USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 59
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occasionally preached here. In the year 1818, the Rev. Levi Parsons, afterward mission- ary to Palestine, came to Westfield and com- menced holding a series of meetings and suc- ceeded in awakening a deep religious feeling which resulted in the formation of a Congrega- tional church. On Sunday, April 19, 1818, the church was regularly organized by Mr. Par- sons, the services being performed in Capt. Stebbins' house.
The following named persons assented to the Articles of Faith and the covenant viz. Elisha Hitchcock and his wife, Editha ; Joseph Hitchcock and his wife, Betsey ; Shu- bel Winslow and his wife, Azubah; Arunah Fuller, Roswell Lombard, Mary Stebbins and Miriam Stebbins-ten in all.
Joseph Hitchcock was the first deacon. Shortly after this, Mr. Parsons sailed for Pal- estine, where he labored as missionary for 5 or 6 years, and died at Alexandria, Egypt, in 1824.
The next year, 1819, the Rev. James Par- ker commenced preaching here and at Troy. He came, I believe, from Berkshire. He la- bored here till 1825, when he died in Troy.
In 1826, Mr. Silas Lamb, also from Berk- shire, came to Westfield and commenced preaching. Being a man of pleasing address, he made a favorable impression, which result- ed in his receiving a call to become the pas- tor over the church. His installation was the first one in the Missisquoi Valley, and I have been at some pains to secure the records, but they are extremely meager in regard to the particulars. The exercises were holden in Elisha Hitchcock's barn (now standing on the north part of the Buck farm) June 22, 1826. The churches in Berkshire, Montgom- ery, Berlin, Morristown, Hardwick, Crafts- bury, Barton and Coventry were invited, but the records give no account of the proceed- ings, and I am unable to state what ministers or delegates were present. I believe, how- ever, that at that period, the Rev. Phineas Bailey preached in Berkshire, " Father Ho- bert" in Berlin, Mr. Chapin in Craftsbury and Mr. Watson in Coventry. Affairs, how- ever, did not flow as smoothly as was hoped for. There began to be ill-feeling between Mr. Lamb and his people, the precise nature of which I am unable to state. Probably the people discovered that their pastor had his infirmities as all men have, and very likely the pastor discovered some of the " old man
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Adam" in his church. The result was, an- other council was called in 1829, and he was dismissed. He moved to Lowell and preach- ed a few years, fell into bad habits, was de- posed from the ministry, and moved to the State of New York, where he died in a few years after.
About this time a meeting-house was built by the efforts of Dea. Luther Page and a few others, and for many years, this was the only house of worship in the Valley. It stood near where Albert Miller's house now is.
The inside of the church at the present day would be deemed a wonder in architecture. Two boxes fixed up 8 or 10 feet from the floor in opposite corners of the house, were the " singers seats" the men singers in one, and the women singers in the other. Between them was the pulpit several feet lower, so that between the men and women singers there was a "great gulf fixed," which you " could by no means pass." In those days the choir was not made up of boys and young ladies scarcely old enough to sit away from their mothers, but on the men's side sat the deacons, the elders and the solid men of the church, while on the other side, the good old matrons and mothers in Israel. Here, for years was sung St. Martin's, China, Calvary, and Plymouth ; and I remember with what delight I used to listen to those solid old tunes. Since those days it has been my for- tune to listen to the immortal productions of Handel, Hayden and Rossini, rendered by the best artists in America, but I never have ex- perienced more pleasure than when a little lad I heard half a dozen old men and women sing in our old church.
Here too, as from a watch-tower, could be seen all the roguish boys in the church, and many a time has the writer, in the midst of some boyish prank, quailed under the stern frown of the awful deacon.
But the Holy Spirit has worked here, as well as in more costly edifices. In 1831, there was a great revival and large acces- sions were made to the church ; also anoth- er in 1833, though not so extensive. A con- stant emigration to the West and other local- ities has operated to keep the church small and feeble. In 1848, the old meeting-house was taken down and the materials built into a new one in the village. It was dedicated Jan. 10, 1849, the Rev. C. W. Piper preach- ing the dedication sermon.
The church and society are now in compar- atively flourishing circumstances. The num- ber of church members at present is about sixty. Below I append a list of the ministers of the church since its organization, viz. Levi Parsons, missionary, 1818; James Parker, 1819-'25; Silas Lamb, 1826-'29; Wm. E. Holmes, 1831-'33; Jona. Sampson, 1833 -- '36; Reuben Mason, 1837-'42; Jas. D. Hills, 1843-'51; C. W. Piper, 1851-'54; Nathan Ward, 1854-'59; James P. Lane, 1860 ; Geo. S. Biscoe, 1861; Geo. A. Beckwith, 1861; Charles Scott, 1862 ; A. A. Smith, 1863-'67; John A. Farrar, 1867 ; Daniel Goodhue, 1868.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
was formed in 1830. It was organized by the Rev. Mr. Richmond, and at first consisted of 7 members, viz. Simpson Miller, and wife, Samuel Edwards and wife, Joseph Ward, Hannah Ward, and Mrs. Simpson.
During the revivals of 1831-'33, acces- sions were made to the church, but latterly emigration and other causes have somewhat reduced the church, there being at present, I believe, but 5 male members. The Rev. Thos. Mackie is their present minister.
MILITARY.
At the breaking out of the late rebellion, Westfield was not found behind other por- tions of our country in patriotism and pub- lic spirit. Volunteering was encouraged, and liberal bounties were raised to reward those of her sons who were willing to uphold the honor of our flag upon the battle-field. And in the privations of camp life, the labors and suffering of the active campaign, or amidst the horrors of the battle field, Westfield was honorably represented. Several of our young men have fought and bled on the immortal fields of Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancel- lorsville, Gettysburg, and some other fields of less renown. I give a list of volunteers, and drafted men who served in the army from this town. Those who died of disease are marked with a *. Those who were killed in battle, or died of wounds are designated thus, t.
2d Regiment, John Martin ; 3rd, Henry A. Hitchcockt ; Peter Martin, Norman Morey, Elisha Franklin; 4th, James S. Rydert ; 5th, James Brownt, John Kelly, Ammon S. Ma- gee, Enos W. Thurber *; 6th, Asa J. Miller, William Ramsdell, Charles Santon* ; 8th, David M. Georget, (enlisted from Troy.) 11th, Ezra S. Bapp, Henry E. Bedell, after-
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wards Lieut. Timothy Deblois, Amherst W. | listed from this town. He joined the 3rd Ver- Dow, John Dunber, Geo. Evarts, David H. mont, Co. B, June 1., 1861. He served till August 1., 1862, when he was discharged on account of ill health. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the 39th N. Y. At the battle of the Wilderness, May 6., 1864, his leg was shattered by a shot. The next day his limb was amputated and he was started in an am- bulance for Fredericksburg, but the guerillas turned the train of wounded and dying men back to Chancellorsville and the next day, May 8th, he died. His age was 29 years. Gilman, Daufield Goddard, Moses Goddard *, Harlow D. Jackson, Abraham Laplant *, Charles Laplant, Nelson Lurette, Zelora Marsh, Joseph Martin, Florius Manrette, Andrew J. Morey, Edward Bapp, Joseph Goddard, Walter Marsh, Joseph Rose, Whip- ple Taylor *, 15th, Rodney R. Jackson *, Ed- ward Martin *, Jackson Ryan, Hobart J. Marr, Lewis Simmons, Stephen Simmons, Al- vin Rodgers.
During the early part of the war volun- teering was quite brisk, the young men of Westfield particularly coming forward with- out much thought, or expectation of any bounty ; but as time passed it was found that heavy bounties must be offered or a draft sub- mitted to. The selectmen offered and paid as high as $ 1.000 for several recruits, and for several more a less sum, so that the close of the war found the town in debt several thou- sand dollars. But in spite of every exertion, we were obliged to stand three several drafts. The first was in July, 1863, when 16 men were drafted, our quota being eight. Out of those sixteen only one, I believe, entered the service. The rest were exempted, paid com- mutation, or went to Canada after substitutes -and as several have never come back, we conclude they are still searching. In March, 1865, there was another draft of eight more and in April another of two more. The town, however, voted to raise money to fur- nish substitutes for all who were unable to go, so that the downfall of the rebellion found us terribly in debt.
About that time also a suit for damages re- ceived on the "Notch Road," was brought against the town by a man living in Mont- gomery, and the case being tried before an unusually stupid Franklin County jury, our debt is increased by the pretty little sum of twenty-six or seven hundred dollars more.
Four young men, either natives or resi- dents of Westfield, have been killed in battle or soon after died from wounds received in action, and I here thought it not improper in this connection to give a slight sketch of each, as nearly correct as the materials in my hands will permit.
HENRY A. HITCHCOCK
was the son of Newton Hitchcock, and grand- son of David Hitchcock, one of the first set- tlers of the town. He was the first who en- | Indian hunter.
JAMES S. RYDER
was born in Waitsfield, though for several years he had resided in this town. In the draft of 1863, July, he was one of the sixteen taken from this town, and was the only one of them who joined the army at that time. He patriotically refused . to pay the commu- tation money, or desert to Canada, as too many did, but took his musket and put on his uniform the day he was examined by the surgeon, and never came home again. He was assigned to the 4th Vt. Co. H, and in the terrible battle of the Wilderness, he was shot through the abdomen and died in a few hours. His age was 37.
- DAVID M. GEORGE
was born in the town of Topsham, but spent the greater part of his life here. He enlisted from Troy into the 8th Vt., Co. C, Dec. 2., 1861, and was killed at the siege of Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. A part of his regi- ment had been ordered out as a skirmish-line and were in a position, exposed to the ene- my's sharpshooters, and were ordered to lie down. After a time George rose to his feet, to reconnoitre, and was almost instantly struck by a musket ball, and fell pierced. through the heart. His age was about 39.
CHAPTER FOR WESTFIELD.
BY E. W. THURBER.
Westfield lies 44 miles N. E. from Burling -- ton and 42 north from Montpelier, and about 20 miles from the present termination of the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad, at Barton. The location is of easy access by way of a defile in Lamoille County, and by the western valley of Lake Champlain, along the banks of the Missisquoi.
Until near the present century, herds of deer roved through the unbroken forest, and the rodents burrowed in the rich, though un- tilled soil-undisturbed, save by the wily
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There has been some discussion, within a few years, whether this valley was once the bottom of a pond. It has been the opinion of some, that a body of water covering many hundred acres extended over a part of Lowell and as much of the Missisquoi valley as lies in Westfield, and a part of Troy. I will present some facts furnished me by Rev. S. R. Hall, who is probably better informed, as to the geology of the County, than any other indi- vidual in this part of the State :
1. The hills, upon either side of the valley, have a surface of water-terraces, which, it is deemed, could be produced in no way except by the action of a body of water. These con- sist of a flat and perpendicular-alternately forming a flight of stairs on a grand scale ; the steps being from 15 to 20 feet each ; the level places being, of course, not always ex- actly horizontal, nor the descents exactly perpendicular, unless broken by rivulets, or disturbed by artificial means. Furthermore, and what is somewhat striking, these terraces are found to be at the same height on each side of the valley ; being situated in pairs at the same elevation from a common level. These appearances are accounted for, by the sustainers of this theory, on the supposition that the level portions were being formed when the water stood at a level, or nearly so ; while, when the perpendicular were form- ing, it was more rapidly draining off.
2. The soil composing all the low land is the same as at the bottom of existing lakes and ponds ; that is, of a fine mealy nature, such as is always deposited at the bottom of all bodies of standing water.
3. We find evident traces of the action of water at such a height that, if it stood in a body there, it must necessarily cover the whole valley. There are "pot-holes" in the rocks on the sides of the mountains and other traces of water, nearly a thousand feet above the Missisquoi River.
4. We find stratified sand a hundred feet above the valley.
5. The drift of geologists was a current from the N. N. W. to the S. S. E., as is evinced by the general flow of rocks in that direction ; on the contrary, in this valley, the rocks came from the south, as is shown by our find- ing those in this town which belong to the quarry of our southern neighbors.
These data geologists deem sufficient to establish the affirmative of the question ;
moreover, there are other facts which bear in the same direction. I will note a few.
It is said that Thomas Hitchcock, one of the early settlers, in excavating for a well, a short distance from the village, at the depth of 15 feet, found the top of a tree in such a state of preservation that he was able to identify it as hemlock. Furthermore, if we penetrate perpendicularly into the earth for several feet, upon the side of the hill that lies back from the river, we find alternate layers of top-soil, hard-pan, &c.,-showing a deposit of different kinds of soil at different periods.
Again, in draining the low lands in the valley, we find fallen trees, bark, &c., several feet from the surface-a fact considered unac- countable on any other supposition than that of a heavy deposit of earth.
Again, shells, and bones of fishes, have been found at such a distance back from the river as is never overflown by it.
These facts are much more easily accounted for, on the supposition that a large body of water once covered the entire amount of land which exhibits these phenomena. I will not stop to remark, with respect to them, further than to add that they furnish interesting material for the historian, geologist and spec- ulative philosopher.
Within the first 30 years from the first half of the present century, several rumors have been afloat of lead discoveries being made within or near the southern and western limits of this town.
About the year 1805, a Mr. Stimpson, who resided at North Troy, in coming from the Champlain valley over the mountain to this town, in company with an Indian by the name of Lewy, came across a mine of lead (it is unknown how large), and brought home a quantity. His daughter, a present resident of the town, remembers seeing it lie upon a shelf in her father's house, about fifty-five years ago.
Again, Mr. Harvey Farman, one of the first settlers of Troy, and a man who used to travel much in the woods, once obtained a quantity upon one of the neighboring mount- ains, as tradition has it, out of which he made bullets ; but could never again find the spot where he obtained it.
Again, a Mr. Stoughton, who was once a resident of this town, found a body of this mineral while descending the mountain upon this side. While descending a steep declivity,
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he caught hold of a bush, which came up, revealing the mine, the color of which at- tracted his attention. Upon observing it more closely, he found that he could cut it with his pocket-knife; but, having no larger implement with him at the time, was enabled to secure but little.
Furthermore, when Mr. David Barber lived upon the farm, at present occupied by Jesse Buck, tradition says that the Indians were accustomed to pass his house in a southerly direction, and, after being gone for twenty- four hours, would return, bringing lead, out of which they made bullets.
These, and other similar statements, point to the same conclusion, namely, that there is a mine of lead, in nearly a pure state, within a few hours' walk of either Westfield or Low- ell village, or the settlements in Jay, or Mont- gomery. But, as it is my object to record facts, rather than to speculate lengthily upon probabilities, I will leave the subject to the · scientific scholar and "Green Mountain rang- ers," for further developments.
The main stream in this town is the Mis- sisquoi River, which runs in a north-easterly direction through the S. E. corner of the town, receiving several tributaries which form an accession to its waters equal to nearly the original amount on entering the town. The first of these is called the Coburn brook, which rises near the line of Jay, and, running in a south-easterly direction into Troy, enters the Missisquoi near the south village. The next branch of importance is Mill brook, which runs in a south-easterly direction through the village. The next runs in a south, and then, in a north-easterly direction, to the pond near Mr. Burnham's, where it unites with the Mill brook and enters the Missisquoi near Troy line. This stream received its name from - Taft, who erected the first grist and saw-mill in town, upon its bank. The most southerly stream in this town, is called the Burgess brook, from one of the first settlers, living near it on the West hill. It rises in the S. W. part of the town, crosses the West hill road near F. Sawyer's, runs in a south-westerly direction, and joins the river near the south line.
A stream is formed by the confluence of two brooks in the south part of Troy, runs a short distance in Westfield, on the east side of the Missisquoi, and joins it near the residence of T. P. Brown.
Each of these streams is sufficiently large to carry a saw-mill, and all but one have done so. The machinery of a starch-factory has also been run by one of them.
No large bodies of granite have been found within the limits of the township, but several boulders, of considerable size, abound,-some of which have been worked. A range of ser- pentine rock extends from Lowell through its S. E. corner into Troy, forming numerous bluffs of several feet in height. In connection with this range, chromate of iron, bitter spar, talcose slate, and specimens of asbestos have been found; also, veins of amianthus-a variety of asbestos having long threads like flax. This is incombustible, and is sometimes wrought into cloth and paper.
Large quantities of soapstone have also been discovered, and some good specimens of greenstone. The latter is not capable of being smelted, but admits of a high polish, and is used in the mechanic arts.
There are two natural ponds in town. One lies on the farm at present owned and occupied by Peter Phillips, some two or three miles north-west of the south village in Troy. It covers two or three acres of land, and is said to slope very rapidly from the margin toward the center-being at a great depth in the middle. It abounds in pickerel,-a few of that fish being placed there by one of the early settlers. There is no stream running into it, and it has no outlet upon the surface, -the land being sufficiently dry for plowing entirely around it; but, on the east side, sev- eral rods from it, and several feet below its sur- face, there is a large spring which is supposed to be fed by its waters. It lies upon a hill, the ground sloping from it in every direction ; and neither freshets nor droughts affect it but little. It is supposed to be fed by springs, as is evinced by the discovery, by bathers, of certain streaks of water colder than the main body ; and also, by its being kept in a state of purity ; a family, several rods distant, ob- taining a supply for domestic purposes with a syphon.
JESSE OLDS,
the first settler, came from Mantague, Mass., bringing with him his wife* and two or three children. He seems to have possessed an aspiring, stirring disposition, and figured somewhat conspicuously in the early history
* He married a daughter of Seymour Taft, an inn- keeper at Montague.
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company with Simpson, erected a pail-factory* on the site of the saw-mill erected by Thomas Hitchcock. He is the only one of the family who now resides in Westfield. The 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, of this family, are yet living, the 2d, 6th, 7th, and 9th, never having settled in town.
GEORGE W. WHICHER
erected a building in 1842, and placed in it a machine for sawing clapboards. It was purchased soon after by
MORTON STEBBINS,
who put in the grist-mill which has run to the present time. After the destroying of the Taft Mills, in 1804, till the erection of Thomas Hitchcock's in 1808, the people had to go to Derby and Craftsbury to mill ; after this ceased to do business, 1839 or '40, they went to N. Troy and to Lowell, until the com- pletion of the last.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
In 1857, an institution of learning was in- · corporated in Westfield, styled the "West- field Grammar School," through the instru- mentality of C. Braley, our representative that year. The first sessions of the school were held in Mr. Braley's building at the vil- lage ; the number attending which, consider- ing the inconvenience of the position, was en- couraging to the institution. During the Summer of 1860, through the efforts of our citizens, a new two-story building was erected in a pleasant part of the village, the first floor of which is to be the property of this institution, and the second for holding the town meetings.
REV. N. H. DOWNS,
a baptist clergyman, came from Groton, Vt., to Troy, this country, about 1828. He after- wards settled in Westfield, and erected the large framed-house at present occupied by Peter Philips, on the North hill. Subsequent- ly he built one or two houses in South Troy village. He moved to Ohio in August 1854. He appears to have been possessed of an ac- tive disposition; and, although in very indi- gent circumstances, at first, after fortune had placed liberal means in his hands, he was inclined to keep money stirring. He appears to have been the prime mover in the erection of the meeting-house at Troy, and was instru- mental in forming a church, into which he gathered over 60 members. His money was
* This factory afterward passed into the hands of C. Bailey, and was destroyed by fire.
obtained from the sale of his "Elixir," in which he is said to have dealt to the amount of $ 40,000.
MR. HOWARD.
In the Fall, 1807, a Mr. Howard came from Springfield, Mass. to Westfield, He lived with his brother-in-law, Jas. C. for a short time, and finished a log-building previously commenced by Calvin Eaton, a short distance south of the Olds place, into which he moved his family. During the winter of 1807-8 he was returning from Craftsbury, where he had been at work, and was met by one or two of our citizens on the mountain on Saturday P. M. about 3 o'clock. He was not seen again till Tuesday, about 9 o'clock in the morning when he was discovered by Messrs, Reed & Sprague, not far from the house of the latter, and between it and the present residence of Mr. Boynton; the road then running between the last two men's houses. He appeared to be at- tempting to walk, and succeeded in moving a little, but the trodden appearance of the snow indicated that he had been for some time with- in a short distance of the spot where he was found. He was conveyed to the house of Mr. Sprague, and the only physician who resided within many miles, Dr. Shubael Winslow, was called. He proceeded to bleed him, (the propri- ety of which, under those circumstances has ever been strongly called in question) but with this and all other efforts they were unable to resuscitate him fully, and he expired within 24 hours after being found. He is described as being a large, athletic man, and well calculated to subdue the forest at a distance from civiliza- tion. But his career in Westfield was short. The direct, primary cause of his death, has ever since been a question which no one ap- pears to have solved satisfactorily. According to the custom of the day, he had a bottle which was nearly full of some kind of spirit; but it appeared to contain about the same when he was discovered that it did when our people met him. Moreover, being able to communicate somewhat before he died, he in- formed his friends that he had not removed the cork since that time; his efforts to do so, being ineffectual. He left a wife and several children to lament his untimely end. Accor- ding to the best information which we at present possess, this was the first death of an adult in this town .* He was buried on the
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