USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 31
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While pursuing his studies he became ac- * quainted with Dr. Ballantyne, and through his advice gave up the idea of going through the college course, though he continued till he was prepared to enter college. Per- haps actuated unconsciously by the friend- ship of Dr. Ballantyne in making his choice, he had resolved to study medicine ; and after completing his preparation for college, he commenced the study of his profession in Dr. Ballantyne's office. Dr. Ballantyne was a man of sound learning and judgment, and having been his friend and patron in all his early struggles in life, it was natural that Dr. Bowen ever afterwards held that respect for his memory and character which men always feel for their superiors in age who have as- sisted them by their aid and advice in the earliest and hardest struggles of their career. While a student in Dr. Ballantyne's office, he made the acquaintance of a German scholar, who came to this country as a surgeon in the British army, and from him gathered many ideas upon surgery and practice, which he considered extremely useful in after life. He studied his profession with assiduity for more than three years, attended private dissections, made hinself master of its standard authori- ties and familiar with its theory, and in 1799, commenced practice in Reading, Vt. At that time he had never attended any public medical school. Years afterwards the Uni- versity of Vermont and Middlebury College honored themselves and him by conferring upon him the honorary degree of M. D.
At the time when Dr. Bowen settled, Ver- mont was the field to which " manifest desti- ny" led the young men of Connecticut. It was natural, then, that Dr. Bowen should follow the current of emigration setting backward from tide water, and settle in the new State His early success was all that thorough reading, sound sense, and untiring fidelity to his profession could expect in a sparsely settled region of country. The prac- tice of the medical profession is never an easy one. At that time. and in that part of the State, it was a hardship.
The country was mainly covered with for- ests-families lived remote from each other- carriages were not in use-the physician in active practice literally spent his time on snow-shoes, in the saddle, or asleep.
But at this odds, at a time when profes-
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cional fees were less than half their present rates, ins practice extended so that in a few years his charges on book amounted to be- tween $2,000 and $3,000 per annum, and every shilling was the record of anxious thought and laborious travel. He earned the emoluments and honors of his profession, and never shrank from its burdens. Many can appreciate, perhaps fewer would imitate, that devotion to the stern idea of duty, which could induce him, often, at the close of a long ride and storiny day, when sent for by a dis. tant patient, to commence, without rest, a longer ride in a stormier night, knowing his patient could never recompense him a far. thing.
Taken as a whole, his professional career was a success. His book charges show an aggregate of nearly $100,000.
Some estimate of the mere physical labor requisite to accomplish such a result may be made, when we consider that in the average his charges did not amount to ten cents for each mile's travel, and of all the hard service represented by that large sum, it was in great proportion rendered for those who never would and never could pay him. Out of al- most $100.000 honestly earned, probably less than one-tenth remains to pass the seal of the Probate Court.
He continued the practice of his profession till within a few weeks of his death, at which time he was probably the earliest surviving physician settled in this State, and without doubt the oldest practitioner in its medical ranks.
He was one of the founders of " The Medi- cal Society of the State of Vermont," and was at all times one of those who labored to make that society the theatre of useful discussion upon disputed topics in the profession, and the means of gathering and disseminating useful theories from the aggregate experiences of its members.
The society has taken occasion to pay an appropriate tribute to his memory and worth. It is but justice to say that for more than half a century, Dr. Bowen stood in the front rank of its strong men.
His characteristics may be summed-great physical energy and endurance, an industri- ous and absiemious life, a strong, well bal- anced and well informed mind, a self reliant judgment, an obstinate perseverance, conser- vative tendencies, a zealous observance of his duties, a serupulons regard for the rights of others. and a rigid enforcement of his own.
He was a pioneer in establishing Sabbath Schools in this State, was through life their laborious advocate, and addressed the Sabbath School in Kearny City on the anniversary of his eighty-third birth day, which was the last time he ever attended public worship.
He became at an early day, a member of the order of Free Masons. He filled its re- sponsible posts in its various departments -- held its brighest jewels and received all but one of the high honors of its degrees."
THE HODGES FAMILY.
BY HON. SILAS H. HODGES.
The family of HODGES, formerly a numer- ous one in Clarendon and Rutland, sprang froin Doctor Silas Hodges, who came into Clarendon about 1733. His younger brother, Leonard Hodges, settled in Williston, a few years afterwards, and left many descendants in that vicinity.
DOCT R. S:LAS HODJES came from a family which has been settled in Norton, Mass., for upwards of two centuries and whose ance tors came from England to this country as early as 1630. Dr. Hodges had practised for some years in Woodstock, Ct., and afterwards in Dunbarton, N. H., when the war of the Revo- lution broke out. He served as surgeon in the Continental army, and was for some time in the military family of General Washington.
On settling in Clarendon, he purchasel lands on the intervale of Otter Creek, on both sides of the road leading to Middletown, and resided, until his death in 1804, in a house which then stood just west of the point where that road branches off from the one leading from Manchester to Rutland. Besides these lands, he purchased numerous tracts, in what are now Addison, Chittenden and Franklin Counties. The care of attending to these lands, and a mercantile business in which he had embarked, rendered it necessary for him to relinquish the practice of his profession.
The infirmities of his later years compelled him to give up active employment, and to leave the management of his affairs to his son, Henry. The Doctor was evidently an able man of business, and a shrewd financier, of great foresight and prudence. Tradition re- presents him as occupying a conspicious posi- tion in society, and commanding deep respect in a wide and numerous circle of acquaint- ances, extending beyond the bounds of the State.
Before coming to Vermont, he had been thrice married-firstly to Mary Baker, secon i- ly to Rachel Freeman, and thirdly to Mary Gould. The last survived him, and, soon after his death, built near the bridge across Otter Creek the house where Hannibal Hodges now lives. There she resided through most of her widowed life, well known through the region as a woman of marked energy and ability, and died in 1844.
By his first wife, Doctor Hodges had two daughters, Anna, who married first Mr.
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Smith, secondly, John Richardson, of Fair- fax : and Mary married to Randall Rice, for many years a leading magistrate in Claren- don. Rachel Hodges, the only daughter of his second wife, married first, John A. Graham, LL. D., of Rutland, afterwards of New York. By him she was mother of Commodore John H. Graham, who entered the U. S. Navy, at . the age of twelve, lost his leg on board Com. McDonough's Ship at Plattsburg, and has ever since remained in the service, and now resides at Newburgh, N. Y. She married. secondly, Roger Fuller, of Sudbury, and afterwards of Brandon.
By his third wife, the Doctor left four sons,-Henry, Silas Wyllys, George T. and Hannibal, a notice of each of whom will follow, and two daugliters, viz .: Susan, who married Calvin Robinson, a large land owner in Shewsbury, and leit only daughters, and Sophia, married to Benjamin Roberts, of Manchester, and mother of several children One of them, Col. Geo. T. Roberts, fell at the head of the Vermont 7th Regiment, at Baton Rouge, La., in 1862.
HENRY HODGES, the oldest son of the Doc- tor, born July 30th, 1779, died Nov. 27th, 1840. About 1810, he purchased the farm now owned by Joseph Congdon adjoining bis father's former property on the south. In 1842, he erected the dwelling-house now on it, and made that place his home for life. On this farm, west of the road, there had former- ly been an Indian village, from one of whose inhabitants a piece of land about half a mile north-west of the church, took and long pre- served the name of the "John's lot." Some remains of the house were to be seen as late as 1820 .*
In consequence of his father's infirmities, he became much engaged in business, quite early in life, and was widely known and noted for the energy and sagacity he dis- played in the management of the affairs en- trusted to his charge.
Throughout his life he maintained this reputation, and continued to enjoy the confi- dence and esteem of the community to a remarkable degree. Launched so early in to active life, he was precluded from ob- taining such an education as he ardently desired, and, though he made some singular
efforts to secure it, he succeeded but partially. Nevertheless, he was all his life a studious rea ler of well-chosen works, and thus became possessel of more than usual culture and in- formation for that section and period. Few men, in his day, equalled him in the extent and accuracy of his historical information. To this he added a wonderful capacity for remembering every one whom he had ever known, and for insight into their characters. His courtesy and suavity were such, withal, as to compel his staunch political opponent, Judge Harrington, to make the noted con- cession, "if there is a polite man in the Coun- ty of Rutland, Harry Hodges is the man."
As might be expected he enjoyed an unusual degree of public favor. His firm adherence to the Federal policy prevented him for many years, however, from receiving any popular honors in a town which was under strong Democratic rule. When the asperity of par :? had died away, his popularity was very soon manifestel. He represented the town for 4 years, beginning in 1819. In 1821, he re- ceived the appointment of assistant judge of the County Court, and continued to occupy that position for about 13 years.
He was ever active in promoting the wel- fare and improvement of the town, and aid- ed largely in building the brick church on Clarendon South flats, and in organizing the first Congregational Church in that district, of which he became a zealous member.
The failure of a manufactory, whose paper they had largely endorsed, involved him and his brother, Silas W., in very heavy loses in 1837. Nothing but the most untiring energy, perseverence, and sagacity on his part, ena- bled them to weather the storm successfully. The fatigue and exposure attendant upon his exertions, brought on an incurable disorder, to which, after a long struggle, he was com- pelled to succumb.
In 1802, he married Mrs. Anna Cook, whose maiden name was Anna Fuller, and who lived till April, IS64. He left five children who are still, (1870) living, but as none of them were permanantly residents in the town, s brief notice of each of them will be sufficient.
SILAS HENRY HODGES, born in 1504, grad- uated at Middlebury College in 1821, was admitted to the Bar in 1825. With the exception of a few years from 1933 to 1$41, when he was employed in the ministry, ho followed the legal profession until 1861, at
* Another tradition represents this namo as having been derived from a Tory who resided on the lot before the Revolution.
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Rutland. He then became the Senior Ex- aminer-in-chief of the United States Patent Office, and still continues to hold that appoint- ment. In 1852, and 1853, he was U. S. Com- missioner of Patents. From 1845 to 1850, he held the place of Auditor of Accounts against the State of Vermont.
He married Julia A., daughter of Major Fay, of Rutland, and has four children.
GEORGE W. HODGES, born 1813, left Clar- endon in 1823, passed two years in Buenos Ayres, and since 1831, has been engaged in business in New York, or abroad, some years in connection with his business, and some time in travel. He married in England, Eliner Burringham, and since 1852, has re- sided with his family on Staten Island.
EDWARD F. HODGES, third son of Judge Henry Hodges, born in 1816, graduated at Middlebury College in 1836, was admitted to the Bar in 1839, in Rutland, where he followed his profession till 1845, when he removed to Boston and has pursued it there ever since. Naturally of a very strong con- stitution, his assiduous devotion to his pro- fessional duties has so deranged his health that he has twice been compelled to relinquish them temporarily, and seek relief and restor- ation in foreign travel. He married the daughter of Major Hammett, of Bangor, Me., by whom he has several sons. Their present home is at Lincoln, near Boston.
MARY ANN HODGES, married in 1827, Wm. Dana, U. S. Vice Consul at Buenos Ayres, where he died in 1831. She then returned to this country, and in 1844, married the Hon. Solomon Foot, late U. S. Senator, who died in 1865. Since then she has resided in Rut- land.
ELIZABETH A. HODGES married, in 1834, Royal H. Waller, who practiced law for some years in Rutland, then in Detroit, Mich., then in New York, and in San Francisco, Cal. He was twice elected Recorder of that city. Af- ter his death in 1866, his widow took up her residence in Rutland.
Brandon; and their operations in furnaces, marble quarries, land purchases, wool, lum- ber, and general merchandise, were extensive for the times. Mr. S. W. Hodges' disposition was so retiring that few were aware of his more than ordinary abilities. Yet, he was sufficiently known at home to receive many testimonials of the confidence in his judg- ment and uprightness which his townsmen entertained. Besides discharging other trusts, he represented the town in 1824 and 1825, and was town clerk from 1817 to 1831. He made a profession of religion in 1831. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Gil- let, died in 1844. He survived her, but after several years was afflicted with a cancer, and spent two or three winters at the South in order to obtain relief. His death took place at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Apr. 19, 1858. He left 2 sons, Hannibal and Henry Leonard, and 3 daughters, Almira, Mary and Ann Eliza.
HANNIBAL HODGES, born Sept. 12, 1817, occupies the dwelling where his father and grandmother resided. He has served as town clerk several years, and as a member of the General Assembly in 1861 and 1862, and is the only man of the family and of the name now remaining in this section. He is married and has 2 sons.
HENRY LEONARD HODGES, second son of Silas Wyllys, born Mar. 30, 1825, graduated at Middlebury College in 1846, and soon after removed to the South and settled at La Grange, Troup Co .. Ga., where he has married and has a family. Though a mem- ber of the Bar, he has been principally occu- pied in teaching, for which he is eminently qualified. During the Rebellion he was well known to be staunch in his adherance to the Union, and suffered seriously in consequence of it. Almira Hodges, his oldest sister, mar- ried the Rev. David Perry and lives in Hol- lis, N. H.
MARY, second daughter of Silas Wyllys Hodges, married David S. Penfield, a well known and prosperous banker in Rockport, Ill. The third daughter, Ann Eliza, is mar- ried to T. L. Miller, a successful insurance broker of Chicago, Ill.
Doctor Hodges' second son, SILAS WYLLYS HODGES, born 1785, dwelt nearly all his life. time in the house already spoken of as built by his mother in Clarendon. He and his elder brother, Henry, formed a mercantile GEORGE TISDALE HODGES, third son of Doctor Hodges, born 1788, spent some time in college, but early removed to Ratland, where he engaged in mercantile business and connection early in life, which was only ter- minated by the death of the latter. They carried on many branches of business in Clarendon, Dorset, Manchester, Castleton and | prosecuted it successfully until his death in
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August, 1360. Winle his capacity for this pursuit, and his prn lence conspired to ensure his unusual prosperity, his intelligence, his dignified demeanor and courtesy obtained for him deep respect and esteem through a wide circle of acquaintances.
The regard in which he was held by his fellow citizens may be understood from the numerous positions of trust he was called to fill. He represented his town in the General Assembly, and his county in the State Senate for several years in each. On the death of the Hon. James Meacham, Representative to Congress, in 1856, he was chosen to fill the vacancy. . He was a director of the old Bank of Rutland from its organization in 1825, until his death, and its president from 1834. He was also a director and the vice president of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad from its commencement. An ex- tended notice of him, however, should more properly be found under the head of Rutland.
HANNIBAL HODGES, Doctor Hodges' re- maining son, resided and was engaged in business successively in Shrewsbury, Claren- don, and Castleton. He was born in 1792, and died in 1851. By his first wife, Cynthia Finney, sister of Col. Levi Finney, of Shrews- bury, he had only a daughter, Sophia L. Hodges, married to Adam M. Freeman, of Wisconsin. He married, secondly, Mrs. Eve- line Coburn, whose maiden name was Atwell. Hesurvived her and left by her four children, as follows: JOHN MARSHALL HODGES, who married in New York, where he resides and has a family. HENRY CLAY HODGE3, gradu- ated at West Point in 1851, and has served in the army ever since. He married the daughter of Governor Abernethy, of Oregon, and was on the general staff of the army in positions of great trust throughout the war. He is now Lieat. Colonel and Quartermaster of the Department of Philadelphia, and has one son. His younger brother, LIEUT. GEO. T. HODGES, born in 1841, entered the army soon after the war broke out, and was present at the battles of Yorktown, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, and Gettysburgh. He continues in the service and is stationed at Philadel- phia. The sister of these three brothers, Eveline Hodges, is married to Wm. H. Dud- ley, of Buffalo.
BENJAMIN PARKER
was born in Clarendon, Aug. 26, 1784; mar-
ried Patty Wyman, Dec. 29, 1805, by whom he was the father of 12 children, five of whom were living at the time of his death, with 18 grand-children and 9 great-grand- children. He died Apr. 9, 1868. The six- tieth anniversary of his wedding day was celebrated by a gathering of friends and neighbors at his house, to make merry and give thanks. The following lines were writ- ten, for the occasion, by Mrs. M. R. H. Mason.
THE GOLDEN WEDDING.
Welcome, dear friends, to this our golden welling,
United first were we in 1805: just sixty years ago to- day,
So long, together, we have traveled through life's wil- dering way,
The old familiar friends that then beheld us wed,
We see them not-they are numbered with the dead.
And re behold us here, an age 1 pair,
With palsied hand and furrowed brow ;
But the good Lord hath spared us yet
To live and move among you now.
Blessed with a dozen children, five of whom
Still live to cheer our age. the other seven
Gone to the better land, their home in Heaven ;
And uuto God we breathe the fervent prayer,
That we may one day meet our children there,
For well we know that not again will three score rears roll round
And we remain among the living ;
But while we stay, are we not right to meet our friends, And with them hold thanksgiving ?
Though golden dreams of youth's imaginary bliss bare Red,
And stern reality taken their place instead,
Still do we feel the longest life is far too short
To live the many lessons sixty years have tanght.
We've had our share of good, and much of seeming ill, And through it all we trust the Lord bas loved us still, And blessed according to our need, though mayhap in disguise,
Yet do we place our hope in Him, the Omniscient and Allwise.
Unite ns then, again in all the bonds of love and friend- ship known,
Rejoice with us, aud praise the Lord for all his mer- cies shown,
Be gay and jubilant, for life is sweet, e'en when we're old ; .
Let youth join hand with age in harvesting our gold, Thus shall we feel our hearts grow young and strong again.
Welded anew with love to God and all our fellow men, And when at last the Heavenly Father calls and bids us come,
May He find us like Autumn grain, waiting to be gath- ered home.
M. R. H. M.
DR. SOCRATES SMITH
died at Rush, N. Y., on the 27th of Ang. 1870, at the age of 79. He was a native of Clarendon, and graduated at Castleton Medi-
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(! College. Forty-eight years ago he emi- grated on horseback to Rush, N. Y., where Le had a successful practice, accumulating a larze fortune. He was a brother of Enoch and Nathan J. Smith, of Clarendon, and of the late Senaca Smith of Danby.
PRAYER
BEAD AT THE OPENING OF A BAND OF HOPE TEMPERANCE MEETING HELD AT NORTH CLARENDON, NOV. 14, 1871, by MRS M. R. H. MASON, PRESIDENT.
0. Thou who hearest prayer, hear us we pray to-night,
And bless us with Thy tender love and care,
While laboring in the great good cause of Right ; Protect us all, and keep us from the snare Lud by the tempter's han'I to cause us woe, O, give us brave, true hearts to dare
To fight Intemperance down where'er we go. Help us. O, God, to lift our fallen brother up With kindly love and true and steady hand, Leal him to leave the foe and break the cup, To sign with us the Pledge and join our Band, 0, bless and heal all hearts bowed down in pain Caused by the fiend whose chief and only work is ill, Who steals away the mind and dulls the brain, Deadens love and enfeebles human will,
We praise Thee, O, our God! for all Thy mercies shown,
And still keep asking more of Thy great strength, Knowing if we ask aright we shall receive our own
Just portion of Thy gifts, and dwell with Thee at length.
Guided by Thee, we hate and fear all sin and wrong ; But love the right and seek it night and day,
And we would praise Thee in our word, and deed, and song;
O, for these childrens' sake, and Him who died and suf- fered, hear us pray.
THE MANIAC'S PRAYER. BY MRS. ROENA MASON. The sunset glow is fading From off my window pane, And so my heart's glad brightness Is ever on the wane.
Yet, through the heavy portala Of this my prison home,
Came once sweet childhood's voices That now no longer come.
Where are the hearts that loved me! Where are the friends once dear ! Perhaps they have forgotten That I am lonely here. O would 'twere always sunlight! While here I prisoned lie : Or that the God in Heaven Would make me fit to die !
For vain has been my life-work, My hopes and striving's vain, These fetters are my portion And I am called insane. Ah, no! 'tis only sadness; Why don't the children come
And bring the golden sunshine To light my prison-home.
O. God! strike off these fetters, And let me breathe once more
The balmy breath of freedom Beyond the prison-door !
O, listen to my pleading, I am not truly bad,
This heart is torn and bleeding, But, O, I am not mad !
Come sweet and gentle Jesus, Whom often I have spurned,
And hear the maddest being That ever from Thee turned. No more I'll ask for freedom As here I fettered lie,
But strength to bear the bondage Till I am fit to die.
The meanest of God's creatures Is safe within Thy care
And Thou wilt not forget me, But hear the maniac's prayer. He comes ! I feel Ilis presence ! A sweet and holy calm Steals o'er my troubled spirit- He'll keep me from all harm.
CLARENDON SPRINGS.
These widely known and justly celebrated springs, the annual resort of great numbers of pleasure seekers and invalids from all parts of the country, are situated in the west part of the town, near Furnace Brook, a beautiful and picturesque region about two miles south of the great marble quarries of West Rutland. Thompson says :
" These waters ditfer in their composition from any heretofore known, but resemble most nearly the German Spa water. For their curative properties they are believed :) be indebted wholly to the gases they con- tain." There are now, at these springs, two hotels, the Clarendon House, kept by Byr n Murray, and the Green Mountain House, by James Flowers, and other boarding houses, sufficient for the accommodation of several hundred visitors.
For the early history of these springs. I am indebted to O. H. Round, Esq., who say"?, "In 1781, my father moved to Clareniom Springs ; the country was then all a wilder- ness, with not a stick cut. My first reco !- lection of the springs' being called mineral, or being used for medicinal purposes, was about 1793 or '4. At that time there was a space of 10 rods or more in extent, upon which no green thing grew, except a cold moss. It looked like the remains of as o! ! lime kiln covered with cinders for the water to run through, under which, cropping
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