235
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
CHAPTER IX.
SETTLEMENT
OF THE VILLAGE--ABISHA WASHBURN--PAINTER'S MILLS--FOOT'S MILLS--HOP JOHNSON--COL.
STORRS--PAINTER IN THE VILLAGE--FIRST STORE--SAMUEL MILLER--S. DUDLEY--B. GORTON--JOHN
DEMING--S. FOOT--B. SEYMOUR--M. POST.
IN
the year 1774 or 1775, Abisha Washburn, of Salisbury, Conn., undertook to take
possession of the water power on the east side of the falls. He did not come within
the conditions of the vote of the proprietors in March 1765, one of which was
that the saw mill should be built within "fifteen months." But, in consequence
of some subsequent vote or the general understanding of the proprietors, it seems
to have been considered by him and others, that building a saw mill would give
him a claim to the privilege and the lands adjoining. The adjoining lot was called
the mill lot, even before the survey of Judge Painter. Washburn did not bring
his family here, but spent one summer in getting up a saw mill on the falls. Whether
it was put in operation we have not ascertained. He returned to Salisbury in the
fall, and the revolutionary war then threatening, or having commenced, the authorities
of Massachusetts engaged him to undertake the casting of cannon at Salisbury,
for their use. He did not therefore return to Middlebury until after the war.
In the meantime, his mill, whatever it was, was destroyed by the Indians. Some
of these facts we have obtained from Miss Bradley and Mrs. Horace Loomis of Burlington,
both grand daughters of Mr. Washburn. This was the beginning of operations in
the village, and the only one before the war.
In
the spring of 1784, Washburn returned for the purpose of re-building his mill,
and by the aid of Col. Chipman and Judge Painter, a new mill was completed and
put in operation in 1785,
236
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
but was
swept away by the succeeding spring freshet. Afterwards, by an arrangement between
Washburn and Judge Painter, the latter secured the privileges which Washburn
was understood to possess, and pitched for himself the fifty acre lot, including
the falls, called the "mill lot," and for Washburn another fifty acres, south
curl east of his own, which he soon purchased. Neither of these pitches was
founded on any claim for building the mill, but were probably a part of the
arrangement, in the transfer of the supposed claim. These pitches embrace the
whole of the village east of the creek and south of Hyde's pitch, afterwards
occupied by Freeman Foot as his farm. Painter, soon after, proceeded to erect
mills, and in 1787 had put in operation a saw mill, and in 1788 a grist mill.
The former was built on the rock at the head of the falls, near where the present
grist mill is, and the latter partly below it.
In
the meantime, in 1783, John Hobson Johnson,-more generally known as Hop Johnson,-built
a cabin, at the head of the rapids on the west side of the creek, then in Cornwall,
a little below the abutment of the rail road bridge, on that side of the river.
This was the stopping place for all travellers on the creek, and he kept a ferry
and a place of refreshment for them. He continued his possession and business
here until about the year 1789, when he left the country for "parts unknown,"
leaving his wife and several children in possession of his house and ferry.
After
Daniel Foot discovered the failure of his title under the Weybridge charter, he
purchased the right of pitching under the charter of Cornwall, and laid out one
hundred acres, embracing the whole of the falls on Cornwall side, extending about
forty rods south of them to the "old Weybridge corner;" and the same year 1784,
erected a large building, sufficient to accommodate a saw mill and grist mill.
The former went into operation in July, and the latter in November, 1785. Until
a short time previous to the completion of this grist mill, the inhabitants were
obliged to go to Pittsford for their grinding. The grain was taken in boats, or
on rafts up the creek, to Pittsford. A few weeks before Foot's mill was in operation,
Col. Sawyer had completed a grist mill on Leicester River, at Salisbury village,
and, during that time, the resort was to his mill.
237
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
Mr. Foot
soon gave up the possession of his mills and lands in Cornwall to his sons,
Stillman Foot and John Foot, and in 1789 deeded to them his mill lot, with mills
and other buildings and improvements. Previous to this, one or more small buildings
near the mills had been erected; and Stillman Foot, in 1786, had erected a dwelling
house for his own family, which is the oldest dwelling house of any description
now remaining, and is the dwelling house, with considerable alterations and
additions, occupied by Daniel Henshaw for many years, and which is now occupied
by J. S. Bushnell, Esq., his son-in-law.
About
the year 1791, John Foot sold his share of the property in Cornwall to his brother
Appleton Foot; but remained in the village two or three years. In July 1794, Stillman
and Appleton divided their property in Cornwall, and arranged between themselves
the privileges of the water, which they had before held in common. Stillman took
the upper part of the falls, where the woolen factory now is, extending to the
bridge, and Appleton the privilege below his, and the land on the creek north
of the road leading west across the college or academy common, and extending north
to the north line of the mill lot. Stillman took the land up the creek, south
to Col. Storrs' land and extending west over part of the college common.
About
this time Appleton Foot built a dwelling house for his family, on the ground where
the brick house now stands, occupied by Dr. Nathaniel Harris. In this he resided
until he removed from town. Stillman Foot had a grist mill where the stone part
of the woolen factory stands, and a saw mill further up stream, on the rocks back
of the dry house. He built also a small house for his miller on his mill yard.
Appleton built a stone grist mill and a saw mill just below Stillman's mills,
and a part of what was called his mill house, now owned by the woolen factory
company.
The
first tenements, on the west side of the creek, were built along its western bank.
A few rods south of Hop Johnson's house, James Bentley senior, father of Johnson's
wife, built a small house, in which he lived after the war. On the lot now occupied
by Mr. Bushnell was a small house called the Judd house, built by Stillman Foot
for the use of his workmen, and on the lot occupied by
238
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
the widow
of Judge Phelps, a small house called the "Red house," which was afterwards
moved to the ridge; south of Mr. Davenport's. Mrs. McLeod, a daughter of Capt.
Ebenezer Markham, to whom we shall again refer, says, that, when a child, she
often, in her rambles, saw the foundations of these several houses. She says
also, that there was then a road to the creek from where Mrs. Cutter's house
stands. Simeon Dudley, who was employed in building Foot's mills in 1785, erected
a temporary shanty on the site now occupied by Mrs. Phelps, in which he lived
two years without chimney or cellar.
Col.
Seth Storrs, who had been in the practice of law at Addison, removed to Middlebury
in 1794, after the courts were established here. We mention his settlement in
this place, in anticipation of the details of our history, because he became one
of the principal owners, who sold to others the lands, which now constitute the
village west of the creek. Among other lands, he purchased. the farm, on which
he afterwards resided until his death, extending from the north line of his house
lot and garden south to the home farm of the late Judge Phelps, and from the creek
west to the top of the hill, and embracing the land where the college buildings
stand, a large part of the academy common, and the residences on the streets included
in these limits. He first resided in a gambrel roof house, built by John Foot,
on the site of the present brick house, recently owned and occupied by Edward
Wainwright, afterward by Samuel Shepard, and now by George C. Chapman. On this
site he built in 1801 and 1802 the handsome frame house, which was burnt in 1831;
and during the progress of erecting this, his gambrel roof house was removed off
the ground and occupied by his family. After the destruction of the wooden house,
the present brick house was erected by Professor Turner, his son-in-law, and was
occupied by him and his family, with Col. Storrs and his family, until the death
of each.
Col.
Seth Storrs was a native of Mansfield, Conn., born June 24, 1756. He was educated
at Yale College, and was graduated in 1778. After he left college, he was for
several years associated with Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D. in the instruction of
a public
239
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
seminary
at Northampton Mass. Soon after the close of the war he came to Vermont, then
opening an inviting field for the enterprise of young men, and pursued his professional
studies in the office of the Hon. Noah Smith in Bennington. Having received
license, he located himself in Addison in this county in 1787. The county had
been incorporated in the fall of 1785, but the first court was held in the spring
of 1786. Addison, at the time, was the most prominent settlement in the county.
He continued in that place until he removed to Middlebury. While he resided
in Addison, he boarded in the family of Hon John Strong, the first chief judge
of the county court, and was married to his daughter. We believe he was the
first lawyer, who settled in the county, except Samuel Chipman, a brother of
Hon. Daniel Chipman, who was licensed the year previous and settled in Vergennes.
Col. Storrs was appointed in 1787 the first state's attorney, and was annually
appointed to that office for the next ten years. After his removal to Middlebury,
he continued in successful practice here. He was also among the most active
in counselling and contributing to measures to advance the prosperity of the
village. He was forward in promoting the establishment of our literary institutions.
In his deed, executed jointly with others, he conveyed to the corporation of
Addison County Grammar School a large share of the land, on which the building
of that institution was erected, together with the extensive common connected
with it. When the location of the college was removed, and the stone college
built, he contributed the whole tract, which forms the handsome grounds of that
institution. He was constituted by the charters, a member of both these corporations.
From
the time of his settlement here, Col. Storrs was an active supporter of the religious
institutions of the place, especially of the Congregational church and society,
to which he immediately attached himself, and was one of the first regularly chosen
deacons of the former. In the later years of his life, he was more generally employed
in various offices of trust, than in the labors of his profession. He was many
years town clerk, and clerk of the Congregational church and society, and was
moderator and on committees in each.
Col.
Storrs was a gentleman of what has been called the "old
240
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
school,"
and no man was better entitled to the designation, which we have heard applied
to him, of a "Christian gentleman." He died at Vergennes, while on a visit to
his friends in that place, on the 5th of October 1842, at the age of 71 years.After
the completion of Daniel Foot's first mills, Simeon Dudley was employed by Painter
in erecting his mills. In 1787, he commenced the erection, near the grounds
of the Addison House, of a shanty similar to that which he occupied on the west
side, which took fire and was consumed before its completion. He then commenced
the erection of a more permanent building, which Judge Painter purchased, remodeled
and prepared for his own residence. It was on ground now the front yard of Mrs.
Wainwright's present dwelling, near the south line. To this house, in the fall
of 1787, he removed his family from his farm in the south part of the town,
and resided in it until the completion of his new house in 1802.
At
that time the whole region was covered
with a thick and gloomy forest of hemlock and pine, except small spaces about
the mills and small tenements, which had been erected. At the first Christmas
after his settlement here, he invited the settlers to a Christmas dinner. Col.
Sumner, who had just settled on his farm two miles north, Freeman Foot, who had
built a house just north of the village, Stephen Goodrich and his sons on the
Bass farm, the Foots and, their workmen on the west side of the creek, and his
own workmen, were the only near neighbors. But his invitations were probably extended
further. Whatever the numbers may have been, the company, as is common in all
new countries, probably had a merry time. Samuel Bartholomew, who resided in Cornwall,
was a man of some eccentricities, and given to rhyming, on extraordinary occasions.
He had early planted an orchard of sweet apples, which became a common resort
for the young folks to buy and eat apples, and he was therefore called the "Apple
man." Among his eccentricities, he never wore shoes in the summer, except when
he went to church, as he sometimes did in this village. On such occasions he carried
his shoes in his hand until he arrived among the inhabitants, and then put them
on and walked to the place of meeting. These incidents relate to a later period
of his life. This
241
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
entertainment
being a proper subject for his muse, he composed the following doggerel verses
on the occasion.
"This place,
called Middlebury Falls
Is like a city without walls.
Surrounded 'tis by hemlock trees
Which shut out all its enemies.
The powwow now on Christmas day,
Which much resembled Indian play,
I think will never be forgotten
Till all the hemlock trees are rotten."
This
effusion, which never before had the honor to be put in type was repeated to
us by Mrs. Severance, before mentioned, who we think, was one of the guests at
the entertainment.
When
Judge Painter became settled here; with his usual sagacity, he adopted his plans
to make this a village and place of business of some importance. For this purpose
he adopted a liberal plan for the disposition of his lands to settlers. His first
deed of one acre, where the Addison House stands, was given to Simeon Dudley,
on the 10th of September 1788; but no building was erected on it until Samuel
Mattocks built his tavern house in 1794.
In
January 1789, Painter deeded to Benjamin Gorton of Hudson N. Y., a small piece
of land, below and adjoining the bridge, being the land on which the brick store
of Gen. Nash was recently burnt, and on which Mr. Cobb has recently erected a
large building for his printing office, and including the land on which Mr. Wood's
meat room stood. Gorton was uncle to Jabez Rogers, Jun., and although he never
resided in Middlebury, was extensively connected with him, as a partner, in real
estate and the various enterprises, in which Rogers was subsequently engaged.
On this lot Rogers soon erected a building and opened a store, which was understood
to be the first store in the county. In 1796 he was succeeded by Sisson, Dibble
and Sherrill; and in 1800 Benjamin Seymour purchased the building and occupied
a part of it, as a residence for his family, and a part for his hatter's
shop. Here Mr. Seymour prosecuted for several years his business as a hatter,
and afterwards exchanged it for that of a merchant. A small piece of this lot
was afterwards purchased by Nathan Wood, who owned the mill, and
242
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
the mill
building was extended over it, and at the same time John Seymour, son of Benjamin,
built the brick store, afterwards owned by Gen. Nash.
On
the point of rock, which extended farther into the creek, Rogers erected a small
separate building; which was occupied for several years by Samuel Sargeant as
a silver smith shop. This was removed during the enterprise for removing the obstructions
to the free passage of the water over the falls.* Sargeant thereupon put up the
brick building on the east side of the falls, on the point formed by the two roads
around the park, and removed his shop there.
In
September 1789, Painter deeded to Samuel Miller Esq. a half acre lot, on which
he afterwards lived, and in December following, the meadow east of it. Miller
had that year, before receiving his deed, put up an office, to which he afterwards
built a front; and occupied the whole as a dwelling house until the time of his
death. The house was afterwards purchased by Edward D. Barber, repaired and altered
and occupied by him and until recently belonged to his estate, and was occupied
by Professor Robbins, and has lately been purchased and is now occupied by Mr.
Z. Beckwith.
Samuel
Miller was the first lawyer, who settled in Middlebury, and was among the most
distinguished citizens, who have-had a residence here. He was born in Springfield,
Mass., April 2, 1764.
----------
*Large tracts of low lands or swamps on the borders of the creek
above the falls, were overflowed in the spring and other large freshets, and on
account of the sluggishness of the stream and the obstructions at the falls, the
water remained so long on the lands as seriously to injure them. The rocks at
the falls made a complete dam, and rendered an artificial one unnecessary. The
channels for the water to the mills were cut through the rocks. The owners of
the lands, in order to remove the obstructions to the free passage of the water,
in 1806 entered into a contract with the mill owners to lower their water courses.
The legislature, at their session in 1804, had granted a tax on the lands to the
amount of two thousand dollars to pay the expense. Much of the land was sold for
the tax, and is still held under that title. This measure did not satisfy the
land owners, and further expense was incurred in reducing the channel at the head
of the rapids; and among other obstructions, which needed to be removed, was the
rock on which Sargeant's shop stood. For this purpose it was exchanged, in 1822
for the ground on which he erected his new shop. This point was not included in
Painter's deed for a common, but was reserved as a part of his mill yard, and
by his will became the property of the corporation of Middlebury College, and
by their agent deeded to Mr. Sargeant.
243
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
He came
into the State in 1785, and resided in Wallingford. He never had the advantages
of a collegiate education; but this deficiency was well supplied by superior
talents and a thirst for knowledge, which he early manifested. Independent of
all external aid, he set himself to work to build up a character and influence
by his own native energies. Before coming to Vermont he had made himself acquainted
with some of the sciences, especially mathematics in its various branches. One
object in devoting himself to this science probably was to qualify himself,
as a thorough practical surveyor in this new-country. In this department, he
was to some extent employed after he came to this place. But he aimed at a position
of higher influence. Soon after he came into the State he entered upon the study
of the law and was licensed in the County of Rutland. Immediately after, he
located himself in Middlebury, when the site of the village was almost a wilderness.
Mr.
Miller had a mind of unusual activity and vigor, and of very quick and discriminating
perceptions. He immediately entered upon an extensive practice, not only in this
county, but in the western counties of the State, north and south of it. While
he lived, he and Daniel Chipman occupied a similar rank, and stood at the head
of the profession, in the several counties where they practiced. In these counties
they were engaged in all the important disputed causes, together or in opposition.
In his addresses to the jury, Mr. Miller's enunciation was rather rapid, but his
argument was systematic, clear and forcible.
Mr.
Miller was disinclined to enter into public life, but was known and had an extensive
influence through the State. He was elected a representative to the General Assembly
in 1797, and was a prominent and influential member. He had then been in town
only eight years, and previous to that time Judge Painter had been the only representative,
except one year. A leading politician of the opposite party, proposed to him to
become their candidate for governor, with the assurance, that, in .that case,
he would be elected. But he declined, and we are not aware that he ever held any
other public office in the State. His manners were courteous and gentlemanly,
and he was rather insinuating in his address. He was everywhere
244
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
recognised
as a gentleman. While the prominent men of Middlebury were urgently pressing,
before the legislature and elswhere, the claims of their town, it was remarked
by a politician of that day, that "the influence of Painter with his cunning,
Chipman with his argument, and Miller with his courteous address, "if it were
possible, would deceive the very elect."
Mr.
Miller, like other prominent citizens, was devoted to the prosperity of the village,
which he had adopted as his home, and liberally contributed to build up its institutions
by his influence and money. He was especially active in procuring a charter for
Middlebury College, and in raising that institution to a state of prosperity.
Among other contributions he gave one thousand dollars to establish the first
professorship. By the charter of that corporation, he was constituted one of its
first members. He was no less devoted and active in sustaining the institutions
of religion here and elsewhere. He was liberal, especially in his support of the
Congregational Society in its weakness and trials. When the legislature removed
the foundation on which that and similar societies were formed, and left the support
of religion entirely to voluntary association, he afforded efficient aid in the
organization and prosperity of the new society. In the year 1805, he united himself
more closely to its interests, by becoming a member of the church. His co-operation
in all measures to promote the prosperity of the church and society was efficient
and influential. In his will he left a legacy of one thousand dollars, the income
of which was to be appropriated annually for the support of the gospel in the
society, and five hundred dollars to the Vermont Missionary Society.
On
the 7th of October 1790, the next year after he commenced the practice of law
in this place, Mr. Miller was married to Rebecca Mattocks, daughter of Hon. Samuel
Mattocks, then residing in Tinmouth, and for many years treasurer of the state,
and sister of Samuel Mattocks Jun. a distinguished citizen of this town. She was
worthy of him, and made his home the centre of his affections.
Some
years before his death, Mr. Miller was afflicted with a cancerous sore, on one
of his legs, which increased in virulence from year to year. No remedies checked
its progress. He consulted
245
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
the most
skilful surgeons, and among these, Dr. Nathan Smith then professor of Dartmouth
College. He advised amputation as the only hope of avoiding a fatal termination,
and he performed the painful operation. But it was inefficient as a remedy.
The cancer broke out in another part of his body, and terminated his life on
the 17th day of April 1810. His widow survived him many years, in her quiet
and unostentatious acts of benevolence, and in leading others, by her influence
and example, in every good work.
Hon.
John Mattocks of Peacham, late governor of Vermont, and Hon. William Mattocks
of Danville, were also brothers of Mrs. Miller, and pursued their professional
studies under the tuition of Mr: Miller.
John
Deming from Canaan Conn.,
purchased of Judge Painter ten acres, extending north from the south east corner
of the Congregational church to the north line of the mill lot, and west from
the same bounds to the west line of the late Hon. Horatio Se ymour's garden, and
the north end extending west in a narrow strip to the creek, thus forming an L.
On this strip stands the house onto occupied by Ozias Seymour, south of the house
in which he now resides. Deming at the same time purchased of Asa Fuller an additional
tract, north of the above, on the west side of the paper mill road. In order to
bring together the several settlements on this early purchase of Mr. Deming, with
as little confusion as possible, we shah be compelled to anticipate the dates
of our history.
Deming
was a blacksmith, and erected a building designed for his shop on the ground now
occupied by Mr. Seymour's house. This he divided into two rooms for the residence
of his family, while he was building a larger house for their accommodation. While
he was residing in this building, the town nominated him as a tavern keeper, the
duties of which he undertook to discharge, as best he could. One night his guests
amounted to twenty-five, belonging to families moving into the country, and they
all stopped for breakfast. Miss Althea Deming his daughter, from whom we received
these details, was born in the same house.
In
1790 Mr. Deming erected a
large house on the ground now occupied by the Congregational church, the first
two story house in
246
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
the village,
and said, at the time, to be the largest house in the County. In this he lived
and continued his tavern until the fall of 1794. In the meantime, in 1792 he
sold to George Sloan, also a blacksmith, a small tract, on which stood the small
house built for a blacksmith shop. He subsequently resided in Salisbury about
a dozen years, and afterwards in Middlebury until 1813, when he removed to Crown
Point, where he died in 1815, at the age of fifty-three. His widow and family
then returned to Middlebury, and occupied the house, which he built during his
last residence, on Seminary street, where his daughter Althea still resides.
Here Mrs. Deming died in 1841 at the age of eighty-four.
Samuel
Foot in 1794 purchased and took possession of the premises left by Mr. Deming,
and continued to occupy them until 1803. In the meantime he added to his land
on the west side of the paper mill road a small tract, extending north and including
Mr. Seymour's farm house. While in possession of the lands purchased of Deming,
Foot sold, in 1797, to Dr. Joseph Clark, a small building lot next .north of the
houses now owned by Dr. Allen, where Clark built the two story house, in which
he opened and kept a tavern, which has since been owned successively by Dr. William
G. Hooker, Charles Bowen and others and is now owned by Mr. Bellows of Walpole.
In 1799, he sold to William Coon the lot on which John Jackson now resides, occupying
a part of the house for his residence and a part for his hat store. The south
half of the house had been previously built and used for a school house. The north
part was built by Hiram Seymour, a hatter from Canada, who resided here during
the last British war. Foot had previously sold to Jonathan Nichols Jun. the lot
next north of the last mentioned. On this lot Nichols moved a blacksmith shop
and fitted it up for the residence of his father, Jonathan Nichols senior, who,
after a short residence, resided with his son-in-law Billy Manning until his death
in 1814, at the age of eighty-seven. Edward Eells, a goldsmith, afterwards owned
this lot, resided on it several years and built the present two story house now
occupied by Mr. Parker Cleveland. The old black smith shop, in the meantime, was
removed to the south side of the lot, and is still occupied as a residence.
247
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
The
land which Foot owned on the west side of the paper mill road he sold in 1802
to Hon. Horatio Seymour, and the premises connected with his tavern stand
in 1803, to Landon Case from Addison. He then removed to Crown Point, in company
with his brother-in-law Lewis McDonald. While Mr. Foot remained in town he kept
a public house, but was principally employed in the duties of deputy sheriff.
Olcutt
White in 1807 purchased of Loudon Case a lot north of the church on the New Haven
road, on which had been previously built the south half of the building now standing
there, and afterwards White built the north half. In this building he carried
on the business of book binding, and had a small book store. It is now owned by
Dr. Charles L. Allen, and the apartments are rented to various persons.
Mr.
Seymour afterwards became the owner of all the lands on the west side of the paper
mill road, and from him was derived the title to the numerous lots now occupied
there for residences. The following are a few of the earlier lots disposed of
by him. In 1803 he appropriated for a female seminary the lot, on which his son,
Ozias Seymour Esq. lives. The two story building standing on it was that year
built and for several years used for a female school, but is now fitted up for
a residence. This let Mr. Seymour deeded in 1806 to the corporation of Addison
County Grammar School, for the use of a female seminary. In 1803 Benjamin Seymour
purchased the lot on which he built the small brick house now owned by Gen. Nash.
To this he removed his family, and resided in it until his death, but continued
his business at the old stand below the bridge. In 1808 Martin Post Esq. an attorney
settled in Cornwall, who had then been appointed clerk of the county court, purchased
the lot next north of the Female Seminary. Mr. Post built here the small house,
which forms the kitchen of Dr. Moody's house. He died in 1811, at the age of thirty-two.
He left a widow and several small children, two of whom are living and are Rev.
Martin M. Post, a clergyman of standing in Indiana and Rev. Truman M. Post, D.
D., of St. Louis Missouri.