Johnson, Lamoille
County, Vermont
JOHNSON VERMONT, lies in the central part of the county, in latitude
44 40', and longitude 4° 19', bounded northeasterly by Belvidere and Eden,
south easterly by Hyde Park and Morristown, southwesterly by Morristown and
Cambridge, and northwesterly by Waterville and Cambridge, containing an area
of little over 23,040 acres. The tale of its charter breathes somewhat of
romance. As early as 1780, a Mr. Brown, an early settler in Jericho, Vt.,
secured a grant of the township. He caused the outlines to be run, and
commenced the allotment in the eastern part of the town, and gave to it the
name of Brownville, or Brownington. In the meantime the northern hive of
Indians residing upon the Canadian frontier, had begun to pour in upon the
wilderness territory of northern Vermont, destroying the property of, and
carrying away many of the luckless settlers into wretched captivity. Mr.
Brown and his family were numbered among these unhappy ones. In 1774, he had
made the difficult journey to Jericho, from Massachusetts. Here he and his
family, consisting of a wife, a daughter, and two sons, had made such
improvements on their lands, as to be able to raise most of the necessaries
of life, and were looking forward to days of still greater plenty, but in
the autumn of 1780, the year this town was granted to him, the family was
surprised and made prisoners of by a party of Indians, who, after securing
their prisoners, killed the cattle, sheep and hogs belonging to them, set
fire to their house, and started with them for Montreal. The prisoners
suffered much on their journey, from fatigue and hunger, their principal
food being raw bear's meat. On arriving at St. Johns they were turned over
to the British officers, and their captors received the bounty due
them-eighteen dollars per head for their prisoners.' For three years they
were retained as nominal prisoners, though they were in reality slaves,
being obliged to serve their exacting masters, and receiving in return
nothing but insults and the poorest fare.
During the years of Mr. Brown's captivity, the charter fees for his town
grant remained unpaid, and his continued absence led to the belief that he
was dead. So another grant of the territory was made to Samuel William
Johnson and his associates, bearing date February 27, 1782. Upon the return
of Mr. Brown, a dispute arose between him and Mr. Johnson, relative to the
right of the township. This difficulty was, however, compromised, by a new
grant being made to Mr. Brown, of the present town of Brownington, in
Orleans Co. The charter verifying Mr. Johnson's grant, however, was not
obtained until January 2, 1792, issued by the governor, and bearing the name
of the grantee, Johnson. Thus ended this unusual history of a town charter.
The surface of Johnson, especially in the western part, is quite uneven,
though in the central and eastern portions there are many acres of fine,
level farming land. The northwestern part of the town extends up upon a spur
of the Green Mountains, while Round mountain lies in the western part, and
Sterling mountain in the southwestern part, making a continuous chain from
north to south. Between Round mountain and Sterling mountain lies the
Lamoille valley, one of the most fertile and beautiful in the State. The
Lamoille river enters the town in the southeastern part, and, running
westerly about two miles, through a rich tract of intervale, falls over a
ledge of rocks, about fifteen feet in height, into a basin below, making
McDonnell's Falls, so named in honor of one of the early settlers. Thence it
runs northwesterly over a bed of rocks, about one hundred rods, narrowing
its bounds and increasing its velocity, when it forms a whirlpool and sinks
under a barrier of rocks, which extend across the river. The arch is of
solid rock, about eight feet wide, and at low water is passed over by
footmen with safety. Thus is reproduced in miniature the famous Natural
Bridge of Virginia. The view of the river afforded at this point is
extremely beautiful. For some distance above the river seems preparing for
some unusual occurrence tiny caps of snow-white foam crest each hurrying
ripple, bits of drift wood and fallen leaves are whirled in circling eddies,
while here and there a projecting rock attempts to impede the current, only
to be angrily covered with a cloud of spray. Finally, the waters, with a
sullen roar, plunge into the maelstrom and disappear. Below the "bridge,"
the scene is one of increased grandeur. The waters, with a last, triumphant
struggle, cast off the granite fetters that have for a moment retarded their
resistless course, and rising from a boiling caldron of fleecy foam, soon
flow along again, a quiet, tranquil river, which, about 150 rods below,
receives the waters of North Branch, and bending its course westerly, leaves
the township near the southwest corner. Numerous other streams are found
throughout the town, many of which afford good millsites, and unite with
other beauties of nature in forming most attractive scenery. The timber of
the township is hemlock, spruce, and trees of the hard-wood varieties. The
soil is a dark or yellow loam, mixed with a light sand, is easily tilled and
very productive. The alluvial flats along the Lamoille are extensive, but
back from the river the lands are, in some parts, rather stony.
The geological structure of the town is composed principally of rocks of
gneiss and talcose schist formation. The former are found in the western,
the latter in the eastern portions of the township. Small beds of steatite
and saccharoid azoic limestone have also been discovered, and some beds of
clay suitable for the manufacture of brick, etc. Gold is also said to exist
in alluvium in minute quantities. No other minerals of importance have been
discovered.
In 1880, Johnson had a population of 1,495, and in 1882, was divided into
fourteen school districts and contained eleven common schools, employing
five male and twenty-five female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate
salary of $1,413.13. There were 370 pupils attending common school, while
the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October 31st, was
$1,606.80, with J. A. Pierce, superintendent.
The St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain railroad crosses the southern part of the
town, with a station at Johnson.
JOHNSON, a post village and station on the St. Johnsbury & Lake
Champlain railroad, is beautifully located a little south of the central
part of the town, at the intersection of the Gihon with the Lamoille river.
Among its several manufactories are saw-mills, woolen-mill, butter-tub and
starch factory. It also contains three churches, (Congregational, Methodist
Episcopal, and Baptist,) State normal school, four stores, one hotel, two
harness shops, and about ninety dwellings. The State
Normal School
As early as 1836, the legislature incorporated the Lamoille County Grammar
School, though the school had been established about six years previous,
under Dr. Carpenter. During the years that followed, the school experienced
the usual changes of government, and struggled through the varying fortunes
common to institutions of the kind, until February, 1867, when it was
changed to the State Normal School, with Rev. H. D. Hodge, president, Samuel
Belding, vice-president, S. S. Pike, treasurer, Dea. H. W. Robinson,
secretary, and twenty trustees. While under the control of L. O. Stevens the
building was repaired, and, in 1866, was thoroughly rebuilt, so that it is
now more than double its original size. The normal school began its career
with about fifty students, under the principalship of S. H. Pearl, who
continued in that capacity until 1871. He was succeeded by C. D. Mead, who
remained only a little over a year. From that time, 1872, until 1875, S. H.
Perrigo filled the position, and was succeeded by William C. Crippen, who
had charge of the school until 1881, when the services of Edward Conant,
then principal of the normal school at Randolph, and who was also State
superintendent 0f schools' from 1874 until 1880, were secured. Mr. Conant's
long experience in school work enabled him to at once put the school on a
firm footing. He has thus far met with good success, and all indications
point to still greater success in the future. Twenty-eight pupils were
graduated during the year, ending in January, 1882.
Manufacturing and Industry in Johnson Barnum L. Austin's
cabinet shop, located at the village, was built for the purpose for which it
is now used, previous to the year 1850. In 1870, it was taken by Mr. Austin,
who has continued business there since.
O. & A. H. Buck have control of 2,000 acres of wood land, which they are
rapidly clearing and converting the timber into lumber. They own a steam
mill that has the capacity for cutting 2,000,000 feet of lumber annually,
and a mill operated by water-power that will cut the same amount of lumber,
and 500,000 feet of clapboards and 500,000 shingles, and they also lease a
mill in Granby, Essex county, having the capacity for cutting 3,000,000 feet
of lumber per annum.
O. W. Stearns & Son's butter-tub and water-tubing factory, located on the
Gihon river, was built by the present proprietors, in 1894, who commenced
business in a small way, employing only six workmen. In 1880, they
instituted extensive repairs, and placed in operation considerable new
machinery, increasing their facilities so that they now employ eighteen men.
In 1881, they manufactured 90,000 spruce butter-tubs and sap-buckets, and
about 4,000 rods of spruce and pine water-tubing.
William McLenathan's grist and carding-mill was built about 1842, by
Nathaniel Stearns, for a rake factory and grist-mill, and came into the
present proprietor's hands in 1867. Mr. McLenathan has made extensive
repairs and now does a large business.
L. H. Parkhurst's saw-mill, located on road 7, was built in 1877. Mr.
Parkhurst employs six men and manufactures 500,000 feet of lumber and
180,000 feet of clapboards per year.
I. L. Pearl's woolen-mill, located on the Gihon river, was established about
1845, by Andrew and Stephen Dow, who continued in business until 1855, when
Daniel M. Dow purchased Andrew's interest, continuing the business under the
firm name of S. & D. M. Dow for about two years, or until the death of
Daniel. In 1857, the present proprietor, Isaac L. Pearl, purchased a share
of the property, continuing the business as Dow & Pearl until 1865. Mr. Dow
then sold his interest to Orange Buck, who remained in the firm until 1870,
when Mr. Pearl assumed entire control of the concern. On April 11, 1871,
the entire mills were destroyed by fire, nothing being saved. Mr. Pearl
immediately began to rebuild, and soon had the present factory erected. Mr.
Pearl now empolys twelve workmen, and consumes about 40,000 pounds of wool
per year, in the manufacture of heavy goods and yarns.
Horace H Partlow's carriage and gun shop, located at the village, was
established in 1866. The building is one of the oldest in the town.
R. B. Bradley's carriage and machine shop, located on Pearl street, was
established in 1880, where Mr. Bradley does a profitable business.
Early Settlers of Johnson The first
settlement in Johnson was commenced in 1784, by Samuel Eaton, from New
Hampshire. During the French war, before the reduction of Canada by the
British, Mr. Eaton passed through this part of the country and down the
river Lamoille to Lake Champlain, on a scouting expedition. At the
commencement of the revolution he enlisted in the American army under Col.
Beedle, and frequently passed through this township, while scouting between
the Connecticut river and Lake Champlain, and several times encamped on the
same plot which he afterwards occupied as a farm a beautiful bow of alluvial
flats on the right bank of the Lamoille, in the western part of the town.
Like many other settlers he had many difficulties to encounter. In indigent
circumstances and with a numerous family, he loaded his little all upon an
old horse, and set out in search of that favorite spot which he had selected
in his more youthful days. To accomplish this he had to travel nearly
seventy miles through the wilderness, guided only by the trees which had
been marked by the scouts, and opening a path as he passed along. For some
time after he arrived here, Mr. Eaton depended entirely upon hunting and
fishing for the support of himself and a large family. Better days soon
smiled upon him, however, and he lived to a good old age, much respected,
and in his latter years received a pension from the 'government for
Revolutionary services.
The year following Mr. Eaton's settlement, a number from the same vicinity
in New Hampshire made beginnings in the town, two by the name of McConnell,
one of whom, Jonathan, located near the confluence of the North Branch with
the Lamoille. He soon after erected a saw and grist-mill, about which has
subsequently grown the present village. Among these early settlers were the
Millers, Rogers, Mills, Simons, Smiths, Greggs, etc. From 1790, to 1800, a
second class of settlers arrived, mostly from New Hampshire and
Massachusetts. From New Boston and Amherst, N. H., there were families of
Dodges, Balches, Wilsons, Ellingwoods, Reddingtons, Primes, and others. From
Belchertown and other places of Massachusetts came the Ferrys, Clarks,
Wheelers, Atwells, and Johnny Wier. The latter, from Boston, was a
sea-faring man, and developed into quite a character. He possessed no
education and no money, but by close economy he paid for his farm, and
subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits, amassing quite a snug property.
Between 1801, and 1805, another class of settlers arrived, from New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other towns in Vermont, among
whom were the Griswolds, Burnhams, Morgans, Obers, Perkins, Patchs, Waterses,
Nicholses, and Watermans.
The allotment of the town was made in 1788 or '89. The lots were designed to
contain 900 acres to each proprietor, besides an allowance of five percent
for roads. The survey, however, was very incorrect, some lots containing a
much larger number of acres than others adjoining them, and zigzag lines
were found to run from corner to corner of lots, enlarging one by
diminishing another, which caused much litigation among the early settlers,
but in all cases the courts established the lines and corners where they
could be proven to have been run and marked.
The town was organized, and the first town meeting held March 4, 1789, when
Jonathan McConnell, was elected town clerk , Jonathan McConnell, Ensign
Samuel Eaton, and Jeremiah McDaniel, selectmen, Nehemiah Barrett, constable
, George Gregg, Samuel Miller, and Thomas McConnell, assessors, Jonathan
McConnell, treasurer, and Ensign Jeremiah McDaniel, collector. The first
justice of the peace was Jonathan McConnell, in 1790. The first
representative was Noah Smith, in 1789. The first deeds but on file, though
not recorded, were in June, 1790. The first deed recorded, was one from
Thomas McConnell to John Sanders, October 15, 1790. The first record of
votes cast for governor was in 1807, the whole number then being
thirty-nine. The first child born in the town was a son of Aaron Smith, who
was named Johnson Smith, in reference to his being the first birth in the
township. The mother, Mrs. Smith, when her child was but two or three months
old, in view of the approaching winter and the scarcity of provisions,
started with her child, accompanied by her husband to Onion river, and
thence, on foot and alone, traveled to Bennington to spend the winter with
her friends. The first death was that of a Mr. Fullington, who was on his
way from New Hampshire to Fairfax, and while passing the Lamoille, in what
is now Morristown, at an old hunters' or Indians' camping place, he
discovered some English turnips well grown and very inviting, of which he
partook freely upon an empty stomach, which produced a violent attack of
bilious colic, of which he died the night following, at the dwelling of
Thomas McConnell, and was buried in a trough dug from a basswood log, upon
the farm now owned by Merritt C. Foot. The next 'death was that of a young
man by the name of Smith, who had but a short time previous accompanied his
brother and family into town, and was at work, or from some cause, at the
mills which McConnell was building, and accidently went over the dam or
falls and was drowned. The first mail was carried through the town in
1802-'03, by John Skeeles, of Peacham, on horseback, to St. Albans and back
once a week, and Arunah Waterman, Jr., was the first postmaster. The first
settled minister was Elder Joel P. Hayford, a young man, who very generously
surrendered his claim to the right of land granted to the first settled
minister, to the selectmen of the town, to be leased by them in perpetuity,
the avails of which to be applied to the support of the gospel for all
coming time.
During the late war Johnson furnished 140 enlisted men, twenty-seven of whom
were killed in action or died of wounds received or diseases contracted
while in the service. Bounties were voted by the town as follows : September
6, 1862, " to pay nine men $50.00 each." The men were raised, paid, and sent
to the war. December 18, 1863, " to pay $300.00 each to ten men." They also
were hired, paid, and sent. September 19, 1864, "to pay the heirs of George
E. Whitfield $50.00, and pay E. D. Carter $50.00;" which was accordingly
done. January 19, 1865, "voted to raise a tax of 100 cents on the dollar of
the grand list, to defray the expense of raising men for the war;" and
"voted to leave the raising of men to fill our quota to the selectmen to
manage at their discretion." Nothing was done under this latter vote, as the
war closed soon after.
The Baptist church
The Baptist church, located at Johnson village, was organized Nov. 7, 1808,
with fourteen members, Rev. David Boynton being the first pastor. The first
church building was erected in 1832, and gave place to the present structure
in 1855. The society is in a prosperous condition, with Rev. J. A. Pierce,
pastor.
The Congregational church
The Congregational church of Johnson, located at Johnson village, was
organized September 20, 1817, by Isaac Smith, Joseph Dodge, Samuel Waters,
Sarah Dodge, Mary Farnham, Sally Stickney, and Mary Waters. Rev. John Scott
was the first pastor. The first church building was erected in 1832, and was
replaced by the present wood structure in 1851. This building cost
$3,000.00, will seat 280 persons, and is now valued, including grounds and
parsonage, at $5,500.00. The society has 100 members, is free from debt, and
supports a good Sabbath school, with Rev. Azro A. Smith, pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal church
The Methodist Episcopal church, located at Johnson village, has eighty-three
members, with Rev John S. Tupper, pastor. The church building will seat 250
persons and is valued at $2,500.00.
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