Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Lower Cabot, Washington County, Vermont
Settlement was commenced in 1799, by Reuben Atkins, on the farm now of W. S. Atkins, his grandson. He cleared a spot, and built his log-house on the site of the present house. The first spring he made sugar in the door yard. In 1800, he built a framed barn, now standing, in good condition. The farm has always been in the family, owned by one of the sons.
Moses Stone, from New Hampshire, in 1797, about half a mile west from Wm. Atkins, cleared the ground and built a saw-mill where the Haines Factory now stands, his family meantime living in a shed of Lieut. Whittier's, on Whittier hill. After he got his mill running, he built his house. It had a large stone chimney. His wife said all the way she could see any sky was to look up through that.
Stone was a strong man, not easily frightened. One evening in the fall he had been up to neighbor Atkins'. Returning, he, as he thought, met a man who had on a white hat and blue frock, to whom he said "good evening." The man made no answer. He repeated it, but no reply. Stone said, "I'll know who you are,'' and grabbed around him, when to his surprise he found he was out of the path, and it was a large stump he was hugging.
In 1801, Clement Coburn built a gristmill where True A. Town's works stand.
In 1803, he sold a privilege to Joseph Coburn, on the opposite side of the river, to put in a fulling-mill. Cloth being then spun and wove at home, this was needed. He carried on the business some years. Thomas Coldwill became next owner, who soon sold to Wm. Ensign, John R. Putnam and Horace Haines, who moved the shop to where the factory stands, and added carding works. In 1835, Alden Webster bought the works, adding machinery, a spinning-jenny, hand-looms, regarded a wonderful improvement. He commenced the manufacture of full cloth.
In 1849, he sold to Horace Haines, who continued the business with his son, E. G. Haines, building a new factory in 1849, with water-power looms and modern machinery.
Horace Haines and two sons in the business have died. It is now owned by Ira F. Haines. Quite an extensive business has been done sometimes here.
Carriage-making has been at different times carried on to some extent. On the river opposite the factory, in 1827, Wm. Fisher put in a tannery, which he run till 1838, when he removed to Albion, N. Y., where he died in 1851. Tanning was afterwards carried on here by Q. Cook, G. W. Cree and others.
At present the most extensive business done in this village is by True A. Town, in the lumber business, in his saw-mill, and the manufacturing of the lumber into chair stuff, boot-crimps, coffins, caskets, etc.
The first store in the place was started by the first store in the place was started by a Mr. Oaks, on the spot where Town's house stands. The mercantile business has been carried on here for 60 years, by John Edgerton, Ketchum and others.
Hector Mclean opened a store here in 1825. There were in the village at this time but 9 houses between the Perkins Bridge and Marshfield village. Mr. McLean helped very much toward building up the place. He put in another dwelling-house (for his family), started a potash, blacksmith shop, and other industries, and in 1836, opened a hotel, where Nathaniel Perry lives, kept by different persons for some years.
In 1870, a post-office was established here, Cornelius Smith postmaster. There are at present, (July, 1881) in the village 30 dwelling-houses, 1 meeting-house, 1 store, 1 blacksmith shop, a woolen factory, a wheelwright shop.
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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