USA > Vermont > Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol I > Part 100
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was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, and who be- came one of the pioneers of Danby, Vermont, and later of Wallingford. Ormond Stafford be- came the father of several children, of whom the mother of our subject and her brother, Charles O., of Wallingford, are the only survivors. Their mother died at the age sixty years and their fa- ther at the age of sixty-eight. Norman W. and Annie (Stafford) Bradley became the parents of two sons, of whom the subject of this sketch is the one surviving. His brother, John W., was a traveling saleman for many years, and his death occurred in 1889, in Burlington, where his widow still maintains her home. The mother of our subject is still living and is an honored and cher- ished member of his family circle, which she re- ceives the utmost filial care and devotion. She is seventy-nine years of age at the time of this writ- ing, and her religious faith is that of the Spir- itualist church.
William I. Bradley, to whom this sketch is dedicated, passed his youthful days in Hunting- ton, being sixteen years of age at the time when his father removed to Charlotte. He received his elementary education in the schools of his native town and supplemented this by a course of study in a select school conducted in Charlotte. He con- tintied to assist his father in the care and manage- ment of the homestead farm until he had attained
7
Gorge Beckett
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
his legal majority, when he gave inception to his independent career by purchasing a farm in the vicinity of the homestead place, eventually acquir- ing two hundred and thirty-one acres. There he carried on operations for a period of three years, when he sold the place and subsequently rented land for sixteen years, at the expiration of which time he returned to the paternal homestead, the property having the best of improvements and the land being of marked fertility and productive- ness. In addition to general farming Mr. Brad- ley conducts a successful business as a dairyman, having a herd of about fifteen high-grade cows, and he is thoroughly progressive in his methods, having developed his property into one of the most valuable rural estates in this section.
Like his honored father, Mr. Bradley is a stanch Republican in political proclivities, and he has ever been public spirited in his attitude and rendered active co-operation in the promotion of all objects for the general good. He served for three terms as a member of the board of select- men, of which he was president for one year, and at the time of this writing he is a member of the grand jury of Charlotte. Fraternally he holds membership in Friendship Lodge No. 24, A. F. & A. M., at Charlotte, having been identified with the order ever since attaining his majority. He and his wife are regular attendants of the Baptist church, to whose support they contribute liberally.
On the 7th of December, 1875, Mr. Bradley was united in marriage to Miss Frances C. Nor- ton, who was born July 15, 1848, in Addison, Addison county, Vermont, the daughter of John Norton, who was born in Guilford, Connecticut, as was also his father, Cyrus Norton, who was one of the pioneer settlers in Addison, where he passed the remainder of his life. John Norton was a stone mason by trade and vocation, and he erected the lighthouse at Crown Point. He passed his entire life in Addison, where he died in 1876, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Collins, was born in Burlington, Vermont, a daughter of Na- thaniel Collins, who was a son of Captain John Collins, a pioneer of Burlington and one of the brave soldiers of the Revolution, in which he served as captain. John and Susan Norton be- came the parents of nine children, all of whom are still living. The mother passed away in
1891, at the age of seventy-three years, having been a devout member of the Adventist church. Prior to her marriage the wife of our subject was a successful teacher, having taught seventeen terms in Addison county and being a graduate of the high school at Vergennes. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have two daughters,-Charlotte, the wife of Roderick W. Eno, a successful young farmer of Charlotte; and Blanche, who remains at the parental home, both daughters having been suc- cessful and popular teachers in the schools of Chittenden county.
GEORGE BECKETT.
George Beckett, one of the best known and most prominent citizens of Williamstown, was born there May 14, 1833, a son of William S. Beckett. He comes of distinguished ancestry, being a lineal descendant, many generations re- moved, of Thomas a Becket, an English states- man of the twelfth century, noted as a prelate, afterwards becoming a chancellor of England, and later Archbishop of Canterbury.
William Seva Beckett, son of Francis Beck- ett, was born in 1803, at Bath, Maine, where he lived until sixteen years old. Starting out then in life for himself, he walked to Williamstown. On arriving here he found employment at his trade of a harness-maker with Colonel Abel Car- ter, and continued a resident of the town during the remainder of his days. A man of industry and thrift, he was for many years one of the influential citizens of the place. He filled with ability many public positions, serving as town clerk thirty-five years; as justice of the peace thirty years ; as a representative to the state leg- islature four terms ; and for a number of years was captain of the local militia company. Cap- tain Beckett married Polly Poole, of Williams- town, and they became the parents of ten chil- dren, among them being George, the special sub- ject of this sketch.
George Beckett obtained a practical common school education, which he has supplemented by extensive reading and intelligent self-culture. Learning the trade of a harness-maker from his father, he has followed it for many years, amass- ing a modest fortune by his labors, and has in- vested a part of his earnings in real estate in
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Williamstown, where he owns and occupies one of the finest residences of the locality. He has been an important factor in developing the re- sources of the town, being one of the projectors of several of its leading industries, including the Williamstown Construction Company and the Williamstown Granite Company, whose operations have given a marked impetus to the business growth of the place. The latter company has been merged in the Grearson-Beckett Company, and is carrying on an extensive business in the manu- facture of fine monumental work, employing in its large and well equipped sheds about sixty men.
Mr. Beckett is actively identified with the political, educational and religious life of Will- iamstown, being an untiring worker in advancing the interests of cach. For more than twenty years he has rendered efficient service to his towns- men as town clerk and town treasurer, and was a representative to the state legislature in 1900 and 1901. For thirty years he was librarian of the public library and at the celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of its foundation, wrote an interesting history of the library. He is a member of the Congregational church, of which he is deacon, and is also treasurer of the so- ciety.
Mr. Beckett married, in 1857, Belle R., daughter of Calvin and Dolly (Delano) Flint, and they have one son, Charles Henry. Charles Henry Beckett was graduated with distinguished honors from Dartmouth College with the class of 1881. He subsequently studied law at the Columbia University Law School in New York city, and while taking the course served as clerk of the probate courts. He is now practicing his profession in New York, being junior member of the distinguished law firm of Hamilton & Beckett. He married Estella Newman, of Wat- kins, New York, and has a daughter, Marian H., now seventeen years old, who has shown re- markable skill as a painter.
LEONARD C. RAY.
One of the representative and successful citi- zens of Shelburne is Leonard C. Ray, who has passed practically his entire life within the bor- ders of Chittenden county, and is a member of a
family which has been identified with the history of the old Green Mountain state for several gen- erations, aiding in the work of development and progress and standing for the highest order of cit- izenship. In a personal way he lias commanded at every stage in his career the confidence and es- teem of all who know him, and he is at the pres- ent time incumbent of the important position of superintendent or general manager of the fine es- tate known as the Vermont stock farm, the same being owned by Mr. Louis C. Clark and being recognized as one of the most valuable properties in this section of New England. Mr. Ray has achieved advancement and prosperity through well directed efforts and is one of the substantial and honored citizens of Shelburne.
Leonard C. Ray was born in Hinesburg, Chit- tenden county, Vermont, on the 2d of May, 1858,. and that place also figured as the birthplace of his father, George Ray, who was there ushered into. the world on the 7th of October, 1829, a son of Calvin Ray, who was born in the same town, so that it may be seen that the family has been con- cerned in the history of this section of the state from the pioneer epoch. The original progenitor of the name in Vermont was William Kay, who was the father of Calvin, and who located here. in an early day, becoming identified with agri- cultural pursuits and here passing the remainder of his honorable and useful life. He was of sturdy Scotch lineage and the noble attributes so characteristic of the Scotch type were signally manifest in his life, as have they also been in the careers of his descendants. His son Calvin was reared to the life of a farmer, and with the great basic art of agriculture he continued to be identi- fied until his death. His entire life was passed in his native town, where he became a citizen of influence and substantial worth. He married Louisa Howard, likewise a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section of Vermont, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom only three are living at the time of this writing, namely: Spencer, who is a prominent resident of Potsdam, New York, where he was for many years engaged in business; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Edward Pierson, of Westport, New York; and Julia, who is the widow of Leonard Love, for many years a successful and popular hotel keeper in the city of Montpelier,
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
where his widow still maintains her home. Mrs. Louisa (Howard) Ray was summoned into eternal rest at the age of forty-five years, both she and her husband having been devoted and consis- tent members of the Baptist church and having signally exemplified that "Godly, righteous and sober life," which all men are admonished to lead.
George Ray was reared to the sturdy dis- cipline of the old homestead farm in Hinesburg, receiving such educational advantages as were afforded in the schools of the place and period, and after attaining years of maturity he did not withdraw from the vocation to which he had been reared nor from the locality in which he made his advent into the world, since he continued to be engaged in farming in Hinesburg during the course of his life, being summoned to his reward December 13, 1897, at the age of sixty-eight years, secure in the esteem and high regard of all who had known him, and known as a man whose integrity of purpose in all the relations of life was beyond cavil. His wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Love, was likewise born in Hinesburg, be- ing the daughter of Ira and Mary (Salisbury) Love, of whose four children she is the elder of the two now surviving, the other being Eliza, who is the wife of Marvin Hewett, of Jericho, Vermont. Ira Love was numbered among the prominent and successful farmers of Hinesburg, where he died at the age of sixty-two years, his wife passing away in 1876. George and Louisa (Love) Ray became the parents of two children, Leonard C., whose name introduces this sketch, and Edward, who is a resident of Pasadena, California. The mother remains in the home of her elder son, where she is accorded filial care and devotion in her declining days, and she is one of the earnest and loved members of the Baptist church in Shelburne, her honored huband having also been one of the influential workers in this denomination, in whose faith he com- pleted his life's pilgrimage.
Leonard C. Ray was reared on the homestead farm in Hinesburg, receiving a common-school education in his youth, and upon leaving the farm he secured a position as clerk in a local mercantile establishment, thereafter continuing to be identi- fied with this line of work until accepting his present position, in 1883. He has general charge and supervision of a fine estate of four hundred
acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of fine blooded horses, in which latter department of the enterprise the farm has at- tained a high reputation and one which far tran- scends local limitations. Mr. Ray is known as a thoroughly progressive and discriminating busi- ness man and as a public-spirited citizen. His po- litical allegiance has been given to the Republican party from the time when he attained the right of franchise, and the confidence and esteem in which he is held by the community has been shown in his election to offices of distinctive trust and responsibility. Thus he was a member of the board of selectmen for a period of six years, while he was an effective incumbent of the office of school director of his district for the long period of eight years, ever taking a deep interest in all that concerns the moral, educational and material advancement of the community and ever lending his influence in support of worthy measures for the general good. In con- nection with his political affiliation it may be stated that he has served on numerous occasions as delegate to the various county, district and state conventions of his party. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family are regular at- tendants of the Baptist church, to whose work and the support of its collateral benevolences he is a liberal contributor. His father likewise held various offices in the gift of the people, having been selectman for a number of years and having also served as a lister and as a member of the school board.
On the 21st of May, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ray to Miss Helen J. Miles, who was born in Hinesburg, the daughter of John F. Miles, who is still priminently engaged in the practice of his profession, having taken up the practice of medicine at the age of twenty-one and being now the oldest practitioner in Chit- tenden county, where his name is a most familiar one and where he enjoys the confidence and af- fection of an exceptionally wide circle of friends. His wife, whose maiden name was Fidelia Boynton, is a native of Shelburne, and they be- came the parents of four children, all of whom are living except Mark, who died at the age of about fifty years. The three surviving are Charles, Mary and Helen J. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are the
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
parents of five children, namely : Lida 1 .. , Edna F., Mary F., Marjorie HI. and George Miles. The second named graduated at the head of her class in 1901, at the Shelburne high school.
CHARLES CALVIN STEWART.
Charles Calvin Stewart, a well known granite manufacturer of Hardwick, was born in Dover, New Hampshire, July 6, 1850, a son of Peter Stewart. On the paternal side he is of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather, John Stewart, having emigrated soon after his marriage to America and settled in Canada, where he worked at his trade of a tinsmith. Peter Stewart was born and reared in the province of Quebec, where he spent a large part of his life engaged in agricultural pur- suits. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Calligan, was a native of Ireland.
Charles C. Stewart was educated in In- verness, province of Quebec, and there as- sisted his father in general farming until 1870. He was subsequently employed in the construction of the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain Railway, and on the completion of the road was engaged as a trainman, a position he retained about six years. In 1878 he began work at the granite-cutter's trade in St. Johnsbury, remaining there two years, then worked as a journeyman until 1896, being employed in various places. Coming then to Hardwick he established his present business, and three years later, in August, 1899, admitted his son, John R. Stewart, to partnership, the firm name being the Stewart Granite Works. The business is already assuming large propor- tions and consists principally of monu- mental work, which is sold at retail throughout the west, the greater part of it being completed ready for erection. Mr. Stewart is a Republican in politics, and at present is serving as constable. Both he and his son John R. are Masons, belonging to Caspian Lake Lodge, No. 87, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
On August 20, 1874, Mr. Stewart married Lizzie McLean, of St. Johnsbury. She was born
in the province of Quebec in 1850, a daughter of Donald and Margaret ( McClay) McLean, both natives of Scotland. Four children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, namely : John R., born October 7, 1878, was edu- cated at Ryegate and Hardwick, and is now in business with his father ; Mary died in childhood ; Jessie J., born March 18, 1884; and Charles H., born May 23, 1886. John Robert Stewart was
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CHARLES CALVIN STEWART AND WIFE.
married May 29, 1902, to Kitty P. Ferris, of South Hero, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the Congregational church, in which he is a deacon and one of the business com- mittee. He is a liberal supporter of the church, and contributes generously toward all enter- prises of a benevolent nature.
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
ARCHIBALD TAYLOR.
The pursuits of life are as varied as the tastes and capacities of men, and it is an in- teresting and useful study to observe the degree of their assimiliation. History generally treats of those who have attained eminence in politics or statecraft, in military circles and to some ex- tent in the field of letters and art, but has had lit- tle to do with those toilers upon whom the real prosperity and progress of the nation depend. It is left to specific biography to perpetuate the record of those law-abiding citizens who, in the midst of the active affairs of a work-a-day world, stand forth in integrity of purpose, loyal to friends and to the institutions of the land, and in that enter- prise and industry which make for the well being of their respective communities. To this class belongs the subject of this brief sketch, who is of stanch Scottish lineage and who is incumbent of the important and responsible position of gen- eral manager of the landed estate of Dr. W. Seward Webb, the same comprising about four thousand acres of as fine agricultural land as is to be found within the borders of the old Green Mountain state. The Scotsman is thoughtful and deliberate, and that nation is fortunate in which he is numerous. His mind, profound, thorough, painstaking and free from sudden emotion, acts as a balance wheel for its environment. Scotland has supplied to the United States splendid ele- ments of citizenship, and in nearly every section of the Union the Scotch type figures as a valued and potent factor. The subject of this review is a worthy representative of this type and his life has been one of signal usefulness and honor, while he has commanded uniform confidence and esteem by reason of his sterling character.
Archibald Taylor, who is one of the repre- sentative citizens of Burlington, was born in Kill- willing, in the west of Scotland, on the 28th of February, 1831, and upon him was conferred the full patronymic of his honored father, Archibald Taylor, who was born in the beautiful highlands of bonnie Scotland, a worthy representative of one of the ancient and nobly patriotic clans, and in the west of Scotland he followed the vocation of forester, in which he continued until his death, his entire career having been dominated by the loftiest integrity of purpose and by that fidelity
which is ever characteristic of his race. He continued to maintain his home in his native land until his death, which occurred in the year 1884. He married Miss Agnes Wilson, who was born in the same parish as was their son, the subject of this review, Archibald Taylor, Sr., having there been chief forester on the magnificent es- tate of Lord Egleston. The mother of our sub- ject lived to attain the venerable age of four score years, and of her eleven children only one is living at the present time, our subject. His sister Agnes, who was the wife of David Cowan, died March 18, 1903, at Rockford, Illinois. The parents were both devoted members of the Con- gregational church, and were folk of noble char- acter and marked intellectuality, so that their children were reared in a home of refinement and culture.
Archibald Taylor received his early educa- tional discipline in the schools of his native parish, completing an academic course and then becom- ing associated with his father in caring for the estate mentioned, so that from his youth up he has been familiar with the free and untram- meled life of the yeoman and early gained val- uable experience in connection with forestry and general pastoral and agricultural pursuits, while he eventually took up the discriminating study and practical details of landscape gardening, be- coming proficient in this line and having held responsible positions in connection with various fine estates in his native land prior to coming to America. In 1851 he went to the famed old city of Edinburg, and thereafter held for six years a contract in connection with the care and im- provement of the botanical gardens of Professor McNabb, in that city, the experience being one which proved of inestimable value to him in broadening his technical and practical knowledge. At the expiration of his contract, in 1857, Mr. Taylor came to the United States, taking up his abode in Burlington, Vermont, where he was given charge of the work of laying out the fine estate of Colonel LeGrand B. Cannon, in which connection he gave distinctive evidence of his skill and artistic conceptions as a landscape gardener. He continued in charge of the estate of Colonel Cannon, concerning whom individual mention is made on other pages of this work. for the long period of twenty-seven years. at the expiration
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
of which he assumed the management of the grounds of Oak Ledge, owned by Dr. Webb, near Burlington, this beautiful property also giv- ing perpetual testimony to the ability of Mr. Taylor. He has since remained in the employ of Dr. Webb, who purchased eighteen hundred acres of land, comprised in fifteen farms, and in the laying out of the grounds and beautifying of the landscape of this fine estate Mr. Taylor has done a work which has brought to him the highest en- dorsement and commendation. The enterprise involved the construction of six miles of ma- cadamized roadway, the stone for which was crushed on the premises, and the permanent im- provements otherwise made on the estate in- clude magnificent houses and the best of barns and stables, fine conservatories and dairy, while he has since maintained the position of general manager, an office whose exacting duties and re- sponsibilities may well be imagined when it is stated that the domain under his charge now con- tains four thousand acres, while in the work of the estate a total of two hundred men have been employed, and throughout the entire year the corps of assistants working under his direction numbers fifty individuals. On the estate is kept an average of two hundred horses, one hundred cows and three hundred sheep, and the place stands as a model country estate, being devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high-grade stock and vying in attractions with the finest country-seats of Great Britain and the European continent.
Mr. Taylor is one of the honored and valued citizens of Burlington, where he enjoys the con- fidence and esteem of all who know him and where he is recognized as an able and progressive business man. In politics he has accorded an unequivocal allegiance to the Republican party from practically the time of its organization, and he has ever shown a deep interest in public affairs of a local nature, doing all in his power to fur- ther the general welfare. He was elected a mem- ber of the board of aldermen of Burlington, and that his service in that connection did not fall short of popular appreciation is evident from the fact that he continued consecutively as an incumbent of the office for a period of nine years, during all of which he was chairman of the street commit- tee, in which connection his ability as a landscape
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