USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
1166
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
.
he was not the first man who settled within the present limits of the town. John Hopkins from Salem, N. Y., cleared the first piece of land in the present limits of the town. The land cleared was on the widow Hopkins place, on West Hill, and consisted of about three acres. It was cleared in the year 1770. Hop- kins was then 18 years old, and boarded while he was clearing it at Danby Corners. He sow- ed it with wheat, which grew so tall that he could go into it, and, standing erect, tie it over his head. The next year, 1771, he settled on the land he had cleared. and built a log house. He subsequently married and had six children. Some of his descendants still live on West Hill.
Mr. Hopkins was a staunch Presbyterian, and would not allow of swearing, or any thing improper in his presence. It is a tradition, that a man at work for him gathering wheat, (Nehemiah White) being pricked by the beards, uttered an oath; on which he informed him that he could have no more such talk. But a little while after the offence being repeated. Mr. Hopkins drove him out of the field with a pitchfork.
OTHER SETTLERS.
Of the persons who soon followed Abraham Jackson in the settlement of the town we may enumerate Abraham Ives, Lent Ives, Daniel Bradley, Benjamin Bradley, Joseph Jackson, Ezekiel Miles, Ephraim Andrus, and Edmund and James Bumpus.
ABRAHAM IVES
Was from Wallingford. Ct. He came to town very soon after the advent of Abraham Jack- son. He was a distinguished man in the early history of the place, and became known as a "business man" throughout the State.
That he was an influential man may be infer- red from the fact, that he was a member of the Convention which met at Dorset July 24, 1776. This Convention consisted of 51 members, rep. resenting 35 towns: and was called to consider one of the most important subjects that ever came before a deliberative assembly in this State, viz. In what relation Vermont, then the New Hampshire Grants, should stand to the State of New Hampshire and New York, and to the Continental Congress by which the In- dependence of the then thirteen States had been recently declared ?
The result of this meeting was, that the Con- vention agreed to enter into an Association among themselves for the defence of the liber. ties of the country : but that they would not
associate with either of the counties, or with the Provincial Congress of New York, and that any of the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants who should enter into such an associa- tion should be deemed enemies to the common cause. [See Williams' History of Vermont, p. 167, vol. 2d.]
On the 25th of September following, the Convention met again, when, without a dis- senting vote, they resolved to take suitable measures, as soon as may be, to declare the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate dis -. triet, and that no law or laws, direction or di- rections from the State of New York, should be accepted. [See Williams' History, page 168, vol. 2d.]
Mr. Ives was a man of great energy of char- acter, and was never happier than when full of employment. He held the various offices of captain, justice of the peace and high sheriff. He kept a store and a tavern-the first that were opened in the town. These establish- ments were probably not on a very large scale, as the house in which they were first kept had only one room and a bedroom. But this was only the beginning, and greater things came afterwards : for, according to my informant, Mrs. Millinda Chatterton, "He subsequently built a house where he kept his store and tav- ern, and had it painted and papered, and was pretty smart."
At the time of the invasion of Burgoyne, Mr. Ives, being known as a patriot, was, with others of that class, in much danger. Consult- ing, therefore, his own safety, or rather that of his family, he hid his goods, and returned for a short time to Connecticut. During his absence old Mr. Scott, who has been described as the first squatter in town, and who was a tory, took possession of his house-thinking, doubtless, that it would be much more pleasant than his own miserable habitation. Diligent search was made by the new occupants for the hidden furn- iture and goods. Some nice bed curtains, in particular, were sought for by the Scott girls, Misses Grace and Achsah, which they knew to be among the fine things of Mrs. Ives, that they might convert them from their former use into dresses for themselves, of which they stood in very great need. At length they found them carefully stowell away in some hay in the barn, and were pleased enough with their discovery. But the news of their good luck coming to the ears of Mrs. Benjamin Bradley, through Sally Jenne, her sister, whom the Scott girls had told about it, she went to the barn in the night, and
1167
WALLINGFORD.
finding the curtains, took and kept them till Mrs Ives returned. So poor Grace and Achsah were disappointed, and still had to wear their old clothes.
Mr. Ives one time started out to go up to Mr. Richmond's-now the Eliakim Ballou place- to carry home an iron wedge which he had borrowed a few days before : but having gone abont half way, what should he encounter but a huge panther, which, with glaring eyes, stood only a few feet distant in the path before him. Of course the uppermost question in his mind was, what he should do ? It occurred to him that contending with such a creature with an iron wedge for his only weapon might be a rather serious business. But though fighting might be dangerous, any attempt to flee might not be adapted to better his condition. So, making up his mind to stand his ground, he hurled his wedge with all his strength at the creature's head, which, giving a terrible scream, darted off into the forest, leaving the valiant Captain in undisputed possession of the path.
As I have stated before, Mr. Ives was high sheriff. We have no evidence from any record, that any officer of this kind was elected previ- ons to the year 1781. The name of Mr. Ives is among the county officers for that year ; also for the years 1782-3-4 and 5. He was also representative for the years 1779 and '83.
Mr. Ives lived at the Meacham place, which was on the west side of the street, a few rods below Mill-lane. There he first erected his log- cabin, and on the same spot subsequently built his new house.
I have not been able to ascertain the time when Mr. Ives left Wallingford: but it was probably as early as 1786 or '87. Getting in- volved-it was thought through the dishonesty of his agents in the sale of wild lands for taxes -he was obliged to leave the State. He there- fore swapped farms with Mr. Samuel Hull of Connecticut, the grandfather of our much re- spected citizen, Alfred Hull, Esq., and went to Connecticut, and Mr. Hull came here.
LENT IVES.
Mr. Lent Ives was another of the early citi- zens. He is remembered by many of the pres. ent inhabitants. He died June 30. 1838, in his 80th year ; and his wife reached the same advanced age. Many, therefore, at present among us have looked upon this patriarchal pair, and enjoyed the pleasure of their inter- course.
was a true patriot and estimablo citizen. The following amusing anecdote is related of him :
The garden of Mr. Ives was full of stones --- it being situated on what was by some suppos- ed to have been a former channel of Roaring Brook. So numerous were they that whenever he attempted to plough it, they would be brought to the surface in great quantities .- Getting out of patience with this state of things, the old gentleman gave orders to his hired man one day, to dig a hole big enough to put them all into, and bury them. The hole having been dug, it made no small amusement for the peo- ple when it was found that he was unable to put all the stone back again that had been dug out.
DANIEL BRADLEY.
Daniel Bradley and his wife, Mrs. Esther Bradley, were very early settlers. Mrs. Brad- ley was a sister of the Iveses, and was a very excellent woman. Parthena Bradley, their daughter, (so says our venerable friend. Mrs. Millinda Chatterton), was the first child born in the town. Of late it has been supposed that Loraine, the youngest daughter of Dea. Abra- ham Jackson, was the first; but Mrs. Chatter- ton asserts, that as far back as she can remem- ber, Parthena Bradley had that honor.
Mr. Bradley first lived on the place since owned by Miss Olivia Ballou. At the time Cas- tleton was occupied by the British, in 1777. he, with other patriots, fled to Connecticut-hiding such property as he had where he deemed it would be secure. Among other things he took great pains to hide a tub of maple sagar. He removed a large heap of brush that was lying in his garden, and having dug a hole where it had lain, buried the sugar, and put the brush carefully back again-feeling great confidence, as he afterwards said, that his sugar would be safe. But here he miscalculated : for Reuben Ives, who had married Ephraim Andrus' daughter, and who was as near a tory as he dared to be, found his sugar, and long before Mr. Bradley returned it was eaten up Put Mr. Bradley, after the war, sned him for it. and recovered its full value with interest, which Ives thought rather hard, as he said it had tak- en him a month to find it!
Mr. Bradley, after the war. not being satisfied with the place where he lived, Mr. Johnson, the proprietor of whom he had purchased it, took it back. and let him have the place about mid- way between the two villages, for so many
Mr. Ives was a soldier of the Revolution and | years since occupied by Dea. Moseley Hall.
.
1168
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
BENJAMIN BRADLEY
Was a brother of Daniel, and came to town the same year. He lived on the Thomas Hulett place, since owned by Hon. D. E. Nicholson, and now owned by Dr. Crary. He being sick, could not, like his brother, go to Connecticut ; and some of his friends, who were half tories, came to him and advised him for his personal safety, and the better security of his family, to put himself under royal protection. But when Mrs. Bradley understood the object for which they had come, her patriotic blood was at once up, and she gave them a lecture which they probably remembered, and bade them " Begone, and never come there again on such an errand."
An incident of the war, perhaps, may prop- erly come in here. A tory from Manchester, seeking to go and put himself under royal pro- tection at Castleton, got as far as Green Hill in Wallingford on his way. The citizens learning that he was on the hill, went out after him. He pointed his gun at them, when they imme- diately shot him down. His gun was not load- ed, but they supposed it was. He was brought down to Mr. Benjamin Bradley's, where he was kindly cared for, but soon died of his wounds. Mr. Bradley buried him on his own land, on the spot which is now the village cemetery. He was the first that was buried there. When Mrs. Chatterton came to town in 1779, the cem- etery contained 8 graves. It is now the rest- ing-place of hundreds who have been laid there in their last long sleep.
HON. JOSEPH RANDALL
Moved to Wallingford from Stonington, Ct., in 1779. The name of his wife was Sabra Hew- itt, whom he married April 20, 1775. He was a man of eminently correct principles and hab- its, and none of our early or later citizens have been deserving of more regard. Briefly to sum up his various services, he was deacon of the Baptist church 56 years, supplying gratuitously the place of a pastor for more than a third of that time-church clerk 54 years-leader of the singing 36 years-justice of the peace 50 years-representative 4 years-judge of probate 4 years. ITe was also, in 1773, a member of the Constitutional Convention. In addition to this, be bore his part in the war of the Revolu- tion, as also in the war of 1812. An honor- able man, a Christian, a patriot-he was of very great benefit to the town, and performed no inconsiderable service for the State.
JOSEPH JACKSON
Also settled in the town early. He was only distantly related to Dea. Abraham Jackson.
He erected the first gristmill in the village. One had, however, been previously erected at South Wallingford. He lived where Gurley Marsh now lives, and was an enterprising busi- ness man. He had four daughters, whose names were Mercy, Polly, Sally and Finy.
CRISPLY BULL
Erected the first gristmill in town. How long this was before Joseph Jackson put up his mill in the village I have not succeeded in ascertain- ing. The manner in which he obtained his water-power is thus described by Dea. Moseley Hall, who had the information from his father. He went to Mr. Isaac Hall and described a lot of land which he said he wanted to purchase. Mr. Hall was rather under the impression that the water-power was on that lot, and inquired of Mr. Bull if that was not the case. He very coolly replying in the negative, Mr. Hall, not suspecting any trickery, sold him the land, and gave him a deed. On finding out the truth of the matter, however, he told Mr. Bull he ought to make him reparation. But as there had been no witnesses to the conversation, Mr. Hall of course could do nothing; and so Mr. Bull retained his purchase.
EPHRAIM ANDRES
Was one of the persons who are occasionally found, who, though possessed of considerable natural ability. yet live half vagabond lives. and die without having accomplished any high or useful purpose. He was totally wanting in stability of character, and most of the great moral principles by which men's lives should be guided. He is chiefly remembered for his poetry. I give a few specimens, with incidents connected with them.
There was a furnace at South Wallingford, at which was employed quite a number of workmen. They were a rough looking set, and, as my informant thinks, their looks did not probably do them any injustice. Andrus, who lived about half way between the two villages, happening to be down there one day, they be- gan to dare and challenge him to make them the subject of his rhymes. At first he pretend- ed to pay little attention to their raillery : but excited at length by their continued banter- ing, assuming an oratorical attitude, he, greatly to their amusement, pronounced the following
If you should take an iron rake, And ruke the pit below, Another such a hellish set, I'd stump old Nick to show.
Ilero is another on a man by the name of
1169
WALLINGFORD.
Adams, one of those unfortunates, who, like Bill Orr,
- " when liquor is handy, Whether its name be gin, whisky or brandy,"
cannot resist the temptation of taking some .- But the verse explains itself. Here it is :
If Adams was dead and buried, And should snuff the smell of rum, With open eyes the fellow would rise, And back again would come.
Ephraiam was a little toryish, besides being somewhat timid; so, when the British were at Castleton, he walked all the way there to put himself under royal protection ; but conclud- ed, when he got back, that he had been a fool for his pains ; for when not in the camp he was a great deal safer without the royal protection than with it.
I have thus given some incidents in the lives of the early settlers-enough, perhaps, to give the reader a little insight into their character and the circumstances of their times. They lived in an exciting period, when important questions were to be decided, and great prin- ciples established. And we have reason to be- lieve that, for the most part, they were men of the right stamp for such an era. We find them in all the controversies of the times on the right side, and never wavering or doubtful, where principles were concerned. Especially on the manhood of the Iveses, the Bradleys and Abra- ham Jackson, Jr., there was no discount. They were all, as Mrs. Benjamin Bradley used to ex- press it. " For God, for Liberty, and the Inde- pendence of the New Hampshire Grants."
Ezekiel Miles, also, the father of Mrs. Lent Ives, Edmund Clark, Ichabod Goodyear Clark, and the Bumpuses, thought less prominent than some others, were all early settlers and good citizens, of whom much might be said.
REPRESENTATIVES AND COUNTY OFFICERS. The town was organized, as has been already stated, Marel 10, 1778. The following is a list of its representatives from that time.
Abraham Jackson 1778, '80, '81, '85. '89. '90; Abraham Ives 1779, '83 ; Dea. Ebenezer Mur- ray 1782; Dea. Nath'l Ives 1784; Dea. Joseph Randall 1786, '88, '92, '94 ; Stephen Clark 1787; Thomas Randall, 1791; Asahel Jackson 1793: William Fox 1793, '97-1805, '06. '07, '08, '09, '11, '12, '13, 15, '16, '17. '18, '21; Doct Sam'l L. McClure 1796-8-9-1800-1-2; Lent Ives 1803 -4; Eliakim HI. Johnson 1810, '1 4, '19, '20, '25; Doct. Jolin Fox 1822, '23, '24, '38, '40, '41, '42;
Alexander Miller 1826 ; Amos Bucklin 1827, '28, '29, '32, '38; Thomas Hulett 1830, '31; Samuel M. Edgerton 1833, '34, '43; Howard Harris 1836; Dennis Ilulett 1837, '39 ; Hon. Harvey Button 1844-5; Stephen Hyde 1847; Isaac B. Munson 1848-9; Robinson Hall 1-50 -51; William C. Fox 1852-3; Edwin Mar- tindale 1855-56; Hon. Joel Ainsworth 1857-8; Nathan Rounds 1859; Joel Croft 1860-1; Wil- liam Kent 1862-3; Hon. David E. Nicholson 1864-5.
In 1846 and '54 the town sent no represent- ative. Up to the year 1865 the town has sent 30 representatives. The first was Abraham Jackson, the son of the first settler of the place. It should have been put down Abraham Jack- son, Jr .; and, because it was not, many have supposed that it was Dea. Abraham Jackson who was thus honored. But Dea. Moseley Hall informed the writer that he knew positively, that it was the son who represented the town, and that Dea. Jackson never represented it. And as he had the means of knowing, there can be little reason for doubting his word. He was elected to represent Wallingford for the last time in 1790. Very soon after this he turned .is attention to the settlement of lands, of which he was the principal proprietor, and which from him had been called "Jackson's Gore." These lands were settled in 1791, and organized into a township, with a portion of Wallingford and Ludlow, Oct. 31, 1792, under the name of Mt. Holly, from which place he became representative for the years 1793-4 and 8. He soon after died. He represented Wal- lingford six times. William Fox represented it 15 times ; Doct. John Fox 7 times; Doct. Samuel L. McClure 6 times ; Capt. Eliakim II. Jolinson and Amos Bucklin 5 times each. Dea. Joseph Randall 4 times ; Samuel L. Edgerton 3 times : 13 have represented it 2 years each, and 9 one year each.
HIGH SHERIFF.
Abraham Ives was high sheriff for the years 1781-2-3-1 and 5.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
The following persons have been members of Constitutional Conventions : Asahel Jack-on,. 1791: Dea. Joseph Randall, 1793 : William Fox. 1814: Capt. Ellakim HI. Johnson, 1822: Amos Bucklin, 1828: Moseley Hall, 1836: Sam- nel M. Edgerton, 1843: Hon. Harvey Button,. 1850: Hon. David E. Nicholson, 1856.
SENATORS.
Two State senators have been elected ber-
-
1170
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
longing to this town: Hon. John Fox for the years 1846-7-8 and 9 : Hon. David E. Nich- olson for the years 1858 and '59.
ASSISTANT JUDGE.
FIon. Joel W. Ainsworth held this office dur- ing the years 1864-5-6 and 7.
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
Dea. Joseph Randall was judge of probate for the years 1805-6-7 and 8. Hon. Harvey Button was elected judge of probate in 1848, and was continued in office 13 years.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER.
Hon. David E. Nicholson was elected to this office in 1865 and '66-the last time unanim- ously.
EDUCATION.
Wallingford Academy was chartered Nov. 9 1814; (see Thompson's Vermont, page 143.) Of This institution I have no further knowl- edge. It had a name, and doubtless high ex- pectations were awakened in many minds in consequence; but from some cause-either the lack of funds, or because they were unable to obtain a sufficiently conspicuous teacher, the project failed, and the sanguine hopes enter- tained for its success were of brief duration.
MRS. HOPKINS' SCHOOL
In 1828 Mrs. Hopkins, wife of Rey. T. M. Hopkins, opened a school for young ladies, which was continued with success till the close, or near the close of her husband's pastorate in 1831.
SELECT SCHOOLS.
In the part of the town known as Walling- ford village it has been common for a number of years past to have a select sehool during the spring or fall, and often at both seasons. We may name among the teachers, Elliot Reed. Phillip H Emerson, Miss Therza Cramton, af- terwards Mrs. Nichols, Miss Mary Cobb, Miss Fanny M. Webster, Nehemiah White and Wil. liam M. Congden. Miss Cobb and Miss Web- ster have since become distinguished teachers.
COLLEGE GRADUATES
The following natives of Wallingford have been graduates of Colleges : Daniel Roberts, Nehemiah White, William H. Button. Perry G. Parker .- The following, not natives, have had their homes in Wallingford at the time of their graduation : Stephen Martindale, Cephas K. Martindale, Aldace F. Walker.
LAWYERS.
The following lawyers have practised their professions in town-some for a longer and some for a shorter period : Jonathan Hough- tou, Abiel Childs, A. L. Miner, Frederick Hall,
Hon. David E. Nicholson,-now in Rutland, between the years 1844 and 1867. Hon. Har- vey Button opened his office here in June, 1826, and has continued his practice to the present time, and is now the sole occupant of the field.
The following natives of the place have en. tered the legal profession : Hon. Daniel Rob- erts, Burlington, Vt .: William H. Button, Esq. East Saginnaw, Mich. : Amasa Bishop, Esq., California : Phillip Emerson, Battle Creek, Mieh. : Oscar F. Bumpus, admitted to the bar ยช but not in practice. Persons not natives, but whose homes were here : Stephen Martindale, Esq., Benson, Vt., not in practice : Aldace F. Walker, Esq., New York city.
PHYSICIANS.
The following is a list of physicians who have practised in Wallingford, but are now de- ceased : Docts. Samuel L. McClure, Silas Ham- ilton, John Fox, Augustus Mulford, Joseph Ran- dall, Jr., Nathaniel Ives, Samuel Griswold, Herman Shaw and David Holden. Of these, Doct. McClure was a man of some note, and represented the town six times. Doct. Fox studied with Doct. Hamilton, and was aecust- omed to speak favorably of his abilities. Doct. Nathaniel Ives was the son of Lent Ives, one of the early settlers of the place. Doct. Shaw was the son of Mr. Ichabod Shaw, and was a native of the town. He was an excellent man, a Christian in heart and life, and died much lamented at Weston, Vt. Doct. Holden's death is recent, and he will be remembered by all as a kind, intelligent and praiseworthy citizen. On account of lameness during the last part of his life, he was not able to engage in extensive practice. During these years he held the office of town clerk. He was an earnest religious man, and a Methodist by profession.
The following have practised or are practis- ing their professions in Wallingford : Docts. William C. Fox,* George H. Fox, *- now in .Rutland-F. O. Eddy,* E. O. Whipple, Jolin E. Hitt, George M. Noble, Joel Grover,* David II. Meecham, * S. D. Hazens, W. S. Cheney.
The following studied their profession in town, but for the most part practised elsewhere. Docts. Hinman Griswold-now in Marshall, Mich .- Samuel Griswold, Jr., West Rutland, Vt., Darius Shaw, Lewistown, N Y .. S. S. Clem- ens, Manchester, Vt., Lyman Rogers, Shaftsbi- ry, Vt., William E. Steward, East Dorset. Vt., Cephas K. Martindale, La Crosse, Wisconsin,
* The names with an asterick (*) are those of natives of the place.
1171
WALLINGFORD.
not in practice, Ephraim G. Hulett,* Walling- | a profession in 1803. His studies were persu- ford, Vt., not in practice.
FORK FACTORY OF BATCHELLER & SONS.
The Fork manufacture, under the firm name of " Batcheller & Sons," is the most extensive business in Wallingford. The company was formed in 1846, and its operations have been attended with abundant success. For a num- ber of rears their business was carried on in their stone shop on Main Street. But that at length proving too small for them, they now have extensive works on the main water-power on the Otter Creek; where, with greatly im- proved machinery, and increased facilities for manufacture, they employ about 40 hands.
No articles of the kind can be finer than their forks. They combine the two requisite qualities of lightness and strength in a degree unsurpassed ; and their excellence is also abundantly attested from the fact that wherev- er they have been exhibited, they have carried off the highest medals, both in this country and in Europe.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WILLIAM FOX, ESQ.,
Was born in Woodstock, Ct., and quite early became a settler in the town of Tinmouth, where he continued to reside a number of years. He was a man of sterling energies, which were always bent in the direction of his country's good. In the war of the Revolution be was one of the number of those who were ready to
" Strike for their altars and their fires,"
and who therefore shouldered his musket in de- fence of the liberties of the newly organized nation. Concerning the length of time that he was in the war, I have no information. He probably came to Wallingford about the year 1790, where he subsequently became one of its most distinguished citizens. The fact that he was elected to represent the town 15 years in the Legislature-more than double the times that any one else ever represented it-is suffi- cient proof of his popularity. He was elected for the first time in 1795, and for the last in 1821. He was a farmer by profession, and a man of quick wit and varied intelligence. He died Feb. 17, 1822.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.