USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Danby > The history and map of Danby, Vermont > Part 7
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The trustee was instructed to collect in the deposite money, on or before the 20th day of August following. The town instruct- ed the selectmen at this meeting, to confer with other towns in reference to purchasing a town farm. A special town meeting was held April 19th, Miner Hilliard, moderator, to see if the town would give the selectmen authority to borrow the United States deposite money, to defray the common expenses of the town, and it was voted not to give the selectmen that authority. At another town meeting held the 6th day of May, following, the selectinen were instructed to borrow the United States deposite money of the trustees. in accordance with the resolution passed at the last anual town meeting in March, and pledge the credit of the town for the same. with annual interest. At this meeting a committee consisting of Nelson Randall, II. F. Otis and John Bromley, was appointed to make alterations in school districts.
At a town meeting held Sept. 2d. Spencer Green, moderator. Warren Vaughan was elected trustee of surplus money, to fill the vacaney occasioned by the death of Amasa Bancroft. At the annual town meeting of 1857, of which Austin S. Baker was moderator. Ezra T. Lillie offered the following resolution, which was adopted :
Resolved. That hereafter the collector of taxes be allowed two per cent. and no more, on all monies by him collected and paid into the treasury of the town.
The selectmen were directed to examine into the accounts of the several collectors of taxes with the town. county and state treasurer's. for the last six years, in order to ascertain if any monies in the hands of any of said collectors are due to this town. and if so to take measures for the collection of the same.
At the annual town meeting of 1858, the selectmen were m- structed to investigate and enquire into the cost and expense of repairing the basement of the church at the Corners, for the pur- pose of holding town meetings, also repairing the Town House. and report to a subsequent meeting. on the propriety and expense of each. A special town meeting was held for that purpose on the 3d day of April, 1856, Miner Hilliard, moderator. A rest-
61
HISTORY OF DANBY.
lution was presented by the proprietors of the church, stating on what terms the town should have said basement story. which resolution was as follows :
Whereas, The basement story of the church at Danby Four Corners, is out of repair, and
Whereas, The upper part of said church, would be much bet- ter preserved by keeping the basement in good repair. Therefore.
Resolved, That in consideration that the seleetmen of the town of Danby, will put up good window blinds to all the windows of said basement, and also contract the necessary fixtures for warming said basement, and find a good and suitable stove, and put suitable seats around the walls of said basement and keep the room in good repair, the people of said town shall have the use of said basement for the purpose of holding town meetings there- in, during the pleasure of said town.
And further Resolved, That C. J. Locke, Lyman R, Fisk and Miner Hilliard, be a committee to confer with the selectmen in what manner the fixtures shall be put up for the purpose of heat- ing said basement.
The expense of repairing the basement was then estimated, and also the expense of repairing the Town House, when on mo- tion. it was voted to accept of the proposition of the society. granting the use of the basement story of the church. to the town for the purpose of holding town meetings in, and other business of the town. At an adjourned meeting held the same day in the basement of the church at the Corners, the selectmen were in- structed to dispose of the old Town House to the best advantage. after the lease of said basement story was obtained, and repair the same agreeable to the above proposition. After some dis- cussion on the subject, by J. T. Griffith. Ira Edmunds, A. D. Smith, and others, the meeting adjourned.
The annual town meeting of 1859, was held at the Town Hall, and a tax of 25 per cent. was voted. The report of the selectmen was printed that year for the first time. In accordance with the instructions given them at the above meeting, the select- men purchased a Town Farm of John Bromley, for the sum of $1.000. A large portion of the people of the town were opposed to this project. and agreeable to a petition signed by Obediah Edmunds and others, a town meeting was held on the 7th of May, to see if the town would appoint an agent to sell the Town Farm. Upon that question the ballot stood as follows, to wit : number of votes to appoint an agent, 47 ; number of votes not to appoint an agent 109. The course pursued by the town pre- vious to that time was to dispose of the poor to those who would agree to keep them for the least money. By this means they were scattered one or two in a place. and often kept by untit per- -ons. This outrage to humanity became intolerable, and the peo- ple becoming awakened to the inhumanity of such a course, it re- sulted in the purchase of a farm. which is conceded by most every one to have proved a sneces -. The town has been very fortunate
5.
62
HISTORY OF DANBY.
in employing agents to manage the farm. Among those whonz the town has employed for that purpose are E. B. Cook, Chas. T. Reed, Daniel Lane, D. S. Everest, Alonzo N. Colvin, William R. Parris and Gifford Gillmore, who is the present manager.
The population of 1860. was fourteen hundred and nineteen, being one hundred and nineteen less than that of 1850. This falling off' in our population, was caused by a decline in manu- factures, and other business. The railroad had a tendency to build up the town quite rapidly for several years, but its failure in 1857, had a crushing effect npon the business of the town, by ruining many of our business men, and stock holders lost quite heavily. The marble business was in a flourishing condition at that time, and some of those engaged in it had invested heavily in railroad stock, and by loosing this were unable to proceed in their business, which finally passed into other hands, and has not been carried on so extensively sinec.
The town had incurred some considerable expense for the past ten or fifteen years, in building highways, doubtless greater than at any former period. There is probably no town in the State having a greater number of roads, not many of which were loca- ted on the line of lots, but seem to have been laid where it best suited the conveience of the inhabitants, or the nature of the ground. At present the roads run in every conceivable direction. winding through the valleys and over the hills. The tops and sides of hills were said to have been most easily cleared and put under cultivation, and hence many of the highways instead of running at the base of the hills run directly over them. Many roads have been changed since the low grounds have been cleared, and improvements in this respect are still being made. The main roads were formerly laid four rods wide, and the others three.
The peculiar direction of the water courses through the town render a large number of bridges necessary. Bridges were for- merly built by the voluntary action of the several highway dis- tricts, but for the past thirty or forty years, the expense of build- ing bridges has devolved upon the grand list. There are no less than thirty public bridges in town, besides a large number of smaller ones.
C. H1. Congdon was moderator of the annual town meeting of 1860, at which it was voted to raise a town tax of 25 per cent. to pay the indebtedness of the town for the year ensuing. The following resolution was offered and adopted at the annual meet- ing of 1801 :
Resolved. That the selectmen be, and are hereby instructed to procure three hundred copies of their ammal report. to be print- ed and circulated among the legal voters of the town.
In 1862, the selectmen were appointed overseers of the poor, and also fence viewers. At the annual town meeting for that year, the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That Hereafter the collecter of taxes be allowed two
.
63
HISTORY OF DANBY.
per cent. and no more, on all monies by them collected and paid into the treasury of the town.
A special town meeting was-held Nov. 29th, 1862, Edia Bak- er, moderator, at which Nathan L. Baker, was elected constable and collector. to fill the vacancy in that office. At the annual meeting of 1863. of which Edwin Staples was moderator, it was voted to raise a town tax of twenty-five per cent. which the con- stable agreed to collect for three per cent. The selectmen were appointed oversers of the poor for that year. Seneca Smith was moderator of the annual town meeting of 1865, at which Ira HI. Vail was elected overseer of the poor, and a town tax of 110 per cent. was voted, which the constable agreed to collect for two per cent.
The following proposition was made to the town at the above meeting, by Isaac MeDaniels, which was accepted :
Whereas. Gen, Isage MeDaniels, formerly of Danby now of Rutland, and State of Vermont. has offered and gives to said town of Danby, the generous sum of $10.000. by an instrument under his hand and seal, of which the following is a copy. to wit : To the Town of Banby, Co. of Rutland and State of Vermont :
I, Isaac MeDaniels, formerly of Dauby. now of Rutland, in said County, propose to give, and hereby give. grant and trans- fer, and deliver to said town of Danby, in trust. for the support of common schools hereinafter expressed. the sum of ten thous- and dollars in money. to have and to hold the same to the said town of Dauby forever, upon the condition, nses and trust follow- ing, to wit:
1.st. That the said town of Danby shall forever keep the same securely invested as a fund. distinct and separate from all other funds and property of the town, by loans or mortgage of uningum- bered real estate worth double the amount invested, exclusive of buildings, or in stock or bonds of the United States of America. or of some one or more of said States : and in case of loss of the whole, or any part of said fund. said town is to supply the same. so as to keep said principle fund and entire at said sum of ten thousand dollars.
2d. To distribute and pay over annually, forever, on the first days of April. or. as soon thereafter as practicable. the annual interest of six hundred dollars. and proceeds of said find to the several districts in said town of Danby. in proportion to the num- ber of children between the ages of four and twenty years. he- longing to each district, on the first day of the next proceeding month of January of each year. the same to be appropriated and used by the said school districts, respectively. to the support of common schools therein.
Bd. Should the said town of Danby fail to comply with any of the conditions, or perform any of the trusts herein expressed. then said fund is to revert to me. or to my legal heirs.
G. J. Locke then offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the selection of the town of Danby be author-
64
HISTORY OF DANBY.
ized and directed to execute a receipt in the name of the town. to Gen. Isaac MeDaniels for said find, and to express to him the gratitude of its inhabitants for the noble donation, and that these proceedings be published in Rutland daily and weekly papers.
This fund was invested in State bonds and deposited in Rutland Bank.
As 33 years have passed since our last roll of freemen was given, and as there are many at the present time, and will be at some future time, who would desire to know who were residents of the town after another generation had passed, we will give be- low a list of the names of the freemen in town in 1866, viz :
Melvin Atwood,
Austin S. Baker,
Anson Baker,
Silas Bneklin,
Edia Baker
Francis Bonnet,
Elijah Bradley,
Nathan R. Baxter,
Levi Barrett.
Russell Barber,
Miner Bromley,
Aaron IJ. Baker,
Williard Bromley,
John F. Baker,
C. M. Bruce,
Oreon Baker,
Lyman Bromley.
Alfred N. Baker.
Barton Brown.
Benjamin Baker.
Henry H. Brown.
Nathan L. Baker.
John Brown,
- Stephen Baker,
Amos Brown,
Joseph P. Burton.
Hiram Bromley,
Williard Baker,
Dewit C. Bromley,
Oliver Baker.
James Bowers.
Geo. W. Baker.
Mandeville Boatell,
Clark Bull,
Frauk Bromley,
Wm. H. Bond. Joseph Ball. David Boyce.
Holden D. Baker,
Joseph Bartlett.
John Bell,
Melvin Barrett,
Jonathan Dillingham,
C. II. Congdon. Samuel C'roff, Daniel V. Croff. Seth Cook.
Robert Edgerton.
Peleg Edgerton.
A. N. Cook.
Hiram Edgerton.
Anthony Colvin.
David Edmunds,
A. N. Colvin.
B. F. Eddy,
Joel Colvin. Watrons Crandall.
Garrison Lady.
Martin Edgerton,
Lyman Fisk.
Lyman Fisk, Jr.,
Joseph Fisk,
Hiram Fisk, Oliver Fisk,
A. T. Colvin, Ira Cook, John Cook. Nelson Coby in, Luther Colvin,
Martin Bromley.
Hiland F. Bromley,
Ira Edmunds,
Ira Edmunds, Jr ..
P. A. Broughten. Albert Bueklin.
·
65
James Colvin.
Benajah Colvin,
B. N. Colvin.
David L. Colvin,
James Conors,
John Carroll, M. II. Cook,
Elihu B. Cook.
Josiah Caswell.
R. E. Caswell,
Frank Crapo,
Amasa Dickerman,
William Dougan,
Howell Dillingham,
John T. Griffith,
J. C. CHAAR ...
Jeremiah Gradey,
Michael Grady,
John Grady,
Smith Greene,
Job Greene,
Edward I. Greene,
Rowland R. Greene.
D. B. Gillmore,
Elias Harrington,
Simon E. Harrington, -
Arza Grinnell,
Julius Hart,
N. E. Gifford,
Anthony Haley,
John Hadwin,
John H. Hilliard,
George Hadwin,
Martin Hickey,
O. B. Hadwin,
Luman Horton,
Harris O. Herrick,
Plyn Holton,
C. G. Herrick,
Elijah Holton,
H. S. Herrick,
Prince Hill,
William Herrick,
Jonathan Hill,
Job K. Hill,
H. V. Howard,
H. M. Hall,
F. R. Hawley,
Silas Ilulett,
John Hagar,
Henry B. Jenkins,
Reubin Hosmore,
P. W. Johnson,
O. B. Hulett,
Hiram Jenks,
Galen Hulett,
Hiram E. Johnson,
Andrew Harrington.
David II. Kelley,
Ezra Harrington,
Oratus Kelley,
Erastus Kelley,
Nelson Kelley.
Henry B. Kelley. Timothy Kelley, P. G. Knighs,
Joseph Fletcher, James Fish, Jeptha Frost, John Frisbie, Andrew Foster,
Plyn Farnham,
John Frawley,
Henry Griffin, Charles Griffith,
S. L. Griffith, David Griffith.
John B. Griffith, Benjamin Griffith,
H. P. Griffith,
Henry B. Harrington,
Edwin Harrington,
Gary Harrington,
Enos Harrington,
Andrew S. Harrington,
Lemuel Harrington.
Harvey Harrington,
Stephen Harrington,
Daniel Harrington. .
Gifford Gillmore,
Edward Herrick,
Alval Haskins,
M. C. Hulett,
Daniel Kelley,
Erastus Milliard, Milton Maxham, Thomas Nichols, Charles Nichols, Isaac Nichols, Anthony Nichels,
8
HISTORY OF DANBY.
66
HISTORY OF DANBY.
Morris Kane,
Stephen Kelley,
Isaac W. Kelley,
Isaac J. Nichols, Daniel Nichols, J. B. Nichols. James E. Nichols,
N. E. Nichols,
Erwin Lillie.
Robert Neal,
Henry A. Lillie,
William Otis.
Joshua N. Kelley.
Arnold Phillips,
David A. Kelley.
William Phillips. Geo. W. Phillips, 1~f.
Geo. W. Phillips, 20,
Stephen Phillip ?.
Martin Livingston.
Joseph N. Phillips,
John B. Mattocks,
Moses Mayo,
Daniel S. Milliard.
A. A. Mathewson,
Michael Milott,
John Milott.
William R. Parris.
Edmund Milott,
Dighton Maranville.
Daniel Matteson.
Jolın S. Parris,
John J. Parris,
L. G. Parris.
Horace Spaulding.
William W. Stimson,
Augustus D. Smith.
Isaac Seymour,
Mitchell Seymour,
Josiah Southwick, William Southwick.
James Stone,
E. H. Smith, Isaac Sweat,
Edmund Sherman,
Harrison Sherman. Israel Sheldon,
J. C. Thompson, William Thomas. John C. Thomas. Ira H. Vail,
Elward I. Vail,
William H. Vail. Warren Vaughan, Lytle Vance, Henry Wilbur.
M. O. Williams. Martin V. William ‹, J. C. Williams, Olney Williams,
Daniel Powell,
Dennis Ragan,
Robert Rand,
William Rand, Charles T. Reed. Edward J. Reed.
Henry Rogers, Joseph Rogers.
George Rawles, Alvah Risdon, Job Scott, Pardon Soule, John M. Soule. J. J. Soule,
Ransom Sherman, Elbert Sherman, Andrew Shippy, Elwin Staples, Seth P. Scott, HI. Sargents, John Sargents, Merritt Sargents. Hilaud Shaw,
William Pierce, J. S. Perry, Geo. W. Potter,
Walter M. Parris,
Wesley Parris,
Caleb Parris, Jared L. Parris, David Stone,
Leonard Palmer,
Abel Prindle,
Ezra B. Parker, James Panton.
Heman Lake,
Titus Lyon, G. J. Locke,
Elisha Lapham, Anson E. Lapham,
-
HISTORY OF DANBY.
F. A. Stevens.
Daniel Watrous,
William Smith,
Hiram Watrous,
E. A. Smith,
Daniel Wood,
Phillip Smith,
Albertus Warner,
Ephraim Wetherby,
Daniel Wait.
E. O. Whipple,
Ahel Wilbur,
Levi Whitcomb,
Isaac Wilbur,
Joel Wheeler.
The above .roll includes 299 names, and contains but 45 names. which are found on the roll of 1833.
At the annual town meeting of 1866. the following resolution was offered by John T. Griffith, and was adopted :
Resolved, That bereafter, and until this resolution is amended or appealed, no town officer shall be allowed or receive a sum to exceed one dollar per day for official services rendered for, or m behalf of the town, except where the compensation is fixed by law.
In 1866, the selectmen appointed J. T. Griffith, town clerk, te fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of G. J. Locke, who had occupied the office since 1849. In 1867, James E. Nichols was appointed overseer of the poor, in which year there was no town tax raised. In 1868, a town tax of 100 per cent. was voted. which the collector agreed to collect for one per et. and be at stated places on certain days. Tax-payers were to be allowed six per cent. discount upon their tax. if paid to the collector on or before the first day of July, which discount was to be credited to the collector if paid into the Treasury ou on before the 5th day of July. J. C. Williams was chosen collector.
A period of one hundred years, and over has now elapsed since the settlement of the town. Important events have transpired. and many changes have taken place since that time. A compari- son of fifty years ago with the present time, exhibits many strik- ing contrasts. We noticed an increase in the population of the town during the first fifty years, or up to the year 1815, since which time, there was a gradual falling off. until 1850. From 1810 to 1810, no town in the county with the same humber of inhabitants, outrivaled us in business.
.
The building of the Western Vermont Railroad in 1851. ush- ered in a new era for-the town, and gave a new impetus to all the industrial pursuits. The population of the town increased. greater benefits were derived from farming, and the humber. mar- ble and other manufacturing interests, rapidly increased. Pro- vious to this the marble had to be carted to Comstocks Landing. by teams, and no one could be extensively engaged in the Run- ber business. Danby Borough soon became a thriving village. while business was nearly ruined at the Corners.
Hitherto we have said nothing in regard to local polities. In all the political issues which have arisen, the people of this town have taken an active part. Party spirit has at times run to the
68
HISTORY OF DAASBE.
highest pitch, resulting in the bitterest political warfare. It many cases it has alienated friends, severed the bonds of brother- hood and friendship, and has exerted a bad infhience in the churches.
The close af the Revolution found the people nearly united in sentiment and principles with Washington as leader ; but the es- tablishment of our Federal Constitution raised new questions. and parties were formed, which were originally called Whig and Tory. Soon new issues brought into existence the Federal and Republican or Democratie parties. From forty years following the establishment of our government, this town was nearly even- ly balanced, and was represented by men of both parties. The mutual hostility shown by these parties, has never been so great as during the political conflicts of the part thirty years, and the slavery question has been the leading point of difference here, as well as dscwhere, The North took up a position in opposition to the slaveay propagandism of the South, and extension of slave territory. This was the cause of the great rebellion of 1861, the most terrible war on record. In 1828 the Autimasonic party was organized, but was always in the minority. Soon after 1830, the Whig party became organized, and has ever had a majority in this town. Since then there has been the American party, or- ganized in 1855, which was in the ascendeney but a short time, and was absorbed by the other parties. In all the changes, from the organization of the town, up to the present time, it has been loyal to the government.
There has been a wonderful change effected in the industrial efforts of the people during the past forty years. This change commenced as early as 1820, which was called the .. good old times," when everything was manufactured at home. Those were truly industrious times, and for want of machinery people were obliged to perform manuallabor. What a vast difference is shown when we compare those times with the present ; then people made their own implements, such as ox-bows, ox-whips, whip-stocks. &c., by hand. While the men worked, the women were busy at the looms, or at the wheel. In those days they picked their own wool, spun their own yarn, made their own cloth, dipped their own candles, made their own chairs and baskets, and wove their own carpets. But no one at the present day thinks of returning to those times, nor would it be best, as we are assisted by labor sav- ing implements, in all our pursuits.
Agriculture has ever been and will continue to be the leading parsuit in this town. It nist have required an indomitable will in the first settlers, to level the forest and bring the land into sub- jection. Wheat was one of the first cropsraised. which the new- ly cleared land vielded a rich harvest. After this crop began to diminish, the people fell back to the courser grains. The early settlers paid great attention to fruit growing. Apple orchards were everywhere planted, which bore plentifully at first ; pears. plums, and other fruits, were also raised at an early day, in great
HISTORY OF DANBY.
abundance. But fruit growing is at present almost a failure in some sections. Improvements however. have been going on in different parts of the town by some, in planting orchards and in- troducing improved varieties of apples, pears, &c., so that the prospects for fruit growing are very bright. It is conceded by all that our agricultural interests were never in a more flourish- ing condition than at present.
Since 1820, emigration has caused a heavy drain on our pop- ulation. A failure of crops, and a decline of manufactures were the principal causes of emigration. Several considerable settle- ments in different parts of the town, were entirely abandoned, and some highways discontinued. Many emigrated to the Hol- land Purchase, and others to Ohio and further west. Several towns in western New-York, were settled entirely by people from this town. and in several of the Western States, there is hardly a town that does not contain a representative from Danby. Not- withstanding the decline in our mechanical and manufacturing interests, which has caused a great reduction in our population, we are said to be making rapid advancement in our educational, moral, and religious interests.
9
70
HISTORY OF DANBY.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
TOWN CLERKS
OF DANBY, FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
from
from
to
Thomas Rowley,
1769
1773
Edward Vail,
1799
1820
Joseph Soule,
1773
1774
Stephen Calkins.
1820
1826
Thomas Rowley,
1774
1776
John Vail.
1829
1837
William Bromley,
1776
1780
Edward Vail, Jr.,
1937
1841
Thomas Rowley,
1780
1783
William Otis,
1841
1849
William Bromley,
1783
1785
Galen J. Locke,
1549
1866
Jacob Eldy,
1785
1788
J. T. Griffith,
1306
1867
Daniel Sbormas,
Albert Backlin was elected in 1867, and is the present Town Clerk.
TOWN TREASURERS OF DANBY, FROM 1769 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
from
to
from
Nathan Weller,
1709
1770
William Bromley,
1.83
1785
Stephen Calkins,
1770
1771
Wing Rogers,
1785
1766
- Joseph Earl,
1771
1772
Peter Lewis,
1786
1790
Nathan Weller,
1772
1773
Edward Vail,
1790
1820
Themis Rowley,
1773
1774
Stephen Calkins,
1820
1826
and George Wilber,
1774
Jolin Vail.
1826
1841
Luther Colvin,
1776
1777
William Otis,
1:41
1849
Stephen Calkins.
1777
1751
Galen J. Locke,
1849
1866
Edward Vail.
1781
1783
J. T. Griffithı,
1866
1867
Albert Bucklin was elected in ISCT, and is the present Town Treasurer.
SELECTMEN OF DANBY, FROM 1769 TO 1868.
Names.
Yeurs in office.
First vrar
in office.
Last year
in office.
Names.
First year
in office.
ilast year
in office.
Stephen Calkins,
3
1789
17.0
Stephen Calkins Jr.
Seth Cook.
1760
1772
William Hitt,
1>14
1×16
Crispin Bull,
1709
1772
Moses White,
1×14
1×15
Joseph Haskins.
1770
1772
Ira Vail,
1
1516
1816
Micah Vail,
3 1770
1770
Caleb Parris,
19 2: 1 Years in offieo.
1 .- 11
Joseph Sprague,
1775
1776
Edward Vail, Jr.,
1827
71
HISTORY OF DANBY.
Nathan Weller,
11 1770 1798
1 1817
1617
Timothy Bull,
1 1771
1772
Elijah Bull,
4
1817
1772 1773
Paul Hulett,
1 1820 182)
Epbrain Seley,
1 1773 1773
Allen Willis,
2 1820 1821
Phillip Griffith,
1773
1778
John Vail,
2 1820
1921
Savid Bartlett,
4 1821
1824
William Bromley,
1 1774
1780
David Youngs,
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