USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 72
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The township lies in lat. 43º 37' and lon. 4º 10'. Bounded N. by Chittenden, E. by Sherburne, S. by Shrewsbury, W. by Rutland. It is 47 miles south from Montpelier and 25 N. W. from Windsor. The surface is billy and uneven, lying mostly on the Green Mountains. The land, much of it, is high and cold, and incapable of settlement or cultiva- tion. There are some good farms, however, along its western borders and good grazing land in other parts of the town.
The turnpike from Bethel to Rutland pass- es through this town; also the direct road from Woodstock, through Bridgewater, to Rutland. There being so much high land, yet the town has suffered severely from fresh- ets many times, especially in the years of 1811, and 1868. The first saw-mill was built by Zidon Edson, 1810. It was swept away by the freshet of July 1811; another was built near by on the same site, about 2 years afterwards.
The land being heavily timbered, the prin- cipal business has been lumbering.
The first, and for many years the most act- ive business man in town was Rufus Richard- son.
Mar. 11, 1806, the first legal town meeting was holden at the house of Johnson Rich-
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ardson in Parkerstown by virtue of a warn- ing signed by John Fuller Esq. justice of the peace within and for the County of Rut- land by virtue of an application made to said Fuller by the inhabitants of said town for the purpose of choosing officers for said town for the ensuing year ; and chose Darius Chipman moderator, John Page town clerk, Benjamin Farmer, Johnson Richardson and Daniel Braddish, selectmen, Benjamin Far- mer, town treasurer, Minot Farmer, consta- ble, Nahum Goddard, Minot Farmer and Phil- ip Perkins, listers; Ira Ingerson, Minot Far- mer and James Cummings, highway survey- ors and the selectmen of said town were chos- en committee to receive a deed of Jonathan Parker Esq. for a certain mill-privilege in said Parkerstown for the use of the town. The above named men were duly sworn into office, attest John Page, town clerk.
The first birth on record in Parkerstown was Trowbridge Maynard Richardson, son of Johnson and Sibil Richardson, born Nov. 7, 1800; died May 5, 1803. First marriage on record was Lyman Parker and Lucy Perkins, both of Parkerstown, Dec. 4, 1809. They were married by Johnson Richardson, justice of the peace.
The freemen in 1811, were Zidon Edson, Joseph Ross, Rufus Richardson, Johnson Richardson, Rogers Eggleston, James Eg- gleston, John Shaw, Eliphalet Webster, Wm. Shaw, Simeon Russell.
In 1812, there were 16 voters in town; in 1823, there were 23 voters.
The names of the first men equipped in Parkerstown, belonging to the 4th Co. of infantry, 3d Reg. 21 Brigade and 2d Division of the Militia of the State of Vermont, re- siding in the town of Parkerstown, were as follows :- Wm. Sabin, Nathan Hawley, James Eggleston, John Eggleston, Silas Cutler.
A list of the freemen in 1816: Jesse Gove, Capt ; Abner Hawley, Isaac Sanders, Fred- eric Billington, Wm. Shaw, James Eggleston, Silas Cutler, David Bragg, Aaron Foster, Oliver Yaw, Nathan Hawley, Rogers Egg- leston, Simeon Russell, Wm. Sabin, Josiah Davis, Wm. Davis, Rufus Richardson
Members of the Constitutional Convention- 1814, Zidon Edson ; 1822, Elisha Estabrook ; 1823, Rufus Richardson ; 1838, Timothy Gib- son ; 1843, Rufus Richardson ; 1850, James Wheeler ; 1870, James Firman.
In 1807, a freeman's meeting was legally warned and held at the house of Johnson Richardson in Parkerstown the first Tuesday in Sept. to vote for Governor and other State officers, also to decide whether they could elect a representative the next year. We find no record of any one being elected to represent the town until 1812.
In 1807, a town meeting was held to in- stitute means to lay out a turnpike and other roads.
Of the first settlers of the town but little is now known. Some grand-children of the first inhabitants are still in the town. It seems probable that Johnson Richardson and family, Jonathan Eggleston from Pequomick, Ct. and a numerous family, and very likely some of the first town officers were the arst settlers. Jonathan Eggleston moved into the northwest part of the town sometime about 1792. Some of his grand-children still reside in that part of the town. The Richardson family are all gone except one grandson. In Jan. 1827, application was made to the selectmen, Nathan Fisher and Timothy Gibson, to warn a town meeting for the purpose of designating school districts by numbers ; accordingly they met and organ- ized 5 districts. Since then, others have been added, making in all the number of eight. The number of scholars in 1830, over four and under eighteen, was 133. In 1831, the number was 151.
1828, at March meeting, chose Rufus Rich- ardson, Amos Robinson and Nathan Fisher committee to look out suitable ground for a burial-place. The first public house for ac- commodation for travellers was kept by John- son Richardson. The house is now gone and in the middle of where the cellar was is a tree growing 2 feet through. This house was in No. 1 district. About 1817, Estabrooks kept a public house in No. 2 district. Mary Estabrooks was, it is believed, the first school' teacher in No. 1 district.
TOWN CLERKS.
1806, John Page ; 1803, Johnson Richard+ son ; 1809, John Page ; 1810, Philip Perkins; 1811, Zidon Edson ; 1812, John Shaw ; 1815, Wm. Sabin ; 1817, Elisha Estabrooks; 1-23, Nathan Fisher ; 1833, Draper Ruggles ; 1534, Edward Mussey ; 1835, Ira Seward ; 1336, Edward Mussey ; 1810, Zidon Edson ; 1:41, James K. Pearson; 1850, Eben C. French;
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1852. James K. Pearsons ; 1853, J. R. Royce Pearsons ; 1855, Alpheus F. Snow; 1857. James W. Kimball ; 1859, James E. Seward ; 1860, Newton Squiers. He still holds the office, 1871.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1812, Johnson Richardson ; 1813, Zidon Edson ; 1814, John Shaw ; 1815, Rufus Rich- ardson ; 1816. John Shaw ; 1817 and 18, Wm. Sabin ; 1819, Elisha Estabrooks; 1820 and 21, R. Richardson ; 1822 Elisha Estabrooks ; 1823, Rufus Richardson ; 1824 to 23, Nathan Fish- er ; 1828, Amos Robinson ; 1829, Nathan Fish- er ; 1830, '31, '32, '33, '34, Edward Mussey ; 1835, Timothy Gibson ; 1836, Edward Mussey. 1837, Timothy Gibson; 1838, '39, James K. Pearsons ; 1840, Timothy Gibson ; 1841, '42, Samuel Caldwell ; 1843,'44, Leland Houghton; 1845, '46, Ethan Temple ; 1847, Jared Long ; 1848, 49, Wm. Harkness ; 1850, John Osborn ; 1851, and 1852, Eben C. French ; 1853, Isaac Mathewson ; 1854, '55, George M. Ransom ; 1856, '57, Ezra Edson ; 1858, Isaac Math- ewson ; 1859, '60, Leverett Wilkins ; 1861, '62, George Sawyer ; 1863, '64, Jerry C. Thornton ; 1865, '66, J. E. Johnson; 1867, 68, Hosea F. Wilkins ; '69, '70, Ezra Edson ; Freemen's votes cast in 1870-101, Scholars, 1870, 255.
Of the men that served in the war of 1812, but three are now living in Mendon they are Rufus Long, Shubael Lamphere and Jeremiah Downey. Rufus Long is almost 86 years old He cultivated his own garden the past sum- mer and took care of 20 swarms of bees. Sev- eral people have lived in Mendon to be very aged. A Mrs. Walker lived to the age of 99 years 11 months and 12 days. About 4 months previous to her death by her sons re- quest she combed and spun 5 knots of wors- ted which he carried to Henniker, where she lived when young. Mrs. Hannah Hudson lived to be over 90 years of age. Mrs. Dolly Cady born in Rindge N. H. lived to the age of 91 years 17 days. Mrs. Cady's maiden name was Sherwin. Elisha Bryant, born in Plym- outh, Mass., came to reside in Parkerstown, lived there many years, never married, died March 29, 1866, aged 94 years. Hilkiah Grout moved into Parkerstown in the early settlement of the town, lived to the age of 86. Cyrus Edson born in Bridgwater Mass. moved to Parkerstown and lived to be 85 years old. Mrs. Abigail Hatch lived in Parkerstown and then in Rutland a few years, then in Men- ling about him. He used to bring in pieces
don, raised a family of 13 children, is now living with her daughter in Mendon. Her husband has been dead several years. She is now in her 93d year. (1871.)
In regard to Indians, but one ever lived in the town. He was called Indian John. He had, previous to coming to Medway or Par- kerstown, belonged to some tribe of Indians in the western part of New York. A number of families of whites made a settlement not far from the Indian settlement, the Indians determined to plunder and destroy them. In- dian John gave the whites warning and they prepared for them, so the project failed. The Indians mistrusted John and slit the rims of his ears and he then found they were devis- ing a harder punishment for him. He accord- ingly fled to the American army. They were about to go through the wilderness towards the lake to join some others there. He knew they would be waylaid by Indians and pilot- ed them another route from what they had designed to go. They went safely and for that act government gave him a reward. He had a pension from government. But the Indians were furious and determined on his destruction. He found his way however into the wilds of Parkerstown and built a camp not far from Johnson Richardson's, where he used to make quite a home. Indians used to come lurking about suspecting something of his whereabouts, sometimes they kept around many days, the family would keep him se- creted till they were gone. Once three of them got on his track and followed on till they got a glimpse of him but he got a glimpse of them also. He came to a brook and crossed it on a log. There happened to be a large tree turned up by the roots in exact range of the log he had crossed He fled behind the turned up roots and waited. They followed his track, came to the log, held a short talk, then all three started to cross, he, meantime, had made a hole through the dirt on the roots so that he could put his gun through and take good aim, when they were fairly in range one after the other he fired, killed two and wounded the third. He ran and took one of the Indians guns and shot the third, and then went to work and hid the dead Indians, took their guns, and went to Richardson's and told them what he had done. He was never mo- lested after that, only some Indians once in Rutland made enquiry, but could learn noth-
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of lead which he said he found and promised | ally set our hands, Mendon, this 23d day of Jan. in the year of our Lord 1836.
he would sometime tell where there was plen- ty of it. He lived to be very old. No one knew his age, but judged him to be over 90 years. He died very suddenly. He tried to tell them something before he died but could not make them understand.
In 1818, Thomas Hunt came to Parkers- town and was accepted as an elder or preach- er by a few professing members of the Meth- odist Reformed Church. He brought a cer- tificate from Douglass, Mass., but never form- ed a church, although he preached sometime. In 1819, Blackmer Cook, a blind man, brought a certificate from a Free Will Bap- tist Church in Burrillville, giving him license to preach and baptize, also to found a church and administer church ordinances. The in- habitants of that part of the town accepted of his preaching for a time, but never formed any regular church.
When the town was chartered it was de- cided to reserve certain lots of land as min- isterial lands for the support of the gospel, and in 1806, the selectmen were instructed to lease said lands. It was also understood that they were to go to the first settled minis- ter settled in the said town unless some previ- ous agreement was made with him. In the latter part of the year 1835, a young man by the name of Crowley came and preached a while. He had never been ordained. The inhabitants had some talk of having him or- dained and accepting him for a minister, but did not wish to give him the land ; only the profits accruing from it; but he insisted on having the lands to sell or dispose of as he saw fit. The inhabitants then thought to make matters safe and sure they would find some minister that would quit-claim the lands to the town. To do this it was necessary to organize some society, they accordingly got up the following society :-
Jan. 23, 1836, a meeting was duly called, officers elected, and the following resolutions adopted, accepted and signed, viz .-
" We the subscribers, inhabitants of the Town of Mendon, County of Rutland, State of Vermont, do hereby voluntarily associ- ate and agree to form a society by the name of the Mendon Union Religious Society in Mendon aforesaid for the purpose of settling and supporting a minister according to the first section of an act entitled an act for the support of the gospel, passed Oct. 27th, 1798, in witnes, whereof, we have hereunto sever-
Draper Ruggles, Wm. Foster, Samuel Cald- well, A. M. Gibson, Ira Felch, Rufus Rich- ardson, Supply Nims, Ira Seward, Roswell Gibson, Jeremiah Green, Henry Strong, Ed- ward Mussey, James K. Pearson, Coomer H. Boorn, David Rice, C. C. Burditt, F. B. Tem- ple, James M. Farnum, Ira W. Seward, Tim- othy Gibson, Blackmer Cook."
Therefore, said articles of agreement, signed as aforesaid, the subscribers organized them- selves into a body corporate and politic and adopted the following resolution :--
" We resolve that the officers of the Men- don Union Religious Society shall be a pres- ident or moderator, a secretary or clerk, a treasurer and a prudential committee of three who shall hold their offices for the term of one year from and after the time of annual meeting of said society or until others shall be chosen. Said Society then proceeded to choose officers for the ensuing year, when Ira Seward was chosen moderator or president ; Edward Mussey clerk or secretary ; James K. Pearson treasurer ; Roswell Gibson, Timothy Gibson, Rufus Richardson were chosen pru- dential committee."
At the close of the meeting it was decided to look up a minister and install or ordain him pastor over the Mendon Union Society. They heard of an ordained minister of the Universalist persuasion who was not pastor over any church, but resided in Stockbridge, Vt. (his name was Elbridge Wellington,) ac- cordingly they sent one of the committee to treat with him and learn if he would accept of the charge of pastor over the said society and quitclaim all right to said lands and by deed to give the land to the town forever. He readily agreed to do so and put himself under bonds $2,500. Rev. Russel Streeter of Woodstock being his bondsman. The 25th of Jan. 1836, at half past ten o'clock A. M. a meeting was held at the school-house (there being no meeting house in the town) for the installation. Rev. R. Streeter preached the installation sermon. Rev. Mr. Gifford of Shrewsbury gave the charge and also, the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Wellington made the concluding prayer. Two laymen were present. As soon as the meeting closed Rev. Mr. Wellington and others went immedi- ately to the town clerk's office where a deed was made out and recorded of which the fol- lowing is & copy :-
" Know all men by these presents that El- bridge Wellington of Stockbridge in the County of Windsor State of Vermont har- ling this day been regularly installed as min-
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ister over the Mendon Union Religious Soci- ety and being therefore settled minister in said town of Mendon in consideration of one dollar received to my full satisfaction, of the treasurer of Mendon, the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge, have remised, released and forever quit-claimed unto the town of Mendon three certain measurings or tracts of land of which I am seized in fee by virtue of being the first settled minister in said town of Mendon and being the same tracts of land, which were drawn to the original right of the first settled minister, in the first second and third division of the same to have and to hold the aforesaid premises with all the priviledges and appartenances to the said tract of land belonging and pertaining, unto the said town of Mendon, to their sole use forever, so that neither I the said Elbridge nor my heirs nor any person nor persons claiming under me or them, shall at any time hereafter by any way or means have claim or demand or any right or title to the aforesaid premises or appurtenances or any part or parcel thereof forever-in witness whereof I said Elbridge Wellington have here unto set my hand and seal this 25th day of January in the year of our Lord one thous- and eight hundred and thirty-six.
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of ELBRIDGE WELLINGTON. (L. S.)
BUSSEL STREETER.
MOSES STRONG."
The inhabitants then thought fit to hire Mr. Wellington to preach in Mendon for a time; to which offer, he for a reasonable com - pensation agreed to accede and preached half the time here for 2 years, when he left the State and went to Maine. The money accru- ing from said leased lands has ever since been paid over to ministers of different denom- inations who have preached in town.
Many Methodist preachers have occasion- ally preached at different parts of the town. Anthony Rice, a Methodist minister, former- ly, often visited and preached, and several cir- cuit preachers occasionally came and held meetings for several years.
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There were some Congregational people and some Baptists, they generally went to Rutland to meeting. The Baptist were call- ed a branch of the Rutland Baptist Church. In those days the south-western part of Men- don being so near East Rutland it was more convenient for the inhabitants to attend meeting there, consequently many belonged to churches there. There had never been any particular excitement, or what is gen- erally called revival of religion in town. They were in the condition of a people of olden time " when there was no king " every
one did that which was right in his own eyes. Meetings were few and far between and thinly attended when there were any. The sabbath was desecrated, being usti as a day of pleasure, hunting, fishing and drink- ing, by a certain class of men, and making calls, going berrying or some unnecessary work by the women, while children found almost any amusement to suit them. Men- don became noted as a wicked place in gen- eral ; but in the winter of 1853, a revival of religion commenced in Rutland, meetings ; were frequent and many were interested in them. Some one gave invitation to some of the foremost and prominent inen to come and hold meetings in the school-house in the northwest part of the town: accordingly several gentlemen from East Rutland village came once a week and profitable meetings were held the remainder of the winter. Meetings were well attended; many were anxious inquirers and quite a number were hopefully converted: some united with the different churches in Rutland in the month of May. The same year a sabbath-school was organized. We had good helpers from Ru :- land to assist in organizing and getting in scholars. Among others was Mr. John B. Page and Mr. Henry Dyer, Mr. James Bar- rett, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Luther Daniels. Mr. J. B. Page gave a library to the school, and took an active part in assisting. Mr. H. Dyer accepted the superintendence of it through the summer and fall. Rev. Mr. Howe, an Episcopal Methodist minister, preached at the school-house every two weeks. The sabbath school met at the school-house every sabbath at 4 o'clock : school exercises lasted an hour, then a prayer meeting was held an hour. In September- same year three old women going home from the school and meeting, being wearied going so far and climbing so hard a hill, decide } that there must be a meeting house in Men- don, accordingly Monday they met to decide ways and means. They three decided to have a Ladies' Society organize I for one year, the funds raised to be appropriated towards the building of a meeting-house in Mendon. They sent for a minister and others to come to the residence of C. H. Boorn, on Thursday of the sane week at 2 o'clock to organize 3 Ladies' Society ; also sent notice a couple of miles around that a gathering would be held at said house on aforesaid day and all were
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requested to attend. The thing was so nov- el that 21 were found at their first gather- ing. The society constitution was framed, officers chosen, by-laws agreed to and all agreed to work with a good will for one year as regularly as they could. This society was organized Sept. 23, 1853. After a few weeks of the gatherings, one of the old women got up a subscription paper and carried it around to the gentlemen ; all of whom seemed will- ing to help according to their means. Mauy possessed but small means and were unable to do much, but the people in Rutland read. ily gave a helping hand. Among the fore- most were John B. Page, Mr. J. Barrett, Rockwood Barrett, Luther Daniels, B. H. Burt and other names too numerous to men- tion. Among the ladies of Rutland who aid- ed in helping we mention a few : Mrs. J. B. Page, Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. George Cheney, the Misses Penfields and Mrs. J. Pierpont ; and many others rendered efficient aid. In Sept. 1859, Mr. J. Barrett sold us a piece of land belonging to him and his son Rockwood. Said land was in the middle of the village of Mendon. It was a desirable place for a meeting-house. He let us have it at a low price. He had previously been offered much more for it than he required us to pay for it. In Sept. 1859, the house was raised, and fin- ished on the out-side the same fall before Christmas, and the Ladies' Society held a levee in the new meeting-house to sell off articles made in the society. Rutland people came in large loads and assisted us to sell, and bought many things and helped to make the gathering a complete success. The weath- er became cold, the days short and it was thought best to defer work on the house till spring. When the spring work was done the work was renewed and the building finished. It was dedicated about the first of August 1860, and named a Union Meeting House. Elder Leland Howard preached the dedication sermon, Rev. Dr. Aiken assisted in the services. Dr. Aiken was at that time Congregational minister in Rutland.
After the house was dedicated it was thought advisable to hire a, minister. Elder Leland Howard had been pastor of the Bap- tist Church in Rutland several years, but his failing health would not permit his attending to so large a charge. He had given it up for a time and they had another minister for that year, so the inhabitants of Mendon made ap-
plication for and obtained his services for the remainder of the year. When cold weather set in, he was not able to come, but Rutland supplied our house with preachers of diferen: denominations awhile. In, or about the last of Feb. 1861, Mr. R. H. Howard, au Episco- pal Methodist preached about 2 months and after the Methodist Conference set they sent Mr. Spencer, Episcopal Methodist, I rear. He left the spring of 1862, when Elle: Howard, Baptist, again supplied preaching through the summer till cold weather se: in. A Mr. Barton, Wesleyan, Methodist. came and preached through the winter of 1333. and remained through that year and til spring of 1864. The next minister was JÍ :. Herrick, Episcopal Methodist, till the spring of 1865 ; succeeded by Mr. Loveitt, Episcopal Methodist, who remained 2 years, till the spring of 1867. Then, Rev. N. E. Jenkins. 2 years, a Wesleyan Methodist, who left in the spring of '69. Rev. Mr. Stewart 2 years till the spring of 1871, also Wesleyan M-th- odist. Rev. Mr. Barne, Wesleyan, is the present incumbent in 1871. In Nov. 23:2. 1867, Rev. N. E. Jenkins organized a Wes- leyan Methodist Church at the Union Chap- el in Mendon. The following are the names of those constituted members at that time : George A. B. Bissel, Jasper L. Williams, Irs Ormsby, Wm. Tenny, Win. D Kenniston, Mary L. Keniston, James Ranger, Mary Ann Farr,-since then others have been a id- ed, Mrs. Elvira Nichols, Mrs. Christiana Wii- liams, Miss Clara Pike, Mr. Collins Ezdes- ton, Mrs. Deborah Eggleston, Mrs. Sin.th, Mrs. R. Richardson, B. H. Barns, Abel N. Barns, Ellen Shaw, Edward Eggleston.
In the year 1834, Draper Ruggles from Rutland, and in company with him, a brother in-law, Mr. Norman Hurd, came to Mendoa and set up a tannery in the north- west part of the town. They carried it on two of three years when it passed into the hands of Alanson Mason, J. Barrett, Brown & Co. Mason got tired of it left and went West : then Mr. Barrett engaged John Osborn from Danvers Mass. to carry on the concern. Os- born built and set up a small store in the vil- lage of Mendon. A neighborhood library was got up; Osborn was first librarian. Edward Mussey, before this had kept a tavera in the old Estabrook's stand, a little distance south of said village. He bought a place in the village, added considerable to the house an i
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opened a tavern and kept the first post office in town. Osborn carried on the tanning business till 1850. He then went back to Massachusetts and the tannery building pass- ed into the hands of Isaiah Averill who cleared out the tanery concern and put in a pill-box factory and worked at that till all the white birch near by was worked up, when it passed back into Barrett's hands. Then Wm. C. Walker moved into the place and put machinery into the building for a worsted factory. The basement part is now a stave-factory. The machinery for worsted is not now in operation, but they expect to start again next spring-(1872.)
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