USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 45
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The inhabitants shared with those of other towns in the panic caused by the war of 1812, A fort was erected near where the Congregational church now stands, for a sort of refuge in times of danger, Dea. Ebenezer Woods, and Abel Curtis were appointed dele- gates, to a meeting holden at Potton, P. Q., to ascertain, if might be, the state of feeling which existed among the people in Canada. They found the inhabitants as much disposed
to have peace as themselves. This news in a great measure quieted the fears of the panic- striken, and less fears were entertained of an invasion. They had no occasion to remove into the fort, and it was afterwards used as a pound.
TEMPERANCE.
The town has suffered much from the effects of intemperance. For a long time, traffic in intoxicating liquors was carried on to a con- siderable extent. Though not wholly free from its blighting influences, yet a mighty revolution has taken place within the last few years.
Some of the young men saw and felt the need of a reformation.
Nearly 4 years ago a Good Templars Lodge was organized. As a reward of their labors, they have had the satisfaction of seeing many rescued from the jaws of the fiery-demon.
The Lodge has sustained weekly meetings since its formation. It now has about 100 active members.
EDUCATIONAL.
Provisions for schools were made as soon as the town was organized. The following appears on record. " Voted to raise one cent on the dollar on the Grand List, paid in grain, for the support of schools."
The town originally contained but one dis- trict. It now contains seven and three frac- tional ones.
The first school was taught by Abel Curtis in a dwelling-house situated a few rods back of his present residence. The first school- house was erected near where Carlos Farman now resides. It was a log structure, although as comfortable as their own dwellings. Other districts were formed, and schools established, according as the settlement of the town de- manded. Under the supervision of superin- tendents, the schools have greatly improved, and the people are giving more attention to the subject of education. Each district now has a neat commodious house, showing that the people appreciate the blessings of intelli- gence and cultivation in those around them.
LOWELL CONTINUED.
BY LYMAN J. SEELY, OF JEFFERSONVILLE LAMOILLE CO.
This township is bounded N. by Westfield, Troy and Coventry Gore, E. by Irasburgh and Albany, S. by Eden and Belvidere, and W. by Montgomery. It was granted for 39,000 acres, but, upon surveying, was found to contain 42,000. The south line-the only
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straight line-being 12 miles, and the east 10 miles. By act of legislature, Nov. 18, 1852, one tier of lots, in the range adjoining Iras- burgh, was annexed to that town; and, by act of legislature, Nov. 5, 1858, 13 lots in the 18th range, and all the ranges west of this range, were annexed to Montgomery. The present area of the town is 33,115 acres.
Lowell lies 36 miles N. from Montpelier, and 42 miles N. E. from Burlington.
It was first chartered by the name of Kel- lyvale; but, owing to the unpopularity of this cognomen among the settlers, or for some other reason, that no one now knows, its name was changed to the one it now bears.
It appears that Kelley, to whom it was first granted, sold his grant to Messrs. Franklin and Robinson, in New York, who failed, and the grant passed to the hands of M. Maw- hurst, in the City of New York, a few lots of which remain in the hands of his heirs to the present day. From some old conveyances, we infer that Kelley's interest passed, as soon as obtained, into his creditors hands, among whom were Alexander Hamilton and Liv- ingston, of New York, and other speculators there in wild lands in Vermont. The town was once sold to one William Dewes for $4,680; and the titles have been transferred from one speculator to another, till no regu- lar chain of titles can now be traced, down to this date.
There is a story that the town was once attached and sold on an execution,-the offi- cers and party coming as far as Abner Brush's hotel, in Cambridge Boro', where they staid over night, and stated, in the morning, that they were 30 miles off. They sold the town at auction ; after which they took a little toddy and left again. There have been ven- due sales, also, for taxes, till it would be hard to trace titles.
Colonel Hazen cut à road through this town, in 1779 or '80. His regiment encamped on the banks of the Missisquoi River, while his men cleared the road and made it passa- ble for the drawing of the ordnance of war over. He had cut the road to the notch of the mountains, when the news of peace came, and he left his unused road for the benefit of the settlers. The notch where he ended his work, took the name of Hazen's Notch, in honor of the Colonel. It was some six miles ahead of where his regiment were encamped, in the town of Westfield.
For some 15 years this was the only road through the unbroken wilderness, in this part of Vermont. This road had been cut some 8 years before the first tree was felled for & permanent settlement in Kellyvale.
WILLIAM CALDWELL
came to Peacham in 1803, and, stopping with his brother there a year, in 1805, came to Kellyvale, where he had previously pur- chased a right, and selected a good location, near the present town of Lowell. He cleared a few acres, and sowed it to oats, built a log- cabin, and, after harvesting and stacking his oat-crop, returned to Peacham for the Winter. The next March, he brought his family with him, and made a permanent settlement ; and here, with no neighbors within 12 miles, at Westfield or Craftsbury, he lived many years. His house was a welcome resting-place to travelers, coming some 12 or 15 miles over the Hazen road, through the solitary wilder- ness before reaching it. Mr. Caldwell and wife raised a family, and toiled hard for some three score years, when they passed the way of all, and were buried in the graveyard in town. Their headstones are standing, but so defaced by storms that the date of their death is not legible.
JUDGE JOHN HARDING,
born in Barre, Mass., 1788, left his native town in 1806, and went to live with Thomas H. Parker, a brother-in-law, in Eden, Vt., where he remained a year, and married Polly Hutchins, of Eden, and then went and built a house in Kellyvale, where he had purchased a tract of land, and having all things ready at Mr. Parker's, in March, 1809, they loaded five hand-sleds,-the loading consisting of wife and one child, furniture for house-keep- ing, and provisions, and four stout men with him, all on snow shoes, and a man for each sled, they started for Kellyvale, where they arrived at or a little before night. The Judge says, it was the happiest night he ever saw, when the whole lay down after supper : five tired men, and one woman, and babe slept sweet from the toil of the day, and, when morning came, the birds woke them with their welcome. When they built a fire, the smoke, arising above the trees, was seen by Mr. Caldwell, who, not knowing of this new set- tlement, supposed some Indians had camped on the western hills. After a few days he ventured out to ascertain the cause, and was greatly amazed to find a cabin and family
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within 4 miles of his house. These two fam- ilies enjoyed being the only settlers in town, for a part of the year, at least. Mr. Harding buried his wife, Polly, April 27, 1847, and married, April 27, 1848, a widow French, of Irasburgh, and both are living (1870.)- The family of the Judge has numbered 9 chil- dren, three only of whom survive. He has represented the town 14 years, been constable 5 terms, high bailiff 5 terms, justice 20 years, judge of county courts 2 years.
EBENEZER WOOD
came, with his wife and 11 children, from Merrimac, N. H., in 1810. He came by the Hazen road, bringing his family and goods, with a span of horses, in an old-fashioned double wagon. Mr. Wood toiled hard, and died in 1839, at the age of 75 years. His wife died, aged 89, His descendants have all died or removed. Some of his grandchildren are in the Western and Southern states.
JOSEPH BUTTERFIELD
came into town with his family-a wife and child, in 1811. He was rather dull, took time easy and left the support of his family to his wife. His wife, Olive, was a prudent and industrious woman, and mother of 10 children, 5 of whom died in infancy. She practiced midwifery, and was a very useful member of the new settlement, where it was far distant, as yet, to the residence of a phy- sician. At length Mr. Butterfield got up one morning out of sorts, and saying, "Olive, I am going off to leave you." Tired of his shiftlessness and ill-humor-" Agreed, Jo," she said, "you and I are two." He left her with five children, the youngest at the breast. She toiled hard to provide for her little child- ren. In the cold season they had to subsist several days on boiled leeks and clover- heads, while she was finishing some spinning that she had taken in, with the pay for which she was to buy some provisions to subsist upon. But as her little ones grew larger, they took some of the burden from her, and she attained the age of 75, dying in the Sum- mer of 1866.
ABEL CURTIS
removed from Tunbridge to this place in 1810. His brother, Asahel, accompanied him. They came on to the lot of land upon which he is now living with his son, Don. B., at the center of the town. He taught the first school in town; was the first justice of the peace, which office he held for a number of | of Cobb & Kelton's grist-mill, where they
years; was the first postmaster, and served in this capacity until in 1838, when the new stage route left his dwelling remote and he resigned. At his first quarterly report to the general P. O., the amount due was 19 cents. He was town clerk 27 consecutive years, with the exception of the time that Otis Le- land and William Caldwell served, one year each. He has been also a member of the Constitutional Convention, as recommended by the council of censors. He is a very plain writer and has done most of the writing of the deeds, &c, in town. He married Sally Brigham of Tunbridge, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. His wife died several years ago, since which time he has resided with his son, Don B. the present town clerk. Two of his sons emigrated to Ohio. His daughter married John D. Hard- ing, and resides in Newport.
MILLS.
Col. E. Crafts built a saw-mill for the pro- prietors in 1805, where the saw-mill of Par- ker & Bros. now stands. Abel Curtis built a grist-mill in 1812, by the natural bridge spoken of in Thompson's Gazetteer, which well served the inhabitants of this town 18 years.
Cobb & Kelton put up a grist-mill at the falls in 1831, which, 6 years later, was burned; cause unknown.
Wm. S. Flint built a grist-mill on the same site in 1838, which stood about 18 years and was bnrned. The old site is now occupied by the clap-board shop of Paine & Root.
M. Work built a grist-mill in 1860, a little below the site of the Abel Curtis mill. This mill is now doing business.
There was a saw-mill built on the west hill below Walker pond, which has been rebuilt several times, has been in the hands of many owners and is nearly run down.
Sabin Scott, Thomas Wooley and Wm. Knapp have also built saw-mills, which ran till they became old when they were torn down. The two last were built between 1840 and '50.
Daniel E. Works has a saw-mill on the West Branch of the Missisquoi river which cuts 200,000 or 300,000 ft. of boards annu- ally, and which are hauled to Barton Land- ing, put aboard the cars and sent to Boston, Worcester and Providence. Paine & Root have also a clapboard-mill upon the old site
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annually cut 200,000 or 300,000 feet of clap- boards, which are drawn to Barton Landing and sent to market.
Wm. S. Flint built a saw-mill above the site of the first saw-mill, which was afterward remodeled into a circular saw-mill and coop- er shop, which privileges Brown & Wellman have purchased and are making over into a clapboard-mill.
In January, 1843, a sash-shop was put in operation on the opposite site of the stream, which at the present time is doing quite a large amount of work in window-blinds, doors and sash.
There was formerly a carding and cloth- dressing mill upon the site of the present grist-mill. The business failed however in two years, and later the building was carried away by a freshet.
Shipley & Warner built a starch-factory, which they run one year, when they failed, and it went into the hands of Wm. S. Flint who sold in 1839 to Woolley & Co., who run it till Dec. 2, 1842, when it was burned, but re-built and running in two months from the day it was burned. Charles Leland bought the factory and run it here till 1847 when he removed it down the stream a hundred rods, and there continued his business till 1854, when he sold to Edward and Irvin Stephen- son, present owners. In 1848, John D. Hard- ing built a factory on the site that the first was removed from, which passed from his through several hands, last to Joseph Brown in 1867, who remodeled and is now running it in the time of starch-making; and, in 1854, James Brown built a starch-factory on the west hill, which is now in the hands of Messrs. C. A. & F. F. White of Eden.
MOUNTAINS AND STREAMS.
This town is hemmed in by mountains and hills upon three sides; upon the southern border are Mts. Norris, Hudley and Belvi- dere. Mt. Norris is a high eminence, at the base of which is a notch that nature intended for a road. A high range of hills skirts the western border of the town, so abrupt that five ranges of lots on this border were set to Montgomery, owing to the abrupt mountain barrier between them and the center of Low- ell. And in the eastern part of the town is a mountain which gives but two places for a road ; over one is the old Hazen road and Irasburgh route. Serpentine hill, in the north part of the town, is also abrupt, but down.
all these high hills the little brooks come rushing, growing in their course, till they form immense mill-sites of ample water-power for all kinds of manufacturing business. The source of the Missisquoi is in this town. At the Center the river passes over a fall from 15 to 30 feet.
PONDS AND FISH.
This township has two ponds, Eden pond, which also belongs in part to Eden and which is the head of the Missisquoi; and Walker pond in the western part of the township, which has an area of two acres of water, and was formerly stocked with fine trout. It re- ceived its name from H. Walker who locat- ed near this pond in the early settlement of the town. In the Summer of 1847, Blake Aldrich and Benj. F. Pickett went to the pond, the afternoon of one lowry day, and returned at night with 96 pounds of trout. This is what you would call good fishing. Up to 1850, this town was much resorted to in the fishing season, but since that time the trout have been scarce.
SOIL AND MINERALS.
In the northern part of the township is a clay soil; in the center it is sandy, and in the rest of the township a sandy loam. Among the hills and valleys are found ser- pentine, feldspar, amianthus, pudding-stone and asbestus. The latter has furnished speci- mens for all the New England and some of the Middle and Western States colleges. Iron has also been dug from the swamp and worked at Troy.
Near the north line of the town is a spring impregnated with iron and sulphur, which no doubt will be resorted to at a future day, as its healing qualities are great ; but being so remote, it is not so well known.
ROADS.
First was the Warren road which passed in a north-western course through the town, and next, or in 1828, there was a County road laid from Burlington to Derby Line, which passed through Lowell north, and south from Eden to Westfield, and was the only mail route. There was also at this time or soon after, a road over the mountains to Iras- burgh, but this road was very rough and steep, and not traveled in the winter.
Apr. 5, 1842, Mr. Jona. Stewart wished to go over to Irasburgh to pay a debt at the bank, aud thought he could go over the mountain which wonld be but 9 miles, while by way
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of Troy it was 20 miles, with road bare and bad. He crossed over the mountain upon the snow-crust in the morning very well, paid his debt at the bank and started to return. He left the last house in Irasburgh, the sun two hours high, and began to ascend the mountain. The snow had softened during the day, through which with the anxiety of getting home, he wallowed three miles, when, wearied out, he lay down and rolled quite a distance down a hill, at the foot of which he stretched himself out upon the snow with his cap under his head and his hands crossed upon his breast and went to sleep- within two rods of a family in their snug, warm log-house.
The next day, Luther H. Brown of Eden came out to Lowell on the way to Irasburgh on the same errand and finding the road bad thought too, that he would attempt the mountain road. Brown, who was some 20 years younger than Stewart, traveled briskly on till he entered the four-miles wood, when his progress was slow as there was no other road than that made by Stewart the day before, and the snow was soft. He however continued on till he arrived where the lifeless body of poor Stewart lay. Greatly alarmed at the sight of what might have been his own fate had he gone on and attempted to return as this man had, he hurriedly re- traced his steps for help. The citizens turned out, a jury was summoned, who, having repaired to the spot, rendered a verdict "died from exhaustion and exposure," and the " body was made fast to a pole and borne by the men, taking turns, a mile and a half, to the first place where a team could meet them, when it was conveyed by the team to his home and his family, who little thought of such a return when he left them hale and hearty the day before.
Nov. 21, 1859, the legislature granted a tax of one cent on all lands in Lowell, (ex- cepting public lands), to be laid out on a road, the most feasible route over the moun- tain to Irasburgh, and which road was laid out the next year and is now the most trav- eled road in town by freight to and from the railroad.
There is also a road running on the west ledge of the mountain.
TIMBERS.
The land is timbered with birch, beech, elm, cherry, poplar, white and rock maple,
spruce, fir, hemlock, pine and cedar. Pine and cedar were quite plenty at an early day, but were confiscated, upon the non resident lands, till the owners appointed an agent in town, which was a little too late, and there is but little cedar left in town, now that it is wanted at home.
CHANGES.
When the town was new there were litiga- tions among neighbors and the spirits rap- ping was at the bar ; law-suits are now un- common and the rapping at the bar has ceased. The good Templars have done a good work in this town.
FIRST THINGS.
Abel Curtis built the first framed house in town, which he also tore down in 1842, to build new upon the same site. He also mar- ried the first couple in town, viz. Mr. Jona- than Powers to Miss Lila Stewart.
The first death and burial in town was that of a Mr. Dunham, who was killed by the falling of his hay-barrack upon him, and who was interred in the present burying- ground.
The first meeting-house built in town, by the Methodists and Congregationalists, since the share of the Methodists bought out by the Congregationalists, was erected in 1842.
The first settled minister in town, was Rev. Jubilee Wellman, who drew the minis- terial lot of land, and was settled in 1849. He tarried with his people a few years when death took him from his flock, and the town was without a minister about 12 years. Rev. A. A. Smith, a Congregational clergy- man, settled here in 1867, and Rev. H. N. Hovey, a close-communion Baptist, the same year. Rev. Mr. Hovey stirred them up in the town and caused a meeting-house to be erected the next Summer at the Hollow, and is still laboring with his people there.
The first school numbered 12 scholars, taught by Abel Curtis. There are 6 districts now in town, with newly built school-houses in each. There is not a town in the County which, according to its wealth, has taken so much pride in schools and expended so much for them. In district No. 1, they have a house which was built for a graded school, and cost $ 2,000.
In 1866, they organized the Lowell Libra- ry Association, which has 125 volumes, al- ready, of well selected books, and money in the treasury.
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There is also a flourishing Sunday school any in the State, viz. Rufus Brown, who was with a large library of selected books.
PREMATURE DEATHS.
The first person killed in town, as I have already noted, was Mr. Dunham.
In 1840, George Howe, who was in the employ of Thomas Woolley, was binding starch barrels upon a sled, when the horses took fright and ran, and Howe was caught between the sled and bar-posts and so crushed as to cause his death.
In 1845, J. B. Roberts was killed by a falling tree; and since 1857, a Mr. Eaton, Harvey Rathbone, David Dana, Eastman Wadge and a Mr. Rockwood have been killed in the woods.
Mr. Streeter, a man of this town, nearly 70 years of age, was choked to death while eating.
A Mr. Gibbs and a Miss Maguire commit- ted suicide by hanging.
LONGEVITY.
Ebenezer Woods lived till 75 years of age ; his wife survived him and died at 89 years.
Hosea Sprague lived to the age of 85 and his wife survived him to 97 years.
Peter Sanborn died at 85 years.
Mrs. Aldrich, the newspapers speak of as living, in 1867, at the age of 85, and of her going out with the girls into the fields hop- picking the same Fall, where she did nearly as much as the rest. She was the wife of W. G. Aldrich who died some 20 years since, or a little more.
Mrs. Brigham, who has been a widow nearly 30 years, is now living with a good memory of things that happened in her younger days.
There has been a great change in the in- habitants within a few years. There are but few that remain on the places they first settled.
VILLAGE.
Lowell village is not so compact as some villages-as nature has so made the place. There are 5 streets, none of them parallel with others. It has 2 stores, 1 hotel, a post-office, 2 houses for public worship, 2 starch-factories, 2 clap·board-mills, 1 grist-mill, about 30 dwellings and a chance for improvement.
POPULATION OF THE TOWN.
In 1810, 40; 1820, 139; 1830, 314; 1840, 431; 1850,637; 1860, 813; 1870, 942.
MILITARY ITEMS.
In the war for the suppression of the late rebellion, this town sent the oldest soldier of
63 years old when he enlisted.
Alvah Wakefield, from this town, was also 56 years of age when he entered service, and Nathaniel Tillotson, 50 years. They were all discharged for disability before their time had half expired.
There were quite a number of soldiers from this town that deserted during the war, while on the other hand, HENRY H. NEWTON was promoted to a lieutenancy, and DAVID B. DAVENPORT got up a company in Bradford and Gov. Fairbanks commissioned him cap- tain. He died in service and his remains were brought home and interred in Lowell.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was constituted Jan. 7, 1846, by an Ecclesiastical council composed of dele- gates from Baptist churches as follows :
Johnson-Rev. R. A. Hodge, David Boyn- ton, Dea. E. B. Taylor, Samuel Andrews, Darius Clark, James Furgason. Hardwick- Rev. J. R. Green, J. Patch, C. Sanborn. Troy-Rev. N. H. Downs, Rev. J. Waldron. Derby-N. H. Denison. Coventry-Dea. T. Wells. Albany-Rev. H. N. Hovey, Dea. H. Chafey, E. S. Hovey. Rev. R. A. Hodge, was chosen moderator ; H. N. Hovey clerk.
The members so constituted brought a let- ter of commendation from the Baptist church in Troy, being 15, as follows : Smith Camet, Calvin Wakefield, Timothy Blake, Martin Reynolds, Alvin Carey, Samuel W. Warner, Miriam F. Wakefield, Hannah Wakefield, Ann Blake, Abigail Blake, Delila Avery, Harriet Souther, Sarah W. Reynolds, Sibyl Warner, Sabina Camet. On the evening of the same day Martin Reynolds was elected, by the church, as their deacon, and after examin- ation by the council and a sermon by Rev. N. Denison, was publicly ordained by prayer and imposition of hands.
MINISTERS AND PASTORS.
Rev. Isaac Waldron (licentiate) an earnest and faithful worker, preached one year pre- vious to May 1, 1847. Rev. H. I. Campbell (licentiate) nearly one year to March 1, 1848, when his health failed. Occasional preach- ing and the administration of the ordinances by H. I. Campbell, N. Dennison, A. Norcross and HI. N. Hovey, between March. 1848 and March 1853. E.B. Hatch preached with them from 1853 to Jan. 2, 1856, when he was or- dained ; being their first pastor. Previous to
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his ordination, by exchange, the ordinances were administered at several times by H. N. Hovey, A. Norcross and T. M. Merriman. Soon after, unfortunately for him and the church, he formed a union, by an attempted marriage, to another man's wife. He plead innocence on the ground that he supposed the husband was dead; but he was at once sus- pended from the fellowship of the church, and soon left for other parts. However after get- ting legal advice, they discontinued their union until she obtained a bill from her hus- band; when the matrimonial tie made them husband and wife. Rev. A. J. Walker a graduate from the Fairfax institute, labored with the church from 1856 to 1858. He was ordained as its pastor, March 4, 1857, and continued his connection with the church un- til Aug. 22, 1858. Sept. 1, 1861, Rev. J. Small commenced preaching with the church for one half of the time for one year, whose labors, aided by Rev. J. W. Buzzell, resulted much to the reviving and strengthening of the church six were added by baptism, and five by letters and two by experience. Oct. 5, 1862, Rev. J. W. Buzzell became the pas- tor for one year, Nov. 8, 1863, Rev. H. N. Hovey became pastor, which relation has been continued to the present time.
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