USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 55
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The town was organized in 1794. Albro Anthony was the first town clerk, and John Anthony the first representative. A Congre- gational church was formed here March 26, 1823, but there was no meetinghouse nor settled minister at that time. Quechee river origin. ates near the N. W. corner of the town; and after running a southeasterly course 7 miles enters Bridgewater. There are several tributa- ries to this river which are sufficiently large for mills. There are 3 natural ponds here, cover- ing about 10 acres each. From one of these issues a stream called Thundering Brook, in which is a considerable fall.
This township is very mountainous and bro- ken, except a narrow strip along Quechee river, where there is some very good interval. The celebrated summit of the Green Mountains. called Killington Peak, is situated in the south part, and is 3,924 feet above tide water.
There are in town 8 schools, 1 store, 2 tav- erns, and 4 sawmills.
STATISTICS OF 1840.
Horses 82, cattle 625, sheep 1450, swine 217, wheat, bushels, 686, barley 153, oats 1787, rye 216. buckwheat 602, indian corn 762, potatoes 12,245, hay 1,295 tons, sugar 6,970 lbs., wool 4,257 Jbs .. Population 498.
The foregoing is copied from the history of Vermont by Zadoc Thompson, and was proba- bly written by Albro Anthony.
The name of Killington was changed to Sherburne, November 4, 1800.
Among the early settlers of Killington, who were the active leading men in town in its early history, were the Anthonys, the Woods, the Fullers, and the Eastabrooks.
JOIN ANTHONY,
Father of John Jr., Albro, Joseph, Samuel, and
several daughters, removed from Newport. R. I. The family were well educated, possessed a good library, of which they were diligent readers, and probably moved in the first society in their native town. The children of Albro and Samuel removed to Illinois. William C. Anthony, son of Albro A., studied medicine and is practising in his profession in Princeton, Ill.
JOSIAH WOOD, SENIOR,
Was in the French war, and also in the war of the Revolution. His son, Josiah, Jr., was born in Middleboro, Mass., in Jan., 1773. When be was 11 years old the family removed to Har :- land, Vt., on to a farm given to his mother by Jonathan Woods. her father. The title did not prove good, and they were obliged to leave the farm, and removed to Killington, to the farm which is marked by their present resting-į luce, a small cemetery in the south part of the town, enclosed by a stone wall, marble posts and iron gate, with a monument of marble. erected to mark the last resting-place of this Wood Amily. Charles Clement, Esq., of Centre Rutland, fenc- ed the ground and erected the monument, to show his respect for the Wood family, of which his wife is the only remaining member resid- ing in Vermont.
Josiah Wood Jr married Judith Woodbury, born in Sutton, Mass., the night of the battle of Lexington. He built, and lived on what is known as the Wood farm, till his death. They lived together more than 61 years, had 10 chil- dren, some of whom are now living, and all of whom have their homes in the West, except Mrs. Elizabeth W. Clement.
The untiring industry and strict economy of Mr. Wood would have secured for him an abun- dance for his declining years, but for his Leavy losses in building roads. He was largely in- terested in building the turnpike road through Sherburne, from Bridgewater to Rutland, and to him, more than to any other man, was the suc- cess of that road due.
When, in the war of 1812, the call came for volunteers to resist the enemy at Plattsburg. he responded with alacrity. He was on his horse and rode away for the scene of conflict, in Half an hour after the call. He was absent :wo weeks.
PARK WOOD,
Son of Josiah, was a graduate of Union Col- lege ; studied law and engaged in practice in Pekin, Ill. Jan., 1832, he commenced a journey to Chicago. When about 40 miles west of c' .- cago he was seen by an Indian crossing Fox River on the ice ; his horse broke through, and
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
they both struggled some time in the water, but succeeded in reaching the shore, when the man crept to a tree and leaned against it. After some days the Indian gave this account to the Indian agent, who sent a person to the place ; they found a man had died there, and learned his name from his papers. The family can never know how far this account was true. The manner of his death was intensely painful and a life-long sorrow to the family. He was a man of fine talent, and promised to be a useful mem- ber of society, and a blessing to the world.
GAIUS P. WOOD, Josiah's youngest brother. was born in Killington, March, 1799; studied medicine with the celebrated Dr. Bowen ; prac- tised in Bridgewater several years; removed to Washington, Ill., in 1835, where he still con- tinves the practice of medicine.
RUSSELL T. GOODWIN
Resided in Sherburne from an early age; stud- ied medicine, practised a few years in Vermont, removed to Illinois in 1831, where he continues the practice of his profession. He married a daughter of Josiah Wood, aud resided in the town of Dundee.
ASA BRIGGS lived in Sherburne Hollow when the town was thinly settled.
Bears were very plenty at that time. While traveling one day, upon the west mountain, in the fall of the year, he caught a cub or young bear in his hands. He was closely pursued by the mother, and defended himself with his cane. He would drive bruin up a tree, and then run with the cub, until he would again have to defend trim self from the attack of his pursner. Being a tall, powerful man, he succeeded in bringing home the cub. He was domesticated sufficiently to be admitted to the kitchon; when he sought winter quarters, and crawled into a large trough, hewed out of a log, that stood part'uwin a temporary shed. The storms of win- ter came, his bed was covered with snow and ice, and he was completely frozen in. During the winter Mr. Briggs had visitors that wished to see the occupant of the trough in the wood- shed. He succeeded in removing him from his icy bed, carried him into the house and warm- ed him by the fire. His bearship walked about the house, but was very cross at being dis- turbed, in the midst of his winter's slumber, and returned to his resting place to await the re- turn of spring. The writer never saw Mr. Briggs, but has been assured by the inhabitants | ing the town comparatively free from debt. that were resident citizens of the town, at the time, that the foregoing story is true.
SLACK & DERBY
Are merchants; their store is near the centre of the town, occupying the same building for- merly owned by the American Protective Un- ion, Division 719, which was successfully man- aged by Otis Walker, Agent, for nearly 11 years. Few union stores succeeded better than this Division. Its success was mainly due to the honesty and uprightness of its agent, and the uniform management of the officers ; the same board of directors holding office from first to last, with the exception of one change being made when Anson Wheeler, one of the direct- ors, sold his farm and removed from town, Silas Colton being elected to fill the vacancy. The directors were John Johnson, L. H. Hodgman, Richard Eastabrooks, Silas Colton and D. W. Taylor. President John Johnson, recording financial secretary L. H. Hodgman, vice presi- dent Warner Bates, treasurer Daniel W. Tay- lor. There were 24 members that received $140 each for $3 paid in to become members. There were no dividends made nor assessments levied, until the property was sold and business closed.
There was an Indian, named John, that had a camp in Killington, who was very friendly to the whites. When short for lead he would borrow of the pale faces, and return to them lead that had the appearance of being out with his hatchet from a mine. The men used to say to him, they would follew him and find where he got his lead. He promised, if they did, to punish them with a bullet from his rifle. They finally got a promise from John that he would tell them where to find the lead before he went to the happy hunting ground ; and in his last hours he tried to fulfil his promise, but he was so far gone that he could not make himself un- derstood. There has been much time spent in trying to find the load mine, without success.
The town of Sherburne furnished her full qno- ta of soldiers to aid in putting down the rebels. The men were furnished promptly. When the war closed the town had a credit of two men above all calls. The men were principally res- ident, native born citizens, went to the front for a purpose: not for the sake of pay and to desert the first opportunity.
Sherburne paid more than $13,500 in boun- ties to her soldiers, raising the larger part of the money by tax, at the time it was used, leav- The town furnished 70 soldiers, 17 of them did not live to see the war closed.
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SHERBURNE.
SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE TOWN OF SHERBURNE.
Names.
Age. Date of enlistm't. Co. Rg't.
Remarks.
Wood, Milton G.
1 Mustered out Ang. 15, 1861.
Newton, Oscar S.
20 Mav 20, 1861 B 20 Aug. 15, 1864 I
2 Mustered out May 25, '65.
Hadley, Daniel P.
23 June 1, 1861 F
3 Re-enlisted Dec. 21, '63.
Maxham, Azro
18
F
3 Mustered out July 27, '64.
Wilson, Richard W. Demary, Darius G. Friuk, Orville T.
21
"
F
3 Killed at Lee's Mills, April 16, '62.
Wyman, Arzell
Breck, George R.
22 Sept. 25, =
"
Wilson, Charles H.
19 Sept. 24,
Wilson, Hiram H.
19 Sept. 30, "
Frink, Joel S.
21 Aug. 21, 1864 H 21 Dec. 23, 1861 D "
7 Died July 22, '62.
Newton, Edgar L. corp'l 20 Dec. 7,
"
H
7 Died Nov. 21, '62.
Spaulding, Albert L.
35 Feb. 13, 1862 H
7 M'n. Died August 22, '62.
Stevens, Amasa
30 Nov. 16, 1861 B
7 Died August 23, '62.
Willard, Henry Willard, Oliver
45 Jan. 14, =
"
H
7 Re-enlisted Feb. 15, '64.
Hutchins, Geo. G. lieut 29 Jan. 10, E
Clark, Warren S.
18 Nov. 25, 1861 G
27 June 17, 1862 B
"
Shedd, Charles D.
42 Aug. 25, 1864 B
9 Murtered out June 13, '65.
Mead, Cyrus H.
21 Aug. 4, 1862 C 10 Deserted Dec. 15, '62.
Barnes, Jolin R. serg't 41 July 30,
27 July 24, "
Holt. Henry H. wag'r 21 July 21,
"
Adams, Leonard B. 23 Dec. 9, 1863 " Sick in gen'l hosp'l Aug. 31, '64; tranf'd to com.
Hastings, Albert S. 18 Dec. 3,
"
" Died Jan. 15, '65 ; buried in Sherburne.
Ordway, Myron L.
32 Dec. 6,
"
" Sick g h Aug. 31, '46; transf'd Co. June 24, '65.
VOLUNTEERS FOR NINE MONTHS.
Bates, Oren W.
28 Sept. 10 1862 H 14 Mustered out July 30, '63. " " "
Bates. Walker, corp'l 18
"
=
[in Sherburne. Died February 9, '63, at Washington-buried
Doubleday, William O. 41
"
"
" Died of wounds received at the battle of Get-
Hadley, John F.
27
=
=
"
"
"
"
Stone, Herace P.
44
=
2
"
Taylor, Josiah C.
26
"
"
"
2
"
Turner, John P. White Enoch E. Conway, Daniel capt Brown, John
30
"
">
"
Died in service ; date not given; buried in
[Sherburne.
Withington, John H. 33 June 13, "
Whitehill, Moses corp 25 Feb. 9, " G 17 Killed at Petersburgh, Va., April 2, '65.
York, George W. 32 Dec. 5, 1861 H 2 ss Mustered out Dec. 31, '64. " ss Died Jan. 18, '62.
Town, William 23 Nov. 12,
19 Aug. 15, '64 E 2 ss Mustered out.
West, Lorenzo O. 21 Jan. 2, '62
I bat Mustered Feb. 18, '62 ; discharged Nov. 18,'62,
Baird, Edward J. 26 Dec. 4, '63 3 bat Must'd out June 15, '65. [by tra'sf. U. S. Art'y. =
Goodrich, Al-on S. 31 Dec. 4, '63 3 bat
Casavan, Frank L.
18 Dec. 23, '63 3 bat
$6
Casavan, John M. 18
"
VOLUNTEERS RE-ENLISTED.
Hadley, Dan'l P. fifer 25 Dec. 21, '63 F 3 Transferred to Co. B. July 25, '64; must'd out
Wilson, Charles H. 21 Dec. 15, '63 C 6 Wou'd ; absent since Aug, 21, '64. [July 11. 65.
Wilson, Lucius W. 20 Feb. 15, '64 HI 7 Promoted to corporal May 21, '65. [ISUS. Hutchins, George G. 32 Jan. 5, '64 E 8 Prom. Ist Lt. Feb. 23, '65; must'd out June 28, VETERAN RESERVED CORPS.
Warren S. Clark, U. S. Navy; George Downe, Daniel Ferguson, George Forbes, Matthew C. Forbes, Michael Logan, Patrick Moran, furnished under dratt, paid commutation; Nathan C. Adams, Richard D. Estabrooks, Edwin R. Gates, Milo J. Moore.
[tysburgh.
Manly, Lauriston E. 23
Sawyer, Simon F. 44
"
"
"
July 18 July 1.
"
=
"
Cummings George S.
21
=
"
"
8 Prom. serg't-do. to 2d lieu't February 20, '64. 8 Disch'd June 16, '62; enlis'd vet. res'v'd corps. 9 Transf'd to veteran reserved corps July 1, '64. 9 Died September 5, '62.
Spafford, John W.
23 June 29, D
D
7 Died June 11, '63.
Wilson, Lucius W. 18 June 21,
18 Sept. 25, "
C 6 Pro'd serg't June 1, '64; mus'd out Oct. 15, '64. = Re-enlisted Feb. 9, '64; must d out June 26. '65. Promoted corporal; re-enlisted Dec. 15, '63. Died in hospital Oct. 14, 62.
Evans, Alonzo Madden, Alonzo, wag'r 27 Dec. 10,
22 Aug. 29, 1861 D "
4 Died March 27, '62.
20 Sept. 23, G
5 Deserted February 14, '62.
[Oct. 1, '64.
28 Aug. 31, G 5 Sick in Gen. Hospital June 26, '64; discharged
Parker, George A.
6 Mustered out June 19, '65.
H
7 Discharged Aug. 21, '63.
18 Jan. 9, 1862 D
7 Discharged Feb. 25, '63.
"
Taylor, John
Barr, Davidson M.
"
Disc'ged July 18, '63. [must'd out May 13, '65. Pro'd serg't June 23, '64 ; pr'n'r An'v'l 11 mo's; " = Died in gen'l hosp'l June 20, '64. [June 24.'65.
Colton, Henry F. serg't 19
=
" Mustered out July 30, '63. " "
.
6, 1864 I 17 Mustered out July 14, '65. " "
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Were I to attempt to make a distinction, and | privileges, of which there are many that are award to any of our noble soldiers the meed not occupied. Cold River runs through the north part of the town. There are several mills on this stream-sawmills and a gristmill. of praise, I should not know where to begin, but would, in behalf of the town, extend to them our sincere thanks.
DANIEL W. TAYLOR was first selectman in Sherburne during the years 1863-'64-'65; the quotas of the town were filled by him, almost exclusively. To fill one quota of 7 men lie pledged and paid $780, to 7 soldiers, above what the town had authorized. A town meet- ing was afterwards called, to raise the money that had been expended, to furnish the requi- site number of men, to save the town from draft; every voter present, except one, voted to raise the money. The annexed letter from the Provost Marshal shows how the work was done. Provost Marshal's Office, 1st District, Vermont : Rutland, April 19th, 1864. DANIEL W. TAYLOR, EsQ., Sherburne, Vt.,
Sir: Your communication respecting quota of Sherburne is received. The credits, as they appear in our announcement of quotas, under date of April 14th, include all reported up to the 12th inst. Those mustered on or since that date have not yet been reported, but will be passed to your credit as soon as proper returns are received. Allow me to congratulate you upon your escape from the draft, under this last call. Sherburne has done her work well, and completely.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your ob't. serv't. C. R. CRANE, Capt. Provost Marshal.
SHREWSBURY.
BY CHARLES W. HEMENWAY, OF LUDLOW.
Shrewsbury lies in the south-east part of Rutland county ; lat. 43º 31'-long. 4º 11'; bounded N. by Mendon, E. by Plymouth, S. by Mount Holly and Wallingford, W. by Claren- don-9 miles S. E. from Rutland; W. from Windsor 30 miles. The Rutland and Burling- ton railroad runs through the S. W. corner of the town ; railroad station at Cuttingsville.
The town was chartered Sept. 4, 1761, by Benning Wentworth, governor of New Hamp- shire, under George III. This township lies mostly on the Green Mountain range: the eastern part is very much elevated. In the northern part is Shrewsbury Peak, one of the highest of the Green Mountains-some 4000 feet above tide water. The soil is very fertile, well adapted to grass, wheat, oats and potatoes.
It is quite a noted dairy town. Shrewsbury butter brings as high a price as that of any town in the State.
1
Mill Rivor runs through the S. W. part of the town, and is large enough for good water
Roaring Brook, one of the head tributaries of Black River, heads on the mountain, above John Russell's, and flows easterly through the northeast part of the town, thence down through a deep gorge in the mountain, and empties into Black River, near Moses Hall's in Plymouth.
Sargent Brook heads on the farm of H. C. Johnson, flows southerly down to Northam, (a part of Shrewsbury so called) thence westerly, and empties into cold River, near Hewett's sawmill.
Gould Brook heads on Shrewsbury Peak, flows westerly, and empties into Cold River near Har- vey Sanders. There is a mineral spring called Sulphur Spring, near the mouth of Gould Brook, the waters of which have been used for medic- inal purposes.
There are two considerable ponds in the south part of the town-Ashley's and Peal's.
The pond near the Willard Johnson farm was bought some few years ago by a Rutland com. pany, for the purpose of digging peat for fuel. They have never done much at it.
The timber is mostly beech, birch, maple, hemlock and spruce, in the swamp, with some balsam and black ash. This town is quite noted for making maple sugar ; but there is but lit- tle fruit grown.
The old Crown Point road ran through the south part of the town. Near where John Gibson now lives was an Indian and British encampment. Some relics have been found there-an English epaulet, an Indian hatchiet, &c. The road ran over the hill by Lyman Beverstock's, and out by Willard Smith's.
CAPT. LEMUEL WHITE
Was the first man that moved into town. He came from Rockingham, Vt .; cleared the first land, built the first house where Willard Smith now lives. He was captain of the first militia, kept the first tavern, was the first representa- tive, and could neithier read nor write. Ile was also rather a peculiar man. Farming tools were not so plenty in those days, but that peo- ple had to borrow from one-an other. A Mr. Aldrich sent to borrow Capt. White's harrow. Capt. White told the man that if Mr. Aldrich would bring his land there, he might use his harrow. At one time the British were foraging through the town; they stopped at Capt. Lem- uel White's and turned their horses into his wi.cat field.
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SHREWSBURY.
NEHEMIAH SMITH
Came from Smithfield in 1780. There is an apple tree standing near the house where Napo- leon Smith now lives, and in good bearing con- dition, that was standing when he came to town in 1780. Capt. Sanderson, Samuel Den- nis and James Robinson were among the first settlers. James Robinson kept the first store where Alvin Aldrich now lives.
The first town meeting was held March 20, 1781. Lemuel White, moderator ; Aaron Esty, town clerk; Lemuel White, Ist selectman, Samnel Benton, 2d, Nehemiah Smith, 3d ; Ben- edict Webber, treasurer ; Zebediah Green, con- stable; Samuel Benton, Ist lister, Joseph Ran- dall, 2d, William Smith, 3d ; Samuel Benton, grand jury.
In 1788 there was a vote taken to build a pound 24 feet square inside, 8 feet high, to be built of spruce logs, with a good gate with lock on it. "Voted, to let the man build it that would do it the cheapest. Esq. Barney built it for $ 6,50."
Capt. - Sanderson came from Lunenburgh, Mass., in 1785 ; Samuel Dennis came from Hardwick, Mass., about the same time. The town was nearly all a wilderness at this period. There were no roads. The settlers had to go by marked trees for roads. Some of the early settlers had to go to Rockingham, Vt., on foot, nearly 40 miles, and bring salt home on their baeks for their families.
JOHN KILBURN.
An early settler, came to Shrewsbury from Walpole, N. H. He was first town clerk, and father of John Kilburn, Jr, who held the office 40 years. The following story, which was often told around the old Kilburn fireside in this settlement, we clip from an old newspa- per :
"John Kilburn was one of the early settlers of Walpole. N. H. When Col Benjamin Bel- lows, (great grandfather of the Rev. Dr. H. W. Bellows of New York, ) came to the town, he found Kilburn in a garrisoned house about two miles north of the town. In the summer of 1755, (the year of the breaking out of the old French war) two men were shot by Indians. Shortly before this an Indian named Philip had visited Kilburn's house in a friendly way, pre- tending to be in want of provisions. He was supplied with flints and flonr, and dismissed. It was ascertained that this same Indian had visited all the settlements on the river, doubt- less to procure information of the state of their
defences. Word came from Governor Shirley, that 500 Indians were collecting in Canada, whose aim was the butchery of the whole of the white population on the upper part of the Connecticut River.
Col. Bellows had at that time about 30 men at a strong fort which he had built on a hill overlooking the Connecticut, about half a niile south of Kilburn's, but too distant to afford him any aid. About noon on the 17th of Aug- ust, 1775, Kilburn, and his son named Jolin, in his 18th year, and also a man named Peak, and his son, were returning home to dinner from the field, when one of them discovered the red legs of Indians among the alders " as thick as grasshoppers." The white men in- stantly made for the house, fastened the doors, and prepared for an obstinate defense. Kil- buru's wife, Ruth, and his daughter Hetty, were already in the house. In about fifteen minutes the savages were seen crawling up the bank east of the house, and as they crossed a foot-path, one by one, 197 were counted ;- about the same number, it afterwards proved, remained in ambush, but soon joined the at- tacking party.
The savages appeared to have learned that Col. Bellows and his men were at work at his gristmill, about a mile east, and they intended to waylay and murder them before attacking Kilburn's house. The Colonel and his men were now returning home unsuspicious of dan- ger, when the dogs began to growl aud betray the neighborhood of an enemy. The Colonel, knowing the language of the dogs and the wiles of the Indians, instantly adopted his policy. He directed his men, thowing off the meal. to crawl carefully to the rise of land, and on reach- ing the top of the bank, to spring together to their feet, give one whoop, and instantly drop into the sweet-fern. The movement had the desired effect to draw the Indians from their ambush. At the sound of the whoop. fancying themselves discovered, the whole body of the savages rose from the bushes in a semicircle round the path Col. Bellows was to have fol- lowed. His men fired upon the Indians, who were so disconcerted that they darted into the bushes and disappeared. The Colonel, sensible of his unequal force, hurried his men off by the shortest cut to the fort, and prepared for its de- fence.
The Indians finding their plan defeated, then determined to take vengeance upon a weaker party, and soon appeared on the eminence east of Kilburn's house. Here the same treacher-
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ons Phillip, who had visited him and partaken of his hospitality so short a time before, came forward under the shelter of a tree, and sum- moned the little garrison to surrender. "Old John, young John," cried he, "I know ye; come out here. We give you good quarters." "Quarters!" vociferated old Kilburn, in a voice of thunder, "you black rascals! begone, or we 'll quarter you !" It was a brave reply for four men to make to nearly four hundred.
Philip returned, and after a short consulta- tion the war-whoop rang out, as if, to use the language of an ear-witness, "all the devils in hell had broke loose." Kilburn was lucky and prudent enough to get the first fire, before the smoke of the battle perplexed his aim, and was confident he saw Philip fall. The fire from the little garrison was returned by a shower of balls from the savages, who rushed forward to attack. The roof next to the eminence from which the attack was made was a perfect rid- dle sieve. Some of the Indians fell at once to butchering the cattle ; others to a wanton de- struction of the grain ; while the larger part kept up an incessant fire at the house. Mean- while Kilburn and his men-aye, and his wo- men-were all busily at work. Their powder they poured into their hats for greater couren- ience; the women loaded the guns, of which they had several spare ones-all of them being kept hot by incessant use. As their stock of lead grew short, they suspended blankets over their heads to catch the balls of their enemy. which penetrated one side of the roof, and fell short of the other. These were immediately run into bullets by these Spartan women, and before they had time to cool were sent back to the enemy from whence they came. Several attempts were made to force the door ; but the unerring aim of the marksmen within sent such certain death to their assailants, that they soon desisted from their efforts. Most of the time the Indians kept behind logs and stumps, and avoided, as best they could, the fire of the little Gibraltar. The whole afternoon, even until sundown, the battle continued-until, as the sun set, the savages, unable to conquer so small a fortress, discouraged and baffled, for- sook the ground, and, as was supposed, return- ed to Canada, abandoning the expedition on which they had set out. It is not unreasonable to suppose that their fatal experience here. through the matchless defence of these heroes and heroines, was instrumental in saving hund- reds of the dwellers on the frontier from the horrors of an Indian massacre.
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