USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 4
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
eredit they deserve. But they soon will have. There is real merit in the waters and the public in due time will come to proper- ly estimate their intrinsic value, without an over or under estimate, without doubt.
Soon after June, 1863, other mineral Springs were discovered some hundred rods from those discovered by A. W. Gray, near the foundry owned by E. W. Gray. Two companies were formed, each owning and sending away water from the two groups of springs. In the fall of 1869, these two com- panies were consolidated under one company, called the Middletwon Springs Hotel Compa- ny, and were incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. Early in the Spring of 1370, the company commenced the erec- tion of a large hotel near the springs, but so large was the work that the hotel was not completed until well on in the Summer of 1871. The building, including basement and attic, is 5 stories high ; has a west front of 140 feet and a north front of 136 feet, mak. ing in all a front of 276 feet, and is 42 feet in width. It has a dining room of 65 by 41 feet with 17 feet ceiling. The lady's parior is 41 by 40 feet, and the house contains 137 large and airy rooms for guests. The halls throughout are 8 feet wide. The house is well furnished and the furnishings are all new and selected from the best patterns. With the ample accommodations of this fine hotel, together with the spring waters and beautiful surroundings, it now seems quite probable that Middletown is destined to be a favorite resort for invalids indeed for all who desire a time in the summer season for rest, recuperation or pleasure.
The expense of building and furnishing the house was large, and could not have been less . than $ 100,000. Large expenditures have also been made in fitting up the grounds around the hotel. The affairs of the compa- ny are now managed by J. J. Joslin, Wil- liam H. Poor and Jonas Clark of Poultney . but many of the citizens of the town contrib- uted largely to the funds required for build- ing the hotel and titting the grounds; among whom are Messrs. A. W. Gray & Son, E. W. Gray, S. W. Southworth and Lucius Cope- land. The old hotel in the place has been enlarged and fitted up for keeping boarders ; and Dexter Adams has also a good boarding- house sufficient to accommodate 30 or 40.
While we now write the town is enlivened
by the presence of summer visitors from Washington, New York, Boston and other places. All seem to enjoy themselves and to be highly pleased with the excellent accom- modations furnished here, the beautiful scen- ery in and about the locality, and the excel- lent opportunities for trout-fishing, hunting and boating in the vicinity.
So it will be seen that since my published history was completed in 1867, the town has become a place of summer resort; and I believe there is no town lovelier nor more at- tractive in the Green Mountain State The material interests of the town have been In . creased thereby, and the sincere wish of the writer is that happiness and prosperity may attend the citizens from this on ward.
There are five in number of the springs rediscovered by A. W. Gray; all within a few feet of each other, and no two are alike in their mineral ingredients. For all erup- tive diseases and kidney difficulties, it is the opinion of the writer that these waters are unsurpassed.
In the spring of 1872, Jonathan and Mer- rit Atwater, in digging on their farm lying in the south part of the town, discovered a substance very much resembling copper ore. What it will prove after furtherexamination and thorough testing no one can say at pres- ent. A company has leased the premises, and will before long satisfy themselves and the public as to the value of this supposed mine.
Robert R. Woodward was elected town clerk in March, 1868, and has held the office since.
Homer, H. Southwick represented the town in the years 1868 and 1869, and Ros- well Buel was elected representative in 1870, for two years.
HON. BARNES FRISBIE, son of Zenas Fris- bie, and a native of Middletown, is now en- gaged with Dea. Joslin, of Poultney, in com- pleting the extensive history of Poultney, by Henry Clark, Sec. of Vt. State Historical Society, also a native of Middletown. The whole of which is to be published in one large volume, separately, and Mr. Clark furnishes a large digest of the same for this work. Mr. Frisbie resided at Middletown till eleven years since, when he removed to Poultney, where he at present resides. He is 59 years of age, married in 1844, and has 4 children living. Ile studied law with C. B. Harring- ton, commenced practice in Brandon, Vt., was created side judge in 1853.
845
MT. HOLLY.
MOUNT HOLLY BY DR. JOHN CROWLEY.
Was not one of the original townships. In sur- vering the towns on the east and west sides of the Green Mountains, there was left between Lud- low, on the east, and Wallingford, on the west, a gore of land called Jackson's Gore-taking its name from Abram Jackson, one of the origi- nal proprietors, and an early settler on the Gore.
The first settlement on this tract was begun by Abram Jackson, Stephen, Ichabod G. and Chauncy Clark of Connecticut, in the year 1782. The following year they were joined by Jacob Wilcox and Benjamin G. Dawley, from Rhode Island. and soon after by Jonah, Amos and Eb- enezer Ives, also from Connecticut ; others from year to year came in, and the population grad- ually and steadily increased.
In 1792 the present town of Mt. Holly was incorporated by the Legislature, at the October session of that year. holden at Rutland. The town, as incorporated, was made up by adding to Jackson's Gore, on the east, all that portion of the town of Ludlow lying west of the high- est ridge of what is called Ludlow Mountain, and on the west, one mile in width, or two tiers of lots from the east side of the town of Wal- lingford. This constitutes the present town of Mt. Holly, which, in point of territory or size, ranks among the larger towns of the State.
The first settlers in that part of the town which was formerly Ludlow were Joseph Green, Nathaniel Pingrey. Abram Crowley, David Bent and Silas Proctor, who emigrated thither about the year 1786-some three years subsequent to the first settlement on the Gore, by the Clarks,
ed by Jolin and Jonas Hadley, Joseph and Jon. athan Pingrey, Richard Lawrence and Samuel Cook. These two settlements, though only some three miles apart, were for some time ig- norant of their proximity to each other-those on the west side, or " the Gore," supposed the settlement near st them was in the valley of Otter Creek, while those on the east side thought their nearest neighbors were on Black River, in Ludlow. They were separated by an unbroken wilderness, with not even a " blazed" foot-path between them-each having reached their settlement from opposite directions. They are said to have discovered each other in the following manner :
Some of the settlers on the east side started out on Sunday morning to look for stray cattle : after traveling westward some two miles, they
were about to take another direction, when they were surprised by hearing the barking of a dog still farther west. They followed the sound, and soon came to the log cabin of Ichabod G. Clark, which stood some 40 rods north-westerly from the spot where the Mt. Holly R. R. De- pot now stands. At this cabin the people of the " Gore" were on that day assembled for re- ligious worship. The surprize of each party was equalled only by their gratification at find- ing neighbors so near. They at once set about providing means of intercommunication by marked trees, and subsequently by primitive roads ; and the acquaintance thus begun soon ripened into friendship and constant intercourse, and resulted in the union of the two settle- ments in one town, as above described.
The town was organized under the act of in- corporation, at a meeting called for that pur- pose Nov. 19, 1792. Abram Jackson was chios- en moderator, Stephen Clark, town clerk, and Abram Jackson, Stephen Clark and Silas Proc- tor, selectmen.
Mt. Holly lies on the eastern border of Rutland county, bounded N. by Shrewsbury and Plymouth, E. by Ludlow, S. by Weston, and W. by Wallingford and Mt. Tabor. It lies in a sort of shallow basin, or depression in the Green Mountains, and in the old days of stage- coaches and loaded teams, afforded, probably, the best place for crossing the Mountain, south of Montpelier. The old stage route from Bur- lington, via Rutland, to Boston, passed through this town.
The land was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, consisting of sugar maple, beech, birch, spruce and hemlock, mainly, with Jack-on and others. They were soon after join- a less amount of fir, basswood, black and white ash, wild cherry and poplar.
Since the building of the railroad through the town, wood and lumber have been important items of traffic, and the remark is often made by farmers, that if their farms were now in their primitive condition, with the timber all stand- ing, they would be worth more than they now are, with all the buildings and other improve- ments; and it is undoubtedly true.
The hardy pioneers, while felling the lige trees, and laboring day and night to pile and burn them, little thought that the time would come when the timber, which it cost them so much toil and labor to get rid of, would, if standing, be worth more than their farms, with all the improvements of three fourthy of a century ; and yet such is the fact.
The rock is mostly Green Mountain gneiss.
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
In the extreme south part of the town lime- stone is found, from which very good lime was formerly made in considerable quantities : but its manufacture is now abandoned; as, in these days of railroad transportation, better and cheaper lime can be obtained elsewhere.
The soil is mostly a strong, somewhat heavy loam-in some parts of the town, especially along the valley of Mill River-considerably mixed with sand. Clay-beds are found in sev- eral localites, suitable for making brick. Many years ago there was a brick-yard near the pres- ent site of the Mt. Holly R. R. Depot, where excellent brick were made in quantity sufficient to supply this and some of the neighboring towns, which was no small amount in those days when every house must have in its cen- tre a huge chimney, requiring for its construc- tion from five to twelve thousand brick. They were never much used here for building pur- poses, there being but six brick houses in town -all of them built more than a quarter of a century ago.
The town is well watered by small streams, and numerous springs gush from the hill-sides. Mill River is the only considerable stream. It rises in the extreme southwest part of the town, and, running in a northerly direction, crosses a corner of Wallingford, through Shrewsbury in- to Clarendon, where it empties into Otter Creek.
All the smaller streams on the western slope of the town empty into Mill River; while those on the eastern slope find their way to Black River, and are discharged into the Con- necticut.
The soil is much better adapted to grass than grain, and but little of the latter is raised. Mt. Holly is emphatically a grazing town. There is probably not a farmer here who attempts to produce his own breadstuffs. He finds it more profitable to keep his land in grass, and devote his attention to the raising of stock, or the manufacture of butter and cheese-depending on the grain-growing States of the West for his corn and flour. A large quantity of oats is rais- ed here, which are mostly consumed by farmers themselves.
The only article raised for exportation is po- tatoes. Since the building of the Railroad the farmers have devoted considerable attention to the production of that crop, and thousands of bushels are annually shipped by rail to Boston and other markets. Potatoes, beef, pork, but- ter, cheese, lumber and live stock are the chief articles of export.
The surface of the town is uneven and billy,
though less so than most of the mountain towns. In fact there are probably few towns of its size in the State, which have a less am- ount of actually waste land. There are no large swamps-no rugged ledges, and no abrupt, in- accessible mountains. There are plenty of hills, but they afford good pasturage for sheep and cattle, even to their very summits.
The Rutland Railroad runs through a sort of gorge or ravine, and the traveler who passes through by rail sees the poorest part of the town, and often makes taunting remarks about the country, and a people who can obtain a livelihood in such a sterile region ; but let him travel a mile or two in either direction from the line of the Railroad, and the substantial farm- houses, commodious barns, and general signs of thrift will essentially modify his opinion of the character of the town, and of its inhabit- ants. Professor Hagar, in his report on the Ge- ology of the State, says: "The tourist who thinks Mt. Holly is a poor town is mistaken ; for there are few towns in the State which pro- duce more cattle, sheep, beef, pork, butter and cheese, or have a larger number of wealthy farmers."
There is no considerable village in the town, but there are several little settlements which are dignified by the title " ville," as : Mechan- icsville, Bowlville, Tarbellsville, Hortonville, Healdville, &c. Mechanicsville is the largest, containing a church, a store, a tannery, a mill for cutting chair-stock, a blacksmith and wheel- wright shop, and about 25 dwelling-houses .- Here, also, is the establisment of P. E. Chase, for the manufacturing of children's carts, cabs and wheelbarrows, employing about 25 hands. The machinery is run partly by steam and part- ly by water power, turning out a large amount of wares which are shipped to all parts of the country.
About one mile west of Mechanicsville is Tarbellsville, where is located the extensive rake-factory of Marshall Tarbell, which manu- factures more rakes, probably, than any other establishment in New England. Here is also a sawmill doing a large amount of business-con- nected with which is machinery for cutting clapboards, laths, chair-stock-and also for turn- ing fork, hoe and broom-handles. There is also here a store, a blacksmith shop, a daguerrian saloon, and about a dozen dwelling-honses.
Within about a mile south of this place, which is on Mill River, are two other sawmills, each doing a large business-also a shop for the manufacture of butter-tikins. Below are also
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MT. HOLLY.
three sawmills on Mill River and its tributaries, two of which have machinery for cutting chair- stock.
Bowlville is a small settlement in the west part of the town, and takes its name from be- ing the locatian of a factory for turning wooden bowls, and the manufacture of other articles of wooden ware-as wash-boards, clothes-pins, mop-sticks, &c., &c.
In the north part of the town, about 1 mile from the north church, and 1 } milesfrom the R. R. station, are the steam-mills of Deacon Warren Horton, embracing a sawmill, a grist- mill, a planing-mill, and machinery for cutting chair-stock, turning, &c. These mills turn out a vast amount of lumber annually.
Until recently there was a steam-mill at Healdville, owned by W. B. & J. P. Hoskison, which did a large business in square timber and other lumber. This mill was destroyed by fire in June, 1872, and has not been rebuilt.
The first grist-mill in town was built by Je- thro Jackson, about the year 1802, and was located at Bowlville. A few years later anoth- er was built at Mechanicsville by Abram Jack. son-and still later, another was built by Capt. Joseph Green, in the east part of the town, near Healdvillc. None of them are now in existence.
There was formerly a carding-machine and cloth-dressing establishment at the north part of the town, and also at Mechanicsville-both of which have long since been abandoned.
EDUCATION.
The town is divided into 12 school districts, in which schools are kr , 1 6 to 8 months during the year. The on schools in Mt. Holly have always, at st, averaged with those of other towns in the State, and of late the people seem to feel a greater interest in the promotion of popular education. Several new and commodious school-houses have been built within the last few years, and others are in con- templation. More care is taken to secure good teachers, and the people generally seem to be impressed with the importance of having good and efficient common schools.
the enterprise of the people keeps the roads generally in good repair.
Nathaniel Pingrey drove the first wheel-car- riage that ever passed through "Ludlow Gap," and he lived long enough to ride over the same ground in a railroad car.
RELIGIOUS.
The first resident clergyman in town was the Rev. Silas L. Bingham, Congregationalist. The exact date of his settlement here is not known ; but it is known that he resided here some few years previous to 1805. During that year he removed to New Haven, Vt., where it is be- lieved he resided till his death.
At that date there was a small congregation- alist church in town, but it never had a settled minister after Mr. Bingham left. They, howev- er, kept up their organization, with occasional preaching by clergymen from neighboring towns, until about the year 1856, when its membership had become so reduced by death and removals, that it was disbanded. Its mem- bers were always few ; yet from time to time it included some of our best citizens. The names of Dea. Asa White, Dea. Dan Peck and Dea. Benjamin Parker will long be remember- ed as worthy men and exemplary Christians.
The Baptist church was organized Sept. 6, 1804. Up to that date those of that faith and order residing in Mt. Holly had belonged to the church in Wallingford, but had petitioned to be dismissed, that they might form a separate and distinct church.
The church in Wallingford voted their as- sent, and a council was called to meet on the aforesaid day, for the purposes contemplated in said petition. The council met on said day, and was organized by choosing Elder William Harrington of Clarendon, moderator, and Elder Sylvester Haynes of Middletown, clerk; and after due investigation and deliberation, decided to form the petitioners into a separate church, to be known and fellowshipped as The Baptist church in Mt. Holly; and the petitioners were thereupon dismissed from the church in Wal- lingford.
The Mt. Holly church on the same day organ- ized by choosing Bro. Edmund Bryant, moder- ator, and Bro. Simeon Dickerman, church clerk. It numbered at the start about 30 members, 12 of whom were males. On the same day they
The highways in town are generally kept in good repair. There is probably no mountain town in the State which can boast of better roads than Mt. Holly ; and perhaps no town of its size has a greater number of miles of high- way, or more expensive roads to keep in repair. " Agreed to have their church meetings the second Saturday of every month." ".it s The soil is stony, and the hills liable to be washed by the frequent mountain showers; yet | church meeting at Capt. Kinney's house, Oet.
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
10, 1804. church voted to pay thirty dollars to | the meeting by "prayer. 1st. Voted to give Levi Clark for Bro. Cyrus Andrus, as reward for gospel labors.
"Nov. 12, 1805, Ch'h met. 1st, voted to give Bro. Cyrus Andrus thirty dollars for gos- pel labors the season past. 2d, voted that if Brother C. Andrus can be obtained to preach with us half the time for six months more, we will give him twenty dollars."
The foregoing extracts contain all that ap- pears on the records concerning stated preach- ing, previous to 1811; though the names of Elders Harrington, Carpenter, Haynes, MeCol- lougli, Green and Kendall, from time to time, appear as being present and administering the ordinance of baptism and the Lord's Supper. These, it seems, were the ministers of neighbor- ing churches.
Rev. Cyrus Andrus seems to have been the only resident minister here at that early day ; but how long he remained, and what share of the time he preached for the church, the records do not show.
"Nov. 21, 1805. Church met and.proceed- ed-Ist. Chose Bro. Edmund Bryant Deacon of this church.
" 2d. Chose Brethren Goodyear Clark and Lyman Dickerman to view the affairs of the Ch'h, and advise with the Deacon respecting any matters to be attended to."
At that day the country was new, the roads bad, and the members scattered all over the town; yet it appears by the records, that the church meetings were regularly kept up, and generally well attended.
" At a Ch'h meeting Nov. 12, 1805-2d. Vot- ed to build an addition to Bro. Jacob White's dwelling, for the purpose of holding our meet- Is There. "
er Daniel Packer was the first minister
w' had a permanent connection with the
3 pastor. His name first appears on the 's at a church meeting held May 16, 1811 .11 " 2d, Voted to dismiss Bro. Edml Merator. 3d. Chose Bro.
Packer
At this time Mr. Pack-
er had A. Engager for the church
one year-and thu' - 1 :. w pastorate, which
continued withou'
uption. : 1 Jan 1, 1846, a period of 35 y
Up to this ti
ed a fair mea'
11) the church had enjoy- "prosperity. Additions had been made, till the original
from time t.
number ha and unic ,
· something more than doubled, harmony prevailed in a good
measure " JI
1812, the church met and opened
brother Packer a call to settle with us. 2nd. Voted that Mr. Packer be ordained as an Evan- gelist ;" and then proceeded to make arrange- ments for the ordination.
In accordance with the above action of the church the Rev. Daniel Packer was ordained on the 1st day of July, 1812, by an ecclesiast- ical council, of which the Rev. Aaron Leland of Chester was moderator, and Rev. Jonathan Going of Cavendish clerk. The church was at this time enjoying a season of revival, during which some thirty-five were added to its num- bers ; and from this time forth, for many years, a success almost unparalleled seemed to attend the labors of Elder Packer. Hardly a regular church-meeting passed without more or less be- ing added to the church.
During the administration of Elder Packer the church continued to increase, till, from its original 30 members, it became one of the larg- est, if not the largest church of any denomina- tion in Vermont. In 1842, as appears by the record, the church numbered 466 members ; and this, too, after 42 members had been dis- missed, in 1830, to form a new church at E. Wallingford, and about the same number to form churches in the adjoining towns of Plymouth and Shrewsbury, in 1833.
Several powerful revivals have occurred ; the most remarkable of which were in the years 1817, 1826 and 1832. During that of 1826 nearly 100 persons united with the Baptist church-many of them heads of families and prominent men in town.
Elder Packer closed his labors with the church ay pastor. Jan. 1, 1846, and the following June was succeeded by Rev. Joshua Clement, who remained about one year. During his admin- istration difficulties and divisions sprung up, which resulted in calling an ecclesiastical coun- cil, by whose advice he was dismissed in July, 1847. He, however, remained with the church, and preached most of the time, till near the close of the year.
Rev. Ariel Kendrick supplied the pulpit from January to July, 1848, when Rev. Richard M. Ely became pastor, and continued such till Ju- ly. 1852, when he was dismissed at his own re- quest, and removed to Cavendish, and became pastor of the church in that place.
Rev. Winthrop Morse preached for the church the balance of the year. Rev. Sanford Gustin was the next minister. He began his labors in March, 1853; continued to preach till the
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MT. HOLLY.
close of the year '54. The church was without a pastor for about 7 months, but was supplied in part by Rev. David Burroughs and Rev. Na- thaniel Cudworth.
In October, 1855, Rev. Charles Coon became pastor, and remained till January, '59, when he left and became pastor of the church in Lon- donderry, Vt. Rev. T. H. Archibald united with and became pastor of the church April 9, 1859, and remained till March, '66, when he left to take charge of the church in Bristol, Vt., where he still remains. (1871.)
Rev. Stephen Pilsbury became pastor of the church in May, 1866, and remained till August, '69, when he tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and he left for the purpose of pursuing a course of study at Newton Theo- logical Seminary. During the balance of the year the pulpit was supplied by Rev. G. W. Gates and Rev. A. Mclaughlin. Rev. Silas F. Deane began his labors as pastor of the church in May, 1870, and is the present pastor. (No- vember, 1871.)
For the last 25 years the number of members has been gradually diminishing. Its losses by death and removals, &c., have far exceeded its gain by additions. The present number is less than 200.
Edmund Bryant, Ichabod G. Clark, Martin Cole, Isaac Dickerman, Harvey White, John C. Eddy, Jacob Pingrey, (all deceased) Alva Hor- ton, Warren Horton, Harvey Livingston and David P. Gibson have officiated as deacons. Simeon Dickerman was the first clerk, and of- ficiated till 1828-Daniel Packer from 1828 to '46-Jacob Pingree from '46 to his death in '64 -Merritt H. Dickerman from '64 to '68-David P. Gibson from '68 to the present time. (Nov., 1871.)
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