USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 62
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As an incident illustrative of his discreet retirement from active life at the behest of ad- vancing age, he was elected by his townsmen jointly with a neighbor, some ten years his senior in age, to discharge a responsible office in his town, and begging to be excused on account of his privileged age. His honored colleagne on the ticket remonstrated, stating his own greater age, and his own apprehen- sion of his adequate capacity The Judge sarcastically retorted " that he presumed that in ten years he should think himself of like capacity."
I will add an account of a legal contro- versy between two of his neighbors, in which an old and able attorney was engaged for the plaintiff, and, as a matter of personal neigh- borly kindness to the defendant, the eminent and long-retired judge sat down to see that
Finding himself at its close beaten by the voluble and flippant judgment of a sort of garrulous court, in proper disgust for ignor- ance and conceit, the Judge remarked . that the decision itself was well enough, but that the reasons given by the Court for it were simply contemptible "
And now, in conclusion, I hope you see the responsibility of publishing this fragmentary contribution is wholly with yourself, and I shall feel just as kindly if you put it into the fire instead of your paper.
D. E. NICHOLSON.
[We have already inscribed upon our pages (in connection with our paper on Hon. Asa Lyon .- See History of Grand Isle, vol. II.) a remark or statement of the Hon. Charles Adams-than whom we have scarcely found a man of more brain acumen - the summer before his death. " There have been" two men in Vermont, who for intellect have towered above all others : one was old Nat. Chipman, the lawyer, and the other Asa Lyon of Grand Isle. The two giant intel- lects of the State. I knew them both. Nat. Chipman, rather the taller, I admired the most."-ED.
Anson A. Nicholson, Esq., brother of Hon. David E., a lawyer-resided in Brandon many years, and practised his profession, re- moving a few years since to Rutland, living side by side with his brother, and should be mentioned as a native of old Tinmouth ; and he having written the best of anything we have ever seen in the line of song from any native or resident of said town, ought to be poetically represented. See Poets and Poetry of Vermont, page 209 to 219, ten pages he contributed to that work. But he has been an invalid the last two years or more, and asks us to pass him by. He would not live by anything he has written as the Poet of Tinmouth in her history. Doubt- less all poetic aspiration and effort look as nothing to him now. Mr. Nicholson and wife were friends of auld lang syne-we can- not deny a literary friend the right to decide as to his own production ; we cannot omit without rendering also our excuse for the same .- ED.
ALFRED COWLES BALLARD
Was born in Tinmouth, Apr. 11, 1534. He lost his father when 5 years old ; lived with his mother the next 5 years, and then with
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Dexter Gilbert, Esq., of Tinmouth, till of age. He fi ted for college at Castleton Seminary, entered the University of Ver- mont in the spring of 1856, and graduated in Aug. 1859. He taught the next 2 years in the aca lemy at Clarence, N. Y. In 1862 he helped to raise a company for the 9th Vt. Regt. ; was Lieutenant; honorably dis- charged in 1864, on account of disability contracted while in the service. He then entered Albany Law School; graduated in 1865, and soon after commenced the practice of law at Winooski, Vt.
As a student, Mr. Ballard stood high in the estimation of his instructors and associ- ates ; as a soldier, his devotion to duty dis- tinguished him among many brave and faith- ful soldiers; as a lawyer and citizen he had the respect of those who knew him. He was a member of the Congregational church of Winooski, active in the Sabbath School and other good works; in matters concerning the welfare of the community in which he lived, he took a lively interest, and was an active temperance man.
His health had never been good since his return from the army, and the disease finally developed into consumption. He died Nov. 28, 1874, aged 40 years. He was brother to Henry C. Ballard, Esq., of Burlington, and Rollin C, Ballard. He left a wife ; no chil- dren. He was a member of the ma- sonic confraternity, and buried with the honors of his order. At a meeting of the Chittenden County Bar, Nov. 30th, among the resolutions passed in his honor, was the following.
Resolved, That in the untimely decease of Alfred Cowles Ballard, the bar of this coun- ty has lost a brother, who by his untiring industry, strict integrity and high sense of professional honor, had won the confidence and esteem of all his associates.
HENRY BALLARD.
Born in Tinmouth, Apr. 20th, 1836 ; grad - uated at the Vermont University, in Aug 1861 ; served one year in the army as a Lieu- tenant in Co. I. 5th Reg. Vt. Vols. He graduated at the Albany Law School, in May 1863, and was admitted to the Bar in Albany. Studied law one year after that in the office of the IIon. Daniel Roberts, now in Burlington, was admitted to the Chittenden County Bar, at Burlington in September 1864, and has been in practice in this city since.
WALLINGFORD.
BY REV. H. H. SAUNDERSON.
CHARTER-TOPOGRAPHY.
The facts contained in the following historical sketch have been derived from two sources : Ist. from reliable records, of which it is to be regretted there are so few ; 2nd, from oral com- munications from aged persons, who, though not among the earliest settlers, yet had an inti- mate acquaintauce with many of them, and were thus well able to give information. But as nearly a century has passed since the first settlement here was made, oblivion, doubtless, has covered much that would have been pleas- ant to this generation. But the writer may be allowed to say, however imperfect may be this sketch, that he has spared no pains in gather- ing facts,* and therefore hopes that he has been enabled to preserve some things from forgetful- ness, which otherwise would soon have been irrecoverably lost.
This township derives its name from Wal- lingford, Ct., from which place came quite a number of the early settlers. It was charter- ed by New Hampshire, Nov. 27, 1761. The proprietors also subsequently obtained a charter from New York. This fact is of little conse- quence, except as it illustrates the foresight of the proprietors, who, it seems, did not care to enter upon a settlement of their lands, until they were sure they had a good legal title.
The first proprietors' meeting was held in Wallingford, Ct., Sept. 12, 1772-of which Capt. Eliakim Hall was chosen moderator. They voted at this meeting to lot out 100 acres of . land to each proprietor's right. and chose Mr. Isaac Hall, 2d, a committee to superintend, and Capt. Eliakim Hall and Miles Johnson, a com- mittee to draft said allotments.
The amount of land embraced in the origin- al charter was 23,040 acres. The town was or- ganized March 10, 1778; but its boundaries, since that period, have been somewhat chang- ed Oct. 31. 1792, 3388 acres were taken from it, to form, with Jackson's Gore, and a portion of Ludlow, the township of Mt. Holly. To compensate for this, Oct. 19. 1793, the Legisla. ture passed an act annexing to Wallingford a portion of the town of Tinmouth. This act
* This sketch of Wallingford was mostly written in 1967, and is published as it was then prepared. Nothing in said in it about the war of the Relation, as it was contemplated by the Editor of this Magazine to have the history of the part taken in it by Wallingford treat- ed in an article by itself, or in a County chapter.
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now lies before me, and shows that the tract annexed was that portion of the town now usu. ally known as "West Hill," and which was a full equivalent to Wallingford for all that had been taken from its eastern side.
There is great variety in this township, both as it relates to its scenery and the productive- ness of its soil. The eastern part of it lies on the Green Mountains, the highest ridge of which is here called "The White Rocks"; and which, though not so high as some other elevations in the range, is scarcely surpassed in the views it presents. A gentleman who has traveled very extensively, both in this country and in Eu- rope, gives it as his opinion, that "any thing finer than this portion of the Green Mountains in Wallingford is not often to be found." The view from the "Ice-beds" (a spot so named be- cause ice is frequently found there during the entire summer), never fails to elicit admiration. Such ragged precipices, and rocks piled on rocks, are seldom elsewhere seen; and if any one takes delight in this kind of scenery, he cannot do better than visit this locality.
" The Eyry," or Home of the Eagles, also, on account of the wild ruggedness of its beet- ling cliffs and dizzying heights, presents a view that is especially grand.
Another elevation, near the centre of the town, and which is separate from the moun- tain. is called " Green Hill." This seems to be composed principally of quartz rock, cropping out frequently in ledges-having in the inters. tices a shallow covering of soil. This covers a large area, and, in the season of blueberries, is often musical with companies who sometimes come from a considerable distance. The quan- tity of berries it produces is ahnost fabulous. Mr. Nat. Cook, who lives near by it, and whose clear ringing voice and racy conversation, many who have visited it will probably remember, picked here, in one season, as the writer has been told, 16 bushels for the Rutland and oth- er markets.
On the eastern portion of the hill the rocks appear to be a species of granite. This hill extends nearly the entire distance between the villages of Wallingford and South Wallingford, and a fine view of it is presented from the road most of the way between these two places. Its western slope comes down within a short distance of the Otter Creek, which here flow- ing through luxuriant meadows, is a beautiful stream, and forms, in a few instances, I think, its eastern embankment. Viewed from some portions of West Hill, it adds to the beauty of
the Creek an almost overpowering charm. Yet, except for its beauty and its blueberries. it is, so far as I know, of no apparent use, except to fill up the space that it occupies in the crust of the earth.
The scenery of this pleasant township is also diversified by three ponds. The largest of these covering about 350 acres, lies in the south-east- ern part of the town, on the mountains, and has received the name-from what circum- stances I do not know-of Spectacle Pond or Lake Hiram. About a mile and a half to the south-west of this is another, covering about 50 acres. Besides these sheets of water there is another beautiful one, found nearly opposite the village, and west of Otter Creek. amid magnif. icent pastures, which covers an area of about 100 acres, and is called Fox Pond.
Several streams, moreover, with eligible mill- sites, water the township. The Otter Creek runs through it from south to north, on the in- tervales of which are situated some as beautiful farms as are to be found in the State. River is in the north eastern part ; and Roaring Brook, (which, one who sees it in time of fresh- et, will think rightly named.) runs through the village, and falls into the Creek some 50 or 60 rods on the west. It divides the village about in the middle, leaving half to the north and half to the south.
There is another little stream to the south of the village, about three quarters of a mile. on which there is a beautiful miniature cascade, called "Crystal Falls"-which is worthy of no- tice.
The village is built principally on one street, running north and south. It contains quite a number of pleasant residences, and through its entire length is tastefully adorned with vigor. ous young maples, with now and then an elm and ever green in appropriate places .* At the north and south ends, respectively, stand the Catholic and Congregational churches : which, though not expensive, are very comely struc. tures. The Baptist house of worship, which has been refitted and moved to its present po- sition, stands on the north side of the road lead- ing to Mt. Holly, and a few rods distant, above, on the opposite side, is the village school- house, with a fine hall over it used for lyceum lectures and other gatherings. It was built in 1860, at an expense of $ 3000; and is, on the
* The Village is principally indebted for theen tires to Rev. H. H. Saunderson, now of Charlestown, N. H.
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whole, for tho purpose for which it was intend- ed, a very neat and commodious structure.
In addition to this main village there is also a small village at South Wallingford, about 5 miles distant. Here is a quarry of very mark- etable marble, which has been worked, as con- tracts could be made for it, for many years .- There is another quarry about half way be- tween the two villages, said to be of better quality.
Both of these villages lie on the Western Vermont Railroad, a work for which the pub- lic are greatly indebted to the late Gen. Rob- inson Hall.
There has, also, quite a little settlement sprung up, within a few years, at East Wal- lingford. This is about 5 miles distant from the other two villages, and is situated on the Rut- land and Burlington Railroad. It has a very neat Baptist meetinghouse, postoffice, several stores, and is rapidly increasing in its business interests.
About a mile and a quarter from this latter place is the little hamlet of Centreville, former- ly Slab City, ou Sugar Hill. This is not a very extensive settlement; yet quite a number of very capable business men have originated in this locality. The character of its schools, and of its inhabitants, also, has not been behind that of other portions of the town.
Hartsborough is the name of another minia- ture settlement. This is situated in a very ro- mantic spot between Green Hill and the White Rocks. Here, as recently as June, 1857, was the scene of a great bear-hunt in which bruin, though assailed with fierce weapons and many hard words by a multitude deeply intent on his destruction, contrived to break through all their lines, and track his lonely way to the mountains. The reason of this valiant attack of the people upon his bearship was, that he had audaciously invaded the quiet sheepfold of Mr. Israel Munson, and slaughtered 19 of his choicest merinoes-which fact being pro- mulgated in the villige and other parts of the town, it was universally conceded that he ought to die; whence the demonstration against him. But though he escaped the vengeance of the undaunted hunters of Wallingford, it is suppos- ed that he speedily after suffered a just retri- bution for his audacity and crimes, in a neigh- boring town.
Having thus given the topography of Wal- lingford, I now proceed to give some account of its early settlers.
SETTLEMENT AND EARLY INHABITANTS-GEORGE SCOTT AND FAMILY.
It is usually conceded that the first legal set- tlement of Wallingford was made in the Spring or Summer of 1773, by Dea. Abraham Jackson and family. But though they were the first who had any regular title to their land, and could thus appropriately be called settlers, they were not the first inhabitants.
Mr. George Scott, who was one of those inde- pendent personages, who, in the nomenclature of the present times are denominated squatters. was on the ground before them; and. from whas incidents of his life I have been able to col- lect, he seems to have been an uncommon specimen of his class. According to the ac- count given of him, he was both indolent and improvident, and had a companion after his own heart. Thomas Rowley, a poet of Danby, and one of the early settlers of that town, when out on a hunting excursion, got caught in a storm, and was thus forced to stay with Scott over night. He thus describes his entertainers and entertainment:
When 't fell to my lot to visit Scott, In one cold winter's storm, I did propose to dry my clo'se, And my cold body warm.
I stepp'd in-door, when on the floor A herd of swine there met me, Which round me plied, on every side,. And well nigh overset me.
Beyond the herd a man appeared, As one without a soul, Who hung his head, as if half dead, Above a fi-re-coal. .
His lovely wife, to save her life, Sat in the dust and sand ; Her knees erect her chin protect, Her nose she holds in her hand.
Poor souls ! they'll freeze, unless the trees Shall drop their limbs down chimbly ; Or some kind friend a hand shall lend To help them very nimbly.
The dwelling of this Scott was the first bu- man habitation within the limits of the town. It was situated on the east side of where the road now runs, nearly opposite the school- house in the Gurley Marsh district. It was a mere shanty, of rude construction, and scarcely worthy to be called a human dwelling. The manner in which it was discovered by the pro- prietors, on their first visit to the place. is thcs described by the late deacon Moseley Hall :
The proprietors, on their first visit to the place, had in their company s negro servant
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named Ziba, who, like some others, made many [ quietly ensconsed in the top of a tree. Hast- pretentions to bravery when there was no dan- ger, but was in reality exceedingly timid when danger was to be encountered. Of Indians, in particular, he had the most incurable dread. This was well known to the proprietors, who on their journey had no little diversion at his expense. For, whenever they came to any suspicious looking place they would make a halt and cry "Indians!" and call for Ziba to go ahead. But at that terrible word the cour- age of poor Ziba would all ooze out, and he would fall in the rear. They would then of course have a laugh, and discover that there was no danger, and proceed as usual till some- thing else should turn up.
In the examination of their lands they were one day proceeding northward from where our beautiful village now stands, when on arriving at the top of the hill a little beyond the present residence of Mr. Eliakim Ballou, they discov- ered a smoke curling up among the trees, only a little distance before them. Up to their old tricks, one of them, Mr. Isaac Hall, cried out " Indians, Ziba, go ahead ;" when Ziba, as a matter-of course, found refuge in the rear, and gave them another opportunity for a laugh at his expense. They supposed the smoke to proceed from som: hunter's encampment, and were not a little surprised when they reached the spot to see a forlorn looking man standing before the door of a log cabin. This was Scott, and his first words to them were, " Gentlemen, will not one of you be so kind as to give me a chew of tobacco ?"-at the same time taking a cud from his mouth, and holding it out in the palm of his hand-" Here is one which a hunt- er gave me who passed here six weeks ago, and I begin to feel the need of another." Whether he obtained his request or not we have no tra- dition. But provided the habits of the present generation were transmitted from their fathers, he undoubtedly did.
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Scott used to keep a cow, the color of which was black, or a very dark brown, and which, as he was often too lazy to hunt, was frequent- ly his only resource for supper. One night " Old Black" not coming home as usual, fears began to be entertained in regard to their eve- ning meal. The shades grew deeper and deep- er, but still no cow appeared. At length Mrs. Scott, weary of waiting, gathered resolution to go out and look for her ; and having gone a | little war into that part of the forest which she most used to frequent, she discovered a large
ening back to her cabin, she cried out to her husband, with her blear eyes wide with aston- ishment, "Scott! Scott! the Devil 's a witch, don't you think our old cow has clomb up into the top of a tree !". Scott, prompted either by curiosity or hunger, started out with his wife to see the sight : but on reaching the tree they found what Mrs. Scott had fancied to be the old cow was a huge black bear which had in- dulged his propensity for climbing, and for some object unknown was occupying the ex- alted position. They returned home, and with many expressions of condolement went supper- less to bed. But on rising the next morning they had a time of thanksgiving-for old black had returned, and was awaiting them at the door.
The Christian name of Mrs. Scott was Lois. She is described as a little dumpy woman, with blear eyes. She was, moreover, so exceeding- ly cross-eyed, that when she was looking at you, she appeared to be looking at any body else but you. She was very proud, and took great delight in every kind of toggery that was adapted to make a show. And such was her peculiarity of taste, that it made very little dif- ence with her whether or not there was any adaptation of her garments to each other. And in this respect her two daughters, Grace and Achsah, were the true patterns of their moth- er. As for Scott, he wore what he could get, paying no attention to the outer man.
If we may believe the description which Rowley gave of Mrs. Scott, her lot was a hard one, fraught with many troubles: and that description certainly bears the semblance of truth, though slightly colored, perhaps. through the influence of a poetic imagination. But al- lowing a wide margin for the poet's fancy, we are still constrained to believe that her life was passed amid pigs and poverty. Poor Lois ! she evidently loved not wisely. She had a lazy husband-and that, by those who have experi- enced it, has been deemed the greatest of ca- lamities. Drop a tear, ye who have tears to spare, to their memory.
There is a tradition, that the proprietors wishing to displace Scott from the premises he was occupying, told him that if he would penceably give up the spot where he was, they would give him the first lot that was run out in the town. To this he agreed: but when they came to the survey, thinking that he and ! his family would be no acquisition to the place, creature which she took to be old Black very | and wishing to get entirely rid of them, they
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run him out a lot ten rods in width, containing the regular number of acres, in that part of the town now lying ucxt to Mt. Tabor, aud which it is said never has been and never can be cul- tivated. But Scott was not to be outmanceu- vered: for, though displaced from his home- stead, he stuck to the township, and was sup- ported many years at its expense-dying at a good old age, within the memory of the old- est inhabitants.
ABRAHAM JACKSON.
A very different personage from Scott, was Deacon Abraham Jackson. £ He was from Cornwall, Ct., where he was probably an officer in the church-whence his title. He was a person of excellent moral and religious charac- ter and industrious habits. His family, at the time of his moving to Wallingford, consisted of a wife and ten children-to whom another, Loraine, was subsequently added. He thus had the blessing pronounced upon the good man : "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house ; thy children like olive plants round about thy table."
to act well their parts in their day and genera- tion. This was emphatically the case with two of his sons: the eldest and the youngest. Abra- ham held many places of trust in the gift of his fellow citizens ; and the fact that the same office was several times conferred upon him af- fords sufficient evidence that its duties were faithfully discharged.
WILLIAM, the youngest son, was educated at Dartmouth College, at which institution he grad- uated in the year 1790. He studied theology under Drs. Edmunds and Spring, whose con- fidence, it is stated, he largely shared. He was ordained over the church in Dorset in 1796 and continued to be its pastor, much honored and beloved, till his death in 1842.
Few persons in Vermont have exerted a more extensive influence upon the religious and educational institutions of the State than Dr. Jackson. In addition to the fact that Mid- dlebury College owes much to his endeavors, he was unceasing in his efforts to promote a higher standard of education, as well as a more exalted piety among all who came within the sphere of his influence. Through his endeav- ors more young men received a collegiate edu- tion from his small town (Dorset) than from all the rest in the county. Moreover, it is said that Mr. Burr of Manchester was, through his influence, stimulated to his generous donations to charitable and religious objects.
It has happened to Dea. Jackson, though an excellent man, to receive, like some others, more than his due meed of praise. The hon- or of being the first town clerk and the first representative, with which he has often been accredited, belongs to his eldest son, who bore the same name, and was a man of superior ability, and great energy of character. He A wide-spread influence has also gone out from Dr. Jackson into the world, through his family. His children were educated with an assiduous care which every Christian parent would do well to emulate: among whom were Margarette, who became the wife of Rev. John Maltby, for some years the excellent pastor of the Hammond Street church at Bangor, Me. is also said to have been "The first deacon of the Congregational church-of which he was truly a main pillar ; supporting the first minister almost entirely from his own resourc- es." [Sce page 19 of Memorials of Mrs. Hamlin, by Mrs. Margarette Woods Lawrence. ] This is also a pleasant fiction, however ex- tensively it may have gained circulation ; for, REV. SAMUEL CRAM JACKSON, D. D., the secre- tary of the Board of Education and State Libra- rian in Massachusetts, and Henrietta Anna Lo- raine, who married Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, whose charming memorials have been given to the world by Mrs. Margarette Woods Lawrence, under the title of " Light on the Dark River :" and which may be consulted for much interest- ing information concerning the Jackson family. that no doubt may remain on this point, I have only to say that there was no Congregational church in town, until subsequent to Dea. Jack- son's death I state these facts on the authority of the late Dca Moseley Hall. The claim, then, to this honor, which has been put forth for Dea. Jackson is wholly groundless. But although it was not his lot to gain the distinction which they conferred, yet he was an estimable man, a friend Those who would know more of the Jackson family may find still further interesting partie- ulars in the history of Dorset, published in this work. [Sco vol. I. page 193] of good order and great respecter of religion. and one who was accustomed to discharge all his duties with promptitude and fidelity. And it may be said without exaggeration, that through: his descendants his influence has gone JOHN HOPKINS. out into all the earth. His numerous family, But although Dea. Jackson was the first set- most of them, grew up to be respectable, and tler of Wallingford, under its original charter,
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