WARREN lies in the southwestern corner of the county, in latitude 44° 6' and longitude 4° 11', and is bounded northerly by Waitsa and a part of Fayston, easterly by Roxbury, southerly by Granville, and westerly by Lincoln. It was chartered by Vermont to Hon. John THROOP and sixty-seven associates, October 20, 1789, containing 16,660 acres. November 12, 1824, Warren was enlarged by territory annexed from Lincoln. This township is situated between the two ranges of the Green Mountains, and at the place where the ranges diverge.

      The surface of the township is uneven and hilly, but not very mountainous. The soil is very good and generally quite free from stone, and well adapted to dairying and stock raising.

      The rocks underlying this township are of the talcose schist formation. There is a bed of steatite near the village, one in the southern part of the town, and another of better quality two or three miles northeast from the village. There is also a bed of serpentine in the southern part, and traces of gold in alluvium exist along Mad river.

      The town is watered by Mad river and its branches, and by numerous springs flowing from the hills and mountains. Mad river, the principal stream, rises in Avery's Gore, in Addison county, enters Warren about a mile and a half west of the southeast corner of the town, and flows across it in a northerly direction into Waitsfield. In its course across Warren it receives the waters of several tributaries from Roxbury and Lincoln Mountain. These mountain streams abound with trout and afford many good mill sites. Professor HAGER, in his report of the geology of Vermont, says: "Far up the mountain, in the eastern part of Warren, are several springs of a singular nature, and which we suspect to be medicinal. The water is nearly or quite inodorous, but from it are deposited large quantities of the oxide of iron and manganese. This sediment, which strongly resembles umber in appearance, forms a crust of considerable depth for quite a distance, and at one of the springs there is an accumulation similar in shape to tufaceous crust that forms High Rock spring at Saratoga. Cattle resort to this spring for drink, and are gradually wearing down the ochery hillock, from the top of which the water issues."

      The first settlement was commenced by Samuel LAIRD and Seth LEAVITT, in 1797. This and the next season, at least, the town must have settled rapidly, for we find the first town meeting was held September 20, 1798. The officers then elected were Ezra MILLER, moderator; Samuel LAIRD, town clerk; Ruel SHERMAN, Joseph RAYMOND, and Seth LEAVITT, selectmen; Samuel LAIRD, John SHERMAN, and Joseph RAYMOND, listers; Ruel SHERMAN, collector; and John WOODARD, grand juryman. 

      At the first freemen's meeting held September 2, 1800, twelve took the freeman's oath. The record shows that Isaac TICHNOR, for governor, received twelve votes, and Paul BRIGHAM, for lieutenant-governor, received thirteen. As ballot-box stuffing is not known to have been a "fine art" with our honest forefathers, we presume that Samuel LAIRD, who had been appointed justice of the peace the year before, had taken the freeman's oath previous to this meeting. The town was first represented in the legislature in 1809, by Thomas GERALD. The first child born in town was Cynthia, daughter of Ruel and Olive SHERMAN, born October 17, 1797. She married Robert LEACH, and resided in Randolph at an advanced age. Lucius, son of Seth LEAVITT, is said to have been the first male child born in town, March 5, 1798.

      The first settled minister in town was Rev. Nathaniel STEARNS, a Methodist. His salary of $100 per annum was paid in grain. It appears that there was some strife between the Congregationalists and the Methodists to secure the minister's lot. Rev. Mr. WHEELOCK, Congregationalist, preached occasionally, and expected to gain the lot by being installed first. The Methodists thought it quite desirable for their minister; so precipitated the matter by going in the night for Rev. Mr. STEARNS, and installed him first. Dr. FISH was the first physician, A. C. HUNTOON the first lawyer, and Watrous MATHER the first merchant. The wife of Ruel SHERMAN was the first person who died in town. The first marriage in Warren was that of John WILCOX, of Roxbury, and Abigail STEEL, of Warren. Samuel Austin run a distillery in town in early times when "toddy" was considered a necessity in every family. It was then used to keep out cold and to keep out. heat. It was necessary .at raisings, bees, quiltings, parties, weddings, neighborly visits, funerals, sheep washing, butchering, and to entertain the minister when he called to inquire of the spiritual welfare of his parishioners.

      George SCOTT was the first brickmaker. William MATHERS owned and conducted the first tannery. Ashbel MINER built the first grist-mill. Israel WARD built the first saw-mill, on the site now occupied by E. CARDELL's mill. Winslow FISH and Levi PERSONS were the first carpenters, and Daniel STEEL was the first mason. The pine lumber for the first meeting-house was drawn, from Brandon, Vt. That part from which the pews were made was drawn with an ox-team. The first school-house in Warren is said to have been built in 1805, where the school-house now stands in district No. 1. We hardly think that the date given is correct, as that is seven years after the town was organized. Some of the towns maintained schools in private houses before the inhabitants felt able to build school-houses. This might have occurred in Warren.

      Warren, as we see, effected its organization as a town the next year after the "first settler" entered it, and we see the "new-born" town, with all the machinery of a municipal corporation in successful operation, which has continued thenceforward by regular annual elections at March meetings. Her history after organization is like her sister towns. The pioneers set about leveling the forests, erecting farm buildings, school-houses, mills, stores, and improving the roads. They were young, brawny, resolute men, who were not afraid of the hardships of backwoods life, and they had the strength as well as the courage to endure it all. It is true there were instances of the want of the common necessaries of life, and in a few instances, before they had made much progress in clearing, they were obliged to be contented with the light diet of potato and milk and pumpkin. But that was of short duration. They soon widened their "clearings," and the virgin soil produced so abundantly that even with their proverbially large families they knew no want. The brooks and the forest also fed them. The streams swarmed with trout, the moose and deer bounded over their native hills, "and the bears were as plenty as woodchucks." These hardy pioneers were happy in their primitive homes. They had their pastimes at the "raisings," which of necessity were constantly occurring, the logging bees, corn huskings, and quiltings. There, were no “sets" then; society had but one grade. The social element was strong, and at these gatherings the whole town assembled.

      Many years since, Christopher MOORE, seventeen years of age, and De Estings BILLINGS, about the same age, set a bear trap three miles from the village, and on going to the spot the next day found a two-year-old bear in the trap. Thinking it would be nice to take the bear down to the village alive, they each cut a good switch, and gave the bear, who was first disposed to fight, such a thorough whipping he curled down. They did not release him from the trap and so run the risk of losing him, but one took the bear in his arms and the other the trap, and together they carried the bear and trap about half a mile to the road, where they had a cart in waiting; but they had to lay the bear down several times and repeat the whipping before they got to the cart. They got their faces and arms scratched some, but they took bruin to the village alive.

      In 1800, when the first census was taken in Warren, the population numbered fifty-eight souls. At the last census, 1880, the population was 951. In 1885 the town of Warren adopted the town system of schools. In 1888 it supported ten schools an aggregate of twenty-eight terms, and have had an average of 27.3 weeks in all the schools, which have been taught by seven male and thirteen female teachers, at an average weekly salary of $7.32 for male and $4.63 for female teachers. The whole amount paid to teachers was $1,536.95. The number of scholars between the ages of five and twenty years who attended these schools the past year is 201. Eight others attended private school. The entire income for all school purposes was $1,751.22, and the whole amount expended for school purposes was $1,714. E. W. SLAYTON was superintendent.

      Warren is an agricultural town; grass is "king," the dairy and stock growing are leading branches of industry; but the manufacture of the different kinds of lumber, tubs, etc., receive considerable attention.

      WARREN (p. o.) village is situated near the center of the town, on Mad river, at its confluence with Bradley and Freeman brooks. These streams furnish the village an abundant water-power, which turn the wheels of several mills and manufacturing establishments. Besides these this pleasant village contains a Union church, a good school-house, one hotel, a half dozen stores of all kinds, a telephone office, a full supply of shops, mechanics, and artisans, and about seventy dwellings. Its nearest railroad station is at Roxbury, seven miles distant.

      EAST WARREN (p. o.) is a hamlet situated at the four corners in the eastern part of the town. This is the oldest village in the town, and where its business was first transacted. It contains a Union church and schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and about a dozen dwellings. It is surrounded by a fine farming district, and was the first part of the town that was settled.

      Plyna PARKER's saw and shingle-mill is located at the lower end of Warren village, on Mad river, opposite the grist-mill. It came into Mr. PARKER's possession in 1877. He rebuilt it, put in a circular saw for sawing coarse lumber, and machinery for sawing shingles and dressing boards. He manufactures about 1,000,000 feet of dressed lumber per year, and a great many shingles. Mr. PARKER also owns a clapboard-mill near the tub factory, which was built by William CARDELL for a starch factory. It came into Mr. PARKER's hands in 1884. He converted it into a clapboard-mill. He stocks the two mills himself, draws his lumber over the mountain to Roxbury, and employs ten or twelve men and a number of teams. He deals in all kinds of dressed and coarse lumber and shingles.

      BRADLEY Brothers' shingle, bobbin, and clapboard-mill is located on Mad river, at the extreme south end of the village, on the site of the scythe and edge tools manufactory, built about 1845, by Carlos SARGENT, which was burned. In the spring of 1880 he built a mill for manufacturing shingles and bobbins, and run it up to the time of his death, August 28, 1884. Since then his two sons have conducted the business, and are now adding clapboard machinery and employ seven or eight men.

      F.A. ALLEN's saw and clapboard-mill is situated on Clay brook, about two and a half miles from Warren village. It was built by F. A. ALLEN in 1874. Mr. ALLEN stocks the mill himself, and cuts about 500,000 feet of lumber per year. He also leases of E. CARDELL the saw-mill in Warren village, and gives employment to seven hands, and in the winter months to ten more; and five teams.

      H.W. LYFORDS tub factory is located in Warren village, on the east branch of Mad river, which affords the power, with steam as an auxiliary. It was a sash and door factory when Mr. LYFORD bought it. He put in machinery for the manufacture of clothes pins and pail handles. Two years later, he converted it into a tub factory, and is now manufacturing about 30,000 tubs per year, and employs three or four men.

      D.C. GEER's carriage, casket, and furniture shop was built in 1862. It is situated in the village, and is supplied with. power from E. CARDELL's mill.

      George BANISTER’s blacksmith shop is situated on the west side of Mad river, in the village. It was built by William CARDELL for a tannery. In 1884 Mr. BANISTER bought it and converted it into a blacksmith shop, put in a trip-hammer, and other machinery for the manufacture of steel ox-shoes, slide ox-yokes, mill-picks, lumbermen's cant-dogs, stonecutters' tools, bushhammers, axes, and joiners' tools. Mr. BANISTER employs two or three men.

      Sylvester BANISTER's grist-mill, located on Mad river, in the village, was built by KIMBALL & PARKER. In 1859 Mr. BANISTER bought it, repaired it, and is now running a custom mill. It has three runs of stones. Mr. BANISTER sells flour, feed, meal, and grain.

      Walter A. BAGLEY's cooper shop is located on Bradley brook, at the lower end of Warren village, on road 17 corner 24. It was built by him in 1885. He does a small business, making only about 500 or 600 tubs per year.

      A. PEARSONS's clapboard-mill, located on Lincoln brook, was built-by Erastus BUTTERFIELD for a clothes-pin factory, who run it for that purpose from 1878 to 1886, when Mr. PEARSONS bought it, built a new dam; rebuilt the mill, and put in clapboard machinery. Mr. PEARSONS employes three men.

      B.F. SHAW's carriage shop is located at the lower end of Warren village. It was built by George HANKS about 1872. Mr. SHAW manufactures heavy wagons and sleds, and also dies sawing and planing for builders.

      STETSON & Son's saw and cider mills are on Mad river, about two and half miles from Warren village. They are doing a good business in custom sawing and cider making.

      Asahel Young, born in Athol, N. H., February 28, 1795, came to Warren when the town contained but three families. He located in South Hollow, on the farm now owned by Elbridge HANKS, where he cleared a plot of ground and built a log cabin. He married Fanny CAMPBELL, who died about a year after. He next married Precilla STETSON. Mr. YOUNG cleared up his farm and made of it a comfortable home. He was a famous hunter, and had several encounters with bears. On one occasion he was treed by a she bear with cubs, and remained perched in a tree until his shouts were heard by the neighbors, who came to his rescue. His children, who grew to maturity, were Hiram, son of his first wife, who enlisted in the service of the United States in the war for the Union, and died in the hospital; Louisa E. (Mrs. Walter A. BAGLEY), deceased; William, who emigrated to Wisconsin, where he died; and Emily F., who married, first, Alfred M., RICHARDSON, of Rochester, Vt. Mr. RICHARDSON enlisted in the Union army, returned home at the close of the war an invalid, and died three months after. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. RICHARDSON, Enoch E., married Myra SAWYER, of Middlesex, and is a farmer in Berlin. Mrs. RICHARDSON married, second, Walter A. BAGLEY, and now resides in her native town.

      James ALLEN, second cousin of Ethan ALLEN, was born in Mansfield, Conn., May 28, 1787. He came to Warren from Walpole, N. H., about I798, and settled where John CARDELL now lives; but in a few years he removed to the farm which Nathan THAYRE now owns. Deacon ALLEN was the first person baptized by emersion in Walpole, and was the first deacon of the Baptist church in Warren. When twenty years old he married Achsah YOUNG, daughter of a sea captain. She was born in Athol, Mass., June 3, 1788. They were blessed with thirteen children. Mr. ALLEN encountered the hardships incident to a home in the woods. He resided in Warren about seventy years, witnessed the great improvements made in that long time, and helped to make them. He died June 8, 1867, aged eighty years. Mrs. ALLEN survived until March 11, 1887, aged nearly ninety-nine years. His daughter has the old family Bible, which was printed in 1795.

      Joseph W. ELDRIDGE, son of James ELDRIDGE, of Brooklyn, Conn., who was commissioned a first lieutenant by King George III, in 1775, and served under command of Gov. Jonathan TRUMBULL, came to Waitsfield from Brooklyn, Conn., about 1803, and settled on road 38. In 1804 he married Betsey TYLER, of Connecticut, a granddaughter of Israel PUTNAM, and brought his bride all the way to their home in Waitsfield on horseback. They lived to clear their farm, and reared a family of three sons and three daughters who lived to adult age. Mr. ELDRIDGE was the first postmaster of Warren, served as justice of the peace twenty-four years, and was town clerk: His only surviving child, Edward A., was born in Warren, June 5, 1819 and married Elutheria NICHOLS, of Warren, in 1848. He now resides in the village of Warren, and was engaged in live stock dealing for twenty years, and drove his cattle to market in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Mr. ELDRIDGE is a prominent man in Warren, and has served in many of the town offices. He has been successful in his business, and secured a competency, and is a large landowner. One of his farms is the first one settled in town. He has also the first woolen carpet made in town, and what makes it especially valuable to him is the fact that it was made by the hands of his mother. Mr. and Mrs. ELDRIDGE had born to them five children. One died in infancy; one died in the army; another was wounded; and a son-in-law was shot. The united weight of himself and three surviving children is more than 800 pounds.

      William CARDELL was born in Southwick, Mass., May 3, 1788. He removed to Monroe, N. Y., and was married, September 23, 1810, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth PEERS. He settled in the eastern part of the town in 1817, but soon sold his land for store goods, in which he was unfortunate, and lost nearly all his property. He then bought a tract of land in South Hollow, which now comprises several farms. He was a great worker, cleared many acres of land, and made the mountain road to Lincoln for fifty cents per rod. While making the road he had a cabin built on runners, in which to cook and sleep, and which he moved along as fast as the road was completed. He also kept a tavern and toll-gate several years. When he came into town he had about $1,000, but owing to his misfortune he had only about $200 when he bought in South Hollow, and by his unremitting toil and economy amassed a large property, and was the wealthiest man in town at his death. He finally sold his farm in South Hollow, and moved into the village, where he died November 2, 1870, aged eighty-two years. He was many years a member of the M. E. church.

      James CARDELL, son of William and Elizabeth (PEERS) CARDELL, was born in Warren, November 29, 1818. He received a common school education. At the age of twenty-eight years he married Mary M. BRADLEY. In 1848, in company with his brother George W., he engaged in mercantile business. This partnership continued about five years. Mr. CARDELL has been a merchant since 1840, and the clerk of Warren since his appointment, December 24, 1863. He represented his town in 1869 and 1870, and has held other town offices. The children of Mr. and Mrs. CARDELL are Mary A., born March 11, 1847; Elizabeth L., born June 24, 1851, who died November 3, 1861; William H., born October 24, 1858; and Jennie H., born June 1, 1865.

      George W. CARDELL, son of William and Elizabeth (PEERS) CARDELL, was born in Warren, February 17, 1823. He received a common school education, and in 1848 went into partnership with his brother James in the mercantile business, which they continued about five years, when George W. bought the goods, built a new store, which is now occupied by C. A. FORD, and in connection with his mercantile business did a considerable business in lumber. He also built a mill and manufactured eave-spouts. Mr. CARDELL has been an active, energetic, and successful business man, and has accumulated a competency. In 1875 he retired from mercantile business, and is now enjoying a quiet life. He resides in his fine house on Main street, which he built about the time he left active business. June 20, 1861, he was appointed postmaster; and in 1872 he represented Warren in the legislature, and again in 1874. Mr. CARDELL is one of the most prominent men of Warren. December 1, 1851, he married Eleanor SARGENT. Their two children died in infancy.

      Edwin CARDELL, son of William and Elizabeth (PEERS) CARDELL, was born in Warren, January 17, 1834, and in his youth attended the common schools. In 1857 he married Elizabeth L. SARGENT, of Warren. In 1858 he bought a saw-mill in the village, and engaged in the lumber business, which he continued until 1886, when he rented his mill to F. A. ALLEN. Mr. CARDELL resides on Main street, where he owns a farm of forty acres. At the March meeting of 1861 he was elected to the offices of constable and collector, which he has held to the present time. In 1855 and 1856 he represented Warren in the legislature. Mr. CARDELL is one of Warren's thorough business men.

      Carlos SARGENT, son of Benjamin and Orpha (BELKNAP) SARGENT, was born in East Randolph, Vt., September 17, 1805. He learned the blacksmiths' trade of his father. He married Zeruah HALL about 1829, but resided with his father until 1835, when he settled on Main street, in Warren, and began custom blacksmithing, and continued the business ten years. He then bought the water-power where the barrel factory and Bradley's shingle-mill now stand, and with his brother Enos, as partner, manufactured scythes and edge tools until his brother left for California, in 1848. He then sold to P. HOWARD, and was a farmer until 1886, when he sold his farm to Russell CHADWICK, and resided with him. Mr. and Mrs. SARGENT had born to them five daughters, and a son who died in infancy. Four reside in Warren, viz.: Mrs. George W. CARDELL, Mrs. Edwin CARDELL, Mrs. Norman ROBINSON, and Mrs. Jefferson HALL. The other, Mrs. S. I. GOODSPEED, resides in Kansas. Mrs. SARGENT died January 12, 1882. Mr. SARGENT was contemporary with Henry A. STERLING, and witnessed most of the changes that are described by his neighbor.

      Richard STERLING, who lived to the great age of ninety-four years and six months, came to Warren from South, Woodstock about 1824, and located a home where George W. CARDELL's house now stands. He built a house and opened it for a tavern, which was the first opened to the public in this part .of the town. At this time all of the town business was done at East Warren, and had been since the organization of the town in 1798. A tavern was built there before Mr. STERLING came into the town. The west part of the town was still a wilderness, without a road; traversed only by a foot-path, with marked trees to guide the wayfarer. The first store in the River village was partly built by Cyrus ALLEN, and was finished about 1839, and conducted by Isaac RALPH. It stood on the site now occupied by James CARDELL's store. Henry A. STERLING, son of Richard, was born in South Woodstock, April 18, 1814, and came to Warren with his father in 1824. About 1836 he united in marriage with Amy C. BAGLEY, of Warren. About 1838 he built the first carriage shop in town, where Mr. LYFORD's tub shop now stands, and which was burned about ten years later. Mr. Sterling sold the site and built where he now lives, on road 13 corner of 18. Here he has since done a large business in manufacturing, carriages and caskets. Mr. STERLING has lived to see the forest leveled, and cultivated fields in its stead, roads built, and a village spring up, and every building in this part of the town put in its place. Mr. and Mrs. STERLING are parents of four daughters, all married and scattered round about. Mrs. STERLING died December 31, 1886. Mr. STERLING is one of the few of the "old line" left, and is highly respected. Seth STERLING, son of Richard, was born in Woodstock, September 8, 1819, and was two and a half years old when his parents came to Warren. At the age of twenty-two he married Eliza A. CHILD, of Bethel, Vt., and settled in "Grand Hollow," in a small log house. He cleared most of his farm, and replaced the log cabin with a good house of brick, which he made, and has built all his other buildings. He has been a consistent member of the Methodist church since their edifice was built. He is the father of two sons and three daughters, all of whom are living.

      Reuben B. MILLER, son of Jedediah and Hannah (PORTER) MILLER, whose father was a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Warren, on the farm now owned by Myron GOODSPEED, April 24, 1829. In 1858 he united in marriage with Mrs. Mary HANKS. To them was born five daughters, all of whom live near their father. Mrs. MILLER died December 22, 1874. Mr. MILLER is a farmer, and cleared a large farm on road 27. He is a genial and kind neighbor, and is highly respected.

      J.A.R. STETSON, son of Winslow and Prudence (RALPH) STETSON, was born in Warren, January 27, 1821. He has spent all but about twenty years of his life in his native town. In 1845 he married Charlotte JONES, of Warren. They had no children, but adopted a son, who is a worthy man and is now in company with Mr. STETSON. Mr. STETSON cleared the farm where he now lives, and built the saw-mill and cider-mill that he now owns. He has been a leading and influential man in town, and has held responsible positions. His father and father-in-law were among the first settlers, and helped to dear away the forests and build up the town.

      Walter A. BAGLEY was born in Hardwick, Vt., September 19, 1819. In February, 1832, he moved to Warren with his father, who settled in the western part of the town. He followed the occupation of millwright from about 1836 until 1884. Since then he has worked at the, carpenters' trade. He built the grist-mill in Warren, and other mills in this and surrounding towns. In 1843 he married Louisa YOUNG, of Warren, who bore him eleven children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. BAGLEY died in May, 1873, and in 1874 he married Emily F. YOUNG. In 1863 Mr. BAGLEY enlisted in Co. H, 2d U. S. Sharpshooters, and served until the, war closed. His family have all grown to maturity anal scattered from home. Mr. BAGLEY has the confidence of his neighbors and, is highly respected.

      Horace GLEASON, from Langdon, N. H., was a farmer, and settled in the northern part of Warren, about 1835, where he died, aged fifty-two years. He married Achsah W. RICHARDSON, who survived him. Their children are James R., Emma C., and Ann C.  Emma C. married Jackson J. PRATT, and has one daughter, Alice M.

      Allen M. FULLER was born in Brookfield, March 8, 1818. He resided with his parents, Squire and Bethiah (AMES) FULLER, in Brookfield, until 1843, where he married Sarah BLANCHARD, of Braintree, and settled on the farm where he now lives, and which he cleared, where he has a set of good buildings. He has also one of the finest apple orchards in this part of the county. Mr. FULLER has always been a hard worker, and as a reward for his industry he has a good property. He is one of the solid men of the town, and held positions. of trust and responsibility. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are parents of five daughters and three sons, and all are living.

      Judge Philander RIFORD, son of Joseph and Keziah (FITTS) RIFORD, was born in Braintree, January 2, 1820. His father died when he was a little more than four years old. In 1837 he settled in Warren, where he has since resided with the exception of one year. He obtained a good common school education; and thus prepared, he commenced the active duties of life, and; may be properly classed with the self-made men. He has been honored with many positions of public trust. He was assistant judge of Washington County Court four years, and gave his influence to enlarge the court-house in 1869. He owns a good farm, well stocked. In his approaching old age, Mr. RIFORD does not forget the interests of his town. At the age of twenty-eight years he married Jerusha DICKENSON, of Warren, and they have had two, sons and two daughters.

      William PAGE, son of Enos and Asenath PAGE, was born in Charlestown, N. H., in July, 1796. He lived in Concord, Vt., most of the time after he was six years old until he was twenty-four. He then (in 1820) went to Fairfield, Vt., where he was married to Lucy OSGOOD, in November of the same year. In 1841 he married his second wife, Phebe WHITNEY, of Fairfield, who died in May, 1849. In 1850 he led to Hymen's altar Olive (SIMPSON) KINGSBURY, who died in July, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. He settled in Warren in 1850, where he has since resided. There is now but one older person. in town. Mr. PAGE is the father of two children.

      Mrs. Hannah BILLINGS, wife of Rufus BILLINGS, died at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. BILLINGS lived together nearly sixty years, and in the community where she died thirty-eight years. She was the mother of fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to have families; nine survived her, and seven attended her funeral. She could number sixty-five grandchildren ands twenty great-grandchildren.

      Rev. Joel B. WHITNEY, son of Joel and Lucy WHITNEY, was born in Sheldon, Vt., July 17, 1815. He gave unmistakable evidence of his conversion, and of the Christian's hope, in early childhood, and very early felt it his duty to preach the "Word." He attended school at St. Albans, and on completing his education his strong conviction of duty, or “call" to the divine work impelled him to enter the ministry. In 1853 he was appointed to the circuit that includes Warren, and has served this circuit as minister during three terms. The last one was a period of ten years. November 19, 1837, Mr. WHITNEY married Mary Ann MORROW, who died May 20, 1874. He was again married, in 1876, to Mrs. Olive P. LEONARD, a worthy lady, and although he had lost the wife of his youth, he did not lack for tender and faithful care in his last illness. Mrs. WHITNEY supplied every want. He died October 4., 1886. Mr. WHITNEY had no children, but was so fond of them that he adopted a son who bears his name and received his property. Mrs. Whitney resides in the house where her husband died.

      George G. BLAKE was born in Washington, Vt., March 19, 1823. His Father, Moses BLAKE, died when George was but nine years old. He remained at home and assisted the family until he married Susan CUTLER, of Hardwick, when he was twenty-six years old. He then went to Chelsea, Vt., and engaged in blacksmithing, where he remained three years and until his health failed. He spent the next nine years driving stage at East Randolph, lived in South Strafford, Vt., and North Lawrence, N. Y., and about 1864 or '65 settled in Warren, where he has been engaged at his trade, of blacksmith, and in his busy life has dealt in horses which he has sometimes marketed in Boston. He has had born to him three children. His son is a blacksmith in Warren. One of his daughters is the wife of Rollin BUCKLIN, of Warren, and the other resides with her parents. Mr. BLAKE has passed through many vicissitudes, and held many good positions.

      Edwin W. SLAYTON, son of George J. and Fanny (ANDREWS) SLAYTON, was born in Calais, Vt., October 8, 1843. He acquired a good education in Hardwick and Montpelier. At the age of twenty-four years he married Clara M. CHAMBERLIN, and in 1868 settled in Warren, and engaged in merchandising in 1884, in which business he is still engaged. He is now superintendent of schools, town treasurer, and chairman of the school board. Mrs. SLAYTON died in November, 1876, and was the mother of two children. Since the death of his wife he married Emma ELLIOT, of Warren, by whom he has one child.

      Hosea TOWN, son of Thomas M. and Jerusha (DIX) TOWN, was born in Barre, April 6, 1832, on the “old Town farm," where judge TOWN now lives. At the age of eighteen years he entered the store of D. W. KEITH, as clerk, where he remained about eighteen months. He then commenced peddling dry goods, and continued the business the ensuing thirteen or fourteen years, and in that time resided in Barre, Newton, Mass., Dedham, and in New Hampshire. About 1867 he settled in South Fayston, where he worked at coopering until 1874, when he moved onto the Nichols farm in East Warren, and has resided in Warren since that time. He now has a good farm on road 44. About 1856 he married Ann R. NEWELL, of Dover, Mass., who died n Dedham, June 4, 1865, and left four children, three of whom are now, living. He married his second wife, Eliza COLBY, of Fayston, who has borne him three children.

      Nathan THAYRE, son of Pliney and. Susan (WAIT) THAYRE, was born in Fayston, March 4, 1839, and about 1861 married Susan PIERCE. He enlisted in Co. H, 6th Vt. Vols., and served about one year, when he was discharged on account of a broken arm. He soon after netted on the farm where James PIERCE now lives, and about five years after emigrated to La Cole, Canada. Seven years later he returned to Warren and settled on the farm where he now lives, and has since given his attention to breeding fine horses, and is now the owner of fine stock. Mrs. THAYRE died March 24, 1877, and left three children. His only son resides with him on the farm. He married second, Mrs. Susan (MCALLISTER) BARNARD, a lineal descendant of Ethan ALLEN, and a granddaughter of the brother of Gen. WAIT, a Revolutionary soldier who served seven years in the war for independence, and who was one of the first settlers of Waitsfield. Mr. THAYRE is a generous, kind neighbor, and is always ready to reach forth his hand in aid of those in distress.

      The following were soldiers in the War of 1812: Thomas JERROLDS, Jesse STEWART, Justin JACOBS, Oliver PERSONS, Samuel HARD, and Gardner CAMPBELL. Mr. JERROLDS and Mr. STEWART died in the service. George DIMICK served in the Mexican war.

      Warren sent to the seat of war as her quota to suppress the late Rebellion eighty-seven of her sons as soldiers. Eight joined the Second Regiment, four the Third, two the Fifth, twenty-seven the Sixth, three the Seventh, nine the Eighth, three the Ninth, three the Tenth, two the Eleventh, one the Seventeenth; five served in the First Regiment of Sharpshooters, two in the Second Vt. Battery Light Artillery, and one in the Third Battery Light Artillery. Besides these there were seventeen volunteers for nine months, fourteen paid commutations, and two procured substitutes.

      The Warren River Meeting-House society, composed of the different religious denominations of the place, was organized January 19, 1838, for the purpose of building a union meeting-house. In 1839 they completed their present church edifice. The house is forty by fifty feet on the ground, well finished, and is kept in good condition. Rev. E. SCOTT (M. E.), from Montpelier, preached the dedication sermon, and Rev. Ira BEARD (M. E.) was the first resident preacher. The different denominations of the place occupy the house alternately, and supply preaching every Sunday. The house will comfortably seat 225 persons. The Union Sunday-school has about 100 members.

      The Warren Meeting-House society was organized for the purpose of building a meeting-house at East Warren, by the union of the societies of the Universalists, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Baptists, under the act of the legislature passed October 26, 1798, for the purpose of encouraging the sup. port of the preaching of the gospel. The present church edifice was built by the society in 1833, and is known as the Union meeting-house.
 
 

Gazetteer Of Washington County, Vt. 1783-1899, 
Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child,
Edited By William Adams.
The Syracuse Journal Company, Printers and Binders.
Syracuse, N. Y.; April, 1889.
Pages 475-486

Transcribed by Karima Allison, 2003