USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 12
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Among the new names found on the town records during the second decade, are those of Gilbert Grow, Amherst Stewart, Isaac Smith, Humphrey Nichols, Reuben Trussell, Lemuel Nye, Daniel Baily, Noah Allen, Tristram Robinson, John Sash, Samuel Burn-
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ham, Joseph Marsh, Amos Percival, Abraham Tracy, Zenas Field, William White, Alden Farnsworth, Benjamin Walker, James Seavy, (1812) Samuel A. Burke, Joshua Smith, Enos Bartlett, Amasa Plastridge, Horace Huntoon, Samuel Ward, (1813). Seth Kidder, (a town pauper,) Enos Bartlet, Philip Flanders, Jona- than Eaton, Jonas Cutting, Isaac Smith, Jere- miah Tracy, Ebenezer Terry, Seth Bartlett, Arristides Houstis, Asa Plastridge, Asa Win- ston, James Nevers, Daniel Elkins, Cyrus Eaton, first appear in the records of 1820. Jabez Nevers, Nathaniel Wheeler, Jonathan E. Darris, Albert Gabrin, George C. West, William Custy, Jonathan Nye, Ora C. Blass, Gilman Estey, E. G. Strong, James Finley and then James Woodman, came into town previous to 1825.
The establishment of a County Grammar School in 1824, was an event of great impor- tance to the town. From an early period, this town and Craftsbury had been half shire towns to the time of the establishment of the County buildings at Irasburgh, in 1816. The courts were held in the old school or town house, and the cellar in the house now occu- pied by Mr. Burroughs, I have been informed, was used for a jail. The common, or parade- ground, is now a part of Abira O. Joslyn's south field, and was near the old town-house in which the courts were held. The academy is still standing which was erected in 1823 and'24 .* Mr. Woodward and Judge Parker, had charge only a few years. Mr. Twilight and Mr. Scales have been the prominent pre- ceptors, Mr. Twilight much longer than all the others. He was in charge of it from 1829 to 1847, without intermission, and then from 1852 to 1855, in all 22 years. He was a very earnest and efficient teacher, and for a time, the seminary, being the only one in the county, was attended by large numbers, not only from the county, but from other coun- ties and from Canada. Mr. Parker, Mr. Woodward and Mr. Scales were learned men, and very successful instructors. The two latter continued in charge three or four yeaze each. Several others have had charge of it for a few terms each. Mr. Twilight is mentioned with great interest by a large number of former pupils, many of whom fitted for college under his instruction, and are now
filling many important stations in society. He died in 1857 .*
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
An event took place March 4th, 1809, which has had an important influence on the moral and religious history of the town. Several of the early settlers were religious men. They enjoyed occasional visits from missionaries, and maintained religious meet- ings when not thus favored. A Congrega- tional church was formed at the above time. After the academy was built, the upper part of which was designed for religious meetings, then Mr. Woodward was invited to take charge of the school and preach to the church people. He was installed over the church, and was regarded by all, an able pastor and successful instructor. He remained but a few years. Rev. Mr. Baxter and Rev. Mr. Webb each supplied the church for a season. Then Vernon Woolcot was installed and continued pastor some 4 years, his health preventing him from further labor. Rev. Mr. Twilight supplied the pulpit after he took charge of the school, a portion of the time for several years, and was invited to be installed, but declined. After Mr. Twilight left, in 1847, Rev. Mr. Scales was employed both to take charge of the academy and supply the pulpit, and continued to do so for about 4 years, but was not installed. In January, 1854, Rev. S. R. Hall commenced preaching to the church, and was installed March 4th, 1855. and remained pastor till the early part of 1867, when he requested a release from his labors. He was pastor a longer period than all who had been pastors before him. Rev. David Shurtliff was ordained and installed Feb. 26th, 1868, and dismissed after one year. The church has from the first maintained evangelical doctrine, and been cordially fel- lowshiped by surrounding churches of the same order. A meeting-house was built in 1841. No. of pupils in Sabbath school, 70; teachers, 9; supt. 1; vols. in library, 200 .- Rev. I. T. Otis is the acting pastor now (1870).
METHODISTS.
An Episcopal Methodist church was formed at a later period, and afterward united with & Freewill Baptist church in erecting a meeting- house at the centre, and both continue to worship together, and are highly respectable
* For further particulars see biography of Mr. Twi- light, which follows anon .- ED.
: * But has been removed to the village.
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churches. Both have been blessed with sea- sons of revival, and have constantly increased in numbers.
THE FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH
was organized in Coventry, with members from three different towns, Aug. 14th, 1840. More recently the religious interest in Brownington being on the increase, the mem- bers in said Brownington, out-numbering those in Coventry, it was voted to call it the Coventry and Brownington church. The present number in this town is 58. They sustain preaching half the time, and the Methodists the other half, with a union sab- bath-school of 90 members.
PHYSICIANS.
The physicians who became citizens of the town at an early period, were Drs. Curtis, Brannon, Chapman, Kelsey, Grow and Davis. Dr. Davis lived where S. S. Tinkham, Esq., now does. Dr. Kelsey where Mr. Murray does. Dr. Grow remained longer than any other, and was regarded as a very able phy- sician. He died in 1856, soon after he re- moved from town. Dr. Brannon removed to Castleton, Vt. Dr. Chapman removed to Canada. Dr. Sash remained in town but a short time. Dr. Patch, now of Derby; and Dr. Hinman, now of Charleston, were in prac- tice a short time in town. The later physi- cians have been Dr. Jonathan F. Skinner, now of Boston, Drs. Smith and Skinner, now of New York, Dr. William B. Moody and Dr. Winslow, both now in practice. Many of these have been eminently successful, and those who are now in practice stand high in the profession.
ATTORNEYS.
No lawyer has made the town his residence for a great length of time, with a single ex- ception, William Baxter, Esq. An account of him will be found on a subsequent page. Esquire Marsh remained in town only a short time. George C. West, Esq., who erected the house now occupied by the writer, was soon invited to take charge of the bank at Iras- burgh, and removed to that town. Esquire Baxter came into town in 1801, and about 2 years after the town was organized. He re- mained here till the time of his death, identi- fied with all the interests of the town. He was, though somewhat rough, a man of great shrewdness and talent, and, undoubtedly, for many years, was at the head of the bar in N.
Eastern Vermont. For the following ac. count I am indebted to the late Thomas C. Stewart, who was, many years, near neigh- bor and friend. I am indebted to him, also, for other interesting and valuable items.
WILLIAM BAXTER
came to this town from Norwich, for the pur- pose of practising law. All the property he possessed at that time, he transported to this place with him, consisting of a pinch-back watch, a horse, saddle, bridle, saddle-bags, a few law books, and some few shillings in money. He hired his board and horse-keep- ing at Judge Strong's, remarking when he went there that he could not pay his board then, and did not know as he ever could. He engaged to pay 10 shillings and sixpence per week. Luke Gilbert, Esq., one of the promi- nent inhabitants of the town at that time, hearing that a young lawyer had come into the place, and learning the enormous price he was to pay for board for himself and horse, remarked that " he had come to a very poor place, and would find very poor pick- ing." Mr. Baxter, (though in poor health always,) soon won for himself a good reputa- tion as a business man, and acquired much notoriety for his perseverance, quickness of apprehension in financial matters, and good judgment of law, as well as ability as an ad- vocate. He was as good a collector as law- yer, and very particular about paying promptly to his clients all that he collected for them. In the early years of his practice as collector, before he had any property of his own, he was accustomed, when collecting for several individuals, to mark each package separately, putting upon the paper the name of the person for whom it was collected, that it might be ready when called for. His per- severance in collecting demands for other people, and his prompt manner of doing busi- ness, soon brought him into great notoriety about the country, and a large amount of foreign business was placed in his hands.
Mr. Baxter was also a good farmer, and always raised good crops. He appeared to be a good judge of the different soils, and un- derstood their management well. In all his affairs he was as industrious as his health would admit, and in this way he accumulated a great property for a man living in the north part of Vermont, his estate at his death being appraised at $100,000 or over, all of which he accumulated during the 25 years of
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his residence in this town, being an average gain of $4000 per year.
Mr. Baxter was known as an active man in all town affairs, whether financial or re- quiring enterprise, and was ever liberal in aiding the religious and benevolent objects of the day. He erected the academy in this town at his own expense, the land having been given by Samuel Smith, Jr., and gave it to the county for the purpose of a grammar school, making it one of the provisions that the second story should be appropriated as a place for public worship, until such time as it should be required for the interest of the grammar school.
Though making no pretensions to piety, his benevolence, and assistance in sustaining religious worship, and the prominence he ever held in the offices of the town, caused his loss to be much lamented by the whole town. It seems that he held, at different times, every office, in the gift of the town, from those of hog-reeve and fence-viewer to that of the representative of the people. He held, for a series of years, from two to six or eight public offices at a time.
Mr. Baxter resided in the town 25 years, and died of palsy, Oct. 1, 1826, aged 49 years.
Of the other more prominent early citizens of the town, Judge Strong, Peter C. Clark, Judge Robinson, Erastus and Elijah Spencer, Joel Priest, Joel Priest, jr., Eben Gridley, Samuel Smith, Samuel Smith, jr., Silas Brig- ham, Amherst Steward, Luke Gilbert, Esq., Col. Grow, Humphrey Nichols, George Nye, Amos Porter, Jonathan and Stephen Smith, and Amasa Plastridge are still held in grate- ful remembrance by the older citizens who have survived them.
It would seem by their frequent appoint- ment to many important trusts and offices, that they long enjoyed the confidence of their fellow citizens. L. Gilbert, Esq., was for a long time a prominent justice of the peace ; also Amherst Steward, Silas Brigham, Col. Gross and others occupied that responsible office for a long number of years.
Judge Strong kept a public house for a long time, and was identified with the inter- ests of the church and the business of the town. He was the town clerk many years, and the clerk of the church, constantly, till a minister was settled, and after the first min- ister had left.
He had been pursuing a prosperous com-
mercial business at Bennington, when he was persuaded to unite with his brother and Amos Porter in making a purchase of, and settling a new town, in the wilds of Northern Ver- mont. It would appear that they could not effect sales with sufficient rapidity to enable the company to meet their payments. Mr. Strong and his brother lost much property by the speculation, as well as for a long time endured the great privations of pioneer life.
. Settlements had been commenced at Crafts- bury, Greensboro, Barton, Derby, and a few other towns ; but the roads leading from one place to another, were exceedingly hard .- Mills were "few and far between," and trades- men and mechanics as far apart. Religious meetings and schools must be waited for. But these were provided as rapidly as other necessities.
In 1801, the town voted to build a school- house and town-house, and, in 1824, voted to unite with the church in settling a minister.
Mr. Asahel Strong left town for the sake of religious privileges ; but Dea. Strong Ia- bored to provide them for himself and others.
ACCIDENTS, CALAMITIES, ETC.
There have been, from time to time, inci- dents in the history of the town, which may be worthy of notice ; and probably the usual number of accidents, casualties, sudden deaths etc. Some notice of these will be interesting, and should be given. Among the numerous items of interest are the following : -
Mr. Erastus Spencer, soon after removing into town, while endeavoring to carry home an ox-yoke, on horseback, by passing under the limbs of a tree, had, in some unaccounta- ble way, his scalp cut from over his eye to the back part of his head, and the part peeled off from the bone, so as to fall down over his ear! But serious as was the injury, he re- turned home after having the scalp replaced, and the wound bound up.
At the first annual training, a boy by the name of Devine, became so intoxicated as to be unable to reach home without assistance ; and was so severely bruised by his friends, who were pushing him along, that he died the next day, at the house of Amos Huntoon.
The danger of suffering for food, by the early settlers, was greatly diminished by the abundance of fish and game. Near the year 1800, Mr. Erastus Spencer, Mr. Elijah Spen- cer and two others went to a pond in West- more, near Bald Mountain, and in a single
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day caught more than 500 weight of dressed | British did not come, and no harm was done, trout. They were obliged to send for oxen to draw home the fruits of their day's labor.
About the year 1811, a man by the name of Harman (a brother to Hartson Harman of Coventry) was killed instantly at the raising of a building for Capt. Samuel Smith, jr., of this town, who intended it for the purpose of a distillery.
The circumstances of Harman's death were as follows : the men, at the time, were laying on to the sill a large overlay, and Harman had one end of the timber on his shoulder, when the men who held the other end let it fall in such a manner as to bring his head between the timber and the cellar wall,- crushing it so as to cause instant death. The building was located near a small brook, on the land now owned by George E. Smith.
1812.
During the war of 1812, the inhabitants of this town became much alarmed on account of the Indians. The inhabitants of all the adjacent towns, northerly, were so fearful of an attack, that they left their homes at night, and several families were grouped together for safety, meeting at one house after another, in the various neighborhoods, while the panic continued.
The people of Brownington were not in- clined to follow the example of their neigh- ors ; but proposed to build a block-house, to which all the families in the town should remove, and the men should go out in com- panies to work on the farms belonging to the various families. All the inhabitants, how- ever, were not agreed as to the expediency of this plan, and some declared they would not leave their farms if a fort was built-at least, till they saw the danger which was an- ticipated. In consequence of the want of agreement in the matter, the block-house, which was proposed to be erected on the North Hill, was never built,-though for a time much talked of.
The ammunition belonging to the inhabit- ants was placed in a building upon the hill (which was afterwards occupied by Judge Robinson, as a store), and was carefully guarded. At one time the alarm was given that the British were coming to seize this am- munition, and that they had already reached the Lake. The panic was so great that a large number of men assembled at the store- house, and kept guard all night. But the
except that one man came near losing his life as an emissary of the enemy, through igno- rance of the countersign, which was demanded at his approach. Some one, however, recog- nized him in season to prevent the fatal shot.
So much alarm was felt, after the failure to erect a block-house, that many families made preparations for leaving town. They buried their iron-ware, packed their goods, as much as could be done, and the women who had commenced weaving cut their webs out of the looms, and rolled them up-ready to start at a moment's warning. Some families-at much damage to themselves-left town ; but the majority tarried to see what would be the end of the matter. Many months passed, however, before the buried property was re- moved from its hiding-place, or the goods unpacked.
Some people who left town at that time, never returned, and in consequence lost much of their property, and many who remained lost a great deal by attempting to smuggle goods into Canada, or from thence into the States ; while a few, more successful in their attempts, acquired a large amount of wealth. It is to be regretted that there were any who had so little love for their country as to smuggle cattle over the line, to sell to the British ; but such was the case. The plan of procedure was to buy as many cattle as they could, and drive them round through the woods so as to elude the custom-house officers, and, if successful, they were able to sell to the British at very great prices ; thus feeding the enemy, while they enriched themselves.
[ We think the writer should say, thus en- riching themselves through feeding the ene- my. It was not the enemy at all, but their pockets, that it came first in their purpose to serve .- Ed.]
Near the period of the war, John Ware, a brother-in-law by marriage of William Bax- ter, came from Stanstead to Barton, for the purpose of smuggling cattle, as was supposed, and received an accidental shot in the knee. He was removed to the house of Amos Hun- toon of this town (who then lived on the farm now owned by Mr. John Twombly), when it was found necessary to amputate the limb. The operation was performed by Dr. Frederick W. Adams, then of Barton, it being the first amputation performed by him.
July 29, 1815, Mr. Nathan Stearns was killed by lightning, while engaged in making
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hay on the farm then owned by Isaac Smith, now owned by Lorenzo Grow.
In the same year, Capt. Samuel Smith, jr., of this town, started, with his family, to re- move to East Windsor, Ct. At Barnet, Mr. Amos Huntoon, who was driving one of Mr. Smith's teams, was taken sick with spotted fever, as was supposed ; but the attack being slight, he soon recovered, and returned to Brownington. Mr. Smith pursued his jour- ney. His son Albert was soon taken unwell, but kept along until they arrived at Cornish, N. H., and then could go no farther. Albert was unconscious most of the time after he was taken with the spotted fever, and died the second day of his illness. Mr. Smith's wife was then taken with the same disease, and died after being unconscious 24 hours. About the same time, Miss Nancy Walker (a sister of Shubael Walker, then living where C. N. Thrasher now does, though not in the same house), was taken sick with the same disease, and remained unconscious till her death, 3 days afterwards. Miss Walker had been assisting Mrs. Smith in packing for her journey.
What rendered these cases of sickness the more remarkable, was that these four persons, who were sick at nearly the same time, had repacked some goods that were brought from Quebec. It was supposed they contracted the disease in that way, as no other cases of it were known to have occurred at that time.
Mr. Smith returned to Brownington with the remainder of his family, where he resided until his death. He was father of Asa K. Smith, Esq.
In the year 1819, Franklin Bartholomew, son of Elisha Bartholomew of this town, was sent on horseback to the grist-mill, that stood near the brook, on the place lately owned by Mr. Benjamin Thrasher of Coventry. After getting his grist ground, it was placed upon the horse, and he mounted, and started for home. It appears that he placed the bridle around his neck, and while on the way the horse became frightened and threw him from the saddle; and he, being entangled in the bridle, and his foot held in the stirrup, was brought into such a position that every jump the horse made the boy's head came in con- tact with the feet of the horse; and he was found dead, with his neck broken and his body very much bruised.
Franklin was nine years old, and was a brother of Charity Rowell, now of Coventry.
In the year 1821, Harry Partridge, a neph- ew of Mr. William Baxter, and brother of Mrs. E. G. Strong, went upon the common, near the Academy, to catch a mare that had a young colt, when he received a severe kick in the bowels from the mare, which resulted in his death, 2 weeks afterwards. This same mare, in a few weeks, was hitched under the shed of the tavern, then owned and kept by Mr. Amherst Steward, and she and her colt were both killed by lightning; though no particular injury was done the shed or barn.
At the raising of the academy in 1823, Mr. Dennis Sabin, of Coventry, was assisting in raising the roof, when, stepping upon one of the joists on the top of the second story, it broke or split out from the gain, and he fell through the frame-striking upon other tim- bers as he fell-into the cellar among the stones, a distance of 20 feet or more. He was considerably hurt, but recovered in a few weeks. This circumstance occasioned the say- ing, at that time, that "Sabin was the first one that went through the academy."
In the year 1825, Isaac Smith, son of Major Samuel Smith, and father of Isaac C. Smith, had a leg amputated, in consequence of a white swelling upon the knee joint. The operation was performed by Dr. Frederick W. Adams.
April 13, 1829, two brothers, James and Jeremiah Seavey, were felling a tree. As the tree fell it struck on the top of another tree, breaking off a limb, that flew back and hit James Seavey, just over the eye, with suffi- cient force to break his skull, causing instant death. His brother stood but a few feet dis- tant at the time. This sad accident occurred on the farm now owned by Mr. Isaac C. Smith. Mr. Seavey's age was 45 years.
A singular incident connected with the death of Mr. Seavey was the fact, that his little son went to him, in the morning, and begged him to stay at home-saying, "Don't go into the woods to-day, pa, for a tree will fall on you, and kill you, if you go." Mr. Smith replied, that he had a great deal of work to do, and must go. In an hour or two he was brought home a lifeless corpse.
In the year 1839, Mr. Amherst Stewart was thrown off the bridge near the mills this side of Derby Center, in consequence of some logs lying upon the bridge which caused the
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horse to run backwards and cramp the wagon. He held on to the reins, so that he went off the bridge with the horse and wagon, a dis- tance of about 15 feet from the top of the bridge to the water. Mr. Stewart had the neck cf the thigh-bone broken at the time, which was the probable cause of his death ; though he lived about 4 years after this acci- dent. The horse was not injured, excepting a few bruises, from which he soon recovered, and the wagon was not broken much.
Mr. Stewart was father of the late Thomas C. Stewart, and grandfather of Hon. Edmond Stewart.
In the year 1850, Mr. Lewis Paine was engaged in the saw-mill, in this town, belong- ing to Mr. Cyrus Eaton. As is supposed, he attempted to roll some logs down the log- way, for the purpose of sawing. They were nearly opposite the mill ; when, in some way, he became entangled, and a log rolled upon his body. No one saw the accident. His wife was the first person who discovered him. When she spoke to him, he was unable to reply, but raised his hand as a signal, and in a short time expired Mr. Paine was the first husband of Mrs. Foster, now of Barton.
There has never been any prevailing epi- demic in town, such as has frequently visited many other places.
Several persons have arrived at a great age. Maj. Samuel Smith was 79 years of age. Two, within a few years, have died who were over 90 years of age. Mrs. Bixby, mother of Mrs. Baxter, was 84, and Mrs. Nichols, widow of Humphrey Nichols, was 93. Joel
reward of his labors and sufferings in the cause of independence.
Mr. Humphrey Nichols was also a Revo- lutionary. soldier ; and, after commencing in the first settlement of several other towns, came here again to share the trials and toils of pioneer life. He died at an advanced age. BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS.
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