Essex

DARLING, John M.

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 979-981 [Excerpt from a 
section on the history of Concord. Source includes portrait. This article, 
"Captain John M. DARLING," was authored in 1864 by H. A. CUTTING, who for 
dates and items of early life used as his source the manuscript autobiography 
of John M. DARLING.]

One of the most noticeable farms in this excellent grazing town of Concord 
[Essex County, Vermont] is "Maple Grove," the residence of Capt. John M. 
DARLING, one of the early settlers of that town. The fine orchards and 
magnificent groves of maple trees he early planted have long been admired and 
have attracted the attention of everyone visiting that locality. The worthy 
Captain, now in his eighty-first year, still lives to enjoy the fruits of his 
labor, and though thus advanced in age, retains to a remarkable degree the 
intellect, strength, and ambition of his early manhood. [Editor notes that 
this piece was written in 1864, and that John M. DARLING died on 28 February 
1866 after a few days illness.] His noble wife [Salome (REED) DARLING] died 
in the full belief and hope in Christ, 14 May 1862, after living with him in 
Concord over fifty-six years. As I [H. A. CUTTING] believe a brief sketch of 
his life will not be without interest, and is appropriate to this work, I 
will narrate a few facts, such as have come under the notice of all his large 
circle of friends, and will also glean some dates and items of his early life 
from his manuscript autobiography, written when in his seventy-eighth year, 
for at the request of his son, George B. DARLING, of Boston [Suffolk County, 
Massachusetts].

John M. DARLING was born 08 November 1782 in Surry [Cheshire County], New 
Hampshire. For his education and thorough knowledge of military science he 
was greatly indebted to his father, Rev. David DARLING, a graduate of Rhode 
Island College at Providence [Providence County, Rhode Island], now called 
Brown University. At the age of early manhood, being ambitious and wishing 
to carve out a home and name for himself, he formed his plans to go to the 
far North, as it was then called. He left Keene [Cheshire County], New 
Hampshire, in the spring of 1805, with the intention of purchasing land for a 
permanent residence in the North. He arrived at Concord [Essex County, 
Vermont], on his land-hunting expedition, , 06 June [1805], and put up with 
Oliver CUTTING, who was from Athol [Worcester County], Massachusetts, and had 
before purchased and was already settled in his new home. After looking 
about for a short time he purchased about a mile from Mr. CUTTING's, and 
commenced chopping on his land immediately. Of his first day's experiences 
he says, "I commenced work alone, yet not alone, as I had hardly cut a bush 
before millions of midgets, black flies and mosquitoes were there to keep me 
company. Being unused to them, it seemed for a time that they would devour 
me. I however steadily worked on, but not unmindful of their presence." In 
about three weeks he had fallen seven acres, and engaging Mr. CUTTING to set 
fire to his chopping when dry, he returned to Keene.

In the autumn of the same year [1805] he made another journey to Concord, 
cleared off his land and built a log house ready to accommodate his future 
family. He now having a house, farm, and pair of steers, went back to his 
native town [Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire] for a wife. He [John M. 
DARLING] was married 12 February 1806 to Salome REED, a daughter of Hines 
REED, a Revolutionary hero, and granddaughter of Gen. James REED, of 
Fitchburg, Massachusetts. [Since Fitchburg is spelled without an "h" here, 
does the author means Fitchburg Crossing in Middlesex County or Fitchburgh 
(with the "h") in Worcester County?] He soon started for his new home, 
bringing his goods on a wagon, which was the first one that ever came into 
the town of Concord. For the want of roads he could only get within about 
four miles of his farm, the remaining distance being by marked trees. On 10 
March 1806, he reached his new home and began life in earnest, considerably 
in debt, one hundred and twenty-five miles from his old home and friends, and 
in a wilderness is certainly a life in earnest. Of his own account on his 
first day's housekeeping he says: "After building a good fire in one corner 
of our house upon some flat stones, placed there for the purpose, and pouting 
about for a while we aroused ourselves and went to work putting our things in 
order, and before night our cabin looked like a little parlor."

We now pass over an interval of years of struggling with hard times and cold, 
backward seasons, and look again upon his farm bearing a more cultivated 
aspect, and with his children arising around him, which arouses new 
aspirations and new wants. Schools are needed and a nucleus of society must 
be formed, and his energies are devoted to that purpose. After the usual 
amount of talk with neighbors, they have a bee and a log schoolhouse rises 
out of the primeval forest, and the few children of the neighborhood gather 
there for instruction. But his energies do not end here; a town must have a 
meeting house, and in 1816 the large church that stands now as a memento of 
times past at the corner was built, and although not in affluent 
circumstances, we find the name of John M. DARLING with those of Hon. Asarias 
WILLIAMS, Cornelius JUDEVINE, and one or two others as instigators and 
perfecters of the project, and that Capt. DARLING contributes liberally and 
does everything in his power to further the design and interests of the 
society of which he and his wife were members.

Soon comes the need of a more thorough system of education than the district 
school, and we find him also with a few others, energetic like himself, 
projecting the plan of an academy, and in this then great and important 
enterprise we find the Captain engaged with his whole energy, contributing his 
means and labor in the most liberal manner. The result was the completing, 
in 1823, of the brick academy afterwards known as the "Essex County Grammar 
School," and under the instruction of Rev. Samuel B. HALL, became very 
popular, and did more to build up and populate the town than any other thing; 
and the good emanating from that once flourishing institution is felt though 
all this section; and many of our most able men date their educational 
starting point from it; and at the present time, looking back through the 
history of that institution, we see the moving, guardian spirit to be that 
energetic, persevering man, John M. DARLING.

He was also the founder of the Sabbath School in Concord, and was 
superintendent of the same for more than twenty-five years, and during that 
time maintained an interest which was surprising and very beneficial to the 
church and congregation. In 1842 a small Baptist society in town wished to 
build a church, and laid the plans before him for assistance and advice. 
Quietly as ever he advises them to build, giving them the land for church and 
common and contributing largely towards the building. Though, as ever, a 
Congregational professor, he showed by his liberal spirit that he was willing 
to aid in all religious and benevolent enterprises. But of the predominant 
traits of his character one is peculiar: he was no office seeker. He would 
accept no civil office, but as he fully understood military affairs, he could 
not well reject a commission, yet always wore it lightly, and though he was 
very energetic and did much for the military of Vermont, he never sought its 
offices or emoluments. He accepted a Captain's commission, which he held 
several years, during which time he brought the militia of Concord up to a 
high degree of proficiency.

Through his long career of business and usefulness, his many contracts and 
building mills and machinery, he never had a lawsuit, and as far as I know, 
never a quarrel or arbitration. He was always a friend to the poor and 
needy, and frequently gave away so much and assisted the poor to such an 
extent that he gained the censure of a portion of the vicinity, who would 
appear to think that he assisted them so much that they did not try to help 
themselves; but on the other hand, ask the poor who was ready to lend a 
helping hand, and to whom they poured out their troubles and gained 
substantial aid and sympathy; ask them further whom they loved to see at 
their lowly homes and who received remembrance in their prayers, and who they 
believed was a noble man and a true Christian, and their answer would be 
quickly given. He always in his leisure moments improved his mind by 
reading, and accumulated a respectable library and quite a museum of rare and 
interesting curiosities, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to those 
trying to obtain an education.

In life he was not unmindful of death, and his family lot in the burying 
ground is laid out and prepared with a taste not inferior to that displayed in 
the best cemeteries in the country, upon which he has erected an elegant and 
appropriate monument. We will add, in acknowledgement of the assistance gained 
from him, especially in writing the natural history of the county, that he 
always kept a diary, writing a description of all interesting events. We 
might speak more of him, but suffice it to say that he and his worthy wife, 
now gone, have a large circle of friends, as people of their character and 
standing must have; and it is through their earnest solicitations and his 
very reluctant consent, that his portrait appears at the front of this 
number, and I speak thus much of him. We have no great political characters 
in Essex County, and for out book must select one of our men that has been 
influential in good works, and though we hope and trust we have had and still 
have many worthy men, yet we may have none better, none that stands higher in 
the scale of honor, none that have raised a more energetic family, or none 
that have done more for the public good.

Of his [John M. DARLING's] family [seven children given]: Eliza R., the 
oldest daughter, married Stephen C. CUTTING, and has always lived in Concord 
[Essex County, Vermont]. She is a kind wife, noble mother, and respected 
member of society. Fanny, his second daughter, an intelligent, interesting 
child, who died 01 May 1828 in her fifteenth year. John G., his oldest son, 
carried on the mercantile business at Concord Corner over twenty-seven years, 
during which time he was postmaster twenty years, and held commissions in the 
militia of Vermont from 1830 to 1860 in almost every capacity from a 
Lieutenant to Colonel commandant of the Sixteenth Regiment, being the 
Caledonia County Regiment, one of the largest, finest, and best in the state. 
During this time he collected a library of about 1,200 volumes, and the 
largest museum of curiosities, shells, etc., in this part of the state. He 
is now a merchant in Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts], also being a 
partner in the firm of J. G. Darling & Company of Lunenburgh [Essex County], 
Vermont. As he is a man of perseverance, sterling integrity and fine 
business capabilities, his removal was greatly regretted by many in the 
county. James P., his second son, has most of the time resided in Concord 
[Essex County, Vermont]. He kept an hotel at Concord Corner, where he now 
lives, for several years, but as he is the owner of an extensive farm he has 
devoted his time mostly to agricultural pursuits. Hines R., his third son, 
was engaged in mercantile pursuits. While in Vermont he held commissions in 
the militia from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel, and was Deputy Sheriff in 
the county of Essex most of the time while at Guildhall. George B., his 
fourth son, went to Boston to live when a youth, and is now a respected 
merchant there. William H., his fifth and youngest son, who resides on the 
old homestead at "Maple Grove," is an extensive, persevering farmer and an 
active man.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly