History of Waitsfield, Vermont, USA

Waitsfield, Vermont
Washington county. Mad river, a small rapid stream, passes circuitously through this town, fertilizing the soil, and affording it good mill seats. The uplands are a deep loam, fertile, and productive of all the varieties of a northern climate. Here are fine pastures, and between 5,000 and 6,000 sheep.

There are some manufactures in the town, but the people are generally farmers and make a good business of it. Good clay for making earthen ware, iron ore, and rock crystal are found here. This town lies 11 miles S.W. from Montpelier, and 30 S.E. from Burlington. Population, 1830, 985.

The settlement of Waitsfield was commenced in 1789, by General Benjamin Wait, from Sudbury, Massachusetts. General Wait entered the service of his country at the age of 18, and performed much difficult service with great bravery and success. At the age of 25 he had been engaged in forty battles and skirmishes: his clothes were several times perforated with musket balls, but he...

Washington Co. This town is settled with industrious, enterprising, and generally flourishing farmers. The soil is diversified, but generally a mellow loam, deep, and of excellent quality, producing grass in the greatest abundance. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, &c., are raised in such quantities, as amply to reward the hand of industry.

Mad River passes through the town, near the western boundary, in a direction from south-west to north-east, and falls into Winooski River in Moretown, seven miles below Montpelier. It receives here Mill Brook and Shepherd's Brook from the west, and Fay's Brook and Pine Brook from the east, all of which are sufficient for mills. Along this river the intervales are extensive, and, together with the adjacent uplands, make many excellent farms. The high lands, too, are of a good quality, and there can hardly be said to be a poor farm in town. A range of high lands runs through the eastern part of the town, the chief summit of which is called Bald...