History of Woodstock, (Windsor County) Vermont United States of America

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Local History Notes:

WOODSTOCK, the capital and largest village of Windsor county, is situated in the above township, on both sides of the Quechee or Otta Quechee river, near the junction of the North branch with the main stream. It is surrounded with one of the finest agricultural regions of the state, for which it is the chief centre of trade. Its manufactures are also extensive and varied. By the construction of dams across the Quechee, the stream has been made to furnish an extensive hydraulic power. The public buildings are a court house, an imposing structure, adorned with a portico, and surmounted by a lofty tower, a jail, the Vermont Medical College, and churches of 5 denominations. The medical institution was rounded by Dr. Joseph A. Gallop, in 1827, under the name of the "Clinical School of Medicine," but not incorporated until 1835, at which time it received the title it now bears. In 1852, 90 students attended its lectures. In the centre of the village is a beautiful park, around which are situated the finest buildings. Two newspapers are published in Woodstock, which also contains a bank and about 20 stores. Population in 1853, about 1500.

Biographies:

Sylvester Churchill, soldier, was born at Woodstock, Vt., Aug. 2, 1783; son of Joseph and Sarah (Cobb) Churchill. He was educated in the Vermont schools and began life as a carpenter. From 1808 to 1812 he was one of the editors of The Vermont Republican, a Democratic newspaper published at Windsor. He was appointed 1st lieutenant of artillery in March, 1812; was elected in August, 1813, captain of a company which he raised; was made assistant inspector-general with rank of major, Aug. 29, 1813, and served under Gen. Wade Hampton until the treaty of peace was signed; major of 3rd artillery April 6, 1835; and inspector-general with rank of colonel, June 25, 1841. From 1815 to 1836 he was on garrison and special duty, serving at one time on the staff of General Izard, and later as acting adjutant-general to General Macomb at Plattsburg. He served in the Florida Indian war 1836-41, and with General Wool in the Mexican war, 1846-48. For distinguished services at Buena Vista he was brevetted brigadier-general Feb. 23, 1847. He was retired from active service Sept. 25, 1861. He was married Aug. 30, 1812, to Lucy, daughter of Hon. William Hunter of Windsor, Vt., and had three children. His daughter became the wife of Professor Baird of Carlisle, Pa.; one son became a lawyer and the other a soldier. He died in Washington, D. C., Dec. 7, 1862.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Marsh, representative, was born in Lebanon, Conn., July 10, 1765; son of Lieut. Gov. Joseph and Dorothy (Mason) Marsh. He removed to Vermont, then known as the New Hampshire Grants, with his parents in 1774, and was graduated from Dartmouth college in 1786. He studied law in Litchfield, Conn., under Tapping Reeve, and was admitted to the bar in 1788. He practised successfully in Woodstock, Vt.; was U.S. district-attorney for Vermont, 1797-1801; a Federalist representative in the 14th congress, 1815-17, and while in Washington was one of the founders of the American Colonization society. He was one of the founders and for many years president of the Vermont Bible society and vice-president of the American Bible society and of the American Educational society. He was a trustee of Dartmouth college, 1809-49, and received the degree LL.D. from there in 1828. He was also president of the trustees of Kimball Union academy. He was married in 1789 to Nancy, daughter of John and Lydia (Buell) Collins. She died June 13, 1793, and he was married secondly, June 3, 1793, to Susan (Perkins) Arnold, daughter of Dr. Elisha and Sarah (Douglas) Perkins of Plainfield, Conn., and the widow of Josias Lyndon Arnold of Vermont. He died at Woodstock, Vt., Jan. 11, 1849.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Perkins Marsh, diplomatist, was born in Woodstock, Vt., March 15, 1801; son of Charles and Susan (Perkins) Arnold Marsh. He was graduated from Dartmouth in 1820, studied law in the office of his father at Woodstock, Vt., and settled in practice there in 1825. He was a Whig representative in the state legislature, and a member of the supreme council of Vermont in 1835. He was a Whig representative in the 28th, 29th and 30th congresses, 1843-49, and was re-elected to the 31st congress, but did not take his seat, resigning in 1849, on being appointed by President Taylor U.S. minister to Turkey, where he served, 1849-53. He was charged with a special mission to Greece in 1852. In 1857 he made a report to the state legislature on the artificial propagation of fish; was railroad commissioner for Vermont, 1857-59, and was appointed U.S. minister to Italy by President Lincoln in 1861, and served until 1882. His term of service as a diplomat is said to have exceeded that of any other U.S. minister. He acquired a knowledge of the Scandinavian languages, and became the owner of a fine collection of Scandinavian literature. He delivered a course of lectures on the English language at Columbia college, 1858-59, and one on the grammatical history of English literature before the Lowell Institute, Boston, Mass., 1859-60. He received the degree LL.D. from Harvard and Delaware colleges in 1859, and from Dartmouth college in 1860. He was married, April 10, 1828, to Harriet, daughter of Ozias Buell of Burlington, Vt.; and in 1839 to Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Crane of Berkley, Mass., and sister of the Rev. Silas Axtell Crane . Mr. Marsh was a member or fellow of Royal Scientific societies. He contributed to reviews and periodicals; edited an American edition of Bensleigh Wedgwood's "Dictionary of English Etymology" with additions (1862); translated from the grammar of Rask "A Compendious Grammar of the Old Northern or Icelandic Language" (1838), and is the author of: The Camel, his Organization, Habits and Uses, Considered with Reference to his Introduction into the United States (1836); Lectures on the English Language (1861); Origin and History of the English Language (1862), and Man and Nature (1864), translated into Italian (1870) and almost wholly rewritten and published under the title The Earth as Modified by Human Action (1874). See "Life and Letters of George Perkins Marsh" by his widow (1888). He died in Vallombrosa, Italy, July 23, 1882.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joseph Anthony Mower, soldier, was born in Woodstock, Vt., Aug. 22, 1827; son of Capt. Samuel Mower (born in Worcester, Mass., in 1782; died in Lowell, Mass., April 1, 1865), and a descendant in the fourth generation from Samuel Mower, who was born in England in 1690 and settled in Malden, Mass., about 1714, later moving to Worcester, Mass., where he died. Joseph Anthony Mower attended the public school, learned the carpenter's trade and was a cadet at Norwich university, 1844-46, leaving that institution to enlist in 1846, under Capt. Alden Partridge, as a private in a battalion of engineers and served in the Mexican war, 1846-47. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. infantry, June 18, 1855, was promoted first lieutenant, March 13, 1857, and captain, Sept. 9, 1861. He was engaged in the early operations of the Federal army in Missouri, 1861-62, and was appointed colonel of the 11th Missouri volunteers in May, 1862. At the battle of Iuka, Sept. 19, 1862, his regiment with those of Colonels Bormer and Holman was forced back just before dark, but bivouacked on the field and found the enemy gone in the morning, when he commanded the 2d brigade of Stanley's division, Army of the Mississippi, under Rosecrans. In the battle of Corinth, Oct. 3-4, 1862, he was ordered by Rosecrans to discover the position of Lovell, and taking a force from the skirmish line he entered the woods, was shot in the neck and captured, but recaptured a few hours after with the field hospital of the Confederates. He became known as "Fighting Joe Mower." He was brevetted major, May 9, 1862, for his action at Farmington, Miss.; lieutenant-colonel, Sept. 9, 1862, for Iuka, and colonel, May 14, 1863, for the capture of Jackson, Miss. In the Vicksburg campaign he commanded the 2d brigade, 3d division, 15th army corps, May 19-July 4, 1863, and was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers for his gallant defence of Millikens Bend, June 6-7, 1863. He took part in the Red River campaign, and in the capture of Fort De Russy, March 14, 1864, rode at the head of his attacking column into the fort. On May 15, 1864, he encountered Whalton and Polignac on Yellow Bayou while in command of the rear-guard of the army, and defeated the Confederate force. He continued to operate with the navy above Alexandria, and was appointed to the command of the 1st division, 16th army corps. On July 13-15, 1864, at Tupelo, Miss., he defeated Forest, and was promoted major-general of volunteers, Aug. 12, 1864. He served with Sherman in Georgia and Carolina, commanded the 1st division, 17th corps, and the 17th corps in South Carolina, and the 20th corps at the battle of Bentonville, March 19-20, 1865, where his corps fell back before General Hardee the night before the army of Johnston fell back across Mill Creek. He was brevetted brigadier-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at Fort De Russy, La., and major-general on same date for gallant and meritorious services in the passage of the Salkehatchie river, S.C., Feb. 3, 1865. On July 28, 1866, he was promoted colonel U.S.A. and transferred to the 39th infantry and to the 25th infantry, March 15,1869. His last command was the Department of Louisiana, including Arkansas. He died in New Orleans, La., Jan. 6, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor