USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 19
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In the fall of 1877 he commenced practice in South Ryegate, Vt., and continued there until he moved to St. Johnsbury, January 1, 1883, where he is now practicing his profession.
While at Ryegate he was identified with the educational interests of the town and village as superintendent of schools and prudential committee, and was the agent of the town to prosecute and defend suits. In 1886 he was elected state's attorney of Caledonia county, which office he now holds.
He was married, in 1879, to Ella J. White, of South Ryegate, who died in 1881. In 1884 he was again married to his present wife, Sarah M. Town, of St. Johnsbury. He is now in partnership in the practice of his profession with Charles H. Hosford, Esq., of McIndoe's Falls, a village in the town of Barnet, Vt., not far from St. Johnsbury.
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Henry W. Tewksbury is the son of Amos W. and Annis C. Tewksbury, and was born in New Boston, N. H., June 24, 1847. In August, 1855, he removed with his parents to West Randolph, fitted for college at Phillips Andover, Mass., academy and Kimball Union academy, Meriden, N. H. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1870, read law in the offices of Mar- shall & Chase, Concord, N. H., Cross & Burnham, Manchester, N. H., and Pratt & Starr, Toledo, Ohio., and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, in 1872, and was in practice in Manchester, N. H., October, 1872, to February, 1880. He removed to West Randolph, Vt., in the spring of that year and was admitted to Orange county bar, June term, 1880, though not intending to practice. From that date he has been in business with A. W. Tewksbury & Sons, merchants and manufacturers at West Randolph. In 1883-84 Mr. Tewksbury first appeared upon the lecture platform. The follow- ing seasons brought him rapidly increasing success, his services being in de- mand in all sections of the country.
On the evening of February 5, 1887, he completed the twelfth successive week of lecturing by an appearance in the G. A. R. course at Windsor, Vt., and the same night was a victim of the memorable " Hartford Bridge " rail- way disaster, on the Central Vermont railroad, wherein thirty people were killed or burned to death, and thirty-six were wounded.
In addition to many severe muscular injuries, and a seriously broken arm and leg, his foot and ankle were badly crushed and fractured. This misfor- tune necessitated the cancellation of eighty-two remaining engagements of that season. The following season-1887-88-he was unable to do any- thing, and at the present time (spring of 1888) it is uncertain when he will be able to appear upon the lecture platform again.
October 10, 1872, he married Carrie R., daughter of the late Alonzo F. Carr, M. D., of Goffstown, N. H., by whom he had one son, Arthur A., who died when eleven months old, and one daughter, Mary C., born August 10, 1875, and who is still living. Mr. Tewksbury resides in West Randolph.
Charles B. Goodrich was born at Hartland, Vt .. on February 16, 1853. He was prepared for college at the Montpelier Methodist seminary, and completed the first two years of the course at Middlebury college in the class of 1878. In the year of 1876-77 he was principal of the Stowe, Vt., High school. In the year of 1877-78 he was principal of the West Randolph, Vt., graded schools. In the year of 1879-So he was principal and superin- tendent of the Vineland, N. J., public schools.
In the spring of 1878 he began the study of law with Hon. John W. Rowell, at West Randolph, and afterwards continued his studies with the law firm of Heath & Carleton, at Montpelier, and in September, 1880, was duly admitted to the Washington county bar.
Immediately after his admission to the bar he opened his office for the practice of law at West Randolph, and continued to practice there until April, 1881, when he removed to Syracuse, N. Y., where, after having been duly ad-
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mitted to practice in all courts of the state, he has ever since practiced his profession.
While teaching at Vineland, N. J., Mr. Goodrich became acquainted with Miss Elizabeth C. Vanderburgh, of that place, and they were married on May 27, 1880, and have one daughter five years of age.
Frank N. Holman was born in Braintree, May 10, 1853, and was educated in the common schools, West Randolph academy and the Randolph State Normal school, graduating in both courses of the last named institution, in January, 1877, and January, 1879. He studied law first in the office of Hon. N. L. Boyden, at Randolph Center, and in January, 1880, he entered the office of Hon. J. W. Rowell, at West Randolph, with whom he remained until admit- ted to the Orange county bar, at the June term of the County Court, 1881. He immediately went west, but returned in February, 1882, and located in an office with his late preceptor in the law, who had then become one of the judges of the Supreme Court and had given up practice. Mr. Holman con- tinued in practice at West Randolph between three and four years, but finally abandoned the profession. He is now located in Boston and is connected with the school book publishing house of Butler, White & Butler, of Phila- delphia, Pa., as New England agent.
Almer B. Thomas, son of Oscar and Julia A. Thomas, was born in Wood- bury, Vt., August 2, 1862. He enjoyed the advantages of an academical edu- cation at the very excellent academy at Hardwick, Vt. He read law with J. O. Livingston, of Montpelier, J. P. Lamson, of Cabot, and the last two years of his student's course with the firm of J. A. & G. W. Wing, of Montpelier. Mr. Thomas was admitted to the bar of Washington County Court at its March term, 1883, and immediately went to Redfield, Dakota, where he prac- ticed law about three years, when he came to West Randolph, in Orange county, at which place he has since practiced his profession with some inter- ruptions due to his taking an interest in some manufacturing enterprises. He married Miss Cora M. Shipman, of Hardwick, in October, 1885.
Forrest Clyde Manchester was born in Randolph, September 11, 1859. His parents were Albert B. Manchester and Elizabeth M. Sessions, sister of M. H. Sessions. His father was a farmer, and he spent his boyhood upon the farm until about sixteen years of age, when he entered the Randolph State Normal school, from which he graduated in the first course, January, 1878. After entering upon the second course he taught school one winter, and graduated, completing the full courses of this institution in January, 1881. He then took a special course of study in the classics, ancient history and Roman law while attending the St. Johnsbury academy, after which he en- tered upon the study of the law in the office of Judge Philander Perrin and E. J. McWain, at West Randolph, where he remained until the winter of 1883, when he entered the office of Hon. H. J. Boardman and S. H. Tyng, of Boston, Mass. He remained in their office until summer, when he re- turned to the office of Perrin & McWain, where he continued his studies
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until the following October, when he entered the Boston University Law school, and took, in connection with his legal studies, a course in the Boston University School of Oratory. He graduated from the Law school June 4, 1884, receiving the degree of LL. B., taking high rank in a large class. He then entered the office of ex-Gov. William Gaston and C. I. B. Whitney, in Boston, where he continued his studies until he entered practice for himself.
He was admitted to the Suffolk county bar at Boston, July 25, 1885. He then began the practice of his chosen profession at 10 Tremont street, Boston, where he still has his place of business, having his residence at Win- chester, Mass.
The following named men were admitted to the bar at the dates given as of Randolph or practiced for the years named in Randolph, viz .: John H. Cram was a lawyer there in 1805. Porter (possibly Peter) Converse was admitted to the bar in Essex county in 1806, and was a lawyer at Randolph from 1811 to 1824. George Chase was admitted to Orange county bar at the June term, 1820, and was a lawyer at Randolph as late as 1828. David D. Davis was admitted to Orange county bar, June term, 1839. Rollin C. Moulton, June 18, 1845. Caleb E. P. Hobart, June 18, 1845. John Tres- cott Graves, December term, 1846. H. G. Edson was a lawyer at Randolph in 1847. Ira Young Burnham was admitted January 25, 1854. Horace Miller Lillie was admitted January 28, 1854. Abel Lyman was admitted January 24, 1861. Luther Blodgett was admitted at the June term, 1869. Hiram Turner was also admitted here.
STRAFFORD.
John H. Palmer was a lawyer in Strafford as early as 1802, and in 1810 sold his practice and good will to Daniel Cobb, who had then just come into town. He left for parts unknown. His habits in the use of spirits were bad, but he was called by the older inhabitants of Strafford " a bright, smart man." A correspondent says of one of his letters received after he left: " Its chirography is neat, expressions felicitous, ideas sound and shrewd." In the Register he is named as of Chelsea in 1805, which is probably a mistake.
Aaron Loveland resided in Strafford from 1808 to about 1812, and then returned to Norwich, his native town. He was not a great success as a lawyer, although he acquired the title of judge in some way. He was a man of great acquirements in scholarship, but he did now know how to make prac- tical use of what he knew. The tradition prevails in Norwich that he out- ranked his classmate, Daniel Webster, in college. Judge Loveland was eccentric to a ridiculous degree, uncouth, bashful as a girl, and yet in conver- sation he was one of the most entertaining of men when he unbent himself. He never married.
Daniel Cobb, son of Nathan and Lydia (Bliss) Cobb, was born in Hanover, N. H., July 23, 1787. When about six years of age he had an attack of fever,
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followed by the disease and loss of a hip joint, so that ever after he was a crip- ple. For seven years he suffered beyond description, then slowly began to mend. From childhood he was passionately fond of reading. He was heard to say that in the latter part of his sickness he was accustomed to lie at length upon the hearth and study by the light of a fire of birch bark and pine knots gathered for him by his brothers. He received a good education at the academy at Hanover and expected to go through college ; but in the year 1803 his father lost his property and the cherished plan was necessarily aban- doned.
In the spring of 1805 he began the study of the law in the office of Eben- ezer Brown, at Norwich, Vt. June, 1806, he entered the office and law school of Seth Cushman, at Guildhall, defraying his expenses here, as at Norwich, by teaching school.
Poverty was his lot for many years. In addition to the task of earning his own living and of educating himself in the law, his parents, disheartened and broken down by their misfortune, became dependent upon him for support.
He was admitted to Essex county bar, December, 1809, and commenced the practice of the law at Waterford, Vt. In April, 1810, he removed to Strafford, where he spent the remainder of his life. In January, 1818, he mar- ried Marinda Bryant, of Templeton, Mass., by whom he had six children. Two of these died in childhood ; four, boys, lived to manhood. Two of the sons, Daniel B. B. and Walter B., now both deceased, were successful mer - chants at Derby Line, Vt. Samuel W. is a merchant and postmaster at Hanover, N. H. Nathan B. lives in the old homestead at Strafford.
Daniel Cobb was a member of the Governor's Council in the years 1831, 1832, 1833 and 1834 ; held a seat in the state Senate in 1835 and 1839 ; was elected town representative in 1815, 1816, 1817, 1824, 1825, 1841 and 1842 ; assistant judge of Orange County Court 1824, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31, 32, '34, '37, '39, and '42 (thirteen years) ; candidate for presidential elector in 1836.
As a practitioner Judge Cobb was remarkably successful, for he was not willing to commence a suit unless there was more than a fair prospect of suc- cess, and his cases were always well prepared. When his assistance was asked he seemed quite as anxious to learn what the opposite party claimed and would try to prove as the showing his own client could make.
Senator Morrill, in an article furnished for the " History of Strafford," says of him : "Judge Cobb, for nearly half a century, was the chief legal coun- sellor in the town. He was a man of much individuality of character, sterling integrity, an earnest advocate and a safe adviser. To his great credit let it be said that he never encouraged litigation. A young lawyer of a neighbor- ing town being asked if there was much legal business to be done in Strafford, replied, ' No, and there never will be as long as that d-d nuisance, old Cobb, lives. He settles all lawsuits.'" And in the " Records of the Governor and
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Council " E. P. Walton describes him as " a lawyer and a good one, with the somewhat uncommon habit of discouraging litigation."
He was a man of great moral, as well as physical, courage, never fearing to speak his convictions, however unwelcome or impolitic the utterance might be. This trait, of course, made him enemies. Judge Harris often remarked of him that he was independent to a fault.
At the invasion of Plattsburgh, in 1814, he promptly volunteered. At Bur- lington, when arms were distributed to the men, it was suggested that he, being quite lime, did not need a gun. He replied with an emphatic expletive that he should need one more than any of them, -the rest of them could run. And, when about to receive his ammunition and equipments, the quarter- master, observing his limping movements, again remonstrated with him, say- ing, "You can't march or run with such a load,"-Cobb replied, "I'll be d-d if I came to run. I came to fight." But the battle was fought and the British were well on their way back to Canada when the Strafford men reached the field of conflict.
In politics he was an ardent Democrat. At the age of twenty-three, when attempting to establish himself at Lyndon, it was soon learned that he was a disciple of Jefferson. The landlord of the hotel where he boarded came to him and told him he liked his appearance and conduct, as did the other boarders, " but," added Boniface, "Gen. - says you are a Jeffersonian and he don't want you here. As there are particular reasons why I do not wish to displease him. I'd rather you would board somewere else." The friendless young lawyer accordingly left the house and the place at once.
Though he was a strong partisan, his love of country was stronger than the ties of party. In the presidential election of 1860 he did not think Doug- lass sufficiently democratic, and accordingly he voted for Breckenridge and Lane. But at the breaking out of the Rebellion he earnestly advocated its suppression by force of arms and, thoughout the conflict, supported the war measures of the government. In 1864 he voted for Lincoln, regarding the peace policy of his own party as cowardly and in the highest degree dan- gerous.
In educational matters he was ever active and enthusiastic, always favor- ing a liberal policy therein. More frequently perhaps than any other citizen he visited the schools of his village, where his apt questions, illustrations and anecdotes made him always welcome. He died July 26, 1868, at the age of eighty-one years.
A. V. H. Carpenter practiced law in Strafford from 1845 to 1847, inclu- sive, and then went to Northfield. He soon abandoned the profession and went west, where he is now living, occupying an important position in the business of one of the great railroad lines. He was a brother of Hon. He- man Carpenter, of Northfield.
Levi Bishop Smith,* son of Burleigh H. and Julia A. (Bishop) Smith, born
*Furnished by Hon N. B. Cobb.
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in Strafford, Vt., September 2, 1856, was educated in the public and select schools of his native town and in the Normal school at Randolph, graduating in the second course of the last named institution, June 23, 1876. At Ran- dolph his enthusiastic devotion to study at once placed him in the front rank.
Principal Conant said of him : "To good natured endowments he added scholarly acquisition and successful experience in teaching"; and Principal Leavenworth wrote: "While here he ever maintained a high character as an earnest student and a christain gentleman." In the autumn of the year 1876 young Smith entered the law office of Heath & Carleton, at Montpelier, and was admitted to Washington county bar October 1, 1879. Mr. Smith was a diligent student, with unusual power of application ; of exemplary morals ; ambitious to succeed and excel. Before and after his admission to the bar he engaged in the practice of the law in Strafford, and with much credit to himself and advantage to his clients. His legal papers were drawn with a degree of accuracy surprising in one so young, and his cases were well prepared. He seemed to possess all the qualifications necessary to success and eminence in his profession. But the mistake or error of doing the work of two years in the space of one was to him fatal. In the spring of 1878 his lungs became seriously affected. He combatted his disease with much hopefulness and force of will, but eventually was compelled to yield. He died at Strafford, April 9, 1880.
Daniel Carpenter Hyde was born in Strafford, January 3, 1843. He is the eldest of a family of six, all now living, the children of Edwin and Abigail Carpenter Hyde. The father was born in Strafford, and died July 2, 1878. The mother, daughter of John Carpenter, was born in Hanover, N. H., and is still living at her old home in Strafford. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, James Hyde, was born in Canterbury, Conn., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war from that state. In 1780 he removed from Canterbury and settled upon a farm in Strafford, upon which he re- sided until his death in 1837. His wife was Eunice, daughter of Peter Pen- nock, who was a son of the first settler in Strafford, Hon. James Pennock. Daniel C. Hyde received only a common school education, and was married, in 1864, to Susan E. Alger, daughter of Col. George WV. Alger, of Strafford. In 1875 he began the study of law, and in 1877 entered the Law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, took a full two years' course, and gradu- ated in 1879. He was admitted to practice in the Circuit and Supreme Courts of Michigan, and in December, 1879, was admitted as a member of the bar of Orange county. Mr. Hyde has a son, George Edwin, now a junior in the class of 1888, of the University of Vermont.
Henry Hutchinson appears as a lawyer in Strafford in 1832.
Hon. Justin S. Morrill, in his sketch of Strafford, in Miss Hemenway's Gazetteer, besides some that are named above, mentions Dow and Strong as once lawyers in Strafford.
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ORANGE COUNTY.
THETFORD.
Oramel Hinckley settled in Thetford in 1790, was admitted to Orange county bar at the December term, 1798, and was state's attorney for the county in 1799. He was an active business man and left quite an estate, which was settled in 1812, so that he must have died not long before that time. Hon. Jeduthan Loomis, of Montpelier, studied law with him and married his daugh- ter Harriet, who died December 24, 1821.
Simeon Short was born in Hartland, Vt., December 1, 1786, and died at his home in Thetford, February 25, 1877. He fitted for college in the schools at Windsor and Norwich and was examined and admitted to Dartmouth college, but on account of his father's financial embarrassment was obliged to abandon his cherished hopes of a liberal education. He sought private teachers, however, and completed the studies of the freshmen and sophomore years. He decided upon the law as his profession and pursued his law studies with Judge Hubbard, of Windsor, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in 1804, both in Windsor county, Vt., and at Keene, in Cheshire county, N. H. He came to Thetford in 1815 and commenced the practice of law, and was in practice forty years in Orange county. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court at the August term, 1821, held at Chelsea. He represented the town of Thetford in the General Assembly of Vermont in the years 1828, '29 and '30. In 1838, '39 and'40 he represented his county in the state Senate. He was register of probate fourteen years, from 1824 to 1836, inclusive, and also in 1849. He was one of the assistant judges of Orange County Court in 1838, and judge of probate in 1840. Judge Short was not a politician, but a true patriot, and took a lively interest in all that was transpiring in the nation and the world. He was one of the founders and for more than fifty years an active trustee of Thetford academy. For several years he was president of the board of trustees. He was a sincere and ardent christian, and for fifty-five years was a member of the Congregational church at Thet- ford Hill, the village in which he resided. He was for many years superin - tendent of the Sunday-school, and was, as has been said of him, emphatically a christian gentleman.
Oramel Grimes was a lawyer in Thetford in 1815.
Presbury West, Jr., practiced law in Thetford from 1825 to 1837. He married Mercy, daughter of Rev. Asa Burton, D. D. Hon. George W. Morrison, of Manchester, N. H., formerly member of Congress, studied law with Mr. West in Thetford. His office was in the village upon the hill where Thetford academy is situated. He was admitted to the Caledonia county bar in December, 1823. He was probably the oldest son of Judge Presbury West, of St. Johnsbury, and brother of George C. West, who practiced for five years in Norwich and then removed to Brownington, Vt.
Abijah Howard, Esq., the subject of this brief notice, was the son of
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Abijah and Octavia (Bosworth) Howard, and was born in Thetford on the 26th day of July, 1811. His early education was in the common district school. When he was about twenty years of age he entered the academy in his native town and began the study of Latin and the higher English branches of education.
About the year 1834 he began the study of law in the office of Hon. Simeon Short, of Thetford, and continued the study until 1837, when he was admitted to the bar in Orange county. He at once opened an office and began the practice of his profession in his native town, and there continued until 1871, the year before his death.
October 6, 1840, he married Miss Hannah G. Lunt, of Newburyport, Mass , a highly cultivated and accomplished lady, who survives him. In 1854-55 he was state's attorney for Orange county, and discharged the duties of his office with ability and success. He was also one of the directors of the Bradford bank for several years.
Though there was not much law business to be done in Thetford, still Mr. Howard preferred to remain in his native town, where he had a delightful residence, and was wont to welcome his many friends with a warm hearted and generous hospitality. He was liberal and public spirited almost to a fault, and was, perhaps, too hopeful and sanguine in his temperament. This led him into some business speculations which resulted less successfully than he expected. But his courage and hope never forsook him. He thought he saw better and brighter days in store for him.
In the later years of his life he gathered up many incidents and reminiscences of his native town, and wrote several interesting and valuable articles, which were published in newspapers and magazines.
In the early part of 1871 his health, which for some time had not been firm, began to fail more rapidly, and in the fall of that year he thought that he should never recover. Though suffering greatly from what proved to be a fatal malady, he removed with his family in the winter of 1872 to Oshkosh, . Wis., that he might make for them there a home in connection with his only son. After his arrival his disease made rapid progress, and he died on the fourth of April following. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and, to quote the words of his brother, Rev. Roger S. Howard, D. D., who fur- nished the substance of this sketch: " Those who knew him most intimately, knew his noble and manly qualities of head and heart, and will long and lovingly cherish his memory."
Samuel Mills Gleason, the son of Richard Mills and Harriet (Moxley) Gleason, was born at Thetford, June 28, 1833. His father was a farmer and merchant at Union Village, which was partly in Thetford and partly in Nor- wich. He was fitted for college at the Thetford academy under Hiram Orcutt. In those days both the academy and its principal had a wide and deservedly high reputation. Mr. Gleason was graduated at Dartmouth col- lege in 1858. Among the members of his class were Halsey Joseph Board --
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man, now (1887) president of the Massachusetts Senate, William Henry Clifford, reporter of the United States Court for the first district and judge, Samuel Augustus Duncan, major-general in the war of the Rebellion, Albert Palmer, mayor of Boston, and Ai Baker Thompson, brevet major-general in the war of the Rebellion.
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