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 110

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 110

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Mr. Parker was unanimously chosen as post- master of Bradford at a large caucus, and was appointed by President Harrison for a term of four years, entering upon his duties in 1890. Dur- ing his administration, the business of the office was so increased that, the salary was raised from ·one thousand to eighteen hundred dollars per year.

In 1892 he was commissioned as colonel on the staff of Governor Levi K. Fuller. In 1893 he was elected president of the Vermont Editors and Publishers' Association, and at present (1903) he is again in the same position. He served on the Republican state committee as the member from Orange county from 1894 to 1898, and at the national convention of the Republican League of the United States held in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1895, was made vice president for the state of Vermont.

Mr. Parker is a director of the Parker & Young Company, of Lisbon, New Hampshire, of which his father was the founder, is also a director of the Bradford Electric Light Company, and has always identified himself with the inter- ests which would build up the places in which he has resided.

Fraternally Mr. Parker belongs to Charity Lodge No. 31, F. & A. M .; Mt. Lebanon Chapter No. 43, R. A. M .; Bradford Council No. II, R. & S. M .; Palestine Commandery No. 5, K. T., of St. Johnsbury, and to Mt. Sinai Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Montpelier. He likewise be- longs to Iona Chapter of the Eastern Star, which he has served as worthy patron, and to the Royal Arcanum, of which he is deputy supreme regent. He is, however, more actively identified with the Odd Fellows, having joined first, November 22, 1879, Moosehillock Lodge, at Woodsville, New Hampshire. He was a charter member of Con- cordia Lodge No. 64, I. O. O. F., of Lisbon, New Hampshire, serving as its first secretary and less - than a year later as noble grand. In January, 1882, soon after coming to Bradford, he joined the encampment branch of the order and was made junior warden, later becoming chief patri- arch He was admitted to the grand lodge of

Vermont in February, 1886, and, on his with- drawal from Concordia Lodge, united with Cham- pion Lodge No. 17, 1. O. O. F., of Bradford. In 1887 he was chosen grand secretary of the grand lodge of Vermont ; in 1888 was commissioned lieu- tenant colonel on the staff of Major General Cushman, of the Patriarchs Militant ; in 1894 was representative to the sovereign grand lodge at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and again in 1895 at Atlantic City, New Jersey, being a member of the important committee on legislation at both ses- sions. At this session he was made secretary of the grand secretaries' and grand scribes' associa- tion of the United States. He is a trustee of the Vermont Odd Fellows' Home, all the money con- tributed for its maintenance passing through his hands as grand secretary. When he first ac- cepted the responsible position of grand secretary and in 1887, the order in Vermont had two thou- sand one hundred and one members, but, largely through his efforts, the membership has been in- creased to over six thousand, and its beneficial influence has been largely augmented. He is also a member of Naomi Rebekah Lodge No. 13, of Bradford. He has always attended the Congre- gational church.

Colonel Parker was married at Nashua, New Hampshire, September 24, 1873, to Miss Anne M. Weston,* who was born June 4, 1851, in the city

*Anne M. Weston is a daughter of William S. and Sarah (Emerson) Weston. Her father was the son of Sarson and Nancy (Weston) Weston, and was a prominent contractor of Nashua, and the builder of many of its public edifices. Sarah Emerson was born at Frances- town, January 8, 1820, and died at Bradford, Vermont, December 17, 1887. She married John L. Stevens, of Francestown, March 30, 1841, and after his death, William S. Weston, July 9, 1850. She was a daughter of Kimball and Sarah (Webster) Emerson. Her father, who was the son of Abraham and Hannah (Eaton) Emerson, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, came to Francestown early in 1796, was one of the most energetic and prosperous farmers of the town, and died there May 9, 1854. He married his wife, who belonged to the Webster family of Salem, New Hampshire, October 14, 1805; she was born April 7, 1784, and died October IO, 1860. Abraham Emerson was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary army, and particupated in numer- ous battles.

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Josiah Grout

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

named, and was there educated in the public schools. Five children were born to this mar- riage: Leslie Weston, who died in infancy ; Katherine Louise, who married April 17, 1900, William S. Huntington, of Concord, New Hamp- shire, and to whom was born a son, Parker ; Sara Knowles ; Charles ; Levi Hougton Parker.

MAJOR JOSIAH GROUT.

Major Josiah Grout, of Derby, whose splendid record as a soldier adorns the Civil war annals of his state, and whose useful public serv- ice has extended to the legislature and to the high office of chief executive, comes from excellent New England ancestry, and by marriage repre- sents a distinguished family of the Revolutionary period.

The origin of the family is uncertain, but various differing forms of its name would make it presumably English or German. The an- cestor of the American branch was Captain John Grout, who was in Watertown, Massachusetts, as early as 1640, and he was subsequently a resi- dent of Sudbury. By profession he was a chi- rurgeon, or surgeon. He was twice married, and was the father of eight children by his first wife. His son Jonathan, of Sudbury, born March 15, 1658, married Abigail Dix, who bore his seven children. Of these, John, born October 14, 1704, was liberally educated and became a lawyer and magistrate. His son Elijah, born October 29, 1732, settled in Charlestown, New Hampshire, about 1766, held various town offi- ces, like his father was known as Esquire, and served as commissary in the Revolutionary war. He was twice married, and was the father of eleven children. His son Theophilus, born Au- gust 29, 1768, in the legislature, was a justice of the peace and a collector of revenue under the general government. He was among the pioneer settlers of Vermont, and in 1799 cleared a farm in what is now known as the town of Kirby, which is still in possession of the family and was the home of the late General W. W. Grout. He married Joanna Willard, who bore him eleven children. His son Josiah, born October 20, 1805, and died in 1874, married Sophronia Ayer,

September 29, 1830, who bore him ten children.

Josiah Grout, son of the parents last named, who were both Americans, was born in Compton, province of Quebec, Canada, May 28, 1842. When he was six years of age his parents re- turned to the family homestead in Kirby, where he received his education in the public schools, pursuing advanced studies in the Orleans Liberal Institute at Glover and St. Johnsbury Academy. He, however, early in the Civil war, laid aside his text books in response to the call of Presi- dent Lincoln for troops to suppress the slavehold- ers' rebellion. He enlisted October 2, 1861, at the age of nineteen years, as a private in Com- pany I, First Regiment Vermont Cavalry. Something of the intense patriotism which ac- tuated the splendid young soldiers of that period is to be discerned in the fact that in order to enlist, on the day of his leaving school, he walked thirty miles to reach a recruiting station, and so many were the volunteers offering that he ap- plied to three different stations before he could find acceptance. At the organization of the com- pany he was elected second lieutenant, and was promoted to captain in the following year. He saw service in all the principal campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, and bore a gallant part in seventeen different engagements. In April, 1863, in a spirited engagement with the famous command of the rebel Colonel Mosby, he was severely wounded, receiving a bullet which he still carries in his body. He was reported as killed, and it was his singular experience to read notices of his own death in numerous newspapers. His wound necessitated his discharge, in October, 1863, with the splendid record of being present with his company at every drill, parade, march and battle until he was wounded. When the St. Albans raid occurred, in October, 1864. he was sufficiently recovered to be able to again perform military duty, and he recruited a company for a regiment of cavalry organized for the defence of the frontier. He was at once elected captain, and soon afterward, at the age of twenty-three. was promoted to major, and with this rank he served as commandant of the military post at St. Albans until the close of the war.

Returning home, Major Grout studied law under the preceptorship of his brother, General William W. Grout, and after a searching exam-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

ination he was admitted to the bar of Orleans county in December, 1865. He practiced with his brother, in Barton, for about a year, also aiding in. editing the Barton Standard, of which he was part owner. He then removed to Island Pond, where he had been appointed to the charge of the United States custom house. During his three years' occupancy of that position, he prac- ticed his profession in Essex and Orleans coun- ties. In 1869 he had charge of the custom house in St. Albans, and in the fall of that year was transferred to the custom house at Newport, of which he was in charge until early in 1872, when he abandoned the custom service. While residing in Newport he represented that town in the as- sembly in 1872 and 1874. His service in this body was most creditable. He proved strong in debate and sagacious in formulating measures and in securing their enactment, and soon came to a position of acknowledged leadership. After serving on the judiciary committee during both his terms of service, near the close of the ses- sion of 1874 he was elected speaker, and he pre- sided at the last session and during the extra session following (January, 1875), called to pro- vide new buildings for the reform school.

In 1875 Major Grout removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he practiced for three years, then removing to Moline, Illinois, where he practiced for two years, at the same time acting as presi- dent of the Victor Scale Company. In Moline he displayed qualities which at once commanded the admiration of the people to whom he came as a stranger. During the Garfield campaign, at various places in the county, he made speeches which were received with great enthusiasm, and he found appreciation in two noticeable instances -he was elected to the county board of super- visors, and the Republican county central com- mittee addressed to him an earnest note of invi- tation to become a candidate for congress, a so- licitation which he declined in grateful terms.

widely known as a most successful agriculturist and stock-raiser, showing some of the most su- perior Jersey cattle, Morgan horses and Shrop- shire sheep to be found within the limits of the state.

Soon after his return to Vermont, Major Grout found a reintroduction to public life. He was elected to the assembly from Derby in 1884. and again took a leading part in that body, and served on the judiciary and other important com- mittees. He was re-elected in 1886 and 1888, and was chosen speaker at both sessions. He made an admirable presiding officer, dispatch- ing business with method and promptness, rul- ing with instant decision and unassailable fair- ness, and bearing himself so courteously toward all as to command complete respect. In 1892 he was elected senator from Orleans county, and in that position he gave even higher evidence of his powers as a wise and far-sighted legistator, making such a record as to lead to his nomination for governor by the Republican state convention held in Burlington, in June, 1896. At the en- suing election he was elected by the largest ma- jority ever given a candidate for that position in all the history of his state. His administration was conservative and conducive to the best in- terests of the state, along all lines, industrial, com- mercial and moral, commanding the approval of the best people throughout the state, regardless of their political views. It was the privilege of Governor Grout, as commander-in-chief of the National Guard of Vermont, to ride at its head upon two notable occasions-at the inauguration of Major William McKinley as president, and at the dedication of the tomb of General U. S. Grant, in New York city. He enjoys the distinction of being Vermont's Spanish war governor, and of tendering the Vermont troops for service in that war earlier than the troops of any other state were offered. On the completion of his official term Governor Grout returned to his accustomed avocations, in which he re-engaged with the old- time earnestness and satisfaction.

In 1880 Major Grout returned to Vermont and located on the Hinman homestead in Derby, one of the largest, best improved and most com- An ardent and life-long Republican, Major Grout has at all times exercised a potent influence in the councils of his party, and has been an active figure in various state and national con- pletely equipped farms in Vermont. Here he has since given full scope to his high abilities in a most congenial pursuit, and one which he pursues with genuine enthusiasm, and he is ventions, and an effective speaker in many hard-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

fought campaigns. He was for several years president of the Derby Republican Club, and he was vice president of the Republican League of Vermont for four years and president for one year. Deeply interested in educational affairs, he has been for many years a trustee of the Derby Academy, and president of the board, and chair- man of the executive committee. In all the re- lationships of life, as a soldier, citizen and public official, his conduct has ever been characterized by conscientious devotion to the purpose in hand, and his every task has been undertaken industri- ously and perseveringly. No taint of misdoing or undue selfishness has ever attached to his name, and he is known as one who has held his integ- rity unsullied in whatever place or in charge of whatever trust.

Major Grout was married in October, 1868, to Miss Harriet Hinman, an accomplished woman who in home and society has acted well her part. Aaron H. Grout, their only child, was prepared for college in Derby Academy, and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1901. He spent some time traveling in Egypt and Europe, visiting places up the Nile and in England, France and Italy. He is now a law student; and gives promise of a successful career. He is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, and was. president of his senior class in college.

Mrs. Grout is of distinguished ancestry. In the paternal line she is a descendant of Sergeant Edward Hinman, who came in 1650 to Stamford, Connecticut, and from whom are descended all of the family name in this country. His son Benjamin married Elizabeth Lamb, and they had a son Benjamin, who married Sarah Sherman, a sister of Roger Sherman's father. Of the latter marriage was born, in 1720, Colonel Ben- jamin Hinman, who served with great distinc- tion in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars, and, after its surrender to Ethan Allen, was in command of the garrison at Fort Ticon- deroga. He became a surveyor, and was a mem- ber of the general assembly of Connecticut for twenty-seven sessions. He married Molly Stiles, a relative of President Stiles, and their children were: Aaron, Sherman and Colonel Joel Hin- man, the last named of whom was father of ex- Chief Justice Joel Hinman. of the supreme court of Connecticut. There were thirteen commis-

sioned officers by the name of Hinman in the Revolutionary army.

Aaron, son of Colonel Benjamin Hinman, was one of the original proprietors of Derby, Vermont. He married Ruth Hinman, daughter of Captain Timothy Hinman. Of their children, Benjamin, Mrs. Grout's grandfather, was born in Southbury, August 12, 1773, and died in Derby, Vermont, November 26, 1856. He was an early teacher in Connecticut, and was prom- inent in settling the town of Derby, Vermont, of which he was a resident for many years, locat- ing there in 1816, after his marriage with Lydia Dean, following a romantic courtship. He built the first sawmill in Derby, and became a large landowner and the foremost man in building up the town. He established saw and grist mills, was interested in a woolen mill and tannery, aided in building the churches, academy and public edi- fices, and stood so well for ability and integrity that he was called upon to settle numerous es- tates and to occupy many public offices. He was selectman for fifteen years, town clerk, magistrate and represented his town in the legislature five sessions. In politics he was a Federalist, then a Whig, and he became a Republican when that party was organized, and he cast his last vote for its first presidential candidate, John C. Fre- mont.

His son Aaron married Nancy, a daughter of Major Rufus Stewart, who came from Brattle- boro, Vermont, and was an early settler in Derby, where he became wealthy and influential. He was prominent in town and county affairs, and commanded according to his rank at the battle of Plattsburg. Horace Stewart. a son of Major Stewart, became a wealthy resident of Beebe Plain : and Maria, a daughter, became the wife of Judge Jacob Bates, of Orleans county, and their sons, Edwin and Charles K. Bates, became wealthy merchants of New York city, and their estates own the celebrated Highland Stock Farms at Derby. Mrs. Charles K. Bates and Mrs. Josiah Grout are sisters.

Aaron Hinman, of Derby, Vermont, eldest son of Benjamin, was in early life a school teacher. a civil engineer and a public-spirited. influential citizen of his town. He was a colonel of the state militia, took a leading part in public affairs, was prominent in politics, a representa-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

tive in the general assembly, and at the time of his death, in 1854, at the age of forty-five, was sheriff-elect of Orleans county.

The children of Aaron and Nancy (Stewart ) Ilimman were Jane E., who married L. Il. Bis- bee, a prominent lawyer of Chicago for twenty- five years previous to his death in 1897; Harriet (Mrs. Grout) ; Mary ( Mrs. Charles K. Bates ), and Colonel Benjamin Hinman, who resides in Newport, Vermont.

HON. OTIS N. KELTON.

AAmong those who have gained distinctive preferment in the ranks of the legal profession of St. Albans, Vermont, is Otis N. Kelton, who was born in the town of Montgomery, Vermont, April 13, 1844, a grandson of Lovell Kelton, a prominent citizen for many years of Warwick; later he removed to Calais, Vermont, where he was successfully engaged as a carpenter and joiner, and in the latter named city the greater part of his life was spent. He had a family of eight children, as follows: Charles, Otis L., Mason G., Merrill M., Jonas, Chauncey, Mrs. Eliza Foster and Mrs. Laura Rich.

Otis L. Kelton, father of Otis N. Kelton, was born at Warwick, Massachusetts, December 16, 1805, and after completing his education in the district school he learned the trades of carpen- ter and joiner, being engaged in that line for a number of years; he then operated a grist mill at Lowell for a short period of time, after which he purchased a farm, consisting of five hundred acres, at Montgomery, Vermont. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and in ad- dition operated a mill at the same place until 1890, the year of his death. In politics he was a firm adherent of the Democratic party, and was elected to serve in the capacity of treasurer, auditor, lister and selectman ; he was also a mem- ber of the Vermont militia. Mr. Kelton was three times married, his first wife having been Deborah Barrows, and their daughter Harriet married Charles C. Martin. By his second wife, Caira Kelton, they had one child, a daugh- ter. Caira, who married Rufus Rawson. The children born of the third marriage are: Otis N .; Lovill G .: Guy, who married Julia Watkins and now resides at Rutland, Vermont ; Orinda

1., wife of William A. Goodspeed, a prominent farmer of Poultney, Vermont; Romelia, wife of the Rev. George A. Smith, a clergyman of the Baptist denomination of Montgomery, Vermont ; Arabell 1 ..; Eva; Ira D .; and Cortis A., who is engaged in farming at Summerville, Massachu -. setts, and was imited in marriage to Miss Mary Burnham. Mr. Kelton died November 5, 1890, having survived his wife by a number of years ; she died in October, 1875, at the age of fifty-eight years.

Otis N. Kelton's boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm, where he assisted with the work, and in attendance at the common school of the neighborhood; later he was a pupil in the Eastman's Business College, from which he was graduated in 1865. He then commenced the study of law with J. S. Tupper, of Montgomery, Vermont, and in the fall of 1877 was admitted to the bar. Mr. Kelton then located in Mont- gomery, where he enjoyed a large clientele until his appointment in 1898 to the office of judge of probate; he was engaged as state's attorney in the celebrated Keyser-Baily case, and after two trials he succeeded in securing the conviction of the defendants, who were sent to state prison for eight years. Politically Mr. Kelton is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Repub- lican party ; he was elected state senator in 1882 from Franklin county, represented his town in 1874-1876, was state's attorney in 1892-1893, elected judge of probate in September, 1898, re- elected in 1900 and 1902, served as town clerk for twenty years and treasurer of the town for thirty years. Before coming of age he identi- fied himself with various political clubs and or- ganized party work, often acting in the capacity of an officer. Mr. Kelton is actively associated with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Missisquoi Lodge, Lafayette Chapter at Enos- burg, and Lafayette Commandery at St. Albans; he was a master of Oriental Lodge and is also connected with Mt. Sinai Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

On September II, 1871, Mr. Kenton married Hattie Clapp, a daughter of Joshua Clapp, of Montgomery, Vermont. Their children are: Eva L., wife of John Keith, a resident of North Troy, and their children are Donald, Harry, Hallie and Mildred Keith; Hallie, who is engaged as

Edward & Crosby

Yours Truly Edward Losby

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

register of probate in her father's office; Fanny C., wife of Robert C. Martin, engaged in the real estate and art business in Boston, Massachusetts, and they have a son, Robert, and a daughter, Marjorie; Frank C., who attended Brigham Academy, later entered the University of Ver- mont, and at the present time (1903) is a student in the mining and engineering department of Arizona College. Mr. and Mrs. Kelton are members of the Protestant Episcopal church of St. Albans, in which Mr. Kelton has served as a member of the vestry for several years.

ALMOND CLARK SHEPARD.

Almond Clark Sliepard, a prominent and es- teemed citizen of Berlin, Vermont, was born in the town of Barre, Vermont, September 8, 1848, a son of Simeon and Harriett Shepard. Simeon Shepard, father of Almond Clark Shepard, was born in Brookfield, Vermont, January 4, 1806, a son of Roswell Shepard. He attended the public schools of his native town, and when quite a young man he removed to the town of Barre, Ver- mont, where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits ; this undertaking proved so successful that he remained in that town for the balance of his life. In his politics he was a Republican, and took an active interest in all measures advocated by that party. He was united in marriage March 31, 1839, to Miss Harriett Martin, who was born in Williamstown, Vermont, February 21, 1814, a daughter of Gerdon and Sarah Martin, of Wil- liamstown. Their two daughters were Roxana, born August 10, 1840, died September 10, 1860; Lydia M., born June 18, 1844, married Harrison Bancroft, of Barre, Vermont ; Mr. Bancroft died January 10, 1897, and his wife still resides in Barre, Vermont. The father of these children died December 31, 1873, and his wife passed away February 2, 1890.

Almond Clark Shepard acquired his education in the district school and the Barre Academy. After completing his studies he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and followed this voca- tion successfully for four years, when, on account of his father's failing health, he located on the old homestead and pursued the life of a farmer. He remained there until 1895, when he located in the town of Berlin, near the city line of Barre, on

the road between that city and Montpelier, Ver- mont. Here he also followed the occupation of farming, and in addition became interested in the real estate business, in which he has been engaged successfully for the past fifteen years.

In his political affiliations Mr. Shepard is a firm advocate of the Republican party, and while a resident of the town of Barre acted in the ca- pacity of school director for three years, and was also chairman of the school board at the time when improvements were made on the old build- ings and new structures erected. After his re- moval to the town of Berlin he held the office of constable, to which he was re-elected for a second term, being well qualified to serve in that position. Mr. Shepard is a man who performs thoroughly every duty that he undertakes and is considered one of the representative men of the town.

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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 110

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