USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 25
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Shortly after this, on consultation with the Rev. Mr. Merrill, " one of the most ardent advocates of peace, and other gentlemen, a general meeting of the friends of peace was held at Pittsford, at which the practicability of procuring a " State Memorial"' was fully discussed, and it was determined to invoke the aid of the ministry in bringing about this desirable end. I offered to make a tour through the State, to place a sufficient num- ber of memorials in the hands of the clergy of all denominations, and to request their signatures to a pledge, that they would, " by
* Rev. Thomas A. Merill, Middlebury
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sermons, by prayers, and by all reasonable { as the reward of good actions, nor depriva- efforts, contribute their influence to give ef- tions, pains, nor accidents dragged in as the chastisements of bad conduct ; but he is uni- formly referred to the inward delights of vir- tue .- Published by Ticknor and Fields, Bos- ton. fect to the great enterprise," alluding to a simultaneous effort in several European coun- tries. This movement was as successful as the other. Every minister that I saw, to the number of 91, attached his name to the pledge, and promised to place the memorials to the President in the hands of efficient men. These memorials, when completed, were for- warded to me through the post-office, and after uniting them into one great roll, sent to President Pierce through the mail. He was not so polite as president Fillmore, however. He took no notice whatever of the transac- tion.
I have now related tne principal public events of my career. Many others might be mentioned, especially those connected with the cause of educational reform. But I for- bear; and close with a list of my public liter- ary efforts :
1. The Historical Register, 4 vols. 8 vo. This was a semi-annual History of the United States, published at Washington during the war of 1812, embracing a full history of that transaction, and of the proceedings of Con- gress during the period, with all the docu- ments, both British and American.
2. A Chart of the Constitution of the United States, and of those of the several states, ex . hibiting a comparative view of these instru- ments in a small compass, hung on rollers, and varnished. 1817.
3. The Teacher's Minual; being on expo- sition of a Complete System of Education physical, intellectual, and moral, suited for the Youth of a Free Nation, 12 mo. Published at Boston, 1840, by the American Institute of Instruction. at cost price, their prize of $ 500 having been awarded to it.
4. The Moral Instructor; or culture of the Heart, Affections. and Intellect, while learn- ing to read. In four parts, 18 mo. and 12 mo. These books differ in essential particu- lars, from all other School-books :- 1. The pupil is not merely required to repeat the substance of what he reads, but his conscience and his reasoning powers are developed and exercised in every lesson, by the use of these and similar questions; Did John do right or wrong? Why ? What ought he to have done then ? 2. False or unsound mo- tives of action are never presented to the child, by holding out sensual gratifications
5. Arithmetic, Oral and Written, practically applied by means of suggestive questions. The object of this work is to introduce shorter and more rapid processes, diminishing the number of figures by more than a half ; and to develope and invigorate the reasoning pow- ers of the pupil, leading him, in all cases, by means of suggestive questions, to form all his rules for himself. Boston, Crocker and Brew- ster, 1854.
Dictionary of Proper Names; comprising Universal Biography ; Ancient, Biblical, Medieval, and Modern Geography ;- Mythol- ogy of Greece and Rome; of Scandinavia and Germany ; of Gaul and ancient Britain i of Central and Southern Asia; of the two Americas ; of the Isles of the Pacific, &c .; em- bracing every important word not to be found in the English Dictionary, nearly finished .*
THOMAS PALMER
was married to Joanna Fenton, then of Rutland, in 1822. They had 5 sons and 3 daughters, all of whom were living at the death of the parents.
In Pittsford Mr. Palmer peacefully closed his days at the age of 78 years, July 20, 1861. Mrs. Palmer died in Boston, March 14, 1872 or 3. The funeral was from the Pittsford residence. She was buried be- side her husband.
We (Ed.) visited Mr. and Mrs. Palmer once at Pittsford and Mrs. Palmer once again after the death of her husband. Mr. Palmer was pleased with the Gazetteer and its plan, and Mrs. Palmer until her death continued her kindness for and subscription to it; she was an affable, pleasing and intelligent woman-a woman it seemed to us, just suited to her worthy husband. In stature, Mr. Palmer was a little less than medium, of even feat- ures, sprightly in motion, quick and clear in perception, earnest, courteous and dignified in manners, thorough in his work and of per-
* The Mas. ucarly ready for press, & failure in his eyes from which he never recovered, compelled him to relinquish it. He regarded it as his great work. It was his favorito one. Ed.
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severing energy and industry in accomplish- ing it. [From notice of Mr. Palmer in Ver- mont read by Mr. Wm. Cotting.] "In habits, frugal, simple, neat, orderly ; conserv- ative rather than otherwise, viewing innova- tions with cautiousness from fear that he might impair that which time and experience had rendered useful-yet no such attach- ment to popular customs and dog:nas as to cause him to shut his eyes to principle or ideas in advance of what had already become popular." Firm in his own convictions, lib- eral, tolerant, ready to listen to views and opinions in conflict with his own. Retiring rather than forward, yet could enter into the hilarity of the juvenile circle and conduct to profit the sports and recreations of the social gatherings of his neighborhood. His meth- od of improving the whole of society was to begin at the foundation, remove the obstacles, correct the errors and improve the condition of the lower stratum, and so cause the whole to amend. It scarce need be told he was in- tensely anti-slavery. Several ineffectual ef- forts were made by a few individuals who thought they saw in him the requisite quali- fications to elect him a member of the State legislature. Had there been less desire in seeking for offices for men, and more regard paid to selecting men for office, he might have honored the bench or graced the legis- lative halls of his adopted State."
Some few years before his death, he built upon an eminence on his farm that over. looked almost the entire town, a two-story brick house, fashioned after the solid English style, which is covered with a durable ce- ment giving it the appearance of marble-a monument of his taste combining elegance with plainness and utility." We supposed it to be marble, so much it had the appearance at the time of our first visit, and admired it very much, surrounded as it was by the dis- tant grandeur of mountains and intermediate beauty of a wide and pleasantly diversified landscape .- ED.
CEMETERY DEDICATION HYMN. BY REV. CHARLES LEON WALKER.
O Thou to whose eternal years No grief, or loss, or change is known, We hallow here our place of tears For death that dwells with us alone.
Here hearts that bleed will sadly turn,- Hero Pity fill the drooping eye,
And stricken Hope with love will yearn O'er us who fade away and die.
Yet we who weep, and they who rest, Alike are known and near to Thee ; And they are dearer to Thy breast Than to our hearts they e'er can be.
Bless then this spot, whero years shall bring Thy loved ones, Lord, to their repose ; Spread o'er them here Thy sheltering wing, And in Thy peace their dust enclose.
So shall this place of tears be made The Hill of Hope, the Field of Peace : Here calmly then can we be laid To wait the hour when Time shall cease."
And when these bending skies have flown, And all who sleep shall rise again, Be this the garuer of Thine own, The harvest of the Precious Grain.
CHRISTINA.
BY REV. GEORGE L. WALKER.
I hardly dared to push the door, I shrank to cross the threshold o'er, For her, I should fiud here no more.
Stilly my heart ! thy beating low, Breaks on the sacred backward flow Of silent thought to her we know.
Oh ! very lonely is the place, And yet, a nameless, airy grace, Caught from her gentle, loving face.
Faint like the dim perfume Breathed from dying violet's bloom, Lingers within the hallowed room.
Just here she sat, her hand in mine, The while I traced each jett, line That fringed her downcast eyes divine;
And felt each lightest quiver thrill My very soul, which trembles still To memory's throb, despite my will :
And watched the thoughtful shadows play About her mouth ; faint, pure it lay, Cast by her spirit's inner ray ;
And reveled in ringlet fair Eddying curls of tameless hair, Flowing down her shoulders bare ;
And lingered on her throbbing tone, Its every cadence hers alone, And shrank, so harshly jarred my own :
And felt-but this is weak, I fear ; One moment more I'll linger here ; Hush I evening shadows gather near.
VERMONT .*
BY MR8. OLIVE E. PAINE THOMAS.
Home of the green, enduring pine! Land of the wintry wind and storm ! A race of noble men Is thine, With purpose firm und spirit warm.
* Written by request ; for the Gazetteer.
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PITTSFORD.
963
Apart from fashion's god, who dwells In crowded cities by the sea, They ring from hill and vale, the bells Of Love, Religion, Liberty.
Mid all the fertile States that lie From southern gulf to northern bound, None pile their harvest gifts so high, Or with such cheer home-fires surround.
No prouder luster e'er hath stood Upon the wrecks of parted years, . Than that whose laurels twined in blood Give glory to our mountaineers.
When over yon old fort was heard Brave Ethan Allen's loud huzzah,' When Marye's Heights and Gettysburg Rolled back the fearful tide of war. '
We boast no fields of classic fame, But look each day within some eye That for New England's spotless fame Quailed not when death was marching by.
1
Just dyed in blood, we press some hands Tender and true, nor blush to own Their aid to save the noblest land On which the sunlight ever shone.
They lift the marble from its bed For halls of art in other climes, They mould the hillside ore to breast The ocean storm and wave sublime.
They build fair altars unto God, And Learning's light in beauty glows, While Labor bids the forest clod To bud and blossom as the rose.
The South is rich with cotton plains, And gay with orange groves and bowers, But Slavery left there withering stains That ne'er have touched these homes of ours.
Champlain's blue wave, that upward bore Of old the red man's frail canoe Now smiles in light from shore to shore, As sweeps the mighty steamboat through.
And Mansfield's grand, eternal head Unto the sky an echo rolls, When yonder car with kingly tread The might of time and space controls.
We claim a Collamer, a Foote, A Douglas, mid the strong of mind, A Saxe to bind the glowing verse In wreaths of poesy refined.
A Powers, whose earnest hand hath given The marble living lines of grace;
A Hope, who hath for canvas riven The glory from Creation's face.
A Perkins, who unceasing weaves The quivering chords of deathless song,
And in each heart and valley leaves Harmonious chords that linger long.
The green hills keep a sacred shrine Where Christian laborers go forth, To sound the call of Love Divine To all the nations of the earth. .
The native home of active mind, Of honest brow, of willing hand, Firm as thy cliffs, green as thy pine Thy fame in future days must stand.
Tho' favor dwells on every sea, And clasps the earth from zone to zone, This goodly land our pride shall be- Vermont, our beautiful, our ownl
LITTLE KATIE. BY OLIVE E. PAINE THOMAS.
Where the grass in waving beauty, Sighis above a mosay mound, Where the Summer roses blossom; In the quiet burial ground,
Sleeps our little darling Katie, Neath the Sumner flowers to-day, Dim the light within our homestead, Since the hour she went away.
Tripping feet, and childish laughter Come not through the open door, And we know that face of beauty Sunshine brings to us no more.
Closed the blue eyes in death's slumber, Listening to the angel's hymn, Little Katie left us weeping, And our home-light very dim.
Brief the years of mirth and gladness, Sprinkling sunlight in her hair, And we dreamed not of such sadness Mourning for our young and fair.
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WHEN I WOULD DIE
BY OLIVE E. PAINE THOMAS.
Oh, not when the harp of the budding Spring Is flushed with a weight of song, When the flashing rills of the mountain sing Where the blue-eyed violets throng 1 Oh, not when the world in its waking dream Is sweet as a banquet's breath, Would I bathe my sonl in the silent stream That flows through the aisles of death !
Oh, not when the grace of the Summer sleeps In the wealth of the emerald plain, When the roses shine, and the swallow keeps Her nest in the moldering fane ! Not then would I watch for the solemn glow That over the pathway lies, Where the myriad souls of the weary, go To the shrine of the upper skies ?
Oh, not when the caves of the forest roar With the burst of a stormy pride, When a whitened hand glides coldly o'er The seals of the crystal tide 1 How lonely the depths of the grave must be In the gloom of n wintry sky ! Kind angel, bring not the pall for me When the drifts in the church-yard llel
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But oh, when the hannts of the amber woods Are thrilled with the huntsman's horn, When the yellow light of the fields, and floods Lies over the tasselled corn,
When the vesper song has a grateful chime And the rills have a pensive breath,
In the holy calm of the harvest time I would look on the Reaper, Death !
And then should the waiting wane be rife With the sheaves I'd gladly fold, And the homeward way to the Lord of Life Be the moonlight's track of gold ! To a glorious land where the garner wide Hath a boundless store of good, Where the bloom of the soul shall immortal bide And never decay intrude.
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GOLDEN SANDS .- An extract. BY LIZZIE PARMALEE. *
They are the moments when the soul Fired with a love beyond control, For the Infinite, { Rises o'er all the world's hard strife, And sees before him endless life With that blest Spirit,
Who is God of all, Being Sublime, Our high Creator, Maker of Time, Ruler above, Blessing us through endless ages, Scattering thickly o'er life's pages His bright love.
Moments when o'er the soul Blessed emotions roll, And we adore Nature, the work of G.d, Even the chast'ning rod, And God evermore.
POULTNEY.
BY ELIAS ASHLEY.+
The first settlement of Poultney was com- menced April 15, 1771, by Ebenezer Allen and Thomas Ashley. They were men of bold, fearless spirits, athletic and firm con- stitutions. They commenced near where the Turnpike bridge now is in West Poultney. Allen a little West and Ashley a little East (the river running some twenty rods North of where it now does). They erected a shan- ty for Allen (who brought his family with him.) Ashley remained one month, erected a shanty for his family, which was done by setting four crotches in the ground, placing poles on the top, covering roof and body
* Now Mrs. New, of New York-a native of Pittsford.
t Published in the Rutland Herald over thirty years ago .- KD.
with bark. He cleared some land and raised corn sufficient to bread his family (consisting of seven), fat his pork and buy an under jacket; this the writer of this sketch bas often heard him relate. He then returned and brought on his family. Allen had a son born the same year, the first white chil born in Poultney. Allen remained a few years, sold out and removed to Grand Isle. Ashley remained in town and on the same farm until his death, which occurred in 1810. He was a man of strong mind, retentive memory and strict integrity, had but a very ordinary common school education, yet be was much improved as a public man. For many years held the office of Justice of the Peace and also represented the town in the General Assembly for a long time and was entrusted with much other public business. He assisted in the formation of " Poultney Library," was among its warmest friends and advocates, became a great reader and after enjoying its advantages for a few years, was often heard to say that he knew the situation of the old world as well as he did his own farm. Probably he exerted as great an in- fluence as any man in town while he lived. He was the next man to Allen that entered in taking the Fort at old " Ti," stood at the head of the stairs as sentinel, wbile Allen entered the room of the commander. His farm lay upon both sides of the highway run- ning through the village of West Poultney, his dwelling was a large gambrel-roofel house standing where the Hon. R. C. Mallary built his, now occupied by Dr. McLeod. Mr. Mallary bought the lot consisting of abors one acre for $ 600. Sold the buildings for $12, said he was determined to have it, cost what it would, for there he received 25 cents for helping make brooms one evening, tid first money he ever earned, Ashley died there in a good old age leaving a handsome property for his children. One short anes- dote will give the reader some idea of the character of the man, while in the Legisla- ture. There was quite an exciting question up, upon which the yeas and nays were de- manded, as the clerk commenced calling the names, the member from Bennington took his hat and was about leaving. Ashley rose and said Mr. Speaker, I move that no mem- ber be permitted to leave the room until this question is decided-this occasioned quite @ shout and the gentleman took his seat.
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There were several families followed the same season. Elijah and John Owen, Isaac Ashley, and Nehemiah Howe, and soon the following persons and somewhat in the following order ; Ichabod and Joseph Mar- shall, Silas Howe, Heber Allen, brother to Ethan, John Grant, Thomas Goodwin, Rob- ert Green, Zebediah Dewey, Cotten Fletcher, John Elkana, Elisha, Enoch and William Ashley all brothers of Thomas and Isaac Ashley, John Tilden, Zebediah, Dan and John Richards, Wm. Ward, Timothy, Eben- ezer, James and Lemuel Hyde, Samuel Church, Joel Grannis, Isaac Craw, Nathaniel and James Smith, Mordecai and Gilbert So- per, James and Nathaniel Brookins, Josiah Lewis and perhaps a few others were here in June 1777, when the inhabitants were all driven from their homes by Burgoyne's army and the Indians. Up to this time the town was settled slowly, owing in a great measure to the troubles with New York about the title of the land, so that none located them- selves here but the most bold and fearless spirits to be found and they were all without exception extremely poor. At the time above mentioned, (June 1777) the men were all under arms to give battle to the invaders of our country, and at the time of the battle at Castleton, an express was sent on that the inhabitants must leave or be killed, the wom- en without a moment's delay gathered up their children and commenced their line of march through an alinost unbroken wilder- ness to the south, and were able to keep in advance of the pursuing enemy, expecting however every hour to be overtaken and indiscriminately massacred, mothers carrying very young children, and leading others that were scarce able to walk alone, without scarcely stopping for rest or refreshments were enabled to get out of the reach of the army, some to Mass., and some to Conn., their native places. The battle at Benning- ton soon after checked the march of Bur- goyne's army, and the battle at Stillwater when he and his army were made prisoners, relieved the inhabitants of this section of country and they soon began to return, though many did not return until the winter and spring following. These were times that tried the courage of women as well as men. For two or three years after this the inhabi- tants would often secrete some of their choic- est articles before retiring to bed, fearing they
might be obliged to flee before the merciless savage before morning, or be murdered dur- ing the defenceless hours of sleep, this the writer of this sketch well remembers. After this the town was settled much more rapidly and the inhabitants made early efforts to pro- cure orchards. Isaac Ashley brought se-ds with him, planted a nursery and the trees were transplanted more than seventy years ago and are now the orchard on what is called the Rann farm.
Nehemiah Howe built the first grist-mill in town on the falls in East Poultney and died April 1777. Isaac Ashley* died the same month. Ichabod Marshall was a good, peaceable citizen. After a few years he said he thought he must sell out and go into some new country. When he first came into the town, the inhabitants were as a band of brothers, but now were much changed. He was killed on his return from Troy, fell from his wagon and the wheels passed over him. Funeral sermon by Mr. Hibbard, Text-" Set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not live."
Silas Howe was the first Deacon of the Congregational church, which office he held till his death in 1810.
Heber Allen brother to Ethan died of con- sumption in 1782. Thomas Goodwin lost his life by being thrown from his cart. While riding, his oxen took fright. Joel Grannis be- came lost in the woods, froze to death, and was the first man buried in the centre grave yard.
Zebediah Dewey was the first captain of the Militia in town which office he held for a long time. John Richards has often said he was corporal under him thirteen years.
During the revolution there were but two Tories in town, Gilbert Soper .vas one of them, and during the absence of the inhabi- tants from their homes, at the time they were driven off, he remained and made a pretty free use of such things as were left, for which and his hostility to American Independence the Whigs determined to chastise him. Lieu- tenenant James Smith having a scouting party under him, while passing through the town, came across Soper, while stopping for refreshments. Smith being in the house some of the men saying "now is our time," swore they would hang him, accordingly seized him, put a rope around his neck, tied * Father of the writer.
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it to the well sweep and began to draw him up. Smith being informed what was going on, sprang out and ordered him let down just in time to save his life. They both re- mained in town many years, Soper a thiev- ish troublesome fellow. Smith an unfortu- nate and very poor man, often said he be- lieved the curse of God had followed him for saving Soper's life.
William Ward located in the eastern part of the town, was a good and useful man, was Justice of the Peace more than forty years, Judge of Probate about twenty, delegate to form the Constitution of Vermont, more than twenty years member of the General Assem- bly, Judge of the County Court &c. He was the first Deacon of the Baptist church which office he held until his death in 1819. He came to his death like a shock of corn fully ripe, fit to be gathered in its season. John Tilden a somewhat eccentric and cunning sort of a man, made application to the town at the March meeting for an abatement of his taxes on account of poverty-Judge Ward was immediately up to oppose him, said Til- den was as able to pay taxes as he was. Til- den turned to him and said " Judge Ward you don't know anything about poverty, you never was poor," his answer "yes I was," Tilden says, " was you ever so poor that you have lived months together without pork in your house and at times without bread, and for years, hard work to get provisions enough to keep your family from starving, have you ever been so poor that you was obliged to send your children to bed crying for supper, and you had none to give them ?" Ward answered again, " yes I have been." Well says Tilden, " I must confess I never was so poor as that," sat down satisfied, and pur- sued his petition no further. Very few of the inhabitants could in truth have answered the same questions in a different way. Sam- uel Church and family lived one season al- most entirely on ground-nuts. The writer of this lived two seasons when a boy almost as bad off, the first; no cow and provisions very short, the second year one cow, a single grist of grain purchased in Danby early in the spring and brought through the woods upon a horse, was all the breadstuff we had until harvest, no meat and eight in the fam. ily. Our breakfasts, milk with a little bread - dinners, boiled herbs - suppers, a large bowl (about three quarts) of milk
sweetened with maple sugar, carried around by the mistress of the house, each one taking a sip.
The early settlers had not only to contend with poverty, and the common enemy dur- ing the revolution, but with the Yorkers, who would often send out their sheriffs with their posse to drive them off their farms, and take possession themselves, but they were as often sternly met by the Green Mountain Boys, and their leaders not unfrequently made to feel a smart application of the " Beach Seal."
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