Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-30
Then and Now.

ContestIng the Ground with the wilder
ness---InhabItants of 30 Years a go in
Section of Jamaica and. Wmdham---
Farms Now Deserted and Given over
TO the Forest.
When one looks over a country and CON
siders that but little more than a hun
dred years ago it was all primeval wilder
ness, the home Of wild beasts and birds and
remembers that in addition to the lands
that are now used as meadows and pas
lures there are large areas that have been
once cleared and cultivated but are now
covered with forest, and sees that the pres
ent Inhabitants are unable to prevent the
encroachment of the forests as the years
go by, although provided with all the i'm
plements that modern ingenuity has de-
vised, it becomes evident that far larger
working force was necessary to accomplish
the results seen, in addition to raising the
necessary supplies to satisfy their wants.
When the lover of early history inquiries
how so much could be performed the al
most invariable answer is that large fam
lilies were the order, and that through this
means much more work could be perform
ed, but this alone is not sufficient to an
swer the query, and so one finds, in look
ing further, as he rambles over the hills
and through the woods, many old cellar
holes where once were busy homes whose
inhabitants have sought scenes that offer
ed better remuneration, or as advancing
years came on, homes where they could
enjoy ease, or have gone TO the home
where the tired hands have found rest,
leaving these homes to 90 to decay and
ruin. 1t is of some of these places the
present article will treat as gained from an
old inhabitant in the Turkey mountain re-
gion in Jamaica and Windham, and while
it does not claim to be complete it may be
the means of drawing from some one the
information that will make the history
complete.
In the early times a highway, long since
disused for the most part, extended from
South Windham to Jamaica, crossing the
river near the present site Of the Jamaica
depot, and another from the Turkey noun
tain schoolhouse to the place owned by the
late, Ward Clayton. Starting from the
place known as the brick house owned by
the late David Robbins, on the dugway,
was built a sChoolhouse where from 40 to
30 scholars were taught the rudments of
knowledge, but which was vacated some
40 years ago for want of pupils. At the
crossing of the brook was located a grist
mill, where the grain was ground for the
surrounding country. This mill was own
ed by George Persons, and in the house
near by he reared a large family. The
most of these boys became mascns, who
were known through a large section of the
county. One of these boys, George Per-
sons, carried on the fulllng business at
Windham pond, in building which was
subsequently moved to West Townshend,
and is now known as the Farley house.
Another of the boys lived in a small house
near the Retreat buildings and was EN-
ployed as mason on them in their early
construction. Passing up the hill was the
Dyer place on the right, long since vacated,
while to the left was the Harrington farm,
now owned by George NJ. Cory.
Still farther up was the Phillibrown
place, occupied for many years by Iadok
Lawrence. Here the road turned south,
and near the top of the hill lied Amos
Daggett with large family. This place is
in the pasture owned by the late d. Z.
Robbins. One of the sons, Heman, lived
in Grafton.
This brings us to the intersection of the
other road named on the south side of the
hill. Beginning at the schoolhouse lived
first George Howard, with a large family
OF children, II or Is in number. Directly
north Of Elwin Clayton's lived family of
Kingsburys, and farther west was Adams
! Twitchell and William Cummings.
Beginning at the Smith house, on the
place now owned by S. A. Holden, near
Burbee's mill in Windham, road led
south. In the corner of the Ezra Pierce
| farm was a dwelling and just across the
| brook, in the Mason Pierce pasture, lived
/ the father of b. +. Jennson. Farther west
in the Twombly lot lived brother, George
Adams, and still another family were in
/ the southwest corner of +. W. Stowells
/ pasture. But one of the places is now &C.
/ cupied, nearly all having become the graz
! ing places of focks and herds, and once
more the home of wild beasts as in the be-
ginning
| This does not claim TO be a record of first
settlers, but of inhabitants 90 to 20 years
ago. :. a. II.