The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 133

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 133

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).

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provement, it was, at the death of Mr. Peck, the largest and most valuable one in town. The administrator of Peck sold the place to D. G. Shipley, recently deceased. The elegant mansion and part of the farm are now owned and occupied by Dr. H. Fales, who married the only daughter of Mr. Shipley. The farm of C. C. Shipley is part of the original. The balance, with the exception of what has been taken for building purposes, is a part of the farm of J. Batchelder. On the large meadow above the village, Caleb Munson, the third set- tler, made his pitch. He was soon suc- ceeded by Amasa Marshall. Since the death of Mr. Marshall, it has passed through several hands and been much split up. The railroad passes through this meadow. The farm on Thatcher's branch, at the present time owned by Eugene Moody, was begun by Oliver C. Rood. Soon after the first settlement in the town, he came, young, vigorous, and of great physical endurance, and at the time very useful in clearing up land, in building bridges, in making roads, and in the performance of all kinds of work requiring skill and energy,-at an early day built the grist mill afterward rebuilt by W. W. Wells. Rood lived on the farm many years. It passed from him to his son-in-law, Albro Atkins, from Atkins to the late Judge E. S. Newcomb, and from him to the present owner.

JONATHAN WRIGHT, in 1788, on the same stream above the Rood place, built his cabin and cut the first tree on the ex- cellent tract of land he had selected for a farm. Here, himself and his wife resided the remainder of their long lives. Their son, Tilman, said to have been the first male child born in town, succeeded his father in the ownership and occupancy of the farm during his life, and by his ad- ministrator it was sold to the Hon. James Green, deceased. It is yet in the family of Mr. Green, and has been much im- proved. Stephen Guptil's farm was owned and occupied by the late Jared George, probably as far back as 1798. In the barn of Mr. George religious meetings were oc- casionally held during several years. The good farm of Levi Graves was made up of | sap of which sugar and syrup are made

portions taken from others, and first com- menced by the late Samuel Dutton.

It is difficult at this time to ascertain with certainty who was the first beginner on the farm of Harvey Eddy. It is safe to say, however, that it was one of the first started in that part of the town, and has been owned by many different individuals ; a long time by David Adams, and by Wm. Eddy, who conveyed it to his son, Harvey Eddy. On it is considerable fertile mead- ow, and is quite pleasant in location. Some miles further up the branch is situated the handsome and productive farm on which, as before stated, Dea. Asaph Allen, in 1796, began his residence in town. It passed into the hands of his son, Eliakim Allen, who, after occupying several years, conveyed it away, and it is now out of the Allen family.

In town are many more farms nearly or quite as productive as those named. Most of them are on the upland, and were com- menced at a later date. For the raising of stock and for dairy business, they yield a profit that ought to be satisfactory to the owners. But few of them are now in the hands of beginners or of their descend- ants. The only exception, probably, is that of Silas Loomis, yet owned and occu- pied by his son, Elam Loomis. The Clough place, on what is called Indian Hill, and where Isaac Parker began, is one of the best grazing farms in the vi- cinity. The farm of Raymond Huse, on Alder brook below the falls, is a valuable one. As early as 1794 or '5, Joseph Fisk began a clearing on the south part, and his son, Benjamin, a while after on the west part of it. West, and adjoining, is the place where Joshua Hill, about 1791, began his farm, and on which he lived many years. Hill kept tavern here some years, when the principal travel north was over the hill road. On this road, near the south line of Waterbury, Colonel George Kennan kept a tavern some years. The buildings are gone, and there is nothing remaining to determine its precise loca- tion. Nearly all the farms off from the rivers have large maple orchards, from the

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sufficient for family use, and much for exportation.

LAND TITLES.

But little litigation, growing out of original titles, has occurred in this town. It does not appear that any of the grantees or their heirs settled on their lands. But in most cases there is no trouble in tracing titles back to the original proprietors. A few may rest on vendue sales for non- payment of taxes or the statute of limit- ation. If sold for taxes, they were gen- erally redeemed ; one event in redeeming, so brave, that it will bear relating here :

Col. Sumner, of New Hampshire, owned several lots of land which had been sold for taxes, and the time of redemption was nearly out. David H., his son, a lad then about 14 years of age, was furnished with a purse of hard money, put on the back of his trusty old mare, and sent to redeem his land. The distance was some 75 miles, most of the way through woods almost pathless. The boy arrived at Col. Davis', in Montpelier, just as the sun was setting. After baiting his horse, he remounted, and proceeded down the river for Waterbury. It had become dark, and the road or path- way difficult to travel. At the foot of rock bridge, so called (the place described by Mr. Thompson in his history of Mont- pelier, where Thomas Davis, a boy of 16, so heroically got down the first wagon that entered that town), David's horse sud- denly stopped. He could not urge it forward. It was very dark, but carefully looking ahead, he saw a large bear stand- ing erect in the middle of the path. Though courageous, he was frightened. What boy or man would not have been? He con- sidered, however, his safety was in stick- ing to the back of his trusty mare. The bear, after sufficiently examining them, left for the more thick woods, and his mare then willingly ascended the ledge, and they passed on to the fording place in the river, crossed it, and arrived at Mr. Holden's, the collector, near the middle of the night, and just in time to redeem the land. One hour more would have been too late. This boy lived to a great age, and, as was reasonably expected, became

an energetic business man, highly respect- ed, and of much influence.

FLOODS.

There have been but few floods since the settlement, raising the water much above the ordinary spring and fall freshets. That of July, 1830, was much the largest that has occurred. The rain, for nearly two days preceding, fell in torrents, and the adjacent highlands being mostly clear- ed and turfed with grass, the water flowed into the streams with but little absorption in the soil. The Winooski, with additions from tributaries, accumulated a volume of power sufficient to take in its course large trees, logs, bridges and floating field crops, so obstructing the passage through the falls, causing the water to set back, and forming quite a lake above, all of ten feet higher than any former flood. Most of the streets at this time were under water, which at no other time has occurred. The damage in the aggregate was considerable, but not heavy individually. D. G. Shipley probably suffered the most, having had, in addition to his crops, a barn full of hay carried away, and his meadow injured by detrition of soil. Occasionally the lowest terraces have been overflowed in the sum- mer season by heavy rain; but the fer- tilizing deposits were equivalent to the waste of the growing crops. Bridges have been carried away at different times, owing rather to want of thoroughness in con- struction than to the floods. The villages are so elevated that the highest rise of water seldom reach the streets.

SCHOOLS.

The town in its corporate capacity, has never granted any money for the support of schools. In the second warning for the annual March meeting, 1791, there was an article inserted, " To see if the town would take any measures for the promotion of schools." Committee, John Craig, Reu- ben Wells and Caleb Munson, appointed to divide the town into two districts, for the benefit of schools. At the next meeting held in April of same year, Waterbury River was made the dividing line of the two districts. The only action upon that article at the meeting was to divide the

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town into two school districts, leaving it to them to manage the subject as they should deem advisable. Subsequently, from time to time, the districts have been divided and sub-divided so that at the present time there are 18 school-districts in town, and as many school-houses. The town has a small fund, or annual income arising from rents on public lands, interest on the U. S. surplus money, and the State school tax, total between $1000 and $1100, which is divided to the several districts, a small amount for each, and necessarily requiring a heavy additional tax for the building of school houses and paying teachers. The district in the principal village has lately established a graded school, and voted a tax of 50 cents on the dollar of their grand list for its support. It is now in operation in a good house, and under competent teachers.

WATERBURY CENTER VILLAGE.

The Village at the Center, divided by Alder brook near the middle, is pleasant and beautiful in all its surroundings. On the north side are several handsome dwel- lings, the Methodist chapel, in the hall of which town meetings are holden alternate years, I store, the district school house, 1 tavern, a blacksmith shop and a few other shops. The Center burying ground is on this side of the stream. On the east side are more private dwellings, all neat and comely in appearance. Also, the Baptist meeting house, of wood in good taste, I store, in which the town clerk's office and the Center post office are kept, and two or three mechanic's establishments.

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN SEMINARY,

a Freewill Baptist institution, is located at the Center village, on the east side. It was chartered Oct., 1862, to D. L. Frost and other 12 corporators. The trustees were authorized to confer " degrees on male and female pupils as are usually conferred by the best Colleges, Academies and Seminaries ; also, on male pupils a di- ploma of honor." The corporation had no endowment to start npon, and were under the necessity of relying entirely on private subscriptions for the means to Isons are dealing in crockery.

erect their seminary building, and to pro- vide a suitable apparatus. By the energy and perseverance of the trustees, and the liberality of the citizens of the vicinity, they succeeded. It is truly said in their first report that their "Seminary building is one of the finest structures in the State, and surrounded by natural scenery unsur- passed in its magnificence and grandeur. Mount Mansfield, Camel's Hump, and all the spurs of the Green Mountains, from Addison, through Chittenden, Washing- ton and Lamoille counties, stand out in bold relief in full view from the Seminary."

VILLAGES-BUSINESS IN R. R. VILLAGE.

In the town are two large villages and three small ones. Much the largest one is on the Winooski river, nearly midway between Middlesex and Bolton. It is more than a mile in length east and west, and north on the Stowe road ; half that distance in width, not including Mill vil- lage. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Butler, the first and second settlers, commenced here, and laid the foundation of a community, which, ever since, has had a steady, prosperous and healthy growth. It now (1870), has a population of about 800, and a grand list of $4,000. Has four churches, in each of which are regular services. The largest and first built, in 1824, is the Congrega- tional ; the second, of brick, is the Meth- odist, built in 1841 ; the third, the Second Advent chapel; the fourth, the Roman Catholic. In this village is Waterbury First National Bank, two hotels, one com- modious and handsome, on the site of the one previously burned, owned and kept by W. H. Skinner ; the other, owned and oc- cupied by J. Brown. There is also M. E. Smilie's large brick foundry, built by D. Adams on the site of his wooden one, there recently burned ; Geo. C. Arms' ex- tensive marble works, and three large brick stores-one on the corner of Stowe and Main street, built by Leander Hutch- ins, now owned by his son-in-law, C. N. Arms, and occupied by Wyman and Smith, merchants. The other two are on the opposite side of Main street-one erected by Wm. Carpenter, in which two of his

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BUSINESS FIRMS .- " Ready-made cloth- ing, medicines, &c.," Geo. W. Kennedy's office and the village library are in this store.

A three-story building, erected by the late A. S. Richardson, owned by Clough and Randall. In it is the law office of Palmer and Clough, a tailor's and jewel- er's shops ; a grocery in the basement, and a family living in the upper part.

The large wooden block on the corner, opposite C. N. Arms' brick store, built by I. G. Stimson (the larger part), and C. Graves, on the foundation of Stimson's store burned a few months before. The part of the block built by Stimson, owned by L. H. Haines, contains the store of Richardson and Fullerton, of Arms and Haines, traders in flour, grain, nails, tea, etc. ; the post-office, Moody's book and stationary store, and the Young Men's Christian Association reading-room. The part built by Mr. Graves is owned by him, in which he manufactures tinware, and has a stove and hardware store.

On the other side of the street is the cabinet-shop of George W. Atherton, the fine store of M. M. Knight, rebuilt a few years since by J. B. Christy on the same spot where stood his former one, there recently burned; the furniture shop of A. A. Atherton and Son; in the same building the groceries of F. Taylor and W. Ashley ; and adjoining, the apothecary store of Frink and Remington.

Brown and Atkins, successors of I. C. and S. Brown, wholesale and retail deal- ers in grain, general groceries, etc., are doing an extensive business near the depot [Arms & Haines, successors].

MANUFACTORIES.

The village has a supply of such me- chanics as are commonly found in country towns. L. Parmely, on Main Street, oppo- site of the bank, for a number of years has been engaged in the shoe trade ; and Geo. W. Lease in harness-making. Waterbury Manufacturing Co., successors of Case & Thomas, is opposite of the State Reform School. It was incorporated in 1869, with a working capital of $30,000. The busi- ness of the company is mostly making

cane-seated chairs, doors, window-sash and blinds. They also do a large amount of planing, wood-turning and scroll-saw- ing. They employ about 30 hands, and occasionally a number of the Reform School [1870] boys in addition. The Company deal to some extent in pine lumber.

MILL VILLAGE

took its name from its being the location of the first grist and saw-mills built in town. It is situated on the Stowe road, at the lower falls on Thatcher's Branch. There is here, within the distance of a fourth of a mile, a succession of falls, af- fording three good mill privileges, all of which are occupied. At the first is the large brick grist-mill, built a few years since by the late Wm. W. Wells, Esq., and now owned by his heirs. It stands on or near the spot of the one built in 1792. It has always done a large custom business. A few rods up stream, A. H. Selleck & Co. have a woolen factory, where they card wool and manufacture to some extent. They have recently put in machinery for turning small boxes. At this place were the first clothing works in town; owned and operated by sundry individuals and companies ; at a very early day by Jotham Robbins, subsequently a short time by JARED PERKINS, who became a Methodist preacher, a presiding elder and member of Congress from New Hampshire. Since Perkins, by Thomas and Thompson, by Thompson, Seabury and Blanchard, and others constantly until it came into the hands of the Sellecks.

A short distance above the factory, is the saw-mill and mechanics shop owned by N. A. Rhoades. There has been at this place a saw-mill ever since the first set- tlement of the town. Over 40 years ago, P. Brown, a tanner, built at these falls a mill for grinding bark, and put in a few vats for tanning, in connection with his principal yard in the other village. Here, too, Thomas, Thompson and Seabury for- merly had a woolen factory, burned some years past and never rebuilt.

At the south end of Mill Village on the west side of the stream, Samuel Dutton many years since started a tannery on a

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small scale, intended principally for his own convenience in his trade as shoe- maker. It passed from him to his sons, Thomas, David, and Harper, and from them to Wm. W. Wells, who greatly en- larged and improved the works; Wells sold to R. Blush, and in a few years, while owned by Blush, the works were burned. The real estate and few out-buildings not consumed by fire, were purchased by Syl- vester Henry, who, with his son, rebuilt on the old site extensive works, making it one of the largest and best establishments of the kind in the State. The tannery is rented for a term of years by C. C. Warren, who works it mostly by steam, and in the amount of tanning he is exceeded by few, and by none with the same number of hands employed, in the State of Vermont.

COLBYVILLE is in the same school dis- trict as Mill Village, the school-house being midway between the two. This village is sufficiently elevated to give a fine surround- ing view, and is really a pleasant location. On the lower fall, Enoch Bean, near the beginning of the present century, put in operation a carding-machine, and a num- ber of years carded the wool for nearly all the people in this and the surrounding towns. About the same time, O. C. Rood put up here a potato whisky distillery, and run it as long as self interest or a true sense of moral propriety, in his judgment, rendered it advisable. In 1855, E. P. Butler and E. Parker purchased the place, and on the same falls erected a factory and commenced making starch from potatoes. On the upper falls Mr. Butler built a saw- mill, which to the present time has been in operation. Grow Butler, son of the owner, was drowned in the flume of the mill while helping his father in making some repairs, and George Rood, son of O. C. Rood, was instantly killed here by a log rolling on him when unloading a sled. After Butler and Parker discontinued mak- ing starch, the building was used by S. S. Spicer as a tannery, but only for a short time, as it was soon burned and tanning never resumed here. The village at this time has about a dozen dwelling-houses

and a few mechanics' shops. The beauti- ful mansion of George J. Colby, probably is the best arranged and most tasteful in finish of any one, outside of Montpelier, within in the county. But what gave name and prominence to the village was the manufacturing establishment of Colby Brothers and Co.

The business of the Colby Brothers, established in 1857, in its various branches embracing the growing and peeling of willows, and the manufacturing them into various useful wares ; the making of the machines for peeling, and also clothes wringers. Children's cabs, etc., in all the branches of their business, was a new enterprise for this part of the country, and is entitled to special notice, for its impor- tant effect on the prosperity of the place for several years. But for a material financial error involved in an expensive lawsuit, and the unequal railroad exactions for freight, this business might have continued to contribute to the prosperity and welfare of the town.

Colby Brothers & Co., manufacturers of children's carriages, velocipedes and Colby's patent wringers, afford an example of what may be done by persistent effort and en- terprise, with little capital or encourage- ment.

. In 1856, the older brothers, George J. and Edwin A. Colby, came from Bolton and purchased a shop and about 30 acres of land, on which 2 or 3 acres of willows had been planted by Dea. E. Parker, the former owner. The shop was furnished with machinery, and for a year or two the Colbys hired this. The senior brother was 23, and the other 21, and the only business with which they were familiar was farming. They peeled their first crop of willows in 1857, and at once began mak- ing custom work and machines invented by George for peeling willows. Next year they employed a first-class willow-worker, Mr. Laudt, who is now a stockholder with them, and began making willow cabs. At first they bought the wheels in Massachu- setts, but soon manufactured them them- selves.

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In 1860, through new partners, the cap- tal was increased to $11,000, and the firm became Howden, Colby & Co. The same year they began the manufacture of clothes wringers, also an invention of the senior brother. These are said to be the first made with frames of galvanized iron, and were almost the first to find extensive sale. In 1864, with additional partners, the cap- ital was increased to $28,000, and the name of the firm was Colby Bros. & Co. 1865, a joint stock company was formed, and the capital increased to $75,000, The firm have now (1871), a capital of $86,000, with 15 buildings, extending over 40,000 sq. ft. Besides, the Company have pur- chased and built some dozen houses for dwellings. Over $50,000 of the capital is employed in the cab manufacture, and about $30,000 in making wringers. About 50 hands are required on the cabs, which have a market value of nearly $100,000, and vary in price from $3 to $100. They go to all parts of this country and to foreign lands, and are not surpassed in beauty of finish and in durability.

FIRE DISTRICT.

In 1855, the selectmen, on application of the required number of freeholders, laid out a fire district of a square mile, comprising most of the River Village and a part of Mill Village ; organized Aug. 14. Before this, there had been no systematic organization of a fire department in the place. The citizens had voluntarilý asso- ciated, and by subscription purchased a medium sized engine and a limited supply of hose. This engine not being sufficient, directly after the great fire of 1858, the district voted a tax of 100 per cent. on their grand list, and purchased, at the cost of $1500, exclusive of hose, a second and larger one. The district has 2 engines, about 1000 feet of hose, and a fire compa- ny of 50 men, and the old engine.house being too small, was disposed of and a new one built the past year, [1871] 60 by 40 feet, two-story, with a hall in the upper story, 50 by 40 feet, for lectures, concerts and purposes not inconsistant to good morals. The building with the ground on which it stands, cost $3600.

FIRES.

The first building burned is believed to have been a tan-shop of Cephas Wells, opposite Fireman's Hall. The school- house in the first school district was burned about 1810, and in 1816 the dwelling- house of I). C. Deming.

In the Spring of 1822, the large hotel of Amasa Pride, on the corner of Stowe and Main Street, where Col. Geo. Kennon, at an early day, commenced keeping tavern, was burned. It was a heavy loss to Mr. Pride, but he immediately rebuilt. Sayles Hawley and others succeeded as proprie- tors. It was kept as a public house until after the building of the railroad.

The tan works of M. and J. H. Lathrop, back of Luther Davis' house, were burned in 1834, never rebuilt; also in 1838, the woolen factory of Thompson and Seabury, in Mill Village, not rebuilt ; and none of the foregoing were insured. In 1840, or '41, the large store of J. B. Christy, and in 1856, that of J. G. Stimson, were burned, and both immediately rebuilt. Their losses were partly covered by insur- ance.

The largest and most destructive fire in town was that of Oct., 1858, at which time was burned the spacious hotel of E. and W. Moody, in one wing of which was the Bank of Waterbury; the stores of Wm. W. Wells, and that of D. M. Knights ; the large grocery establishment of I. C. and S. Brown; the stage barns and the livery stables of Bruce and Ladd; and some other less valuable buildings,- whole amount $30,000, but partially in- sured. The place has since been rebuilt, enlarged and improved.

D. Adams' foundry and the Railroad de- pot were burned a year or two since, and have been rebuilt, enlarged and greatly improved. There has also been some other fires in different parts of the town of a later date. Two or three old saw-mills, a few dwelling-houses and shops have been burned, but none of great value.

FATAL CASUALTIES

have been numerous. In 1788, James

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Marsh, the first settler, was drowned, as see before. In 1806, Seth Chandler was killed by the fall of a tree; later a son of Joel Rice by the kick of a horse; the father of Mr. Rice several years previons had been killed in Claremont, N. H., un- der circumstances most heartrending. He went out to stir up his burning log-piles, where he was clearing land, and was caught between two logs that held him fast in the burning heap. He succeeded in alarming his wife, but she was unable to extricate him, and he perished in the flames before her eyes.

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 133

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