The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 89

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 89


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Address on Hon. Nathaniel Chipma delivered on the unveiling of his mon ment at Tinmouth, Oct. 2, 1873. Print in some of the Rutland, Burlington al Montpelier newspapers.


Letter to Hon. Geo. F. Edmunds, Ja 1872, with elaborate and carefully prepar tables on the apportionment of membe of Congress on the census of 1870. Prix ed by order of the United States Senate


The apportionment by the old rule unc the census of 1860 gave Vermont t members of the House instead of thre Mr. Walton had no personal interest the matter, as his last term in Congr was covered by the old apportionment ; 1 he had a deep interest for his native Sta which he dearly loved and had long tril to serve. Both houses had passed a 11 reducing Vermont to two members, wh Mr. Walton carefully examined the su- ject, and demonstrated that the bill (1 not fairly observe the national consti- tion and was unjust to eight states. then explained the matter to Senator C- lamer, and under his lead the Sene


Smallon Je


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passed a supplementary bill, and the re- sult was that Vermont and the other seven states got the additional member. Under the census of 1870, precisely the same process was repeated. Mr. Walton again interfered, and Senators Edmunds of Ver- mont and Thurman of Ohio carried an amendment to the House bill, which saved the suffering states. It is but justice to say that Vermont is very largely indebted to Mr. Walton for saving her third mem- ber of Congress for twenty years.


HOMER WALLACE HEATON,


a member of the Washington County Bar, and now, and since 1832, a resident of Montpelier, was born in the adjoining town of Berlin, Aug. 25, 1811. His par- ents were Dr. Gershom Heaton and Polly Wallace, daughter of Matthew Wallace, one of the early settlers of Berlin.


Mr. Heaton's educational advantages were the common school, one year at the St. Lawrence Academy of Potsdam, N. Y., and two years at the Washington County Grammar School at Montpelier, of which J. C. Southmayd was the excellent principal.


In Aug. 1832, Mr. Heaton commenced the study of the law with Col. Jonathan P. Miller and Nicholas Baylies, Jr., of Montpelier, and was admitted to the bar of the Washington County Court, at the Nov. Term, 1835, when he commenced practice in company with Colonel Miller, and so continued until 1839, when from failing health Colonel Miller retired. In Sept. 1839, Mr. Heaton and Charles Reed entered into partnership for the practice of the law, as Heaton & Reed, which was continued until the death of Mr. Reed, Mar. 7, 1873. (See plate, p. 356.)


Mr. Heaton was the treasurer of the Vt. Mutual Fire Insurance Company for 2 years-1837 and 1838 ; and was state's attorney for Washington County 4 years- was elected by the Legislature at the Octo- ber sessions, 1839 and 1841, and the an- nual Sept. elections in 1860 and 1861. Upon the retirement of Joshua Y. Vail, a long time county clerk, the office was ten- dered Mr. Heaton by Judge Isaac F. Red-


field and the county Judges, which was declined.


July 1, 1841, Mr. Heaton married Miss Harriet Stearns, daughter of John Stearns, of Boston, Mass. She died April 26, 1859, at the age of 42 years. Of this marriage three sons are now living, Charles H., James S., and Homer W.


Mr. Heaton was the representative of the ori ginal town of Montpelier in the Legislature, at the October session, 1848, when the town was divided, and the towns of Montpelier and East Montpelier crea- ted. At that session Mr. Heaton was the candidate of the Democratic party for Speaker ; there being three parties-the Whig, Democratic and Free Soil-and neither in a majority : there resulted a dead lock, which continued through four days' session, when the Whig candidate was elected on the 46th ballot.


At this session the National Life Ins. Co. was chartered. The bill for that pur- pose being referred to a select committee of three members-Mr. Heaton being one -was reported favorably and passed. Mr. Heaton was one of the directors of this company and a member of its finance com- mittee for several years. He, at the same session, introduced a bill for the incorpo- ration of the Vermont Bank, which was passed, and Mr. Heaton was one of its di- rectors during its existence as a State Bank, and for 2 years its president.


Since the organization of the Montpelier Savings Bank & Trust Company in 1871, Mr. Heaton has been one of its trustees and the president.


In politics, he has always been a Demo- crat, having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson at his second election.


Mr. Heaton was the Democratic candid- ate for governor at the annual election in 1869, and the first biennial election in 1870. He was the Democratic candidate for member of Congress from the first Dis- trict at the elections in 1872 and 1874. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1872, when Horace Greeley was nominated for Pres- ident. He has also been a candidate of his party for Presidential Elector.


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JAMES ROBBINS LANGDON,


third son of Col. James H. and Nabby Robbins Langdon, born Oct. 3, 1813, was educated in Washington County Grammar School, and then from choice entered his father's grist-mill, and applied himself to learn the miller's trade and the way to manage the business of a flouring-mill. This was in fact the turning point in his business life, but his father did not ap- prove, and tempted him to leave the mill by offering to furnish capital and share the profits with his son in a promising specula- tion. At 15, then, the lad started out to scour New England and New York, and purchase Spanish coin, and sell it in Canada at a moderate profit. Persisting in this business until Spanish coin be- came scarce, he retired with a net profit of $3,400, which was divided between father and son. Spending a short time at Derby Line as a clerk, he, at 17, busied himself in settling his father's estate, and, after receiving his patrimony, invested part of it in a store at Greensboro ; but the store and goods were soon burned, and then he entered upon his long and very successful career as flour merchant and manufacturer, in which, by doing an immense business at a small profit, he ac- cumulated a very large fortune for a coun- try merchant. Indeed, it is certain that no merchant of Montpelier has ever handled property to so great an amount as he has done, or with such uniform success. His rule has been to keep accurate ac- counts of every branch of his business, and to understand it all thoroughly, even to the smallest detail. Hence, by his sa- gacity and this perfect knowledge, success was unavoidable. But the profits of this large and successful business figure only as a part of his present fortune. Mr. Langdon has ever been a sagacious, pru- dent and fortunate financier. The profits of mercantile business have been invested in the stock of sound banks, not one of which ever failed or proved unfortunate, and in United States bonds. At 20 he was elected a director in the old Bank of Montpelier, and for 48 years he has been


director, and for many years president, in three successive banks in Montpelier.


In another field, however, Mr. Langdon has rendered, and is still rendering, very important services : in the Vermont Centra. Railroad, and the succeeding Central Ver- mont Railroad. In preceding pages, 304-'5 Mr. Langdon's work for the Central road has been noted, but it is to be added tha he was a director for the first 2 years. Iı 1873, he entered the Central Vermon road, and has been made vice presiden and chairman of the finance committee In the last position he assumed a responsi bility which few private citizens are eve called to ; but nobody doubts his abilit and his will to discharge it wisely and well


Although Mr. Langdon has opinions c his own on the current political question of the day, he has never put himself forwar as a politician, or a candidate for office There was, however, an unwise and long continued division among the Republicar of the town in 1868, which was, by commo consent, settled by the election of M. Langdon as representative, and he was ri elected in 1869, doing good service, e: pecially in financial matters.


In early life Mr. Langdon was by an a cident disabled sufficiently to discourage most men from personal labors ; but l has been content to do, patiently and pe sistently, greater work than most tho oughly endowed men, physically, are ab to accomplish.


Mr. Langdon has two children : Luc formerly Mrs. Mansfield, of Nyack, N. Y. and now the wife of Mr. Schroeder, Brooklyn, N. Y., first superintendent the Astor Library ; and Elizabeth W. T latter received a shock some years ag which has ever since made her an object the tenderest solicitude and care, and nol is her father doing his part. E. P. W. For a notice of Mrs. James R. Langdo see page --.


HON. NICHOLAS BAYLIES resided h 25 years, 1810-1835, see, also, page 3 when he removed from Montpelier. regret that we have no further notice f the Judge for these pages.


James R. Langdon.


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JOSEPH ADDISON WING,


son of Josiah and Polly (Gray) Wing, was born in the part of this town now known as East Montpelier, Dec. 26, 1810. He opened a law office one year before his ad- mission to the bar, May 13, 1835, in Plain- field, this County, where he remained until June, 1838, when he removed to Mont- pelier village, where he has lived ever since. He married, Jan. 1, 1840, Samantha E. Webster, of Cabot, daughter of Jesse Webster, of that town. Mr. Wing has two sons, Geo. W., the eldest, a practicing at- torney in the same office with himself on State street, and John G., his youngest son, also a lawyer in his office, and four daugh- ters, Florence A., Annette M., Alice M. and Elizabeth B. Mr. Wing has for many years handled the pen, writing for the newspapers, paying to incidents and oc- casions of public interest the tribute of his verse, and in 1878, brought out a small 12 mo. vol. of 252 pp., printed in this vil- lage, of no little interest to the many friends to whom it was thus presented.


A few extracts from Mr. Wing's book, which is the second volume of poems pub- lished by a native of the town :


" Go forth my little book, devoid of pride;


Go like the brooks that through the valleys glide, And greener make the verdure by their side; Go like the dew that silently doth fall When o'er the earth night spreads her sable pall ; Go you, and zealously mankind entice To seek for virtue and to flee from vice."


EXTRACTS FROM "PLUCK."


( Without pluck.)


"See yonder man with downcast look pass by, Mark you his face-no fire is in his eye ; His coat is seedy, and his hat is old, His pockets empty of both bills and gold, Silent he passes through the busy throng; No friend doth cheer him as he goes along, No one is there that old man's hand to clasp And warm his heart with friendship's kindly grasp Onward, unnoticed, to his cot he goes, Where from the world he buries all his woes ; There will he dwell unnoted and unknown Till death's cold hand shall claim him as his own."


( With pluck.)


"Next view the great Napoleon, When in its zenith glowed his sun;


Napoleon wore as sweet a smile When banished to fair Elba's isle, As when in Russia's northern sky He saw his eagles proudly fly." 1


69


WHAT SHALL WE DO ?


What shall I do ? what shall I do ? 'Tis trutlı I can't decide,


So many smiling maids I view. Which I shall make my bride.


I can't decide, I can't decide- There's Ann, so gay and witty,


And lovely Sue, the village pride, And Mary, young and pretty.


There's blooming Helen, Fan, and Prue, With fairy forms and features, And Lydia, Betsey, Esther too, Ali lovely, charming creatures.


I can't decide, I can't decide, ' Mid eyes of every hue, From Melvell's of the glistening black To Kate's of melting blue .!


A WAIL.


A wall is on the southern air, A wail across the sea ;


A rebel wali the breezes bear, A wail of woe and fell despair Wherever traitors be


A wall of fear, of want and pain, A wail of grief and care;


It sweeps along each Southern plain,


'Tis heard from o'er the stormy main From every traitor there.


It comes from Georgia's fertile land, Where her broad rivers flow, Where Sherman's gallant vet'ran band


Before Savannah made a stand And humbled the proud foe.


'Tis heard from Charleston's burning halls, Which late the world defied, And from Columbia's blackened walls, Where Sherman's lost the foe appais And spreads destruction wide.


It comes from Carolina's shore As mourners at the grave ; The pride of Wilmington is o'er Tite stripes and stars forevermore Above her towers shall wave.


It comes from Richmond's crowded street, Where Davis reigns in pride : Where want and woe you constant meet, And starving women oft entreat With bread to be supplied.


But louder stili that wail shall be That floats along the air, Until the starry flag you see Float o'er a land from slavery free And find no traitors there. April 2, 1865.


Obit :- MRS. SARAH ELIZABETH BANCROFT, Mar. 16, 1859.


Upon her silent tomb The sweetest flowers shall bloom Of early spring ; The willow's branch shall wave,' And birds around her grave Their matins sing.


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-


CHARLES G. EASTMAN.


WRITTEN AT HIS GRAVE IN GREEN MOUNT CEMETERY, MONTPELIER, VT., 1860.


There is a void in bower and hall And grief obscures the day, A loved one from the circle small Hath passed from earthi away.


Death garnered here no whitened sheaf Ripe for the sickle keen, Be garnered here no bud or leaf From Spring's fair fields so green.


A noble oak lies prostrate now, It fell in all its pride ; Its trunk was sound and green each bougli, But still, alas ! it died.


Ah, Eastman. ever kind and true, Lles buried 'neath this sod ; His soul, we trust, in garments new Has flown to meet his God.


He had not reached the noon of life, His sun knew 110 deciine ; His path of life was rendered gay By fairest flower and vine.


His lyre, that late the soul could move To smiles and tears at will And warm the heart to faith and love, Is tuneless now and still.


Now here within this sacred ground He rests in death's cold sleep, And often on this humble mound His wife and children weep.


Bring flowers upon his grave to place, And set the trees around; He loved the flowers in all their grace- He chose this sacred ground.


Here let him rest where first the sun Its morning beams illume. And when its glorious race is run Last shines on Eastman's tomb.


NELSON A. CHASE


was born in Petersham, Mass., Feb. 18, 1802, and brought to Calais, Vt., in 1804. Dec. 13, 1827, he married Clarissa, daugh- ter of Gideon Hicks, Esq., town clerk of Calais almost time out of mind. Mr. Chase was town clerk of Calais 16 years, town repreentative 2 years, and delegate to two Constitutional Conventions. He re- moved to Montpelier in 1836, and has re- sided here since, except Sept. 1841 to Sept. 1865, when he was again in Calais. He has been town clerk of Montpelier 3 years, Judge of Probate 2 years, Register of Probate 20 years, County Commission- er 3 years, and is widely known as a land-surveyor. He is highly esteemed for his capability and honesty.


HON. RODERICK RICHARDSON (BY HON. T. P. REDFIELD.) ;


Was born at Stafford, Conn., Aug. 7, 1807. He was the second son of Roderick and Anna (Davis) Richardson ; came to Waits- field, Vt., with his parents, when 2 years old. When a boy he went into mercantile business with his father, and when 17 years of age, went to Boston, to do the routine duties of a country merchant. It was so well done, that he continued to do all that important and responsible business while thus connected with his father. When of full age, he went into business for himself, and continued in general and extensive business at Waitsfield until he removed to Montpelier in 1855. While at Waitsfield, he was elected for 5 successive years rep- resentative for said town in the legislature of the State, and for 4 years senator for the County ; also associate judge of the County Court for one term, and declined a re-election. In all these various and re- sponsible public trusts he was vigilant, in- fluential and respected. While in the legislature, he was efficient in procuring the charter of the Vermont Bank at Mont pelier ; was a director of the bank fron its organization ; was the chosen agent o the bank to procure the re-organization under the National Bank System; wa president of said bank for several years Thus while at Waitsfield, he became largel interested in the public affairs of the Count and the State, and the local public ir terests of Montpelier, and had the fu confidence of his associates. After } came to Montpelier, his interest in all th: concerned the public weal, not only con tinued, but was enlarged. Schools : Montpelier had become neglected, and : interest in them, seemingly, supplant by other matters that engrossed public ? tention. Judge Richardson, with his a customed energy, entered upon the pl of re-organizing the schools in Montpeli and devoted more than 2 years of g tuitous, hard labor to the building of 1 new school-house for the graded scho And as a consequence of the effort and terest enlisted at that time, the wh school system at Montpelier has beco 4


Porrick Richardson


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revolutionized, and educational interests have become cardinal.


He was a member of the Episcopal church, and was active and efficient in all the affairs of the diocese. He was three times elected from this diocese delegate to the National Triennial Conventions in New York city and Philadelphia, and one of the standing committee continuously until his removal to Boston. By his liberality, and two years of gratuitous personal labor, Christ church, Montpelier, was built. The obstacles in his way were many, and to the ordinary man, formidable ; but his zeal did not flag until the capstone of the spire, in solid granite, had crowned his labor.


He was married to Harriet E. Taylor, Feb. 28, 1839. They had 4 sons; 3 of whom survive, are married, and in business. Mrs. Richardson still survives, and, in vigorous health, graces their hospitable mansion at Newton Highlands, Mass.


The subject of this sketch descended from vigorous Puritan stock. His ances- tor, Amos Richardson, was resident and householder on Washington street, Boston, just north of the Old South Church, in 1640; removed to Stonington, Conn., in 1666, and was there elected representative to the General Court, and was the agent of Gov. Winthrop for New England. He will be remembered, and valued, not for any brilliant speech he has made, or for any beautiful scrap of poetry he has writ- ten ; but as a man of affairs, of keen per- ception, and just discrimination, and of judgment so well balanced, and of such unfaltering energy of character, that in whatever he engaged, he enlisted his whole soul, and overcame all impediment ; nor could subtlety delude or deceive him. In whatever undertaking, he is, therefore, necessarily, successful. And it will justly be said of him, that the world is better that he has lived ; and for that he will be remembered.


The graded school system for which Mr. Richardson labored so well has been very successful in this place ; combined with the old Washington County Grammar School, they take the children from the a b c up to


prepared for college ; on the tax of the grand list, every citizens's boy or girl may have a solid education.


Mr. Walton gives the first schoolhouse, on page 262,-a log-house, the second, a year or two after, 1793 or '4, a frame-house was "on the road to the hills on the Branch Falls, near the spot now occupied by the old burying-ground. The school in this house was taught by Abel Knapp, afterwards Judge Knapp of Berlin. In a few years this house was burned, and an- other was built near where the Methodist chapel now stands."-(Thompson, 1860.)


The act of the incorporation of the Washington County Grammar School was procured by the Hon. David Wing, Jr. Mr. Thompson says in 1800, (a print mis- take). Mr. Walton's date, page 290, is cor- rect. The first board of trustees, when incorporated, were Col. Jacob Davis, Hon. Charles Bulkley, David Wing, Jerahmel B. Wheeler and Thomas West, Jr. " In 1800-1-2, the school districts in town re- ceived a remodelling," and were then ten in number, four of which were formed into the present Union and Graded School, 1858-9, leaving 6 districts.


The number of scholars in town in 1802, was about 400-the present number 1882, about


TOWN TREASURERS.


Jonathan Cutler, first, 1792, 1 year ; after Elnathan Pope, I year; Joseph Wing, alternately 29 years; Joshua Y. Vail, I year; John Barnard, 2 years ; Daniel Baldwin, alternately, 12 years : H. N. Baylies, I year ; Carlos Bancroft, 2 years ; Timothy Cross, I year; J. A. Page, 6 years to 1856; R. Richardson, 1856-59; George W. Scott in 1860 .- Thompson.


TOWN CLERKS.


Ziba Woodworth, first town clerk, 1791 ; Clark Stevens, 1792; David Wing, Jr., 1793-1807; Joseph Wing, 1807-1835 ; Lyman Briggs, 1835-1846; James T. Thurston, 1846-1851 ; Jona. E. Wright, 1851; W. W. Cadwell, 1852-1855 ; Geo. L. Kinsman, 1855 to 1859; Adams Kel- logg, 1859 .- Thompson.


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SELECTMEN.


James Hawkins, 1791, '92 ; James Tag- gart, Hiram Peck, 1791 ; Benj. I. Wheeler, 1792, '93, '94, '96-1802, '11 '12, '14 to '19 ; Rufus Wakefield, 1793; Parley Davis, 1794, '97 to 1801, '02, '03, '08, '23 ; Barna- bas Doty, 1794, '95 ; Jacob Davis, 1795, '99; Joseph Woodworth, 1795, 1805 to 1813, '14; A. Nealey, J. Putman, 1795 ; Elnathan Pope, 1796; David Wing, Jr., 1797 to 1807; Arthur Daggett, 1801, 02; Paul Holbrook, 1803, '04; Clark Stevens, 1804, '05, '10; Jerahmel B. Wheeler, 1806 to '10, '13 ; Cyrus Ware, 1808; James H. Langdon, 18II, '20, '21, '22, '24; Ziba Woodworth, 1812; Jeduthan Loomis, 1813; Samuel Rich, 1813; Salvin Collins, 1814, '17, '18; Timothy Hubbard, 1815, '16, '19, '29 ; Nathaniel Davis, 1815, '16; Nahum Kelton, 1817 to 1822. '26, '27, '28; Joel Bassett, 1819; Isaac Putnam, 1820; Aranuah Waterman, 1821, 1830; Joseph Howes, 1822, '23, 1825 to 1829, '52, '53; Josiah Wing, 1822, 1825 to 1829, '31 '32; Joseph Wiggins, 1823; Thomas Reed, Jr., Andrew Sibley, 1824; Samuel Templeton, 1825, 1829, 1830; Stephen Foster, 1829; Apollos Metcalf, 1830; Royal Wheeler, 1831 to '36; Jo- seph Reed, 1831, '32; Jared Wheelock, 1833; Harry Richardson, 1833, '34, '35, '36; George Clark, 1834, '35 ; Isaac Cate, 1836, '37, '48 ; William Billings, 1836, '37 ; Lewis Sibley, Alfred Wainwright, 1837; John Gray, Joel Bassett, Alfred Pitkin, 1838; R. R. Keith, Larned Coburn, Cyrus Morse, 1839, 40; Charles Sibley, Ira S. Town, 1841, 42 ; John Vincent, 1841, '42, '43; Thomas Needham, L. A. Hathaway, 1843, '44 ; Hiram Sibley, 1844, '45 ; John J. Willard, Carlos Bancroft, 1845, 46; Charles Walling, 1846, '47; George S. Hubbard, 1847, '48 ; John I. Putnam, 1847 ; S. F. Stevens, 1848 ; Thomas Reed, 1849 ; C. W. Bancroft, 1849, '50, '55; C. H. Collins, William Howes, 1850; George Worthington, 1851 ; John Spalding, 1851, '54; B. F. Walker, 1851; Geo. C. Shep- herd, 1852; Wm. N. Peck, 1852, '53, '54, '56, '57 ; Henry Nutt, 1853, '54; Charles Reed, 1855, '56, '57, '59; A. W. Wilder, 1855.


[See p. 549,


HON. JOHN A. PAGE


was born at Haverhill, N. H., June 17, 1814, son of Gov. John Page and Hannah Merrill Page. Receiving an education at Haverhill, he at 15 became clerk in a dry goods store, and at 17 engaged in a whole- sale dry goods store in Portland, Me., and was speedily put in charge of the counting- room, and made confidential and financial clerk. In 1832, in his 19th year, he ac- cepted a partnership in a well established mercantile firm in Haverhill, N. H. In the spring of 1837, his business was closed and he intended to go to the West, but he accepted the cashiership of the Grafton Bank in Haverhill, which he held until the expiration of the charter, when he took the cashiership of the Caledonia Bank in Dan- ville, Vt., and in September, 1848, was elected representative of Danville in the Legislature. While in that office he was prevailed upon by Gov. Erastus Fairbanks to become Financial Agent of the Pas- sumpsic and Connecticut Rivers Railroad Co., and removed to Newbury. In March, 1849, he accepted the cashiership of the " Vermont Bank," and removed to Mont- pelier, where he has since resided. This brief resume of Mr. Page's experience and success as a financier sufficiently shows that he is admirably qualified for the posi- tions of still higher responsibility, to which he was speedily called. In the autumn of 1853, he was elected State Treasurer by the Joint Assembly, there having been no election by the people. Mr. Page affilia- ted with the Democratic party, as his father had long done, and in 1854, he was super- seded in the treasurer's office by the first treasurer elected by the Republian party. On the organization of the First National Bank of Montpelier, in 1865, Mr. Page was elected a director and president, and still holds these positions. In 1866 he was elected State Treasurer, and has been sub- sequently re-elected at every election. Mr. Page has been for several years an active member and deacon in Bethany Church, and a liberal supporter of it, and of kin- dred institutions, such as the Sabbath school, Bible Society, Foreign and Domes- tic Missionary Societies, &c. E. P. W.




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