USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
We never had but two clerks, one of whom still holds the office.
POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.
Post-offices are Craftsbury, North Crafts- bury and East Craftsbury. When these offices were established, I cannot learn ; that at North Craftsbury or Craftsbury Common,
(then Craftsbury), was the only post-office in town for 30 or 40 years after the town was settled; then the one at South Craftsbury was established, and subsequently, by some political management, the office at the com- mon was changed to North Craftsbury, and that at the South village to Craftsbury. Who the first postmasters were I am unable to learn-will give them for the last 55 years :
NORTH CRAFTSBURY, (or Craftsbury Com- mon)-Augustus Young, Wm. E. Paddock, Don. C. A. Richardson, Joseph Scott.
CRAFTSBURY - Stephen Sherman, Nelson Rand, C. G. Doty, J. W. Allen.
EAST CRAFTSBURY-J. W. Simpson and Eliza Simpson.
CITIZENS WHO HAVE ATTAINED 90 YEARS OF AGE.
Samuel Grant and Alice Ainsworth are the only ones now living. Some of those who have died were Robert Wylie and wife 100 years old; Jacob Jenness, Daniel Davison, Sen. and Dan'l Davison, each 92. Thirty or forty citizens have lived to be 80 or more years of age; some 87 or 88, besides those above named.
THOSE WHO HAVE HELD U. S. OFFICES.
Hon. Samuel C. Crafts, senator and repre- sentative to congress ; Hon. Augustus Young, representative to congress.
STATE AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
Hon. Samuel C. Crafts, governor of the State.
SHERIFFS-Joseph Scott, Harvey Scott.
COUNTY JUDGES-Samuel C. Crafts, Alvah R. French and W. J. Hastings.
JUDGES OF PROBATE-Jos. Scott, Sen., Au- gustus Young, Royal Corbin, J. A. Paddock. SENATORS-Augustus Young, N. P. Nelson and J. W. Simpson.
ATTORNEYS-Augustus Young and Nathan S. Hill, State's.
SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
William Hidden, Moses Mason, (the only two known to be living); Capt. Hiram Mason, James Cobern, Amory Nelson, John Towle, John Hadley, Elias Mason and prob- ably some others not remembered.
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
1792 and '93, Ebenezer Crafts ; '94, Joseph Scott; '95, no election ; '96, Sam'l C. Crafts ; '97, '98 and 99, Joseph Scott; 1800 and '01, Samuel C. Crafts ; '02, Daniel Davison ; '03, Samuel C. Crafts; '04, Royal Corbin ; '05 Samuel C. Crafts ; '06, Royal Corbin; '07. Jesse Olds ; '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, Roy-
171
CRAFTSBURY.
al Corbin ; '15, Joseph Scott ; '16, Royal Cor- bin; '17, Jos. Scott; '18 and '19, Wm. Scott ; '20, Hiram Mason ; '21, '22, '23 and '24, Au- gustus Young ; '25. Jos. Scott ; '26, Augustus Young; '27, Hiram Mason ; '28, '29 and '30, Augustus Young; '31, Royal Corbin ; '32, Augustus Young ; '33, Joseph Scott, Jr .; '34, no election ; '35, Joseph Scott, (then Jr.), '36, '37 and '38, W. J. Hastings ; '39 and '40, Geo. H. Cook; '41 and 42, Daniel Dustin ; '43, '44, '45, '46 and '47, no election ; '48 and '49, W. J. Hastings ; '50, '51, '52, no election ; '53, John W. Mason ; '54, Leander Wheeler ; '55, '56 and '57, Schyler Chamberlain; '58 and '59, Joseph Scott; '60, Amory Davison, Jr .; '61 and '62, Amasa P. Dutton ; '63 and '64, Jesse E. Merrill; '65 and '66, Moses Root; '67 and '68, S. R. Corey ; '69, Charles Cham- berlin.
I have omitted the dates of service of coun- ty officers, as they were formerly elected by the Legislature, we have no record of them in town, not having time to go and look them up at the county clerk's office ; I thought I began at the first appointment in each office and recorded them in the order in which they were appointed from this town.
COL. EBENEZER CRAFTS
was born in Pomfret, Sept. 3, 1740; and was graduated at Yale College, 1759. Soon after this he engaged in mercantile business in his native town. At the age of 22 he married Mehitable Chandler ; and soon after removed to Sturbridge, where he continued to pursue the same business in which he had been en- gaged, and, by attention and assiduity, ac- quired thereby a large estate.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, he held the command of a company of cavalry, which he had raised and organized, and joined the army with it at Cambridge, in 1775. He remained in the service till the British troops evacuated Boston, when he returned to Sturbridge, and was soon after elected the colonel of a regiment of cavalry, which office he held till his removal from the county. At the time of the insurrection, known as "Shay's Rebellion," he marched with a body of 100 men under Gen. Lincoln, in the Winter of 1786-7, into the western counties, where he rendered prompt and es- sential service in suppressing that alarming, but ill-judged outbreak.
the rising generation early attracted his at- tention. The people were about to assume the solemn trust of self government, and to do this with success, they should be able to understand and appreciate the wants and duties of a free people. The condition of common schools was depressed; the number of public institutions for education were few, and the idea of establishing such an institu- tion in the County of Worcester, occupied his thoughts for some time before any measures were taken to accomplish it.
He, at first, conceived the plan of founding an academy in the pleasant village where he resided. But an opportunity which was pre- sented for procuring a suitable building in Leicester, and the co-operation of Colonel Davis in the scheme, induced him to direct his efforts to its estabiishment in that place, with the zeal and energy which accomplished the desired end. By his efforts in this and other benevolent enterprises, and that general revulsion of business which, after the close of the war, proved so disastrous to New Eng- land, he became so much embarrassed in his affairs, that he was induced to sell his estates in Sturbridge, and remove to Vermont, where he, in company with Gen. Newhall of Stur- bridge, had purchased a township of land a a few years previous.
This took place in the Winter of 1790-91, and the town, out of respect to its founder, took the name of Craftsbury.
In 1786, Colonel Crafts was honored with the degree of A. M. from Harvard University.
It is not easy for the present generation to understand how new and unbroken was the wilderness into which Colonel Crafts removed his family. To those upon the stage a half century ago it was familiarly known as the "new state," and towards it was the foot of the emigrant from the older counties in Mas- sachusetts directed till that time. Scarce a town in that region that had not more or less of its early settlers from the county of Wor- cester, and Colonel Crafts had already been preceded by Colonel Davis at the time of his removal. At that time there was no road opened for more than 20 miles from Crafts- bury, and it being Winter, the females of his family were drawn that distance upon hand- sleds over the snow.
Here he gathered around him a number of excellent families from Sturbridge and neigh-
With the enlarged and patriotic views of Colonel Crafts, the importance of educating | boring towns, and a little community was
172
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
formed, of which he was the acknowledged head. For 20 years, he stood to it in the relation of a patriarch, a friend and counselor, whose intelligence all understood, and whose friendship and fidelity all esteemed. His gen- erous hospitality, his energy of character, his calm dignity, and his pure and Christian life -acting, as they did, upon a well-educated, sympathizing community-exerted an influ- ence and stamped a character upon the people and fortunes of the town he planted, which is still plainly perceptible. In this he found a ready and efficient auxiliary in his son and other members of his own immediate kindred.
In this community he resided till his death, May 24, 1810, aged 70 years,-respected and beloved by a constantly widening circle of friends and acquaintances.
He was a man of great energy and firmness, and, though liberal in his views and senti- ments, he was inflexible in the maintenance of principle, and, with the opportunities he enjoyed, such a man would not fail to make his influence widely felt.
[The foregoing notice is substantially taken from Gov. Washburn's history of Leicester Academy.]
HON. SAMUEL C. CRAFTS.
BY REV. S. R. HALL, LL. D .- OF BROWNINGTON.
Every citizen of our commonwealth is, or should be, interested in the history of the men who were identified with the moulding of our government and laying the foundation on which those who come after them are to build. Among the list of honored names which should be prominently inscribed in Vermont history, is that of Samuel Chandler Crafts, who died Nov. 19, 1853, aged 85 years and 44 days. He was the only son of Col. Eben Crafts, and was born at Woodstock, Ct., Oct. 6, 1768. He was graduated at Harvard in July, 1790. (The elder Josiah Quincy of Boston, was a member of the same class.) His standing in that class-many members of which became eminent men in their day, was highly respectable. A year or two pre- vious to the completion of his course of study at the University, his father became a propri- etor of land in the present County of Orleans, and soon after removed with his family to Minden, afterwards named Craftsbury, in honor of him as pioneer in its settlement.
Instead of entering any of the learned pro- fessions, Samuel C. determined to accompany
his father to the wilderness of Vermont, and share with him the trials and labors incident to those who penetrated the wilderness, to make for themselves a home, and to lay broad and deep foundations for society, religion and goverment in a new commonwealth, then just admitted to the Federal Union.
During the year, 1792, Mr. Crafts was ap- pointed clerk of the town, which office he held by yearly elections until 1829, when he declined it, after having served the town faithfully for 37 years. In the year 1793, he was elected a member of the convention, to revise the constitution of the State. Of this convention, though the youngest, he was an active and very useful member, and the last survivor, having lived to enjoy the benefits resulting from their labors more than 60 years. In 1796, he was elected a member of the legislature. The two following years, he was chosen clerk of the same. He was sub- sequently elected to the Legislature in 1800, '01, '03 and '05. From 1800 to. '10, he held the office of assistant judge of the county court, and after that time to 1816 was chief judge. From 1807 to '13, he was a member of the council of the State. In 1816, he was elected member of the House of Representa- tives in Congress, and was continued a mem- ber for 8 years. He was again elected to the Council, and also chief judge of the County Court for 3 years, and was then elected gov- ernor of the State, and held that office for 1829, '30 and '31. In 1829, he was a mem- ber of the constitutional convention and was elected president of that body. Soon after retiring from the office of governor, he was appointed on a committee to decide on a place for the State House-the materials of which it should be built, &c. Being chairman of that committee, he wished to recommend such a plan as would secure all needed conveniences and at the same time furnish an exhibition of architectural elegance and beauty. He ex- amined all the Capitols in New England and then recommended the erection of the late noble structure, which adorned the State till destroyed by fire in 1857.
In 1842, Gov. Crafts was appointed by the executive of the State to a seat in the Senate of the United States in place of Judge Pren- tiss who had resigned. At the next meeting of the legislature he was elected by that body for the remainder of the term for which Judge Prentiss had been elected.
173
CRAFTSBURY.
A late writer, after giving a brief notice of the official stations which Gov. Crafts had been called to fill, very justly concludes with the following remark : " In all the duties he has performed, doing right has been his prin- cipal object, and none has been able to say that he ever swerved from that." Another has said with equal justice, "He was not elected to office because he could be, but because he should be." The quiet of agri- cultural life accorded better with his native modesty and love of retirement than the cares of State or strife of parties ; but he served the town, the County and the State, because he was called by the voice of the people to do so.
His political preferences, in early life, were essentially of the school of Jefferson, but in maturer years, corresponded more nearly to those of President Adams and Mr. Clay. He was never a violent advocate of any party, and as willingly accorded to others the right of private opinion as to himself. Whenever he was led to disagree with others, he did not constitute them his enemies, nor lessen their confidence in his discretion, integrity or ability.
The intellectual powers of Gov. Crafts were characterized by a remarkable harmonious- ness and equilibrium. This fact, no doubt, was what prevented him on the one hand from being chargeable with any measure of delinquency in office, and on the other hand, secured for him the unusual confidence so long reposed in him by the community. Those who knew him best, knew precisely where he would be found. He abhorred a time- serving policy; had no opinions either to con- ceal from others, or force upon them. H must pursue honorable ends by honorable means and by no others: when pursuing such, he was ardent and persevering.
however, he was a ready speaker and bore his part in conversation so as to show how well he might have spoken elsewhere. In public or private he never declined to express his opinion when solicited, and the reasons for it. He investigated with care, and voted on all questions in accordance with his sense of duty, and not because others voted with or against him. Few men have exhibited less of dogmatism or hauteur. He never changed his opinions till convinced that he had cherished them under misapprehension, and then he was frank to acknowledge his error.
These elements of character were well adapted both to create strong friendships and to prevent making bitter enemies. Always frank and transparent himself, he was far from charging obliquity or duplicity on others. His reading was extensive, though select. He had a great relish for history, and was remarkably well versed in it. Metaphy- sics were not his chosen subjects, farther than they embraced the leading features of an evangelical faith. The Bible he received as the end of controversy wherever its revel- lations are explicit. He delighted specially in those works which were well adapted to prove the existence of God and the truth of his divine revelation to man. Well written works on all departments of natural history, especially those on geology and mineralogy, were favorite books, and were read with great interest and profit. Astronomy also had very strong attractions, and he not unfre- quently amused himself with writing essays upon it; some of these would do credit to the ablest astronomer. While an under-grad- uate of Harvard, he computed a transit of Venus-an achievement that had till then never been accomplished by an under-grad- uate of that college. His capacity for math- ematical attainments was unsurpassed by any member of the class, though one of great merit, and of which the Hon. Josiah Quincy of Boston is now the only survivor.
His scientific attainments were highly re- spectable, but his extreme modesty prevented him from making the least efforts for display. He shrank from everything which tended to exhibit his own superiority. This was prob- To architecture he gave much attention and made himself familiar with the best tra- tises on that subject. His taste was, perhaps, as faultless on this subject as that of any other man. His idea was so to combine relations that the entire effect should be har- monious, appropriate and pleasing. His connection with congress during the entire ably what prevented him from ever ascending the forum. Speech-making, for the sake of display, he justly abhorred. In the State Legislature, in Congress, or in political gath- erings, his voice was seldom heard in debate ; not because he had nothing appropriate to say, but because he believed such harangues were generally useless. In the private circle, I period of rebuilding the capitol after the
174
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
late war with Great Britain, and his long service as a member of the congressional committee on public buildings, led him to give a greater degree of attention to this subject than he might otherwise have done.
During the latter years of his life, scripture, biography and sacred history were his chosen subjects of study. The Bible, as a book of authentic history and revelation from God, was for the last 15 years of his life (and I know not how much longer) his daily study, and in no employment did he ever engage with greater ardor than that of a sabbath- school teacher. Unless prevented by serious illness or absence from town, he never failed to meet his class each sabbath and to interest them by communicating a portion of his own rich stores of knowledge gathered from the sacred page. He regarded this employment as more honorable than any of his high civil station.
The domestic character of Gov. Crafts could be fully appreciated only by those who were daily with him. His marriage did not take place till he was near 30 years of age. Mrs. Crafts (Eunice Todd) was an only sister of the late Doctor Eli Todd, long favorably known as the principal physician of the Retreat for the Insane at Hartford, Ct. She had enjoyed the advantages of education in the cele- brated Greenfield Hill School, established and conducted by President Dwight. Two children, a son and daughter, constituted their entire family. The former died while a mem- ber of the University of Vermont, at the age of 24 years. The latter, now the wife of N. S. Hill, treasurer of the University of Vermont, survives her venerated parent. The son was a youth of great promise, and his death was an affliction to such a father that can better be conceived than described. But during this season of trial and while the heart was riven within, there was the same external calmness on the part of the father. He bore this prostration of his hopes as one who had an arm on which to lean-strong and unfailing. Sympathizing with his family most deeply, he never, however, lost his bal- ance, or uttered a murmur or complaint. This is the testimony of those who both knew and shared his grief, and was what might have been expected by those who knew him. From this period there was in him a marked increase of interest in regard to religious duties and in the study of the sacred scriptures. His
religious opinions were evangelical, though through self-diffidence and distrust he never made a public profession or united with any church. In this respect and this only did he fail of bearing outward testimony to the honor of Christ. His conversation during his brief sickness was full of consolation to his family and pastor. His calmness and serenity con- tinued to the last hour of his life. Foreign missions, the Bible and colonization efforts, he cherished with a strong interest. He was a regular contributor to all kindred societies, but these awakened deep and constant interest. The success of the colony of Liberia gave him great joy. He regarded it as a most import- ant agency to extirpate the slave trade, to redeem Africa and to advance missionary efforts in that land of darkness.
In another respect, Gov. Crafts has left an example of great value to the world. Under all circumstances he maintained, to the last, his early formed habits of industry, strict temperance and simplicity. He gave at all times the influence of his example to do away the monstrous evils of intemperance. In the use of narcotic stimulants he never indulged to an extent sufficient to create a habit not easily controlled. He was an early riser and his industry was always remarkable. He resorted to out-door labor for exercise after he had reached more than four score years, not from necessity but as essential to health and enjoyment: delighting in it, he seldom passed a day without it. His physi- cal strength and activity was thus continued more perfect at the age of 85 years than is common to most men at 60. His intellectual powers were in like manner vigorously pre- served. He committed to memory with great facility to the last months of his life, and maintained even the sprightliness of early manhood. In him was combined a rare spe- cimen of the man, the gentleman, the patriot, the scholar, whose morals were irreproach- able from youth to hoary age. For more than 60 years he was identified with the his- tory of the Town, the County and the State.
The entire population of the country at his birth was less than three millions, at his death, more than twenty-five millions. A monarchial government had given place to the purest republic on earth; a wilderness had become fruitful fields; savage hunting grounds the abodes of cultivated, refined and Christian communities.
175
CRAFTSBURY.
When he was born there was hardly a civ- ilized inhabitant in this State, and when he became a resident of Orleans County, there was not a fourth part of an hundred souls within its borders and but a few thousands in the State; but what a multitude dwelt upon our hills and in our valleys when he departed.
JOSEPH SCOTT.
FROM DEMING'S VERMONT OFFICERS.
"Joseph Scott comes in for a short notice, by having held the office of sheriff of Orleans County for a longer term than any other-14 years. He was 7 years a member of the Leg- islature ; 1 year a member of the Council of Censors ; and 2 years a member of the Con- stitutional Conventions; and judge of probate 6 years. He died about 1841.
His son, Joseph, was elected town clerk, in 1829, in room of Governor Crafts, who had held that office since 1792, and is the present town clerk. The town have had but three clerks-two of which are now living (1857.) Joseph, jr., was 2 years a member of the Leg- islature, and has held many important offices of various kinds. Harvey Scott, who is a son of the Sheriff, I presume, took the office of Sheriff one year after his father's time had expired, and held it 11 years. So it seems that office is hereditary in the family."
JACOB NOBLE LOOMIS
was born in Lanesborough, Mass., Oct. 8, 1790 ; graduated at Andover Theological Seminary, 1820 ; pastor of the Congregational Church in Hardwick, 1822-30; then engaged in agriculture until about 1853; in 1853, in Craftsbury .- Pearson's Catalogue.
ELIZABETH ALLEN
was born in the year 1796. Her father was the late Elijah Allen, Esq., of Craftsbury. Elizabeth early developed a taste and talent for poetry ; and, though her advantages for education were limited to a single term at school, she published in 1832 a small volume of her poetry, entitled "The Silent Harp."
In connection with which she remarks :-
"I was born at Craftsbury, at a period when there were not above a dozen inhabi- tants in town. My parents, having emigrated from Brookfield, Mass., were among the first pioneers in Northern Vermont. We were surrounded by a vast tract of wilderness, which the Indian hunters claimed as game- land. They looked with an evil eye on those they regarded as intruders on their rights, and not unfrequently came to our door filling
us with dread by their warlike array of rifle, tomahawk and scalping-knife.
We were denied all literary privileges,- three months at a district school, taught in our house, being all the advantages I ever enjoyed. Providence had endowed me with a propensity which disadvantages and crosses could not suppress. I became passionately fond of reading, and grasped at everything that came within my reach. In writing I had no instruction, but, by self-effort, suc- ceeded in forming a running-hand, by which at a later period I was enabled to entertain an extensive correspondence. I had no writ- ing materials, and it was often the case that I employed a carving-knife to mend my pen, while my paper was the blank side of an old letter, or even a piece of brown paper.
About this time I commenced rhyming, and composed several little tragic love-songs, which I sometimes sung to my companions. My spirits had ever been light and buoyant, every object being viewed on the bright side. My days passed in mirth and song, my nights were gilded with pleasant dreams.
Thus passed my days till I had numbered fifteen summers, when I was suddenly attacked with a severe illness, which, in the space of one short week, entirely deprived me of the sense of hearing. To attempt to portray my feel- ings, on this occasion, would be vain. From that hour I date my melancholly history-my trials and never-ceasing regrets. To live, and yet never more hear 'the sweet music of speech,' was a thought that harrowed up my inmost soul. I was compelled to submit to the decree of Providence,-would that I could say it was with meekness and resigna- tion. In vain have I sought the aid of phi- losophy to subdue my tears.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.