USA > Vermont > Orange County > Braintree > The history of Braintree, Vermont, including a memorial of families that have resided in town > Part 7
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
December, 1792, I married Sally Field of Tunbridge, who died November, 1794. During my connection with her I taught school in Royalton. About that time the brethren of the church requested me to improve my gifts in preaching. In the summer of 1795, being strongly solicited, I consented to preach at an appointment made for me at Tunbridge. It was not without trials that I complied with this request. From this time doors were open for my improvements, and I continued to preach from place to place, teaching school winters, till the spring of 1797. Then being requested to teach in Braintree, and to preach to them, they being destitute, I complied and commenced the- school in June, 1797. On the 18th of June, 1800, I was ordained pastor of the Baptist church in Braintree."
The school house in which the people held their religious meetings stood where John Pratt now lives, and being too small to contain the congregation assembled to witness the ordination services, they retired to a large rock a little northwesterly of the school house and held the services there. Elder Huntington married, June, 1801, Lydia Parmly, formerly of Newtown, Conn. About this time he built and moved into a house, in which he ever after lived .. As a neighbor, he was ready to assist the needy, to sympathize with the afflicted, and to do good to all; ever striving for the things that make for peace in neighborhood and town. He was highly esteemed as a good and faithful minister of the Gospel, "not shuning to declare the whole counsel of God." The first year after his ordination he baptized about forty persons,. the fruits of his labors. His journal gives accounts of holding meetings and baptizing in Bethel, Royalton, Tunbridge, Chelsea, Brookfield, Randolph, Roxbury, Northfield, Warren, Waitsfield, Williamstown, Kingston (Gran- ville), and Rochester. In 1816 there was a great religious awakening in Braintree, and he baptized between August and December more than eighty. He died in the thirty-third year of his ministry.
Two of his sons entered the Baptist ministry:
1. JOSEPH, who graduated at Middlebury college, and from the theolog- ical institute at Newton, Mass., about 1840. He preached in Williamstown about three years, dying of consumption in 1843; he was highly esteemed as "a workman that needed not to be ashamed."
2. ADONIRAM JUDSON, who, after completing his collegiate and minis- terial studies, preached successively in Virginia, Chelsea, Mass., and Augusta, Ga. But, his health failing, he gave up the ministry, and has been for many years Professor of Languages in Columbian college, Washington, D. C.
ELIJAH, Jr., by his first wife, served in the war of 1812, but was soon discharged on account of illness. Soon after he began to teach; first, in Braintree, then in New York, and finally at Delaware, Ohio, where he taught nine years in succession. Having married, he settled at Perrysburg, Ohio, and held important county offices till his death in 1854.
CHRISTOPHER attended district school till he was eighteen, then a short time at Randolph academy; at nineteen, he began teaching and taught twenty winters in succession, nineteen of them in only four districts. Sum- mers he worked out by the month farming till 1826, when he bought two lots
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DEA. ZION COPELAND.
·of wild land, where he now lives. In 1857 he was candidate for representative and was declared elected by one majority. After the announcement of the result, a belated voter presented his ballot which;was accepted by the presid- ing officer, making the result a tie and it was so declared. Mr. Huntington refused to contest the election.
ELIJAH, son of Christopher, studied dentistry with Dr. Palmer, at New- port, and after practicing several years went to Philadelphia Dental College. Graduating in 1872, he settled at West Randolph and worked successfully at his trade till a short time before his death, 1877.
DEA. ZION COPELAND
Was of Puritan stock. His ancestor, Lawrence Copeland, was one of the "Pilgrim fathers," who landed on Plymouth rock in 1620. If the writer is correctly informed, his father, David, removed from Athol, Mass., to Bethel with the first settlers of that town. Zion removed from Bethel to Braintree about 1789, then not far from twenty years of age, and married, in 1793, Miss Polly Harwood. He bought the farm now owned by John Finn, in the eastern part of the town, on which he erected a cheap dwelling and began work as a farmer, which pursuit he followed through life. In their early history, in common with others, he and his wife endured many hardships and privations. Sometimes, when the crops were cut short by frost or otherwise, they were reduced to great extremities. Having themselves suffered greatly from poverty and want, they conceived the plan of placing each of their children in such circumstances as would in after life "keep the wolf from the door," and enable each to avoid looking towards the poor-house.
On attaining majority, each son received $700 and each daughter $400. The parents trusted in Providence to enable them to secure, by frugality and honest industry, rather than by speculative schemes, the "wherewithal " for this " setting out," and to that end they bent all their energies. Their sole ambition was to accomplish this settled purpose rather than to amass great riches, not knowing who would gather them. With strict economy and untiring effort they were able to carry out their plan. During all this time, however, their hands were open to aid the poor and needy, and to help advance religious and other benevolent causes. During a religious awakening in the Baptist church, of which Rev. Mr. Huntington was for many years pastor, Mr. and Mrs. Copeland made a profession of religion and united with that church. He was chosen one of the deacons. Some years after Dea. Copeland and his wife saw fit to sever their connection with the Baptist church and unite with the Methodists. As meeting houses belonging to Methodists were scarce, Dea. Copeland opened his house for public preaching, which was continued for twenty years. He was one of the few who took part in the first temperance movement in Braintree, and was always thereafter its staunch friend and advocate.
Dea. Copeland was the father of fourteen children, of whom twelve, seven sons and five daughters, attained to adult age. Four of his sons were ministers, all Methodists.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
1. John began preaching at twenty-two, in western New York, and. served in the ministry fifty-eight years.
2. David began about the same age, in Maine, and preached fifty-five years.
3. Edmund entered the ministry at twenty-two and continued therein, at Montpelier, Barre, etc., forty-eight years.
4. Andrew J. engaged in the work at twenty-four and "continues until this present " at Chelsea, though retired from active ministerial service.
Only two of the family are now living, Andrew and Addison. The name has become nearly extinct in Braintree, Orin B. and his son being all that. remain of that family.
DEA. SAMUEL BASS
Moved into Braintree the latter part of May, 1785, and his was the second family to settle here. He came from Braintree, Mass., but not directly, having resided several years at Hadley, and a shorter time at Cornish, N. H. His wife, it is said, rode into town horseback on a feather bed. At first he lived in a log house that he built near a spring a few rods westerly of the brook at Peth, afterwards known as Bass's brook. The spring is now in a. three-cornered lot, south of the bridge, owned by Eleazer Bass. Subsequently he built the framed house now owned and formerly occupied by Apollos Sharp, in which he lived and died. Dea. Bass was ever found a genial, upright man. When the Congregational church was formed in 1794, he and his wife, Elizabetlı, were two of its eight original members. He was elected one of the first deacons of the church August 22, 1801, and remained in that office till his death, 39 years. A single instance goes to show that he had correct ideas of duty, even in those days of Puritan strictness. He owned a farm in the north part of the town. One year, in May or June, some time after cattle had been turned to pasture, there came a heavy snow storm. He woke up Sunday morning to find the ground covered with a considerable depth of snow. Mounting his horse, he rode to his farm directly past the old meeting house, shunning the eyes of no one, and cared for his stock. The fracture of church rules regarding Sunday appeared so palpable that he was charged with breaking its sacredness, and the matter was brought before the church. He listened to all the complaints against him and replied: "Brethren, I am very sorry that I have hurt your feelings; but if the same should happen again, I must say that I should again do the same; for I cannot see my cattle starve to deatlı." His "confession," it is said, was satisfactory. In addition to the work of his farm, he was much engaged in shoe making. He was very fond of singing, and used to teach singing schools and for many years was church chorister. It is said that in his later years, when at church, a tune sung just right would completely overcome him with enthusiasm, and he would rise up. and face the choir and act as if he could not get enough of it. His wife was accustomed to sit very erect in church, with her eyes closed. He "raised " a large family of children, of whom Hiram was the first-born in Braintree; Sarah and Anna were excellent singers; Moses had the oddity, it is said, of
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DEA. ISAAC NICHOLS.
never giving a direct answer to a question. One man bet with another that he could extort a direct answer. Finding Moses about to butcher, he asked: " Are you going to kill your hogs to-day?" and was answered: "I've got to catch 'em first." Samuel and Seth were the most business-like of all the boys, and each acquired a comfortable competence. Dea. Bass was unable to educate his children more than at the district schools, as they were; but they were honorable and respected. He died of cancer on the nose at the good old age of 923.
DEA. ISAAC NICHOLS
Was the son of Isaac, who was also the son of Isaac; and the name was further handed down to the following generation. He was a native of Sutton, Mass., and removed with his parents to Royalton in the early settlement of the latter place. He was colonel in the Revolutionary war and was at the battle of Bennington, and at Saratoga at the surrender of Burgoyne. In the winter of 1786-7 he emigrated with his family to Vermont, stopping at Bethel. He and his older sons went to Braintree, took up a lot of land, it being the Alban's hill lot on Quaker Hill, and built a log house near the apple trees at the top of the hill, covering it with spruce bark. Then returning, he brought the rest of his family to their new home in the following October. At that time there were not more than five families permanently settled witbin the limits of the town. The burning of Royalton had taken place but a few years before, and the savages even at this time had but just been finally expelled. To increase the hardships of the new comers, the crops were so injured by an early frost in the second or third year after their arrival, as to cause great suffering during the following season. Several families had no means of subsistence but the milk of a single cow, a quantity of wheat bran, and what they could obtain from the streams and the forests.
In 1791 Dea. Nichols was elected the first representative from Braintree, and was re-elected to that office several times. He and his wife were original members of the church formed in 1794, and, with Dea. Bass, he was elected deacon of the church August 22, 1801, serving in that capacity 21 years. He was a man of strict integrity and held many places of trust in the town. Circumstances prevented him from doing more for his children than their simple support. Samson lived several years before attaining his majority with a man in Royalston, Mass., who gave him a fair education, and he was for many years surveyor of Orange county. He assisted in surveying and laying out Braintree and Randolph, and held much town office. Isaac, Jr., was a bright business man, was much in responsible office, and was sent to the legislature a number of times. He was very large and muscular, and has been seen to lift a barrel of cider into a wagon with one hand helped by his leg. Isaac was the first white male child born in Royalston, Mass. He came to Braintree in 1792-3. Abner and Caleb were well-to-do farmers.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
DORCAS (SIBLEY) NICHOLS,
Wife of Isaac, and the mother of Rev. Ammi, lived to the remarkable age of 104 years, 10 mos., and 20 days. On her 100th birthday, a centennial meeting was held in the old meeting house, and she walked in ahead of the procession. Rev. Daniel Wild of Brookfield preached the sermon. At this time "she retained her mental faculties to a remarkable degree. She was a woman of remarkable amiability and a devoted Christian."
SAMUEL HARWOOD
Came to Braintree early in its settlement, from Sutton, Mass. He drove hither two cows, and brought a few potatoes in his pockets. The potatoes were planted, and yielded the first year about two and a half bushels, nearly all of which were kept for seed. The next year he raised a good supply of potatoes and also of turnips. The milk of the cows (which were turned out to browse), a few potatoes and leaks comprised the chief part of the food of the family for some time. The business of Moses, his son, was to follow the cows and return them at night. Oftentimes he would eat a lump of maple sugar and drink a little milk in the morning, and have nothing more except leaks all day. The first summer Mr. Harwood cut bushes and planted beans and sowed a little barley; that fall he had land cleared on which he sowed winter wheat, and in the following year the harvest made him in comfortable cir- cumstances. He first lived in a log house that stood near the spot where he afterwards built a framed house, at the first bend of the road below Harrison H. Harwood's. He bought a great deal of land from first to last, and gave a lot to each of his children; to Polly, the lot Dea. Copeland lived on; to Moses, the farm now owned by H. H. Harwood; to Samuel, Jr., the farm on which he lived and died, now owned by Ira Harwood: to Nathan, the home farm, Judson H. Fitts present owner; and to Aaron, what is now the Gooch farm at Snowsville, on which he built a cider brandy distillery near the site of the hotel. But Nathan's wife objected to living with his parents, and in conse- quence he and Moses exchanged farns. One incident of Mr. Harwood's life that is related shows that he was spirited and quick witted. He once called at a house in Salem, Mass., at a time before the witchcraft excitement had completely died out. The signal for hanging a witch was, "Here's the man. here's the man !" or "Here's the woman !" as the case might be. The lady of the house cried out, " Here's the man !" He seized the fire poker and in a threatening manner demanded her to recall the statement or he would beat ont her brains. She apologized, saying she was mistaken in the man, which she was most decidedly. His quickness and firmness saved his life. Mr. Har- wood held office more or less all his life. A marked characteristic was his patience and piety The last fifty years of his life were burdened with a cancer. It first appeared on his left shoulder, near the neck, and he called it his death warrant. 'The cancer was drawn out four times, and it as often reappeared, each time higher up on the neck and face, the last time on his nose. After forty years of trouble with it, he remarked that the Lord had given him a respite of forty years. At last, at the age of eighty-seven, he was "gathered home."
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DR. SAMUEL W. THAYER, DR. SAMUEL W. THAYER, JR.
DR. SAMUEL W. THAYER
Received his primary education at the district school in his native town, Braintree, Mass. Subsequently he was under the instruction of Master Tileston, a celebrated teacher of the times, who was patronized by the elder John Adams. After completing his course of studies under Master Tileston, he took charge of the high school in Quincy, which was under his direction three years. He then studied medicine with Drs. Alden and Weld. In 1810 he came to Braintree and settled on Quaker Hill, where Jonathan W. Belcher now lives, and where all his children were born, and here he continued the practice of his profession until the autumn of 1832. For several years during the autumn he gave instruction to a class of young men preparatory to their teaching in the winter. In 1834 Dr. Thayer removed to Thetford, the prin- cipal reason of the change being to afford his children better opportunities for education. He received, in 1852, a partial shock of paralysis which incapac- itated him afterwards for the practice of his profession. Soon after he went to Burlington, where he resided till his death. He was characterized by kindness and benevolence, strong attachment to his friends, strict integrity and unwavering honesty. He died as he had lived-in the Christian faith- lamented by all who knew him.
DR. SAMUEL W. THAYER, JR.,
Obtained his early instruction at private schools in the "Nichols neighbor- hood," at the "old school house on the hill," at his father's house under the tutorship of Jeremiah Flint, and at the neighboring school districts where that excentric school master "taught the young idea how to shoot" without sparing the rod. He also attended the academies at Randolph and Thetford, and taught district school several winters in Thetford and neighboring towns. He fitted for Dartmouth college, but circumstances prevented his entering, and at eighteen he began the study of medicine, graduating from the Vermont medical college in June, 1838. After practicing a few years at West Randolph and Northfield, Dr. Thayer settled at the latter place, where "he soon acquired an enviable reputation for medical and surgical skill, and established an extensive practice." He was likewise a student of natural history, and made a large and valuable collection of Vermont minerals and shells. In the spring of 1854 he settled permanently at Burlington.
The medical department of Vermont University at Burlington finally closed doors for want of patronage. In 1850, and again in 1852, Dr. Thayer endeavored without success to re-establish it. In March, 1853, a faculty of four professors was formed, but nearly all soon retired. He renewed his efforts and finally succeeded. For several months he delivered two lectures daily, dissected at night by candle light, besides attending to his professional duties. From this time the college grew and prospered, and in its growth and prosperity Dr. Thayer served long and faithfully. In January, 1854, he was elected Dean, and Professor of Theory and Practice; in 1855, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, which chair he occup ed till 1871. At the time of his death he was Dean, re-elected in 1879, and Emeritus Professor of Anatomy
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
and Physiology. In 1866 Dartmouth college conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and in 1877 Vermont University that of LL. D.
Dr. Thayer traveled extensively. He visited Nova Scotia and the British Provinces in 1855; in 1867, Great Britain, France, Austria and Italy; in 1869 he made a tour of the great Northwest; in 1874, in Europe again; four months of 1876 he spent on Bermuda Island, returning by way of Cuba; and in 1878 he made a trip around the globe by way of San Francisco, Japan, India and Europe.
During the late war Dr. Thayer took an active part in the home service, and after severe engagements ministered to the wounded at various military posts. Gov. Fairbanks made him chairman of the state board of medical examiners in 1861, in which capacity "he personally examined every medical officer appointed by the Governor to positions in Vermont regiments," besides making many examinations of enlisted men. In 1862 he was attached to the Governor's staff, and put in charge of the medical department of the volun- teer service to appoint surgeons and assistants for Vermont regiments. The legislature created, in 1864, the office of Surgeon General, and Dr. Thayer was appointed to fill the place with the rank of Brigadier-General. "The office was a new one, with neither precedent or organization," but the doctor brought to it the energy and comprehension that characterized all his doings, "and the department was soon in a sound condition, ready at a moment's notice to send new medical officers to the field, promote those already there, furnish information to the friends of the sick and wounded, and in other ways to contribute to the health and happiness of the troops." At the close of the war he was " breveted for meritorious services."
In 1863 Gov. Smith sent Dr. Thayer as bearer of dispatches to President Lincoln, Secretary-of-War Stanton and Maj .- Gen. Dix, to procure the means and to receive authority to place the northern frontier of Vermont in a state of defence against a party of southern refugees and others in Canada, who · were organized to invade the state. His mission was successful, and the plan to burn towns and plunder banks was foiled. A year after, aremnant of that party raided St. Albans.
About 1867 he performed an amputation on one of the Harlow bridge victims, and was poisoned by means of a scratch or pimple on one hand. Finally his strength became fatally impaired. In the spring of 1882 he traveled in the west two or three months, returned somewhat improved, and resumed his practice. But so weakened was his vitality that he gradually failed till his death, November 14, 1882.
Generons and sincere, Dr. Thayer was at the command of the rich, the poor, all who needed his services. He never engaged in politics, or amassed a fortune; his time and strength were devoted to his profession. The work which he performed gratuitously was immense, and his demise was a personal loss to many.
JAMES CARY BARREL THAYER
Entered the store of Gov. Charles Paine & Co. at Northfield in 1840, and has ever since been engaged more or less in mercantile pursuits. Since 1869
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THAYERS, CRAIGS, KIDDER.
he has been treasurer, and for several years past active manager of the North- field Savings Bank.
RUSH BROOK THAYER
Prepared for college at Thetford, studied law, and began the practice of his profession at Manchester, N. H. He was regarded as having more than ordi- nary ability. After little more than a year of successful work, with a bright prospect before him, he was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs and soon died.
DARWIN THAYER
Engaged when quite young in railroad pursuits on the Vermont Central and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. Since 1870 he has been superintendent of the Dunkirk, Fort Warren & Pittsburg R. R., residing at Fredonia, N. Y.
DR. SAMUEL CRAIG
Settled in Braintree in 1805. He was a man of marked excentricity of char- acter, a successful practitioner of medicine, kind hearted, liberal to the poor, and an affectionate husband and father. Although he outlived the ordinary period of life work, his habits of temperance, added to a good constitution, enabled him to render useful service near to the end of his life.
CAPT. SAMUEL GEORGE P. CRAIG,
Only son of Dr. Craig, studied law with Hon. J. P. Kidder and settled at St. Paul, Minn. After a short time he returned to his native state and opened a law office at West Randolph. A few years after he accepted the cashiership of Royalton bank. He enlisted as a private in Co. G, Sth Vt. Vols., was pro- moted captain, and was a brave officer, He was wounded in battle, and, after a severe and prolonged illness, died at Opelousas, La., in 1863. His name is enrolled with the "Honored Dead."
JOHN KIDDER
Was of English, and his wife of Scotch descent. He settled in Braintree in 1792 on what is known as the "Kidder lot," and through which was the " Kidder road," the old highway from Quaker Hill to West Randolph, now discontinued. Eleven children graced his fireside. Three sons and two daughters were successful teachers, and each has taught the "Connecticut Corners " school, being for several years the only teachers that district would hire. The Kidders, as a race, were large and robust. Of his children,
LYMAN almost constantly held some important town office, was justice of the peace over twenty years, was sent nine times to the legislature, and twice a delegate to state constitutional conventions. He was a devoted Christian, and for about twenty years was deacon of the Christian church. His wife, "Sister Kidder " as she was commonly called, was a lady of supe-
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
rior intellect, whose piety, Christian virtues and goodness of heart were seldom excelled, if equaled. The exalted purity of her life adorned even her Christian character. Lyman, Jr., went, soon after his marriage, to Darien, N. Y., and thence to Star Prairie, Wis. In both states he was justice of the peace and held county and town offices.
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