USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Danby > The history and map of Danby, Vermont > Part 15
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EASTMAN, REV. HEZAKIAH, was the first settled. minister, and the first pastor of the Baptist church. He was ordained Oct. 11. 1781, at the house of Stephen Calkins. Being the first settled minister of the Gospel, he received the benefit of one share of land, reserved by the charter for that purpose. Mr. Eastman was one of the first Baptist ministers that visited this State. Al- though his education did not extend beyond the radiments of a common english education, yet his ministry was well adapted to the people of that period. He was a person of great natural abil- ity, a close student of the Bible, and a careful observer of men and things. Having had a thorough physical training. he was prepared to endure great hardships, and encounter formidable ob staeles. He was a man of experience. intimately acquainted with the truths of the Bible, and was very zealous in proclaiming those truths. He supplied the Baptist church at Middletown from 1784 until 1790, and "seems to have administered there at communion seasons, and performed the rites of baptism." Some good anee- dotes are told concerning him, one of which I will here relate : While preaching at a certain house, one Deacon Mott came in at the front door, at a very late hour, causing a slight disturbance among the hearers. Mr. Eastman, being somewhat disturbed al- so, remarked that those coming in at the "eleventh hour" should enter in at the back door, which would cause less disturbance. Deacon Mott replied "that the Bible taught that those who come in at the eleventh hour are just as good as those who come in at the first, and that he had come the straight and narrow wav,' and whoso entereth in at any other way was a thief and a rob- ber." Mr. Eastman met appointments in other towns, and was obliged to travel many miles, often on foot, and sometimes on horseback, over bad roads, and through the wilderness, to meet these appointments. His meetings were held in log buildings. and the audience wa- generally quite large. He remained here until about the year ist.
EATON, DR. GARDNER. a. pative of Ludlow, Vt., and sou of William Eaton, came from Wallingford in 1866 aud settled on the Benjamin Baker place, near Scottsville. He was born in 1809. He attended a medical school at Worcester, Mass., his
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HISTORY OF PANBY.
inclinations having from early maubood led to medicine, and at the age of 28 commenced the practice of his profession, which; be has made a life study. He is a self-made man. of good natu- ral talent, and possesses a thorough knowledge of the medice! science, having for many years had an extensive practice through- out Rutland and Windham counties. Although having wished to decrease his practice somewhat, and many times refusing to attend cases, such is the confidenes in his skill and ability that he is often sent for from a distance. Ile is also a man of exten- sive general information, which he has acquired by reading, trav- el, and a close observation of the world. His knowledge of law is good, and is sometimes called upon to counsel in law matters. He m. Caroline Wait, and has two children : Lucinda m. M. M. Duna, and lives in Auburn, Mass., and Louisa m. Emery Ayres and lives in Newburyport, Mass.
EDMUNDS, OBEDIAH, from Rhode Island in 1778. m. Sarah - Williams, and settled on the farm now owned by J. F. Nichols. He was a soldier of the Revolution. and remarkably fitted to mit- igate the hardships and smooth the asperities incident to the set- tlement of a new country. He was a man of uprightness and sound judgement, of peaceable disposition. and was held in high estimation by all who knew him. He died in 1809. his wife in 1834. Their children were Sarah. Reubin. OBAdiah and Ira. Sarah m. Otis Tower, and removed to Hanover. N. Y .. in 1810. She died in 1859. aged 78. Reubin in, Betsey Harvey, and set- tled on a portion of the farm owned by Joel Colvin. He was a carpenter by trade, and assisted in building the Pauker church near Howell Dillingham's. He removed to Hanover, N. Y .. and from thence to Schoolcraft. Mich., where he died in 1863, aged 89. Obadiah m. Lvdia Moore, of Mr. Holly, and settled in Hamburg, N. Y., in 1814, From there he moved to Hanover, and from thence to Ohio, where he lived a few years. and then weut to Illinois. He was next heard from in Texas, where he died in 1859.
EDMUNDS, IRA, DI. Lydia, da. of Gilbert Palmer, and settled where he now live., in 1804. He has been an active. thrifty. in- dustrious farmer for many years, and no man has ever filled more public stations. Mr. Edmunds has served the town in various capacities, among which was the office of selectman 10 years ; lister 4 years ; ail was a magistrate 14 years. during which time he established a character for sound judgement and strict i :- tegrity, and possessed in a high degree the confidence of his townsmen. He has represented the town in the Legislature 1 years, the last term being in 1852. and filled that other acceptally to the town, and creditalde to himself. This sterling souse and capacity have been made available for the public beneth well. years, bringing him off much into requisition, depecially in the. settlement of deceased persons. He has lived upon the Bons - -trad 65 years, having through this long period led an active. la- borions life. and is now, at the age of 77. quietly living out the eu-
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
ning of his days, honored and respected by all. His wife died iu 1866, aged 76. They have raised a family of eight sons and three daughters : Obediah, Daniel. Mary, Ruth, David, Ira Jr., Sophia. m. William Palmer ; Henry, d. 1831, aged 3 years ; Ga- lett, Merritt and John, who died. 1851, aged 18. Obediah m. Mariam Thompson, who died in 1858. He lived in town a num- ber of years, and raised Que son. Silas, and two daughters, So- phia and Mary Aun. He next m. Zuba Congor, and now lives in Ripley, N. Y. David m. Malone Buxton, of Middletown, with whom a separation occurred. He raised a family of several chil- dren : Luther, Lydia, Charlotte, Fremont, and Charles. Ira Jr. m. Catherine, da. of Leonard Palmer, and lives in Wallingford. He is a frugal, industrious farmer, and has acquired considera- ble property. Galett m. Mercy, da. of David Phillips, and lives noar his father. Of his children are : Isaac, Ira, Eddie, [Henry. Ellen, Estelle, Ruth Lydia, Martha and Mary. Merritt m. Leona White, of Mt. Holly, and is a practicing physician. He resides in Weston. Vt., and is successful in his profession, being a gradu- ate of the Castleton Medical College.
EDMUNDS, WILLIAM, SEN., from Rhode Island, was an early settler on the farm owned by L. G. Parris. The house in which he lived stood west of the present dwelling house, and near the corner of the road. He m. Rebecca Colvin, both of whom died at an advanced age, having raised a numerous family of fifteen children. The family, with the exception of one son, William Jr., removed to Canada West, where their descendants now live. The names of his children follow : Phebe, William, Caleb, Lou- isa, James, Solomon, Rufus, Moses. Anna, Lucy, Deliah, Han- nah, Lydia, Malona and Manerva.
EDMUNDS, WILLIAM, JR., m. Ruth, da. of Job King, and set- tled on the present farm of Stephen and Daniel Harrington. He raised a family of four children : Elias. Mary, Rebecca and Li- nus. Mr. Edmunds was a good citizen, and highly respected by his neighbors, and those with whom he had deal. He died in Chittenden in 1863. aged 85. The oldest son, Elias, first m. Mahala Millard, and next a da. of Stephen Baker. He settled near his father, where he lived and died.
EDMUNDS, LINUS, m. Rhoda, da. of Reubin Fisk, and settled on the homestead, being a frugal, industrious farmer. He was selectman in 1848, and held other town offices. In 1858 he re- moved to Chittenden, which town he represented in the Legisla- ture in 1867. He is a mau of quiet habits, and commands the respect aud confidence of the community. Their children are, Buth. m. Andrew Sargents : Matilda, m. L. G. Parris : Martha. William H., m. Martha Wood ; and Reabio, m. Laura Jackson.
EDDY. JACOB. (by Hon. D. E. Nicholson). Jacob Eddy was an early settler on the farm now owned by Joseph N. Phillips, and was town clerk several years. He taught a select school du- ring the time, expressly for training young men for the vocation of teaching. Mr. Eddy was a quiet, unobtrusive tonaker gende- man who once baixa codered in the high Court of the State, by
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
a sheriff in uniform. to uneover his head, bestowed upon said up- start officer a look of scorn, and appealed to the Hon. court with triumphant success for the right to the free exercise of his con- science. He would not uneover his head to a mortal man. but stood reverently chastened in presence of the Omniscient God. His wife's maiden name was Sprague. They emigrated to Ham- burg, N. Y .. at an early day, with most of the family, where they lived and died. The family consisted of three sons and five daughters : Hosea, David and John. Bersheba, Aun, Lydia. Sa- rah and Mary, of whom Ann and Mary still survive. The fam- ilies of Hosea and John we cannot trace. David became emi- nent in Western New York and was judge of the court at Buffalo. His son, David, now resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and is in trade. He is a vigorous writer and debator, and a man of honor. Mary married a Thorn and her children are scattered through the West, more or less successful, one of them. Abram, being a law- yer of good standing, in Erie county, of which county he was for some years surrogate. Ant married a Griffin : her family, too. has been successful in life. One sou is a distinguished phy- sician in Philadelphia, having been a Professor in a medical col- lege in that city, and is one of her staunch men. and a leader from the first in the great anti-slavery revolution which has been so marked in that city. Of the families of Bersheba and Lodia, the former married a Davis, and they lived aud died honored by all who knew them. but no children survives. Lydia married and raised a large family of very brilliant promise. but the ber- editary consumption, lineal from their father, took them to an early grave. The remaining daughter, Sarah, married Spencer Nicholson, and lived and raised their family in this county. Af- ter an ardnous. honorable and useful christian life. prominent mainly in the Baptist church. of which he was long a deacon, they died triumphant. in hopes of a blessed immortality in Jesus. Christ. Of their children. the first born. Ira. died an infaut The second, Orpha, a pure. loving and beloved chill. lady and woman, distinguished as a teacher through the period of young ladyhood. married a man by the name of Budd who too was as- sociate deacon with the father of his wife. They ton are dead The third. Arnold W .. is the present prosperous and worthy citi- zen of Wallingford, who continues to keep saddlers' shop in that town, and whose word no man is afraid to take in the dark. The next. Russel, a time promise of a man. was destroyed by most shocking cramp convulsive fits, and died worn out with that di -- case. Hiram, the favorite of all, and the best mathematician in the State, was suddenly drowned. just as he was within grasp of
prominence and usefulness. Juline. at first a mediante, and a devout Christian, became a preacher of the Church of the Diri- ples, and in the midst of hi usefulness died of en route attack !" 1804. The remaining two. David E. and Aneo. 1. are still re .. siding in Rutland with their respective families, and are after- neys by profession.
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HISTORY OF DASBY.
(We will here add that David E., the sixth son of Spencer and Sarah (Eddy) Nicholson, so well and favorably known through- out the county and State, was born at Tinmouth, June 7th, 1813, was reared on the farm, with the ordinary advantages of district school. At the age of 18. by consent of his father, he left home to shift for himself. He attended a fall term of select school. and taught the following winter, and cared money with which the arrears of bills were paid, and had a small ballance left. The next season he gave away his time in a saddlers' shop, and was advanced as fast as possible in the trade. On this short experi- ence he was employed as journeyman saddler, and passed cur- rent in the trade, till the winter of 1835. during wisch time, among other towns in this State, he worked at his trade in Dau- by. In the winter of 1835 he was married to Miss Arvill Clark, of Wallingford, and at once established himself, tem- porarity, in Weston, Vt., and from thence he went to Wallingford in 1836. Two years later, (1838), gathering up the saving, of the past. he emigrated to the West, and contracting the epidemic of that sickly season, was, with his family, prostrated with sick- ness. which was so severe and protarcted that a return to Ver- mont was resolved upon, and effected while there was barely funds enough left to meet the expenses of the journey. A long period of prostration ensued, during which time he projected the experiment of studying law, and between working and reading from the library of Judge Button, graduated into the profession in 1844. During the whole period described above, from the earliest young manhood. he had been a radical Abolitionist, of the Gerritt Smith school, and as radical a tetotal temperance mao, never losing an opportunity to act ont his convictions. by speech, by pen. and by vote, by all which. prejudice and opposi- tion became strong and active, and was for many years a serious embarrassment. After taking his place at the bar, a continuous- ly improving patronage with a reasonable earning, fast repaired damages, which was in pleasurable contrast with the severe ex- perience of the past. The long probation of the past now began to yield some agreeable fruits, and instead of being proscribed for opinions and acts. the growing public confidence increased. the various local appointments to office and trust continued to im- prove until, in addition to what has been referred to, in 1856 he was a delegate from the Ist Congressional district to the National Convention, and the following winter a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of Vermont In 1859 and 199 he was Sena- tor of Rutland county, and safrequently State's Attorney for said county, for a like period of to wear -. In 1861 and 1865 he was the Representative from the town of Wallingford, and with the position hold there. in general assembly, was. in 1865. elected Railroad Commissioner of the state by a majority, ou joint ballot, of one hundred and six. The following year, 1866. bis election to the same office was upanimons. For the sake of convenience, and not for additional patronage, the next year he
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
left his seat of business at Wallingford, together with his many associations and friends, and settled in Rutland, satisfied with the struggles of an active, competing life, and without other than an easy ambition ; responds to such calls as are made upon his pro- fessional assistance. As a citizen and lawyer he is highly es- teemed by all who know him. One daughter, Agnes. at the age of 18 married a young Baptist clergyman by the name of Edwin Haynes, of Massachusetts, then just out of the Rochester ( N. Y.) Theological school. He was a pastor in Wallingford till the breaking out of the Rebellion. He served as chaplain in the 10th Vt. Vols. during the war, then settled in Boston, Mass .. and now has just accepted a call to the 1st Baptist church in the city of Lewiston.)
EDDY. BENJAMIN F., a native of Jamaica. Vt .. came from Ludlow in 1862 and settled at the Borough, being by trade a mechanic. Hcm. Wealthy Willer, who died of consumption in 1865, leaving one son, Frank. Mr. Eddy is also a music teach- er by profession, having taught a school here nearly every year since his residence among us, being considered one of the best teachers in the State. He is also leader of the Dauby Cornet Band, which was formed mainly through his instrumentality.
Bnt few men better understand the art of music. or have cou- tribnted more towards building up and sustaining choir singing in our churches. He is also a member of the Masquic fraternity. and occupies a high position. He now resides in Mt. Tabor. and holds the office of justice of the peace. He was again m. in 1868 to Harriett, widow of Elisha Sweat.
EDGERTON, HIRAM. R., son of Robert Edgerton, of Dorset, who died in 1859, m. widow Mary Ann Edgerton. and lives on the place formerly owned by Welcome Handy. They have seven. children : Oscar, Hiram B., John C., Henry, George, Minora, and Mary Ann.
EDGERTON, ROBERT, brother of the above, m. Anna Irish and lives on the Clark Bull farm. They have three children : Albert. Charles and Willie.
EGGLESTON. ANDRUS, born in Stonington. Com., Nov. 5th, 1785, came to Shaftsbury, Vt., thence to Dorset and from there removed to Danby, in 1811. He is the son of Benedict Eggles- ton, a native of Hopkinton. R. I .. who was born in 1764, and was a soldier of the Revolution, having enlisted at the age of 16 and served three years. He also came to Shaftsburg and from thence to Dorset. being a stone mason by trade and well known. In 1785 he was married to Content Brown, who died in Its, leaving tine children, of whom were Andrus, Chastany, Polly. Beisey. and John. Polly i. a Grown H and removed West. Besseren. a Moore and lives in Pennsylvania. John went South, owned a plantation, and has not been heard from for some time. Ile i- undoubtedly dead. The remainder of this family died young. He next mu. Sally Skinner. in 1899, and raised a family of five children, all of where are dead but Reabin, now living in Dorset.
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
Benedict Eggleston died at Dorset, Dec. 11. 1859. aged 95. be- ing the last survivor but one of that honored band of Revolution- ary patriots.
Andrus, the oldest son and the subject of this sketch. was married in 1811 to Miss Nancy Curtis, of Dorset, and went in- to trade at the Borough under the firm of Williams, Young and Eggleston, which was continued for a number of years. He was a school teacher by profession, and followed the vocation for many years, being one of the most thorough and efficient teach- ers in the State. " He was lister four years. constable and collect- or two years, long a justice of the peace, and held some town office about every year, until appointed Postmaster, which office he held to the time of his death, He was also a surveyor many years for the town. He was a man of firmness, a very quiet. peaceable, and useful member of society, by which he gained the confidence and esteem of all. He died in 1860, aged 75, honored and respected by his many friends who will ever cherish his memory. They had six children : Herman, died an infant : Hi- ram. died in New York in 1845, aged 32, and was a merchant : Delia, m. E. L. Way, and lives in Manchester ; Electa. m. Wil- liam Chamberlin. of Manchester. a dealer in marble ; Elizabeth. m. in 1847 to Chamiey O. Green. a stone manufacturer of Troy. N. Y. Truman C .. the only son now living, was married to Miss Lucy Rideont in 1842, lives in Manchester, is a marble dealer and a prominent and respected citizen of that town.
EMMERSON, SAMUEL. a native of New Hampshire, m. Merri- am White, of Mt. Holly, and settled where Walter M. Parris now lives. He was a carpenter by trade, and one of the most skillful mechanics we ever had. He built and run a saw mill for a number of years, in connection with which he had various kinds of machinery. He was also a cabinet maker, and execu- ted his work with neatness and despatch. He was always indus- trions and possessed the character of a good citizen. Ilis wife. together with some of his children, were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died about the year 1840: his wife died in Michigan in 1863, Their children were Oliver, Lui- cinda, Margaret, Charles, Merriam and Phillip. Lucinda in. the Rev. Joseph Eams, and was a very pious and zealous Christian. Phillip is a lawyer by profession. having pursued his studies at Wallingford, with D. E. Nicholson. Esq .. and was admitted to the Rutland County Bar. He now resides West.
EMMERSON. REV. OLIVER. son of Samuel, was born at Danby. August 30th. 1814. We find from notes taken from the Tror Conference Miscellany, that when about fourteen years of age he heard the Rev. T. Spicer preach at a quarterly meeting. The serinon made an impression upon his mind that deeply affected him for several weeks. Through the instrumentality of his sis. ter, Lucinda, he was converted, and on the 2Nd of November. 1830, was received on trial in the Methodist Episcopal Church. by Rev. Joshua Poor .. A revival took place in Pontossue, in the
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
town of Pittsfield, Mass., in 1851. where Mr. Emmerson then lived. which was attributed in a great measure to his instrumen- tality. Meanwhile his bosom was the scene of severe conflicts. By night and by day his thoughts dwelt incessantly ou the work of the Christian ministry. His youth, want of education and of means by which to procure it. appeared as insurmountable obsta- stacles in his way, and vet the conviction rested on his soul with crushing weight : "Wo is me, if I preach not the Gospel." He at length made known his convictions to his pastor, and was ad- vised to go to some mannal labor school. Accordingly, in May, 1833, he entered Wilbraham Academy. After spending a limit- ed season there, during which time he was licensed as an exhor- ter, he was compelled to leave the institution for want of means to prosecute his studies.
In 1834 Mr. Emmerson was licensed to preach and recom- mended to the Troy Annual ( onterence. About six weeks inter- vened between this and the session of the Conference, which he spent on the Pittsford circuit. He was received by the Troy Conference, and appointed to Pittsfield, Mass., with Rev. T. Ber- edict. The next year he labored on the Saratoga cirenit with Rev. John Harwood. From the conference of 1836 he was sent to the Halfmoon circuit. Rev. O. Pier being his colleague. On the 17th of January. 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Betsey Stead, daughter of Rev. Henry Stead. In 1837 he was appointed to Esperance, with Rev. II. L. Starks, and the year was one of severe labor. At the ensuing conference the circuit was divided, and Oliver Emmerson was appointed to Palatime Bridge, the part of the circuit on which he had resided the for- mer year. During the winter of that year a revival took place. Meetings were held every evening for several weeks. during which time Mr. Emmerson preached about twenty sermons, and about one hundred were converted, The following year he was appointed to the Northampton cireuit, and in 1840 to Waterford. Mr. Emmerson was much afflicted in person and in his family while there. He returned the second year. and on the 18th of October, 1841. he was called to part with his beloved compan- ion.
In June. 1842, he was appointed to Lansingburgh. In No- vember of the same year he married Miss Sarah Stead, a sister of his former wife. About one hundred and fifty persons were received into his church that year. At the expiration of his term of service at Lansingburgh, he was appointed in 1811 to Nassan, where he spent two years. Daring his residence there in. was twice thrown from his carriage with great violence ; in one instance the carriage was almost a total wreck, yet he was but slightly injured. In February. 1X1G. he was first attached with that disease which was the bane of the last years of his life. an affliction of the kidneys and bladder. His next appoint- ment was at the Third street mission in Troy. Soon after re- ceiving this appone ment his disease assumed au aggravated form.
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
Physicians of various schools, at home and abroad, were con- sulted in vaiu. An attack of fever and ague. which lasted from September to December, added to his suffe. ing. His second wife died January 7th, 1847, leaving in Mr. Emmerson's charge two small boys, the youngest of whom was only four months old. At the conference of June, 1847. he was compelled to take a super- annuated relation. In 1848 his relation to the conference was changed to that of supernumerary, and he was appointed to Can- ajoharie, About this time he formed a marriage alliance with Miss Ann Eliza Williams, of the above named place, a very amiable and worthy lady. In 1849 he took an effective relation, and was stationed at Seuylerville, and in 1850 was appointed to Greenbush. After having attempted to serve the church in that relation for two years, amid great and increasing bodily infirmi- ties. he again entered the superannuated list in 1851, in which he continued until his death. The last few months of his life were spent in Wallingford, Vt., where he supplied, as far as his strength permitted, two congregations, one in Wallingford and the other in Danby. He delighted in the work of the ministry. and it was his almost literally to "Cease at once to work and live."
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