USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 28
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pariahs called upon him in 1878, and in a single evening as many as fifteen asked food and lodging. Mr. Bliss introduced and procured the passage of the tramp law and the present highway law. At present he is engaged in cultivating his fine large farm, and is an extensive dealer in wool, cattle and sheep. Neziah W., born January 31, 1826, graduated at the University of Vermont, is a lawyer, and soon after his admission to the bar, went to Mis- souri in the practice of his profession. In 1882 he located in Chicago as the legal counsellor for Marshall Field & Co., an immense mercantile con- cern giving employment to 1,200 clerks. Lucinda, born February 14, 1828, married, first, Lewis R. Morris, a lawyer, who for a time edited a semi- monthly paper at Bradford, called the Green Mountain Farmer, but later went to West Lebanon, N. H., where he established himself in the practice of his profession, dying in 1876. Mrs. Morris married, second, James D. Clark, a book-binder, of Montpelier. Julia M., born May 14, 1830, married Robert G. Shumway, manufacturer of fine jewelry and a large dealer in diamonds, who died in Springfield, Mass., where his widow still resides. Lauretta, born October 8, 1832, married Stephen Merrill, who was the first station agent in Bradford, and now resides in Carthage, county seat of Han- cock county, Ill. Mr. Merrill served in the late war as quartermaster of an Iowa regiment, and received a severe hip wound. Since the war he has been clerk of the court.
Daniel Kimball Pearsons, M. D., son of John and Hannah (Putnam) Pear- sons, was born in Bradford, Vt., April 14, 1820. He is a descendant on the maternal side from General Putnam. His grandfather, Adjutant John Put- nam, served seven years in the Revolutionary war, and was, for some time, one of General Washington's life guards. His father came to Bradford in 1804. In 1812 he volunteered as a soldier, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. In 1817 he married Hannah Put- nam. He was largely engaged in the lumber business for about seventeen years. He was also an inn-keeper, and built, in 1842, a commodious hotel on the " Lower Plain." In 1844 Mr. Pearsons sold his place, and removed to Hartford, where he purchased a farm, and here for the remainder of his life devoted himself to its cultivation. He was an industrious, kind-hearted and strictly honest man. He died October 30, 1857, aged sixty-five years. Mrs. Pearsons, now living at the age of ninety-one, is a type of the New England woman of "auld lang syne." Her mental powers are yet vigorous, but her energy is somewhat lessened from the time when she spun and wove the clothing for her entire family, and taught them, by practical example, the need and pleasure of good honest hard work. Of her nine children four are now living, and her descendants look upon her with just pride and satisfac- tion. [These children are John Alonzo Pearsons, now a resident of Evans- ton, Ill. He is engaged in the lumber business there, and has been a prom- inent factor in the prosperity and growth of the place; Daniel Kimball Pearsons ; William Barron Chapin Pearsons, is a graduate of the Harvard
DK Pearsony,
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Law school, and has practiced law successfully for many years. He has been a member, both of the House and Senate of the Massachusetts legislature, and served in the civil war as paymaster, and is now one of the leading men of Holyoke, Mass .; George Reed Pearsons resides in Fort Dodge, Iowa, is a man of high business ability and moral integrity. He has held the office of mayor; Hannah Elizabeth Pearsons is the wife of Dr. Alvin M. Cushing, of Lynn, Mass. She is a most estimable lady. ]
Daniel was a good student, and commenced teaching school at the age of sixteen, and taught five winters ; 1837 and 1838 in Orange, and was a model teacher. He entered Dartmouth college, remained two years, and then took a course of medical studies at Woodstock. In 1840 and 1841 he practiced medicine at East Randolph with Dr. Carpenter, as a student. After grad- uation, he resided in Vermont for a time, then removed to Chicopee, Mass., and soon acquired a valuable practice.
Dr. Pearsons married, in 1847, Miss Marietta Chapin, of the Western Massachusetts Chapin family-a family, perhaps the most extensive and dis- tinguished of any in that part of the state, and one, indeed, that is known and respected in most of the leading business and social circles throughout all New England.
In 1857 he gave up his practice, much to the sorrow of his many friends and himself, and went to Ogle county, Illinois, and engaged in agriculture. With his energetic, large-hearted nature, a farm life always possessed great charms for him, but a broader field of action was more suited to his tempera- ment, and he soon removed to Chicago, and established himself in real estate business, which soon assumed gigantic proportions, his sales in Illinois alone amounting to over one million acres. In 1860 he began loaning money, chiefly as agent, upon farm lands. This soon grew into a very extensive business, and for twelve years he loaned an average of more than $1,000,000 annually. The loans were placed so as to benefit alike the borrower and the lender, and while Mr. Pearsons is to-day admired and respected by those to whom the money was lent, he is no less secure in the esteem of the lenders, whose interests he at all times watched and conserved. Indeed, his care and judgment in the matter of securities was something remarkable. With the loans made by Mr. Pearsons all was secure, the securities of ample value to insure the payment of the indebtedness, and especially desirable and satisfac- tory.
In 1877 his own affairs had assumed such extensive proportions as to require his whole attention. He was now the possessor of very large and valuable timber tracts, the owner of several farms, a director of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, Chicago City Railway Company and other leading institutions, and of course a prominent stockholder in all. He had twice been elected alderman from the first ward, by far the most important political district of the city. His election had both times been compassed by a union of the best elements of all parties, and was wholly nonpartisan. His servi-
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ces in the council were of a character and value not easily over-estimated, and concerning which we extract from a volume entitled " Eminent Men of the West:" -
"Some years ago the financial condition of Chicago was deplorable. Extravagance had so outrun income that an indebtedness largely in excess of the constitutional limit had been incurred. To meet the defficiency thus created, the city had issued certificates of indebtedness, the legality of which was disputed in the courts. Meanwhile, large numbers of these certificates had been taken by eastern bankers and others, and the holders had become alarmed at the situation. Hard times were stalking gloomily through the land, and capital was averse to almost every new proffer of investment, and solicitous for its securities everywhere. Chicago was soon to need more money, and had particular necessity for the maintenance of its good financial name.
"At this juncture there appeared among the bankers of New York an earnest, straightforward sort of man, just in from the West. He was known, personally or by reputation, to some of them. and was not long in making himself understood by the others. He had come, officially, as a member of his city's common council, and privately, as a capitalist and man of honor like themselves, to assure them that Chicago was going to pay its debts. He pledged his individual word, and that of his city, that no matter who might be in power, no matter how courts might decide, no matter how long finan- cial depression might brood over the nation, Chicago was sure to meet its certificates of indebtedness, principal and interest, promptly on time, dollar for dollar. The eastern financiers believed the man, and believed in the city he represented. Their fears were allayed, and he returned home. His word to them was so well kept, and his predictions so well verified, that some time later, when Chicago needed a little ready money, the same man moved around among local capitalists, and easily raised half a million dollars. This he did, despite the fact that the courts, in the interim, had decided the much discussed certificates to be practically waste paper-illegal promises to pay, which the city might repudiate if it pleased, but which the city never did.
" The man who made these two memorable journeys was Daniel Kimball Pearsons, and so pronounced was their effect upon the financial standing of Chicago, that when Mr. Pearsons retired from the council, two years later, a committee of citizens waited upon him, and in a series of handsomely- engrossed resolutions testified their appreciation and that of the city for his effective work in this and other important public matters. As the resolu- tion said, Mr. Pearsons held his office 'with the approval and plaudits of his entire constituents, regardless of party affiliation.'"
About the time of his voluntary retirement from local political life, Dr. Pearsons began investing in choice Chicago residence property. Where this was not improved, he erected fine residences, and was soon the owner of some fifty elegant houses and flats.
Dr. Pearsons is now devoting the larger share of his time to travel and recreation, interspersed with quiet but systematic acts of benevolence. He has visited Europe twice, Cuba, and all of the American states except Cali- fornia. Most of the charitable institutions of the city count him among their steady contributors, while the founding of libraries in country towns, the assisting of worthy young men and women to obtain educations, and the .
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dispensing of large sums in private acts of benevolence, are good deeds, known perhaps to more of his friends than he is aware.
From a leading Chicago journal we take the following account of some of his generous benefactions :-
" Princely Donations .- Dr. D. K. Pearsons has an idea that he can better execute his will while alive than anybody else can do it after his death, and, following up the idea, has made gifts to various institutions in this city. He began by presenting the Presbyterian hospital with the deeds to certain houses valued at $25,000. On Thursday he presented the Young Men's Christian Association with a block of buildings on Cottage Grove avenue, valued at $30,000. The association, through its president, J. V. Farwell, Jr., accepted the gift, and will at once take possession of the property, and fit up the store-rooms. There will be an office, a lecture room, reading rooms and class rooms. A competent corps of assistants will be placed in charge of the branch as soon as completed. The Women's Presbyterian Board of Missions held its regular meeting on Friday, and Mrs. D. K. Pearsons, who is a mem- ber, presented the following letter :-
"CHICAGO, October 27, 1887.
" Mrs. Julia A. Douglas, President Women's Presbyterian Board of Missions of the Northwest :-
" MADAM .- It is my desire to give away a portion of my estate in my life- time, instead of by my will at my death, and I have concluded to give your board the four houses and land which are described in the deed accompany- ing this letter. They are given by me and are to be received by your board upon the understanding and condition that the income of the property, or the income of any other property in which the value of this land and houses may be hereafter invested, shall always be used-first, for the support of two lady missionaries upon the foreign field, and the balance of the income to be devoted to the general uses of your board.
" It is my desire that your board shall pass such resolutions as will put this matter in proper legal form, so that iny gift shall be a perpetual fund for the uses mentioned above. I advise that such resolutions and such action as it may be necessary for your board to take to accept this gift and carry out the object I have in view, be prepared and taken under the legal direction of W. H. Swift, Esq.
" This gift is made to your board at the special request of my wife, and in reporting the same you will please report it as the joint gift of Mrs. Pearsons and myself. Yours very truly, DANIEL K. PEARSONS."
" Mrs. Pearsons presented the deeds with the letter. The gift is valued at $20,000, and the ladies are overjoyed at its reception. Suitable resolutions were adopted thanking the generous donor for his gift.
"Dr. D. K. Pearsons and wife have been. for a number of years, very much interested in the Chicago Theological seminary. For three years past they have supported three students in that institution. Yesterday, by ap- pointment, Dr. Pearsons met President F. W. Fisk and Professors Board- man, Curtiss and Scott, to arrange for a further contribution to the needs of the seminary. He opened the conference by reading the following letter :-
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" CHICAGO, October 24, 1887.
" The Rev. Dr. Fisk :-
" DEAR SIR .- I have made and executed to the board of directors of the Chicago Theological Seminary a deed conveying to them seven houses. I have named in the deed a consideration of $50,000, as this is the value I put upon the property. But it is a free gift, made for the purpose of assisting. poor students in your seminary.
"I ask for no expression of thanks in return, but would like to have the board of directors pass proper regulations, showing that the income from the property conveyed is to be used in assisting poor and worthy students, and that in case the property shall at any time be sold, the proceeds are to be invested in some other property in such way that the value of the property shall be kept as a perpetual fund, the income of which shall be devoted to the above uses.
.
"I consider these houses now a most excellent investment, and recom- mend that the directors keep them as long as they yield as good income as they are now doing. DANIEL K. PEARSONS."
"The property given by Dr. Pearsons, the annual rental of which is $4,000, is for the sole purpose of forming a permanent fund to aid needy students in pursuing their studies. He had special reference to the students in the foreign and special departments, and expressed great interest in the effort of the seminary to educate young Germans, Swedes and Norwegians to preach among their countrymen in America.
"Yesterday morning at 11 o'clock Dr. Pearsons called at the office of Col. R. B. Mason, No. 40 Dearborn street, and met the officers of the Presbyterian Theological seminary. He read to them a letter similar to the one written the other seminary. In it he stated that he had conveyed to the directors of the Presbyterian Theological seminary of Chicago, eight houses and lots, valued at $50,000, the gift to be held in trust to be used for the education of poor young men for the Presbyterian ministry. The houses are all occu- pied and are insured up to 1890, and Dr. Pearsons says they are a good investment. The total amount of Dr. Pearsons's gifts thus far reaches $175,000."
Perhaps the methods and record of Dr. Pearsons are as typical of Chicago success as could well be indicated. Men of sturdy New England antece- dents and breeding, transplanted to the West, have probably done more than any other one class of people to advance in its marvelous progress that part of the world. The eagerness to do real hard work; the integrity to know and fearlessly pursue the right ; the judgment to foresee the magnificent pos- sibilities of the country, and take advantage of them in advance ; the pru- dence to economize and earn wealth before spending it ;- these are the qualities exhibited in the western race for success by men like Dr. Pearsons, and that have helped make the growth of Chicago and its contiguous country the marvel of modern civilization.
Although not a regular communicant of any church, he has always been a great believer in the worth of religious influences, a staunch supporter of
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church societies, and for many years an attendant at the First Presbyterian church.
Dr. Pearsons is unconventional in manner, his life-long personal independ- ence manifesting itself in an absence of all affectation. He calls things always by their right names, and to him a spade is never anything else but a spade. Thoroughly domestic in his tastes, the society of wife and a few of the friends whom he really likes suits him better than more diversified and mixed social enjoyments. He has never been a club or secret society man.
He has ever been loyal to the state and town of his birth. He was one of the founders of the "Vermont Society," in Illinois, and one of its first presidents. His contribution of the "Pearsons Fund " to the public library in Bradford, shows at once his interest in the town and his character- istic manner of doing good. In all his liberal gifts he has had the concur- rence of his worthy wife, and it would be well if those who read this record would follow the example of this noble pair,
" For wisest he in this broad wide land Of hoarding till bent and gray, For all you can hold in your cold dead hand, Is what you have given away."
Horace Strickland was born in Fayston. near Waitsfield, Washington county, June 9, 1801. In his boyhood he went to western New York and resided with friends for a time. Returning to Vermont he taught school at Windsor and afterward lived at Wells River. In 1824 he came to Bradford in the employ of Asa Low. In 1829 he married Miss Susan Baldwin. In 1834 he went into the iron business with a man named Sexton, and after- wards by himself for a continuous period of forty years he carried on an extensive business for this region, and, for some time was a large manufac- turer of stoves and plows. He also held many offices of trust. For one year he was town clerk, two years representative of the town in the state legislature, two years side judge, and for many years one of the trustees of Bradford academy and Union School district. During all of his life he had the confidence and respect of his fellow men. His integrity was unques- tioned. His word could always be depended upon. Though he enjoyed but few educational advantages in his youth, he was a warm friend of education. He did much to secure it for his own children and for others. He was also a friend of good morals and in various ways did much to secure them. His friendship was strong. The number of those who knew him intimately was not large, but those were very dear to him.
Joseph Ormsby, born in Woodstock, Conn., married Abigail Flint, removed to Fairlee about 1786, and settled on the farm where Benjamin Celley now lives. Upon this wilderness farm he erected a log cabin, in which he dwelt until he was able to erect more commodious buildings, where he remained to
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the close of his life. He was a prominent citizen, and held the office of selectman several terms. He was the father of four children, viz .: Rufus, Joseph, Thomas and Polly. Rufus married Elizabeth Young and remained on the homestead about ten years-until after the death of his father-when he sold the homestead and removed to a farm on the Connecticut river, where he remained about four years. He then resided about twenty-five years on a farm in the western part of the town, dying suddenly on the old home- stead while on a visit to his daughter Elizabeth (Mrs. Jenkins). He was the father of ten children, four of whom are now living, and one, Rufus F., in Bradford. The latter married Mary Colby and settled in the west part of the town, where he remained several years, finally locating on a fine farm on the Connecticut river, known as the Albee farm, and where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby had children as follows: Sarah (widow of Gregory Durgin), who resides with her parents ; Jennie (Mrs. Horace Emerson), of Norwich, Vt. ; Emily (Mrs. Henry A. Winship), whose husband is an extensive dealer in hardware at Bradford village; and Etta (Mrs. Charles Peters), of Denver, Col.
Amos Farr was born in Chesterfield, N. H., in 1786. He married Anna Moulton, and about 1810 or 1812 settled in Corinth. In 1824 he bought of his wife's father the farm where his son Moses D. now resides, to which he immediately removed and where he spent the residue of his life, dying in 1861 at the age of seventy-five years, his wife having died fifteen years previous. Their children were Diantha (Mrs. Levi Underwood), now dead, and Moses D. The latter married Betsey Pillsbury, by whom he has had one daughter, Almena, who resides with her parents.
Silas Shumway was born in Corinth in 1786. He married Patty Bickford, of his native town, and settled near the center of that town, on Wait's river, where he owned a farm and a grist and saw-mill. In 1834 he removed to Bradford village, finally dying at the residence of his son Peter in West Fairlee. Of his seven sons and two daughters, only Peter and Silas are living. Peter is a bachelor and is engaged in farming in West Fairlee. Silas married Harriet L. Farr, resides in this town, and has had born to him children as follows : Edwin G., a carpenter, who married Nellie Cowdery, and resides in Haverhill, Mass .; Joanna C. (Mrs. Horace Cowdery) who resides in this town ; William, who married Blanche Eldrige, and is a carpenter in Lowell, Mass .; and Ellis B., who married Miss Adella S. Marks, and resides on the homestead with his aged parents.
Col. George W. Prichard, son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Prichard, of New Hampshire, was born December 4, 1792. His father served his country several years as captain during the Revolutionary war, dying in New Ipswich in 1813, aged fifty-eight years. His mother survived till 1836, dying at the home of her son above mentioned in Bradford. George W. was first employed as clerk in the general store of Capt. John B. Wheeler, of Orford, N. H. A little later Mr. Wheeler opened a like store in Bradford and com-
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mitted its management to Mr. Prichard who, when about twenty years old, became a permanent resident of Bradford, and not long after sole proprietor of the business, which he conducted successfully about half a century, when he retired with a competence and left the business to his sons George and Edward. Col. Prichard was a capable, upright, and honorable man, and pos- sessed the entire confidence of all of his large acquaintance. In early life he held the position of colonel of militia ; and by the votes of his townsmen held the office of selectman three years, represented Bradford in the state legislature twice, was justice of the peace thirty years, and treasurer of the town thirty-seven years. He served the board of trustees of Bradford academy more that forty years as its clerk, and was the first and only clerk of the first Bradford bank, which was honorably closed about two years before his decease without loss to anyone. About 1840 he was unanimously elected deacon of the Congregational church, and acceptably performed its duties until infirmities and old age induced him to resign. March 16, 1817, Mr. Prichard united in marriage with Elizabeth Pearsons, of Bradford, who was the mother of all his children. Mrs. Prichard died March 5, 1853, in the sixty-second year of her age, and Col. Prichard was again married, Feb- ruary 7, 1854, to Miss Mary P. Sutherland, daughter of Rev. David Suther- land, of Bath, N. H. His children were: Ist, Adaline, who was born December 22, 1817. She united in marriage with Rev. B. B. Newton, then pastor of the Congregational church of Chelsea. 2d, George, born Novem- ber 19, 1819, married Elizabeth Brooks, of Worcester, Mass., and for years was engaged in active business in his native town, with his brother Edward, in the same store which his father had occupied, and was for several years a trustee of Bradford academy, and secretary of the board. He represented his town in the state legislature of 1858-59, and was also a deacon of the church. In 1871 he removed with his family to Worcester, Mass. 3d, Moses Smith, born April 8, 1822, graduated at the University of Vermont in 1841, was a lawyer, and opened an office in Janesville, Wis., where he held the office of judge of the county court. He married Betsey Ann True. 4th, Edward, born November 29, 1824, who was engaged as a merchant for several years with his brother George at his father's old stand. He also filled acceptably the offices of lister, selectman, town clerk and justice of the peace. At the age of twenty-six years he united in marriage with Miss Annie Merrill, of Pittsfield, N. H., dying November 28, 1870, at the age of forty-six years. 5th, Amos, a lawyer, born May 26, 1827, married Augusta Dearborn, gradua- ted at the University of Vermont in 1847, established a successful practice in Janesville, Wis., and served several terms as judge of the county court. 6th, Arthur, born April 27, 1835, received a good business education, and in his twenty first year went to Ripon, Wis., where he was taken ill, and by the aid of a friend reached the residence of his brother, Hon. Moses S. Prichard, in Janesville, where he died March 6, 1856. 7th, John Brooks Wheeler Prichard, born September 26th, 1839, married Miss Orissa George,
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