The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 125

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > Vermont > Washington County > The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer: > Part 125

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).

In fright or haste, her child forget ?- Poor " Penny " met a harder doom, And puss within that burning roon. Without intent were blankets four Snatched with the children ; nothing more. Their garments all were left to share The fate of other comforts there. The absent fathers saw the flame, And with some neighbors, breathless came- Too late,-they sped but to behold,

With joy, the children in the cold. Stay, reader! hear my story through, Since all I have to tell is true! While high the fire terrific blazed, The people o'er the river gazed,-

" What could that light, portentous, mean, Above the trees at distance seen ? " Off sped the men the cause to see, And offer aid if need should be; The women grouped and talked with fear, Expecting direful news to hear.

" His children left alone," they said,

" Have fired the house above their head." But when my sorrowing mother came,

And not a child .was left in flame, Although in bitterness she cried, And seemed as If she might have died, They thought the trouble very small, Since house was nothing-life was all !

Now let us make the moral out (For facts their moral have, no doubt) ; Think, when misfortune gives you pain, It might be worse, and not complain.

FLOODS.

In July, 1830, the rivers overflowed the whole valley, sweeping away every bridge in town, and doing incalculable damage to the crops, and not a little to the mills. The grist-mill was left on an island, by the gulling of the flood. The dwelling of a Mr. Kimball was swept away, but the family escaped. This house stood on the bank. Mr. K. had lately buried his broth- er, with whom he was in company. He used to say, that in the night he awoke and listened to the roar of the water, and the thought once arose that he ought to get up and see if all was safe ; but he had so little apprehension that he did not arise. In a few moments, he saw his brother standing by the side of the bed, and bidding him get up and flee. He de- clared he was wide awake, and saw the form vanish away. He arose, and finding there was danger, removed his family ; and as he stepped out on the door-stone, last of all, the house began to settle away, and in a moment or two, went over into the flood.

In July, 1850, another flood swept through the valley. doing not so much dam- age as before, yet enough to make it re- membered well. In July, 1858, there was another of a singular character, as all the damage was done by the brooks on the west side, or by the river- swollen by their torrents. It would seem as if a huge cloud must have emptied itself all at once upon the hills of Fayston, although there were, in- deed, heavy rains at the same time in the east part of the town. The thunder- shower (for such it was,) lasted only a few hours. It was the 21st birthday of the writer, and he remembers very well how, for over half an hour, a sheet of water poured from the roof breaking into drops, or pailfulls, about one foot below the ends of the shingles. "Shepard's Brook " (the

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most northerly of the streams having its rise in Fayston,) swept out for itself vari- ous new passages, and, in one case, up- rooted and pushed for over a mile into the river and across it, upon the meadow nearly half an acre of heavy timber. A Mr. Learned, living near the mouth of the brook was reading his paper in the even- ing, when he " heard something bumping against the floor," and on going to the cellar found it to be his meat-barrel float- ing about. The water was then running across his lower doorstep, and the roaring of the brook showed its furry, while exam- ation proved that there was no way of escape from the house. Though several buildings were swept away, this house the most beleagued of all, was spared.

Dea. Parker relates that at 5 o'clock there was not a foot of water in the brook, and at 10 o'clock he stood and saw his barn carried away by the flood. A num- ber of farms suffered severely by the wash- ing away of the soil.

In October, 1869, another flood swept through this valley, reaching within a little over a foot of the high water mark of 1830. The town were obliged to raise an extra tax of 60 cents on the dollar to meet the damages. The crops of corn which were not already housed were swept away, and the breaking out of the river at the west end of the dam above the grist mill seriously endangered the village, and car- ried away a shop belonging to J. W. Rich- ardson, Esq. It will be remembered that the water rose at three separate times, being highest on Monday, the 4th of Oct., but nearly as high on Monday the 11th, and high enough to awaken much anxiety on Wednesday, the 13th. Pine brook made a clean sweep of her 7 bridges, and many other bridges in the town followed suit. This high water was predicted by astronomers in the month of June, and their calculations did not fail except by less than 24 hours.

built in an early "day, were often carried off in this way, but for many years no riv- er bridge has been thus lost. Mad river without this turbulence, would be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

In 1794, a town committe was appointed to " lay out a meeting-house and yard." The site chosen was what is still known as " the common"-an elevated plain near the center of the original township. It consisted of about 9 acres, and the title was conveyed to the town in 1796. Five acres was the gift of Ezra Jones, Esq., on condition that, " if the town moved the centre (?) from that place" the title should be void. As soon, therefore, as the " new meeting-house" at the river village was oc- cupied, and the town voted to hold town- meetings at the river, the heirs took posses- sion of their portion. The remaining four acres, purchased for "{1, Ios.," of a Mr. Savage, are still common. The forest which covered this lot was chopped by a "Bee," in 1797, and the ground was then let out in parcels to be cleared, each work- man having the right to take two crops of grass for his remuneration upon the lot set apart as a common. The burial ground was not fenced until 1809.

The first proposal as to building a house of worship, was to erect one jointly with the school-district on the east side of the common, with the understanding that when both parties were better able, the district should buy out the town, and the town should build a regular church edifice. After the frame was up and partly covered, the district receded from the engagement ; and in due time, the frame was removed to the valley, where it has been used as store and dwelling-house until the present time- known as the " Lewis Holden" house.

This apparent drawback was after all a stimulous to the religious interests of the town. It hastened the erection of a suita- ble meeting-house-an imposing structure of the olden style, bearing date 1807, alto- gether innocent of paint inside, and for some years of stoves ; but extravagant in the amount of 7x9 glass, which rattled away

Also quite frequently, when the river breaks up in the spring, the ice will clog up, and the meadows will be flooded, wash- ing away fences and sometimes the soil it- self. And the poorer class of bridges, | at every suggestion of a breeze. It had

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the usual high pulpit, towering over the "deacon's seat,"-the capacious gallery. and for many years the ample sabbath as- sembly. On the Society's record, we read among other recommendations of a com- mittee, that a certain proportion of the money derived from the sale of the pews should be paid at the beginning, as it would be needed for nails, glass, "and rum for the raising."

CONGREGATIONAL.

The Congregational church, which con- troled this house, was organized with II members in 1796. Rev. Ebenezer Kings- bury, of Jericho, officiating. Others were gradually added to it, and it became strong enough in 1801 to settle a pastor ; and from that time has been the strongest re- ligious body in the town.

Rev. William Saulsbury, the first pastor, was a young man, well educated, and able in the pulpit, but singularly wanting in those qualities which secure the respect and affection of the people when outside the pulpit. He received the " minister's lot" as a settlement portion, and $166.67 the first year, it being agreed that the salary should be increased as fast as the grand list on the society's roll increased, until it should amount to $266.66. The ordination services took place in a booth built for the occasion, on the site chosen for the meeting-house, Rev. Mr. Lyman, of Brookfield, preaching the sermon from I. Tim. 4 : 16.

During the 68 years since the ordina- tion of Mr. Saulsbury, 19 ministers have at different times had charge of this church. Of these, the longest pastorate was that of Rev. Mr. Chandler, 20 years ; the next longest, that of Rev. Charles Duren, 10 years, and next, that of Mr. Saulsbury, 9 years.

LIST OF MINISTERS.

Rev. William Saulsbury, 1801-'9; Am- ariah Chandler, 1810-'30; Guy Sampson, 1831-'31 ; Joseph Marsh, 1832-'34; B. F. Read, 1835-'35 ; S. G. Tenney, 1835-'37 ; A. Flemming, 1837-'38; Preston Taylor, 1839-'42 ; Calvin Selden, 1843-'4 ; James Hobart, 1845-'49; Charles Duren, 1849- '54 ; L. H. Stone, 1855-'56 ; Andrew Royce, | repeated at Woodstock in 1807, and in

1856-'57; C. W. Piper, 1857-'57; C. S. Smith, 1858-'58; Robert Stuart, 1858-59; Mr. George Pierson, 1859-'60; Rev. A. B. Dascomb, 1860-'67; J. H. Babbitt, 1868.

Five men have commenced their minis- try with this people. None have finished their ministry here. But the impression of the character and doctrine of Mr. Chandler is not yet obliterated. A fact which shows how good it is for a people to keep a good and faithful pastor, and that the length and the success of a pastorate bear some relation to each other.

THE DEACONS OF THE CHURCH.

John Barnard, 1796-'13; Moses Fisk, 1801-'47; David Phelps, 1813-'23 ; Jede- diah Bushnell, 1825-66; Ithamer Smith, 1830-'48 ; Isaac Hawley, 1836-'48 ; Lyman Fisk, 1844 -; David M. Phelps, 1866-'69 ; Henry N. Bushnell, 1866 -; Edward A. Fisk, 1866 -.

There have been several seasons of re- vival among this people,-the most marked (considering their permanent fruits,) be- ing that in 1817-18, under Mr. Chandler's preaching, and that in 1865-6, under Mr. Dascomb's. In each case 35 members at one time,-and most of them by profes- sion, and others at intervals afterwards. It deserves to be said that, while this church may not have accomplished more than the average of country churches, it has done much good in training up those who have labored much in other places. Those who have gone out as laymen to strengthen other churches would make, in point of numbers, a large parish, and in point of influence a strong one, while it can show a longer roll of professional men-nearly all ministers-than the ma- jority of Congregational churches in Ver- mont. Its membership from the first until now amounts to 500. The Congregational Society was formed under the old law. All the voters in town were members of it, unless they individually withdrew, by cer- tifying to the town clerk " that they did not agree in religious opinion with a ma- jority of the society." This statute was

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consequence, the society dissolved and formed a voluntary association, assuming all the rights and immunities of the old one. In 1845, a new meeting-house was built in the outskirts of the village, and dedicated, Rev. Mr. Gridley of Montpelier, preaching the sermon from Haggai 2 : 9.

The question, whether to "repair or build at the river," was one that divided the feelings of the people seriously. By vote of the society, it was at length sub- mitted to the judgment of three men, viz : John L. Buck, and two others, beside. the agreement being that their decision should be accepted as final. They decid- ed naturally enough that the society " should build at the river." The results of this difficulty were that the new house was located just out of the village instead of in it, on elevated ground, toward the old common ; so that the people who have to walk to church, find it quite a task to climb up from the village, and on week days, men drive by to the grist-mill and the postoffice, not always getting back to the meeting they should attend, or at least not until late, and evening meetings must go begging at private houses.

This partiality for the consecrated spot also led at length to the building of a small edifice out of the ruins of the old one, as a sort of union house, " to be used for fu- nerals, evening services, &c."

After the building of the new church, the society became greatly reduced. For various causes, one after another withdrew their names from the roll ; preaching was sustained by subscription only, and there were only about 12 men who could be de- pended upon to bring up arrears. These were obliged to pay a sum equal to five times all their other taxes combined, for years. It is needless to say that these were earnest and pious men; and it is pleasant to record the fact at length they have seen better times. Much credit is due to Rev. A. B. Dascomb for his patient continuance with this people in times when i t was exceedingly difficult to raise a salary, he having come to them when they were lowest, and by the blessing of God, leav-

ing them in 6 years, able and willing to give a pastor a good support.

METHODIST.

The first Methodist preaching in the town was probably about 1804, and doubt- less a class was formed soon after. The town was first embraced in the Montpelier circuit, as were also the towns of Middle- sex, Moretown, Warren and Fayston. Their first church edifice was erected in the mill village in 1833, was remodeled, a spire added, and painted in 1852. In 1845, the circuit was abolished, and Waits- field and Warren became a station. In 1868, Waitsfield became a separate charge. The names of those who have been preach- ers, with the dates of their pastorate, as far as they can be ascertained, are as follows :

Rev. Wilder Mack, Abel Heath, John Cummings, Nathan Howe ; John Nason, 1835 ; Moses Sanderson, I. D. Rust, Cyrus Liscomb, H. J. Wooley, Wm. Blake, O. M. Legate, Harvey Hitchcock, H. T. Jones, D. Willis, P. N. Granger, A. J. Copeland, C. W. Kellogg, W. J. Kidder, P. Merrill, N. W. Scott, H. Webster, C. S. Buswell, L. Hill, B. P. Spaulding ; N. M. Granger, 1868; F. M. Miller, 1869. The present number of members is 62, and probation- ers 8.

A good little anecdote is told of the times of Elder Mack. There was strong prejudice at that time in all the land against this denomination, over and above the objection that it was dividing the feelings and interests of the people. One Sabbath. Dr. Stoddard and wife, who lived at the extreme south of the valley, were unable to attend meeting. The chil- dren, however, went, and learning before they arrived at home that Elder Mack was going to preach at the school-house in their neighborhood, they rouguishly re- ported to their parents that " there was to be a lecture at the school-house that even- ing." So the mother (who would not have countenanced a Methodist meeting by any means), went with the children to the lecture. Finding it was not their own minister, but supposing it was some one

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with whom he had exchanged, she became intensely interested in the discourse. On their return, the eldest son asked, " Moth- er, what ism do you call that, Congrega- tionalism or Methodism, or what?" "I call it ' gospelism,'" was her frank reply ; and then she was informed that she had listened to Elder Mack. Of course the son was rebuked for concealing the fact, but whether it tended to relieve her of her prejudices, or not, we do not know. Her husband, however, though a most exem- plary and strict man, lived and died be- lieving himself "a reprobate "-a belief that Methodism might probably have cor- rected, had it been understood.

There have been several religious awak- enings in the history of this church, the most marked of which was in 1835, when many were numbered as believers. Of this class, one has become a useful min- ister of the Gospel (Alonzo Hitchcock), and several others were most exemplary Christians while they lived.

UNIVERSALIST.

This society was formed Dec. 30, 1830. Quite a number of the prominent men in town entertained this doctrinal belief, and soon after the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Chandler from the pastorate of the Con- gregational church, they organized by electing Roderick Richardson, moderator: Cyron Burdick, clerk ; R. Richardson, Daniel Thayer and Matthias S. Jones, pru- dential committee.

Rev. Mr. Fuller was their first preacher, and his first services were held as early as 1826. They were held in school-houses, barns, or wherever it seemed best or was necessary to hold them. It was claimed once (though some of the leading Uni- versalists did not countenance it), that they had a right to the use of the Congre- gational meeting-house at least one-fourth of the time. This caused considerable discussion and trouble, and at length brought about an arbitration, in which several distinguished lawyers were em- ployed and several days consumed. Their decision was emphatically against the claim of the Universalists, who abided by it like men. Six years later, the society (in con-

nection with the Baptists), erected the brick church in the village, a good sub- stantial structure with about 250 sittings. Of this the society owned nearly three- fourths, but the agreement was that every man who owned a pew would occupy the house one Sabbath in the year for such religious worship as was agreeable to him- self.

The names of the different preachers were as follows: Rev. John E. Palmer, 1826-1837, (occasionally) ; Rev. Edward Brown, 1838-1840 (statedly) ; Rev. John E. Palmer, 1844-1848 (pastor) ; Rev. T. C. Eaton, Rev. G. S. Gurnsey, 1844- 1856 (occasionally) ; Rev. C. C. Thornton, 1856-1862 (pastor) ; Rev. John Gregory, 1862-1869 (occasionally).

During the pastorate of Mr. Thornton, a Sunday school and Bible class was sus- tained, and the congregation was com- paratively large.

BAPTIST.

A Baptist church of II members was organized May, 1835, Rev. John Ide, of Waterbury, assisted at its formation, the Methodists opening their meeting-house for the services. He also preached during that year one fourth of the time. Rev. Wm. M. Guilford preached over half the time during 1836, and after an interval, Rev. Friend Blood became pastor. His term commenced in 1838, or 1839, and con- tinued until Rev. P. Amsden afterwards preached, and the church attained consid- erable strength, but declined, and was practically broken up in the exciting times of Millerism.

The records were unfortunately lost in the burning of the house of Roswell Rich- ardson, who was clerk of the church from its organization to its extinction. Quite a number of the members afterwards joined both the Congregational and Methodist churches.

It is said of Rev. Mr. Blood, that in preaching, he was very dull for the first two hours, but eloquent and powerful for the third hour.

EPISCOPAL.

In 1853, while the Universalists were not occupying their house of worship, an effort

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was made by Hon. R. Richardson, Jr., and others, to establish Episcopal worship, which resulted in the repair of the house, the formation of a church of 52 members, and the installation of Rev. John E. Johnston as pastor. These services were continued until 1855, when Mr. Johnston removed, and Mr. Richardson took up his residence in Montpelier.

Rev. J. H. Hopkins, Jr., afterwards en- deavored to look up the lost sheep, and Rev. Mr. Hazzard labored earnestly with them for a time ; but the society has now very few members remaining, and no stated services. It depends upon the Northfield rector for occasional ministrations.

WESLEYAN.

In 1853, Rev. Lyman Prindle came into town, and preached at the Union house, on the old common. In a short time, a so- ciety was formed, and he was engaged as its pastor. His labors were continued without interruption until 1860, when he was succeeded by Rev. L. C. Partridge, who supplied until 1861, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Dolph, 1862; then Mr. Prindle returned and preached until 1864.

The church at first consisted of 10 mem- bers. In 1854, 16 were added. In 1855, 15. The whole number was 44. An in- teresting Sabbath school was maintained during all this time, and the average con- gregation was about 100.

The organization is still maintained, but no Sabbath services are held by it. " The distinctive features (in the words of a member) were to take higher and more radical ground on the reforms of the day -slavery, temperance, and secret-oath- bound societies."

REPRESENTATIVES.

Benjamin Wait, 1795-1799, 1801, 02; Stephen Pierce, 1800, 11, 14 ; Bissel Phelps, 1803, 07 ; Amasa Skinner, 1808-10, 12, 13, 15; Edmund Rice, 1816; Matthias S. Jones, 1817-20, 24-26 ; Ralph Turner, 1821, 22, 23; Jennison Jones, 1827, 28; Jason Carpenter, 1829, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36; Thomas Prentice, 1832, 33 ; Roderick Richardson, 1837, 38, 39, 50, 51 ; Hiram Jones, 1840, 41, 42 ; 1843, no choice, 9 lardson, deceased ; Hon. Roderick Richard-

ballots, '44 do, 16 ballots, 1845, do, 14 bal- lots, 1849, do, 4 ballots, 1852, do 7 ballots, 1853, do, 3 ballots ; 1861, do, 9 ballots ; Ithamar Smith, 1846, 47 ; Benjamin Reed, 1848, 54, 55, 67, 68; Ira Richardson, 1856, 66; Lyman Prindle, 1857, 58; Pardon Bushnell, 59, 60; J. H. Hastings, 1862, 63; D. M. Phelps, 1864, 65 ; Hiram Carle- ton, 1866.

PHYSICIANS

who have practiced in town (in the order of their coming,) Stephen Pierce, - died; William Joslin, -, died; Fred T. Miner, , removed ; Orange Smith, -, died; G. N. Brigham, -, removed ; E. G. Jud- kins, -, died; Geo. W. Nichols. - , removed; E. G. Hooker, W. A. Jones, J. M. VanDeusen.

CLERGYMEN

who were raised up in town. Those marked with a star are now dead; those with a dagger, deposed :

Perrin B. Fisk,* Baptist, last residence in Wardsboro, Vt., Joel Fisk,* Congre- gational, Plainfield, Harvey Fisk,* Con- gregational, New York City, brothers ; Henry Jones,* Congregational ; Ezra Jones, Presbyterian, New York; Matthias Joslin,* Congregational, Missionary to the Indians; Chandler Wilder, Congregational, Vermont ; Hiram Freeman, Wisconsin ; Alonzo Hitchcock, Methodist, Montpelier; Pliny F. Barnard, Congregational, Wil- liamstown; * Rufus Child, Congregational, Berlin; Lucius Barnard, ¡ Congregational, New York; Perrin B. Fisk, 2d., Congrega- tional, Peacham; Silas Jones, Methodist; Harvey Bates, Unitarian, Massachusetts.

The following are the names of men well known in the State who were born and raised up in Waitsfield : Gurley Phelps, M. D., Jaffrey, N. H. ; Edwin Jones, M. D., deceased ; Henry Shaw, M. D., deceased (surgeon 1863) ; Walter A. Jones, Waits- field ; Ezra Bates, M. D. ; Norman Durant, attorney, deceased ; Luther L. Durant, at- torney, Montpelier ; Hon. Geo. N. Dale, attorney, Island Pond; Hon. Chas. H. Joyce, attorney, Rutland ; Edwin F. Palmer, at- torney, Waterbury ; Hon. Roderick Rich-

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son, Jr., Montpelier ; Hon. Hiram Jones, Waitsfield ; Hon. Calvin Fullerton, Waits- field; Hon. Ira Richardson, Waitsfield ; Hon. J. H. Hastings, Waitsfield.

The following are the names of those who have practiced law in town, and have had more or less influence upon its history : Hon. William Pingry, Perkinsville ; Ben- jamin Adams, Esq., deceased; M. H. Sessions, Esq., - Hale, · Bane, A. V. Spaulding, Esq. ; C. F. Clough, Esq., Hiram Carleton, Esq.

PROMINENT MEN.

JENNISON JONES, Esq., was born in Claremont, N. H., Jan. 1, 1777, and re- moved in early life to Waitsfield, where he resided until his death. He enjoyed only the common school advantages of those days, but was one of those " self-made men" for which this country has been noted. As a young man he was a very successful teacher. He filled nearly every town office with perfect acceptance when in the prime of life, represented the town in 1827-'28, and was especially interested in the history of the town, and accurate in dates and figures. This sketch of Waits- field (as will be seen from the introductory note), has been prepared with ease by reason of his labors and writings. He married, Dec. 26, 1802, Miss Philany Holmes, and reared a large family. He died Dec. 22, 1852, at the age of 75.

ITHAMER SMITH, Esq., was born in Shelburne, Mass., June 6, 1787, and came with his parents to Waitsfield in 1893. Al- lusion to his talents and a specimen of his poetry appears elsewhere in these pages. He was a leading anti-slavery man, and his experience was that of too many who so early espoused the cause of justice and hu- manity. Good men did not see as he saw, and were tardy to come up to his ground, and designing men scorned him and his cause, which made him sometimes almost bitter against them all. He removed to New York State in 1856, and died at the residence of his daughter, in Feb. 1862.

Among his children (who all obtained at least an average education), we notice Chauncey, an attorney, and once partner of Hon. Edward Everett, in Boston.

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 125

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press
Number of Pages: 1066