Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-23
HISTORY OF COUNTY
TAKEN FROM VERMONT GAzATEER
PUBLISHED In The
YEAR 1862

Viz 1iOi' ilClIy Ddljldlu, III oil OO-
scure corner of New England, under
the hand of one who was, to re-
markable degree, self-taught, self
prompted, and alone in planning it,
was an institution with all the es-
sential characteristics of normal
school, Is years before the Mas
sachusetts movement had reached
that point of development which Sc
cured the establishment of the nor
NAL school at Lexington.
Space cannot be allowed in this
place for an extended notice of this
first Normal School in America, and
for giving the details Of the course
of study, modes of teaching, etc.
The little germ planted here, in the
will lerness, has sent forth its fbers,
leaves and fruits to every part of the
land. Methods of teaching, first
adopted in this town, are now COM
mon in every state, and in almost
every school. Men filling many i'm
portant places of trust and useful
ness, hele received the bias which
has resulted in their becoming an
honor to the town and blessing to
the world. Rev. Daniel Ladd, mis-
sionaly in Turkey;Rev Scion Martin,
Rev. VIM. Peck, Rev. Mr.. Orion; Rev.
Mr.. Benton, now in California; Hon.
Harry Hubbard, late member of
Congress; Hon. VIM. Haywood;
Hon. Reuben c. Benton (senior);
Prof. James Dascomb, MD; Mark R.
Woodbury., M. D.; Hon. David Hib-
bard land many others, were members
of the school during the period which
Mr.. Hall was principal, many of
whom have become eminently success s.
full as teachers, or in the common
walks of life.
WEST CONCORD HIGH SCH00L
is now IN prosperous and flourish
ing condition, under its present justly
popular and efficient teachers, Mr..
and Mrs. EImore Chase, I'd, and af-
fords excellent facilities for the
people of this and adjoining locali-
ties to educate their children at a
much less expense than at many
other more expensive, but far less
thorough and practical schools.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
We have to regret, very much,
that want of adequate information
has prevented our giving sketches of
the lives of only a very few of the
early settlers of the town. Among
those of whom we have been able
to obtain very brief records may be
mentioned the
HON. SAMUEL WETHERBEE,
one of the early settlers and large
landed proprietor, who come from
Charleston, N. H. His wife, whose
maiden name was Susannah Johnson,
was taken captive by the Indians, in
company with her fathers family
and carried to Montreal, Canada,
where she was bought by French
family, and lived several years with
three maiden sisters by the name OF
"Jesson."
Mr.. and Mrs. Wetherbee were the
parents of large family of children
who lived to the period of manhood
and many of them to old age.
JAMES MORSE, ESQ,
came to Concord in February, 1892
there being then only six families ir
town. He came from Barre, Mass.
I bringing a pack upon his back weigh
ing 919 pounds. He was a man OF
strong, hardy endurance, great
memory and untiring energy. He
filled many Offices of trust in the
early history of the town.
THE REV. SAMUEL GODDARD
was a native of Royalston. Mass.
where he and a brother engaged il
mercantile pursuits before he studied
for the ministry. He was man Of
deep and ardent piety, and cxel tee
salutary influence upon the com
munity in which he dwelt.
HON. AZARIAS WILLIAMS
was born in Sheffield, York County
England, A. D. 1865. He came t.
the United States in 1856, landing
at New York City. He married Mis-
Sarah~F. Warner, of that city, il
1889, and came to Concord in 1876
: He was the first postmaster in thi
town, and subsequently one of the
Associate Judges of Essex COUNTY
Court; also, for time, merchan
in town.
Erecting splendid mansion on hi
! farm, about mile from the Corner
he lived in a style far above an,
other family in town, and, with hi
truly amiable wife, dispensed hospi
tally with profuse and lavish liber
atty TO all. His mansion, togethe
with much valuable furniture an!