FELT’S MILLS (p. o.), so named from a grist-mill owned by Mr. Felt in early times, is a small village containing about 15 dwellings, one church, one hotel, three stores, one blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, grist-mill, saw-mill, and cheese-box factory. The building occupied as a pump and axehelve factory was built by Jason Francis in 1845, and is used by two companies, Roberts & Slack, who manufacture axehelves, and Hiram Howland, who manufactures pumps.

On October 24, 1889, the village of Felt’s Mills was visited by a disastrous fire which destroyed the business part of the village. The buildings burned were: the glove factory, axehelve factory and pump shop, grist-mill, furniture and repair shop, Good Templars hall, Mary Lanmark’s dwelling, W. S. Cooper’s store, Charles Tifft’s dwelling and confectionery store. Hiram Allen’s grocery, M. M. Parker’s general store, in which was kept the post-office, S. W. Foster’s general store, and a blacksmith shop. The loss was about $10,000. Since the fire several new houses have been erected, E. M. Marshall has built a new store, and Henry Marshall & Son a glove factory building. The Felt’s Mills Paper Co. is now engaged in the erection of buildings for its extensive business. The buildings already up and inclosed are the engine house, dimensions 43 x 163 feet; two machine rooms, each 36 x 152 feet; boiler house, 34 x 45; pump house, 31 x 59 feet; finishing room, 33 x 102; storehouse, 40 x 97 feet; rag room, 40 x 73 feet; and chloride room, 20 x 23 feet. The buildings are all of brick, one story high, and cover considerable ground. During the past season over 150 men have found employment and 50 are now at work. A huge pulp-mill, 65 x 200 feet, will be erected this spring. The new paper company practically controls all the water privileges on the river at Felt’s Mills.

Dexter & Co. --In 1880 Christopher Poor and D. E. Dexter, who were engaged in the manufacture of bent chair stock, with works located on the “island,” in the village of Black River, in the building now occupied by Wolcott Brothers, as a planing-mill, commenced in a small way the manufacture of the “Dexter rocker,” under the firm name of Poor & Dexter. Their operations began in the spring, and in the following fall D. E. Dexter disposed of his interest in the concern to Charles Woulf and Charles P. Dexter, and the business was continued under the firm name of Poor, Dexter & Co. With them the business began rapidly to increase, and their chairs found a ready market it (sic) all parts of the United States and Canada. In the spring of 1884, on account of the failing health of Charles P. Dexter his brother, Henry C. Dexter, was admitted into the firm, the name of which remained the same, and in the spring of 1885 Poor and Woulf retired from the company and were immediately succeeded by D. H. and R. Byron Scott, when the firm was known as Dexter & Scott. February 10, 1886, the Scotts retired by selling their interests to Charles P. and Henry C. Dexter, since which time the firm name has been Dexter & Co.

In the summer of 1884 Charles P. Dexter’s health failing, he went to Dansville, N. Y., and thence to Texas, where he remained for about a year, but experiencing no beneficial results from that climate he went to Southern California in the hopes that there might be found a panacea for his weakened constitution. Here, also, he was disappointed, and on May 3, 1886, nearly two years after leaving home, at San Gorgonia, the highest point on the Southern Pacific Railroad, he died. As a member of the firm he developed a tact for doing business very rarely found in one of his age, and the firm’s success is largely due to his management of the office work and general details of the business. Since the death of Charles P. the business has been conducted by Henry C. Dexter, retaining the same name. Soon after the business was started the company occupied the ball-room of the old McOmber hotel, at the four corners south of the river, for finishing, upholstering, and packing, and as it increased the whole building was appropriated for their use. In 1884 the main building was doubled and the barns were taken in, making a floor space of 14,000 square feet. The whole buildings as they now stand, including the woodworking shop on the north side of the river, occupy a floor space of about 25,000 square feet. The main building of the finishing shop is 30 x 120 feet, and that of the woodworking shop 30 x 110, both of which are three stories high. The company gives employment to about 50 men, and turns out nearly 30,000 chairs annually. Their goods find a market in all parts of the world, and their business is still rapidly on the increase.

D. Dexter’s Sons. --David Dexter, a carpenter and joiner by trade, came to the village of Black River in the year 1837, from Athol, Mass., and perfected arrangements for the erection of a building in which to manufacture chair, on a site very near the present location of D. Dexter’s Sons. He then returned to Massachusetts and, with his family, in July, 1839, came again, bringing with him A. N. Brittan, a practical chairmaker. He found his shop in readiness on his arrival, and he immediately set about preparing stock, kilning, and drying, but not until the spring of 1840 did articles of his handiwork appear upon the market. At this time about six hands were employed, with Mr. Brittan as foreman, and only a limited number of chairs were made principally of wood seat. In 1842 Mr. Brittan sought other employment, and the care and management of the business devolved solely on Mr. Dexter. The demand for his goods began to increase, and in 1847 he took into partnership his brother, Simeon Dexter, and the firm was known as D. & S. Dexter. By them the business was continued till 1856, when David again assumed control, his brother retiring from the business to engage in farming. A year or two later Mr. Dexter’s business had grown to such proportions that he found it necessary to enlarge his buildings and add new facilities in order to supply the demand of his increasing patronage. Thus he continued till 1864, when he took in his son, E. A. Dexter, and the partnership was known as D. Dexter & Son. In December of the following year, 1865, the entire property, the accumulation of 25 years of toil, was destroyed by fire, the origin of which was incendiary and said to be caused by Southern sympathizers. The buildings were immediately rebuilt, the size of which very nearly double the original dimensions, and in the summer of 1866 the business again assumed its former proportions. In 1880 the death of David Dexter occurred, when the partnership which now exist was formed, the individual members of which are E. A. and D. E. Dexter. Their works, located on the south bank of the river, are at the present time equipped for the performance of all parts of the business, and the chair is started from the log and passed through all of its varied changes till it comes from the upholstering department complete and perfect in all its parts. Their woodworking shop is 40 x 80 feet and four stories high; their paint shop and storeroom 40 x 72 feet, three stories high; and their lumber sheds are 230 feet long. They manufacture all kinds of chairs, and give employment to from 35 to 50 men. Their reputation is second to none in the country for good work, and their chairs find a market in all parts of the United States and Canada, and in Europe.

Black River Pulp Co’s mill, located on road 6, on Black River, was built in 1888 by H. Remington & Son, of Watertown. The size of the building is 150 by 51 feet, and has the capacity for grinding eight tons of dry pulp per day, giving employment to 11 hands. It is the intention of the proprietors to greatly enlarge the building.

Empire Wood Pulp Co’s mill, located at Black River village, in the town of Rutland, was started in 1888. It furnishes employment to seven men, and manufactures from three to four tons of dry pulp per day.

The Jefferson Paper Co., located at Black River village, in this town, was incorporated in 1887 by Frank H. Munson and William P. Herring, and their mill was erected in 1888. It has the capacity for manufacturing six tons of dry pulp per day and employs 13 men. Frank H. Munson is president of the company, and F. W. Herring, secretary and treasurer.

The Benefit Glove and Mitten Co., located at Felt’s Mills, was organized as a stock company in March, 1888. The concern employs 13 hands, and does a business of about $10,000 annually.

P. M. Paige & Co’s machine shop, at Black River village, gives employment to four men and does a general business in repairing machinery. The company also does blacksmithing.

Felt’s saw mill and cheese-box factory, located at Felt’s Mills, employ seven men in the manufacture of 5,000 feet of lumber per day and 30,000 cheese boxes annually.

Henry Marshall’s saw-mill and cheese-box factory, located at Felt’s Mills, employ seven men in the manufacture of 5,000 feet of lumber per day and 30,000 cheese boxes annually.

Henry Marshall’s saw-mill and cheese-box factory, located on Black River at Felt’s Mills, was built by George C. Kidder in 1866, and purchased by Mr. Marshall in 1872. He manufactures about 500,000 feet of lumber and 50,000 cheese boxes annually, employing about 10 hands.

Rutland Valley creamery, Azro T. Frink, proprietor, was built by him in the spring of 1887, and is supplied with the Danish Western separators. It has the patronage of 300 cows, receives about 850,000 pounds of milk annually, from which is manufactured 35,956 pounds of butter, valued at $8,130.

Tylerville cheese factory, Byron Dickinson, proprietor, was built by his grandfather, T. Bailey, in 1871. It has the patronage of 275 cows, receives about 825,000 pounds of milk annually, from which is manufactured 82,5000 pounds of Cheddar cheese, valued at $7,425.

South Champion creamery, owned by Jay W. Waldo, is situated two miles east of South Rutland. It has the patronage of about 500 cows, and receives nearly 1,500,000 pounds of milk through the season, from which is manufactured 63,000 pounds of butter, the estimated value of which is $15,120. The creamery was built in 1878, is fitted up with the Danish Western separators, and has all modern improvement for the manufacture of first-class butter.

Edward J. Williams’s cheese factory, located about a mile east of Rutland Center, was built in 1877 by C. C. Hardy. It has the patronage of 400 cows, receives about 1,500,000 pounds of milk annually, and makes 157,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $18,750.

B. P. Smith cheese factory, Bailey R. Mearns, proprietor, located on the west end of the South road, was built about the year 1860, by J. C. Hardy. It receives the milk of 600 cows, taking in 2,100,000 pounds of milk during the season, making therefrom 210,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $18,900.

Henry C. Eames’s cheese factory, located in the east part of the town, has the patronage of 200 cows, receives 60,000 pounds of milk through the season, from which is made 60,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $5,400.

Parkinson Brothers’ cheese factory, located on the Hollow road, was built by Asa Parkinson in 1870. It has the patronage of 300 cows, receives about 900,000 pounds of milk during the season, and makes about 90,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $9,000.

Hon Moses Eames furnishes the following, which was read before the Jefferson Historical Society. In the early days of Rutland the keeping of sheep and raising of wool was one of the most important of home industries, as nearly every family manufactured the clothing used in the household. So important had this home industry become that the legislature of the state passed a law the 22d day of March, 1811, entitled an act relative to incorporation for manufacturing purposes, under which law the following company was formed: --

“We whose names are hereunto subscribed being desirous of forming a company for the purpose of manufacturing Woolen goods in conformity to a law passed the 22d day of March, 1811, entitled ‘An act relative to incorporations for manufacturing purposes,’ Do hereby Certify that we have associated ourselves together by the name and style of the ‘Rutland Woolen Manufacturing Company’ for the purpose of manufacturing woolen goods in the Town of Rutland, county of Jefferson and State of New York with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars consisting of two hundred shares of one hundred and twenty-five dollars each, and that there are three Trustees viz, Ethel Bronson, Daniel Eames, and Josiah Tyler, who are to manage the concerns of the said company for the first year. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals at Rutland, September 25th, 1811. Thomas Hill (L.S.), Abel Doolittle (L. S.), Eber Ingalsbe (L. S.), John Oaks (L. S.), Ethel Bronson (L. S.), Josiah Tyler (L. S.), Daniel Eames (L. S.).

“SS JEFFERSON COUNTY---ss, Be it remembered that on the eighth of October, 1811, before me came Ethel Bronson, Josiah Tyler, Daniel Eames, Thomas Hill, Abel Doolittle, Eber Ingalsby, and John Oaks, known to me to be the persons herein described and who severally acknowledged they executed this instrument in writing I allow it to be recorded.

                                                                                                                   “JOSEPH CLARK, Judge State.”

Two of the stockholders, Ethel Bronson and Daniel Eames, took each one-fourth of the stock, which was $25,000. Of this stock only about $17,000 was ever paid in. As I now look back I am surprised at the spirit and energy these men put forth and the difficulties they had to encounter. The country was not only new, but not one of them was acquainted with the manufacture of cloths. The company in the fall of 1811 made preparations for building, and in 1812 put up most of the buildings and commenced work. This was a very busy year. War with England was declared June 18, 1812, and the price of things went up, as well as the cost of labor. Common wool was 50 cents and fine wool 75 cents per pound, and all dye-woods and cotton, which was used in the satinets, were high. Log-wood and all other dye-woods in the log were cut by hand, and the machinery was not of the improved kind. This was the first and only factory of the kind in all Northern or Western New York, and the company was doing a very fair amount of work in the years 1813-14-15, but at the close of he (sic) war, there being no duty on woolen goods, the importation of British cloths soon put an end to this as well as many other factories in the states. In the year 1816-17 this company had accumulated manufactured goods beyond the sale, and there were some debts against the company for dye-stuffs, machinery, and other things, and it was thought best to sell and close out the company. In September, 1817, it was sold to Daniel Eames for $400, he making the only bid. The debts of the company were to be paid by those that bought the company. All the stockholders in the company lost about all they had paid in. After the sale of the company’s interest in the property the buildings and machinery were rented for some years and used for cloth-dressing and wool-carding for customers till about 1844.

Previous to this date, however, it had been used as a cloth-dressing establishment by Calvin Blackstone, for a tannery by Firman Fish, and a tannery by Orrin Roberts, which was followed by L. A. Walker as a cooper shop. In 1844 it was left to fall into ruins, and some years since the high water carried off the dam and the buildings attached to the water-power, but the main building, which was erected in 1812, is yet standing, which is up from the creek on the margin of the highway. Since its disuse as a factory building it has been devoted to various uses, and for a time was used as a creamery or butter factory. On the 15th day of July, 1814, the Rutland Woolen Manufacturing Company made an agreement with Gershom Tuttle and Daniel Eames to dig a well for the use of the company.

I have thought it due to those who were most directly interested in the enterprise of the Rutland Woolen Manufacturing Company that their names should be presented, as some of their descendants may call to mind the events of the past. In the settlement of any new country many very interesting events take place that are of great interest to those that come after them. Most of those who came and settled in Rutland were from the New England states, and were men and women who could endure toil and suffer privation from the luxuries of life. Only one decade had passed when this enterprise of the Rutland Woolen Manufacturing Company was organized, and the following persons were more or less interested in it until 1817 or 1818: Ethel Bronson, Daniel Eames, Eber Ingalsby, Thomas Hill, Abel Doolittle, John Oaks, Josiah Tyler, Gershom Tuttle, David Canfield, Joseph Hopkins, Nathaniel Kellogg, John Beecher, Benham Webb, Nathaniel Frink, Jacob Miller, Ira Phillips, Sydney Ball, Erastus Lathrop, David Thomas, Amandah Tucker, Thomas Rickerson, David Hicox, Ephraim Towne, Elisha Parks, Joseph Commins, Owen Riley, and Alvin Hunt. There are many other things of interest to our historical society connected not only with the town of Rutland, but of other towns of the county, which should be preserved, and I hope an interest will be manifested that will make the Jefferson County Historical Society one of the most interesting in this state.

In relation to the first library in Rutland I will read this document: --

“I hereby certify that more than 20 persons belonging to the town of Rutland, in the County of Jefferson and State of New York, have by writing under their hands signified their desire to associate themselves together for the purpose of procuring and erecting a Library, in the said town of Rutland, agreeable to law, and have subscribed for that purpose more than $100, and that more than two-thirds of said subscribers did assemble at the dwelling house of Amariah Tucker, in said Rutland (it being the time and place previously agreed on and appointed), and being so assembled did proceed to elect a chairman by ballot from among themselves to preside at said meeting, and did also elect by a plurality of votes Ethel Bronson, Hugh Henderson, Abel Sherman, Daniel Eames, and Curtiss Mallery to serve as trustees for said Library for the year ensuing, and did also agree that the style name or title by which the said Corporation shall be distinguished or known shall be the “Rutland Farmers’ Library.’ Signed and sealed at Rutland the 11 day of November, A. D. 1806.

                                                                                                                   “ETHEL BRONSON, Chairman of S’d Meeting.”

“SS. JEFFERSON COUNTY---be it remembered that on the twenty second day of November, A. D., one thousand eight hundred and six, before me came Ethel Bronson, the subscriber of the within certificate, whome I am personally acquainted, an on oath declared that he did execute the within certificate and that the facts therein stated are true, and I finding no material erasure or enterlineations therein do allow the same to be recorded. Perley Keyes, one of the Judges of the Court of Common please within and for the County of Jefferson.”

The last librarian was John D. Randall, who was elected in 1843. Soon after his election he took the books to his house and the library ceased to exist. Speaking of schools Mr. Eames said: The first settlers of Rutland, as soon as enough log houses were made to make them comfortable, gave their attention to schools, and in 1804 a subscription was raised to build a schoolhouse by the following persons: Abel Sherman, Nathaniel Welch, Nathan Green, James Brainard, Thomas M. Converse, Daniel Eames, John M. Dole, Gardner Cleveland, Solomon Thompson, Artemus W. White, Orange Eno, David Y. Fitch, Francis Commins, Stephen Commins, Benjamin Commins, Samuel Brainard, Daniel Smith, Raphael Porter, Gershom Tuttle, Levi Hale, John Stanley, Jedediah Stanley, John Winslow. The subscription amounted to $250. A library was formed at Jonathan Graves’s, called the Young Men’s Library, about 1812, by the boys in the vicinity. It prospered until its boy patrons, coming of age, left the neighborhood. John Grannis was librarian.

At the time the county of Jefferson began to settle its territory was embraced in two towns of Oneida County. All south of the Black River was a part of Mexico, and all north of the river belonged to Leyden. The organization of Jefferson County, etc., has been noted in the County Chapter.

In a division of the 11 towns among the proprietors No. 3, or Rutland, fell to Henderson, who appointed Asher Miller, of Middletown, Conn., as his agent, June 6, 1799. As a consideration for removing to the town and commencing improvements he was allowed the choice of 500 acres wherever he might select at a very reduced price. Accordingly, in July, he opened a road from the river to near the center of the town, and fixed his residence and location about one-half a mile east of Rutland Center. During the year the following sales were made, viz.: September 21, 172 acres to Levi Butterfield; October 3, 343 acres to Perley Keyes, William Keyes, and Amos Stebbins; November 1, 391 acres to David Coffeen; November 6: Goldsmith Coffeen, 312; Raphael Porter, 213; Israel Wright, 98; Jonathan and Clark Ross, 161; James Kilham, 141; Charles Kelsey, 116; Jephtha King, 137; John Dole, 154; Gardner Cleveland, 242; Warren Foster, 140; John Cotes, 134.

Among those that purchased in 1800 and 1801 were Danford and John Earl, Solomon Tuttle, Abel Sherman, Jacob A. Williams, Ezekiel Andrus, George White, Clift French, William Coffeen, Alexander Warner, Samuel Treadway, and Stanley Weeks. The total amount of sales during the three years was 17,549 acres, for $50,738.14. In June, 1803, Abel French succeeded as agent, and the same year sold 2,313 acres of $7,112.60. The town was thus rapidly settled, the unsold parts being along the north and south bounds.

Early in 1804 Henderson assigned to Dr. Bronson his interest in the town. Dr. Bronson appointed his brother Ethel as agent, who served in that capacity until his death in 1825, when he was succeeded by George White, an active and prominent citizen and among the first settlers of the town, who continued agent until the lands were sold and the accounts settled with the proprietor. The last of the lands sold was an island near Black River village, which was disposed of April 13, 1846. Dr. Bronson was a very generous landlord, and treated his debtors with much lenity. On a visit to the town he found that a number of holding contracts were unable to meet their payments. These he gave new contracts at a reduced rate. Ethel Bronson served the town as supervisor nine years.

The most reliable authority names Asher Miller, Henderson’s agent, as the first settler in Rutland, he having located here in July, 1799. Most of those who purchased lands in that year came on early in the next spring, while many who purchased in 1800 settled the same year.

The first grist-mill built in the county was erected by David Coffeen, in 1800, on Mill Creek, at Felt’s Mills, just above the lower bridge. It was put in operation in 1801, and the first grist ground was for William Hadsall, of Champion. This was a great improvement on the “stump mortars,” and was resorted to from great distances. After being in operation about two years the mill was burned. In 1804 Wolcott Hubbel bought out Coffeen and rebuilt the mill, which he subsequently sold to Barnabas Eldridge. From Eldridge the property passed to Barnabas La Grange, and In 1813 to John Felt.

The first saw-mill in town was erected at Felt’s Mills in 1801, and about the same time the first framed house in town was erected on the lot-known as the Jacob Tooker lot, situated nearly opposite Felt’s Mills school-house. This ancient building was still standing a few years ago and was used as a barn.

Joseph Warden, Sr., formerly settled in Rutland, from Halifax, Vt., in the fall of 1803. He bought the farm known as the Lewis Clark farm (or a portion of it), of Morgan Starks, who was the original purchaser, and lived there until his death in 1817. In 1807 he opened a public house, and continued that business until he sold his farm to Elisha Clark in the year of his death. Mr. Clark discontinued keeping the hotel. According to the recollections of Ezekiel Andrus and Ezra Worden* (*written in 1876) Dr. Hugh Henderson opened the first tavern in town, at Rutland Center, but Hough’s History names Levi Butterfield as the first inn-keeper, and the town records seem to confirm the latter statement. As the town meeting from the years 1803-, ‘05, and ‘06 were held at the dwelling house of Levi Butterfield the insertion of the word “dwelling” before “house” would rather imply that it was not a tavern. The first physician in town was Dr. Hugh Henderson.

In 1803 there were but nine farms occupied on or near the Rutland Hollow road. The occupants were William Newton, John Cotes, John Eddy, Morgan Starks, Robert Adams, Stanley Weeks, and three men by the name of Maltby. There were but two families settled between the Hollow and what is now Felt’s Mills, viz.: those of Elihu Veber and Jacob Fuller. At the latter place a very few settlers had located. Among those who had located in the north part of the town about this time were Richmond Howland, and his brothers Rufus and David, Jonathan Graves, Asa, Elisha, Elias, and Archibald Clark, Asaph Chase, Reuben Scott, David Wilcox, Enoch Eddy and family, and David Veber. Zelotus Harvey, who had previously settled, was for many years a very prominent and useful citizen of the town, as a teacher, magistrate, supervisor, and inspector of common schools.

Among the incidents that retarded the prosperity of many of the settlers of the north part of the town was the following: A man by the name of John Harris, having a contract to deliver spars at either Montreal or Quebec, bought all the Norway pine on the Le Ray plains. Many of the settlers, thinking it a favorable opportunity to get a little ready money (an article very scarce in those days), contracted to deliver the spars on the banks of the river at $5 each. All except Enoch Eddy and Asa Ness, who delivered 100, after delivering a part failed to fulfill their contract, as it cost much more to deliver them than they were to receive. In floating the spars down Black River 11 men were drowned, and those who failed in their contracts were sued by Harris for damages. This reduced many of them to poverty.

An event in the early history of the town, and one which caused much sympathy, was the death of Avery Worden. On the afternoon of the 26th of February, 1810, the first school exhibition held in the town of Rutland was given at Heath’s tavern, at Rutland Center. The school was taught by Charles Dayon, afterwards a prominent citizen of Lewis County, member of Congress, Senator, etc. It being something new the house was crowded with spectators. Ezra Worden, and his brother Avery, aged 12, started for home afoot about 6 o’clock P. M., the snow being fully five feet deep. The road between the turn west of O. Phillips’s and the Hollow road had not been opened that winter. In passing over that part of the road at the top of the hill Avery became so overcome with cold and weariness that he could go no farther. Ezra attempted to draw him through the snow, and succeeded in drawing him about 100 rods, when, his strength failing, he was obliged to leave him in order to obtain assistance. He proceeded to Benjamin Weeks’s house, near the Hollow road, when he arrived between 11 and 12 o’clock. Benjamin Weeks and Robert Sword put on their snow-shoes and went after Avery, whom they found alive, but he died before he could be got to a house. Ezra became unconscious soon after arriving at Mr. Weeks’s, and remained so about 12 hours. He was frozen even worse than his brother, and only by superior endurance was his life saved.

Francis Towne, the father of Gardner and Luther H. Towne, came with his family to Rutland in January, 1804. His wife, Relief Towne, was killed by lightning August 16, 1804. She was found dead near the corner of the house, where she appears to have been engaged in fixing a tub to catch rain water. This was undoubtedly the first death in the town. The first child born in Rutland was Harriet Kelsey, daughter of Charles and Lois Kelsey. She became the wife of Alfred Pardee, who eventually settled in the bend of the river in Champion. The first twin children born in town were Robert and William Middleton, sons of John Middleton. Robert died at Felt’s Mills.

The father of Ezekiel Andrus migrated from Utica to this town, and brought his family, consisting of himself and nine children (his wife having died several years before). His conveyance was a two-wheel cart, one yoke of oxen, and a horse---the horse carrying a part of the time two and often three of the girls of the family on their way to the “Black River wilderness.” One of the girls afterwards became the wife of Danford Earl, another of Warren Spaulding. A bark shanty sheltered the large family until a more commodious dwelling could be provided.

The State road was laid out where it is now located, about 1805, previous to which date the road diverged from its present line from Samuel Frink’s farm southwesterly, and came out at J. F. Treadway’s present residence.

One of the oldest landmarks in town (in 1876) was a framed house, undoubtedly the second erected in town, built by Solomon Tuttle about 1803. It was still standing a few years since on the farm of Mason Spaudling.

The pioneers of Rutland were mostly from the New England states, and were generally intelligent, robust, and industrious. They were distinguished for their sound common sense, their love of justice, and the early interest they took in education. Most of them came here with scarcely enough of the world’s goods to make them comfortable. Their peculiarities might be illustrated by many an anecdote, but we will let the following suffice:

A curious phrase how justice was administered in the early settlements was one of an anomalous character held before Daniel Eames, Esq., as follows: A suit arose on account of 20 bushels of wheat. The plaintiff to the suit could not prove his account except by the defendant’s acknowledgment. The plaintiff called upon the defendant to be sworn; he refused. The plaintiff then offered himself, but the defendant barred that out. Then the justice said to the defendant, “wont you be sworn nor allow the plaintiff?” “No sir!” replied the defendant. Then said the sedate justice of the peace, “I shall give judgment against you for the amount of 20 bushels of wheat; the judgment is $20.” His explanation why he took so arbitrary judgment was, that on an appeal, the whole facts now concealed would came (sic) out.

The town of Rutland took an early interest in the subject of education. It was the practice, when a sufficient number settled in a neighborhood, to sustain the school, to erect a log house, and engage a teacher. The first of these houses in town was built in 1800 or 1801. Dr. Hough names Miss A. Porter as the first teacher. Soon after this school-house was built on the Hollow road, a short distance west of the four corners. Miss Naomi Blachmer was the first, or one of the first, teachers here. This house was used but a short time, as many of the settlers lived at too great a distance from it. In its place a house was erected farther west in the Hollow, and another near the site of the late M. L. Graves’s residence, on road 20. In these rude structures the children of the pioneers of Rutland received the rudiments of education. Among the early teachers was Curtis Mallery, Jocob (sic) Fuller, Zelotus Harvey, Charles Dayon, and Jason Clark; at a later date Horatio Sherman, Gardner Towne, A. P. Sigourney, John M. Dunlap, John Felt, the Misses Cordelia Johnson and Adeline M. Brown, and Elijah Graves. The latter commenced teaching in 1833 and continued for many years, when the citizens of Felt’s Mills presented him with a testimonial that “age has not dimmed his zeal or made him rusty.”

In December, 1807, Enoch Eddy and George White took each 35 bushels of wheat to Albany, which they sold for 80 cents a bushel.

CHURCHES.

TWENTY-SECOND DISTRICT.

						Dem.		Rep.
Jefferson,..............................................................	5,608		6,873
Lewis,..................................................................	3,240		2,744
Herkimer,............................................................	4,407		4,774

					            13,255	            14,391
1872,.................................................................      13,220                   17,337

Majority for George A. Bagley over Martin L. Graves, 1,136.  Republican majority in 1872, 4,117.