USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 66
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It was often very difficult to get grinding, even, after they had any thing to grind, on ac- count of the badness of the roads and weather. and the distance and scarcity of mills : aud of- ten whole famil'es would live a long time on roast potatoes. boiled or pounded corn, which they pounded in large mortars made for that purpose. and even boiled wheat, which they called firmaty.
The children were generally healthy and ro- bust. with fresh and blooming countenances- cheerful and happy, even on such food. Roast potatoes, especially, were a prominent article for food in the Fall and Winter. They were always at hand, and needed no grinding. Pean porridge, with a little jonnycake, was healthy and good for all.
When the town was new, and wolves and bears were plenty, the settlers did not keep many sheep ; and what few they did keep were uniformly fetched up and shut in a pen near the house at night; and this special care did not at all times secure them ; for, in some cases whole flocks were destroyed, even in their pens. Benjamin Hickok had 16 killed in one night in a pen adjoining his house, which was all he had. Samuel Churchill had 18 killed, and the wolf would have killed all, had he uot
been driven off. In this case the wolf paid what his ears and skin was worth with his life. A few days after he came to eat mutton, but was taken in a trap and killed.
Shoes where very scarce and hard to be ob- tained; thus the children went barefoot in summer among the stubs, and many of them all winter. The writer. at 12 years old, wore all winter the flank of a hide gathered up moc- casin-like; and the first pair of boots he ever had was in the winter after he was 20: short legs made from flauks of a skin.
the grant of a lottery. The plan was laid, the tickets sold, the money collected, the lot- tery drawn, and the chief manager absconded with the money; so that the old east street road was still the thoroughfare. The third move was for a turnpike, which succeeded. and a good road was made, which became a thor- onghifare over which. previous to the opening of the Champlain canal, the more northern part of the country received its merchandize and trans- ported its produce to Troy ; from which place to Burlington the mail was carried at one time by stages, somewhat to the waste of horseflesh, every 24 hours :- all which was greatly to the injury of the east part of the town.
The first settlement commenced in the south- easterly part of the town ; here the main business transactions were carried on for many years, and it got the appellation of Village. There were in the length of 2 miles about 30 dwelling-houses, with a good supply of stores. mechanic shops, etc. But on the turnpike road's coming into use, and travel and business being withdrawn from that street it ran down, and now it is not much but a neigborhood of decent farmers. The rail- roads, on every side, have destroyed the turn- pike road.
The first frame barn was built by Samuel Churchill in the year 1785. The boards were drawn 12} miles, ou an ox sled, and the nails-
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were pieked up at Ti. fort after it was burnt. The town was organized on the first Tuesday of March, 1785. Soon after its organization the selectmen commenced a tirade of warning all out of town who had not lived in it one year and one day, which practice was followed for many years. There was no town tax assessed by vote of the town for more than 20 years after its or- ganization. There had been some cases where a person had needed help: but it had always been obtained brotherlike by voluntary contri- butions.
The first meeting to organize the militia was on the first Tuesday of May, 1785, when Itha- mer Gregory was chosen captain ; David Hick- ok, Lieut., and Silas Churchill, ensign, From that time trainings were kept up as the law re- quired. The Hubbardton band had no large gun, and could not make all the noise they wish- ed, so they employed a blacksmith to make them one. But on a certain occasion they split their gun : soon after the following lines appeared in the Rutland Herald, of those days :
When men rejoiced, in days of yore, That stamp act should appear no more, &c .*
When the people first began to die they were buried without much order as to place; but soon those who were living began to look out locations where they might bury their dead. As there was no convenient eentre and the peo- ple were scattered, they purchased locations where they could be best convened. There are as many as four places where the dead are bur- ied, and they are fast filling up.
There were once living in this town 14 fam- ilies by the name of Churchill, now there are only 4 males of that name. Onee there were 13 by the name of Rumsey, now only 3 males; 7 Hiekok families, now none. These three names were onee the majority of the town. The great- est mortality that has happened in the town was in the winter of 1812-'13. when, in the course of 2 months, about 40 were carried off, mostly men in the vigor of manhood, and of robust con- stitution. Query : Why did that great mortality pass over our country so generally at that time ? Just at the commencement of the war? Why did it earry off that particular class of citizens ? Was it because the people were too many ? Did they feel too strong and confident in themselves ? Was it not to lead them to a sense of their own frailty, and to a sense of their dependence ? And to lead them to look to the God of armies
for aid and assistance? Was it not that they might not have occasion to boast, and say we have gained the victory by the strength of our own arms, and forget the Lord, who is their protector and shield, on whom all are depend- ent ?
For many years the inhabitants of this town were considered very much on an equality, as to property and circumstances; none were very rich, aud but few very poor ; and no real pau- pers. If any were unfortunate and needed help, their neighbors were ready to give a help- ing hand, and so became mutual belpers to each other. But of late the property is getting more into the hands of a few. Some few men are buying out their neighbors, who take their money and carry it off out of the place, and their houses are converted into barns and sheep-hov- els. Those who buy are on the strain to pay ; and as fast as they pay, the money is carried off, and not many improvements are making .- School districts are thinning out, society becom- ing scarce and weak ; highways not so well attended to, and a general disadvantage accrues to community.
Hubbardton has done much to build up the West. both with people and money ; in some instances almost whole colonies have gone, and the population of the town has much dimin- ished. In 1840 there had 7 persons died in the town between 90 and 100 years old; 18 be- tween 80 and 90. There were then 27 between 70 and $0, and 10 between 80 and 90. Those who are alive that were 60 in 1840, are now 74. Those who were 70 then are 84 now, and. two or three are now living between 90 and 100. Farmers, generally, are holding their own pretty well, except those who are selling out. Many are adding to their aeres, and covering their hills with sheep."
In 1840 the town contained 2 mills for eard- ing and dressing cloth, 2 grist-mills, 1 tavern, 9 saw-mills, and i triphammer shop: of these 1 prist-mill, with 1 tannery remains -beside 3 saw-mills, for which there is now little employ- ment. In 18-15 a woolen factory was establish- ed by C. P. Austin, on the mill-site first occupi- ed by Nathan Rumsey. In the winter of '54- '55 it was burned, with the adjacent grist-mill. Neither having been re-built, the loss has been a serious inconvenience.
HORTONVILLE,
The only pretense of a village, and the centre of a small business, is on the outlet of Gregory's Pond. The first mills erected here were built
* For this effusion of Mr. C.'s see, somewhat altered, the Article on Monkton.
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by Ithiamer Gregory, toward the close of the last century. His title being involved in law, it partly by direct purchase, and by some adroit management, came into the hands of MAJOR GIDEON HORTON, from whom the place received its name, and of whom some curious stories are told. He was a man of much public spirit, the father of a numerous and wealthy family, from which the place received much of its social and religious character. He died in October, 1842, aged 73, and none of his descendants remain here. The place contains one store, and one of the three petty postoffices which the people of this town, for the want of any convenient centre or postal facilities, have established for their convenience.
About the year 1845 a mill was erected here by H. Hurlbut & J. P. Morgan for sawing mar- ble quarried in Sudbury ; but the expense of transportation rendering the business unprofit- able, it was abandoned.
As regards education, little has been done by the public in this town, more than to give the 10 district schools within its limits an average of respectability; while the puerile provisions of a weak school-law seem to have diminished the number, without increasing the average qualifications of teachers.
The inhabitants, many years ago, established a considerable library of historical and miscel- laneous books, which was a useful source of information and profitalle amusement ; but in time it became neglected, and the books were worn out or lost, and it no longer exists. Its place is now supplied by the newspapers and periodicals of the day, or by works of a more questionable character, which, if they do not enervate, seldom leave any useful and per- manent impression on the mind. In this age of many books, too few are found of a truly useful character. To the people here, as else- where, not only the great authors of antiquity are unknown, but even the more familiar Eng- lish classics are seldom seen. Although every man may be a sovereign ruler, too few are ac- quainted with the political and general history of the country in which they live, the welfare of which is entrusted to their care. The want of a higher literature than that which flows from a corrupt and corrupting press is now felt, and may eventually produce fatal effects in a country where little else is esteemed in learning or literature, save that which pampers a de- praved taste, pronotes the self-interest, or flat- ters the vanity of men.
SURFACE, SOIL, WATER, ROCKS, ETC.
The surface of this township is billy. and, toward the east, mountainous. There are 12 ponds lying wholly or in part within its limits -some with, and others without, names The Gregory's, lying in Hubbardton and Sudbury, is 2 miles long. Beebe's pond is rather more than a mile long, and about one mile wide.
The soil, once covered with a rich, vegetable mould, producing the finest wheat, is better ad- adapted to pasturage than tillage, and the in- habitants have given their principal attention to sheep husbandry, as the principal source of their wealth. Of late, however, as in other parts of the State, the rearing of choice spec- imens has been a sort of speculative macia, on account of the extravagant prices which are given and received.
The town was once covered with a luxuriant growth of hard wood and hemlock, intersperse i with the white pine, which often grew to a monstrous size. It has been said of the old Pagans, that they regarded their groves and for- ests with religious veneration and love, and that they were preserved by the terrors of su- perstition from the wasteful touch of vulgar hands. It is to be regretted that a more intel- ligent people had not adopted a wiser policy. by preserving part of the original forests of the country with those noble trees, almost any one of which would now be worth the average price of the land on which they stood. Seemingly created by a wise Providence to supply the wants and necessities of many generations, they were at first, in good part. ruthlessly destroyed : while the greed and necessities of man. aidel by swarms of devouring insects which zature seems to have sent in revenge for the outrage. are fast completing the work of extermination. the evils of which, at some distant day, will, perhaps, be attempted to be stayed by fuille legislative enactments.
Hubbardton had steadily increased in popu- lation until the year 1820. when it numbered 810 ; since which time, from a variety of caus- es, it has steadily declined, while it has increas- ed in wealth.
The land was usually bought up in small lo's of 100 acres each, by actual settlers, who gra- earlly had large families of children-the': principal wealth-who, as they grew up, fusi ample employment in cutting down trees, as i in the practice of domestic industry : but when the land was cleared and the country filled up,
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as a certain judge remarked of his father's house, " the hive being small, and the swarm large, to emigrate was a necessity, if not a choice."
While the indefinable process by which the land of Western Vermont has too often passed from the hands of the small farmer, operates with injurious effect upon society-in many cases introducing a floating, half-pauper popu- lation to supply his place.
The population is now 606. Few years have recently been remarked for their fatality, if we except the year 1851, when several died : among those whose loss has been felt by the community, were Deacon Silas Whipple and Asahel Wright; and the year commeneing in May, 1860, when about 1-24th part of the peo- ple died. There has seldom been a great dis- proportion of deaths. During that year the diphtheria was peculiarly fatal, while several died at an advanced age: among those to be remembered as having filled respeetable posi- tions in society, were David Barber, aged about 90 years, and Deborah, wife of Rufus Griswold.
In general there is nothing very peculiar about the rocks in this town, except that they are much thrown into ledges. Quartz is very · abundant, but I believe no gold has yet been discovered in it. It is most common in cool
and shaded places. It is often found in crys-
tals and radiated. Black lead has been found inlaid in rocks, in small quantities. A small location of lead was once discovered, whichi contained a small portion of silver.
A ledge of pencils, and one of whetstones of a very superior quality, have been eonsider- ably wrought. Roofing slate has also been found. But the greatest curiosity in the geo- logical department is a course of rocks which cross the town in an east and westerly direc- lhave taken away the travel that once went tion, different from any other roek found in its vicinity. It is in detached blocks, resembling rock ore in shape and apperanee, only it is not as heavy or dark colored. The earth in which it is embeded is reddish, and has the appear. ance of burnt carth. In many places it crosses ledges of other rock, overlying them and de- tached from them ; in others it seems to have cut its way in a straight path, 6 or 8 feet wide, and not uniting with any other rock. It appears to have been broken up into different shapes and sizes, and some blocks aro full of holes, while others show white spots where they are broken. It is easy to break, and breaks in very straight lines. The color of the inside is blue- ish.
There have been some articles of Indian con- struction found-arrows, in particular. At a short distance from the N. W. corner of the town there was an encampment, at no distant period. The numerous ponds abounding with fish must have made it one of the favorite haunts of the red man. Near the Marsh pond there is a large circular mound, some 6 rods in diameter, com- posed of gravel, and apparently of artificial formation.
There is a swamp in this town in which are found large sound pine logs and stumps directly under others of a larger growth, many feet deep in the earth.
Small blocks of iron have often been picked up, and a very little silver : but by far the larg- est quantity of the latter has been found by cultivating the soil, raising cattle, horses and sheep, and by practising domestic economy.
The streams in Hubbardton are all quite small, and the water good. The springs are exeellent : however, there is a peculiar one in the S. W. part of the town. It is chalybeate, and also impregnated with carbonate of lime. It is supposed to contain some medicinal qual- ities, and to have cured salt rheum in some cases of scrofula : calcarious tufa is found about it. But this spring is so small, and so situated, that it ean never become noted.
Hubbardton is a small, ragged, poor town (as is well known)-no convenient centre-almost all edge and corners, so that its trade and busi- ness transactions go into the trading towns by which it is surrounded-helping to build up and enrieh them. This, by some who are the most candid, is acknowledged ; and further, that it is one of their best paying customers. It being small, poor, and hardly thought of in these times of improvement, and since railroads
through it; it became neeessary, in order to keep up the remembranee of it, that it speak out for itself, and tell something about itself, in order to preserve its name and place among the very thriving towns around. And in order to do that, it must say mueh about what it has been, who has been here, and what singular, curious, or important things are in, and has taken place in it-the most of which have been named in former articles, yet some remain not yet named. And not much has yet been said about indi- vidual persons. Now as my hand is in, if I may be indulged, I would say of Hubbardton, that there have been born, and have resided here men who, after they have left, have be. come men of some note and usefulness, viz. .
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2 members of Congress, 1 lieutenant governor, 4 judges of courts, 2 land commissioners, 1 surveyor general, 2 brigadier and 1 major gen- eral, 4 colonels, 1 minister to a foreign court, 1 high sheriff, a number of ministers of the gospel, 1 a missionary to Burmalı, and 1 to Diabekir in Turkey. Most of these were raised in town, small and poor as it is.
It is a common remark that the town has produced some very good minds, but the place was not large enough for the length and breadth of their talent and enterprise. It was here cramped and could not expand ; so they left that they might find room to act.
There were a few men who were somewhat noted and useful while they remained in the town, viz .: Nathan Rumsey was instrumental . of bringing many settlers into the town-was the first merchant, built the first grist-mill, rep- resented the town, was justice of the peace and captain of the militia many years, and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His mill being burnt, he re-built it; but on the death of his wife, and meeting with other reverses, he left the town, and was absent a number of years, during which he went to the West, and accompanied Lewis and Clark in their expedi- tion over the Rocky Mountains. After his re- turn, he wrote a journal of his travels and ad- ventures. On the commencement of the war of 1812, he joined the army, was taken a prisoner in September. 1814, and died a prisoner at Hal- ifax in March, 1815.
James Whelpley, Esq., came into this town in the year 1787. He was most of the time in the American service during the Revolution, and served as commissary, in which business he lost considerable property. His health failing, he left the service and engaged in the mercan- Mr. Churchill served as justice of the peace and as selectman many years. He was a very strong man and a great mower, in his prime : as an instance of his great strength it is known that he once carried two strong young men up three steps, through a door, in spite of their strenuous efforts at resistance. He died of a cancer, March 21, 1821, aged 71. His deseend. ants are scattered over six different States-his oldest son, only, remaining in Vermont. tile business ; but not succeeding in that, he left and came to Hubbardton. He represented the town a number of years; a number of times was a member of the Convention, and served as a justice of the peace until age ad- monished him to decline. He was the county surveyor for a number of years-was a great hunter and trapper, and killed many deer, wolves, bears, foxes, wild cats, &c. Onee when he was on a hunting excursion he supposed he saw a deer, and was on the point of firing when he discovered it to be a man. This so affected him that he hunted no more that scason. He | It was very much admired for its size, beau- out-lived all his children, and died January 6, 1838, aged 90 years.
Doctor Theophilus Flagg came into this town in the year 1791, and was the first physician iu
the town. He came here in low circumstances ; but by his economy, industry and prudence, and strict attention to his calling, for his own and the benefit of the people, he had become pos- sessed of a good property, and initiated himself into the hearts of the people, and at last fell a sacrifice to his persevering efforts for the ben- efit of the sick and afflicted, in the midst of his usefulness, very much regretted. He served a number of years as deacon of the church; a number of years he represented the town. He was a skilful physician, a kind and tender nurse, very humane in his feelings toward the afflicted. He had a mare which he commonly rode on his visits, that became so attached to him that she would never leave him, although he commonly turned her loose in the road when he called to visit a patient. One dark night, after having rode her all day, he stopped to call on a patient, and let her loose as usual. When he came to look for her, she was not to be found; and, supposing she had started for home, he started off on foot. He had not gone far when he heard her neigh, and on stopping 3 short time she came up to him. After his death she was sold and taken off into another town ; but she was uneasy and came back, and was found in the burying-yard, near his grave, where she had usually been kept.
Joseph Churchill came into this town in the winter of 1783-was the father of 12 children -7 sons and 5 daughters, all of whom lived to be men and women, and there was not a death in the family until most of them were settled in the world. The youngest that died was 24 years old. His fourth son was killed by the Indians on the last day of the year 1813, at Black Rock.
There was formerly in this town a garden owned and cultivated by Mrs. Churchill, the wife of Samuel Churchill, one of the first settlers. ty and the excellent order in which it was kept, and was much esteemed for its variety of useful roots and plants, which were cultivated for their medicinal qualities, as well as for food. There
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were two kinds of Solomon's seal, two of co- | ministers of the gospel. He died in this town March 2, 1802, much regretted."
huslı, ginseng, potatoes, the tea shrub, &c. It was in this garden that Lieut. Campbell of Rut- land, an old soldier and hunter, shot a hum- ming-bird with his rifle, 5 rods off, while it was tossing about a bed of balm-flowers. He took its bill off close to the eyes.
There was once a bald eagle killed in this town which measured from wing to wing 9 feet and 4 inches. He was taken in a trap 8 miles from the place where he was found-had carried the trap 3 weeks-(it was a common fox-trap), and although he could rise with it, he could not fly much.
Many bears have been killed in this town, which were of a considerable size : one weigh- ed 400 pounds when dressed. There were once found two bucks fastened together by the horns, and dead.
REV. ITHAMER HIBBARD,
The first settled pastor of the Congregational church, was a bold, athletic man, full of the spirit of '76, and quite limited in his education. He had served as a chaplain in the Revolution- ary war, in which capacity he styled himself a "recruiting officer ;" and he was not only faith- ful in the cause of his country, as an officer in her army, and as a true patriot, but he was also faithful to his Heavenly King, and very success. ful in enlisting soldiers under His banner.
He first came to Poultney in 1780, where he was instrumental in establishing a society composed of Congregationalists and Baptists. He remained there until about the year 1796, when some began to think he was not suffi- ciently refined for Poultney, and finally suc- ceeded in getting a vote to dismiss him. This almost broke the poor old man's heart-he hav- ing labored with his people so long, and with very little support ; for he could almost say with Paul, " These hands have ministered to my necessities ; I have not been chargeable to any of you." Poor and discousolate, he preach- ed a few years to destitute churches in the vi- cinity, and was " gathered to his fathers." * * "He came to Hubbardron in the year 1798. Soon after a revival commenced, and many were added to the church. He was very useful m towns adjoining, and was often present at fu perals and councils. He possessed a poetica genius, and composed many hymns which have been published .* He was the father of twenty children, by two wives, many of whom became
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