USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 44
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John Hale was born in Lower Waterford, Caledonia county, August 25, 1817. His father, Joseph Hale, settled in this town in 1808, and carried on blacksmithing many years, when he moved to Whitefield, N. H., where he died in 1865, aged seventy-eight years. John, at the age of fourteen years, went to St. Johnsbury, and was employed in the store of Clark & Bishop, of which firm Dea. Thomas Bishop was the junior member. The Fairbankses at this time (1831) were engaged in manufacturing plows and purchasing hemp, of which the farmers were then raising large quantities. To weigh this latter commodity Thaddeus Fairbanks invented the famous scales, which are now known over the entire world. In 1831 Dea. Thomas Bishop opened a store in North Danville, Caledonia county, and Mr. Hale was employed as
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clerk, in a building erected by Charles and Samuel Varney. The Deacon was a very close business man, but had little success in making money. In 1.833 Mr. Hale accepted a clerkship in the store of E. C. Parks, of Water- ford, Caledonia county, where he remained five years. In 1838 he was clerk for, and in partnership with, John L. Rix, of Haverhill, N. H., where he remained until 1842. when he accepted a position as commercial traveler, which he occupied until 1847. He sold his business to Haselton & Hutchins and entered their employ as salesman in their extensive lumber business. In 1849 the firm failed, and in 1852 he opened a store in the Passumpsic House block, St. Johnsbury, which he soon after sold, and the same year engaged with the Dunn Lumber Company, of Whitefield, N. H., as salesman and book-keeper. In October, 1854, he married Mrs. Laura W. Hutchins, and moved to Wells River, where he was employed as salesman for J. & W. G. Buchanan until June, 1857, when he removed to Littleton, N. H., and acted as cashier for C. & F. J. Eastman & Co. In March, 1861, he accepted a position with Bas- sett & Pierce, of Boston, and sold goods on commission for several firms up to March, 1887. During the whole twenty-six years he has met with no accident. He has been a guest in over fifty hotels that have burned down, but never was present at any of the fires. He has a daughter in Lansing, Mich., one in Barnet, Caledonia county, and a son, James B., in trade in Newbury, where he has made his home since February, 1867. He also has a step-son in this town. It has been said that Uncle John Hale could call more merchants by name than any other salesman in New England. He never was robbed, and always paid his collections to his employers.
Sylvanus Heath removed from Sandwich, Mass., to Haverhill, N. H., where he resided a short time, when he married Azubah Sawyer and settled in this town on the Upper Meadow. His farm was composed entirely of wild land, which he cleared, and upon which he erected the necessary buildings and made for himself a comfortable home, where he died, aged about forty years. Mrs. Heath survived her husband many years, dying at the age of over ninety. Their children were Joseph, Simon, Nathan, James, Isaac, Polly, Prudence, Azubah, Anna and Abigail. Joseph married Mary Kimball and settled in Bath, N. H., where he died in the prime of manhood, leaving two sons, Amos K. and Everett K. Mrs. Heath survived her husband but two years. Amos K., after the death of his parents, resided with his uncle, Everett Kimball, in Bath, until he was fourteen years old, when he went to reside on the old homestead in Newbury with his uncle Isaac Heath, where he and his brother had a home until they were twenty-one years old. The next five years he spent in Canada, and then returned to the old home. He married Lucretia Childs, of Bath, and has spent most of his active life on the old homestead. He is now, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, living with his son Dudley C., on the Ox Bow. His wife is also living at the age of eighty years. Of their children, Joseph went to New York, and later to Australia, where he died at the age of forty-seven years ; Dudley C. and Abner T. are farmers in
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this town ; Mary C. resides with Dudley C .; Sophia T. (Mrs. Henry O, Sar- gent) resides in West Walton, N. H .; Everett K. in Barnett, Caledonia. county ; William W. served in the war for the Union, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864; Henry K. resides on the Ox Bow ;. and William C. and Edward in Barnet.
Bailey Avery, son of Simeon and Hannah (Bailey) Avery, was born in Newbury, September 6, 1825. His mother died when he was but six weeks old, and just before her death she gave him to a maiden sister, Sally Bailey, by whom he was reared. August 17, 1856, he was united in marriage with Persis A. Wilson, of Bradford, and continued to reside with his aunt upon the old homestead settled by his grandfather, Col. Joshua Bailey, until his death, October 9, 1883, caused by falling from a building upon which he was. engaged at his trade as carpenter. He was a man of strong traits of char- acter, which were always directed to the support of everything good and true in the community, and was especially known for his sterling integrity, excel- lent judgment and general intelligence, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Mrs. Avery still survives her husband. Of their children, Ethe- line E. (Mrs. F. W. Powers) resides in Newbury village ; Elmer E., a stone cutter, also resides in this town; Byron F., in Moline, Ill .; and Bertha F., Bailey W. and J. Hibbard reside with their mother on the old homestead.
Isaac H. Olmsted, son of John, was born in Haverhill, N. H., in 1808. His father served in the War of 1812, and died in the United States reg- ular service in 1816. His grandfather was also a U. S. regular in the war for Independence. He was four times married, first to Eliza Prescott, second to Mary Atwood, third to Sarah Ann Allyn, who was the mother of his sons Perley A. and A. Allyn, and fourth to Mrs. Susan C. Thompson, daughter of Edwin Fuller. He removed to this town in 1827, and engaged in chair making, which he continued about three years,. when he located in the Prescott neighborhood, where he conducted a farm and continued his trade. In 1840 he removed to South Newbury and erected mills for the manufacture of chairs. In 1871 he formed a part- nership with his son A. Allyn, under the firm name of Isaac H. Olmsted & Son, which he continued until his death, by paralysis, August 30, 1878, aged seventy years. Since his death his son has conducted the business alone. In 1880 A. Allyn Olmsted united in marriage with Jennie M. Thompson, of South Newbury.
George W. Leslie was born in Claremont, N. H., April 29, 1804, was mar- ried December 18, 1828, and removed to this town in the spring of 1829. He became a member of the Congregational church about 1842. 'Squire Leslie,. as he was familiarly called, was identified with the organization of Newbury seminary, and gave liberally to the institution during its infancy, and proba- bly no other resident of the town has been so pleasantly remembered by the thousands of students of this grand old seminary. During his long residence in the town he was an active, honorable and highly respected citizen. He
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died September 21, 1885, aged eighty-one years. His wife still survives him, aged about eighty years. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom died in infancy, and four are still living, viz .: Jane (Mrs. J. L. Cobleigh), a widow, at Wells River, whose only son, H. Eugene, married Miss Rhenamah B. James and resides on the homestead of his grandfather Leslie, where he cares for his aged grandmother ; Emma, widow of Stephen Freeman, resides in Montpelier ; Helen M. (Mrs. Silas Worthen) resides in Plainfield, Vt .; and George W., employed in the First National bank of Montpelier.
William Chalmers, a flax-dresser by trade, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1801, where he married Isabella Barker, emigrated to this town in 1834 and settled on the Benjamin Leet place, where his sons William, Robert and Henry now reside. They were parents of eleven children, of whom George and Alexander, architects, reside in Watsonville, Cal .; Grace (Mrs. George D. Roberts) died in 1860 ; Christian (Mrs. William Rand) resides in Lowell, Mass .; John, Belle, James and Albert are deceased ; and William, Robert and Henry reside at the home of their father. William Chalmers, Sr., died at his home in Newbury in 1865, aged sixty-four years, and his wife in February, 1883, aged seventy-nine years. In religion he was a Presby- terian, but attended the Congregational church and contributed to its finan- cial interests. He was deservedly respected for his sterling integrity and courteous and social qualities. He was the founder of a factory for the manufacture of thread and cordage, at Corinth, in connection with Dr. Hinckley, of that place, the same now being owned and conducted by Barnes Brothers. The machinery for the factory was imported from Scotland by Mr. Chalmers, and was detained ten years in transit on account of difficulties in relation to tariff.
Edward A. Rollins was born in Wolfsboro, N. H., and came to Newbury when about twenty years of age. He married Nancy P. Meserve and first settled on a farm in the Wallace district, where his son Samuel M. now lives. In the fall of 1831 he removed to the farm now owned and occupied by his son Henry G., where he died, October 16, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Rollins survived him until August 14, 1869, aged seventy-eight years. They were parents of eleven children, ten of whom attained maturity. Only four of this large family are now living, viz .: Samuel M., Jonas M., a farmer in Danvers, Mass., Henry G., and Justin L., a carpenter in Union City, Ind. Samuel M. was born October 22, 1819. He married, first, Miss Fidelia George, November 3, 1844, who bore him one son, George Francis, deceased, and died March 20, 1850. In August, 1852, he married Martha Smith, who bore him two sons, Charles B. and William M., both' living in this town, and died April 7, 1856. October 28, 1857, Mr. Rollins married Samantha L. Sulham, by whom he has had five children, as follows : Fidelia M., deceased, Lilla M., Edwin L., Elvira L, and Robert J., all residing in this town with their parents. Henry G. Rollins married Harriet Jane Waddell,
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December 2, 1857, and settled on the homestead where he was born. In 1884 he built the fine residence a few rods from the old home where he now resides. Mr. Rollins is a highly respected and prosperous farmer, is a staunch Republican, and has done his party good and loyal service. September 25, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 12th Vt. Regt., and was discharged July 1I, 1 863.
Ebenezer Carleton Stocker, son of Ebenezer and Sarah (Carleton) Stocker, was born in Bath, N. H., April 19, 1821, where he resided until he was twelve years of age. He then spent about two years in a pioneer settlement in the town of Troy, Vt. In 1838 he settled permanently in Newbury and became an apprentice to the trade of harnessmaking, with Dea. John Buxton, with whom he served four years, when he was employed by him as journey- man during the ensuing eight years. In 1851 he entered into a co-partner- ship with Dea. Buxton under the firm name of E. C. Stocker & Co., which continued until ,859, when Mr. Stocker bought the interest of his partner and has continued the business alone to the present time (1887). In 1851 Mr. Stocker was united in marriage with Laura M. Scott, daughter of Rev. Orange Scott, of anti-slavery fame, and editor of the Free Wesleyan. Mrs.
Stocker died in April, 1856, and in December of that year he married Mary, daughter of Amos Parker, of Lisbon, N. H., and a graduate of Newbury semin- ary, by whom he had two daughters, Laura R. and Hattie M., who reside in Newbury with their father. Mrs. Stocker died in April, 1881, aged forty-nine years. Mr. Stocker attended the common schools, with one term at New- bury seminary, and by continued reading and observation has acquired a good practical education. During the civil war he was an earnest supporter of the Union, and held the office of town treasurer during the four years of that sanguinary struggle. In 1876 he represented his town in the state legis- lature, and was appointed justice of the peace, which office he declined to accept. He is a member of the M. E. church, to which he is a liberal con- tributor, has been class-leader for the last twenty years, superintendent of the Sunday school about the same length of time, and steward for twenty-five con- secutive years. He is a thorough temperance worker, and is engaged in all benevolent and reform movements.
Wells Goodwin, son of Moses, was born in Ryegate, Caledonia county, November 9, 1794. October 3, 1819, he married Lydia Heath, who was born in New Salem, N. H., November 8, 1794, being one day older than Mr. Goodwin. Immediately after their marriage they settled in Ryegate, where they lived for twenty-six years ensuing, Mr. Goodwin following the double occupation of farmer and shoemaker. In 1846 he removed to a farm in Newbury, where he has since resided, with the exception of about ten years spent in Corinth, and two years in Haverhill. At the present time Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are residing in Newbury village, with their son John M., at the great age of ninety-two years. Mr. Goodwin is of sound body and mind, and has always been an observing reader, which practice he still continues. Feb-
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ruary 11, 1813, he enlisted in the United States army and served till the close of the war, in 1814. He participated in the battles of Chippewa and Bridge- water, and received a gunshot wound at the latter place, a musket ball pass- ing through his left leg above the knee, from the effects of which he has never . fully recovered. They were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are living, viz .: John Merrill, Helen (widow of George Rhodes), William, Annette (Mrs. Israel Farnham), Jane (Mrs. Carlos Leavitt), and Mary Eliza- beth (Mrs. O. C. Temple), all of whom reside in this town except Mrs. Farnham, who is a resident of Manchester, N. H.
Benjamin Knight, who was born in Landaff, N. H., in April, 1796, mar- ried Alvira P. Morton, of West Concord, Vt., and settled in his native town. He was a farmer, and built a saw and grist-mill, of which he was proprietor. In 1839 or 1840 he removed to Bath, N. H., and received the appointment of deputy sheriff, which office he held the ensuing three years. He then purchased the Flume House, which he successfully conducted about five years, when the buildings were destroyed by fire. He sold the premises, and in 1849 located in South Newbury, where his son Andrew J. now lives. He purchased a wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill, which he operated about two years, when he converted it into a saw-mill and mackerel-kit factory, which he conducted until his death, November 10, 1858, aged sixty two years. Mrs. Knight is still living. Their children were Almedia and Vienna, deceased, and Andrew J., before mentioned. Mr. Knight was an energetic business man, and generally accomplished that which he undertook. Although not a rich man, he was always able to meet his obligations. He was highly respected for his integrity, a good neighbor and valued citizen. Andrew J. Knight married Sarah E. Jenne, of South Newbury, and succeeded to his father's business in manufacturing lumber, etc., is also largely engaged in mill- wright work, and is agent for the " Eureka " turbine water-wheel. He has children as follows : Selah C., M. Clarence, Arthur B., Leon E., Carrie L., Olive and Edith M., all of whom reside with their parents.
Elias S. Tuttle was born in Tunbridge, this state, and was educated in the common schools. He married Lois King, of his native town, where he set- tled and engaged in farming. Eleven years later he removed to Strafford, Vt., where he bought and run a saw-mill and did carpenter work. In 1851 he removed to this town and settled in South Newbury village, where for twenty years he engaged in carpentering. About 1870 he purchased the Atwood homestead, where he now resides. He also owns the Atwood saw- mill, which he has rebuilt and is conducting in company with his son Elias J. Mrs. Tuttle died in January, 1877. Their children are Elias J., who served three and a half years in Co. D, 8th Vt. Regt., in the late war, and is now engaged in farming, and with his father in the manufacture of lumber ; Mary Ann, who resides in this town, and is the widow of Owen F. Omalley, who served three and one-half years in Co. D, 8th Vt. Regt .; and George L., a
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a fariner, in company with his father, who also served three and one-half years in Co. D, 8th Vt. Regt.
Stillman Jenne was born in Derby, Vt., February 21, 1820, and was edu- cated in the common schools. He was twice married, first to Miranda Jane King, of Whitefield, N. H., who bore him five children,-Sarah E., Roswell C., Willia n S., Viola and Cora S.,-and died July 20, 1870, and second, in September, 1871, to Miss Abbie A. Doe, who is the mother of one daughter, Mary Louise, born June 20, 1876. After his first marriage he resided a few years in Derby, when he purchased a farm in Whitefield, N. H., where he re- sided until about 1853. He then removed to South Newbury and conducted a grist-mill and farm and worked at his trade of stone mason. In 1873 he bought the farm in school district No. 6, where he now resides. In the fall of 1861 Mr. Jenne enlisted in Co. B, 6th Vt. Regt., and January 3, 1863, he was discharged for disability, having never entered the ranks of his company. In 1862 he was detailed to take charge of the supply train, a duty which he performed until his discharge. His sons both enlisted in the army, and in the same regiment, William S., at that time, being a little less than fifteen years old. In 1863 the latter was struck a little above the collar bone by a minnie ball, which entered his right lung, where it remained nine days. Be- fore the wound was fully healed he escaped from his surgeon and re-enlisted. He next lost a finger in the battle of the Wilderness, and at the close of the war was honorably discharged. After his return he obtained an education and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, where he has labored successfully the past nine years, at present being stationed at Al- bany, Vt.
Alexander Johnson, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Johnson, was born in Bath, N. H., in 1805. He was twice married, first to a Miss Walker, of Peacham, Caledonia county, and second to Margaret Shull, of McIndoe's Falls, where he engaged in the manufacture of lumber, in the firm of Kim- ball, Gilchrist & Co., until 1856. In 1857 he removed to Barnet and en- gaged in farming for three or four years. He next located on a farm in Fair- lee, where he remained six years. About 1866 he removed to this town, where he remained until his death, in 1884, aged seventy-nine years. Mrs. Johnson died in 1885, aged sixty-nine years. Their children are Jennette S., Daniel S., a farmer, Elizabeth C., James A., also a farmer, and Frank R., a carpenter, all residing in Newbury. Daniel S. mar- ried Abbie L. Kimball, of Bradford, and their children are Walter E. and Florence L., both of whom reside with their father. Mrs. Johnson died in July, 1884.
James Lang, son of Sherburne and Mehitable (Ricker) Lang, was born in Bath, N. H., October 5, 1835, and there resided until March, 1867, when he removed to this town, where he has since resided. September 28, 1859, he married Ellen Parker, of Littleton, and has had born to him children as follows: Frederick B., a lawyer in Minneapolis, Minn .; Ellen W., who re-
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sides in this town with her parents ; James Sherburne, a student at St. Johns- bury academy ; and Caroline H., who is pursuing academic studies in New- bury village. Mr. Lang chose the calling of a farmer, which he still continues with fair success. He was educated'in the common schools, with a few terms at the academies, and has since added to his knowledge by constant reading in his leisure hours. He is an original thinker, and takes great interest in investigating the topics of the age. He is a public spirited man, and gives his aid to the benevolent enterprises of the town.
Marvin Kasson, son of Joseph Kasson, was born in Pomfret, Conn., in 1784, came with his parents to Topsham where they settled, received a com- mon school education, and in March, 1830, he united in marriage with: Miss Elizabeth Dick, daughter of Capt. John Dick, a native of Scotland. He settled first in Newbury, then removed to Dalton, where he lived about five years, but eventually returned to Newbury, where he spent the residue of his long life, dying June 18, 1881, aged ninety-six years and six months. Their children were William Wallace, born June 4, 1831, served in the army of the Union as lieutenant, and is now engaged in dealing in provisions in Sum- merville, Mass .; Jennette Dick (deceased), born May 11, 1834, married Azro Chamberlin ; Sophronia Bailey, born March 28, 1837, married James L. George, and resides in Newbury village; Harry Bailey, born June 11, 1839, entered the Union army, and was a prisoner of war, incarcerated in Ander- sonville prison where he died after suffering its horrors eighteen months; Lucia W., born June 28, 1841, married Lyman Buck, of Haverhill, where she resides ; Mary Lucinda, born September 11, 1844, married Samuel Colby, and resides in Dorchester, Mass .; Macia Carbee, born August 20, 1846, resides with her aged mother in Newbury village; Gilbert, born July 10, 1848, and Alden Chamberlin, born in March, 1850, both perished at the burning of their house in March, 1855.
George B. Hatch, M. D., son of Clark and Lovina (Emery) Hatch, and grandson of Rev. John and Mary (Clark) Hatch, of Newbury, was born in Groton, Vt., in 1852. Dr. Hatch was educated at Dartmouth and Bowdoin colleges, graduated in the medical profession in 1882, commenced practice in Newburyport, Mass., where he married Miss Mary E. Brown, only daughter of Jenness Brown, one of the respectable old families of that place. He settled in Newbury in 1883, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profes - sion and looking after his large lumber interest in the town of Peacham. Dr. and Mrs. Hatch have a son and daughter.
The First Congregational church in Newbury was the second church organized in the state. It went into existence in September, 1764. about a a year and a half after the town was chartered. Almost the first care of the early settlers of the town, however, was to make provision for the preaching of the gospel. At the first meeting of the freemen of the town, held June 13, 1763, at Plaistow, N. H., it was voted to unite with the people of Haver- hill, N. H., in paying a preacher for two or three months the coming fall
21*
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and winter. Accordingly in the year 1764 Rev. Peter Powers, of Hollis, N. H., came to Newbury to labor with the people in holy things ; and through his instrumentality a church, composed of members from both sides of the Connecticut river, was gathered and organized. 1
On the 24th of January, 1765, Mr. Powers received a call to become pastor of the church. The following extracts from the early records of the town show the manner in which this call was given :-
" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" At a legal Town meeting held the 24th day of January, 1765. at the house of Jacob Bayley Esq. in Newbury, then voted that the town of Newbury give the Reverend Peter Powers a call to settle with them as their gospel minister.
"Voted, to give the Reverend Mr. Powers, four hundred and fifty dollars, as settlement, two hundred dollars to be paid in cash, and two hundred and fifty dollars to be paid in labor and materials to build a house, the whole to be paid in ten months from the time of his acceptance.
"Voted, to give the Reverend Peter Powers seventy-five pounds lawful money per year,-dollars, six shillings,-to be paid to him yearly, as a salary, so long as he shall continue with us in the ministry, and thirty cords of wood, carried to his house yearly.
" Voted, that said salary shall be paid, the one half on the first of October, the other half by the tenth of March, yearly.
" Voted, that the Selectmen be a Committee to return the votes to Rever- end Peter Powers, and receive his answer.
"Voted, that the Selectmen be a Committee to apply to the town of Haverhill, and to the Proprietary both of Haverhill and Newbury, to see what assistance they will give us towards getting the gospel and supporting the same."
This meeting was adjourned until Friday the first day of February, 1765, at which time the answer of Rev. Peter Powers to the above call was given in the affirmative. Then
"Voted, that the installment be on the last Wednesday of this instant, and
" Voted, that the Reverends Abner Bayley, Daniel Emerson, Joseph Em- erson, Henry True and Joseph Goodhue, with their churches, be a council for said installment.
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