USA > Vermont > Windham County > Gazetteer and business directory of Windham county, Vt., 1724-1884 > Part 15
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 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
William Fessenden, the pioneer business man of Brattleboro village, was a son of Rev. Thomas K. Fessenden, of Walpole, N. H. He was born at Walpole, in 1779, and came here about 1803, soon after learning the trade
118
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
of printer, in his native town, where he served his time with Messrs. Thomas & Carlyle. He married Miss Patty, daughter of Dea. John Holbrook, Oc- tober 9, 1807, who was left a widow in 1815, with four children, Mr. Fessen- den dying of apoplexy. The village had scarce a dozen dwellings when Mr. Fessenden commenced publishing here a newspaper, called The Re- porter, in 1804. Fresh from his apprenticeship, with no capital, but a mind fertile in resources, and active hands to execute his designs, he bravely labored under great disadvantages. Often did he make a journey on horse- back, to some distant paper-mill, and return with just sufficient paper bound upon the back of the horse to issue the Reporter one week. While he was engaged in this enterprise, Anthony Haswell was trying to establish at Ben- nington the publication of Webster's spelling book. Mr. Haswell did not succeed, and his effects were sold. Mr. Fessenden, in some way, came into possession of the plates and fixtures for the spelling-book. Under his eco- nomical, sagacious management the publication of this work caused the land, once called " Governor's Farm, " to assume a very different appearance. Houses sprang up rapidly, and the population very soon doubled.
Jesse Frost was born at Billerica, in 1736, married Johanna Spaulding, of Chelmsford, May 6, 1760, and had six sons and two daughters. Just at what time he came to Brattleboro is not known, but an old deed shows that he was here previous to 1770. He purchased a farm of Lemuel Hendrick which has been in the possession of the family ever since. His son William, who came into possession of the property in 1801, married Susannah Mann, and had one son, Zenas, and three daughters. James B. Frost, son of Zenas, was born February 8, 1835, married Lucy C. Burnap, of Newfane, March 29, 1857. In 1871, he took legal possession of the old homestead, though be had always resided thereon.
Charles, son of James Frost who came to Brattleboro, from Paxton, in 1799, was born in Brattleboro village, November 11, 1805. He was by trade a shoemaker, which business he followed all his life, except during the winter months of a few years in his early manhood, when he taught school. He married Roxanna Sargent and reared three sons, Charles S., Wells S., and Henry B. S. Mr. Frost early manifested an aptitude for mathematics and the sci- ences, though he attended only the common schools. But through his own exertions he finally became a man who probably knew more about plants than any one else in New England,-perhaps than anyone in the United States. He read scientific books equally well in four different languages, and had, besides, a very great deal of scientific knowledge beyond botany,- in one department of which he was an authority for scientific men on two continents-perhaps the highest authority since the death of Rev. Dr. Curtis, of North Carolina. His knowledge was wide and accurate. He had habits of the closest observation and description, and was honored by being elected a member of different societies in America and Europe, though he never gave up his occupation of village shoemaker.
Winayle
119
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
Francis Goodhue, one of Brattleboro's most enterprising business men, was born October 26, 1768, married Polly Brown, daughter of Rev. Joseph Brown, in 1778. He moved from Swanzey, N. H., to Wethersfield, Vt., where he came into possession of the famous "Bow Farm " of about 1,000 acres, being of the most fertile and desirable meadow lands of the Connec- ticut river valley. In 1810 he sold this valuable farm to Hon. William Jarvis, soon after that gentleman resigned his office as United States Consul to Spain, and who was ever afterwards known as "Consul Jarvis. " Soon after selling this farm, Mr. Goodhue settled in Brattleboro, in 1811, and this place was his home the remainder of his life, which closed in 1837. At the time of his death but two of his five children were living, viz. : Col. Joseph Good- hue and Wells Goodhue. Joseph Goodhue was born in 1794, married Sarah Edwards, of Northampton, Mass., a descendant of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, in 1815. The then small settlement of east village, having extensive meadows north and south of it, attracted the attention of Mr. Goodhue, and he made purchases of said lands north and south, and also a large portion of the land on Main and other streets of the village, containing, in some localities, buildings thereon. Hon. John W. Blake, who was living here before 1790, was a large owner of real estate in this village at that time, and he conveyed his title to the same to Mr Goodhue in 1811. About the same time, Deacon John Holbrook sold to Mr. Goodhue the water-power and buildings east of the south bridge on Main street, containing a saw and grist-mill and some machinery for other purposes. He carried on wool-carding and cloth-dress- ing, saw and grist-mill, cotton spinning, distilling, and a large store of such goods as were sold from country stores at that time. He was also erecting a building of some kind every year, and largely at the same time engaged in farming, yet his note was never worth less than 100 cents on the dollar. No man of property who has settled here manifested more real confidence in the future of the village than did Mr. Goodhue. He completely identified him- self with its private and public interests, and was ever ready to listen to and assist in any project presenting a reasonable prospect of tending to the pub- lic welfare. His hopefulness and cheerfulness were a constant inspiration to those with whom he came in contact, and the encouraging grasp he gave the hand of honest industry can be seen, in its effects at the present day. He was generally successful, and he was always gratified to learn that others were so; and was a young man unfortunate in business, instead of accelerat- ing his misfortunes or downward course, he had a hopeful word to say, and could generally find some employment for him until he could do better. His public liberality was apparent in several instances. He gave valuable loca- tions upon his lands on Main street for the old Brattleboro Bank, chartered in 1821, and for the Unitarian and Congregational church buildings.
Col. Joseph Goodhue, soon after his marriage, came into possession of the large meadow farm, occupied in early times, before the war of the Revolu- tion, by John Arms, one of the earliest settlers. Col. Goodhue was a model
Linayle
C C n: tl
il S C H. . H ... Es .: L :: . year ne. da 1
car. stu en 18.
Re lad bor offi hor
he . den con star his Mu cou resig neal E Con. the 1. train
estab. . educ .. . a dist . the S:
L'arte p .top of his hie ordered v ta vima. tod the regiment 'n this v.i ** 1, 5" .... v, cantion met in thistoạt . here is the first na boat cuter! ": - "
At tin : a of her death, in. I've. " times Fare, and constitute me .
. Long. Mas An was marriedto 1: 1' ;- t rul etter Hallrock. Lugr.
. Abs feine isto game freco to the In Esproud hestar LIT E R Ch. po was tran of the Advan :" the frysar .. . It I. incis. the only sx , mamed V .... .. P Prooks ... I. r of Joseph, wis ten years of : He fitted for calling and & I'm : r. d college, and came back to B. ... . H- wa. married to La na : 13 tres, Cherles and Ju a. 1 . .. . Water, of New York. 1. ... o ! never meant
.. . oly daug ter. .... ...
* * es Surmer. ....
. c'est of the last well ....
Joseph Goodhur
Unrug Google
120
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
of industry, and during a large portion of his life occupied various town offi- ces, and was the chief in command of the regiment in this vicinity. Being one of the most economical, successful, cautious men in this town, yet he was one of the largest investors here in the first railroad enterprise-the Ver- mont & Massachusetts railroad-and was one of the board of directors during the remainder of his life. At the time of his death, in 1861, his children were all married, settled mostly in this place, and constitute, with their fam- ilies, a very important and influential part of this community. His wife Sarah died November 11, 1883. Mary Ann was married to William P. Cune, president of the old bank, chartered here in 1821 and renewed in 1863. Harriet was married in 1835 to ex-Governor Holbrook. Lucy married Dr. Hall, of Northampton, Mass., in 1836. Sarah married first, Albert H. Bull, Esq., of Hartford, Ct., who before 1860 gave $2 000 to the Brattleboro Library Association. Her second husband, Dr. E. R. Chapin, was, for fifteen years, superintendent physician of the Asylum for the Insane, at Flatbush, near the city of New York. Francis, the only son, married Mary Brooks, daughter of Captain William Brooks.
Wells Goodhue, the only brother of Joseph, was ten years of age when he came here with his father in 1811. He fitted for college and continued his studies about a year after he entered college, and came back to Brattleboro to engage in trade with his father. He was married to Laura Barnard about 1828. They had three children-Lucy, Charles and Julia. Lucy married Rev. George Draper ; Julia, Thomas Walter, of New York ; Charles B., a lady from Pomfret, Ct. Mr. Goodhue passed the most of his life in Brattle- boro. He was a careful, prudent man, and never manifested any desire for office, though he was a man of excellent administrative ability and sterling honesty. His quiet, sagacious comments and remarks to those with whom he was familiar, respecting public movements and passing events, gave evi- dence of much reflection and discrimination. Above all things he dreaded contention, and rarely would discuss exciting questions. His wealth con- stantly accumulated by real estate transactions and judicious management of his capital. Late in life he was elected president of the first bank here. Much to the regret of those most interested in the institution, however, he could be retained in said office but a short time. A few months after his resignation he died, in 1874, at the home of his only daughter, Mrs. Draper, near the city of New York.
Epaphro Seymour, the youngest son of Maj. Moses Seymour, of Litchfield, Conn., was born July 8, 1783. He received a good academical education at the Morris Academy, South Farns, Conn., and afterwards was thoroughly trained in the business and duties of a merchant's cleik in a mercantile establishment at Brooklyn, Conn. Horatio Seymour, the eldest brother, was educated for the legal profession, and settled in Middlebury, Vt. He became a distinguished lawyer in western Vermont, and for twelve years represented the State in the United States senate. Near the close of the last century,
12 of ce or or m the w il: S C H
2
F
1
ye n. . .....
d
. en B:a).
R 1.4.
honesty. F.
*. 1 a1 rem .. A.
Es and pool. he was 1.4.
an. ... dence of # contention
stantly arce
hs capital t'a. hos and the ment of The ...
Habe res i mer, nie ttashort time. Ate : Hon he app f the home of his of it deligt " city of .. . i k. ro Seja - argin _ at son of Maj Meses Sevnod .. . was born 1 . 8. 1783. He received a wow! andere .. ens Academy, 519 Firas, Conn., sed afterwards a. 1
ma mentants clelia le
establishment at Brooklyn, Conn. Hofatto Seymour, the eldes. . as educated for the legal profession, and settled in Middlebury, Vt. He became a distinguished lawyer in western Vermont, and for twelve years represented the State in the United States senate. Near the close of the last century,
.
Joseph Goodhur
Undy Google
cette Linayle
121
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
Henry Seymour, an older brother of Epaphro Seymour, came to Guilford and was extensively engaged in mercantile business. Subsequently Henry Sey- mour, about 1802, induced his brother Epaphro to come to Guilford and engage in trade, although he was less than twenty years of age when he com- menced business. At this time Guilford was the most populous and prosper- ous town in Vermont. Zadock Thomps n, in his Gazetteer of Vermont published in 1820, speaks as follows of Henry Seymour and others, formerly residents of Guilford: "Among the early settlers of Guilford, since 1796, was Hon. Royall Tyler, Hon. James Elliot, Hon. Micah Townsend, Hon. John Noyes, Hon. Henry Seymour, and others of lesser note, who were identified with the history of the State, but who have since removed from the town." After Epaphro Seymour was established in business in 1802, Henry Seymour removed to Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and engaged largely in trade ac- cumulating a handsome property. Subsequently, in 1819, he removed to Utica, N. Y., and was appointed one of the canal commissioners of that State, and while supervising the construction of the canal, he acquired a large fortune by successful investments in real estate. Epaphro continued in mer- cantile business in Guilford until 1814, when he removed to Brattleboro, and was associated with Geo. F. Atherton in mercantile business, He continued in trade in Brattleboro some three or four years, after which he resided alternately at Guilford and Brattleboro. He spent the winter of 1820 at Mid- dlebury, Vt. He was regarded as a discreet business man of most excellent judgment, and could readily and correctly estimate the value of all kinds of property that passed under his observation, and while sojourning in Brattle- boro, Guilford, or elsewhere, he was constantly investing his money in a great variety of enterprises, which uniformly proved productive. In the fall of r821 the legislature of Vermont chartered a bank at Brattleboro, which was or- ganized the following year, and Mr. Seymour was chosen cashier thereof by the directors, in March, 1822, and continued to hold the office until January 1, 1837, when he was elected president of the bank to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of John Holbrook. Mr. Seymour continued to hold the office and faithfully discharge the duties thoreof until his death, June 10, 1854.
Rutherford Hayes came to Brattleboro, from New Haven, Conn., in Feb- ruary, 1778, a young man, just of age, a blacksmith by trade. The few set- tlers, wishing such a workman to locate among them, made a bee, shovelled, away the deep snow, helped to build a shop, and in less than a month he was at work with his tools. Rutherford was born in Bradford, Conn., July 29, 1756, and removed to New Haven with his father, Ezekiel Hayes, in 1773 In his new home, now the West village, he for many years worked at his trade, which he called a "dirty, black business, but it brought white money." For some time he kept a tavern, joining farming with it, and during his pass- ing old age he was a farmer in easy circumstances. The old Hayes homes stead, built nearly one hundred years ago, and which was opened as
Winayle
122
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
a hotel by Rutherford in 1795, is now owned and occupied by his grand- daughter, Mary A. Bigelow, daughter of Dea. Russell Hayes, and widow of W. H. Bigelow. As to his characteristics, he is described as a "round. corpulent old gentleman, with an elastic, square step, medium height, with florid complexion, sandy hair, a cheerful temper, and friendly, courteous man- ners." He died September 25, 1836. His wife, Chloe Smith, born November 10,1762, in Hadley, Mass., moved with her parents to Brattleboro when young, and was married, in 1789, in her seventeenth year. She died Febru- ary 17, 1847. They had three sons and six daughters, whom they lived to see in positions of honor and usefulness.
(THE HAYES HOMESTEAD, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT )
Dea. Russell Hayes, the eldest of the sons, born May 31, 1784, passed a life of valuable usefulness on the old homestead in West Brattleboro, devot- ing his energies and his love to the academy and the church, and smoothing tenderly the declining years of his aged parents. He was a Christian of equa- ble temper, a man of excellent judgment, and a neighbor highly esteemed. He died July 28, 1856.
Rutherford Hayes, Jr .. born January 4, 1787. entered the mercantile busi- ness and accumulated, for those times, a competent fortune. He was a man of honor and commanded universal respect. He was a Presbyterian. In 1817 he removed with his family to Delaware, O., a journey of forty days, but only lived about five years thereafter, dying in 1822. . After his death was born his son, ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes, whose well-earned polit- ical honors are well-known to all.
William R. Hayes, third son of Rutherford Hayes, Sr., was born Decem- ber 6, 1804, prepared for college under the instruction of Rev. Mr. Hallock,
Cinayle
123
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
and graduated at Yale in the year 1825. He took a high stand in his class. Closing the three years of his legal preparatory studies at the law school in New Haven, under the care of Judge Dagget, he was admitted to the bar and opened an office in East Brattleboro, Vt., in 1828 ; was married to Miss Trowbridge, of New Haven, in October, 1830. He is said to have had a fine voice, and to have been a successful pleader. In his will he left $1,000 for the academy at West Brattleboro. He, with two other professional men, his daily associates, Mr. Elliot, of his own profession, and Dr. Dickerman, were among the subjects of the revival of 1832. He became thereafter an earnest, active Christian, and was restrained from preparing himself for the gos- pel ministry by failing health. Skillful physicians advised him to seek a milder climate. In 1836 he relinquished the practice of law, and moved to Barba- does in the West Indies. His health was gradually restored, and he then spent the rest of his life engaged in prosperous mercantile pursuits, and in discharging the duties of United States consul for the island of Barbadoes. He engaged himself heartily in the support of temperance and in the aboli- tion of slavery. He organized societies in his new home, and wrote and labored successfully for the promotion of these reforms. His life was sud- denly terminated by a malignant erysipelas, July 13, 1852. Of the daughters of Rutherford Hayes, Sr., the oldest one, Polly, married Mr. John Noyes. who became a man of note. He graduated at Yale college in the class of 1779. taught in Chesterfield academy, New Hampshire, preached the gospel, became a merchant, and represented the southern district of Vermont in congress. They were the grandparents of Larkin G. Mead, the sculptor. Belinda married the Hon. Samuel Elliot, of Brattleboro. Clarissa married Ayer Moody, a graduate of Dartmouth college, a man of influence. Sarah was married to Dyer Bancroft, a graduate of Williams college.
Larkin G. Mead was born at Lexington, Mass., October 2, 1795; educated at Dartmouth college ; first practiced law at Chesterfield, N. H. ; married Mary Jane Noyes, daughter of Hon. John Noyes, of Putney, Vt., June 8, 1829, and removed to Brattleboro in 1839, where he was employed in closing up the affairs of the Brattleboro Typographic Company. He practiced law in the courts of Cheshire county, N. H., and Windham county, Vt., during a large portion of the thirty years in which he lived in Brattleboro ; was a prominent Whig in the Harrison campaign of 1840, and chosen senator from this county in 1846. He procured the charter for the first savings bank in Brattleboro, now known as the Vermont Savings Bank of Brattleboro, and was the first treasurer of that institution about twenty five years; was chairman of the first prudential committee, chosen to carry into effect the present sys- tem of graded schools, in 1841. Shortly after resigning the office of treas- urer of the bank he died July 6, 1869. His son, Larkin G., Jr., became the celebrated sculptor.
Col. Arnold J. Hines was born in Guilford, Vt., January 28, 1805, married Sarah, daughter of Ezekiel Gore, of Bernardston, Mass., in 1827. Three
124
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
children blessed this union, 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, granddaughter of Gamaliel Arnold, of Dummers- ton Hill. 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. Arnold J. Hines, as captain of the old artillery and colonel in the old Ver- mont State militia, in the declining days of our military organization, proved worthy to lead a "forlorn hope." He was prominent in the fire department. in securing the first village charter, was one of the original members of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association, and for twenty- five years was the senior partner of the widly known firm of Hines, Newman & Company. As a prin- cipal or important actor in establishing and sustaining the only religious organization in this village south of Whetstone brook, he will be long and gratefully remembered. In religion he was a firm believer in the final restora- tion of all mankind in holiness. In politics he was a strong anti-slavery Dem- ocrat until the christening of the Republican party, of which, it may be said, he was one of its original members. His last days, which were days of suffer- ing, were characterized by the heroic resignation and tender patience which might be expected from a man of his large and generous nature, and his last effort, just as he was entering the valley of shadows, was a pleasant word and smile to a ministering friend. He died of an internal tumor, April 6, 1862.
Ex-Governor Frederick Holbrook, who is now a resident of Brattleboro, was born February 15, 1814, the youngest of ten children, who constituted the family of Dea. John Holbrook, and which formerly occupied a large sphere of usefulness and effectually exercised a creative power in the forming period of the East village. Gov. Holbrook was a practical farmer, and in 1847, while busy with his farm, he was chosen register of probate for the dis- trict of Marlboro; in 1850 he was elected president of the State agricultural society, and held that office eight years ; was State senator from Windham county in 1849-50, and in 1861 he was elected governor of the State, serving faithfully and well during the trying scenes of those times. Since then he has been interested, in the improvement of agricultural implements, especially the plow. He has also been president of the Vermont Savings Bank about fifteen years, and trustee of the Vermont Asylum for the Insane thirty-four years. He is also actively interested in the public affairs of the town.
Rev. Horace Burchard, whose death occurred in Brattleboro, October 25, 1879, was born in Remsen, Oneida county, N. Y., April 5, 1833. In his boy- hood his parents removed to Hamilton, N. Y., and he graduated from Madi- son university, of that town, in 1853, bearing the highest honors of his class. Immediately after graduation, he took charge of an academy at Warners- ville, N. Y., and afterwards went to Yonkers, N. Y., where he was principal
Thayle
125
TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO.
of a ladies' seminary. He was also a professor in two colleges in the South, being connected with the Mary Sharpe college, in Winchester, Tenn., when the war broke out, but loyalty to his country compelled him to leave. In 1862 he took charge of Leland and Gray Seminary, at Townshend, Vt., and during the two years he remained there the school in- creased more than two hundred per cent. in membership. He first entered the ministry, as a pastor, in 1866, at North Bennington, Vt., where he was ordained, in October of that year. While in Bennington he married, Sep- tember 5, 1866. Kate M. Fletcher, youngest daughter of Rev. Horace Fletcher, D. D., of Townshend. After a successful pastorate of nearly four years there, he removed to Wood- stock, Ill., and from there to Chicago. In 1875, while on a visit to Vermont, he received (REV. HORACE BURCHARD.) and accepted a hearty and unanimous call to become pastor of the Baptist church of Brattleboro. During the four years of his pastorate here he received 200 members into the church. He seemed in the midst of his usefulness and popularity when he was called higher. Here he was buried, to await the resurrection. He was a born leader and a trusted friend -a man of large heart and large brain. Original in thought, unconventional in manner, and always intensely earnest in speaking, he made an impress whenever and wherever heard. He carried great influence whenever he spoke on public occasions, and always seemed to forget himself in his efforts to reach and help others. His widow still resides in Brattleboro.
William Morris Hunt, the eminent artist, was the eldest son of Hon. Jona- than Hunt, of Vernon, Vt., and Jane Maria Leavitt, of Suffield, Conn., from whose maternal side he inherited his genius for art. He was born in Brattle- boro, March 31, 1824. Upon the death of his father, in 1832, his mother removed with the family to New Haven, Conn., where William was placed at Mr. Skinner's school. He early showed skill in drawing, and several finely drawn sketches and even small cameo heads are preserved in the family, done by him previous to his tenth year. He graduated from Harvard in 1840. Owing to a pulmonary difficulty"during his senior year, a change of climate was recommended by his physicians, and October 9, 1843, heaccom- panied his mother and family to Europe. From this time forward his life was devoted to art, with what success is well known to all art lovers. Returning to America in 1855, he married a Miss Perkins, of Boston, and passed a year in Brattleboro, and thence went to reside in Newport, R. I. His death occurred September 9, 1879, at the Isle of Shoals, off Portsmouth, N. H. In compliance with an often expressed desire, he was buried in Brat- tleboro.
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.