USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 39
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Those residents, who were in town at that time could probably hold their lands against all the Allens, had they known how the business had been transacted, but Heman Allen, Roger Enos jr., and Esq. Ralph Parker managed the business for Jerusha Allen so that in the end she became the sole owner of the whole town except the public rights. Settlers held their lands under leases, and it was not till Ira H. Allen became a resident of the town that any lands were conveyed by deed. Roger Enos jr., Jerusha Enos and Jerusha Enos jr., the wife of Ira Allen were the only three of the original proprietors named in the grant who ever resided in town.
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement made in town (or the first settler recognised as such by Heman Allen) was made by Caleb Leach on lot No. 108, now own- ed by Mr. John L. Dodge. This lot is in the east part of the town and lies on the Barton line. Mr. Leach crected a log house a little west of where Mr. Dodge's orchard now stands, and brought his family here in 1798. James Leach came soon after and commenced on Lot 109 now occupied by Mr. Jesse Alden, Levi Sylves- Iter was here when found in 1799, on lot No.
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162, now owned by Mr. Leach and known as the brick house-farm.
It was the custom in those days for landed proprietors to give the first settlers a lot of land in consideration of the hardships which the first pioneer must endure. Mr. Caleb Leach received a deed of the Easterly half of lot No. 108, as compensation for the privations which he and his family endured for the sake of being the first settlers. Mr Leach's and Mr. Levi Sylvester's were the only families here when the census was taken in 1800, the population at that time being 15. During this year Foster Page, Simon French, Orlander Bowley, Amos Conant and his son Samuel made settlements in town. Foster Page commenced on lot No. 180, which was the first settlement in the part of the town known as Burton hill. Simon French settled on lot No. 109. which was the first lot west of Caleb Leach's, and is now owned by Mr. J. L. Dodge, and is known as the back lot. Amos Conant settled on lots No. 83, and 86, being the two lots north of the one occupied by Simon French. The Conant farm is now owned by Mr. Wm. Edmunds.
It is not known how many men moved into town during the years 1801 and 1802, the only records showing that any intended to settle are the dates of leases from Ira and Jerusha Allen to various individuals, some of whom settled here in 1803-4 and 5. Nearly every lot in the east and north-east part of the town was leased during these years. It appears that the propri- etors leased lots to men who had never seen them, because several of the lots leased in 1802 are wild and unimproved at this time. Among those who took leases during the years, 1802 and '03 were the Burtons, Morrells, Baileys, Curriers. Utleys and Peter Thatcher, and some others who became residents of the town for many years.
Feb. 13, 1803, Foster Page, Caleb Leach, Levi Sylvester, James Leach and Simon French, signed a petition directed to Amos Conant, a justice of the peace, requesting him to issue his warrant, and notify all the inhabitants who were legal voters to meet and organize the town. The meeting was duly warned to meet at the dwelling-house of Caleb Leach, on Monday the 21st day of March. Foster Page was chosen moderator ; Amos Conant, clerk ; Caleb Leach, Levi Sylvester and Foster Page, selectmen, and Samuel Conant, constable. This year Ralph Parker, Esq., of Glover built a grist and saw- mill on the site of the present flouring mill. road crosses going towards Burton hill. The
These mills were both under one roof-the saw- mill extending up towards the dam occupying the site of the present flume. The original dam, erected by Esquire Parker, is now standing and, is in a good state of preservation. These mills were built by Parker for the Allens, and the property has always been in the family till the present month, September, 1869, when it was conveyed by Charles P. Allen to Sumner Chilson.
Aug. 12, 1803, Mr. Constable Conant warned the first meeting of the freeman to give in their votes for State officers; also for a man to repre- sent them in the General Assembly, to be holden at Westminister. At this meeting the freeman voted not to proceed to the choice of said officers. Seneca Thomas and Thomas Brown took the freeman's oath, making an addition of two to the legal voters.
This year Capt. James Richardson settled on lot No. 80, now owned by Daniel Houghton. His buildings were a hundred rods farther up the hill than Mr. Houghton's dwelling. . A few years after, roads were opened by his place- one over from Amos Conant's, northwesterly by Richardson's to Troy-and one from Burton hill, by the Allen place, northerly, to Morrell hill, thence to Coventry and Derby. His buildings stood at four corners, and he kept the first tavern opened in town. An old resident tells us, that he has known as many as 20 teams to put up at Richardson's in a single night. The house was located on one of the great highways, leading north through the County. What was one of the important points from 1804 to 1812, is now an old pasture with no road within half a mile.
Seneca Thomas came this year and settled on lot No. 62, now owned by Simon K. Lock. Mr. Thomas was the first individual who took the freeman's oath in the town.
In the autumn of this year Benj. Burton set- tled on lot No. 179, which gave the name to that part of the town now known as Burton hill. Sargent Morrell located his family on lot No. 32, now owned by Mr. Post, and his son Jeremiah selected lot No. 41, adjoining. These men gave the name of Morrell hill to that part of the town. Peter Thatcher came this year and settled on lot 182, on Burton hill where Sol. Eaton now resides. Moses Bailey made a settlement this year on Morrell hill, Jacob Burton located him- self and family on lot No. 158, now owned by Mark Drew. Daniel Galusha built a house and moved into town during the year, and his house stood on the knoll west of the brook which the
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present highway leads directly over the site occupied by Mr. Galusha's house. A portion of the field now occupied by Moses White is land that was cleared by him. The settlements made this year were in the easterly part of the town-except Galusha's, which was one mile south of the mills. Previous to this year the grain was carried to Barton and Glover to be ground, the settlements, with two exceptions, were in the east part, and the only road lead- ing westerly was the one which led to Parker's mills, where it terminated.
Levi Utley settled on Lot No. 33, in the east part of the town, situated on the Barton line. This lot is in that part of the town between the Burton hill-road and where Caleb Leach lived, in an out-of-the-way place, Mr. Utley lived there many years-cleared up a respectable farm. The place is known as the Utley lot, and is used as a pasture.
1804. At a town meeting held on March 26, Capt. Benj. Burton was chosen moderator, Amos Conant, clerk, and James Leach constable. A tax of 4 days work upon each legal voter, to be laid out upon the highways, was voted. The same day the selectmen issued a warrant to James Leach, Constable, directing him to sum- mon Joseph Barrows and Mary Barrows to depart from Irasburgh. This was the custom in those times, nearly every family that came here were warned out of town. If this duty was properly attended to, the town did not con- sider that they were under any obligation to render assistance in case the family became destitute. The first highways in town were laid out this year by the selectmen. The first one commenced on the Barton line, near James Leach's, on lot 109, and passed the dwellings of Caleb Leach and Amos Conant-thence across lots No. 82 and 81 to Capt. Richardson's, on lot No. 80-now owned by Daniel Houghton. Only about 50 rods of this road is now used as a highway, and that is where it passes the old Co- nant buildings, now owned by Wm. Edmonds. This road was laid 4 rods wide, and it was sup- posed that it would always remain one of the great thoroughfares through the town. The next road laid was one commencing on Coventry line on lot No. 8, thence, in a southerly direc- tion, across Morrell hill, to Capt. Richardson's, on lot No. 80. This road has not been discon- tinued and runs nearly its entire distance on the old survey. Another road was laid out and opened from Lutterloh (now Albany) line to R. Parker's mills. This road commenced on what but nothing was done till the next year.
is known as the Chamberlin hill, and ran along on the high ground between the river and the creek, and crossed the village plot a little west of the common. This road was used but a few years-one having been built down the river west of it, in 1808, which took the travel.
A man by the name of McFarland located on lot No. 113, now known as the Allen farm, hav- ing been the home-place of Ira H. Allen for many years.
Roads were opened from Caleb Leech's to Parker's mills, passing McFarland's ; also one from Burton hill to Capt. Richardson's, pass- ing this place, and another from Amos Conant's to McFarland's, making five corners.
This place was thought, at that time, to be the spot on which the village would be located - Town and religious meetings were held here in 1810, when Eber Burton built a large frame- house near the common.
A burying-ground was established on the hard, gravelly knoll on the top of the hill north of the road. The militia of the town held their annual June trainings at this place, for several years .. This was the business centre till the old court-house was completed in 1816.
At a freemen's meeting held in September of this year, James Leach was elected represent- ative to the general assembly, to be holden at Rutland. The whole number of votes cast for governor was 19: of these 16 were cast for Jonathan Robinson, and 3 for Isaac Tiche- nor. At this meeting, Eber Burton, Erastus Smith, Jacob Burton, Levi Utley, Joseph Bar- rows, Eli Thatcher and James Mackintosh, took the freemen's oath. Erastus Smith settled on Burton Hill, on the place now owned by Geo Ordway.
James McIntosh commenced on lot No. 61, near Barton Landing. Sargent Morrell, with his son, Jeremiah Morrell, located on lots No. 32 and 41, now owned by Mr. Post. Ezra Rood settled on lot No. 59, now owned by George Norton. Jonathan Thompson settled on lot No. 155, on Burton hill.
This year was as hard as any experienced by the first settlers, much of their time having been spent in cutting new roads and building caus- ways over low and muddy places. There were no settlements on the west side of the river, and those on the east side were on Burton and Morrell hills, and in the Conant neighborhood.
A vote was taken in town-meeting to divide the town into two school-districts, and a com- mittee was appointed to make such division ;
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The cost of running the government of the town this year was $5.25, to meet which the freemen voted a tax of one eent on the dollar of the grand list.
In 1805, Ezekiel Currier, Moses Rood, Joseph Skinner, Enoch Rowell, Wm. Sargent, Thomas Crown and Walter Kittredge moved into town.
In 1806, there was a great increase in the pop- ulation by immigration. Several men of stam- ina and influence located here, which gave the settlement an impetus, and the town a charae- ter, which it very much needed. Among those who came this year were Benj. Walker, Reuben Willey, Nath'l and John Kellam, Benj. Hardy, Diocletian Wright, Andrew Whicher and Dan- iel Rowe.
This year the town was divided into two school districts, called the north and south dis- triets. The north distriet comprised all that part of the town north of Caleb Leach's, and the south district comprised Burton hill and all the town west. There were reported March 30, 1807, 60 scholars in the north distriet, and 33 in the south district. Miss Fanny Kellam, daughter of Dea. Kellam, taught the first school. This school was taught in a barn on Burton hill. John Burton, now living, was one of her scholars, and says she was the best teacher he ever saw.
1807. This year Simon French, Robert Munn, John Smith, Abner Smith, Joshua John- son, Ezra Record, William Fisher, John Brown, Joseph Hyde, Samuel Tilton, Doctor Tabor, Samuel Warner, Isaac Waldron, Thomas Bach- ellor and John Brewster, settled in town .-- These men do not appear to have been men of that moral worth that characterised those who came in 1806.
Of the descendants of those who came this year, there are only two now living in town- a son and daughter of Robert Munn.
1808. In March of this year Joseph Kidder, Esq., made the first settlement on the west side of the river, locating on lot No. 70, where Amos Metealf now resides.
About this time a road was opened from Capt. Richardson's, by Mr. Kidder's, to Troy. This was in embargo times, when much of the pearlash made in the State was drawn, in win- ter, through the wilderness to Montreal. This road to Troy was eut in the Fall of 1807, by parties from Danville and Peacham, who trans- ported hundreds of tons of salts and pearlashes through to Canada. In the spring of 1808, a large quantity remained in the country, and
Barton river was cleared cut, the easks put on to rafts and barges, and transported by water to Quebec. This circumstance gave the name of " the landing" to that part of Barton near Iras- burgh line where the merchandize was put on board the boats. The principal business of the inhabitants, at this time, was the making of salts and pearl-ashes, which were taken, in winter, on ox-sleds to Missisquoi Bay and Montreal .- Those portions of the town which which were timbered with maple and elm were first settled because those kinds of wood yield more ashes, and will burn with less trouble than many oth- er kinds. These times also encouraged smug- gling, which was carried on by residents of the town to considerable extent. Abram Gale, - Asaph Wilkins, Daniel Rowell and Andrew Slyfield settled here this year.
In 1809, came Ebenezer Broughton, Joseph Woodman, Joshua Taylor Alexander Benton, Timothy Blood and Bezer Thompson, and made settlements on the west side of the river. Al- exander Benton located on lot No. 115, now owned by Perly Hill-Ebenezer Broughton on lot No. 116. Levi Sylvester had moved over on to lot No. 100-Bezer Thompson settled on 94, Joshua Taylor on 95, and Joseph Woodman on 102-Timothy Blood on 101.
During this year a road was cut from Parker's mills, through the woods, on the west side of the river, past Broughton's, Sylvester's and Thompson's, to Kidder's. The west part of the town settled more slowly than the other parts, because there was more dark timber in that section, which always frightened the early settlers.
In 1810, the population had increased to 392, which was nearly all on the east side of the river.
Something was done at manufacturing about this time. Ezekiel Currier had ereeted a dis tillery on lot No. 88, now owned by Moses Leano. Potatoe whisky used to sell, at the still, at 50 cents per gallon. Abraham Gale made fanning-mills, and Samuel Wells ran a spinning-jenny. John Adams was the first ear- penter who worked by the square rule. Wal- ter Derby was the first blacksmith, and had a shop on the top of what was called the mill hill, where Mr. Pearsons now has a garden.
Eber Burton opened a small store in a build- ing that stood where Dr. Parkhurst now resides. There was a store on the Sol. Eaton place ou Burton hill when goods were sold in exchange for salts and pearlash.
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The war of 1812, was declared while the peo- ple of Irasburgh were making salts and whiskey and smuggling goods from Canada. An associ- ation had formed consisting of a dozen or more men who gave a joint and several note to Wm. Baxter of Brownington for funds which they used in the smuggling business.
This ring was not broken up till 1814, when an association of anti-smugglers, who worked for their own interest, frustratred all their plans and overpowered them. During this year the first framed house was put up in what is now the village, by Eber Burton. This house is still standing and in a good state of preservation. It was used many years as a hotel, and was occupied as such by Jesse Rolf, Ezekiel Little and George Nye.
In 1812, the Legislature of the State passed an act constituting Irasburgh the Shire-town of Orleans County, provided the inhabitants of Irasburgh would erect a court-house and jail at their own expense. Nothing appears to have been done towards erecting buildings, till after Ira H. Allen came here in 1814. The buildings were put up in 1815,and completed so that the courts were held here 1816. The old court-house was moved in 1847, and a new one erected upon the site, which cost nearly $4000, which was also built by the town at no expense to the County. The first jail was built of logs or hewn timber, ceiled with three-inch hardwood plank. This structure stood till 1838, when it was taken down and a stone structure erected on its site. This jail was 18 feet square on the ground, two stories high. It was found to be too small, at many times, and was not considered safe for desperate characters; so, upon recommendation of the members from Orleans County, the Legis- lature of 1861 authorized the County judges to borrow $3000 for the purpose of erecting a new jail. Harry Hinman, Jonathan Elkins and E. P. Colton, were appointed a committee by the legis- lature to rebuild. The new jail was erected in 1862, aud is one of the safest, best constructed buildings of the kind in the country. It is 26 by 36 ft on the ground, two stories high, and built of the best of granite.
When the news of the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain reached this town, a meeting was called, and Nath'l Kellam, John Adams, Roger Enos, Benj. Hardy and Caleb Leach, were appointed a committee of safety. This committee bought some powder and lead, but we have not been able to learn that they performed any other duty. Several
citizens of the town served in the army, among whom were Capt. James Richardson. Capt. Oliver Burton, James Leach, Alexander Benton, Amos Stafford, John Little, Joshua Taylor, John Kellam and many others.
The principal business of the inhabitants, during the war, seems to have been, one party taking cattle and contraband goods from the other party. Roger Enos, Ezekiel Little and Jos. Kidder were deputy collectors of customs, and with their friends and retainers, were continually alert for smugglers. The government party became strongest, and many of those who en- gaged in smuggling became bankrupt and left the town. Some families went away during the war, and never returned; many went West during the decade from 1810 to '20; so that there were but an increase of 40 inhabitants in the 10 years. From 1820 to 1830, the popula- tion more than doubled ; it was a decade of great prosperity for the town. Ezekiel Little built a saw-mill on the river above the old mills, and Sylvester Howard put in a tannery at that place. Roger Enos erected a factory for the manufacture of woolens, which stood opposite the grist-mill. A foundry was also built here, and a company formed for the purpose of man- ufacturing scales. They infringed upon the rights of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., who com- pelled them to stop business. The foundry was used, for many years, for the manufac- ture of stoves and plows.
CALEB LEACH,
who made the first settlement in the east part of the town, was very much respected by his townsmen, and was a very industrious, hard- working man. He cleared up a large farm, built a good set of buildings; and, in 1812, had every- thing comfortable around him. He was elected the first representative from the town, and was re-elected for the following 4 years-serving 5 years in all. He was one of the first board of selectmen, and held many offices in town. He was the first settler, the first representative, and the first man in town in point of wealth, intelli- gence and location. He was a resident till the summer of 1816, when he sold his property and moved to the West.
JAMES LEACH
was a younger brother, who settled on lot No. 109-lived here till the war of 1812, when he went into the army where he was promoted to a captaincy. I have not been able to learn whether he resided here after the war.
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FOSTER PAGE
who settled on lot No. 180, was the first settler on Burton hill. He was moderator of the first town-meeting, and held some town-offices after the organization of the town. It does not ap- pear that he had any title to the land he occupied was merely a squatter. Mr. Page was a great talker, and was deseribed by a man who remem- bers him well, "as a pettifogging kind of a ehap, rather portly looking." Seneca Page, the great counterfeit money-dealer of Dunham, Canada, was his son and came here with his father when he was a lad. Every one has heard of Seneca Page. He was considered the greatest devil in all the Canadas, Stephen Burroughs not excep- ted. He was the controlling spirit and head- manager of the company that manufactured snags, or counterfeit money, at Dunham. This same Seneca Page was a good neighbor, and brought up as fine a family as ever was raised in the Province. He was a proud man, and made a fine personal appearance-owned the best horses and carriages to be found in all that viein- ity He is said to have accumulated an ample fortune, while engaged in the snag business.
LEVI SYLVESTER
erected his cabin on lot No. 174. His was the first house ereeted on Black river, in the town of Irasburgh, He was a hunter by profession and practice. In the summer of 1800, James Leach and Orlander Bowley found his eabin, while fishing up the river. They had no knowl- edge that there were any inhabitants, except those known to them in the east part of the town. Mrs. Sylvester was an Indian, and liked the wil- derness as well as any of her race. When Leach and Bowley found the cabin with the family in it, they were no more astonished than were the inmates, who supposed that they were the only residents in the town, Mr. Sylvester had eleared a dry knoll, near the river, on whiel was growing a crop of eorn and potatoes. Mr. Sylvester was one of the residents who signed the petition to Esquire Conant, asking for the organization of the town. He was one of the first board of selectmen, holding the place be - eause he was elected, and not because lie wanted the position. He did not visit the early settlers, and saw them only when they called on him. After a few years he moved over the river and located on lot No, 100, and remained there till the road from Parker's mills to Kidder's was cut out, which let in too much sunshine to suit him, so he packed up and went off north, into some Canadian wilderness, where he probably
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ended his days. Two of his sons came out of Canada and served in the army during the war of 1812. To the early settlers of the town Levi Sylvester was an enigma; his reticence, and his solitary habits, were the theme of the settlers. The only woman who ever visited at the house, while the family lived on the river, was Mrs. Burton ; who, after her arrival in town, heard of the family living alone on the river. Mrs. Burton come from Burton hill on horseback, one of her boys walking by her side through the woods. At the time of the visit Mrs. Sylvester had not seen a woman's face for 4 years. Much might be written in relation to this man and his family ; but we will only say, that one reason known to us, sufficiently accounts for his peeul- iarities. He had been a tory and British spy, during the Revolutionary war, and he had been the leading spirit at the sack of Royalton-a guide to Capt. Prichard, who surprised the fort at Newbury-had captured the Baileys and El- kinses at Peacham, and carried them into cap- tivity-had been with the notorious Sir John Johnson, when he made his deseent from his rendezvous, on an Island in lake Ontario. upon the defenceless inhabitants of the State of New York. His antecedents had been sueli, that he had good reason for preferring the wilderness as his home.
ORLANDER BOWLEY
came here in the Summer of 1810, and made his home at Caleb Leach's. He selected a lot of land and made some improvements on it, when he was taken siek; and, after lingering several weeks, died on the 23d of Nov. His was the first death in town. He was a young man of promise, and his death east a gloom over the little settlement. They buried him down near the Barton line, under the shade of the beeehes, where his remains now lie.
AMOS CONANT
settled on lot No. 83, now owned by William Edmonds .- He came from Glover-was a justice of the peace-a man who had some means, and in a few years, eleared up a large farm, erected a good set of buildings, and was always indepen- dent in a pecuniary point of view, He was the first town elerk, and held the office till Beuj. Walker was elected to succeed him. He per- formed the first marriage ceremony-the bride was Bulah Conant of Irasburgh,-the bridegroom Peter Brown of Barton. Esquire Conant was a short, thiek-set dumpy individual-always busy and good natured-his eyes were small but con- tinually sparkling with good humor-his nose
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