USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > The history of Jericho, Vermont > Part 12
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As late as 1860 town records show that the average paid a male teacher per month was but $14 to $20, while that paid the "schoolma'am" was an average of only $5 to $10.
The original division of the town into school districts was largely a matter of convenience, children being obliged in many cases to go long distances to school. However as the settlers increased, the need of more and better schools was recognized and the matter of their establishment was taken under considera- tion by the town. The first move in this direction by the town of Jericho seems to have been shortly previous to 1802, for in that year it was voted to "accept the seven school districts as brought forward by the Selectmen"; and the following board of school trustees was chosen: "1st District, Reuben Lee; 2nd, Charles Brown; 3d, John Lyman; 4th, Noah Chittenden; 5th, James Bentley, Jr .; 6th, William Rood, and 7th, Wm. Young."
From time to time as necessity required the town increased the number of school districts from the seven above mentioned to sixteen, and frequently by vote transferred persons living in one district to another where it would be more convenient.
March 5th, 1822, by vote of the town, School Districts Nos. 9 and 10 were created out of a part of the lands of District No. 1. A portion of District No. 5 was set off to a School District in Un- derhill to be accomplished under the direction of a committee therewith appointed. March 4th, 1823, School District No. 12 south of Jericho Corners was created out of a part of District No. 3. School District No. 6 was given leave to organize with a part of Richmond. In March, 1824, the 12th School District was annexed to District No. 3, and the selectmen were appointed a committee to examine the condition of the records and to pro- cure a suitable bookcase for the books of the town.
At the annual meeting in March, 1832, the Third School District was divided by the line of the road leading to the grist mill, east of this line to be known as the 14th School District,
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
but the following year these Districts were again united under name of District No 3.
As before stated, families in one School District were some- times transferred to a District more convenient. March 27, 1827, Billings Strowd was so transferred, being set off to the 4th School District in Bolton, the town of Bolton having voted to receive him into their fold. March 4th, 1828, Vincent Nash was set off to the 10th School District in Richmond, he having presented the following certificate.
"At a school meeting legally warned and holden in the Tenth School District in Richmond it voted to receive Mr. Vincent Nash of Jericho in said District according to an act in that case made and provided. Dated at Richmond, the 3rd day of March, 1828."
This certificate was signed by the District Clerk.
On the 5th day of March, 1822, at a town meeting Simon Bicknell, William A. Prentis, Hosea Bliss, Lemuel Blackman, William P. Richardson, Truman Galusha and Joseph Porter were chosen a superintending committee for common schools. This was a committee of uncommon ability.
Money for the support of the schools was first raised by a direct tax on the families of so much per scholar, but this method soon gave way to the more equitable one of figuring the tax upon the district grand list. March 3rd, 1812, a tax of one per cent. on the dollar was voted the support of schools, to be paid in grain.
That the assessors might have no difficulty in allotting the value of real estate to its proper School district, March 1st, 1842, it was voted that the selectmen determine the boundaries of School districts in any doubtful cases. It was likewise voted "that the preference to loan out the surplus money be given those who have not had any of the surplus money, and that Joseph P. Lavigne, Peter Bissonnette and Abraham Butler have their portion of the public money."
March 3rd, 1868, two central schools were established in town designated as No. 1 and No. 2. No. 2 included School districts, Nos. 2, 3, 8, and 11 and that part of No. 7 in Underhill which lay in the town of Jericho; while No. 1 included the remainder of the town. A committee of three for each Central school was ap-
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
pointed to provide suitable housing and to locate the same. This committee were given power to assess a tax on the list of their respective districts, to defray the expense of these Central schools, and to elect a prudential committee of three for each school. Nothing came of the project however.
School superintendents were faithful to the duties of their office, as is shown by the report of Rufus Smith to the town meet- ing of 1856. As superintendent he had examined and licensed twenty-six teachers; had made four visits to the different schools in town; and had found the number of scholars attending to be 366; the number of scholars in each District being as follows : In District No. 1, 38; No. 2, Church Street, 37; No. 3, Corners, 59; No. 4, Onion River, 32; No. 5, Little River, 19; No. 6, south, 37; No. 7, Mill Brook, 35; No. 8, Cyrus Packard's, 13; No. 9, Clapp, 15; No. 11, Lyman's, 23; No. 13, J. Smith's, 30; No. 14, L. Stimson's, 28; and that the average months of school- ing for the year were six.
Two years later the total number of scholars attending school had dropped to 334, with an average attendance of 273, accord- ing to the annual report of the town school superintendent. In 1859 the total number of scholars attending the summer schools was 313, with an average of 139, due no doubt to the demand of farm work, in which each member of the family was allotted a part. At the winter session, the total of pupils jumped to 339, with 268 an average attendance. The money expended for schools that year was $806, certainly not an exorbitant sum.
The legislature of 1870 passed an act whereby a town by a majority vote of the freemen present at any annual March meet- ing might abolish the school district system. Jericho took ad- vantage of that act at the March meeting of 1871 and abolished the District system under which they were then working by vote of 114 to 70, and elected a board of six school directors: E. H. Lane and L. B. Howe to serve for three years ; E. S. Whit- comb and E. W. Humphrey for two years; and H. S. Wright and L. F. Wilbur for one year. The board had the care and custody of all school property, and the supervision, management and control of the public schools. The board had the power to elect a chairman who should have the power and duties imposed upon town superintendents of schools.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Not all were satisfied with the adoption of this town system of schools, and these dissatisfied voters caused a special meet- ing to be held March 27th, 1871, in an unsuccessful attempt to rescind the vote of the previous meeting. It was claimed by those adverse to the town school system that the back districts would be deprived of schools, and their scholars forced to go long distances for their schooling. This feeling extending pretty generally over the state caused the legislature of 1872 to pass an Act that any town having abolished its District school system, might have the right at the March meeting of 1873 or at any fourth annual March meeting thereafter, to return to the District system on a majority vote of the freemen assembled. Pursuant to this Act the town of Jericho at its annual March meeting, 1873, voted that the town school system be abolished.
From this date Jericho made use of the District System un- til 1893, when the Legislature by enactment made the Town System compulsory. Besides the Primary and Intermediate grades, comprising the first 6 years' work as taught in all Dis- tricts, there was added at Jericho Corners the Grammar School and at Jericho Center were added the Grammar School and later the High School Department from which students pass on to college work.
At this same session of the Legislature, 1893, the Underhill Graded School District was incorporated out of what had been District No. 2 of Jericho and No. 3 Underhill; and from this school also its graduates have entered college work.
CHAPTER III. .
TOWN POOR.
The division of wealth among the pioneers of a country follows closely the ideas of our modern socialists. Game is plentiful, land may be had for the taking, housing, clothes, furni- ture, and the few implements required in the necessarily crude tilling of the soil are largely the work of the family. A man's wealth depending upon his health and strength, his rifle, quick-
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
ness of eye and skill of hand. With the passing of the years and the growth of a more complex life, the dependency of the fam- ily upon itself is less marked. Through barter or a closer ap- plication to work one family gains a surplus of necessaries that may be exchanged for labor or other necessaries with a neigh- bor not quite so industrious. So through the succeeding years the division becomes greater and greater, giving rise to that con- dition of the very rich and of the very poor. The duty of the community to its poor and incapacitated was early recognized among New Englanders, and through the experience gained by the application of various methods has arisen our present system of alleviating the want of our community poor.
Among these settlers was a constant struggle between kind- ness of heart and that frugality induced and fostered by their battle with wilderness odds. It was not surprising that they should have hit upon the plan that at once relieved their con- sciences and saved their pocketbooks, namely that of selling the care of their physically incapacitated at public vendue to the lowest bidder.
The pioneers of Jericho were no exception to the rule, and it was not until 1827 that any marked need arose for town action in the interest of community poor. In that year the care of two unfortunates was sold at auction: John Bartlett to Wil- liam Bartlett for the sum of $65 to cover all expenses for the year ; and Julia Bentley to Harvey Field for the sum of $43.50 to cover board and nursing for one year.
In 1829 together with the sale of the care of the town charges it was voted to furnish John Davis with ten cords of wood for the year, and John T. Clapp engaged to furnish the same for $1.00 per cord. Hosea Bliss (presumably a physi- cian) engaged to furnish for one year all medical aid required by those charges then under the care of the town and for such others as might come under town care during this period for the sum of $20.00.
In 1830 it was voted to dispose of the poor to the lowest bid- der including board, clothing and nursing, but in 1831 it was voted to "set the medical aid to Secretary Rawson for the town poor, for those that are now in the town and for those that
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
may come on the town during the year, for thirty-three dollars, he being the lowest bidder." 1
1834 our good people had made another advance and it was voted that no more paupers be sold for the present and the Over- seer was instructed to dispose of their care in some other way, failing which he might "vendue them" at an adjourned meet- ing. His action in the matter we do not know, but there does not appear to have been any public sale.
In 1835 John T. Clapp bid off the care of town poor for the lump sum of $398.00.
That the towns generally were waking up to the faults of the public sale to lowest bidder plan is shown by the communication received from the town of Underhill in December, 1836, a copy of which is appended :
"Sirs, previous to our freemen's meeting on the 8th of No- vember last, we received a request from T. Chase, Overseer of the poor of the town of Westford, to appoint a committee to deliberate with such other committee as may be appointed by 3 or 4 adjoining towns on the subject of providing a suitable house and farm for the residence of the paupers of such towns as may unite for that purpose, and in compliance with said request we have laid the matter before said town and have appointed said Committee. We now respectfully request you to unite with us in the same object and appoint a committee for that purpose if you shall judge best on your meeting on the 15th instant. It is requested that such committee may deliberate on the subject in time to report to our next annual March meeting. Yours with due respect.
JOHN PARKER REUBEN PARKER JOSEPH WELLS } Committee."
December 15th, 1836, the town appointed Arthur Bostwick, Elias Bartlett and Joseph Griffin a committee in compliance with this request. March 6th, 1838, the town voted "that this town appoint a committee to buy a farm and erect a poorhouse, and that this committee be authorized to confer with other towns and request their cooperation, and if they are willing let them come in and unite with us in this object, and that we vote to raise one
.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
thousand dollars if the same shall be necessary to carry this ob- ject into effect." Nathaniel Blackman, Oliver Lowry and Tru- man Galusha were appointed this committee, but nothing further appears to have come of this effort to better the system of car- ing for town poor.
In 1858, September 7th, the town voted to purchase and equip a farm for the support of the town poor and appointed Ezra Elliot, George B. Oakes and Hiram Day a committee to carry this vote into effect. They were restricted in the expense of this project to the amount of surplus money. This vote was never carried out.
Town records show that in 1859 the cost of caring for town poor was $647.51.
January 2nd, 1861, the question again arose, and it was voted "that a committee be appointed to purchase an interest in the Union poor farm for the support of the poor if in the judg- ment of said committee it shall be for the interest of the town so to do."
This Union poor farm was one supported by the joint as- sociation of the towns of Essex, Williston and Shelburne, and was known as The Union Poor Farm Association. It was lo- cated near Essex Junction in the town of Williston and has been in successful operation ever since.
George B. Oakes, U. S. Whitcomb and L. A. Bishop, select- men, were appointed this committee and reported that they "have accomplished the object for which they were appointed by buy- ing five-nineteenths of said farm estimated at $8,300.00, it being the sum of $2,256.70, and we also purchased five-nineteenths of the personal property on said farm for $414.27 amounting in all to $2,670.97." It was thereupon voted that such an amount of the. surplus money as might be required be used to pay for the town's interest therein. That this association of the towns in a common object has been less expensive as well as more humane than the old way of farming the poor out to the lowest bidder, is proved by the fact that from 1861 to 1862 the cost to the town for the care of its poor dropped to $339.50, about one-half what it had been the previous year.
This Union Poor Farm Association was organized to con- tinue for a period of ten years, at the expiration of which it was
10
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
reorganized by vote of the several towns interested. Since its reorganization the towns of Hinesburg and South Burlington have been admitted, and with the towns of Jericho, Essex, Shel- burne and Williston make up the Association as it is today.
In 1869 it appears from the report of the poor master and poor farm directors that, after paying the entire cost of sup- porting the poor during the year, Jericho's share in the surplus remaining amounted to $69.50. In view of this excellent show- ing a tax of but ten cents on the grand list was voted for town expenses, the smallest tax that had been voted for many years.
CHAPTER IV.
TEMPERANCE.
In the early history of Jericho the merchants in town were located either in the village at Jericho or at Jericho Center, and their trade was to a large extent on credit with the understand- ing that the pay for the goods purchased should be made in potash, cattle and grain, the following fall and winter. This mode of doing business was quite general throughout Vermont. It was a general practice for merchants just before they went to market for the purpose of purchasing their stock of goods, to settle with their customers so far as possible, and get their promis- sory notes in payment of unpaid bills. Times were hard, and customers found it difficult to pay their bills and notes as they fell due, and merchants found it difficult to collect from their cus- tomers sufficient money to take to market to buy their goods, so merchants to obtain the necessary funds would place the unpaid notes and accounts for collection in the hands of the local lawyer, who would advance to the merchant the money necessary. While the merchants were gone to market, suits would be brought to en- force collection of the unpaid notes and accounts. The merchants being absent would escape much criticism and abusive talk from their customers. But when the merchant returned he did not fail to bring with his new stock of merchandise, a good supply of rum and molasses. Most people in those days drank, intoxi-
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
cating liquors. When he returned and an old customer entered his store in an unfriendly state of mind with language not compli- mentary, he was taken one side, and after an explanation and apologies and a liberal treat by the merchant, both became again fast friends, and the old customer continued to give the mer- chant his trade. When notes and bills payable in cattle or grain, became due in October and January, the usual months throughout Vermont for the maturing of such notes and bills, the debtor would drive his cattle or bring his grain to the village to the creditor to apply upon the debt, and if they did not agree upon the price, they would select some person or persons acquainted with the value of such property to set the price that should be ap- plied on the debt.
Under the law previous to the prohibitory statute of 1852 town selectmen were empowered to grant licenses to maintain public inns and for the sale therein of certain kinds of liquors. Under this law Rufus Brown was licensed in 1851 to keep the Bostwick House near Underhill for one year and to sell therein small beer and cider, but not wines, strong beer, or spirituous liquors, and to be governed in all respects by the Legislative Act of November 3rd, 1846. Mr. Brown maintained this Inn for a period of about 20 years. In 1862 he was succeeded by L. M. Dixon, who was given a selectmen's license. In 1863 Martin C. Barney and Luther S. Prouty were each granted a license to maintain a hotel or house of entertainment. In 1867 Dana Bicknell was licensed to keep a hotel.
Following the prohibitory Act of 1852 the town was per- mitted to appoint an agent whose business it should be to carry and dispense for mechanical, chemical and medicinal purposes the liquors thereby required. The agent's stock in trade was furnished by the town and was sold to cover the expense of handling and to return a small percentage of profit to the town.
The following resolutions passed at a town meeting held in November, 1844, show how the public mind had changed re- garding the use of intoxicants, formerly considered as a matter of course :
1st. "Resolved, as the sense of this meeting that the use of intoxicating drinks as an ordinary beverage is injurious, and that being so, the use and traffic in them ought to be discouraged ;
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
2nd. "Resolved, that the civil authority in this town are advised to take all proper measures to restrain the use and traffic in intoxicating liquors that are consistent with law ;
3rd. "Resolved, that the town of Jericho hereby respectfully request the Judges of Chittenden County Court to discontinue the licenses to retailers and to Innkeepers and that the selectmen of the town be directed to deliver to each of the said judges a copy of these resolutions."
(Editor's Note: The Prohibitory Law was a good law for Jericho and kept the traffic in intoxicants out of our limits far better than any form of license has ever done. A generation of temperance men and women grew up in the half century that the Prohibitory Law was upon our Statutes, whose industry has given the town great prosperity. The town would greatly pre- fer some form of prohibition to the present Local Option Law.
As the following table seems to indicate, the Local Option Law went into effect in 1903, and the following has been the vote of the town on this matter at the March meetings :
Year
Yes
No
1903
124
108
1904
32
122
1905
47
107
1906
50
110
1907
31
104
1908
34
117
1909
11
85
1910
13
97
1911
11
66
1912
13
90
1913
24
97
1914
15
86
1915
19
99
1916
28
131
1
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
CHAPTER V.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
For centuries before the coming of the white settlers the territory now known as Vermont had been traversed by Indians to and from their homes in the Canadian forests to the hunting grounds along the Connecticut. One of the main pathways across the state ran along the southwestern border of Jericho following the banks of Onion River, now called the Winooski. These Indian paths, holding in the main to the banks of water- courses were mere trails through the wilderness but with the coming of the white settler they began to take a more permanent form. At first travel through the wilderness was limited to foot and horseback, following scarcely cleared paths marked out by white blazes in the bark of trees, passage of the streams and rivers being achieved where sand bars and shoals made fording possible. Gradually these improved as the requirements of the settlement demanded until they became fair thoroughfares adapted to wagon and cart. From time to time new roads were cut and bridges erected. In 1805 we find by town records the select- men were directed to establish such a new road from the meeting house in Jericho to the Essex line by Barney's saw-mill. This was undoubtedly done, for in 1808 we find that the selectmen were appointed a committee to settle with one David Oakes for his horse lost by the insufficiency of the bridge near Mr. Barney's mill.
The roads already in being were taken over by the town on vote of the freemen, and the expense of their upkeep became a common charge. As in the case of the School districts it was found that the matter could be handled with greater fairness to individuals by dividing the town into highway districts, each district deriving its revenue for road work from a tax on the grand list therein. The bridges came to be the cause of great- est expense, both as to first cost and upkeep. That this was quite an item is attested by a statement in the town records under date of September 1st, 1835. At this time Nathaniel Blackman, Jedediah Field and Arthur Bostwick were chosen a committee to confer with a committee from the third highway district relative
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
to repairing or rebuilding the bridge across Brown's River at Jericho Corners which was reported to be in a dangerous con- dition for travel. The committee reported this to be true and advised that "a new bridge should be erected immediately," the cost of which would be $350.00. The committee recommended the raising of $200 toward the work by means of a direct tax on the grand list, provided that the inhabitants of the third district complete the bridge agreeably to a plan of the committee. The $200 was appropriated and the bridge was built.
In the years 1836-37 petitions were made for three new bridges across Brown's River. One, a covered bridge, in the second school district near Underhill Flats ; a second at the Lyman Reed crossing; and a third at the Buxton Mill privilege (so called). These the town voted to build provided that the districts interested put in the abutments and make the filling. This was accordingly done. At this time the town had no less than twenty-three bridges to keep in order.
About the year 1837 or 1838 a committee appointed by the Supreme Court laid out a county road from Hinesburg through Richmond and Jericho to Cambridge in Lamoille County. The town does not appear to have been satisfied with the survey as made by the Court's committee over that portion of the route from Capt. Griffin's place near Lee River to Harvey Orr's, and sought to have it changed, apparently without success. In 1840 there was an article in the warning for town meeting "to see what measures the town will take to work the road from Rich- mond to Underhill laid by a committee called the county road," and the town at that warned meeting voted that "the selectmen be a committee to expend not to exceed two hundred dollars to make the county road through the town." This county road, so far as it was in Jericho, ran from Richmond line through Jericho Center direct to Underhill line at Underhill Flats, passing the house formerly owned by Cyrus Packard where the present road runs.
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