Caledonia

FYLER, Roman

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, p 307 (extracted from a 
section on the history of Burke, Caledonia County, Vermont)

Roman FYLER was born in 1768 in Winstead [Winsted, Litchfield County], 
Connecticut; and married to Sally LYMAN in --- [no date is given]. In 1799, 
moved with his family, consisting of his wife and four children, to Burke 
[Caledonia County, Vermont], and located on what is now called Burke Green, a 
ridge of land running north and south through the town, dividing it nearly in 
the centre. Here he built a log house, and commenced the laborious work of a 
pioneer. There was at that time no grist mill nearer than Lyndon [also in 
Caledonia County, roughly ten miles south of Burke], and he as well as other 
settlers, was often under the necessity of going to Barnet to purchase grain 
and bringing it to Lyndon to be ground, and from thence home, his path guided 
by marked trees. In 1801 he built the first grist mill in town, and 
subsequently added two grist mills and two saw mills. In 1803 he met with a 
serious accident in one of his mills, having his foot and ankle severely 
crushed, which troubled him more or less to the close of his life. He was 
one of the company that, about 1806, built the road through the Notch of the 
White Mountains in New Hampshire. He was also one of the company that built 
the turnpike through the town of Barnet. He was one of the "early few" who 
represented the town in "olden times." was also town clerk a number of years, 
besides holding many other offices of trust, always discharging his duty with 
fidelity and zeal. In religious sentiments he favored the Methodists, of 
which his wife was a member. In physical proportions he was almost gigantic. 
It has been asserted, moreover, that he was the strongest man ever in town. 
He [Roman FYLER] died in 1828.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly