The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2, Part 20

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 848

USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 20

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).

There are 12 persons in town from 80 years of age to 91.

CHEESE-FACTORIES.

The first cheese factory in the State was established on the premises of C. S. Bardwell, in West Pawl-t, in March 1864. It is run by a joint stock company incorporated by the legislature in 1865, and has a capital of about $ 5,000 invested in buildings and nec- essary fixtures. The milk of about 475 cows, on an average, has been delivered here for the last 3 years. The whole amount of milk for three seasons is 4,849,759 1bs. making 486,267 lbs. of cheese, market weight, being a fraction more than one pound of cheese to 10 pounds of milk. Net proceeds of the cheese, all expenses paid. $ 90,000, being a fraction over 185 cents per pound. The cost of manufacturing cheese at this establishment, including every expense until delivered at the depot has been two cents per pound. The whole management is under the supervision 'of a board of three directors, and so well are its patrons satisfied with this method of cheese making that the association will in the present year very much enlarge its man- ufacturing capacity.

Another factory was established at the vil- lage in 1865, by Rollin C. Wickham, on a rather larger scale, which has been equally successful. We have no returns from it. Still another factory just over the line in Wells was established in 1865 by James Nor- ton. More than half its milk comes from this town. We are assured that the cheese from all these establishments brings the highest price in market.

Pawlet, Oct. 19 1872.

Miss Hemenway,

I am in receipt of your favor of Oct, 7th. In reply to your question as to the au- thor of the lines in my history of Pawlet " I beg and pray both night and day " &c. I can only say that I often heard my father re- peat them (there were a dozen stanzas) and name the author who was known to him, but I fail to remember his name or any other en- tire stanza.

regard to the Clergyman who became a Ro- man Catholic it was the Rev. Daniel Barber who was an early Missionary of the Episco- pal Church in this town and vicinity but whose residence I believe was in Manchester, Vt.

His son Virgil H. Barber who was an ad- complished classical scholar and who at one time was Principal of Fairfield Academy (Herkimer County N.Y.) first became attached to the Catholic Church and it was said that through his influence his Father became a convert. I remember seeing in a religious print just fifty years ago a notice of this Vir- gil H. Barber at Rome. He was ordained in that city by the name of " Virgillius Barber -. ini." Ilis subsequent history is unknown to us. I am well pleased that you have reached Rutland County.

Yours truly, H. HOLLISTER.

The history of the Barber family, (father and son of which were among the early Protestant Episcopal missionaries at Pawlet, Manchester, Burlington, this State, Clare- mont, N. H. &c.,) links with the religious history of Fanny Allen, daughter of Gen. Ethan Allen and that of the P.t. Rev. Wm. Tyler, D. D. First Bishop of Hart- ford, Ct., and his father's family, and forms a unique chain in the early Catholic history of our State. We have considerable mare- rial in hand for these parties, but hopeful to obtain more, will reserve to combine it in one chapter, under the biography of Bishop Tyler, a native of Derby, -the history of which town is to be completed for the next volume we hope. Ed.]

Abont six years since perhaps a little over, Dr. J. H. Guild, a native of this town, now a resident of Rupert while treating a hard case of asthma of near thirty years standing, on which he had expended all the usual mo les of treatment, happily undertook to prepare a new medicine from a combination of several sure plants of peculiar properties for the bronchia and nervous system. His medi- cine curing even to his surprise, to which he scarce looked to more than alleviate this dis- tressing case," he tried it with others and invariably it seems with the same success, The Doctor put an advertisement into the leading New York papers, offering a bottle free to every sufferer. It was not long be- fore Guild's Green Mountain Asthma Cure was

I have never seen or heard the " song " composed by Eldad Curtis on leaving town and have the story only from tradition. In | called for in many quarters and soon recom-

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mendations were flowing in from every quar- ter of the United States.

The' Doctor started his sales six years since, "investing only $ 16,20 capital," has never put in an additional dollar. On its own merits it has worked its way until at present it yields him an income of over $ 12,000 per annum. Dr. J. H. Guild is son of Chauncey and grandson of John Guild, all of Pawlet. Ed.

HON. AARON CLARK.

BY WHITFIELD WALKER, OF WHITING.

I propose to give a brief sketch of the Hon. Aaron Clark, one of Vermont's distin- guished sons, who was born in Pawlet, Vt., about the year 1789. He was the second son of David Clark, and the first born of his mother, Lydia Clark, she being the second wife of his father. When he was quite a small boy, his father settled in Whiting,- commencing on a new farm, and sharing, in common with others, the privations and hardships incident to a new settlement. He had the misfortune, early in life, to become an orphan. June 9, 1799, his father was drowned in Otter Creek, leaving a wife and 4 sons ( one by his first marriage ) and 3 daughters, to struggle with life's realities, in the great battle of life. Fortunately, his mother was a woman of sterling qualities, both in head and heart, and hesitated not to meet the issue with heroic fortitude and dis- criminating firmness. Most naturally would she have looked to this son to aid her in life's coming battle, surrounded as she was by little ones. But no; she embraced the first opportunity to place him under the care and guardianship of a gentleman, then a resident of Saratoga Co., N. Y., till he should reach his majority ; doing this with perfect confidence. although this gentleman was an entire stranger to her. So eagle-eyed were her perceptions of human character, that she never had cause to regret what most mothers would have deemed mnadness, or at least the height of imprudence.

That gentleman, ( I regret that I have lost his name,) in the great generosity of his na- ture, gave the subject of this notice a classical education at Union College, where he gradu- ated with distinguished honors. Subse- quently, he studied the profession of law, and was admitted to the bar in Albany Co., N. Y. His great intellectual calibre, sterling

integrity, and affable and urbane manner, were such no long time was required to bring him into notice. About this time Daniel D. Tompkins was elected governor of the State of New York, and made Mr. Clark his pri- vate secretary, retaining him until the close of his gubernatorial career, when Mr. Clark was elected clerk of the House of Assembly for a series of years, during which he pub- lished a legislative manual, I am told is still in use. About 1825, or '26, he, with his family, removed from Albany to the City of New York, having accumulated a fortune of $ 12.000, since which, as he told the writer in 1834 or '35, it had accumulated to $ 90,000. In 1840, he was elected mayor of the City of New York, which office he held 2 years, in which he acquitted himself so as to com- mand the respect, not only of the City of New York, but of the entire State.

While his mother lived he frequently vis- ited her, and also the house of the writer, with his accomplished wife and family. That mother he never forgot, nor did he forget to honor the father, whose life was prematurely closed at the age of 43 years. He erected a plain marble slab at the head of his grave, about the year 1812, on which is inscribed the following sentiment :

"The world's a loser when a good man dies."

CHRISTMAS.

BY HARRIET A. CHAPII.

A merry Christmas, for you, consin Ann With a happy New Year in view, And believe that in heart, easily I can Find many kind wishes for you.

The storm king is without and round about Ilis bugle I hear in the wind blast ;

A snow white sheet, he has strewn without And with heavy clouds, the sky overcast.

Time as on wings of wind is quickly fleeting by, And many precious years are past

And a heavy burden, on conscience lies ; But, let the future be improved at last.

MOTHER AND BABE-Extract.

Heaven claims the warm yonng heart As stars are claimed by even ;

And soft as twilight rays depart, She soars from earth to heaven.

As summer breeze at even- With smile so calm and mild,

Soft let her bear to heaven Her fair-her precious child.

MARY ROBINSON.

935

PITTSFIELD.

BY REV. W. R. BLOSSOM.

The township of Pittsfield is a gore of land lying between Stockbridge, on the east, Roch- ester on the north, and Chittenden on the west. and, in a triangular form, the most southern point cornering on the town of Sherburne. It was represented to contain land equal iu amount to a township and a half, and was chartered July 29, 1781, by Thomas Chittenden, the then Governor of Vermont, to Samuel Wilcox, Dan- iel Kinne and Josiah Wright and their associ- ates, being about 130 in number; mostly or all in the States of Massachusetts and Con- necticut. -

The first proprietors' meeting was holden at Danby in December, 1781, and Daniel Kinne was their first moderator, and Solomon Stod- dard proprietors' clerk; at which time, also, a committee was appointed to lay out and allot the township: who accordingly laid out 52 } acres to each proprietor, and a like number of acres to each of the public reservations, agree- ably to the charter, which they called the first division.

In 1787 they made another allotment of 40 acres to each proprietor, whereupon they dis- covered that by reason of the towns of Stock- bridge and Chittenden overreaching their char- ter bounds, their gore did not exceed a half township, and that they were suffering great loss as to territory. At a meeting holden Sept. 25, 1787, they appointed Asa Whitcomb, Esq. and Charles Goodrich, Esq. as their agents to obtain redress from the Legislature for the loss of their lands by the encroachments of the towns of Stockbridge and Chittenden : but all the satisfaction they obtained was, that the land was there, and they must look it up --- whereupon suits were commenced, and much litigation ensued for years ; and they were fin- ally defeated and lost their land.

.....

The first settlments were commenced about the year 1786, by Daniel and Jacob Bow, in the southern part of the town. Daniel Bow commenced on the farm where now (1869) D&. vid Avery lives, and Jacob where Isaac Tag- gart now lives. They both emigrated from Middletown or Chatham, Ct.

Thomas Hodgkins commenced settlements in the northeast part of the town the same year, on the farm now owned by Royal Tapper, known as the Tupper farm; and George Mar- tin on the farm now owned by Granville Fare-

well : which farms have been set off to Roch- ester.

The first mills in town were built by Charles Goodrich of Pittsfield, Mass., who received of the proproietors a right of land for building them. They also gave him the privilege of naming the town, which he did after the towy in which he lived. He therefore built a saw and gristmill on the same location where tl.e mills now stand, owned by Joseph Segar and E. Atwood. He also put up a convenient fram- ed house, (the first in town) for the accommo- dation of his miller, and a part of which was used for several years for holding town and religious meetings ; also for schools in the win. ter season.

Among the first settlers were Lucius Kibbe, where Mr. Bishop now lives, John Gaius, where . Roswell Ranney,-Dr. Tucker, where Mrs. French, and Ira Holt and Woodward Tucker, where Widow Patch now lives.

David Waller commenced the farm now own- ed by Alden Pinney; Alba Durkee commenc- ed the farm where Douglas Long now lives an i Timothy Durkee that part of Joel Ellis' farm . known as the Gibbs farm,-and Amos Jones where Joseph Durkee lives-Zacheus Blossom + on Arlow Lamb's place. David Daly commenc- ed farming and shoemaking near the end of the bridge, below the mill where Guilford Par- menter now lives. Nathaniel Eddy commenc- ed the farm now owned by H. O. Gibbs

The first inhabitant in what is now the vil- lage was Uzziah Green, in a poor log-house, between the school house and Congregational parsonage. Jonas Stone first began where An- drew Ellis lives. and Ebb Durkee where Jona- v than and Joel Ranney now are, and David Durkee where R. Guernsey now lives. Those above mentioned were the first settlers in town.

In the year 1796, on the 4th of March. Ben- jamin Blossom came into town. He tendei Goodrich's mills 10 years, and occupied the house built for that purpose. He then moved on to the place now owned by Gad Segar, where he lived until he died.

A branch of White River, called the Tweed. runs through the east part of the town, a part of which comes from the south-the other part, the one that the mill stands on. comes from the west, and is called the West Branch. It takes its rise in Chittenden. The two branches form a junction a few rods below the mills. The-e streams were well stocked with fish, principa !- ly trout, which was a benefit to the early set- tlers. To supply their tables it was an easy

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matter to go out, and in a half hour catch | tin Fuller of Royalton, consisting of 16 mem- enough for a family an abundant meal. Many were caught that would weigh from 1 to 3 lbs. each. They have now become scarce and small; although fishermen come from other towns-from Rutland, Woodstock, Royalton, Bethel, &c., and spend much time in fishing, and take and carry off a few diminutive ones.

Deer were also caught in abundance, by go- ing but a short distance on the hills. Bears and wolves made frequent depredations upon the sheep and young cattle.

The face of the land is mountainons and broken except on the streams, where there are many good farms, which are fertile and easily cultivated and productive : yet there are some good farms among and on the hills.

The most elevated and noted hill in the town is Wilcox's Peak-a name given it by Samuel Wilcox, one of the original proprietors, who at- tempted to ascend its summit, but failed on ac- count of weariness, and christened it after him- self.

The first town-meeting was held at the house of Daniel Atkins, (he then living in the house at the mills, and tending the same for Charles ! members were added to the church-53 in one Goodrich) on the 26th day of -- , 1793, and George Martin was chosen moderator, Thomas Hodgkins town clerk, George Martin. Stephen Holt and Joseph Adams, selectmen, Daniel Bow, treasurer; Anthony Whitcomb, first constable, Daniel Atkins, sealer of leather ; Stephen Holt and William Davis, grand jurymen ; Daniel At- kins pound-keeper ; Jonas Stone and Asa Call. tythingmen ; David Daly, Jacob Jefferson and Ebb Durkee, haywards; Daniel Bow, fence- viewer; Ebb Durkee, Jacob Jefferson and Ja- cob Bow, highway surveyors ; Daniel Bow, sealer of weights and measures.

At a meeting held at the house of Thomas Hodgkins, March 3, 1794, it was voted to hold the town-meetings, for the future, at the mills two-thirds of the time, and at the house of Thomas Hodgkins the other third.

In March, 1797, it was voted to hold the town-meeting "at the house of David Durkee, where he now lives"-it being where Reuben Guernsey now (1869) lives.

Until the year 1800 there was but one school- district in town, and the town built a large school-honse near where Joel Ranney now lives, which was used for schools, town-house and meeting-house for a number of years.

bers, viz. Nath'l Stone, Nathan Stone, Levi Par- tridge, Asa Gilbert, Isaac Eddy, Betsey Eddy, Jolin Gaius, Ruth Gaius, Dan'l Bow, Rhoda Stone, Molly Blossom. Hannah Gilbert, Molly Bow, Eliz- abeth Durkee, Rebecca Stone and Lydia Hay- den, being inhabitants of Stockbridge and Pitts- field. and chose Nathan'l Stone for their moder- ator, and Isaac Eddy, scribe : which church was supplied with preaching by various ministers from abroad ; some by voluntary service, others being hired for longer or shorter periods, as they could provide means-among whom were, Archibald Campbell. Elder Rich, a very corpu- lent man, who would walk with his staff from Pittsford, a distance of 12 miles across the Green Mountain, through the woods, when the road was barely cut out, and not much worked.

The church was composed of members both in Stockbridge and Pittsfield, and was for many years called "the church of Stockbridge and Pittsfield."

In July, 1810, a powerful revival of religion commenced under the preaching of the Rev. Phinehas Randall, and continued until 56 new day-others soon after. The church was sup- plied with different ministers, among whom was the noted Lemuel Haynes of West Rutland, un- til 1813, when Rev. Justin Parsons moved into Pittsfield, and was installed pastor over said church, and remained their minister until about the year 1831, when his relationship with the church was dissolved.

After Rev. Mr. Parsons was dismissed, Rev. John Suddard was hired to preach 20 weeks. Rev. Daniel O. Morton preached, also, occasion- ally about this time. Rev. Daniel Rockwell was their next minister for one year; after which Rev. Joel Davis of Barnard was employ- ed for a short term, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Fisk. In 1838 Rev. Asa Putney became the minister for one year.

On the 7th of March, 1838, a protracted meeting was commenced and holden one week, conducted by Rev. Calvin Noble of Rochester. the fruit of which was about 30 new members first added to the church, and some 20 more a short time after.

The Rev. Samuel Sparhawk was ordained and commenced his labors as pastor here on the 3d Sabbath of May, IS38. On the 30th day of September, 1841, the pastoral relation between A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Mr. Sparhawk and his church was dissolved, and he was dismissed as the result of a council Was formed Sept. 17, 1803, by the Rev. Mar- called for that purpose. Rev. John Beckwith

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was the next minister for one year, and then left. Rev. Benjamin Abbot commenced his ministerial labors with this people the first Sab- bath in January, 1843. Feb. 1, 1844, a pro- tracted meeting was commenced, assisted by Rev. Brothers Scales, Hubbard and Sparhawk, which continued one week, and some sinners were converted.

Jan. 18, 1846, Mr. Abbot closed his labors with the church, and left the place. In March, 1847, the Rev. J. B. Clark became their min- ister, and labored with them 4 years: after which the Rev. Mr. Duncan labored with them one year. In Oct. 26, 1851, the Rev. Mr. Duncan was hired and preached one year. In 1853 the Rev. Abel Patten was hired to preach for one year, and continued as acting pastor two years. March, 1862, Rev. A. W. Weld became their minister for one year.

About this time deacon S. S. Knowlton, a worthy and efficient officer in the church, com- initted suicide by hanging himself with a rope in his barn, and brother Joseph Segar was chos- · en deacon in his stead.

After the Rev. Mr. Weld's time expired, Rev. A S. Swift preached one year. Mr. Sparhawk, after an absence of some years, returned and became the acting pastor for a year or two. Walking in the street, near his residence, he fell and died before any one could reach himn. After Mr. Sparhawk's death, Rev. J. B. Clark, our former minister. came into town and pur- chased a farm which he cultivates, and is the present acting pastor of the church.

In 1820 the church and society built a nice and convenient little meetinghouse at a cost of $ 1,000, which they occupied until the year 1859. when, through the influence and exer- tions of the Rev. Mr. Scott, their then minister, they repaired the house-raised it up. put a vestry under it; built a beltry, in which they put a nice bell, and newly arranged the inside, by converting the pews into modern slips, which renders it a convenient house of worship. The church had previously procured a convenient house and lot for a parsonage-the church is small and poor, and have to receive aid from the Domestic Missionary Society to support preaching.

The Sabbath School is small-about 40 schol- ars-but well attended, under the superintend- ence of II. O. Gibbs, Esq. Four young men*

raised here are ministers of the Gospel in differ- ent parts of the country, and two teachers in seminaries.

METHODISTS AND CHRISTIANS.

For want of access to records of the Metho- dist church, the following facts are stated from the recollection of the writer :

About the year 1805 or 6, one Joseph Craw- ford came into town and preached the first Methodist sermon ever preached in town. He was a very smart, eloquent speaker, and soon drew together a large audience, for so small a town, and soon after organized a Methodist church, which increased and flourished for a time, and was supplied with preachers (whose names are not recollected) holding their meet- ings in private houses, until one Edward Rol- lins, a Christian preacher, came into town, and drew almost the whole Methodist church after him. He formed a Christian church, and a large part of the Methodist church joined with them ; insomuch that it was supposed that the Meth- odist was broken up, and would not again or- ganize : but in a few years the Christian ex- citement abated, and the Methodists returned to their former church, and built them a meet- inghouse, which they occupied until the year 1859, when the old house was sold and moved to another location-bought by the town and converted into a town-hall, and is now so occu- pied. The Methodist church and society then erected a nice house on the site of the old one, furnished with a bell and chandelier. and which is, perhaps, as fine a house of its size, as any of the denomination in the State. They are supplied from year to year with preachers sent to them by the Methodist conference. Their house was built mostly through the patronage and agency of the Rev Ira Beard, who was then a resident of the town.

TOWN CLERKS.

Thomas Hodgkins, town clerk from 1793 to 1806; Nathan Eddy, from March, 1806 to '09; Asa Gaius, from 1809 to 1817; William R. Blossom, from 1817 to '33; Levi Rix, from 1833 to '41; Asa Gaius, 2d, from 1841 to '42; F. T. Matthews. from 1842 to '45; Amos Ilolt, from 1845 to '50; Ortan Hatch, from 1850 to '52; Ira Beard, from 1852 to '53; E. F. Upham, from 1853 to '50; Loren Read, from 1859 to '62; C. W. Brigham, from 1862 to the present time. (1873.)

young man; S. W. Segar, Stephen Knowlton, and

* Four young men, members of the Congregational church. have become Congregational ministers, viz : Levi Parsons, missionary to Palestine, died while a J. C. McCollome.

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SOLDIERS' RECORD.

The town furuished 32 as their quota of sol- diers in the late war. Lester Bard was killed at Gettysburg; Freeman Brown at Fredericks- burg; Frank Swan and Jolin Shannon missing since Sheridan's fight in the Shenandoah val- ley ; - Blanchard died in hospital near Washington; Francis A. Gibbs died in a rebel prison, at Florence, S. C. The town have paid their expenses of the war, and are clear of debt .*

There are now no soldiers of the Revolution, nor of the war of 1812, living, except the writer of this, who is in his 84th year.

The records and material for furnishing this articlet being very imperfect and obscure, it is the best that I, an old man, could hastily collect and note down. W. R. B.

LEVI PARSONS.

BY REV. P. M. WHITE.

Levi Parsons, son of Rev. Justin and Electa Parsons, was born in Goshen, Mass., July 18, 1792. His father subsequently became the first 'pastor of the Congregational church in Pitts- field. At the age of sixteen he united with his - father's clinrch. He was graduated at Ando- ver Theological Seminary in 1817-was licenc- ed by the Salem ( Mass.) Association in April of that year, and having decided to become a foreign missionary, was ordained at Boston Sept. 3, 1817. Rev Lyman Beecher preached the sermon. He spent a year in the service of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society. preach- ing in towns where there was no stated minis- try. In some instances he secured very valua- ble results. This was especially the case in Troy and Westfield, in neither of which towns he found more than one or two religious per sons: but after a few months preaching a thor- ough reform took place, and a church was or- ganized in each town.

He acted as agent for the American Board in the State of New York for 8 months, making deep impressions on his audiences, and awaken- ing great interest in the cause of missions .- One of his livarers gives the following account of the circumstances attending one of his ser- mons :

* Pittsfield paid large war bounties ; some of our last volunteers receiving $1,000 ; yet at the close of the war the town was out of debt, and had $ 600 in the treasury.

t [Being disappointed iu obtaining the history from the party who had first, and for a long time, prontised the same, this very good paper has been kindly furnish- ed by onr venerable friend, at a very short notice .. . Ed.]

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The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2, Part 20

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co. Number of Pages: 848

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 848