USA > Vermont > Washington County > Plainfield > The history of the towns of Plainfield, Roxbury and Fayston, Vermont : with Marshfield or Middlesex papers in fifty copies > Part 11
USA > Vermont > Washington County > Roxbury > The history of the towns of Plainfield, Roxbury and Fayston, Vermont : with Marshfield or Middlesex papers in fifty copies > Part 11
USA > Vermont > Washington County > Fayston > The history of the towns of Plainfield, Roxbury and Fayston, Vermont : with Marshfield or Middlesex papers in fifty copies > Part 11
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A clapboard mill owned by Brigham brother, on Shepherd's brook, was ruined. Not a mill in town escaped a good deal of injury. Many people left their houses, expecting thein to be carried down the seething flood, and but one bridge of any account was left in town, and the roads were completely demoralized !
Fayston, along with other towns, has suffered from freshets at various times. In the year 1830, occurred what was known as the "great freshet." Buildings were swept away, one person was drowned, and others barely escaped. The famous "Green Mountain slide," which began within a few feet of the summit, where the town is divided from Buel's Gore, in sight of the homestead where I was born, occurred in the summer of 1827. It had rained quite hard some days, and the soil, becoming loosened, gave way, carrying with it trees, rocks, and the debris of ages, on its downward course. Gath- This storm seemed a local one, not doing much damage except in the towns in the Mad river basin and on tributary streams. I have heard it speculated that two rain clouds met on the mountain ridges. Be that as it may, I think two hours' rain seldom did such damage in any locality. ering impetus as it advanced, for the moun- tain is very steep here, it went thundering down the mountain side a distance of a mile or more, with a crash and rumble that shook the earth for miles around, like an earthquake. One branch of Mill brook comes down from here, and, being dam- med up by the debris of this grand ava- In the freshet of 1869, Fayston suffered less than many other towns, but several bridges were carried off, the roads cut up badly, mill dams swept away, etc. lanche, its waters accumulated till it be- came a miniature lake, then overleaping its barriers it rushed down to its work of destruction below. In July, 1858, a The mill rebuilt on the site of the one swept away in 1858, this time owned by Richardson & Rich, was again carried off, but as considerable of the machinery was afterward found, Mr. Richardson deter- mined to rebuild, putting it a few rods destructive freshet visited Fayston, and the towns adjacent. It had been exceed- ingly dry, and water was very low. At 7 o'clock in the afternoon, on Satur- day, July, 3, the workmen in the mill of Campbell & Grandy were desiring rain, [ lower down the stream. He has built a
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fine, large mill there, and feels secure this mill shall stand.
Fayston is a very healthy town. There are several living in town over &o years of age.
[This was written in 1867.] ELISHA BRIGHAM
was born in old Marlboro, Mass., 1793. In the common school he obtained all the education he ever had beyond the poor chance of gleaning a little, here and there. from a limited supply of books, amid a multitude of cares at home ; but at the age of 12, he had mastered most of Pike's Arithinetic ; performing more examples by the feeble light of an old-fashioned chimney fire-place, than at school. So engaged was he that he often went to bed on a difficult problem, to dream it out on his pillow. Froin Old Marlboro, the fam- mily removed to Winchester, N. H., and there hearing of the emigration to the Winooski, and Mad River Valleys, they cast lots with the pioneers to this then wilderness country, and removed on to the tract of land owned in the present homestead. Elisha, now 16, began to take the lead in business, his father being very infirm. About half a dozen families were settled in the south part of the town, having made little openings in the forest, with no well worked road into the town. He and two other members of the family, came the first year to roll up the log-house. The next year all came on, and a family of S persons, several children younger than himself, seemed to be dependent on him. even so young, as a foster.father and a guardian. He commenced levelling the old forest trees, and bringing into tillage. meadow and pasturage. Early and late he toiled, and year by year the incadow widened, and the line of woods receded
In the earliest business transactions of the town, we find the name of Elisha Brig. ham There was hardly a year from that time till his death, bu: what he held some town ofhce But what most distin- gulshed hum was his exact honesty. No man could ever say that he defrauded hin of the least in this world's guards Itc would railes sufler wrong than to do
wrong. He never could oppress the weak. as, instinctively, his whole nature prompted him to espouse their cause. And his reli- gious example was the crowning glory of the man. He was the real pioneer of Methodism in the town ; for many years leader in all their social meetings, and around him grew up a thriving class. In this carlier history of the community it might well have been christened the home of the good. Class-leader and chorister. he guided them encouragingly on, and yet his manner was never exciting, hardly, even, could it be said to be fervid or warm ; but solid goodness, tenderness, and genu- ine interest in all that pertained to the soul's welfare, were manifest. The waver- ing came to him, for he never faltered ; the weak, because he was a pillar of strength. He was a man of no doubts in his religious belief, and a man living not by emotion. but principle, and his home was one of hospitality ; particularly was the preacher his guest.
In IS16, collector, often juror and select- man, many years lister, nearly always high- way-surveyor, district clerk or committee man. In all his more active life, however. he was nearly alone in his politics, he being a thorough whig, while the town was intensely democratic. For which rea- son probably he was never . sent to the Legislature of the State, as this seems to be the only office of importance which he at some time has not held.
At the age of 24, he married Sophronia Ryder. They had 12 children, but one of whom died in infancy ; the rest were all living in 1863. One daughter died in July, 1866; the rest are all living, ISS1. And in the fullness of affection and ten- derness all will say he was a good father. Daily he gathered them around his fant- ily altar, while they lived with him, and sought for them the reconciliation of God. He walked before them soberly. patiently, pcaccably. His soul seemed like an unrufiled river, gliding ever tran- quil and even in its banks almos: alike in sunshine and in storm. He had no enemies ; but was Grandfather, and "Un- dr Illsha, " to all the neighborhood, Even
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the old and young far out of his own im- mediate neighborhood, called him by the sobriquet of Uncle Elisha, and seemed to mourn for him as for a good old uncle. His family physician remarked of him after his decease, that he was "the one man of whom he could say, he did not know that he had an enemy in the world. He was a peacemaker."
ONLY A LITTLE WHILE. BY MRS. LAURA BRIGHAM BOYCE. .
Oniy a little wiille
Lingers the springtime with its sun and dew And song of birds, and gently falllug rain. And springing flowers, on hillside and on piain, , Ciothing the earth in garments fresh and new.
Oniy a little while
The summer tarrles with its suitry heat; Showering Its smiles upon the fruitful land, Ripening the harvest for the reaper's hand,
Ere autumn shall the fruitful work compiete.
Only a littlo while
The autumn palnts with gorgeousness the leaves, Ere wintry winds shail pinck them from the bough To drape the earth's dark, corrugated brow,- Then hasten, lolterer, gather in thy sheaves.
Only a little wille
The winter winds shail moan and wildly rave, While the fierce storm-king walks abroad in might, Clothlug the earth in garments pure and willte, Ere the grim monarch, too. shall find a grave.
Only a little while,
Life's spring-timc lingers, and our youthful feet Through flowery paths of Innocence are led. And joyous visions fiil our careless head ;
Too bright, alas ! as beantiful as fleet.
Only a little while
Life's summer waits with storm and genlal sun, With days of toll and nights of caim repose; We find without its thorn we pluck no rose, And spring-time visions vanish one by one.
Ouiy a little while
Ere antumn comes and ilfe is on the wane i Happy for us if well our work be done, For if we loltered in the summer's sun, How shall we labor in the autumn rain ?
Oniy a little while,
And winter comes apace; the hoary head, And paisied limbs, teil of the labors past, And victories won-ah ! soon shall be the last,- And they shall whisper softly " he Is dead."
W. W. PORTER
·
was born in Fayston July 24, 1826. He was the 4th son of Elliot Porter and Sidney Ward, the former a native of Hartford, the latter a native of Poultney, Vt., and a daughter of Judge William Ward, judge in Rutland Co. 22 years.
Wilfred spent his time until he was 17 on the farm, and attending school winters ;
at which time he commenced studying falls and springs, and teaching winters, attend- ing the academies at Montpelier and Ba- kersfield, and working on the farm during the summer months until he was 22 years 1 of age.
As early as fifteen he had set his mind upon the medical profession for life, and bent all his energies in that direction. Having studied medicine some time pre- viously, he, at 22, entered the office of Dr. G. N. Brigham, and began the study of medicine, which he continued summers, teaching school falls and winters for 1} year, when he entered the medical college at Woodstock, where he remained one term, and afterwards at Castleton, Vt., for two terms, graduating from that college in the fall of '51, when he came to Syracuse, and entered the office of Dr. Hiram Hoyt for a short time; May, 1852, entered the school at Geddes as principal teacher for one year, and May 16, 1853, opened an office in that place to practice his profession, which he has continued until the present.
At the close of his first year, the res- ident doctor of Geddes died, leaving him in full possession of the field. Dr. Porter rose rapidly, and by integrity of purpose and dealing, grew into a very large and lu- crative practice, which he carried on for 15 years, as it were, alone, after which he had partners in the practice of medicine.
His practice gradually extended to the city of Syracuse, when, in 1875, the de- mand upon him for medical treatment from that city became so great that he opened an office there, which he. alternately at- tends upon, with his home office in Geddes. He has been for 25 years a member of the Onondaga County Medical Society, and for one term its president, and a permanent member of the New York State Medical Society ; also a member of the American Medical Association, and upon organiza- tion of the College of Medicine of Syracuse University, in 1872, he was appointed clin- ical professor of obstetrics and gynæcology the first year, and at the end of the year, professor in full, which position he still re- tains.
His skill in the treatmentof diseases has
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won for him a position in the esteem of the people to be envied by young practitioners. and his indomitable perseverance and en- durance of body have enabled him to grat- ify, in a great measure, the laudable am- bition of his earlier years-to be among the first in his profession. He was one of the first movers in the organization and establishment of a university at Syracuse, and since its beginning has been a trustee and closely identified with all its interests, and has been largely identified with the pub- lic schools of his town since his first resi- dence there, being supt. of the schools of the town for some 2 years, and trustee of the village school for some 25 years ; also being president of the board of educa- tion.
He and his wife are warmly attached to the Methodist Episcopal church, and are not only liberal supporters of the same, but of any enterprise they regard as look- ing to the building up of good society.
In the year 1853. Nov. 13, he married Miss Jane, daughter of Simeon Draper and Clarissa Stone, of Geddes ; children, Clara A., George D. (deceased), Wilfred W. Jr., Jane and Louic.
LONGEVITY RECORD IN ISSI.
Ruth Chase died in 1865, aged S44 ; Tini- othy Chase in 1875, 93; Benj. Corliss, in 1865, nearly 91 ; Henry Morgan, 1868, S.4. The wife of Henry Morgan (in Northfield), over 80 years. Her home was in Fayston. James Baird died in 1870, aged S1 ; Gco. Somerville, 1870, So; Margarett Strong. 1870. 98 ; Elizabeth Lamson, in 1872. Her friends differed as to her age ; some claini- ed she was to4 ; others that she was but 102. Her husband, Jonathan Lamson, died some 20 years since, aged between So and 90 ; Jane McAughin died in 1872, aged 82; Capt Elliot Porter, 1874. nearly 90, Sidney Porter, hi wite. 1375. 86; Joseph and Susan Marble, over 80 ; Zevlah Hoyce, 1856, aged about 90; Melitable Tyler, 1955, between So and go Elizabeth Har. iett died In Waitshield in 1873, aged 93 She was fer many years a resident of Fays. ton, but moved to W- a short time before his death
TOWN OFFICERS 1871-1SS1.
Town Clerks, Willard B. Porter, 1871 to '80 ; D. S. Stoddard, ISSo; S. J. Dana, ISS1. Representatives, 1871, none ; S. J. Dana, 1872; M. S. Strong. 1874; D. S. Stoddard, 1876; Seth Boyce, 1878; Na- than Boyce. 1880. Treasurers, D. S. Stoddard, 1871, '72; A. D. Bragg, 1875. '79; Seth Boyce, ISSO, 'S1. First Select- men, C. D. Billings, 1871 ; Dan Boyce, 1872 ; C. S. Dana, 1874; Seth Boyce, 1875 ; J. Patterson, 1876; M. S. Strong, 1879; John Maxwell, 1878, '79: J. P. Boyce, ISSO, 'St. Constables, Cornelius McMul- len, 1871, 72 ; H. G. Campbell, 1873. 74: C. M. Fisher, 1875, '76, '79; S. J. Dana, 1877, '78; Allen S. Howe, ISSo; M. S. Strong, 1881. Grand Jury, G. O. Boyce. IS71, '72, '73. 75 ; W. B. Porter, 1874. '76; C. S. Dana, 1877, '78 ; Seth Boyce, 1879. 'So; R. Maxwell and Wm. Chipman, ISS 1. School Supt., Grey H. Porter, 1871, '72. '73: Rev. J. F. Buzzel, 1874 to ISS1. Trustees of the Town, Seth Boyce, 1873. '79 ; Geo. Boyce, 1877, '78, 'So, 'S1. Fus- tices of the Peace, Willard B. Porter, 1872, '74. '76, '78; G. O. Boyce, 1872, '74; D. S. Stoddard, 1872, '76, '78, 'So; Z. W. Boyce, 1872, '74; H. H. Morgan, 1872; C. D. Billings. 1874 ; E. Ainsworth, 1874 ; S. J. Dana, 1876, '78, 'So; O. S. Bruce, J. Z. Marble, 1878 ; Nathan Boyce, Stephen Johnson, Dan Boyce, ISSO.
GERSHOM NELSON BRIGHAM, M. D).,
for 20 years a practicing physician at Mont- pelier, was born in Fayston, Mar. 3, 1820. was son of Elisha Brigham, who made his pitch in F. with the first settlers. His mother, Sophronia Ryder, whose mother was Lucy Chase, a relative of the Hon, Dudley Chase [Sce Randolph History, vol. 11], was a woman of vigorous consti- tution and an active. original mind. Sev- eral ancestors in the Brigham line have been physicians, one of whom was Gershom Brigham, of Marlboro, Mass., the old an- cestral town of the Brighams of this coun. try, the stock tracing back to the parish of Brigham in Northumberland Co., Eng. land- Dr. G. N. Brigham received his education in our common schools, with a
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year in Wash. Co. Gram. Sch. and a half one child. Dr. Brigham has resided since year at Poultney Academy, and studied 1878, at Grand Rapids, Mich. His son, Dr. Homer C., is in practice at Montpel- ier. In his poetical writings-not a few- the Doctor has always inclined to the pat- riotic. medicine with Dr. David C. Joslyn, of Waitsfield, Dr. S. W. Thayer, now of Bur- lington, Prof. Benj. R. Palmer, now of Woodstock, graduating at Woodstock Medical College in 1845, attending three courses of lectures. He has practiced 3 years at Warren, then 3 years at Waits- field; removed to Montpelier,_ 1849; at- tended lectures at the college of Physicians and Surgeons, N. Y., spending much time in the hospitals of the city, about which time he became a convert to homeopathy, and was the second person in middle Ver- mont to espouse the cause at this time so unpopular, and one of six who founded the State Homeopathic Society. He has ed- ucated quite a number of students in his office, among whom, his own son, Dr. Homer C. Brigham, of Montpelier, and Prof. Wilfred W. Porter, of the Medical Department in the Syracuse University. FROM "THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON." While at Montpelier he served a while as When Freedom's cause in doubtful seale Hung trembling o'er Columbia's laud, And men with sinking hearts turned pale That ' gainst the foe tbere stood no brand, Vermont, thy banner rose. postmaster ; was town superintendent of common schools ; lectured on education, temperance and sundry scientific subjects, Green waved thy lofty mountain pine, Whlel thou didst make thy battle sign, Then from the mountain fastness thou Didst sally with a knitted brow. And tyrants felt thy blows. and has been a contributor to medical journals, and known to the secular press in essays and poetical contributions for over 25 years. . He delivered the class poem be- fore the Norwich University in 1870 ; pub- lished in that year a 12 mo. vol., pp. 180, " The Harvest Moon and other Poems " at
- the Riverside Press, which with additions came out in a second edition.
: The Doctor has since issued a "Work on Catarrhal Diseases," 126 pp., and re- ports a work on "Pulmonary Consump- tion," nearly ready for press ; that he has written this year, 1881, a play in tragedy, "Benedict Arnold," that he expects to publish. He is regular contributor to three medical journals, and has written for as many as thirty of the leading newspapers, East and West. He married, Ist, Laura
- Elvira Tyler, dau. of Merrill Tyler, Esq., of Fayston ; children, Homer C., Willard Irving, Julia Lena, Ida Lenore. His first wife died Mar. 12, 1873. He married, 2d, Miss Agnes Ruth Walker, dau. of Ephraim Walker, Esq., of Springfield. They have
Aug. 16th, 100th anniversary of Benning- ton battle. At the meeting of the Ver- monter's Society in Michigan, at Grand Rapids, Hon. W. A. Howard delivered the oration, and Dr. G. N. Brigham, the poem. We give an extract. In our crowd- ed pages we have. scarce room for poetic extracts, even, and this appears to be the musical town of the County. Such a flock of native poets, all expecting by right of manor, to sing in the history of their birth town, with the one who has written the most in this prolific field, we must begin to be brief. Haply, he has published too widely to be in need of our illustration :
The bugle blew no frightful blast Where th' sulphrous smoke its mantle cast, For oft thy sons in forest field The heavy broadsword learned to wield In their old border frays. Bred to reclaim the native soll With sinewed limb and patient toll, The forest path to stoutly fend, Where foes did Inrk, or wild beasts wend, No danger did amaze.
Free as the mountain alr they breathe, The vassal's place they dare disown; The blade from scabbard to unsheatlı And see the slaughters harvest sown, Ere wrong shall rule the day. So when the midnight ery, "To arins! " Did reach them at thelr northern farms, They snatched the musket and the powder-horn, Aud shook their brand with patriots' seorn, And gathered to the fray.
Vermont, thy soul's youug life was there, There from thy rocks up leapt the fire That made thy hillls the altar-stalr To holy freedom's star-crowned spire, While all the world did doubt.
In native hearts and native blades The freeman's hope forever Ilves; The soul that first In sorrow wades, The most to human nature gives In sorest times of drought.
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The bosts of Albion sleep secure, The mountain path to theu. Is sure. And In their dreamis they walt the day To feast and drive the blob away. And lorage on the lown. That dreams to England scaled Der doom ; They roused to hear the cannon boom. And see the mountaineers they scorued In serried line of battle formed. And on thein coming down.
And wbo bere nisi ing pilgrimage. When told how, with their muskets clubbed. Our sires from breastworks drove the foc. Bow bere were English veterans drubbed By plowmen gloved In steel. Shall say. the race keepa not to-day The Spartan fre- .
Shall say. If with this trenchant warf There runs not through a thread of gold: Or If the Attic sall sull Cows
Through pulsing veins of later told. And pledges colored winc. .
. From bence the feld of Beunington Will Concord and with Lexington. Upon the patriot's scroll shall blase. And virtue's bearts proclalen ber praise, Till chivalry's page shall end- Shall tell bow Mars did glut his rage. How screamed the eagle round her nest, When death or freedon; was the gage. While was unlocked her baltic rest. And caruage rode a Cend. .
And where Uic nallons strive and hope. And In the breaking darkness grope. flere may expiring falthı still burn, And see the patriot's emblem turo Above this crimson sea.
From another poem on the same sub- ject :
How grand thy lowering cliffe, where twines The hemlock's green to wreath thy crown; llow bright thy praks when day declines, As there the glory settles down.
When stirred the border feud, how rang The note of war : . . .
And where the wolf ran down ber prey Ily grange girt in with woodland Jun. The ranger burried to Use fray. There Cashed the border -guardstan's gun.
Ass oliven a mightier cause called for Thy sons to draw the sword . .
The begle save the bills ils blant.
And men in buckskin breeches carse. Their wattle along with the powder horn. Their hearts with freedom's spart aname. And battled IUI the NTAT): was born.
. . . thy border cry Rang to the Northern elle, for help. When Allen mastered for oll TI. And drove from there the lion's whelp.
From there to Hloaski's blaufy feme
Marched Arth our sires with learts stame.
And e ote med the Brille : Ilum's ple. AmJ wrote for ss s It ril a e
From a remembrance to Vermont :
O, bring the spring that pinmes the glen, And hearty be the greeting:
We'll think In kindness of the ten Whose bearts to ours gave beallng :
Nor shall their armor rust
Taken by ns In trust.
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Bathed In the noou of peace, green, stren Forever, be those bills ;
Green where the boar-frost bullda ber screen, And winter's goblet fils.
The frost and cedar green!
Queen Virgin of the Ancient North. Throned spirit of the crags. .
Who called the stardy Allens forth To weare thy battle-Cags. . We take the sprig of pine. Proud of our lucal line.
Verniont! Vermont! Our childhood's bouse. Sull bome where'er we rostu.
MISS SUSAN GRIGGS. BY ANNA M. BRACO.
Many efficient teachers of our district schools have been reared and educated in this town, though the greater part have followed teaching but a few terms before commencing " life work," but Miss Griggs has made teaching the business of her life. and in years of service, number of pupils, and different branches thoroughly learned and imparted to others, has no equal here. and perhaps but few in our whole country. She was born in this town. Feb. 1814. From her carliest schooldays, her book was her favorite companion, often upon her wheel-beach, that sentence after sen- tence of some coveted lesson might be committed to memory, while her hands spun thread after thread of wool or flax, working willingly for herself and her . brothers and sisters, as was the custom in those days.
When 12 years of age, her father, an carnest Christian man, died, leaving his wife and little ones to struggle along the path of life alone in God's care. But as in his life he had often said. "Susan is our student." so in all her young days after she seemed to hear his voice encouraging her to give her time, talents and life to the work of Christian education. She began teaching in the Sabbath-school at 13, and at 16 in a district-school, where for many years her time was spent, and in altending school, as she completed the course of
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study at Newbury Seminary. In 1850, she was one of the teachers sent out to the South and West by Gov. Slade. She taught one year at Wilmington, N. C., and then went to Wolcottville, Ind., under the direction of Gov. Slade, a small village in a new town, first teaching in the family of George Wolcott, with the addition of a few neighbors' children; then in a small school-house. The school so increased, Mr. Wolcott, the founder of the village, built a convenient seminary at his own ex- pense, furnished with musical instruments, library, apparatus, etc. Here she taught for 17 years, principal of the school, hav- ing sometimes one or two assistant teach- ers, and often a hundred pupils. Beside the common and higher English branches, there were often classes in German, Latin, French and painting, and always in music, vocal and instrumental, and always a lit- erary society, and always a Sabbath-school, in which she taught a class, and was some- times superintendent. She says "these years were full of toil, but bright with hope that minds were there awakened to the beauties of the inviting realms of purity and truth."
After a short rest with a brother in Mis- souri and another in Wisconsin, she re- sumed teaching in Fort Wayne College, Ind. ; afterward in Iowa about 2 years, and is now in Kendallville, Ind., one of a corps of 12 teachers ; 60 pupils under her charge. " Many will rise up and call her blessed."
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