CHAPTER XXV
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MILTON

      THE town of Milton, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, is in the northwestern corner of Chittenden county, and is bounded north by Georgia in Franklin county, east by Westford, south by Colchester, and west by Lake Champlain. Its name is supposed to have been given to it in honor of the blind author of “Paradise Lost,” as many of the towns in New England and throughout the east were named from English originals before the separation of the colonies from the mother country. The charter of the town was granted by Governor Benning WENTWORTH, of New Hampshire, on the 8th of June, 1763, to the following grantees: Samuel ROGERS, James WILMOTT, jr., Isaac SILVESTER, Isaac ROGERS, Josh. B____, Josh. KIRKBIRD, Wm. PROCTOR, Alex. MOORE, Peter CONE, John IMLAY, Josh. HAVILAND, James HAVILAND, Tim McCARTY, Carden LEE, Samuel DODGE, John BURROUGHS, James BURROUGHS, Wm. BURROUGHS, Wm. POPPLERDORF, jr., josh. ZABRISKER, John ZABRISKER, Richard CORNWALL, Daniel BATES, Thomas LISCUM, Wm. SMITH, Wm. SMITH, jr., Jacob SMITH, Thomas WILLETT, John WILLETT. Ralph William MILLER, Josh. ROYAL, Benj. LINTOTT, William FERGUHER, Richard SHARP, Richard EVANS, Samuel KEMBLE, Michael DUFF, Paul MILLER, Paul MILLER, jr., Christopher MILLER, Thomas SHREAVE, Philip FRENCH, Philip FRENCH, jr., Adolphus FRENCH, Henry FRANKLIN, Benjamin UNDERHILL, David BUCKLEY, Benjamin BLAGGE, John BOGIE, John GIFFORD, John GIFFORD, jr., George WOOD, John TURNER, John TURNER, jr., Alexander BAKER, Joshua HUCKINS, Henry DICKENSON, Hon. Richard WILBIRD, John DOWNING, esq., Daniel WARNER, esq., Samuel EMERSON, jr., Major Richmond DOWNING.

      The town was not settled, so far as can be learned, until after the worst of the War of the Revolution was over, though undoubtedly proceedings were taken to encourage immigration soon after the granting of the charter, as the land could not be much increased in value until some improvements were made. Even the records of the proceedings of the proprietors previous to the Revolution are lost, however, and it will therefore never be known what line of policy they at first pursued. The first meeting of which a record has been kept was held at the house of Nathaniel MALLORY, at Middletown, in Rutland county, on the 2d of August, 1786, at which Augustin UNDERHILL was chosen moderator, Nathaniel SMITH proprietors' clerk, and James EVERTS clerk pro tem. At an adjourned meeting held at the same place on the 5th of that month it was voted that the proceedings of the committee in "lotting out" the first division lots in Milton be accepted, together with the bill of costs presented for their labor. A tax of one pound and tin shillings was laid upon each proprietary right to defray these expenses, and Nathaniel SMITH was chosen collector thereof, while Nathaniel MALLORY was elected treasurer. At this meeting Abdial WEBSTER and George ALFORD were appointed a committee to make a division of the first lots, and prepare a draft of this division. On the 4th of September, at the same place, it was voted that the proprietors have the "priviledge" of "repiching" their home lots at their own expense on or before the 15th of June next.

      The earliest evidence of an attempt to attract settlers by offers of unusual privileges appears in the record of a meeting held at the same place as wire the foregoing, on Monday, the 14th of November, 1786, when the following vote was passed:

"That Medad and Theodore NEWEL have full liberty to Lay out and Possess twenty acres of Land on the Second Division to any Right that they Shall hold by virtue of a good title in the Most Convenient Place for erecting a Sawmill on Condition of their Building or Causing to be built on Said Land Good Saw mill in two years from this day and to be kept in Good Repair for the term of tin Years after build other wise they are not to Receive any Benefit from this Vote."

      Such were some of the proceedings of the proprietors of the town before it was thickly settled. No reason can be given for the tardiness of its settlement, for it was calculated by nature to attract to its shores and fields and unsurpassed water privileges -- the best of pioneer thrift and energy. The surface, though rather uneven, is not so rugged as to render cultivation unprofitable. The eastern part of the town is elevated some two or three hundred feet above the general level of the other portions, affording many excellent views of the lake and the country that bounds it. A sand bar leading from the southwestern part of the town to South Hero, in Grand Isle county, renders the lake fordable between the two towns a great part of the year. In 1849-50 a toll-bridge was built across this bar at a cost of $25,000, making communication at all times possible. The principal elevations in town are Cobble Hill in the southern, and Rattlesnake Hill, in the northern part, with altitudes of about 800 or 1,000 feet each. The largest stream is Lamoille River, which takes a sinuous course through the town from northeast to southwest, and has many tributaries. These, with several smaller streams which discharge their waters into Lake Champlain, provide many fine mill privileges and sufficiently irrigate the soil. Two ponds in town are also worthy of mention -- Long Pond, in the northwestern part, about a mile in length and from twenty to sixty rods in width, and Round Pond, a little to the east of it, and about half its size. The soil of the town is of the best, varying in different places from the stiffest clay to fine productive alluvium, yielding abundant crops of wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, Indian corn, etc.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS

      Milton was first settled by William IRISH, Leonard OWEN, Amos MANSFIELD, Absalom TAYLOR and Thomas DEWEY, in February, 1782. IRISH located on what was afterwards the old stage road, in the east part of the town (which for convenience we will designate as the east road). After the road was opened, his house was some distance back from it. He died early in the century. The land is now owned, though not occupied, by John McINTYRE, and is known as the CARY place.

      Leonard OWEN settled several miles south of the site of Checkerberry, on the place now occupied by Eli NELSON. The farm was originally a large one, but has suffered many subdivisions. Mr. OWEN died early in the century.

      Absalom TAYLOR lived at the lower falls, on the farm now owned by Charles OSGOOD. He died towards the middle of the century at the home of his son, in Canada.

      Thomas DEWEY was the eldest son of Major Zebediah DEWEY, of Poultney, Vt., who took an active part in the battle of Hubbardton, and probably also in the battle of Bennington. Major DEWEY was born in Barrington, Mass., in 1726, and was probably descended from one of the proprietors of Poultney. He was a great lover of hunting. He died at Poultney on the 28th of October, 1804. Thomas married an ASHLEY, and moved to Milton on the 15th of February, 1782, settling on the farm now owned by Mrs. Lucretia B. WITTERS, about one and a half miles south of Milton Falls. He was soon followed by his brothers Zebediah and Azariah, and three sisters -- Beulah, wife of Elisha ASHLEY, Anna, wife of Samuel MURDOCK, and Keziah, wife of Warren HILL and grandmother of Mrs. WITTERS. Zebediah DEWEY settled on the farm on the corner just east of the village, on the old stage road, now the property of Jed P. CLARK. The two brothers took a prominent part in the improvements of the town when they came, and were respected by their townsmen. They both died of the epidemic of 1813; Thomas in January and Zebediah on the 16th of April. Many of their descendants still reside in Milton, though there is none by the name of DEWEY.

      Gideon HOXIE was born at Richmond, R. I., on the 9th of September, 1759, and came very early to Milton, settling on the farm which still bears his name, on the east road, now occupied by Eli HOLBROOK. He is best remembered for his services as town clerk, a position which he filled with credit from 1797 to the day of his death, June 14, 1836. His son Stephen became his successor in this office.

      Enoch and Elisha ASHLEY, brothers, came to Milton in 1784, the former locating on a tract of land on the east road, which includes the farm now owned by Edward W. ALLEN, and the latter east of Milton Falls, on the corner of the east and west and north and south roads. Enoch, who served as first town clerk, remained here until 1820, when he removed to Western New York, the place of his death. His son Beaman was born in Poultney in 1784, came here with his father, married Lucy PRENTISS and had a family of ten children, five of whom are now living. He died in September, 1852. His widow survived him until 1885, when she died at the age of ninety-seven years. Elisha, as before stated, married Beulah DEWEY and reared a family of twelve children, who are now represented in town by five descendants. Elisha ASHLEY built and for years kept a tavern in the house now owned by Rev. John H. WOODWARD.

      Isaac DRURY came from Pittsford, Vt., in 1782, and settled about a mile southeast from Checkerberry, on a by-road. Here he was a long time engaged in the lumber business, in the manufacture of potash, and in general mercantile business. He died in 1825, leaving seven children.

      David AUSTIN came from Rhode Island to Milton in the fall of 1786, with his brother Joseph, and established himself in the east part of the town, on the farm now owned by Heman ALLEN. In 1788 he walked back to Rhode Island, and in the following spring brought his family to their new home in the wilderness. He died in 1813, leaving a family of twelve children. His grandson, A. N. AUSTIN, is now proprietor of the AUSTIN House, at Milton Falls. Joseph died in 1838, leaving a family of five children.

      Nathan CASWELL was one of the earliest settlers, coming from Connecticut and locating in the northeast part of the town, on the farm now owned by Abram RUGG. His son Solomon, who came with him, was born in Connecticut on the 5th of December, 1763, and died in this town February 16, 1845. He was three times married and had a family of seven children, one of whom, Horace, was born on the 30th of April, 1813, on the farm which he now occupies.

      Daniel MEEKER, from New Jersey, settled in the southeast part of the town, on the farm now owned by his son, Daniel S., in 1788, the farm having been given him by his wife's uncle, Isaac TICHENOR, the second governor of Vermont, and upon which Daniel resided until his death, in 1844. He was a blacksmith. He was married twice and had a family of eighteen children, of whom Daniel S. is the only one now living in town.

      Aaron and John SWAN came from New Hampshire to Milton in 1790, and settled in the northeastern part of the town, in that vicinity known as "Hardscrabble." After living with his brother for several years, John removed to Ohio. Aaron married Azuba BULLARD, raised a family of nine children, and died on the 26th of February, 1826, aged fifty-four years. His wife died in 1868, aged ninety-one years. His only surviving son, Riley, is now a retired farmer, whose son, Charles L., carries on a large farm.

      John BEAN, from Goffstown, N. H., was an early settler in Burlington, and afterwards removed to Milton, settling about four miles northwest from the falls, on the farm now in the possession of his grandson, Joseph, where he died about 1840.

      John SANDERSON, from Whately, Mass., settled early on a piece of land now off the road, about one and a half miles northwest from the falls, a part of the land now cultivated by Anson WHEELOCK. Hiram SANDERSON came about the same time, and was drafted into service at the time of the battle of PLATTsburgh. He was a blacksmith and plied his trade at what is now called Milton Falls.

      Hawley WITTERS was an early settler in Georgia, whither he came about 1790. He worked in earlier days with Ethan ALLEN, and was with that hero when the latter died. His son Horace afterward settled in this town, and married Clarissa BASFORD, had a family of four children, and died August 26, 1878, about six weeks after the death of his wife.

      John JACKSON came from Weybridge, Vt., in 1794, and settled in the western part of the town on the place now in the hands of his grandson, Lucius A. JACKSON. He died before 1830.

      Jonathan WOODS came from Goffstown, N. H., previous to 1800, and passed the greater part of his life on the farm in the west part of the town, now occupied by his grandson, Henry L. WOODS.

      Asa NEWELL also came before 1800, and located near the Colchester line, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, L. N. SMITH. He had a family of nine children, and his descendants are quite numerous in Milton. He died previous to 1830.

      Mark WATSON made Milton his home about the year 1800, coming from New Hampshire and locating on the place in the southwestern part of the town called Camp Watson. Here he remained until his death, soon after 1830. His son David was born in 1803, and remained on the old place until his death, August 22, 1878, leaving his widow and son in possession of the homestead.

      Seth RICE, from Hardwick, Mass., came to Georgia, Vt., after 1790, and about 1793 removed to the western part of Milton, on the farm now owned by Jeremiah FLINN. He married Mary HAMMOND, raised a family of six children, and died June 2, 1859.

      John MEARS was an early settler in this town, immigrating hither in the latter part of the last century, and locating in the west part of the town on the farm now owned by his grandson, Rodney B. MEARS. He had a family of five sons and four daughters. He died at an advanced age, on the 8th of February, 1860.

      Isaac BLAKE was born at Strafford, Vt., February 3, 1781, and settled, about the year 1880, in the west part of the town, on the farm now owned, though not personally occupied, by Jeremiah FLINN. He married Phebe LADD, had a family of four sons and three daughters, and died on the 25th of May, 1870. His wife died in 1826.

      William POWELL, a soldier of the Revolution, located just before 1800 about three-fourths of a mile south of Milton Falls, on the land now forming part of the property of Jed P. CLARK.

      Amos IVES settled about the year 1800 near the old farm of Jonathan WOODS, in the west part of the town. He came from Wallingford, Conn., and was of the same family of IVES that settled in the town of Wallingford, Vt. He died in 1867 at the age of eighty-nine years. His grandson, Charles LADD, is now a merchant at Milton Falls.

      Warren HILL came from Poultney, Vt., in 1804 to Milton Falls, and by industry and gradual acquisitions became owner of all the water power in that village, which he sold to Joseph CLARK in 1835. He died in 1854. Mrs. Lucretia WITTERS is his granddaughter.

      Among other early settlers may be named the MANSFIELDs, who were very numerous here in early days, but who seem to have entirely disappeared from the town. Amos MANSFIELD has already been mentioned as one of the most enterprising of the first residents of the town, and from all records was owner of a large estate. Theophilus MANSFIELD was an early lawyer in the village, and removed to Georgia; Alpheus MANSFIELD was one of the first wheelwrights in the village of Milton Falls. Other prominent settlers were William WOODS, who, in the beginning of the present century owned a large saw-mill and factory at the lower falls, and was one of the wealthiest men in town. Stephen MANSFIELD was an early farmer on the old stage road, on the farm now owned by Samuel HOWARD. Isaac CASTLE was an early settler on the lake shore. Eli HYDE lived early about three miles southwest of the falls, on the place now owned by Isaac T. SANDERSON. Levi GRANNIS was a wagon-maker residing near the Sand bar at first, and afterwards removing to Colchester Center. Levi TOMBERSON lived in the northwest part of the town, on the place now owned by Homer JACKSON. He was a man of considerable means. Zebediah WHEELER kept a public house in Checkerberry, near the bridge. He removed to Georgia when an old man, and died there previous to 1830. Truman FAIRCHILD, an uncle of Dr. Benjamin FAIRCHILD, erected a large public house in early days just west of Snake Hill, and kept it for years in connection with a farm. He died about twenty years ago, though he had long before relinquished the life of a hotel-keeper. The place is now in the hands of Rinaldo W. BALLARD. Friend BEEMAN was an early settler on the Lamoille River, about three-fourths of a mile north of Milton Falls, on the place now owned by Hardy H. FULLER.

      Andrew VAN GILDER, called "Old Man Gilder," was half Indian and half Dutch, and lived for years near the Georgia line. He was the son of an Indian chief. His farm was on the bow of Lamoille River. Joseph SOPER lived on the farm now owned by Zebediah EVEREST, in the midst of a settlement called Sopertown. About 1815 Philo FAIRCHILD erected a saw-mill there, which was propelled by a stream now nearly dried up. Erastus SOPER lived on the summit of the hill below the lower falls, the place being now owned by Charles OSGOOD. Colonel Ovid BURRELL owned with judge Noah SMITH a half interest in the mills at what was then called Upper Falls, in contradistinction to the settlement at Woods's Mills, which was called Milton Lower Falls. Colonel BURRELL is said to have sold out $20,000 worth of property near Hartford, Conn., to come here and build up the milling interests. He and Noah SMITH failed not far from 1820.

      N.M. MANLEY was one of the first tavern-keepers at Checkerberry. The town records as early as October, 1807, mention the sign-post near MANLEY's tavern. He remained there many years afterwards.

TOWN ORGANIZATION

      Such were the names and places of residence of some of the early settlers of Milton. Many of the most important have been purposely omitted at this place, because it is deemed better to mention them in connection with the early milling and professional interests. The town was organized on the 25th of March, 1788, William IRISH being moderator of the meeting, by the election of the following officers:

      Enoch ASHLEY, town clerk; Samuel CHURCH, Elisha ASHLEY, and Absalom TAYLOR, selectmen; Thomas DEWEY, treasurer; Enoch ASHLEY, constable and collector; Thomas DEWEY, Silas ROOD and Elisha FARNUM, listers; Nathaniel ALGER, grand juror; William IRISH, Elisha FARNUM, and Thomas DEWEY, highway surveyors; Silas ROOD and Samuel CHURCH, fence viewers. At this meeting it was voted "that the Dower of Enoch ASHLEY hous shall be the Sine Post for this year." Milton was represented in the Legislature this year by Aaron MATHEWS, who was also the first justice of the peace.

      About the year 1795 the question of building a house in which to transact the town business and to meet for public worship was agitated, resulting in the hiring for a short time of a house before that occupied by Alpheus MANSFIELD, standing near the center of the town. The town-house was not erected until some years afterwards, as will be shown in later pages. On the 9th of March, 1795, Amos MANSFIELD, Enoch ASHLEY, Edward BRIGHAM, John JACKSON, and Samuel HALL were appointed a committee to "set a stake for the center of the town," and reported that they had set such stake "about two rods from the northwest corner of Alpheus MANSFIELD -- lot 10 so called -- being about three-quarters of a mile southeast of Mr. DEAN's mills." Among other amusing and quaint extracts, which need no explanation, the following have been selected as revealing the methods of public business and something of the spirit of the times.

      At this meeting it was also voted "that they have nothing against Samuel Hull making a dam across the north branch of the River Lemile a little Below the Bridge over Soper's Fall."

      Among the hardships which the early settlers suffered in this town should be mentioned the epidemic of 1813, which carried away a number of the residents of Milton, among them being, as already stated, Thomas and Zebediah DEWEY; and the cold season of 1816. During that entire summer frosts were frequent and snow storms not unknown, while the consequent damage to crops was even greater than might be expected. Corn was ruined; and other crops were so injured that in the following spring there was not enough for seed. The families in town, especially in the early part of 1817, were destitute of breadstuffs and of nearly everything that goes to sustain human life, and could not sufficiently supply themselves at any price.

THE WAR OF 1812

      Following is the roll of a company of militia which went from Milton into the War of 1812, under command of Captain J. PRENTISS, excepting from September 25 to November 18, 1813, when it was under Colonel Luther DIXON, of Underhill: 

WARNINGS TO DEPART TOWN

      In accordance with an ancient custom in New England towns, this town by its selectmen frequently commanded the constable by lawful precept to warn certain inhabitants, therein named, to depart town without delay. This was the means adopted to free the town from supporting those whom indigence, misfortune, or indolence had rendered necessitous. Very many of these precepts were served every year from 1812 to about 1825; the greatest number seemingly having been served in 1816.

MILTON FROM 1825 TO 1830

      This period may almost be said to have been the transition period, between the first and the second generation of those who developed the resources of the town. Among the names mentioned in the records are found those of the earliest settlers, in close proximity with those of a younger generation, who fast filled the vacancies left “by the dying and the dead." Observe the following list of officers for the year 1825:

      The grist and saw-mills at the upper falls were owned and operated by Warren HILL, who also owned a large tract of timbered land in this vicinity, but the mills at this time were not doing a very extensive business, because of so great competition on the other streams in town. William WARD owned and operated a carding and cloth-dressing machine on the falls, which was afterwards converted into a woolen-mill and owned by Harvey COLTON. A paper-mill was also operated here by judge Edmund WELLINGTON and Arthur HUNTING, on the west side of the falls. Chauncey GOODRICH, of Burlington, afterwards owned it, and disposed of it to Lyman BURGESS, who owned it when it was destroyed by fire, thirty or forty years ago. Lyman BURGESS owned and operated a saw-mill on the west side of the falls. Moses BASCOM and Benjamin WOODMAN owned a distillery at the lower end of River street. It was at this time an old concern, and lasted for some years after this, but the business finally became involved in financial embarrassments, and WOODMAN, who had always been deemed a shrewd and successful business man, was so downcast by the failure that, in imaginary fear of apprehension by officers, he committed suicide. Two tanneries were then in operation here, one opposite the distillery, on River street, where the blacksmith shop now is, carried or, by Silas B. & Warner SIBLEY, which did a large business, and another farther north, operated by Orra HOLBROOK, and still in the hands of his son Eli.

      Checkerberry village was then a thriving place, and afforded a cheering prospect of future growth and prosperity; a promise which time has failed to fulfill. At the period of which we are speaking, A. G. WHITTEMORE had already risen to his merited prominence, and by his property and influence contributed greatly to the business of the village, as well as of the town. Those were days of continual litigation, a condition which may always be taken as an indication of thrift and enterprise. It was not uncommon for justices of the peace to call and in one way or another dispose of twelve or fifteen cases in a day. The merchants then there were George SKIFF and William LOCEY, from Georgia, Vt., who, after several years of promise, separated and left town. Two taverns were open at Checkerberry, one kept by Eaton SMITH, and the other by William LOCEY. About three-quarters of a mile north of Checkerberry was a grist and saw-mill, owned and operated by James MINER, sr., who had been a great lumberman of former days, and had accumulated a large property. He was heavily in debt, it seems, and after his death the property went into the hands of Joseph CLARK and Phelps SMITH, the former of whom succeeded in making it pay.

      There were other business interests in the town, outside of either village, of considerable prominence. At what are known as the lower falls was the general store of Hiram and Joseph CLARK, which did nearly all the business for that part of the town. Hiram CLARK died a few years after this, and was succeeded in the partnership by Samuel BOARDMAN. A few years later, too, Elijah HERRICK built up a good trade at the lower falls, in company with his son Moses D. Here, also, were two saw-mills operated by the estate of William WOODS and a woolen-mill belonging to the same estate. The Champlain Canal had then but recently been opened, and these mills cut a large amount of lumber which was rafted down the river and up the lake without the labor of drawing. There were two saw-mills at Sopertown; one operated by Mr. LEONARD, and the other by Isaac BLAKE. They were small affairs and did not run many years after this period. A small grist-mill stood on the lake shore on a small stream just north of the present Camp Everest, which had for many years done all the custom grinding for South Hero and even other portions of Grand Isle county. It was owned and operated by Phelps SMITH. In former years there had been many other mills in town, but they had all disappeared. As the forests were cleared the streams diminished in volume, and the water power was destroyed. Where MANSFIELD's mills once stood, has been since the memory of middle-aged men pasture land, not even traversed by a highway. The last mill at Sopertown ceased running more than thirty years ago. The drying of the streams killed most of these, while the business of Checkerberry was diverted by the opening of the railroad through Milton Falls.

THE TOWN-HOUSE 

      As stated in a previous page, the question as to whether a town-house should be erected was mooted several years before 1800, and resulted in the renting of the old house of Alpheus MANSFIELD, near the geographical center of the town. This was not well adapted for the purpose, however, and by the year 1800 a movement was again afoot looking to the erection of a town hall. This building was finished in the latter part of 1805, and the first meeting in it was held in March, 1806. It stood on one side of the square in Checkerberry. In 1849 Joseph CLARK, Lyman BURGESS, Dr. Benjamin FAIRCHILD and George AYRES, in the interest of Milton Falls village, gave a bond conditioned that if the town would vote that meetings should thereafter be held in their village, they would furnish a room suitable for the transaction of town business for the period of ten years, without charge. The vote being accordingly passed, these gentlemen erected a house by subscription, which served the purposes of its construction until it was destroyed by fire a few years since. There is now no town hall, the meetings being usually held in the hall of Curtiss B. PRATT.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS
HOTELS

      There are only two hotels open now in town, the Elm Tree House, on the east side of the river, at Milton village, now kept by Patrick MAXFIELD, who, after a vacancy, succeeded William LANDON, being the same hotel mentioned in an earlier page as built by Moses AYRES; and Austin's Hotel, near the railroad station, erected by the present proprietor in 1879 for a hardware store and converted to its present use in a few months after its construction. The proprietor, A. N. AUSTIN, built the Central House in 1867, and kept it about ten years, calling it Austin's Hotel. The Central House is now vacant.

PRESENT MERCANTILE INTERESTS

      The early stores in Milton have already been mentioned. Probably the most prominent merchant ever in town was Lyman BURGESS, who kept a store open at Milton village for many years. The oldest store now in town is that of H. H. RANKIN and C. A. PRATT, at Milton village, who, under the firm name of H. H. RANKIN & Co., have engaged in trade here since 1871, succeeding to the business of O. W. BULLOCK, who has been here since 1866. His predecessor was Henry H. WOODS. George ASHLEY built the store many years ago, and himself kept it for some time.

      A.P. COMSTOCK has dealt in general merchandise at Milton village about twenty-five years, and has seen the generation of merchants that were here when he began pass away and another take their place.

      D.F. QUINN has been proprietor of a tinshop and a hardware store in town for more than twenty years, on the same site that he now occupies, though the old building was burned several years ago, and the present one erected in its stead.

      E.L. WHITNEY, dealer in books, stationery and fancy goods, began a general trade in Milton in 1866. He restricted his stock to the present assortment in 1869. He now carries a stock of about $3,500.

      N.S. WOOD has manufactured and sold boots, shoes and findings at Milton for twenty years. In the spring of 1883 he took his son, C. C. WOOD, in partnership with him.

      The drug store of J. S. BENHAM was opened in 1876 by its present proprietor.

      Eli BARNUM, formerly mail agent between Richford, Vt., and Concord, N. H., has been engaged for three or four years in a general trade at Milton village.

      J.H. BOOTHE has traded here a little more than three years.

      On the 7th of December, 1885, E. A. FROST succeeded to the interest of O. B. LANDON, in the drug store of Milton village. LANDON had occupied this. building a little more than a year.

      At West Milton (Lower Falls) George GRANGER has been engaged in trade nearly two years. Mr. GRANGER is also the postmaster at that place. 
Manufacturing Interests

       Since the first settlement of the town a most radical change has taken place in the nature of its principal interest Many of the early settlers turned their attention to cutting and preparing for the Quebec market the pine timber that covered the surface of nearly the entire town. Accordingly, mills were erected on every available site, and rafts of lumber were continually floating down the lake and through the rivers Sorel and St. Lawrence to the great Canadian market. After the opening of the Champlain Canal, in 1824, much of this timber found its way to New York; and so extensively did the early settlers engage in clearing the forests, that not many years sufficed to leave the surface nearly destitute of heavy timber. The streams, therefore, shrank in volume, water privileges were destroyed, and the people were forced to direct their energies to the more quiet activities of farm life. Compared with its former manufacturing importance, therefore, Milton can scarcely be called a manufacturing town. The most important industry in town is that of Jed P. CLARK, whose father, Joseph CLARK, in 1845 built the saw and grist-mills now standing, having purchased the site of Warren HILL. The saw-mill, which originally had an up-and-down saw, is now supplied with circular and gang saws, and has the capacity for cutting a large amount of lumber. The grist-mill operates six runs of stones, and is used as a custom mill. The site has always been a prominent location for milling industries.

      Among the other manufacturing concerns in town are the carriage manufactory of Charles ASHLEY, who recently began the making of all kinds of carriages and sleighs, and the brick-yards of J. W. & H. W. BROWN, one of which is at Mallet's Bay, in Colchester, and the other in this town, which were started by J. W. BROWN in 1857. They employ about fifty men during the season and manufacture about 4,000,000 brick. At present, too, a pulp-mill is in process of construction a mile above the falls at Milton village, by G. H. RITCHIE, of New York. A butter factory in the southeast part of the town has been recently started and is now in operation. It is owned by a stock company.

THE PROFESSIONS

      The first lawyer in town was undoubtedly judge Noah SMITH, who while here resided at the falls, near the site of the present dwelling house of Jed P. CLARK. Materials for a sketch of this prominent man's life are very meager. He bears the distinction of having also been the first lawyer to practice in Bennington, Vt. There is extant a printed address, entitled "A Speech," delivered at Bennington on the 16th of August, 1778 (the year after the battle of Bennington), "by Noah SMITH, A. B." The address is brief and chiefly of a historical character, breathing a spirit of patriotism, and is quite creditable to the author, who was evidently just out of college. At the first session of the County Court of Bennington county, in 1781, Mr. SMITH was appointed State's attorney, which office he held for several years, and in 1789 and 1790 he was a judge of the Supreme Court. He was a prominent and active Mason. He became early interested in the town of Milton, and was moderator of one of the first proprietors' meetings, held in May, 1788, at Manchester, Vt. The third deed recorded in the land records of Milton recites a transfer to him of six original rights of land, and transfers to him are of frequent occurrence thereafter. He came to this town some time previous to 1800, and was one of the first judges of the Chittenden County Court He owned nearly all the land now embracing the village of Milton. He was very public spirited, and gave the land for the east and west street through the village, and in 1806 or 1807 gave the land for the site of the Congregational Church, together with land adjoining for a cemetery. He was the largest contributor toward the construction of the Congregational Church here. Financial reverses overtook him, however, toward the close of his life, and before he died he became partly demented, and was buried, about 1822, at the expense of the town. There is now no stone to mark the spot where he lies, and the place itself is unknown and forgotten.

      Heman ALLEN, who is mentioned in the chapter devoted to the history of the Bench and Bar, was the next legal practitioner in town, beginning as early as 1802, and remaining until 1827, when he removed to Burlington. Albert G. WHITTEMORE, whose life is recorded at greater length in the latter part of this book, pursued the practice of law here from 1824 until 1852, residing at Checkerberry. He was unquestionably the most able and prominent lawyer that ever practiced in this part of the county. Among other lawyers who have practiced in Milton were Boyd H. WILSON, George B. PLATT, Charles H. PERRIGO, Hiram B. SMITH (one of the leading Democrats in the State), Chester W. WITTERS, and Homer E. POWELL.

      C.W. WITTERS was born in Milton on the l0th of June, 1836. He studied law with Hiram B. SMITH, and began to practice here immediately after his admission. He then went to Kansas for a brief period, but returned to Milton and continued his practice until April, 1886, when he removed to St. Albans, Vt., the more conveniently to perform his duties as attorney for the Central Vermont Railroad Company.

      Homer E. POWELL, the only lawyer at present in practice in town, was born at Richford, Vt., on the 4th of May, 1851. He received an academic education at Fairfax and Montpelier, and studied law with his brother, E. Henry POWELL, of Richford, being admitted to practice in the courts of Franklin county in the spring term of 1875. After a few months of practice at Richford and two and a half years at South Troy, Vt., he came to Milton in the spring of 1878. On the 21st of April, 1880, he married Lucia B., daughter of E. A. WITTERS, of Milton. His office is at the village of Milton.

      John E. WHEELOCK, whose duties as superintendent of schools has prevented his active engagement in the practice of law, but who, nevertheless, as a member of the bar is entitled to mention, was born in Milton on the 1st day of May, 1843, and after taking a thorough course of lectures at the legal department of the University of Albany, N. Y., received from that institution in 1868 the degree of LL.D. His office studies were previously pursued in the office of C. W. WITTERS. He was admitted to practice in the courts of Lamoille county in 1868, and immediately came to Milton. He was superintendent of schools for Milton in 1860-62, and has been continuously in that position from 1882 to the present time.

      Among the physicians who have practiced in town in the past were Jesse P. CARPENTER, one of the first, who practiced here for many years and resided on the stage road; Avery AINSWORTH, who died not far from 1830, after prosecuting a practice here for years; Joseph CARPENTER, son of Jesse; and Daniel H. ONION, who commenced his professional career at Checkerberry in 1828 or 1829, and continued in town until his death, two or three years ago. He was one of the most prominent men in town, and was entrusted with many public offices by his townsmen. The oldest physician now in Milton is Dr. Benjamin FAIRCHILD, who was born in Georgia, Vt., in 1804, and lived there until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1828 he studied medicine at Burlington, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1829, after attending a course of lectures at Castleton. He came to Milton on the 11th of February, 1830, and soon became one of the leading physicians of this vicinity. He has but recently retired from practice. Nearly all the information which the writer obtained concerning the early settlers and industries of this town was given by Dr. FAIRCHILD.

      Dr. Franklin B. HATHEWAY was born in Georgia, Vt., in 1819, married Lucia BARTLETT and had one child, Franklin H. The father studied medicine at Woodstock, and settled in Milton in 1849. His son, Franklin H., was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont on the 1st of June, 1879, and since his father's death, several years ago, has continued his practice at Checkerberry and vicinity.

      Dr. L. J. DIXON was born in UNDERHILL, Vt., in 1829, studied medicine with Dr. Daniel H. ONION, of Milton, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1858. He first practiced in Madison, Wis., several years before the war. During the Rebellion he was four years surgeon in the First Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, and was afterwards surgeon in the service of the United States (U. S. V.) for one and a half years. He came to Milton in 1866.

      Dr. C. L. SANDERSON was born on the 24th of July, 1848, at Milton, and received a preparatory education at the New Hampton Institute, at Fairfax. He studied medicine with Dr. DIXON, of this town, and Dr. C. W. CARPENTER, of Burlington, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1878, after which he came at once to Milton.

PRESENT TOWN OFFICERS

      H.H. RANKIN, town clerk, with C. A. PRATT, as assistant; George ASHLEY, Charles OSGOOD, Alson A. HERRICK, selectmen; E. L. WHITNEY, town treasurer; the selectmen, overseers of the poor; William LANDON, first constable and collector; C. S. ASHLEY, R. FLINN, C. Mayville, listers; H. O. BARTLETT, C. A. PRATT, C. I. LADD, auditors; O. G. PHELPS, trustee of surplus money; E. T. HOLBROOK, W. O. BEEMAN, H. H. RANKIN, fence viewers; Homer E. POWELL, agent to prosecute and defend suits in which the town is interested.

POST OFFICE

      It is not known when the first post-office was established in town; but it was very early, for Milton was crossed by the first stage road that ran to the north part of the State. One of the earliest postmasters was Stephen HOXIE, who retained the office for many years and until 1828. Lyman BURGESS then succeeded him, and was in turn succeeded in 1840 by S. M. ST. JOHNS. George AYRES was appointed in 1842; Hiram B. SMITH in 1845; George AYRES again in 1850; Hiram B. SMITH in 1854; E. L. WHITNEY in 1861; Jed P. CLARK in 1863; H. G. BOARDMAN in 1869; E. L. WHITNEY in 1877; E. BARNUM in 1884, and the present incumbent, O. E. COON, October 1, 1885.

      The office at West Milton was established, it seems, about 1834, by the appointment of Calvin DEMING as postmaster. Abram B. OLIN succeeded him in 1837, and was followed by A. G. WHITTEMORE in 1838. The postmasters since then have been as follows: C. L. DRAKE, appointed in 1844; R. SANDERSON in 1850; Hector ADAMS in 1852; C. L. DRAKE in 1854; Hector ADAMS in 1855; C. L. DRAKE in 1856; Ell BARNUM in 1863; M. D. HERRICK in 1865; H. F. LYON in 1879; C. P. SANDERSON in 1880; W. L. SANDERSON in 1882; James D. COTIE in 1883; D. L. FIELD in 1885, and George GRANGER in 1886.

SCHOOLS

      The early settlers of Milton, like those of all the New England towns, deemed it one of their first duties to establish schools in town and divide the town into convenient districts. From a report taken (at random) from the earlier town records we learn that in 1837 there were 751 pupils in town under the age of eighteen years and over the age of four years. From the report for the year 1885 we find that there are 437 pupils in town. This shows in part the decrease in population since that thrifty period. The schools of Milton, however, compare favorably with those of the neighboring towns, and the people are showing a lively interest in them, as is shown by the fact that nearly two hundred visits were made in 1885 by patrons. Mr. WHEELOCK devotes his best energies to the building up of good schools and his success is encouraging.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

      Public worship in Vermont in the latter part of the last century was not infrequently conducted in a barn or a log house, and in the towns of Chittenden rarely in a house constructed for the purpose. The question of raising means to hire preaching and build a house of worship was considered by the settlers of Milton, but, as will be inferred from the following extracts from the records, nothing very important to the cause was accomplished for years. The town-house mentioned in previous pages was to have been used for purposes of worship as well as for the transaction of town business; and it seems that the building which was hired of Amos MANSFIELD was occasionally called into the service of the church-going people. At the March meeting of 1795 the house was referred to as being used "to Meet in to Due Publick Bisness in and to Meet in for publick worship." At the same time Edward BRIGHAM and Luther MALLARY were appointed to "higher a minister or a preacher three months." On the 12th of October, 1795, a vote was passed to give a minister twenty-two shillings a Sabbath for preaching. It does not appear in the records that anything further than the passing of votes was done for several years. At the March meeting for 1798 Samuel HOLGATE, Edward BRIGHAM, and John JACKSON were appointed to "higher" a minister. On the 11th of the following month a meeting was held, in which it was voted "that the town will not Rais money to pay the minister that has Bin highered." And the committee was dismissed. At the annual meeting of 1799 the town refused to pay the amount exhibited by Samuel HOLGATE for the services of John LINCOLN, preacher. On the 15th of April, 1799, a record appears, by Abner WOOD, a Methodist preacher, that John GERAND is a member of the Methodist Church.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

      The Congregational Church was organized September 21, 1804, by the Rev. Lemuel HAYNES and James DAVIS. The following names are on record as constituting the first members, viz.: Leonard BRIGHAM and Lovice his wife, Edward BRIGHAM, Aaron CARPENTER and Hannah his wife, Moses BASCOM, John BASCOM, Linus BASCOM, Chloe SMITH, Daniel SMITH, Eliza SMITH, Rhoda CHURCH, Elijah HERRICK, Jabez HYDE and Mary his wife. The church was occasionally supplied with preaching till September 23, 1807, when Joseph CHEENEY was constituted their pastor by a council composed of Rev. P. V. BOGUE, Rev. James PARKER, and Rev. Benjamin WOOSTER and their delegates.

      The first house of worship was built chiefly by Judge Noah SMITH about 1806 or 1807, at the falls, and was replaced in 1825 by another a few rods farther north. It was burned in 1840, and in 1841 the present edifice was erected on the same site, at a cost of about $16,000. It comfortably seats about four hundred persons, and is valued at a little less than its original cost. The present pastor is Rev. John L. SEWELL, who in 1885 succeeded Rev. John H. WOODWARD, "the fighting chaplain of Vermont," who served the church for seventeen years. The present membership of the church is about ninety. The officers are L. A. JACKSON and Lucius LANDON, deacons; Charles JACKSON, clerk; Lucius LANDON, Curtin PRATT and Guy PHELPS, prudential committee; and L. A. JACKSON, Sabbath-school superintendent. The present average attendance at Sabbath-school is about 140.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By the Rev. J. E. BOWEN

      The town of Milton was chartered in 1763, but the new town had no form of church organization until many years after. Methodism appears historically the first form of organized Christianity known to the new settlers, the eccentric and world-renowned Lorenzo DOW appearing as its first preacher in the northwestern portion of the town early in the month of August, 1798. In July, 1799, DOW was sent by the Methodist Conference, held at New York city, to complete the formation of a circuit embracing all the western portion of the State north of Winooski River and west of the Green Mountains; embracing also portions of Canada lying between Lake Memphramagog and Lake Champlain, and called Essex circuit. This circuit embraced Milton, in the northwestern portion of which he had preached not quite one year previously. There he had one of his regular appointments.

      There must have been an organized class in that part of the town at that early day, with leader and members, to have insured continuous preaching services; for that was the rule by which preaching was continued at any place. The "class" is the integer of embryonic Methodism. And according to all analogy that class must have existed in 1798. The place of worship was the school-house, more often the private dwelling, but was in the school district now embracing the borough M. E. Church, sometimes alternating with Georgia Plain, where for forty years or more was a class with regular services, and where subsequently the Baptists removed from Georgia Center and erected their present house of worship.

      Methodist religious services were mostly confined for years to private dwellings, barns and school-houses, sometimes occupying the town hall at Checkerberry village, alternating with the Congregationalists, until the church in West Milton, or at the River, was built by the united efforts of Baptists, Methodists and Congregationalists. I think that was the first church structure in which the Methodists owned any share in the town. But they held regular services all the way along from 1798 in various places in the town, at the River, Checkerberry, the "Hollow," Snake hill school district, east and southeast of the village.

      The First Methodist Episcopal Church edifice in Milton was built and dedicated about the year 1840. It stood on nearly the same ground on which is now standing the Methodist Episcopal Church in Milton Falls, and directly across the way, and nearly opposite the first church erected in town. This edifice was the place of general worship for the circuit, until it was superseded by a larger and better one in 1870. This later edifice was destroyed by fire July 8, 1878. At the same time the first church structure ever erected in Milton was burned; the latter burning first and causing the destruction of the former. Soon rallying, the society projected and erected the present church edifice, completing and dedicating the basement portion on Thanksgiving Day, 1880. The edifice stood thus incomplete until April, 1885, when work was resumed on the auditorium, which was finished and dedicated July 8, 1885, exactly seven years from the day of the destruction of the former church by fire. In 1860 another beautiful Methodist Episcopal Church was erected at the borough, the place where Methodism was introduced into the town, where ever since fortnightly preaching upon Sabbath afternoons has been maintained. For many years Milton was a portion of an extensive circuit, growing smaller and smaller by subdivisions as population and Methodism increased over its territory, until, in 1864, Milton circuit consisted of only the town of that name, and continues so to the present time, embracing all that time and now three appointments, viz.: Milton Falls, the River or West Milton, and the Borough. A parsonage was owned many years ago, located upon the main street of the falls village, afterward sold and another purchased about one mile from the church; but when the church edifice was destroyed by fire they sold that and incorporated its value in the new church edifice, and even then were unable to extricate themselves from indebtedness until the present year. An aged maiden lady, Nancy MEARS, recently deceased, has left to the church by will one-half of a beautiful home and adjoining grounds at Milton Falls village, where she resided, subject to a life lease of another sister, who also jointly possessed the same property, and whose will, already made, bequeaths the other half to the same purpose. So the prospect now is that at some day in the future the church will again possess an itinerant's home.

      The numerical status of Methodism cannot be ascertained definitely in the early days, never with certainty until 1854. At that date there were sixty-eight members. This number was increased and diminished from time to time, rising in succeeding years to one hundred and fifteen, the highest number attained at any time, and only possessing one hundred in numbers seven times in the last thirty-two years. That any of the Protestant Christian denominations have held numerical status is a source of congratulation, yet indicates a failure to measure up to the full standard of possibilities of increase and extension within reach of a gospel Christianity.

      The Trinity Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. George T. CHAPMAN, D.D., in the winter of 1831, with about twenty communicants. It has never had an edifice of its own. For nearly twenty years, owing to adverse circumstances, services were suspended, to be resumed in 1867 by Rev. John A. HICKS, D.D., of Burlington. Since then it has been sustained by different missionaries. The present rector is Rev. Gemont GRAVES, of Burlington.

      For a history of the Catholic Church, see history of Burlington.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont 
With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches 
of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886
Page  636-655.

Transcribed by Karima Allison ~ 2004

Milton section of Hamilton Child's "Gazetteer and Business Directory of  Chittenden County, Vt. For 1882-83."

Tombstone listings from the Plains Cemetery in Milton, VT

Tombstone listings from the Milton Village Cemetery  in Milton, VT

Tombstone listings from the Old West Milton Cemetery  in Milton, VT

Tombstone listings from the West Milton Cemetery  in West Milton, VT

Tombstone listings from the St. Ann's Cemetery  in Milton, VT