USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 41
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THEODORE PEARSONS
came from Haverhill, Mass. He commenced business here as a merchant, nearly the same time that Nathan B. Dodge went into trade. Mr. Dodge was in the brick store, which stood on the site of the present Worthington store. Mr. Pearsons built and traded in the store now occupied by J. D. Worthington. Be- tween these two men there grew up a great opposition and competition, each striving to undersell the other. Mr. Pearsons had erect- ed the dwelling where Mrs. Worthington now lives. Mr. Dodge had erected the dwelling and buildings now owned by George Nye, and these two merchants were, to appearance, as comfortably situated as mortals could ask to be, when the strife to undersell commenced.
The consequence was, that they had custoin- ers from all parts of the County, and, for a time, did a very extensive business, but in the end both were ruined. Mr. Dodge went to Buffalo, N. Y., Mr. Pearsons went into other business and lived here many years. He was in the foundry business with West and Pren- tiss, till the dissolution of that firm, when the business was carried on by Pearsons and Burnabee. Theodore Pearsons was the man- aging agent and the man who made the sales away from home. It is said that he would sell a stove or plow to any man who asked or requested to buy, never asking a question as to their ability or disposition to pay. He would also take any kind of property, no matter what, in exchange for his wares. His business acquaintances extended through Orleans and Essex Counties also the eastern town ships in Canada. He was a great lover of horse-flesh and usually had a drove on hand. His teams, which he kept on the road, were notorious for being poorly matched, and for their skeleton-like appearance. All his business was done with a rush, at the same time, he drove sharp bargains, and probably the paper and figure look of the business was extra large, so that a credit was always at- tainable on the strength of the paper exhibit. Mr. Pearsons built no less than seven dwell- ing-houses with outbuildings in the village, which is more than any other one man has done towards building up the place. He was also what has been termed a "red-hot Meth- odist," and did as much as any one man towards the erection of a church edifice for that denominatian. Mr. Pearsons went West in 1855, where he died several years since.
GEORGE WORTHINGTON
commenced the mercantile business in the Dodge store, in the year 1834, and carried on business at that place till a short time before his death, which occurred in September, 1867, at the age of 58. Mr. Worthington was identified with the business relations of the town, for a period of nearly 30 years. In all his business relations he had the entire confi- dence of the community, and the respect of a very large circle of acquaintances throughout northern Vermont. His courteous demeanor and kindness of disposition won the affections of a large number of the influential men of the State, who were proud to call him their friend. In all enterprises for the good of the
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town, which required private aid, Mr. Wor- thington contributed his share with a gene- rosity and nobleness of nature rarely excelled.
He was frequently elected to fill some office in town, when it appeared to his townsmen that an emergency would come which required a man of more than ordinary ability to dis- charge the duties. He was representative from the town 2 years ; sheriff of the County 2 years ; member of the State Senate 2 years; and at the time of his death had been court auditor for several years. His death was occasioned by an apoplectic fit, while tempo- rarily stopping at the Magog House, Newport. WILLIAM W. LITTLE,
son of Ezekiel Little, was a man who carried on the lumber and building business for a period of 20 years, in this place. During the time that he was in the business, from 1832 to 1852, more building was done in the village than at any other time since its establishment. Mr. Little was always ready to take hold of any job-no matter how hard it was to ac- complish. He thought he was the man for the place, and always took hold as though he had a better right to a hard job than any one else. He had the reputation of doing all his work in a very substantial manner, and his long experience gave him the position of community engineer and general adviser for all who contemplated moving, repairing, or erecting buildings. He was, in his business, what would be denominated a "tearer," that is, one who drove business with a hurricane rush. Mr. Little died in October, 1852, at the age of 42.
BANKS.
" The Bank of Orleans " was chartered in 1830, and went into operation soon after that time. The presidents have been Ira H. Allen, Elijah Cleveland and Hiram McLel- lan ; the cashiers-George C. West, Henry M. Bates, Isaac N. Cushman and Wm. B. Denison. The Bank is now " The Irasburgh National Bank of Orleans." The Bank of Orleans was the first Bank established in the County, and is the only one at the present time, except "The Peoples' Bank," at Derby Line.
PHYSICIANS.
The physicians who have practiced in Irasburgh have been Doctors Tabor, Brown, Cleveland, Metcalf, Haynes, Pierce, Tucker, Hayes, Case, Adgate, Scott, Taylor, Kelsey and Parkhurst. L. W. Adgate, M. D. located
here in 1850, and has been in practice since that time. C. B. Parkhurst located in 1865, and is practicing at the present time. Only one of the above named gentlemen died in this town, that was Cephas R. Taylor in 1865.
NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN IRASBURGH.
In 1845, Mr. E. Rawson established THE YEOMAN'S RECORD, which was the first paper published in the County. Efforts were made by the friends of the enterprise to get a list of subscribers which would pay for publish- ing, and about 150 subscribers were obtained during the first year, which was about the average number during the 5 years of the life of the paper .* The sheet was neutral in politics, and its columns were open to all parties ; and Whigs, Democrats and Liberty men used it for the expression of their vari- ous opinions. In 1848, Mr. Rawson sold his interest in the paper to Mr. A. G. Conant, who published it for a few months and then resold to Mr. Rawson, who published till 1850, when it died for want of sufficient support .;
During the year 1850, the Messrs. L. B. & J. L. Jameson commenced the publication of the ORLEANS COUNTY GAZETTE, which was Whig in politics. The Messrs. Jamesons dis- posed of their interest to Mr. Jas. M. Dana, who published about 2 years, and sold to Mr. George H. Hartshorn, who published 1 year, and then sold one half the interest to Sylvester Howard. Hartshorn and How- ard were the owners a few months, when the firm was changed to Earle and Howard. After 3 months another change put the names of Howard and Morris at the head of the columns. This firm was of short duration. Mr. Morris sold his interest to Mr Howard, who in the Fall of 1855, sold out the whole concern to the proprietors of "THE NORTH UNION," a paper then published at West Charleston.
In January, 1856, Mr. Earle commenced the publication of THE INDEPENDENT STAN- DARD, which he published in this place for 10 years, when he moved to Barton where he is now located.
*In Irasburgh, probably, as the publisher informs us that he had about 500 subscribers in the county .- Ed.
+ Or was discontinued, as Mr. Rawson informs us, because a Whig party paper was started, and he did not regard the field sufficient to sustain two newspa- pers .- Ed.
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· In 1861, THE GREEN MOUNTAIN EXPRESS was started by H. & G. H. Bradford, who published for nearly 1 year, when they aban- doned the enterprise. To Mr. Earle, is the County indebted, more than to any other man or men, for the size and value of the County papers at this time.
THE ORLEANS COUNTY INDEPENDENT STAND- ARD now published at Barton, by Mr. Earle, is in point of ability and size second to no weekly periodical in the State. He is the father of journalism in this County.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM IRASBURGH.
Caleb Leach, 1804 to '08; Reuben Willey, 1809 to '11; Roger Enos, 1812; Nathaniel Kellam, 1813; Joshua Johnson, 1814; Sam'l Conant, 1815; John Kellam, 1816; Joshua Johnson, 1817; Ira H. Allen, 1818 to '20; Roger Enos, 1821; Ira H. Allen, 1822, '23 ; Roger Enos, 1824; Joshua Johnson, 1825; Ira H. Allen, 1826, '27; Elisha H. Starkweather, 1828 to '31; Joseph Higgins, 1832; Moody B. Kimball, 1833, '34; Ira H. Allen, 1835; Sabin Kellam, 1836; Ira H. Allen, 1837, '38 ; Timothy P. Redfield, 1839; Ira H. Allen, 1840; C. W. Prentiss, 1841, '42; Alexander Jameson, 1843 ; George Bryant, 1844, '45 ; Henry M. Bates, 1846 to '49; George Worth- ington, 1850, '51; George W. Hardy, 1852; W. H. Rand, 1853; William L. Locke, 1854; Spencer D. Howard, 1855, '56; John H. Kel- lum. 1857, '58; E. P. Colton, 1859, '60; Isaac N. Cushman, 1861, '62; Silas G. Bean, 1863, '64: Henry Somers, 1865, '66; C. P. Allen, 1867, '68; George B. Brewster, 1869.
MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Joshua Johnson, 1814, '22; Roger Enos, 1828; John Kellam, 1836; Geo. Nye, 1843 ; Thomas Jameson, 1850.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
Ira H. Allen, 1828 to '31; Elisha H. Stark- weather, 1835. In 1836, the State Senate succeeded the Council.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE.
Augustus Young, 1836 to '39 ; Timothy P. Redfield, 1348; Henry M. Bates, 1850, '51 ; George Worthington, 1855, '56; John H. Kellam, 1863, '64.
Citizens of Irasburgh who have held Coun- ty offices :
ASSISTANT JUDGE OF THE COUNTY COURT. Sabın Kellam, 1855, '57.
CLERKS OF THE COUNTY COURT.
Ira H. Allen, 1816 to '35; Henry M. Bates, 1830 to '49; Hubbard Hastings, 1850 to '53 ;
William H. Hartshorn, 1854; Norman W. Bingham, 1855 to '62; Isaac N. Cushman, 1862; the present incumbent.
CITIZENS OF IRASBURGH-COUNTY SHERIFFS.
Thomas Jameson, 1826 to '35; Sabin Kel- lam, 1839; George Worthington, 1842, '43 ; Hubbard Hastings, 1848, '49; Silas G. Bean, 1855, '56.
CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN STATE'S ATTORNEYS.
Elisha H. Starkweather, 1828, '29, '35; Geo. C. Wist, 1830, '31; Jesse Cooper, 1839, '42.
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
Ira H. Allen, 1821, '22; Geo. Nye, 1823, '24; Salmon Nye, 1825, '26, '27; Joseph Hig- gins, 1836, '37, '38 ; George Nye, 1839 to '45 ; Isaac N. Cushman, 1849 to '52; Milton R. Tyler, 1862 to '65. .
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN IRASBURGH. BY DEACON JAMES CLEMENT.
On the 18th day of Jan. 1818, the Rev. James Hobart, of Berlin, Vt. and Rev. Lu- ther Leland of Derby organized the Congre- gational church in Irasburg, according to usage, consisting of 3 male and 5 female members, viz. Zadock Bloss, John Skinner, Sam'l Warner, Hannah Burton, Lois Brough- ton, Eunice Hardy, Mrs. Cole and Mary Kellam. These persons, although coming from different localities, were similar in their opinions and practices, and immediately felt the importance of Christian union. We have no record of additions to their numbers until about 1825, when 12 were added, some by profession, and some by letter. For the next 3 years they were without a minister, except occasionally a missionary lectured or preach- ed on the Sabbath. One of them, a Mr. Worcester, delivered a lecture on March Meeting day at the court-house. About the middle of his discourse a man started for the door exclaiming, " I do not believe a word of that.", Mr. W. stopped a moment and said, " If there is another indecent person in the room, I wish they would leave," but no one else left. Among the number that preached here occasionally during this time, were the Rev. Messrs. David Sutherland of Bath, N. H., Leland of Derby, Hobart of Berlin, and Parker. A Mr. Rockwell preached a number of times in the Summer of 1828. About the year 1828, the church nearly, or quite doubled its membership, many of whom are now living and active members. In the Fall of 1828, the church employed a young
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man by the name of Otis F. Curtiss, to preach regularly, who was ordained as an evangelist during the Winter, and remained about 2 years, was an earnest worker and genial friend. The church had no house for wor- ship at that time, but held their meetings in the court house and village school-house. At this time there was each a Baptist and Methodist church here. After Mr. Curtiss, the Rev. Mr. Brown preached a while, after which, the Rev. Buel W. Smith, a graduate of Andover Seminary, preached one year. During his labors the church grew strong, and increased in members. During the time above mentioned, when without preaching, worship was maintained on Sundays by read- ing sermons and attending the Baptist and Methodist meetings. In 1839, the Congrega- tional society built their present meeting- house, which was dedicated in January, 1840. In 1839, the first minister, Rev. James John- son, was installed ; installation at the Metho- dist meeting-house, sermon by Rev. Chester Wright of Hardwick. The church prospered for some time under the labors of Mr. John- son, but during the latter part of his ministry peculiar cases of discipline made his labors less profitable. He was dismissed January, 1849. For the next 5 years Rev. Joel Fisk was their pastor, and was much loved by his people; after which the church employed Rev. J. H. Beckwith for about 3 years as stated supply, and a few months after, Rev. Thomas Bayne, for between 3 and 4 years, as supply, under whose labors the church received some valuable additions. In 1864, the Rev. J. H. Woodward, now of Milton, became their pastor, and served them faith- fully until about the first of June, 1869. Under his charge the church received many additions in numbers, and increased in vital- ity. Since his dismission they have had preaching but four Sabbaths to the present time, Sept.1, 1869. The church is now able, with the help of those that attend worship with them, to well support a good minister, has about 120 members, a good Sabbath- school, organ and choir. Of the many differ- ent ministers, only one, Rev. Mr. Peck, Meth- odist, has been buried in town.
LAWYERS.
Salmon Nye, from about 1820 to '28 ; E. H. Starkweather, 1827-'36; Augustus Young,
1837, '38 ; Charles W. Prentiss, 1838-'46; Geo. Mason, 1829-'31; Gustavus G. Cush- man, 1830, '31; Jessie Cooper, 1830-'60; Timo. P. Redfield, 1840-'48. I. N. Cushman, from 1849 to '69-not now in practice; J. H. Prentiss,* 1847-'69 ; Amasa Bartlett, 1860 -'63: Leavitt Bartlett, 1859-'63 ; Don A. Bartlett, 1854-'60; Milton R. Tyler, 1860 -'65 ; Charles J. Vail,* 1862-'69; Wm. D. Tyler, 1865-'69.
TOWN CLERKS.
Amos Conant, 1804 to '06; Benj. Walker, 1806-'10; Reuben Willey, 1810-'13; Zad- ock Bloss, 1813-'16; Ira H. Allen, 1816- '18 ; Zadock Bloss, + 1818, '19; Salmon Nye, 1819-'28 ; Norman Cleveland, 1828, '29 ; Thomas Jameson, 1829-'31; George Nye, 1831, '32; Thomas Jameson, 1832 '39; S. S. Clark, 1839-'41; Henry M. Bates, 1841 -'50; I. N. Cushman, 1850-'54; Thomas Jameson,į1854-'68; Wm.D. Tyler, 1868'69. AMOS CONANT,
aged 94, died in Irasburgh, June 21, 1847. He was one of the first settlers of this town- a specimen of the hardy pioneers of the Coun- ty-he aided to open the communication by roads through the forests to neighboring settlements and form a rallying point for the new comers; aiding in the organization of the town, he was permitted to see great changes and improvements as the wilderness gave place to luxuriant fields ; receiving the suffrages of his fellow-townsmen, he dischar- ged the duties of the various offices to which he was called, with fidelity. He lived to see sons and grandsons in the discharge of the active duties of life; and, from the spot which he had occupied for nearly half a century, has gone to his grave like a shock of corn fully ripe .- Yeoman's Record.
DIED
in Milford, Mich. Mar. 21 1848, Mrs. Cynthia Harlow, wife of Capt. Abner Harlow, and daughter of the late Amos Conant, of this town, aged 58 years. Yeoman's Record.
FROM THE SERMON OF REV. THOMAS BAYNE.
Delivered at the Congregational Church, May 2. 1866. IRA HAYDEN ALLEN,
son of General Ira and Jerusha ( Enos) Allen, was born in Colchester, Vt. July 19, 1790. The history of his ancestry forms a prom . inent and important chapter, in the annals
* Now in practice.
+Zadock Bloss, 4 years in all.
į Thomas Jameson, 23 years in all.
* Robert Mann.
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of this commonwealth. The Allens were amongst the principal founders of the State of Vermont, and contributed much towards the independence of the United States. The neces- sary limits of this sketch furnish no space for an outline of the energetic, bold, and uncom- promising career of Gen. Ira Allen, and his services, self-denials, and sufferings in the public cause. He took a very conspicuous and efficient part in the early settlement of Vermont, and during the period of the Rev- olutionary war, rendered to the nation signal aid. As member and secretary of the council of safety in 1777 he concerted and by his in- vincible energy carried out the measures which resulted in the triumph of the federal arms at Bennington, the capture of Mount Defiance, and Lake George Landing. These achievements led to the defeat and surrender of General Burgoyne and the consequent negotiation with France, of the important treaty of February, 1778. In consequence of these and like services to the national cause in the war of the Revolution and the fresh duties pertaining to the military inter- ests of the State intrusted to him, he became the object of most tyrannical, unrighteous, and, in respect of property, ruinous prosecu- tion, on the part of the British government. In the year 1795, General Allen, intending to take a voyage to Europe, was commission- ed by the governor of the commonwealth -. Thomas Chittenden-to endeaver to procure a supply of arms for the militia of the State. There was at that time a scarcity of arms. None could be purchased in the United States or borrowed from the government for the equipment of the militia. General Allen effected a very advantageous contract at Paris, with the French minister of war, for 20.000 stands of arms furnished with bayonets, and 24 brass four pounder field-pieces, with uten- sils for their use. " This contract in France was equally consistent with the laws of na- tions and treaties, as if it had been made in England. The advantage in the contracts determined the place of purchase." These were shipped on board the " Olive Branch," then lying in the port of Ostend, whence she sailed on Nov. 12, 1796. This vessel, sailing on the high seas, was, in defiance of express stipulation in the treaty of 1794, between Great Britain and the United States, and in defiance of all international law, captured Nov. 19, 1796, by captain Gould, of the ship
Audacious, an English seventy-four, and carried into Portsmouth, in England. The cargo was condemned as a lawful prize Oct. 8, 1797, but, on appeal, the court of admirality decreed the restoration of said cargo, Feb. 9, 1804, thereby acknowledging the injustice and unlawfulness of the seizure and condem- nation. In these proceedings of the British government, there was not only great wrong done to the rights and dignity of this nation ; there was also the infliction of grievous injury to General Allen's personal interest and property. While the case dragged its slow length along in the British courts of admiral- ty, the property, for want of proper care, depreciated to worthlessness, and his bail, to whom, by virtue of an order of court, it had been consigned, although perfectly solvent for a considerable period after they had be- come his security, were bankrupts when the restoration of the cargo was decreed. Gen. Allen was also adjudged, by decision of the court, to pay costs and charges ! But this was the smallest part of his vexation and loss. When he sailed for Europe, the titles of more than 200,000 acres of lands, with many buildings and extensive improvements, were vested in him, in fee simple, in his own right and that of the heirs of deceased friends, on whose estates he had acted as executor, and some of the heirs were not of age and the estates were not settled at the time of his departure. But on his return, scarce an acre of these lands could be found, without another possessor, by vendue titles, or others obtained while he was, by intrigue, detained in Europe. When he returned to this continent, he was virtually and unjustly made an exile from his family and home, since, in order to avail himself of immunities which his own State failed to give him, he took up his residence in Philadelphia, where he died, and, in con- sequence of the events above narrated, leav- ing his family nearly destitute of means other than a home at Colchester, Vt,
These particulars I have outlined as neces- sary to a just idea of the circumstances and situation of our deceased friend, at the outset of his career.
Of the incidents of his earlier years I am not informed. He pursued collegiate studies at the University of Vermont. I have just read some of his college compositions written in the year 1808-9, which I find among his papers. They exhibit great maturity of re-
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flection and observation for a youth of eigh- teen or nineteen. Their subjects are of grave and serious character. The titles are such as these: Liberty ; Religion; Mortality ; Tyranny : Happiness. They are thoughtful essays, marked by sound judgment, enlivened by fancy, and pervaded by generous emotions and aspirations. He was obliged to relin- quish collegiate studies at the close of his sophomore year, 1810, on account of ophthal- mic weakness, which had become seriously aggravated by his application to study. This weakness of the eyes continued to afflict him, to some extent, in subsequent years. His only brother, Zimri E. Allen, also studied at Burlington, during the same years, after- wards read law with the Hon. Charles Marsh of Woodstock, Vt., and completed his curric- ulum of professional study at the famous law school in Litchfield, Ct., but died just as he was ready to enter upon his profession. An only sister had died some years before. To Mr. Allen's sole care therefore were commit- ted his widowed mother and aged grand- mother. The duties and responsibilities, in- volved in this relationship and trust, extend- ing over many succeeding years, he dischar- ged with devoted affection and exemplary fidelity, deferring his own settlement in domestic relations, that he might give his undivided assiduity and care to the guardian- ship and happiness of his venerated mother.
After the cessation of his studies in Bur- lington, he was clerk in Swanton, for, probably, about 2 years, where he had an opportunity, in some degree, to verify the words of the prophet: "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." He next assisted his cousin, Heman Allen, Esq., in his business at Highgate. Subsequently followed his removal to Irasburgh, which was ever afterwards his permanent, lite-long residence. His removal to this town was the result of circumstances connected with his mother's estate. When Jerusha, eldest daughter of Gen. Roger Enos, engaged herself in marriage to Gen. Ira Allen, the father of the affianced bride required, in accordance with the usages of those days, a marriage settlement for his daughter. Very much as a matter of form and honorable custom, the township of Irasburgh, then a primeval wil- derness, was deeded to her as such settlement. As to actual value, to use Mrs. Allen's own words, she did not, at that time, consider it
worth a rush. In 1814, Mr. Ira H. Allen proposed to his mother to visit this town and ascertain whether it was worth any thing ; designing to be absent from home but for a few days. On his arrival, he found some two or three families occupying land under a lease from the agent of Mrs. Gen. Allen, and a dozen or more who had located themselves on lands, irrespective of any right or title. A Mr. Parker had erected a set of cheap mills, where the grist-mill now stands. The saw-mill had been used for sawing up pine lumber, cut down by squatters from Mrs. Allen's lands. A large quantity of the boards thus manufactured and appropriated, Mr. Ira H. Allen found piled up in the mill- yard. His first step was to claim these boards, in behalf of his mother. Instead, however, of enforcing legal rights, which could have been easily sustained, he conclud - ed his settlement of the matter, by allowing the parties an equitable compensation for their labor in procuring the lumber from the forest. After a stay here of three months, instead of a few days, he returned to Colches- ter, informed his mother that the property in Irasburgh was worth taking care of, and that if she would give him a portion of it, he would come here and himself manage the estate. In this, he displayed a sagacious, far- seeing judgment, as well as a filial regard for his mother's rights and interests. His offer was accepted. He with his mother's family, therefore, removed thither. These events I assume to have occurred in 1814; as Mr. Allen's first vote on record in this town is dated in September of said year. He was, thus, about 24 years of age when he became an inhabitant of Irasburgh. At this date, his entire property or capital consisted of a horse and single sleigh, a respectable ward- robe, his library, a silver watch, $40 in money, and-what was best of all-his edu- cation and his principles.
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