USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 3
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town had expended for the support of an un- fortunate insane sister who has been at Brat- tleboro for several years, -and also to relieve the town from her future support, made pro- vision for the same.
This example is worthy of record, not only to preserve a generous act, but to show what a young man without means may do if he will. It is hardly 20 years since A. J. Wood- worth came to school to me. He was then poorly clad-a bashful unpretending boy- yet he seemed to be resolute and determined in what he undertook to do, and, withal, was generous and kind hearted.
At the time of the battle of Plattsburgh a company of militia volunteered from Middle- town, but they only got as far as Castleton when they were informed that the battle was over ; they then returned. David Thomas is the only survivor of that company now living in Middletown ; he went as drummer.
Middletown has a record of which her citi- zens may well be proud. They promptly met the emergency-raised the money and the men, from time to time, as they were required and notwithstanding the great outlay requir - ed to pay the large bounties and large taxes, when the war closed, the town had paid every dollar. The town paid in bounties $6,609 and more than they were legally bound to do. Two of her soldiers, Merritt Perham and Harvey Guilder, re-enlisted to the credit of the town without any contract with the authorities ; previous to this the town had been paying a bounty of $500. A meeting was called and the sum of $500 each was voted to them and paid.
In proportion to the number subject to military duty, a large number enlisted into the service from the town. In the summer of 1863 the roll of men subject to be drafted from numbered 53. During the period of the war 51 enlisted into the service-some 10 or 12 more than was required to fill the quotas of the town-and those who went into the service, were, most of them, at least, from among the best families of the town, and with hardly an exception young men of good moral character, intelligent, and with a good common education, and for the most part with good, hardy physical constitutions. No one of them ever deserted, or was court- martialed for any offence, and but one or two received even a censure for violation of rules. They proved to be brave and faithful soldiers ;
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a large portion of them served out the time for which they enlisted, and returned to their homes to be again useful and respected citi- zens; some never returned ; 4 or 5 were kill- ed in battle, or died from wounds received ; 11 died of disease.
To William Schollar is due the credit of being the first man who enlisted from this town in the war of '61. He enlisted in compa- ny E. of the 1st, Reg. of Vs. vols. for 3 months and served his time out, and afterwards enlisted into Harris' light cavalry, an organ- ization gotten up in the State of New York. After several months service in this cavalry organization, his health failed and he received an honorable discharge. He returned home, regained his health, and in '63 enlisted into the 10th, Vt. Reg., in which he served to the close of the war. He held the office of ser- geant in company C., 10th, Vt., and was a faithful soldier.
The next who enlisted from Middletown were Frank Carrigan and Merritt Perham, in the 2d Vt. Reg., which was mustered into the service June 20, '61. Carrigan after serv- ing a while was found missing and has never been heard of since. It is supposed that he is dead ; Perham served his time out (3 years) and re-enlisted into the 7th, Vt. and served to the end of the war.
Stephen A. Griswold, Edwin Higgins, Sam- uel Buxton, Harvey Guilder, enlisted into the 7th, Vt., which regiment was mustered into the service Feb. 12, '62. Stephen A. Griswold died at Pensacola, Florida, Nov. 3, '62, of fever. He was a very strong, muscu- lar young man, but had the measles after he enlisted, and before he was mustered in, took cold, and it is thought by his friends was never well afterwards, though he performed good service as a soldier until a short time prior to his death. He was the only son of the widow of David Griswold, on whom she doubtless relied for support in her declining years. Edwin Higgins, of the same regiment, died near New Orleans. We have not the date of his death, but it was after Griswold died, and while he, Higgins, was in the ser- vice. He was the oldest son of Orrin Hig- gins, who served in the 10th, Vermont regi- ment. Buxton and Guilder served to the end of the war, and were honorably discharged.
He was a son of Harry Coleman, who was a brother of Royal Coleman, Esq., of this town.
There was a large number enlisted from Middletown into Co. C., 10th Vt. Reg., and mustered in - Sept. 1st, '62. Prior to that time, Edwin R. Buxton, Aden N. Green, Er- win Haskins, Charles H. Dayton, Henry Barce, Alonzo Atwater, William Hoadley, Francis H. Hoadley, Curtis Howard, Henry J. Langzine, Harlan P. Leffingwell, Arunah Leffingwell, John H. Lewis, Warren Mc Clure, William Schollar, William H. H. Thompson, Philander C. Wetmore, Robert A. Woodward and Edward Holton, had enlisted and were mustered in, making 19 who were mustered in with the regiment. In Dec. '63, James N. Buel, Lorenzo Ford, Allen Hubbard, jr., Or- rin Higgins and Charles W. Me Clure enlist- ed, in Co. C, 10th Vt., making, 21 of the Mid- dletown boys in that regiment. They all en- listed for 3 years, or during the war, and Buxton, Green, Barce, Atwater, William and Francis Hoadley, Howard, Langzine, Harlan P. Leffingwell, Warren and Charles W. Mc- Clure, Schollar, Wetmore, Woodward, Hub- bard and Higgins, 17 of the 24 served out their time, were honorably discharged, and returned to their homes, with the exception of Henry Barce, who was taken sick after his discharge, and ched near Washington on his way home. Erwin Haskins was taken sick in the Fall after his enlistment, and ran down so low he barely hal strength to get home He was discharged Dec. 19, '62. Ou his return, contrary to the expectations of all who saw hin, he gradually recovered. un- til now he is comparatively well agam. Ar- unah Lethingwell was taken sick and dis- charged about the same tune, returned home and has since recovered his health. John H. Lewis was wounded by a ball through the thigh at Winchester on Sept. 19 '64; went to the hospital, and remainel until discharged ; was in the hard fought battles of the Wilder- ness, Cold Harbor and Spottsylvania, and manfully performed his duty until disabled by the wound above named. The first death of the boys of the 10th from Mid lletown, was that of Charles H. Dayton, Sept. 28 '62. near Washington-less than one month after his regiment was mustered into the service. He was the son of Mrs. Jay B. Norton, by
Royal Lucien Coleman enlisted into the 9th, Vermont, June 9, '63, and died Oct. 3, her former husband, Doctor J. H. Dayton, '64, in the service a year and some months. | and but 18 years old when he enlistol. tie
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was sick only about one week. His remains were brought home and interrel in Middle- town by the side of those of his father.
Edward Holton was in the service nearly a year. He was a son of Garrett Holton, an Irishman, and a very respectable man, who has since deceased. Edward died of disease Aug. 15, '63, aged 21. His comrades gave him the credit of being a good soldier.
Henry Barce as we have before mention- ed, served his time out and was on his way home when he was taken sick, of fever, and died June 17, '65, at the age of 26. His health was good through his entire term of service, from the first of September, '62, un- til the close of the war. He never failed of being able to perform his duty as a soldier, was in all of the battles in which the 10th were engagel during the war, and of his sa- gacity and bravery, his associates all speak in the highest terms. He was a still, quiet young man, but strong. athletic, decide l and prompt in acting, and possessed more eluca- tion and knowledge than any other person of his age in the town, when he enlisted. IIe leaves a sister and distant relatives to mourn his loss.
Wm. H. H. Thompson, a cousin of Henry Barce, was taken prisoner at Falls Church, when Culpepper was evacuated by our forces, and diel in Libby Prison, at Richmond, in the winter of '64.
James N. Buel enlisted in Dec. '63, and was killed at Cold Harbor June 1, '64. He lay at the time, with others of his company, behind a log in front of the enemy watching their chances to deliver their tire upon the rebel sharp shooters, in the vicinity, when Buel, anxious to get a shot raised his head high enough to receive a ball in the head, which killed him instantly ; and thus perish- ed a brave soldier, who had been an indus- trious man and a good citizen at home. Mr. Buel was 40 years old; he left a wife and 2 children. He was a son of Roswell Buel, Sen., who has since died.
Lorenzo Ford enlisted Dec. 10, '63, and died in the army hospital at Brandy Station, in Virginia, of fever, Mar. 16, '64. He per- formed his duty faithfully as a soldier, for the little time he was in the service. His age was 26 ; he left a widow and one child. His widow has since married in Michigan, and his child lives with her aunt, Mrs. Bassett, in Middletown. He was a son of Joel Ford.
All who know the history of the war of 1861, well know that the 10th Vt reg. had the reputation of being one of the best rez- iments in the army. Officers of high rank, who were witnesses of their bravery, their endurance and skill, and their reliability in trying times, have invariably spoken of the 10th Vt. in the highest terms. If the reg- iment was made up of as good material as that part of it from Middletown, (and I do not know why it was not,) surely those en- comiums of the officers were well bestowed. We have this foundation for saying what we have of the boys from Middletown, in the 10th. We knew them all-most of them in- timately and know that mentally, morally and physically, with few exceptions, they were of a material which makes the best of soldiers ; and we heard from them in the war; not only from themselves, in speaking of the conduct of each other in the many hard fought fields, but we heard facts from others, soldiers and officers, who were there and had no interest to give us anything but facts.
Edwin R. Buxton, Aden HI. Green and William Schollar, rose from the ranks to ser- geants of their company, and they, with Barce, Lewis, Howard, Buel, Hubbard, Woodward and Charles Mc Clure, were par- ticularly distinguished for their fearless dis- charge of duty. Buxton, Green and Wood- ward each received wounds. Buxton and Green were hit by balls several times, and Buxton, in the fight at Cold Harbor, was obliged to leave the field, and was unable to perform duty for several days afterwards. Woodword received a wound on the foot at the same time, which disabled him for a short time.
Warren Me Clure was detailed for hospital service soon after his regiment was mustered in, where he remained on duty until he went into the 10th reg. band. He played a cornet in that band until the close of the war.
Win. H. Hoadley was a musician (dram- mer) from the time the regiment was mus- tered into service until the close of the war.
The number of battles in which the 10th reg. was engaged, as reported by the Adju- tant General are 13, commencing with Or- ange Grove, in Nov. '63, and ending with Sailor's Creek, in Apr, '65. Those embrace the battles of Grant's campaign, which end. ed in the fall of Richmond, and the overthrow of the great rebellion. Besides the battles as
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given by the Adjutant General in which the 10th was engaged, it was in numerous skirmishes. in which men were killed and wounded.
Middletown sent three good soldiers in the 11th Vt. reg .: James Granger, George and James Kilburn. Granger enlisted in July, '64, into Co. M. of the 11th, and was mus- tered into the service Oct. 7, '63. He was the second son of the Rev. Calvin Gran- ger, who at the time of the son's enlistment was the pastor of the Congregational church here. This regiment was known as the 1st Vt. artillery, and enlisted for 3 years or during the war. Young Granger was in most of the battles in Grant's campaign, after the battle of the Wilderness, and was a good soldier,
The Kilburns, sons of Truman Kilburn, never returned. George was woun ded in ac- tion at Cold Harbor, and died of his wounds July 9, '64. aged 26. James died of sickness, at Washington, Aug. 22, '64, aged 22. They were good soldiers, say their officers, and their reliable comrade, James Granger.
Charles H. Granger and Delet B. Haynes enlisted in the 12th reg .; mustered in Oct. 4, '62, and mustered out of the service July 14, '63. Granger and Haynes enlisted into com - pany K, known as the " Rutland Light Guard." Charles H. Granger was the third son of the Rev. Calvin Granger, and Delet B. Haynes was the oldest son of the Rev. Aaron Haynes, a Baptist clergyman, then residing in Middletown. Both served out their time faithfully, and returned again to their homes. They were never in any action, but, as they said. " it was not their fault." Their regiment was never called into any ac- tion while in the service.
Middletown sent 7 brave, sturdy fellows in the 14th. reg. They were, Homer H. Southwick, Reuben Spaulding, Geo. Spauld- ing, Erwin Hyde, Wm. Cairns, Eliphalet Eddy and John Louis Southwick. The two Spauldings, Hyde and Eldy served their time; Cairns was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, in which they all participated, except Louis, who was discharged Apr. 21, "53, by reason of an accidental discharge of fire arms, which so injured one of his hands as to render him incapable of doing further service. Eddy was woun led in the arm, at Gettysburg, by the bursting of a shell, and has drawn a pension since he left the service,
but has now nearly recovered the use of his arm. Homer H. Southwick was a sergeant of company B, and Erwin Hyde and Reuben Spaulding were corporals. Southwick had charge of the ambulance corps at Gettys- burg, and performed his duty faithfully and well. He was a good soldier, and so were they all, and with the exception of Eddy and Cairns they are now all in Middletown engaged on farms and in shops, as they were before the war-the same industrious, peace- ful, useful citizens. Edly has removed to Michigan. Cairns sleeps on the field at Gettysburg; he was an Irishman, a young man of intelligence and character, and vol- unteered, as he said, because he felt it was his duty so to do. May he be remembered as one of the brave boys who sacrificed his life to save the American Republic.
We have now spoken of all who enlisted " to the credit of the town ;" that is, those named were counted to make up, and did make up, the quota of Middletown, but they were not all who gave their aid in the great struggle. The Country had the services of others, and to them we owe a debt of gratitude, and let us here acknowledge it.
Andrew Perry, Obadiah Cole and John S. Bateman, went from Middletown, and enlist- ed to the credit of the town of Poultney. Perry, after a short period of service, was sick, and received his discharge, and return- ed home ; Cole and Bateman served to the end of the war.
Seven from Middletown enlisted into reg- iments out of the State; Wm. and Henry Clift, Joseph Cary, Robert Parks, William Grover, Martin V. B. Woodworth and Horace Green. William Clift enlisted in an Iowa regiment for 3 years, and served his time ; Henry into the 111th N. Y. reg .; both were good soldiers.
Joseph Cary we have been able to learn but little about. He was not long a resident of the town. He. with Parks, Grover and Green enlisted into what was known as the " Harris Light Cavalry," as early as Aug.'61. They were enlisted at Fairhaven, but the regiment was a New York regiment, or be- came so afterwards. Of those four, three died, two of sickness, and one from a wound received while in an engagement. Parks went into the service a strong, healthy, reso- lute young man, but after a few months took the measles which resulted in his death. He
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Was a son of Robert Parks, Esq., of Wells, had not lived in Middletown over 2 or 3 years prior to his enlistment, but had lived there long enough to gain the respect of those who knew him.
William Grover was a son of Calvin, a young man of good character ; he made a good soldier, and was a good length of time in the service, but death from disease finally terminated his service.
Horace Green was the youngest son of Aden H. Green, Esq., deceased, and a half brother of Aden H. Green of the 10th Vt. His mother's maiden name was Margaret Bigelow ; she was the eldest daughter of Rev. Henry Bigelow. Horace was in Kilpatrick's cavalry and was one of the most daring sol- diers in the army. He was wounded on the Danville Railroad, in Virginia, in June, .64, and died in Middletown the Dec. following.
Rev. M. M. Martin preached his funeral sermon from which we make the following extract.
" Horace Green enlisted into the United States service on the 30th of Aug. 1861. He was in nearly every battle and raid in which the army of the Potomac was engaged from that time until he received the wound that caused his death. . June 29, 1862, Gen- eral Wilson with his command was on his return from a raid on the Danville Road, when they met the enemy and at 12 o'clock at night a portion of the cavalry was thrown out as skirmishers. Our friend was among the number, and was shot through the head. Our forces were obliged to retreat and leave their wounded on the tield. His orderly ser- geant was wounded and left on the fieldi with bim, and to him, Horace, was indebted for the lengthening out of his life, and his return home. When the enemy were about to bury Horace alive, the pleading of sergeant Nesbit saved him. They both remained 5 days on the field without food or drink. He died Dec. 21, 1861. Thus another name is added to the list of brave martyrs to our country's cause."
It is surprising that the wound which Hor- ace received had not killed him instantly, and still more surprising that he could, under the circumstances, have survived 5 days with- out food or drink. A minnie ball went through his head back of his eyes, and de- etroyed his sight so that he was not able to see afterwards. When he came home he seemed well ; he walked about as he was led or guided by some friend, and cheerfully con- versed with his former friends and acquaint- ances. We had the pleasure of conversing with him two or three times. He evidently had the entire possession of his mental facul- ties. His recollection was good, and as he talked of the incidents of his childhood and / Clark, Sec. Vt. Hist. Soc.
youth in that lively and cheerful manner with which he was wont to do, we could! hardly realize that he had received so terri- ble a wound. He died suddenly, and with him departed the last representative of the Bigelow family in Middletown.
MARTIN VAN BUREN WOODWORTH, son of John Woodworth born Mar. 4, 1841 ; enlisted in a New York regiment in the early part of the war. He was wounded by a shell, near Petersburgh, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and died the 29th of the same month. Martin when a boy, was awkward and ungainly in his ap- pearance, but as he approached manhood, he seemed rapidly to develope a more than ordi- nary intellectual capacity, and good traits of character He was really, at the time of his enlistment, a promising young man. His father was poor, had a large family, and of course was able to do but little by way of educating his children; but some of them have " made their mark " in spite of pecuni- ary embarrassments, and we had every rea- son to suppose that Martin would, if he had been spared; but he was sacrificed with others to save the nation.
Sixteen young men from the little town of Middletown go to make up the long list of martyred heroes in the war of 1861. Let those names be honored and cherished in your memories, and their noble deeds be re- corded for an example to this and succeeding generations.
DOCTOR ELIAKIM PAUL *
is the son of Stephen Paul, who died in Wells some twenty years since. He was a farmer, and lived, from an early day, in that part of Wells formerly known as the " Lillie neigh- borhood." Eliakiin, when a boy, worked on a farm, but from a misfortune, when a child, was made a cripple for life ; and for that rea- son became a physician. He received his diploma at the Castleton Medical College in 1822, and immediately bought out Dr. David G. Mc Clure, then in practice in Middletown, and from that time to the present, Doctor Paul has been a practicing physician here, and, a portion of the time, the only physi- cian and for full 45 years, has traveled over the hills and valleys of Middletown and vi- cinity, administering to the wants of the sick. He has deservedly had the reputation of being a good physician, and hundreds of us who have had his services in the healing art, will not forget his prompt and faithful atten- tion to us when we have called on him. He has represented Middletown in the Vermont House of Representatives 8 years, and been town clerk 8 years, and has from the time bo
* Indebtedness for this is acknowodged to Heury
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became a resident of the town, fully identi- fied himself with its interests. He will be re- membered as one of the most useful citizens of his time. Doctor Paul has had children, Sabra R., Emmet and Daniel W. Sabra mar- ried Edwin Copeland, and has recently died; Emmet died in 1845, aged 19; Daniel W. graduated at Harvard College, studied law, and was for some years in partnership with Edwin Edgerton, Esq., at Rutland, but is now in successful practice in St. Louis.
Doctor Paul's health has been poor for some little time past, so much so that he has nearly relinquished the practice of his profession.
There are now two other physicians in Middletown, Doctor O. F. Thomas and Doc- tor S. H. Haynes, and each is doing a good business. Doctor Thomas has been in prac- tice since about 1836, but several years of the former part of the time in Western New York. Doctor Haynes has been in practice since about 1841.
MIDDLETOWN, Aug. 1, 1872. My published history of Middletown was written in 1867. The same has been for- "warded to Miss Hemenway for publication (or so much of it as she may desire) in the Vermont Historical Magazine. At her re- quest I now cheerfully furnish a few other items which may be of historical interest, and tender to Miss Hemenway my thanks if she shall add the same to what she has before received
BARNES FRISBIE. THE MIDDLETOWN MINERAL SPRINGS.
These springs, which have recently ac- quired a reputation for their curative proper- eties, were discovered, or rather rediscovered in June, 1863. They are located near the village and within a hundred feet of the north bank of Poultney river. They were known prior to 1811; so I have been in- formed by Dr. Theophilus Clark, then and now residing in Tinmouth, and by Dea. Mer. lin Clark, then a resident of Middletown, a few months since deceased at Middlebury, Vt. Dr. Clark had drank of the waters, and knew they were strongly impregnated with min- erals, but has no recollection that they were used to any extent for medicinal purposes. Such is Deacon Clark's recollection, except that he remembered that it was known that the waters acted powerfully on the uri nary organs.
Prior to 1811, Poultney river at that place, ran where it now does, but the freshet of tha: year, an account of which heretofore appears. changed the bed of the river some feet to the north, and deposited an immense layer of sand and gravel on the springs, hiding them from view. In June, 1868, another remus- able freshet occurred in Middletown, the high- est water known since 1811, and this freshes again changed the bed of the river to its of i place and uncovered the springs. A. W. Gray & Sons, at that time, (1868) ownel the premises, and took water from the river near this point to run their horse power manufac- tory. The dam or sluice-way having brea torn in pieces by the freshet, A. W. Grav was examining the grounds by way of making repairs when he first saw the springs, thes the change in the bed of the river nai devel- oped. He drank freely of the water, which at first produced a nausea, and he was soon convinced from his own examination that the waters were strongly mineral. One of his workmen had been poisoned with meal- ow ivy, and his limbs were bally swollen, andseemingly he was obtaining no relief. Mr. Gray, for the experiment, procured the water which he used freely in drinking and bath- ing, and the afflicted man was soon restored. This of course attracted attention ; others afflicted with various ailments, procurei the waters, and many beyond question were ben- efitted in their use. The fame of the springs spread rapidly, and the people soon began to come in crowds from the neighboring towas to drink and carry away the waters. And is is true that these springs within the nex: twelve months after their rediscovery, as- quired a reputation which they, or any other spring waters, are not and cannot be entitled to. That these waters are efficacious and val- uable as a remedial agent in many diseases and ailments to which mankind are stojess, is settled, as I think, beyond all question ; but they will not raise the dead. cor wil they cure incurable diseases. Tho excite- ment was such that there was inevitably s reaction, and many came to believe the Mid- dletown Springs a humbug. They are no bam- bug but exaggeratel statements in regi: ! : 5 the curative properties of the waters ant the cures effected by them, which appeare i for a time in the pubile prints, damaged their re ?- utation rather than benefitted it, so that now. in public estimation, the springs have not the
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