The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 139

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 139

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We may not here describe that battle. It was a decisive victory for our arms and the country. It was a golden victory. It lifted higher the national banner than any other battle of the year north of Atlanta. But the eye of prescience could have dis- cerned a thousand emblems of mourning stretched beneath its starry folds, and seen the tears of as many Northern homes falling for their dead, yet re-consecrating the

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flag! One was mourned in Waterbury! Major Dillingham had fallen!

Washington County Court was in ses- sion, and attorneys were contending by peaceful process for the civil rights of a few clients. In Virginia, its youngest and most promising member, who had thrown his sword into the vaster scale of justice, was contending for the civil rights of the nation. Under orders to charge the en- emy, whose front was ablaze with cannon and abatised with fixed bayonets, he was firmly pacing back and forth along his battle line, steadying its formation and awaiting the final signal to advance. Those who saw him say that he heeded not the the missiles of death that fell thick around him and his brave men. Keenly he eyed the foe-anxiously he awaited the onset. To him it never came. About noon, while in this position, he was struck by a solid twelve-pound shot on the left thigh, and borne bleeding and dying to the rear. In two hours he was no more. The regiment charged and nobly avenged the death of its Major, but he had gone another way. Though he never recovered from the nervous shock produced by this wound, he did not lose consciousness until his noble spirit departed. He conversed oc- casionally with those around him. Among his last words was the utterance: "I have fallen for my country. I am not afraid to die." The first were inspired by patriotism, the last by Christianity! His remains were borne to Waterbury and in- terred, where the spirit of honor watches over the treasured dust; and when the history of Vermont's noble men is written, the names of her heroes fairly recorded, we shall read high upon the scroll the name of Major Edwin- Dillingham. E. M. H.

A member of the " Tenth," from the bat- tle field writes : " While the fight was still roaring up over the hill he died, and this was the end of a beautiful, harmonious life. Young, handsome, brilliant, brave amid trials, cheerful amid discouragements, upright, and with that kindness of heart which ever characterized the true gentle- man, blended with firmness and energy as a commander, he was ever respected by linterred.

all of his command, and loved by all of his companions.

" A fairer and a lovelier gentleman The spaclons world cannot again afford."

We shall long mourn him in our camp."

He fell, as a soldier should fall, At the head of his own gallant band;

He died, as a soldier should die, In defence of his own native land.

He fell 'mid the battle's loud roar, Where the stars and the stripes prond did fly :

His life to his country he gave- "'Tis sweet for one's country to die."

He fell in the springtime of life, His country from traitors to save,

While the bugle, the drum and the fife Flred the hearts of the true and the brave.

He died while the vietor's shout Rang clear on the mountain air,

While the foe In disordered ront Were fleeing in wildest despair.

Vermont her proud record shall make, And add to her long roll of fame,

With the Allens and Warners she'll place Young Dillingham's glorious name.

The closing tribute to our young hero is from the pen of J. A. Wing, Esq., of Montpelier.

One of the largest and most beautiful monuments of the State, in which elegance and simplicity combined, has been erected by the Governor at the grave of his son. It is of the Sutherland Falls quarry, finest Vermont marble, the cutting and erecting by a townsman, Geo. C. Arms, of Water- bury.

PHILANDER A. PRESTON, born in Water- bury, Nov. 27, 1833, enlisted in the Vt. Cav., Sept. 1, '61 ; with his regiment till July 6, '63, when wounded and in hospital till De- cember ; returned to duty ; Jan.'64,re-enlist- ed ; taken prisoner June 27, at Stony Creek Station, Weldon R. R .; taken to Ander- sonville, Sept. 10; removed to Charles- town; then to Florence, where he was literally starved to death; died Jan. or Feb. '65, aged 32 ; left a wife and one son.

The eighth annual re-union of the Tenth Vermont Regimental Association was held at Waterbury, Sept. 4, 1873. The asso- ciation went in procession to the cemetery to pay honors to Maj. Dillingham, Thomp- son, and other Waterbury patriots there

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SOLDIERS BURIED IN TOWN. BY HON. WM. P. DILLINGHAM.

Revolutionary Soldiers who are buried in Waterbury :- Capt. Thomas Jones, Aaron Wilder, Ezra Butler, Zachariah Bas- sett, Moses Nelson, David Town, John Hudson, D. Sloan, Benjamin Conant, Paul Dillingham, Asaph Allen, Isaac Marshall, Thomas Eddy, Alphas Sheldon, Joseph Hubbard, Stephen Jones, Asa Poland, George Kennan.

NOTE .- This list is made from consulta- tion with aged persons. In regard to those of 1812, any list I could make would be so defective as to mislead rather than be a help. More than 40 men went out and most of them are buried here, and yet I have obtained only a dozen of the names.

Soldiers in the War of 1861 who are but- ried at Waterbury :- Major Edwin Dilling- ham, Capt. Lucien D. Thompson, Lieut. J. Edwin Henry, Lieut. Dow E. Stone, Surgeon James B. Woodward, Alba Dut- ton, C. E. L. Hills, Almon C. Thomas, Tilton Sleeper, Carlos Prescott, Charles Lee, Henry Lee, Joseph B. Conant, Clar- ence K. Mansfield, Wm. Wallace Whitney, Frank Stearns, Henry Dillingham, H. R. Bickford, Tabor H. Parcher, Ira S. Woodward, George S. Woodward, H. S. Burleigh, Augustus Steady.

NOTE .- This list is not complete, but as nearly so as time will permit us to make.

[This list was only asked from Mr. Dil- lingham two days before going into print. We had overlooked not having it. ED.]

ORIGIN OF THE REFORM SCHOOL.

Gov. Dillingham in his first annual mes- sage to the Legislature, that of 1865, rec- ommended the establishment of a State Reform School. On this suggestion an act was passed at the session of that year to establish the Vermont Reform School, that authorized the governor to appoint a board of three commissioners to purchase a farm not exceeding 200 acres of land.

The governor appointed Rev. A. G. Pease, Rev. L. A. Dunn, and Charles Reed, Esq., members of the Legislature that year. They received their commis- sions Nov. 24, and entered on the pre-

liminary duties of such a board, visiting reformatories in other States to acquire needful information relating to requisi- tions and management of such institutions. This was also preparatory to selecting a suitable location for a reform school. In their report the next year to the governor, they relate their proceedings and conclu- sions on the subjects of their inquiries ; also the requisitions in the location, and the reasons which determined them in favor of locating in Waterbury, which have been already stated in these papers, page 854.

THE BURNING OF THE REFORM SCHOOL

building Dec. 12, 1874, was a calamity to many individuals, and in some respects, to the public. The loss of public and private property was large; while 160 inmates es- caped with little but their lives in the dead of a December night, from their comfort- able home to undergo months of depriva- tion of their former comforts.

The loss of personal property in the building was little known; and probably few ever knew the loss of the State, in other ways than the cost of the building. It is well known to the tax-payers of the State that the fire led to the removal to Vergennes. However much the citizens of that ancient city may congratulate them- selves upon the event, and the maneuvers leading to it, few disinterested persons have ever had reason to be proud of the success of the means that led to its accom- plishment. The careful examinations of reformatories in other States, and inqui- ries into the necessary requisitions in choosing the location of such institutions, were narrated in the first annual report of the trustees; and their reasons for the selection of the site of the first location of the school in Waterbury, are believed to have been satisfactory to the great majority of the people of the State. If those rea- sons were good then, they were no less forcible after the fire, but rather more so, the surroundings being the same, and in addition, the foundation and much available material remaining which could be appro- priated to the rebuilding, a foundation

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already being laid ; a large outlay for that purpose would have been avoided. But whatever reasons might be assigned for rebuilding on the old site, the Legislature, especially the lower house, seemed indis- posed to regard them, while the senate by a very small majority concurred in the re- moval, even after the passage of the act authorizing the governor to purchase cer- tain designated real estate in Vergennes for the locating the reform school, it was reported he had serious doubts of the pro- priety of doing what the act authorized for purchase of that real estate .- R. BUTLER.

CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WATERBURY.

1876 .- This mission, before it became a parish with a residing pastor, was attended occasionally, first by Father O'Callaghan from Burlington, then successively by Rev. J. Daly, Rev. Father Drolet, the Reverend Oblate Fathers, from Burlington, Rev. Z. Druon and Rev. Joseph Duglue, the two last clergymen living then at Montpelier. It was in 1857, that the old church, dedi- cated to St. Vincent Ferrier, was built on the hill on the east side of the railroad, at a little distance from the depot. It was enlarged about 10 years afterwards by Father Duglue. The present pastor, the Rev. John Galligan was appointed to take charge of his congregation in the year 1869. He soon purchased a fine residence in Winooski turnpike street, and this year (1876,) he bought the adjoining lot where stands the Adventist meeting-house, which he is now enlarging and converting into a church. Rev. Z. DRUON.

1882 .- The Church of Waterbury was dedicated to Almighty God under the voca- ble of St. Andrew, the Apostle, Nov. 30, 1876. Waterbury is now attended regu- larly on every other Sunday by Rev. J. Galligan. Bishop DE GOESBRIAND.

Patrick Bryan, the first Catholic in town, a tailor, came from Burlington from 1815 to '20 ; settled and worked at his trade. He had a large family, and brought another tailor from Burlington here, Michael Con- nor, a Catholic ; both spent their lives here. Mr. Connor had several sons in the war. R. BUTLER.

SOME DAY.

There will be a hush in a darkened room Where, heeding not the stilly gloom, A pallid form will lowly lie,

Beneath the folds of snowy drapery, Pale hands elasped o'er a pulseless breast, Cold white lips in silence pressed, Eyes-that have elosed in sleep for aye ; There will be footsteps' muffled tread, And voices whisper, " she is dead," Some day.

Others tears and others woes Shall not disturb my deep repose ; Perhaps some loving hand may press My marble form in tenderness, And twine the myrtle with flowers fair, To deck my rest, as I slumber there. But nanght to me will that pressure be, Of beauty, or fragrance of rarest flowers, The light or shadows of passing hours- Some day.

I shall not heed as they bear me on, With solemn tread, to the churchyard lone; Or hear the tone of the deep-toned bell, Breaking with mournful ebb and swell; As they lower me down, I shall feel no fear, The requiem's strains I shall not hear,- Or even the shock of the yellow elay, As with hollow sound on my coffin lid, It falls and covers my narrow bed, Some day.

Summer and winter will come and go, With their floral wreath and robes of snow, And the phantom train of years go by, But I shall not heed them where I lie. The violet there, with its eyes of blue, May weep o'er my grave its tears of dew, The wild bird sing his sweetest lay. Yet the heart beneath lie cold and still; Will not respond with its wonted thrill, Some day.

Only a loek of silken hair, Little mementoes here and there,

Only a ceasing of care and #trife, Alas! alas! is it all of life?

Alı, nol there is somewhere a fairer shore,

Where friends long parted shall meet once more, A beauteous land in the far away, Where light and joy will ever remain, And the soul its long-lost treasure regain, Some day.

Then why should we fear, Oh Death, thy clasp, Or shrink at the touch of thy iey grasp? Sinee thou art the angel that opens the gate Of that city bright where our loved ones dwell. We will place these hands, without one thrill, Into thine own, so cold and chill ;

Come lead ns to that realm of day, Where never a sigh is heard, or knell, But where the pure and beautiful dwell Forever. Waterbury, Vt., March, 1872. M. M. N.

[A poem we clipped from the Burling- ton Free Press ten years since, and re- served till we might reach the history of Waterbury, not anticipating any difficulty in finding the author ; but our inquiry is to-day, who wrote it?

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DR. C. C. ARMS, [From the Vermont Watchman.]

was a physician here 20 years. He came from Stowe, where he first practiced his profession a short time. He was married not long before coming here, Nov. 16, 1833, to Lucia Mills, born in Windsor, Dec. 5, 1805. They had two daughters and one son, one daughter died in child- hood, one in young womanhood. Dr. Arms, Sr., died Apr. 15, 1854, age 51 ; Mrs. Arms Mar. 20, 1882. Mrs. Arms spent the most of her days after her hus- band's death in Waterbury, and left behind her a life marked by a quiet but positive exercise of the cardinal virtues of woman- hood. Her only son, Dr. Charles Carroll Arms, encouraged by his resolute mother, made his way through college, graduating at Dartmouth in the class of '65. acquired his profession, and now in Cleveland, Ohio, sustains a good reputation as a man and a physician. It was his privilege to be with his mother at her death.

DR. F. P. DREW,

Only son of Dr. Oliver W. Drew-see page 860-born in Waterbury, pursued classical studies in the University at Bur- lington, and his professional studies in the Medical College at Woodstock, and in the College of Surgeons of New York, where he graduated in the spring of 1857, and in the summer of that year entered upon his profession in Attica, Fountain Co., Ind. ; in the fall of 1859 moved to Junction City, Kansas, and continued the practice of his profession nearly 2 years ; was appointed Post Surgeon at Fort Riley, in the dis- charge of which office he continued until his death from pneumonia during the war, we believe, at the age of 35, leaving a young widow. He married Dec., 1861, to Nelly Chaney, of Attica, Ind. The Re- publican Union, Junction, Kansas, said of him at the time of his death : " By several years of medical practice in the vicinity of Junction City and Fort Riley, and as army surgeon at the Fort, he had acquired a high and increasing reputation. To a mind well disciplined by scientific culture, he added the gentle culture and the kind

sympathy which flow from a generous heart. His own ease, his health, even, were of no account compared to what he es- teemed the claims of duty to the suffering."

His father's death did not occur till some years after that of his son. The fa- ther had three wives ; first, Lucretia Arms, second, Margaret Woodward, third, Olivia L. B. Atherton. The first was the mother of his two children. The family are all now, but the third Mrs. Drew and daugh- ter, Mrs. Wood, dead.

BUTLER SKETCHES -CONTINUED.

EARLY FAMILIES.

We have briefly sketched three or four early families of our town ; if space permit- ted, we might notice some others, perhaps as worthy of such distinction in the Gazet- teer. Without attempting particulars in re- gard to most of them, Stiles Sherman had a family of 12 children, several of them died young ; only one survives, Mrs. Bebee of Burlington ; she was the youngest daugh- ter. Seth Chandler Sherman was the youngest son. He took the honors of the graduating class of 1829, in the Vt. Uni- versity. A few years after he setttled in Quincy, Ill., and lived there many years, and was much respected. He died two or three years since, and with his companion was buried in the same grave. The oldest brother, when young, settled in Central New York. Heman, the next older brother of Chandler, died a few years since in Ogdensburgh, N. Y., and was buried in this, his native town. An older sister mar- ried Elam, a brother of the late Judge Dan Carpenter. He died young, and his widow afterwards married Luther Cleaves. This family consisting of a son, Sherman Car- penter, and two sisters with their parents, moved West many years ago, and lived in, or in the vicinity of St. Louis, where Mrs. Cleaves died perhaps 20 years ago, having lived some years in her second widowhood. Thus might other similarly interesting sketches of families be made. We will only give the names of many, as they oc- cur in our recollection. There were Wil- sons, Perrys, Hills, Parchers, Guptils, Atkins, several families, Cadys, Wrights,

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Fisks, Hawleys, Roods, Robbins, Stevens, Austins, Allens, Scagels, Jones, Parkers, Murrays, Woodward, several large families, Greggs, three families, Smiths, two of Pecks, John and Hiram, Henrys, several Shermans, Kneeland, Palmers, Thomp- sons, Richardsons, Georges, Eddys, Bry- ants, Towns and Demmons, and still others whose names were familiar as household words 50 years ago. Of the recent names of business men or others, there are, omitting professionals, Seabury, Selleck, Knight, Wyman, Richardson and Fuller- ton, Arms, Haines, Bruce, Warren, Ran- dall, Brown, Hopkins, Clark and Freeman, Stockwell, Davis, Cooley, Crossetts, Rem- ington, Cole, Atherton, Muzzey, King, Morse, Picketts, Moodys, Evans, Taylors, Griggs, Watts, Collins, Foster, Jackman, and others.

LARGE MEN.

Some half century and more since,our town could boast of numbering among its inhabitants several families whose name stood high in the alphabet. but who, in their corporal dimensions, stood quite as high, and in their circular measurements quite respectable ; indeed, they would hardly fall short of the more recent Moody families. The Atkinses were numerous as well as of powerful frames, altitude over 6 feet, weight over 200, and some of them were men of wit, as most were of genial humor and good mental endow- ments. Any jokes at Henry's or Albro's expense were sure to be promptly paid in ready coin.

Horace and Henry were carpenters and joiners, and the builders of the first meet- ing house in town. Capt. George, the militia captain, was with his company at the battle of Plattsburgh. David was one of the town officers in early days, and, as well, a good deacon, I doubt not, as he married my father's sister, and belonged to his church. John was a man of some peculiarities ; it was said gathered sap with one pail only, most sugar makers use two if without a team.

JERUM ATKINS, his son, has a biogra- phy we would take pleasure in giving the reader were it possible to do justice in

the brief space allotted to this closing part of the history. Suffice it to say of him, from mere childhood he had a remarkable inclination for mechanism, and soon after developed an inventive genius of superior order. He worked with Henry Carter, a millwright, some years, and went West at about the age of 19, where he became somewhat famous as the inventor of the first grain-raker attachment to McCormick's celebrated reaper. This was an important invention, to the great grain growing region, especially, but owing to want of means, and want of health, he was obliged to di- vide the value of his invention with some one able to manufacture and introduce the raker into market. By injudicious man- agement, after many. had been disposed of, a change of manufacturer ruined the credit of the article, and others took advantage of this mismanagement of his manufacturer and reaped the profits of the invention. The history of Mr. Atkins is too long for these pages, and many interesting particu- lars must be omitted.

GEORGE W. RANDALL,

was born in Waterbury in 1826. Few men have had more varied experiences, and the events of his youth, and adven- tures in two trips to California have trained him to self-reliance and readiness in emer- gency. From poverty he has risen to wealth, and conducts an extensive business with little help from clerks. His farming and lumbering enterprises give employment to many ; and some of his feats in filling orders for dimension timber upon short notice, are surprising. His bills of lum- ber sent to several different States, amount to many thousands of dollars annually.

OUR MERCHANT FIRMS

have not very much changed in the last 10 years. In the ten preceding there were more changes in manufacturing, business and merchant firms. The Colby business, somewhat divided up, a part going to Mont- pelier, a part to the state of Michigan, and a part remaining. Mr. B. F. Goss, who had been a merchant here 20 or 30 years, moved to Vergennes, Mr. J. G. Stimson, [ who commenced trade here in 1844, went

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to Norwich, his native town, we think. Both these men were prominent in busi- ness, in politics, and in church, and will long be remembered by our older citizens. Mr. Goss became very successful in his new business, the manufacture of kaolin, in a town adjoining Vergennes. [See Montpelier, p. 471.] Of business changes at the Centre, we note that of Mr. Stock- well succeeding Mr. Hayes; Clark and Freeman continue. William Cooley con- tinues his creamery.

It would seem hardly excusable in us to pass the names of Messrs. Goss and Stim- son, after their long residence here, and having such social and business relations with us as they had, without somewhat more notice. Both Mr. and Mrs. Goss [Frank Goss, see family of Samuel Goss, history of Montpelier.] were genial in their manners, public spirited, sympathiz- ing in all the vicissitudes of life and liberal to all benevolent enterprises.

Mr. Stimson was with us a man thor- oughly schooled in business ; he was in early life, we think, in partnership in trade with Senator Morrill. His oldest son, William, served in the recent war, and has since been in mercantile business in New York. His second son is a doctor in Con- necticut ; third, probably with his parents. The youngest is a missionary in some for- eign land, and is a graduate of Dartmouth ; also a theological graduate.

Mr. Stimson has built two stores here, and given much for benevolent objects and the church of which he was a member.

THE LAST FIRE IN THIS PLACE,

of considerable account, was in the night, of July 27, 1878, in a central part of the vil- lage, when 4 stores, some of them, in part, occupied as dwellings, were consumed. The owners were M. M. Knight, J. A. Burleigh, F. B. Taylor and M. O. Evans. In the first was a large stock of dry goods ; total losses about $25,000, insured about two-thirds or three-fourths. These stores in 1879 were all replaced by two brick blocks, creditable to the builders and to the village.

One of the heaviest individual losses by

fire, that ever occurred in our town, was that of Dr. Fales, May 15, 1877. The fire was not discovered till several barns and sheds, with ten or a dozen head of cattle and three or four horses, were past being rescued. The fire rapidly approached the house, and the firemen were unable to save it on account of the insufficient supply of water. This house which had been, for sixty years, one of the most conspicuous in town, has since been replaced by a much more valuable one of brick. Dr. Fales was insured to considerable amount.

LONGEVITY.

The widow of Judge Carpenter died aged 93 ; a Mrs. Woodward, about 95 ; Elizabeth Corlis, 94 ; Mr. Heaton, 96; Daniel Stow- ell, about 92 ; John Montgomery, living, 85; Enoch Coffran, living, 87; Moses Nelson, living, 85 ; Nancy Frink, 86; Mrs. Daniels, 89 or 90 ; Mr Janes died aged 87} ; Mrs. Janes, 3 months of 82 years ; John Seabury, 87 ; L. Hutchins, about 80.

1880 .- Zenas Watts, who has been en- quiring after the ages of the old people in town, says he has learned of 41 persons whose average age is over 83 years. Of this number 5 are females over 90 years. Governor Dillingham is 83 ; John Mellen, 86; Elias Parcher, 86; Mrs. Spelacy, 86; Betsey Brown, 86; Jerry Brown, 82.

TOWN CLERKS.

Ezra Butler, 1790-97, 98, 99, 1800 ; Ebenezer Reed, 1797; Roswell Wells, 1801-6; Abel Dewolf, 1806; Dan Carpen- ter, 1807-10-12-29; John Peck, 1810, 11 ; Paul Dillingham, 1829-44; William Car- penter, 1844-51 ; John D. Smith, 1851-74 ; Frank N. Smith, 1874-82.

THE BANK OF WATERBURY.

The act of the Legislature chartering the Bank of Waterbury, was approved Dec. 5, 1853, and the commissioners appointed were : Wm. W. Wells, Paul Dillingham, W. H. H. Bingham, V. W. Waterman, T. P. Redfield, Rolla Gleason and Dan. Richardson. The bank commenced busi- ness Apr. 18, 1854, with the following di- rectors : Leander Hutchins, Paul Dilling- ham, Wm. W. Wells, Orrin Perkins and V. W. Waterman; Leander Hutchins,

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 139

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