The surface is quite uneven and mountainous in most parts, yet between the mountain ranges there remain considerable tracts of level fertile land. Through the middle of the town, from north to south, extends a high range of mountains, cutting the territory into a natural division of east and west town, Haystack Mountain, in the north part, and extending into Wells, being the principal elevation of the range, and much resorted to by pleasure parties. Indian Hill, also, lying in the north-western part, is a considerable elevation. 

      The principal stream is Pawlet River, which enters the south-east corner of the township from Bennington County, and flows in a serpentine course, a north-westerly direction, to Wood Creek, in New York, and thence to Lake Champlain; it contains numerous tributaries, of which Flower Brook, entering from Danby, is the largest, and nearly all of sufficient size to afford good mill-sites, many of which are occupied. 

      The rocks in the western part are of the Georgia slate deposit, while the eastern portion is composed of talcoid schist, cut by a considerable bed of limestone, and containing some available deposits of roofing-slate and marble. 

      The soil of the town is mostly susceptible of cultivation, even to the tops of the mountains, all but two or three of which can be tilled to their summits, while many fields that cannot be plowed make excellent pastures. On the banks of the larger streams are alluvial deposits of rare fertility, and constantly enriched by periodical overflows. A large proportion of the soil is gravelly loam intermingled with slate, and well adapted to the growth of all grain raised in this latitude. 

      The timber is that common to the surrounding towns; the forests, however, becoming rapidly thinned, the inevitable result of the populous growth of a community. Lumbering is carried on to some extent, while the rich saccharine of the maple is largely utilized in the manufacture of sugar, which receives a ready market in localities less favored in this respect, finding, together with the other exports of the town, a convenient avenue for transportation in the Rutland and Washington Railroad, which enters the town from Rupert, extending thence to West Pawlet, and thence nearly on the line of the State, to Granville, N. Y. 

      In 1880 Pawlet had a population of 1,698, was divided into eleven school districts and contained eleven common schools, employing four male and, nineteen female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $1,742.02. There were 350 pupils attending common school, and the entire cost of the schools for the year ending Oct 31st, was $1,967.02, with Mr. Edward I. VAIL, superintendent. 

      Pawlet, a post village located on Flower Brook, near the center of the town, contains two churches, (Meth. and Cong.,) one grist-mill, saw-mill, cheese-box manufactory, cheese factory, a fork handle and baby carriage stock factory, six stores, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, wagon shop; harness shop etc. 

      West Pawlet, a post village and R. R. station, located in the west part of the town, on the Rutland and Washington R. R., contains four stores, two hotels, one grist-mill, two churches, (Baptist and Christian,) one wagon shop, one harness shop, two blacksmith shops, and several large stone-quarries. 

      North Pawlet is a small hamlet located in the north-west part of the town, near Indian Hill, containing about a dozen dwellings. 

      ANDREW's saw-mill and cheese box manufactory, located at Pawlet, is operated by steam power and manufactures 125,000 or more cheese boxes, and saws about 300,000 feet of lumber per annum. 

      J. Q. ADAMS' grist-mill, located on Flower Brook, upon the site of the first grist-mill ever erected in the town, was built by Mr. ADAMS in 1881, and has two runs of stones. 

      N. ROBINSON's carriage manufactory, located on road 22, was established by the present proprietor in 1850. He now employs five men in the manufacture of wagons, carriages and sleighs. 

      M. P. DAMON & Co.'s fork handle and baby' carriage-stock manufactory, located at Pawlet, was established by Mr. DAMON in Oct. 1873, and employs six men, manufacturing about 60,000 hoe handles, and stock for 30,000 baby carriages per annum. 

      H. W. EDGERTON's apiary, located near the central part of the town, on road 12, was established in 1875, since which time he has been increasing the business yearly, until he now keeps about 75 swarms of bees, raising some $200 worth of "seeds" and $800 worth of honey yearly. 

      Red Mill, located in the central part of the town, was built in 1876, by Geo. F. HAMMOND, who now does custom work there, operating two runs of stones. 

      Mont Verd Slate Quarry, situated in the north-west part of the town was opened by BARDWELL & JONES in 1870.  In July 1873, EVANS & WILLIAMS were proprietors, and since August 1877, the quarry has been operated by William J. EVANS, who acquired his partner’s interest, and who employs 15 to 20 men, and produces 20 to 30 squares of sea-green roofing slate per day. 

      WELCH's slate quarry, situated in the western part of the town, was opened by Robert STEVENS in 1871, and is now operated by M. WELCH, of Granville, N. Y., producing about 200 squares of sea-green slate per month. 

      Hugh J. WILLIAMS' slate quarry, situated in the north-west part of the town, was opened in 1877, and now operated by Mr. WILLIAMS of Granville, N. Y., who produces 100 squares per month. 

      WOOD's saw-mill, located in the west part of the town, on Pawlet River was built by W. B. WOOD, of Granville, N. Y., in 1881, and has the capacity for cutting 6,000 feet of lumber per day, and also manufactures chair stock, lath, etc. 

      GOODSPEED's cider mill, located on road 14, was built by Peter GOODSPEED, and has the capacity for manufacturing 10 barrels of cider per day 

      DILLINGHAM Slate Quarry, located at West Pawlet, was opened by Howell DILLINGHAM IN 1877-78’, and employs 10 men in the manufacture of sea-green roofing slate, producing 200 squares per month. 

      RISING & NELSON's slate quarries, located at West Pawlet, employ from 30 to 35 men and manufacture 200 squares of slate per week. 

      BROWNELL Slate and Flagging Co.'s quarry is situated in the west part of the town, where they manufacture about 800 squares of slate, and 3,000 feet of flagging per month, employing 40 men. 

      Indian Hill Slate Company was organized in 1876, consisting of Owen and Even EVENS. The quarry is situated at West Pawlet, and yields about 7,000 squares of slate per year. 

      Pawlet Woolen Company, E. COLVIN & Son, proprietors, was organized in 1846 by Asa S. JONES, the present company being formed in 1877. Their factory is located on road 32, two miles south of Pawlet, where they manufacture into cloth, about 25,000 lbs. of wool each year, employing eight hands. 

      The Leach Cheese Factory, located in the south part of the town, on road 30, was established by a stock company in 1846, and is now owned by Wm. LEACH, who uses the milk from 175 cows per year in the manufacture of cheese. 

      Pawlet Cheese Factory, located at Pawlet, was established in 1865 by R. C. WICKHAM, and is now owned and operated by M. E. WHEELER, and uses the milk from 500 cows, manufacturing 1,000 pounds of cheese per day. 

      BLAKELY's cheese factory, located in the north-east part of the town, on road 23, uses the milk from about 400 cows. 

      Settlement was begun in this town by Simeon BURTON and Wm. FAIRFIELD, the former receiving fifty, and the latter thirty acres of land, donated by the proprietors to them in 1768, as first and second settlers of the township. The earliest record extant of any town-meeting, bears date July 29th, 1768, at which meeting Reuben HARMON was moderator and Simeon BURTON, clerk. The first grist-mill was erected by Remember BAKER, about the year 1768, and was located on Wells Brook. This was soon after followed by one on Flower Brook, built by Wm. BRADFORD, and not long after this, one was erected on the present site of the Red Mill, built by Col. Samuel WILLARD, in 1783. The first hotel was kept by Capt. Jonathan WILLARD, on the site of the present homestead of Henry ALLEN. In 1814 a cotton-mill was erected on Flower Brook, by the Pawlet Manufacturing Co., which was successfully operated for thirty years, and the only cotton mill ever erected in the county. The building was 70 feet long by 39 feet wide and three stories high, and manufactured heavy cotton goods and warps. The machinery of the mill, power-looms and all, were made on the spot by Nathaniel ROBINSON, an ingenious mechanic. 

      Indian Hill, located in the western part of the town, is accredited with being the scene of a battle between the French and English, the latter force under the command of Gen. PUTNAM. It is said PUTNAM was ordered from Fort Edward to the east, to dislodge a body of French and Indians who were lurking in the vicinity of Lake St. Catherine. The battle or skirmish is supposed to have occurred in June, 1785, upon the farm now owned by Marshall BROWN, the English losing two men, who were buried near a large rock upon the battle field. In 1880, Mr. BROWN cleared a spot of ground upon the hill, upon which he built a log house or lodge, commanding an excellent view. On the 2d of September a celebration was held, at which two or three thousand people were present, and Mr. Henry CLARK, of Rutland, delivered an oration. 

      The town hall of Pawlet was commenced in June, 1881, the foundation being 40 x 60 feet and three stories high. The first story and 40 x 44 feet of the second story belongs to M. WHEELER, while the other portion of the second story is used as a town clerk's office, and the third story for a town hall, each party building and owning the portion they occupy. 

      Simeon BURTON, the first settler of the town, came here from Arlington, and continued his residence here until his death, at an advanced age, in the year 1810. 

      William FAIRFIELD, the second settler, remained in the town until the breaking out of the Revolution, when, upon his espousing the cause of England, his property was confiscated and he removed to Canada, where many of his descendants still reside. 

      Andrew WINCHESTER came to this town from New Lebanon, Conn., in 1786, settling upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Norman, where he died in 1827, aged 66 years.  Joel, his son, was born, on the old homestead in 1790, where he resided until his death, in 1846. His son, Andrea, now occupies the place. The house built by Joel in 1821 was burned February 18, 1880, the present house being built upon the old foundation, in 1880. 

      Capt. Benoni SMITH carne to Pawlet from Glastonbury, Conn., in 1781, locating upon a farm on road 3, where he soon after built a grist and saw mill. He died upon the old place in 1799, aged 59 years. His sons, Josiah and Reuben, settled in this town, and Arthur removed to Scipio, N. Y., and Ira, to St. Lawrence County, of the same State.  Robert H. remained upon the old homestead, and represented the town in the Legislature two years. 

      Joel SIMONDS came to this town from Massachusetts, about 1780, locating on road 5, upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Ossian H. SIMONDS. Joel died in 1821, aged 77 years, his widow surviving him until 1832, dying at the age of 86. 

      Ashbel HOLLISTER came to this town from Glastonbury, Conn., in 1781, locating in the north-west part of the town. He served in the Revolutionary war under the immediate command of the Polish General, Kosciusko, "the friend of liberty," and a friend of Washington. Hiel HOLLISTER, son of Ashbel, was born in 1806, and is still a resident of the town, one of its most prominent citizens. Most of his life has been spent in farming, though he taught school several terms, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits seven years, represented the town in 1842, wrote a history of the township which was published in 1867, and was associate judge of the county in 1872. 

      Elijah BROWN came to this town from Stamford, Conn., in 1783, and resided here until his death, in 1835, at the age of 77 years. His grandson, Marshall, now residing on road 3, was born in 1817. 

      Joseph JONES came to this town from Greenwich, Mass., in 1781, and located upon the farm now owned by M. C. JONES, where he died in 1816, aged 84 years. 

      David BLAKELY, from Woodbury, Connecticut, came to Pawlet in 1782, locating upon the farm now owned by Franklin BLAKELY, on road 23, where he died in 1821, aged 72 years. His widow; who was an aunt of Gov. Hiland HALL, died in 1831, aged 85 years. His son, Dan, was born in 1793, and married Hannah EDGERTON, by whom he had nine children, all of whom, except one son, are now living, 

      Robert WICKHAM came to this town with his father, Isaac, in 1799, and has since BEEN a resident of the town, now being the oldest man of the township, at the age of 84 years. 

      Samuel GOODSPEED, in 1800, came here from Barnstable, Massachusetts, and located on road 14, upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Lucius, where he resided until his death at an advanced age. 

      Oliver WILLIAMS came to this town from Granville, N. Y., in 1830, and has resided upon the same farm since; he is now 80 years of age, and celebrated his golden wedding on the 11th of April, 1880. 

      The First Congregational Church, located at Pawlet, was organized on the 8th of August. 1781, by Rev. David PERRY, consisting of six members, with Dr. Lewis BEBEE as first pastor. The first house of worship was erected in 1785, followed by the present edifice in 1841, which is a pleasant, comfortable structure, capable of accommodating 450 persons, and cost $6,000.00. The property is now valued at only about $5,000.00 however.  The society now numbers 110 members, with Rev. N. S. MOORE, pastor. 

      The First Baptist Church, located at West Pawlet, was organized by its first pastor, Elder BROWN, on the first Monday in May, 1790, consisting of eighteen members. The first church was built in 1800, and destroyed by fire on the 25th of May, 1880. In 1881 the present edifice was erected, at a cost of $2,000.00 and will seat 350 persons, the church property being now valued at about $2,500.00. The society has about 100 members, with no regular pastor at present. 

      The Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Pawlet, was organized in 1826, by Rev. Daniel BRAYTON, with 100 members, and Mr. BRAYTON first pastor. A church building was erected the same year, which was replaced by the present commodious structure in 1851, which will seat 300 persons and cost $5,000.00. The society now has 126 members, its property valued at $6,500.00, and is prospering under the pastorate of Edgar I. WALKER, A. M. 

      The Presbyterian Church Society was organized in March, 1877, by Rev. Hugh DAVIS, of Middle Granville, N. Y., consisting of fifteen members. The society now has about fifty members, holding their services in the basement of the Baptist church, with no regular pastor. 

      The Union Church, located in the west part of the town, was erected in 1853 or '54, costing about $700.00, and capable of seating 150 persons. It is used by all denominations. 

      A Congregational Church Society was organized at Pawlet in 1881, and are holding their services in the academy building. 

Gazetteer and Business Directory of  Rutland  County, VT.;
1881-82, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child;
Syracuse, N.Y.; Printed at the Journal Office
August 1881, Part Two, Pages 166 - 172.

Transcribed by Karima Allison 2004