USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > The history of Jericho, Vermont > Part 9
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The new day is here. Jericho sees it. Chittenden County sees it. The State of Vermont sees it. We greet its sunrise now. The new loyalty which pays due reverence to the forefath- ers and their glorious heritage to us while at the same time front- ing the larger responsibilities owing to the present and the future will send the sun of this day well up toward its zenith. Men and women of Jericho all hail! You have not forgotten the pioneers. You honor your founders today. Tomorrow in the spirit of the new loyalty you will address yourselves as real patriots to the duties which will assure a new and a better Vermont.
CHAPTER VII.
AUGUST SIXTH.
Wednesday, Aug. 6th, had been observed by the citizens in family reunions and tours about the town, whose important places had been appropriately marked by the committee on mark- ers, and at six P. M. a large assemblage of people had gathered at Riverside to attend the exercises in connection with the dedica- tion of a marker which had been erected in memory of the First Settlement of the Browns. Their first cabin had been built a few rods south of the Riverside Bridge. The marker had been erected upon the Green in front of the old Whitcomb & Day store, upon land which formerly belonged to the Browns. The marker stands 51/2 feet high and consists of two pieces of gran- ite, and upon the front of the die is a bronze tablet bearing the following inscription,
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE BROWN FAMILY FIRST SETTLERS HERE AND FOR WHOM
BROWN'S RIVER WAS NAMED.
JOSEPH BROWN, HANNAH, HIS WIFE AND THEIR BOYS CHARLES AND JOSEPH.
IN THE YEAR 1780 WERE CAPTURED
BY INDIANS NEAR THIS PLACE
TAKEN TO CANADA SOLD TO ENGLISH OFFICERS
AND HELD AS PRISONERS ABOUT THREE YEARS.
Descendants of the Brown family had responded so gen- erously that their contributions covered the cost of the marker itself. The town had graded the spot and built the cement coping.
The order of exercises was as follows :-
6:00 P. M. Prayer, Rev. A. H. Sturges.
Historical Resumé of the Brown family by a lineal descend- ant, Hon. B. H. Day, which is given in full.
MR. BUEL H. DAY'S ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen :
We had hoped to have with us to address you on this oc- casion, Mr. Fred Brown, of Boston, a direct descendant of those Browns to the, memory and honor of whom this tablet is today erected, but this has proved to be impossible.
The erection of this marker to the Brown family, the first settlers of the town of Jericho, whose efforts to make a home in this, then wilderness, so influenced the growth and development of the town, is due in large measure to Mr. Chauncey H. Hayden, who enlisted the help of descendants of the family, purchased with the money thus raised a suitable marker from the Jericho Granite Co., and himself superintended the grading and setting that it might be dedicated during this, our 150th anniversary.
As many of you know, I also, am a descendant of the Brown family, and because of this fact have been asked to tell the story of some of their early hardships and experiences at this public recognition of their efforts in settling this town.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
This story I have had by word of mouth from the children and grandchildren of the first Browns with the life of whom the early history of Jericho is so closely entwined. My mother and my stepmother were daughters of Joseph, the youngest of the family.
The place where the marker stands was not the site of the Brown cabin, though on land that was a part of their original holdings. Their cabin stood south of the covered bridge on land owned for many years by Hiram B. Day, who married a daughter of Joseph Brown.
It was thought best to place the marker here, where the pub- lic may the better enjoy it.
The Browns were the first settlers in Jericho, their near- est neighbors having a cabin lower down on the Winooski, then the Onion, where two or three families located about the same time that the Browns came here.
In a sense the Browns came to Jericho by mistake. They were in search of land they had purchased in what is now the . town of Stowe, but failed to turn north from the Winooski River, which they were following down over the old Indian trail, quite so soon as they should have done and consequently found themselves on the west instead of on the east side of Mansfield Mountain. Pleased with the location, and the land, and doubtless good and tired of wandering through the wilder- ness, they pitched their tent on the little river that afterward bore their name and later formally gained possession of the land by purchase.
Here they erected their cabin and cleared enough of the land to enable the planting of crops. This was in 1774.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War an offer was made the Indians of Canada by the British of $8.00 or £8 (authorities differ as to the amount) for each living captive from the rebel- lious colonies delivered into their hands.
This offer sent many a raiding party south, and it was at the hands of a victorious band of these raiders on their homeward way from the sacking of Royalton, Oct. 16, 1780, that our set- tlers received a discouraging reverse.
The family at this time consisted of Joseph and Hannah Brown, their young sons, Charles and Joseph, 19 and 16 years re-
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
spectively, a tailor by the name of Olds who was sewing for the family, a young man by the name of Gibson convalescent from typhoid fever through which the Browns had nursed him, two little girls by the name of Blood from one of the neighbors who happened to be visiting them at the time from one of the families on the Winooski River, and one or two hired hands.
The family doubtless would have escaped molestation but that Gibson, trapping along the river now known as Lee, was sur- prised and made a prisoner by a part of the Royalton Indians. To secure his own release Gibson offered to conduct his cap- tors to a cabin where they might get several prisoners instead of one and thus instantly increase their ransom money. The savages readily agreed to his proposal and promised to set him free just as soon as the others were taken. Regardless of the many kindnesses received at the hands of the Browns, Gibson guided the Indians, 12 or 15 in number, to the high bank east of the covered bridge that overlooked the cabin. So soon as the . Indians were assured that Gibson had indeed conducted them to the promised spot, they seized and bound him to one of their strongest braves, laughing in glee at his expostulations and de- mands.
Stealthily approaching the cabin the savages easily secured its inmates with the exception of the tailor who, seated on a table near the window, at work on a waistcoat for Mr. Brown was warned of their approach by their shadow falling across his work in time to leap from the window and gain the forest beyond despite the arrows and tomahawks that followed his flight. The tailor continued his flight to the blockhouse on the Winooski River which he reached in an exhausted condition, so straining himself in his efforts to reach help quickly that the muscles of his face were affected and his eyes bulged out of their sockets for the remainder of his life. The tailor made known his narrow escape to the commandant of the fort and begged that he pro- ceed at once to the Brown cabin, or intercept the savages on their way to the lake, but fearing a ruse or through natural coward- ice this he refused to do. The commandant was later court- martialed for his non-action, but I have never known whether he was adjudged guilty or guiltless.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Knowing from the man Gibson's statements that there should be two boys, half of the Indians with the captives took the journey to the lake, the other half remaining to await the return of the boys.
Not suspecting the fate that had befallen their people, the boys were easily taken, after which the savages proceeded to sack and burn the cabin and barn before following the footsteps of the others.
The Brown family have always been very proud of the care given the two little girls by Mrs. Joseph Brown on that terrible journey through the Canadian wilderness.
Fearing retaliation for their misdeeds from the soldiers at the fort on the Winooski, the Indians urged their captives to make haste which soon tired the little girls, and hindered the ad- vance, while the sobs of the youngest so annoyed her captors that they threatened to kill her. Foreseeing their intentions, Mrs. Brown stepped between them and their intended victim at the risk of her own safety, raised the child in her arms, stilled its crying, and prevailed on the savages to spare its life. Again and again on the journey she carried the children when they be- came too tired to walk, or held them in her arms during the long hours of the night to keep them from crying.
The following morning the party reached the lake where a much larger band awaited them and in canoes pushed on toward Canada where they were delivered over into the hands of the British in camp near Montreal. At the first they were confined with a large number of other prisoners, scurvy soon broke out, sickness of all kinds was rife, and deaths were an everyday oc- currence.
Lacking cooks for the officers' mess, levy was made on the prison camp and Mrs. Brown being known as an excellent cook was chosen. Winning the good will of the officers through her cooking, she soon demanded that her family be permitted to share her labors, and this being granted they were again re- united under livable conditions.
The Browns were held prisoners for nearly three years. The Revolution having ended, the soldiers and officers withdrew from the camp, and the prisoners were given an opportunity to make their way home as best they might. Knowing nothing of
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
the fact that peace had been declared, these scattered and fled south, traveling only at night and avoiding all people, eventually winning their way once again to Jericho.
The first year of their return proved the most severe they ever experienced. Their cabin had been burned, their stock de- stroyed, their land had reverted to waste. Without crops or the means to obtain bread they were forced to subsist on game and fish until another year again permitted the raising of vegetables and grain. That they stuck to their land and did win through in the face of every discouragement shows of what stuff these people were made.
This, my friends, is the reason for the erection of this marker to the memory of the Browns, and much credit is due to Mr. Hayden for his appreciation of their character and efforts in the settlement of Jericho and his labors in raising the money neces- sary to fittingly memoralize their acts.
Later, when the Brown property came to be divided, all lands north of Brown's River were taken by Charles and all to the south by Joseph Brown.
These members of the Brown family lived and died in Jer- icho and were buried in the cemetery on the Castle property now owned by Irving Irish.
This is the story of the Browns. We hope in coming years that the beautiful granite marker may recall to our children's children something of the trials that beset the people who first settled Jericho and somewhat of the persistent spirit that drove them to win success in the face of all odds.
Formal presentation of the marker to the Selectmen of Jer- icho by Burke G. Brown as follows.
BROWN'S SPEECH.
Ladies and Gentlemen :
We have met here this afternoon to dedicate this marker to the first settlers of the town of Jericho, the Brown family, who built the first log cabin within a short distance of where this marker stands; also to present to the town this marker in whose care it will be for protection in years to come.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
We have heard the sorrowful side of the story of hard- ships of these first settlers. I will relate a story that happened to a descendant by the name of Rufus Brown. He being a good ox teamster, was engaged in skidding logs near the so named Brown's River with a pair of four-year-old steers. As it got time to quit work and was near dark, Rufus stepped between the steers to unhook the chain, when the steers quick as a flash crowded together and started on a run for the river regardless of bridge. Rufus could not get out, so hung to the yoke. The rest of the young men at work with him heard the tinkling of that chain, music so sweet to woodsmen, that jingle of the staple and ring, and saw Rufus, as they then thought, riding to his death. They started to his rescue, supposing he would be drowned as the oxen plunged over the bank into the river. They ran and called, "Rufus! Rufus!" He answered, "Here on the shore waiting for thee." As the oxen jumped over the bank Rufus dropped out safe and sound.
I am glad to be one of the descendants of this sturdy Brown · family and feel honored to be called upon by this committee to present this marker to the town, but first, in behalf of the Brown descendants, I wish to thank all that have contributed for this marker, either in money or work, the selectmen, the road com- missioner, and Mr. C. H. Hayden, who has taken so much in- terest in its erection. And to you Mr. Hayden, who is to accept this marker for the town of Jericho, in behalf of the descend- ants of the first settlers of this town, the Brown family, I pre- sent this marker. I charge the selectmen and their successors hereinafter elected by the town, to care for and protect for years to come this marker that represents the first home built in this good old town of Jericho.
ACCEPTANCE FOR THE TOWN BY C. H. HAYDEN AS FOLLOWS.
Ladies and Gentlemen :
Just now it would seem to be a pleasure to me, if I could say, my name is Brown. Denied this honor I have yet had the privilege of service, in that it was my part to circulate the sub- scription paper and to write to many of this exceedingly numer-
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
ous family soliciting funds. The generous responses have en- abled the Committee on Markers to build better than they had anticipated. Allow me to quote from a letter written by G. Wil- lis Bass of Minneapolis :
"It is certainly a praiseworthy act to honor the first settlers of those staunch old pioneers, whose bravery in coming was only exceeded by their courage in staying in a new country where the only password was Trust and the main experience was Hard- ship. In spite of these experiences they built, not so much for themselves as for their children and their children's children.
We are glad to add our mite in thus honoring them and beg you to accept with this our best wishes for a successful and joy- . ous celebration."
So the service has been made easy by the hearty gifts of the descendants of Mr. Brown from whom has come principally the money to pay for this memorial. And now, Mr. Brown, the town authorities have authorized me to say to you and the many you represent that we accept the custody of this memorial erected in grateful memory of the first settlers of Jericho: We treat this spot as sacred, because it immortalizes the hardships endured by our forefathers in settling this portion of our beautiful state. No greater wrong can be done the great spirits of the past than a failure on the part of their descendants to properly memorial- ize their meritorious deeds. We trust that this act of grateful ap- preciation on your part may prove as enduring in the hearts of the people as the granite which supports the Bronze Inscription. And while, by this marker, we perpetuate an incident in town history, we are at the same time memorializing State and even National History.
The banquet at 7:30 P. M. was served at the G. A. R. Hall, the menu of which follows :
1
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
1763
1913
TOWN OF JERICHO, VERMONT, 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Banquet
August 6th, 1913, Riverside, Vt.
"Now we sit down to chat as well as eat, Nothing to do but sit and eat and eat."
MENU
Cantaloupes "Now if you are ready, Cantaloupe, Dear, We can begin to feed," Servis Carroll Consomme "Spare your breath to cool your porridge," Cervantes Salads
Olives
Pickles
Cold Ham New Beets New Potatoes New Peas
Chicken Pie Jelly
"A Bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush," Anon
Pumpkin Pie
Dutch Cheese
"As ye olden time," Coffee "Farewell heat and welcome Frost." Anon
Ice Cream Mints . Cake
"Enough," Macbeth
TOASTS
"Words do well when he that speaks them pleases those that hear." Toastmaster-C. H. Hayden, Music
Our Town, Jericho, Picturesque and Beautiful, Eugene B. Jordan Our Business Men-No one is satisfied with his lot, unless it is a Lot . Buel H. Day
The Professional Men-One can say everything best over a Meal, Rev. William Cashmore
1
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Music-Mrs. Linnie C. Buzzell
Jericho's Soldiers-Give them the chaplets they won in the strife Judge C. S. Palmer
Our Schools-School-houses are the Republic's line of fortifica- tions
.L. C. Stevens Our Churches-Character is higher than intellect, Rev. C. Nutting Music
For the Ladies-"No angel, but a dream being all dipt In angel instincts, breathing Paradise Interpreter between the Gods and men," Mrs. Hattie L. Palmer
Reminiscences . Byron C. Ward
May we look forward with pleasure and backward without regret. Music Impromptus "I fear me lest my turn be next."
WAITRESSES IN PRISCILLA COSTUME
Olive L. Hayden, Marjory A. Hayden, Hazel Knight,
Daisy McGibbon, Myrtie McGinnis, Madeline Schweig,
Dorothy Day, Helen Cashmore, Edith Gentry,
Pauline Smith, Helen Chapin, Grace Fitzsimonds.
x-
Concerning the exercises of Wednesday the Jericho Re- porter commented as follows :
"The principal features of the celebration at Jericho for Wednesday were the dedication at 6 o'clock P. M., of the marker at Riverside in memory of the Brown family and banquet in the evening in the G. A. R. Hall. The exercises connected with the dedication of the marker were opened by prayer by Rev. 'A. H. Sturges. Hon. B. H. Day, a descendant of the Brown family, told the story of their coming from Connecticut and locating in Jer- icho not far distant from where the marker stands, their cap- ture and the burning of their log cabin by the Indians, their long march on foot to Montreal, the selling of them to the English officers, their escape and return to their former possessions minus
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
a home, cattle, provisions or the wherewith-all to do with, the sufferings they endured while rebuilding a home, etc. Mr. Day's recital of the story was deeply interesting and dramatic. B. G. Brown for the resident descendants formally presented in a very happy manner the marker to the town. The acceptance by the town of the marker was, at the request of the selectmen, made by C. H. Hayden, who was the promoter of the project and who had taken a lively interest in its furtherance and completion. Mr. Hayden spoke with much earnestness and feeling. The marker stands upon a diamond shaped plot of ground raised and sur- rounded by a coping of cement at the confluence of the road leading from Jericho to Cambridge and the one leading to Under- hill Center.
The banquet for which 100 covers were laid was held in the evening in the G. A. R. Hall and was a most delightful incident of the celebration. The menu was excellent and delightfully served by young ladies in Priscilla costumes. Postprandial ex- ercises with appropriate music followed. C. H. Hayden was toastmaster and in a very happy and pleasing manner introduced the several speakers, among whom were E. B. Jordan, who re- sponded to the toast, "Our Town"; B .. H. Day, "Our Business Men"; "Our Professional Men," Rev. William Cashmore ; Judge C. S. Palmer, "Jericho's Soldiers"; L. C. Stevens and Rev. S. H. Barnum, "Our Schools"; Rev. C. A. Nutting, "Our Churches"; Mrs. Hattie L. Palmer, "For the Ladies." Impromptus were called for and responded to by R. B. Galusha, Dr. A. F. Burdick and Henry M. Brown. The musical portion of the program ' was of a high order and was furnished by Miss Florence Bux- ton on the piano, and Mrs. Linnie Curtis Buzzell and Mrs. Nolan rendered solos. An interesting feature of the evening was an "Old Grandfather's Clock" which stood in one corner of the hall and sounded out the hours in as good a tone and voice as it did 150 years or more ago and while striking all other business was hushed. This clock was the first clock made in Barre and is still in good running order. It has been in the possession of the Barry family for 115 years and was loaned for this occasion.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
CHAPTER VIII.
EXERCISES OF AUGUST SEVENTH.
The culmination of the five days' celebration took place at Jericho Corners, August 7th, with the following program :
9:30 a. m. Baseball game at Athletic Field
10:30 a. m. Children singing and Marching with Flags 11:00 a. m. A Herald Arrives with News
11:15 a. m.
Address of Welcome, by Judge C. S. Palmer
Old soldiers and distinguished guests on plat- form, which is decorated with U. S. Flags made by the women of this village during the Civil War, every stitch by hand
12:00 m.
Dinner
1:45 p. m. Arrival of the First Settlers (the Brown family) who go to cabin near Athletic Field
2:00 p. m. Parade of Historical and Illustrative Floats and Automobile Display
3:30 p. m. Floats and Automobiles, also spectators, assemble at Athletic Field
4:00 p. m. Viewed from Athletic Field-Pageant of the cap- ture of the Brown Family by Indians Vaudeville Float
Races and Sports
6:00 p. m. Supper
7:30 p. m. Dramatic Entertainment at School House Hall, "A Rose O'Plymouth Town"
This order of exercises, previously determined upon by the committee was carried out in the main. When the parade came down the street it was in the following order :
ORDER OF FLOATS.
Band Selectmen America, on Horseback
Uncle Sam, on Horseback Vermont, on horseback Jericho, on Horseback 8
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Pale Face, George and Martha Washington, and Pocahontas, on Horseback
Float 1. Father Time and the Fairies
Float 2. Pioneer Settlers
Float 3. Showing what Early Settlers found here: woods, wild animals, birds, etc.
Float 4. Indians with Wigwam Pony Turnouts, with Indian children
Float 5. Showing industries of the Settlers
Float 6. "Ye Olden Times"
Float 7. Going to Church by Pillion
Float 8. Going to Church by single bull team
Float 9. Going to Church by double bull team
Float 10. Spirits of the Home
Float 11. Minute Men with fife and drum
Float 12. Snow Man and beauties with extreme North land
Float 13. Childhood delights and Mrs. Santa Claus destroying the old man's whips for bad boys
Float 14. Grangers' Float
Float 18. Vaudeville Float
Automobiles
Indian Riders
-ALL GO TO-
Athletic Park to witness the Capture of Brown family by the In- dians-An Indian race for a wife Indian Races and Sports The writer is pleased to quote from a very vivid description of the day and its proceedings given by Mrs. Jennie Rawson Williams.
150th CELEBRATION AT JERICHO CORNERS, AUG. 7, 1913.
While attending the Old Home Day exercises on Tuesday at the Center (that well-nigh perfect day) we queried many times, "Will this beautiful weather, in these 'Dog-days,' last until the Thursday's parade at the Corners?" Wednesday found
THESE PROBABLY WILL CARRY WITH THEM BIG MEMORIES OF THE GREAT CELEBRATION. ARRIVAL OF THE BROWNS PRECEDING THE PAGEANT. DEPARTURE OF THE BROWNS ON THEIR CAPTIVITY. THE CABIN SURROUNDED.
-
PARADE SOLL ANNIVERSARY
AN INTERESTING GROUP ON ATHLETIC. FIELD. THE PRIMITIVE AMERICAN COSTUME. GEORGE AND MARY WASHINGTON. JERICHO HIGH SCHOOL.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
the village all alive with preparations. The decorating commit- tee were wreathing most of the tree-trunks and telephone poles in the village's tree-embowered streets with bands and streamers of bunting. A monstrous sign across the road at the top of the hill had "Welcome" printed in an unmistakable manner, and pri- vate dwellings and business places were well decorated. On the little rocky islet north of the covered bridge an Indian encamp- ment peered forth from its leafy surroundings. From the barns about the village were to be seen wonderful floats and wagons in process of preparation.
When the morning of the great day broke, the towns-people gazed on a most beautiful village, and glorious to say,-
"Slowly in all his splendorous light,
The great sun rises to behold the sight."
The streets began to be crowded early in the day with automobiles, teams and people on foot. The Westford Cornet Band came early and its music at intervals through the day was greatly appreciated.
Indians in war paint and feathers, some stripped to the waist, Dakota maidens on foot or horse, passed swiftly and silently through the throng.
The town's future hope, the school children, at 10:30 as- sembled on the graded school steps, with flags in hand and a canopy of red, white and blue above them, and sang America, Kellar's American Hymn and other patriotic airs.
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