DANBY, which forms with Pawlet and Mount Tabor the southern tier of  towns in the county, is bounded on the north by Tinmouth and Wallingford; on the east by Mount Tabor; on the south by Dorset, in Bennington county, and on the west by Pawlet. It is a trifle more than six miles square, containing 24,960 acres. The surface is broken by mountains, and indented with valleys, which unite the various water-courses so plentifully distributed throughout the town. The Danby or Spruce Mountains intersect the town north and south and at nearly right angles with the Dorset Mountains on the southern boundary. The principal streams are Mill River, which is formed by the concourse of many small brooks in the southwestern part of the town, and flows east into Otter Creek in the town of Mount Tabor; and Flower Brook, which is formed in a similar manner in the northwestern part of the town and flows southerly and then westerly into Pawlet River in the town of Pawlet. These streams and their tributaries have afforded the inhabitants unsurpassed mill privileges. Like all the towns in the county, it was originally covered with a luxuriant mantle of forest trees, which were a source of wealth to the earlier inhabitants.

      The first meeting of the proprietors was held, in pursuance of the provisions of the charter, at the great Nine Partners, Cromelbow precinct, Duchess county, N. Y., and Jonathan WILLARD, through whose efforts, chiefly, the charter was obtained, was the moderator of the meeting. The second and subsequent meetings were held at Nine Partners, N. Y., until the spring of 1763, and committees were repeatedly appointed for the purpose of surveying the new township, dividing it into shares, laying out roads, etc. The first road was actually laid out in the fall of 1763, or spring of 1764, and led from Bennington to Danby, and is now used for a highway across the mountain from Danby to West Dorset. It was first worked in the summer of 1764, and those who performed the work were to receive their pay in land. Although at first a mere bridle-path, it was the only road to the town for some time, and was consequently the avenue of the original settlements.

      The first settlements in Danby were effected in the summer of 1765, when Joseph SOPER, Joseph EARL, Crispin BULL, Luther COLVIN and Micah VAIL established homes in the wilds of the new township. Joseph SOPER came with his family from Nine Partners, N. Y., finding his way by marked trees, and bringing his worldly goods on horseback. He made a clearing and erected a log cabin on the farm now occupied by Benjamin M. BAKER. The cabin stood there until about 1800. Joseph EARL, also from Nine Partners, began a clearing west of SOPER and near the present residence of John HILLIARD. In the following year, it seems, he erected a log cabin, and was joined by his family. Crispin BULL settled near the present residence of Richard STONE, but afterwards made the first clearing in the east part of the town, and erected a cabin a little south of the school-house. Luther COLVIN came from Rhode Island and pitched on the farm now owned by John HILLIARD and occupied by Eli WELLINGTON. Micah VAIL's settlement was on the farm owned by A. B. HERRICK, south of the Corners. These five families constituted the population of Danby in 1766.

      Luther COLVIN found his way here by marked trees. His log cabin had but one room and no windows or doors. It is said that he brought the first stove into town, and built the second framed house. He also joined the Quaker society. He was an enthusiastic hunter and trapper. He died in 1829 at the age of about ninety years. Captain Micah VAIL was very prominent in the town and State. He was moderator of the annual town meetings in 1773 and 1774; was one of the selectmen in 1770 and 1775; was a firm friend of Ethan ALLEN, Seth WARNER, and an unwavering opponent of the New York land jobbers. He represented Danby in the convention which assembled at the house of Captain KENT, in Dorset, in 1776, and pronounced the New Hampshire Grants "a free and separate district." He and his wife both died on the same day in 1777, and were buried in the same grave.

      In the year 1766, Seth COOK, then twenty-six years of age, came to Danby from Rhode Island and settled on the since well-known "Cook farm," now occupied by the widow of the late Seneca SMITH, south of the Corners. The town then contained but seven families. He was one of the first board of selectmen in 1769, and was unjustly suspected of entertaining royalist ideas. He died in 1801. Nathan WELLER came from Nine Partners, N. Y., in the spring of 1767, and settled on a portion of the farm now owned by Harris OTIS. He was a prominent man in the early history of Danby, having been selectman eleven years from 1770, town treasurer in 1772, and lister four years. 

      Captain Stephen CALKINS came from Connecticut in 1768, and settled on the present farm of C. G. HERRICK. He purchased the right of an original proprietor, and was thus the first to clear a farm north of the Corners. He was the first selectman elected in town. He was captain in the Revolutionary War, and took part in the siege of Yorktown, when the British surrendered. He built the first grist-mill in town. He died in 1814, at the age of eighty-three years. Thomas ROWLEY came to Danby from Hebron, Conn., in the same year with Captain CALKINS and settled near the residence of the late A. C. RISDON, and was surveyor for the town and proprietors' clerk for a number of years. He was town clerk from 1769 to 1782 inclusive, was one of the town's committee of safety; was elected representative in 1778 and again in 1782. He opposed, with CHITTENDEN, ALLEN and WARNER, the pretensions of the New York land jobbers. He was the poet of the Green Mountain Boys. In 1768, also, Jesse IRISH, from Nine Partners, settled on the farm now owned by Nelson COLVIN. He had seven sons, some of whom, like himself, bore the reputation of being Tories. It is related that his property was confiscated because of his active sympathy with the British. He remained in Danby until his death, some years after the war.

      The year 1770 witnessed a considerable immigration of settlers. Among others that came that year was William BROMLEY, sr., who settled on the present homestead of Ira H. VAIL, and erected his rude log cabin on the site of the present framed house. He was town clerk from 1776 to 1780; proprietors' clerk in 1786; one of the committee of safety in 1777; selectman in 1781, and town treasurer from 1783 to 1785. He died in 1803, at the age of eighty-four years. Abraham CHASE also came in 1770, from Nine Partners, and established a settlement near the recent residence of A. C. RISDON. He owned and kept the second tavern in town in 1774. After a few years he removed to Plattsburg, N. Y. Captain William GAGE came the same year (1770) and kept a tavern on the site of the poor-house. He held many prominent positions of trust in the town; was especially active against the claims of the "Yorkers " to Vermont territory; joined the army during the invasion of Burgoyne, and participated in the battle of Bennington. He remained in town some years after the close of the war. 
 
 
 

      Wing ROGERS came from Mansfield, Mass., in 1770, and came at once into possession of broad acres, including the farms now owned by J. E. NICHOLS and F. R. HAWLEY. He was a Quaker and one of the founders of that church in Danby. He was a man of great force of character and peculiar eccentricities. He was the first "hog constable," being elected in 1777; was selectman four years, and a member of the Legislature from 1790 to 1793 inclusive. He died after 1800 in Ferrisburg, Vt. His brother, Stephen, settled also in 1770, on the farm now owned by the H. P. TABOR estate. He was a Quaker. In 1790, he erected there the first two-story house built in town. He died in 1835, at the age of eighty-five years. 

      Israel SELEY came from Rhode Island in 1770; participated in the Revolution and died in 1810, advanced in years. Ephraim SELEY, a brother, came here about the same time and built the red tavern at the Corners. He opposed the New York land grants. He removed to Canada. Walter TABOR, another immigrant of 1770, came from Tiverton, R. L, and settled on the ground afterward covered by the woolen factory, near the A. C. RISDON place. He fought in the Revolution, and after the war was over became the associate of Micajah WEED in the tanning business. In about 1792 he removed to Mount Tabor, where he died in 1806.

      Abel HASKINS, sr., came from Nine Partners, N. Y., in 1772, and lived here until his death in 1820, at the age of eighty years. Ezekiel BALLARD, a Quaker, came from Rhode Island in 1775, and settled on the north part of the farm now owned by A. A. MATHEWSON, and afterward on the farm now owned by the H. P. TABOR estate. In the same year Joseph WING came from Dartmouth and settled on the farm now owned by William H. BOND. He died at the age of ninety in 1810.

      In 1776 Joseph ARMSTRONG, of Bennington, took up a temporary residence in the northwest part of the town. He afterwards settled in Pawlet. In the same year Governor Thomas CHITTENDEN, to avoid the dangers of the exposed condition of the frontier, came to Danby by the way of Middlebury and Castleton, and took up his abode on a farm at the foot of the mountain, presumably near the residence of the late A. C. RISDON. On the evacuation of Ticonderoga in July, 1777, he went to Pownal, and later to Arlington and to Williamstown, Mass. At the close of the war he returned to Williston. Stephen WILLIAMS was the first settler on the present farm of Frank GOODWIN, and after a residence of a number of years here, during which he was honored with various town offices, he removed to Concord, Erie county, N.. Y. Bethuel BROMLEY came from Preston, Conn., in 1777, and founded a settlement on the farm of the late Hiram BROMLEY. He was a brother of William BROMLEY, sr. About the time of his arrival, Oliver HARRINGTON, from Rhode Island, settled in the little village, where he resided until his death in 1839, aged eighty-one years. Elihu BENSON came from Rhode Island as early as 1778, but probably did not establish a residence here until several years later. 

      Obadiah EDMUNDS came the same year from the same State. Although a man of peaceable disposition, he bore a share in the War of the Revolution. He died in 1809. Elisha FISH also came from Rhode Island in 1778, and began the clearing of the farm now occupied by Freelove FISH. At the time of his death, in 1845, when he had reached the age of eighty-three years, he had acquired what was then deemed to be a considerable property. Charles LEGGETT, one of the first school teachers in Danby, lived here from 1778 to 1806, when he removed to Chester, N. Y. Anthony NICHOLS came to Chittenden, Vt., from East Greenwich, R. L, his native place, in 1776, and two years later commenced the farm now occupied by Isaac J. NICHOLS and sisters, in Danby. He was a Quaker. He introduced about the second stove in town, the "Abbott stove." His death occurred in 1822, when he had attained the age of seventy-one years. His brother, Charles, accompanied him on his arrival in Danby, and settled at Scottsville, near where his grandson, Charles, now lives. 

      The name of Dr. Ebenezer TOLMAN, the first physician in town, first appears on the roll of 1778. He was a prominent man in town until he went away in 1800, and was succeeded in practice by Dr. Adam JOHNSON. John H. ANDRUS came from Colchester, Conn., in 1780, and established a home in the west part of the town. He held many prominent public positions, having been one of the judges of the County Court in 1811 and 1813, a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1814, and a councilor in 1820. He was also selectman eleven, and representative nine years. He died in 1841, aged seventy-three years, in Pawlet, whither he had removed in 1822. Another settler of 1780 was Henry FROST, who kept tavern near the residence of the late A. C. RISDON, and ran the first store in town. He was selectman two years. Thomas HARRINGTON, sr., came from Gloucester, R. I., in the same year. He brought considerable money with him and became an extensive land-owner. He was selectman four years and town surveyor for a long time. Thomas NICHOLS, sr., the earliest known ancestor of the NICHOLS family who came to Danby from Greenwich, R. I., in 1780. He was of Welsh descent. He died at an advanced age in 1798. Jonathan SELEY, who subsequently became one of the largest land-owners in town, came from Rhode Island about the year 1780. He was constable in 1784, selectman five years, lister five years and justice of the peace ten years. He removed to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and afterwards to Ohio, where he died. Rev. Hezekiah EASTMAN, the first settled minister and the first Baptist clergyman in town, was ordained at the house of Stephen CALKINS on the 11th of October, 1781. He received the benefit of the share of land reserved by the charter for the first settled minister of the gospel. Although his education in the schools was limited, he had great natural ability, a thorough knowledge of the Bible and of men and affairs. He preached in nearly all the surrounding towns, often traveling long distances, both on foot and on horseback, to meet his appointments. Services were usually held in log buildings. He remained here until about the year 1800.

      Captain Amos BROWN, of Gloucester, R. I., settled in 1782 on the farm now owned by his grandson, Daniel BROWN, and is entitled to the credit of having been the first to make a clearing in the west part of the town. He afterwards settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, John BROWN. The present dwelling house he erected in 1793. He died in 1843, at the age of eighty-six years. Lemuel GRIFFITH came also in 1782, on the farm now owned by R. E. CASWELL, and soon became one of the most extensive land-owners in town. The apple orchard that he planted is there yet and the site of the old house is marked by the cellar, still visible. The first buildings were removed in 1839. He died in 1818, at the age of seventy-three years. He has no sons or grandsons in town now, but many more remote descendants. J. C., C. W. and S. L, GRIFFITH are great-grandsons.

      Joseph BUTTON and Daniel PARRIS, both worthy of mention, came in 1785; the former, from Rhode Island, settled on what is still known as the "Button farm," now owned by Howell DILLINGHAM. He was a Quaker, and possessed great wealth and energy. He kept a store and manufactured potash. He died in 1829, at the age of eighty years. Daniel PARRIS came from Williamstown, his native place, and built a house on the farm now owned by his grandson, John S. PARRIS. He died on the 17th of February, 1822, aged sixty-two years.

      The principal arrival in 1787 was that of Caleb SMITH, who first resided on the farm now owned by A. D. SMITH. The site of the old log cabin is marked by a single apple-tree. Like so many others of these early inhabitants, he was a Quaker. The house which he built in 1798 is still occupied by his grandson. Captain Alexander BARRETT, who came in 1788, was a prominent Methodist here in early days, and a man of wealth and social position. He died in 1849, in his eighty-second year. In the year 1789 came three brothers from Scituate, R. I., viz., Benjamin, Benoni and Reuben (sr.) FISK. Benjamin settled on the present farm of Anthony HALEY, and remained here until his death in 1866, when he had attained the unusual age of ninety-five years. Reuben FISK, sr., who cleared a part of the farm now occupied by P. W. JOHNSON, had the power, it is said, of healing b. manipulation. He removed to Holland Purchase.

      In about the year 1790 Stephen BAKER from Rhode Island came here, worked a while for Daniel PARRIS, and in 1804 settled in the little village, having returned to Rhode Island and married in the mean time. He went to Rhode Island again, then to Mount Holly in 1814 and from there came here in 1828 and took up his residence near Scottsville, where his son, Orean, now lives. He died in 1858, aged eighty years. He has four sons, Benjamin M., Orean, Austin S., John F., and two daughters, Elizabeth and Philena S., wife of Simeon E. HARRINGTON, now in town. The year of his arrival here witnessed also the settlement of Bradford BARNES, of Plymouth, Mass., near what has been known as "the borough " or, Danby village, on the Rowland STAFFORD farm, now owned by A. S. BAKER. He kept a tavern here until about the year 1802. He died in 1816 at the age of sixty-nine years. In 1790, also, John BUXTON, from Rhode Island, established a residence on the farm now owned by N. CLARK. He died in 1845, being then eighty-five years of age. James SOWL first lived here about 1791, when he settled on the farm which his father, Wesson SOWL, had previously cultivated to some extent. He died at Westport, Mass., the home of his father. He had been a seafaring adventurer in his earlier days.

      Dr. Harris OTIS, a native of Scituate, Mass., came to Danby in 1793. Although a finely educated physician, he withdrew by degrees from the practice of medicine and devoting himself entirely to farming, accumulated a handsome property in land and became especially noted as a dairyman. He resided where his son William now lives; the farm is carried on by Harris F. OTIS, his grandson. He was a leading Quaker. He died on the 8th of August, 1847, in the seventy-third year of his age.

      In 1795 Jacob BARTLETT, from Rhode Island, settled near the present farm of Michael CUNNINGHAM, his birch-pole house then being on the old road, since discontinued. He was a blacksmith and a member of the Quaker society. His death occurred in Granville, N. Y., in 1837. Caleb BUFFUM came here in 1797, from Providence, R. I, and after carrying on the blacksmithing business until 1806, purchased the trip-hammer and shop of Samuel DOW, and remained there about twelve years. From 1818 to 1841, he resided in Mount Tabor. Then he returned to Danby and kept the tavern several years. He died in 1857, at Rutland, being seventy-six years of age. 

      Elkanah PARRIS, a Quaker from Pembroke, Mass., came in 1797, to the west part of the town and remained until his death, in 1813. Abner BARTLETT, of Rhode Island, came in 1798, and built a log cabin on the hill a little east of Erastus KELLEY's, and in 1799, a framed house still farther east. He worked at blacksmithing part of the time with his brother, Jacob, until 1801, when he died of smallpox. Dr. Adam JOHNSON, of Norton, Mass., established a residence near the site of the old Quaker meetinghouse, and afterwards bought out Dr. TOLMAN about a quarter of a mile west of the Corners, as before noted. He had formerly been physician on board a privateer; had been a prisoner six months in the tower of London, and when liberated found that he had been robbed of all his earnings. He died in 1806, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.

      The most prominent arrivals in 1800 were Elisha BROWN, Asa BROWN, Rufus BUCKLIN and William GREEN. There were, of course, in the interim between the first settlement in Danby and 1800 a great many homes founded here which have not been mentioned. Among these other immigrants were John ALLEN, who settled where Michael CARLEY now lives; Gideon BARNUM, Benjamin BROWNELL, John BROCK, Captain John BURT, Dennis CANFIELD, Joshua COLVIN, Jonathan CRANDALL, Jacob EDDY, Dr. Ira M. FRAZER, John HART, Roger WILLIAMS, Henry HERRICK, sr., Henry HERRICK, jr., Abel HORTON, sr., Nicholas JENKS, Benjamin KELLEY, William LAKE, Jesse LAPHAM, Henry LEWIS, Peter LEWIS, James LINCOLN, Elisha LINCOLN, Darius LOBDEL, Rev. Jared LOBDEL, James MCDANIELS, Gideon MOODY, Lieutenant John MOTT, John PALMER, Caleb PHILLIPS, Benjamin PHILLIPS, Israel PHILLIPS, John PRIEST, William ROBERTS, Nathan SAULSBURY, Daniel and Elihu SHERMAN, Henry SIGNOR, Wesson SOWL, Rowland STAFFORD, Abraham Staples and Elisha TRYON.

      Meanwhile the population had drown to the number of 1,487 souls, over two hundred more than the town possesses today. The forests had not, it is true, been felled as they have been since. The houses, many of them, were still built of logs, and everything presented the aspect of a new and opening country. The town had been organized about thirty-one years, the first town meeting having been held at the house of Timothy BULL on the 14th of March, 1769. The first officers were: Timothy BULL, moderator; Thomas ROWLEY, town clerk; Stephen CALKINS, Seth COOK and Crispin BULL, selectmen; Daniel VANOLENDO, constable ; Nathan WELLER, treasurer; Peter IRISH, collector; John STAFFORD, surveyor; Joseph EARL, Stephen CALKINS and Seth COOK, committee to lay out highways. In the fall of that year it was voted to lay out five new roads, the first being from the Notch in the mountain to Joseph EARL's (near the site of John HILLARD's present residence); this was the first road in town; thence it was to continue to the house of Micah VAIL. Two roads were to start at Micah VAIL's, one to lead north and the other east. The fifth road was laid out from the house of Jesse IRISH, in the northern part of the town, to the house of Nathaniel FISK, in the eastern part.

      These were times, indeed, "that tried men's souls." Perpetual struggle, unremitting warfare, from year to year. First the bitter hardships that had to be endured, the obstacles that had to be surmounted or removed, in gaining a livelihood in the wilderness; then, the strife between the inhabitants, who almost universally claimed under New Hampshire grants, and the "haughty land-jobbers of New York," as Ethan ALLEN described them. While at the same time, for years, raged the battles between tyranny and independence, between the British invaders, with their hireling Hessians, and their blood-thirsty Indian allies on the one side, and the sturdy resisters of oppression on the other; a people whom Burgoyne described as being the most active and most rebellious race on the continent, which "hangs like a gathering storm on my left." The citizens here felt the most bitter hatred against the Tories, who were found here in some numbers, and who were sometimes shot down at their own doors or hanged on the nearest tree. During Burgoyne's invasion a company of militia was organized here. Some of the residents participated in the battle of Bennington.

      Thirty years of peace intervened between the close of the Revolutionary War and the breaking out of the War of 1882. Twenty-two of the citizens of Danby took an active part in this war, of whom thirteen were drafted, while there have been forty-seven of its citizens who served in the Revolution.

      Among the curious customs of these times may be mentioned that of warning the inhabitants who were exposing the town to cost, without owning real estate, by the service of a mandate upon the constable commanding the unwelcome residents to leave the town within a specified time. According to the records, twenty-one families were warned out of town during the eight years following 1778. It was a custom initiated by the passage in 1779 of a law requiring it, for each town to elect annually a "horse brander," whose duty it was to brand every horse belonging in town. The letter for Danby was "I." But this custom fell into disuse when horses became a subject of general speculation and trade as much as a beast of burden. In 1784, at a special town meeting held on the 26th of January, it was voted to erect a whipping-post and stocks near the house of Abraham CHASE. This was done in pursuance of an act passed by the Legislature in 1779, for the purpose of punishing delinquents and exhibiting notifications, warrants, etc.
 
 

      In 1791, when the population was 1,206, framed houses had been erected largely in the place of the rude log cabins of earlier days, in consequence of the building by Stephen CALKINS of a saw-mill; schools had been started in the several parts of the town, and roads had been opened sufficiently to render travel to and from any part of the town an easy matter. By 1800, when the population had increased two hundred and eighty-one persons, great progress had been made in the clearing of the land, and nearly every farm in town was under cultivation. Three saw-mills had been built, two churches erected, while two stores and three hotels were in operation. At that time, and, indeed, until the opening of the railroad through the "borough," the "Corners" was the most thickly-settled part of the town. "Dutch Hill," "Ox-Bow," "Bromley Hollow" and "South America" had all been settled. In 1810 there were at the "Corners” two stores, kept respectively by James MCDANIELS and James WEEKS.

      Danby suffered in common with a hundred other towns in New England and New York from the cold season of 1816, and the famine that followed in the ensuing year. Grass and the grains were a complete failure. Many of the inhabitants were reduced to the last extremity, and but for the succor of willing and more able friends must, perhaps, have perished of want. The population diminished after 1810 until 1840, when a slight increase was shown over the previous census report, which, in 1830, was 1,362, and in 1840, 1,379. The next ten years witnessed a very decided growth, but since 1850 the number of inhabitants in town has gradually fallen off. The condition of the town in 1840, as given in Thompson's Gazetteer, was as follows: A society of Friends or Quakers had then a meeting-house in the east part of the town, while the Separatists, or Orthodox Friends, had another in the north part. A society of Methodists, one of Baptists, and one of Universalists, owned, jointly, three houses of worship, in the central, south and east parts respectively. There were several marble quarries in the southeast part, and in the east village three mills for sawing marble. The town was divided into thirteen school districts. There were two grist-mills, five saw-mills, five stores, two taverns, two tanneries, and one trip-hammer in town.

      When the war of 1861-65 was ended, Danby's war debt was wholly paid, notwithstanding that her bounties aggregated $18,625, ranging each from $100 to $1,200. The quotas required under the several calls of the president were promptly filled. Under the president's call for 500,000 men on the 18th of July, 1864, the town has the following record: Number enrolled, 137; quota, 24; excess of credit from previous calls, 18; number to be raised on July 31, 1864, only six.

      The town furnished the following named soldiers in the last war: Aaron H. BAKER, first and second enlistment, co. E, 5th regt.; Albert A. BAKER, co. E, 5th regt.; Henry J. BAKER, co. F, 6th regt.; Holden D. BAKER, Joel C. BAKER, co. B, 9th regt.; Elias S. BAKER, John F. BAKER, co. B, 14th regt.; Luman A. BALLOU, Co. G, 7th regt.; William H. BOND, first and second enlistment, co. A, 2d regt.; Chester BRADLEY, first and second enlistment, co. D, 7th regt.; James W. BROMLEY, first and second enlistment, co. B, 2d regt.; Erwin E. BROMLEY, co. E, 1st cav.; Henry BROMLEY, co. B, 14th regt.; P. A. BROUGHTON, co. I, 7th regt.; George A. BUCKLIN, co. H, 10th regt.; Elisha BULL, first and second enlistment, co. B, 7th regt.; Bernice M. BUXTON, co. D, 7th regt.; Thomas BURNETT, U. S. N.; Job H. COLVIN, co. C, 10th regt.; Alonzo N. COLVIN, co. K, 14th regt.; Charles A. COOK, George M. COOK, first and second enlistments, Co. D, 7th regt.; William S. COOK, co. E, 2d s. s.; Morris H. COOK, co. I, 7th regt.; John COOK, co. B, 14th regt.; William COREY, co. C, 10th regt.; Albert CRANDALL, co. H, 1st cav.; his second enlistment, co. B, 14th regt.; Evarard CRANDALL, co. I, 7th regt.; William CRANDALL, co. H, 1st cav.; Francis E. CRAPO, co. K, 14th regt.; Daniel V. CROFF, co. B. 14th regt.; Ezra CROFF, co. B, 14th regt.; Israel T. CROFF, co. H, 10th regt,; Alonzo E. DOTY, co. H, 1st cav.; Henry DENVER, co. D, 7th regt.; Benjamin F. DAWSON, co. K, 14th regt.; Gary H. EMERSON, Orange G. EMERSON, Hiram R. EDGERTON, first and second enlistments, co. E, 2d s. s.; Caleb P. FISK, co. B, 14th regt.; James FITZPATRICK, U.S.N.; Martin FLANAGAN, co. D, 7th regt. ; Edwin M. FULLER, George GARDNER, William GARDNER, first and second enlistments, co. F, 6th regt.; Warren GIFFORD, co. B, 2d regt.; Danforth B. GILMORE, co. 1, 7th regt.; Spencer GREEN, co. B, 9th regt.; Smith GREEN, Gardner F. GRIFFITH, co. B, 14th regt.; Hiram P. GRIFFITH, co. I, 7th regt.; Julius C. GRIFFITH, co. B, 14th regt.; John E. HAGAR, co. F, 6th regt.; Henry M. HALL, co. F, 1st s. s.; Enos HARRINGTON, jr., co. B, 14th regt.; Sewall T. HOWARD, co. E, 2d s. s.; George E. KELLEY, co. B, 7th regt.; John KELLEY, first and second enlistments, co. F, 6th regt.; David H. KELLEY, Isaac W. KELLEY, co. B, 14th regt.; Daniel H. LANE, co. B, 14th regt.; second enlistment, co. E, 17th regt.; Lysander B. LORD, co. B, 14th regt.; John MAKER, co. F, 6th regt.; John MCINTYRE, co. H, 1st cav.; John MYLOTT, first and second enlistments, co. D, 7th regt.; James C. MOORE, co. F, 6th regt.; John MURPHY, U. S. N.; Joel T. NICHOLS, first and second enlistments, co. D, 7th regt.; Jared L. PARRIS, co. H, 2d s. s.; John J. PARRIS, co. E, 2d s. s.; Foster J. PARRIS. Co. B, 14th regt.; Isaac PORTER, co. F, 1st regt.; George W. POTTER, co. G, 7th regt.; Gustavus REED, cc. B, 2d regt.; George P. RISDON, co. H, 10th regt.; Charles A. ROBERTS, co. G, 7th regt.; Elbert SHERMAN, co. C, 9th regt.; William W. STIMSON, co. B, 14th regt.; Richard STONE, co. G, 1st cav.; George STULTS, co. I, 7th regt.; Elisha SWEAT, co. K, 14th regt.; Francis SYLVESTER, U. S. N.; Charles H. TARBELL, first and second enlistments, co. F, 6th regt.; Abner W. TARBELL, James M. TARBELL, first and second enlistments, co. E, 2d s. s.; George F. TAYLOR, co. B, 9th regt.; John C. THOMPSON, co. B, 14th regt.; James THOMPSON, U. S. N.; Thomas VAN GUILDER, co. D, 7th regt.; Henry H. VAUGHAN, co. B, 14th regt.; Orsemus W. WEAVER, first and second enlistments, co. D, 7th regt.; Merrick G. WILKINS, co. C, 11th regt.; Moses O. WILLIAMS, co. F, 5th regt.; Martin V. WILLIAMS, co. B, 14th regt., second enlistment, 6th regt.; John C. WILLIAMS, William WIGHTMAN, co. B, 14th regt.; Moses O. WHEELER, co. I, 7th regt.; Alonzo WHITE, co. E, 2d s. s.; Harvey S. WOODARD, co. I, 7th regt.; Daniel WOODS, co. C, 10th regt.; three unknown men.

      The following persons who were drafted in August, 1863, paid commutation, $300 each: Oliver G. BAKER, Joseph FISK, Lyman FISK, jr., Lemuel HARRINGTON, Simeon E. HARRINGTON, Erastus KELLEY, Jeremiah RAGAN, Edward J. REED, and Henry G. THOMPSON. Procured substitute: Oratus KELLY. Entered service: Isaac PORTER.

      The earliest manufactured products of the town were maple sugar and potash. Woolen factories, grist-mills, saw-mills and tanneries have also been erected and operated at various times. Jonathan BARRETT built the first woolen factory about the year 1810, a mile and a half south of the Corners. He operated a carding-machine in connection with it. BARRETT failed and the factory closed forever in 1821. That same year David YOUNGS built another in the East village, or "the Borough," which he ran until it burned in 1837. A third one was built about the same time at Scottsville and operated by Joseph BROWNELL. John BISHOP ran a cloth-dressing and fulling-mill at an early day, just west of the site of Erastus KELLEY's saw-mill. This business has been extinct in town for nearly forty years. The first grist-mill in town was erected and operated by Stephen CALKINS as early as 1780, and continued many years. Andrew WHITE built one near the east village, in 1795. The first saw-mill was built about 1790, by Stephen ROGERS, near the George F. KELLEY place. Soon afterward Stephen CALKINS erected one on the site of Erastus KELLEY's present mill. Still another one was built at a very early day by Henry FROST, near the residence of Mrs. Mary Ann BULL, and afterwards rebuilt by Jazaniah BARRETT. The first tannery was built by Micajah WEED near the present farm of Mrs. W. M. PARRIS. Daniel SHERMAN erected one about the same time (1800) where Albert MATHEWSON now lives, and Isaac NICHOLS operated another for a long time on the site of the present residence of Isaac J. NICHOLS. In 1810 Peleg NICHOLS, Hosea WILLIAMS and Bradford BARNES built a tannery at the east village. Two years later Daniel HEALY started one at Scottsville, which he subsequently sold to Job SCOTT. It remained in SCOTT's hands nearly thirty years. Adin GREEN built the next one at the east village and was succeeded by Amasa BANCROFT, and he by O. B. Hadwin, who four or five years ago converted it into a grist-mill and runs it as such now. Joseph, Jesse and Elisha LAPHAM built a tannery in 1821, on the site of D. E. GORTON's place. Others of a smaller capacity have been at various times operated by John VAUGHAN, Anthony COLVIN, Thomas NICHOLS. There is no tannery in town now. There have been in town two trip-hammers used in the manufacture of edged tools. Samuel Dow built the first one at the east village, in 1795, and Savid BARTLETT and Isaac SOUTHWICK built the other in 1810, near the residence of Henry B. KELLEY. Benjamin PHILLIPS also erected a furnace very early near the present residence of Edwin STAPLES, and carried on the business many years.

      The marble industry has been prominent in Danby until within a few years, but owing to the inferior quality of the product, as compared with the Rutland marbles, the business has gone down. Previous to 1840 James LINCOLN and others gained a livelihood here by hewing gravestones out of the native marble. The first mills were erected at the east village, one by William, Alfred and Albert KELLEY, and the other by Moulton FISH, Elisha FISH and Allen CONGOR. In 1841 Aaron and Elisha ROGERS and Seth GRIFFITH built the third. In 1845 John T., GEORGE and Gardner GRIFFITH built one, and continued it for a number of years. In 1848 another mill was built and operated by William HASKINS and Hiram KELLEY. Aaron ROGERS, jr., William STIMPSON and Hannibal HOPKINS began sawing marble in 1850. The opening of the railroad stimulated this industry, as it did all industries in the east village. George F. KELLEY erected a mill soon after the road was completed, which was subsequently operated by Albert and Alfred KELLEY. John H. VAIL, who acquired the property, disposed of it to the present owner, James CONNOR. The mill is disused. Other firms and corporations were organized, but lasted only a short time.

      The first tavern in town was kept on the site of the poor-house as early as 1775 by Captain John BURT. Abraham CHASE kept an inn from about 1778 to 1800 about a mile south of the Corners, near the house of the late Alvah RISDON, and was followed until 1810 by Henry FROST. The building was then converted into a store. About the year 1800 Elisha BROWN built the first tavern at the Corners, and remained there for years. He was followed by Henry HERRICK, jr., who kept tavern in town, in all, twenty-one years. He built and for several years attended the famous "Red House," being succeeded by Nicholas JENKS, who remained until 1823. The old Red House still stands though unoccupied. Barton BROMLEY built a public house at the west end of the Corners about 1830, out of the old Methodist meeting-house. Arwin HUTCHINS first ran it, and Nicholas JENKS followed him. The first inn at the east village, or Borough, was built by Rowland STAFFORD in 1795, near the site of the present hotel, and was followed in 1802 by Samuel DOW. Bradford BARNES kept one just north of the village, on the farm now owned by Austin BAKER, in 1800. Abraham ANTHONY also kept tavern at an early day where where the PHILLIPS brothers now live. The hotel which stood on the site of the present hotel was built in 1804, by William WEBBER, who was followed, four years later, by Dr. MCCLURE. Elisha SOUTHWICK then kept it a short time and was succeeded by Augustus MULFORD, during whose proprietorship it burned, in 1812. MULFORD immediately rebuilt on the same ground the present hotel. Hosea WILLIAMS followed him, and was succeeded by Rufus BUCKLIN, jr., who remained until 1820. Caleb BUFFUM kept the house from 1841 to 1847, and then Levi BARRETT until 185 1. For a number of years after that the landlords remained only a year. The present proprietor, William H. BOND, succeeded Lytle VANCE about the year 1869.

      The first store in town was opened by Henry FROST in 1790, in connection with the tavern. Jazaniah BARRETT, his successor, remained until about 1810. Elisha TRYON opened a store in 1805, and about the same time Isaac SOUTHWICK kept one near the present residence of C. G. HERRICK. James MCDANIELS succeeded the former and contemporaneously with James WEEKS engaged in the first mercantile business at the Corners in 1810. They were followed by many others. S. & N. J. SMITH built a large store in 1830and conducted the business many years. Miner HILLIARD built one soon after, and some time later was followed by CROFT & BATES, Mr. BROWN, and finally by P. HOLTON & Co. Mr. HOLTON is now in New York, and the only store at the Corners is kept by William F. OTIS. The old MCDANIELS store, after being occupied by various merchants, came at last into the hands of BUCKLIN & VAIL. Three or four years ago it was destroyed by fire. 

      There is no store at present at Scottsville, though Jobb SCOTT started one there about 1825 and remained in the business more than thirty years. S. E. HARRINGTON was the last merchant there. The first store at the east village was built and opened by Oliver ARNOLD in 1803, near the site of Frank BROMLEY's residence. His successors were Robert GREEN and David YOUNGS. About the same time Elisha and Jesse LAPHAM built a store on the farm now owned by D. E. GORTON. Hosea WILLIAMS built one in 1808, on the site of the present hotel, and which forms the ell of that building. Jesse LAPHAM, who followed him, remained until 1812, when he erected a new store on the site of James FULLOM's house. Isaac and Platt VAIL afterwards kept it. Jesse LAPHAM erected the store now kept by William PIERCE in 1836 and conducted the business for years. Since then H. G. LAPHAM, R. J. VAIL, R. A. VAIL & Co. (about 1840), William SPERRY, C. M. BRUCE (about ten years), A. SMITH and J. B. LAPHAM have kept there. William PIERCE followed Bruce about 1868. Since 1810 EGGLESTON & YOUNGS, Seth GRIFFITH, Caleb BUFFUM and others have kept store in the east village. 

      About 1855 a union store was established, Daniel BROMLEY and J. C. THOMPSON being agents. W. H. BOND afterwards occupied it as a tin and hardware store. It burned in about 1867. The store building west of the east village, occupied by L. S. WALDO, was erected soon after the opening of the marble industry by William KELLEY. The store now occupied by C. H. & W. B. GRIFFITH was built by S. L. GRIFFITH in 1862. The present occupants, brothers of the builder, went in there about 1865. The store now occupied by O. A. ADAMS was built in 1867, by C. M. BRUCE, who was succeeded by J. C. GRIFFITH; after he went out the building remained vacant a short time. Then A. S. ADAMS & Co. occupied it four or five years, going out in the spring of 1880. After a vacancy of five years, O. A. ADAMS occupied it in the spring of 1885. The hotel store, now occupied BY MCINTYRE & GRIFFITH, was built by Wm. H. BOND in the spring of 1880 and leased at once to A. S. ADAMS & Co. On the first of April, 1885, Eugene MCINTYRE and S. L. GRIFFITH succeeded them. The first hardware store in town was kept by NICHOLS & BUTTON, and afterward by J. B. NICHOLS. In 1865, William H. BOND succeeded NICHOLS and still remains in the business. W. D. SMEAD opened his tin shop four or five years ago.

      The grist-mill now owned and, operated by Henry B. JENKINS was built in 1846 by Nathan L. BAKER, and Joseph BARTLETT. The latter soon sold his interest to Mr. Baker, who in 1864 transferred it to H. B. JENKINS. The saw-mill of Erastus KELLEY was built by Stephen CALKINS, probably before the year 1800. Mr. KELLEY succeeded his father, Nelson, more than ten years ago and rebuilt the mill in 1878, the old one having burned. E. MINETT manufactures cheese boxes in connection with wagon-making. He succeeded his father, Henry, about 1866. S. L. GRIFFITH started a wagon shop here in 1880, in which he manufactured most of the wagons for his own use, and did work for others. (See History of Mount Tabor.)

      The Otter Creek News was started at the Corners about 1865 by John C. WILLIAMS, the author of an exhaustive and excellent history of Danby. He published the paper only two or three years ; the printing being done in Rutland. About 1868 A. S. BAKER & Son (Charles S.) took the paper and had the printing done in Bennington. The enterprise was abandoned about 1872.

      The first postmaster at the east village is not positively known. Adin H. GREEN kept the office as early as 1836. Joseph R. GREEN and A. R. VAIL then held it about four years each. Andrews EGGLESTON was postmaster eight or ten years. A. R. VAIL, S. L. GRIFFITH, C. M. BRUCE, James FISH and J. C. GRIFFITH have all had the office here for a time, the last named holding it nearly twelve years. He was succeeded by the present incumbent, O. A. ADAMS, in the summer of 1885. The present postmaster at the Corners, William F. OTIS, succeeded J. C. WILLIAMS about ten years ago. P. HOLTON held the office seven or eight years before that, having succeeded G. J. LOCKE. LOCKE's predecessor was Jeptha FROST.

      There are at present no lawyers in Danby. The medical profession is ably represented by Drs. E. O. and F. E. WHIPPLE. Dr. E. O. WHIPPLE was born at Athens, Windsor county, Vt., on the 20th of June, 1820. He studied medicine with Professors S. W. THAYER at West Randolph, and P. D. BRADFORD, finishing with the latter, in Bethel, Vt. He was graduated from the Castleton Medical College in June, 1847, and opened an office in Danby in September of the following year. Dr. F. E. WHIPPLE was born March 12, 1857, at Danby. He studied medicine with his father and was graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, March 10, 1881. He began to practice at once in Danby. (For further particulars of the two professions in this town, see Chapters XVI and XVII.)

      The variation in population of Danby since the first census of 1791 is shown by the following figures: 1791, 1,206; 1800, 1,487; 1810, 1,730; 1820, 1,607; 1830, 1,362; 1840, 1,379; 1850, 1,535; 1860, 1,419; 1870, 1,319; 1880, 1,202.

      The present officers of Danby are as follows: W. F. OTIS, jr., clerk and treasurer; E. J. REED, I. W. KELLEY, J. N. PHILLIPS, selectmen; W. HILLIARD, constable; Mrs. I. C. ADAMS, superintendent of schools; Elkanah PARRIS, D. C. SMITH, H. J. FISK, listers; C. G. HERRICK, overseer of the poor; J. N. PHILLIPS, town agent.

      As has already been observed, a large portion of the early settlers of Danby were Quakers, and a society, formed at an early day, held their meetings at first in a log house on a hill west of the residence of Howell DILLINGHAM. In 1785, the first regular edifice was erected on the southeast corner of the present farm of James E. NICHOLS. Another church was built in 1805 not far from the present residence of Howell DILLINGHAM. The Friends at this time outnumbered all other denominations. The Hicksite division of 1827 separated this body in Danby, and the orthodox Friends built about 1830 a church near the residence of C. G. HERRICK. The last church was built in 1845 in the east part of the town; but the society has now entirely run out.  Spiritualism has to a large extent taken the place of Quakerism.

      The Baptists formed a society here in 1781, and appointed Rev. Hezekiah EASTMAN their first pastor. Thomas ROWLEY, Abraham CHASE, William BROMLEY, sr., John STAFFORD, Nathan ROWLEY, Roger WILLIAMS, Joseph FOWLER, Stephen CALKINS and Abel HASKINS were among the first members. Mr. EASTMAN left here about 1800 and the church discontinued. It was reorganized in 1826 under Elder Joseph PACKER. The church went down about 1850.

      The first church edifice was erected by the Methodists in 1795, and stood west of the Corners near the burial ground. It was torn down in 1822 and meetings were thereafter held in the brick school-house. The Methodist Church and society flourished here until within a short time. Within a year a new Methodist Church has been organized at the Corners. G. F. EDDY fills the pulpit there usually.

      In 1838 the church building now used by the Congregationalists was built by a union society composed of Episcopal Methodists, Close Communion Baptists and Friends. The church south of the Corners was finished in 1839. The building at the Corners was completed about 1840.

      The present Congregational Church at the east village was instituted in 1869 by Rev. Aldace WALKER, D. D. It had first but twelve members. The pastor was Rev. James P. STONE. The present pastor is Rev. L. D. MEARS. The church property is valued at about $2,000.
 
 
 

History of Rutland County Vermont with Illustrations and Biographical 
Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited by H. Y. Smith & W. S. Rann
Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers  1886
History of the Town of Danby
Chapter XXV.
(pages  575-591)

Transcribed by Karima
2002

Childs' Gazetteer of the Town of Danby, Rutland County, VT., 1881-82

Childs' Business Directory of the Town of Danby, Rutland County, VT., 1881-82