The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 83

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 83

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MARY AVERY EASTMAN, the last and only living descendant, was born in Mont- pelier, in 1849 .. She married, 1872, Eldin J. Hartshorn, son of Hon. John W. Harts- horn of this State, and now resides at Emmetsburg, Iowa, where her husband is practicing his profession of the law; has been State Senator, &c.

JOHN G. EASTMAN, eldest son of Chas. G., died in Montpelier in his 20th year, May 30, 1870.

EDWARD S., second son of Charles G., died in Montpelier in his 19th year, Oct. 2, 1875.

Mrs. Eastman, for several years after her husband's decease, until after the death of her two sons, continued to reside at Montpelier, spending a part of each year with her daughter at the West; but within a few years has again taken up her residence in Woodstock.

To the first and sweetest of our Poets- pre-eminently our State bard, we must-we could not satisfy Montpelier otherwise, nor yet ourself, though crowding to a close- make space for yet a cluster from his poems to lay at the foot of his biography at the Capital :

THE FIRST SETTLER.

His hair is white as the winter snow,

His years are many, as you may know,- Some elghty-two or three;

Yet a hale old man, still strong and stout, And able when 'tis fair to go out

His friends In the street to see ;

And all who see his face still pray That for many a long and quiet day He may live, by the Lord's mercy.

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He came to the State when the town was new, When the lordly pine and the hemlock grew In the place where the court house stands; When the stunted ash and the alder black, The slender fir and the tamarack, Stood thick on the meadow lands; And the brook, that now so feebly flows. Covered the soil where the farmer hoes The corn with his hardy hands.

He built In the town the first log hut ; And he is the man, they say, who cut The first old forest oak ; His axe was the first, with its echoes rude, To startle the ear of the solitude, With its steady and rapid stroke. From his high log-heap through the trees arose, First, on the hills, mid the winter snows, The fire and the curling smoke.

On the land he cleared the first hard year, When he trapped the beaver and shot the deer, Swings the sign of the great hotel ; By the path where he drove his ox to drink The mill-dam roars and the hammers clink, And the factory rings its bell. And where the main street comes up from the south Was the road he " blazed " from the river's mouth, As the books of the town will tell.

In the village, here, where the trees are seen, Clreling 'round the beautiful Green, He planted his hills of corn; And there, where you see that long brick row, Swelling with silk and calico, Stood the hut he built one morn: Old Central street was his pasture lane, And down by the church he will put his cane On the spot where his boys were born.

For many an hour I have heard him tell Of the time, he says, he remembers well, When high on the rock he stood, And nothing met his wandering eye Above, but the clouds and the broad blue sky, And below, the waving wood; And how, at night, the wolf would howl Round his huge log fire, and the panther growl, And the black fox bark by the road.

He looks with pride on the village grown So large on the land that he used to own; And still as he sees the wall Of huge blocks built, In less than the time It took, when he was fresh in his prime, To gather his crops in the fall; He thinks, with the work that, somehow, he Is identified, and must oversee And superintend it all.

His hair is white as the winter snow, And his years are many, as you may know,- Some eighty-two or three; Yet all who see his face will pray, For many a long and quiet day By the Lord's good grace, that he May be left in the land, still hale and stout, And able still when 'tis fair, to go out His friends in the street to see.

THE BATTLE OF PLATTSBURGH.

He who has still left of his two hands but one, With that let him grapple a sword; And he who has two, let him handle a gun; And forward, boys! forward! the word.

The murmuring sound of the fierce battle-tide Already resounds from afar; Forward, boys! forward, on every side, For Vermont and her glittering star!

Who lingers behind when the word has passed down That the enemy swarm o'er the line ?

When he knows in the heart of a North border town Their glittering bayonets shine? Push on to the North; the fierce battle-tide Already resounds from afar; Push on to the North from every side, For Vermont and her glittering star!

Forward! the State that was first in the fight When Allen and Warner were here, Should not be the last now to strike for the right, Should never be found In the rear! Then, on to the North! the fierce battle-tide Already resounds from afar ;

Push on to the North from every side, For Vermont and her glittering star!

Ilark! booms from the lake, and resounds from the land, The roar of the conflict. Push on ! Push on to the North! on every hand Our boys to the rescue have gone ; Forward! the State that was first in the fight When Allen and Warner were here, Should not be the last now to strike for the right, Should never be found in the rear.

OF LOVE AND WINE.

Of love and wine old poets sung, Old poets rich and rare,- Of wine with red and ruby heart, And love with golden hair; Of wine that winged the poet's thought, And woke the slumbering lyre; Of love that through the poet's line Ran like a flash of fire.

But wine, when those old poets sung Its praises long ago, Was something subtler than the bards Of modern ages know ;- Ay, wine was wine when Teian girls, Flushed with the rosy dew, To old Anacreon's fiery strains Through wanton dances flew.

And love, when those old poets sung Its praises long ago, Was something warmer than the bards Of modern ages know : - Ay, love was love when Teian girls, Flushed with the melting fire, With roses crowned Anacreon's brow, With kisses pald his lyre.

PURER THAN SNOW.

Purer than snow Is a girl I know; Pnrer than snow Is she ; Her heart is light, And her cheek is bright,- Ahl who do you think she can be ?

I know very well, But I never shall tell, "Twould spoil all the fun, you see; Her eye is blue ; And her lip, like dew, And red as a mulberry.

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THE APPLE BLOSSOM:

Here's an apple blossom, Mary ; See how delicate and fair! Here's an apple blossom, Mary ; Let me weave it in your hair!

Alı! thy halr is raven, Mary, And the curls are thick and bright; And this apple blossom, Mary, Is so beautifully white!

There! the apple blossom, Mary, Looks so sweet among your curls! And the apple blossom, Mary, Crowns the sweetest of the girls.

But the apple blossom. Mary, You must have a little care Not to tell your mother, Mary, That I wove It in your hair!

HON. RAWSEL R. KEITH,

oldest son of Hon. Chapin Keith, born in Uxbridge, Mass., Nov. 21, 1790, died in Montpelier Oct. 25, 1874. Coming to Barre with his father in 1793, he remained there until 1817, when he came to Mont- pelier as deputy sheriff, and held that office and the shrievalty until 1831. He was Judge of Probate 1833 to 36, and long a di- rector and finally president of the Bank of Montpelier, retiring voluntarily from these positions. He was a man of firmness and integrity, and highly esteemed by his fel- low citizens. He married Mary T. Wheel- er of Barre, who bore him 2 sons ; R. D. W. Keith, now of Chicago, and Alonzo T. Keith, now of Montpelier.

LUTHER NEWCOMB, ESQ.

BY H. A. HUSE.

Luther Newcomb, for many years the county clerk of Washington County, was born in Derby, Apr. 10, 1826, and died from Bright's disease, at his home in Mont- pelier, Jan. 2, 1876. His father was Dr. Luther Newcomb, whose wife was Lucretia Martin. Dr. Newcomb was the first phy- sician to locate in that part of northern Vermont, and was eminent in his profes- sion ; among his students was Dr. Colby, the father of Stoddard B. Colby. Dr. New- comb died when Luther was 5 years old, and the boy remained with his mother 6 years after his father's death.

The family was intimate with Hon. Isaac F. Redfield, and when Luther was 1 1 years old, he came to Montpelier and became the same as a member of Judge Redfield's

family. He studied under the direction of the Judge and entered Wash. Co. Gram- mar School, where he pursued his studies until prepared to enter college. He then read law under the direction of Judge Red- field, and was for a time a student in the office of O. H. Smith, Esq. Though fit- ted for admission to the bar, he did not apply for it, but receiving an appoint- ment in the customs service he was 2 years a revenue officer on Lake Champlain.

Jan. 1, 1849, he was appointed Deputy Clerk of Wash. Co. Court under Shubael Wheeler. He was in Dec., 1857, appoint- ed Clerk and held the position during the rest of hislife. He was a model officer, and had not only the respect and affection of the Washington County bar and the court, but as the general term of the Supreme Court was held here, that of members of the bar of the whole State.

Mr. Newcomb married June 25, 1857, Amanda Thomas, only daughter of Gen. Stephen Thomas. His wife and 3 sons, Charles, Luther, and Stephen T., survive him.

Mr. J. W. Wheelock, who died the month after Mr. Newcomb, on the death of the latter wrote for his paper, from his own sick bed, a few words concerning his old friend, and among them were the fol- lowing :

He was in many respects a remarkable man. Beneath a business-like and, to the casual observer, almost stern exterior, was hidden a heart tender as that of a woman, and one ever prompting him to those kindly thoughts and acts which so ennoble and exalt human nature. Unobtrusive, and apparently concerned only about the proper performance of his duties as clerk of the court, he yet possessed so comprehensive and discriminating powers of mind that he took in almost intuitively the bearings and consequences of matters brought before him ; and many a sentence of crisp brevity has contained, as in a nut-shell, the law and wisdom of it, and the decision at which the learned judge arrives after a most elaborate and exhaustive review. He was always ready to aid and encourage the inexperienced or timid, and many a success has been achieved through a timely word of advice and aid from him. He was judicious as a counsellor, valuable

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and safe as an adviser, and faithful, even unto death, in his friendships.

The funeral of Mr. Newcomb was in the Court House, Rev. J. E. Wright conduct- ing the services, and Hon. Charles W. Willard making an address. Mr. Willard in his address spoke not only as the rep-, resentative of the bar, but, indeed, as the nearest friend, and said that the friend- ship of Luther Newcomb had been the friendship of his manhood and his life.

CHARLES CLARK, M. D.,

son of Nathaniel and Lucy (Perry) Clark, was born in what is now known as East Montpelier, Jan. 31, 1800. His parents were among the early settlers of the town, and had come from Rochester, Mass. It is claimed by some members of the Clark family still residing in Rochester, that they are descended from Thomas Clark, mate on the Mayflower, who returned on the brig Anne, and settled in the Plymouth colony in 1623. One of the oldest stones in the cemetery at Plymouth bears the name of Nathaniel Clark, who died in 1714, at 74.

Charles was the second son in a family of 6 children. An injury of his left knee, in his fourth year, caused its amputation 3 years after. This was before the day of anæsthetics. As illustrative of the spirit of the boy, when the surgeon, Dr. Nathan Smith of Hanover, proposed to bind him, as was usual in such cases, the child re- fused, placed himself on the table, sub- mitted to the painful operation without the quivering of a muscle, without a word or any sign of pain.

His father died when he was but 10 years of age, and from that time on, with an indomitable courage characteristic of his whole life, he supported himself by his own labor.

attended lectures at Castleton Medical College. He began the practice of med- icine with Dr. N. C. King, of North Mont- pelier, in 1821, and removed to Calais 2 years later, where he purchased a small farm of 20 acres, and set up for himself. He was soon after married to Clarissa Boyden, daughter of Darius Boyden, Esq., of Montpelier, where he resided 14 years. In speaking of these early days he used to say, "Medical practice in these days of warm wraps and nice robes is quite another thing from my experience in the dead of winter on horseback, or at best in a bare sleigh, with insufficient clothing."

In 1837, he removed to Montpelier, pur- chasing the Boyden homestead, where he resided for 12 years, securing an extensive practice not only in Montpelier, but in surrounding towns, winning public confi- dence and affection wherever known.

In 1849, he moved into the village of Montpelier, both for the better education of his children and the more convenient practice of his profession, in which he con- tinued actively engaged till 1865, when he met with an accident resulting in a severe and protracted illness, from which he never wholly recovered. After this, he retired from general practice, retaining only office and consultation business. In 1868, he was again severely injured by being thrown from his carriage. From this he had par- tially recovered, when a year later he was stricken with paralysis. With patient en- durance he lingered through 5 years more of suffering and prostration till his death, June 21, 1874.

Dr. Clark was a man of more than or- dinary natural gifts, or he would never have accomplished what he did-left poor in this world's goods, crippled by his physical infirmity, and with but very limited op- portunities of education. In person he was 6 feet of stature and fine presence and great physical endurance. He was re- markable for his keen observation of men and things, and was rarely mistaken in his judgment. His genial manners, generous sympathies, and fund of anecdote, made him always welcome at the bedside of his

The record of the next 20 years is astory of trials and privations, which a less brave spirit would not have overcome. His ed- ucational advantages were limited to the common school and a few terms in the Washington County Grammar School. He studied his profession with Dr. Edward Lamb, of Montpelier, and as early as 1819, [ patients, and contributed not a little to his

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success. He was thoroughly devoted to his profession, kept himself well informed of the progress of the science through standard medical journals, and was always ready to accept and try new methods. But his own experience and observation served him better than books. He compounded his medicines with little regard to received formulas, and more from his judgment in each particular case. Those best ac- quainted with him, greatly regret that he did not write out for the benefit of the profession the results of his large and varied experience.

As a man and a citizen, it is not too much to say that he was universally es- teemed-a man of public spirit, interested in every movement and enterprise that looked to the welfare of society. Though not a professor of religion till late in life, he started and superintended a Sabbath- school during his short residence at North Montpelier, was one of the earliest and staunchest advocates of temperance, and was always urging improvements in meth- ods and opportunities of education. He spared no self-denial and sacrifice to give his own children advantages which were denied to himself, and in the same gen- erous spirit sought the welfare of others. He was for 12 years president of the board of trustees and chairman of the prudential committee of the Washington County Grammar School, and for many years treas- urer of the Vermont Medical Society, of which he was an active member. He was too much given to his own special work to engage in political life, yet he yielded to the wishes of his friends, and served as representative of Montpelier in the Legis- lature in 1846, '47. He was not a public speaker, as he felt the need of proper culture for this, but was esteemed as a very useful working man on committees. His judgment was always valued in practical questions of politics. One incident, how- ever, he was wont to recall with a good deal of satisfaction in later years. A bill for a license law was being pushed through the legislature, and was likely to pass, greatly to the regret of friends of tem-

perance. Just at the last moment when an amendment was possible, Dr. Clark rose to his place without previous con- sultation with others, presented a brief amendment, urged it home with a few chosen words, and secured its prompt passage by the House. A leading politi- cian who had been interested in carrying the measure, rushed across the hall at once, and said to him with much excite- ment, "Your amendment has killed the bill." "Just what I intended," was the reply. He was warmly congratulated by friends of temperance at once and for years after on the defeat of a measure which he felt would have been attended with serious injury to the best interests of the State.

The following tribute was rendered him by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Lord: "His life began with suffering, it closed in suf- fering, but its long intermediate years were filled with hard work, with brave labors, irradiated by a warm, genial spirit, by de- votion to the best interests of his fellow- men, with zeal for education, good morals and religion, by professional skill, fidelity and enthusiasm. He received, as he em- inently merited, the respect, confidence and love of all who knew him."

-From the Family.

DEA. CONSTANT W. STORRS

was born in Royalton in 1801, came to Montpelier in 1822, and from that time until his death was engaged in merchan- dise-more than half a century. In 1831, he became a member of the First Congre- gational Church, and in 1835 was elected one of its deacons-an office which he tried to magnify as long as he lived. For 22 years he was treasurer of the Vermont Do- mestic Missionary Society. He was great- ly interested in religious matters, and la- bored incessantly in season and out of season. Early in life he married a daugh- ter of Wyllis I. Cadwell, who bore him two sons and a daughter, the beautiful daughter dying when about to reach maturity. The widow and son survive. Dea. Storrs died Mar. 23, 1872. E. P. W.

كريب

Chart

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HON. CHARLES REED. BY REV. J. EDWARD WRIGHT.

Charles Reed was born in Thetford, Nov. 24, 1814, and died in Montpelier, after a sickness of less than three days, Mar. 7, 1873. He was the oldest child of Hon. Joseph Reed, and his second wife, Elizabeth Burnap, daughter of Rev. Jacob Burnap, of Merrimac, N. H., and sister of the scholarly Unitarian minister long settled in Baltimore, Md., Rev. George W. Burnap, D. D. Montpelier was Mr. Reed's home from 1827, when his father came here to reside. He pursued his pre- paratory studies at the Washington County Grammar School, entered Dartmouth Col- lege, and graduated in 1835. Among his classmates and intimate friends there was the late Governor Peter T. Washburn. He studied law in Montpelier, in the office of Hon. William Upham, and afterwards for 2 years in the Dane Law School, Har- vard University, where he received the de- gree of LL.B. in 1839. He was admit- ted to the Washington County Bar in 1838, and in Sept., 1839, formed a partner- ship with Hon. Homer W. Heaton, which continued for a third of a century without change in the location of the office, being only dissolved by Mr. Reed's death. He married Emily Eliza, eldest daughter of Hon. Daniel Baldwin of Montpelier, June 5, 1842, by whom he had five children ; two of whom, Elizabeth Burnap, wife of Col. J. H. Lucia of Vergennes, and Maria G., with their mother, survived him. (Mrs. Lucia died, leaving husband and 3 children, Jan. 5, 1881.)

From time to time Mr. Reed's fellow citizens honored themselves in honoring him with positions of trust. He was cho- sen justice of the peace for a number of years ; was elected state's attorney in 1847, and again in 1848, and was appointed reg- ister of probate in the latter year,-per- forming the duties of the office by deputy. For some 5 years he was one of the select- men of Montpelier. In 1858, he was cho- sen trustee and librarian of the State libra- ry, and also a member of the Vt. Historical Society, in whose work he was deeply in- terested, serving as one of its curators, and

publishing committee, and also as its li- brarian. He represented Montpelier in the Legislatures of 1862 and i863, and for the three following years occupied a seat in the Senate chamber. While in the Senate, he interested himself ardently in the institution of the Vermont Reform School, now located in Vergennes, and be- came chairman of its first board of trustees, which position he retained till his death. At the establishment of Green Mount Cem- tery in Montpelier, Mr. Reed was chosen one of its commissioners, and was re- elected to that trust, which he had held for many years, on the last day of his active business life. He was one of the four far-sighted men who advocated and secured that change in the school system of Montpelier, which brought the Washing- ton County Grammar School and the district schools into harmonious relations under the same board of management and in the same building; and he was repeatedly elected chairman of the united committees. In 1869, he was chosen a member of the Council of Censors, and in that capacity advocated extending the right of suffrage to women. Politically he was a democrat in early life, but from the breaking out of the rebellion, he took sides with the repub- lican party. His last illness was occasion- ed by a cold taken in the chilly air of the unwarmed State Library, while he was in- vestigating some historical topic. This was increased by exposure a few days later, at the March meeting, which his interest in Temperance Reform led him to attend ; and thus were developed, in a constitution originally strong, but weakened by over- work, the pleuro-pneumonia and conges- tion which ended his earthly career.

Mr. Reed was, first of all, a man of integrity. This appeared in his business relations with others, and won for him their utmost confidence ; and it was shown also in his faithfulness to his own convic- tions. He never seemed to stop to ask if the course contemplated would gain for him profit and applause or involve loss and unpopularity. Among those of a different faith, he adhered steadfastly to the Unita- rian views with which he was imbued in

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his childhood ; and, when opportunity of- fered, entered zealously into the work of establishing in Montpelier a church that should represent what he thought to be the truth in religious doctrine. He was among the foremost in the organization of the Church of the Messiah, and was inde- fatigable in laboring to promote its inter- ests. He acted with like decision, energy, and straight-forwardness in regard to the Temperance agitation, and the Woman Suffrage Reform.

He was also a man of marked public spirit. With private cares that were by no means small, he undertook a great variety and amount of work for the general wel- fare-work for which he received little or no remuneration, direct or indirect. The value of the services he rendered to his town and State, in his devotion to educa- tional interests, the Reform School, the State Library, and the Historical Society, cannot be estimated in money, and can be appreciated in its full extent by very few. Rarely, indeed, does any philanthropist contribute so freely from his purse to char- itable objects, as did Mr. Reed lavish from the wealth of his time, and physical and mental strength, for the public good.

Further, he was ever loyal to his native State. In the words of another, "As a Vermonter, believing in Vermont and the genuine Vermont character, deeply inter- ested in the past history of the State, and its present prosperity, Mr. Reed will be much missed. He was one of the no- blest and truest of loyal Vermonters. As an officer of the State Historical So- ciety he rendered invaluable service in getting up and putting in form for pres- ervation much of the early history. . . The State has not another-if we except those who have been associated with him in this work, Hons. Hiland Hall and E. P. Walton-to fill his place."

In his chosen profession, Mr. Reed reached a proud eminence, (yet singularly without pride,) and gained a handsome property. H. A. Huse, Esq., a fellow- member of the bar, at one time his assist- ant, and later his successor in the charge of the State Library, said of him, in a

memorial sketch read before the Vermont Historical Society, " Charles Reed was a true lawyer, taking pride in his profession, and loving the law as a science wherein reason has her most perfect work, and be- cause his knowledge of it enabled him to be truly a counsellor to those in trouble. Grounded by severe study in the founda- tion principles, his directness and the im- patience with which he viewed worthless and irrelevant matter made him a good pleader. His papers always gave him a standing in court. Mr Reed, on trial of a case, presented clearly to court or jury the facts proved and the law applicable to them. This was done notby the use of rounded periods, impassioned gesture, or appeal to the emotional nature. His imagination supplied him neither with facts not in the case, nor with the coloring and magnifying power which often distorts things from their true relation, and gives what is unimportant undue prominence. But it was, I think, in the court of chan- cery, and perhaps still more in the supreme court, that Mr. Reed showed the qualities most clearly that stamped him as one of the leaders of the bar. In the court of last resort the premises were fixed and un- changing, and from them he worked most unerringly to the conclusion. The brief method of statement, the condensed argu- ment, had there their true sphere and al- ways their due weight. While it was not given to him to charm by silvery speech, it was given him to convince by the close- ness of his logic. The clear-cut intellect, trained by careful study, made him in- valuable as a legislator. During his term of service the laws passed received more careful scrutiny, and were more carefully framed from the very fact of his presence ; and much of the intelligible legislation of the last few years owes its shape to his skill, as well since as during his occupancy of a seat in the law-making body.

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 83

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