Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-03-19
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
TAKEN FROM THE VERMONT
GAZETTEER PUBLISHED IN 1862.
Continued from Last Week.


ance could be rendered them by
their nearest neighbors, which were
some miles distant. She was the
wife of Mr.. Davis. before mentioned.
The first child born, which, lived was
Ezekiel Foster. The first death was
a Mr.. Cargill, a brother of John
Cargill. He was at work with his
brother clearing land, and in falling
tree his ak was struck and the but
OF it driven into his side. He was
Immediately removed with the in
tention of taking him to his friends
in New Hampshire, but died before
they reached the Connecticut river.
The first couple married was Amos
Currier to Miss Clarinda Williams, in
the year 1892, by Phrelan Rosebrooks,
Esq. Enos Bishop built the first
house, upon the west side Of beau
tiful sheet of water called Knowlton
lake, now Island Pond. The land is
now owned by widow Stevens. Mrs.
Bishop said she often satin her door
way and saw the bears with their
cubs pass down to drink in the pond,
and deer and faWns playing in the
water and on the beach. The early
settlers were obliged to go to Derby
Line, distance of 20 miles, to get
their milling done; afterwards, for
many years.. went to Charleston, in
boats, IL miles, taking them two
| days to perform the Journey.
The number Of organized school
districts in town at this time is 7,
with It's pupils; average thine of
schooling per.year, 6! months,
The first missionary who visited
the town was Rev. Mr.. Heath, of
the Methodist persuasion; afterwards
the Rev. Simeon Patmelee, for over
30 years pastor of the Congregational
church.
Religious meetings were frequently
held here by Rev. James Allen, of
Charleston, a FreeWill Baptist; and
the Rev. Mr.. Cla rk. a Congregation
alist, from Morgan; but for the last
five years the inhabitants, with lit
J tie aid from the Vermont Domestic
Missionary Society have been able to
sustain preaching most of the time.
There is now a small church organ
lied and quite large and Furnishing
society of the Congregational order,
having within a few years built
J fine church by voluntary subscription
and for the last two years secured
the services of Rev. Charles Clark, a
graduate of the University of Yer
mont, a thorough scholar and a
young man of promise, There is a
large and Furnishing Sabbath school
numbering about SO scholars.
In the year 1858 a Roman Catholic
Mission was established, land the year
following a church edifce erected.
Since which time the Rev. Nh. Brown
of Compton, c. E., has regularly Of
ficiated once in two weeks to a con-
gregation numbering about $50. This
society has eXerted a wholesome in
f1uence in the community by having
suppressed, in some measure, intern
perance, las well as noise and disturb
ance upon the Sabbath.
| The people contribute literally to
the different objects .of the church
and society, as well as all other OBJ
jects of charity, which are very
numerous, situated as they are upon
the great thoroughfare, the Grand
Trunk Railway; and there cannot be
found town in the state, Of equal
size, where a larger sum can be
raised in a short time for benevolent
purposes than this.
There are no very wealthy men in
town, neither are there very many
poor men. All get their living by
the sweat of their brow, and all
have to exercise habits of economy
incident to a rigorous climate like
ours.
There is a masonic lodge number
ing about IS members, and they have
a fine hall richly furnished,
The township is quite mountainous
but OILY a few rise so abrupt as to
prevent the cultivation of the land.
1t is heavily .timbered-the western
portion with hard, and the eastern
with soft timber; although the lum-
| UeIllldl nave UGeu DuSA LOT several
years, there still remains a large
amount of pine, spruce and other
timber suitable for shipment, and
which continually supply two large
saw-mills propelled by steam, and
four by water. Most of the lumber
is shipped by railroad to Portland,
and large quantity of sugar box
shocks are manufactured and shipped
to Cuba.
There are eight ponds or lakes in
this township, the largest formerly
called Knowlton lake, namd given
it by Mr.. Knowlon, one of the first
surveyors S; but latterly called Island
Pond, from having near its center an
island containing an area of % acres.
which also gives the name to the viii
lage and postoffice at the outlet. 1t
is about two miles long and about
one and half broad; it abounds in
salmon trout weighing from | to Is
pounds; the water is very clear and
deep, the whole surrounded by