USA > Vermont > Windham County > Brattleboro > Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont; early history, with biographical sketches of some of its citizens > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
128
BRATTLEBORO.
seldom hesitated to declare himself faith- fully and frankly upon the point in ques- tion; and almost as often he would express his willingness to acquiesce in the decision of the majority against him. In all mat- ters, however, involving moral principle, or that seemed to him of superlative im- portance, he was firm and unyielding; and he brought all the energies of his strong and impetuous nature to bear upon the business of maintaining and carrying out his convictions.
His interest in the welfare of the church with which he was connected was deep and unabated to the last. His place in the sanctuary was seldom vacant while health and strength were given him. He was a conscientious, not a captious hearer of preaching. Before the infirmities of age prevented, he was quite regular in his attendance upon the prayer meetings of the church, particularly the monthly con- cert in which he manifested special interest, and in which he seldom failed to take a part. While he ordinarily gave something to all the ordinary objects of christian benevolence, he felt more deeply the im- portance of the foreign missionary enter- prise than of any other, and his contribu- tions for that object were regular and freely tendered.
His bequests for charitable and public purposes were as follows: To the A. B. C. F. M., $5,000; to the Vermont Dom. Miss. Society, $3,000; to the Am. Colonization Society, $1,000; to the Eccl. Society of the Cong. Church of West Brattleboro, $1,000; to the corporation of Brattleboro, Academy, for maintaining a school for boys, $1,000.
Admonished by the infirmities of age and by several slight attacks of paralysis, that the end was drawing nigh, he arranged his worldly affairs accordingly and "set his house in order." His last illness was short, and he fell asleep April 9, 1861.
EDWARD CROSBY.
Among the enterprising men who have increased the business facilities, public conveniencies and beauty of modern Brat- tleboro, is Edward Crosby, who was born in this town in 1815. Soon after this event his father, Godfrey Crosby, removed with his family to Marlboro in this county. His father was also a native of this town, and
was born in 1784. He was of English ancestry, and received what was then called a good education. Beginning at the age of 17, he taught school several terms in succession in the West River dis- trict. . After serving several years as & clerk in the store of Dea. John Holbrook, he married Sylvia Cune and commenced trade in Dummerston, assisted by Mr. Holbrook, who held him in high estima- tion. Persons now living heard Mr. Hol- brook say, "Godfrey Crosby was a man of superior talents, energetic and faithful in the discharge of trusts, with few equals in penmanship and as an accountant."
The business venture of Mr. Crosby in Dummerston proving unfortunate, he again resorted to school teaching, but died at the early age of 33 years, leaving his family in destitute circumstances. The family at this time consisted of his widow and three children, viz. : Enos, Fanny and Edward.
How well Edward improved the stern lessons of poverty and deprivation of early life, the history of his life in Brattleboro since 1847 will testify. While about half a million of dollars have been annually passing through his hands in the flour trade, requiring unremitting care and re- sponsibility, he has erected three large brick blocks in the heart of the village, the larger building, known as "Crosby Block," containing banks, stores, &c., and the others for mechanical purposes, with steam power and the best of modern con- veniences.
In 1879 he finished and opened, for the public accommodation, a large and beauti- ful hall, known as "Crosby Opera Hall." In 1870-71, he was elected to represent his native town in the State Legislature, thereby giving evidence of public estima- tion and approval. As he is yet a live, progressive man, in practice as in theories, his future may be even more interesting than the past.
JOHN BURNHAM .*
[Extract from the Illinois volume of the United States Biographical Dictionary, published at New York and Chicago, 1876].
He was born in Brattleboro, Vt., March 16, 1816; the son of John Burnham and
*" The Yankee genius in the bud," when rescued by Miss Mary Tyler, in 1821. See concluding pages of the Tyler papers.
129
BRATTLEBORO.
Rachel nee Rossiter, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. He is a descend- ant of Thomas Burnham, who emigrated from England and settled in Hartford, Conn., about 1640. John's educational advantages, very limited in extent, were such as the common schools of his native place would afford. He early developed a fondness for the reading of philosophical works and kindred subjects, but at an early age was obliged to close his studies and assist his father, who was a worker in gold and silver, also a brass founder and coppersmith. Three years he traveled through New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine selling and fitting trusses. Going to Ellington, Conn., he there en- gaged with Mr. Henry McCray in the pump business, and soon began the sale of the now well-known "hydraulic ram." He continued in this business until he was nearly 30 years of age, and during that time found so many who wanted running water, where they had not fall enough to use the ram, that his attention was diverted to the wind as a motive power. Here was the power of millions of horses, sweeping through the heavens over every man's farm throughout the known world, and might be utilized to the saving of human, the dearest of all labor. It was this thought that inspired him and urged him on to the prosecution of that invention which has more than met his most hopeful expectations.
There was at that time no manufactory of small wind mills in this country, and probably none in the world, the reason Mr. Burnham divined to be the difficulty in producing a machine that could stand the strong winds, and he felt that if this difficulty could be obviated, the success of such a machine would be certain. Feeling that he had but limited abilities as an in- ventor, he applied to Mr. Daniel Halladay, then conducting a small machine shop in the village, and after several times calling his attention to the subject, received from him the following reply: '
"I can invent a self-regulating wind mill that will be safe from all danger of destruction in violent wind storms: but after I should get it made, I don't know of a single man in all the world who would want one."
Being assured by Burnham that he
would find men who wanted them, he began and soon produced a self-regulating wind mill. The two now united in the enterprise, and soon organized a joint stock company in South Coventry, Conn., with Mr. Halladay as superintendent and Mr. Burnham as general agent. The wonder- ful growth of the enterprise is abundantly shown in the following fact: When the machine was first entered at a State fair for a premium, it had to be entered as a miscellaneous article, as no such thing had ever been entered on a fair ground for a premium. To-day they are seen at every State and County fair throughout the country, while millions are invested in their manufacture, and they have become a common article for pumping at railroad water stations, on farms, and also for run- ning farm machinery, and during six or cight years past they have been success- fully used for flouring mill purposes, a single machine being sufficient to run three sets of burrs. The flour produced is, in quality, equal to that manufactured by steam or water power, and is furnished at a much less expense.
In 1856, Mr. Burnham removed to Chicago where he resided eight years. He there made the acquaintance of John Van Nortwick, Esq., a noted western capitalist and railroad manager, who, after examin- ing Mr. Halladay's invention, induced some of his friends to join him in forming a joint stock company, entitled " The United States Wind Engine and Pump Company," with himself as president and general manager, Daniel Halladay as su- perintendent, and Mr. Burnham as general agent. Up to the present time, (1876), $3,000,000 worth of the Halladay Standard Mills have been sold.
Since the beginning of railroads, civil engineers have deemed the tank house, fuel and attendance, at water stations in northern climates, indispensable, and it is estimated tliat over $20,000,000 have been expended for this purpose. This became a serious objection to the use of the wind mill, as large tanks had to be provided to hold water sufficient to last through un- usual calms; and to remove this objection, Mr. Burnliam began experimenting, with a view of producing a frost-proof tank. For some time he met only with discourage- ment, as he could not induce a road to
I
130
BRATTLEBORO.
allow him to even try his experiment, and finally accomplished his purpose through a director of one of the railroads, who was a stockholder in the wind mill company. The first frost-proof tank has now been in use during five winters without house, fuel or attendance, and the road which adopted the improvement has · already made a saving of more than $150,000, and the universal use into which this improve- ment is now coming, will, in the next quarter of a century, produce to the rail- roads of this country a saving of $25,000,- 000. Mr. Burnham attributes the success of his life not only to perseverance, untir- ing industry and an extensive business acquaintance throughout almost every State in the Union, but also to the superior mechanical and financial abilities of the men with whom he has been associated in business. Of the four patents which he has obtained, this last he considers by far the most important."
This native of our village, whose name has found creditable record, as will be seen by the foregoing extract, commenced his wandering from home at a very early age. To restrain his natural inclination for trav- eling, when about two years of age, he was fastened at one end of a long rope, but he would keep the rope straitened, and his constant cries obtained his liberation. His . infantile journey, in 1821, Was towards the western prairies-the arena of his fame to-day-when he was discovered and re- stored to his parents by that good angel of all the little ones-Miss Mary Tyler.
HON. GEORGE NEWMAN.
Mr. Newman was, in his younger days, one of the early efficient mechanics of Brattleboro. When a boy he learned the trade of carriage making of Capt. Adolphus Stebbins at the West Village. We first knew him in 1828, when he was employed by Elihue H. Thomas in the manufacture of fanning mills at the south' part of the East Village. In 1830 he was employed by Messrs. Thomas & Woodcock, near the time, or at the time, they commenced the manufacture of pulp dressers and other machinery used for paper making. He was one of their principal workmen, and in a few years thereafter succeeded them in this business, connected with which was an iron foundry, blacksmithing, clothier's
shop, saw-mill and grist-mill. In this im- portant business, for the time and place, he was in co-partnership with Col. A. J. Hines and Roswell Hunt, Esq. At one period, Lewis Newman, Governeur Mor- ris, Esq., and Brinsmade, of Troy, N. Y., were interested in the business. Until a recent date, Mr. Newman continued at the head of the business, which finally all came into the possession of himself and family, under the name of George Newman & Son. Without pretension or apparent effort for popularity or office, he became eminent and office was thrust upon him. However much people differed in opinion about other matters, all believed in George Newman. He died Sept. 11, 1872.
In the Vermont Phoenix, of Sept. 13, 1872, appeared the following obituary no- tice of him:
"DEATH OF GEORGE NEWMAN .- Geo. Newman, one of the oldest and most re- spected citizens of Brattleboro, died at his residence, Wednesday morning, of heart disease, after a brief illness, at the age of 74. Mr. Newman had been a resident of this town for more than 60 years. Born at Seekonk, Mass., he removed with his parents, at an early age, to Marlboro, Vt., whence he came to this place a mere lad. The history of his life is in large measure identified with that of the town of which he has so long been an honored resident. He served many years as lister, town treas- urer and selectman, and for two years represented the town in the Legislature. As proprietor of the machine shop, en- gaged in the manufacture of paper ma- chinery, with which he was associated from 1837 to 1865, his name was familiar to many people in various parts of the country, and the respect with which he was regarded was universal. Evidence of this may be seen in the frequency with which he was called upon to settle estates. Probably no man in the county has ad- ministered upon so many estates as he. For more than 20 years he was an officer of the Windham Provident Institution for Savings, and for the last two years was its treasurer. He was also one of the original members of the Unitarian Church in this village, of which he ever remained a. prominent and liberal supporter. Ever ready to oblige a neighbor or assist the
131
BRATTLEBORO.
needy. kindly in all his relations, and with- out an enemy in the world, the influence of his genial life will not soon pass away, nor his memory be forgotten."
HON. EDWARD KIRKLAND.
[Extract from Amherst College Record of the class of 1831].
He was the son of Samuel and Dorcas Kirkland; was born in Warwick, Mass., June 24, 1808, graduated at Amherst Col- lege in 1831, studied law in Worcester, under the direction of Judge Merrick, during the first three years after gradua- tion. He then located himself in Temple-
ton, Mass., where he practised successfully in the legal profession until 1838. He undertook a business agency for the Brat- tleboro Typographic Co., and removed to Louisville, Ky., where he remained till 1842, when he returned to the East and re- sumed the practice of law in Brattleboro. The last two or three years of his life were marked by a gradual decay of his bodily and mental powers, owing to repeated attacks of paralysis, which terminated his useful and Christian life, Jan. 6, 1866.
Mr. Kirkland was successful in his pro- fession, and useful as a citizen and public spirited man, always ready to lend his hand and heart for the promotion of good objects, whether political or religious. He was several times elected a member of the Legislature of Vermont. For two years he was a member of the Vermont Senate. He was often active in the labors of polit- ical campaigns, and was a good deal in demand as a "stump " orator.
In answer to a letter from the class com- mittee, Rev. Dr. George P. Tyler, of Brat- tleboro, writes: "During 12 years in which I was his pastor, he was a prompt, useful, faithful member of the church. In the various causes of Christian benevo- lence, he was energetic and generous. He was thoroughly acquainted with the great foreign and domestic missionary enter- prises and promoted them with constant effort and success. As a lawyer, he stood among the first; as a citizen, he was often intrusted with public duties at home, and represented his town in the State Legisla- ture with great credit. Beyond his pro- fessional studies, Mr. Kirkland was a man of much literary culture, fond of historical studies and belles-lettres. He left a con- siderable library of carefully selected
books of this character. He devoted a good deal of time to biblical research, and always taught a Bible class, and for sev. eral years superintended [our Sabbath school. Such a man could not fail to be missed from the bar, the church and the community. As a Christian, he felt deeply his unworthiness, but while his mind re- mained he exercised a full, and I believe, a saving trust in his justification through faith in the Lord Jesus."
His life was marked repeatedly by sad · scenes of desolating bereavement, which put in requisition the supports of a Chris- tian faith and which he met as a Christian. Mr. Kirkland was married to Miss Cath- erine P. Robinson. of Templeton, Mass., May 24, 1836, who died in Louisville. Ky., April 15, 1840. He was married to Miss Frances S. M. Robinson, of Templeton, Mass., Oct. 31, 1844, who died in Brattle- boro, Vt., Oct. 12, 1858. He was married to Miss Mary Slate, of Bernardston. Mass., in October, 1859. He left three children, the eldest, bearing his name, was born in April, 1861. His widow and three chil- dren now (1879) live in this town.
An obituary notice of his death says: " He died at his residence in Brattleboro. He was a native of Huntington, Mass., and a graduate of Amherst College, and has been for 24 years a resident of this town. He was an able and successful lawyer, and . held in high esteem by all who knew him. Was a State Senator in 1863, and was a member of the House from Brattleboro. He was well known throughout the County and State, and was reckoned on the list of the late Senator Collamer's intimate friends. His age was 58 years."
GEORGE C. HALL.
George Chandler Hall was born in this village on the spot now occupied by the Baptist Church, Feb. 17, 1828; died at his residence on Clinton avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., April 26, 1872. He was the son of Gardner C. Hall,* of this town, who was also born here, and who for nearly 40 years
* Gardner Chandler Hall was born in Brat- tleboro, Oct. 12, 1795. Julia Ann Leavitt was born in Suffield, Conn., Jan. 27, 1806. The persons above named were married Oct. 6, 1823, and there were born to them eight children, of whom George C. Hall, the sub- ject of this sketch, was one.
-
132
BRATTLEBORO.
. occupied a prominent business and social position in this community, and won for himself a state-wide reputation for en- lightened enterprise and sterling integrity, which he transmitted, not in vain, as it but too often happens, to his sons. Up to the commencement of his sixteenth year, George was kept constantly in the village schools, then recently remodelled on the improved system now existing, and no better illustration of the thoroughness of the training therein prevailing can be afforded than by young Hall.
In 1844, his father placed him with the firm of Carruth & Whittier, Boston, whole- sale dealers in drugs, oils, paints, &c., where he served a long apprenticeship, and commenced to form those habits of system, energy and strict personal atten- tion which marked his after life and led to fortune.
In 1851, Mr. Hall, then about 23 years of age, removed to New York and soon engaged in the manufacture and sale of paints, dealing mainly in white lead, and subsequently established the now well known firm of Hall, Bradley & Co., than which no business house in the city enjoys a higher reputation for liberality, com- mercial integrity and financial soundness. He continued in this firm, as its senior partner, until his death.
.
In 1868, after much solicitation on the part of the late Col. Fisk and his associates in the management of the Erie railway, who had personal knowledge of his especial fitness for the place, Mr. Hall consented to accept the responsible and laborious position of purchasing agent of that road, wherein his strong will, personal inde- pendence, thorough knowledge of men and business, and especially his eminent executive ability, found full scope, and soon made themselves felt in results so favorable to the financial condition of the company as to render his services a neces- sity thereafter, and to compel him to con- tinue in the position, despite his repeatedly expressed wish to retire, up to the time of his death. He had also been a director of the road for nearly three years; but, fully occupied by the special duties of his own department, he gave little attention to, and assumed no responsibility for, the general management and policy of the company. These, it was well understood, were in the
exclusive control of an "inner circle " of the directory, to which Mr. Hall and sev- eral of his associates neither sought nor obtained admission, and of whose inten- tions and plans, until disclosed and de- veloped by acts, they knew nothing. In the final overthrow of Jay Gould and the late notorious "Erie ring," however, Col. Hall played an important part, and was one of the three directors in the old board who commanded the full confidence of the rightful owners, now in authority in that corporation, and was consequently re- tained by them, both in his position as director and purchasing agent. It was, however, his firm purpose, at a near period in the future, to withdraw entirely from his connection with the company, with a view to devote the leisure thus secured to duties and pursuits more congenial to his personal tastes.
Though avoiding all active participation in public life, Col. Hall occupied a promi- nent social position in Brooklyn, where he resided, and took a lively personal interest in many of the enterprises intended to im- prove and adorn that city. He was the most active projector of the Prospect Park Association; was a member of the Art Association, and of several other clubs and associations.
Funeral services were held at his late residence in Brooklyn, the officiating cler- gyman being Rev. Dr. Buddington, (Con- gregationalist), assisted by Rev. Dr. Farley, (Unitarian), and were attended by a large concourse of prominent citizens, all testi- fying to the high esteem in which he was held in the city of his adoption. In the absence of Rev. Mr. Jenkins, the funeral services at Brattleboro, the following Sunday, in the Congregational Church, were conducted by Rev. Mr. Noyes, Uni- tarian clergyman, of Northfield, Mass. The church, the largest in town, could not hold the people, and his remains were borne tenderly to their final home in the beautiful grounds on Cemetery Hill, by his life-long associates and friends, and placed beside those of his three children, who had preceded him on the journey whence there is no return. He left a wife, two daughters and a son; also his mother, two brothers and a sister. He had accu- mulated an ample fortune, which he dis- posed of by will.
133
BRATTLEBORO.
He was moulded on a large scale. His physical structure-large, compact, pow- erful-was a type of the whole man, and was the fitting abode of a head and heart of like proportions, all obedient to a will that yielded to no common obstacle. En- dowed thus bountifully with all the strong elements of manhood, he did nothing weakly. Earnest and tenacious in the pursuit of desired ends, he rarely failed in attaining them. To his great strength was joined a remarkable quickness of percep- tion and promptness in execution, qualities seldom found in one of his mould. He was essentially a fair-minded and just man, hating all shams and all forms of hypocrisy and meanness with a hatred that knew no bounds. Like most men of strong feeling and will, he was often impatient and some- times imperious ; but his strong sense of justice restrained him, even then, from serious wrong doing, and those who knew him best realized that his occasional brusqueness of" manner seldom had a rough purpose, and not unfrequently con- cealed the kindest thoughts and intentions. His open-handed liberality is known to all, though but few of his constant acts of kindness and generosity have been heralded abroad. His tender affection for his family-for wife, children, sisters, broth- ers, and especially for his widowed mother, from whom he inherited many of his marked physical and mental traits, was deep and enduring and found constant ex- pression, more in deeds than words. To his younger brothers and sister, on the death of his father many years ago, he acted a father's as well as an elder broth- er's part, and their preparation for and establishment in life, as their circumstances required, was his especial care. Among the strongest characteristics of his strong nature were his remarkable local attach- ments and his never-changing affection for his friends. Though he went out from among us while yet a boy, he never ceased to regard the place of his birth and the scene of his youthful trials and pleasures, as the one spot on all the earth most to be desired and cherished. No project having in view the interests and welfare of his native town, ever appealed to him in vain. He had already done much for her material advancement, but it is within the knowl- edge of many, that he looked forward with
peculiar pleasure to other and greater benefits he might bestow. In his death Brattleboro has lost a dutiful son and a most hearty and generous friend.
HON. B. D. HARRIS. COL. ARNOLD J. HINES
Was born in Guilford, Vt., Jan. 28, 1805, married Sarah, daughter of Ezekiel Gore, of Bernardston, Mass., in 1827. Two daughters of this union are still living- Mrs. Mary J. Cutler and Mrs. Sarah A. Morrill-a son having died in infancy. His wife died March 14, 1835. In 1837, he married Maria L. Brown, grand-daugh- ter of Gamaliel Arnold, of Dummerston Hill, who still (1879) survives him. The result of this union was a daughter, Mrs. Julia M. Wilder, and a son, George A. Hines. His father, Thomas Hines, was by trade a millwright and the favorite right hand man of Dea. John Holbrook in estab- lishing his first mechanical operations in this village, and in 1829, Arnold and his father removed to this place, where the remainder of their lives was passed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.