The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 90

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 90

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).

GRADUATES AT MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE.

Class of 1806 .- Rev. CHESTER WRIGHT, first pastor of Bethany church ; ante, page 388.

Class of 1807 .- Jona. C. Southmayd.

Class of 1808 .- Joshua Y. Vail.

Class of 1817 .- CHARLES WATROUS, page 498.

Class of 1820 .-- MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO WING, and Daniel P. Thompson.

Class of 1825 .- Asahel C. Washburn.

GRADUATES AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

Class of 1825 .- Rev. GEORGE BARNEY MANSER, first pastor of Christ Church ; ante, see pages 411, 414, 415.

Class of 1832 .- CHARLES WILLIAM PRENTISS, son of the Hon. Samuel and Lucretia (Houghton) Prentiss, was born at Montpelier, Oct. 18, 1812. He read law and commenced practice at Irasburg ; rep- resented it in the Vt. Legislature 2 years ; removed his office to Montpelier. He married Caroline Kellogg, of Peacham .- Alumni tablet.

552

VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

Class of 1835 .- CHARLES REED, page 513, whose wife, says the record of Dart- mouth, is grand-daughter of President Eleazer Wheelock.

Class of 1836 .- REDFIELD and COLBY ; Stoddard Colby, page 468 ; Judge Redfield, page 540.

TIMOTHY PARKER REDFIELD, A. M., the son of Dr. Peleg and Hannah (Parker) Redfield, was born at Coventry, Nov, 3, 18II. He read law and began practice at Irasburg, in 1837; represented it in the Vt. Legislature in 1839 ; was also a State senator in 1848; removed that year to Montpelier, and there continues, promi- nent in his profession. He married Helen W., daughter of Maj. William Granniss, of Stanstead, P. Q., Feb. 6, 1840. Isaac Redfield, D. C. 1825, is his brother .- Alumni tablet.

STODDARD BENHAM COLBY, A. M., the son of Capt. Nehemiah and Melinda (Lar- rabee) Colby, was born at Derby, Feb. 3, 1816. He read law at Lyndon ; began practice at Derby ; represented it in the Legislature of Vt. ; removed to Montpelier, and remained until 1864; was State's At- torney for Washington Co. in 1851 and 1852 ; became register of the U. S. Treas- ury in Aug. 1864. He married, Ist, Har- riet Elizabeth, daughter of the Hon. Jabez Proctor, of Proctorsville, Feb. 11, 1840 ; 2d, Ellen Cornelia, daughter of Caleb Hunt, of Haverhill, N. H., July 12, 1855 .- Alum- ni tablet.

Class of 1843 .- Rev. WILLIAM HAYES LORD, pastor of Bethany church, p. 393.

Class of 1847 .- OZIAS CORNWALL PIT- KIN, the son of Dea. Alfred and Orpha W. Pitkin, was born at Montpelier, May 2, 1827. He taught at Morrisville 2 years ; was head of the high school at Taunton, Mass., 5 years ; removed to Chelsea Mass., in 1854. He married Caroline M., dau. of Wm. Muenscher, of Taunton, Mar. 1852. -Alumni tablet.

Class of 1851 .- CHARLES WESLEY WIL- LARD, page 492.

Class of 1854 .- CHARLES FRANKLIN SMITH, the son of Oramel Hopkins and Mary (Goss) Smith, was born at Mont- pelier, about 1833, and died at Hancock, Mich., Apr. 23, 1864, aged 31. He read law with his father; went into practice at Chicago, Ill., but removed to Hancock, 2 or 3 years prior to his death .- Alumni tablet.

Class of 1862 .- CHAUNCEY WARRINER TOWN, the son of Ira Strong and Frances

Miretta (Witherell) Town, was born at Montpelier, July 4, 1840. He read law, and has opened an office in New York city. -Alumni tablet.

Class of 1865 .- HIRAM AUGUSTUS HUSE, the son of Hiram S. and Emily M. (Blod- gett) Huse, was born at Randolph, Jan. 17, 1843; resident lawyer at Montpelier, and present librarian of the Vt. St. Hist. Society ; contributor for Randolph in vol. II. this work, and to the present volume.

Class of 1866 .- CHESTER W. MERRILL, the son of Ferrand Fassett and Eliza Maria (Wright) Merrill, was born at Mont- pelier, Apr. 23, 1846. He has been an Assistant at the New Ipswich Academy .- Alunni tablet.

Mr. Merrill is now Librarian of the Cin- cinnati Free Public Library.

Class of 1866 .- GEORGE WASHINGTON WING, the son of Joseph Addison and Samantha Elizabeth (Webster) Wing, was born at Plainfield, Oct. 22, 1843 .- Alumni tablet. [See next page]

Class of 1867 .- HOWARD F. HILL, the son of John M'Clary and Elizabeth Lord (Chase) Hill, was born at Concord, N. H., July 21, 1846 .- Alumni tablet.

Mr. Hill is now Rector of Christ Church, Montpelier.

THOMAS W. WOOD,

only son of the late John Wood, is also a son of Montpelier, of whom her people are very justly and highly proud. With a natural genius for sketching and painting, he has persevered until, by his long expe- rience and correct taste, he has become one of the best realistic and portrait paint- ers in the country, and has so commanded the admiration and respect of his brother artists that he is honored with the office of President of an association of artists in New York city. Mr. Wood's winter studio is in New York city, but his summers are generally spent in Vermont, at “ Athen- wood," an unique and beautiful cottage in a mountain gorge, which, however, over- looks the village of Montpelier. He is not merely a very successful artist, but a gentleman who is highly esteemed by all who know him. We have hoped to re- ceive data for a more detailed notice, but are obliged to go to press with this imper- fect one. E. P. W.

553

MONTPELIER.

(Dartmouth Graduates, continued.)

Herbert Stebbins, now at Andover Theo- logical Seminary, John W. Page, William A. Lord, Rush P. Barrett and Ashton R. Willard of this town, are also Dartmouth graduates.

AMHERST COLLEGE-Class of 1869 .- D. G. Thompson, Henry K. Field.

Class of 1870 .- John B. Thurston, J. Edward Miller.

Class of 1871 .- J. C. Houghton, Jr., John V. Brooks.

Class of 1876 .- Albert A. Redway and Osman D. Clark.

DENISON UNIVERSITY, (Ohio). - Rev. Henry A. Rogers, present pastor of the Baptist Church, Montpelier.

GRAND SEMINARY OF ARRAS (France). Very Rev. Zephyrinus Druon,-page 423. GRAND SEMINARY OF VANNES, (France.) Joseph Duglue, present pastor of St. Au- gustine's church, Montpelier,-page 424.

HARVARD COLLEGE .- Class of 1858, Rev. Charles A. Allen, first pastor of the Church of the Messiah ; Rev. J. Edward Wright, present pastor of the same ; class of 1878, William Zebina Bennett, Profes- sor of Chemistry and Philosophy in Wor- cester University, Ohio; and Charles J. Hubbard, Romeo G. Brown and Carrol King are now collegiates at Harvard.

PRINCETON COLLEGE, N. J .- Rev. Fred- erick W. Shelton, who was rector of Christ church.

TUFTS COLLEGE .- W. L. Warren, 1869.

UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, (New York city) .- Class of 1863, James W. Davis.

YALE COLLEGE .- Rev. J. H. Hincks graduated at this college, A. B., in 1874, and at the Theological Seminary S. F. B., in 1876; and J. R. Brackett, Principal of the High School here has the " P. H. D." from Yale, received in 1879.

The following Montpelier clergymen have received the D. D. : Rev. Wm. H. Lord, Rev. F. W. Shelton, Rev. Andrew Hull, and Rev. Eli Ballou.

Ladies who have graduated at college : Clara Pitkin at OBERLIN, Letitia Durant at BURLINGTON, or U. V. M., Emma Hoyt at VASSAR.

ORIGIN OF THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER.

A recent visit to the rooms of the New England Methodist Historical Society in Boston, has given us an opportunity to find the files of the early issues of the " Vermont Christian Messenger," and from them we have the following definite infor- mation regarding its origin. The first number was issued under date of Mar. 12, 1847, at Newbury, Rev. S. P. Williams being the publisher ; Rev. Wm. W. Wil- lett and Rev. E. J. Scott, editors; N. Granger agent, and L. J. McIndoe printer. Mr. Williams (then presiding elder of Danville District) retired from the publish- ing interest as announced in the issue of July 16, 1847, and Messrs. Willett & Scott became the proprietors as well as editors. On Jan. 1, 1848, the "Messenger " was removed to Montpelier, and on March II, of the same year, Rev. E. J. Scott became the sole proprietor and chief editor, with Rev. J. T. Peck, A. M., (now Bishop Peck) as the corresponding editor. On Sept. 6, 1848, Rev. A. Webster became joint proprietor with Mr. Scott, and on Mar. 6, 1850, the names of E. J. Scott and A. J. Copeland appeared as proprie- tors. On Nov. 6, 1850, Mr. Scott was announced as sole proprietor, and on Jan. I, 1851, as sole editor also. We have not been able to find the files of the succeed- ing years to 1861, and will be very grateful for information which will give us access to any which may be in existence.

J. R. BARTLETT. Barre, Vt., Dec. 30, 1881.

GOLDEN WEDDINGS.

Mr. and Mrs. Capt. Joseph Somerby, celebrated the first golden wedding in Montpelier village many years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Worcester Sprague, cele- brated their golden wedding Mar. 11, 1878.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nutt, celebrated their golden wedding June 18, 1878. All of this village.

554

VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

THE 4TH OF JULY, 1807.

Well does the writer remember the ap- pearance of the village the first time he entered it, which was on the fourth of July, 1807. State street had then been surveyed, but not opened. There had been before one bridge across the Branch, and that was at the Union House; but even that had been carried away. we think, by the flood of the previous spring. At all events, no bridge was there then. The men and women rode through the stream on horses, or in carts and wagons, and we boys rolled up our trowsers over our knees and waded across, not one in ten of us be- ing cumbered with either stockings or shoes. The point of attraction was the new State House grounds, and our way led along the old road down the river, under the hill, where the back street now ex- tends from the Union House to the Cath- olic Church. All on our left, after passing the Colonel Davis establishment, and one or two small houses on the bank to the east of it, was a smooth, broad, well-tilled meadow, covered with waving green corn. Two lines of stakes running east and west could be traced through the midst of the meadow.

" What in the world are all those stakes for, setting up so straight and curious, all in a row there ?" asked one of the older, out of town boys. " Those stakes ? Why they are to show where we are to have a new handsome street from the new State House right across the Branch, with a fine, elegant new bridge," replied a village boy, pricking up with pride at the thought. " A street," rejoined the other, " well, I wonder where they expect to find houses to put upon it. It appears to me you vil- lage folks are trying to grow grand all at once. When you get the new State House up, I expect we shan't be able to touch you with a rod pole."

This natural little bout of words among the boys of that time, showed two things better than a page of elucidation ;- first, the extent of the important changes and improvements in contemplation for the village, and second, the starting points of the simultaneous growth of that village pride and country jealousy, which, proba- bly, are ever in a greater or less degree to be found, wherever villages exist, to crow and affect superiority, and country towns to build up and sustain them.

When we reached the place where the then novelty of our national jubilee was to be celebrated, we found the exercises of the day were to be performed on the ground-work of the new State House, the foundatlon walls of which were all up, the sills and flooring timbers framed together,

and roughly floored over, and the plates and some other of the heavy upper timbers ranged round the borders of this ground frame-work. Near the centre of the area thus formed, was erected a broad platform, on which was placed a table and several chairs for the orator of the day and those who assisted in the usual services : while around it, on the borders of the whole area, were erected bushes, or rather small trees, freshly cut and brought from the ad- joining woods on the hill, to serve for shade for the speaker and audience. The orator was Paul Dean, a Universalist min- ister, who resided in Boston. but who about that time preached for some small period in different parts of Montpelier.

This was the first general public celebra- tion of the Fourth of July ever held in Montpelier. A small village celebration was, however, held the preceding summer, in a booth, built in a meadow near the Davis mills on the Branch, and Dr. Ed- ward Lamb wrote and delivered the ora- tion .- Thompson.

GEN. PERLEY P. PITKIN

was born in Marshfield, son of Truman Pitkin, and grandson of Hon. Stephen of Marshfield, and Gen. Parley Davis of Montpelier. His father removed to what is now East Montpelier, and shortly his mother died, leaving three young children. Perley P. was brought up under the eye of Gen. Davis, married in East Montpelier, represented that town 2 years, and resided there until the breaking out of the rebell- ion. June 6, 1861, he was commissioned Quarter Master of the 2d Regt. of Vermont Volunteers, and went to the front. The writer of this notice was then in Washing- ton, and well remembers the astonishment of the red-tape gentlemen of the War De- partment at the promptitude of Q. M. Pitkin in the discharge of his duties, and the vim with which he demanded supplies. His controlling idea was that Vermont boys must be taken care of, and they were, as well as an efficient officer could do it. His valu- able qualities were soon discovered, and in less than a year he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and not long after to that of Colonel and head of the Depot Depart- ment of the army of the Potomac. He re- turned to Montpelier, where his family was located, and entered into business with Dennis Lane and J. W. Brock in the manu-

P.P. Pirkimo

555

MONTPELIER.

facture of saw-mills, which now have a wide | with it two-thirds of the population of all reputation ; and this has been developed into the Lane Manufacturing Company, which now has the largest and most suc- cessful business which any manufacturing concern in Montpelier has ever had. He resigned his colonelcy and was elected Quarter-Master General of the State, and having charge of the State Arsenal, and military supplies far beyond the wants of the State, he succeeded in making sales to foreign governments, which materially aided the State treasury and reduced the burden of taxation of the people. He rep- resented Montpelier in the legislature 1874-5, and since his residence has al- most constantly been employed in town and village offices. E. P. W.

FIRST ELECTION DAY IN MONTPELIER.

By the terms of the act, locating the seat of government at Montpelier, the dolph, Speaker; and a canvassing com- State House was to be completed by the first of September, 1808. It was done ; and great were the preparations made | officers. And as the hour of sunset ap- among the villagers, and great the antici- pations raised among them and through all the surrounding community, in view of the advent of the new and important day of " Election." Streets were cleared of lum- ber and rubbish, side-walks prepared of plank or gravel, houses painted, new suits of clothes purchased, and everything made to assume the sprucest appearance. A fine artillery company uniformed through- out with plumed Bonaparte hats and the dress of field officers in all except the epau- lette on the privates, was organized from among the first citizens of this and the neighboring towns, to serve as the gover- nor's guard, and be in special attendance on Election days. Of this company Isaac Putnam, a man nearly six feet high, weigh- ing over two hundred pounds, well propor- tioned, and as noble in soul as in body, had the honor of being chosen the first captain, and no one of those present now living can fail to recall his fine and com- manding military appearance on those oc- casions as he stood up between his soldiers and the encircling crowd, like Saul among the people. An iron six-pounder field piece had been procured ; and a thrill of excitement ran through the excited hearts of all the boys of the community at the news, that when the election of State officers was declared on Election day, " a cannon, a great cannon, was to be fired in Montpelier Hollow !"

The eventful day at length came, and

the neighboring country, 15 or 20 miles around, came pouring into the village. But instead of attempting any further gen- eral description of the then entire novelties of the day and their effect on the multitude, we will, at the risk of the imputation of losing our dignity as a historian, again have recourse to the reminiscences of our boyhood. We were, of course, there on that day among the throngs of excited boys, congregated from all quarters, to witness the various sights and performances expected on that important occasion. A showy procession had been formed in the fore part of the day, led by the military in all the marching pomp of flying colors and rattling drums, and followed by the State officers, members of the legislature and a concourse of citizens, and the Election sermon had been preached by the Rev. Sylvanus Haynes, pastor of the Baptist Church of Middletown. The House of Representatives had been organized by the election of Dudley Chase, Esq., of Ran- mittee appointed still earlier in the day and put to work in counting the votes for State proached, and as there had been for some hours no public demonstrations to be wit- nessed, a great proportion of the crowd was scattered all over the village. We and a lot of other boys were standing in the street somewhere against our present Court House, when, sudden as the burst- ing of a thunder clap, the whole village shook with the explosion of the cannon on the State House common. We all instant- ly ran at the top of our speed for the spot. When we had got about half way there, we met a gang of other boys from one of the back towns, who, taken by surprise and seized with panic at the stunning shock, were fleeing for their lives in the opposite direction ; but gaining a little assurance from seeing us rushing toward the scene of their fright, one, braver than the rest, stopped short, boldly faced about and exclaimed, "Hoo! I an't a n'attom afraid !" and all now joining in the race, we were, in another minute, within a few rods of the smoking gun, which had been discharged on the announcement of the election of Isaac Tichenor as Governor. The next moment our attention was at- tracted by the voice of Israel P. Dana, sheriff of the county, standing on the upper terrace of the State House, and loudly pro- claiming-" Hear ye! hear ye ! hear ye ! the Honorable Paul Brigham has been elected Lieutenant Governor, in and over the State of Vermont, by the suffrages of the freemen. God save the people !" Then

556

VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

another discharge of the piece saluted our recoiling ears and sent its sharp echoes from side to side between the encircling hills. Then came the announcement of the election of Benjamin Swan as Treas- urer, followed by a third gun; then the last announcement of the election of Coun- cillors, followed by a fourth gun ; and then, without further official announcements, the salute of guns was continued till one for each of the states had been fired.

Such were the performances on the first Election day in Montpelier, and such the interest and excitement they created among the multitude .- Thompson.

HON. JOSEPH POLAND,

second son of the late Dea. Luther and Nancy (Potter) Poland, was born in Underhill, Mar. 14, 1818; removed with his father in 1821 to Coit's Gore, now Waterville, and worked on a farm till 1835, when he came as an apprentice to the Montpelier Watchman office, and remain- ed until 1839. January 1, 1839, he com- menced the publication of the l'oice of Freedom, but in less than a year sold out on account of ill health. In June, 1840, he started the Lamoille Whig at Johnson, and continued it 3 years. In 1844, he re- turned to Montpelier, and established the Green Mountain Freeman, and continued it until Dec. 1848. In 1868, in connection with his son, J. Monroe, he purchased the Watchman and Fournal, of which he is still in charge. It is probable that no ed- itor in Vermont, now in the harness, has had Mr. Poland's experience of 25 years in connection with the public press.

Mr. Poland has held numerous public offices, the duties of all having been faith- fully performed : In 1842, assistant clerk of the House of Representatives ; 1852-'3, judge of probate for Washington County ; 1858-'60, state Senator; 1870-'71, town representative ; 1861-`68, collector of U. S. internal revenue for the first Congres- sional District ; 1849-1881, secretary and director of The Farmers' Mutual Fire In- surance Company-offices which he has held ever since the organization of the company, and to which he has been an- nually elected by unanimous votes.

Mr. Poland may well be ranked as a veteran in the celebrated anti-slavery

movement which has now become histori- cal, having enlisted in 1843, and conducted the organ of the party in Vermont, and served as chairman of its State Committee, for many years ; so that he may now prop- erly indulge in the double boast of both him that girdeth on the harness and he that putteth it off-having lived to see American slavery not only forever extin- guished by the organic law of the land, but remembered only with such detestation that history blushes at the record.

In 1840 Mr. Poland married Mary Ann, daughter of the late Joseph Rowell. They had 7 children, of whom 5 have died : 3 in infancy, Clara A., a beautiful daughter, in 1865, and Charles F., when developing into a promising manhood, in 1875. Two sons survive, J. Monroe and Edward R. Mrs. Poland died in 1862, and in 1873 Mr. P. married Miss Julia M. Harvey, daughter of James K. Harvey, of Barnet, deceased.

Mr. Poland joined the first Congrega- tional (Bethany) church in 1839, and for several years he has been one of its deacons, an earnest worker in its Sabbath-school, and a promoter of all reformative and Christian enterprises. He is favorably known in the churches of Vermont, and is now publisher of two religious newspapers, the Vermont Chronicle and the New Hamp- shire Journal. E. P. W.

OLD PEOPLE OF ISS1.

The oldest man living in town is Dr. Nathaniel C. King, born July 19, 1789; settled in the north part of the old town in 1805, and came to the village to reside in 1875.

The oldest woman residing in town is Mrs. Lucy Mead, born July 23, 1789 ; has been a resident of the village since 1813.

The oldest person living in the village. and born in the limits of the old town, is Orin Cummins, born Feb. 23, 1801.

The oldest person living in the village, born in the limits of the new town, is John Q. A. Peck, born in 1808.

The oldest person living in town and born in the village limits, is Snow Town, born in 1806.

Joseph Poland

557

MONTPELIER.

The oldest person living in the village, and born in the village, is Wm. Nelson Peck, born Sept. 18, 18II.

The oldest resident of the village is Hon. Elijah Paine Jewett, who has resided here since 1805, and is 80 years of age.

The oldest French resident of the town is Joseph Wood, who came in 1831, and is now 85 years of age.

The oldest Irish resident in town is James McLaughlin, who came in 1832, and is now 80 years of age. Mr. John Murphy came in 1834, and is now 86 years of age.

WILLIAM W. CADWELL.

Among the very old and worthy citizens of Montpelier was William W. Cadwell, who was born in Hatfield, Mass., May 12, 1799, and in the same year was brought to Montpelier by his father, Wyllis I. Cadwell. He succeeded his father in trade for many years, and on retiring was employed as town clerk, magistrate, overseer of the poor, &c. He was esteemed as an honest man, always having the interests of the town at heart. He died suddenly in 1877, aged 78 years.

The above was not written in time to appear with the biographies of deceased citizens of Montpelier. E. P. W.

[We had filed and overlooked till now.] MRS. GOVERNOR RANSOM,

a native of Montpelier, and a sister of William W. Cadwell, Esq., who died at the residence of her son-in-law in Fort Scott, Kansas, Nov. 17, -1877. She was for many years a resident of Michigan, of which state her husband was both gover- nor and chief justice. Mrs. Ransom's name before marriage was Almira Cadwell.

The home of the Cadwells was in the old house still standing at the head of State Street. Mrs. Constant W. Storrs and Mrs. Geo. P. Ricker are the only represen- tatives of the old family left here, now. Almira Cadwell, it is said, was a beautiful girl. The old house was considered the only house in Montpelier worthy to re- ceive Lafayette in, on his visit to the capi- tal of the State of the Green Mountain Boys, for whom the great French General always had a particular admiration.

MRS. SARAH SPALDING,

widow of the late Hon. John Spalding, who was for many years the treasurer of the State of Vermont, died at her home in Montpelier Jan. 19, 1874, in her 83d year. Mrs. Spalding, a virtuous and excellent woman, was a great sufferer for many years previous to her death, and an inva- lid for over 40 years. A few days before her death, she had a second paralytic shock, after which she was never able to speak. She was the mother of 8 children, among whom was

CHARLES C. SPALDING,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 90

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