USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 69
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Of the truth of the imputation, it is not my purpose, to here decide ; deeming it the duty of a faithful narrator, while leaving nothing at the bottom of the inkhorn, to prompt those curious in such matters to deduce their own conclusions from the following; while I might venture to affirm while setting down nought in favor or malice, that public opinion ran somewhat against him on that score.
One morning in late autumn, and almost be- fore the grey and uncertain light of the misty dawn, he was aroused from his quiet repose by his "restless rib," with the information, gratis, that it was time to get up and proceed with the labors of the day-which happened to be mak. ing cider, with the assistance of a halfblind horse, which he was wont to turn loose in the meadow to graze when its work was done, near the well above mentioned, to which he now groped his way to procure some water for the kitchen. It was some 10 feet in depth, and was once sup- plied with a curb and the old fashioned sweep, which had in the course of years passed away or fallen into disuse as an unnecessary append- age; the water being drawn by lifting it out with a pole. Arriving there, perhaps half awake he drew his hands from his pockets, their usual resting place. rubbing his eyes as his faculties were stimulated by what " He saw there," hasti- ly ejaculating an energetic, blasted "plague on the eternal luck !" he jogged off to the house of a neighbor, not then up, for help to remove the obstruction, which was safely done by their joint contrivance, or ingenuity and secrecy enjoined. He would not have had Marilla know it for half the world, or at least not for a considerable part : which, I not being there to assist, I believe she never did. " Peace to her ashes."
There were some shrewd guesses among the boys, but no definite conclusion; and some
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thought a curb might now be in order, but un- cle A. was a sort of philosopher in his way and, like the wise and wily old Greek, who, depart- ing on his travels, being importuned by his mother to first take a wife, replied he was too young; and having returned being again urged by the good woman, he said it was now too late ; besides a eurb might excite suspicion. A year or two after a very young colt in capering about the spot went to the bottom headlong. This last was too much for the good man's pa- tience ; his faith or human endurance could stand it no longer, and he resolved, as an oppor- tunity offered in a few days after, to seek a less unlucky place. The event was celebrated by an impertinent youngster in some doggerel, of which I remember but the following :
" Nor thought to curb the fatal brink Where the blind mare went down to drink ; But when the colt went tumbling after, Some thought he would be rather smarter. He declared, he said, his farm he would sell; He could not live by the plaguey Well."
I might add, in extenuation of the above, that he reared a large family, all of whom were esteemed-and some of them very wealthy people.
THE BUTTER STORY.
At a place known to fame as the Kingdom, David Chamberlain, a clerk in Horton's Store, the shutters of which he was elosing for the night, happened to deteet a light fingered fellow quietly secreting a nice roll of butter in his hat, and instantly hit upon a mode of punishment. ('losing the door, and addressing his victim, he said " this is rather a cold night and something to take would do us good." Although disposed to be off. the idea of something to take was too much for the resolution, or rather prudence, of the petty thief. Without suspicion, he took an offered seat near the stove, which the clerk stuffed with wood, after giving him a glass of stiff West India ; all the while plying him with humorous and amusing talk. It so happened that the rogue was in a corner erammed with bales and boxes, from which there was but one place of egress-and there the wily Yankee sat. "I believe. I must be going " said Ladd, for that was the culprit's name, " I have got the cows to fodder and some wood to split." He was an. swered by being presented with two glasses of hot rum toddy, the very sight of which would have made the hair on his head stand on end, had it not been well greased and kept down by the butter: "I will give you a toast now, and you can butter it yourself," said the elerk, with
an air of such consummate simplicity, that poor Ladd, as he drank it all, still believed himself unsuspected.
"Ladd here is a Christmas goose for you, (it was about Christmas time) well roasted and basted, eh ? I tell you it is the neatest thing in creation, and don't you never use hog's lard or common cooking butter to baste it with ; fresh pound butter, such as you see on that shelf, is the only fit thing in nature to baste a guose with. Come, take your butter, I mean take your toddy. The half boozy man now began to smoke as well as to melt, and was silent as if born dumb; While, as he freely perspired. the sweat seemed of a rich yellow hue as it rolled down his face, while standing bolt upright, with his knees almost touching the red hot stove. " Darnation cold night this," said Chamberlain, putting some more wood in the stove. " Here let me take your hat off." " No!" exclaimed the poor fellow at last, with a spasmodie effort to get his tongue loose; and, clapping both hands on his hat, "no damn you let me go! let me out! I aint well! let me go!" At this stage of their proceedings. a greasy eataraet was said to have poured down the poor man's face, and his inveterate tormentor was satisfied. " Well, good night if you must go," said the humorous Vermonter; "and, neighbor, as I reckon the fun I have had out of you is worth a ninepence, I shall not charge you for that pound of but- ter."
APPLICATION.
If my grandiloquent countrymen have quail- ed before the audacious insolenee of England, in yielding up the two arch traitors, Mason and Slidell, without meeting the grim Lion, with that haughty and dignified submission in which discomfited Rome opened her gates to the con- quering Ganls, or that spirit of stern defiance with which they were met by Camillus, amid the burning desolation of "the eternal city," the writer may congratulate them on having extrieated themselves from their troubles, upon principles which, if not truly American are tru- ly yankee. If they have slavery, cowed as they are, shown little of the Roman, they may attrib- ute it to their superior Christian virtues ; but let me assure them that their blazing disgrace will remain until rampant John Bull shall have been subjected to a similar basting.
ADDENDA TO HUBBARDTON.
I. The building of a turnpike from the pres- ent site of Hyde's hotel in Sudbury to Castle- ton and continued thence by another company
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through Poultney, opened a thoroughfare over which prior to the building of the Champlain canal, a large amount of the produce of north- ern Vermont found its exit to Troy and thence to New York, and was the direct stage and mail route from Troy to Burlington; the stages of the Messers. Ilyde at one time making the trip, by special contract, in 24 hours, to the no small wear and tear of horse flesh.
The building of the Rutland and Burlington R. R., turned all travel from this route, and the people soon found themselves isolated, as it were, from the outside world, public con- veyance. and mail facilities. Three post-offices, some receiving their mail but once a week, the expense borne in good part by private subscrip tion have superseded the one before, kept. time out of mind, at the old " Dewey Stand." This place was first opened to the public by Daniel Meeker, Esq., and was long remembered after the death of that gentleman, June 2d, 1821 for its excellent cuisine and hostelry appoint- ments and as a favorite resort of the travelling public. He was succeeded as inn keeper, by his son-in-law Ebenezer Dewey, by whom the house was kept open until 1848 when he em- igrated to Michigan : since then the property has changed hands often.
II. The operation of the non-intercourse and embargo laws, prior to the war of 1812, was offensive to the feelings and private interests of many of the people, and smuggling became a source of lucrative, if not honorable employ- ment to many. Bands of these men were ready to offer open resistance to the authorities, and the sympathies of the people were often with these men in their acts of lawlessness, their goods were thus safely stored and then distributed by their agents or confederates in the interior. Daniel Mecker who in a different sense from that meant by the apostle was like many of his calling. "all things to all men," is said to have given them his kindly aid, when a deputy officer of the customs was stationed at the old Hubbardton toll-gate. It was in the winter of 1810, and '1], that a party of men in three loaded sleighs, presented themselves at the gate kept by a young man Luce, who up- on receiving his toll, threw open the gate which was seized and was being closed by Walker Rumsey, officer of the customs, stationed there, who demanded to examine their goods or pa- pers, when a club from one of the party, named Hawley, was thrown at Rumsey with deadly, but uncertain aim, and missing its object, struck Luce on the head, causing his death soon after.
The party then drew their rifles and proceedel to Whitehall. Hawley was subsequently a .. rested and lodged in Rutland jail, from with he was forcibly liberated, nor were any of ::. 0 party ever brought to justice.
IIL The dissection of the dead to promote the arts of surgery and the knowledge of bu- man anatomy, and the robbing of the grave. their sacred resting place, is in the first in- stance, repulsive to all feelings of human sensi. bility and decency ; the last, a harmless offense when undiscovered, is properly by law made an act of felony. The depredations of the stu- dents of the Medical College at Castleton on the burying grounds convenient for the purpose were frequent in the vicinity, although probab- ably exaggerated, and were stimulated br ice faculty of that institution for many years. Some 40 years since, the indignation and sus- picions of the people were thoroughly roused. Two students, the pupils of Dr. Cooley in Ben- son, having disinterred and stolen the corpse of a lady in Westhaven, proceeded to a secluded place in some woods where potash was made. and in the night proceeded to boil the flesh from the bones; the lye causing the eyes to open in the ghastly light; aud the baying of' dogs, roused by the scent, frightened them from their purpose, so that they fled from the spot in, terror, leaving the proof of their guilt, which was discovered and reinterred a few days after. The graves of the newly buried were now guarded, or secretly marked, which last measure led to an adventure still well re- membered by many in Hubbardton.
The wife of Mr. Penfield Churchill dring, was dug up; the robbery committed on Satur- day night, was discovered on Sunday morning. A large party was secretly organized, and with proper authority, and the sheriff. Dan Dyke at their head, proceeded to Castleton in two par- ties, by two different roads, intending to meet and surround the college, as soon as the stu- dents should assemble at the ringing of the bell, on Monday morning, and have their work commenced. The plan succeeded ; after which the students and the faculty now alarmed. they broke into the dissecting room ; traces of blood were on the table, but nothing more was to be found. The students now began to leave the building. Some in the cloaks of those days were narrowly watched. and the building was ransacked from top to bottom, and the students returning, aggravated their disappointment by pretending to assist in the search. This con- tiuued the greater part of the day, and at inist
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the party concluded themselves outwitted and began to think of giving up the search, when one of them happening to cast his eyes up to the ceiling, observed some nails in a large board partially drawn out. "See" said he pointing it out to his companions. Finding means to reachi it, the board was removed and behind it the headless trunk of a female, partly dissected was discovered. Mr. Churchill, al- though recognizing it by certain marks, as the body of his wife, was hesitating to take it, in- timidated by the threats and questionings of the students, when he was promptly told by Dyke, if he was satisfied in his own mind, as to the idenity of the body, to take it, as in law any other claimant must prove whose it was and also their right to it. Unable to find the head, the party proceeded home-wards with the body, when they were overtaken by a citi- zen with it, he having found it in his hay-mow. It appeared, that one of the students had car- ried it out under his cloak suspended by a string hung round his neck.
IV. It being the custom of the settlers to girdle all trees in clearing the land, over 18 inches; fires were frequent, one of these de- scribed by an old resident, originated in the north-east of Benson, near a hamlet known as Banyall, crept over the hills one morning, en- tering Hubbardton on the lands of Timothy St. John, borne through the dead and girdled hemlocks by a stiff breeze, threatening the en. tire destruction of his buildings and fences, as well as those of nearly the whole neighborhood.
A party of 50 or 60 men endeavored to stop its progress on the Marsh pond brook, when it was discovered some rods to the south. To stop it was impossible. The barn and build- ings of Mr. S. were saved by almost superhu- man effort; but the fire swept on and by 4 o'clock in the P. M. had reached the place now known as West Castleton, some 4 or 5 miles from its starting place.
V. It was on passing by a burning forest on her way to meeting on horse-back, Sunday Aug. 25, 1799, that Sarah, a daughter of Jo- seph Rumsey was instantly killed by the falling branch of a burning tree, in the 21st year of her age. The event was long remembered with sad interest by many ; while a real, or sup- posed appearance of blood on the stone where she was found, was an object of curious or superstitions regard.
METHODISTS AT HORTONVILLE.
A respectable church of this denomination was formed at an early day and continued for
many years supplied with ministers by the Troy Conference, the last of whom was Rev. Wm. Bed. ell in 1849, at which time the church as ao ac- tive organization ceased, and is with the names of Rice Rider, Ayres Ludlum and others malais- tering there, fast passing away from the memo. ries of living men. Preaching was sometime after supplied in the place by the Baptists and more recently by the Universalists, which being discontinued in turn, it has been for some years left as an abandoned field.
Changes-Of the numerous sects dividing the church giving to modern society much of that little variety of which it is susceptible, the spires of whose churches rising in emulative pride beautify and adorn our cities and villages, while casting their baneful influence on the weaker communities of the rural districts, the town bas had a sufficient and wearying variety. We have. however, to record the advent of Ceiversalism which was first preached here about or a little before the year 1830, essentially changing the religious views of the community to a great ex- tent. It was received with that peculiar hostil- ity which it every where encountered from the followers of every other form of belief as it was supposed to strike at the basis of all true theol- ogy; while such as favored the system were looked upon as religious if not moral and social outcasts, and, as illustrating the character and feelings of the people, we will give the following incident.
An itinerant, named Holbrook, of this denom- ination, holding meetings which were attended by a respectable number of people, some of them members of the Congregational church, fer or none of whom were acquainted with bis pectriat views, attracted the attention of the pastor ci that church when their character was more fi !- ly explained. A meeting was held in which t .e delinquent members of the church after being properly reprimanded were continued in fellow. ship after acknowledging contrition for a faul :. ignorantly enough committed-but this was no. enongli, here as in most other communities were a large number of no settled religious views, but men of sound practical common sense whose general character and position entitled them to respect, and these were not amenable to their discipline. The pastor holding those Ligh views of his office and authority once common to the clergy of New England, thinking to do ... e ai. versary some harm and himself much lo20;, prepared for these a series of discourses thought suitable for the occasion, but with a far d direct result from which he anticipated. The ses 1 of
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Universalism thus fell upon ground well prepar- ed to receive it, and the Rev. Kittredge Haven appearing on the scene about this time, (1830) a man well calculated by his natural and acquir. ed abilities to lead in the movement. large num- bers in this and the adjoining towns were led to favor this Lew doctrine. The society embraced perhaps a majority of the inhabitants of Hub. bardton as also the grater portion of its wealth. It held its meetings in a large school-house used also as a town-hall but has lately by the never ceasing changes of population and other causes become much depressed.
OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION
there were several not heretofore mentioned, who settled in this town and who spent the latter part of their lives here ; their names so far as I have been able to ascertain were John Rum- sey, served 7 years, Wm. Rumsey, Joseph Jen- nings, died in 1813, Jonathan Slason, died 1843 ; Frederick Dikeman, Asahel Wright. I believe none of the above were living as late as 1814.
OF THE WAR OF 1812
were Jabez Jennings, Don Colton, Timothy Rumsey, killed at a place once familiarly known to many as "the stone mills," Nathaniel Churchill. Daniel Bigelow, Jonas Partridge, Dea. Elisha Walker, orderly serg't, Stephen Rumsey, Lieut., Nathan Rumsey, Frederick Dikeman, also, who died May 17, 1848, in the 88th year of his age, enlisted while a mere youth and served through the war.
RECORD OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION AND GENERAL ACTION OF THE PEOPLE.
Enlisted June 1861, John M. Hall private, Co. B. 2d Vt., discharged after 3 years service, during the two last of which he held a ser geant's warrant. Enlisted June, 1861, Silas Hart, private, Co. B. 2d. Vt .; taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness, and died in the Andersonville prison, Oct. 1864. Enlisted March 5, 1862, Ezekiel H. St. John, private, Co. B. 2d, Vt .; mustered in June 20tlı, at Golden's Hill before Richmond, discharged the same year, Nov. 30, from the ranks in which he had served from date of muster, as unfit for service, from general debility, near Stafford Court House, Va. Enlisted Dec. 16, '01, Joseph Howard, private, aged 18, 2d. Vt. Battery, re- inlisted Feb. '64 and died at Port Hudson La., Apr. 12, '64.
Of volunteers enlisting under the President's call for 300,000 in 1862, July, 19 in number i dents of the town.
received $ 100 each paid by the citizens by voluntary contribution. John P. Barber, Al- bert B. Hall, Charles K. Root, Daniel Holmes, Charles Manly, Nathaniel A. Kilborn, J.mes Morigan, Wm. P. Perry. Stillman S. Perkins, James Perkins, Duane Smith, Charles Westcor, Louis N. Crone, (died of disease a few days after expiration of term of enlistment). These were all nine months men and enlisted in the 14th regiment, and with the exception of the two last, in Capt. Joseph Jeunings' company, who lately a citizen of the place, had been chosen to take the command of a company raised in Castleton, of whom it has been said he distinguished himself for intrepid and soldier- like conduct at Gettysburgh.
THREE YEARS MEN.
Zebulon Good, Charles Blackmer, Co. H., 5th Vt., discharged a few months after, re-en- listed in the summer of 1864, in the 2d, Vt. Battery, receiving $ 100 additional bounty from the town. James Gibbs, Co. H., 5th Vt., served the term of enlistment and Allen Hol- man and Jacob Hall died July 11th, 1565, 11th Vt.
Drafted in 1863, and paid commutation. Wm. Balis, Sumner Jennings, Zimri Howard, Samuel St. John, Chandler Gibbs, excused from unfitness ; two entered the service, none volunteered, in 1863, Ang. John Thomas*, killed, record unknown.
Enlisted under the next subsequent call for volunteers and received $ 500 town bounty in Dec. 1863. 2d, Vt. Battery, Harrison Conger,* John Howard,* John Roberts, Franklin Black- mer, 2d, Vt. Battery, Cortes Gibbs, 2d, Vt. Battery, discharged the following May or June. In March 1864, Charles K Root, a nine months man re-enlisted and died Aug. 28, 1864, boun- ty $ 200. At the same time and in the same regiment, Albert Lee,* bounty $ 200, 7th Vt. Enlisted Aug. 164, Edward Bird, Co. D., 5th Vt., bounty $ 500. Enlisted Aug. 1861, Warren B. Varney, 7th or 8th Vt., bounty $ 500, died at the close of the war from diar- rhea. Enlisted Aug. 1864, Henry Varney, 7th or 8th Vt., bounty $ 500. Enlisted March 1865, James Crowe, Co. D. 5th Vt., bounty $ 500. Enlisted March 1865, Ceylon Petty, regiment unknown, bounty $ 500. One un- known, * $ 500.
In Sept. 1864, H. G. Barber, Daniel Barber and Francis Gault procured each three substi-
* Those starred although credited to, were not real-
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tutes at an expense of $ 1450 each, at an ex- pense to the town of $ 2,700.
Amount paid by the town to volun- teers, levied by tax, $ 6,000
Amount paid by voluntary subscrip- tion,
$ 1,900
Total, $ 10,600
Of the men whose names I have here given mostly of humble origin and moving in the low er walks of life. many of them mere youths, I know of none dishonorably discharged, of but one charged with desertion, and I have made inquiry, and he was restored to the ranks under extenuating circumstances, perhaps not wholly honorable, but without abatement of pay.
Where not otherwise indicated, each soldier served the term of enlistment.
The people although taking a deep interest in the progress of the war, being engaged in the quiet pursuits of rural life, removed from its tumult and excitement, had volunteered but sparingly, when the disasters of the Penin- sular campaign suddenly aroused alike the anx- iety and indignation of the country ; and as the old brigade on the heights overlooking the White Cak swamp, betook themselves to their heels, when about 11 o'clock on the 30th of June, 1862, resting from a night's exhausting march, they were suddenly assailed by the dis- charge of an hundred guns as an opening sa- lute from the southern artillery, so did the president's ensuing proclamation summoning 300,000 men to arms, spread an almost equal terror among the enrolled militia of Vermont. True, there was no enemy present from which to hide, but that many were scized with a sort of before unknown or forgotten maladies, the numerous certificates of disability deposited in the town clerks' offices sufficiently testify. These certificates were wholly unauthorized and were obtained from accommodating physi- cians who found the fees arising from this source a small but acceptable item in their yearly income, and were made subjects of poet- ic censure in the newspapers of the day. A good woman remarked that the men were fort- unate in having secured their wives, for no woman would in the future risk her happiness with any such weaklings as they now appcared to be.
Some equally patriotic, but more crafty, were willing to enter the service of the good old U. S. and such where opportunity offered, en- gaged in the mail service, each of the petty
post offices receiving and making room by the discharge of others too old or incapacitated to serve for a corporal's guard of these new functionaries. But time and reflection brought back the self respect and with it che courage of the people.
In Hubbardton, at a meeting held for the purpose in Aug. 1862, $ 2,800 were subscribed mostly in sums of $ 100 each, to be expended in filling up the quota of the town; 18 young men came promptly forward and enlisted in the service of their country, generally for nine months, each receiving $ 100 as bounty. This was the first and only general turnout from the place during the war.
In 1863, the government having arranged the preliminaries, relied upon a general draft to recruit its wasting armies; but the ex- emption provided usually known as the $300 clause, while acceptable to such friends of the government as confined their friendship within the bounds of passive sympathy, as an easy method of satisfying the claims which the na- tion might have on their more active support, was for the same reason no less acceptable to its enemies at home, who beside seized upon it as a means to light up if possible yet further, the flames of civil discord.
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