USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 61
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another of the first settlers in Westfield, came to this town from Brimfield, Mass., in June 1806. His father (Obed) and Medad were half brothers. He bought a lot of land on the North hill, comprising the present farms of his sons Newton and Horatio Hitchcock, and the 'so considerably. His children were Dolly,
one between them, at present owned by a Mr. Gilpin. He erected a log-house near the pres- ent site of Newton's house, where he remain- ed till he died, Dec. 4, 1810. According to the will of the father the two sons were to have the northern and southern portions of the farm, while the mother retained the middle third .- The boys settled on their farms, and have since remained there; but the other part has passed through several hands After Mr. H.'s decease, the widow erected a framed-house a short dis- tance south of the old one, which was after- wards removed northwardly, near the present school-house; and subsequently. C. Coburn, whom she married, erected the present build- ing on the same spot. The latter are yet resi- dents of the town, Mrs. C. having reached the advanced age of 83.
Some years previous to the last mentioned date,
ASA HITCHCOCK,
a brother of the two last, commenced clearing the farm at present owned by S. J. Farman, on the river, and built a log-house a few rods south- east of the present one. In 1808, he married and moved here, where he afterwards erected a framed barn. He subsequently removed to Hardwick, where he died about 1811 or '12.
Mr. Hitchcock furnishes one of those instan- ces of what industry and perseverance will ac- complish for those who desire to learn, even under discouraging circumstances. His father dying when he was quite young, he had no means of obtaining an education above that af- forded by the common school at that day ; and even this was denied him one half of the time. The duties of the farm devolved on him and his brother David; and as they constantly de- manded the attention of one of them, each could attend school only alternate seasons, and then only in the winter. He, however, struggled with misfortune and embarrassed circumstances, and finally studied and practiced law in Hard- wick, and became an eminent teacher-an ex- ample of a self-made man.
DR. SHUBEL WINSLOW
came to Westfield from Brimfield, Mass., in May, 1806, and settled on the farm at pres- ent occupied by Jacob Stebbins. He built a log-house and barn and remained here till his death, which took place Jan. 16, 1821. Azuba, his wife, died June 10, 1820. He studied med- icine but did not practice much after coming to Westfield, although he had formerly done
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Amasa, Lydia, Lucina and Luther. Dollydied in Westfield, Oct. 20, 1858. Amasa commenced on the farm now owned by Jas. Clark and Samuel Burnham. He remained a few years and cleared several acres, but moved to Col- raine, Mass., in 1812. Lydia married Heber Hitchcock, and died in Westfield. Lucina married Thomas Hitchcock, and died in West- field, Feb. 11, 1857. Luther is still living and resides in Sunderland, Mass.
About the same time a brother of DAVID, LEVI HITCHCOCK, came to Westfield and set- tled on the north-west part of the lot, pur- chased by David. He erected a log-house near the main road, and subsequently the framed house erected by the widow Hitch- cock (mentioned before) was moved to the same site, where he died about 1839 or '40. He left two small children, the younger being under 7 years of age, the training and educa- tion of which devolved upon the mother. He was buried on his own farm near the road- side, on a spot which has since been conver- ted into a burying ground. The marble slab which marks his resting place, is supposed to have been the first one erected in town. The lapse of half a century has left the foot-prints of time upon its surface, but the characters are still legible.
This slab was obtained from a ledge in Lowell; but the mechanic who wrought it out found the stone too hard to make the working of the ledge profitable. The settle- ment received another accession to its num- ber by the arrival of Jairus Stebbins from Middlefield* Mass., and Caleb Hitchcock from Westminster, in this State.
JAIRUS STEBBINS
had purchased the lots chartered to Gov. Owen of him personally and he proceeded to erect a building upon the lot lying in the first divis- ion, a short distance south of the house pre- viously occupied by Mr. Hartley. He mov- ed with a yoke of oxen and a horse ; and such was the state of the roads that it took them 16 days to reach the place of their destination in Westfield. In 1814 he erected the gambrel- roofed house, at present unoccupied, a little distance south of his old one which he con- tinued to occupy in the fall of this year. He brought a gun of Revolutionary fame, his fa- ther having carried it at Ticonderoga, which i's at present in the posession of Madison Steb-
* Mr. Winslow says he came in 1806, from Munson Mass.
bins of Troy. In 1809, he erected a distillery for the manufacture of potatoe whisky, which was a successful operation, several years. From authentic data it appears the demand for this and similar articles, in the first settlement of the country, was brisk.
Subsequently he removed to the farm at present occupied by Martin Stebbins, where he and Mrs. S. still survive at the advanced ages of 78 and 77.
Their children were Emeline, Madison, Edwin, Martin, Shapley P., Harrison, Clarinda, Mary. The second, fourth, sixth, seventh and eight are still living-but one in Westfield, and only two in Vermont.
CALEB HITCHCOCK.
moved into a log-house, previously occupied by Mr. Goodell, which stood a short distance west of the buildings of Jesse Buck. He af- terwards erected a framed building on the same site, and subsequently the house at pres- ent occupied by Mr. Buck, where he died Sept. 15, 1825. Mrs. H. remained a resident of the town till her death, May 29, 1858 .*
Their children were Emily, Eunice, Nancy, Arad, Harvey, Hiram Ephraim, and Elmira. All but the third are still living, but none are at present residents of the town.
JAMES BROWN
from Gloucester, R. I., moved his family to Westfield, July 5, 1809 and commenced on the West Hill on the place now occupied by John Mc Elroy, and erected a framed barn. Sub- sequently he moved to the place previously occupied by A. Burgess. He afterwards re- moved to the farm previously occupied by Mr. Sprague, where he has since resided Their children were Sarah, Ann, Matilda, James M., Whipple C., Thomas O., Arnold O., Celia Ann, Mary, Ruth, Fidelia, Wm. O., Abbie, Lorin, Ellen M. Eight of them are still living, one only, Thos. P., being a resi- dent of Westfield at present.
About the year 1809,
DR. HENRY CAREY
came from Craftsbury and lived at Mr. O. Chamberlain's in Troy. His labors extended throughout the valley and he was the first regular physician that practised in Westfield ; was formerly from Sturbridge, Ms., Mr. Brown
* Mrs. H. is the second person in Westfield who has become deranged. Previous to the year 1825, she spent one night on the blueberry ledge in Lowell. She re- covered, however and for many years previous to her death could pursue her ordinary avocations.
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married Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Lt. Gov. Owen, and he was the first regular physi- cian who practiced in Westfield *. He married a daughter of his host, and subsequentlyerect- ed a building on the opposite side of the road from the present buildings of C. Braley which was afterwards occupied by a Mr. White, a saddler, and subsequently destroyed by fire. He next erected the building a lit- tle distance further south, at present occupied by Mr. Marsh, where he resided for several years and removed to Troy .; His children were Orell, Franklin H., Ralph and Imogene. The second and fourth are yet living in Ohio.
Dr. Carey was a much respected and suc- cessful physician ; and for many years the only one who practiced to any great extent in town. It was a characteristic of his to proceed with caution in cases with which he was not fully acquainted. He appears to have been a sagacious, careful and successful physician. For several years, he was the only resident physician in the four Missisquoi Valley towns.
LETTER FROM HIRAM SISCO,
who was the first male child born in Westfield : "Bloomingdale, March 27,-
"Mr. Thurber-I received your letter last evening. I will write in answer to it this morning. I was the first male child born in the town of Westfield. Lucinda Barber was the first child born in the town of Westfield. I think there were but three families in town when I was born, viz. Mr. Barber's, Mr. Jos Stoughton's, and my father's family-Richard Sisco. I was born on Stoughton's meadow in some shanty near the river. You will see by my writing, that I was brought up in the woods, where there was no schools. My fa- ther often told me I was entitled to a lot of land for being the first boy born in town.
HIRAM SISCO."
JESSE OLDS
came to Westfield about 1800, and about '09 or '10 removed to Craftsbury, and from Crafts- bury to Kentucky in 1814, and afterwards to the southern part of Illinois, where he' and his wife died. Their children were Frances Eliza, Clarissa, Frederick Augustus. The son
and one of the daughters are now living, 1863. The son resides in Rochester, Olmstead Co Minnesota.
ENOS W. THURBER
was born in Burke, Caledonia Co., Mar. 22, 1837, and lived at home till 18 years of age, when he came to Westfield to live with Perin Miller of this town who had married one of his sisters, and had quite a library and could give him a pretty good chance for study, which best seemed to suit him. After a time he commenced to teach, wrote somewhat, gave some lectures on Phrenology and other sub- jects and commenced, by the suggestion of Rev. P. H. White, to write the history of Westfield. In Feb., 1862, he enlisted in the U. S. service, of which his father writes "Why he went to the war is a mystery, for he was always of a slender constitution." He went to Virgina, but it was too hard for him. He came home, got better, went to Burlington and endeavored to get a discharge, but failing in that, returned to his regiment and marched with them as long as he could carry his gun, and at length got one of his comrades to carry it into camp for him and went to the hospital. He was sent to Washington, where he re- ceived his discharge and wrote when he should start for home. He came to Brattleboro and stopped at the " Water Cure establishment there, thinking to regain his health, but find- ing himself growing worse, started for home. He thought he could bear the journey in the cars, and the doctor thought he might possi- bly, and with a good nurse he started Nov. 1st. On the first part of the way the nurse asked him if it did not tire him to ride: he said it did not. He was so weak and low he did not realize it and his anxiety kept him up until he got to Newbury, but before he got to Wells- River, in Newbury, he apparently dropped to sleep-never to wake again in this world. His attendant told me he hardly knew when he died, it was so easy.
His father continues "Suffice it to say, Enos was a good son, and made up his mind in his youth to serve the Lord. In one of his letters, while in the hospital, he wrote home, "Let me die in Virginia or else where angels will surround my dying couch."
[The above is chiefly the letter of John Thurber, father of Enos W. Thurber, written in answer to our request that he would give us some account of the death of his son., &c .- Ed.]
* The first regular physician who practiced in West- field was Dr. Seth Hitchcock who lived in Jay, never being a resident of the town.
t He also removed to Ohio in the year 1803 or '04 where he and Mrs. Corey have since died.
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WESTMORE.
WESTMORE. BY CALVIN GIBSON.
This township is situated in the S. E. part of Orleans County and lies principally on the Eastern range of the Green Mountains. The suface is generally moderately uneven and some hilly and there are some pretty high peaks of the Green Mountains in this town. The soil is generally very good and well adap- ted to agricultural purposes. Lake Willough- by lies in this town. It is five miles long and about one half-mile wide. It runs north and south and divides the town nearly into two parts. The streams in this town are small, yet sufficient for most mill and manufacturing purposes.
This town was chartered by the authority of the State of Vermont Aug. 17, 1781, and granted to Capt. Uriah Seymour, Abraham Sedgwick and their associates, being 65 per- sons in all, with the usual reservations and appropriations in Vermont Charters or the grants by the Vermont Legislature.
The grantees or original proprietors' names I will write as they come-as for instance, Lot No. 1 is Samuel B. Webb ; No. 2, Heber Allen ; No. 3, &c. Samuel Williams, James Camp, Justus Riley, Lorraine Allen, John Humphrey, Daniel Buck, Asahel Williams, Joseph Merrill, Mary Allen, David Humphrey Ira Allen, Josiah Willard, Thomas Ives, John Knickerbocker, Stephen Williams, Paul Dewey, Jershom Wolcott, Solomon Woodruff, Barnabas Dean, Joseph Tiff, Levi Robbins, Simeon Dean, Andrew Huntington, David Robinson, Mary Washburn, Ezekiel Williams, Bezalul Latimore, Abraham Sedgewick, Josiah Robins, Haris Loomis, Joseph Webb, Roswell Hopkins, Ebenezer Huntington, Moses Good- man, Nathan Perkins, Josiah Buck Jr. Josiah Buck 3d. John Wright, Stephen Lawrence, William Slade, Ebenezer Dewey, Solomon Lee, Moses Tryon, Elijah Owen, Thomas Chit- tenden, Phineas Loomis, John Owen, Daniel Meggs, Josiah Moore, Elias Case, Silas Robin- son, Martain Smith, Wait Robbins, Joseplı Kingman, Benjamin Mills, Chester Wells, Ezra Wilson, Ebenezer Burr, Uriah Seymour, Nehemiah Lawrence, Eliphlet Ensign, Sam'l Tibbals.
This comprises 70 lots as they are in the Field Book, begun Feb. 7, 1800.
But very few if any of the origir al grantees or proprietors ever settled on their lands in this town. There is no record of the precise
time, nor by whom the first settlement was made. Some six or eight families came to this town from Windsor and Orange counties in the year 1795, and made a settlement, among whom were Jabesh Hunter, Allen Wait, James Lyon, Jeremeel Cummings, Lot P. Woodruff, David Porter and Abel Bug- bee. The town had not been alloted at this time and they settled on such lands as best suited them, and others soon came and made a beginning,
The original grantees or proprietors held a meeting at Ryegate, March 7, 1800 and agreed to survey and allot said town and employed John Johnson to make the allotment and sur- vey and he completed the work the following Spring, as far as the first divisions were con- cerned. Said proprietors held another meeting at Danville Sept. 17, 1800; received and ac- cepted the allotment and survey as by Mr. Johnson, and made a draft of lots and agreed that those that had settled in said town should have the lots on which they lived; also made an offer to David Porter of 200 acres if he would build the first saw-mill and 200 more if he would build the first grist-mill in said town, which offer was accepted and the mills were built and in good running order in the year 1804. The population gradually in- creased by immigration, and, March 19, 1805, the town was organized by electing Jabesh Hunter town clerk and all other town officers. The first freemen's meeting was holden Sept. 3, 1805. The freemen voted for State officers, but concluded not to elect a representative as it exempted from paying a State tax. The early settlers of this town were a hardy and in- dustrious band of pioneers ; they had come a long way into the wilderness to make their homes, perhaps their fortunes; they had to en- counter many difficulties, their labors were very onerous and their privations many, but the hope of better times coming cheered them on and enabled them to endure the hardships incident to a pioneer life in the State of Ver- mont. They were prosperous for a while, the soil was rich and very productive and many of them cleared up large farms; built commodious barns and comfortable dwelling- houses for those times and no people made more rapid improvements with so little means and although their faith was firm and their hearts were brave yet they were forced to surrender their new made homes and re- treat. The cold seasons came on, the war
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
broke out between the United States and England, they were surrounded by a howling wilderness a long distance from any other set- tlement, their number few and scattering, the frosts destroyed their crops, and the fear of the British and hostile Indians on the north still filled their hearts at length with dismay ; their courage failed : they held a meeting for consultation to see what it was best to do under their perilous situation. They con- cluded that their means were insufficient to protect them against an expected and much feared attack of the Indians. They decided to surrender at discretion ; they all left very soon for some of the lower and more thickly settled towns in the State. Thus this town was left without any human inhabitants, the mills and most of the buildings that had been erec- ted went to ruin. The town was not again very soon settled. The lands that had been cleared lay common for a long time and the inhabi- tants of Brownington and Derby annually drove large lots of cattle, horses and mules here to pasture,
About the year 1830, the town again began to be settled. Some went on to the old de- serted farms, while others commenced new set- tlements in various parts of the town. The town was again organized in 1833, David Wilson town clerk and John C. Page repre- sentative to the General Assembly that year, being the first representative elected in this town. The population increased very slowly. There was no public road leading through the town and it appeared to be a back and out of-the-way place, but occasionally there was a new comer. The towns north and south of this town had become much settled and there was a great demand for a highway leading north and south through this town. There was no practicable route except along the eastern shore of Lake Willoughby and there for several miles the land rose so abruptly from the shore and was so rough and rocky, the town was not able to bear the expense of building a road there. But the demand for the road was so great in 1850, the Court by their commissioners appointed for that purpose, laid out the road and assessed some of the towns north and south to help make it. Pe- ter Gilman of this town took the contract to make the road and completed the same in 1852. The opening of the road made new inducements for settlements. The same year, Alonzo Be- mis, of Lyndon, and company, built an elegant
and commodious public house at the south end of Lake Willoughby, known as the Lake House. It commands a splendid view of the Lake and mountains and the scenery is ex- ceedingly picturesque and romantic; in the Summer season the climate is very salubrious and many people resort here for health, pleas- ure and recreation. Another Hotel was soon built on the East side of the Lake for the ac- commodation of the traveling public, by Peter Gilman. A little village soon sprung up on the east side of the Lake near the mouth of mill brook, a small stream that affords a very good water-power. There is a saw-mill, clapboard and shingle-machine, starch factory and a bob- bin factory, and a manufactory of scythe-stones where they manufacture annually large quan- tities of scythe-stones of a very excellent qual- ity. There was a Freewill Baptist church or- ganized in this town in the year 18- and Mark A. Amsden was ordained and settled as a minister of the Gospel. There is no meet- ing-house in this town. The meetings are usually held in the school-houses.
SOLDIERS OF WESTMORE.
C. T. Aldrich, Chancey Allard, 9th Reg't ; Am- brose Allard, 9th Reg't; Mark A. Amsden, 10th Reg't, wounded ; Marshall Burt, 8th Reg't, --- Walter Bickford, died May 14, 1863 ; William Bruce, 10th Reg't ; Ebenezer J. Bruce, enlisted Aug. 6, '62, and served 34 months ; Lyman Brown, 10th Reg't; Hiram Cummings, 9-months man ; James M. Cummings, 9-months man ; Le- ander Davis, taken prisoner, in Andersonville prison, died soon after his release ; Joseph P. Dut- ton, 10th Reg't ; James M. Craig, Loami C. Bean, W. C. Fogg, 9-months man, afterwards drafted, and run to Canada ; Geo. R. Farr, drafted, and run to Canada ; William Chappell, drafted and excepted, run to Canada ; Ira Chappell, drafted and excepted, run to Canada ; E. S. Gilmore, 10th Reg't ; Joseph Gilmore, John Hunt, 4th Reg't ; Bradbury Hunt, 10th Reg't, reported dead, wounded and carried from the battle-field -not heard from afterwards : F. W. Root, 10th Reg't ; Morrill Shepard, died Oct.20, 1864; Wil- liam H. Silsby, 2 years in service ; John C. Page, 2 years in service ; David J. Orne, Wes- ley Hayward, Henry and Elijah B. Hayward, not for this town, but lived here; Ivory Goodin, 2 years in service ; S. B. Duke, Harry Cheney. E. J. Bruce, of Westmore, enlisted from Brownington, Aug. 6, 1862, in the 10th Vt. Reg., Co. K. and served 2 years and 10 months -discharged at the close of the war.
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WESTMORE.
WESTMORE CONTINUED,
BY ALPHA ALLYN.
There were two Westfords in Vermont for a time ; but at length Westford in Orleans county was changed in name to Westmore. The first settlers, the Porters and some others, were from Connecticut. Benj. Varnum and Eber Robinson, Esq., might be called as good honest demo- crats as Mical Bly, an honest federal smuggler.
About 1818, a Mr. Holt of Holland was shep- herd for Robert Ramsey, and took care of about 1000 sheep through the summer in Westmore, putting up sheep-barns.
In 1823, Joseph Gray and family, and two sons-in-law, lived in town. The story of there being 18 persons (as Thompson states) in town in 1820, the writer doubts.
The present road from Lyndon, past West Burke to Willoughby lake, is much used.
The first settlers of Westmore are thought to have been the most resolute men of any that settled in Orleans County. In 1823, there was to be seen in Westmore some of the largest two- story framed barns in the county-and that they could be seen showed signs of a set of brave men. There was a road called the old Westmore County Road. This came up 2 miles past Burke Hollow, towards Newark. past old deacon Wellman's house then turned west- wardly through the corner of Sutton, over the hills from Burke Hollow, down to Willough- by Lake, at what was called Mill-brook, heading in Long Pond, and running into said lake. There was a saw-mill, and a plenty of sucker and other fish in the lake.
The County road did not follow the stream down to Brownington and Derby, but followed north-westwardly, through Charleston Centre and west of Echo pond and Seymore lake in Morgan, past Morgan Four Corners.
The first settlements were made from the said mill to Charleston line ; and the farms made narrow on said County road, and settled each way from said road. They had another hill road to Brownington, and the settlement of East Brownington was made so as to help West- more settlement by the influence of Judge Strong of Brownington and old Col. Eaton, one of the first settlers of Westmore, a leading man in town. Beaver-brook headed in the easterly corner of Brownington near Westmore, run- ning a short distance from the water that runs into Clyde river through Toad pond in Charles- ton. In high water some part of the water of Beaver-brook runs into Clyde river. The main
part of Beaver-brook runs into Willoughby riv- er, and Willoughby river into Barton river, and Barton river into Magog Lake : here it joins with the waters of Clyde river. A proper deep ditch on the Winslow land would turn the water of Beaver-brook through Toad pond into Clyde river.
The Passumpsic road was not made here on the straight line to Derby, past West Charles- ton village, but the main road from Lyndon past the east side of the lake into the side of the mountain was made by different towns, ac- cording to their interest ; and this road past West Charleston village to Derby ; and after this road was made it was the main stage-road from Lyndon to Derby Line, till the cars came to Barton, and is now called the main road through the town. There is now a road from the out- let of the lake to the south side of Barton mountain, of some importance. There is some excitement about having the road from Barton extended through this town and East Charles- ton and Brighton, to Island Pond depot. This road, when made, will make a stage-road from the Lake House in this town to Island Pond depot, and also make a stage-road from Barton depot to Island Pond depot.
This township was granted Nov. 7, 1780- chartered Aug. 17, 1781-containing 23,040 acres. Willoughby Lake is about 6 miles long and 1} miles wide : its waters are dis- charged by Willoughby river into Barton river. Some of the head branches of the Clyde and Passumpsic rivers rise in this township. The population in 1820 was 18. The settle- ment began before 1803-probably about 1797, the year the land-tax was granted by the State, in Westmore. The first settlement of this township was abandoned about 1813. Finally Mical Bly, one of the last settlers of East Brownington, a salts maker, moved to Westmore and made many tons of salts of lye. He was an honest man, a federal smuggler of salts. He was rough in his man- ners, and said Tom Jefferson's mean embargo robbed him of his hard earnings. He had, at different times, had three good wives, and a respectable family of children. He endured the hardships of living in the new settlements of Brownington and Westmore and Charles- ton. He died in Derby, leaving his third wife a widow. Two of his sons are now res- idents of Charleston.
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