251
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
at the head of the organization
of the Republican party, as chairman of its central committee. No man at that
time probably had as much influence in controlling the measures of the party as
he. On the establishment of the Vermont State Bank in 1806, he was appointed one
of the directors and continued in that office, until the Branch at Middlebury
was closed. In 1812, Dr. Willard was appointed and officiated as Sheriff of the
County.
Dr.
Willard was born in 1759 at the town, then known as East Guilford, now Madison,
Conn. His father, Capt. John Willard, a ship master, died when he was a child,
and he was left in the care of his mother, and aided in carrying on her small
farm. Not liking the drudgery of a farmer's boy, he went to sea. Toward the close
of the revolutionary war he was taken by the British, on board an American privateer,
and confined in, and subjected to the horrors of, the Jersey prison ship, lying
at Walabout Bay. After he was released and had regained the health and strength,
which he had lost in prison, he received the appointment of quartermaster in a
Connecticut regiment of volunteers. At the close of the war, he entered upon the
study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Jonathan Todd, the principal physician
in his native place. He had before had the limited advantages for education, of
only a few months each year, at a district school in his childhood. But he was
fond of study and made the most of the advantages he enjoyed. As an introduction
to his medical studies, he pursued, to a limited extent, classical studies with
the pastor of the parish. After completing his medical studies, he settled in
the practice as before stated. In August 1809 he was married to Miss Emma Hart,
then principal of the Female Seminary here, and who has since become distinguished
in that department. After she opened her school at their residence, he co-operated
with her in building it up and sustaining it. Having greater encouragement from
friends in the State of New York, they removed their residence and school to Waterford
in 1819, and two years afterwards to Troy. Dr. Willard's death took place May
25, 1825, at the age of sixty-six years.
In
1791, Elias Wilder a hatter, purchased of Judge Painter the lot next west
of the land purchased by Deming, on which the
252
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
Brewster brick building
stands. Here he built a house and shop, and continued his business about two
years.
In
the same year, Jabez Rogers, Jun., purchased a lot west of the Wilder lot, extending
west on the common to the west line of the rail-road, north to the northern strip
of land purchased by Deming, and just north of the old house last occupied by
Rogers, and west to the creek, embracing the land and rocks around and below the
eddy. He also purchased the Wilder lot. On these lots he built the old house above
mentioned, and in 1800, for the purpose of accommodating boarders attending the
legislature that year, he erected the two story house, which was removed to make
room for the rail road next west of Brewster's block.. He, at a later day, built
the large brick house, north of Mr. Seymour's, now owned by Dr. William P. Russel.
At an early day he established on the borders of the eddy, a brewery, distillery
and potash, which he conducted for several years, in company with his brother-in-law,
Lebbeus Harris, father of the present Dr. Nathaniel Harris, a surgeon dentist.
The elder Mr. Harris died in 1814, aged fifty years, and Mr. Rogers in 1816, at
the age of seventy-five.
In
the year 1793, the lot on which the brick house stands, now occupied by Nathan
Wood, and extending to the creek, was purchased by Anthony Rhodes, who that year
settled in Middlebury as a merchant. The year following, he purchased a small
piece lying between the above and the south line of the common, and built on these
lots a dwelling house, out houses and a potash. His house was near where the office
of Mr. Starr stands. This he occupied until the fall of 1796. He then purchased
about three acres on the corner made by the Cornwall and Weybridge roads. This
lot was a part of the premises of Appleton Foot, and had been purchased the year
before by Nehemiah Lawrence, who had put up on the land and partly finished the
house now owned by Professor Twining. Rhodes finished the north part of the house
for a residence, and the south part for a store, where he continued his business
for a time, and in 1798 built a store on the lot where the Episcopal rectory stands,
and removed his business there. In 1801 Rhodes sold his house to Ep. Jones, closed
his business and left the State. He was
253
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
the father
of Holden Rhodes, who was educated at Middlebury College, and became a lawyer
of standing in Virginia, and of Mrs. Chipman wife of Hon. George Chipman, now
of the city of Washington.
The
lot, which Rhodes purchased of Lawrence, extended north end included the two house
lots of Amon Wilcox, and the house lot of Dr. Z. Bass. The southern of these lots
was sold by Rhodes to William Baker, for many years the principal mason in the
village, in 1801, who built the present house, the others to Ruluff and Benjamin
Lawrence. Benjamin Lawrence built the two houses now occupied by Mr. Wilcox and
Dr. Bass. Mr. Wilcox settled in Middlebury at an early day, and has been a successful
manufacturer and dealer in tin and copper ware, and dealer in stoves and corresponding
articles.
Mr.
Ep. Jones occupied the house, purchased of Rhodes, for a tenement and store for
several years, and moved to Lake Dunmore, where he established his large glass
factory, and when that exploded, went to the west and established himself at New
Albany, Indiana.
Ep.
Miller in 1796 purchased the premises left by Anthony Rhodes on the east side
of the creek, occupied the house built by him, and established a tannery on the
bank of the creek, which he carried on for many years. He afterwards built on
the premises the large brick house occupied by Mr. Wood, a large three story building,
which was removed to make room for the rail road and the house under the hill
lately owned by Dr. Brockway, now by Mrs. Adalin Lagro. He afterwards purchased
the farm and beautiful site where Mr. Chipman's house was burnt, and erected the
brick house now owned by Mr. S. B. Rockwell. Here he resided until his death in
1850, in his eightieth year.
Lewis
and Joseph McDonald, from Litchfield, Conn., came to Middlebury in 1793, and purchased
the small lot, which John Dewing had sold to George Sloan, and on the land now
constituting Mr. Seymour's garden, erected a gambrel roof building, which they
used for their store, while Lewis McDonald occupied the old house for his residence.
Here they prosecuted a successful mercantile business until 1801, when they closed
their business and divided
254
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
their property. In
the meantime, they had purchased several pieces of land, on the north side of
the road running west from the college, extending from the top of the hill westward
and forming a valuable farm. In the division of their property Joseph took this
farm, went into possession of the house, which had been before built by Winant
Williamson, on land purchased of him, and which is now occupied by Abraham L
Williamson. Here he prosecuted the business of farming until 1828, when he returned
to the village, purchased the house and lot on Weybridge street, now owned by
Orin Abbey, and resided there until the time of his death in 1854 at the age
of 84 years. About the year 1818, Lewis McDonald returned to the village, purchased
the lot and house now owned by Richard Southwell, on the Cornwall street, and
resided there until his death in 1839 at the age of 72 years.
Mr.
Seymour purchased the lot, which had been the place of business of Lewis and Joseph
McDonald, and occupied the house for the residence of his family. In 1816 and
1817, he replaced it by the present large brick house, in which he afterwards
resided until his death. The old house at the time was removed to the lot next
south of the old Female Seminary building, and was for many years the residence
of Ozias Seymour, Esq.
Hon.
Horatio Seymour, LL. D., was born at Litchfield, Conn., May 31, 1778. He was the
son of Major Moses Seymour and Mrs. Mary [Marsh] Seymour. His father was a respectable
citizen of that place, was in the war of the Revolution, represented the town
in the State Legislature, much of the time from 1795 to 1812, and was town clerk
for nearly forty years. The subject of this notice pursued his studies preparatory
to entering college, at New Milford, under the tuition of his brother-in-law,
Rev. Truman Marsh, then located in that place. He was graduated at Yale College
in 1797. The following year he spent as an assistant teacher in the Academy at
Cheshire, Conn.; the second he spent in the study of law, at Judge Reeve's law
school in Litchfield. In October 1799 he came to Middlebury, and continued his
professional studies in the office of Hon. Daniel Chipman. In the spring of 1800,
he was licensed to practice law, and, in competition with several distinguished
255
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
and older
lawyers, such as Daniel Chipman, Samuel Miller and others, entered immediately
into an extensive practice, and rose rapidly in general estimation, as a man
and as a lawyer. He did not seek to extend his practice to other counties, but
in the County of Addison, no other lawyer, we believe, ever had so extensive
a business or was engaged, at the same time, in so many causes in the different
courts. While building his large and very expensive brick house, in 1816 and
1817, he expressed to the writer of this notice, his regret to lay out so great
an expenditure on a house, but stated, as some alleviation, that his income
during those two years was sufficient to meet the expense. Notwithstanding his
talents, which were of a superior order, and his thorough knowledge of the law,
he was probably no little indebted for his success, to his great popularity
as a man. His career as a lawyer was uninterrupted until the spring of 1821.
In
the meantime, in December 1800, the same year in which he was admitted to the
bar, Mr. Seymour was appointed postmaster, and continued in the office for nine
years, but, for. much of the time, on account of the pressure of his professional
business, he committed the personal superintendence, with its income, to other
hands. When the Vermont State Bank was established at the session of the legislature
in 1806, he was chosen one of its first directors, and continued in that office
until the branch at Middlebury was closed. In 1809, he was elected by the people
a member of the Executive Council, and was annually re-elected for the five following
years. In October 1820, he was elected, by the legislature, to the Senate of the
United States, the duties of the office to commence on the 4th of March, 1821.
At the close of his first term he was re-elected for a second. This of course
was an interruption to his professional pursuits. At the close of his second term
in 1833, he returned to the practice of law. This he continued until a few years
since, when his infirmities forced him to retire from it.
The
corporation of Yale College, at the commencement in 1847, the fiftieth anniversary
of his graduation, conferred on him the honorary degree of LL. D.
Mr.
Seymour was constitutionally diffident and distrustful of him-
256
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
self. So
far from seeking for office, we think he never accepted one but with reluctance
and through the solicitation of his friends. Many years ago he stated to the
writer the following incident. At the time of his graduation, the faculty of
the college assigned him an oration as a part of the public exercises. His diffidence
forbade his undertaking such an exhibition before such an audiance, and he went
to Dr. Dwight the president, of whom he always spoke with high respect, and
requested to be excused. The president urged him with various encouragements
and arguments to perform his part. But all in vain. Mr. Seymour told him it
would be impossible; that he could not go through with it; and that, if he could
not be excused, he must take a dismission from college. At length the Doctor
consented to excuse him. This trait undoubtedly influenced him in the discharge
of his senatorial duties. He did not feel called, by a sense of duty, among
so many distinguished senators, so ready to speak, to make a display, which
his distrust of himself forbade. He was greatly respected for his sound but
modest opinions, and his influence, though silent and unobtrusive, was generally
recognized in the senate. His intimate friends and associates were among the
most distinguished men connected with the government, such as Adams, King, Clay,
Webster and Marcy. But he did not often make any formal address in the Senate.
It was otherwise when he acted in the capacity of an advocate. The rights and
interests of his clients had been intrusted to him, and he had engaged for their
defence, and no personal feelings could justify his neglect. In his addresses
to the court or jury, he made no attempts at display, but, in his quiet and
modest way, poured forth a powerful and comprehensive argument, which his opposing
counsel found it difficult to meet, and introduced points in the case, which
had not occurred to them. He had great ingenuity and tact in the management
of his causes.
As
a politician, Mr. Seymour was a friend and supporter of the administration of
Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison. When party lines were disturbed at the close of
the war, and at the end of Mr. Monroe's administration, several candidates were
presented, reckoned as belonging to the same party, he advocated the election
of
257
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Mr. Adams,
and adhered to what was known as his party, and was always a decided whig. But,
in whatever party he was classed, he scrupulously adhered to the principles
he had adopted, whatever tempting advances were made to him to deviate from
them. He could never be led into a measure which he thought wrong at the bidding
of his party. In the discharge of all his official duties, he exhibited unusual
impartiality, and he has been known to oppose the general wishes of his party,
when they did not accord with his own views of right.
Mr.
Seymour was humble, and unassuming, in all his positions and intercourse among
men. He made no claims to distinction on account of his own standing. In his intercourse
with all ranks of men, he made all honest men his equals, and treated them as
such. He had great ingenuity and wisdom in accomplishing his purposes, and when
circumstances required, he could keep "his own council;" but he had a scrupulous
regard to the rights of all, with whom he dealt; and had no forbearance for dishonesty
or intrigue. By the .interest he expressed in the affairs of all, who needed his
sympathy or aid, and by his very courteous and kindly treatment of all, with whom
he came in contact, in every form of association, he secured not only the respect
and confidence, but the personal friendship, if he had any, enemies, or more attached
personal friends.
Mr.
Seymour was a patron of all our literary institutions, and for many years was
a member of the corporations of Middlebury College, and Addison County Grammar
School. He was elected a member of the former in 1810. He united with the Episcopal
Society at its first organization, was for many years senior warden of the parish,
and had been a communicant in the church also for many years.
In
the spring of 1800, Mr. Seymour was married to Miss Lucy Case, a daughter of Jonah
Case of Addison, and sister of Loyal Case, Esq., an Attorney of Middlebury. She
died in October 1838. Since her death he has remained unmarried.
For
some time previous to his death, Mr. Seymour had been slowly and rather prematurely
declining with the infirmities of advancing age, and died at his residence, at
six o'clock Saturday
258
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
evening,
November 21, 1857, in the eighteith year of his age. He left to
mourn his decease, three sons, Ozias Seymour Esq., an Attorney of this village,
Moses Seymour, Esq., of Geneva, Wisconsin, and Horatio Seymour, Esq., an attorney
of Buffalo, N. Y., and their children and the children of a deceased daughter,
Mrs. Emma H. Battell, who had constituted a part of his family. His sister Mrs.
Clarissa Marsh, widow of the late Rev. Truman Marsh, the oldest member of his
father's family, survived at his death at the age of eighty-five years, in Litchfield
Conn. The late Moses Seymour and Ozias Seymour of Litchfield, Henry Seymour
of Utica, N. Y. and Epaphro Seymour of Brattleboro Vt., were brothers of Mr.
Seymour.
Samuel
Mattocks, Jun., in 1794, erected on the Dudley lot a large house, with
necessary out houses, and opened a tavern, which he continued until 1804. Samuel
Mattocks senior, on the same lot and north of the tavern, erected a two story
house called the "green house," in which he resided until his death in 1804, in
the sixty-fifth year of his age. He also built on the Willard lot next north,
and in front of the house built by Dr. Willard, a double store, the upper story
being made into a large hall, used by the masonic lodge.
In
1804 Nathan Rosseter from Williamstown, Mass., purchased the Mattocks' tavern
house and continued the tavern. Mattocks then removed his family to the "green
house," and commenced and continued for several years the mercantile business
in the building built by his father on the Willard lot. The tavern was owned and
kept successively by Nathan Rosseter, Loudon Case and Artemas Nixon until 1812,
when the latter leased it to Harvey Bell, who continued it until his death in
1814, at the age of fifty-nine years.
In
1816, the tavern house, green house, store, Willard house and all the out houses
connected with them were consumed by fire. After this fire a tavern was opened
in the brick house built by Ep. Miller, and was kept by Samuel Mattocks, until
the brick building was erected on the old tavern stand by Nathan Wood in 1826.
This was opened as a public house in the spring of 1827, and was known
as the Vermont hotel. Different tenants occupied this until 1852. At the previous
session, the legislature incorporated the "Middle-
259
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
bury
Hotel Company;" who proceeded
to make extensive repairs and alterations. It is now known as the "Addison House."
It has been kept successively by George R. Orcutt and Edward Muzzey, and it
is now under the superintendence of Richard Adams, and George Adams, under the
firm of Adams Brothers.
Samuel
Mattocks, who built the first hotel on this ground, besides the business mentioned,
was sheriff of the county in 1813 and 1814, and was an efficient and useful
citizen. He died in 1823 at the age of fifty-eight.
In
1817, after the destruction of the hotel and other buildings on these grounds,
Thomas Hagar who had retreated from Canada at the commencement of the war, purchased
the Willard lot and erected the brick building, now owned by the bank, which he
designed and for some time used, as a store. In 1825, the whole of these
grounds became the property of Rufus and Janathan Wainwright. The tavern lot they
sold to Nathan Wood, and on the Willard lot they erected the large brick house,
now the residence of Joseph Warner, Esq. It was designed for the residence of
Jonathan Wainwright, and by him occupied with his family until his death.
In
the year 1790, William Young, a cabinet maker, came to the village and
purchased of Judge Painter the lot next north of the lot purchased by Dr. Matthews.
He erected for his dwelling the small house standing between the houses of Mrs.
Simmons and Mrs. Merrill. He also built a shop, in which he prosecuted his trade
until 1795. About this time Col. Nathaniel Ripley, from Windham, Conn.,
a carpenter, moved into the village, and in 1794 purchased the lot next
north of Young's, which Young the next year purchased and added to his own.
In
1792, Festus Hill a carpenter purchased of Judge Painter the corner lot now owned
by Hon. Peter Starr. On this lot he built the one story house, occupied successively
by Dr. Hastings and Mr. Starr, until the latter removed it to the lot east of
it and built his present house.
Dr.
Joseph Clark settled in the village, as a physician, in 1793, and purchased
of Judge Painter the lot on the corner formed by the New Haven road and Seminary
street. Here he built a small
260
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
house, in which he resided until 1796. He then removed to the house he built
on the lot purchased of Samuel Foot. In 1801, he left the State and his family
together.
Ruluff
Lawrence, from Canaan, Conn, in 1796, purchased the lot, where Dr. Clark first
settled, and established the blacksmith business. He was joined in a few months
by his brother, Benjamin Lawrence, and they continued their business with great
success until the year 1804, when they closed it and divided their property. In
their division, Ruluff took the lot above mentioned and built on it the present
two story house. He afterwards purchased of Daniel Chipman the land on the north
side of Seminary street, then a part of the farm formerly owned by Freeman Foot,
on which stands the house occupied by Judge Tilden and that next east of it for
many years owned by Miss Jerusha Frisbie, and now by James M. Slade Esq. The latter
he built and occupied for a time, and afterwards built the other, in which he
also resided for several years. He afterwards removed to the house now owned by
Dr. Sidney Moody, the front part of which he also built. Benjamin Lawrence, in
the division, took the lot, on Weybridge street, purchased of Anthony Rhodes,
and successively built and occupied the houses, which are the residences of Amon
Wilcox and Dr. Z. Bass.. They afterwards resumed the business of blacksmithing
separately, and both are now living at a very advanced age.*
Noble
Stewart and Ira Stewart, who had been in the mercantile business in New Haven,
having purchased of Ruluff Lawrence the house on the corner lot, and the store
built by D. and W. Campbell, removed their business to this village, and prosecuted
it in that store.
Their
father, mother and sister, resided with them, constituting one family. For the
purpose of bringing their business nearer the travelled ways they erected the
brick store in front of the former one. In the midst of a prosperous and active
business, Noble Stewart, one of the partners, was seized with a violent fever,
which terminated his life in 1814, at the age of thirty-seven.
Ira
Stewart, the surviving brother, continued the business as before for many years.
John Stewart, the father, who had been a sol-
----------
*Benjamin Lawrence has since, April 4, 1859, died; at the age of
85 years.
261
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY
dier in the French and Revolutionary wars, died in 1829, in his eighty-fourth
year, and Mrs. Huldah Stewart, the mother, in 1847, at the age of 95 years.
Hon. Ira Stewart, the surviving brother, died in February 1855, at the age of
seventy-five years, leaving his aged sister, and his two sons, Dugald Stewart,
County Clerk, and John W. Stewart, in the practice of law, the inheritors of
his name and estate. Miss Cynthia Stewart has since died, in March, 1857, at
the age of eighty-four. To Ira Stewart were committed various responsible trusts
in town, and twice he was elected to represent the county of the State Senate.
In
1819, he was elected a member of the corporation of Middlebury College, and
continued in that position until his death; and he was appointed by that body
to superintend the erection of the stone chapel of that institution, which service
he executed with his usual sound judgment. He was ever an active and devoted patron,
friend and supporter of the college and other educational institutions in the
village. As a man of conservative disposition and sound practical judgment, he
was always consulted, and aided in all plans for the advancement of any public
interests. He had been, for many years an active and efficient member of the Congregational
Church and Society, and an exemplary Christian; and in his last sickness and death
exhibited strikingly the consolations and triumphs of religion.
John
Simmons Esq. purchased the two lots, next north of the Matthews lot, originally
purchased and occupied by William.Young, and erected the two story dwelling house,
and resided in it until his death, and it is still occupied by his widow and family.
Mr. Simmons was from Ashford Conn., was educated at the college in Providence,
Rhode Island, and licensed to practice law at the March term of the county court
for this county in 1801; and at the same time established himself in his profession
in this village. He was very successful in his practice, and very respectable
and useful as a citizen. He was unassuming and rather diffident; and did not appear
much as an advocate before the courts, but had an extensive practice as attorney,
counsellor and conveyances. Mr. Simmons compiled the first book of legal forms;
ever published in the State,-"The Law Magazine "-which was published, by Huntington
and Fitch
262
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
in this
place in 1804. No man possessed more fully the confidence of the community as
an honest, judicious and correct business man. He was many years appointed select
man, and to many other important trusts in town. He held the office of treasurer
of Middlebury College from 1810 to the time of his death, and was ever forward
as a patron and supporter of the College and the other educational institutions.
He was also a regular supporter of religious institutions in the Congregational
Society, and in 1816 he became a member of the church, and adorned his profession
by an exemplary life. He died in 1829 at the age of fifty-three years.
In
May 1791, while the courts were sitting in Addison, and little progress had been
made in making a village in this place, Judge Painter, in anticipation of his
purpose of making this the county seat, deeded to the county a small tract of
land, and in 1794 another piece. We refer to the account of Addison County, for
a more particular statement of the proceedings relating to the county property
and buildings. In the disposition of his lands, on the east side of the creek,
he accommodated all the building lots, so as to reserve for the public what now
constitutes the common, and was known by that name, although not deeded by him
until 1799.
At
the time Judge Painter deeded to Benjamin Gorton in 1789 the small piece adjoining
the bridge, he also deeded to him another piece twelve rods square, about five
rods above the bridge, on the bank of the creek, designed for a potash. The title
of this lot, with another small piece passed in 1798 to Samuel Clark. Jun., Joseph
Plumb and Jonathan Lawrence, under the firm of Clark, Lawrence & Co., who
added another small piece. On this lot they erected the old building, which stood
where James M. Slade & Co.'s store stands. In this they opened a store, and
with it connected the manufacture of potash, and continued their business until
1802, when, being unsuccessful, they closed the concern. This building remained
until after the railroad was completed, used by different persons and for different
purposes. It was then removed and a building erected by E. D. Barber and Lyman
P. White, into which Slade & Co. removed their mercantile business. The upper
story was occupied by Barber & Bushnell and Linsley & Beckwith, as lawyers'
offices.
263
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
On
the 22d of February 1852, this building was burnt with nearly all its contents,
including the libraries and offices, the whole of the records and papers belonging
to the Congregational Society, and the whole of the records and files of the probate
court from the commencement. Soon after, Slade & Co. rebuilt the store, which
is now occupied by them, having in the upper story a large hall, for lectures,
concerts and other exhibitions.
In
1795, William Young removed to the lot now owned by Alanson Dustin, having previously
purchased it of Freeman Foot. On this he built the present dwelling house, and
continued his business as a cabinet maker. In the meantime, he received into partnership
his son-in-law, Gen. Hastings Warren, who had served his apprenticeship under
him. In 1805 the partnership was dissolved, and Gen. Warren purchased the house,
and continued the business; and Mr. Young removed to a farm in Leicester. He was
among the most respectable citizens, a prominent member of the Methodist Society,
and one of its founders. Gen. Warren had purchased of Daniel Chipman a lot of
land on the corner, now occupied by the Methodist chapel. On this lot he erected
his shop, which was burnt, and soon after its successor was subjected to a similar
destruction, with much of their contents. Afterwards he erected for a shop the
brick building now occupied by James M. Slade, Esq., as a dwelling house. He also
purchased afterwards of Mr. Chipman the lot next north of the above, and erected
a dwelling house on the ground, where the cellar remains. This house was also
burnt in the winter of 1833-4. Gen. Warren had been successful in his business
and had accumulated a handsome estate. In the meantime he directed his attention
to his farm and an extensive traffic between the north and the State of Georgia,
in which he met with occasional losses. These, with his accumulated losses by
fire, embarrassed him in the latter years of his life. Having lost his wife and
his family having scattered, he spent the decline of his life with his son-in-law
William Y. Ripley, in Rutland, and died there.
Hon.
Daniel Chipman removed to Middlebury in 1794, and settled in the practice of law.
He selected for his future residence a site on the southern point of the hill
which bears his name, now
264
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY
owned and
occupied by . B.. Rockwell Esq. It is generally esteemed the most elegant location
in the village. Here he purchased of Freeman Foot five acres, which before constituted
a part of Foot's farm. He was then unmarried. After his marriage, he purchased
the lot next north of William Young's lot, which Freeman Foot had before sold,
and on which he had built a small house. The house Mr. Chipman fitted up for
a residence, and it has since been owned and occupied successively by Mrs. Latimer,
Calvin C. Waller and Edward D. Barber, and is now owned by Miss Lucy Merritt.
In 1802 and 1803 he erected on the lot first selected for his residence his
large house, in our estimation the most elegant building ever erected in Middlebury.
It was designed and partly built by Samuel D. Coe, an architect of fine taste,
who died before its completion. While Mr. Chipman was attending the Legislature
in the fall of 1818, this elegant mansion was wholly consumed by fire. He then
removed his family into the three story building on the opposite side of the
road, which he had previously erected for a law school.
Hon.
Daniel Chipman, LL. D., was born in Salisbury, Conn., October 22, 1765. He was
one of six sons of Samuel Chipman, then residing in that place. In 1775, the father
removed with his sons to Tinmouth in Rutland County. Daniel there labored on his
farm until November 1783, when he commenced his preparatory studies with his brother
Nathaniel, who was then in the practice of law in Tinmouth. He entered Dartmouth
College at the commencement in 1784. Notwithstanding the short time he spent in
his preparatory studies, by his confirmed habit of industry and his energy, he
graduated in 1788, with a standing among the first in his class. He immediately
commenced the study of law in the office of his brother Nathaniel, and in September
1790 was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Rutland. He soon had an
extensive practice, regularly attending all the courts in the counties of Rutland,
Bennington, Addison and Chittenden. In 1793, three years after he was licensed
to practice law, he was chosen a delegate from Rutland to the convention held
at Windsor, for amending the constitution. In the year 1794 he removed to Middlebury,
still comtinuing his practice in the counties above named. In 1796, he was
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
married
to Eleutheria Hedge; daughter of Rev. Lemuel Hedge; a minister of Warwick, Mass.,
and sister of the late Levi Hedge, professor in Harvard College, then residing
with her mother in Windsor. In 1798 and two succeeding years, he represented
Middlebury in the General Assembly, and in several other years previous to 1808.
He was chosen that year a member of the council, under the old constitution,
and was annually elected to that body for several years. He represented the
town also in 1812, 1813 and 1814.
In
1813 he was elected speaker, and was distinguished for his promptness and decision.
It was a time of high party excitement, the two political parties, Federal and
Democratic, being nearly equal. The constitution provides, that "at the opening
of the General Assembly, there shall be a committee appointed out of the Council
and Assembly, who, after being duly sworn to the faithful performance of their
trusts, shall proceed to sort and count the votes for governor and declare
the person who has a major part of the votes to be governor for the year ensuing,
and if there be no choice made, then the Council and General Assembly, by their
joint ballots, shall make choice of a governor." Such committee had been appointed
at this session; and some time in the evening, having completed the canvass, the
Governor and Council came into the chamber of the House of Representative to hear
the report of the canvassing committee, and agreeably to the uniform usage, on
such occasions, the speaker resigned his chair to the governor, who was appointed
chairman. The canvassing committee reported that there was no choice of governor
by the people, and thereupon the committee of the two houses adjourned to an early
hour the next day. On examination of the constitution the next morning, Mr. Chipman
was satisfied that the report of the canvassing committee was conclusive; that
the two houses had no power to canvass the votes, or to act on the subject otherwise
than by a concurrent resolution to meet and elect a governor by their joint ballots.
He therefore considered it would be highly improper, and indeed in violation
of the constitution, for the House of Representatives to join the governor and
council, to decide the question whether a governor had or had not been
elected by the people. Having taken this view of the subject, he at once
decided
266
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
on the
course to be pursued: that he would not resign the speaker's chair to the governor,
when he and the Council shall enter the House, but retain it and continue to
preside, and preserve order in the House, leaving the governor to preside in
the Council. Accordingly, when the Governor and Council came in, he retained
the speaker's chair, seating the Governor at his right. This was so unexpected,
that there was profound silence for several minutes. At length a member of the
House arose and addressed the chairman. The speaker called him to order, saying
if he had a motion to make, he must address the speaker. Several other members
made the same attempt, but were immediately put down by the speaker. A member
of the council then addressed the chairman; upon which the governor, turning
to the speaker, observed, "there seems to be great confusion." "There is indeed,"
said the speaker, "but your excellency may rest assured that the most perfect
order will be preserved in the House, over which I have the honor to preside."
At length the Governor and Council, finding that the House of Representatives
would not act with them, retired, and the two houses afterwards met by concurrent
resolution, and elected a governor by their joint ballots.
This
incident in the life of Mr. Chipman, which produced some excitement at the time,
we have copied from an account given by himself, not only because it is an illustration
of his character, but because it is an event connected with the political history
of the State.
In
the year 1814, Mr. Chipman was again elected Speaker of the House, and the same
year was elected a representative to Congress. He attended the first session,
but, by reason of ill health, was unable to attend to his duties a great portion
of the time, and, during the next session, was confined at home by sickness. The
year following his health was so far restored, that he again resumed the practice
of law, and in the years 1818 and 1821 represented the town in the legislature.
In
the year 1822, he published an essay on contracts for specific articles. It was
highly commended by Judge Story, Chancellor Kent and other eminent jurists, met
with an extensive sale, and
267
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
added much
to his reputation as a lawyer and scholar. In the proface to this work, he urged
the importance of having the decisions of the Supreme Court reported. At the
next session of the legislature, in the year 1823, an act was passed providing
for the appointment of a reporter, and he was appointed to that office. Having
published one volume of reports, ill health compelled him to resign it.
In
the preface to this volume, he urged the importance of dividing the legislature
into two branches, by constituting a Senate. The Council of Censors having recommended
this among other amendments, a convention was called for the purpose of considering
it. In the meantime Mr. Chipman had retired from public life, and invested considerable
property, and built him a large house in a pleasant location in Ripton, and had
fixed his residence in the refreshing and salubrious atmosphere of that place.
Such was his anxiety to have this amendment adopted, that he yielded to the solicitations
of his neighbors and accepted the appointment of delegate to the convention, hold
in January 1836, from that town. Mr. Chipman took a conspicuous part in the able
and animated debate on that subject, and the amendment was adopted by a small
majority.
In
1846, Mr. Chipman published the life of his brother, "Hon. Nathaniel Chipman LL.
D., formerly member of the United States Senate, and Chief Justice of the State
of Vermont." He afterwards published several smaller works, "Memoirs of Col. Seth
Warner" and "of Thomas Chittenden, first Governor of Vermont, with a history of
the constitution during his administration," which are valuable publications.
In
1850, Mr. Chipman was elected delegate to the constitutional convention of that
year, and there made his last appearance in any public capacity. The journey to
Montpelier proved too much for his advanced age and feeble health. While in attendance
upon the convention he was attacked with sickness, from which he never recovered.
He reached his home in Ripton in a feeble condition, and died on the 23d of April
1850, in the eighty-fifth year of his age.
The
preceding history furnishes probably sufficient information of the character and
standing of Mr. Chipman. We doubt whether
268
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
there is,
or ever has been, another man so familiarly acquainted with the early history
and interests of the State. From childhood, he was in the company and under
the influence of his brother, Judge Chipman, with a discernment capable of comprehending
and appreciating every measure adopted. His perception of truth was quick and
discriminating. He was a plain man in his dress and address, but courteous in
his manners. His addresses at the bar and in public assemblies, as well as in
private conversation, were in eloquent from the power of his argument and the
weight of his the opinions, rather than from any polished oratory. Mr. Chipman
every position, was devoted to the interests of the town, and among the projectors
and founders of our educational establishments. He was especially a liberal
contributor and supporter of the college, and a member of its corporation from
its beginning. In 1849 the corporation of Middlebury College conferred on him
the honorary degree of LL. D.
Mr.
Chipman was by conviction an Episcopalian. But before an Episcopal Society was
established here, he contributed liberally to the support of the Congregational
Society, and for the erection of their church.
The
reader will, we trust, excuse the introduction here, as illustrating the character
of Mr. Chipman, of a merely personal matter. When about his twenty-first birth-day,
the writer closed, as penniless as he commenced, two years of severe labor as
tutor in college, which he wished to have counted as two years in the study of
law, Mr. and Mrs. Chipman received him into their family, treated him as one of
its members, and furnished a convenient room for the prosecution of his studies.
On being admitted to the bar in 1804, Mr. Chipman received him into partnership,
on equal terms in all the courts to which he was admitted. In this position he
spent the only six years of his professional life.
Several
lots, on the north side of Seminary Street, from Freeman Foot's farm, and sold
by him before he sold it to Mr. Chipman, were settled at an early day. An acre
lot next west of Mr. Chipman's house lot was purchased by Nathaniel Bishop from
Attleborough Mass., on which -James Sawyer had previously resided in a
269
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
small house.
The lot was afterwards divided into two lets, which have been successively owned
by different persons. On the front of the east half stands the brick district
school house. The west half, with that part of the east which lies back of the
school house, is owned by Harry Langworthy, a merchant doing business in Nichols'
building, at the south end of the bridge. In 1798, Bela Sawyer, for many years
a carpenter in the village, purchased the lot now owned by Myron Langworthy,
of the firm of J. M. Slade & Co. Sawyer built and resided in a one story
house, to which Langworthy has added a second story. The lot between this and
the Bishop lot was purchased by Cal. Nathaniel Ripley from Windham, Conn. The
lot is now owned by Richard Cottrell, of Plattsburgh. Ripley built the present
house, and resided in it many years. He afterwards resided for a few years on
a farm in Weybridge, and afterwards in a house on the farm of his son, William
Y. Ripley, in the south part of the town, and died there in 1842 at the age
of eighty years. In 1798, James Sawyer, a joiner and carpenter, and father of
Bela Sawyer, purchased an acre lot next west of Bela Sawyer's. On the west half,
he built a small house and resided in it for several years. The
east half was said by him to Abijah Hurd, who built a house on it; which was
occupied for some years by his. brother Hinman Hurd. The lot was for many years
owned by Mr. Samuel B. Bent, who built the present house and other buildings.*
Mr. Bent was from Rutland, Worcester County, Mass., and a manufacturer of cards.
This business he prosecuted here until his death, adding from time to time new
machinery with late improvements. He died suddenly of enlargement of the heart,
December 4, 1857, much respected as an honest, upright citizen and exemplary
christian, aged 73 years. The other half of this lot was for some years owned
by Timothy C. Strong, a printer, who built the present house and resided in
it. It has since been owned by Dr. Merrill in his lifetime, and occupied, as
a residence for his family, by Mr. Z. Beckwith, who has long been known among
us as a merchant. It is now owned by Dr. Hiram Meeker.
----------
*Mr. Harry Langworthy has recently purchased this house and fitted
it up for his own residence.
270
HISTORY
OF MIDDLEBURY.
After
Mr. Chipman became the owner of the Foot farm, the lots now occupied by Dea. Elmer,
Mr. Ansel D. Steams the painter, and Mr. Garner, on the New Haven road, were early
purchased and have been since occupied by different families. Until the year 1814,
the land between Dea. Elmer's and the Methodist Chapel lot, was a smooth meadow,
where we have seen a general training. In that year, Mr. Chipman opened a road
through the vacant lot and offered building lots for sale. The writer of this
history purchased the north half, and that year and the following he erected his
present dwelling house. And here, in 1817, he commenced the interesting business
of housekeeping, with his own family, and here he hopes to end it, when death
shall remove, him from his earthly relations.
