The surface is very broken and mountainous, some parts of it so much so as to be incapable of tillage or habitation, the whole eastern portion being very sparsely settled.  The western portion, however, is quite thickly populated and contains some very fine farms. The land is watered by several small streams, the largest of which are East Creek and Furnace River. East Creek rises near the central part of the town, flows a southwesterly course and is discharged into Otter Creek, near Rutland village. Furnace River rises in the northwestern part of the town, flows a southwesterly course and empties into Otter Creek in Pittsford. A branch of White River and its tributaries water the portion lying east of the Green Mountains. There are also two small ponds in the town, but do not seem to be of sufficient importance to acquire the dignity of a name. 

      The scenery is varied and pleasing, as is the case in all Green Mountain districts.  Among the mountains are found several quite considerable caverns that lend a charm of mystery and an air of romance to the sterile peaks. The rocks are those peculiar to the Green Mountain range, mostly gneiss, among which is found two beds of iron ore and one of manganese, neither of which is worked at present. As early, as the year 1792, there was a furnace for smelting the ore, in operation, situated on Furnace River, built by a Mr. KEITH, of Boston, but it has long since been abandoned. Manganese is used largely as a coloring material in the manufacture of glass and enamels; but its greatest value is in the manufacture of steel. It is of a grayish-white color, presents a metallic brilliancy, is capable of a high degree of polish, and is so hard as to scratch glass and steel; and when mixed with iron, it gives that metal increased elasticity and hardness, hence its use in the manufacture of steel. The distance of the Chittenden mines from a railroad has caused them to languish, for reason of the expensive transportation of the ore. 

      In some of the mountain valleys, and in the basins of Furnace River and East Creek, are located many excellent farms. The soil is an alluvial deposit, and produces wheat, barley, oats, rye, Indian corn and potatoes. But the greater wealth of the town consists in its herds and flocks, the principal exports being wool and products of the dairy. 

      The timber is that common to Green Mountain districts, namely, beech, birch and maple, interspersed with pine, hemlock, spruce, elm, and black and white ash; some of the trees attaining an enormous growth. One old elm, standing on a narrow strip of land between Chittenden proper and what was formerly Philadelphia, measures six feet in diameter at a distance of forty-eight feet from its base. The whole length of its trunk was sixty-eight feet, having three limbs, either of which was three feet in diameter.  Lumbering is carried on to some considerable extent, the first mill for its manufacture being erected in the early part of the present century; and from the maple, large quantities of sugar are manufactured each year. 

      There has been, from time to time, about twenty thousand dollars expended in making and repairing roads and building bridges, which amount was raised by direct taxation on all the land in the town. Three public roads have been built across the mountains. The first, known as the Green road, passed from Rutland, through Pittsford, over Thomas hill, and through "New Boston" to Pittsfield. This was the old mail and stage route from Rutland to Pittsfield, and was closed early in the history of the town. The second, known as the North Mountain road, passed from "New Boston" to Pittsfield, a short distance north of where the Green road crossed the mountains. The third, and the one over which the daily mail is now carried, passes from Rutland through "Slab City" to the old turnpike, thence to Pittsfield. 

      In 1880 the population of the town was 1,092. It was divided into nine school districts and contained nine common schools, employing one male and twelve female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $983.48. There were 209 pupils attending common schools, and the entire cost of the schools for the year ending Oct. 30, was $1,106.27, with Mr. Riley V. ALLEN superintendent. 

      Chittenden is entirely a rural district having no villages. The post office is located at Chittenden, a small hamlet in the southwest part of the town, on East Creek. 

      J. & A. BAIRD's saw mill, located on road 20, is operated by waterpower, has one large circular saw and manufactures 5,000 feet of lumber per day. 

      T. B. & M. L. CHEEDLE's sawmill, located on road 9, is operated by water-power and manufactures about 400,000 feet of lumber per annum. 

      NAYLOR & Co's saw mill, located on road 5, is operated by water-power. It has one lumber saw and five small saws for slitting boards, etc., and employs four men, manufacturing 50,000 feet of lumber per annum. 

      The first settlers of Chittenden were Nathaniel LADD, John BANCROFT, Gershom BEACH, Jonathan DIKE, Solomon TAYLOR, Nathaniel NELSON, Oliver BOGUE, Zeb. GREEN, John COWE, Jacob WALTON and Asa FARRAR, all of whom settled in the southern part of the township. Of the sixty-six proprietors, only four, Solomon TAYLOR, John BANCROFT, Daniel BARNARD and Nathaniel LADD, ever settled in the town. 

      The first town meeting was held at the house of Solomon TAYLOR, March 30, 1789, with Nathaniel LADD as clerk. LADD settled on the farm now owned by H. F. BAIRD; Anson LADD, his son, was the first child born in the town. The first saw mill was built by PICKLEY & NEVINS in 1808, and located on the site now owned by Jesse L. BILLINGS. Since that time twelve others have been built, most of which have been in successful operation for many years. At an early period of the town's history a grist mill was erected in "New Boston,” and another at "Forge Flat," though the latter was never put in operation. The first blacksmith shop was built by Andrew BARNARD in 1802. The first general training ground was in "New Boston," on the land now owned by WOOD & EAYRES, of Pittsford. 

      Jonathan DIKE and Solomon TAYLOR located in the northern part of the town. They cut and stacked hay the first two or three summers on the Beaver meadows, drawing it three miles over Thomas hill in the winter, on hand-sleds. They used to go, in common with others of their townsmen, to Bennington with a portion of their grain for grinding.  DIKE, on one occasion, brought from Bennington a bushel of salt for which he was offered a bushel of corn for each pint. 

      One of the early settlers was the Indian, "Capt. John." He was with the French and Indians at the time Gen. BRADDOCK marched the English army through the wilderness to attack the French at Fort Duquesne. He fired at Washington three times, and, failing to hit him, concluded he was invincible, and after the battle, left the French army and joined the English where he was subsequently one of Washington's lifeguards. Capt. John left in Chittenden a stone pestle, which is now in the Vermont State Cabinet. He died and was buried in Mendon, but his bones subsequently graced the office of a surgeon and M.D. in Rutland, and later were in an M.D.'s office in Pittsford, where they remained until recently. 

      Dan BARNARD, an original proprietor, was one of the Insurrectionists who attempted  to prevent the County Court from holding its session at Rutland on the 22d day of  November, 1788. 

      Walcott H. KEELER, a representative from the town, introduced and influenced the passage of a bill abolishing imprisonment for debt. 

      Caleb CHURCHILL died a few years ago, aged 99 years, 5 months and 11 days. He was one of the early settlers in the northern part of the town, that portion formerly included in Philadelphia. He located upon the farm now owned by Patrick MULLIN. 

      Chittenden, in common with other townships of the county, suffered much during its early history from the depredations of bears and wolves. But the men, women, boys and girls, without regard to age or sex, often carried terror into the ranks of these "pests of the wilderness." One of the modes of warfare was to surround and make them prisoners, on which occasion the women and children were called into active service. On one occasion in the year 1810, the howling of wolves on Spruce Peak was heard, about ten o'clock in the evening. On the following morning, five wolves found themselves surrounded by men and women, boys and girls, armed with guns and pitchforks. Four of the wolves were taken prisoners. A bear was once taken near the "LADD" road, between North and South Chittenden, which weighed over six hundred pounds. 

      The oldest person ever residing in the town was Aaron BEACH, who died about the year 1816, aged 102 years. 

      Jonathan POWELL came from Sullivan, N. H., in Sept. 1808, and settled on the farm now owned by Almon POWELL. 

      Samuel HARRISON, an early settler, was born at Norton, in the county of Derby, England, April 26, 1756. About the year 1780, he immigrated to Pittsfield, Mass., when he married Rebecca KEELER, and subsequently removed to Chittenden in 1789, and located upon the farm now owned by William MULLIN. 

      Jeffrey A. BOYNE settled at an early date, in the north part of the town, upon the farm now owned by Lewis I. WINSLOW. This farm is now said to be the best in the township, and one of the best in the county. It is pleasantly located, overlooking the Otter Creek valley, and bringing to view some of the most beautiful scenery in the county. Along down the valley, a distance of seven miles, can be seen the busy little village of Sutherland Falls, and still farther to the south, a distance of twelve miles, the village of Rutland and its surroundings. Mr. WINSLOW took the farm some fifteen years ago since which time he has been constantly improving it and its surroundings. A small stream winding its way from the mountains to Otter Creek, affords water power whereon he has constructed a mill which grinds all his well as several thousand bushels for his neighbors, each year. The same power also does all the threshing, wood-sawing and churning for the farm.  A large spring situated about 166 rods north-east of the house, furnishes clear cold water, never above 45° in temperature, in an abundant supply.  Among his other stock, Mr. WINSLOW keeps sixty-five head of cattle. 

      Joseph ATWOOD, when seventeen years of age, removed from Mexico, N. Y., and settled in Chittenden, upon what is now known as the CHURCHILL estate, in the year 1803.  His brothers, Billings and John, settled here at about the same time. 

      Near the hamlet of Chittenden, in a beautiful little valley, is situated the homestead of the notorious EDDY family, which at one time created such an excitement with their alleged "spiritual manifestations and materializations." Their séances became so notorious and were attended with so much mystery, that the place was visited by hundreds, and their feats were discussed so much in scientific circles, as to render the name of Chittenden noted. 

      The father, Zephaniah EDDY, a farmer living at Weston, Vt., married one Julia Ann MACOMBS, a girl of Scotch descent, who was born in the same town.  About the year 1846 Mr. EDDY sold his farm and removed to the present homestead. Mrs. EDDY claims to inherit from her mother the gift of “far seeing,” for she not only had previsions of future events, but also claimed the faculty of seeing the denizens of the mysterious "nether world," from whom she claimed to receive visits. To them was born three children, William, Horatio and Mary. They also inherited this gift of their mother, and it is to them the EDDY family owes its notoriety, they having traveled all over the country giving spiritual séances.  They induced many to believe in their supernatural gifts, but the majority of people pronounce their feats mere trickery and fraud. 

      Nathaniel LADD was the first town clerk, from March 1789 to 1790. Nathan NELSON 2d, from 1790 to '93; then John COE, from 1793 to 1813-20 years; David WADSWORTH, from 1814 to '16; Warren BARNARD, 1816 to '18; Wolcott H. KEELER, 1824 to ‘28; Jonas WHEELER, 1822 to '24; Wolcott H. KEELER. 1824 to '28; Moses RANDALL, 1828 to the 14th of November, 1843, when he died; Alvin RANDALL served till March, 1844; Capen LEONARD, Jr., till March, 1847, three years; Chauncey TAYLOR, from 1847 to 1854; Alvin RANDALL, 1854 to '56; Reuben HARRIS, 1856 to '71, fifteen years; H. F. BAIRD, to the present time. Two senators, both of whom were born and educated in Chittenden, have represented the county in the State Legislature, with ability and honor. 

      Jonathan WOODARD and Josiah PIERSON served in the Revolutionary war, and Thaddeus BAIRD and Israel HEWETT served in the war of 1812. Of the late war, Wallace NOYES and Cyrus WHITCOMB died at or near Vicksburg. Azro P. NOYES was killed near Richmond, in Kilpatrick's raid. Martin CLARK, C. P. BARNARD, Lewis MARTIN, L. L. BAIRD, Valorious BUMP, and Wilber F. FREEMAN died in the army. 

      About the year 1810, the Episcopal Methodist organized a society, but some dissensions arising soon after among its members, the presiding elder, (DRAPER,) disbanded the society and burned the class-book, together with the society records. From that time until 1831, the few sectarians of the town united with the Congregationalists of Pittsford. During this year the Episcopal Methodists organized a society and erected a church building, and the year following, the Congregationalists built a church edifice, though both of these societies have become extinct. The Methodist property is owned by the Wesleyan Methodists, and the Congregational house is used by the society of Grangers. There are two Episcopal churches of more recent origin, in the south part of the town, where meetings are occasionally held.

      The North Chittenden Church, (Wesleyan Methodist,) located at Forge Flats, was organized by Rev. J. H. CANFIELD, on March 20, 1851, with a membership of eleven, which during the first fourteen months increased to forty; but has since decreased again to about thirty. The building will seat about 150 persons, and was erected in 1832, at a cost of $500.00; but its value has since decreased, so that the whole Church property is now only worth $300.00. Rev. S. B. TOWN is at present their pastor. 

Transcribed by Karima Allison 2004