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 103

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1032

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 103

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Mr. Hall was an old time Whig, casting his first vote for Henry Clay for president in 1844. Upon the formation of the Republican party he

entered zealously upon the advocacy of its princi- ples. He has accepted some local offices and has served his party as delegate to several conventions, but has had neither time nor inclination for seck- ing political preferment. Mr. Hall, having pro- nounced literary tastes, has written much. Among his valuable contributions to local literature is an exhaustive paper on "The Battle of Bennington," which read before the Berkshire Historical and Sci- entifle Society, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1894, and the Vermont Historical Society in the house of representatives at Montpelier, Ver- mont, November 5, 1896, among other things, re- futing by historical data the claim made in an article in the "National Magazine of American History" of April, 1892, that a body of New York troops under Colonel John Williams, took part in the battle and aided in securing the victory ; the article has attracted general recog- nition as authority on that famous Revolutionary engagement. Mr. Hall united in 1858 with the Congregational church in Bennington and has ever since been active in his connection with the advancement of the interests of that denomina- tion in Bennington county. From 1858 until 1866, at Bennington, he was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and was one of the building committee which erected its pres- ent chapel. In 1866, upon his removal

to North Bennington, he interested him- self in the establishment of a Congregational church there, which was the direct out- growth of a Sabbath school established by himself and others. The congregation worshiped for a time in Bank Hall and in 1869, largely through the individual effort of Mr. Hall, with one half the money outlay being borne by Mr. Trenor W. Park, a church edifice was erected. He has, upon invitation, filled the pulpits of the churches of the vicinity. Mr. Hall has always had the keenest interest in the advancement of Bennington and North Bennington materially and educationally, and has rendered conspicuously valuable service as school and village trustee, at. both places, and has for several years been presi- dent of the North Bennington Free .Library As- sociation.

Mr. Hall married, March 24, 1847, Caroline E. Thatcher, of Bennington, who died July 24,

Alexandru Aument

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

1899. They celebrated their golden wedding March 24, 1897. In five generations of lineal descent, on the Hall side, have couples lived to- gether for over fifty years. Their children were five in number. One son, Charles Henry, died aged one year and nine months; William Carroll died when ten years old; Hiland Hall (second), married Florence I. Houghton, daughter of J. C. Houghton, of North Bennington, and died when twenty-six years of age, leaving one son, Clark H. Hall; Caroline H. Mattison, whose children are Lila H., Duane F., Robert H., Henry A. and Florence E .; Eliza D. Hill married Henry T. Cushman, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

HON. ALEXANDER DUNNETT.

Hon. Alexander Dunnett, ex-senator and prominent lawyer of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, is a descendant of the Dunnetts of Dunnett Head, the most northern point of Scotland. This is a bold precipitous headland, crowned by a light- house whose windows, four hundred feet per- pendicular above the neap tides of the Atlantic, are often broken by the spray of tempestuous waves dashing mountain high through the chan- nel separating the mainland from the Orkney Isles. The Dunnetts were adventurous Norse mariners. Their family crest was significant-a fox on a rock,-their motto, "Non Terra sed Aguis."

Alexander Dunnett was born in Peacham, Vermont, November 29, 1852, the third of six children of Andrew and Christiana (Galbraith) Dunnett. Andrew Dunnett came to America from his native Scotland in 1842, and about six years later married Christiana, daughter of George Galbraith, of Barnet; they settled on a farm in Peacham, and later in West Newbury; the church and business center was at South Ryegate, where the family took up their residence when Alexander was fourteen years old. Andrew Dunnett was a moderately well-to-do farmer, and elder in the Reformed Presbyterian church, a great Bible student, and not unskilled in theo- ological polemics.

John Galbraith, maternal great-grandfather of Alexander Dunnett, was a "Scotch Laird," who came to America before the Revolution, and

purchased a tract of land, becoming one of the earliest pioneers of Barnet, where he located near Endrick brook, so named by him. Here he lived alone, except for the frequent visits of the Indians. Later he went to Canada, was captured as a spy, but finally released and returned to his native land. His son, George Galbraith, came to Barnet in 1800, and located on the place where the pio- neer built his first log house, and there reared a family of twelve children.

Alexander Dunnett spent the formative period of his boyhood at South Ryegate, where he at- tended church and school. His academic train- ing was obtained at Randolph Normal School, under Edward Conant, where he graduated from the second course in the class of '74. He began the study of law in the office of Hon. N. L. Boyden, of Randolph, and completed his pro- fesional studies at Boston University Law School ; he was admitted to practice at the bar of Orange county at the June term, 1877. During these years he was afforded the wholesome experience of teaching several terms of winter school. He began his professional career at South Ryegate, and two years later was appointed master in chancery. In 1883 he removed to St. Johnsbury, where he entered into partnership with A. F. Nichols, Esq., which connection continued three years. Since 1896 L. P. Slack has been his partner. As a lawyer Mr. Dunnett possesses a keen analytical mind, which readily grasps the salient features of a case, tireless energy and persistence, united with a forceful and original presentation of both law and evidence. In the Way murder trial Mr. Dunnett attracted wide- spread attention to the case through the masterly way in which he conducted the defense. He was state's attorney in Caledonia county from 1886 to 1890. For several years he acted as town superintendent of schools of Ryegate, and has served as moderator many years in that town and St. Johnsbury. In every campaign since he was admitted to the bar Mr. Dunnett has taken the stump as a Republican orator, has attended as a delegate most of the state and district conven- tions, and was for several years chairman of the Caledonia county Republican committee, and of the Republican state convention in 1900. His growth in ability and influence has been constant, both at the bar and in the political forum. In

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1900 he served with distinction as a senator from Caledonia county, was chairman of the general committee, a member of judiciary committee, and a potential factor in the work of the session. Mr. Dunett is liberal in his religious beliefs and his social affinities. He enjoys the regard of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He has been master of Passumpsic Lodge, F. & A. M., high priest of Haswell Chapter, R. A. M., and is a Knight Templar.

Pleasantly located on the southern shore of Groton Pond and commanding the rugged out- lines of Bald Ledge and Owl's Head, is the spacious summer home of Mr. Dunnett. Here he enjoys rest and recreation, and his numerous friends receive a hospitable welcome from both the host and his estimable wife.

HENRY HOWARD BOOTH.

Henry Howard Booth, a prosperous young lawyer of Vergennes, is descended from some of the earliest families of Addison county, and maintains worthily the honorable character of his progenitors. Cyrus A. Booth, a native of New- town, Connecticut, came to Vergennes when a lad of fourteen years, and here passed the remainder of his life, becoming one of the leading merchants and most influential citizens. For many years he conducted a general store, and later, in connection with his son, kept a hardware establishment, under the style of C. A. Booth & Son. While he took no active part in political affairs, he was always actively interested in the well being of his town and never missed an opportunity to serve it. Besides acting in other local offices, he served the city of Vergennes as mayor for many years. He was a member of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and was accorded the fullest meas- ure of respect and esteem in the community where he attained the age of seventy-six years. He mar- ried Catherine White, and after her death he mar- ried her sister, Sarah White. The former was the mother of two children, one of whom is now living. The latter also had two children, Hon. J. H. Booth, of Plattsburg, New York, and Mrs. A. B. Clark, of Rosebud, South Dakota.

Charles A. Booth, son of Cyrus A. and Cathe- rine Booth, was born in Vergennes, Vermont, and began his education at the Vermont Episcopal

Institute, under the paternal care and instruction of Bishop Hopkins, later attending a private school at. Vergennes, under "Uncle Ben" Allen who is famous for having fitted one thousand boys for college. He attended Dartmouth College for one year and, in 1868, was ap- pointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was graduated in 1872. Hle has ever since continued in the military ser- vice, having been advanced in grade from time to time until he is now lieutenant colonel of the Seventh United States Infantry. Colonel Booth has rendered most efficient service, having been located at various posts in the west and north- west at different intervals. He has recently re- turned from Nome, Alaska, where he had com- mand of a large Government outpost, and he also constructed a large post at Fort Gibon, Alaska, situated on the Yukon river, at the mouth of the Tanana, and nearly one thousand miles from the mouth of the Yukon. Col. Booth was married to Miss Jennie Flora Burge, who was born in Bridport, Vermont, a daughter of Howard H. and Jane K. Burge. Howard H. Burge was a jeweler of great skill ; served throughout the Civil war with distinction, and died at Hinesburg, Ver- mont, at the age of seventy-two years, being sur- vived by his two children-Mrs. Booth and Cham- pion L. Burge, a representative business man of Vergennes. Colonel and Mrs. Booth became the parents of three children, namely: Henry H., whose name heads this article; Charles L., an able physician and surgeon of Milwaukee, Wis- consin ; and Catherine Flora, wife of Ralph W. Hench, who is engaged in the dry goods business at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Both the parents are communitants of the Protestant Episcopal church.

Henry H. Booth was born July 26, 1874, at Fort Benton, Montana, then the principal sup- ply headquarters and trading station of the North- western Fur Company and for a large mining district, and also being the head of navigation on the Missouri river. He passed the early years of his life at Vergennes and Westport, New York, and later was with his parents in various west- ern states where his father was stationed. He re- mained for some time in Colorado, and continued his studies in Buffalo, New York, and Harris- burg, Pennsylvania. He was for two years a

Alexander. Cochran

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

student in the law office of the Hon. J. H. Booth, of Plattsburgh, New York, and completed his legal studies in the law department of Union University, at Albany, New York, where he graduated in 1896. He was admitted to the prac- tice of law in the state of New York in the same year, and to practice in the federal courts of New York in 1897.

After being admitted to the bar Mr. Booth passed a year as managing clerk in the law of- fices of Everest & Signor at Rouse's Point, New York, and in 1898 began the active practice of law on his own account at that place, meeting with more than usual success. In 1899 he went to Ticonderoga, New York, and a year later came to Vergennes, where he has since established him- self in the general practice of law, and has gained prestige as an able advocate and duly conservative counselor, to which he is steadily adding by de- votion to his profession and fidelity to the inter- ests of his clients. Mr. Booth holds membership in the Vermont State Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and that of Addison county, as well as being a practitioner in the fed- eral courts of both New York and Vermont, en- joying marked popularity among his confreres. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the princi- ples and policies of the Republican party, taking an active interest in the cause of good govern- ment. While a resident of Rouse's Point he was a member of the town council of the town of Champlain, New York, and since becoming a resident of Vergennes has been called upon to serve as city grand juror, the duties of which po- sition he performed without fear or favor. Both he and his wife hold the faith of the Protestant Episcopal church, in which they are communi- cants.

On the 26th of June, 1901, Mr. Booth was married to Miss Mary L. Rich, who was born in Shoreham, Addison county, Vermont, a daughter of Irving B. Rich, a prominent and influential citizen of Shoreham, in which town the Rich fami- ly has lived for several generations, being among the earliest settlers. Mrs. Booth is the elder of the two children of her parents. The other, Irv- ing L., is a graduate of the University of Ver- mont, class of 1901.

The White family, which included ancestors of Mr. Booth, was among the first in Vergennes.

William White, grandfather of Mrs. Catherine (White) Booth, was an early merchant of the city, and also owned an iron foundry, situated on the falls of Otter creek. At this foundry was fit- ted out the fleet of Commodore McDonough, which did such valuable work in the famous bat- tle of Lake Champlain, at Plattsburg, in 1814.

ALEXANDER COCHRAN.

Alexander Cochran, of Groton. is prominent- ly identified with the business and financial in- terests of the town, being one of its substantial farmers, a leading merchant, a well known cap- italist and an active politician. He was born at Ryegate, Vermont, in 1835. a son of Robert Cochran. His paternal grandfather, also named Alexander Cochran, emigrated from Johnson, Scotland, to New England about the beginning of the nineteenth century, settling in Ryegate, Vermont, as one of its pioneers. He married Ann (Nelson) Paden, a widow, a native of the same locality as himself, and a woman of strong personality. He took up a tract of land that was in its primitive wildness, from it improv- ing a homestead that is now owned and occupied by George Cochran. He died while in the prime of a vigorous manhood, at the age of thirty- nine years, but his widow continued to manage the home farm, and reared her three children, two of whom were daughters. They were Jennette, who married Daniel Wormwood, and Elizabeth A., who became the wife of James Thomas.

Robert Cochran, the only son of his parents, was a life-long resident of Ryegate, where he carried on general farming with great success. He married Jean Park, a daughter of Archibald Park, who came from Scotland at the age of fourteen years and became one of the foremost citizens of Ryegate, serving as selectman and in numerous town offices. His wife, Margaret Renfrew, was a native of Scotland, and a woman of sterling character and keen intelli- gence. She was the only daughter among sev- eral sons in the family of James Renfrew. which was a very bright family. Eight children were born to Robert Cochran and wife, four of whom are still living: Alexander, George. Luthera and Silas W. The daughter is the wife of Dr.

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

G. W. Gregg, of Brattleboro, Vermont, and Silas WV. is a retired railroad contractor residing in St. Louis, Missouri.

Alexander Cochran was educated in the dis- triet schools of his native town and at the New- bury Seminary, growing to man's estate on the home farm. He subsequently engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits on his own account, making a specialty of dealing in farm stock and produce, later establishing himself in business as a general merchant at Ryegate Corner, where he built up a large trade, remaining there for a quarter of a century. That was a time when groceries and dry-goods reached the top mark, from 1865 until 1868, sugar selling at twenty-seven cents a pound ; nails, ten cents ; best tea, two dollars and twenty-five cents; salt pork, twenty-five cents; calicoes, from twenty-five cents to thirty- five cents per yard, cotton cloth bringing from fifty cents to sixty cents per yard. In 1882 Mr. Cochran entered into part- nership with his brother-in-law, Hon T. B. Hall, becoming junior member of the firm of Hall & Cochran, and in 1889 moved to Groton, where he has since held a conspicuous position among the leading men of the place. In 1892, owing to the failure of the Blue Moun- tain Granite Company of Ryegate, for which he had furnished money and supplies, he was forced to assume the ownership of its property, which he subsequently sold. The firm of Hall & Cochran carries on a very large bartering busi- ness, exchanging its goods for any kind of farm- er's produce, including eggs, butter, live stock, or timber, and deals extensively in quarry stone and lumber, owning about two thousand acres of wild land in the town of Peacham.

Politically Mr. Cochran is a hard-money Democrat, and for a number of years was a mem- ber of the state Democratic committee for Cale- donia county, likewise being senatorial candidate of his party, and receiving the nomination for state treasurer. In 1888 he was delegate to the national Democratic convention held in St. Louis, and represented Groton in the state legis- lature, in 1896. He is connected with several prominent financial institutions, being vice presi- dent of the National Bank of Newbury, a trus- tee of the Capital Savings Bank of Montpelier,

and a director of the Merchants' National Bank of St. Jolinsbury.

In 1866 Mr. Cochran married Theresa, daughter of the late Judge I. N. Hall, of Groton, and of their union four children have been born, namely: Robert Newton, died in infancy; Josephine E., wife of D. F. Clark, of Montpelier ; Gertrude, wife of Howard Fletcher, of Boston; and Theresa Jean. Mrs. Cocliran is a woman of remarkable ability, accomplished and re- fined, and during the World's Columbian Expo- sition, held in Chicago in 1893, was alternate lady manager, and acted as principal in the ab- sence of the manager. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JENNETTE B. BOUTON.

The subject of this brief sketch is of the third generation of her family in Charlotte, Chit- tenden county, where her paternal grandfather located in the pioneer days when this section of the state presented a vastly different aspect than it does at the present time, the march of develop- ment and improvement having gone steadily for- ward and having made this one of the most at- tractive portions of the old Green Mountain com- monwealth. The name is one which has ever been honored in the community and in this connection we are enabled to give a resume of the family history, thus leaving a record of perpetual value and interest, while proper reference will be made to Miss Bouton, who resides in the attractive old homestead in which she was born and which is hallowed by the memories and associations of the past.

Her father, John Jarvis Bouton, was ushered into the world in Charlotte, the family home at the date of his nativity, which was September 28, 1801, it having been a log house of the type com- mon to the pioneer epoch. He was a son of Ste- phen Bouton, who was born October 8, 1771 in Poundridge, New York, whose ancestral history betokens long identification of the name with the annals of New England. From Norwalk, in Con- necticuit, he came to Chittenden county in the eighteenth century, where he secured a tract of land on the borders of Lake Champlain, in the township of Charlotte. Here he erected a log

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

house, which became the family home, and later he built another log structure near the site of the present home of his granddaughter, while in 1804 he erected the residence in which Miss Bouton now maintains her home, so that it stands as one of the veritable landmarks of the county, having weathered the storms of nearly a cen- tury and being in an excellent state of preserva- tion, having been constructed carefully and sub- stantially, as was the custom in the pioneer days. Here Stephen Bouton passed the evening of his life, passing away October 22, 1853, at the ven- erable age of four score and five years, an honor- ed patriarch of the county to whose development he had contributed in no small measure, having been a skilled mechanic and having devoted the greater portion of his life to his trade, which was that of builder. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Jarvis, was born December 25, 1776, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and she died September II, 1854, at the age of seventy-seven years, hav- ing become the mother of two children,-John J. and Ann, the latter of whom died in 1889, at the age of ninety-two years. The grandparents were folk of sterling character and were devoted mem- bers of the Congregational church, in whose or- ganization they were instrumental.

John J. Bouton was reared in Charlotte town- ship, having been a boy at the time when his par- ents took up their residence in the present home of his daughter, in the village of the same name, and that he duly profited by the educational ad- vantages afforded him in the schools of the locali- ty and period is evident from the fact that in his youth he was a successful teacher in the local -schools. He learned the builder's trade under the direction of his honored father, who individu- ally erected the old homestead, and he devoted his attention to his trade to a greater or less ex- tent for many years, while he also became one of the succesful farmers of the town, owning a good place of his own and also operating one owned by his wife, to whom it had been bequeath- ed by her father. Mr. Bouton lived to attain the age of sixty-seven years, passing away on the 14th of March, 1869. He was a man of fine judg- ment and marked executive ability, and his in- tegrity in all the relations of life was such as to command the uniform confidence and esteem of

all who knew him. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was an active worker in the same, having held the offices of steward, trustee and of clerk, while he was for many years prominent in the work of the Sunday- school. In politics he gave his support to the Republican party from the time of its organi- zation. Fully appreciative of the duties of citi- zenship, he took an active part in public affairs of a local nature, having been called upon to serve in various town offices and having invariably dis- charged his assigned duties with signal ability and fidelity.

In early manhood, Mr. Bouton was married to Miss Mary Ann Breckenridge, who was born December 16, 1808, in Charlotte, being a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Lurene (Newell) Brecken- ridge, the former of whom was one of the exten- sive and influential farmers of the county, owning a tract of four hundred acres, and being a man honored for his sterling character. He was among the first settlers of Charlotte, was a licens- ed exhorter of the Methodist church and a very saintly man, and he lived to a great age. He was born August 19, 1766, and died March 21, 1852, at the age of eighty-six years, and his wife passed away July 29, 1841. She was born January 13, 1769. They became the parents of eleven chil- dren, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bouton became the parents of two daught- ers, namely : Harriet Antoinette, who was born October 28, 1837, died December 6, 1897, having been thrice married,-first to Arthur C. Barker, next to Charles Storrs, of Burlington, and last to Joseph Barton, of Charlotte. The younger daughter is Jannette Brekenridge, who occupies the ancestral home. Their mother, who was a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist church and a woman of noble and gracious char- acter, died on the 12th of March, 1872, in her sixty-fourth year.

Miss Bouton has passed her entire life in Charlotte, securing her preliminary education in the public schools and supplementing the same by a course of study in the Troy Conference Academy, at Poultney, Vermont. After leaving school she was for several terms a successful and popular teacher in the Charlotte schools. She has taken an active part in church and social af-

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fairs, holding membership in the same church as did her honored parents, and she has the warm and sincere friendship of the community in which her life has been passed.

DUDLEY BECKWITH SMITH, M. D.

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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 103

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1032