The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, Part 6

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction, Vt., White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 404

USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 6

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This church did not enjoy stated preaching for a number of years. Rev. Mr. Hobert, and the Rev. Mr. Chapin, and several others, sup- plied here occasionally till April, 1826, when Elias W. Kellog commenced to preach for them statedly. In January, 1827, he was or- dained over this branch of Zion. Up to this time about 40 members had been added to the church. During the ministrations of the Rev. E. W. Kellog, which continued up to 1834, there were added to this church 69 members : 36 of these were added in the noted revival year 1831.

ing his ministry 39 were added to the church. After Mr. Kilbey's death the church was sup- plied by Mr. Lyman Case and the Rev. Mr. Kidder for about one year-after which the Rev. Phinehas Baily supplied them, commenc- ing in December, 1852-continuing 5 years. The total number added during this time was 13.

In August, 1858, the Rev. A. R. Gray be- came acting pastor, and continued this service until January, 1866, and 8 were added to the church. During this year the copartnership that had so long existed between this church and the Baptist, in the ownership of the meet- ing-house was dissolved, and the following year the new Congregational meeting-house was erected and dedicated March 5, 1868. During this year the church was supplied by theologic- al students and others-and 4 were added to their number. In January, 1869, the Rev. John P. Demeritt began to supply, and has con- tinued so to do to this date, (February, 1870,) and 16 have been added to the church.

This church has passed through severe trials and disappointments. At the time of their greatest apparent prosperity, they have been compelled to adopt the language of the Psalm- ist and say : "Thou hast lifted me up and cast me down." Their numbers have been reduced very low by emigration and death. Still " The Lord will provide," has ever been illustrated in their history.

The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the Rev. J. P. Demeritt and Hon. L. P. Ten- ney and his lady for the minutes of the history of this church.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptist element began to develop itself quite early in the history of this town. Dea- con David Hardy and his wife, widow Lydia Delano, Josiah Slack and his wife, had been in town for a number of years. Delano's house was open for meetings of all Christian denom- inations. Deacon Hardy used to exhort the people, and his labors have not been lost .- Those primitive meetings had their influence. By them the rough edges of pioneer life were rounded off, and a regard for religion was culti- vated. Elder Marvin Grow of Greensboro, preached in town some, performing missionary work, by trying to guide the moral and religious sensibilities of this then new place.

From 1834 to'39 the church was supplied par- tially by Revs. Lyman Case, Reuben Mason and Moses P. Clark. During this time 18 were added to its membership. At this time Elias R. Kilbey began to supply, and was ordained in March of the next year. In 1841 the Con- gregationalists erected a house of worship at the center of the town. This house was burn- ed in February, 1846, as before stated in the general history. In April following this church and society purchased one half of the Baptist meeting-house, on the river-road, the Rev. Mr. Up to 1832 there had been no organized body of Baptists. This year a church was formed, Kilbey preaching the one half of the time until the day of his death, in February, 1851. Dur- consisting of the following persons, viz. Dea.

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David Hardy, Rebecca Hardy, (his wife) Polly Hovey, Polly B. Hovey, Mahitable Havens, Chastina Allen, Hiram Chafey, Aseneth Chafey and Horace N. Hovey. The ministers present to organize this church were Elders John Ide, Coventry, Marvin Grow, Greensboro, Edward Mitchell and N. H. Downs of Troy. There were also delegates present from Craftsbury,. Coventry and Irasburgh. The church was re- cognized Sept. 13. 1832. H. N. Hovey (now Rev.) was the first church clerk. In 1834 Dea. M. Darling moved into town from Groton-was united to this church by letter, and was ap- pointed the first deacon the same year, which office he has held to this day of writing (1870).

During the early history of this church there were added to its numbers as follows : From 1832 to '35, 14; during the year 1835, 30; to 1843, 11; during '43, 39 ; from '43 to '49, 6 ; and from '49 to '70, 35.

The records show but few expulsions from the church. But the last few years have drawn heavily from their numbers by death and emi- gration.

THE MINISTERS

during the first 8 years were Revs. Prosper Pow- ell, Moses Flint, Amos Dodge, I. D. Newell, D. Burroughs and S. B. Rider. In 1841 Still- man Fisher, a graduate of Oberlin (O.) College, was ordained to the work of the ministry over this church. In about 2 years Isaac Waldron was here ordained as pastor, and continued his labors nearly 2 years. During the year 1845 Rev. H. N. Hovey was by this church ordained to the ministry, and was pastor of the church about 6 years-when desiring to travel he was let go, and Rev. H. I. Campbell was preacher for them about 1 year, when Rev. Mr. Hovey returned and again assumed the pastorate, ex- cept at short intervals, up to November, 1864. From this time James Furguson was with them nearly 3 years-after which Rev. A. Nor- cross ministered to this people till Jan. 1, 1870.

THE DEACONS

have been Deacons M. Darling, R. B. Hovey, Silas Hovey, Hiram Chafey and Clark O. Lam- phere. Of these deacons the 2 Dea. Hoveys are dead : the others are still with the church.

Two members of this church are in the min- istry Among those who are or were members are whole households : Dea. R. B. Hovey and Polly his wife, with all their children, 7 boys and 3 girls, are or were members, and all living now except the Deacon, who died in 1844 .- Five of this numerous family are settled in the West-mostly in Iowa.

This church has had times of prosperity and adversity ; and the record says, " we are praying, watching and believing, that the Lord will do and defer not."

Our contributions abroad are not large, on account of home-work. $187 have been raised for various purposes outside of the church, with- in the year.

The writer is indebted to D. F. Marckris, clerk, for much of this sketch of the B. church.

METHODIST CHURCH.

Of the earliest class of Methodists in town I cannot write from personal knowledge. I only know of them, that early in the settlement of the town, the Methodist element was well repre- sented. Some of the Chamberlins, most of the Rowells, the Hydes, some of the Seavers, the Wilcoxes, Blaisdels, the Mileses, Paines, Hay- dens and others were among the number. I have no date of the time of the first class, but it was prior to 1830 ; though not till 1833 were they thought to be strong enough to build a house of worship, which year the chapel was erected at Albany Center. Up to this time they had held their meetings in school-houses, dwell- ing-houses and barns, also in the town-house, after its erection. In 1834 Brother Liscom preached to the people,-since this time a suc- cession of ministers, some years all the time, and some years only one half of the time. Usually at such times the other denominations supplied the pulpit the balance of the time.

Among the ministers who have preached here are the Revs. George Putnam, O. G. Clark Brother Clark, Blake, Smith, Brother Aspinwall, Elder Ball, Hopkins, Hadley, Spinney and Fales, besides many others. Some of the prin- cipal stewards of this church were Eli Chamber- lin, John Paine, Jona. P. Blaisdel, Ezra Wilcox and Stephen Vance. In connection with the chapel is a fine parsonage, convenient to their meeting-house, together with a small farm .- This church, like most churches, have had troubles, trials and dissensions. Like l'aul of old, they have had trials among ministers, and trials among false brethren : but "out of all the Lord will deliver his people," &c., " while they look u:ot on things temporal, but upon things eternal."

[Written from recollection. It was intend- ed to have this history furnished by Rev. Mr. Fales, present incumbent, but could not get a word from him .- N. M. D.]

Sometime, down in the early ages, there came two brothers to this region of hills and timber, by the name of Chamberlin, Eli and Aaron .-

ALBANY. 1271485

Long before the town was organized they lived here. These two men figured largely in the or- ganization, and helped materially to form the business affairs of the youthful town. Mr. Eli Chamberlin was one of the first of the select- men and representatives, in 1812. He had one son and four daughters, and died about 1830 .-- His son, Eli, succeeded to his farm, and lives there to this day. Eli, Jr., was early the con- stable and collector of the town, and has filled almost all of the important offices. His family consisted of 6 boys and 2 girls-Ellen and Vio- let. The former married John B. Hovey, and Violet married Dr. Scott, of Lyndon. Of the boys, William, Wilber, Heman and John are respectable farmers living in town. Schuyler is a mechanic, in Nashua, N. H., and the young- est, Charles, studied medicine, and is now in practice in Barre.

Mr. Aaron Chamberlin's family numbered 10 boys and 3 girls : of these boys 7 have died in the prime of life, and 3 still live, 2 of them on the old farm, aud 1, Samuel B., is in Massachu- setts. Of the girls, 2 are living, and 1 is dead.

Soon after this family moved here, Mrs. C. planted a sap-trough of earth with apple-seeds, saying as she did it, that she did not expect to eat of the fruit. She told me in after life that she had lived to eat of the fruit of that orchard for more than 30 years.

Soon after this family came here there was a terrible tornado passed over the place where they lived. Such was the force of the storm of wind, that whole sections of timber were uprooted or broken down. This gale came down from the west, and bore all before it .- Mr. Chamberlin's cows were in the woods, and were hemmed in, but fortunately were not in- jured, though such was the destruction of tim- ber around them, it was several days before they could be released from imprisonment among the fallen trees.

Among the sons of this family who have died are Dr. Moses Chamberlin, late of Jamai- ca, Vt., and Dea. Joseph B. Chamberlin, late of this place. Mr. Aaron lived to a good old age. He was one of the four to compose the Congregational church at its organization .- He was town clerk for a number of years .- It is said that once in " ye olden time " when John Skinner, Esq., was tything man, that Mr. C.'s potatoes were frozen into the ground by an untimely freeze ; that upon a Sunday the frost came out of the ground. Now said Skinner knew that his neighbor's potatoes

were in the ground, so up he comes to see what was Chamberlin at, and lo, and behold, there he was digging potatoes. Says Mr. Of- ficer, " Is this the way you keep the Sabbath ?" " Yes," says Chamberlin, "and if you had been at home reading your Bible, where you ought to be, it would be better for you, and as well for me,"-and raising his hoe, says he, " vacate my fields,"-and he vacated.

This little innovation ruined the neighborly feeling between these men. Mr. Chamberlin died about 25 years ago. Mrs. Chamberlin survived him about 16 years, and died very old.

DAVID COBB.

Among the earliest settlers of this town was Mr. David Cobb. He made his first pitch on a lot in the south-west corner of the town, just south of the Gen. Hazen road. This place was soon abandoned, and a ministerial lot in the N. W. corner of the town taken up. This lot lay on or near the old county road leading through Albany Centre to Westfield and Troy, in the Missisco valley. To this man was born Fanny Cobb, the first femal child born in this town. Their family consist- ed of 4 sons and one daughter. These people lived to make several new settlements in dif- ferent parts of the town, and so, perhaps, proved themselves to be among the most val- uable of pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb lived to a good old age, and went to their graves in peace, having endured hardships and affliction that seemed to ripen them for the harvest of death.

MR. WILLIAM HAYDEN

was among the early settlers of Albany. He was a native of Braintree, Mass. He moved from Braintree to Covington, in the same State, and from there to Albany, Vt., in the year 1801. He commenced on that same lot now included in what is known as the Wm. Hayden farm. Mr. Hayden married in 1798, Silence Dale, of Bridgewater, Mass. In 1804 he sold out his betterments, as the saying then was, and began on Lot No. 4. On this farm he lived for nearly 30 years. Mr. Hayden, as appears, was a man of wealth and influence, noted for his shrewdness and success in busi- ness. He opened and kept the first public house licensed in town ; was the first military captain, having been elected at the organiza- tion of the militia company in this place. He was the only man ever appointed collector of customs here. He also erected the first cloth-

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manufacturing establishment, having engaged largely for the times in the manufacture of cloth, employing several women and girls in spinning and weaving-and his was the first store within the limits of this town. Success attended all his efforts to amass wealth, and but for his willingness to help others, he might have retained his business and home.

By signing as surety he lost heavily, and was at last obliged to leave his farm and fam- ily, go to jail, and " swear out," which term, once so common, is now almost obsolete, and perhaps needs explanation.

From Albany Mr. Hayden went to Potton, P. Q., in 1830, hoping to better his condition, with varying success. He staid there until the rebellion in Canada, known as the Radi- cal Rebellion of 1837, or '38. In this war he | gallons of potatoe whiskey towards the farm. This still was run until the contract was up, and then stopped. Mr. Rowell was a farmer of the old school-a firm, substantial, reliable man; was not easily excited, nor easy to for- get injuries. He held responsible offices in town while he lived, and was respected by his neighbors. He had four brothers who soon followed him here.

favored the party opposed to the crown. His early characteristics displaying themselves, he soon became obnoxious to the friends of royalty, was threatened, and left Canada and took up his abode in Troy, Vt. Trusting some of his old Canadian friends, he was one day decoyed back to Potton on pretense of impor- tant business, arrested, and started for Mont- real jail, but failed to get there for reasons never fully divulged. At all events, he came back to Troy, over the mountain from Rich- ford, about the fourth day after his arrest .- In this affair he lost a fine farm and other property. From Troy he removed to Farns- hoile, N. Y., where he died in 1846, aged 69 years.

Mr. Hayden's widow still lives, and at this date, 1870, 92 years old and very smart .- Their family consisted of 5 sons and 4 daugh- ters. Two of the children died in infancy .- Wm. Hayden, Jr., the eldest, married Azuba, daughter of John Culver, and is now living on the farm first taken up by his father. This farm is situated in the south-west part of the town on the river road, and is the largest and most valuable farm in town, containing 700 acres of valuable land. This is one of the few farms in town that have not changed hands or gone out of the original family name. Mr. Wm. Hayden, the present owner, is now about 70, and, excepting that he has nearly lost his sight, retains much of that in- domitable spirit that actuated him in the prime of life, and by which he has succeeded in lay- ing up quite a competence. His history as a R. R. contractor, both in the States and Can- adas, has never been tarnished by any act of |

meanness or injustice to those who have la- bored for him; even now the essence of hu- man kindness may be drawn from him, but it cannot be done with a blister. His family consisted of 5 children, one son and four daughters. The second daughter died while quite young. The rest of the children all lived to grow up,-were married and settled in this town, except the youngest, who resides in an adjoining town ; and are all heads of fami- lies of children, more or less numerous.

ENOCH ROWELL AND BROTHERS

came into town from Plainfield, N. H., about the year 1813. They settled on the farm pre- viously occupied by Silas Downer. On this farm was the whiskey still-first and last in town. Mr. Rowell contracted to pay so many

WILLIAM came in very soon after his elder brother, and settled on a farm adjoining his. William's family of children were not so nu- merous as Enoch's. He succeeded in laying up money, and soon had some to let. In this matter he was very accomodating, and seldom lost.

ELIPHALET came soon after William and bought a farm near South Albany, upon which he still lives enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Uncle DANIEL ROWELL, (as he was familiar- ly called,) another of these brothers, bought a farm on what is called Chamberlin Hill, and lived there many years. His judgment was deemed to be good, and his honesty unques- tionable. He was extensively employed in buying cattle and other farm stock, and in other important agencies. He was taken away in the midst of his usefulness.

CONVERSE, the younger of these brothers, who used to keep school winters, in his young- er days, married Orpha, daughter of Aaron Chamberlin. They lived for a short time on the farm with his brother Daniel, but after- wards bought a farm on the Creek road .- Mr. Rowell and his wife, still on their farm, are surrounded with the needful in abundance. From these five brothers has grown up the

ALBANY.

largest family circle that has been raised in town.

LEVI WARREN

came into town from Peacham about the year 1821, and settled on the then only road lead- ing from Irasburgh, south, to Craftsbury and other southern towns in Orleans County .- Being what were called good livers, and hav- ing a commodious house for the times and place, they soon began to entertain travelers ; and in 1828 raised the sign so well known on that road.

Warren's hotel was remarkable for three things : the first, a good table ; second, a good stable; and third, a social host. It is diffi cult to tell which of these peculiarities brought them the most custom, for the eccentricities of the host exceed the power of my pen to describe.

Mr. Warren kept this house about 20 years, and then passed away; and the old house, like its former owner, has out-lived its use- fulness, and stands to-day, but a wreck of its former greatness, unoccupied.

Mr. Warren's family of children consisted of 5 sons and one daughter :

LEVI, JR., was a cloth-dresser by trade-at that time an important business-and owned, in company with Nathan Beede, Esq., the wool-carding and cloth-dressing mills, near the present site of Albany Village, on Black River, the first and only establishment of the kind within the limits of the town, and occu- pied the present site of the circular-saw-mill. In this mill, Levi, Jr., sold out his interest and moved to Craftsbury, on to a farm, where he died of cancer several years ago.

ORIN W., the second son, studied medicine with Dr. Holman, (botanical,) of Portsmouth, N. H. Dr. O. Warren went to Pittsfield, N. H., and practiced in that vicinity, where he was, it is said, very successful, and very oth- erwise. During the last 15 or 20 years he has been in California, where he went for repairs, and rumor says he has made "his pile" out there.

BENJAMIN F. WARREN, the fourth son, was a brilliant young man. He obtained a thor- ough education at the schools, (for he would be satisfied with nothing less,) studied medi- cine and surgery after the most approved style, obtained celebrity as a physician and surgeon, and is a respected citizen and physi- cian at the present time in Concord, N. H.

KNIGHTS W. left home when young, went to Portsmouth, N. H., where he has since resid- ed, doing a trafficing business, with varying success.

WILLIAM W., the youngest of the family, is now a respectable farmer, resident in this town.

The daughter married, lost her husband, and in a few years returned to her father's house, a childless widow, and lived to soothe the declining years of her aged parents for some time, till called to her eternal home .- She, together with her parents, were worthy and excellent members of the Congregational church.

JOHN N. HIGHT

moved here from Barnet about 1823. His wife was Laura Livingston, of Peacham .- Their children were Emily, born in 1821; Dennis, Mary Jane, Alice, Lydia, James, John, William B., Wallace and Amorette.

I cannot write particularly of all the child- ren of this most interesting family. When Mr. Hight came into town the place was new and population sparse. He bought a small farm near the centre of the town, and for 3 time succeeded in securing a livelihood for his family, but as his family increased, his farm was too small. Hoping to better his con- dition, he disposed of his farm and removed to the east part of the town. This exchange proved disastrous. Circumstances beyond his control compelled him to go in debt; and debts must be paid. The cold seasons, and the terribly hard times during Van Buren's administration, from 1836 to '40, so deranged his financial affairs, that in spite of his uncon- querable spirit and indefatigable efforts, pov- erty stared them in the face. His crops were cut down by untimely frosts ; creditors could not, or would not wait, and in the general crash he went down.

His farm and property was gone, his credit limited, and his family large, and most of them too young to help much ; and but for his un- conquerable spirit, his history would have ended here. However, he moved his family into a shanty near the south part of the town, on the center road, and by working out for a few years managed to sustain his family and keep them together. To do this he was com- pelled to be absent most of the time from his family, which was not quite congenial to a man of his social temperament.

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An opportunity offering, he concluded to buy a lot of timber-land and try and make him another farm. This farm lays in the west part of this town, on the well known Gen. Hazen road. A small opening was made and a house erected. I I well recollect that one corner of this house stood upon a stump. Into this house the family was moved. The eldest boy, Dennis, was now about 16 or 17 years

of age, and proved to be a great help to his father in clearing up his new farm. They would chop and clear from 5 to 10 acres a year without a team, besides working for their support and to meet their payments for their land. Success attended their efforts .- His other children began to be some help, and prosperity and plenty came in at their doors.

During the years of his adversity, such was his integrity, that he was appointed to offices of profit and trust, and, to the honor of the man, and to the honor of the town, he served as justice of the peace, selectman, and was elected representative of the town two years. In politics, Mr. Hight was a whig of the old school, and a Republican of the new-in loy- alty he excelled.

About this time Dennis came to his major- ity, and soon made arrangements to leave for the West. He started for Sante Fe, New Mexico, engaging to drive an ox-team from Independence, Mo., across the plains. The train consisted of about 40 men, and from 2 to 300 head of cattle, mostly freighted with whisky, coffee and sugar. They were over- taken by a terrible storm of rain and snow some time in November; and so severe was the storm and cold, that 150 of their oxen perished before morning, inclosed as they were in the kraal made with their wagons .- They were 500 miles from the habitations of men, with the snow a foot and a half deep ; the cold intense ; their cattle all dead or dy- ing, of starvation. A council was called, and it was decided that a part should remain by the wagons, and the rest should start for the States. Among those whose lot it was to stay were Dennis, and W. H. Johnston, his broth- er-in law, and four other boys from this town, two brothers, sons of Orange Hovey, and Da- vid and Luther Bailey.

Such a winter of suffering, from cold, starv- ation and thirst ; after the snow was gone, of constant watching for fear of Indians, who hung around them almost constantly, and who burned the grass up to their kraal, seldom

falls to the lot of man to endure,-and what, with the wolf-meat they were compelled to eat, and the whisky, which answered the double purpose of fuel and drink, so changed their natures as almost to make demons of them :

"Of earth, Heaven or hell, they recked not, Nor yet of friends, or home, thought they ; But simply thought of me."

The middle of April came at last, and with it men and oxen, to take their wagons to their destinations. Before the next winter Dennis and Johnston returned to this town, After stopping at home a few months, Dennis started for California, and for a number of years no reliable news reached his friends from him.

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The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, Part 6

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: White River Junction, Vt., White River Paper Co. Number of Pages: 404

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction, Vt., White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 404