The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 71

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 71

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lection. On the eve of their failures, or when they had any fears of failure, the debtors would come privately to the agent, and, with the remark, that " Col. Langdon had been too good to them to be injured," voluntarily placed in his hands the fullest securities they had in their power to offer. Within one week after such transactions, perhaps these debtors would fail ; sheriffs would be scouring the country for prop- erty, and almost every creditor would suffer loss except Col. Langdon. He, to the wonder of all, was always found secure.

The last characteristic incident of his life occurred when he was on his death bed. Finding his end drawing near, he sent for his attorney, and ordered him to make a life lease to an old revolutionary soldier of the farm he occupied, but of which the Colonel held a mortgage for more than its value. This was the last business transaction of his life. He died Jan. 7, 1831. As he was the idol of the people when he lived, so at his death he was lamented by more friends in the com- munity at large than falls to the lot of but few to have numbered among their real mourners.

HON. JEDUTHAN LOOMIS

was born in Tolland, Conn., Jan. 5, 1779. After receiving a fair academical education, he studied law with Hon. Oramel Hinck- ley, of Thetford, Vt. ; was admitted to the bar there, and came to Montpelier and es- tablished himself about 1805.

Mar. 11, 1807, he married Hannah, daughter of Col. and Judge Oramel Hinck- ley, of Thetford, who died suddenly, Dec. 24, 1813, leaving no issue. Oct. 10, 1814, he married Miss Charity Scott, of Peacham, who died June 13, 1821, leaving 2 sons, Gustavus H., the late Dr. Loomis, and Chauncey. Oct. 8, 1822, he married Miss Sophia Brigham, of Salem, Mass., who died in 1855, leaving Charity,-Mrs. Dana, of Woodstock,-now deceased ; Mrs. Jo- seph Prentiss, of Winona, Minn., and Charles Loomis, Esq., now deceased. Judge Loomis died Nov. 12, 1843.

In 1814, Mr. Loomis was appointed Register of Probate for the District of

Washington, but held the office only one year.

In 1820, he was elected the Judge of Probate for this district, and had the un- usual honor of receiving ten successive elections, the greatest number of elections of any other man in this County being five, given to the Hon. Salvin Collins.

From 1807, up to his death, there is scarcely a year in which he did not receive, and well and faithfully execute, some one of the trusts or offices of the town. And the last 20 years of his life he was, besides being an efficient friend of the common schools, always a laboring trustee, often the head prudential committee, and always the treasurer, and chief pillar of Wash. Co. Gram. School. In the latter capacity, for which, and for being so long the admitted model Judge of Probate of all this part of the State, he was mostly known to the public abroad.

There was once extant an old book called "The Minute Philosopher." We mention the name, because so suggestive of the character of Judge Loomis. He was a very carefully reasoning man, and carried his philosophy into all the minutia of business. Any of the little trusts or commissions growing out of a town, school district, highway district, or neighbor- hood or family affairs, which the more am- bitious or selfish would disdain to accept, or, if they did, only half execute, he would cheerfully accept, and always execute with the most scrupulous care. Indeed, he seemed to consider it his duty to do every- thing asked of him, if, in performing it, he thought he could benefit his fellow-men individually, or the public at large. It was so with him in his profession, so in the church of which he was an officer, and it was so everywhere.

Being a tall, dark-complexioned man, of formal manners, with a grave and rather austere countenance, he might be taken by the unacquainted for a man with few sen- sibilities ; but break through the apparent atmosphere of repulsion, and approach him, and you would find him as affection- ate as a brother.

Being extremely strict in all moral and

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religious observances, and seemingly rather set in his opinions, he might sometimes be taken for a bigot ; but get at his real views and feelings, and you would find him absolutely liberal, and willing to make all the allowance for errors which the largest charity might demand.

A man of legal knowledge, ordinary good judgment, and of known good mo- tives, who is willing to perform the duties of every small needful office, as well as great one, and who is ever ready to act the part of adviser, assistant and friend, in adjusting town difficulties and neigh- borhood dissensions, is always a great blessing to a village community, and such was Judge Jeduthan Loomis. More than will ever be justly appreciated, probably, is Montpelier village indebted to him for his untiring and self-sacrificing exertions to advance her best interests.

HON. TIMOTHY MERRILL.

Emphatically a public man, was born in Farmington, Conn., Mar. 26, 1781, where, having received little more than a common school education, when becoming of age, he shouldered his pack, and travelled on foot to Bennington, Vt., where his older brother, Hon. Orsamus C. Merrill, had some years before established himself in the legal profession. Here he studied law ; was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in partnership with the after- wards noted Robert Temple, in Rutland. But not feeling very well satisfied with his situation, dissolved with Temple in less than a year, and removed to Montpelier in 1809, and established himself alone in his profession. In 1812, he married Clara, daughter of Dr. Fassett, of Bennington. They had 5 children-a son who died in infancy ; Ferrand F. Merrill, our late well- known fellow citizen ; Edwin S. Merrill, of Winchendon, Mass., formerly post- master of Montpelier ; Clara Augusta, who died in 1842, and Timothy R. Merrill, our present town clerk.

In 1811-'12, Mr. Merrill was the town representative of Montpelier. In 1811, was elected the first State's Attorney of the new County of Jefferson, and in 1815 to the same office, the name of the county

being now changed to that of Washington, which office he held through seven succes- sive elections, eight in all ; two more than ever received in that office by any other man in the county, Dennison Smith hav- ing received but six. In 1815, he was elected Engrossing Clerk of the General Assembly, and received seven successive elections to that office. In 1822, he was elected Clerk of the House of Representa- tives, and received nine successive elec- tions to that office. In 1831, he was elected Secretary of State, which office he retained till his death, having received in it five successive elections.

In his profession, Mr. Merrill took a very fair rank, and was sustained by as fair a patronage. But his public employ- ments required too much of his time and attention to permit him to reach the posi- tion in his profession to which his admitted talents would have otherwise doubtless raised him. He was ever considered, how- ever, a safe legal adviser ; and in his ap- peals to juries, as well as in his addresses to public assemblies, he often warmed up into genuine eloquence, the effect of which was heightened by one of the most clear- toned and melodious voices which it was ever the good fortune of a public man to possess ; and yet with such a fair profes- sional business to bring him money, be- sides his receipts from his public offices, he died worth but little property, and what added pertinency to the fact, his family ever dressed and lived, for their position, with great plainness and frugality ; but he never charged anything for advice, though his office was thronged by those seeking it ; being naturally a peace man and very conscientious, he would advise three men out of lawsuits where he would one into them. He never charged for his legal services much more than half what was usually charged by other lawyers of the same standing, and what he did charge he would, in any event, often remit a part from, and if his client was unsuccessful, be quite likely to give in nearly the whole of it.

In person, he was below the medium height, but had a fine head, good features

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and a very intelligent and prepossessing countenance. He was one of the most affectionate of husbands and fathers, one of the most agreeable of neighbors, and one of the most correct and enlightened of citizens-honored be his memory.

HON. FERRAND F. MERRILL, son of Hon. Timothy, of whom, to a most singular extent, the public history of the father was the history of the son. Like the father, and for about the same number of years, though at a much younger age, the son was Clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives. Like the father, was the son at once transferred from the clerkship to the office of Secretary of State, to be therein retained, we believe, exactly the same number of years during which the former lived to hold the office. Like the father, the son was State's Attorney for Washington County, though, through the altered rules of rotation, not so long ; and, like the father, was the son, for the now customary term, the representative of Montpelier in the legislature.

By his education, by his readiness in all matters in form, acquired under his fath- er's trainings, advantages of personal ap- pearance, and great courtesy of manners, he was unusually fitted to do well and ap- pear well in public life, and was an accom- plished and popular officer. In the legis- lature he became a prominent member, and in the difficult position in which he found himself placed, in the keenly con- tested question relative to the removal of the seat of government from Montpelier, he displayed an ability and tact which met the full approval of his constituents, and which, had he consented to be again a candidate, would have ensured him further elections.

In private life he was blameless, in all his social relations much esteemed. In the furtherance of the interests of religion, morals and education, he took a conspic- uous part, and, in fine, he began to be looked upon as one of the most capable and useful of our citizens, when he died of apo- plexy, May 2, 1859, in the meridian of his usefulness, and when his prospects for pro- fessional eminence were the brightest.

HON. ARAUNAH WATERMAN

was born in Norwich, Conn., Nov. 8, 1778. He sprang from good Revolutionary stock, his father having been at first a subaltern officer, and then commissary, in the con- tinental army, and his uncles either officers or soldiers. His advantages for education were 6 months schooling before the age of 12. At about 13, he was apprenticed to a carpenter of his town, and served till 21, working steadily by day, and studying at night by the light of pine knots, to make up the deficiences of his education. Soon after acquiring his trade, was recommend- ed as a master mechanic to Gen. Pinkney, of South Carolina, who was wishing to build somewhat extensively on his several large plantations, was accepted, and the first year devoted himself to the superin- tendency of erecting the various structures contemplated, among which was a fine summer house on Sullivan's Island, and the next year, having by his capacity and integrity gained the fullest confidence of Gen. Pinkney, who was appointed U. S. Minister to England, was made steward and chief supervisor over all the General's estates. After leaving Gen. Pinkney's em- ployment, he returned to Connecticut, but in 1801 or 1802, came to Vermont with his brothers, the present Judges Joseph and Thomas Waterman, and other brothers and sisters, and with them settled in Johnson. In 1804, he married Rebecca, daughter of Oliver Noyes, of Hydepark, and sister of the Hon. David P. Noyes, by whom he had several children, among whom is the Hon. Vernon W. Waterman, of Morristown. His wife dying in 1812, in something over a year afterward, he mar- ried Mehitable Dodge, of New Boston, N. H., now deceased, but long known among us as a most estimable woman, by whom he had 7 children, two of whom, daughters, are still living on the old home- stead in Montpelier. After residing in Johnson about a dozen years, engaged in farming, constructing the machinery re- quired about the different mills of that brisk village, and particularly by the card- ing and clothing works with which he be- came connected, he removed to Mont-

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pelier about the beginning of 1814, and purchased the farm and a portion of the water privilege, lying on the west bank of the North Branch, above and around the falls, on the borders of this village. Here, besides carrying on his farm, he soon en- gaged in erecting, improving and carrying on carding and clothing works, and before many years, in connection with Seth Persons, erected and put in operation the comparatively extensive woolen factory, which was burned March, 1826, and at the burning of which he came near losing his life. After this, he mainly employed him- self in improving his farm, which, with his house, soon brought considerably within the village by its gradual extension in that direction, he continued to occupy until his death, coming, at the age of So, to close his unusually varied, active and laborious life, Jan. 31, 1859.

In 1821, '22, '23, '26, Mr. Waterman was elected town representative of Montpelier. When the new State Senate was estab- lished, in 1836, Mr. Waterman was tri- umphantly elected as one of the two first senators of Washington County, and on the following year, as triumphantly re-elected to complete the senatorial term, which, in what is called the Two Year Rule, had been previously adopted. In 1840, he was elected by the legislature to the office of Judge of the County Court, which office, however, being unsought and unexpected by him, he declined to accept. As a rep- resentative and senator, he never spoke for the sake of talking, and never except to support some measure which he be- lieved calculated for the public good, or to subserve some cherished political interest ; and then his extensive practical knowledge and accurate political information enabled him to speak with effect.

retire from the field, much employed on difficult surveys of land plots, disputed lines, and laying out of new public roads, and about 1830, when, on the completion of the great canal in New York, the feasi- bility of canals across this State began to be agitated, he was appointed, under an appropriation from the general govern- ment, to conduct a survey for a canal from Burlington up the valley of the Winooski, and over the heights to Wells River, run- ning into the Connecticut. This he ac- complished, and, in doing it, was the first man to ascertain the altitude of Montpel- ier above Lake Champlain, and the alti- tude of Kettle Pond, on the eastern border of Marshfield, the lowest summit level of the heights between Montpelier and Con- necticut river. And in proof of the accu- racy of his survey, as imperfect as were his instruments, may be cited the fact, that when the surveys of the Central rail- road were perfected, it was found that the engineers, with their greatly more perfect instruments, and their everyway better equipments and means, had made the level of the top of the dam across the river at Montpelier to vary but between 3 and 4 feet from the altitude recorded in Mr. Wa- terman's survey made a dozen years be- fore.

Mr. Waterman was active in improving our common schools, and for many years one of the most efficient of the trustees of our Academy. And in despite of the mul- tiplicity of his cares, found time to keep himself posted in matters of general science and literature. He was probably the most reliable geologist in Montpelier. In a knowledge of the principles of mechanics and their practical applications, he had few superiors anywhere. His knowledge of history was extensive, and of our national politics singularly ample and accurate. The late Jonathan Southmayd, 12 years preceptor of our Academy, was in the habit of often conferring with Mr. Water- man in the solution of difficult problems in the higher branches of mathematics, me- chanics and other sciences, and once re- marked, he had never met a man, not ed-

We find Mr. Waterman's name on our town records often associated with the most important of our town offices. But he was not much known in these, because, doubtless, he was almost constantly in higher posts attracting a more general no- tice. Being esteemed the best surveyor in this section of the country, he was, after our old surveyor, Gen. Davis, began to lucated in a college, who could compare

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with him in the extent of his general and the accuracy of his scientific knowledge.

As a citizen, man and neighbor, his use- fulness and practical benevolence were universally admitted, and the assistance he was frequently rendering others, through their bad returns for the favors conferred, kept down to a simple competence what would othewise have been a handsome property for the inheritance of his family.

Among those of an active life, a man's capacities and character are best accurately measured by what he accomplishes. By this rule, what Mr. Waterman accomplish- ed would place him far above the level of ordinary men. In the first place he made himself-no common achievement where such a man is made, and made under such disadvantages ; and then he achieved for himself, for his family and for the public, all that we have related of him. Let all that stand as the simple record of his life. What cause have his friends to ask for a better monument to his memory?

HON. CYRUS WARE,

son of Jonathan Ware, of Wrentham, Mass., was born May 8, 1769. His father died when he was but 3 years of age, but he continued with his family and attended the common schools of the place till nearly 14, when he went to Hartford, Vt., to learn the blacksmith's trade, in the shop of a Mr. Billings, who had married his sister, and worked faithfully at the trade till 21 ; and then, with what knowledge he had contrived to pick up by reading during his apprenticeship, he went to studying law with Hon. Charles Marsh, of Wood- stock, and after a year or two, went to Royalton and completed the prescribed course of legal studies with Jacob Smith, Esq., and was here admitted to the bar in 1799, and the same year came to Mont- pelier, and opened an office in this village. His capacities appear to have early attract- ed the attention of his townsmen; for within about one year after he came into town, we find him figuring in town offices, in some one of which he was retained until the September State election, 1805, when he represented Montpelier in the General Assembly, and did so acceptably acquit

himself, his constituents gave him five an- nual successive elections, a number never exceeded in the case of any Montpelier representative, and never equalled except in the case of Col. Davis. While still rep- resentative, he was in 1808 made chief Judge of Caledonia County Court, and re- ceived three successive elections, being continued in that office until the organiza- tion of the new County of Jefferson, which, on account of his residence within it, made him ineligible to any further elections to the bench of Caledonia County. In addi- tion, he was annually appointed what is called the law and trial justice of the peace for the last forty years of his life, doing, through a large portion of that period, the greater share of the justice business of the place, and making its profits the main means of his livelihood.

There can be no doubt Judge Ware, at the time he was the Judge of the Caledonia County Court and the representative of Montpelier, and for many years afterwards, was one of the most influential men in the State. That his rulings and decisions while judge met the approbation of the bar and the people, is shown by his being annually elected to the bench as long as he was eligible, at the instance of the people of the county where his judicial ministrations were best known. As town representative, he secured to his town, by his talents and skillful management, the location of the seat of government and its untold advantages. The late Hon. John Mattocks, who was an active participant in what was called the "first State House struggle," was afterwards heard by more than one person to declare, however strongly right and policy demanded the location of the seat of government here at the centre of the State, yet so keen was the rivalry for the honor by the older vil- lages of the State, it would never have been conferred on Montpelier, but for the unwearied exertions and exceedingly skill- ful management of its representative, Judge Ware.

For the last twenty years of his life, through improvidence in his affairs and the growing expenses of a large family, but

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not through personal vices, he appears to have sunk into comparative poverty, and into the public neglect that too often ac- companies it. But even in his lowest state of poverty, he was the philosopher.

" I hope you don't call me poor," he would say to those who attempted to com- miserate him. " I consider it settled that a white child is worth two negro children, which are held at $500 apiece, and as fast as I had children born, I put them down on my inventory at $1,000 each, till my estate reached the handsome amount of $6,000, and, thank Heaven, I have the same property yet on hand."

In structure of mind, thought, words and ways, Judge Ware was probably the most perfectly original character we ever had in Montpelier. And his shrewd observations and quaint and witty sayings were, in his day, more quoted than those of any other man in all this section of the country. Clear, discriminating and patient in in- vestigating all important cases, which he conducted by a silent process of mind, yet the result was generally made known in terms and phrases which nobody else would think of using. His brain was singularly creative, and it seemed to be his greatest recreation to indulge in' its half-serious, half-sportive frolics. We have it from a lady of this village, when a small girl, she and her mate used to resort to his house night after night, to hear him improvise an original novel, which, for their gratifica- tion, he would begin one evening, take up the next where he left it, and so carry it on, in good keeping, through a succession of hearings, till it was finished, making probably a more instructive and amusing tale than many that have been published.

Judge Ware married Patty, daughter of Gardner Wheeler, Esq., of Barre, May 26, 1803, who survived him. They had 6 children-Gardner W., deceased; Patty Militiah, wife of Samuel Caldwell, of St. Johns, Canada East ; Cyrus Leonard, of the vicinity of New York ; Henry, of Ohio ; George, of parts unknown ; Mary, wife of Joel Foster, Jr., and Louisa.

Judge Ware died at Montpelier, Feb. 17, 1849, aged nearly 80.

CAPTAIN TIMOTHY HUBBARD.

To be numbered with those who, by their business capacities and energy of character, contributed most to the wealth and prosperity of Montpelier, were three brothers, Timothy, Roger and Chester Hubbard, who came here before or about the beginning of the present century. They were all enterprising, clear headed men, and, while they remained in trade, successful merchants, especially Chester Hubbard, who confined himself exclusively to trade, and died in 1832, leaving, though then only in middle life, a very handsome property. As the elder more particularly identified himself with the public offices and institutions of the town, and more largely attracted public attention, we have selected him as their representative.

Timothy Hubbard was born near the city of Hartford, Conn., Aug. 17, 1776, lived with his father and worked on a farm till 21, getting all the education he ever had at the common school. After contin- uing to work on his father's farm, on stipu- lated wages, probably, about 4 years after he was of age, he came, in 1799, to Mont- pelier, established himself in trade with Wyllis I, Cadwell, Esq., a connection of the Lymans of Hartford, Conn. and Hart- ford, Vt. In 1801, he married Lucy, the third daughter of Colonel Jacob Davis, a very estimable woman. In 1803, he dis- solved his connection with Mr. Cadwell, and went into partnership in trade with his brother-in-law, the Hon. David Wing. After the death of Judge Wing, in 1806, he associated with him his brother, Roger Hubbard, till about 1816, when he ceased to be any further engaged in mercantile affairs, and employed himself in supervis- ing the cultivation of his different valuable farms in Berlin, and particularly the one on the borders of Montpelier Village, which he soon made his homestead for the remainder of his life.

In 1810, he was elected Captain of the fine military company, called the Gover- nor's Guards, of which Isaac Putnam was the first captain; and though he was taken almost from the ranks, he soon showed himself to be one of the best mili_

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 71

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