The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 132

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 132

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their fortune at moose-hunting. For such an enterprise Mr. Marsh was always ready. After a few hours' hunt, a moose was found cropping the wild grass near Alder brook, the stream that runs from the Center and empties into Waterbury river. He was quickly dispatched, and each with a quarter on his shoulder made haste to his home, and that night, with their house- holds, they ate a most bounteous, joyful Thanksgiving supper. With all our abun- dance and variety in our pleasant, cheer- ful homes, it is doubtful whether this day has ever been kept, with truer joy or more unfeigned thankfulness, than in these log- cabins, on this moose meat, it was first kept by these hardy pioneers of the wil- derness.

Amid countless hardships and priva- tions the first settlers laid the foundations of this community. It was not all done as we could have wished-not all with the wisest forecast of the future. But they did, nevertheless, a great and stern work ; into that work we have entered. They sowed, often in sadness ; we reap in joy. Their work is done; ours is yet on our hands. These hills and these valleys, the fertile soil of which they laid open to the sun, with the river that winds among them and the grand settings of the mountains, were beautiful to them. They are beauti- ful, exceedingly beautiful to us. Verily the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places. We have a goodly heritage. As we con- sider the days of old, and talk of the years of ancient times, and of what our fathers did, let it be our purpose, our high re- solve, by fostering every worthy interest and enterprise, and by the exercise of every manly and Christian virtue, to trans- mit the heritage we have received, en- hanced and beautified with every excel- lence, to the generations to come. The task God has given us will be quickly done. Let us do it with fidelity, that God may be honored, the community benefited, and our names held in affectionate remem- brance.

[Mr. Parker's excellent little pamphlet is still extant. We obtained a fresh one (complimentary), from Russell Butler, Esq., but this week .- ED.]

MR. JANES' PAPER.

[The following supplementary to and continuation of Mr. Parker's " Early His- tory " was written principally by the late Hon. H. F. Janes, by request. about the year 1872, and consequently cannot apply to the last decade of our town's history which since the death of Mr. Janes must be supplied by others. R. BUTLER.]

In February, 1867, the Rev. C. C. Par- ker, pastor of the Congregational church, delivered an interesting discourse to his society on the early history of Waterbury, in which the hardships and the privations of the pioneers, who penetrated so far into the wilderness, and successfully opened a way for the advance of civilization, was graphically delineated. It did not, how- ever, purport to be a complete history of the town. It is much to be regretted that he could not have completed the work, but on account of his removal from the State and his duties as a minister of the gospel, he could not with propriety undertake the task of finishing the work so ably begun ; thus leaving with others, less competent, the duty of adding a few things deemed necessary for a more full history of the place.

The town of Waterbury is pleasantly situated in the valley between the Green Mountain range on the west and a spur of that mountain called the Hog Backs, on the east, and embraces nearly all the set- tleable land between those two elevations. There is not a lot of land but that is or may be profitably cultivated, and the soil on the upland is excellent for grazing and grain. The extensive intervals on the Winooski and other streams are not sur- passed by any in the State. The rivers and their tributaries afford privileges for numerous mills and manufactories, and an abundance of water for domestic and agri- cultural purposes. It is in lat. 44° 23' and long. 4º 17', bounded N. by Stowe, E. by Middlesex, S. by the Winooski River, which separates it from Duxbury and part of Moretown, and W. by Bolton, and is 12 miles west from Montpelier and 24 S. E. from Burlington.

The charter is dated June 7, 1763, and was granted by Gov. Wentworth of New

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Hampshire, to Joseph Abbott, John Dick- inson, Hezekiah Thompson, Joseph Os- born, James Scudder, James Corey, Nathl. Salmon, Daniel Lacey, Jonathan Stiles, Patridge Thatcher, Daniel Bedford, Isaac Ball, Lopher Squire, John Marsh, 3d, Isaac Woodrough, Wm. Connet, Nathl. Wade, James Osborn, Samuel Ballard, Hon. James Neven, Esq., Benj. Williams, Ezekiel Worthen, Barnardus Van Neste, David Meeker, Jr., Heron Ball, John Boyles, John Mills, John Stiles, Esq., W. Pierson, Nathl. Bond, Esq., Meseck Ware, Esq., Ichabod Dean, Joseph Badgeley, Joseph Neomoseck, Esq., David Ball, John Page, Esq., Willard Mills, Jeremiah Pangborn, David Potter, Ebner Frost, Thomas Gardner, Ebenezer Price, Ken- eday Vance, Charles Gillhouse, Thomas Miller, Thomas Willis, Nathaniel Potter, Jonathan Crane, Esq., Elias Bedford, Jesse Clark, Therry Baker, Joseph Meeker, Da- vid Baker, Wm. Pierson, Jr., Jesse Morse, Nathl. Baker, Job Nixon, Joseph Crane. William Wilcox, Jeremiah Mulford, David Baker, James Puflasey, Manning Fores, and Jonathan Dayton.

The charter limits were 6 miles square, containing 23,040 acres, but it has since been considerably enlarged by territory an- nexed from Middlesex on the east and Bolton on the west ; was laid out and sur- veyed in three divisions. The Ist division lots contained 100 acres, the 2d, 31, and the 3d, 124 ; leaving undivided, 47 acres to each right. The intention of the propri- etors evidently was to give each share 31 acres of interval on the Winooski river, and for that purpose commenced the sur- vey of the first division, on what then was supposed to be the east line of Bolton, far enough north to leave on the river side of the base line of that division sufficient land for that object. But afterwards, on run- ning out the 2d division, it was found in- sufficient, and the balance of the small lots was laid in the central part of the town. The 3d division was laid north of the Ist, extending nearly to Stowe line. The Governor's right of 500 acres was surveyed in the S. E. corner of the town. Part of the undivided was situated between the 3d

division and the south line of Stowe, and the balance adjoined the Governor's right. Subsequently it was ascertained that the surveyor of the Ist division made a mis- take in his starting point, and run the width of two lots in Middlesex. The error was corrected, and these lots were subsequently plotted on the true line of Bolton. Win- ooski Falls are on this territory, but as they were then supposed to be in Bolton, they were called Bolton Falls, a name they still retain in many historical publications, though situated some distance within the geographical boundaries of Waterbury.

FORMATION OF THE VALLEYS-LAND SURFACE, GEOLOGY.

Judge Thompson, in his history of Montpelier, with much plausibility main- tains that at a time not very remote the altitude of Lake Champlain was consider- ably higher than at present. "That there was a branch lake extending from Middle- sex Narrows upwards, covering all the lowlands of that and the surrounding towns, and that there was an intermediate lake, covering the lower grounds of Water- bury, parts of those of Duxbury, Middle- sex and Moretown, and settling up the valley of Mad river into Waitsfield, making this lake at Waterbury somewhat deeper than the one above, as may, indeed, be found indicated by the greater height of the sand-hills east of Waterbury village." Without entering into the speculations of geologists and others on that subject, it may with seeming propriety here be stated some "testimony of the rocks," tending strongly to establish the theory of Mr. Thompson. In many places, high up on ledges, are grooves or indentations, evi- dently made by the action of water. They all are on the western dip of the ledges, are regular in cut and very smooth. But a case more striking and almost irresist- ible in proof is that of a pot hole in the solid rock, some hundred feet above the bed of the river, on the sharp ridge of a high ledge, directly in the line of the farms of S. Henry and H. F. Janes. This ex- cavation is round and regular in shape, is 30 inches deep, and nearly the same in diameter, and so like a cooking utensil

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that it is often called the "Indians' Pot." The ledge on the western side is nearly perpendicular, and at its base stands an ash tree, 40 to 50 feet high, the top of which does not reach to this excavation. In ages past there must have been at this place a great rush of water and splendid falls.

Not many townships in Vermont are so peculiar in formation as Waterbury. The central part and more than half of the en- tire surface is comparatively level ; a little dishing,-on the east and western borders rising gradually, and resembling in profile an amphitheater. The farms on these elevations afford a fair view of nearly the whole town, presenting a landscape beau- tiful and charming, especially in early summer when the fields are fresh and in bloom, and in autumn when ripe and " white unto the harvest."

With few exceptions, the geological for- mations are not dissimilar to surrounding towns. Pres. Hitchcock, State geologist, in his report of October, 1859, states that " there are out-crops of copper, but that they have not been fully developed by mining, but thinks it not improbable that mines in the town may become sources of wealth from the amount of copper obtained therefrom." He also states that " there are several small deposits of soapstone, but none sufficiently extensive to induce a great investment of capital to work them." In the same report interesting facts are given in relation to the alluvial terraces upon the Winooski and other streams. When making the railroad through the Hog Backs, some exceedingly handsome specimens of quartz crystals were found imbedded in the rocks near the dividing line between this and the town of Middle- sex. Probably more could be obtained by a small outlay in blasting the ledge.

RIVERS AND STREAMS.

Winooski River, the largest stream and the southern boundary of the town, has a smooth current from Middlesex narrows to the falls three miles below the village. In Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont, the following description of the falls and the place is given : " The stream has worn a

channel through the rocks, which in times past, undoubtedly formed a cataract of no ordinary height below, and a considerable lake above. The chasm is at present about 100 feet wide and nearly as deep. On one side the rocks are nearly perpen- dicular, some of which have fallen across the bed of the stream in such a manner as to form a bridge, passable, however, only at low-water. On the same side the rocks which appear to have been loosened and moved by the water, have again rested and become fixed in such a position as to form several caverns or caves-some of which have the appearance of rooms fitted for the convenience of man. Several musket balls and flints were found in the extreme part of this cavern, a few years since, which make it evident that it was known to the early hunters." On the upper sec- tion of these falls, Benjamin Palmer, soon after the commencement of settling of the town, constructed a dam across the river and erected a saw-mill ; but in a few years they were carried away in a freshet and never rebuilt. The main water power has not yet been brought into use. The place is much visited by admirers of grand scenery.

WATERBURY RIVER, the second in mag- nitude, has its source in Morristown, and takes a southerly direction through Stowe and the westerly part of this town, and enters the Winooski about a mile below the village. On this river is much good interval land, several mill privileges, and a number of valuable farms. Upon the borders of this stream and on the surround- ing hills, lay the principal hunting ground of the pioneers of the town. There they shot the deer and the moose, and there also they trapped the beaver. The former they killed only out of necessity, their flesh for food, their hides for the making of moccasins and thongs to string their snow shoes. The latter were trapped for their skins,-the fur of beaver, at that time, constituting the only article of traffic which brought its equivalent in cash. They slew no innoxious animal wantonly for mere sport.

The third stream in size, called THATCH-

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ERS BRANCH, rises in Stowe, and runs through the town near its center, and falls into the Winooski at the lower end of the village. This stream, though not large, has on it a number of falls affording good mill privileges, most of which are occu- pied, and a large part of the manufacturing done in town by water-power is on this branch. On it many of the early settlers located, and all the farms by them started in the wilderness are now valuable and in a high state of cultivation.

ALDER BROOK also has its source in Stowe, and runs along the center of the town into the Waterbury River, near the Free Will Baptist meeting-house. On it, Stephen Jones, one of the early settlers, built a saw-mill more than 50 years ago. The falls are rather picturesque. Leander Hutchins formerly had a starch factory here. The ownership of the saw-mill was changed from time to time, but continued up to the present. The road to Stowe crosses the pond just above the mill. The land above the falls is mostly level, good and very handsome ; below more uneven, but productive. On the west side of Wa- terbury River are two streams, on each of which are several mill privileges. Cotton Brook, the upper one, rises on the high land in Bolton, and enters Waterbury River near D. Conant's ; on this brook is one saw-mill. The other comes from Ricker mountain, and falls into the river about a mile above Randall's mill ; on this brook are two saw-mills.

HUNTERS' STORIES.

Many a winter evening has been made interesting to the young by the stories of the old in the " winter of their years " of the hunting excursions in these then " wild woods," but now "teeming fields," so vivid and lifelike in description, that the listener could but enter into its spirit and see, or seem to see, how carefully and with the utmost secrecy he set his traps for the beaver, even to the washing away his footprints in the sand. How cautiously he wended his way through the tangled woods, his trusty dog close behind (the hunting in those days being still, and not in the noisy chase), peering in all direc-

tions for game. How when nearing the more common haunts of the deer, some accidental noise, perhaps, only the break- ing of a dry twig, starts him from his lair, but too late for escape, as his first move- ment was seen by the quick eye of the hunter-a sharp crack of his gun, and the deer fell lifeless.

On one occasion, the hunter became so excited when aiming at a moose, that the report of his rifle was not heeded, and he thought it had missed fire, and in his vexation at the supposed result, was tempt- ed to break the old thing on a tree by which he stood. He was happy, how- ever, on examination, to find that his gun was true as ever, that it did not miss fire, but had done good execution ; the moose had received a mortal wound, and expired after running but a few rods.

ROADS.

The town is intersected by a good many roads and cross-roads requiring rather a heavy tax to make and repair, and to build bridges over the various streams. The first road, or rather an apology for one, built through the town, was on the river through the Hog Backs to Middlesex. This, probably, was never traveled with a wheel carriage, but answered for single horses or, perhaps a yoke of oxen, to drag their grain to mill on their primitive drags, rudely constructed out of a crooked crotched tree. That part of this road or pathway lying above the present village was soon discontinued and the travel turned to the other side of the river. As settlers in- creased, and of necessity obliged to go further back into the woods, paths had to be cut out for their accommodation in va- rious directions. Many of these paths, ultimately, were recognized as highways, though not the most judiciously located for the public to travel. The old hill road was the first made through to the northern settlements, and a long time the only one much traveled to Stowe and on to Lamoille River. The land on this road is very good, and every lot was taken up and set- tled upon it at an early day. But in conse- quence of a far more level one east, and leading through the center village, the

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hill road now is but little traveled except by those living on it. The road up Water- bury River to Stowe on the path of the old hunters, was made as settlers advanced up the stream. The number of bridges and the gullies occasioned by the strong and rapid current of the river, make this road rather an expensive one to keep in repair. Within a few years past, travel on it, both for business and pleasure, has greatly increased.

HIGHWAY, PLANK ROAD AND RAILROAD.

down is the long bridge over which the road leaves the town. The citizens of the place subscribed liberally for stock, but it proved almost an entire loss, except to those owning real estate, which was en- hanced in value by the completion of the road.

TURNPIKE, AND WHAT BECAME OF IT.

In the year 1805, the Legislature granted a charter for a turnpike from Montpelier to Burlington. The stock was taken and the road built. It entered the town of Water- bury at the upper end of the village, and thence through the town to Bolton. The great freshet in the summer of 1830, swept away all the bridges on the road and other- wise very much damaged it; so much so that the proprietors hesitated about repair- ing it, as it never paid large dividends. Thomas and Hezekiah Reed, brothers, and enterprising young men of Montpelier, offered the nominal sum of $10 the share. which cost originally $175. Their offer was accepted ; they rebuilt the bridges and put the road in good repair. Before the canal was made, opening a water com- munication by the way of the Hudson river to Lake Champlain, goods from Boston and other Atlantic towns were nearly all brought to this place with ox or horse-teams, by way of Montpelier, each team drawing but little over half a ton, and requiring from two to three weeks to make a trip. But afterwards, at a cheaper rate, freight took the water route by way of Burlington, throwing a large additional amount of teaming and travel on to the turnpike, rendering it profitable to the Reeds. The Vermont Central Railroad, by its charter, was obligated to pay the owners of the turnpike for their franchise. They compromised, took the turnpike and applied the tolls to its own benefit, but when the cars commenced running, it was abandoned to the towns. The somewhat increased highway taxes of Waterbury were compensated for, however, by having a free road.

The most important and most traveled highway through the town is the stage road from the depot in the village by the center to Hydepark. On this the U. S. mail is transported once a day each way, and the numerous excursionists to Mt. Mansfield and other summer resorts, re- quiring extra stages much of the time. The large amount of merchandise for the towns of Lamoille Co. is mostly freighted over this road. There are branch roads to all parts of the town, and several out of it. One in the east to Stowe, one through the notch to Middlesex, and good farms on each. The roads crossing the Winooski on the two arch bridges, one up to More- town, one down to Richmond, and one south through Duxbury to Waitsfield, are a good deal traveled, the latter especially, and is second in travel and freight only to the mail route to Hydepark-Morristown, 1882. A few years since, a charter was obtained for a plank-road to Stowe. The stockholders made the road, and it was traveled 2 or 3 years, but it proved unre- munerative to the owners, and they surren- dered it to the towns. The railroad enters the town on the border of Middlesex, passes through the village, and a mile be- low, crosses on the long bridge into Dux- bury. It is so located that business and intercourse among neighbors is attended with but little inconvenience ; the deep cut at the crossing of the Stowe road is bridged, but not so high as to make a hard draft over it. The bridge over Thatcher's branch is elevated sufficiently for an under EARLY OCCUPIED FARMS. one for common use. Just below the Much the largest part of business done in the town is farming, the land being well channel of the river was turned for some distance, at great expense, and a half mile ladapted to that purpose, the meadows for

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growing corn, oats and grass, the upland for wheat and grazing. Within the past 20 or 30 years, agriculture has greatly im- proved, and many young men who started poor, by industry and good management, have paid for their land, and now have large and valuable farms, are entirely clear from debt, and possess sufficient personal property to support them through life. It has previously been stated that on the rivers and their tributaries are many ex- cellent farms, but little or nothing relating to their location, their present owners, or who began them. A short historical ac- count of a few of the earliest started, can hardly be otherwise than interesting to many, especially to those of an antiquarian cast of mind. On the meadow above the Winooski falls, JOHN CRAIG, about 1788, commenced clearing, and erected a humble residence. In a few years, he sold his possession and moved to Ohio. It was purchased with considerable surrounding land, by Joseph Palmer, an energetic bus- iness man, and somewhat noted in his day as a skillful bridge builder. After the death of Palmer, it was divided up, and the three valuable farms now owned by Luther Davis, Joel Remington and Geo. W. Randall were made of this tract of land. On the tract of land above Randall, Stiles Sherman located on coming to town, and resided the remainder of his lifetime, where for many years he kept a house of entertainment for travelers, where he reared a large family of children, and where he died at a ripe old age, much re- spected. Part of the farm is now owned by his son, Heman Sherman-1870, but the larger part of it by Joseph Thompson.

At the mouth of Waterbury river, on the east side, is the place where Dr. Daniel Bliss, the first physician, and the first representative of the town, resided, and where Seth Chandler, the first blacksmith, had his shop, and where not a long time after, he was killed by the fall of a tree. The farm is now owned by Mr. McAllister. The next east is where Amos Waters com- menced as early as 1788. It soon passed into the hands of Sylvester Henry, Esq., deceased. Mr. Henry added considerable

land, and at his death it was a large and valuable farm. By will he divided it with his four sons, James M., Sylvester, Jr., Samuel and Luther. Most of it at the present time is owned and occupied by Sylvester.

Adjoining, and within the boundaries of the village, is the old Gov. Butler place, of between 200 and 300 acres, about 130 acres of which constitute the farm of the State Reform School. Seven acres with the old house, the first framed one in the town, is now owned by Mr. Colby, of the United States Navy. Some 4 acres at the mouth of Thatcher's branch, on which stood the surveyor's camp, built as early as 1782, is owned by Russell Butler, the youngest son of Gov. Butler. The bal- ance, with the exception of a few acres of wood land on the northern part, constitute a part of the farm of H. F. Janes.

The tract of land pitched, and a short time occupied by James Marsh, and on which he erected his cabin, has been much divided-part taken for the village cem- etery and building purposes. Much so with the Cephas Wells farm. The low and rich meadow, in about equal parts, is owned at the present time by Elisha Moody and Geo. W. Randall.

But a small part of the large farm, so long owned and occupied by the late Amasa Pride, is now in his family. The home- stead, and 30 to 40 acres of land, are yet owned by his widow, and Mr. Caldwell, who married the daughter and only sur- viving child of Mr. Pride. This residence is pleasantly situated directly in front of the depot common.

The large hotel, the railroad buildings, the foundry, several stores, the stage office, a number of mechanic shops and dwelling- houses are on a part of the original farm.

The tract of land on which Gov. Butler and his brother, Asaph, first commenced work in town is in the upper part of the village. The Butlers, after occupying it a short time, gave it up, and it was taken by Richard Holden, who resided on it several years. Holden sold the farm to the late Judge Dan. Carpenter, and Carpenter to Gen. John Peck. By additions and im-

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 132

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