USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 46
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As I lay musing on my bed, A vision bright my woes o'erspread ;
Amidst the silent night. My second self lay by my side, An angel came to be her guide, And soon she made her flight ; Methought I saw her passing high Through liquid air, the etherial sky, And land on Canaan's shore ; Where smiling angels, singing sweet, Bade her a welcome to a seat, And join the heavenly choir.
I'm too unholy and unclean Of these bright heavenly things to dream, Till grace refines my heart ;
The dying gifts of Christ, our King,
Must tune my heart in every string, To sound in every part.
Oh ! how sweetly now she sings,
Her harp is tuned in all its strings, The melody to grace;
Prepare me, Lord, that I may go And take a humble seat below, And sound upon the bass. Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove,
Give me a tale of sovereign love, Then I can safely go ; My soul would swiftly wing its way
Into the realm of endless day, And sing Hosannas, too.
RUDD, INCREASE, from Middletown, was for a number of years a resident of this town. He was formerly in the custom house service. He removed to Collins, N. Y., where he is still living, being over 90 years of age.
SAULSBURY, NATHAN, from Rhode Island, settled at a very early day. He m. Tenta Da- vis : both died in old age. He was for many years one of the prominent men of the town ; one of the selectmen in 1795, and lister 4 years. Their children were: Howard, Elias, Daniel, Nathan, jr., David and Anna.
ELIAS settled in Tinmouth-was a justice of the peace there many years, besides holding other prominent office. Jonas, as a capital story-teller, stood preminent. He died in Cal- ifornia. John A. was a soldier in the late war, serving in the 10th Vt. Regiment, through the different grades of offices, and rose to the po- sition of major. He was a good soldier and brave officer. and is now the proprietor of the Central House, Rutland.
SELEY, JONATHAN, from Rhode Island, set- tled about 1780, and became one of the largest landholders in town. He was a great specu- lator, and something of a broker-was chosen constable in 1784. at that time an office of some more respectability and responsibility than it has been in later days. He was selectman 5,
twice m .; Ist, to Elizabeth, da. of William Bromley, sr .; 2d, to Freelove, da. of Williama Bromley, jr. He removed to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and thence to Ohio, where he died. Children: Hannah, Ira, Bromley, Eliz- abeth, Jonathan, jr., Hiram, Lucy, Benjamin and Isaac. Hiram became a physician, m. a daughter of Dr. Carpenter, and settled in Whit- ing-finally removed to Hubbardton, where he died. Ira, m. Nancy, da. of Capt. John Vail- was elected constable in 1817, and again in '20, which office he occupied until 1825. He re- moved to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and was killed by the kick of a colt in 1850, aged 67.
SELEY, ISRAEL, a brother of Jonathan, sr., came in 1770. He m. Peggy Bromley-was a soldier of the Revolution-died in 1810, very old. His children were: Latten, Ephraim, John and Peggy, all of whom removed West.
SELEY, EPHRAIM, also a brother of Jonathan, settled here as early as 1770. He lived at the Corners, being one of its first settlers, and built the " Red Tavern." He was appointed high- way surveyor in 1773, one of the assessors in 1774; moderator of the annual meeting of '76, and in '75 a delegate, in connection with Jo- seph Soule, to represent the town in the con- vention which met at the house of Martin Pow- ell in Manchester, in regard to the safety of the settlers; and, in 1776, one of the commit- tee to lay out land in the 4th division-one of the selectmen in 1773. He removed to Cana- da, where he died.
SHELDON, ISRAEL, from Pawlet, settled in 1840. His wife was Catherine, da. of ITenry Herrick. Their children : Henry, Mary Jane, Oliver, Charity, Betsey Ann and Julia Ann .--- He was a soldier in the Mexican war, distin- guished for bravery and good conduct. He left the town some 20 years since for the West, and now resides in Salem, Oregon. Betsey Ann m. Ist, Jackson Sherman ; 2d, John McIntyre, who died during the war of 1861, and 3d, R. H. Clark of Mt. Holly.
SHERMAN, DANIEL, from Rhode Island, au early settler-was a magistrato 12 years, being the fourth one elected in towu. He removed to Canandagua, N. Y., in 1805. His children were : Phebe, Sylvia, Margaret, Stephen, David and Daniel.
SHERMAN, ELIHU, from Rhode Island, came at an early day and settled in the north part of the town, where his descendants still reside. He was one of the board of selectmen in 1796 ; lister 2 years; grand juror 2 years ; represent- lixter 5, and justice of the peace 10 years-was lative to the legislature in 1794, and a magis-
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trate 4 years. He died at a good old age. hav- 150. Their children were: Barak, Mercy. Au- ing mais 'd a family : Edmund, Hannah, Charity, gustus, Daniel. Friend R., Ruth, Catherine and Lydia. Daniel succeeded to the homestead- was married, Ist, to Anna Boyce. who died in 1822. aged 27: 2d, Hannah Potter, of Gran- ville, N. Y .- was an industrious farmer and a good citizen. He died in 1830, aged 36, his widow in 1859, aged 61. Children : Elizabeth, m. Jesse Hill; Augustus D., Anna and Mary H. who died in 1840, aged 22. John, Debra, Lowen and Melinda. John, m. Betsey Bromley, and settled where his son Harrison now resides. He was selectman 3 years; grand juror 3-a good farmer-accumu lared a good property, and died in 1864, aged 76: his wife in 1863, aged 73. Children : Lu- cinda, d. ; Semantha, d .; Barton B., Fanny, Ransom, Susan, Jackson and Charles.
SIGNOR. HENRY, from Nine Partners, at a very early day, was the pioneer settler on " Dutch Hill." He was of Dutch descent, from which the name of that locality was de- rived. Other settlers soon followed, until the settlement on "Dutch Hill" became quite ex- tensive. At one time it numbered no less than 18 families. That once prosperous settlement has long since been discontinued, and but few traces can now be seen. There some of our most prominent men once lived: James Mc- Daniels, Jared Lobdel, Henry Herrick, jr., the Lewises, the Buxtons. and many others. Hen- ry Signor was a bright. noble hearted man, and acquired considerable property. He removed to Peru, N. Y. Children : Henry, John, Char- ity, Betsey and Katie.
SMITH, CALEB, from Uxbridge, Mass., in 1787, m. a Chickering, and settled on the farm now owned by A. D. Smith. The spot where his log cabin stood was a dense wilderness at that time. The farm still remains, as it ever has since its settlement, in the hands of the family Only one solitary appletree marks the spot where the first log-house stood. A nice sugar- orchard of several acres grows where it was once meadow-land. Caleb Smith was a mem- ber of the Quaker society ; a man of peaceable habits, whose name is mentioned by those who knew him with esteem and affectionate remem- brance. His descendants have been numerous; many of whom still remain here. He died at about 80 years of age. Children were : Na- than, Asa, Bareck, Debrah, Ebenezer, Lydia and Rhoda. Nathan m. Elizabeth. da. of Wing Rogers, and succeeded to the homestead. In 1799 he built the house in which his grandson now lives, which at that day was one of the best in town. Upon the door-handle is stamp- ed the date 1799. It is still kept in use, and is regarded a valuable relic. But few older relics of the kind are found. Nathan Smith was also a member of the Quaker society. He died in 1824, aged 71. A man who was es. teemed by all who knew him, can be truly written of him. His wife died in 1817, aged
SMITH, AUGUSTUS D., m. Charity, da. of William Herrick, and settled upon the home- stead-a man of good talents, much energy, and possessing, in a high degree, the confidence of his townsmen. He has been one of the listers 4, a justice of the peace 7 years, superintend- ent of the common schools from 1857 to 1861, making able reports each year upon the condi- tion of our schools, highly beneficial ; and is one of our most scientific and thorough-going farmers, to which he devotes much time-par- ticularly distinguished for the great variety of fruit he cultivates. He has been connected for many rears with the Rutland County Agricul- tural Society, being one of its leading and most active members. In 1862 he was elected its vice president, and in '63, its president. He is at present treasurer of the society, which posi- tion he has occupied several years. He is one of the leading dairy-men in town, his butter and cheese having taken the first premium at our State and County Fairs. It is also well known he is among the largest and most cele- brated manufacturers of maple sugar and syrup in Western Vermont, which has a reputation throughout this and other States, and for which he was awarded the first premium at the Ver- mont and New England Fairs for 1864 and '65. Many have tried to compete with him, but are unable to produce a superior article. The 25th anniversary of his marriage was celebrated with a Silver Wedding. Jan. 28. 1870, being the first one of the kind which ever took place here. They have 3 children now liv. ing : Daniel C., Augustus N. and Charity. Dan- iel C. married Lois, da. of Henry Wilber, and has one son, Alvin, who makes the sixth gen- eration of the family now living upon the homestead.
SMITH, ASA. son of Ebenezer. m. Rhoda Ba- ker of Easton, N. Y., and settled on the form now owned by his son Ebenezer. He was somewhat deranged for many years, caused by receiving a blow upon the back of the head ; and also blind for many years; and we are told that he did not leave his farm for nearly 20
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years previous to his death. He died in 1845, [ when on his way home at night, that Soper aged 65; his wife in '66, aged 76.
SMITH, SENECA, son of Enoch Smith, was born in Clarendon, Feb. 10, 1807. When a boy he cut bis knee with a hay-knife, which troubled him far many years, and caused his lameness through life. Ile taught school in
Clarendon several years. He came to this town in 1828, and soon after went into the mercantile business at the Corners, in company with Charles Button, and continued with But- ton several years, when he went into company with his brother Nathan. In 1836 they erected the large building now used for the cheese-fae- tory, in which they conducted the mercantile business on a large scale for nearly 15 years, when the company dissolved. He then went into trade in the old MeDaniels store, which he carried on several years. Mr. Smith was en- gaged in the mercantile trade, in all, about 25 years. In '55 he was appointed clerk and treas- urer of the Western Vermont railroad company. He then resided at the Borough, where he re- mained 5 years-was lister 5, grand juror 2, town agent 1, and a justiee of the peace 3 years. He was by nature a scholar, and early manifested an ardent love for books. Although he never entered the school of law, yet his knowledge of the science was quite extensive, and his practice considerable. He was a man possessed of intellectual power, which, with cultivation, would have placed him in the front rank of professional life. He, however, improv- ed the limited means afforded him to the best advantage. and he always favored improvement, and took great interest in matters pertaining to religion and education. He died in 1846, aged 59.
SOPER, JOSEPH, from Nine Partners, in 1765, settled on the farm now belonging to James Stone-was the first settler, and made the first clearing-one of the original proprietors of the town, and drew lot No. 15, in the 1st division. Two of his brothers settled in Dorset about the same time. His log-house was the first erected in town ; and there was no other fam- ily in town for several months. He came with two horses, bringing his family and effects upon their backs, and pursuing his journey here by marked trees; and froze to deathi a few years after his settlement here, and previous to the Revolution. There had been no grist-mill erected in town at that time, and the settlers were obliged to pound their corn, or go to Man- c'ester to mill, a distance of 14 miles. It was on one of these trips during the winter, and
perished. It was a bitter cold night, accom- panied by a severe snow-storm, and it was sup- posed that he became exhausted by travel, and overcome by cold. It was somewhat late when he started with his grist, and dark when he reached his brother's house in Dorset. They advised him not return that night; but des- pite their entreaties he concluded to pursue hia journey across the mountain. His not return- ing as expected that night gave his family much uneasiness. All through the night they waited his coming with great anxiety; but no sound could be beard without, save the howling of the storm, and above this, at times, the distant howl of the wolf. As neighbors were not plenty, nothing could be done, nor any search made until morning. His brothers, fearing something might have befallen him, de- termined in the morning to come to Danby, and ascertain if he had reached home in safe- ty. Following the path as nearly as possible, they at last found the team and grist, and the body of Soper beside a tree, where it was sup- posed he had sat down and frozen to death-it being less than one mile from his home. The body was buried in a hollow log, on the spot where found ; it being on the land now owned by John Hilliard, nearly opposite the residence of Ezra Harrington; and an old stump is still standing near the grave-the first ever made in town.
SOUTHWICK, JOSIAH, a native of Massachu- setts, born in 1777-came to Danby when but 24 years of age: m. Mary Baker of Granville, N. Y., and, in 1801, settled on the farm where he now lives. He is a son of Lawrence South- wick, a native of Salem, Mass., and was one of a family of 20 children, he being the 19th child. His grandmother was the daughter of John Franklin, a printer of Newport, R. I., who was brother of Benjamin Franklin, the celebrated philosopher. Mr. Southwick is at present the oldest inhabitant of the town. be- ing 93 years of age-is a robust, healthy old man; his mental and physical powers being quite unimpaired. He can read common print without spectacles, and his memory at this advanced age is good. Nearly the whole world of mankind, living at the time he was born, have died. He has been a hard laboring, in- dustrions farmer, and a man of excellent habits ; is a member of the Quaker society, a Republi- can by principle, and although never having been an active politician, he has attended every presidential election since his residence here.
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We hope that many years may yet be by a kind providence meted out to him. He is one of the old land marks, and the only remaining link which connects us with the Revolutionary tin.es. Two generations have passed away since his settlement here, and there are less than a dozen living here now, who were here at that time. He is a man of cheerful disposi- tion. wit and humor, and possessing a large fund of anecdote. Many of his stories, al- though relating to events of seventy-five or eighty years ago, are still told with the ardor of youth. Mr. Southwick has been twice mar- red : his last wife's name was Rachael Brown, with whom he now lives-has but two chil- dren, William and Hannah. Hannah marri- ed Joseph Fletcher, and lives upon the home- stead.
SOWLE, WESSON, from Westport, Mass., set- tled at an early day-was the son of Joseph Sowle, from England. who was one of the orig- inal proprietors of the town, and an early set- tler here. Wesson returned to Westport, where he died at the age of 97. Children : Mary, Lizzie. Hannah, James and Hiram.
SOWLE, JAMES, came about the year 1791, and settled on the farm purchased by his father, Wesson. He was a seafaring man, and when young went out on a whaling voyage. with two of his brothers. They were finally taken prison- ers by a privateer, when his brothers died, but James escaped. He m. Patience McOmber- was a respectable farmer here for many years : died at Westport, aged 63. Children : William, Wesson, Gardner, James, John and Pardon.
STAFFORD, ROWLAND, was a very early settler here-lived at the Borough, where he kept tav- e'n a number of years, near the site of the present hotel-was selectman 2. and lister 8 years. He removed to Peru, N. Y.
STAPLES, ABRAHAM, from Rhode Island, m. an Arnold, and settled where Harris O. Herrick . now lives-removed with his family to Troy, N. Y., in 1805.
STAPLES, JONATHAN, brother of Abraham, also from Rhode Island, a soldier of the Revo- lution, and drew a pension, was one of the ear- ly settlers here ; m. Rachael Holbrook; both died about the year 1840, quite old. Children : Sally, Sylvia, Ellery, Willard, Rachael, Abra- ham and Jonathan.
aged 81. Children : Lydia, Sarah, Eunice, Amanda, Olive, William, Almira, Eliza Ann, Sylvia. Rhoda, Rachael and William Elle- ry. Sarah m. Jonathan Crocker, and lives in Lewinsville, Va. He was an uncompromising union man, during the rebellion of 1861, and was obliged several times to leave his home, and take his family to Washington. He was connected with the army a portion of the time as suttler.
STAPLES, EDWIN, m. Louisa, da. of Ira Vail, and succeeded to the homestead. She died in 1849, aged 25. He next m. Margaret V., da. of David Lapham. He has an artificial pond, built at considerable expense, well stocked with trout and other kinds of fish.
TABOR, WATER, from Tiverton. R. I., in 1770, settled where the woolen factory was built- was a Revolutionary soldier, a tanner and cur- rier by trade, and associated with Micajah Weed in that business-removed to Mt. Tabor, about the year 1792, and died in 1806. Chil- dren : Rosamond, Gideon, Haunah, John, Lydia, Peleg, Phebe, Water and Mary.
THOMPSON. ISRAEL, a native of Swanzy. N. H., came to Danby in 1817; m. Mariam Al- drich ; died Dec. 18, 1849, aged 81; his wife June 26, 1851, aged 76. Their children are : Lydia, John, Israel, Silas, Samuel, Joanna and Mariam. John m. Nancy Whitehorn, and set- led in Granby, N. Y .: Silas m. Lucy Ingrama, settled in Wallingford, where he died. Joanna m. Samuel Croff.
TOLMAN, DR. EBENEZER, was the first physi- cian who came to this town. His name was on the roll of 1778. He was also a land spec- ulator, and a prominent man in town affairs- remained liere until about the year 1800, when he was succeeded by Dr. Adam Johnson in the practice of medicine. Dr. Tolman was a good physician, and a man of talent, although but very little is known respecting him. We are unable to learn to what place he removed.
TYRON, ELISHA, settled on a portion of the farm owned by H. S. Herrick, where he kept a store for many years-was considered one of the wealthiest men of his day. It was at his store that James McDaniels was employed as clerk several years, and through his assistance McDaniels was started in life. He was a man of good business habits, and was successful for many years-was a kind hearted and pleasant man, and highly esteemed; being very liberal and public spirited and charitable, almost to a fault. Finally, by some speculation, he lost
STAPLES, ELLERY, born in 1784, m. Alvira Skeeles, first settled where Henry Rogers lives, afterwards on the Sylvanus Cook farmi; was an excellent farmer and a valued citizen : he died in 1861, aged 77; his widow in 1870, 'his property, and became somewhat destitute
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in after life. He removed to Manchester, | in partnership with Jesse Lapham. A R. Vail
where he died.
VAIL, CAPT. MICAH, born in 1730, was the seventh son of Moses Vail, of Huntington, Long Island, and of English descent ; m. Mary Briggs, and was one of the first five settlers who came here in 1763. It may be truly said that he was one of the fathers of the town. He was moderator of the annual town meet- ings in 1773 and '74, one of the selectmen in '70, and again in '75: was associated with Al- len, Warner and others, in defending the rights of the people, during the struggle between New York and New Hampshire : being for sev eral years a member of the committee of safe- ty-represented Danby in the convention which met at the house of Capt. Kent, in Dorset, in 1776, and "declared the New Hampshire grants a free and separate district." He was an intimate friend of Ethan Allen, whose house Allen frequently visited. The "haughty land- jobbers at New York" found in Capt. Vail a strong opponent to their unjust measures, and the settlers a firm friend. But few of the early settlers were more prominent and useful in or- ganizing the town and society. He and his wife both died of the measles in 1777, the same day and were buried in the same grave. Tra- dition says that they died from the effects of poison, administered to them by a tory doctor, after they had nearly recovered from the mea- sles. Their children were: Deborah. Hannah Louisa. Eunice, Moses, John, Phebe, Lucretia, Edward and Micah.
VAIL, CAPT. JOHN, sixth child of Micah Vail, was born 1757,-twice m., first to Lois Allen, and next to Catherine Weller, daughter of Eli. akim Weller of Manchester. He settled on the farm now owned by Kunice Reed. Land for the cemetery, near her residence, was given by him to the town. Although quite young. during the struggle with New York, he partic- ipated in the deliberations of the settlers, and was prominent in maintaining the rights of the people in those trying times. He also partici- pated in the struggle for Independence, and was captain of a company of militia. Great confidence was placed in him, and he exerted a controling influence. He died in 1790, aged 33, leaving two children : Isaac and Nancy.
VAIL, JOHN H., married Samantha, da. of Ira Vail-resided in Dauby until 1834; removed to Dorset. where he remained until 1836; re- turned to Danby, and was clerk in the store of Lapham & Vail until April, 1837; then went to South Wallingford in the mercantile business,
and John Vail; was connected with that firm 7 years ; remained in South Wallingford. a por- tion of his time being devoted to agricultural pursuits, until 1842, when he came back to Danby, and resided until the spring of 1839; removed to Brandon, where he now resides. In the fall of 1842. he. together with his broth- er Isaac, went into trade, in which he was in- terested about one year. During 1851, '52. and a part of '53. he was general agent of the Western Vermont R. R. Co .; and, in 1857, elected cashier of Danby bank. After his re- moval to Brandon, he was connected with the Howe Scale Co. of that place as agent.
VAIL, ISAAC, J., m. Laura F. Andrus of Wal- ingford. and settled in the mercantile business at the Borough, a number of years. He also went into trade at Granville, N. Y., in 1842, On retiring from mercantile business. he went to reside in Dorset, where he remained several years ; and, in 1857, was elected president of the Danby bank, and now resides in Brandon, being connected with the Rutland & Burling- ton R. R. Co. as wood agent.
VAIL, EDWARD, ninth child of Micah, was born in 1756, and came here with his father in 1765 being but 9 years of age-m. Margaret Al- len, and settled on what has since been known as the "Vail farm " north of the Corners, where he lived and died. From his having settled here at an early day. he became inured to toil and hardship. by which he acquired a good property. His public spirit and capability to serve the town gave him frequent offices .- He was the first justice of the peace elected in 1784, which office he occupied 19 years-was town clerk and treasurer 21 years, being the longest term any one has served in that office ; selectman 5 years ; lister 4 years, and one of the early representatives of the town to the Legislature. He was a man of good habits- attended strictly to his own business, and took, equally as much interest in shaping the affairs of the town. He died in 1837, aged 81, being one of the last who died, who was living here at the time the town was organized. For sev. euty-two years he witnessed its growth, having shared in its trials, prosperity and honors. His descendants have been numerous, although but few are now living in town. The names of his children were : Moses, Ira, Allen, Edward, Micah, Eunice, John and Semantha. Ira m. Hannah Randal !- was a good farmer and a worthy man ; a justice of the peace 12 years; died in 1846, aged 63 years ; his wife in 1857,
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aged 71. Children : Edwin, Anson, Albert ; Mary m. Ira M. Frazer; Semantha, Almon and Louisa.
EDWARD, JR., born in 1791, m. Sally, da. of Henry Herrick, jr., and succeeded to the home- stead-was selectman 6 years ; lister 2; a jus- tice of the peace 6. and town clerk and treasur- er at the time of his death. He also held a colonel's commission in the State militia ; was a man of wealth, and possessed the confidence of the people ; but died in 1841, aged 50; his widow still survives him. Their children were : Platt G., Ira H., William, Lovisa and Margaret.
VAIL, JOHN, son of Edward, m. Ruth, da. of Stephen Rogers, and settled on the farm now owned by Ira H. Vail, being for many years one of the substantial farmers of the town- was a man of good talent ; was town clerk and treasurer 11 years, selectman 2, lister 4, town agent 1, and a magistrate 12 years. He remov- ed to the Borough, where he died in 1848, aged 63; his wife in 1840, aged 53. Children : Aaron R., George O., Moses and Semantha.
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