USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 32
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REV. O. HOPSON
Of Mr. Mallary, I can only give you a resided in Poultney, Vt., 21 years. He was Rector of St. James Church in that place 18 years. He had in his family, during the great- er part of this time, many young men who had been entrusted to his care and instruc- tion. few dates. He was born in Cheshire, Ct., May 27, 1784, and in 1795, removed, with his parents, to Poultney, Vt. He graduated at Middlebury College, in 1805. Before graduating, he had commenced the study of law, which he continued, after graduating, The present residence of the Rev. O., and Mrs. C. Hopson is Waverly Illinois. Five of their children are still living-three have died. with Hon. Horatio Seymour, of Middlebury, and Robert Temple, Esq., of Rutland. In 1806, he was preceptor of Castleton Academy. He was admitted to the Rutland County Bar The Rev. O. Hopson was ordained to the in March, 1807. He soon took a leading I sacred ministry by the Rt. Rev. Thomas
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Church Brownell, in Hartford, Conn., July 1833.
When we last visited Poultney, in the winter of 1864, Rev. Oliver Hopson was pas- tor of the Episcopal church here and also had a class in his house of young men, or a number of students. His oldest son, Rev. Geo. B. Hopson, was, we think, at this time in orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church. He lost his second son during the war.
EDWARD CRAFTS HOPSON,
son of the Rev. Oliver and Mrs. Caroline Hopson, was born in Naugatuck, Ct., June 18, 1842. In 1847, his father removed to Poultney, Vt., to assume the rectorship of St. John's Church. Says Henry Clark, in a biographical sketch read before the Vermont Historical Society, June 25, 1865, of Edward C. Hopson :
Born into a Christian household, and until his eighteenth year, surrounded by the most affectionate and religious influences of a no- ble Christian home, and with a warm, watch- ful and educating love, I was wont to no- tice him as an active and intelligent lad, with something of peculiar manliness and sensi- bility blended in his face, indicating an ar- dent character that would make its mark somewhere if his life should be prolonged. He was respectful in his demeanor-cheerful and hopeful in spirit-and devoted to his home. He was modest and retiring even to a fault. He was ready to be instructed, ea- ger to embrace and hold fast the truth, desir- ous, beyond most lads of his age, of study, especially of history, and made himself thor- oughly familiar with the Crimean War. Few were his equals in the knowledge of gen- eral history, and current events, and he ever exhibited the purpose to make his life a noble and useful one by securing the peace, and advancing the welfare of others around him. He pursued his preparatory studies for en- trance to college under the instruction of his father and brother the Rev. Geo. B. Hopson, and entered Trinity College at Hartford, Connecticut (his father's Alma Mater) in the fall of 1860. He faithfully prosecuted his course for two years, and had entered upon his junior year. As a student he developed and-matured those characteristics which had marked his boyhood, and his standing was that of second in his class. At this period of his course the call for men to enter the army became urgent, and he believed it his duty to enter the ranks, and consequently procur- ed the consent of his parents and of the pres- ident of the college. He enlisted August 6th, 1862 in Company D, 19th Connecticut Vol. unteers-which regiment was changed in December 1860 to the Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Several of nis college companions enlisted in the same Regiment.
the army, in the most patriotic and unselfish spirit, relinquishing companionships dear to him, and prospects that were bright for the public service with its trials and perils, ex- pecting to meet hardships, but determined to endure them as a faithful soldier not only of his country but of his God. There is much of sublimity in the conduct of this young man who becaine convinced of his duty to leave the home of his childhood, endeared to him by its cherished memories-to bid adieu to a fond father, a devoted mother, and loved brothers and sisters-leave a home of con- fort,-forego the honors of college, and its sweet associations for the tented field. Noth- ing but the sacred devotion to duty could have induced him to take his life in his hand and go forth in defence of the government. Methinks I see him present himself before the honored President of the college, and lay the consent of his parents before him asking in a modest, unassuming manner that he might have a leave of absence, and for what ? For the purposes of pleasure and amusement ? For the love of adventure? To follow his companions to the halls of merriment and gaiety ? No! not all these, but that le might serve his country.
He served with his regiment on guard du- ty in the defences of Washington for more than a year, being stationed in Forts Worth, Lyons and Williams. March 19:h the regi- ment left to join Gen. Grant in his active campaign against Richmond, and from that date to the battle of Cedar Creek his regi- ment endured a very trying series of marches and battles and finally was assigned to the 6th corps to re-enforce Gen. Sheridan in the valley of the Shenandoah.
Soon after the formation of the colored reg- iments, he evinced a desire to have a com- mission in a colored company, The field was open in other directions, but I think he felt a Christian duty in this regard. High, noble, and holy were his purposes and his anns, but he fell, ere his purpose was accomplished, at his post, early on the morning of the great battle of Sheridan, on the 19th of Oct., last, (1864) shot through the head, and died in- stantly. On the same day an order came for his discharge, that he might accept a com- mission as lieutenant in the 10th Reg. U. S. colored troops. His body rests where it fell, and no affectionate hands of friends will prob- ably ever be able to distinguish it from oth- ers and to heap the memorial pile above it.
REV. A. H. BAILEY,
who officiated at Hydeville, West Rutland, and Fairhaven, at this time resided at East Poultney with his parents. His father, Al- mon Bailey, a hale old business gentleman, who was not unfrequently trustee &c., for the town, has since deceased. His mother, sur- rounded by her four little grand-daughters and two grandsons stood beautifully at the
He suspended his collegiate course to enter | household helm, equally, kind and discreet.
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None of the children were sent to the public school. The prudent father was their teach- er and playmate. Their mother, Rev. Mr. Bailey's first wife, was Catherine Neale, daughter of Henry G. Neale of East Poult- ney. She died while her husband was rector in Berkshire, Franklin County, this State. Rev. Mr. Bailey has since married-several years past-Miss Susan Coburn, a resident of Fairhaven, this county ; and soon after re- moved to Sheldon, Vt., where he is at pres- ent, rector. I heard him preach, several times, and I regarded his sermons as par- ticularly attractive-of quiet loveliness of spirit and expression. He converses, preaches, writes, as a scholarly man, is greatly beloved and respected in the Episcopal church. Rev. Mr. Bailey, a rare historical gleaner wrote our sketch of Rev. Betbuel Chittenden, broth- er of Gov. Thomas Chittenden, in vol. 1, (see Shelburne history) and the account of the Episcopal church in Franklin County, vol. II. We engaged him to prepare the history for all the places of his ministrations in Rutland County but sending (now when our printer is awaiting the copy) for the manuscript, we find a party wrote on for it at Poultney, and he has unfortunately sent it there. We can hardly hope to get it from there for this vol- ume, if not it will have to be laid over for vol. IV. Ed.
POULTNEY NEWSPAPERS.
BY H. M. MOTT, EDITOR OF THE BRANDON UNION.
Like several other towns in Rutland Coun- ty, Poultney has been blessed with several ef- forts at starting and supporting newspapers, and is now one of the very few which seem to have ultimately reached success in that line.
The Poultney Gazette was started in 1822, probably in November, but the exact date can not now be ascertained. It was located at East Poultney, then the most important village in town, and was published by Sanford Smith and John R. Shute.
The Northern Spectator was first issued in January, 1825, it being a continuation of the Gazette, by the same publishers. The paper was published just one year by them, when it became the property of an association, with " D. Dewey and A. Bliss, agents for Stone became agent. He was succeeded by several others, until June, 1830, when the paper was discontinued.
The Poultney Owl was published about six months in 1867, by J. H. Linsley.
The Poultney Bulletin's first number was issued March 12, 1868. J. A. Morris was publisher, John Newman editor, and Geo. C. Newman assistant editor. Morris published it one year, and then Geo. C. Newman be- came publisher. Hon. Barnes Frisbie be- came the editor Oct. 7, 1869, and remained editor until June, 1870. In September, 1870, Newman sold his establishment to H. L, Stillson and Wm. Haswell. Stillson sold his interest to Haswell and left town Aug. 12, 1871. This paper came to an end in November, 1873. The establishment was sold to R. J. Humphrey, who commenced the publication of
The Poultney Journal Dec. 19, 1873, by Frisbie and Humphrey, who still continue the publication. This appears to be a suc- cessful concern, and Poultney seems deter- mined upon supporting a home newspaper.
It will be well to mention, in this connec- tion, that Horace Greeley, probably the greatest journalist that ever lived, learned the printer's trade in the office of the Northern Spectator. Horace was born in New Hamp- shire, but in 1821, his parents removed to West Haven in Rutland County, not far dis- tant from Poultney, he at that time being about ten years of age. Having previously formed a desire to become a printer, having an elevated opinion of printing from his great love of books, and having seen an ad- vertisement of "apprentice wanted" in the Spectator, he went to Poultney on foot and alone.
" He sought Mr. Bliss, one of the manag- ers at that time, whom he found planting po- tatoes in his garden. The following conver- sation, as reported by Mr. Bliss, occurred be- tween him and the boy Horace :
' Are you the man that carries on the print- ing office ?'
Mr. Bliss has said that as he looked up at the boy, he could hardly refrain from laugh- ing, his appearance was such ; but he did, and replied : ' Yes ; I am the man.'
' Don't you want a boy to learn the trade ?' he next inquired.
' Well,' said Mr. Bliss, 'we have been the proprietors." After several months E. G. |thinking of it. Do you want to learn to print ?'
' I have had some notion of it,' said Horace. Mr. Bliss, since deceased, gave to Mir.
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Greeley's biographer the following, in addi- | make no resistance, but say, 'Now, boys, do tion to the above : ' I was surprised that such a stop; let me alone.' fellow as the boy looked to be, should think of learning to print; but on entering into conversation with him, and a partial exam- ination of the qualifications of my new ap- plicant, it required but little time to discov- er that he possessed a mind of no common order, and an acquired intelligence beyond his years. There was a simple mindedness, a truthfulness and common sense in what he said, that at once commanded my regard.'
The applicant for a place in the Poultney printing office was successful. Mr. Bliss, after consultation with his foreman, took him in, and Horace Greeley then and there took his first lesson in type-setting. He re- mained in this office 4 years and 2 months. There are several persons still living in Poultney who remember Horace Greeley well, while learning his trade in the Specta. tor office. They all agree as to his personal appearance, which has been given to the public over and over again. They agree, also, as to his remarkable industry and stu- dious habits. Harlow Hosford, with whom Mr. Greeley boarded 2 years or more during the time of his apprenticeship, told the writ. er that Mr. Greeley never lost a day from his work during his whole timethere, except once or twice he made a short visit to his parents ; and when his day's work was done he was reading, and gave little attention to anything that was going on about him. J. Joslin, then a teacher of the schools at that village, says he heard Mr. Greeley make his first speech. It was in a debating society, which held its meetings in the school house in East Poultney. He astonished every one who heard him, and seemed better informed than any of the speakers on the subject mat- ter of the discussion. Mr. Joslin also says that he did not attend any school while in Poultney, but kept up a study of several branches, together with his reading. As he left his work for his boarding place he would almost invariably have a book or paper un- der his arm, to which his attention would be given, instead of out-of-door sports, or ramb- ling conversation with other young men dur- ing leisure hours. The other workmen of the office would sometimes make themselves merry in coloring Horace's white hair with printer's ink. One or inore would hold him, and another put on the ink. Horace would
The last issue of the Northern Spectator was gotten off at 11 o'clock one June morn- ing, in. 1830; and in the afternoon, at 1 o'clock, Horace Greeley, with a stick and small bundle resting on his shoulder, and an overcoat on his arin, which Mr. Hosford had given him (the first he had ever had, and which probably lasted until he obtained his white one), bid adieu to friends in Poultney, and started on foot for his father's, who then lived in Pennsylvania, 500 miles away.
Mr. Greeley remembered his Poultney friends. He kept up an occasional corres- pondence with Mr. Hosford and other friends, and always recognized his Poultney acquain- tances wherever he met them, with pleasure. It is but a few days since we had the rela- tion of an interview, in 1853, at the Tribune Building in New York, between Mr. Greeley and his old friend Amos Bliss. Our inform- ant says : ' I was in New York with Mr. Bliss land on his invitation I accompanied him to the Tribune Building. I followed Mr. Bliss as he wended his way up the stairs to Mr. Greeley's office. He opened the door without knocking, and there sat the great editor of the world, writing. He was evidently think- ing intently, as he heeded not our entrance. Mr. Bliss waited a moment ; but no recogni- tion from Mr. Greeley. Soon Mr. Bliss de- liberately spoke. ' Horace !' Instantly the pen was laid aside ; Mr. Greeley knew the voice, he need not to look in the face to know that an old friend was present. He arose from his chair, and with outstretched arms approached Mr. Bliss, and said : ' My dear friend ! my benefactor! how glad I am to see you !' Oh, how Mr. Greeley and Mr. Bliss talked of old times at this interview. How the battle of life was discussed."
The Troy Conference Academy Record was edited and published monthly by the students of Troy Conference Academy, some two years, about 20 years ago.
The suspension of the printing office in East Poultney, in June, 1830, was not caus- ed by any diminution of the general busi- ness of that community, for this was on the increase rather than otherwise, during the seven and a half years in which the office was run. The Northern Spectator but shar- ed the fate of many newspapers-especially country papers."
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POULTNEY ITEMS.
[We have been disappointed in not ob- taining Poultney papers promptly-some not as yet. We subjoin a page-items and very brief biography from our miscellaneous collection reserved for the supplementary department, as yet uncompleted. Ed.]
The father of Joe Smith, Morman prophet, resided in Poultney.
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Among the chief manufacturers during forty years preceding 1875, have been S. P. Hooker, Mfr .; Talbert & Barnes & S. P. Hooker ; W. I. Farnham & Son ; Boston, New York, and New England Slate Com- pany ; Empire Slate Co .; Welch Slate Co .; Operative Siate Co .; Schenectady Slate Co .; Cambrian Slate Co .; Olive Branch Slate Co., D. Hooker & Son, W. L. Farnham & Son, all slate.
The slate business is becoming a very impor- tant one in Poultney. There are now, 1872, shipped from the Poultney station about two hundred car loads of slate per month, aver- aging 40 squares of roofing slate to the car load. The demand is more than can be sup- plied. The business is the life of the town. Hugh Hughes, a large dealer in slate, has shipped at one time 20 car loads in a week, taken from his quarry, to England.
Dewey & Dewey, of East Poultney, make carriages, sleighs, derrick timber, slate, slate- cars and drums; F. M. Ruggles, machinist, cast iron stoves, and hollow ware, curry-combs, en- gines, mowing-machines; T. H. Lawrence & Son, tin ware; Mead & Procter, woolen goods ; A. & F. Vaughn, castiron ware ; Wheeler & Smith, brass and iron candlesticks; Poultney Mfg. Co., silver and tin tobacco boxes and spectacle cases ; Ross, Moss & Co., melodeons ; C. B. Conant & Son, iron found. ers and machinists ; G. Clark, Joy & Lee, wagons ; J. Richardson, cabinet ware; J. W. King, Bosworth & Co., sash & blinds ; J. N. King, Bosworth & Co., lumber ; G. M. Clark, marble ; A. Stoddard, Whitlock, Ross & Smith sash, doors and blinds. (1875.)
HON. LINDSEY JOSLIN
died in Elgin, Ill., Oct. 1, 1863, aged 77 years. He was a pioneer in the settlement of north- ern Illinois, and contributed largely in erect- ing churches, and school houses and in pro- moting benevolent institutions in that vicin. ity. He was brother of J. Joslyn, Poultney, Vt., and formerly a resident of that town.
HON. FRANCIS H. RUGGLE3
consul of the United States at Jamaica, died in New York, in May 1865, aged 49 years. He was a native of Poultney, Vt. When a young man, he commenced the practice of law at Fredonia, Chatauque County, N. Y., where he resided for many years, and after- wards removed to Corning. N. Y. He was for several years auditor of the canal depart- ment of the State of New York. He was as- sociated with Henry J. Raymond and George Jones, in the establishment of the New York Daily Times, and became an associate editor. The articles contributed by him were not nu- merous, but were prepared with great care, and evidenced ability and power as a writer. He was afterwards a commercial agent at Valparaiso, Chili. At the commencement of Mr. Lincoln's administration, he received an appointment from Mr. Seward to a position in the State Department, and prepared sev- eral state papers of importance. In 1862, he was appointed consul at Jamaica, which po- sition he held at the time of his decease. His funeral was at Poultney.
WILLIAM L. MUNROE, M. D.,
died in Camp Stoneman Hospital, D. C., Feb. 12, 1865, aged 27 years. Dr. Munroe was the son of Nathan and Nancy Munroe, of Poultney, Vt. The first of three brothers to volunteer in the service of his country-the second of the three to yield his life on its al- tar. One sleeps on the soil of Virginia with the thousands of his brave comrades-the oth- er, now an only surviving brother and son has participated in all the conflicts of Ver- mont Brigades from Antietam to Petersburg. Dr. Munroe graduated in medicine at Bur- lington, Vt., in June, 1860. Leaving a suc- cessful practice, he enlisted in the 12th Regt. U. S. Infantry in Dec., 1861, and re-enlisted in the 1st Regt. 1st Army Corps in Dec., 1864.
On the morning of the 4th of July, 1836. at West Poultney, John Livingston, aged 13 years, was killed while engaged in fring a salute. It appears that a strife existed be- tween the boys of the East and West vil- leges of that town as to who would fre their cannon the quickest, and without sponging or thumbing the piece, young Livingston en- deavored to ram the cartridge down when it ignited, causing the ramrod to pass through his hip, tearing of both his hands and other.
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wise horribly mangling him. He lived but | habits" in company with an elder brother, about an hour after the accident.
J. E. THOMPSON,
formerly of Poultney, died very suddenly at St. Paul, Minn., June 1870. He was a bank- er, very wealthy, a member of the Baptist church, and universally esteemed in business and social circles. His life was insured at $43,000.
REV. ALBERT CHAMPLIN
of Poultney, died suddenly at Charlotte, where he had gone to visitsome of his friends, June 18, 1872. He was almost 60 years old, and for many years was a circuit preach- er of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MRS. FREELOVE HYDE,
the oldest person in Poultney, died, May 2, 1874, in her 97th year.
SAD DEATH AND ONE GRAVE .- A rare in- stance of the death of husband and wife oc- curred at Poultney the present week. On Saturday afternoon last, Mary, the wife of Dr. Horace Hall, received a third shock of paralysis, from which she died about two o'clock the same night. Her age was 59 years., After assisting in the duties inciden- tal to such an event, Dr. Hall sat down and soon fell into a stupor, from which he never recovered. On Sunday other symptoms ap- peared, accompanied by the most intense bod- ily suffering, from which he was relieved by death at three o'clock on Tuesday morning, in the 68th year of his age. The funeral was largely attended on Wednesday afternoon, and their bodies were deposited in the same grave .- Rutland Globe, April 9, 1874,
SUDDEN DEATHS .- Sept. 28, 1874, Deacon George Hills of East Poultney, died suddenly, aged 85 years. On Thursday, Oct. 2, his nephew, Edward Hills of South Granville, was struck by lightning and lingered until Oct. 11th, in great agony, when he died.
TIME'S CHANGES .*
About the close of the Revolutionary war, in the month of Oct., 1782, the writer of this brief sketch, left the good old State of " steady
and one other young man, going to purchase wild land to make a permanent location ; hearing of the rich soil, and spontaneous pro- ductions of a tract of land lying somewhere towards the North Pole, known by the name of Otter Creek in the State of Vermont, the soil of which was represented to be of that richness that from " one pound of the surface, a pint of oil might be extracted for family use." I now recollect a few lines of an old song composed by the poet Rowley, and often sung in high glee, by the first settlers.
"The feathered goose and duck, they make our bed," The Beaver, Coon and Fox, they crown our head, , The harmless Moose and Deer, are food, and clothes to wear.
Nature could do no more for any land."
We commenced our journey on horse- back, almost the only mode of traveling in those days, wagons drawn by horse or horses being unheard of at that period, in Connecti- cut. Accordingly we provided ourselves each with large saddle-bags well filled with prov- ender for our horses, and provisions for the journey, and to add to the novelty of the ex - pedition, a young miss of twelve or fourteen, was placed on a Pillion behind me to return to her parents in Clarendon. Thus equiped we commenced our journey, and proceeded for four or five days, when we arrived at the house occupied by the parents of the young lady in Clarendon, where we rested over the Sabbath, and early on Monday morning pro- ceeded on our journey northward ; an hour's ride brought us to a place, by the name of " Togg village" being in the town of Fair- field, alias Rutland. This place consisted of a number of respectable log dwellings, where the Rutland Park attracts so much attention : here our passage was somewhat obstructed by deep mud. Not far in advance, however we discovered men and oxen wallowing in the black soil, with poles for constructing a section of Rail Road, who seeing us in trou- ble very politely reccommended us to leave the main road, turn into the wood on our right, to the east, where we should find a cow path leading northwardly, that would conduct us to the main road in about half a mile .- We readily complied and soon found ourselves in a most delightful forest, where the woodman's axe had not been permitted to mar nature's sublime works.
Those who had rarely wandered from a
$ This article was sent to us by an old resident of Poultney or Castleton, the first year of our Gazetteer. It has been so long since, we are not positive as to the town from which it came. But as the towns are adja- ceut neighbors, and Castleton has far the better fur- nished history, and we promised the old man, then over 80 years of age, that his papers should appear, we will donate It to Poultney .- Ed.
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home situated among the rocky hills in the vicinity of Strafford, Connecticut, could but view the scene before us with wonder and surprise as the eye surveyed the enchanting prospect before us. The enormous maple, beech, basswood and elms, with their straight bodies and towering heads, would create sensations of no ordinary character. The deep rich soil, covered with the nettle and leek-the open prospect to look through the foliage, these and many other attractions, richly repaid the traveler, for his detainment. We however soon regained the main road, and stoped a few minutes to divest our clothes of a quantity of the native soil which form- ed a rich covering to man and beast. We now found the road northward to the Fort in Pittsford, which was situated on the hill nearly three miles beyond the present village. The road was cleared wide enough to accom- modate the transportation of military stores to the Fort during the war. At this noted rendezvous we arrived about one o'clock P. M., where we found a place of entertainment in one of the barracks kept by a Mr. Handy, who informed us that there was no road of travel further north. The only alternative was to make a raft and proceed down the creek by water otherwise on foot on the bank of the creek. Prefering the latter course, we shoul- dered our wallets and boldly sallied forth. the only directory being marked trees. Not dreaming of an attack from the winged in- habitants who resided about the stagnant waters-here we halted to prepare for self- defence, by arming and equipping, and mask- ing our faces ; we traveled along until the dusk of the evening, when we arrived at a small log cabin situated on the bank of the creek, being the residence of the noted Dr. Shelden. Here necessity compelled us to take shelter for the night, as there was no safe way of traveling after dark through this uncultivated forest. The first object that arrested my attention on entering the door, was a huge figure in female attire, the only mark that designated her as belonging to the feminine species. The doctor lay extend- ed on his bed of straw, piteously groaning under a severe fit of the ague.
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