbyterian church at

T lester, N. Y. [See biography of, by brother of P ident Pease, vol. I, this work-Ed.]

Professor in University of Vermont, and now yman and Secretary of the American Board for ign Missions. [See Paper by him on U. V. M.,

., Vt. Hist. Gaz .- Ed.]

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newspaper, and for several years after his sons had become of age, the business was greatly enlarged by uniting under one management the newspaper, job and book- printing, paper-making, book-binding, and book-selling, making one of the most im- portant business establishments in the town, and furnishing support to a greater number of families than any other at the time.

The next newspaper in point of time was The Freeman's Press, by Derick Sibley, or Wright & Sibley. The germ of that paper was, it is supposed, The Weekly Wanderer, commenced at Randolph in Jan. 1801, by Sereno Wright, and discon- tinued in 1811 ; or possibly was removed to Montpelier and re-issued as "The Free- man's Press." In D. P. Thompson's list of business men, however, the names of Wright & Sibley do not appear until 1815. They may have come earlier, and probably did, as Rev. John Gridley's History fixes the date "about 1813." The latter was the Jeffersonian Republican as the Watchman was the Federal organ, until "the era of good feeling" came to Montpelier in 1818, when Jonas Galusha received all the votes of Montpelier except one. The "Press" was discontinued about that time-possi- bly before 1817, leaving "the Watchman" sole occupant in the field. Mr. Sibley re- moved to Rochester, N. Y., where he was highly esteemed, and a son of his-possi- bly a native of Montpelier,-has been one of the most successful men of this country in telegraph companies.

The next newspaper in the order of time was the "Vermont Patriot & State Gazette," established Jan. 17, 1826, by George Washington Hill & Company. It was in- tended to be the organ of the Jackson par- ty (since called Democratic) in Vermont, as was Isaac Hill's "Patriot" in New Hampshire. The "Vermont Patriot" was continued for some years by its founders ; from 1834 by Geo. W. Hill and William Clark ; from 1839 by Jeremiah T. Mars- ton ; from 1848 by Eastman & Danforth ; from 1854 by C. G. Eastman, and the ad- ministrator of his estate, from whom the paper passed to E. M. Brown, and short-

ly after was merged in the present "Argus and Patriot," published and edited by Hi- ram Atkins. The dates given above, ex- cept as to the birth of the "Patriot," have been taken from D. P. Thompson's list of business men, and may not be entirely accurate, though it is believed they are nearly so. Mr. Hill did not possess the editorial tact of his distinguished brother, and employed others to do the chief edito- rial work, and most prominent among the several so employed were Horace Steele and Hugh Moore-Steele, the author of "The Indian Captive," (omitted from Za- dock Thompson's list of Vermont books,) and Moore a poet of no mean rank. Botl Marston and Eastman were able editors and Eastman was the sweetest of Vermon poets.

"The State Journal" was established Nov. 1, 1831, by Knapp & Jewett-Chaun cey L. Knapp, a graduate from the Watch man office, and Elam R. Jewett. The "Journal" was continued until Decembe 1836, as the organ of the Anti-Masoni party, and was then merged in the "Watch man." Mr. Knapp was the chief editor and after filling State offices in Vermon and Massachusetts, and serving four year in Congress for the Lowell, Mass., dis trict-1855-59,-he is now in harnes again as editor of a daily newspaper i Lowell. Mr. Jewett was for a long tim connected with the Commercial Advertise of Buffalo, N. Y., and has retired from th newspaper business with an ample fortune but is yet engaged in a lucrative busines kindred to "'the art of arts."

The Voice of Freedom was establishe in January 1839, by Allen & Poland, wit C. L. Knapp editor, an anti-slavery new: paper, which was continued until 184: and then removed to Brandon. It wa succeeded in 1844, at Montpelier, by th "Green Mountain Freeman," by Josef Poland, which is now published by He bert R. Wheelock. The editors have bee Joseph Poland, Jacob Scott, Daniel ] Thompson, Sidney S. Boyce, Charles W Willard, J. W. Wheelock, H. R. Whe- lock, and H. A. Huse. [See paper later The "Christian Repository," organ

Str

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the Universalist denomination, was started in Woodstock as "The Universalist Watch- man" in 1829, by William Bell, and re- moved to Montpelier about 1836, and its title changed. For most of the period of its publication in Montpelier, Eli Ballou was the editor and he was also publisher, under the firms of Ballou & Loveland, and Ballou & Son. It was merged in a Boston paper in 1870, having been edited for the three preceding years by J. O. Skinner.

The "Christian Messenger," [see account of by Rev. J. R. Bartlett.]

The Vermont Farmer was commenced in Montpelier in 1879, by L. P. Thayer, and removed to Northfield in 1881.

For The Vermont Chronicle, now pub- lished here, see Windsor, next volume.

For about 40 years a daily paper has been issued from the "Watchman" office during the sessions of the General Assem- bly. It was originated for the convenience only of members of the Legislature and persons having business before it, and at first was a small sheet of one or two pages, containing an abstract of daily proceed- ings. Soon it grew into a small news- paper of four pages, and contained an ab- stract of debates as well as of proceedings, and was in demand for more general cir- culation. It became at last a daily paper of medium size, or equal to the original weekly "Watchman," and was entitled " Walton's Daily Journal," to distinguish it from his weekly newspaper. From the outbreak of the rebellion in the spring of 1861, until July, 1868, it was continued regularly as a daily paper-with two edi- tions each day for most of that period- and was supplied by correspondents in several of the Vermont regiments with val- uable materials for Vermont's history in the War, much of which is yet to be pre- served in a more convenient form. Daily papers have occasionally been issued dur- ing the Legislative sessions from the " Pat- riot " and " Argus" office, and also from the "Freeman " office, and from the lat- ter a daily, was published during the war.

A regular visitor into more Vermont households than have received the Mont- pelier newspapers altogether, is " Walton's

Vermont Register." It was started by E. P. Walton, Sr., and his brother, George S. Walton, in 1817, the first number, (be- ing the Register for 1818,) having been printed and published in the closing months of that year. From that date until the present time it has been annually issued, and although it has not increased much in superficial dimensions, and is still a convenient hand-book, it has increased in matter as fast as the professional and other business of the State has increased. The second number of the Register, (for 1819,) was published by E. P. Walton, Sr., Geo. S. having deceased, and the publication was continued by him and his sons until 1853, when the publication was commenced by E. P. Walton, Jr., the present Eliakim P. Walton. In a few years the proprietorship was given by him to Samuel M. Walton, and by him it was transferred to the Claremont Manufacturing Co. in 1867, their first issue having been the number for 1868, and in 1881 to the White River Paper Co. From 1817, or the origin of the Register, until now, the editors have been E. P. Walton, Sr., and E. P. Walton, Jr .- so it ever has been, and still is, " Walton's Vermont Register." For several years the blanks in the calen- dar pages were filled with guess-work as to the weather, and the writer of these pages exercised his ingenuity in filling in that sort of matter when a boy-a confession which suggests the utter folly of the fash- ion. It was the general fashion in al- manacs, however, and for the credit of Walton's it must be said, that nobody could be harmed by a prognostication of " rain or snow" in April, or of " unsteady weather, flying clouds ; we seldom fail of having a cold north-easterly storm this month"-all of which is the weather wis- dom for May, 1820. The three last months of that year were suffered to go to press without any weather at all, but it is a fact that the weather went on according to its will, without the slightest respect to the Almanac maker, or the hopes or fears of those who relied upon him. This folly was abandoned finally, and a page was in- serted from year to year containing a

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weather table, which was originally framed by the astronomer Herschel, and corrected by observations made by the Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke. It is obvious, however, that any scheme, constructed by observa- tions on another continent, and with a different climate from ours, cannot be re- liable here ; probably not as reliable as the judgment of persons who will themselves carefully observe the connection of fair or foul weather with the direction of the wind, and watch the thermometer and barometer-or better still, the daily an- nouncements from the weather office at Washington ; which, by the way, take no notice of the moon as an element in fore- casting the weather. The time came to relieve "Walton's Register" from this useless matter, and it was gladly improved.

Among the papers temporarily published at Montpelier were " The Temperance Star," published in 1841-2 by the Vermont Temperance Society, and edited by Geo. B. Manser ; "The Harrisonian," a cam- paign paper issued in 1840, from the Watchman office, and edited by E. P. Walton, Jr. ; "The Reformed Drunkard," in 1842, by F. A. McDowell, changed to " The Reformer," and discontinued ; and a monthly literary and religious magazine in 1838, called " The Green Mountain Emporium," by John Milton Stearns, which was removed to Middlebury and dis- continued.

The newspapers continued at this date, 1881, are " The Vermont Watchman and State Journal," (Republican,) by Joseph Poland ; " Argus and Patriot," (Demo- cratic,) by Hiram Atkins; "The Green Mountain Freeman," (Republican, ) and " The Christian Messenger," (Methodist Episcopal,) by H. R. Wheelock. .

Of books printed and published at Mont- pelier a formidable list could be made by including legislative journals, statute books, Supreme Court and other reports, school books, sermons, pamphlets, almanacs and registers. The titles of many of these may be found in the catalogue of the Ver- mont State Library, and their omission here is excusable. Of the books noticeable are the following : Valedictory Address of

George Washington, 1812, an edltion of which, thanks to the Washington Benevo- lent Societies, saved the Watchman office from passing into the hands of a sheriff; Indian Captive, or the Burning of Royal- ton, by Horace Steele, 12 mo., 1812 ; Di- gested Index of law reports, by Nicholas Baylies, 1814, 3 vols. octavo, 1512 pages ; On Free Agency, by Nicholas Baylies, 1820, 12 mo. 216 pages ; Gazetteer of Ver- mont, by Zadock Thompson, 1824, 12 mo. 312 pages ; English Grammar, by Rufus Nutting, 1826, 12 mo. 136 pages ; May Martin, by D. P. Thompson, 16mo. 1835, edition after edition of which has been printed in America and in England ; and The Green Mountain Boys, 1839, by D. P. Thompson, 2 vols. 12 mo. 536 pages ; The Gift, 1841, Poems, by Sophia Watrous [Bemis,] 24 mo. 172 pages ; Theological Criticism, Poetical Scraps, and Dogmas of Infidelity, 1843, by F. W. Adams, M. D., 12 mo. 240 pages ; Poems, by Charles G. Eastman, 1848, 12 mo. 208 pages, of which a new and enlarged edition, with a me- moir, has been recently printed ; The Cap- ital of Vermont, journal of proceedings and debates of the special session of the General Assembly, February, 1857, with an appendix and engravings-8 vo. 300 pages, 1857; History of the Town of Montpelier, by Daniel P. Thompson, 1860, octavo, 312 pages ; The Second Brigade, or Camp Life, by a Volunteer, [E. F. Palmer,] 16 mo. 224 pages, 1864; Adju- tant General's Reports, octavo, 1862, 110 pages-1863, 106 pages-1864, 958 pages -1865, 762 pages-1866, 368 pages-all embracing an official history, by Hon. Peter T. Washburn, of the part taken by Vermont in the War of the Rebellion; Steps to Heaven, by Rev. F. S. Bliss, 12 mo., 1868, 184 pages ; Collections of the Vermont Historical Society, octavo, vol. I, 1870, 508 pages-vol. II, 1871, 530 pages ; The Family Physician, &c., by Dr. Leonard Thresher, 8 vo. 1871, 406 pages ; and the Governor and Council, embracing journals of the Council of Safety and Governor and Council, early historical documents and biographical notices, edited by Eliakim P. Walton, 8 vols., published 1873-1881.

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Of citizens of Montpelier the number who have been authors is not large, but their works are voluminous. The list in the order of time embraces Horace Steele; historical, I vol. ; Nicholas Baylies, law and metaphys- ics, 4 vols. ; Samuel Woodworth, pamphlet poem on the battle of Plattsburgh ; Sophia Watrous, poems, I vol. ; Rev. F. W. Shel- ton, tales and miscellaneous papers, 5 vols., previous to his removal from town ; D. P. Thompson, historical novels and history, Io vols ; F. W. Adams, theology and po- etry, I vol. ; C. G. Eastman, poems, I vol- ume ; in all, 24 volumes.

Several who were once residents of Montpelier became authors after their re- moval; among whom are Rev. Samuel Hopkins, (pastor of the first Congrega- tional church,) author of two historical volumes on the Puritans in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; Rev. John S. C. Abbott, (who temporarily supplied the desk of the same church,) author of numerous histor- ical, religious and miscellaneous books ; Hon. Isaac F. Redfield, author of several elaborate and valuable law books; Hugh Moore, author of a memoir of Ethan Allen, and Zadock Thompson, author of the Gaz- etteer and History of Vermont, 2 volumes, and of other works. This list might proba- bly be extended. The published orations, addresses, sermons, speeches, and other pamphlets, the work of Montpelier men, combined, would make several volumes ; and in such volumes the names of Goss, Prentiss, Merrill, Wright, Gridley, Upham, Walton, [senior and junior,] Peck, Pease, [Aaron and Calvin,] Gridley, Willard, Lord, and many others, would appear as authors. Taken all together, therefore, the literary history and character of the town has been highly creditable.

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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 48

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