USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Middletown > The history of Middletown, Vermont, in three discourses, delivered before the citizens of that town, February 7 and 21, and March 30, 1867 > Part 7
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The names of the children of Eli and Mary Oatman, are as follows :- Ira, Orlin, Joel, Calista, Emily, Lucien, Cyril, Ellen, Mary, Jane and Demis.
Ira was a farmer, an honest, unaspiring man, like his father. He removed to Pontiac, Michigan, many years ago and died there about six years since, leaving five children : Gardner, Emily, Abagail, Lucy and George -- all living but Abagail, and reside in Iowa and vicinity.
Orlin, the second son, was well educated, a fine scholar, and unusually prepossessing in his personal appearance. He married a daughter of a clergyman in Rochester, N. Y., and became a professor in a literary institution at the West-and was for many years a popular lecturer. In 1859, while passing through Milwaukie, Wis., he was attacked with cholera and died there. His widow now resides in Evanston, Illinois. He had four children, two daughters are now living ; Emma, the oldest, married Fred. Vandercook, and resides in Bennington; Frances, the youngest, married David Vail, of Wisconsin.
Joel, the third son, is a physician. He became eminent in his profession, and distinguished as a man of uncommon energy, and business tact and talent. He commenced the study of medicine in his native town, with Doctor Eliakim Paul; attended two courses of lectures at Castleton, and one or more at New York,
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where he graduated in 1832. Before he had received his diploma, he conceived the idea of going into practice in the great Metropolis. His mother having been made acquainted with his intention, and having a mother's anxiety, was seriously troubled about it. She feared that her boy, without experience, and penniless as he then was, was in no condition to go into business in the great city of New York, especially as he then had no friends or acquaintances in that place to lend him aid or influence -- and she besought her husband to dissuade hin from the attempt. But the father, seemingly unconcerned, replied to the mother, " You needn't worry yourself about Jcel, he has got Symonds enough in him to find his way out somewhere," and so it proved. The year 1832, as it will be remembered, was the year in which the cholera raged so terribly in New York and other places in the United States. No sooner had our friend Joel pocketed his diploma, than he started for Bellevue Hospital, then used as a cholera hospital in the city, and fearlessly volunteered his services. This Ilospital was filled with those cases; while physicians and others shunned it as they would death itself. The first day that Doctor Oatman was in the hospital, there were twenty-seven deaths. The Alderman of the Ward was so well pleased with the doctor's resolution and skill on the first day, that, on the second, he appointed him Ward Physician, and gave him the right of selecting his associates. This position he held during the pre- valence of the cholera in the city. In forty days he had saved the sum of $300, and more than that, he had gained a position in that short space of time from which he could advance, and did rapidly advance to an extensive and lucrative practice. After he had accumulated a good property by his profession, he gradually relinquished the practice, and devoted his time to the care and management of his funds. He has been, so far as we know, more successful in the accumulation of property than any other native of the town. Fortunate circumstances have undoubtedly aided him to a considerable extent, and probably more than some others of our townsmen, who from poor boys have become wealthy men ; but the great secret of his success has been his energy, together with his practical ability. Although not a man of
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extensive reading, yet he is a man of extensive knowledge, which he seems to have by intuition and to get by observation. Instead of sitting down and taking time for a scientific and logical investigation of a subject, he seizes upon it and turns it to & practical account at once, and seldom fails in his purpose. He has received the degree of Doctor of Laws, from one of the best Universities in New York, and it is an honor to him well earned and well deserved.
Doctor Oatman married an estimable lady in New York, in 1842, who has been some years dead. He has four children : Mary E., Hydro, Harriet J., and Albert. The doctor and his family still reside in New York, but have spent a portion of the summers in this town for the last twenty years, and until recently upon the old homestead, which has been in the hands of the family until within about a year ; and I need not add, that an annual return of Doctor Catman to his native town will be hailed with pleasure by all his surviving friends and acquaintances here.
Calista, the oldest daughter of Eli Oatman, married Russel Mallary, and moved to Geneva Wisconsin, where she still resides ; her husband is dead, and she remains a widow.
Emily married Augustus Knapp, of Birdstown, Ill., she and her husband are both dead.
Lucien died at Middletown, March 3d, 1861, at the age of 45.
Cyril went to Geneva, Wisconsin, when quite young ; has been merchandizing there for twenty-five years or more, and successful in his business. He has for many years been a Justice of the Peace, and though not a lawyer by profession, has been the legal adviser for his community. He was never married, but lives with his sister, Mrs. Mallary.
Ellen married Doctor Nathan Deanc, of Georgia, Vt. He died some years since leaving one son, and she resides with her brother in New York.
Mary married Joseph Bannister, of Middletown, who died June 13th, 1866, at the age of 41. Mary also resided with her brother in New York.
Jane married S. Willet, of Pawlet. They are both dead. Shedied in Middletown, of Consumption, July 7th, 1848, at the age of 26.
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Mr. Willet was afterwards struck by lightning and killed in a boat at the West.
Demis married Milo Smith, a man living in the West, and widely and favorably known in his region. He left his home at the beginning of the war of 1861, at the unanimous call of his townsmen, to lead them to death or victory. He was in Sherman's campaign, and went and retarned Colonel Milo Smith, having repeatedly declined promotion.
As we look back upon that interesting family, as we remember them while all at home upon that old homestead, and followed their history down to the present time, there is a feeling of pleasure and still there arises a feeling of sadness. It is pleasant to realize that so many from one family, in our little town, have become useful members of society, and done their part so well in the great business of life ; but it is sad to realize that so many are dead, dying too in the prime of life and in the midst of their usefulness.
At this point would it not be profitable for us, for a moment, to go back to the young society here, when the Oatman family came on to the stage. With them we find Merritt and Horace Clark, A. L. Miner, Ovid Miner, and other members of the Miner families, Beriah N. Leach, the Leffingwell and Brewster families, the Bigelow family, the Caswell and Barber families, and many others then young and vigorous, and, without flattery or vanity, we may say that such an array of youthful talent, vivacity, beauty and character is not often seen. But where are they now ? We answer-A large proportion of them have given a good account of themselves. Many are now living and occupying prominent positions ; but many have gone to their long homes.
Dyer Leffingwell was also one of the early settlers. He was from Norwich, Conn., and was the first hatter in town, and carried on the business successfully until his death. His shop stood where the dwelling house of Mr. Homer Southwick now stands. Mr. Leffingwell was a valuable man in his time ; was not ambitious but an industrious, honest. capable man ; attended well to his own affairs, and interested himself in the welfare of the town. Ho served the town many years as constable and collector of taxes, and twice represented it in the legislature, and was town clerk the
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year that he died, 1821. Middletown lost two town clerks by death that year, Barker Frisbie and Dyer Leffingwell.
Mr. Leffingwell was twice married. His second wife was the widow of Ohel Brewster, and a daughter of John Sunderlin. She survived him nearly thirty years. Mr. Leffingwell's large family all removed from this town many years ago, except Harvey Leffing- well, who still resides here, and is now one of the old men of the town.
Perhaps no family or families have made more of the history of Middletown than the Clark families. After the removal of the Wood families they were for many years the most numerous of any others of the same name in the town. Their ancestors were from England. There were three brothers of the name of Clark who first came to Massachusetts Colony some time before the year 1700, of which Thomas Clark was one. Thomas had two sons, Theopholus and Thomas, who removed to the Connecticut Colony and settled in " Old Canterbury," From Theopholus Clark came the Clarks who have lived in Middletown ; from Thomas came Isaac Clark (old rifle ) and the Clark families of Pawlet.
Theopholus Clark had six sons, viz : Nathaniel, Benjamin, Adam. Theopholus, Jonas and Stephen. Nathaniel had ten chil- dren, seven sons and three daughters. Five of those sons removed from Canterbury to Middletown, Vt., soon after the town was organized. They were Asa, Elisha, Rufus, Roswell and Ezra Clark. Asa did not become a permanent resident, but remained two or three years ; taught school in the winter and worked out in the summer. They did not all come at the same time. Asa, Elisha and Rufus were here as early as 1785 or 1786. Roswell and Ezra came about two years after. The four brothers who remained were among the solid, substantial men of the town for many years, and assisted in laying the foundation of society here upen correct, moral and religious principals. They were all mem- bers of the congregational church. Elisha Clark was for some twenty years a deacon of that church ; was the next one chosen after Deacon Jonathan Brewster. Rufus, Roswell and Ezra were hardly less efficient and active. Ezra Clark was a physician, and the first physician who settled in town. He commenced practice
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here about 1788 and continued in practice until 1819, when he removed to the state of Ohio. The Clark brothers were not ambitious, aspiring men, but were remarkable for their decision and energy of character, their stern integrity and earnest piety. Their influence was great in the town ; yet it was not of the kind that is exerted by politicians, through motives of self interest and aggrandizement, but it was that kind of influence which is created by good examples, good works, and a blameless life.
Deacon Elisha Clark was one of the first victims of the epi- demic which prevailed here in 1813. He died at the age of fifty. seven. The four surviving brothers acted as pall bearers on the occasion of his funeral. Asa Clark died in Tinmouth about the year 1823. Roswell Clark removed to Castleton about the year 1818, and died there August 12th, 1825, in the sixty-third year of his age. Rufus died in East Poultney about 1837, and Doctor Ezra Clark died in the state of Ohio about 1828. They all had large families ; many of them are now holding prominent positions in different parts of the country. Deacon Merlin Clark, of Mid- dlebury, a sun of Roswell Clark, is the only representative now known to me in Vermont from that branch of the Clark family, and he well sustains the character of the race.
Jonas Clark, one of the six sons of Theopholus Clark, removed from Canterbury to this place in 1790, though some two years prior to this time two of his sons, Enos and Theopholus ( twin brothers) had removed here and prepared the way for their father's family. Jonas Clark had three sons, the two above named and Jonas Clark, Jr., long known as General Clark. Jonas Clark, Senior, was a peaceful, quiet citizen, a member of the baptist church, and was made the clerk of the baptist society at its organ- ization in 1700, the same year that he came here. He died Sep- tember 23d, 1818, at the age of seventy years.
Enos, Theopholus and Jonas Clark, the sons of Jonas Clark Senior, were all marked with an unusual energy of character. Theopholus died young and left several children, among whom were Simon and Milton Clark, who removed from this place many years ago, Unos was a man of vigorous intellect ; he followed the business of his trade, a mason, until his death. He died in Middletown,
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at the age of fifty-one. Enos Clark left a family of four sons, Barton. Culver, Ashley and Orson, and two daughters, Mrs. W. W. Cook of Whitehall, N. Y., and Mrs. Hall of Ellisburgh, N. Y. None of the sons are now living but Ashley, who, with Miss Fannie Clark, a daughter of Barton Clark, and Mrs. Isaac L. Gardner, a daughter of Culver Clark, are now the only representatives of the Clark family residing in Middletown. Hon. Orson Clark was born in Middletown, February 2d, 1802. He acquired most of his education in the schools of his native village, but attended an academy a few terms at Northampton, Mass., and at Castleton, Vt. He taught school several seasons, and commenced teaching at sixteen years of age. He studied law with his uncle, General Jonas Clark, and was admitted to the bar at Rutland, at the September Term, 1828, and was in the practice of his profession in Middletown until his decease, which occurred September 20th, 1848. He was a man of good habits, fond of books, a friend to the cause of education, and a good lawyer-though he never had as extensive a practice as his uncle ; he did not seek it, but he had a good judgment and was well versed in the elementary principles of law. He represented his native town in the years 1835 and 1836, was town clerk from 1836 to 1842 inclusive, and was one of the senators from Rutland County in the years 1840 and 1841.
In May, 1835, he was married to Amelia Brewster, daughter of Ohel and Euince (Sunderlin) Brewster, by whom he had two sons, Albert anl Warren. Albert is well educated, and now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Warren is at present in Whitehall, N. Y. ; he is an intelligent and promising young man. He was four years in the war of 1861. He enlistod as a private in a cavalry regiment from Illinois, and was discharged as captain of the same company in which he first enlisted. He was at Donnelson, Shiloh, Vicks- burg, and other hard fought battles of the South and West, and gave a good account of himself as he would any where.
General Jonas Clark, the third son of Jonas Clark, Sr., furnishes us, in himself, perhaps the most striking example of untiring industry and indomitable perseverance the town ever had. He was sixteen years old, when he came with his father to Middle- town. All the education he ever received at school, was
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learning to read. His father had the misfortune of being poor ; the son learned the mason's trade, which he followed until he was thirty years old, but occupied his evenings and leisure time in getting his education, and used the fire place for a light in the winter, and pine knots in summer. He obtained his legal educa- tion while at work at his trade, occupying his evenings and leisure hours in the study of Blackstone and Chitty. He was admitted to the bar some little time after he was thirty years old, and soon acquired an extensive practice, which he continued to have until he was disabled by the infirmities of age. General Clark held the office of State's Attorney, for Rutland County, for sixteen years in succession ; was assessor and collector of government taxes in 1819, in a district composed of nine towns in Rutland County ; represented the town of Middletown eighteen years ; was a justice of the peace forty years, and as such married one hundred and four couples. He was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1819 -- had several times been the candidate of his party for Congress in this district. He was a member of three constitutional conventions, the last of which was in 1850, when he was unanimously tendered the presidency of the convention, but could not accept it on account of his age and infirmities.
As a lawyer, General Clark deservedly held a high rank. His early opportunities did not allow him to become as learned as Williams and Phelps, lis cotemporaries, but he was no less success- ful. What he lacked in learning, was made up by his industry and unyielding perseverance. The lawyers of his time well kvew when they were to meet him in a suit, they were to meet a lawyer who would be sure to have his side of the case prepared. Judge Williams once said to me, that in his knowledge, he never in a single instance, came to the trial of his cases unprepared, when preparation was possible.
General Clark died at Middletown, February 21st, 1854, at the age of 79 years. Gen. Clark had three sons, Merritt, Horace and Charles. Charles died when but a few years offl. Hon. Merritt Clark was born February 11th, 1800. He graduated at Milille- bury College in 1823, and entered his father's office as a student at law, where he remained abont two years. His health failing
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in that pursuit, and the mercantile business being a little more congenial to his tastes, he, in company with his brother Horace, opened a store in Middletown in 1825, and continued in the mer- cantile business until 1841, when Merritt was elected cashier of the Bank of Poultney, and removed to that town where he has since resided, and since been the cashier of that Bank. They first commenced business here in the building recently purchased and repaired by the Messrs. Grays, but in 1832 built the brick store, now occupied by Mr. E. Vail & Son. They were very successful in their business as merchants in this place. They inherited their father's energy and perseverance, and to this they added a ceaseless and untiring attention to their business. No item, however insignificant, escaped their attention, not so much for its value in a single instance, as to have a plan, a system which should not be deranged by inaccuracies, or any want of proper care and attention. Hon. Merritt Clark represented Mid- dletown in the Legislature three years ; was a senator for Rutland County in the State Legislature in the years of 1868 and 1864, and represented the town of Poultney in 1865 and 1866. In 1850 he was the democratic candidate for Congress in this district, and has once or twice been a candidate of the same party for governor. Mr. Clark has not for many years been an active par- tisan, yet few men in the state are better versed in public affairs, especially in matters connected with finances ; in those matters his opinions have great weight. IIe makes himself very useful in his own town by his financial skill, in assisting the educational institu- tions there, and other public interests.
Mr. Clark has two sons, Henry and Edward. Henry has been the secretary of the Vermont Senate since 1801. Ile is also the secetary of the Vermont and Rutland County Agricultural Soci- eties, and is now the editor of the Rutland Herald. Edward is a teller in the Poultney Bank.
Horace Clark kept his residence in Middletown until his death, which occurred February 23d, 1852, at the age of forty seven, although his business for some years prior to his decease had been mostly out of this town. For some four years prior to his decease he had been engaged in building the Rutland and Washington
HISTORY OF MIDDLETOWN. 79
Railroad from Eagle Bridge, N. Y., to Rutland, Vt. This was his favorite enterprise, but it was his last. On the 23d of Febru- ary, 1848, at the organization of the company, he was elected its superintendent, and one of the directors. In four years from that time the road was completed, and Horace Clark was dead. The amount of toil and labor performed by him in that four years was great, and it may be sincerely questioned whether there was another man in Vermont equal to the task. That other public works of equal and greater magnitude have been constructed even in less time, we shall not deny. But this was a project which encountered a strong opposition, and its ultimate success seemed to be doubted by a large majority of the people, and among them many who, from necessity, had to be relied on for pecuniary assis- tance. Of the men of means, talent and enterprise, Horace Clarl:, for awhile, stood almost alone, but with " an unfaltering purpose " and a "resolution which was invincible," he succeeded, and the road was built.
Horace Clark left two sons, Charles and Jonas, They are now in active business ; Charles, in the marble business in Rutland, Jonas as a merchant in New York.
Perhaps the most prosperous period in the existence of Middle- town was between the years 1800 and 1811. The population had increased from one thousand sixty-six, the number at the census of 1800, to one thousand two hundred and seven, the number when the census of 1810 was taken. This was the largest population the town ever had, and unquestionably it had at that time a larger population than any other town in the county in proportion to its amount of territory, and it also at that time had the largest business interests in proportion to its size of any other town in the county, and indeed it may be sincerely questioned whether it was not at that time in advance of any other town in the county in that respect. Poultney River rises in Tinmouth and runs a west- erly course through the center of the town from east to west, fur- nishing excellent mill privileges. The Miners were located on this stream, in the cast part of the town, and John Burnam on the west part ; and in the village there were on this stream, and the small stream running down from the hills at the north part of the .
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town, and running into the river at the village, two tanneries, clothiers works and carding machine, distillery and other machinery, and all in active operation-and all were conducted by enterpris- ing and competent business men. Burnam, as we have before seen, had a very extensive business for those times, and so had the Miners. There were in the town at the time (1810), four grist mills, three saw mills, two or three forges, two distilleries, two or three clothiers establishments, besides other mills before named, and all were apparently doing business to their utmost capacity. In the village were several mechanics' shops, two taverns, two stores, one kept by a Scotchman by the name of William Semple ; the other by James Ives ; all was alive with the hum of business. The town had become a central place for this part of Rusland County. Many of the people from the adjoining towns of Poult- ney, Ira, Tinmonth and Wells, came here for their mechanical work, to the mills, and for other business purposes. But this then active, thriving little place received a check by the freshet which occurred in July, 1811, from which it never fully recovered. Its numerous mills and machinery, with the exception of what have since been known as Gray's Mills, then owned by Moses Copeland, were all swept away. Burnam's mills in the west part of the town, as before mentioned consisting of a grist and saw mill. Che had at this time two grist mills) an oil mill, foundry, forge, cloth- iers works and carding machine, distillery, some mechanics' shops and other buildings attached. were all carried away, with several hundred bushels of grain, a quantity of lumber, and much other property. The stream rose so suddenly that but little was saved. ยท Miner's mill, in the east part of the town had just been undergoing thorough repairs under the superintendence of Henry Gray, who was then a young man and had just completed his first job of work in town at his trade of mill-wright. Mr. Gray lost all he had, which consisted of his chest of tools, and his clothing except what he had on. Orson Brewster had a tannery, and his brother Jona- than a clothiers' establishment, located near where A. W. Gray & Sous' horse power mannfactory now stands, which shared the same fate. A few rods above the bridge, in the east part of the village, was a distillery owned by James Ives, and above that a tannery.
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The hides in this tannery were in great part saved, and the dis- tillery building was not carried away, but the hogs in the yard, to the number of one hundred or more, went down the stream, and were scattered along from Middletown to Poultney, wherever they happened to be driven ashore ; some came out alive, but most of them were drowned. Two dwelling houses-one called the Corbin house, the other the Eldridge house-in the east part of the vil- lage, and on opposite sides of the stream running down from the north part of the town, were also carried away ; and besides this destruction of mills, machinery, dwelling houses and other property, great injury was done to the lands on those streams. Some por- tions of the meadow lands were cut up and washed away , stone, gravel and sand were carried on to other portions.
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