Andover, Vermont, USA (Simonsville)
1824 - Andover

ANDOVER, a post town in the south west part of Windsor county, is 20 miles south west from Windsor, 68 south from Montpelier, and 37 north east from Bennington, and lies in lat. 43° 17'. It is bounded north by Ludlow, east by Chester, south by Windham, and west by Weston, and contains about 18000 acres. The charter of Andover is dated Oct. 16, 1761, and was given to Nathaniel House and his associates. Weston was formerly a part of this town, and is included in the charter. It was set off and constituted a separate town, by the Legislature, Oct. 26, 1799. Shubal Geere and Amos Babcock came into this town about the year 1768, and made a beginning, but soon abandoned it. In 1776, Moses Warner, John Simons, John Simons, jr. Eli Pease, Jacob Pease, and James Keyes, emigrants from Enfield, Con. made the first permanent settlement. William, son of Shubal Geere, was the first child born in town. John Simons erected the first saw and grist mill about the year 1780. The town was organized in March 1781. Moses Warner was first town clerk, and John Simons first representative. The religious societies in this town are Baptist, Universalist and Congregationalist. The Baptist church was organized August 31, 1803, and a present consits of 54 members. The Rev. Joel Maning was ordained over this chruch Oct. 2, 1806, and still continues their pastor. The Baptist meetinghouse is in the northeast corner of the town, is 30 by 40 feet on the ground, and was erected in 1809. The Universalist church was constituted in 1807. The Rev. Cornelius G. Persons preached to this church and society four of five years. The Congregationalist meetinghouse stands near the centre of the town, is 44 by 52 feet on the ground, and was built in 1820. The spotted fever appeared in one neighbourhood in this town in the spring of 1812, and in eight days carried off eight persons. The surface of the town is uneven and the soil and timber similar to that of the other towns lying along the eastern side of the Green Mountains. Markhum's Mountain and Mount Terrible lie along the western part of the town. These mountains occasioned the division of the town, and render the communication between this town and Weston somewhat difficult. There are no considerable streams. The town is watered principally by the head branches of William's river. There is one physician, Charles W. Chandler. The town is divided into eight school districts with a school house in each. There are three grist mills, three saw mills, one fulling mill, one carding machine, two stores, two taverns and one tannery. Pop. 1820, 1000.

April 1824. J.B.

A Gazetteer of the State of Vermont Containing A Brief General View of The State, A Historical and Topographical Description of All the Counties, Towns, Rivers, &c. Together with a Map and Several Other Engraving by Zadock Thompson, 1824 Montpelier, Published by E. P. Walton and the Author E. P. Walton, Printer, 1824

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