USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 57
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Sweatland, Samuel
D 3d July 30, '61.
McCrillis, John
E
7th
Savia, Frank
K
" Feb. 5, '62.
Re-en. Feb. 15, 64, to cr. of Northfield and des.Sept. 27, '64.
Lazuo, Moses
A 8th
Nov. 13, '61. Feb. 18, '62. Re-en. Jan. 5, 64, must. out June 28, '65. Dec. 7, '61. Died July 25, '62, of disease. Trans. to La. Cavalry, Feb Dec. 21, '61. 28, '63.
Drette, Moses
66 Nov. 28, '61.
Green, Byron
M 11th Sept. 18, '63. Oct. 7, '63.
Mustered out June 22, '64. Dis.at Brattleboro,Sept 4.'65. Mustered out Aug. 25, '65.
Leavitt, Bradbury G.
L July 7, '63. July 11, '63. Deserted June 6, '64.
Taylor, Lewis B.
June 1, '63. July 7, '63.
Aug. 1, '63.
Aldrich, Azro L.
H 15th Sept. 18, '62. Oct. 22, '62. Died Dec. 22, '62. " " "
Ordway, Edward J.
Pratt, George
Bailey, Harry J.
D 11th Oct. 1, '63. Nov. 9, '63.
Eastman, Charles M.
Oct. 20, '63. 66
Manuel, Lorenzo
Oct. 29, '63.
Titus, James Nov. 7, '63. Dec. 1, '63. Dis. Apr. 15. '64, for disa. Trans. to vet. res.corps., Nov. Hovey, Chester D Nov. 5, '63. 22,'64, dis. July 29,'65. Nov. 16, '63. Died at Washington Mar.14, '65, of disease. Rowell, William R. 1st S'gt 3d Bat.Nov. 23, '63. Jan. 1, '64. Must. out June 15,'65; 1st lt. Sartwell, William E.Priv. L 11th Jan. 19, '64. Jan. 19, '64. Mustered out July 6, '65.
Warner, Lafayette C 17th Nov. 25, '63. Mar. 2, '62.
Must. out July 14,'65, hosp. steward. Discharged March 24, '66.
Smith, Alfred W.
V.R.C. Aug. 26, '63.
Ramsdell, William Priv. D 6th
Sept. 26, '61. Oct. 15, '61. Re-en. Jan. 1, '64, must. out June 26, '65.
Ward, Joseph E 9th Dec. 19, '63. Dec. 30, '63. Must. out with reg. and died on his way hoge. K'd at Wilderness, May 5,'64.
. Elkins, Josiah Jr. = LaMarsh, John D 6th Dec. 16, '63. Elkins, William R. " Dec. 22, '63. Dec. 22, '63. Pro. corp Co. I, June 19, 65. Must. out June 26, '65, Mustered out June 26, '65. Elkins, Wm. G. 2d I 57th Ms. Mar. 23, '64. Apr. 15, '64. Discharged Dec. 14, '64. Elkins, David A. D 6th Vt. Dec. 22, '63. Dec. 22, '63. Mustered out June 26, '65. Elkins, Henry H. " D 13th N.H.Aug. 12, '63.
Discharged May 15, '65.
B
Turner, Charles W.
Bailey, George E.
C
Jones, George W.
" April 13, '63. Must. out Aug. 5, '63, corp. Dis. June 14,'65, for wounds rec'd Sept. 19, '64, at Winchester, Va., corp .* Must. out Aug. 25, '65, corp.
Dwydd, Truman
* The wound was from a musket shot which passed from side to side, through his body.
Elkins, Matthew W.
Mason, Ambros A.
Scribner, William
·
TROY.
341
Names. Rank. Co. Reg. Date of enlist. Date of muster. Remarks. Elkins, Thomas W.Priv.E2R.U.S.s.s.Dec. 26, '63. Dec. 29, '63. Trans. from 2d reg. U. S. S.
S., to Co/G, 4th Vt. reg. must. out, June 24, '65.
Wheeler, Chester C. D 6th Vt.Dec. 18, '63. Dec. 30, '63. Must. out July 17,'65.
West, Henry G.
Dec. 9, '63. Dec. 25, '63. Must. out June 26,'65.
Leach, Nelson J. "E2R.U.S.s.s.Dec. 18, '63. Dec. 29, '63. Died May 14, '64, of wounds rec. in act. May 6, '64.
Leach, Lawrence W. “ K 17th Sept 12, '64. Sept. 22, '64. Must.out July 25, '65.
Gibson, J. C.
"
Deserted June 13, '65.
Pettengill, Harry B. D 6th Sept. 4, '61. Oct. 15, '61. Pro. corp. May 1,'62,do. sg't;
re-en. Dec. 16, '63, pro. to 2d lt. Co. C, Nov. 12, '64, pro. 1st l't Apr. 22, '65, must. out July 6,'65
Hardy, George " "13 N.H.Aug. 12, '62. Aug. 12, '62. Died of typhoid fever at Fal-
Gallup, C. Lovel
" 6th Vt. Aug. 21, '63. Aug, 21, '63. Enlisted as sub., must, out June 26, '65.
Sartwell, George E.
Dec. 22, '63. Dec. 22, '63. Discharged May 31, '65. =
K'd in battle of Wilderness May 5, '64.
Skinner, Hayden B.
=
Dec. 25, '63. Discharged Sept. 5, '64.
Estelle, Vercel L.
E 9th Dec. 14, '63. Jan. 2, '64.
Must. out with his reg. '65.
Cronk, Chauncey
Dec. 26, '63. Dec. 29, '63.
Huntley, Stephen S. D 6th Dec. 22, '63. Dec. 22, '63. w'nded in right arm at Wil- derness by a rebel shot, rendering amputation necessary May 5, '64; dıs. Aug. 25,'64.
French, Daniel B.
Jan. 1, '64. Jan. 1, '64.
Died Aug. 4, '64.
Gardner, Oscar
Dec. 30, '63. Dec. 30, '63. Mustered out June 26, '65.
Upton, John
Dec. 21, '63. Jan. 2, '64.
Trans. to vet. res. corps, Dec. 20, '64, dis. June 22,'65.
Sargent, Roger
" Dec. 22, '63. Dec. 22, '63. Trans. to V.R. C. Mar.16,'64.
Whitcomb, Luke "13N.H.Nov. 30, '61. Nov. 30, '61. Died at Arlington Heights Nov. 20, 62. Dorman, Julius S. Q.m.s'gt L11Vt.June 6, '63. Oct. 7, '63. Must. out as 2d l't Co. G June 24, '65.
Clough, George E. Priv. G 3d Dec. 18, '63. Dec. 30, '63. Trans, to Co. I July 25, '64 ;
pro. to corp., must. out July 11, '65.
Clough, Horace E.
I Dec. 9, '63.
Dec. 24, '63. Trans to V.R.C. Dec. 20,'64.
Adams, Hoalsey H.
F 12 Me. Nov. 30, '61. Nov. 30, '61. Discharged Dec. 7, '64.
Wing, Stephen B.
= E9th Vt.Jan. 5, '64.
Jan. 5, '64. Died Oct. 27, '64.
Gardner, Wm. H.
Jan. 2, '64.
Jan. 2, '64. Trans. to Co. B June 13, '64, deserted Mar. 5, '65.
Sargent. Horace Scott, Nathan W.
=
D 6th Dec. 22. '63. Dec. 22, '63.
Deserted Nov. 22, '64.
Skinner, Levi W.
Dec. 26, '61.
Feb. 18, '62. Re-en. Jan. 5, 64, deserted May 18, '64. Re-en. Jan. 5, '64, must. out June 28, '65
St. Johns, Henry Burns, Joseph
G
7th Feb. 3, '62.
Feb. 12'62. Re-en. Feb. 22, '64.
Drew, Joseph
Farman, Willard
6th
Mason, Russell Z.
D 4th
-
Powers, Ira
F 3d
Sherlow, Ira
D
=
Sisco, Edmund R.
H 4th
Brown, Byron D.
E 9th
June 25, '62. July 9, '62. Pro. to corp. Feb. 11, '65, must. out June 13, '65.
C 8th
Dec. 6, '61.
H 4th July 30, '63. July 18,'62.
Trans to Co. E Feb 25, '65, dis.Mar.10,'65 ; drafted. Drafted; pro. to corp. Co. E Feb. 25, '65, must. out July 13, '65. Drafted. Tr.Co.E Oct.16,'64 ; must. out June 26, '65. Drafted.Must.out July 13,'65. Drafted. Dis. Jan. 7, '64. Drafted. Trans. to Go.E July 25, '64, dis. Jan. 13, '65. Drafted. Must. out of V. R. C. Aug. 9, '65.
Tilden, Henry
mouth Va., Feb. 7, '63.
342
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Names.
Lawrence, Joseph
Rank. Co. Reg. Date of enlist. Date of muster. Priv. E 9th June 12, '62. July 9, '62.
Remarks.
Died July 26, '62, (fell from cars while in motion and was killed.)
Fuller, Dana
Dec. 18, '63. Dec. 30, '63. Mustered out with reg. '65.
Colburn, Almon J.
B
3d
June 1, '61. July 16, '61. Died Feb. 18, '64.
Rollins, William H.
"
9th
Dec. 31, '63. Dec. 31, '63. Mustered out July 7, '65.
Brockway, Martin
July 23, '61. July 28, '61. Music., re-en. Dec. 21, '63, must. out July 28, '65.
Burbank, Jerome M.
C
E 9th
Feb. 28, '65. Feb. 28, '65. Must. out with reg .; dis. Oct.
Brown, William H.
K
3d
Jan. 2, '64. Jan. 2, '64.
Franklin, Elisha D.
D
9th
Sept. 9, '64. Sept. 9, '64.
Rockwell, Wm. T.
E
Mar. 13, '65. Mar. 13, '65.
Lathe, Robert R.
"
=
June 7, '62. July 9, '62.
Coburn, George A.
F
Jan. 5, '64. Jan. 5, '64.
Button, W. H.
Sergt. A 5th
Sept. 5, '61. Sept. 16, '61. K'd Bank's Ford May 4, '63.
Smith, Henry L.
Priv. C
8th
Dec. 18, 61. Feb. 18, '62. Pro. corp .; pro. serg't Apr.
24, '64; must. out June 22, '64.
Kiser, Hiram S.
Dec. 24, '61.
Died.
Hunt, Marcellus
D 3d
Apr. 22, '61. July 16, '61. Pro. corp .; re-en. Dec. 21, '63 ; pro. serg't Co. D, July 25, '64 ; dis. May 16, '65.
Hatch, Henry
Terrill, Jesse G.
G
7th Dec. 9, '63. Dec. 9, '63.
Died at Brattleb'o, Feb. 6,'63. Discharged Jan. 15, '63.
Mott, Langdon
E 9th June 23, '62. July 9, '62.
Burgess, Seth
B Aug. 17, '64. Aug. 17, '64. Proper name Seth B. Wing; must. out Dec. 1, '65.
Kelsey, Morrill
K Sept. 1, '64. Sept. 1, '64. Discharged July 9, '65.
Caples, Thomas
F
Aug. 18, '64. Aug. 18, '64. Died Nov. 1, '64.
Buck, William
K = Jan. 5, '64. Jan. 5, '64.
Died Feb. 4, '65.
Sherlow, Miles
" Aug. 18, '64. Aug. 18, '64. Mustered out June 13, '65. " 2. N. Y.Cav. K 6th Vt.Mar. 4, 65. Mar. 4, '65. Must. out June 26, '65.
June 28, '65.
Kenney, George M.
K 17th Apr. 10, '65. Apr. 10, '65.
July 14, '65.
Clifford, F. E. J. Kizer, John E. Higgins, Milo
H 15th Sept. 18, '62. Oct. 22, '62.
Aug. 5, '63.
Feb. 18, '65. Feb. 18, '65.
June 13, '65, as
an unassigned recruit.
Pratt, John
K 17th Apr. 10, '65. Apr. 10, '65. Must. out July 14, '65.
House, Charles D.
B 8th Jan. 6, '62. Feb. 12, '62.
June 22, '64.
Gale, Allen A.
C 3d Aug. 20, '63. Aug. 20, '63. Sub .; pro. corp .; pro. serg't;
Ordway, Lewis
54th Ms.
must. out July 11, '65. Must. out with Reg; died at Troy Dec. 14, '69. Must. out with Reg.
Wilson, Silas
39th Ms.
Rollins, Horace
I 6th Vt. Dec. 21, '63. Dec. 30, '63. of V. R. C. July 10, '65.
NAMES OF THOSE DRAFTED AND WHO PAID COMMUTATIONS ;- ($300.00)
Geo. E. Bradley, William Buggy, Robert B. Chandler, (money refunded by goverment by reason of disability. Geo. A. Cutting, F. C. Davis, William Donagan, Charles C. Manuel, Ira F. Manuel, Jerry Powers, Holland Temple, W. D. Wilson, Luther S. Woodworth.
WESTFIELD. BY DON A. WINSLOW.
3d
Mar. 13. 65. Mar. 13, '65. Mustered out July 11, '65.
Brown, Stillman A.
24, '65. Drum'r; must.out July 11,'65 Must. out Dec. 1, '65. "
Must. out June 13, '65. Pro. corp. Aug., '64, serg't Apr. 27, '65 ; must. out with Reg.
Huse, Timothy Edwards Austin Phipps, Josephus
E 8th Feb. 18, '65. Feb. 18, '65.
G 5th Jan. 5, '64. Jan. 5, '64.
June 29, '65.
Westfield is situated near the N. W. part of the County of Orleans, bounded, N. by Jay, E. by Troy, S. by Lowell and W. by Mont- gomery. It was laid out 6 miles square and
contains 23,040 acres. It lies in lat. 44°, 52' N., 4° 30' E. from Washington. The Missis- quoi river flows through the eastern part, forming fertile and beautiful meadows nearly the entire length of the town. The western part rises higher, running up the slope of the
343
WESTFIELD.
main chain of the Green Mountains between Westfield and Montgomery. The mountains here rise to a considerable height. Jay Peak, whose summit is in the north-western angle of the town, reaches an altitude of 4018 feet above the ocean. From the summit of this inountain is one of the most splendid views in the country. A large portion of northern Vermont, Canada, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Adirondacks in New York, Lakes Champlain and Memphremagog, with villages, rivers and mountain chains innumerable, are spread before the observer. In the summer of 1862, the citizens of the town turned out and cut a bridle-path nearly to the top of the Peak. A joint-stock com- many, also, has been formed in Troy for the purpose of erecting a suitable house of enter- tainment on the mountain. This mountain is destined to become one of the favorite places of resort for the lovers of the grand and beautiful in nature. " Hazen's Notch," in the S. W. corner of the town, is quite a curiosity. This is a gap in a mountain range, of several hundred feet in depth, nearly perpendicular, affording a passage for a road. During the Revolutionary war a military road was cut through here, by Gen. Hazen, leading from Peacham to Lake Champlain.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Westfield was granted in 1780, to Daniel Owen " and associates." All, or nearly all, of the grantees resided in the state of Rhode Island ; but one, Thomas Burlingame, ever lived in town, and he but a few months. The town was surveyed by Gen. James White- low of Ryegate, in 1780. It seems that no attempt was made to settle the town for nearly 20 years after the charter was granted. The charter is dated May 15, 1780, and is signed by Gov. Chittenden, at Arlington, Bennington County. The following is a copy of the orig- inal charter :
"The Govenor, Council and General assem- bly of representatives of the Freemen of Ver- mont. To all people to whom these presents shall come. "Greeting. Know ye that whereas it has been represented to us by our worthy friend Daniel Owen and company. That there is a tract of vacant Land which hath not been heretofore granted which they pray may be granted to them. We have therefore tho't fit, for the due encourage- ment of settling a new Plantation within this State, and other valuable considerations us hereunto moving, and do by these presence in the name and by the authority of the free- men of the State of Vermont give and grant
unto the said Daniel Owen and company hereafter named viz.
Thomas Owen, the third, Daniel Owen, Sen., James Cowen, Jeremiah Sanders, Anto- ny Waterman, William Waterman, Jesse Fos- ter, Amos Horton, Daniel Warner, Noah Mathewson, Abraham Mathewson, Asaph Wilder, Daniel Arnold, Jun., David Richman, Caleb Arnold, Sen., Darius Smith, Simon Smith, Thomas Wood, Thomas Wood, Jun., Humphrey Wood, Wm. Wood, John Wells, Joseph Wells, Stephen Smith, Stephen Smith, Jun., Thomas Smith, Stephen Kelly, Samuel Clark, Simon Sweet, Henry Sherburne, Jona- than Smith, William Mathewson, Jesse Ide, Elisha Brown, Wm, Wade, Hon. Wm. West, Esq Caleb Arnold, Thomas Burlingam, John Sprague, Benjamin Wilkinson, Thomas Owen, Daniel Moory, Solomon Owen, Jun., William Colgrove, William Barton, Amherst Kimball, Wm. Roads. Stephen Kimball, David Dar- ling, John Kimball, Timothy Willmish, Reu- ben Mason, Corner Smith, Asa Kimball, Jun. Jesse Brown, Asa Kimball, Sen., Jeremiah Smith, Thomas Chittenden, Esq. and Sprague Porter, together with five sixty- fifths parts of said township, to be appropriated to public uses as follows, viz. One share for the use of a seminary or college within this State. One share for the first settled minister of the Gos- pel, to be disposed of for that purpose as the town shall direct. One share for the county Grammar schools throughout the State. One share for the support of the ministry in said town, and one share for the use or support of a school or schools in said town. The follow- ing tract or parcel of land lying and being in this State described and bounded as fol- lows, viz. (here follow the boundaries,) and that the same be and hereby is incorporated into a township by the name of Westfield, and the inhabitants that do or shall inhabit said township are declared to be infranchised and intitled to all the priveleges and immunities that other towns within this State do by law exercise and enjoy. To have and to hold the said granted and described tract of land as above expressed with all the priveleges and appurtenances to them and their respective heirs and assigns forever upon the following conditions and reservations, viz. Imprimis That each proprietor of the township of West- field aforesaid, his heirs and assigns shall plant and cultivate five acres of land, and build a house at least 18 feet square on the floor within the term of four years after the circumstances of the present war will admit of settlement with safety, on penalty of the forfeiture of his right or share of the land. Secundo, That all pine and oak timber suita- ble for a Navy, be reserved for the use and benefit of the Freemen of this State. In tes- timony whereof we have caused the seal of this State to be affixed at Arlington, in the county of Bennington, this 15th day of May, 1780, and the 4th year of the independence of this, and the United States of America. Thomas Chittenden, Joseph Fay, Secretary."
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
It appears that not much attention was paid to either of the conditions of the char- ter, for it was at least 14 years after the Rev- olutionary war, before any settlement was attempted. No attention was ever paid ei- ther to the second condition, as no reserva- tion was made of the pine or oak timber.
The first white man who ever settled in West- field was Mr. JESSE OLDS. In the year 1798 he left the State of Massachusetts, (what town I have not been able to learn) entered the un- broken wilderness, and began a clearing on what is now known as the "Morse place," on the West Hill. For nearly a year this family lived there, with not another human being nearer than North Troy, 12 miles distant .- Their nearest neighbor south was at Craftsbury, 20 miles distant.
The next year, 1799, William Hobbs, Antony Burgess and John Hartley, came to town with their families. Mr. Hobbs settled on what is now known as the " Bull place"-Mr. Burgess on what is called the " Brown place," and Mr. Hartley began on the "Lombard farm," on the North Hill. These four families constituted the population of Westfield for about two years.
Mr. Olds was a man of education and refine- ment. He had been a lawyer and a minister, but in consequence of some irregularities in life had left both professions, and retired to the wilds of northern Vermont. His character was good here-he was first representative to the General Assembly from Westfield, and in 1801 was elected assistant judge of Orleans county court. He left town about 1804, and, remov- ing to Craftsbury, died there soon after.
At a meeting of the freeliolders held at the house of Mr. Olds, March 29, 1802, the town of Westfield was organized. The following is a list of the first town officers : Jesse Olds, clerk, William Hobbs, Antony Burgess, War- am Mason, selectmen ; Wm. Hobbs, treasurer ; Wm. Hobbs, J. Olds, W. Mason, listers ; A. Burgess, constable ; Wm. Hobbs, grand juror ; J. Olds, A. Burgess, highway surveyors ; W. Mason, Wm. Hobbs, fence-viewers; A. Bur- gess, pound-keeper ; J. Olds, W. Mason, seal- ers of weights and measures ; Wm. Hobbs, A. Burgess, tything-men ; A. Burgess, J. Olds, haywards; Wm. Hobbs, W. Mason, A. Bur- gess, James Coburn, John Hartley, Samuel Walker, petit jurors.
At this happy period it will be seen that ev- ery citizen had at least one town office, and some of them four or five.
Of this list of the first settlers of Westfield only one, JAMES COBURN, has any descendants living in town. He was the father of Major Chester Coburn. James Coburn, in common with all the earliest settlers of this township, was a man of humble pecuniary means, yet filled well the office and trust confided to him, and his name, notwithstanding the early de- sertion of the settlement, lives with us. It seems that the first settlers were all poor, and coming into the wilderness without capital, ' and living so far from where the necessaries of life could be obtained, they became dis- couraged, and after a few years left town.
At this period, 1802, there was no grist-mill nearer than Craftsbury. Mr. Hobbs used to take a bushel of wheat on his back, and walk on snow-shoes to mill and back-making a dis- tance of 40 miles in two days. In the course of a year or two his boys grew up so that he fitted up a couple of moose-sleds, and, taking a bushel and a half each, they drew 3 bushels to mill. This was considered a great step towards the conveniences of civilized life.
Either in 1802 or '03-I am not certain which-the first saw-mill was built. Previous to this there was not a house in town that could boast of a board on it. The floors were made of logs, either split or hewn flat, and the roofs were covered with bark The walls were of logs, the fire-place occupying nearly the whole end of the house, was built of huge stones, and vas spacious enough to hold at least a half a cord of 4-foot wood.
A few of the proprietors of Westfield wishing to encourage the settlement of the infant town, made a grant of a tract of land to a Mr. Taft of Montague, Mass., on condition that he would build a saw-mill on the lot. The grant compris- ed all that tract of land lying between Silas Hill's and D. A. Winslow's, on the stage-road. The mill was built about 1803, 30 or 40 rods above the bridge, near D. F. Boynton's house. It was in operation but a short time, having been burned accidentally, apparently ; though the owner was strongly suspected of bringing about the "accident."
In the summer of 1803, Mr. David Barber moved into town, and settled on what is known as the Iddo Stebbins' place. He built a house 10 or 15 rods east of the present main road, near the bank of the Taft brook. Here his old- est child, Lucina, was born ; and I have rea- son to think she was the first child born in town. She is now the wife of the Rev. H. L. Gilman,
345
WESTFIELD.
recently of Glover. Mr. Barber lived for over half a century in town, and raised a large family of children. Dea. Lewis Barber of Glover is his oldest son. The old gentleman died about 1855.
About this time THOMAS BURLINGAME, one of the original proprietors, came to town, and began a clearing on the Missisquoi river, on the farm now owned by Christopher Bryant. He lived here but a short time.
In November, 1803, Mr. RODOLPHUS REED moved to town from Montague, Mass. In com- ing from Craftsbury they surmounted unusual difficulties. Mrs. Reed had an infant two weeks old, and a severe snow-storm had so blocked up the road over the mountain that they were three days in getting to Mr. Old's house. The first night they camped out on the mountain, with the snow 3 feet deep, with nothing to eat but salt mutton, and whisky to wash it down. The second day, after incredible labor, they only succeeded in reaching "Caldwell's shan- ty," in Lowell (then Kelleyvale), and camped there the second night. The third day, after some assistance from Westfield, they succeeded in reaching Mr. Olds' house. "Caldwell's shan- ty," by the way, came to be as celebrated in a year or two as any hotel in the State. Major Caldwell had been to Lowell and began a clear- ing a half mile east of where the village now stands. This " house" consisted of small logs, and poles on three sides-the fourth was open, and the top covered with bark. For several years this was the only "hotel" in the Valley Mr. Reed settled on the place where Oscar Goodrich now lives. A few years after he moved on to the place now owned by Luther Howe, where he lived till his death in 1841 .- He reared a large family of children. His wife died in 1867.
These families constituted the population of Westfield in 1803 & '04 with the addition of two or three unmarried men and a mulatto JAMES PROPHET, who lived with Mr. Olds. He is still remembered by many people in town as "Jim." A story used to be told that at the first freemen's meeting in town, there were but two white men here, Mr. Olds and Burgess, and both being anxious to represent the town, each voted for himself but "Jim" happening to live with Olds voted for him and he was triumphantly elected. The facts of history however dispel this pleasant story, as the old records show some six or eight woters at that time. Mr. Prophet lived here
-
for over 30 years and considering the color of his skin, enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people, in an eminent degree. He was a member of the Congregational church and, moving to Lowell, died in 1835.
In the Spring of 1804, the little colony of Westfield received a large accession,-Capt. Medad Hitchcock from Brimfield Mass. moved into town with his three sons, Thomas, Heber and Smith, and settled on the flats where the village of Westfield now is.
It will be noticed that previous to this, the first settlers pitched, with but one exception, on the highlands in the west part of the town.
In comparing the rich, fertile meadows that we see to-day in the eastern part of the town, with the hard stony soil on the hills, where the first settlers began, we are apt to think they made a serious mistake in beginning where they did; but the fact was the highlands were much lighter timbered than the low lands, easier cleared, and for the first year or two producing better crops. I have been informed that a large portion of that tract of land known as the "flat" was originally cov- ered in great part with elms, 3 or 4 feet in diameter. A poor man with nothing but his hands to begin with, would naturally go where he could prepare his ground for his wheat and potatoes with the least labor.
The arrival of Capt. Hitchcock and his sons gave new impulse to the town. They brought some property and soon cleared a large tract of land. They owned all that tract of land lying between Joshua Streeter's and Hollis Atwell's He built a log- house a little north of where Medad Hitchcock's house now stands. The next year, he built a large framed barn which is still standing,-the oldest frame in town-and has served for church, town hall, school-house, fort, and barn for nearly 70 years, and seems to be good for half a century longer. In the course of a year or two, Capt. Hitchcock erected a saw- mill. It stood a few rods above the starch- factory of Wm. H. Richardson. His son Thomas, about the same time, built a grist-mill, that stood a few rods below where the present saw-mill stands. These mills supplied a want that had long been severely felt. The settlers had been obliged to carry all their grain, either to Craftsbury or Richford, and fre- quently on their backs, or it was pounded in large mortars.
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Captain Hitchcock was born in Brimfield Mass. He seems to have been a man of some influence and had some property. His arriv- al in Westfield gave new impulse to the pros- perity of the little town. His children all, sooner or later, followed him-most of whom were grown up and married, Situated near the center of the habitable part of the town, his house became a sort of a public house and he seems to have largely enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his neighbors. Herepresent- ed the town for several years and held various other offices of trust and responsibility. He died in 1820, leaving three sons and five daughters.
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