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 105

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 105

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Josiah Benjamin, Jr., father of Samuel Web- ster Benjamin, was educated in the district schools of his native town and succeeded his father on the home farm, which he cultivated with great success. Mr. Benjamin was in early life a Whig, but became a Republican when that party was organized. His character was in all respects such as to command the highest esteem, and his fellow citizens testified to the regard in which they held him by electing him to the state legislature and to other offices of responsibility. He was a constant and regular attendant at the Congregational church. Mr. Benjamin married Rebecca Emerson, December 25, 1827. Their children were : Chauncey E., Lucy Ann, John Em- erson, Charles K., Philena R., Samuel Webster, Ira A., and Elizabeth B. Mr. Benjamin died October 4, 1884. His wife died in December, 1873.

Samuel Webster Benjamin, a representative of the family, was born at the old homestead,

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May 1, 18.12, and was educated at the district school and the Barre Academy. The first occa- sion of his leaving home was his enlistment in the Union army. He entered the Thirteenth Reg- iment, Vermont Volunters, in July, 1862. This regiment formed a part of the Second Vermont Brigade, Third Corps of the Army of the Po- tomac and participated in the battle of Gettys- burg. In General Pickett's famous charge on July 3, 1863, Mr. Benjamin was wounded by a ball from an exploding shell. This ball he carried in his body for thirty-six years, and when it was removed, August 29, 1899, it was found eight and one half inches from the spot where it had en- tered. He was mustered out July 21, 1863.

Mr. Benjamin married, March 2, 1865, Edna Lucy Downing, daughter of Friend N. and Phi- lonia (Payne) Downing, of Barre, Vermont. She was born October 2, 1846. After his mar- riage Mr. Benjamin removed to a farm near the old homestead, where he lived for nine years, when he returned to the old farm and remained until 1897, at which time he disposed of his pa- ternal dwelling and took up his residence in Montpelier, at 37 Barre street.

In civil life as well as in his political career Mr. Benjamin has maintained the reputation of his family. He is a staunch Republican, and his fellow citizens have accorded him the same tok- ens of respect which they bestowed upon his father and grandfather. While a resident of Ber- lin he held the office of selectman for six years and was also lister and chairman of the board of selectmen. Mr. Benjamin is a member of the Brooks Post, No. 13, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, at Montpelier. June II, 1902, he was elected president of the board of arrangements for the re- union of his regiment for the year 1903. Mr. Benjamin's elder daughter, Eda, born May 1, 1871, died July 9, 1874. His youngest daughter, Alice Eva, born June 15, 1887, graduated from the Montpelier high school in the class of 1901.

JOSEPH CARTER.

This honored citizen and influential business man of Ferrisburg, Addison county, is a repre- sentative of the third generation of the family in the old Green Mountain state and bears a name which has been inseparably identified with New

England history from the early colonial days. His paternal grandfather came to Vermont in the pioneer days, dignifying the same by his services and worthy life, as have also his descendants, including the subject of this review, who has now passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, but who has retained that vigor which is usu- ally characteristic of one in the prime of life. Honored by all, there is no citizen of the county more worthy of consideration in this volume, and we find satisfaction in here noting the more sali- ent points in his ancestral and individual history.

Joseph Carter was born in the town of Monk- ton, Addison county, Vermont, on the 30th of June, 1828, being a son of William Carter, who- was born in Salisbury, this county, in 1804, and who was a son of the original representative of the family in this county, Solomon C. Carter, who. was born in Warren, Connecticut, where the fam- ily had been established for several generations. As a young man the last named came to Vermont and took up his residence in Salisbury, where he was for several years engaged in farming and whence he removed to Monkton, where he con- tinued to follow agricultural pursuits and black- smithing until his death, at the age of seventy- five years, having been one of the prosperous and honored pioneers of this section of the state. William Carter grew to maturity on the old home- stead farm in Monkton, and his early educational advantages were such as were accorded to the average farmer boy of the locality and period. Reared to the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm, he was never alienated from the noble basic art of husbandry but continued to be identified with the same in an active way until the close of his long and useful life, while it is inter- esting to make record of the fact that the scene of his well directed efforts continued to be the old homestead where his boyhood days were passed, his death occurring on the homestead, in Monk- ton, in 1883, at which time he had attained the venerable age of seventy-nine years. He was a man of influence in the community, taking a prominent part in local affairs of a public nature and having served in the greater number of town- ship offices. His life was one of fidelity to duty and his attitude was ever that of a man of sterling integrity and honor, while he so ordered his af- fairs and efforts as to prove successful in an in-

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dividual way and to also advance general pros- perity through the same legitimate medium. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Middle- brook, was a native of Ferrisburg, Addison coun- ty, where she was born about 1805, a daughter of Theophilus Middlebrook, a pioneer farmer of this section. She lived to attain the age of more than four score years, passing away in 1887, on the old homestead so endeared and hallowed to her by the memories and associations of the past. William and Hannah Carter became the parents of two children,-Joseph, the subject of this sketch ; and George, who died at the age of nine years.

Joseph Carter was reared on the old home- stead where he was born, and the scenes and de- tails of farm life were familiar to him from his earliest recollection, while as a boy he began to contribute his quota to the work of field and meadow, in the meanwhile pursuing his studies in the district schools and thus laying the foun- dation for that wide fund of practical knowledge which has come to him through personal appli- cation in later years and through active associa- tion with the practical affairs of life. He contin- ued to be engaged in agriculture in his native town of Monkton for a period of twenty years, at the expiration of which he purchased a farm in Panton township, making the best of improve- ments on the same and developing it into one of the valuable farm properties of Addison county. There he maintained his home for a quarter of a century, disposing of the place in 1897, and then taking up his abode on his present finely improved farm of fifty acres, in Ferrisburg. Here he is still actively engaged in diversified farming, but this represents only one department of his suc- cessful business enterprise, since for the past forty years he has conducted a meat market in the vil- lage of Vergennes, being the oldest merchant of the town and having ever retained a representa- tive patronage, and he also continues to devote special attention to the buying of farm produce, in which line he transacts a large annual business, his operations extending throughout the county, so that he has gained a wide acquaintanceship in this locality, while he has ever been honorable and upright in all his dealings and relations with his fellow men, whose confidence and esteem he has thus merited and retained.

Mr. Carter's first presidential vote was cast in support of the candidate of the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Republican party he naturally transferred his allegiance to this worthy combination which stood as the repre- sentative of the cause of the Union, then menaced by armed rebellion, and he has ever since been a stalwart advocate of its principles and policies, while his eligibility for positions of publc trust and responsibility was early recognized and led to his being called upon to serve in the various township offices, and in both Monkton and Panton he was thus incumbent of such positions of trust, while in 1864-5 he had the distinction of representing the former in the lower house of the state legis- lature, proving a valuable and zealous member of that body. His father, likewise, held in a notable degree the confidence of the people, and he was frequently appointed administrator of estates and guardian of minors, discharging his duties with the most punctilious care and fidelity. The- ophilus Middlebrook, maternal grandfather of our subject, was incumbent of the office of town clerk for a full quarter of a century, was a man of education and mature judgment and wielded marked influence in local affairs. He was for several terms a representative in the state legis- lature, and in the early days he made the journey to the capital of the state on horseback on many occasions, while thus taking up his official duties. His son David was also town clerk for a number of years.

In February, 1851, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Hayward, who was born in Addison, Addison county, November 8, 1825, and who died October 28, 1854, leaving two children,-Frances, who died April 1, 1903 : and Augusta, who is the wife of Frederick E. Sears, of Panton. September 23, 1858, Mr. Carter mar- ried Miss Mary J. Sherman, who was born in this county, June 10, 1839, and who died September 13, 1885. She is survived by one of her two children,-Louisa, who is the wife of Milo C. Harris, residing at Rialto, California. The third marriage of our subject was solemnized in De- cember, 1886. when Miss Harriet Hoyt became his wife, she likewise being a native of this county and a daughter of Martin Hoyt, a farmer of Pan- ton. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have two children,- William, born September 11, 1887; and Julia,

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born September 12, 1891, and is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their pleasant home is one in which the refined amenities of social life are ever in evidence, the same being a center of gracious hospitality.

REV. WILLIAM SEWARD WALLACE.

Rev. William Seward Wallace, pastor of the First Presbyterian church at South Ryegate, was born in New York city, January 2, 1863, a son of Thomas and Mary L. Wallace, of Chelsea, Massa- chusetts. Mr. Wallace spent several years of his earlier life in the south, going with his parents to Georgia, where he became familiar with plan- tation life. Possessing a natural love for books, and ambitious of securing an education, he con- tinued his studies mornings and evenings, and when prepared entered the college at Davidson, North Carolina, from which he was graduated in 1887. He subsequently studied theology at Co- lumbia Seminary, South Carolina, the leading sectarian institution of the south, noted alike for its conservative teachings and the large number of its graduates who have obtained distinction in ministerial and literary circles. After his ordina- tion in the Presbyterian church at Monticello, Florida, in 1890, Mr. Wallace accepted a charge at Palatka, Florida, where he remained five years, his pastorate being pleasant and successful. Be- ing then forced by reason of ill health to come north, Mr. Wallace spent the summer of 1895 at New York city, preaching in the Collegiate Re- formed church of Harlem. Returning to Georgia, he accepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian church at Cedartown, a prosperous manufactur- ing city, where he preached for four years with nost encouraging results, through his strenuous efforts a large debt on the church building being cancelled and the church membership being great- ly increased.

In January, 1900, Mr. Wallace became pastor of the church at South Ryegate, coming here partly for his health, the bracing climate of this beautiful region filling him with fresh vigor and enthusiasm. This is one of the most prosperous churches of Caledonia county, connected with which is a large Sunday-school, a flourishing Christian Endeavor organization and an active

Ladies' Auxiliary Society. Several people united with the church last year, and generous contribu- tions were given to benevolent and charitable ob- jects, while the parsonage was repaired and ren- ovated. Mr. Wallace is a man of scholarly at- tainments, and in the preparation of his work cach week is further aided by one of the finest libraries in this section of the state, part of which he himself selected, but a large part of which was bequeathed him by his uncle, the late Rev. Charles Clark Wallace, D. D. He has also in his pos- session an autograph letter that he prizes highly, and a portfolio of correspondence, which were given him by Hon. William H. Seward, former secretary of state, for whom he was named.

Mr. Wallace married Mrs. Susie Willson, of Clarksville, Tennessee, who has proved herself a valuable and efficient assistant in his pastoral la- bors, and who shares with him the love and re- spect, not only of their immediate parishioners, but of the community in which they reside.

CLARENCE PARSONS SAWYER.

Clarence P. Sawyer, of Hardwick, is well known to the reading people of this section of the county as the publisher and proprietor of the Hardwick Gazette, a bright and newsy sheet. He was born February 20, 1871, at Hyde Park, Vermont, where he acquired his early education, completing his studies in the Lamoille Academy. He learned the printer's trade, which he followed for awhile in this state. Going then to Colorado, he remained two years, and two years in Utah, returning to Vermont in 1894. In December, 1898, he purchased the Hardwick Gazette, taking possession the following month. Under his man- agement the circulation of the paper is increasing, its influence for good being thus extended over a wider range, becoming an important factor in promoting the best interests of the town and county.

Mr. Sawyer is a Republican in politics, and has served as secretary and treasurer of Hard- wick village, and secretary and treasurer of the Hardwick Academy, and of the graded school district. He is a member of Caspian Lake Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Hardwick Lodge, I. O. O. F .. of which he was the first noble grand. Mr. Sawyer married, February 20, 1895, at St. Al-

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bans, Vermont, Miss Frances Warner, of St. Albans. The family includes a daughter, born May 24, 1896, and named Helen Frances.

FRANK THOMAS TAYLOR.

Frank Thomas Taylor, postmaster at Hard- wick and one of its most energetic and progres- sive business men, was born at Wheelock, Ver- mont, December 20, 1864. His father, Benja- min F. Taylor, was a son of Jonathan Taylor, and grandson of Jonathan Taylor, who emigrated from Scotland to New Hampshire, locating in Canterbury. He was a seafaring man, as master of a vessel sailing to all parts of the world, and dying in the West Indies while on a voyage. His widow subsequently married Gideon Leavitt, and removed to the town of Wheelock, Vermont, where Mr. Leavitt afterwards served as the first constable of the place.

Jonathan Taylor, Jr., was quite young when he came with his mother and step-father to Wheelock in 1790. He assisted in the pioneer labor of removing the forests and preparing the land for cultivation, eventually choosing farming for his life vocation. Industrious and thrifty, he made a success of his work, becoming one of the well-to-do agriculturists of the town, and a man of considerable influence. The maiden name of his wife was Abigail Curtis.

Benjamin F. Taylor was born in 1831, in Wheelock, Vermont, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits during his earlier years. Subsequently embarking in mercantile business in his native town, he was for forty years the leading merchant of the place, having an exten- sive and lucrative trade in general merchandise, also serving as postmaster throughout the entire period. Retiring from the activities of life in 1901, he removed to Hardwick, making that his permanent residence. He married Amanda M. Stetson, by whom he had five children, as fol- lows: William H., whose biography is a fea- ture of this work; Frank T., the subject of this brief biographical sketch: Jennie, who died at the age of five years; Abby H., wife of Dr. W. H. Weeks, of East Hardwick; and Frederick H., who is a clerk in Hardwick.

Frank T. Taylor attended first the district schools of Wheelock, completing his early educa-

tion at Lyndon Institute. After acquiring some knowledge of mercantile pursuits in his father's store, he spent two years as a clerk in the Fair- banks store at St. Johnsbury. Removing then to Hardwick in 1888, he here engaged in mercantile trade with J. H. McLoud and L. A. Kent until 1891, when this firm was merged in the J. H. McLoud Company, Mr. Taylor still retaining a large share of the stock. He has likewise other property interests of value, being a stockholder in the Hardwick Land Company, which recently purchased the Clement farm in the southwestern part of the village, laid out streets, and is now selling most desirable house lots. He is also the owner of a fine residence, which he occupies, at the head of Church street, and several tenement cottages. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster, a position that he is filling at the present time, 1903.

Mr. Taylor is a Republican in politics, and has served his fellow townsmen in many important offices of trust. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias, and has filled all the chairs of the lodge with which he is connected. Mr. Taylor married, first, August 7, 1889, Flora M. Rogers, of Wheelock, who died May 1, 1896. He married, second, September 6, 1899, Celia M. Paul, a native of Boston, whose death occurred September 23, 1900.

DORMAN BRIDGMAN.

Dorman Bridgman, one of the foremost cit- izens of Hardwick, was born in this town, Feb- ruary 7, 1837, a son of Dorman Bridgman, Sr., and grandson of Captain John Bridgman. He comes of English stock, being a direct descendant in the eighth generation from James Bridgman, who came, probably, from Winchester, county of Hants, England, to America in 1640, locating first at Hartford, Connecticut, removing from there in 1643 to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he became owner of a small tract of land lying on the river bank. His descendants are numerous, and many of them have attained dis- tinction in state and national affairs, and one of them, I.aura Bridgman, the deaf, dumb and blind pupil of Dr. Samuel G. Howe, was a cousin of Dorman Bridgman, the subject of this sketch.

Captain John Bridgman served in the Revo-

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Intionary war, and also took an active part in the battle of Plattsburg. Settling in South Hard- wick, Vermont, in 1795, hie purchased three hun- dred acres of unbroken land, and with true pio- leer courage and persistency improved a home- stead, which is now owned and occupied by his grandson, George W. Bridgman, a brother of Dorman, the estate having never been out of the family since it came into his possession.

Dorman Bridgman, Sr., was born on the an- cestral homestead in Hardwick, May 22, 1800, and died in this town, June 8, 1886, being knocked down and killed by a runaway horse. At the age of twenty-one years he accepted a con- tract for constructing a part of the Erie canal, carrying it out successfully. About 1825 he es- tablished himself in the mercantile business in Hardwick, becoming its first merchant, and was also its first postmaster. He took great interest in advancing the prosperity of his native town, and dealt to a considerable extent in real estate. He was a strong anti-slavery man, his home be- ing well known as a station of the underground railway for fugitive slaves enroute to Canada. The maiden name of his wife was Achsah Mitch- ell.

. Dorman Bridgman, the subject of this sketch, completed his early education at the People's Academy in Morrisville, after which he taught school several terms, giving up his professional career in 1858 to search for gold in the region of Fike's Peak. Two years later, in 1860, he re- turned to Hardwick, where he conducted a hotel for two years. Exchanging positions then with his father, the.latter taking the hotel, Mr. Bridg- man assumed charge of the parental homestead, on which he was engaged in farming for five years, when he removed to Woodbury, where he continued in agricultural pursuits for a number of seasons. Forming a partnership with M. E. Tucker in 1879, he embarked in the lumber busi- ness, erecting a sawmill at Mackville, where he remained until 1886, meeting with marked suc- cess in his operations. Since that time he has been a resident of his native town, and through his extensive dealing in real estate and erection of business blocks and dwellings has done much to advance its material interests and to promote its improvements. He owns and occupies a hand- some residence, which, with its attractive sur-

roundings, is perhaps one of the most desirable- in town.

Mr. Bridgman takes a lively interest in po- litical affairs, always working with the Demo- cratic party, and has served most acceptably in various local offices. He was active in securing the charter for the village, of which he was the first president, an office that he held several terms; has also been justice of the peace and chairman of the board of selectmen. Several times he has been the Democratic nominee for representative to the legislature, each time poll- ing far more than his party vote. In 1893 he took a prominent part in organizing the Hardwick Savings Bank and Trust Company, in which he holds the controlling stock and is the president. Mr. Bridgman married, November 1, 1860, Jen- nie R., daughter of George and Eliza (Renfrew) Whitcher, of Albany, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgman attend the Methodist church.

THE GAY FAMILY.

This family, whose advent in Cavendish, Ver- mont, marked an era in the commercial history of the village, trace their ancestry to John Gay, who emigrated to America about the year 1630, and his descendants, through all the succeeding. generations, have been noted for many excellent characteristics, and have been useful and public- spirited citizens of this great country.

John Gay, the pioneer ancestor, settled first at Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was a gran- tee in the great dividends and in the Beaver Brook plow lands, being the owner of forty acres altogether. He was admitted a freeman May 6, 1635. In association with a number of the prom- inent citizens of Watertown, he founded a plan- tation at Dedham, Massachusetts, and his name- appeared on the petition for incorporation Septem- ber 6, 1686, and he was among the original pro- prietors of lands. In 1654 he was chosen to serve in the capacity of selectman for the town of Ded- ham. The following named children were born to John Gay and his wife, Jononce Gay : Samuel, born March 10, 1639, died April 15, 1718; Heze- kiah, born July 8, 1640, died November 28, 1669; Nathaniel, born January II, 1643, died February 20, 1712, Joanna, born March 23, 1645; Eliezer, born June 25, 1647, died April 13, 1726; Abiel, ...

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born April 23, 1649 ; John, born May 6, 1651, died November 19, 1731; Jonathan, born August I, 1653; Hannah, born October 16, 1656, died Feb- ruary 26, 1660, and Elizabeth. John Gay, father of these children, died March 4, 1688; his widow passed away August 14, 1691.

John Gay (2), fifth son of John and Jononce Gay, was born May 6, 1651, was united in mar- riage, February 13, 1679, to Rebecca Bacon, and their children were Rebecca, born May 13, 1681 ; John, born January 2, 1685 ; Stephen, born May 5, 1689 ; Abigail, born November 4, 1692 ; Hezekiah, born June 30, 1694, died September 2, 1758. John Gay's death occurred November 19, 1731 ; he was survived by his wife, who died March 6, 1732.

Hezekiah Gay (3), youngest son of John and Rebecca Gay, was born June 30, 1694, and by his marriage to Elizabeth (name unknown), the fol- lowing named children were born : Hezekiah, born December 31, 1724; William, born October 29, 1726; Samuel B., born December 3, 1730; Will- iam, born December 3, 1730; John, born February 2, 1736: Nathaniel, born September 27, 1740, died September 14, 1806; Elizabeth, born September 27, 1740; Rebecca, born February 15, 1744, died March 28, 1747 ; Ebenezer, born October 12, 1745, died March 19, 1747.

Hezekiah Gay (4), eldest son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth Gay, was born December 31, 1724. After attaining young manhood, he removed from his native town of Needham, Massachusetts, to Killingly, Connecticut, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. He participated as a private in the Revolutionary war. In 1746 Mr. Gay mar- ried Elizabeth Fuller, who was born January 19, 1728, and died in May, 1808; she was a daughter of Thomas Fuller, one of the petitioners for the incorporation of Needham, Massachusetts, in 1710. Their children were: Ebenezer, born June 2. 1747, died July 8, 1820; Elizabeth, born July 13. 1749; Rebecca, born October 27, 1757; Hezekiah, born May 16, 1755; Jessie, who was killed October 4, 1790, by a chance shot at a training; Esther; Hadassah; Richard B., born March 12, 1763, died February 2, 1835; Mary, and Alpheus Gay.

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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 105

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