USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 67
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Now on a grassy plat, They spread the linen purely white and new, And choicest spices sprinkle o'er it there, And tenderly around His stiffening form, The snowy drapery they closely wrap: And she who laid Him in His manger bed- Who watched the first faint smile around His lips, And caught the early lispings of His tongue, Methinks with all a mother's tenderness Now bends, while through her soul a sword is piercing, To print the last fond kiss upon His brow, Ere on His rocky bed her child is laid : And He who 'mid Ilis weary wanderings Claimed not a place to lay His head, now sleeps Securely in the garden of the great, Alone, within a new-made sepulchre.
'Tis evening-to a weary couch each friend Hath gone, to meditate His life and death ! A band of Roman soldiers guards the tomb, Who dare not sleep for penalty of death! Ah soldiers guard ye wel! the sepulchrel Let no intruder come, to steal away The breathless form, and say that he hath risen. But ah! what sudden change comes o'er them now! What sudden fear appals the keeper's hearts? Who dares to come the t mb's strong seal to break ? Lo angels' hands have rolled the stone away, And clothed in white, as messengers they sit Within the sepulchre where Christ hath lain, To tel! beloved friends that he hath risen.
No need of costly apires brought that morn So early by the friends HIe dearly loved, Who trembling, fearing, doubting, wondering, Behold attending angels guard the place, Where with deep sorrow late they laid Him down, With faith not yet sufficient to believe Ilis resurrection morn so soon would come.
The mystery is great, and yet with joy Their hearts are filled. while angels bid them come, And see where Christ hath lain.
The Saviour lives- And soon ascended to His native skies, A Sovereign Ruler at His Father's side Shall sit, to judge the world : for those He loves, An ever-glorious home He will prepare Within the mansions purchased by His blood, Aud soon shall they who mourned His cruel death, With Jesus dwell in His celestial home.
MRS. F. L. D. CONGER.
Frances Lydia Hyde born in Wallingford, married Dr. Dearborne of Maquoketa, Iowa, where she resided for some years. Dr. Dear- borne having died, she married second, a Mr. Conger, and now resides in Georgia, Vt. She has been a contributor for several periodicals for the past twenty years or more.
THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. BY MR8. F. L. D. CONGER.
The Whippoorwill is a lonely bird, That shuns the brilliant day ;
'Neath the starry light of a summer's night She sings her plaintive lay. And I love her song, for 'tis loud and long, Beside the moon-lit rill, Oh! strange is this bird, I have often heard, The mourning whippoorwill.
Oh! why does she shun the glorious day, And wing to her forest home, When the sunbeams sleep in the glassy deep, And the wild bird loves to roam ? She's a lonely thing ! for she loves to sing, By the moonbeam's misty light, Oh ! strange is this bird, I have often heard, That sings her song by night.
O she will come again with her mystic tones ! When the wild-wood bow'rs are green,
And bright flowers smile, in the grassy isle, And nature paints the scene. See will come again, with her solemn strain, And mournfully will sing, 'Neath the starry light of a summer's night, In the forest drear and dim. Maquoketa, March 27, 1858.
TO THE DEPARTED.
BY MRS. F. L. D. CONGER.
I know thou art waiting for me In the land of the blest ; My spiritual eye doth discern thee, Celestially dressed.
All radiant with joys of yon heaven, And jeweled thy crown ; 0, why should I mourn thy departure, When such joys thou hast found.
I must not-for the hand of affliction Has taught me to learn How the home of the pure and immortal, Mine eyes can discern.
How to lift the thin veil that obscures them, The door is left little njar, And the glory of God shineth through it, Like some bright and beautiful star.
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I can hear the deep swell of music, From Eternity's sea ; And a voice, I know its sweet accents, Is now calling for me.
Thank Heaven for the "silvery lining," Though gloomy the cloud, And its bright ineffable beauty, Its mist doth enshroud.
Ere long, my dear loved ones, I'll meet you On the Paradise shore ; Come, clasp me, when Death dims my vision, To part nevermore. Maquoketa, August 17, 1867.
ON THE BANKS OF THE OTTER.
BY MR8. FRANCES L. D. CONGER.
How sweet are the scenes where in childhood I strayed On thy banks, noble stream, with beanty arrayed, The low drooping willows that waved to and fro, Seemed charmed with thy music so soft and so low, And sunshine and shadow, that danced on the lea, To my young heart was joy, as I roamed by thee. The golden cup lily, and violet blue,
I plucked them when wet with the sweet morning dew, And thought as I playfully sauntered along, No music could rival the bobolink's song, And sadly I turned to the school on the hill, Away from the birds, the flowers and rill.
O the days 'long ago,' what a silv'ry tone, Sweeps over the heart-strings, so sweet is its moan, We gladly would hear it again and again, And never be tired with its low dying strain, For it breathes of the scenes of youth and our home, Ere fortune had bade us the wide world to roam.
O where are the playmates that wandered with me, The ' Green hill,' that boldly looks down on the lea ; And roamed through the briars, where the red berries grew,
Or watched the wild pigeon that stealthily flew ; And gazing with joy on the scenery below, Oft fancied the Otter a bright silver bow.
The tombstone will answer, that stands in the vale, The slab that is fanned by the prairie's soft gale, Each tells the same story, they've gone to their rest; And flowers are blooming above their cold breasts, Like sweet autumn roses, they've dropped one by one, And sadly we utter, ' their work is now done.'
I've crossed the wild Ozark, and camped in its glade, And gazed with delight on the bright Gasconade. I've sat on the banks of the dark Rubadeaux And heard the fierce waters, that thundered below. But never, no other, far river or dale,
Have been treasured by me like Otter Creek vale. St. Albana, Vt., 1876.
ST. DOMINGO INDIAN DIRGE.
BY MRS. ANNE WARREN. A native of Wallingford, now (1859) a resident of Philadelphia, Penn. [Suggested by the description in Irving's Life of Columbus.]
The sun was sinking to his glorious rest, Bathing the tops of dark Giboa's mount With a wide sea of glory -all was hushed,
Save the wild murmur of the silvery waves, And the soft evening's breeze, that rose and fell, Scattering the dewy fragrance from the trees.
Oh ! this was once the fairest, brightest isle That e'er by the blue waves was circled round; It seemed to sleep beneath the day-god's beams, Like to some bright, seqnestered fairy land, Rich with all nature's beauties - groves of palm, And gorgeous hues of never-fading flowers : Wild fields of myrtle and white lilies' bloom Mingled their sweetness with the orange groves. Alas! that man for lust of glittering gold Should turn this Eden to a desert drear, Crushing the hearts of its wild, happy race, And dooming them to dark and dread despair I But hark ! a wildly-sweet and mournful strain From the far distance steals upon the soul ;
A tone of mingled tenderness and woe ; Borne by the breezes onward-nearer still- The swelling chorus bursts upon the ear, Mingling the tones of stern and wayward chiefs And the soft, silvery notes of dark-eyed maids With the rude music of the Indian drum, As thus the dirge of their lost home they sung :
" Woe for our sunny land ! Our green fields desolate ! Woe for our chiefs - a gallant band, Who bravely met their fate! Within the silent forest now There rings no warrior's shout ! Their blood is on our cold hearth stones, No tears can wash it out !
" Weep for our cabin homes That clustered on the heath ! They're swept away like withered leaves Before the whirlwind's breath ! Weep for our ruined shrines, our smouldering fires ; Weep for the green graves of our fallen sires --- Oh, weep for our sunny land !"
The chorus ceased, and Echo, from her hundred caves, With hoarse and hollow murmur answered " Weep !"
- MEDITATIONS IN A CEMETERY.
BY REV. H. H. SAUNDERSON.
How lovely is the scene around- The calm how sweet ! the rest how deep ! Where, in their last long slumbers bound, Past generations calmly sleep.
The voice of falling waters near, The rustling leaves above my head, Are all the sounds that meet mine ear In this calm city of the dead.
The noise and bustle of the town, Where move the restless trains of care, Are heard now, or, softened down, Seem one low murmur of the alr.
How many now are resting here Life late upon its billows bore Awhile, to dream, and hope, and fear, To love and sigh, then be no more ?
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The sorrowful and wildly gay, The bloom of youth and manhood's pride, And enemies on life's rough way Here rost together side by side.
The maiden with her cheek of rose, Whose charms were the delight of all, Here dreams not in her deep repose Of one her beauty held in thrall.
And here are resting not a few Who hugged the idle hope of fame, Till Death's unerring arrow flew, And dark oblivion veiled their name.
And some are here with knowledge high, ' The wealth of many a toil-spent hour, Who, with all lore of earth and sky, Could not resist the spoiler's power.
They sleep within the quiet grave, By no corroding cares distressed, Nor sound of thunder, wind, nor wave, Shall wake them from their dreamless rest.
The crash of twice ten thousand spheres, And earthquake's shock, would now pass by As little heeded by their ears As summer zephyr's balmiest sigh.
The sleep that wraps their senses now, 'Tis not in power of earth to break -
Yet from their beds so cold and low Shall every peaceful slumberer wake.
For lo ! the eternal trump shall sound, Blown by an Archangelic breath, And rock the sea, and rend the ground, And pierce the dull, cold ear of Death.
And every tenant of the tomb, Froin east to west, from south to north,
In land and sea, shall burst its gloom, And in unchanging robe come forth -
Come forth in that immortal dress The changeless, deathless soul shall wear,
In rounds of woe or happiness Throughout the long eternal year.
Mr. Saunderson was pastor of the Congre- gational church at Ludlow, Vt., five years ; acting pastor at Wallingford nine years, dur- ing which time he contributed to our " Poets and Poetry of Vermont," which volume has also a poem from his wife, Mrs. E. C. Saun- derson. Mr. and Mrs. Saunderson were among the earliest of our literary friends, and have always remained on the perennial list. We are gratified to know that Mr. Saunderson is now engaged writing the his- tory* of " Old No. 4," Charlestown, N. II., where he was acting Pastor from 1864 to 1873 .- ED.
* This history, containing much that is of deep inter- est to every Vermonter is now finished, and is publish- ed for the Town of Charlestown in a very tasteful style by "The Claremont Manufacturing Company." It forms an octavo vol. of over seven hundred pages. 8.
WELLS.
BY ALMON CHANDLER HOPSON OF WHITEHALL,
N. Y.
This Town is situated in the south western part of Rutland County, bounded on the N. by Poultney and Middletown, E. by Middle- town and Tinmouth, S. by Pawlet, and W. by Granville, N. Y. It is not known from whence the name of the town originated, or to whom belonged the honor of naming it.
The township was originally laid out 6 miles square, containing 23,010 acres, and an allowance of 1,040 acres free, was made for highways and unimprovable lands by rocks, ponds, mountains and rivers.
Oct. 28, 1784, 6,118 acres were taken from the north-east corner of the town, toward the formation of Middletown, and Oct. 31, 1798, nearly 4,000 acres more were taken from the north-west part and annexed to Poultney, leaving only about 13,000 acres which now comprise the town. The soil is generally good and well adapted both for grazing and agri- cultural purposes.
The western portion is moderately even and rolling, the eastern, rough and mountain- ous .; there are however good, rich farms, lying in the valleys between the mountains.
There are two ranges of mountains in the town, running nearly north and south, and parallel with each other. The eastern range which is somewhat the higher of the two, is composed of three principal mountains, called Pine Hill, Moose Horn and North-east Moun- tains. They are all comparatively easy of as- cent. Being isolated from each other, and in summer dressed in green from base to summit, they present less the appearance of a mountain range, than of three huge hills. The western range, lying directly east of, and for nearly 2 miles its very feet washed by the waters of the lake, runs through the whole length of the town from north to south and is nearly uniform in its height, which is about 800 feet. At two points, has dame Nature hewed gaps through the rocky walls which divide the eastern from the western portion of the town. Her first etfort was a decided success, and through the opening thus formed, runs the main road from the village through East Wells to Middletown, while down from the mountains, through the same opening, tumbles a noisy little stream, call- Ted Mill Brook. The other attempt above re-
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ferred to, was not so successful, the passage | of land for Col. John Maunsell, "in the cut is little more than an indentation. How- County of Albany, on the west side of Lake Catherine," and that the same land was granted to him Mar. 7, 1771 .* ever, a road winds up to, and through it, and is generally quite passable.
The eastern side of this mountain slopes gradually from its summit to the valley be- neath, and in some places land is successfully cultivated on its highest point, the western face presents a view entirely different, and al- most startling from the abruptness of the change. A bleak and barren rock, with its front cut straight in the direction of its length, and nearly perpendicular from foot to crown, it appears as though the arm of a Titan had hewn one half the mountain away, then be- coming weary of his work, had left the other standing, and a grand old monument it is, with its beetling cliffs and frowning brow, serving by contrast to render still more beau- tiful the siniling valley beneath, and the lit- tle lake so quietly nestled at its foot.
This beautiful little Lake is about 5 miles in length, and nearly one in its greatest breadth, In two parts the lower and upper parts connected by a channel about three- fourths of a mile in length, and from three to eight rods in width, the lower portion usually called Little Pond, is about three-fourths of a mile in length by one-half in breadth. The water is clear, but shallow, and at the upper or northern extremity on each side are large cranberry marshes, on which that fruit for- merly grew in great abundance. An anec- dote is told of the wife of one of the early settlers, who wished to visit the friends she had left behind. How will you go ? said husband and neighbors, you can't go on foot and there is no money. But the good laly was determined on her visit. and " where there's a will there's a way."
She accordingly set out on her journey, one fine morning, seated in triumph on the back of the only horse that could be spared in the settlement, taking with her a large bag of cranberries, with which to pay her bills, as she journeyed towards her dear old home in Connecticut.
The lake has generally been known as Lake St. Austin. In Thompson's Vermont Gazatteer it is called St. Augustine ; and it further appears that as early as 1767, it was called St. Catharine. It appears from the New York land papers in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, that on Apr. 24, 1767, a survey was returned of 5,000 acres
On a map published in London in 1779 on which are located the several grants made by the Governors of New York, up to the period of the Revolution, Maunsell's tract is mark- ed as lying on the west side of a body of wa- ter designated as "St. Cath,"-doubtless an abbreviation of St. Catherine.
On this map " Wells" is engraved just east of the Lake, and "Pawlet " south-east. The name was probably of New York origin, t and as but few of the New York grantees made settlements under their patents, was soon for- gotten .
Merrit Lewis built a hotel in 1859, on the west bank of the lake, about 10 rods from the water on a lovely rise of land surrounded by a charming grove, and opened it for suma . mer visitors. Charles Potter purchased this property in 1859, and fitted it up in a still more handsome style, making it a truly de- lightful smmmer resort.
It is said, as traditional, that Wells was al- so one of the favorite hunting grounds of the Green Mountain Boys, where they would meet and spend several days hunting the deer and other wild game with which the forest then abounded. The deer were also watched at night, as the deer like the mineral springs where they come to drink, and a spot is pointed out at this day on the banks of the river where they dressed and hung up their venison in the trees and made their rendez- vous. Ethan Allen, it is told, was frequently one of the party.
This town is well irrigated with springs and small brooks. The principal stream is the outlet of the lake, and on this are loca- ted a saw and planing mill, wagon shop, woolen factory and a grist mill.
This factory was put up and started by Benjamin Lewis in 1853. It can manufac- ture 100 yards per day. Two factories had
* Gov. Hall's "Eurly History of Vermont.'
+This body of water was undoubtedly named St. Cath- erine by Home Jesuit Fathers, who early had a mission among the Inhans here and had their station here upon the shore of this Lake, we have been told by good Catholic authority, for some time. St. Catherine sounds very little like a New York origin, and this ne- count of this old mission should be of right the first chapter in the history of Wells, says Mr. Paul in Lis Mss. on Welld.
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been before erected on the same site. The two first were burned. The first was built be- tween 1810 and 20, by Roswell Goodrich.
There has lately been one or two mineral springs discovered, but they have as yet at- I grantees settled in town. The early recor is tained little or no celebrity. show that most, if not all of them, resided in Connecticut.
The town is not rich in minerals, but in the western portion is an excellent quarry of building stone, aud also a range on which are found both black and purple slate * in great abundance.
The town was formerly frequented by In- dians, the finding of their relics around the lake, and near the several streams of water attest. Many a broken arrow and spear- head, the writer of this sketch has picked up on his fathers farm, which lies on the shore of the lake, but the poor red man has not only passed away, but the traditions which ought to linger around his former home have per- ished mostly with him.
The spotted worms male their appearance here in 1824, doing great damage both to the fruit and forest trees, of the latter especially the maple.
The town charter was granted Sept. 15, 1761 by Benning Wentworth, then Governor of New Hampshire, and was in the usual form. It is now in the town clerks office, and al- though much worn, is still legible.
The town was chartered to Capt. Eliakim Hall and 63 others.
Noah Andrus, Bartholomew Andrus, John Avery, Abel Austin, Asahel Beach, Titus Beach, John Beecher, Samuel S. Beedels, An- drew Beardsley, Joseph Brunson, Joseph Bishop, Samuel Bishop, Titus Culver, Caleb Culver, Daniel Clark, Dr. John Dickenson, Rev. Edward Eals, Joseph Francis, Zebulon Frisbie, Isaac Hall Jun., Dr. Caleb Hall, Hez- ikiah Hall, Dr. Isaac Hall, Samuel Hall Esq., Steven Hall, Eliakim Hall Jun., Samuel Hall, John Hulls, Nathan Hulls, Robert Hazzard, Joel Holcom, Reuben Ives, Steven Ives, John Ives, Abel Ives, Titus Ives, Miles Johnson, Samuel Jerome, Gersham Knot, Jared Lee, David Lyman, Daniel Murwin Jun., Thomas Murwin, Steven Murwin, Joseph Murwin, Caleb Merriman, John Moss, Lewis Moss, Jo- seph Newmarch, Aaron Persons, Steven Peck, John Pierce, Jacob Parker, Abraham Parker, Benjamin Roys, Jared Spencer, John A.
Tertieus, Asahel Thomas, Thomas Thibeis, Hezekiah Wadsworth, H. Wentworth, Wil liam Williams, Nathan Williams.
It is not known that any of the original
In the original plan of the town, there were 70 shares, or rights of land. A tract in the S. W. corner, containing 500 acres, laid out and marked " B. W.", the record says, was for " His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq.,". and was accounted as two shares. One share for the society for the propagation of the gos- pel in foreign parts ; one share for the glebe for the Church of England, (as by Law Estab- lished.) one share for the first settled Minister of the Gospel. one share for the benefit of a school in said town, and the remaining 64 shares to Capt. Hall and the 63 others whose names are given.
The settlement of the town was commenced by Ogden Mallary, in 1768, and Daniel and Samuel Culver came into town in 1771, and moved their families the following year.
The town was organized Mar. 9, 1773.
At a town meeting warned by the charter and held in said town-Ogden Mallary moderator, John Ward, clerk, Ogden Mal- lary and Abner Howe were chosen a commit- tee to look out a road, and mark out the same in the most convenient place through said town, the road to be 6 rods wide.
" Voted." Ogden Mallary pathmaster for the south part of the town, and Abner Howe pathmaster for the north part of the town.
" Voted." That Daniel Culver, Jos-ph - Lawrence and Ogden Mallary should search and find a convenient place for a barying yard in said town.
And the meeting was a ljourned till Novem- ber 1, 1773, at which Og len Mallary, Dan- iel Culver, Joseph Lawrence, Abner Howe and John Ward were chosen selectmen
At a town meeting held Feb. 25, 1774, Ab- ner Howe and Joseph Moss were appointed a committee to represent the town in a general meeting held at Manchester in March 1774. The committees from the several towns being there assembled, considered "The despotie act of the New York Assembly, for the sup- pression and apprehension of the Bennington Mob," and voted in reference thereto, " that as a country wo will stand by and l-feni our friends and neighbors who are in heted
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* A building with machinery has been put up to pro- pare this stone for market. The quarry was opened, ay It is called, by Messrs .-- of -i-
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at the expense of our lives and fortunes."
The " despotic act" above referred to was passed Mar. 9, 1774, certain riotous acts in which were declared to be felony, for which the offenders were to suffer death without benefit of clergy. The "act" names Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and eight others, who prepared an appeal to the public, showing the justice of their call, and that they were determined to maintain it at all hazards .*
What is now known as Vermont, was at that time called the "New Hampshire grants". Both New York and New Hampshire claim- ed the title to this disputed territory.
There is a story told of a certain ass who starved to death between two ricks of hay, not deciding which way to go, until she had become too weak through lack of food to reach either.
No such indecision of character however was shown by our bold and hardy settlers, refusing alike to be the vassals either of New York or New Hampshire, they acknowledged no authority but that of the "Great Jehovah and Continental Congress," asked for no earthly assistance but that afforded by their own "good right arms," Wo ; to the unlucky bailiff who came over the border with a writ of ejectment against any settler. His "Papers" were not recognized in the Vermont courts : and his official dignity was soon humbled by the " great Beech Seal." At the town meet- ing above mentioned the inhabitants of Wells voted, " there should be no York authority in said town."
Apr. 4, 1774, a committee was elected to obtain timber for a bridge across the channel which connects the two ponds that form Lake St. Austin. At this meeting the town also vot- ed the soldiers three shillings a day for their services
The first marriage in town is thus recorded, " Ebenezer Welton and Catherine Culver, the 18th day of May, 1775.
The first birth : " Joseph Moss, son to Jo- seph Moss by his wife Esther, born September 8th, 1775.
Ogden Mallary, Timothy Moss and Reuben Searles were the first listers elected here, Mar. 11, 1774.
In 1776 Ogden and Zacheus Mallary repre- sented Wells in the Manchester Convention upon the New York and New Hampshire claims-Also the citizens of Wells voted Apr.
1778 : "We would dissolve the union with the towns east of the Connecticut this date." (See History of Newbury paper by Hon. Hi- land Hall, Vol. II. of this work. Ed.)
The names of the freemen living in this town in 1780, as found in the town records, are :
Ogden Mallary, Gideon Searles, Abel Mer- riman, Reuben Searles, Increase Rudd, Zac- cheus Mallary, Silas Mallary, Caleb Smith, Timothy Moss, Barnabas Moss, John Moss, Richard Crouch, Samuel Culver, Gill Mallary Benjamin Richardson, Abner Howe, Jona- than Webb, Alexander Gordon, Ebenezer Sumner Jr., Joshua Culver, Ebenezer Welton, Daniel Culver, Daniel Mc.Intosh.
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