The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1, Part 19

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 19

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ed in fertility by any in the vicinity. The town produces every kind of timber common to the country. Pine, oak , cherry, sugar and red maple, ash and cedar are found in abund- ance. A bed of bog iron was discovered in this town about 1810, which is inexhausti- ble, and which has been extensively wrought for some years past into bar and cast iron. From 7 to 9 tons of this ore can be melted in a quarter furnace in 24 hours, yielding 33 per cent. of soft, grey iron which is not liable to crack from effects of the heat, and conse- quently makes the best of stoves. Small can- non have been made from it, which are bored with facility and answer a good purpose. The bar-iron which is made from the ore is of the best quality. The ore is found by digging 5 or 6 feet, and is covered by strata of sand and ochre. The bed has been pene- trated about 100 feet, but its depth is not known. Manganese is found here in abund- ance, and of the best quality. Nearly 200 tons are annually sent to market, much of which is exported to Europe. Marble is extensively quarried and manufactured, and a quarry has recently been opened, which is thought to be equal to the Italian marble. About 13 miles east of the village, are two caverns, in limestone ledges, and about half a mile apart. The descent into the largest is about 18 feet perpendicular, into a room 16 or 18 feet square. From this room is a pas- sage, barely sufficient to admit a middling- sized person to pass along in a creeping pos- ture, into another still larger, which has not been much explored.

Brandon village is among the most flour- ishing in the State, 16 miles from Rutland, 16 from Middlebury, 16 from Rochester, 16 from Lake Champlain. It contains 130 dwelling-houses, 3 brick meeting-houses, a brick seminary, 100 feet by 30; 2 two-story brick school-houses, a variety of iron-works, mills and other buildings, and about 900 in- habitants. There are in town 13 school-dis- tricts, and 13 school-houses, 2 blast and 2 cupola furnaces, 1 flouring-mill, 10 saw-mills, a last factory a lead-pipe factory, &c .- Thompson's Gazetteer, 1842.

BRANDON STATISTICS-1873.

For 1872 to 1874, Nathan T. Sprague, of Brandon, Rutland County, State Senator; E. J. Ormsbee, Esq., State's Attorney and Representative of the town of Brandon ; George Briggs, town clerk; Volney Ross,

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town treasurer, Sumner Briggs, W. A. Wil- liams, N. H. Eddy, selectmen ; H. S. Buttles, constable ; J. S. Cilley, supt ; T. B. Smith, Henry Rust, D. N Peck, listers; G. W. Par- menter, overseer ; H. S. Me Collum, agent ; E. N. Briggs, E. June, George Briggs, J. Q. Hawkins, E. J. Ormsbee, lawyers; John Capen, Ezra June, D. N. Peck, N. H. Eddy, E. J. Ormsbee, I. J. Vail, E. D. Hinds, D. E. Rust, D. C. Smith, J. Q. Hawkins, C. W. Smalley, Horace Ellis, justices; A. T. Wood- ward, O. G. Dyer, F. W. Page, C. W. Peck, H. W. Hamilton, M. F. Edson, Forestdale, Charles Backus, physicians; F. F. Pierce; W. H. Wright, dentists ; clergymen, C. A. Thomas, D. D., pastor of the Bap. ch., J. C. Me Laughlin, of the Cath. ch., Franklin Tux- bury, of the Cong. ch., William Schouler, of the Epis. ch., A. Heath of the Meth. ch .; J. S. Cilley, principal of the Brandon Graded School ; G. W. Parmenter, Brandon postmas- ter ; Stephen Salls, Forestdale postmaster ; Banks, Brandon National, President, J. A. Conant; Cashier, D. C. Bascom ; capital, $ 200,000; First National, President, N. T. Sprague, jr .; Cashier, H. C. Copeland ; capital, $ 150,000; R. R. Station and Express Agent, Charles Page ; Telegraph Agent, E. N. Dut- ton ; Hotels, Brandon House, David Mc- Bride ; Douglass House, L. R. Barker ; Eat. ing House, H. W. Hooker ; Merchants, gener- al assortment, Poss & Pitts, Smith & Collins, I. C. Gibson, Simonds & Osgood, S. H. Park- hurst, H. C. Webster, W. H. Flint ; Forest- dale, William Kimball, A. G. Baker ; auc. tioneer, A. W. Goss ; books and stationery, E. D. Gibbs & Co., boots and shoes, Howes & Walker, H. W. Williams ; clocks and watches, N. P. Kingsley, C. M. Whittaker ; clothing, hats and caps, Ozro Meacham, Engels & Mercure ; dry goods, E. J. Bliss ; drugs and medicines, Robert Forbes, C. L. Cox ; fancy goods, J. B. Kelley ; groceries, A. A. Rossi- ter, Winslow & Kingsley ; hardware, Briggs B:os., Stafford & Phelps, F. R. Button ; mil- linery, Miss L. A. Tracy, W. F. Lewis ; sew- ing machines, D. F. Sexton ; Manufacturers, Brandon Lime and Marble Co., J. E. Hig- gins, Agt., Brandon Statuary Marble Co., S. L. Goodell, Supt., Otter Creek Marble Co., James Kendall, Supt .; Howe's Scales, Bran- don M'fg Co., N. T. Sprague, jr., Pres ; Bran- don Empire Mineral Paint Co., E. D. Bush, Supt .; Leicester Mineral Paint Co., J. E. Higgins, Agt .; Brandon Kaolin and Paint

Co., D. W. Prime, Agt; paint and kaolin, Brandon Mining Co., Paul Symons, Supt ; founders, Paine, Hendry & Christie ; lum- ber, E. D. Seldon, S. C. Durkee, N. H. Chur- chill ; carriage maker, S. Briggs ; comhin max- er, I. C. Haven ; pill boxes, spools and tas- sel moulds, Newton & Thompson ; tobacco and cigars, Z. Clark ; furniture, N. P. Kings- ley, H. H. Hill; grist and flouring mills, Ca- hee Bros .; Forestdale, L. Sheldon ; Mechan- ics and Artisans, blacksmiths, Blanchard & Hope, Moses Gordon, V. B. Des Roches ; Forest lale, E. B. Hendry, Jeremiah Tennien ; carpenters, Jas. Knapp, Frank Keeler, E. G. Bigelow, E. S. Worden, Caryl Kinsman, Jas. Cross, Henry Cross, C. W. Carr, E. G. Carr ; cooper, T. Boland; hair dressers, H. A. Ten- ney, Peter Naylor, W. T. Bowie; harness makers, D. R. Putnam, Sumner Briggs ; machinists, C. O. Luce, Henry Kinsman ; masons, Hiram Roberts, Edward Smith ; painters, S. J. Briggs, W. P. Bartlett, P. L. Hurtibes, John Lereaux, Charles Parker ; photographers, N. S. Capen, H. E. Sargent ; printers, Morrill & Goss; shoemakers, A. Draper, A. Trombly ; tailors, Engels & Mer- cure, A. Haase ; watchmakers, N. P. Kings- ley, C. M. Whittaker ; wheelwrights, Sum- ner Briggs, A. L. Clark ; Population in 1870, 3571 .- Walton's Vermont Register.

[The Old " BRANDON SEMINARY"-of late years commonly so called-was chartered under the name of the Vermont Literary and Scientific Institution at Brandon ; and was, at least for many years of its existence, under the patronage of the Baptist associa- tion. It has ceased to exist during the last five years. Among its principals were AL- BERT HURD, born in Oxford, C. W., 1823, and a graduate of Middlebury college of the class of 1850. Mr. Hurd was principal at Brandon Seminary from 1850-'51, and was in 1853, the lecturer on natural sciences in Knox College, Galesburgh, Ill. In 1858, A. H. Bingham-husband of Mrs. Bingham whose poetry appears among the poetical representations in these papers-was at the head of this school. Mr. Bingham was prin- cipal for several years and the school was prosperous while he presided over it, as also during the time that Rev. Claudius B. Smith, who succeeded Mr. Bingham, presided over it. Mr. Smith commenced his labors about 1$53, and remained till his appointment to the chaplaincy of the 2nd Vt. Reg., during the

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Iste war. Mr. Smith obtained a clerkship in Washington after the war, at which place he now resides with his family. The old Sommary building has been remodeled for the present graded school. At the time of writing, we have not been able to obtain a full list of the principals and their term of service, and the date of the commencement of the old Seminary, but if received in time it will be found in the supplement-as also an account of the new graded school which we expected to have received in time for in- sertion here. The same is true in regard to a paper desired on marbles and quarrying in Brandon, and all other subjects of histor- ical interest in the town not yet duly written up .- Ed.]

CASTLETON.

BY REV. JOSEPH STEELE.

THE Charter of Castleton was granted to Samuel Brown of Stockbridge, Mass., by Gov- ernor Wentworth of New Hampshire, Sept. 22. 1761, a year remarkable in the annals of Ver- mont. During this year the first permanent set- tlement, on the west side of the Green Moun- taiu, was effected at Bennington; and during the same year no less than 27 townships were chartered in what now constitute the counties of Bennington, Rutland and Addison. The reason for this sudden influx is found in the pre- viously unsettled state of this region. During the colonial and Indian wars the territory of Vermont was the great thoroughfare for mili- tary expeditions, and was constantly exposed to the depredations of the French and In- dians. On this account the settlement of the country was dangerous and impracticable .- Through the conquest of Canada by the En- glish, in 1760, these obstacles were removed ; and the colonists, already well acquainted with the fertility and value of the country, having often passed over it on military expeditions, hastened to secure possessions. Thus the way was prepared.

The township of Castleton is situated near the centre of Rutland county, being 10 miles W. of Rutland, 13 E. of Whitehall, N. Y., 65 N. of Albany, N. Y., and 60 S. W. of Montpe- li r, Vt .- lat. 43º 34', long. 3º 56'; bounded N. by Hubbardton, E. by Ira, S. by Poultney, ani W. by Fairhaven ; containing 36 square miles. It is uncertain when the town received the name CASTLETON. The most probable sup-

position seems to be, that it was called after a man by the name of Castle-of whom Col. Bird purchased 95 original shares, showing that he was early a large proprietor, and probably gave his name to the town.

The original proprietors of the township of Castleton were principally from Salisbury, Ct. Although the charter was granted to Samuel Brown of Stockbridge, there is no evidence that he ever acted with the proprietors, or that he retained any interest in the township.

The original charter is lost ; but we have a certified copy from the book of charters in the State of New Hampshire, from which we learn that it contained the privileges, conditions and reservations common to the "New Hampshire Grants." The grantees were 70 in number, only a small part of whom became residents of Castleton. The name of Col. Amos Bird ap- pears in the earliest records extant, although he was not one of the original grantees ; and he seems to have been the largest proprietor, and the leading man in the proprietors' meet- ings. It is probable that he had a controling interest.

MEETINGS OF PROPRIETORS.

The earliest meeting of the proprietors, of which any record remains, (a part of the rec- ords having been destroyed), was in the early part of the year 1766. The precise date of this meeting is gone, but the records say it was ad- journed to Oct. 7th of the same year ; which year, according to the date of the adjourned meeting, was 1766. This meeting was probably held at the house of Amos Bird, in Salisbury, Ct., where subsequent meetings were held up to the time of adjournment to meet in Castle- ton, which was Feb. 27, 1770. The meeting in October. 1766, seems to have been preparatory to the first visit to the township by Cols. Bird and Lee, made the following year, as appears from the vote passed at that meeting, as fol- lows :

" Voted-That there shall be a rato or tax laid on the proprietors of the township of Cas- tleton of one hundred and ninety-two pounds, Lawful money, to defray the expense that has already arisen, or that shall arise, in laving out the Township of Castleton, and in cutting a road through the woods from Wood.Creek to Castleton, and other incidental charges that may arise.'

FIRST VISIT OF BIRD AND LEE.

In the spring of 1767, Cola Amos Bird and Noah Lee, attended by a colored man, set out on their first journey to Castleton ; a country they had never seen, and of which they knew

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how little they understood about its location, and how great the changes that have taken place since that time. From Salisbury they came through Benuington to Manchester. From Manchester all was wilderness, to be traversed by marked trees, till they came to Clarendon. At Danby there was a log-hut inhabited by one solitary man, where they tarried for a night .- From Clarendon they went to Rutland, where they struck the old military road leading from Charlestown, N. H, (known as No. 4,) to Crown Point, N. Y. Following this road, they pass- ed along the northern border of Castleton, wholly ignorant of the fact, to Crown Point, and thence to Ticonderoga. Here they replen- ished their stock of provisions, and proceeded by way of Skeenesboro',-now Whitehall,-to Castleton, arriving in June, 1767. By tracing the route of these adventurers upon the map, it will be seen that they nearly compassed the township, touching its borders at one time ; and that from Manchester, 40 miles south of Castleton, they must have traveled at least 130 miles to reach the place.

THE FIRST SUMMER AND FIRST CABIN.

The summer of 1767 was spent in exploring and surveying the township; but no record of what was done remains. Tradition informs us that Col. Bird lost his way on one occasion ; and wandering, reached the summit of a high, precipitous mountain in the east part of the township, where he was obliged to spend the night. As a protection from wild beasts he peeled the bark from the trees about him, to deter them by the whited surface. From this circumstance the mountain received the name it still bears-Bird Mountain.

A log-cabin was built during the season, on a bluff in the south-westerly part of the town- ship, near the original east and west road, as first surveyed. This bluff is on what was af- terwards known as the Clark farm.

SECOND VISIT OF BIRD AND LEE.

Cols. Bird and Lee returned to Salisbury in the autumn of 1767. The following year the same party of three returned, with the evident purpose of making a permanent settlement .- The summer is spent in surveys of the town- ship, and in clearing a small opening in the for- est : but no seeds were planted that year. Col. Bird returned to Connectient before winter; Col. Lee and the colored man remained sole occu- pants of the log-cabin. It was a severe winter. The snow was deep, and the cold extreme.

little or nothing. Their journey shows, both They suffered much. The colored man's feet were badly frozen. Far removed from any set- tlement, with a limited stock of provisions, their only hope of replenishing their scanty store was by hunting and fishing. But the river became frozen, and the deep snow rendered hunting almost impracticable. Worst of all, their guns and ammunition became so seriously injured, as to be nearly useless. In their extremities, it is said, that they actually chased down deer and other game upon their snow-shoes.

There is no record of Col. Bird's return to Castleton during the summer following (1769), but it is probable he did return, and that the house in which he afterwards lived, on the bank of Castleton river, near where the old turnpike crosses it, was built that season. We infer this from the action at the last meeting of the pro- prietors in Salisbury, dated Feb. 27, 1770. That meeting was "adjourned to be held at the house of Col. Amos Bird, in Castleton, the 27th day of May next, at 2 o'clock, P. M." That meet- ing also voted,

" That every proprietor of the township of Castleton shall have the privilege of pitching one hundred acres to each right in the said township ; provided he lays it in a square form and not less than 50 rods wide, which shall be the 4th division."

" Voted-That there be a draft for the abore mentioned pitch, and one pitch made every day -Sundays excepted-and the Ist pitch to be made on the 1st day of May next, and every proprietor shall pitch according to his draft. ex- cept he shall neglect to make his pitch on the day which he draws, which if he does, he sha.l forfeit his chance to the next draft. so that ev- ery proprietor shall have a chance of making his pitch on the day he draws."

Cols. Bird and Lee were both present at this meeting, and arrangements were then made for the actual settlement of the township the follow- ing spring. Accordingly Ephraim Buel, Elea- zer Bartholomew and Zadock Remington, with their families, arrived in May, 1770. These were the first settlers, and the only families dur- ing that year. Bird and Lee did not bring their families until later.

On the day appointed the pitches were made, but it is not possible to locate them from the imperfect records.

LIST OF PITCHES.

The following is the list of "pitches" ordered to commence on the first day of May, 1770; and of the persons here named not one is to be found among the early settlers. How this came to pass I am unable to explain.

The first pitch was made by the Com's for the

CASTLETON.

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Propagation of the Gospel : the 2d for the Ist | Hubbardton, following a stream which rises in settled minister : 3d for the School: 4th for Hubbardton and empties into Castleton river, one-fourth of a mile east of the village. The old Troy and Burlington turnpike (which was constructed at a later period) runs from Hub- bardton to W. Poultney, and crosses the east and west road at Castleton West Corners. Pass- ing along the shore of Lake Bomoseen. it af- fords a fine view of that beautiful lake and its surroundings. the Glebe; 5th, James Wilson ; 6th, John Nash : 7th, Fred. Burgat ; 8th, Joseph Willard ; 9th, Moses Pixley ; 10th, Josiah Jones; 11th, Abner Clap; 12th Israel Dewey; 13th, Caffe Van Schairk ; 14th, Jacob Cooper; 15th, Dan- iel Allen ; 16th, Matthew Cadwell ; 17th, Da- vid Pixley ; 18th, Samuel Lee ; 19th, Stephen Nash; 20th, Joshua Warren; 2Ist, Stephen West; 22d, John Burgert ; 23d, Elijah Brown ; LAKE BOMOSEEN* 24th, John Chadwick ; 25th, Timothy Wood- bridge ; 26th, Wm. Kenedy; 27th, Joseph Woodbridge; 28th, Isaae Davis ; 29th. Samuel Brown; 30th, John Chamberlin ; 31st, Isaac Davis, 32d, Stephen Nash; 33d, Isaac Gar- field; 34th, Isaac Vandusen ; 35th, Benjamin Warren ; 36th, Daniel Raymond; 37th, Solo- mon Gleason : 38th, Aaron Sheldon: 39th, Timothy Woodbridge, Jr. : 40th, John Willard ; 41st, Azariah Williams; 42d, Isaae Lawrence ; 43d, Jonathan Pixley ; 44th, Samuel Jackson. This is the 4th Division.

We have also part of another list of pitches, called the 3d division. The date is lost, as also the names of pitches up to No. 23. The names that remain are all in the 1st list of the 4th di- vision, except one-i. e., Benjamin Carver.

Only three families settled in 1770, as before stated.

Other families followed, year by year, till in 1775 there were in the township about 30 fam- ilies, and 8 or 10 unmarried men.

The first child born was Israel Buel, son of Ephraim Buel, born in 1771. Abigail Eaton, daughter of John Eaton, born the same year, was the first female.

SURVEY OF HIGHWAYS.

A road from the west line of Ira to Fairha- ven was.surveyed in 1772. This road followed the course of Castleton river, which rises in Pittsford, and, passing southerly, receives a tributary in West Rutland; and thenee running nearly west, passes through the township, di- viding it near the centre. The western part of this road from Castleton West Corners was sub- sequently changed, so as to run directly to Hydeville. The eastern part of the township is mountainous; but the valley of the river forms a beautifully level and picturesque route for the highway. The northern and southern parts are hilly, and the western part level. A north and south road from Hubbardton to East Poultney, passing through the village, was sur- vered about this time. Also a road to East

Lies principally in Castleton, its northern ex- tremity extending a short distance into Hub- bardton. It lies in a basin of rocks, and in some parts is of great depth. It is 8 miles long, and 2} wide at its greatest breadth. An island containing about 10 aeres is situated near the centre of the lake, covered with small trees and shrubs, and affords a charming summer re- sort for parties of pleasure, and adds much to the beauty of the scenery. The outlet of this lake has sufficient descent and volume of water to propel a large amount of machinery, around which the present flourishing village of Hyde- ville is situated.

FIRST MILLS-DEATH OF COL. BIRD.

The natural water-power at the outlet of the lake early attraeted the attention of the settlers. Mills were essential to the colony. The south- west part of the township abounded with ex- cellent pine timber, and at convenient distance from the outlet. Here a saw-mill was erected in 1772, and the year following a grist-mill .- The saw-mill was built chiefly through the per- sonal enterprize of Col. Bird, who spared no ex- ertions, and shunned no expense in accomplish- ing the work-which proved to be his lost work. In the prosecution of it he contraetel fever. Medical treatment was required, but there was none at hand. A messenger makes the long journey to Salisbury. Ct., for a doetor ; who arrives in time to administer remedies an 1 arrest the disease. Having remained till Col. Bird was deemed convalescent, the doetor re- turns. Though not fully restored, Col. B. is able to ride, and to make social calls. By 3 little imprudence, it was supposed, in die+, he suffered a relapse in the form of eholera-morb's. The doetor is again sent for, but the Colonel died before the doctor arrived. The saw mill. then just completed, performed its first work in cutting boards for his coffin. He died Sept. 16, 1772, in the 30th year of his age.

* Formerly called Bomhazine. Romoseen is thonht to be the Indian name-meaning " pleasant water."

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This was a severe blow to the infant colony. Then every man looked upon his neighbor as a brother. The prosperity of the settlement was measured by its growing numbers, and each man's prosperity by the prosperity of the whole. Death, in any form, in such a community, would be deeply felt ; but the loss of such a man, at such a time, filled every heart with sorrow. He was evidently a man of considerable cul- ture, for his time, and possessed a large spirit of enterprise. From the first he was the prime mover in establishing the colony : he had aid- ed and encouraged the immigrants; his kind and cheering words, amid toils and hardships, had given lieart to the faint. His counsel in matters of private as well as of public interest was exceedingly valuable. How could he be spared ! And then, this was the first visit of death to the colony. No wonder that they all mourned and wept as they laid him in the grave. For long years those who were present at the burial used to speak of the scene with deep emotion. and describe minutely the appear- ance of the widow and her little daughter, as if it were but yesterday.

The importance of such a man to the infant settlement cannot be estimated. Wise in coun- sel; 'with a heart that held all in warm em- brace, and a cheerful spirit that inspired confi- dence; ready to advise and ready to help, he seemed to be the life and support of the colony. His life was too short fully to develop his char- acter; but from what appears we cannot doubt he would have taken high rank among the worthies who surrounded him.

His remains were interred on the banks of Castleton river, near where the old turnpike crossed it, and not far from his former residence ; but in 1842 were removed to the public ceme- tery, with appropriate services, and a substan- tial monument, " erected by citizens of Castle- ton and friends as a tribute of respect to a worthy man." He was born in Litchfield, Ct., in 1742.

The widow of Col. Bird returned to Salisbu- ry, Ct., soon after the death of her husband, and did not again visit Castleton. The dangli- ter subsequently married Mr. William Hallibird of Canaan, Ct., and lived many years. She was the mother of Lieut. Governor W. S. Hallibird of Connecticut.

GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER.

The hilly and mountainous parts of the town- ship are rocky. The rocks are chiefly argillace- ous-occasionally traversed by veins of quartz,

and occasionally alternating with, or enclosing large masses of quartz. Small quantities of secondary limestone are found in a few locali- ties; and, in the vicinity of Bird's Mountain, specimens of manganese have been discovered. In the eastern and northern sections the rocks appear in elevated ridges-in some places ab- rupt and precipitous-but for the most part covered with fertile, arable soil. The south- west part is a pine plain, intersected with slate and ridges of gravel. On the west side of Lake Bomoseen is an extensive range of slate rock, which extends south many miles. and is largely quarried for roofing and marbleized slate. The large streams are bordered by rich alluvial intervales. The soil of the plains is sandy and light-on the hills it is slaty gravel, loam and vegetable mould, with a subsoil of hardpan in many parts. All kinds of grass and grain are here successfully cultivated. There are several mineral springs in the township, which have been resorted to by its residents ; but so far as is known, no chemical analysis of them has been made.

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The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1, Part 19

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 868