The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 91

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 91

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a graduate of Burlington College, see page -"Charles Spalding was first civil en- gineer for a time. In 1849, when the California gold fever broke out, he was among the pioneers who sought that auri- ferous land. making the passage in a sailing vessel around Cape Horn. His success at mining was indifferent. Returning home via the Pacific coast and the Gulf of Mexi- co, he spent about a year in Montpelier, when he went to New York and entered the service of Harnden & Co. as express messenger between New York and Boston. Soon going West, he engaged in survey- ing and railroad engineering in Ohio, Illi- nois and Kentucky. At the time of the establishment of Kansas as a territory, he was living in one of the border counties of Missouri, where he married a Missouri lady. He took part in the establishment of its territorial government, making pre- liminary surveys and encouraging immigra- tion by writing special letters to the New York Tribune, which attracted no little attention in the East. He published a pa- per in Lawrence, Kansas, and was elected an alderman, and was for a short time mayor of the city. He took the democrat- ic side on the outbreak of the Kansas war, and soon after left the state. He after- wards taught school, and at the breaking out of the war returned to the East, en- listing in the 6th Vermont Regiment, served 2 years, came home and started the Newport News, at Newport, Vt. This he sold, and went to Boston in 1866, and took a position on the Boston Post. In 1869, he became connected with the Boston Herald, and remained with that paper up to the time of his decease. He had been suffering from a complication of diseases, and his death was not unexpected .- Bur- lington Free Press.

He was perhaps best known to the pub- lic through the police court column of this journal, which he has written almost con-

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tinuously for several years past. The hu- mor, the philosophy, the philanthropy, which he has there introduced into his homilies upon the doings of the criminal classes of this Metropolis, have endeared him in the hearts of thousands of people who knew him not personally, and who will regret sincerely his demise .- Rutland Herald.

[See biography of Hon. John Spalding, page 487.]

JAMES REED SPALDING,

of the class of 1840, died at Dover, N. H., early in October, 1872, in the fiftieth year of his age. He was a native of Montpelier, and chose journalism as his profession, soon after his graduation. He first gained reputation as the chief editorial writer of the New York Courier and Enquirer, dur- ing the last year of its existence. From that paper he went to the New York World, which he was interested in estab- lishing as a religious, rather than a political newspaper ; but the experiment soon failed in that form, and when Mr. Marble got possession of the paper, and turned it into a democratic organ, Mr. Spalding left it and went upon the Times, where he re- mained many years and did his best work. His daily leader-generally upon a politi- cal subject-was uniformly the best piece of writing upon the editorial page, uniting vigor with finish, full knowledge of his theme, and a statesman's grasp of its rela- tions. He had his first attack of paralysis before the death of Mr. Raymond, and re- tired to the country, but for some months, at least, kept up his constant contributions to the editorial department of the paper. He was a man of high literary attainments and was an essayist rather than an editor. To a moral character of great purity was added the fervor of Christian faith, which did not find utterance in noisy declaration, but shone luminously in the simplicity of his manners, and the consecration of his splendid powers to the advocacy of such principles as he deemed best calculated to benefit mankind. The disease which im- paired his powers in later life and eventu- ally caused his death was apoplectic paraly- sis. One of his finest public efforts was an oration delivered at the seml-centennial celebration of the foundation of this Uni- versity, in 1854 .- U. V. M. Obituary.

Mr. Spalding was brother of Rev. George B. Spalding of Dover, N. H., editor of the New Hampshire Journal, and son of Dr. James Spalding-p. 445. Dr. James and Hon. John Spalding, father of Charles Carrol, were brothers.

MARCUS D. GILMAN,

born in Calais, Jan. 28, 1820, came to Montpelier in 1835, and was engaged in merchandise there and at Northfield until 1845, when he started out on a tour in search of a favorable place in which to locate. This tour embraced the Atlantic cities from Boston to Baltimore, and the western cities and promising towns to the Mississippi river. He was greatly im- pressed by Chicago, then a fresh city of about 8000 inhabitants, among whom were many Vermonters. Having in the mean- time married Maria Malleville, daughter of Hon. Daniel Baldwin, of Montpelier, he left that town in June, 1845, with his wife and his few effects, for Chicago, and in less than a week after his arrival formed a co- partnership with Charles Follansbee for a general mercantile business, wholesale and retail. At the end of the first year he pur- chased the entire stock, and from that time, either alone or with different part- ners, Mr. Gilman prosecuted his business, for most of the time in two wholesale estab- lishments-one of dry goods and the other of groceries, and so successfully prosecu- ted it, that he was content to retire in 1868, when for two years he with his family re- sided at Riverside, Newton, Mass., and then returned to the old homestead and the scenes of their childhood and youth, at Montpelier, where their beautiful home still is.

Politically Mr. Gilman has been from youth a Democrat, and his familiar ac- quaintance with and friendship for " The Little Giant," Stephen A. Douglas, in- spired in him a zeal that has never flagged. He has been the candidate of his party for Mayor, and also Treasurer of Chicago ; and he was tendered the candidacy for State Treasurer of Illinois, which he de- clined. He was the representative of Montpelier, 1874-'5, and the only man ever elected as a Democrat since the di- vision of the old town ; but a Republican legislature had so high an appreciation of his integrity and business qualities that he was elected a Director of the State Prison. He was Librarian of the Vermont Historical Society, 1874-1881, and has

Marcus D. Gilman

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rendered the Society and the State inval- uable services, and his declination of further service is a great loss. His taste is for antiquities, history and biography, and his private library in these lines is probably more extensive and valuable than any other in the State. He is an honorary or corresponding member of various his- torical and other organizations. He is President of the Vermont Numismatical Society, and will ere long appear as author of a Bibliography of Vermont, which he has been industriously preparing for sev- eral years.

Mr. Gilman's political record to this date cannot be completed without adding that he was chairman of the Vermont delega- tion in the National Democratic Conven- tion of 1876, and voted for Samuel J. Tilden every time. His democracy is cer- tainly both unimpeachable and unappeas- able.

For additional notices of Mr. Gilman and his family, see ante, pages 155-157. E. P. W.

A SOLDIER'S LETTER-WAR OF '61.

Extract :- CURTIS A. COBURN was ap- pointed regimental postmaster at Brattle- boro, Vt., and also brigade postmaster while in camp near Washington; we all liked him much. He was always very anxious that we should get our mails promptly and daily, if it was to be got at. He was transferred to the Signal Corps in August last, and was captured by the reb- els while on our retreat from Culpepper to Bull Run, in October.

Sergt. HIRAM M. PIERCE, (in whom 1 feel more particularly interested, he always being with the Company, ) has been a good soldier and done his duty well in every spot and place, and by his good conduct won the esteem of every member in the company ; always cheerful and happy. While a detachment of Cos. B, G, and K, were doing picket duty at Conrad's Ferry, Md., one year ago, he was detailed as act- ing quartermaster and also sergt .- major of the detachment, and in those positions he was found fully competent. By his gal- lantry at the battle of Orange Grove, he proved himself to be an earnest, brave and noble champion to the cause of humanity, liberty and his country. In the progess of that battle as we were ordered to fix bayo- nets and charge, on approaching the rail fence he spoke so loud that he was heard

by every one in the company, " Come on Co. B," and was one of the first to climb the fence. He had been over but a mo- ment when I heard him exclaim -- " I am wounded, my arm is broken." The next time I saw him was at Brandy Station, Va., several days afterwards ; as soon as I heard that the wounded had arrived, I went down to see them, and I found Sergt. Pierce ; he appeared quite glad to see me, as I was to see him, but I felt very sorry to see him with but one arm, (his left arm was taken off above the elbow). He told me that it had been very painful, for on account of the hasty retreat of the medical corps from the field in light marching order, his arm was not attended to until two or three days after the battle.

Lieut. STETSON, who had been in com- mand of the company most of the time since we have been in the service, drew my attention at the battle of Orange Grove. He stood bravely at his post, re- marking "boys, keep cool, and do not shoot until you can see something to shoot at !" Lieut. Abbott of Co. D, (then act- ing as Ist Lieut. of Co. B,) was doing all all he could to keep a good line, and also to preserve good order in the company. After Gilman Storrs was shot, a boy that we have missed very much, Lieut. Stetson (whom you all know is not very easily scared), grasped a musket, and asking the boys if they had any ammunition for him, I gave him some caps, and some one else some cartridges, when he loaded and fired as fast as he could, remarking that " he hoped that each bullet would do good exe- cution, for they had killed his boy Gim." Lieut. Abbott came out with us as orderly sergeant, and after he was promoted to 2d lieut. of Co. D, the company very gener- ously presented him a sword, belt and shoulder-straps, costing about $50, as a testimony of their regard for him .- W'atchman.

Curtis Coburn, who enlisted from Mont- pelier, learned the printer's trade at the Repository office, of Mr. Charles H. Sev- erance, now of the Watchman office. Coburn died in New Orleans ; see page 523. . Lieutenants Abbott and Stetson, see page 522.

CHARLES W. LYMAN,

[To whom we find the following tribute in the Baltimore American,]

Died, Oct. 10, 1866, in Shelby, Ohio, after a short illness, C. W. Lyman, former- ly of Montpelier, leaving a young wife, child and numerous friends to mourn his untimely end.

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He was among the foremost who rallied to his country's defense when the tocsin of war sounded, serving faithfully and gal- lantly as a line officer in the "Wallace Zouaves" of Indiana. Subsequently he was promoted to a position of great respon- sibility in the Southwest, where, for ability, integrity and honor, he won the highest encomiums from such men as " Grant, Sherman and McPherson"-men whom the nation loves to honor. As a man and

a friend he was generous to a fault, and few can boast of more sincere friendship or warmer admirers. As a father and hus- band he was all that love and fidelity could make him; young and full of ambitious hopes, he passed from our midst a bright example to all who love the ·generous and the good .- Watchman.

His remains were brought to Montpelier and interred in Green Mount.

CENTRAL VERMONT DEPOT AT MONTPELIER.

Coming up from Montpelier Junction, some less than 2 miles below, we arrive at the Montpelier station in about five minutes' ride from the Junction. The cars stop at the new Central depot, which the eye strikes but a moment before landing - almost the same instant the State House, on the street beyond, on higher ground, and the prin- cipal part of State St. running along the river side, opens up a pleas- ant view of the village of the Green Moun- tain Capital on the first approach to it by railroad from St. Albans and Burlington way. The first railroad depot building, which stood upon the same site, was erected in 1850-a brick structure, 150 x50 feet, creditable for the time, and a beginning ; but a better building being desired in which to receive the Legislature, and more suitable to the place, the present commo- dious brick depot was erected, being com- pleted September 1880. We have the view of the exterior; the interior is well and conveniently finished for the Capital depot ; a very wide central hall-wide enough for the town representatives of several of the smaller counties of the State to walk through abreast-gentlemen and ladies' waiting rooms upon the left, baggage room, tel-

MATTHEWS.

egraph and express offices upon the right. The whole building, warmed by steam, with all modern conveniences.

The first train of cars entered Mont- pelier, June 20, 1849. The travelling public found accommodations a few months until the first depot house was built, in a freight house, first built, just over the track south.

At this point in our description, failing to find exact data to continue, we wrote to J. W. Hobart, Gen. Supt. of the Cen. Vt. R. R. at St. Albans, that we had the en- graving of the depot, were preparing a sketch, and asking for such data and in- formation as he could give, who has sent the following descriptive letter, which, find- ing so interesting, we have concluded to give entire :

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MR. HOBART'S LETTER.

ST. ALBANS, Vt., Jan. 2, 1882. MISS HEMENWAY :

MMadam :- Your favor of the 31st ult. came duly to hand, and I feel much interest in the subject of your enquiries. Probably there is no one living who is more fa- miliar with the early history of the railroad in Montpelier than myself. The advent of the cars into that beautiful town occurred on the 4th of July, 1849, and the first train consisted of ten platform cars, loaded with 100 bbls. of flour each, and covered with a

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NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE CO

[VT. MUTUAL FIRE INS. CO.'S BUILDING, -RAILROAD SQUARE. ]

new white cheese canvas over each car. The train was drawn by engine Winooski. John Danforth was engineer, and the writer of this was the conductor. Later in the day, passenger trains ran in charge of the same persons, and well do I remember the interest manifested and the commotion created among the people who came in from the surrounding country. There being a circus upon the meadow near Mrs. Nicholas' house, on the Berlin side, which taken together with the usual 4th of July as a holiday, the town was packed, and we were compelled to send men in advance to clear the way for the train. Every build- ing from which the cars could be seen was covered, every available window occupied, the tops of buildings were covered if pos- sible, and even the tree-tops were alive with people.

with his force was removed to that station, and Mr. J. Edwards Wright was made the first permanent station agent at Montpelier, where he remained until Aug. 1851, re- signing his position at that time to engage in the purchase of wool in Ohio. A. V. H. Carpenter, now the General Passenger Agent of the Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R., succeeded Mr. Wright, and remained in that position until June, 1862, at which time he was relieved to take another po- sition, and J. W. Hobart was enstalled as the agent. Up to that time Mr. Hobart had been a clerk for both Mr. Wright and Mr. Carpenter.

As you are aware, Montpelier is at the terminus of a branch of one and one-fourth of a mile in length, and up to October of that year, all the trains passed in and out over the branch. In October they discontinued run- ning the main line trains into Montpelier, but in place estab- lished a branch train, consisting simply of a small engine, fitted up with seats each side of the tender.

This engine was called the " Abigail Adams." It was de- termined in the course of a very few days that it would be im- possible to do the business of the Capital with the facilities then provided. So the Presi- dent, Gov. Paine, ordered a small car built, as the engine had not sufficient capacity to handle a large car, except under the most favorable circumstan- ces. Meantime, however, a large car was provided, and when the business required it, the car was attached to this miniature engine, which in many instances proved unequal to the task, and the conductor, who was none other than the agent at Montpelier, the cars of the branch trains having been added to his duties, the baggage master, and many times the en- gineer, were compelled to push in aiding the engine the whole distance, and it was not unfrequently the case, that the pas- sengers themselves, in response to a re- quest, would aid in furnishing power to move the train.

I cannot now give you the name of the first engineer of this little engine, but one of the engineers who is now there, came soon afterwards. (I refer to Mr. James Bowers, and I have no doubt he will give you the name.)

Warner Hine, who was then master of transportation, was the acting agent at In due time the small car was finished, and we had less trouble. This car proved quite a novelty, it having been finished that station during the summer of 1849. In the autumn of that year the road was completed to Waterbury, and Mr. Hine like an omnibus, with seats upon the side.

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This condition, however, did not last long, as it was found and admitted by the officers, who, by the way, were not over and above friendly to Montpelier, that the facilities were entirely inadequate ; so a full and quite a respectable train was provided, consisting of an engine called the "Flying Dutchman," a baggage and a first-class passenger car. Soon after the management chang- ed from Northfield to St. Al- bans, and Montpelier was evidently improved by the change. James Bowers, who is still there, was one of the engineers who ran the "Flying Dutchman." J. W. Hobart remained there until March, 1859, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, S. L. Howe, Esq., who was for some time pre- vious the assistant of Mr. Hobart. I am very nearly as familiar with the history of the railroad interest of Montpelier since this period, but as it covers a period of about 22 years, and my time is limited, I leave it for others, Mr. Howe and many others in Mont- pelier being perfectly familiar with affairs since the above date of 1859. It gives me much pleasure to communicate these facts, and if they are of any value to you in making up the history of the best town in the State, I shall certainly be very well paid. I know very well all the gentlemen whose portraits you have, and they certainly will prove a very valuable accession to your history.

I intended to have mentioned earlier in my letter that our Vice President, Mr. James R. Langdon, is perhaps more fa- miliar with the history of our road than any gentleman in Montpelier. He, I think, was one of the original board of directors, with Gov. Paine as President. If at any time you should desire to make any further enquiry, it will give me pleasure to give you such information as I may have. Hoping you will continue to be as success- ful as you have been in the past, in the progress and completion of your work, and extending the compliments of the season,

I remain very truly and

Respectfully yours, J. W. HOBART.

Mr. Bowers gives the engineers : - Wm. Patterson, James Bowers, Henry Wallace, William Greenleaf, Fred Webster, Henry Buckley, Ed. Eaustice, Chas. Greenleaf, Wm. Dolloff, B. F. Merrill, Williamn Gould, Robert Gregg, David Daniels,A. S. Caswell.

[PAVILION HOTEL, OPPOSITE CENTRAL VERMONT DEPOT.]

Through the hall of the Central depot you pass on a broad pavement of brick over to State street and the Pavilion hotel, from the steps of which you look back and have a good view of the depot. The view was taken from the steps of the Pavilion. It is at the Pavilion the Governors always stop during the sessions of the Legislature.

The baggage masters have been : Z. R. True, Gamaliel Washburn, S. E. Bailey, C. T. Hobart, H. W. Drew, T. W. Bailey, E. W. Thompson, W. H. Pingree, James Finn. The station agent was conductor on the Branch till the Barre road opened, since which T. W. Bailey has been con- ductor. S. L. Howe is the present station agent.

The Telegraph and Express Office .- The Vermont and Boston Telegraph Company was incorporated by the October Session of the Legislature, 1848, and a station es- tablished at Montpelier in connection with an express office of Cheney & Co., of Boston, opened in 1849. The express office was first kept, until the opening of the passenger depot, here, in the Hubbard building. Col. H. D. Hopkins was the first manager of both the telegraph and express office, and for 24 years after - Bigelow was the first telegraph operator. Mr. H. W. Drew, who succeeded Col. Hopkins, is the present express agent and manager of the telegraph office ; Mr. A. G. Trulan, operator.

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The next building of like public interest, after the Central depot, is the depot of the

MONTPELIER AND WELLS RIVER R. R., run under W. A. Stowell's administration since this road was opened, Nov. 24, 1873 ; J. G. Farwell station agent to the present. The conductors from here to Wells River have been, H. S. Boutwell, son of Colonel Levi Boutwell, of Montpelier, George Smith, of this village, Henry Whitcomb, of Jonesville, Charles Ferrin, of this vil- lage, and Eugene Rand, present conductor.

Supt .- W. A. Stowell; Cashier and Gen'l Passenger Agent, Fred. W. Morse ; Train Master, Henry W. Whitcomb.

Engineers and firemen .- John Carter, James Hadlock, Charles Field, James Boutwell, George Cummings, Geo. Morse, .Charles Noyes. W. S. Keeler, Herbert Lawrence aud Harvey Edgerly.

ESTABLISHED WATCHMAN & JOURNAL 180 8

BOOK BINDERY & JOP PRINTING.

DAILY JOURNAL.

J.& J.M. POLAND

[WATCHMAN & JOURNAL BUILDING, STATE ST. ]

ANECDOTES OF LEVI BOUTWELL. BY COL. H. D. HOPKINS.

Col. Boutwell,-there was not in all the wide circle of his acquaintance a person who had seen another like him. His face was singularly expressive. He could look savage enough to chill you with fear, or kindly enough to inspire the confidence of

the most doubting and timid. He said in his life-time a thousand things which for genuine originality and severity were worthy of a professional satirist. Many a time have we seen in town or village meet- ing a prosy debate cut short, and the vote reached by one of his brief, gruff speeches, as in the meeting of the Wells River rail- road company in Jan., 1874. The meet- ing was about to ballot for directors, when one gentleman suggested that the Board should consist of five instead of nine, as heretofore. Another suggested seven ; still others were on their feet ready to make some motion or suggestion, or engage in a little speech, when the sturdy old Colonel sprang nervously up, and said, " I think, Mr. Chairman, we will have it nine. I want some to watch, as well as others to pray." This speech was the end of the debate on that subject. The nine direc- tors were immediately ordered, and the election made.

Once he was sitting in the bar-room of

CLARKS . JOURNAL BOOK.BINDERY,

STATE STREET

SONTPELIER-

[RIALTO BLOCK, STATE ST. ]

the " Pavilion," with his knees well spread before that familiar old fireplace, while he looked intently on the burning pile before him. His face bore a specially stern look. Some one came in, and saluted him with, " How are you, Colonel ?" His reply was as apt as original. "Well," he said : "I manage to keep tolerably even tempered,

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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

[WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, STATE STREET.]

thank ye ; mad as the devil clear through all the time."

Col. Boutwell was a supporter of the " Church of the Messiah "-Unitarian- and a faithful attendant upon its services. Two or three years ago, in the summer season, some little boys of the neighbor- hood got in the way of loitering about the door and vestibule of the church during service hours Sunday evenings. As they became familiar, they become also bold and somewhat noisy. At length they got so curious as to go up and push the door to the audience room a little open, and look in. Then if somebody in the audi- ence changed position a little, so that they The Colonel was uncommonly bald, and without his heavy dark wig looked not a bit like himself. Once he was in the wash room of the Pavilion, and for convenience in his ablutions had laid his wig aside. Presently a young, spruce feeling chap, with extremely red hair, came in too. Noticing the Colonel's nude head, he in- apprehended danger, they would " cut and run "; but presently, when all was quiet again, they would repeat the experiment. At length Col. Boutwell became much dis- turbed, and felt he could stand the uncivil conduct of the lads no longer. So he went out to rectify things, and give the lads some lessons in morals and good man- |quired, " well, Uncle, why don't you have

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 91

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