Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Samuel Haskins, Middlesex, Vermont
Samuel Haskins who built it at his own expense to present to the Methodist church, which was then in a prosperous state here. He owned a saw-mill and grist-mill, and an oil-mill. While he was grinding large cakes of oilmeal, one of the stones, 6 feet or more in diameter, broke away from the axle-tree or shaft, and threw him backward against the oil-trough, and broke both of his legs. The stone which remained attached to the axle-tree rolled around swiftly against the other, crushing them nearly off, until the sufferer was released by a neighbor, who took away the stone and conveyed him to his house. Two physicians were soon in attendance; both limbs were taken off, but the good man's sufferings soon ceased, and he passed away calmly. I was standing by to behold the solemn sight, and could truly say:
"How still and peaceful is the grave When life's vain tumult all is passed; The appointed house by Heaven's decree Receives us all at last."
After the death of this generous man, the house was changed from a meetinghouse to a dwelling-house, and thus remains. It stands near the S. E. corner of the town cemetery, owned and occupied by a grand-daughter of the deceased and her husband.
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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