USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
GEORGE OATMAN, was another early settler of the town. He moved here from Arlington in 1785, but not until after that roll was en- tered upon record. He was one of the first 4 or 5 settlers of the town of Arlington, having settled there soon after 1760. Mr. Oatman settled here upon what has since been known as the "Oatman farm," which was then as nature had left it-a rugged forest. He was an industrious man, of great physical strength, and had been a brave soldier of the Revolu- tion. He had sons, Eli, Eliakim and Lyman, and lived to be an old man-he died about 1836. His sons, Eliakim and Lyman, moved West many years ago, and are both dead, leaving families. Eli was about 8 years old when his father reinoved from Arlington, and from that time until his death resided in Mid- dletown. He was not an aspiring man, but a sensible, well to do farmer, had a pleasant word and smiling countenance for all, and always had the entire confidence of the peo- ple of the town for his integrity and good judgment. For many years, he almost con- stantly held the office of selectman, or over- Beer, or some other position of trust, and was one of the founders and ablest supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church, until his death. About 1800, he married Mary Sy- monds, a daughter of Joel and Patience Sy- monds, of Pawlet, they had 11 children. Eli Oatman died May 30, 1851, aged 74. His wife died Feb 16, 1861, aged 80. She was a woman remarkable for her intelligence and purity of character, and to her a large and interesting family are much indebted for those qualities of mind and heart for which they have been distinguished.
The children of Eli and Mary Oatinan, were :- Ira, Orlin, Joel, Calista, Emily, Lu-
cien, Cyril, Ellen, Mary, Jane and Dernis. Ira was a farmer, honest, unaspiring like his father. He removed to Pontiac, Mich., many years ago and died there about 6 years since, leaving 5 children : Gardner, Emily, Abagail, Lucy and George-all living but Abagail, and residing in Iowa and vicinity.
Orlin, the second son, was well educate.l, a fine scholar, and unusually prepose-sing in his personal appearance. He married a daugh- ter of a clergyman in Rochester, N. Y., an i became a professor in a literary institution at the West-and was for many years a popular lecturer. In 1859, while passing through Milwaukie, Wis., he was attacked with chol- era and died there. His widow now resides in Evanston, Ill. He had 4 children, 2 daughters are now living ; Emma, the oldest, married Fred. Vandercook, and resides in Bennington ; Frances, the youngest, married David Vail, of Wisconsin.
Joel, the third son, a physician, became eminent in his profession, as a man of uncom- mon energy, business tact and talent. He commencel the study of medicine in his na- tive town, with Doctor Eliakim Paul ; attend- ed two courses of lectures at Castleton, and one or more at New York, where he gra lu- ated in 1832. Before he had received his di- ploma, he conceived the idea of going into practice in the great Metropolis. His mother fearing her boy, without experience, and pen- niless was in no condition to go into business in the great city of New York, especially as he had no friends or acquaintances in that place to lend aid or influence-besought her husband to dissuade him from the attempt. The father, seemingly unconcerned, replied, " You needn't worry yourself about Joel, he has got Symonds enough in him to find his way out somewhere." The year 1832, was the year in which the cholera raged so terri- bly in New York and other places in the United States. No sooner had our friend Joel pocketed his diploma, than he started for Bellevue Hospital, then used as a cholera hospital in the city, and fearlessly volunteered his services, to the hospital filled with those cases which physcians and others shunned as they would death itself. The first day Dos- tor Oatman was in the hospital, there were 27 deaths. The Alderman of the Ward was so well pleased with the doctor's revolution and skill on the first day, that, on the second, he appointed him ward physician, and gave
.
-
823
MIDDLETOWN.
him the right of selecting his associates. This position he held during the prevalence of the cholera in the city. In 40 days he had saved the sum of $300, and more than that, he had gained a position in that short space of time from which he could advance, and did rapid- ly advance to an extensive and lucrative practice. After he had accumulated a good property by his profession, he gradually re- linquished the practice, and devoted his time to the care and management of his funds. He has been, so far as we know, more successful in the accumulation of property than any other native of the town. Fortunate circum- stances have undoubtedly aided him to a con- siderable extent, and probably more than some others of our townsmen, who from poor boys have become wealthy men ; but the great secret of his success has been his practical ability. Although not a man of extensive reading, yet he is a man of extensive know- ledge, which he seems to have by intuition and to get by observation. He has received the degree of Doctor of Laws, from one of the best Universities in New York, and it is an honor to him well earned and well deserved
Doctor Oatman married an estimable lady in New York, in 1842, who has been some years dead. He has 4 children ; Mary E., Hydro, Harriet J., and Albert. The doctor and his family still reside in New York, but have spent a portion of the summers in this town for the last 20 years, and until recently upon the old homestead, which has been in the hands of the family until within about a year.
Calista, the oldest daughter of Eli Oatman, married Russel Mallary, and moved to Geneva, Wis., where she still resides. Her husband is dead.
Emily married Augustus Knapp, of Birds- town, Ill .; she and her husband are both dead. Lucien died at Middletown, Mar. 3, 1861, aged 45.
Cyril went to Geneva, Wis., when quite young ; has been merchandizing there for 25 years or more, and successful in his business. He has for many years been a justice of the peace, and though not a lawyer by profession has been the legal adviser for his community He has never married, but lives with his sis- ter, Mrs. Mallary.
Ellen married Doctor Nathan Deane, of Georgia, Vt. He died some years since leav- ing one son, and she resides with her brother in New York.
Mary married Joseph Bannister, of Mild.e- town, who died June 13, 1866, aged 41. Mary also resided with her brother in New York.
Jane married S. Willet, of Pawlet. . They are both dead. She died in Middletown, of consumption, July 7, 1843, at the age of 26.
Mr. Willet was afterwards struck by lightning and killed, in a boat, at the West.
Demis married Milo Smith, a man living in the West, and widely and favorably known in his region. He left his home at the be- ginning of the war of 1861, at the unanimous call of his townsmen, to lead thein to death or victory. He was in Sherman's campaign, and went and returned Colonel Milo Sinnth, having repeatedly declined promotion.
When the Oatman family oame on to the stage, with them we find Merritt and Horace Clark, A. L. Miner, Ovid Miner, and other members of the Miner families, Beriah N. Leach, the Leffingwell and Brewster families, the Bigelow family, the Caswell and Barber families, and many others then young and vigorous, and, without flattery or vanity, we may say such an array of youthful talent, vivacity, beauty and character is not often seen. But where are they now ? A large proportion of them have given a good ac- count of themselves. Many are now living and occupying prominent positions ; but many have gone to their long homes.
DYER LEFFINGWELL from Norwich, Ct., was also one of the early settlers. He was the first hatter in town, and carried on the busi- ness successfully until his death. His shop stood where thedwelling-house of Mr. Homer Southwick now stands. Mr. Leffingwell was a valuable man in his time, not ambitious but industrious, honest and capable ; attended well to his own affairs, and interested him- self in the welfare of the town. He was many years constable and collector of taxes, and twice represented the town in the legislature, and was town clerk the year he diel, 1821. Middletown lost two town clerks by death that year, Barker Frisbie and Dyer Lefling- well.
Mr. Leffingwell was twice married. His second wife was the widow of Ohol Brewster, and a daughter of John Sunderlin. She sur- vived him nearly 30 years. Mr. Leffingwell's large family all removed from this town many years ago, except Harvey Letningwell, who still resides here, and is now one of the old men of the town.
824
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Perhaps no family or families have made more of the history of Middletown than the Clark families. After the removal of the Wood families they were for many years the most numerous of any others of the same name in the town. Their ancestors were from England. There were three brothers of the name of Clark who first came to Massachusetts Colony some time before the year 1700, of which Thomas Clark was one. Thomas had two sons, Theophilus and Thomas, who re- moved to the Connecticut Colony and settled in "Old Canterbury," From Theopholus Clark came the Clarks who have lived in Middle- town ; from Thomas came Isaac Clark (old rifle) and the Clark families of Pawlet.
THEOPHILUS CLARK had 6 sons, viz. Nathan- iel, Benjamin, Adam, Theophilus, Jonas and Stephen. Nathaniel had 7 sons and 3 daugh- ters. Soon after the town was organized, Asa, Elisha, Rufus, Roswell and Ezra Clark moved from Canterbury here. Asa did not become a permanent resident. but remained 2 or 3 years ; taught school in the winter and worked out in the summer. Asa, Elisha and Rufus were here as early as 1785 or 1786 Roswell and Ezra came about 2 years after. The four brothers who reinained were among the solid, substantial men of the town for many years, and assisted in laying the foun- dation of society here upon correct, moral and religious principles. They were all members of the Congregational church ; Elisha was some 20 years a deacon ; the next one chosen after Deacon Jonathan Brewster-and Rufus Roswell and Ezra were hardly less efficient and active. Ezra was also a physician, and the first physician who settled in town. He commenced practice here about 1788 and con- tinued in practice until 1819, when he removed to the State of Ohio. The Clark brothers were not aspiring men, but remarkable for their energy of character, their stern integrity and earnest piety. Their influence was great in town, and of the kind created by good exam- ple, and a blameless life.
DEA. ELISHA CLARK was one of the first vic. tims of the epidemic which prevailed here in 1813. He died at the age of 57. The four sur- viving brothers acted as pall-bearers on the occasion of his funeral. Asa Clark died in Tinmouth about the year 1823. Roswell Clark removed to Castleton about the year 1818, and died there Aug. 12, 1825, in his 63d year. Rufus died in East Poultney about 1337, and
Doctor Ezra Clark died in the State of Ohio about 1828. They all had large families ; many of them are now holding prominent po- sitions in different parts of the country. Dea. Merlin Clark, of Middlebury, a son of Roswell Clark, is the only representative now known to me in Vermont from that branch of the Clark family, and he well sustains the charac- ter of the race.
JONAS CLARK, one of the six sons of Theop- hilus Clark, removed from Canterbury to this place in 1790, though some 2 years prior to this time two of his sons, Enos and Theophi- lus (twin brothers) had removed here and pre- pared the way for their father's family. Jonas Clark had 3 sons, the two above named and Jonas Clark, jr., long known as General Clark. Jonas Clark, sr., was a peaceful, quiet citizen, a member of the Baptist Church, and clerk of the society at its organization in 1790, the same year that he came here. He died Sept. 23, 1813, aged 70.
Enos, Theophilus and Jonas Clark, the sons of Jonas Clark sr., were all marked with an unusual energy of character. Theophilus died young and left several children, among whom were Sunon and Milton Clark, who re- moved from this place many years ago, Enos . was a man of vigorous intellect; he followed the business of a mason, until his death. He died in Middletown, aged 51. Enos Clark left 4 sons, Barton, Culver, Ashley and Orson, and 2 daughters, Mrs. W. W. Cook of White- hall, N. Y., and Mrs. Hall of Ellisburgh, N. Y. None of the sous are now living but Ash- ley, who, with Miss Fannie Clark, a daugh- ter of Barton Clark, and Mrs. Isaac L. Gard- ner, a daughter of Culver Clark, are now the only representatives of the Clark family residing in Middletown. Hon. Orson Clark was born in Middletown, Feb. 2, 1802. He acquired most of his education in the schools of his native village, but attended an academy a few terms at Northampton, Mass., and at Castleton, Vt. He taught school several sea- sons, and commenced teaching at 16 years of age. He studied law with his uncle, General Jonas Clark, and was admitted to the bar at Rutland, at the September term, 1828, and was in the practice of his profession in Mil- dletown until his decease, Sept. 20, 1848. He was a man of good habits, fond of books, a friend to the cause of education, and a good lawyer. He never had as extensive a prac- tice as his uncle; which indeed he did not
$$25
MIDDLETOWN.
seek. He represented his native town in the years 1835 and 1836, was town clerk from 1836 to '42 inclusive, and was one of the sen- ators from Rutland County in 1840 and '41.
In May, 1835, he was married to Amelia Brewster, daughter of Ohel and Ennice. (Sun- derlin) Brewster, by whom he had two sons, Albert and Warren. Albert is well educated. and now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Warren is at present in Whitehall, N. Y. He was 4 years in the war of 1861 ; he enlisted as a pri- vate in a calvary regiment from Illinois, and was discharged as captain of the same com- pany in which he first enlisted. He was at Donnelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and other hard fought battles of the South and West, and gave a good account of himself.
GEN. JONAS CLARK, the third son of Jonas Clark, sr., furnishes in himself, perhaps, the most striking example of untiring industry and indomitable perseverance the town ever had. He was 16 years old, when he came with his father to Middletown. All the ed- ucation he ever received at school, was learn- ing to read. His father had the misfortune of being poor ; the son learned the mason's trade, which he followed until he was 30 years old, but occupied his evenings and leisure time in getting his education, and used the fire place for a light in the winter, and pine knots in summer. He obtained his legal education while at work at his trade, occupying his evenings and leisure hours in the study of Blackstone and Chitty. He was admitted to the bar some little time after he was 30, and soon acquired an extensive practice, which he continued to have until he was disabled by the infirmities of age. General Clark held the office of State's Attorney, for Rutland County, 16 years in succession ; was ass ssor and col- lector of government taxes in 1819, in a dis- trict composed of 9 towns in Rutland County ; represented the town of Middletown 18 years ; was a justice of the peace 40 years, and as such married 104 couples. He was the Dem- ocratic candidate for Governor in 1849,-had several times been the candidate of his party for Congress in this district, and was a mem- ber of three constitutional conventions, the last of which was in 1850, when he was unan- imously tendered the presidency of the con- vention, but could not accept it on account of bis age and infirmities. As a lawyer he de- servedly held a high rank. His early oppor- tunities did not allow him to become as learn-
ed as Williams and Phelps, his cotemporaries, but he was no less successful. What he lack- ed in learning, was made up by his industry and unyielding perseverance. The lawyers of bis time well knew when they were to meet him in a suit, they were to ineet a lawyer who would be sure to have his side of the case pre- pared. Judge Williams once said to me, that in his knowledge, he never in a single instance, carne to the trial of his cases unprepared, when preparation was possible.
General Clark died at Middletown, F-b. 21, 1854, aged 79. He had 3 sons, Merritt, Hor- ace and Charles. Charles died when but a few years old.
HON. MERRITT CLARK was born Feb, 11, 1803. He graduated at Mildlebury College in 1823, and entered his father's offire as a stu- dent at law, where he remained about 2 years. His health failing in that pursuit and the mer- cantile business being a little more congenial to his tastes, he, in company with his brother Horace, opened a store in Middletown in 1825, and continued in the mercantile business un- til 1841, when Merritt was elected cashier of the Bank of Poultney, and removed to that town where he has since resided, and since been the cashier of that Bank. They first com- menced business here in the building recently purchased and repaired by the Messrs. Grays, but in 1832, built the brick-store, now occu- pied by M. E. Vail & Son. They were very successful in their business as merchants in this place. They inherited their father's en- ergy and perseverance, and to this they ai led a ceaseless and untiring attention to their business. No item, however insignificant. es- caped their attention, not so much for its value in a single instance, as to have a system which should not be deranged by inaccuracies, or any want of proper care and attention. Hon. Merritt Clark represented Middletown in the Legislature 3 years; was a senator for Rut- land County in the State Legislature in the years of 1863 and'64, and represented the town of Poultney in 1865 and '66. In 1850, he was the democratic candidate for Congress in this district, and has once or twice been a candi- didate of the same party for governor Mr. Clark has not for many years been an active partisan, yet few men in the State are better versed in public affairs, especially in matters connected with finances; in those matter; his opinions have great weight. He makes him- self very useful in his own town by his finan-
1
826
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
cial skill, in assisting the educational institu- tions there, and other public interests.
Mr. Clark has 2 sons Henry and Edward. Henry has been the secretary of the Vermont Senate since 1861. He is also the secretary of the Vermont and Rutland County Agricultu- ral Societies, and is now the editor of the " Rutland Herald." Edward is a teller in the Poultney Bank, (1868.)
HORACE CLARK kept his residence in Mid- dletown until his death, which occurred Feb. 23, 1852, at the age of 47, although his busi- ness for some years prior to his decease had been mostly out of this town. Some 4 years prior to his decease he had been engaged in building the Rutland and Washington Rail- road from Eagle Bridge, N. Y., to Rutland, Vt. This was his favorite enterprise, but it was his last. Feb. 23, 1843, at the organiza- tion of the company, he was elected its super- intendent, and one of the directors. In 4 years the road was completed, and Horace Clark was dead. The amount of toil and la- bor performed by him in that 4 years was great, and it may be questioned whether there was another man in Vermont equal to the task. That other public works of equal and greater magnitude have been constructed even in less time, we shall not deny. But this was a project which encountered a strong opposi- tion, and its ultimate success seemed to be doubted by a large majority of the people, and among them many who, from necessity, had to be relied on for pecuniary assistance. Of the men of means, talent and enterprise, Hor- ace Clark, for awhile stood almost alone, but with " an unfaltering purpose" and a " reso- lution which was invincible," he succeeded, and the road was built.
Horace Clark left 2 sons, Charles and Jonas. They are now in active business ; Charles, in the marble business in Rutland, Jonas as a merchant in New York.
Perhaps the most prosperous period in the existence of Middletown was between the years 1800 and 1811. The population had in- creased from 1066 in 1800, to 1207 in the cen- sus of 1810. This was the largest population the town ever had, and unquestionably it had at that time a larger population than any other town in the County in proportion to its amount of territory, and it also at that time had larger business interests in proportion to its size than any other town in the Coun_ ty. Poultney river rises in Tinmouth and
runs a westerly course through the center of the town from east to west, furnishing excel- lent mill-privileges. The Miners were locs- ted on this stream, in the east part of the town, and John Burnam on the west par: ; and in the village there were on this stream, and the small stream running down from the hills at the north part of the town, and run- ing into the river at the village, two tanner- ies, clothiers works and carding machine, dis- tillery and other machinery, and all in active operation-and all conducted by competent business men. Burnam, as we have before seen, had a very extensive business for those times, and so had the Miners. There were in the town at the time (1810), 4 grist.milis. 3 saw-mills, 2 or 3 forges, 2 distilleries, 2 or 3 clothiers' establishments, besides other mills before named, and all were apparently doing business to their utmost capacity. In the vil- lage were several mechanics' shops, 2 taverns, 2 stores, one kept by a Scotchman by the naine of William Semple; the other by James Ives ; all was alive with the hum of business. The town had become a central place for this part of Rutland County. Many of the people from the adjoining towns of Poultney, Ira, Tinmouth and Wells, came here for their me- chanical work, to the mills, and for other busi- ness purposes. But this then active, thriving little place received a check by the freshet which occurred in July, 1811, from which it never fully recovered. Its numerous mills and machinery, with the exception of what have since been known as Gray's Mills, then owned by Moses Copeland, were all swept away. Burnam's mills in the west part of the town, as before mentioned consisting of a grist and saw-mill, (he had at this time two grist mills) an oil-mill, foundery, forge, cloth- iers' works and carding-machine, distillery, some mechanics' shops and other buildings a :- tached, were all carried away, with several hundred bushels of grain, a quantity of lum- ber, and much other property. The stream rose so suddenly that but little was saved. Miner's mill, in the east part of the town had just been undergoing thorough repairs under the superintendence of Henry Gray, who was then a young man and had just completed Lis first job of work in town at his trade of mill- wright. Mr. Gray lost all he had, which con- sisted of his chest of tools, and his clothing except what he had on. Orson Brewster had a tannery, and his brother Jonathan a cloth-
827
MIDDLETOWN.
iers' establishment, located near where A. W. Gray & Sons' horse power-manufactory now stands, which shared the same fate. A few rods above the bridge, in the east part of the village, was a distillery owned by James Ives, and above that a tannery. The hides in this tannery were in great part saved, and the dis- tillery building was not carried away, but the hogs in the yard, to the number of one hun- dred or more, went down the stream, and were scattered along from Middletown to Poultney, wherever they happened to be driven ashore ; some came out alive, but most of them were drowned. Two dwelling houses-one called the Corbin house, the other the Eldridge house-in the east part of the village, and on opposite sides of the stream running down from the north part of the town, were also car- ried away; and besides this destruction of mills, machinery, dwelling houses and other property, great injury was done to the lands on those streams. Some of the meadow lands were cut up and washed away, stone, gravel and sand were carried on to others.
The day on which this freshet occured, opened bright and clear ; but about 9 o'clock A. M., a black cloud was seen rapidly rising in the west, accompanied with thunder, and the rain soon fell in torrents, and so continued to fall until the latter part of the day. It seemed, as I have been told, like a succession of thunder showers following each other with- out intermission, and what may perhaps be considered as remarkable, the heavy rain was confined to the town of Middletown and the west part of Tinmouth. Damage was done in Poultney. Poultney river runs through that town, and was swollen by the fall of water in Middletown and Tinmouth but the fall of water in Poultney, as I have been informed, was not great.
The great event of that day was the rescue of 14 persons from the "Corbin House" just before it was carried off by the rising flood. This house then stood near where M. E. Vail's store-house now stands, which is near the bridge and on the west side of the little stream which runs down from the north part of the town. This house was at the time occupied by Elihu Corbin and his family, consisting of his wife and children, and his mother, then about 70 years old. She was the mother of Mrs. Babcock, who recently died here over SQ years old. Besides that family, Israel, son of Russel Barber, and several children from the | in a few minutes be taken from there or per-
Haskins family, who lived on the hill north of Mr. Lucius Copaland's had left the school and gone in there to get shelter from the ram. The inmates of this house were not awar- of their danger until it was upon them, neither were the inhabitants of the village. Besides those who resided in the village, there were many there from without, and all seemned un- conscious of approaching danger. The water rose rapidly, especially in this stream on which were the Corbin and Eldridge houses. The first thing which seemed to attract the at- tention of the inhabitants and cause alarm was the going off of the Eldridge house, which was situated on the east side of this stream and nearly opposite the Corbin house, and nearly northi and on the opposite side of the road from where the village school-house now stands. Elihu Corbin was in the village and called the attention of the people to the danger his fain- ily were in, when they found his house al- ready surrounded by water, and the appear- ances indicating that this house must soon share the same fate of the Eldridge house. The bed of the stream was about where it now is; but the water had so risen in a short space of time that there was a strong current on the west side of the house of about 70 feet wide and between the house and the village, and had become so deep and rapid that fording it was impossible.
The people in the village on being warned of the danger, immediately rallied upon the western shore of this current of water, and at first seemed to look upon the scene before them in despair. This little stream which ri- ses among the hills and mountains in the north part of the town, and is ordinarly so small that fording it even is unnecessary to cross it, being a mere step in many places sufficient, had suddenly swollen to the dimensions of a large river, and the descent was such, in coming down from the hills, that the current in this place was exceedingly rapid and furious, and as if to render the scene still more grand and terrific, there was added the roar of the waters and the dull heavy sounds of rocks and stones striking each other as they were moved along by the resistless current. There was 70 feet of water between them and the house, with a current no man could withstand a moment, and the house was being rapidly undermined, and already trembling from the action of the water. Fourteen persons were in it who must
5954H
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.