USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 58
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Hosea Sprague came from Brimfield, in 1804, and settled where David Johnson now lives. He was a soldier of the Revolution and fought in many of the principal battles of that war. He subsequently removed to Lowell where he died about 1840 .- The next year, 1805, Jacob Stebbins, a son-in-law of Capt. Hitchcock came to town and settled on the farm where Clark Hitchcock now lives. He raised a large family of children most of whom are still living in town. He died about 1852, in Sun- derland Mass. Settlers now began to come in more rapidly.
DAVID HITCHCOCK commenced on the place where his son, Newton, now lives, in 1806, he died in a short time, leaving two sons,. Newton and Horatio. The same year,
AMASA WINSLOW.
CAPT. JAIRUS STEBBINS
came from Monson Mass. in 1806, and settled on the place where Mr. Hartwell now lives. Capt. Stebbins was a man of great energy and was just the man to overcome inconveniences and privations of pioneer life. By a course of industry and ecomomy, he succeeded in accumulating considerable property while the country was comparatively new. In 1809, he built a distillery which for several years supplied the town with the then necessary article of potato-whisky. Capt. Stebbins held offices of trust in town for several years and about 1840, was elected assistant judge of the County. He died in 1865.
MR. THOMAS STOUGHTON
moved also, in 1806, from Weathersfield, Vt., and settled on the "Braley place." He was a man of some property and influence in town. He was the first militia captain in town and represented the town in the Legis- lature. He emigrated to the West several years ago and died soon after. On the 4th of July, 1806, it was determined to have a genuine "celebration." The festivities were held in Capt. Hitchcock's barn. Mr. Asa Hitch- cock was orator and Amasa Winslow toast- master. A platoon of twelve soldiers was improvised for the occasion and, after the oration, and between each toast their vollies awakened the echoes among our hills for the first time in honor of our independence. I have been informed by an old gentleman who was present, that in point of talent and inter- est he had rarely seen that celebration ex- celled.
In the year 1806, the main road from West- field to Lowell was laid out very near where the present stage road runs: This was a great convenience to the inhabitants, as previous to this the only road leading to Craftsbury ran over the West hill. The old road crossed the mill-brook near Henry Miller's house and went directly to "Bull place" then turned south to near where Nathaniel Hoyt lives, thence on to a little to the right of John Brown's house and down into Lowell, com- ing out, if I have been rightly informed, near the old "Woods' place." A more tedious, uncomfortable route, could not have been discovered.
· came from Amherst Mass. and built a house on the farm now owned by Edwin Wright. He was a goldsmith by trade and, in connec- tion with his farming, made and sold clocks, silver spoons, gold beads, rings, brass and sil- ver hair combs &c. He returned to Massachu- setts in 1812, and died at Colerain in 1822. The same year, 1806, his father, Dr. Shubael Winslow, and his brother, Luther, settled on the place recently owned by Jacob Stebbins. Dr. Winslow was the first physician in town, but he never practiced much here,-his age preventing his assuming the labor and care attendant on that profession. He formerly had a flourishing practice in Massachusetts. He was a gentleman of the old school, liber- ally educated, and used to trace his ancestry back to old Gov. Winslow of Plymouth col- The early settlers of the town, amid all their hardships and privations, did not neglect the education of their children. It seems ony. He always wore the old continental costume-wig, breeches, long stockings and huge shoe buckles. He died in a fit in 1821. | that as early as 1806, there were two school-
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houses in town ; not the comfortable structures we see to-day in our country, but log-houses, covered either with bark or rough boards. The first school-house was built on the West hill, I think, on Mr. Olds' place-since known as the Morse place. The first teacher was Sally Hobbs. This, I think, was in 1804-'05. The next school-house was built about 1806, on the flat and about 6 or 8 rods east of where the present academy stands. Mrs. Thomas Hitch- cock, a daughter of Dr. Winslow, was the first teacher.
In December 1807, a Mr. Howard, in walk- ing from Craftsbury to Westfield, became exhausted and froze, almost in sight of Mr. Sprague's house. Mr. Sprague heard some one shouting in the night, but strangely enough, paid no attention to it. Mr. Howard lay in the road all through a bitter cold win- ter night. Early the next morning, Mr. Reed was going along with his ox team and found him in the road but just alive. He took him on his sled and went back to Sprague's house. Dr. Winslow was sent for but the man died in a short time after he was brought into the house. This happened near the line between D. F. Boynton and O. Brown. There was formerly a road running up to Mr. Brown's but it is now discontinued. A Mr. Eaton, the same winter, froze both his feet so that he became a cripple for life.
Owing to the state of the road and want of suitable carriages many of the early set- tlers suffered hardships that would now be thought intolerable. Mr Read purchased a common sized plough in Craftsbury, and brought it home on his back. This seems in- credible, but I am informed on good au- thority that it is an actual fact.
ilized life were secured and enjoyed. In 1810 the census reported 149 inhabitants in town.
I here append a list of the town officers for 1810 : The town meeting was holden in Capt. Hichcock's house, Mar. 12, 1810; moderator, Asa Hitchcock; clerk, Thomas Hitchcock ; selectmen, William Hobbs, Amasa Winslow and Asa Hitchcock ; treasurer, Thomas Hitch- cock ; constable, Caleb Hitchcock ; listers, Lu- ther Winslow, Asa Hitchcock and Daniel Hitchcock ; grand juror, William Hobbs; highway surveyors, East district, Luther Winslow; West district, Wm. Hobbs ; fence viewers, Jacob Stebbins, Elisha Hitchcock, Antony Burgess ; for pound-keeper, Hosea Sprague ; sealer of leather, Hosea Sprague ; tything-man, Joseph Stoughton ; haywards, Asa Hitchcock, Amasa Winslow ; "Voted that the log-barn of Caleb Hitchcock be considered as a pound the ensuing year." " Voted to raise $40 for the use of schools, $30 to be ex- pended for a summer school and $10 for a winter school." "Voted, to raise $5 for con- tingent expenses."
There is no record of any highway tax being raised. Medad Hitchcock was town repre- sentative that year.
The prosperity of Westfield was serious- ly checked-as also was that of the adjoining towns-by the war of 1812. Living so near the frontier of Canada, the people did not es- cape the general feeling of aların and insecu- rity that pervaded a great portion of North- ern Vermont on commencement of hostilities between this country and Great Britian, in 1812. It was feared that the Indians of Cana- da might be induced to make an invasion of the defenceless towns in this Valley. Visions of hordes of painted savages spreading death and devastation through the land, haunted the minds of the settlers. The old legends of Indian massacre, burnt towns, captivity and death were revived and lost none of their horrors by the possibility of the same tragedies being enacted on the banks of the Missisquoi. Many of the settlers prepared to leave.
The period between the years 1806 and 1812, appears to have been prosperous and flourishing to the little settlement. Men with industrious habits and some capital settled here, among whom may be mentioned James Brown, Caleb Hitchcock, Elisha Hitchcock, and Roswell Lombard and some others. The worst difficulties incident to life in the wild- It appears that a sort of a committee of safety was appointed whose duty it was to ascertain the real state of the case, and to take such measures as should seem neccessary for safety if any real danger existed. The com- mittee were Thomas Stoughton, Amasa Win- slow and Thomas Hitchcock. These men were all Freemasons. Early in May of this erness seemed by the sturdy industry and fortitude of the inhabitants to have been over- come. The forests were rapidly disappearing before strong arms and resolute hearts ; good and comfortable buildings were erected in place of the rude cabins of an earlier period. Property was rapidly increasing in value and the comforts and some of the luxuries of civ-I year, they attended a lodge meeting over the
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line in Potton, and while there received some information, either through their brother Masons or some other source, that induced them to hasten home and make some prep. aration for their departure. As a necessary sequence, the people, seeing their committee so agitated, became somewhat alarmed, and the uneasiness extended throughout the whole valley. What the precise nature of the information was, the committee could not or would not divulge; but enough was gath- ered to make it apprehended that on a certain night in June an invasion by the Indians would take place. On account of these vague and undefinable rumors, many of the people seemed to let their discretion get the better of their valor, for long before the eventful night in June, they were on their way south- ward. Some went back to Massachusetts, or other places where they came from, and some stopped at Craftsbury where they spent the summer awaiting the course events would take. The few who remained began to pre- pare themselves for any emergency that might arise and immediately set about forti- fying Capt. Hitchcock's barn A trench 3 or 4 feet deep was dug around it and logs 12 or 15 feet high were set up in it close together. Loop-holes for musketry and other prepar- ations for a siege were made with great spirit and courage. I believe the work never was quite finished, the people probably gaining courage as the work went on, and the awful night in June passed quietly away. We may well believe however the summer months of 1812 passed heavily away. Several farms were deserted, many of the inhabitants had left, and an undefinable anxiety for the fu- ture prosperity of the town pervaded all hearts. Rumors of war and fighting both at home and in Europe filled the country. This was the year of Napoleon's campaign in Rus- sia, which terminated so disastrously to the arms of France. On Sunday Sept. 11, 1814, the people living near the river, distinctly heard the guns at Plattsburg, which was then raging, the sound following the water. This may seem incredible, but there are now per sons living in town, who heard it. The dis- tance the sound would have to travel by the water from Westfield to Plattsburgh is nearly or quite 100 miles.
Gradually some of the people who left town in the Spring, began to return and in the fall many had come back to their farms again.It
Quite a number, however, never returned. In September a military company was organ- ized, the first one ever organized in town. Major Cornell of Derby, assisted by Capt. Samuel Hovey of Troy, presided over the or- ganization ; Thomas Stoughton was elected captain, Jairus Stebbins ensign, and Thomas Hitchcock orderly sergeant. Every able- bodied man in town joined the company, but the number was so small that but two com- missioned officers were appointed. This or- ganization, together with a company of Gov- ernment soldiers stationed at North Troy, about this time tended greatly to re-assure the people and quiet their alarm.
Though the people of Westfield were never molested by the enemy, yet the effects of the war upon the community were disastrous. Settlers no longer came in at the rate they formerly did. Property depreciated in value and a general stagnation seemed to settle down upon the business and prosperity of the little town. Many persons engaged in the unlawful and demoralizing business of smuggling across the line from Canada. Not- withstanding the stringent laws against this practice, the immense profits more than coun- terbalanced the fear of detection. Many ex- citing stories are recited of the adventures, escapes, pursuits and captures by the wrath- ful collectors fifty years ago.
On one occasion the militia of Westfield were all ordered out, armed and equipped to capture a gang of smugglers said to be at Low- ell with a drove of contraband cattle. This small but patriotic band started for Lowell, their imaginations no doubt filled with vis- ions of bloodshed, wounds and death. On arriving at the scene of action it was discov- ered that the gang of smugglers consisted of the other half of their company, their broth- ers, uncles and neighbors. I have never, seen an official account of the dead and wounded of the battle, but conclude it was not large.
The period for a few years subsequent to the war of 1812 embraces one of the darkest chapters in the history of Westfield. The war had closed it is true and with it had van- ished all the alarm and anxiety, but the re- turn of peace found a reduced population- property, especially real estate, depreciated in value, immigration checked, and a gene- ral stagnation seemed to have settled over the town. The consequences of the war how-
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ever were not the sole, nor the principal caus- es of this state of things. If we turn back to the year 1816, the period when the for- tunes of not only Westfield, but the whole Valley were the lowest and, contemplating its peculiar location, its distance from any mar- ket, the state of the roads leading out of it, the only wonder is that the people could con- trive to live here at all, with anything like comfort or contentment. There was no home market for anything a farmer could raise. If he managed to raise a little more wheat, rye, or pork than he needed for his own use, he might sell it to his less fortunate neighbor who paid for it in labor ; but he could get no money for anything he could raise.
Occasionally a thrifty farmer would have a yoke of oxen to sell, and then the only thing to be done was to drive them to Mont- real. There they brought cash, generally in silver dollars. People lived for the most part within themselves, that is, anything they could raise or manufacture they had-any thing else they went without. It was abso- lutely impossible to get any money except by some extra means. At this time there was no store nearer than Craftsbury Common; what little trading the people of Westfreld had to do was done there, over a high moun- tain and a horrible road. If a young couple were to be married, they went to Craftsbury. sometimes on horseback to buy their shovel and tongs, their andirons, plates, cups and saucers, knives and forks, and if they were thrifty and in good standing in society, the bride bought a calico "gown," Most of her clothing and bedding she had probably spun and woven with her own hands. Their table, chairs and spinning-wheel were made by the carpenter and joiner.
The only way by which money could be ob- tained at this period was in making salts, and this was a very slow and laborious process.
By this a strong active man could make 25 or 30 cents a day and board himself. He could take his salts to Montreal, where they brought him $3 in cash per 100, or he could take them to the stores in Craftsbury and ex- change them for goods, if he did not already owe the full amount, which was very often the case. If a farmer made a little more but- ter than he needed, he must take it out of the Valley to sell it.
James Brown filled two pails with butter and carried it on horseback to Danville
where hesold it for a shilling a pound. Eben- ezer Eaton, the publisher of the North Star, offered to take butter of his subscribers to pay for his paper and quite a number took it on that condition.
It is interesting and instructive to com- pare the years 1816 and 1866, while speaking of farmers' produce. In the former year there was probably little or no money receiv- ed for anything he could raise. In the lat- ter, just half a century later, there was of the article of potatoes alone about 15.000 bush- els sold at the factories. This at 30 cents a bushel amounted to $4,500 for potatoes alone. If we add to this the cattle, butter and cheese, wool, lambs, and oats-of the amount of which I can make no estimate-we may be- gin to realize the advantage of living near a market.
The absence of any market, however, was not the only reason of those dark and gloomy times, of fifty years ago. A series of cold, unproductive seasons about this time, increas- ed the difficulty of living. The corn crop in particular was cut off for several successive seasons, so that the people of this Valley were obliged to go long distances for their bread- stuffs. On the 16th of June a snow-storm covered the ground-precisely to what depth I am unable to say, as my authorities differ materially. One old gentleman tells me it snowed and blew all day so that the next morning the drifts in many places were as high as the fences, and that the leaves on the trees perished. Another aged man who was harrowing grain all day, says there was no wind, and what little snow did fall nearly went off before night. I shall not undertake to decide " when doctors disagree." One thing is certain, however, grain rose to an enormous price that year. Wheat, rye and corn all sold for about the same price, $3.00 to $3.50 per bushel. One man worked 6 days in haying for 2 bushels of rye. James Brown went to Kirby after a bushel of corn and would have got more if he could have found it for sale. Elisha Hitchcock went to Lowell and paid Capt. Curtis $5.00 for a bushel and a half of corn and Curtis required him to get it ground at his mill (Curtis') at that price.
Another source of inconvenience at this time was a want of wheeled carriages. Only two or three farmers in town had ox-carts. Capt. Hitchcock had one, so had Capt. Stebbins and Maj. Coburn. Nearly all the
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rest lid their farm work, drawing their grain, hay etc., on sleds. If I have been correctly informed, there was no one-horse wagon in town until about 1827, though there were several two-horse wagons previous to this. Traveling was mostly done on horseback.
In the year 1818, Jerre Hodgkins moved from Belvidere to Westfield and opened a small store. It stood 10 or 15 rods south of where Albert Miller's house now stands, and for a few years furnished goods to all that could afford to pay the prices then ruling the market. Cotton cloth and calico, sold for from 50 to 75 cents a yard, tea $1.25 per pound, ginger $1.00, and other articles in proportion. Mr. Hodgkins' store was a great convenience to the people, as previous to this their trading was all done at Craftsbury. He took salts in exchange for his goods, and manufactured them into pearlash. The price of salts per hundred, was $3.00. A la- borious man, as I have mentioned, could earn, making salts, about 25 or 30 cents a day. Three days' work would buy a yard of cotton cloth, or half a pound of tea. Mr. Hodg- kin's did not continue in trade but 2 or 3 years.
About 1820, Pliny Corban opened a store where Troy village now stands. At that time there was but one house there. That was owned by Oliver Chamberlain. It stood on the ground where G. W. Aikin's house now is. Mr. Corban built his store very near where Mr. Sumner's law-office now stands. He had formerly traded in Craftsbury, but had sold out there and came over to West- field, intending to open a store here-this be- ing the most central point in the Missisquoi Valley. Thomas Hitchcock, then owned all the land included in the village ; but at that time there was but one house there, the house where Henry Miller now lives. On account of its central position and its water-power, it was considered an excellent location for bus- iness purposes and trade. Mr. Corban at- tempted to buy a lot to build a store on. Had Mr. Hitchcock given him a building spot, it would have proved the best investment he ever made, as, in all probability, it might have been the nucleus of a flourishing business place. But, seemingly blind to his best inter- ests, he asked an exorbitant price for the land, and Mr. Corban, disgusted, went to Troy and Mr. Chamberlain gave him land for his store. A large and flourishing village has
been built up, which might have been in Westfield to day, if the thing had been judi- ciously managed forty-five years ago.
In 1839, a store was opened by O. Winslow, R. S. Page (now of Hydepark), and Smith Hitchcock. The store was an old hatter's shop, where Cyrus Corey had formerly made hats, and stood about 10 rods north of Aaron Hitchcock's house. Messrs. Winslow and Page went to Boston after their goods in a couple of two-horse lumber-wagons, carrying down a load of butter and bringing back their goods. They were gone three weeks.
About 1820, we may begin to discover the dawn of the real and permanent prosperi- ty of Westfield. It began to advance more rapidly in population and wealth-settlers began to come in, bringing more capital, real estate, the true basis of wealth, began to rise in value. More propitious seasons and bet- ter crops, with better markets, encouraged and rewarded the labors of the husbandman. Ac- cording to the census of 1820, the population was 225; in 1830, it was 353.
The people of this town were for nearly thirty years without a mail-route or a post- office. About 1830, I think, a mail route was established between Craftsbury and St. Al- bans. A more hideous road for a mail-route probably could not have been discovered in the State of Vermont. The road ran over the high mountain between Albany and Lowell and then over the mountain between Lowell and Montgomery, through Hazen's Notch. Bradley Sanborn was stage-driver. Soon after, a branch route was established between Lowell and North Troy. Ezra Johnson car- ried the mail twice a week, usually horse- back. A post-office was then established in Westfield, and Henry Richardson was first post-master. Previous to this, people went to Craftsbury for their mails.
Of the assistant judges of the Orleans County Court, Westfield has furnished three. Jesse Olds in 1801, Jairus Stebbins in 1840, and Henry Richardson in 1859 and 1860.
Three young men, natives of Westfield, have entered the ministry. Orville Winslow, Congregationalist, graduated at Dartmouth college, Alvin Coburn, Unitarian, at Prince- ton, N. J. and Harvey Hitchcock, Methodist, not a graduate.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1802 To 1868, of the town in 1802 till the present time. Those who have died are indicated by a *.
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1802-'03, Jesse Olds* ; 1804-'05, Anthony Burgess *; 1806, Asa Hitchcock *; 1807-'10, Medad Hitchcock *; 1811, Asa Hitchcock *; 1812, Thomas Stoughton *; 1813, Walter Stone *; 1814-'16, Medad Hitchcock *; 1817, Walter Stone *; 1818, James Brown; 1819, Jairus Stebbins* ; 1820, James Brown ; 1821 '24, Jairus Stebbins *; 1825, Thomas Hitch- cock ; 1826-'28, Jairus Stebbins *; 1829-'31, Silas Lamb *; 1832, Guy Stoughton ; 1833- '37, Chester Coburn *; 1838-'39, Jere. Hodg- kins *; 1840-'41, N. H. Downs *; 1842-'43, Jere. Hodgkins *; 1844-'45, Arad Hitch- cock *; 1846-'47, Jere. Hodgkins *; 1848, Geo. Stoughton; 1849-'50, David F. Boyn- ton ; 1851-'52, Chester Coburn *; 1853, New- ton Hitchcock ; 1854-'55, Moses Pattee; 1856-'57, Carnot Inaley ; 1858-'59, Henry Richardson ; 1860-'61, A. C. Hitchcock ; 1862-'63, Albert S. Miller ; 1864-'65, D. H. Buck ; 1866, not represented ; 1867-'68, N. Hoyt.
CONGREGATIONALIST.
It does not appear that much attention was paid by the early settlers of Westfield to the public worship of God, as 20 years elaps- ed before any attempt was made at church organization. None of the early settlers, with one or two exceptions, were professors of re- ligion, and busied in clearing the wilderness and providing for their families a comfortable maintenance, it will not be thought strange if their spiritual needs were neglected. It is not known that any religious meetings of any kind had been holden in town previous to the year 1811. About this time meetings began to be held at times in barns, school-houses and private residences. The people would meet on the Sabbath and Mr. Eaton, happen- ing to possess an old volume of sermons, would read one while Mr. Bethuel Stebbins, Capt. Jairus Stebbin's father, would make a prayer.
It seems that about this time some of the ministers in the other part of the county, be- ing desirous of sowing a little of the good seed in this part of the moral vineyard, occa- sionally preached a Sabbath or two here.
The first regular Congregationalist clergy- man who ever preached a sermon in West- field, was a Mr. Farrar, who preached at this time in the town of Eden. Where he came from, or where he went to from there, I am unable to say. This was about 1812, or '13.
Mr. Bowen, Methodist minister from Poton,
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