The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-01
From tho Rutland Herald.
Cornwall.

lhO tONusulD VI OOluMull Mdh llolltl-
cd oy Governor Benning Wentworth Of
New Hampshire, Nov. 3, l76l The
grantees were Mr.. Elios Reed and sixty
four others, then residents of Litchfeld
county, Connecticut, and the name of the
township was taken from that of town
in that county and state 1t originally
comprised considerable tract rot now
within the limits, as the Otter Creek was
at first its eastern boundary, and portion
of the present village Of Middlebury was
consequently within the original boundary
of Cornwall.
The first settlers in the town arrived in
1774, the year before the breaking out
of the Revolutionary struggle, and in.
cluded Eldad Andrus, William Douglas,
Nathan Foot and Samuel Benton, whose
defendants still live in Cornwall. 9th
ers followed from Connecticut in l775
and 1776, among whom were Joel Lins-
ley aud Jonah Sanford. Mr. Linsley
was the father Of Hon. Charles Linslcy,
who died few years siucc, and who
resided at Middlcbury aud Rutland and
was one Of the most successful lawyers in
western Vermont
In l777, when Fort Ticonderoga sur.
rendered to Burgoyne, these pioneer set
tiers relinquished their now homes in the
wilderness and travelled southwark to
places of greater security, returning in
1888, but to find their rude dwellings
desolated or destroyed. But nothing
daunted, they commenced anew tho her.
culean task to conquer the forest and
make it blossom like the rosc.'
In 1889 controversy arose between
the settlers of Whiting and Cornwall as
to the dividing line between the towns,
which after several years of legal contcn-
tion was amicably settled.
In 1796 the legislature, then in ses'
sion at Rutland, passed an act annexing
a considerable portion Of the northeastern
section of Cornwall lying Immediately
west of Otter Creek, to the town of Mid
dlebury, as the people of Cornwall had
consented thereto in town meeting This
tract though then considered nearly val
ueless, would have been in better times
of great value, and includes nearly one
half Of what is now Middlebury village,
and the nights where the college build
ings have been erected.
Hon. Joel Linsley, hitherto referred to,
was the first town clerk, chosen in 1884,
and continued to hold the office until his
death in 1918, with the exception of the
year 1903, period of thirtY.iour years.
He was ton times the representative in
the legislature and was also assistant
judge and chief Judge OF the county court.
Judge Linsley was succeeded as town
clerk by Darius Matthews, who served
one year by Dea. Asahel Bingham, who
served eighteen years by DR.. Marcus
o. Porter, who served from 1888 to
1860, twenty-five years (savo 1855, when
b. f. Bingham was chosen); by Samuel
Everts, who served froin 1861 to 1874,
thirteen years, by T. z. D. Matthews,
who served one year, and by Henry Lane,
the present incumbent DR.. NJ o. Por.
ter, besides his long service as town clerk
served many years as magistrate, two
years in the house of representatives, and
two years in the senate, and died quite
suddenly in the fall of 1867.
Mr.. Lane has also served three terms
in the legislature and one term as mem.
ber of the council of censors, and was
for three years one Of the directors of the
state prison.
The town has long held high reputa.
tion for the deep interest it has always
manifested in educational, social and re.
igious matters. Probably no other town
in Vermont has literally educated so
large number of her sons as Cornwall,
many Of whom have become distinguished
in different walks of life Among these
may be mentioned Hou. Solomon Foot,
Gov. William Sladc, Hon. Charles Lin.
ley, Hon. Ashley Samson, Rev. Reuben
roSt, ID. D., ~ VuU ,i.lo chaplain or Ovu-
gress ; Rev. Miles Powell Squier, d. d.,
who was an eminent divine in western
New York for many years, and the author
of several valuable religious works, and
Rev. Joel II. Linsley, d. D., formerly
president Of Marietta College, Ohio.
The sincere interest taken in educational
matters by the town is properly shown
by the superior character of It's school
houses, which are said to be better than
those of any other town in Vermont.
Nearly all of them are large and roomy,
neatly and conveniently fitted up inside,
and with large windows screened by
handsome blinds They are surmounted
by belfrey containing clear toned bell
to call the scholars at approaching study
hours from long distance around.
The people of the town have also, at
differen: times, contributed libcrally in
money to aid the progress and success of
the college at Middlebury, wisely believ-
ing that in the diffusion of knowledge
lies the safety of the state while over
fifty sous Of Cornwall have graduated
with houor from The institution
In religious matters the citizens of the
town have ever taken sincere and ac.
tive interest. 4 large number Of the
natives Of the town have entered the
ministry, in several instances two and
three from the samc family. Among the
pastors of the Congregational church may
be mentioned Rev. Benjamin Wooster, a
revolutionary patriot, who served from
fourteen to nineteen years Of age in the
Continental army, sharing in tue terrible
hardships Of the Jersey campaign under
Washington. He was ordained in 1877,
and served as pastor until 1902. Mr..
Wooster arterward settled at Fairfield,
VT, and was widely known and respect.
ed. At the invasion of Plsttsblrgh he
raised q company in his parish and
promptly led them to repel the enemy
aud was presented with an elegant bible,
accompanied by u handsome letter. by
Governor Tompkius, of New York, as
token of appre citation for the bravery he