USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 21
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The families both of Rufus and Darius were decidedly religious, and so it may be said of their descendants. Col. Darius Branch was a con- stant attendant on the house of God, and a lib- eral supporter of religious institutions at home and abroad. He died in his 84th year.
JAMES PALMER settled early in the N. E. part of the township, quite up among the hills,
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in a place called Belgo ; for what reason is not known, unless it was from the configuration of the hills about his little valley. Remote as he was from society, his name and influence were rot lost. The family were noted for talent and for intelligence.
His oldest son, Dr. David Palmer, graduated at Castleton Med. Col. in 1824. was distinguish- ed as a practitioner, and a man of science. He became a professor of Chemistry, and Lecturer in the Vt .. Medical College in Woodstock, where he resided, and also in the Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass., and died in the midst of active usefulness, by inhaling sulphurous acid gas, by reason of some defect in the apparatus, when performing an experiment before the class, aged 51 years. His brother, Allen, still occu- pies the homestead.
We now go back to the
COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Previous to this war settlers were located on all the principal highways, which differed but little from what they are now; and their habitations were remote from each other. The conflicting claims between New-Hampshire and New- York added not a little to the troubles incident to a new settlement. Yet hope cheered these hardy . adventures. It is sad to think such a communi- . ty must encounter the evils of frontier warfare, and the quiet of their peaceful cabins be brok. eu by savage alarms.
Castleton was a frontier township during the war; most of the settlements to the north hav- ing been deserted soon after its commencement. Many of the inhabitants of Castleton also fled ; yet the majority remained through the war, and stood firmly for the cause of Independence. Tories there were, to the great annoyance of the faitliful; but they were carefully watched, and sometimes treated with severity.
PLAN FOR CAPTURING FORT TICONDEROGA.
The idea of surprising the military posts on Lake Champlain, held by the British govern- ment, was conceived soon after the battle of Lexington. The first active measures for this purpose were taken by several gentlemen in Connecticut, who obtained a loan of $1800 from the Legislature of that State, and then hastened to Bennington for the purpose of en- gaging Ethan Allen for the enterprize. Allen readily undertook to conduct the expedition, and at once set out to collect men from the Green Mountain Boys. The appointed ren- dezvous was Castleton. Early in May, 1775, about 200 Green Mountain Boys, and .. bout 50
volunteers from Salisbury, Ct., and Berkshire, Mass., were mustered by Col. Allen at Castle- ton. After the men were mustered, Col. Bene- dict Arnold, with a single attendant, arrived. and claimed command by virtue of written in- structions from the committee of safety of Mas- sachusetts, authorizing him to enlist 400 men, and with them seize the fortress. He also claimed precedence by virtue of his commission as Colonel. Col. Allen stoutly refused to give up the command of the men he had mustered. A council was held on the night previous to the capture, in a small farm house built by Richard Bently-afterwards burned-which stood just in front of the old parsonage of the Congregational society. After an angry and pro- tracted discussion, which lasted nearly through the night, it was decided that Col. Arnold would have no authority to command the men already raised by Allen, and to whom he was an entire stranger ; that Allen should have the commission of Colonel, and command the ex- pedition, and that Arnold might join it as an assistant. The men were quartered at the house of Zadok Remington, who then kept a tavern half a mile west of the present village. Several of these recruits were from Castleton ; one of whom, Nehemiah Hoit, claimed to have been the third man who entered the fort, as al- ready stated.
The expedition left Castleton in the morning of May 9th, and reached Orwell the evening of the same day. The crossing of the lake was effected a little before day-break by a part, only, of the company. Here, again, Arnold, who had been allowed to join the party as an assistant, strove for the chief command. An- gry words ensued, so that the men, fearful lest the garrison should be alarmed, threatened to flee. It was finally agreed that Allen and Ar- nold should enter the fort side by side-Arnold on the left. The surrender of the fort was de- manded by Col. Allen, from Capt. Delaplace, its commander, " in the name of the Great Jeho- vah and the Continental Congress."
The capture of Ticonderoga, and the inva- sion of Canada which followed, left Westeru Vermont comparatively secure for a short time : but the retreat of the American forces up the lake in 1777, laid the whole region open again to depredations from British and Indians. Castleton, the frontier town, was the rendez- vous for recruits for Ticonderoga at this time, for which a most earnest appeal was made, as the British were seen to be closing around that fortress. Some 20 recruits were gathered here
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in July, 1777; a part of the citizens of Cas- [ had been at Ti. during the French war, and dleton, waiting an increase of their number, so was anxious to go there again. As to make it safe for them to go to Ti- BATTLE OF HUBBARDTON. coaderoga.
SKIRMISH AT CASTLETON.
About half a mile east of Castleton village, on the north-west corner of the east and west road and the Hubbardton road, stood the house of George Foote, where religious worship was held on the Sabbath. Upon the corner oppo- site was a school-house. A mile and a half north of this, on the Hubbardton road, lived Capt. John Hall. Still further north, on what is known as the Ransom farm, was a building appropriated to recruits. On the Sabbath. July 6th, while the people were gathered for relig- ious worship, the alarm is given that the en- emy is approaching. At the same time the recruits come flying down the road and take shelter in the school-house. and in the house of Mr. Foote. Women and children take shelter in the cellar. There is brisk firing from both sides, for a considerable time, but the casual- ties are few, the one party covered by the build- ings, the other by the trees of the forest. There is a closer conflict. Capt. Williams, a volun- teer from Guilford, Vt., is wounded in the groin, but will not yield; and, in a hand to hand fight, deals a heavy blow upon a British Lieu- tenant. He is then bayoneted through the body, and expires in a few moments. Capt. John Hall receives a shot in the leg, and as he lies profusely bleeding, calls for water. As his wife is bringing it to him, a tory named Jones, kicks the dish from her hands. Capt. Hall died of his wound not long after. One of the British infantry was mortally wounded, and an- other shot through the body ; but recovered through the kind attentions of Mrs. Hall-ren- dering good for evil. One of Capt. Williams' sons was wounded in the heel, in the early part of the engageinent, and fled to the woods. He finally reached Rutland in a famishing condi- tion. Two sons of Capt. Hall. Elias and Alphe- us, George Foote and others, were taken pris- oners and carried to Ticonderoga, but made their escape after a few weeks.
The body of Capt. Williams, wrapped in a blanket, without a coffin, was rudely buried at the foot of a tree near by. Forty four years after his remains were disinterred, and the bones cirofully gathered and laid together in exact or ler by Luther Deming, (a man perfectly bl.nd,) and re-buried in the village grave-yard. with appropriate ceremonies. Capt. Williams
After this most unequal conflict, in which' the British, tories and Indians outnumbered nearly ten to one, the victorious party re- turned to Hubbardton, rifling houses and gath- ering plunder on their way. It was on this same day that Gen. St. Clair evacuated Ticon- deroga, and marched his forces for Castleton. His route was by the old military road to Hub- bardton; thence south by the Hubbardton road. The van of St. Clair's army encamped that night near the place where Williams and Hall had just fallen. One division of the army un- der Col. Bellows encamped about 2 miles south of Hubbardton. The rest of the army, with Cols. Warner, Francis, and Hale, encamped at Hubbardton.
The foraging party engaged in the skirmish at Castleton came near falling into the hands of St. Clair's army, on their return ; but meet- ing some of his soldiers who were straving in advance, they learned of the approach of the army ; and, taking these prisoners, they turned off the road to the right into the woods, and so escaped. They encamped that night within a short distance of Col. Warner's command-so near, says Mr. Hall, one of the prisoners. that the noise of the battle was perfectly distinct, and great anxiety was felt as to who were the combatants, and what was the result. The same party, commanded by Capt. Sherwoo1, took several more prisoners in Hubbardtou, all of whom they carried to Ticonderoga.
There is a question, who was the commander of this foraging party. Lieut. Hall, a prisoner with the party, says it was commanded by Capt. Fraser. Thompson's History says the same. Other authorities say that Capt. Fraser was certainly on the west side of the lake. a few days before, leading the attack on the American lines. Besides, Capt. Sherwood is said to have been the commander of the foraz- ing party in Hubbardton, which was prota- bly the same as that at Castleton.
The battle of Hubbardton occured July 7, 1777, with the details and results all are fi- miliar. A single incident may here be state 1. Sometime in 1828 the writer met an aged man in Kingsboro', N. Y., a worthy deacon in the Congregational church, who was in the battle, and who gave me the following particulars. He stated that his mess were just making their breakfast, when they were saluted by a volley
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of musketry. That the enemy came up over a rise of ground on the west, and rushed down upon their encampment. The Americans were soon formed, and the battle raged fiercely. Compelled to retreat, they fled eastward, down through a valley, and then up a steep hill; halting occasionally and firing upon their pur- suers-and that passing over the hill or mountain, they made their way to Rutland. "When climbing the hill," he added. "my coat collar was cut away by a musket ball." He had not visited the place since, but his descrip- tion of the ground was perfect.
After this battle, St. Clair proceeded to Fort Edward; and joined Gen. Schuylar. The Brit- ish forces advanced to Castleton, where they remained for several weeks-one regiment un- der Gen. Fraser encamping in the west part of the town, the other, under Gen. Reidsel. a lit- tle to the east of the village, where the skirmish had been.
During the events above described there were times of great excitement, and some fam- ilies fled in alarm ; but the greater part re- mained. The year following the battle of Hub- bardton a fort was built near the spot where the first blood had been spilled in Castleton, furnished with two cannon, and garrisoned un- der different commanders, till the close of the war. All able bodied men in the settlement were enrolled as minute-men, ready to repair to the fort at the call of the signal-gun. Many soldiers' graves, whose names have long since been forgotten, are still visible near the site of the fort, unless recently effaced.
The following incident will illustrate the trials of those trying days. Very early one morning the alarm-gun is heard, and Mr. Lake living a mile and a half from the fort, shoul- ders his gun, and obeys the summons. leaving his wife and two children nuprotected in their log-cabin. remote from any neighbor. Soon a Mrs. Eaton, who lived one fourth of a mile distant, came flying in, with her two children. hurried from their bed, greatly alarmed. In her haste she had left her bread in the oven, and taken her children without anything to eat. What can these mothers do? Terrified and alarmed, they resolve to flee for safety ; although it was still dark, and raining fast .. With all possible haste they make their way over hills, through the woods, quite to the southern border of the township, to the house of a Mr. Richmond. It was a difficult and fa- tigning tramp. Wet and weary, the children | tinct action. crying from hunger and cold, they rejoice at|
the sight of a habitation, and hope for shelter and warmth. As they approach the door, the voice of prayer from within fills them with joy. They listen-but what is their dismay when they hear loud and earnest petitions for the triumph of the British arms, and the over- throw and destruction of all who oppose. It is the prayer of a tory. Wet and weary as they are-and the children crying for bread-they turn away with indignation to look for some more kindly shelter.
Many other incidents, equally touching, there were no doubt, which have not been pre- served ; but from this we get a glimpse at those trying times.
PROVISION FOR VOLUNTEERS.
The records of the colony furnish evidence of true devotion to the American cause. The town voted, Sept. 30, 1780,
"To give as many men as will turn out as volunteers, out of this town, to scout to defend the frontiers, ten silver dollars per month. or par them in wheat at 5 shillings per bushel, and one shilling and six pence each per day as billet-money, to victual themselves, and one gill of rum per day, while they are in the woods."
The same year, also, voted,
"To raise Twenty Pounds Sterling in money, and 2282 lbs. of flour, and eighty-five bushels of rye and corn, for the use of the State."
And in 1772, voted,
"To divide the Town into two classes, to hire each class a man, to go into the service the ensuing campaign,"
In April of the same year, voted,
" To raise a rate of 49 Pounds 8 shillings. co the list of 1781, to pay soldiers for the ensuing campaign."
Castleton was organized into a town in March, 1777. Eli Cogswell was the first town clerk, Jesse Belknap was the first justice of the peace, Zadok Remington was the first representative after the organization.
Educational and religious matters were not neglected by the colonists, though oppressed with burdensome taxes, and the many person- al sacrifices incident to these trying times. We learn from the proprietors' records, that meas- ures were taken to secure preaching as early as 1775. Religious services were held before this, no doubt, and very likely the township had al- ready been visited by missionaries from the Connecticut Missionary Society, by whose time- ly labors the foundations of many churches were lald : but this is the first mention of dis- From this time religious worship on the Sabbath was maintained pretty constant-
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ly. The house of George Foote was the place for meeting at the time of the war, and the place where the people were assembled when they were attacked by the British and Indians.
The school-house which stood on the corner opposite to George Foote's, at the time of the skirmish before mentioned, is evidence of the establishment of schools previous to 1777 .- From the town-records we learn, that there were two schools kept during the winter of 1778-0 : one of them near Zadock Reming- ton's, by Gen. Cogswell; the other near Reu- ben Moulton's, in the east part, by Alplieus Hall. A yote to divide the town into school districts was passed in 1785.
Before the war a frame-house was built by Mr. Bently, which stood just in front of the old parsonage of the Congregational society, where the remains of the cellar may now be discover- ed. This was the house where the council was held on the question of commanding the expe- dition against Ticonderoga. There was anotli- er built by George Foote half a mile east of the village-one by Reubeu Moulton, 2 miles east. But the first frame-house was built by Zadock Remington, and the second by Ger- shom Lake.
The early years of the colony must have been unusually prosperous. In less than 6 years from the arrival of the first families, as many as 30 log-houses had been built, and 6 or 8 frame-houses-schools established, a place of mecting fixed upon, and measures in progress to secure the stated ministrations of the gospel.
THE VILLAGE OF CASTLETON is situated near the centre of the township, on the southern bank of Castleton river. on a level plain, which is elevated about 30 fect above the bed of the stream. Main Street, which is half a mile in length, wide and perfectly level, may challenge a comparison with any other in New England. The present population is about 600.
The public buildings are Castleton Seminary, situated on a beautiful elevation at the head of Seminary Street, with a spacious yard. beauti- fully shaded in front. There is, also. connected with it, a building for a Normal school. The Town Hall, a substantial brick building. crect- el in 1856, standing upon the site of the old Rutland County Grammar School. Two large hotels. viz., the Bomoseen House and the San- ford House-and five church edifices, described in another place.
The buildings formerly owned and occupied by Castleton Medical College have been remov- ed, since the collego was discontinued.
The water-power at Castleton village, though small, has been used for different purposes at different times, and is of some importance. It was first improved by Erastus Higley and Eb- en'r Langdon, in 1803; by Mr. Higler for a card- ing-machine and fulling-mill, and by Mr. Lang- don for an oil-mill. Afterwards there was a mill for sawing marble, and another for grind- ing provender. About 1835, Mr. Higler s his interest in the water-power to Mr. Hart Langdon, who built a furnace, and carried on a large business for several years.
Mr. M. G. Langdon built a distillery here about 1830. Mr. A. W. Hyde built another a little to the east of the village, about the same time. Neither of them continued long in op- eration.
There is also a marble-mill, built by Smith Sherman, on the Hubbardton brock. half a mile from the village. This was the first mar- ble-mill in the town, since the one owned by Mr. Higley, and has done a large business for many years.
EARLY BUSINESS MEN.
Solomon Gouernsey is supposed to have been the first merchant. He built and occupied the brick house which stood where the Bomoseen House now stands. A. W. Hyde succeeded him in the same building. After him Mr. Thrall, father of Reuben R. Thrall, Esq., of Rutland, occupied it for a tavern. Mr. Hyde then trad- ed in the Goodwin house, and in 1806 sold out to Mr. Jolin Goodwin, who continued the husi- ness until his death. Mr. Hyde then built the Weston house. and opened a tavern.
Other merchants were Gen. Eli Cogswell, with a partner by the name of Graham: Samnel Couch; Mr. Baker, who sold to Messrs. Meacham & E. Langdon ; and then Meacham & Adams. in 1801-Dr. Selah Gridley, Albert Langdon, A. W. & O. Hyde, O. N. Dana, M. G. Langion. Adams & Davey, Root & Tomlinson, Ferron Parker.
Tanners and shoe-makers: James Kilbourn carried on business near Z. Remington's: Dea. Enos Merrill. at the west end of the village; Milton McIntosh, east of the village: Sylves- ter Pond, north. on the E. Hubbardton road.
Ebenezer Parker and Cant. Joseph Barney were the prominent blacksmithis.
The hatting business was carried on er-le by Read Mead. in a building which stood where the Liberal church now stands.
Carpenters and Joiners-Jonathan Deming, Mr. Thompson, John Hougliton, N. Granger, T
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R. Dake, Freedom Brown, Clark Stevens & The water-power at the outlet at Hydeville is Son.
HYDEVILLE is a flourishing village upon the outlet of Lake Bomoseen, where there is water- power sufficient to propel a large amount of machinery. For many years its use was limit- ed to a grist-mill and two or three saw-mills. It now forms an important business centre, es- pecially for marble and slate manufacture, and claims a more extended notice.
Since 1850 the water-power at Hydeville has been largely in the hands of Messrs. A. W. & Pitt W. Hyde, through whose enterprise, and the extensive and growing marble and slate interests the amount of business has largely increased. It should be understood that Hyde- ville is the centre and R. R. station for a num- ber of slate quarries and manufacturing com- panies, which are therefore noticed in connec- tion with it.
Marble Mills .- Hydeville company, Marble Mill. Sherman, Adams & Langdon, Marble Mill.
Slate Mills .- E. A. Billings, Slate Manufacto- ry; Forest Mining and Slate company ; West Castleton Mining and Slate company ; Eagle R. R. and Slate company. All these are em- ployed in the manufacture of roofing and mill stock.
For the manufacture of finished wares, such as mantles and other marbleized articles, there are the Forest Mining and Slate company ; the Castleton R. R. and Slate company.
The Slate Quarries are: 3 at W. Castleton ; Copeland's : Western Vermont; Billings': Hyde's ; Baker's Vein ; Bliss' Vein ; Root & Ton- linson's Vein; Copeland's Vein; Eagle State company's Vein, and two or three others not designated by name.
There is at Hydeville a flouring mill, with 4 runs of stone, and a mill for sawing lumber; 4 stores, and one at West Castleton ; 2 groce- ries : boot and shoe shop; wagon shop; tin and hardware. On the bordsrs of Lake Bomo- seen are 3 or 4 mills for sawing lumber.
It is necessary to consider the various sup- plies of water to Lake Bomoseen, in order to a full appreciation of the water-power in and about Hydeville. There is a chain of lakes in Hubbardton connected with each other, and all emptying their waters into Lake Bomoseen. These are-Walker Lake, Roach L., Brezer L., Bebee L., Prince L., and one other. Add to these Screwdriver. or Glen Lake, and Half. Moon Lake, which empty directly into L. Bo- moseen, and we have the sources of supply .-
estimated at 250 horse power ; at Glen Lake at 50 horse power, and a small power at Half Moon.
The tonage of slate and marble from Hyde- ville, in 1870, was, of slate, including roofing, billiard and mill stock, 12,686.320 lbs .; of marble 4,956,265 lbs. ; mantles, 2200 lbs.
There is a post-office at Hydeville, and also at West Castleton-2 churches: St. James, Episcopal church, organized 1852-church ed- ifice erected 1853 ; ministers employed Rev. A. H. Bailey, Rev. Mr. Batchelder, Rev. Oliver Hopson, Rev. Mr. Harris, Rev. J. Isham Bliss. Members of the church 50- of the congrega- tion 150 .- Baptist church, organized 1850; church edifice erected the same year. For sev- eral years the church and congregation, in con- siderable part, belonged to Fairhaven, and the society was pretty large. There is now a sep- arate organization in Fairhaven, and the church at Hydeville is somewhat reduced. The first established pastor was Elder C. B. Smith: El- der C. H. Green succeeded him, and remained 9 years. Since Elder Green left. the church has enjoyed the labors of Elder Giles, Elder Goadley, D. D., and Elder Chase. The present pastor is Elder II. L. Grose. The congregation numbers 100 ; church members 75.
One mile south of Hydeville is a Welch soci- ety of Whitfield Methodists. recently organiz- ed. House of worship built in 1869 : congre- gation from 50 to 75.
SLATE PENCIL QUARRY AND FACTORY.
This quarry is situated about 3 miles north from the village of Castleton. on a small stream which empties into Lake Bomoseen. Very lit tle was known respecting it previous to 1854. Some few pencils had been manufactured in a crude way, previous to this; but nothing of importanee had been done until Mr. James Ad- ams entered upon the business in 1854. It was continued by him until 1850, when a partner- ship was formed with IT. O. Brown, and con- tinued until 1866 when D. R. Satterlee became a partner, under the firm name of Adams. Brown & Co. The year following it was incorporated as the " Adams Manufacturing Company." with a capital stock of $225,000; James Adams, president; D. R. Satterlee, vice president, and O. A. Brown, secretary.
The factory is situated at the quarry-has a steam engine of' 80 horse power, and suitable machinery for turning out 100.000 pencils per day. The company employ about 100 work- men. The pencils are of superior quality, and
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are sent to all parts of the world. They are called the " the soap-stone pencil."
This stone is also ground into a fine powder, and used in the manufacture of paper. It also contains a very large per cent. of alum, and the company expect to manufacture alum in Large quantities. For the above purposes there is no quarry in the United States, if there is in the world, to compare with it.
BANKS.
The first bank established in Castleton, call- ed the " Bank of Castleton" was organized in 1852, under the general banking-law of the State ; capital stock $100,000. Hon. Wm. C. Kittridge was the first president ; L. D. Foote, first cashier. T. W. Rice succeeded Judge Kittridge, in 1854, as president. and C. M. Wil- lard. Esq., was appointed cashier. This bank was closed up in 1859, and The Mutual Bank of Castleton was organized in its place, with a capital of $50,000; T. W. Rice, president; C. M. Willard, cashier.
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