A SKETCH 
 
 OF THI 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT AND HISTORY 
 
 OP 
 
 S H I P T O 
 
 CANADA EAST; 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. EDWARD CLEVELAND, A.M., 
 Principal of St. Francis^ College^ Richmond^ Towmhip of Cleveland. 
 
 Canada Cast: 
 
 S. 0. SMITH, PRINTER. " RICHMOND COUNTY ADVOCATE.’ 
 
 1858. 
 
conte:n^ts. 
 
 _ Page. 
 
 Iiitroducliou 7 
 
 Cbarter, Survey and First Inhabitants 11 
 
 How the First Inhabitants reached the Place 14 
 
 The progi’ess of Clearing, Building, &c 19 
 
 Roads*and Bridges 24 
 
 Mills 27 
 
 Stores'and Asheries 31 
 
 Taverns and Distilleries 34 
 
 . Mechanics 37 
 
 Professional Men 40 
 
 . Resources of the People 43 
 
 . Unfavourable Circumstances. 45 
 
 . Hardships and Privations - 51 
 
 Casualties 56 
 
 ^Immorality 59 
 
 ' Characteristics of early times, 61 
 
 Educational Interests 63 
 
 Religous Interests 69 
 
 The Contrast 74 
 
 . Conclusion 77 
 
PE E F A C E. 
 
 The substance of the following Sketch was first 
 delivered as a lecture before tL Library Associa- 
 tions of Richmond and Danville. But having 
 received many solicitations, I have decided to 
 publish it, as a tribute to the Township which 
 gave me birth, and whose interests I would gladly 
 promote in every suitable way. The work how- 
 ever could be made far more complete, had I 
 time to pursue the investigation. As my engage- 
 ments will not allow of this, I' submit it with the 
 hope that in its present form it will preserve from 
 oblivion facts which may be important to the 
 future. And hereafter, should opportunity be 
 afforded, I may revise it, and add the history of 
 the other townships of the county. 
 
 Edward Cleveland. 
 
 2 
 
INTEODUCTION. 
 
 The study of history is always interesting and 
 important, inasmuch as curiosity is grati^ed by 
 the recital of facts, and the experience of the past 
 is spr<jad out for our instruction in reference to 
 the future. We learn thus how to appreciate the 
 present time, and the advantages of which w'e 
 may avail ourselves in the improvement of it. 
 
 This is true, not merely on the great scale, but 
 even when we descend to a humbler sphere and 
 ^pply ourselves to the history of our own imme- 
 diate vicinity. It is therefore d(!sirable that the 
 history of all our townships should be written 
 early, before the generation passes away who can 
 give minute and reliable information. The histoiy 
 of Shipton could have been written to far better ad- 
 vantage twenty years ago, than it can be at the 
 piesent time. Then all the circumstances could 
 have been obtained from living witnesses. Now 
 only three of the first settlers are alive, viz. Pren- 
 tice Cushing, Henry Barnard, and John B. La- 
 bonte. The present time is, however, more favor- 
 
able than any future time can be; and 1 shall 
 attempt to collect and present in a short compass 
 some of the more important facts in reference to 
 the early settlement and history of the Township 
 of Shipton. It may be well to remark here, that 
 the Township of Shipton originally embraced 
 the territory now comprised in the Townships 
 of Shipton and Cleveland as constituted at 
 present. It was divided in 1855. Richmond is 
 the principal village of Cleveland, and Danville of 
 Shipton. They are eleven miles apart, and both 
 natural centres for business. Both townships are 
 now sufficiently large, and better situated than 
 when they were united. But as the facts of 
 history which I shall relate transpired for the most 
 part when they were together, I shall consider it 
 as it was before the division. 
 
 The Township of Shipton as it originally was, 
 is bounded northeast by Tyngwick, southeast by 
 Wotton and Windsor, southwest by Melbourne, 
 and northwest by Kingsey. It is in' latitude 
 nearly 46° north, and in the County of Richmond. 
 It is also at the junction of the Portland, Mont- 
 real, and Quebec Jlailroads. The River St. Fran- 
 cis washes its southwestern border, and the little 
 Nicolet runs through the northeastern part. 
 There are also other pleasant and useful streams 
 in the townships, which afford water power on 
 
IX 
 
 the small scale, as Cushing’s Brook, Beaver 
 Brook, Clark’s Jkook, Bog Brook, and Beet’s 
 Brook. The Spooner Pond may also be men- 
 tioned as a beautiful sheet of water. It is situ- 
 ated in the north corner ol' the Township of Cleve- 
 land, on the height of land between the St. 
 Francis and the Nicolet. Its shape is oval, the 
 length being one mile and the width one fourth of 
 a mile. It is shallow at the shores, but increases 
 in depth to the centre, being there about twenty- 
 five feet deep. It is fed wholly by springs, but 
 has one stream flowing from it, which enters into 
 the St. Francis at Kingsey. The pond is much 
 higher than the surrounding country, insomuch 
 that springs 250 yards distant from it flow in 
 other directions. The pond abounds with fish, 
 and particularly the salmon trout. There are 
 also leeches in abundance suited to the pur- 
 poses of physicians. Ducks frequent the pond, 
 and occasionally a lonely crane or loon. The 
 pond took its name from a man named Spooner 
 who in early times lived near it. The region of 
 country is now flourishing, and will be a most 
 favorite portion of the township. The face 
 of the land throughout the township is generally 
 rolling, though there are some high elevations. 
 The Pinnacle is the most noted, situated about 
 eight miles northeast of Richmond, and about 
 
X 
 
 four southwest of Danville. It rises perhaps 
 three hundred feet above the surrounding country, 
 and aflbrds a beautiful and picturesque view to a 
 great distance, bordered by mountain ranges. 
 The appearance of the whole is somewhat like a 
 teacup inverted in a saucer, though the sjiucer 
 must be considered as very spacious. The moun- 
 tain back of Montreal, and the Owl’s Head in 
 Potton, would be in its borders. Rich farms and 
 comfortable dwellings, as well as extensive forests, 
 are seen in the intervening space. And though 
 there arc celebrated mountains in New England 
 which afford beautiful views and are much resort- 
 ed to by the pleasure-seeking world, yet the hand 
 of nature has been scarcely less bountiful in the 
 goodly prospects seen from this elevation. And 
 if some one would build a house of entertainment 
 upon it, and make known its claims by suitable 
 advertisements, who can say that it would not be- 
 come an interesting place of resort to many *? 
 
 The soil of the township is generally a dark or 
 light loam, though some of it is gravelly, argilla- 
 ceous, and alluvial. It is among the best town- 
 ships for agriculture in the Province. All the 
 grains flourish well here, though it is best adapted 
 for grazing. Excellent markets are also afforded 
 for stock, and for all the products of a farm, in 
 the cities reached by its railroads. 
 
 t 
 
 
 - - 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 
 CHARTKR, SURVEY, AND FIRST INHABITANTS. 
 
 The charter of the township was granted to 
 Elmore Cushing and forty-six associates in De- 
 cember 1801. In consequence of an offer from 
 the Government of twelve hundred acres of land 
 apiece to actual settlers, large numbers came from 
 New England to this place when it was an un- 
 broken wilderness, and laid the foundations of 
 generations. But as they were poor and 
 unable to fulfil all the conditions, the charter was 
 delayed four years from the commencement of the 
 settlement; which led some to leave the place, 
 and prevented others from coming. But at length 
 Stephen Gale, Secretary to Governor Prescott, 
 laid before him such evidence as led him to see 
 that the charter ought to be granted. He there- 
 fore took measures to have it done without further 
 delay. The restrictions however imposed by it, 
 and these previous delays, so operated that it 
 availed the original owners but little. 
 
 The party that first entered the township to 
 survey it, in 1797, were George Barnard, tlie 
 
manager, Prentice Cushing and John Brockas, the 
 chainmen, Joseph Kilburn, the surveyor, and five 
 Frenchmen, the axemen and packmen. They 
 traced the outlines of the township, scaled the 
 river, and ran a few concessions back that the 
 associates might have opportunity to select one lot 
 apiece to begin upon. The survey was completed 
 in 1801, by Christopher Bailey, from Vermont. 
 
 The following comprise most of the families 
 who came previous to 1804 : Elmore Cushing, 
 William Runlet, James and Daniel Doying, 
 Stephen Olney, David and John Harvey, Daniel 
 Adams, Hosmer Cleveland, Nathan Williamson, 
 Zepheniah Spicer, Ephraim Magoon, Stephen 
 Daniels, Samuel Marstin, David Leviston, Charles 
 Clark, Joseph Perkins, Jonathan Fowler, Jonas 
 Clark, John Philbrick, Lot and Job Wetherall, 
 John B. Labont6, the Hicks families, four in num- 
 ber, Isaac Burnham, the Drs. Silver, father and 
 son, John Sw^eeney, Thomas Simson, William and 
 John Lester, John and Nathaniel Piper, Stephen, 
 George, and Henry Barnard, John Stephens, Wil- 
 liam Dustin, Royal and Joseph Shaw% Job Cush- 
 ing, Samuel Smart, Joel Leet, Benjamin Andros, 
 Timothy Morrill, Noah and Gordon Lawrence, 
 John Smith, and perhaps some others. Levi and 
 A. R. Leet, Simeon Flint, John B. Emerson, Tho- 
 mas Brooks, Benjamin Burbank, Solomon Daniels, 
 
13 
 
 Jesse Crown, Tliomas Elliot, Nutting, Kezer, 
 Woo(lm.an, Clough, Parsons, Richardson, Butler, 
 Enoch Harvey, Solomon Emerson, Moses Hall, 
 Burroughs, Healey, Mathews, Higby, Jared, Bray, 
 Eber, Joseph, Benjamin, and Thomas Willey, 
 Charles Bickford, Ezra Brainard, and perhaps a 
 few others, came soon afterwards. These came 
 from the different States of New England, and 
 prepared the way for the good that has followed. 
 And it will readily be inferred that they were 
 men of energy, courage, and large hope, to com- 
 iiieiice an enterprise so far in the wilderness, and 
 attended with so much self-denial and hardship. 
 
 The first couple united by marriage in the 
 township was Daniel Adams and his wife, who 
 are now alive, the one seventy-seven and the 
 other seventy-nine years of age, having lived to 
 see their children to the fourth generation. Many 
 other families have also become very numerous. 
 Dydia 13oying, a daughter of Daniel Doying, was 
 the first child born in the township. Her brother 
 Daniel was the first male. 
 
 o# 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 now THE FIRST SETTLERS REACHED THE PLACE, 
 
 The early settlers of Shipton came to the place 
 in different ways. There were then no roads, set- 
 tlements, or townships this side of the French 
 countrj^ fifty miles north ; and from Ascot, 
 thirty miles south ; and scarcely any this side of 
 Danville, Vt. The first companies therefore came 
 on foot, bringing their axes and provisions on their 
 backs, through the pathless wilderness. Elmore 
 Cushing first moved his family, which arrived at 
 Richmond May 24, 1798. They occupied a little 
 shanty till August, wlien a house was prepared. 
 They came from Montreal, up the St. Francis 
 River, in nine birch-bark canoes, conducted by 
 Indians. ,Iohn Brockas and Prentice Cushing 
 came on the bank of the river, through the woods, 
 driving a yoke of oxen and a cow. They were 
 five days on the way from the French country. 
 Mr. Spooner moved his family next; and about 
 the same time Job Cushing and William Barnard, 
 They came up the St. Francis River on the ice, 
 in French traines, in the winter of 1799. As the 
 
15 
 
 ice was glare and the travelling easy, they were 
 but one day in coming as far as Kingsey, the ad- 
 joining township. Daniel and James Doying 
 moved their families in canoes through Lake Mem- 
 phramagog and down the rivers Magog and St. 
 Francis. 
 
 Thismode of travelling was dangerous atall seasons 
 of the year, and many distressing or fatal accidents 
 thus occurred. The persons who travelled this way 
 usually carried with them tents or blankets, which 
 they spread by night for a shelter on a frame-work 
 of poles. On one side they would build a fire to 
 keep themselves wann. And by spreading on the 
 ground for a bed hemlock boughs, they would 
 generally sleep comfortably, and seldom take cold. 
 Sometimes also they would make a camp and 
 cover it with boughs or the bark of trees, and 
 leave it for successive travellers. In such a camp 
 on the farm of Francis Blake, in Kingsey, twenty- 
 nine persons slept one night on their way to Ship- 
 ton; some however sitting and clinging to the 
 posts, as the space was insufficient for all to sleep 
 in the recumbent posture. 
 
 Several years after, when roads had been par- 
 tially made, people generally moved in on sleds 
 drawn by oxen or horses. The owner would 
 generally drive the team, with his family in the 
 forward part of the sled, while the hind part was 
 
16 
 
 filled with furniture and goods. The older boys 
 would perhaps go on foot, driving cows, sheep, and 
 swine to stock the farm. Several families would 
 sometimes come together, and be mutual helpers. 
 I will barely mention one instance, which will 
 serve for illustration. Fifty-four years since two 
 families started from Pomphret, Vermont, in the 
 month of March, and though, by the increased 
 facilities for travelling, scarcely a day would be 
 spent in such a journey now, yet they were fifteen 
 days in coming, averaging about twelve miles per 
 day. And as taverns were not often found on the 
 way, they would stop wherever night overtook 
 them, at some farm-house, using their own pro- 
 visions and beds. They were a whole day in com- 
 ing to Richmond from their lodgings the preced- 
 ing night, five miles above. The snow had fallen 
 and loaded the limbs of the trees, which were tlius 
 bent down to the road, and had to be cleared and 
 sometimes cut oft* before the loads could pass. 
 The next day they arrived at their habitations, on 
 the road leading to Danville, where the owners had 
 been laboring the year before and had made pro- 
 vision for their families. 
 
 But there were always great hardships in these 
 journeys, and sometimes real dangers. Not a 
 little ingenuity was often shown in escaping 
 them. As Capt. Joseph Perkins was moving 
 
17 
 
 his family to the township, he found it some- 
 times impossible to procure hay for his oxen. 
 His wife, w^ho had shown great courage and discre- 
 tion in a scene of the Revolutionary War at New- 
 buiy, Vermont, pointed out the remedy here. 
 As she had bed ticks filled with new straw for 
 the family to sleep on by night, these were emptied 
 one by one as they were needed, which answered 
 the necessities of the oxen till they arrived at the 
 place of their destination. Such dilHculties in 
 moving diminished of course as the settlement of 
 the townships increased and the roads were im- 
 proved. 
 
 But to show the peculiarities of the country, 
 I will mention one or two instances of travel 
 beyond our limits, to Ireland and Megantic coun- 
 ty, after the difficulties to this place were mostly 
 removed. A man and his wife left Deacon Flint’s 
 for this region, and drew their child in a wash-tub 
 fiustened upon a hand-sleigh thirty miles, through 
 a dense and frowning wilderness, to New Ireland, 
 where they resided for a time, but came back and 
 died iii Shipton. That child was Hiel Thurber. 
 
 Another family started from Danville with a 
 horse and sled, and five small children. They pro- 
 ceeded to the high lands in Chester, where the 
 snow became so deep that the horse could drag 
 the sled no further. And bein<2: ten miles from 
 
IS 
 
 any habitation, they emptied their straw bed, put 
 the two larger children in one end of the tick, and 
 the three smaller ones in the other end, and swung 
 it across the horse’s back, and went forward, the 
 man and woman breaking the road before the horse ; 
 and thus they arrived at Capt. Hall’s in safety. 
 The man’s'name was Dimoii or Damon. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE PROGRESS OF CLEARING, BUILDING, <fcC. 
 
 As tlie first settlers came to the place by way 
 of the St. Fariicis, the first clearings and buildings 
 were commenced on or near this river. Elmore 
 Cushing cleared twenty-four acres on lot No. 16 in 
 the 14th range in the year 17 98. William Barnard 
 commenced a clearing on Richmond Hill about the 
 same time. Another was also begun on the place 
 now occupied by ^Melvina, north of the present 
 Depot. And each man, as he came, would select 
 a lot and con\mence clearing. They would fell 
 the trees, cut off the larger limbs, and let them lie 
 till the leaves and smaller limbs became dry, and 
 then set them on fire. A good burn would thus 
 greatly facilitate the clearing, though it was 
 of no benefit to the land. Much of it was un- 
 doubtedly injured, jis the vegetable matter on the 
 surface would be consumed, which was very valu- 
 able as a manure. But at first men usually cleared 
 in this way from ten to forty acres per year, and 
 openings in the woods were thus extended rapidly 
 through the whole township. 
 
20 
 
 Many persons took their position in that part 
 of tlie township now called Shipton about the 
 year 1802, the soil being superior and the face 
 of the land beautiful. John Philbick raised on six 
 acres and from six bushels of seed, one hnndred 
 and sixty bushels of wheat ; two hundred bushels 
 of potatoes on half an acre ; and oats and other 
 things in proportion His oat-straw was six feet 
 and a half in length. All the suqjlus produce 
 was usually needed by more recent emigrants. 
 Thus there was a strong stimulus to exertion. 
 
 The first clearing in the present Township of 
 Shipton, north of Brand’s Hill, was made by Capt. 
 Joseph Perkins and William Dustin, on lot 27 in 
 both the 3rd and 4th range ; the second by Da- 
 niel and James Doying, on the Nutting Hill; the 
 third by Samuel Marstin, on the Marstin Hill; 
 and the fourth near Danville, by Jesse Crown. 
 Charles Clark and Jonathan Fowler began clear- 
 ings on the Marstin Hill about the same time. 
 The first clearing north of Nicolet River was tna<le 
 by John Smith, on lot No. 10 in the 1st range; 
 the 2nd by Enoch Harvey, on lot No. 17 in the 
 2nd range. These men, together with John 
 Harvey and Reuben Leet, came to this part of the 
 township in 1804 or 1805, and for three years 
 were connected with the other settlements only 
 by a by-path on a “ spotted line,” or ‘‘blazed trees.” 
 
The first houses built were those of William 
 Barnard on Richmond Hill, and Elmore Cushing 
 at Richmond, small log shanties. Mr. Cushing 
 however built a more comfortable dwelling in 
 1798, in the month of August ; when his family 
 moved from the sh^vnty which they had occupied 
 since May of the same year. The houses in the 
 other j^art of the township were built simultaneous- 
 ly or in rapid succession, by those men as they 
 • made their selection of land from time to time. 
 
 But the houses which were built in those times 
 were easily constructed. Round logs were used 
 for the body ; split or hewed plank were used for 
 floors. And though the great principle might not 
 have been understood, yet the people had learned 
 the fact, that green lumber frozen would make 
 as tight floors as the best seasoned boards. And 
 in laying them down, they would sometimes run 
 a haud-saw between the joints and thus make them 
 very close. For fire-place, a stone wall was usual- 
 ly laid by one side of the house or in the middle, 
 and a chimney carried out with split sticks laid 
 up square and plastered. A chamber floor was 
 made of rough boards, and a ladder prepared to as- 
 cend to it. Such houses were generally used for 
 the first twenty years. Yet the style was gradually 
 improved, and more conveniences secured. And 
 at the present time, the village houses and fann 
 
2 *^ 
 
 cottages will compare well with those of any other 
 township of equal age. 
 
 The barns were for the first five years built of 
 logs, and many of them covered with the bark 
 of trees. But as soon as saw-mills were erected, 
 barns were built in good style and the crops 
 and stock were well cared for. John Smith 
 built the first framed barn; William Dustin the 
 second, on lot No. 27, the 4th range. And 
 in respect to stock, George Barnard brought the 
 first two cows to the place from the French 
 country in 1797. They were driven to Missisquoi 
 Bay, sixty miles distant, to winter ; as there was 
 no hay in the place. Charles Clark took the first 
 cow to the other part of the town, and prepared 
 basswood leaves for her food in winter, but after- 
 wards discovered a beaver-meadow near the Pin- 
 nacle, from which he cut some wild grass to help in 
 the matter. The stock however from the earliest 
 period increased rapidly ; as they had in summer 
 the whole range of the woods for pasturage, and 
 in the winter the best of hay, cut from new farms. 
 But cows, horses, and other animals often strayed 
 in the woods, and were sometimes lost for days. 
 They would however generally come out at some 
 house in the neighborhood ; and here, according 
 to custom, they were taken care of till the owner 
 called for them. A horse of William Barnard 
 
 V 
 
was once found many miles from home, and so 
 environed on the banks of the St. Francis that he 
 could not make his escape, till discovered and re- 
 lieved by some boatmen. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ROADS D BRIDGES. 
 
 The state of civilization and the advancement of 
 any people is usually indicated by the means pro- 
 vided for intercommunication. When the Jews 
 were in a depressed state in the days of Shamgar 
 and Jael, “the highways were unoccupied, and 
 the travellers walked through by-ways.” Among 
 barbarous nations now, as for the most part 
 throughout Asia and Africa, there are no good 
 roads. Among the savages of North America, in 
 the northern part of it, when the continent was 
 first discovered, the same thing was true. But 
 in South America where the tribes were more 
 advanced, and in the southern part of North 
 America, there were some regularly constructed 
 roads, as from Vera Cruz to Mexico. And in 
 British America the roads have improved just 
 about in proportion to our advancement in other 
 things. In Shipton we could very accurately 
 define our condition as to intelligence and refine- 
 ment by this particular feature. 
 
 The first road made through this township was 
 from Lennoxville to the French country, in 1802 . 
 
25 
 
 It was made fifteen feet wide, the small trees and 
 fallen timber only being removed. The next 
 road was made from Richmond to Danville, as the 
 settlement extended that way. It was continued 
 from this place to Quebec in 1811. The labor 
 was performed mostly by the soldiers of the 49th 
 Regiment, under the direction of Gov. Craig, and 
 thence called Craig’s Road. Cross roads were 
 made in the township from farm to farm, as 
 they were needed by the advance of population. 
 And although these were as good as the circum- 
 stances would allow, they were nevertheless very 
 imperfect. In the fall and spring it would be 
 difficult to pass on the lower or level gi*ounds, 
 from the depth of the mud. Many a horse-shoe 
 has been left far beneath the surface, under roots 
 that wrenched them off, and many a rider has 
 been thrown upon the horse’s neck or over his 
 head in the operation. As a traveller was riding 
 along .near Pine Hill, a mile from Richmond, his 
 horse’s hoof caught in such a place and the shoe 
 was torn off. The traveller alighted to find it, 
 and, after digging out this, found four others under 
 the same root. Wheel carriages were then not in 
 requisition, as there were no roads over which 
 they could pass. 
 
 In this state of things the inhabitants made 
 arrangements to tax themselves so many days’ 
 work per annum. In this way they soon made the 
 
26 
 
 roads more comfortable throughout the township, 
 and the opening of Craig’s Eoad to Quebec at the 
 same time was an important item in their history* 
 But before bridges were built, people often in- 
 cuiTed great dangers in crossing the streams. John 
 Smith once crossed the Nicolet when the water 
 was three feet over the ice, with his oxen, 
 and carried his wife over in his arms. The next 
 day the ice cleared out. The first bridge 
 across the Nicolet was built in 1810, and the 
 other streams were bridged so as to make 
 communication easy in all directions. The 
 roads have improved from year to year by govern- 
 ment grants to a very small extent, and by taxes 
 on the people, which have always been well paid ; 
 and bridges have been built upon improved plans, 
 till we are now scarcely excelled in any part of 
 America. The bridge across the St. Francis 
 River, connecting Shipton and Melbourne, was 
 built in 1847, at a cost of about $20,000. And 
 our railroads and telegraphic wires, extending in 
 three directions, render our situation in this res- 
 pect very desirable. Thii*ty yeai*s ago the mail 
 came to Richmond but once a week ; and before 
 that time people at this place would scarcely hear 
 from their distant friends once a year. Now im- 
 j^ortant information can be received from the 
 United States, or ditterent British Provinces, in 
 the shortest time. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 MILLS. 
 
 As the settlement of the township was in pro- 
 gress, the saw-mill and grist-mill became indis- 
 pensable; the former to cut out boards and timber 
 for building, the latter to prepare the grains for 
 use. At first grain for grinding was carried in birch- 
 bark canoes to the upper part of Ascott, a dis- 
 tance of nearly forty miles. Some was also con- 
 veyed in the same way up the river St. Francis and 
 the Magog, and through the lake to West Derby. 
 But the time and delays and expense were such as 
 led many to prepare their grain for use by boiling 
 it ; and by seasoning it with various things, render- 
 ed it pleasant to the taste. Corn was also re- 
 duced to coarse meal by pounding it in mortars. 
 These were made mostly from large stumps. The 
 tops were cut smooth, and hollowed out in part 
 with the axe; then the work would be completed 
 with a fire made of cobs. The burnt part would 
 then be removed, and the hollow made smooth with 
 howels. A pestle was made to correspond, and 
 hung to a spring-pole, somewhat in the manner 
 
28 
 
 of a well-sweep. A pin was put through the pestle, 
 which was drawn down with both hands, but 
 raised again by the weight of the pole to which it 
 was attached. 
 
 But such a state of things could not last long, 
 and in 1802 both a grist-mill and a saw-mill were 
 built at Richmond by Elmore Cushing. These 
 mills were used five years, and then, in 1807, 
 replaced by more substantial ones. The irons 
 were obtained in Vermont, and a part of them 
 brought through Lake Champlain, down the 
 Richelieu and St. Lawrence, and up the St. 
 Francis, in canoes ; and a part drawn on hand- 
 sleighs from Dudswell, by Prentice Cushing, 
 then a lad of sixteen years old. These mills 
 were again replaced by Wales’s stone mills in 
 1824, the ruins of which are now seen in 
 Richmond. A saw-mill and a grist-mill were next 
 built on Clark’s Brook, near Danville, in 1805, by 
 Charles Clark. He selected the site from the top 
 of the Pinnacle, whence it could easily be seen 
 through a glass. William Barnard, Joseph Per- 
 kins, and William Runlet were with him for this 
 puq 30 se. These mills were a great blessing to 
 the community, though a great loss to the original 
 owners, on account of the sparseness of the popu- 
 lation and the little custom they obtained. The 
 water-wheel would often freeze up in the winter. 
 
and the first customer who came afterwards would 
 be obliged to wait perhaps a day for the wheel to 
 be cut out and the grinding done. According to 
 the hospitality of those times he would board with 
 the miller free of charge, while the toll for grind- 
 ing the little he would bring would be a mere 
 trifle. The next mill in order was Huntoon’s, on 
 the Nicolet River, where George W. Leet’s mills 
 now are located, built in I&07 for sawing. About 
 the same time another was built on the Doughty 
 brook near Richmond. Leet’s saw mill was built 
 in Claremont in 1808, where Aloa Leet now occu- 
 pies. A grist-mill was built in Danville in 1812 by 
 Jesse Brown. Ladd’s mills near the same place on 
 Clark’s Brook were built in 1815. Pearson’s mill 
 was built on the Xicolet river in 1820, where is 
 now a considerable village, and whose mill site is 
 owned by Jared and Wooster Willey. Other mills 
 have been built in difierent locations and at difier- 
 ent times, till now within the limits of Shipton, 
 there are eleven saw-rnills, four grist-mills, and 
 two oat-mills ; and in Cleveland there are four 
 saw-mills. Those on the Nicolet, an excellent 
 privilege, are owned by Alexander Willey, Jared 
 and Woo^ter Willey, and G. W. Leet; those on 
 the Bay Brook, by Abijah r>enbank and Enoch 
 Baker ; those on Clark’s Brook, by Mr. Telfer, and 
 Hayes Gilman, A. Retus Yale and William Atkin- 
 
 3 
 
30 
 
 son ; on Leet’s Brook, by Timothy Leet, William 
 Baker, and Simeon M. Dennison. And as the 
 surrounding country abounds in timber, and the 
 demand for building materials is all the while in- 
 creasmg ; and as the breadth of our grain crops 
 becomes larger eveiy year, these mills are doubt- 
 less remunerating their owners. At Richmond, in 
 the tow'iiship of Cleveland, water could be secured 
 to any extent, by making a canal from the Saint 
 Francis river, as it is from the Merimac in Lowell, 
 Mass. ; and machinery could be driven, and ma- 
 nufactories conducted, to the greatest advantage. 
 The country needs these, and capitalists would do 
 well to considiir the matter. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 STORES AND ASHERIES. 
 
 The mercantile interest is also very important 
 in any community. Many things must be pur- 
 chased and others sold, in order to our comfort 
 and prosperity in all stages of civilized life. The 
 individual who becomes the medium of exchange 
 occupies a place of importance and usefulness. 
 A fair bargain is one in which both parties are 
 gainers, when the commodities received by each 
 is better for him than what is given in exchange. 
 And this should be the case between the merchant 
 and the population that trade with him. 
 
 There have been a great many traders in Shipton 
 since its first settlement. William Barnard kept 
 some goods on Richmond hill in early times. But 
 the first merchant properly so called was Charles 
 Goodhue, who in 1810 occupied a part of Cushing’s 
 house as a store. Mr. Goodhue, however, soon 
 built a tavern and store, where Job Adams now 
 lives. These were both kept by Abel Bigelow, 
 as a clerk under him. Causemore Goodhue built 
 the next store near where Mr. Birnie’s house now 
 
32 
 
 stands, and which w’as afterwards purchased and 
 occupied by Pierce and Johnson. William Wales 
 was the next who commenced the business, a mile 
 north of the village. He continued there for many 
 years, but finally transferred his business to the 
 village, at the Barnard stand, now occupied by 
 Job Adams. Lovejoy and Edmonds also had a 
 store in Richmond in 1825, .and continued some 
 years. Langdon, Goodal and Foster, G. K. Foster, 
 and Foster and Macleay, have been their succes- 
 sors. William Wales, Mcl^eod and McEwen, 
 Gemmel and Job Adams, have traded successively 
 in the store now occupied by the latter. Thomai| 
 Tait, Charles Gilman, Hargrave, McPherson, 
 Benoit and Son, Benoit, John Griffith, Williai^ 
 Brooks, Chalmers, Donelly, Alexander Gorrie| 
 and Joseph Bedard, have traded also in the villag^ 
 of Richmond. There are at present five stores ii^ 
 it. In Danville, the centre of business in the other 
 part of the township, Benjamin Wilcox was the 
 first to commence trade in a log store near Rev. 
 A. J. Parker’s present location. Walter Wyatt, 
 Lovejoy, Alpheus Smith, T. C. Allis, McDonald 
 & Co., Hayes Gilman, G. K. Foster & Co., Foster 
 and Cleveland, C. B. Cleveland, jr., A. C. Suther- 
 land, and Baker and Noble, have followed each 
 other, except the first two, in the same store. 
 J. P. and I. W. Stockwell, Waters and McArthur, 
 
Burbank and Cleveland, Goodhue and Farwell, 
 Chester, Hovey, Dewey and Macleay, have traded 
 in other buildings. Some of these men have 
 accumulated wealth, and others have done little 
 or failed ; and the business is one fraught with 
 anxiety and uncertainty, and the man who has 
 a good farm, and is able to work it with his own 
 hands, has no occasion to envy the merchant or 
 the man of any other calling. 
 
 The pearl-ash may properly be brought in here, 
 as it has been more generally an appendange to 
 the store, the merchants carrying on the business 
 ^ connexion with it. Much of their collections 
 for goods was in the shape of black salts, which 
 they pearled and marketed for cash or goods again. 
 The first pearl-ash was built by Elmore Cushing 
 ^nd Son ; the second by Capt. Ephraim Magoon, 
 |vhose son Jacob has been working in a succession 
 %f them most of the time from 1S05 till the pre- 
 sent year. The third was built by Leet and Olney. 
 The leading merchants, as Wales, Foster, and 
 others, have usually had one, and the business is 
 carried on to some extent now. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TAVERNS AND DISTILLERIES. 
 
 It is desirable for the weary traveller to find in 
 every place the means of comfort and refreshment 
 as he pursues his journey. And the tavern which 
 is kept with neatness and taste, and according to 
 the principles of good order and coiTect morals, is 
 an ornament and a blessing. The place is remem- 
 bered with interest afterwards by all who have 
 passed through it and experienced the favor of 
 such a home for a night. Abel Bigelow, Stephen 
 Barnard, Otis King, Willard* Benton, Leonard 
 Thomas, John Hardy, and Job Adams have been 
 the tavern-keepers of Richmond ; of Danville, 
 Stephen Gilman, Michael Lynch, and G. W. 
 Hawse. And though, in the early settlement of 
 the place, there was no tavern for some years, yet 
 every man’s house was open at that time to the 
 weary traveller, and a cordial welcome was ex- 
 tended alike to the acquaintance and the stranger. 
 
 The distillery in early times was closely allied 
 to the tavern, inasmuch as the one was a means 
 of supply to tlie other of the article most abused. 
 
T 
 
 35 
 
 and the influence in this respect being similar. 
 Honorable mention must of course be made of 
 their owners. Simeon Flint, Gordon Lawrence, 
 Elmore Cushing, Col. Tilton, Ephraim Magoon, 
 Joseph Shaw, Samuel Daniels, Avery Dennison, 
 Harford Shaw, and Henry Bernard have each had 
 a distillery in Shipton. As the potato crop was 
 then abundant, each acre producing from two to 
 four hundred bushels, most farmers would raise a 
 large surplus to be converted into whiskey. The 
 quantity produced must have been very great, 
 as one man r bailed 3000 gallons in a year. And 
 though it was not drugged and adulterated, like the 
 same article of tlie present day, yet its effect was 
 most injurious. Intemperance, crime, poveiiy, 
 and wretchedness have always followed in its 
 train. Those who. have witnessed the evening 
 scenes in these distilleries, the gatherings of men 
 and boys from the neighborhood, the songs, jests, 
 and revelry that filled up the time, would not 
 wonder at the worst effects that followed. And 
 when we consider how the same liquid fire was 
 carried into the bar-room, the store, and private 
 dwellings, and was then so common in all depart- 
 ments of society, we shall at once see a piominent 
 cause of all the evils that prevailed. How many 
 expended the value of a good farm in this way in 
 a few years ! At the rate of tw^enty-five dollars 
 
30 
 
 per year, and the annual interest of it for thirty 
 years, nearly two thousand dollars would be worse 
 than wasted. The loss of time, bad bargains, care- 
 lessness in business, and losses thus occasioned, 
 superadded, lead us to understand in some degree 
 the evils sustained by our predecessors from this 
 cayse, and the fitness of avoiding the snare our- 
 selves. 
 
 But in palliation of their faults, it is to be 
 remarked that they lived in the tune of darkness 
 on this subject. The light shed upon it now by 
 the temperance refonnation leaves us without ex- 
 cuse in the same. But it is a matter of congratu- 
 lation that not a distillery is in operation now in 
 the township, and that so few of our stores retail 
 the poison, and that our private dwellings are 
 generally free from it. And from the experience 
 of the past we may look forward with joyful anti- 
 cipation to the complete triumph of the Tempe- 
 rance cause. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MECHANIC’S. 
 
 Among otlier mechanics needed in the settle- 
 ment of a place, the blacksmith is peculiarly im- 
 portant. No progress can be made without his 
 art. And as at the early settlement of this town- 
 ship the farmer was dependent on the blacksmith 
 for his axe, hoe, pitchfork, and almost eveiy other 
 tool made of iron and steel, the trade was then 
 more important, if possible, than it is now. Lot 
 Wetherall was the first blacksmith in Richmond. 
 Otis King, Edward Gustin, Levi Cleveland, Eph- 
 raim Driver, and others have followed. At 
 Danville, John B. Emerson was first, Thomas 
 Brooks, Jesse Baker, and Mr. Presby followed. 
 Charles Cleveland, Joseph Brown, John McCoy, 
 
 N. W. Willey, and Willard B. Hall are now pur-^-^ 
 suing the business. 
 
 The joinem and carpenters are also an impor- 
 tant class of men. John Stevens was one of the 
 first, and was very useful in helping the fanners 
 in building and in making their sleds, ox-yokes, 
 &c. Samuel Marstin was also a house-joiner, and 
 his work is now seen in very tnany of the build- 
 
 3 * 
 
38 
 
 ings in Shipton. He was accustomed also to make 
 all the coffins needed at an early period, and to 
 conduct the funerals. Marsh Martin was also of 
 the same craft at Richmond, and remained there 
 till he died, a few years since. Zepheniah Spicer, 
 Jesse Crown, David Harvey, Daniel Adams, Hol- 
 sey Cleveland, and Enoch Baker were also early 
 on the ground and thus employed. James Bou- 
 telle has long been a cabinet-maker in Danville. 
 
 The first operative masons were Simeon Flint 
 and Moses Hall. 
 
 The business of tanning was much needed here 
 for a long time. Little leather was at first brought 
 in and none made. Men therefore would use the 
 hides of animals to make moccasins, tanned in an 
 imperfect manner. When, however, a man had a 
 side of leather, it was usually shared with his 
 neighbors till it was all used. John Messervey 
 commenced tanning at Richmond on a small scale 
 previousto 1811. But inthatyear the firsttanneiy 
 was built by Job Adams, and carried on many years, 
 Bigelow & Goodhue also built a tannery at 
 Richmond in 1815, whose establishment was after- 
 wards purchased and occupied by H. & C. B. 
 Cleveland. Zerah Rankin followed, and is the 
 present occupant. Whitcomb and Reuben Leet, 
 jun., and Joseph L. Goodhue have been engaged in 
 the business in Danville, the last of whom now 
 
39 
 
 carries it on in that place. The tanners also car- 
 ried on the business of shoemaking for many 
 years, employing usually a number of men at the 
 business. There were also scattered over the 
 township many men who practised shoemaking to 
 some extent, though their principal business was 
 fanning. Mr. Birnie, Mr. Blanchard, and several 
 others carry on the business in Richmond ; Mr. 
 Goodhue, &c., in Danville. The saddler and the 
 harness-make ]• at first Were the shoemakers, though 
 at the present time there are men regularly em- 
 ployed in that business. 
 
 John Conoly and John Lee were the first men 
 here who devoted themselves to the business of 
 tailoring. William Miller and others have follow- 
 ed. 
 
 Coopering was also a business recpiired exten- 
 sively in early times, as buckets and holders were 
 to be furnished for every man’s sugar-place, and 
 barrels for pearl ashes, &c. No man, however, 
 made it his exclusive business, but many practised 
 it as an incidental tiling. 
 
 Mechanics have greatly multiplied in later 
 times, and a Mechanics’ Institute and Libinry 
 Association have been formed both at Danville and 
 at Richmond. 
 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PROFESSIONAL MKX. 
 
 The professional men of any place are vciy 
 important. If they are of the right stamp, their 
 influence will of course be good, while those of 
 an opposite character may be instrumental of 
 much evil. 
 
 The clergymen that have been connected with 
 the township, or have performed occasional servi- 
 ces here, are many. Of the Methodist denomi- 
 nation, Messrs. Hibbard, Badger, Plumley and 
 Wilson, from the United States, and the two 
 Popes, Messrs. Williams, Deputero and Stinson, 
 from England, labored here occasionally up to 
 1826. The clergymen of the English Church, 
 Right Rev. Bishop Stuart, Dr. Mountain, Rev. S. 
 S. Wood and Rev. Mr. LeFevre, were occasionally 
 here, and performed religious services previous to 
 the same date. The Rev. A. J. Parker, a Congre- 
 gationalist, who is now at Danville, commenced 
 his labors there in 1829. In 1830 Rev. C. B. 
 Fleming, of the English Church, commenced his 
 label's in Richmond, and continued there for 
 
41 
 
 eighteen years ; the Rev. Mr. Simson for a few 
 months only. Dr. Falloon commenced Sept. 1, 
 1848, and continues still a faithful and laborious 
 pastor. There have been Roman Catholic minis- 
 ters in the place, the last of whom is the Rev. 
 L. Trahan. Rev^^. C. Swinton was minister of 
 the Free Church for several years ; and there have 
 been others of other denominations occasional- 
 ly in the place to labor for a season. Most of those 
 have been good men, and useful in their place. 
 The Rev. Edward Cleveland, Principal of Saint 
 Francis College, is also a clergyman, of the Con- 
 gregational order, a native of the township, and a 
 a graduate of Yale College, Ct. 
 
 The lawyers have been few. William Brooke, 
 Esq., at Richmond, and G. S. Carter, Esq., at 
 Danville, are at present exercising the functions 
 of their office in these places, and so far as I know 
 are the only ones who have been located here. 
 Our Circuit Courts have been established in 
 Cleveland but a short time, and what little busi- 
 ness was to be done in this line before, was done 
 by non-residents. 
 
 As it respects physicians, we have had different 
 ones. Dr. Cooney came to the place at the begin- 
 ning, and was soon drowned. For several years 
 afterwards Dr. Nichols, from Ascott, was the only 
 physician to be obtained. And from the nature 
 
42 
 
 of the case he could not be here often, as the dis- 
 tance to Ins residence was thirty miles through a 
 wilderness. But in 1803, the Drs. Silver, father 
 and son, came into the township, and have been 
 very useful in their profession. The son is now 
 living, though at an advanced age and unable to 
 practice. But his past services will be remem- 
 bered by very many with gratitude. 
 
 Dr. Jenks came to Richmond in 1820 , and was 
 a skilful and useful man. He excelled in surgery. 
 Dr. R. N. Webber is the present physician in 
 Richmond, and is considered an able man in the 
 profession. 
 
 The physicians who have been located at Dan- 
 ville are Drs. Paul and Emmons, Perkins, Damon, 
 McDougal, McBean, Glines and Moore; the last 
 two of whom still remain, bearing the burdens 
 and receiving the honors of the profession. 
 
CHAPTER X, 
 
 RESOURCES OF THE PEOPLE. 
 
 As the principal employment of the people was 
 agriculture, the earth of course was the great 
 source of wealth to all. And from this they ob- 
 tained their living, and increase in all the conve- 
 niences and comforts of life. And it has been 
 principally by tilling the land that all the good 
 we now enjoy has been obtained. But there were 
 other incidental things that contributed to it. In 
 clearing away the original forests, the farmers 
 were accustomed to save the wood-ashes, and con- 
 vert them into black-salts, potasli, or pearlash. 
 Four tons were thus made by Prentice Cushing in 
 1808, from the ashes saved in clearing sixteen 
 acres. This was carried in flat-bottomed boats 
 down the St. Francis to Three Rivers, and sold 
 for fifteen dollars per hundred. Fifteen hundred 
 baiTels were conveyed to the same market that 
 year down the river St. Francis, besides what was 
 carried down the little Nicolet from Danville. 
 The business doubtless increased afterwards, so 
 that a veiy great revenue accrued from this source. 
 
44 
 
 The ashes saved in clearing the land thus paid for 
 the labor, and became a great help to the people 
 in early times. So profitable was the business, 
 that men would go into the woods, in the less busy 
 seasons of the year, and fell trees and bum them 
 for the simple pui’pose of converting the products 
 into money. 
 
 As in the newness of the country the woods 
 were full of game and the streams abounded with 
 fish, hunting and fishing became a common em- 
 ployment in their season. The furs and fish thus 
 taken became quite helpful in procuring a living. 
 
 And as the primitive pine forests were extensive 
 and stood in all their beauty, and as lumber was 
 an article that would bring the ready-money, this 
 was made a considerable business in the surround- 
 ing region, and many resorted to it from this 
 township for a winter employment. 
 
 But though these incidental employments were 
 a source of gain, it is doubtless true that when 
 pursued to the neglect of the farm, the final result 
 was a loss. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 CIRCUMSTANCES UNFAVORABLE TO ADVANCEMENT. 
 
 Ill all the circumstances of life Providence deals 
 out her blessings with an uneven hand, usually 
 mingling prosperity with adversity. This, as a 
 moral discipline, is doubtless a means of our high- 
 est good. Hence we have cause of thankfulness, 
 as well for judgments as for mercies. The lesson 
 should be learned by all, and rightly improved. 
 The township experienced different vicissitudes in 
 her onward progress. And among her crosses and 
 disappointments were several unfavorable seasons. 
 From 1806 to 1809, and from 1814 to 1817, the 
 seasons were cold, frosts were both late in the 
 spring and early in autumn, and the crops were 
 extensively cut off, or stinted in their growth. On 
 the 6th, 7th, and 8th of June, 1816, there was a 
 continued snow-storm, which covered the ground 
 to the depth of more than a foot, killed the small 
 birds, and destroyed much vegetation. 
 
 In 1806 also the wolves made great havoc 
 among the flocks. The first mischief pei*petrated 
 by them was the destruction of thirteen sheep be- 
 
46 
 
 longing to Ilosiner Cleveland. But they conti- 
 nued their depredations upon other flocks, so that 
 few were left in the settlement. Though the 
 farmers made enclosures near their houses to keep 
 them by night, the wolves went directly there and 
 took them without fear or favor. 
 
 The evil thus occasioned will be better under- 
 stood when we consider that wool raised by the 
 farmers had been their chief dependence for winter 
 clothing, as flax was for summer apparel. In 
 those times the spinning-wheel and the hand-loom, 
 instead of the piano and the guitar, were the mu- 
 sical instruments of every house. And Solomon’s 
 d»\scription of the virtuous woman applied well to 
 the whole female population. ‘‘ She seeketh 
 wool and flax and worketh willingly with her 
 hands. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and 
 her hands hold the distaih * * * She is not afraid 
 of the snow for her household. * * * She maketh 
 fine linen and selleth it. * * * She looketh well to 
 the ways of her household, and eateth not the 
 bread of idleness.” By such economy men were 
 able to keep out of debt, while they enjoyod the 
 most substantial of the comforts of life. The 
 wolves deprived them of this independence, and 
 reduced them to the necessity of purchasing more 
 at tlie stores and of involving themselves in debt. 
 
47 
 
 The bears also were numerous and did some 
 mischief. They often came into cornfields and 
 helped themselves plentifully tliere. Like the 
 wolves also, they made depredations upon their 
 flocks. John Philbrick had eleven sheep thus 
 killed in one night, and eight more wounded. 
 They attempted also to kill a steer for Capt. 
 Joseph Perkins. But being discovered in the 
 act, they were not allowed to complete it. But 
 as the steer was badly wounded, the owner killed 
 and dressed him, and hung the meat upon a tree. 
 The next morning he went for it, and found the 
 bear lying under the tree closely watching the 
 meat, as though it was his own booty. 
 
 These animals were often seen in the woods, 
 but would seldom show signs of fight. One man, 
 however, David Croutch, who lived in the place 
 afterwards owned by Benjamin Burbank, a mile 
 west of Danville, in going to William Barnard’s 
 for grain, saw a bear which was employed in dig- 
 ging and eating roots. lie went very near him 
 before he gave the alarm. But the bear being 
 thus closely pressed, instead of running away, made 
 towards the man as though he would attack him. 
 Mr. Croutch, therefore, having no other weapon in 
 hand, shook the meal-bag at him. The bear, 
 being somewhat frightened at this unusual weapon 
 of defence, turned aside and let the man pass. 
 
48 
 
 Bray and Eber Willey, two brothers, were 
 once in pursuit of a bear near Kichmond. As 
 they were driving him by the side of a prostrate 
 tree, Bray directly behind him, and Eber parallel 
 on the other side, the bear came to a hollow and 
 attempted to elude his pursuers by passing under 
 the tree. But Eber, before he had quite cleared 
 himself, jumped upon his back and caught him by 
 the ears. Two dogs caught hold of his hind parts, 
 and the three held him till Bray came up and cut 
 his throat. 
 
 These animals at that time were very nu- 
 merous in the neighboring townships. And as 
 bears are attracted by sweets, some people in New 
 Ireland conceived the idea of catching one with 
 black-strap, a mixture of molasses and whiskey. 
 They put the black-strap into a trough in the 
 woods, and waited some time for the approach of 
 the beast. But as he did not come, and they 
 grew cold and weary, they helped themselves too 
 generously to the black-strap, and lay down and 
 fell asleep. But the bear at length came and 
 helped himself, and lay down to sleep also. In 
 the morning the men opened their eyes first, and 
 saw their sleeping companion by their side. And 
 before old Bruin was aware of it, his life was taken 
 from him. 
 
49 
 
 The war of 1812 had also an unfavorable effect 
 upon the settlement of the township. As the 
 shadow of this had been seen for several years, 
 and all the settlers were from the United States, 
 many returned before the commencement. As 
 others would not take the oath of allegiance, they 
 were obliged to leave. Others also who would 
 have come in were thus prevented. Those how- 
 ever who remained, always proved faithful to the 
 Government, and showed a readiness, whenever 
 required, to take up arms in its defence. Some 
 did go into actual service. Half the militia of the 
 township was once drafted to go to Slontreal to 
 defend the city, so that the soldiers there might 
 go to meet Wilkinson’s army, which was ap- 
 proaching by way of Chateauguay. Counter 
 orders only prevented them from going. 
 
 I might also allude to the poverty of the first 
 settlers as a hinderance to the rapid growth and 
 prosperity of the township. For the first twenty- 
 five years, with one exception, not a man came to 
 the place worth over a hundred pounds, and few 
 with that amount. Villages and towns soon 
 become flourisliing at the West by the importation 
 of capital. But here the people were dependent 
 wholly upon their own exertions. Before any 
 enterprise could be begun that required capital, 
 that capital had to be created on the ground. 
 
The policy of Government at that time, and per- 
 haps some other things, might be mentioned as 
 counteracting influences. 
 
HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS. 
 
 From what has already been said, it wnll be 
 seen there must have been mfiny liardships and 
 privations endured. As the settlement was begun 
 at a great distance from other organized commu- 
 nities, tlie facilities to obtain the ordinary com- 
 forts of life were few. Provisions, tools, and 
 other things needed were to be brought from dis- 
 tant places to make a commencement. I will 
 barely adduce some instances to show the nature 
 of the evils endured. Charles Clark once went 
 from home on business, but agreed with a young 
 man named Wiggins to convey provisions to his 
 family in the meantime. The young man under- 
 took to do as he had agreed. But on his way 
 from Richmond to Danville, he lost himself in the 
 woods, and was eight days in coming out again. 
 During this time the family were destitute and 
 came near the point of starvation. Mr. Clark also 
 when at home was once so reduced himself by 
 hunger and care, that he said he thought he must 
 lie down and die. But providentially his boys 
 
52 
 
 came in at that time, announcing that they had 
 discovered some large fish in the mill-stream con- 
 fined between sand-bars. Mr. Clark made a 
 wooden spear and went to the place and caught 
 seventeen large salmon. These restored his 
 strength and his courage and relieved his family 
 for the time. 
 
 Another family at a certain season became 
 much reduced during the protracted absence of 
 the man for food. In the meantime the wife with 
 two of her children picked over the straw in a 
 neighbor’s barn and collected from it half a bushel 
 of wheat. This she boiled and prepared for the 
 sustenance of the family till her husband returned. 
 
 About this time Timothy Morril, on the borders 
 of the lake, had cleared some land but could ob- 
 tain no grain for seed. The prospect before him 
 seemed almost desperate. At night, his wife, 
 who was the more considerate of the two, had 
 thought long and seriously upon their situation, 
 and often asked herself what could be done. She 
 then fell asleep and dreamed twice in succession 
 that wheat could be found in alieap of chaff under 
 a neighboring barn. As she had seen wheat fall 
 among chaff* in the process of fanning it, and knew 
 that chaff was in the place alluded to, the dream 
 is accounted for in a satisfactory manner. She 
 went the next morning with some of her family to 
 
 I 
 

 63 
 
 the bam refeiTed to, and during the day they col- 
 lected three and a half bushels of wheat. Thus 
 they had sufficient for seed and some for grinding. 
 
 A certain family in the western part of the 
 present township of Shipton was reduced to such 
 extremities, that the best food that could be ob- 
 tained for several days was boiled beach-leaves. 
 But as the children thus became poor and ema- 
 ciated, the mother went to the potatoe field and 
 dug carefully under the hills, cutting off as much 
 of the seed-potatoe as could be spared, and left 
 the rest for reproduction. 
 
 Such facts as these occumcd during the first 
 three unfavorable years mentioned before. Dur- 
 ing the latter years of scarcity mentioned, near 
 1816, flour was eighteen dollars per baiTel in 
 Three Rivers, and wheat four dollars per bushel. 
 Men would make pearlash and cany down the 
 rivers to exchange for breadstuff and other neces- 
 saries at such a price. At home the fmgal house- 
 wife would economise in the closest manner to 
 make the most of the provisions she had. And 
 among other expedients she would mix with the 
 flour boiled potatoes and stewed pumpkins, to in- 
 crease the amount of bread. And whatever herbs 
 of the field would answer for food, as cowslips, 
 nettle, pigweed, &c., were appropriated thus. In 
 
 4 
 
54 
 
 the season of berries, families were known to live 
 for weeks on raspberries and milk. 
 
 But poverty was not the only evil they suffered. 
 It has already been stated that they were without a 
 physician till 1803. There was much suffering dur- 
 ing this period from the want of medical attend- 
 ance. A son of Capt. Runlet broke his leg by 
 the falling of a tree ; and so badly, that the paits 
 of the broken bone protruded through the skin, 
 and was forced into the ground where he was 
 crushed down by the tree. As no surgeon could 
 be obtained, the father cleansed the parts and 
 splintered them together as well a he could. 
 The bone healed, but in a bad condition. 
 
 Soon after another man was'badly wounded by 
 the falling of a tree. John B. Labonte started foi 
 Dr. Nichols, thirty-five miles distant, on snow-shoes. 
 The third day he retunied with the doctor in the 
 same way. So much hardship in this case de- 
 volved both on the patient and the physician ! 
 
 Mr. Labontd himself, at an earlier period, during 
 the process of surveying the township, wounded 
 himself with a hatchet and was left alone on. the 
 bankc. of the Saint Francis, while liis companions 
 went down to tl\e French country for provisions. 
 Some Indians, howevtu*, providentially came along 
 th<" same <lay in bark canoes and carri(*dhim away 
 with tlieni. 
 
5o 
 
 John Smith, also near Danville, injured himself 
 at his work, so that he lay three months alone in 
 a shanty ; being visited occasionally by a neigh- 
 bor, who afforded him some assistance. 
 
 A case of less importance occuned with a lad 
 who stuck a fish-hook into the ball of his thumb. 
 There was no one who understood that it should 
 be forced out in the same direction, or who had 
 the skill to do it. Consequently the hook was 
 torn out of the flesh by violence, making a great 
 wound, and producing much inflammation and 
 suffering. 
 
 The typhus fever prevailed extensively in 1802, 
 the year before Dr. Silver arrived, and many died 
 with it. Thus we see the critical state of the 
 people at this time. 
 
 ]\Iany other instances can be conceived and 
 actually occurred of great hardship and privation 
 during the first years of the settlement. I have 
 barely mentioned the above as specimens of pri- 
 vation, and not as a complete list of the diflferent 
 cases that occurred. 
 
 / . 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 CASUAiTIES. 
 
 As closely connected with the former, we may 
 mention also some of the casualties of early times. 
 Th*e first which I remember was the burning ot a 
 house, in 181 0, belonging to Benjamin and Joseph 
 Willey, on the place now occupied by Mr. Bangs, 
 near the Nicolet River. Their furniture, bedding, 
 and clothing were all destroyed. 
 
 In 1823, Holsey & C. B. Cleveland had a cur- 
 rier’s shop burned at Richmond, with tools and 
 leather worth several hundred dollars. ‘ Mr. Levi 
 Cleveland had two houses burnt in the same place, 
 one after the other, with several thousand dollars’ 
 worth of property and accounts in them. Simeon 
 Flint and Abijati Burbank have each had a house 
 burnt in Danville, and Benjamin Wilcox a barn. 
 More recently, as will be recollected, a number of 
 buildings were destroyed in Richmond, the work 
 of incendiaries, who are now in prison. 
 
 At an early period a Dutchman was drowned in 
 the St. Francis two miles above Richmond, at a 
 place which was then called “ The Dutchman’s 
 Shoot.” 
 
 
57 
 
 Dr. Cooney, a physician who came among the 
 first to practice medicine, was drowned by the 
 upsetting of his canoe, in going from Richmond to 
 Kingsey. 
 
 John Brockas, in coming from the French coun- 
 try to Riclimond with a team, broke through the 
 ice on the St. Francis, near Drummondville, 
 drowned his oxen, froze his feet, which had to be 
 amputated in part, and was thus made a cripple 
 for life. 
 
 Jonathan Johnson, in driving logs down the 
 little Nicolet in the spring, fell into the river and 
 broke one of his legs, barely escaping with his life. 
 
 Joseph Hobbs, an old shoemaker, in going to 
 Col. Tilton’s for more whiskey, though pretty 
 well under its influence then, in passing on the 
 ice around Pine Hill, broke througli where it had 
 become weak by the whirling of the water over 
 a rock, and was carried by the current down 
 under the ice about a rod to a similar place. And 
 thinking there might be some hope for him yet, 
 he said “ he swam up with all his might, broke his 
 head tvith the ice, and came out safely.” 
 
 John Slives, coming into the township from 
 Quebec, froze both feet, which were amputated 
 above the ankles. He was here supported in differ- 
 ent families for two yeare gratuitously, when he 
 learned the trade of a shoemakei* and became able 
 to take care of himself. 
 
Nathaniel Clark fell from the collar beams of 
 Ephraim Magoon’s barn upon his head and shoul- 
 ders, breaking some bones, but escaped with his 
 life. 
 
 Numerous instances occured also in which men 
 became lost in the woods, and much suffering oc- 
 cured in consecpience. Similar things were com- 
 mon in the whole region around, when woods 
 and habitations were few, and but few traces of 
 human existence could be seen, 
 
CHAP. XIV, 
 
 IMMORALITY. 
 
 Tlioiigb the mass of the people of tlie township 
 were virtuous, in the early yeai's of the settlement, 
 there was much immorality- Intemperance, as 
 has before been shown was very common. Licen- 
 tiousness was too prevalaiit. The Sabbath even 
 was some times desecrated by gambling, and this 
 habit became a great detriment to one of the vil- 
 lages. Different individuals might be mentioned 
 who have exerted a very vicious and degrading in- 
 fluence. I shall however only name one, the not- 
 ed Stephen Borroughs. He came here at an early 
 period and began to make bills on the banks of 
 the United States. His first location was North 
 of Nicolet river, near the store ofRodericMacleay. 
 An attempt was made to arrest him in his shanty 
 where the work was carried on, but as the party 
 came near, a friendly individual cried out loud 
 enough to give the alarm, “there is his house.” 
 Borroughs immediately put on his snow-shoes, 
 forward end behind, and went away, leaving the 
 appearance of tracks toward his house, while he 
 
V 
 
 60 
 
 was going from it. Whether this was an origi- 
 nal thought, or whether the hint was obtained 
 from virgil’s description of Caciis, the son of Vul- 
 can whom Hercules slew, who drew his stolen 
 cattle into his cave backwards to deceive liis pur- 
 suers, it had the designed effect. He escaped to 
 John Harvey’s, and was there concealed in apota- 
 toe hole for a time, covered up so close, that he 
 came near dying with suffocation. He afterwards 
 went to, Richmond Hill were he lived many years, 
 at first employed in making pictures in the shape 
 of bank-notes ; but after laws were passed against 
 this employment, he engaged in the business of 
 instruction, in which he excelled and became quite 
 useful. And I have often heard him say that his 
 previous example was not to be recommended to 
 the young, as he himself had lost eveiy thing by 
 it. Mr. Burroughs afterwards lived for a tune in 
 Montreal, and finally in Three Rivers, where he 
 died. We see in him a melancholy instance of 
 the finest natural talents perverted, and the high- 
 est earthly prospects thus darkened. His down- 
 ward course began early, and the young of this day 
 should avoid a sunilar course. 
 
CHAP. XV. 
 
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY TIMES 
 
 There is usually something pleasing in the pecu- 
 liarities of new settlements. People who are thus 
 brought together, subject to the same sufferings 
 and hardships, and having the same common in- 
 terests, sympathize with each other and cherish 
 the spirit of mutual accommodation, more than in 
 an advanced state, where each is more indepen- 
 dent in hiniself. This seems to have been so at 
 least in Shipton. As few were fully supplied with 
 teams, tools and the various things desirable for 
 comfort and convenience, it was customory to bor- 
 row, change work, and accommodate one another, 
 in all ways which would be for their mutual advan- 
 tage. A man would hardly feel at liberty to re- 
 tain his axe, hoe, shovel, or team, if he could spare 
 them when his neighbor was in want. And even 
 money was common stock. An individual who 
 had any on hand, would, as a general thing, loan 
 it out without notes, bonds, or even interest. And 
 such was their mutual confidence, that they never 
 thought of fastening their doors by night, or of 
 
 4 # 
 
putting any of their property out of sight to secure 
 it. And when Walker, who lived on the place 
 now occupied by Joseph Shaw, committed the 
 first theft, he was regarded wdth horror by all. He 
 stole a sheep, which be killed and placed in a 
 trough in his cellar. But he w^as followed by the 
 owner and detected. He was brought before Wil- 
 liam Barnard for trial. But by a little conni- 
 vance, he was allowed to escape and leave the 
 country for ever. 
 
 And though gi*eat hardships and privations cha- 
 racterized the community, they seemed hardly con- 
 scious of it, all, as a general thing, being happy and 
 contented with their lot. Their common sympa- 
 thy and friendly offices made amends for mucli 
 that would otherwise have been felt the most deep- 
 ly- 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. 
 
 The educational interests of Shipton, from the 
 nature of the case, could not receive the first at- 
 tention. They were nevertheless kept in mind, 
 and were attended to as soon as circumstances 
 would permit; and our schools have been cher- 
 ished and fostered and gradually improved from 
 the first commencement up to the present time. 
 
 The first school in the townsliip was taught by 
 Miss Kimball, afterwards the wife of George Bar- 
 nard. It was in the house of Job Cushing, and 
 mostly confined to his family. There were still 
 other schools taught in Richmond in private 
 liouses afterwards. 
 
 The first school-house was built of round logs, 
 in 1807, near the house which is now occupied by 
 Edward Cleave. Basswood plank, split or hewn, 
 constituted the floor, benches, and desks. Dr. 
 Silver was the first teacher employed here. The 
 first school taught in Danville was in the thresh- 
 ing-floor of Ephraim Magoon’s barn. Mr. Moun- 
 tain was the teacher, a half-crazy man, who was 
 
64 
 
 soon dismissed. The next summer, Mrs. Ezra 
 Leet taught in a log-house near where Joseph 
 Silver now lives. James Lord kept a school the 
 winter afterwards, in the house of Simeon Flint. 
 This was in the year 1812 or 1813. Nancy Flint 
 taught one or two summers afterwards, in the 
 same place. Sally Pierce and Betsey Daniels 
 taught two successive summers, in the roof of 
 Ephraim Magoou’s distillery. Mr. Bore, a Metho- 
 dist minister from England, taught a part of one 
 whiter, in a log-house belonging to Capt. Ejih- 
 laim Magoon ; and his son, John Bore, taught at 
 the same time, over Nicolet. Abel Willey taught 
 also in the house of Capt. Magoon for a time. 
 Electa Adams was a teacher in Shipton in the 
 winter of 1815 ; a very good teacher. There 
 were also schools kept in Mr. Crown’s house ; at 
 Jared Willey’s; and in Claremont, near Royal 
 Shaw’s, in a school-house, the second built in the 
 township. Another, near A. R. Leet’s, was built 
 soon after. The fourth was built, in Danville, 
 in 1817 ; the preliminaries were arranged in the 
 house of Hosmer Cleveland. The writer of this 
 was present, and remembers the proceedings as 
 Ibllows. After a little conversation, Hosmer 
 Cleveland said he would give ten dollars towards 
 a house. David Harvey proffered ten more ; Si- 
 meon Flint, anotln r ten. They then looked to 
 
65 
 
 
 Ephraim Magoon for an offer. He hesitated about 
 giving ten ; whereupon David Harvey, the prin- 
 cipal poet of the place, soon presented the follow- 
 ing specimen : 
 
 ** His great farm is on a side hill ; 
 
 Within the side there is a still ; 
 
 His house stands in a valley : 
 
 And if for weighty purpose such 
 He thinks a ready ten too much, 
 
 The thought is but a folly.” 
 
 This produced the desired effect. These four in- 
 dividuals afterwards doubled the amount then pro- 
 mised ; which, together with other subscriptions, 
 made up the number of two hundred dollars. Hol- 
 sey Cleveland built the house for this money. The 
 body of the present school-house in Danville is 
 the same which he built, though it has undergone 
 some alterations. 
 
 After the building had been raised, David Har- 
 vey, according to the custom of those times, at- 
 tempttid to give it a name. And standing upon 
 the king-post, with his hand upon an evergreen 
 tree which had been fastened upon it, the multi- 
 tude — men, women, and children — standing around 
 in breathless silence, he thus began : 
 
 “ Let ‘ Art and Science ’ be our motto.” 
 
 But here his memory failed him, owing to some 
 circumstances that had just occmred, and he could 
 
66 
 
 proceed no further. He repeated it however after 
 the occasion was past, and it was much to the 
 point. The second line was 
 
 ‘‘Let all contentions cease.” 
 
 This school-house answered for schools and meet- 
 ings many years. The winter before this house 
 was completed, Samuel Daniels kept a school in 
 the old log-house left by John Stevens, near 
 where Rev. A. J. Parker now resides. At the 
 close, he had an exliibition in Mr. Crown’s mill, 
 as the best place which could then be secured. 
 The audience was very large, and the whole affair 
 was satisfactoiy. Mr. Daniels delivered a long 
 wTitten address at the close, and, as the last thing 
 advised the people to attend much to reading 
 Among the books inviting their attention, he said, 
 there was none more ijnportant than the Bible 
 and Morse’s Geography. He was however not 
 behind the times. Geographies were not prepared 
 at that time with an Atlas suited to the wants of 
 the student. There was little else j^ursued in the 
 schools but reading, writing, and a little of arith- 
 metic. Teachers could not be procured who 
 could conduct the scholar further. And the great 
 waste of time in our schools from these circum- 
 stances can readily be understood. Suppose in 
 one of our common schools the cost of board, tui- 
 
07 
 
 tioii, and books for a winter amounted to five 
 hundred dollars. Now if from the incompetency 
 of teachers, the unsuitableness of books, or any 
 other cause, but half the progress was made which 
 would be possible under more favorable circum- 
 stances, w'e should sustain a loss of two hundred 
 and fifty dollars for that short period. But is it 
 not true that such losses have been sustained in 
 this township from the beginning; and is it not 
 ex]>cdient that the causes should be guarded 
 against in future? 
 
 There are twenty-five school-houses now within 
 the limits of the original townshi[> of Shipton, — 
 sixteen in Shipton, and nine in Cleveland. . Suit- 
 able books have been prepared on all branches of 
 study. Teachers of better qualifications can be 
 procured, and the means of efiucating and prepar- 
 ing suitable teachers are now within our reach. 
 The Academy which went into operation in Dan- 
 ville in 1855 may become mo.>fc efficient in this 
 respect, and exert a salutary iniiuence every way 
 in moulding the character of the young. 
 
 The first school-house built in Kicliniond was 
 near the site of the English church. It answered 
 many years for schools, meetings, and civil courts. 
 An attempt was m ade some years ago to establish 
 an Academy in that place, which failed. The 
 people however have been more successful in their 
 
attempt to found a College, The charter of St. 
 Francis College was obtained in 1855, and a pre- 
 paratoiy school opened. The buildings were com- 
 pleted iu 1856, and the College has since been in 
 successful operation. It is unsectarian in religion, 
 though designed to exert an evangelical influence. 
 And from the favorableness of the location and 
 the thorouglmess of instruction, we trust it will 
 obtain suitable patronage, and be very efficient in 
 preparing young men for the higher departments 
 of teaching and for the learned j>rofessions, while 
 the preparatory department will accomplish its 
 object in training the young in the earlier stages 
 of their education. 
 
 The Library Associations recently established 
 both at Danville and Richmond, with their vari- 
 ous means of promoting intelligence and the best 
 interests of the communities, should not be over- 
 looked. Our newspapers, periodicals and postal 
 arrangements have also an important bearing on 
 the interests of education. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 RELIGIOUS I^"TEREST8. 
 
 But as moral beings in a world of probation, we 
 have still higher interests to promote. Our spiri- 
 tual welfiire is of paramount importance. And 
 among the influences ordained to secure it, the 
 Church holds a prominent place. The church 
 edifice should therefore stand beside the school- 
 house. For although it has at some periods been 
 thought that science and religion should be 
 divorced, and scholars and divines have been 
 sometimes jealous of each other, yet all facts 
 prove that their legitimate tendency is to aid each 
 other. While the Bible is a storehouse of facts 
 and of the best thoughts, and puts us upon the 
 right track in all our investigations respecting 
 subjects of vital importance, all science contri- 
 butes to establish its divine authority, and assists 
 in explaining and enforcing it. The Church, there- 
 fore, with its ministry and Sabbath, and the vari- 
 ous arrangements to cany out and accomplish its 
 legitimate ends, cannot be over estimated. 
 
70 
 
 But the church edifice in Sliipton remained a 
 long time to be built. It is true, school-houses 
 and private dwellings were used for religious 
 assemblies many years. Before ministers were 
 employed in the place to any considerable extent, 
 meetings were conducted on the Sabbath by lay- 
 men, and were undoubtedly attended with much 
 good. The Sabbath was kept from entire dese- 
 cration. A sense of moral and religious obligation 
 was cultivated. The habit of attending public 
 worship was formed to some extent, so that the 
 work of gathering religious congregations became 
 easier afterwards. And no doubt blessuigs came 
 from above in consequence. 
 
 But ministers came long before a church edifice 
 was built. The different individuals, as far as I re- 
 collect them, have been mentioned in the chapter 
 on professional men. Although other ministerial 
 brethren had performed labors in Danville more 
 or less for the first twenty- five years or more, yet 
 in 1829, when the Rev. A. J. Parker went to 
 Danville, it had been left and was without a 
 church or minister of any denomination. He la- 
 bored for three years and then formed a small 
 church, of the Congregational order. It has been 
 increased from time to time till one hundred and 
 seventy-nine have been connected with it, ninety- 
 seven of whom still remain. In J836 a comfort- 
 
71 
 
 able place of worship was erected in the village. 
 Holsey Cleveland, James Boutelle, and Abijah 
 Burbank were the builders. A large congrega- 
 tion and a full Sabbatli-scliool usually assemble 
 there from Sabbath to Sabbath, and the success- 
 ful pastor has grown grey iu the sei^vice. The 
 influence of this church lias been favorable to all 
 the interests of the people, inasmuch as it has 
 been a spring of action in the right direction. 
 
 The Adventists have also a house of worship 
 and a minister. 
 
 As the Congregationalists were the first who be- 
 came pennanently established at Danville, so the. 
 Church of England were the first at Richmond. 
 The Methodists however had labored there, but 
 finally located themselves on the opposite side of 
 the St. Francis, in Melbourne. The site of the 
 English church in Richmond was conveyed to the 
 Lord Bishop of Quebec by Shubael Pierce in 1830, 
 and the edifice soon after was erected. It was the 
 first put-up ii the township, except a small Roman 
 Catholic chapel on Brand’s Hill. And though 
 there has been a variety in tlieir experience, they 
 have on the whole been prosperous, influential, 
 and useful. The Roman Catholics were the se- 
 cond who built themselves a liouse of worship in 
 Richmond, and tlieir numbers and congregations 
 are now large. 
 
The Free Church came later into the field, and 
 have now a convenient house of worship. 
 
 There are also four houses of worship on the 
 other side of the river, in Melbourne, viz. the Con- 
 gregational, Methodist, Kirk, and Adventist, whose 
 members in part belong on this side. Some also 
 from Melbourne attend religious worship in Rich- 
 mond. There are also a few scattered members of 
 three other denominations in the vicinity, making 
 ten in all. It might therefore be inferred that the 
 people are very quarrelsome or very devotional. 
 But perhaps they are not distinguished in either 
 way. The circumstances of former localities have 
 for the most part occasioned the variety. And 
 there is much among them all to commend. 
 
 But the number of religious denominations can- 
 not be otherwise than detrimental to religious 
 prosperity. From the feebleness of each, they 
 cannot bring that influence against the cause of 
 Infidelity and irreligion which might otherwise be 
 the case. Their means also being scarcely ade- 
 quate to support the Gospel among tliemselves, 
 they do far less abroad. And there is a far less 
 amount of preaching and religious influence on the 
 whole in the place than there might be if the de- 
 nominations and houses of worship were dimi- 
 nished by one half. The multiplication of reli- 
 gious denominations therefore tends to lessen the 
 
means of grace. Hence we ought to preseiwe 
 greater harmony in our counsels on religious sub- 
 jects, remembering that union is strength, while 
 divisions and alienations tend to weakness and 
 dissolution. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE CONTRAST. 
 
 In the preceding chapters we have considered 
 the township at its origin, when the primitive 
 forests covered the soil and the wild-beast roved 
 over it at pleasure. But tlie forests have for the 
 most part disappeared, and nearly eveiy lot of 
 land is occupied. A population of four thousand 
 inhabitants are scattered through the two present 
 townships of Shipton and Cleveland, — in the for- 
 mer twenty-five hundred, in the latter fifteen hun- 
 dred, — possessing the advantages in a high degree 
 which are usually found in an advanced state of 
 society. The village of Danville contains about 
 four hundred inhabitants, that of Richmond nearly 
 as many. 
 
 There is in Danville the railroad station, 84 
 miles from Quebec and 12 from Richmond station. 
 Several lines of stages also run to different places. 
 There are in the township eleven saw-inills, four 
 grist-mills, two oatmeal-mills, a wool-carding ma- 
 chine, a fulling-mill and a cloth-dressing establish- 
 ment, an iron-foun<hy, a latlie-mill, a carriage- 
 
shop, a chair-shop, a cabinetmaker’s shop, a gene- 
 ral maniifactor 3 % 4 carjienter’s shops, 3 cooper’s 
 shops, 7 blacksmith’s shops, 5 shoemaker’s shops, 
 1 tailor’s shop, 1 tin-shop with hardware, 1 tan- 
 nery, 2 tavems, and 6 stores. There is also a 
 school-house, an academy, and 2 church edifices. 
 
 There is in Eichmond the railroad station, 72 
 miles from Montreal, 96 miles from Quebec, and 
 221 miles from Portland. Stages also run from 
 this place to others in various directions. There 
 are in the Township of Cleveland, of which this 
 is the village, 4 saw-mills and 1 grist-mill ; in the 
 village, 2 bakers, 2 butchers, 3 blacksmiths, 3 
 joiners, 3 shoemakers, 1 tanner, 1 printing-office, 
 1 iron-foundry, 1 tailor, 1 wheel-wright, 1 land- 
 surveyor, 1 railroad saloon, 2 taverns, 1 school- 
 house, and 3 churches. St. Francis College has 
 its location here, at the junction of the railroads, 
 and the court-house is in the process of erection. 
 
 Most of the professional and business men, and 
 the mayors of the townships, Enoch Baker of Ship- 
 ton and C. B. Cleveland of Cleveland, reside in 
 the villages. And throughout these townships and 
 villages there is eveiy appearance of industry and 
 ]>rosperity ; and from their situation and circum- 
 stances they are destined to still greater advance- 
 ment in all that is desirable. It is true, in some 
 ]>laces'at the West, society advances morerapi<lly 
 
76 
 
 than here ; but the wealth employed is not pro- 
 duced on the spot, being usually imported from 
 the East. But where is there a community which 
 has created its own resources, that has done better 
 than this ? Most of the original inhabitants and 
 their children are now in possession of all the 
 necessaries of life, and some are quite affluent. 
 The means ^ of mental and spiritual illumination 
 are also abundant, and the prospects of the future 
 are inviting and cheering. The laws of the coun- 
 try have been greatly improved, and the spirit of 
 the age has had its effect upon us. How great 
 the contrast when we look back, through the 
 space of sixty years, and consider the origin and 
 progress of the township. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 As we review the whole history tlius set forth, 
 we see in all the circumstances, manifest indica- 
 tions of the Divine goodness. That our lines are 
 cast in pleasant places, and so many advantages 
 have been secured for us, requires an acknow- 
 ledgement of our indebtedness to our bountiful 
 Benefactor. And the return suitable on our part 
 is a heart of gratitude and devotion. At the same 
 time, we should prove oiu^elves worthy of the 
 high position we have attained, by acting in these 
 circumstances in a fit and becoming manner. 
 And it will be found that public spirit and liberal- 
 ity will always react upon ourselves for our own 
 best good, while a failure here will greatly retard 
 our progress, and perhaps keep us permanently on 
 the background. And as those who have gone 
 before us have suffered so much for us, we should 
 feel our responsibility and act in view of it, both 
 in respect to the present and the futui'C. 
 
 And there is a duty devolving upon all. Our 
 municipal organizations are impoiiant, and those 
 
 « 
 
78 
 
 who are in authority under them aliould be faith- 
 ful to their trusts. The school commissioners and 
 teachers of youth have also a great and good work 
 before them, and the faithful performance of it 
 would be attended with the happiest results. But 
 above all, our cliurches and religious institutions 
 are most essential to every rational individual, and 
 they should be sustained and promoted in every 
 suitable way. As descendants and successors of 
 our forefathers here, let us improve from their 
 experience, cherishing the right spirit, and pursu- 
 ing the proper course ; and all our interests will 
 be secured both for the present and the future, 
 and the generations that follow will be benefitted 
 and blessed in consequence.