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 108

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 108

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The value of the services of Professor Conant in the educational work in his native state cannot be held in light estimation, and during all the long years which he devoted to the profession of pedagogy he kept fully abreast of advances made, and was progressive in his methods. He was a man of mature judgment, high intellectuality and distinctive administrative powers, and was widely known and held in unequivocal esteem throughout the state where he lived and labored to so goodly ends.

In 1862 Professor Conant enlisted for service in a Vermont regiment of volunteer infantry, his sympathies being entirely with the cause of the Union and his loyalty and patriotism of the most insistent order. However, the trustees of the school over which he was in charge persuaded him that his duties in that connection were of paramount importance, and they prevailed upon him to remain at home, and hired a substitute to take his place in the ranks of the Union army. In political affiliations he was originally identified with the Free-soil party, but upon the organiza- tion of the Republican party he transferred his allegiance to the same and was an ardent advo- cate of its cause during the crucial epoch of the rebellion, when it stood sponsor for the war policy of the government. Since the war he continued to advocate the basic principles of this party, but was somewhat independent in his attitude, not being aggressively partisan, though firm in his convictions and ever fortified in his opinions as to matters of public policy and import. He was long a zealous member of the Congregational church, and was a member of the national council of this denomination in 1865, 1874 and 1892, tak- ing a deep interest in all branches of the church work, both of spiritual and temporal nature. He was a member of the Ascutney Congregational Club.

On the Ioth of May, 1858, was solemnized the marriage of Professor Conant to Miss Cyn-

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thia H. Taggart, daughter of John and Betsey (Avery) Taggart, of Stockbridge, Vermont, and of this union have been born four children, name- ly : Frank Herbert, Seth Edward, Nell Florence and Grace Lucia. The elder son is a civil engi- neer, and has been for many years a resident of the state of Washington. The others reside with their mother in Randolph Center.

DAVID HUBBARD NUTTING, M. D.

David Hubbard Nutting, M. D., a well known physician of Randolph Center, obtained his early professional experience in eastern and central Turkey, being for twenty-two years con- nected as a practitioner in that part of the coun- try, under the auspices of the American Board of Foreign Missions. He was born in Randolph Center, Vermont, May 17, 1829, a son of Will- iam Nutting. Esq., and grandson of William Nutting, Sr., who married Susannah French, a daughter of Colonel French, of Nashua, New Hampshire. William Nutting, the immigrant an- cestor of the branch of the Nutting family, came from Groton, Suffolk county, England, about 1639-42, as a member of Winthrop's staff, and settled in Groton, Massachusetts, where he and his descendants lived for many generations.

William Nutting, Sr., was a minute man at the battle of Concord, and subsequently an offi- cer of a Massachusetts regiment in the Revolu- tion. When the Lexington alarm was sounded he and his man left their plow in the furrow in Groton, and each mounted a horse and rode to Concord. One of the battles of King Philip's war was fought on the farm of his father, at which time a church then standing was burned.

William Nutting, Esq., was born in Groton, Massachusetts, October 30, 1779. Growing to manhood on the ancestral homestead, he worked on the farm in summer, attending the district school during winter terms, until of age. Sub- sequently studying at the Groton Academy, he entered the sophomore class of Dartmouth Col- lege, from which he was graduated with honors in 1807. He was urged to become tutor in the college, but declined in order to accept a posi- tion as first principal of the Orange county grammar school at Randolph, Vermont, where he continued six years as teacher and where he

spent the remaining fifty-six years of his life. Under his wise administration the school ob- tained great popularity, students coming here from all parts of Vermont, and from the neigh- boring states to obtain a classical education, among his numerous pupils being many that be- came distinguished as clergymen, lawyers, physi- cians, judges, members of Congress, or profes- sors in colleges. While teaching, he took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar about 1813. He subsequently became the law part- ner of his preceptor, Judge Dudley Chase, with office at Randolph Center, and became success- ful as a lawyer. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Orange county grammar school for many years, acting as secretary and treasurer. From 1816 to 1845, he was a trustee of the University of Vermont, in which he declined the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy. He died November 26, 1863.

He never sought for office, but consented to represent the town in the state legislature, was town clerk nineteen years and justice of the peace twenty-three years, and was once a men- ber of the council of censors. From 1812 he was identified with the Congregational church. in which he was a strong pillar.

On October 5, 1809, he married Mary Bar- rett Hubbard, daughter of David and Mary (Barrett) Hubbard, both natives of Concord, Massachusetts, and afterward erected the first brick residence in Randolph, occupying it for many years. Of their union eleven children were born, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, as follows: Eliza A., the second wife of Rev. Samuel A. Benton : Sarah M., the first wife of Rev. Samuel Benton; William, Jr .. who became a manufacturer of church organs: Charles, a lawyer; Rufus, an inventor and manufacturer; George B., who was a missionary to Syria : David Hubbard, the subject of this sketch : and Mary O., a teacher, and librarian at Mount Holyoke College. The mother passed away September 7, 1847.

David H. Nutting acquired his elementary education in Randolph, supplementing that by a course of study at the Western Reserve Col- lege, after which he was graduated from the College of Medicine at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, receiving his degree in 1853 and spending

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the following year in the hospitals of New York city. On July 5, 18544, he married Mary E., daughter of Nicholas and Mary J. ( Barstow) Nichols, and on August 8 of that year, sailed with his wife from Boston for Smyrna, being appointed by the American Board of Foreign Missions as a physician at Diarbekir, in ancient Assyria. For twenty-two years the Doctor and his wife were actively connected with the work of the eastern and central Turkey missions, re- siding the greater part of the time in malarial districts, which so undermined their health that they were forced to return to America in 1876. The Doctor at once resumed his practice of medi- cine, locating in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he won an excellent practice, remaining there seven years, when he took up his permanent residence in Randolph Center. He has here met with good success as a practitioner, and is the owner of a good farm of sixty-seven acres. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, of the Massachusetts and Vermont Medi- cal Societies, and an active member and deacon of the Congregational church at Randolph Center.

Dr. and Mrs. Nutting became the parents of six children, of whom three sons and two daugh- ters survive, as follows: Nellie Hubbard, a teacher in the industrial school at Montgomery, Alabama; Mary Howard, formerly a teacher in Utah, then in New York city, is at present a graduate nurse in Hartford, Connecticut ; George H., a bookkeeper in Boston; Charles, superin- tendent of the gas works at Chicopee, Massa- chusetts ; Frederick W., a machinist at North Andover, Massachusetts. The first, Annie Hale, died when one year old.

WILLIAM L. PACKARD.

William Louis Packard, of Wilmington, Ver- mont. son of William and Sarah Fales Packard, was born at Pittsgrove, New Jersey. September 25. 1876, and with his parents moved to Elmer, New Jersey, in 1885. In 1889 he began his print- er's apprenticeship to S. P. Foster, proprietor of the Elmer Times, working outside school hours, and 1893 found him in Wilmington, Vermont, as foreman of the Deerfield Valley Times, then owned by O. H. Jones.

Mr. Packard purchased the Times of Mr. Jones in October, 1894, and from that time the paper has shown a steady, healthy growth in scope and influence. Under Mr. Packard's editorial management the Times has come to mean facts and sound judgment, and, while the paper is never rankly partisan, it is thoroughly Republican. In 1808 Mr. Packard bought the Readsboro Enter- prise, which he merged with the Times. thus giv- ing him the entire valley as field.

WILLIAM L. PACKARD.

The material cost of the plant has been in- creased from two thousand, five hundred dollars to over nine thousand dollars, producing a paper that is a model for typographical beauty and cleanliness wherever it circulates and bearing the imprint of the editor's personality in its temperate, dignified tone.

Mr. Packard is a good type of the genuine American whose success is honestly his own, by unaided effort and indomitable purpose. He has made a third-rate paper to rank among the first

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papers in the state, and has won the respect of his brother editors and the full confidence of his public.

In March, 1901, Mr. Packard married Eveleen Vulte. daughter of the late John C. Newton, of Holyoke, Massachusetts. They have one daugh- ter, Katherine Fales, born October 1, 1902.

THE SEAVER FAMILY.

The Seaver Family, of North Troy, Vermont, are descendants in direct line from Robert Seaver, who came to this country from Eng- land in 1634, and settled in Boston, Massachu- setts. He had four sons, and from these mem- bers all the branches of the Seaver family de- scend. The name is not very common in this country, as the rcords state that there are only about three hundred and fifty persons scattered in different sections of the United States by that name, forty of whom reside in the state of Ver- mont.

Gilman Warren Seaver, one of the descend- ants, was born at Albany, Vermont, in 1820, where he attended the district schools of his na- tive town. After completing his studies he en- gaged in the various occupations of farmer, manfacturer and merchant. In 1888 Mr. Seaver was chosen to represent his town in the Vermont legislature, and was also honored by being elected to serve in various local offices in Albany, Troy and Craftsbury. He also acted in the capacity of county commissioner. Mr. Seaver married Miss Eliza Rowell, who was born in Albany, Vermont, in 1824. Their three children are: Elma, de- ceased, was the wife of F. J. Gliddon; Ezra Thomas and Harley T. Seaver. Mr. Scaver is now a resident of Barton, Vermont, and the fam- ily are members and attendants of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

Ezra T. Seaver, eldest son of Gilman Warren and Eliza Seaver, was born January 12, 1858, in Albany, Vermont. He received his preliminary education in the public schools, and this was later supplemented by attending Craftsbury Academy and the Vermont Methodist Seminary in Montpelier, Vermont. After his graduation from the latter institution Mr. Seaver entered into his father's employ as clerk, but upon at- taining his majority was admitted as a partner

in the business, which was conducted at North Troy, Vermont. In 1882 he succeeded to his present mercantile and manufacturing business, and the trade has increased from ycar to year until now it is one of the most important com- mercial establishments, not only of North Troy, but of the entire state, throughout which it is well known for its honorable business methods. Although Mr. Seaver's time is so fully occupied with private interests, still he devotes a portion of it, also his influence and money, to the welfare of the town, county and state. Mr. Seaver has always been an ardent supporter of Democratic principles. In 1896 he was nominated at Mont- pelier for state auditor, and during President Cleveland's first administration was appointed postmaster at North Troy. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the Society of the Congregational church, and also of the Law and Order League.

Mr. Seaver was united in marriage January 16, 1879, to Almeda A. Ewins, daughter of W. P. and R. L. (Chaffee) Ewins. Mrs. Seaver, prior to her marriage, was a successful teacher. being greatly interested in the education and good morals of the young. She has held many offices in the village, being one of the founders of the Village Improvement Society, and of the North Troy Cemetery Association. For about fifteen years she was president of the "No Name Literary Club," organized in 1880. Two sons have been born to them: Cleon William, who is attending the Oxford School at Malden, Mas- sachusetts, and Clive Gilman, who resides with his parents at North Troy, Vermont.

HARLEY T. SEAVER.

Harley T. Seaver, well known for many years in the social and business life of Barton, Ver- mont, was born in the town of Albany, Ver- mont, July 24, 1860, a son of Gilman W. and Eliza (Rowell) Seaver. Gilman W. Seaver was born in the town of Albany. Vermont, January 6. 1820. By occupation he was a farmer, but subsequently traveled through the States and Canada, selling a patent milk pan. This venture proved so successful that he decided to engage in the hardware business. and in partnership with Norris D. Martin conducted an establishment in

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North Troy. This connection continued for a few years, when Mr. Scaver bought Mr. Martin's interest in the busmess, and his two sons Harley T. and Ezra T. became associated with him in its management. Mr. Seaver was united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza Rowell, daughter of Eli- phalet Rowell, of Albany, Vermont.

Harley T. Seaver, son of Gilman W. and Eliza Seaver, acquired his education in the com- mon schools of his native town and at St. Johns- bury Academy. Subsequently he was engaged with his father and brother in the village of North Troy, Vermont, in the hardware business. In the fall of 1884 he removed to Barton, Ver- mont, and engaged in the general hardware trade on his own account, meeting with a marked de- gree of success, and he has continued in the busi- ness up to the present time.

Fraternally Mr. Seaver is a member of Or- leans Lodge No. 55, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; he is also grand senior deacon of the Grand Lodge of Vermont for this year (1902). In his politics Mr. Seaver is a true and staunch Republican, and is the present repre- sentative from Barton, Vermont. Mr. Seaver was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Davi- son, daughter of Amory Davison, of Craftsbury, Vermont. Two children have been born of this union, namely : A. Clemmer, aged thirteen years, and Amory D. Seaver, aged nine years.

JOHN W. BRADLEY.

John W. Bradley, deceased, was born at Hunt- ington, Vermont, January 1I, 1851. He was the son of Norman and Annie S. Bradley, the former named a native of Huntington, Vermont; his family were original settlers of Vermont, where their lives were spent for the most part as tillers of the soil. Norman Bradley moved from Hunt- ington to Charlotte, where he lived the remainder of his life; he was possessed of no mean liter- ary talent, and for a number of years was a teacher of some of the higher branches. He died in the year 1896. His wife, Annie S. Bradley, was born at Wallingford, Vermont; her two chil- dren were Irving, with whom she now resides, and John W.

John W. Bradley was reared at South Wall- ington, and acquired his education at Charlotte,

Vermont ; upon finishing his studies he entered the mercantile field by accepting a position in a store in East Wallingford. He left this position to become station agent at Chatham Four Cor- ners. Later he entered the employ of Winch Brothers as traveling salesman; he remained in this line of business, in which he was very suc- cessful, up to the time of his death, a period of thirteen years. In 1873 he married Mary Powell, who was born at Charlotte, a daughter of Caro- line Powell, and Edgar S. Powell, also a native of Charlotte, and the son of Reuben Powell, a prominent farmer of Charlotte, whose father set- tled there as an carly pioneer. Mr. John Brad- ley's two children are Florence Bradley, who . lives in Burlington, and John Bradley, of Hart- ford, Connecticut.

Mr. Bradley was a Republican in politics, and fraternally was a member of Friendship Lodge, F. & A. M., in which organization he held many positions ; he was a member af the chapter, coun- cil and commandery of Burlington. He was also. connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. John Bradley died December 26. 1890, of pneumonia. His widow lives in Bur- lington, at 78 Grant street, in a residence which she built in 1901.

HON. RUFUS E. BROWN.

Hon. Rufus E. Brown is a native of Dickin- son, Franklin county, New York, born on the 3d of December, 1854, and is a son of John T. and Margaret A. (Dillenbeck) Brown. The father was a native of Vermont, and when a young man went to the Empire state, where he followed the carpenter's trade in connection with farming. He married Margaret A. Dillenbeck, a daughter of Philip Dillenbeck, who was a native of Germany, and they became the parents of six children, of whom three are living: George, who resides on the old family homestead; Jane, the widow of Joseph Aldrich ; and Rufus E. Those who have passed away are Mary, who died in childhood ; and two who died in infancy. In his political views the father of these children was a Repub- lican, and was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He died April 25, 1870, and his . wife, surviving him for a number of years, passed: away April 9, 1882.

Rufus. É. Brown

ie Lew. 'Ile W 20

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Rufus E. Brown gained his education in the academies of Lawrenceville and Amsterdam. Coming to Burlington, Vermont, he entered upon the study of law in the office of Wales & Taft, well known attorneys, with whom he remained till 1878. Later he was with the late Judge Taft, and was admitted to the bar at Burlington during the September term of court, 1880. He did not at once engage in practice, but carried on agricul- tural pursuits until 1891. In that year he opened an office in Burlington and practiced law alone until May 23, 1897, when he formed a partnership with James H. Macomber, under the firm name of Brown & Macomber, which continued until May 23, 1902. They had a large and representative clientage, and werc connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of this dis- trict.

Mr. Brown has been twice married. He first wedded Della F. Wood, of Williston, by whom he has one son, Ralph E. On the first of January, 1902, he was married to Josephine Sayles, a daughter of Hoel Sayles, of Starksboro, Vermont, In his political views Mr. Brown has always been a Republican, and has been an active worker in the ranks of the party for a number of years. He was appointed city grand juror in April. 1892, and reappointed to that office in 1893. In Septem- ber, 1894, he was elected state's attorney for Chit- tenden. county, and discharged the duties of his position with such capability and fearlessness that he was re-elected in 1896 and again in 1898, thus retaining the incumbency until December, 1900. In September of the last year he was elected to represent Chittenden county in the state senate and served on a number of important committees, including that of judiciary, claims, banks, and the joint committee on state and court expenses. In April, 1902, he was appointed city attorney of Burlington, and reappointed in 1903. May I, 1903, Mr. Brown formed a partnership with Rus- sell W. Taft, son of the late Chief Judge Russell S. Taft, and the firm of Brown & Taft is known as one of the reliable law firms of Vermont.

A leader in public thought and action, the life record of the Hon. Rufus E. Brown has been an honor to the state, which has honored him by high political preferment. He is a statesman of ability and has figured prominently in public affairs, leaving the impress of his individuality upon leg-

islation that has established the policy of this com- monwealth. Nature bountifully endowed him with the peculiar qualifications that combine to make a successful lawyer. Patient, persevering, possessed of an analytical mind, and one that is readily receptive and retentive of the fundamental principles and intricacies of the law ; gifted with a spirit of devotion to wearisome details ; quick to comprehend the most subtle problems, and logical in his conclusions ; fearless in the advocacy of any cause he may espouse ; and the soul of honor and integrity,-few men have been more richly gifted for the achievement of success in his arduous and difficult profession.

CHARLES ALMERIN TINKER.

Charles A. Tinker, of St. Albans, Vermont, recently retired from the active duties of general superintendent of the eastern division of the Western Union Telegraph Company, which re- sponsible position he held for over twenty years, is a descendant of John Tinker, one of the early settlers of the state of Connecticut.

Nehemiah Tincker, great-grandfather of Charles A. Tinker, was born in 1741, and was ac- tively associated with the various interests of Windham county, Connecticut, where it is thought probable his birth occurred ; previous to the Revolutionary war he removed to Vermont. where he was one of the volunteers who went to the defense of Bennington ; he was united in marriage to Mary Huntington.

Joel Tinker, grandfather of Charles A. Tinker, was born in Winchester, Connecticut, September 2, 1774. On January 25. 1804. he married Charlotte Sykes, who was born at Wal- pole, New Hampshire, November 12, 1786, and the following named children were born to them : Nehemiah Sykes, born at Chelsea, Vermont, May 6, 1805, married Emily Dickinson on Feb- ruary IT, 1834: Nehemiah died April 5. 1890, and his wife died April 26, 1866. Mary, born at Chelsea, August 15, 1807, died July 25. 1823. Sally, born August II, 1809, died January 26. 1895: she was the wife of John Stone, whom she married December 22, 1830: he died August 16, 1877. John, born September 3. ISII, on April 12, 1836, married for his first wife Hope Benson, and after her death was united in mar-

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riage to Miss Emily Bass, of Williamstown, Ver- mont ; his death occurred January 15, 1889. Al- meriu was born September 7, 1813, at Chelsea, Vermont. Joel Buckingham, born March 10, 1818, died September 26, 1843. Charlotte, born April 23, 1820, married Rev. W. F. Evans, who died at Salisbury, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 4, 1880. Fanny Parker, born June 17, 1822, married, June 15, 1853, Rev. Alfred Brigham: her death occurred in 1901. Mary Aun, born October 29, 1825, died August 5, 1876. The father of these children died Feb- ruary 24, 1842, and his wife died April 17, 1849. Almerin Tinker, father of Charles A. Tinker, was born at Chelsea, Orange county, Vermont, September 7, 1813, and his education was ac- quired in the common schools of that city. Sub- sequently he became a clerk in the store of James R. Langdon & Company, at Montpelier, Ver- mont, where he remained until the spring of 1839, when he removed to Michigan and there conducted a general store in Mt. Clemens, Romeo and Almont, respectively, and engaged in the early trade with the Indians, taking furs and fruits of the hunt in exchange for food. Owing to the failing health of his wife he returned to Vermont, and in 1851 settled in Northfield, where he accepted an appointment as secretary to ex-Governor Charles Paine, then president of the Vermont Central Railroad, and later, upon the death of Mr. Paine, was engaged as clerk for the same road, being in charge of the ac- counts of the freight department. He later be- came purchasing and supply agent for the sta- tionery department of the railroad company, and upon his retirement from active duties in 1890 his associates presented him with a gold watch and chain as a slight token of their high esteem.

On April 12, 1836, Mr. Tinker married So- phronia Burnham Gilcrist, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, and their children are: Charles A., born January 8, 1838, at Chelsea, Vermont ; Sarah Harriet, born March 26, 1840, in Romeo, Michigan, married August 18, 1865, George H. Taggard, who was formerly a ticket agent of the Vermont Railroad Company and served in a New Hampshire regiment during the Civil war: Ed- ward Henry, born February 15, 1843, died in in- fancy ; Mary Emma, born' January 7, 1845, died in infancy : William Lorenzo, born November 27,

1846, a resident of California, was united in mar- riage to Miss Ainsworth, of Cape Vincent, New York, and they have one son, Arthur Ainsworth, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Walter Franklin, born November 2, 1853, at Northfield, Vermont, died at Jacksonville, Florida, April 15, 1879; and Arthur Herbert, born at Northfield, Vermont, July 13, 1859, died in infancy. The mother of these children died January 29 1866.

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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 108

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