USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 5
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METHODISTS.
No record can be found which gives the ex- act date when Methodism was first introduced here. It was probably between 1805 and IS10. The first male members were John Chandler, Clark Haven, " William Poland, Joseph Kinne and others. For many years they had circuit preaching, only on week days-generally on Thursday of each alternate week. Religions services were, however, generally holden on the Sabbath, with occasional preaching by Jer- emiah Clark, resident local preacher, and others. About 1824 the circuit preachers began to preach here on the Sabbath, and have continu- ed to do so ever since, on each alternate Sab- bath. The first circuit preacher of whom the
writer can obtain any account was Rev. John Whitehorn : and, from time to time since, the church has been favored with the labors of many able and talented preachers, among whom may be named such men as John B. Stratton, Buel Goodsell, Tobias Spicer, Cyrus Prindle, John M. Weaver, Joshua and David Poor, John Alley, C. B. Morris, Ira Bentley, J. F. Cham- berlain, Hubbard Eastman, and many others.
At present this town and Cuttingsville con- stitute a station with one preacher, who preach- es at the two places alternately. The society here has never been large in numbers, but it has always maintained a healthy organization, and been strong in the character of its membership. The present preacher in charge is the Rev. Jo- seph Enright.
QUAKERS.
Many years ago there was a small society of Friends, or Quakers, in town, having a small house of worship at Mechanicsville, where they held meetings semi-weekly for about 20 years. It embraced some eight or ten families, but the children generally repudiated their birth-right membership, and not receiving any additions from without, the society became extinct by the death and removal of its members, and in 1825 their meetinghouse was converted into a dwell- ing-house.
SECOND ADVENTISTS.
There was a small church of this order organ- ized here about the year 1851. They have a small meeting-house, or chapel, at Bowlsville, in which they hold religious worship. generally, once in two weeks. Their preacher has been, for most of the time, Rev. David Bosworth. The Rev. Messrs. Dow and Bundy have each preached for a short time. At present they have no stated preaching.
MEETING-HOUSES.
The first meeting-house was built in 1815, by the Baptist church. It was an old fashioned two-story house, without steeple-with square pews and spacious gallery-a tall pulpit, with a huge "sounding board" suspended over it. was well finished and painted, and altogether (for that day) a very respectable meeting house. It was occupied till 1851, when it was torn. down and replaced by a neat and tasteful house of modern style, furnished with a steeple and bell.
In 1820 a meeting-house was built at Mechan- iesville, in the south part of the town. It was . a union house, built by the Baptist4. Methodists, Congregationalists and Universalists-the. Bap- .
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tists owning about one half. It was a large DR. SYLVESTER GRINNEL settled in town in house, with tower and spire, but built in the 181€, and practiced here about 20 years, doing then prevailing style, with square pews, and a gallery on three sides. In its day it was con- sidered one of the finest churches in this vi- cinity.
After it was finished the Baptist meetings were held alternately at this and the north church, and continue to be so held to the pres- ent time. This meeting-house was torn down in 1850, and replaced with a more modern struc. ture, which is also furnished with a bell.
The Adventists, as stated, have a house at Bowlville, built in 1854.
The following clergymen have entered the ministry from this town, viz: Cyrus Andrus. William Grant, Jared Doolittle, Larkin B. Cole, Harvey Crowley, Joseph H. Crowley, Baptists : Jeremiah Clark, Homer Clark, Jerial Andrews. William Earl and William A. Bryant, Meth- odists; and Royal T. Sawyer, Universalist.
PHYSICIANS.
The first physician who settled in town was DR. OLIVER GURNSEY. He was born in Wind- ham county, and came to Mt. Holly in 1798. He was a man of good judgment, quick percep. tion, and, for a student of those days, well versed in the science of his profession. He seemed to possess, in an eminent degree, those peculiar qualities which qualify a man to be- come a successful physician. He at once en- tered into practice, and soon secured a good ride in this and the adjoining towns. He was unu- sually successful in the treatment of the epi- demic of 1813, known as the "spotted fever ;" and during its prevalence had patients in all the neighboring towns. He was the contempo- rary of such physicians as Dr. Ezekiel Porter of Rutland, Dr. Samuel Shaw of Castleton, Dr. Hamilton of Wallingford, and Drs. Asaph Fletcher and Isaiah Parker of Cavendish; and as a physician was considered second to none of them. As a surgeon he never attained to eminence, not having devoted any great atten- tion to that branch of his profession. He at one time bid fair to become one of the leading physicians in the county ; but unfortunately be became addicted to habits of intemperance, which destroyed his usefulness, and no doubt shortened his life. He removed from this town in 1833, and went to live with his son Dr. L. W. Gurnsey. in Shrewsbury ; and subsquently, to another son's (Dr. Oliver Gurnsey, Jr .. ) in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he died in 1838, aged about 62.
a fair business most of the time. He did not seem, however, to be very much attached to his profession, and always devoted a portion of his time and attention to farming and other pur- suits. He was an honest man and a useful citizen. He left town in 1836, and removed to the State of Ohio, where he devoted his atten- tion to farming for several years, and afterward removed to Wisconsin, where he died in 1859.
DR. ALVIN MCALLISTER located at Mechan- icsville in 1821. He was a brilliant scholar, and well versed in the literature of his profes- sion, but seemed to fail in the practical applica- tion of his knowledge, for want of sound, dis- criminating judgment. He was, also, essential- ly lackng in some of those moral traits of char- acter necessary to secure public confidence. He staid in town till 1824, when he removed to Queensbury, N. Y., from whence, in 1828, he removed to Utica, N. Y., and thence, a few years later, to parts unknown.
DR. LOWELL W. GURNSEY, son of Dr. Oliver Gurnsey, settled at Mechanicsville in 1825, and remained a little over two years, having a fair practice for a young physician. He removed to the adjoining town of Shrewsbury in 1827, and became a successful practitioner. He died in Shrewsbury in June, 1861, at the age of 61.
DR. JOHN CROWLEY first offered his profes- sional services to the people of Mt. Holly in the fall of 1828. At first his practice was very limited, there being then two other physicians in town, viz., Drs. O. Gurnsey and Grinnel,- and being a native of the town, his early ex- perience afforded a practical illustration of the proverb, " a prophet is not without honor," &c. For two or three years his professional income was hardly sufficient to meet his current ex- penses. The two first winters he taught the village school, and visited his patients, (when he had any) in the evening. In summer he oc- casionally worked a day for the farmers, in haying time, to obtain the means to meet his necessities, while waiting "for something to turn up." However, having in his nature a goodly degree of hold-on-ativeness, he remained at his post, and his practice gradually increased, and in time he secured a comfortably remuner- ative practice. Since the removal of Dr. Grin- tiel in 1836, he has been for most of the time, and is at present, (1871), the ouly physician in town.
DR. NELSON COBURN located at Mechanics- ville in 1833, aud remained some two years,
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when, not meeting with satisfactory success, he | '48, '62 and '63; Abijah Cole 1846, '47; John left the town and settled in Marlow, N. H., where he remained some ten years ; when he removed to Niagara county, N. Y., where he still resides. (1871.)
DR. MERRITT C. EDMUNDS settled at Mechan- icsville in December, 1858, and remained nearly four years. He was gradually gaining the con- fidence of the people, and, had he remained, he would doubtless have secured a fair share of practice. Thinking, however, that a more promising field presented itself in the neighbor- ing town of Weston, he removed there in Sep- tember, 1862, where he still resides, in success- ful practice.
The following are the names of those who, from time to time, have entered the medical profession from this town, viz. : Russell Clark, Miles Clark, Daniel White, Darius Shaw, Wm. Gile, Winthrop Chandler, Hosea Wheeler, Lowell W. Gurnsey, Larkin B. Cole, John Crowley, Seneca Wing, Oliver Gurnsey, Jr., Jesse A. Crowley, Jesse P. Bixby, John L. Eddy, Alonzo E. Horton, Armetus B. Bixby, George J. Crowley, Samuel J. Martin, Alden V. Marshall.
LAWYERS.
The only Lawyer who ever resided in town was Ira V. Randall. He was a native of the town, and stayed here about three years after his admission to the bar in 1850. He is now a practicing attorney of considerable note in De- kalb, Illinois.
TOWN OFFICERS.
Stephen Clark was town clerk in 1792, '93, '98, '99 and 1800 : Simeon Dickerman in 1794, '95 and '96; David Bent. 1797; John Crowley in 1801 to 1811; John Shaw in 1S05; Stephen Tucker in 1811 to '14 ; Daniel Packer from 1815 to '46; Abijah Cole from 1846 to '65; Hiram Dickerman from 1865 to '71; Aaron W. Cook in 1871.
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
Ackley 1849, '50; Daniel Packer 1851 ; Alva Pierce 1852, '53 ; John C. Eddy 1854 '55; Benj. Billings 1856, '58; Leander Derby 1857, '59; Thomas Dodge I860, '61 ; Alfred Crowley 1864, '65; Warren Horton 1866, '67; John P. Hos- kison 1868, 69; Aaron W. Cook 1870, '71; Philips E. Chase 1872, '73.
DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
Abram Jackson 1793; Jedediah Hammond 1814; Abel Bishop 1822 : Nathan T. Sprague 1828; David French 1836; Dr. John Crowley 1843; John Bryant 1850: Philip E. Chase 1870.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Although always casting a large majority of votes for the dominant party, Mt. Holly has never been much favored with county offices. Dr. Jolin Crowley was elected State senator for the years 1849, '50 and '51, and assistant judge of the county court, in 1867 and '68, and is the only man ever elected to any county office from this town.
Jedediah Hammond, Chester Spencer and Marritt H. Dickerman have each held the office of deputy sheriff.
PROMINENT MEN.
It is proper that some special allusion be made to those men who were instrumental in procur- ing the organization of the town, and were prominent in its business affairs during its early history. The Clarks were, perhaps, the most prominent in this respect; but their history is to be made the subject of another article, by another pen.
ABRAHAM JACKSON took a leading part in the organization of the town, and in its busi- ness affairs for the first few years. He was mod. erator of the first town-meeting, and chairman of the first board of selectmen. He was also the first representative, and was twice re-elected to that position-and was several years a justice of the peace. He removed to western New York in 1810. The date of his death is un- known.
Abram Jackson 1793, '94 and '98; Stephen Clark 1795, '96, '97, '99. 1801 and '07 ; John Shaw 1800 and '02; Jedediah Hammond 1803, JEDEDIAH HAMMOND was for many years a leading man in town. He was for several years constable and collector, and hold various other town offices. He was representative 6 years, and a delegate to the constitutional con- vention of 1814. He was also a justice of the peace some 16 years. He was a noted "petti- fogger;" and in his best days there were few '04, '05, '06, '14 and '15; Jolin Crowley, Sen., 1808 to '14; Nathan T. Sprague 1816, '17, '22 to '25, and '30 ; Abel Bishop 1818 to '22; Isaac Dickerman 1826 to '30; Marvel Johnson 1831, '32, '33; David French 1834 and '35; Rufus Crowley 1836 and '37 ; Chauncey Cook 1838 and '39; John Bryant 1840 and '41 ; Russel Bar- ber 1842; Dr. John Crowley 1843, '44, '45, [ lawyers in the county who had a larger practice
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before justice courts; in fact there was for years scarcely a justice trial in this or the ad- joining towns, in which he was not engaged as counsel, on one side or the other. He was also for a time a deputy sheriff. He was holding the latter office in 1813, while James Anthony was confined in the jail at Rutiand, under sen- tence of death for the murder of Joseph Green, and was left by Sheriff Barker in charge of the prisoner the night previous to the day set for the execution. During the night Anthony committed suicide, tearing out the lining of his coat sleeves, his pillow-case, &c., to make a rope to hang himself with, and Hammond was accus- ed of being in some way accessory to the deed- either by gross negligence, or by actual com- plicity with the culprit. The charge, however, was never substantiated. He died Nov. 20, 1849, aged 83 years.
JOHN CROWLEY, second son of Abraham Crowley, was at an early day called to official positions in town. He was elected town clerk in 1801, and held the office 9 years-and at different times held every office in the gift of the town, except constable. He was represent- ative 6 years, and a justice of the peace 25 years, being first elected to that office in 1802, and holding it by consecutive appointments as long as he lived in town. He removed to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1827, and died there Sept. 12, 1840, aged 74 years. He was the father of Dr. John Crowley.
STEPHEN TUCKER was a prominent citizen. THE CLARK FAMILY OF MOUNT HOLLY.
There were four Clark brothers who locat- ed in town about the same time, the exact date, I am unable to ascertain ; probably about 1788. They came from Connecticut.
Stephen was the only one who figured in town offices. He was mainly instrumental in getting the town organized and it is said gave it its name.
He was the first town clerk (1792) and re- elected several terms. For the number of years he held the office see my paper on Mt. Holly.
He was the second representative and re- elected several times as may be also seen by consulting my papers, and also a justice of the peace several years.
STEPHEN CLARK settled on a farm at what is now known as the North Parish, near the Baptist Church, owning all the land in the immediate vicinity of what is now called North Mt. Holly. His farm has been divided into three farms owned severally by S. H. Ackley, L. A. Colburn and M. Dickerman. The site of the original building, with about 13 acres of land is, owned by David Horton.
was prominent only as a deacon and main pillar of the Baptist Church. I think, I gave a brief notice of him in my paper. The other brothers, Peter and Chauncy were not in any way distinguished. None of the descendants of Stephen Clark now reside in town.
. (DR.) JOHN CROWLEY.
FROM PAPERS OF MRS. LYDIA CLARK MEECH.
Stephen Clark and brothers were among the first settlers in the present town of Mt. Holly. Stephen who was a man of influence among the pioneers of this place and active - in helping secure the charter of the town- ship, had the honor of conferringupon the town its name, which he did, calling it after Mt. Holly in Connecticut, the place from which he came when he emigrated to Ver- mont. He was a son of Job. Clark of Wal- lingford Vt. and married Rachel Jackson of the same town, daughter of Abraham Jack- son and sister of William Jackson, the old Dorset, pastor (see history of Jackson family in Dorset vol. I. p. 192). Stephen Clark was a man of good parts and his wife from a fam- ily of rare merits and talents, was a very ca- pable woman says Mrs. Meech, "who had abil- ity enough to give her children."-They had sons, Lyman, Miles, Russel, Asahel, Stephen, Orville, Homer ; daughters, Fanny, Orpha and Lorry .- Two or three of the eldest were born in Connecticut, the others in Mt. Holly Vt .- Stephen Clark prospered at first for a number of years, but at length becoming in- volved with or by a Dr. Rugg, became some- what discouraged with his reversed circum- stances in Mt. Holly, and still hoping to bet- ter his condition by a remove to the young and growing State of Ohio, emigrated thence in the fall of 1815, " travelling in what was then called a Holland purchase wagon, after leaving Rochester, N. Y. southwest through this State into Pennsylvania where they stopped for the winter and in the Spring removed to a place in Ohio, afterward called New Portage. The family at this time" "con- sisted says the Rev. Homer, in a letter of 1870, of Stephen Clark and wife, Orville, Homer and two orphan children of a brother of Mr. Clark-a boy, Norman, and a girl. both younger than his children. Miles and Lyman had previously settled in Ohio and awaited the coming of their father and fami- ly. Asahel was married and settled at Glens Falls, N. Y., and Orpha married and settled
ICHABOD G. CLARK, brother of Stephen, [ in Shrewsbury Vt. Fanny-Asahel writes
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to Lydia Finney, July 10, 1805, of the re- cent death of a sister, probably her. Mrs. Meech says Fanny was married and died with the spotted fever or an epidemic, one week from the day of her marriage. Mrs. Meech, also, says her husband's youngest sis- ter Laura (or Lorry as spelled in all the old letters) came to live with Asahel and her after they went to housekeeping in 1808 or 1809, and was with them when her parents removed to Ohio.
They commenced life in tt's new country (says Rev. Homer) by clearing the land, building log houses at first, which afterwards gave place to large frame buildings, into the labor of all which, Orville entered and was constantly employed with the same energy of character that conspicuously adhered to him through life."
NEW PORTAGE, Jan. 23d 1818. * * *
Father's situation and prospects are such as to be very gratifying to those who have known him in better days and in more recent trying circumstances I have no doubts three or four years will place him again in easy circumstances. Miles is doing better than I ever knew him. The Society in this part of the State is made up of the best part of the Yankee emigration-far bet- ter than the Holland Purchase. But the Yankee population does not so much predom- inate in other parts of the State."-
LYMAN CLARK.
From an old " circular letter " of Miles, 93 pages foolscap, to his brothers, Russel, Orville and Lyman.
April 20th, 1818.
Warren, Tenth Town in the first Range, Batavia, P. O.
·
" I have purchased a farm on which there have been some little improvements and I shall raise, if the last part of the season be good, probably two or three hundred bushels of grain. I have chopped about five or six acres of lumber and heaped the brush, which I intend to sow to wheat before I return in October. I bought Johnson Clark's farm. He occupies half the farm this year-from which we shall raise 500 or 600 bushels of grain this year. My calculation is to erect a potash this Summer as here is an excellent place to collect ashes, as there are no buyers and a fine chance to procure plenty at six cents a bushel; and there are no stores with- in 12 miles. If I can any way get a few goods this Winter, what tuen; I have some hopes of negotiating some such alliance."
NEW PORTAGE, Sept. 20th, 1818. Dear Brother I have been at this place a week I have exam- daughter, Orpha.
ined the head waters of the Tuscarora river and those of the Cayuhaga Lake to see as to the probability of connecting the two waters together . $25,000 will be an ample sum to make good navigation from the Tus- carora to Lake Erie I have bought of Miles. one of the finest farms in this country I give him $12, per acre-It is a beautiful farm. Lyman has gone to St. Mary's to attend the Indian treaty, and 1 have not seen hun, but I am told the law business is good-I was told by respectable men at Talmage to-day, that if you had been in this country two years ago, you might now have been a member of the Senate. Miles is a pretty big man here-has made money. He sold my mill-seat for $200, cash in hand ; has disappointed us very much; the privilege was worth $1000, the least cal- culation, but I have got another and a work- man brought with me from Buffalo now waiting to begin the work. We shall have a saw-mill going this Fall. Father is well pleased with the country and gaining a little property. He lives in a miserable log-house but he is in hopes of a better."
RUSSEL CLARK.
" TO ASAHEL CLARK."
LETTER OF STEPHEN CLARK.
(The only letter known to be extant of the first settlers in Mt. Holly.)
PORTAGE OHIO, Jan'y 7th, 1820. Dear Son :
We have been wanting with great anxiety for a long time to here from Glen's Fails we have not heard one word from any one since I believe in July, at that time Russell wrote that he should be in New York the 10th of Sept. to receive his monny from goverment then he should be directly in Onio, we have not had one word since we fear that some misfortune has taken place. We have had two letters since that from Orpha. She tells us she knows nothing of you, had some Expecta- tion in the fore part of the season of seeing you and Levy * in this country, but that we must forever give up. I have nothing to write that is of much consequence at this time we enjoy a comfortable measure of health except Lyman; he is quite unwell; is threatened with a fever but I hope it will not prove dangerous. It is very healthy in genneral the Doct. has been gone two or three weeks to Columbus the seat of this goverment to try for a County seat at this place and we know not the result as yet but we think there is a good prospect-our season has been good crops came in well. We raised upwards of 500 bushell of corn and a comfortable supply of wheat the winter is mild and the snow has not been shoe deep.
There is much complaint of hard times and it is truly so. There is no monny stiring of consequence there is none to be got-our
* Col. Levi Finney, who married Stephen Clark's
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clothing comnes very dear by reason of few | of large talent, manly beauty and elegant merchants and they ask what the please and manners, highly educated-his brother, Gen. Orville, said of him. "He was the most learned, man I ever knew." Miles in one of his family letters writes of brother Lyman's narcotic good-nature, Fatally his very social felicity - his profession led him to associ- ate but too freely with those who loved the circling glass. For several years he struggled and yielded-grew morbid with himself. A letter to Asahel commences, "I do not know as you well care to hear any more from so worthless a brother " ends-" I remember Sister Lydia and my other Sisters with mel- ancholy pleasure- hard paying as there is no monny. Leather is also very dear and hard to be got. I was in hope that Russell would come on here and bring some cloth. Woolling or factory cloth will fetch almost any price-We are as well suted with the country as ever and have done as well as can be expected and bet- ter considering our curcumstance when we got here it is true we are some put to it for Cloathing as we have no sheep and they are hard to be got but we hope for the best-or- vill and Lorry are teaching school for the winter homer and Norman goes to school so that your maum has no help at all-I want you to write I feel very anxious to know what your prospects are and how you are Like to git along we think hard that you have forgive-L. CLARK." not written us since we Left the state of New york but we make greate alowance consider- Miles again writes. " Brother Lyman was found dead yestarday morning at a house oc- cupied by Dr. Roberts and myself, we being absent from home at the time, a considerable distance. He undoubtedly died in one of those fits to which he has been subject after extreme intemperance. Better heart, a sounder head was hardly to be found in any family, nor a more unfortunate man has come within my observation." ing your trouble and disapointments * but I hope you will take time and write I want to here once more from Doct. Kugg I wrote him last summer and I wrote very plane and De- sired him to write me agane but I have Re- ceived no answer had he had the feelings of a man he could not have used me as he did last winter could he look into our little hut and see our circumstance when he is sittin in his Room and seeing his furnture, then vew us and consider how much he has been the means of much of our distress how A fall that has occurred to many of our most promising men-in our best old families at some time-often covered in history-but has been. much I have paid for him which has been the means of his living in stile and out of trouble and what little amends he has made me how he told me last winter after I had traviled 6 or 7 hundred miles and wated many days in hope of a little help to tell me I might as well talk to a stone as to him I must confess I thought it more inhuman than a savage I think him to have lost all kind of human feeling and all obligation I must leave for the more I reflect the inore inhuman it apears I am willing he should see these lines.
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