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 18

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 18

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

March 7, 1745. Joseph Wells, the third child of Dr. Thomas Wells, was born in Deerfield, Octo- ber 8, 1731, and died in Greenfield, December 22, 1804. Roswell Wells, the fifth child of Joseph Wells, was born in Greenfield, September 9, 1769. Up to this time the family name had been spelled Welles, but Roswell dropped the last e in the exercise of that passion for brevity, time-saving and vanity so characteristic of the New Eng- lander. He removed to Waterbury, Vermont, about 1805, and died there July 26, 1826.

William Wellington Wells, eldest son of Ros- well Wells, after the usual academic preparation, entered the University of Vermont and graduated from there in 1824. Deciding to take up the profession of law, he entered the office of Charles Adams in Burlington, completed his preliminary studies, and was admitted to practice at the Chit- tenden county bar. After the death of his father he returned to Waterbury and administered the estate. There he soon became so much interested in business that he abandoned all idea of leading a professional life, and identified himself with the ordinary interests of his family and town. In 1827 he became a member of Hutchins, Wells & Company, of Waterbury. He erected a tannery at Waterbury in 1830, and in 1835 purchased the grist mill near his tannery. He also owned and conducted a dry-goods store in Waterbury Cen- ter. He represented Waterbury in the legislature for years. His death occurred April 9, 1869, beloved by all. William W. Wells was married to Eliza, second daughter of Judge Dan Carpen- ter, January 15, 1831. They had ten children, two of whom died in infancy ; Roswell, Edward, William, Curtis, Sarah C., wife of. James W. Brock, of Montpelier, Vermont; Charles, Henry, Frederick H.

Edward Wells, son of William W. Wells, was born October 30, 1835, in Waterbury, Vermont. He there began his education in the common schools and supplemented the instruction thus re- ceived with a course in the Bakersfield Academy, but was not privileged to enter college. At the early age of seventeen years he entered upon em- ployment in a dry-goods store at Montpelier, in which he remained for about twelve months. Re- turning home he spent the following two years in a dry-goods store in Waterbury. From there he passed to the wholesale flour store of his father,

where he remained for three years, leaving in the spring of 1857 to go to the territory of Kansas. In this new and promising region he spent nine months, but, finding that his health suffered impairment, he returned home and resumed cleri- cal work in his father's store at Waterbury Cen- ter. There he remained until September 6, 1861, when he joined the army of the Union as a mem- ber of the Fifth Regiment of Vermont Volun- teers. He served for a time in the regimental band, but his busines capabilities became known at headquarters, and he was detailed as a clerk in the quartermaster's department under Colonel P. P. Pitkin, with whom he served for nearly three years. ' His service in this position was so conspicuously useful and capable that when he returned home at the expiration of his term of service, in 1864, the officer under whom he had served, who is now quartermaster general of the state of Vermont, called him to duty in his office, and he was so engaged for two years, until the gigantic business of the Civil war had been brought to a close.

Mr. Wells then entered the office of John A. Page, state treasurer, as a principal clerk, and acted in that capacity until March, 1868, when he became a member of the wholesale drug firm of Henry & Company, which had but recently trans- ferred the seat of its business operations from Waterbury to Burlington. Jaly 1, 1868, the com- plex business of the firm was amicably disposed that a large number of proprietary medicines and other articles of which the firm had control were separated from the wholesale drug department proper. In this disposition Mr. Wells became head of the partners, assuming charge of the lat- ter business, and an association was formed un- der the style of Wells, Richardson & Company. Their new departure' was successful from the beginning, and, with the energy and shrewd foresight, the transactions of the house were rap- idly increased in volume and value. The Wells, Richardson & Company incorporated under the name of Wells and Richardson Company, in 1882, with Mr. Edward Wells as president, a position which he occupies to the present time.

Mr. Wells has always been actively interested in various other large enterprises, and has served as president of the Burlington Trust Company : vice president of the Burlington Safe Deposit

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Company ; vice president of the Burlington Cot- ton Mills ; president of the Home for Aged Wo- men ; trustee of the Fletcher Free Library Fund. He belongs to the Sons of the American Revolu- tion ; Algonquin and Ethan Allen Clubs. A Re- publican in politics, he was elected to the legisla- ture in 1890 and proved himself a most useful member of this body, serving upon the ways and means and banking committees, and occupying the chairmanship of that last named.

He married, April 26, 1858, Martha Frances, daughter of Lucius Parmelee, of Waterbury, who died November 25, 1876, leaving a daughter, Anna Parmelee Wells, who was married on June 12, 1901, to James Greenleaf Sykes, of New York. and they have two daughters, Martha Greenleaf Sykes, born May 14, 1902, and Eliza- beth Wells Sykes, born May 5, 1903. Mr. Wells was again married, October 14, 1879, his bride being Effie E. Parmalee, a half-sister of the former Mrs. Wells.

REV. GEORGE HARRISON BICKFORD.

Rev. Bickford, one of the ablest clergymen of the Vermont Methodist conference, did a noble work for the cause of religion, and was cut off in the promise of manhood by an untimely death, July 10, 1869. He was born December 2, 1834, in Danville, Vermont, a descendant of an old and honored New England family. His ancestors came from England and located in America in the seventeenth century. Eli Bickford, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier of the patriot army in the Revolution, going from New Hampshire, and was made a prisoner and carried to England for confinement. Being ingenious and enterprising, he escaped several times, and each time received the reward offered for the return of prisoners by giving himself up. This seemed to be a favorite method with some of replenishing their slender purses. Mr. Bickford was finally exchanged and returned to his home. After peace was restored he married Lydia Webster, of the celebrated New Hampshire family of that name, and was among the first ten householders to settle in Danville, Vermont, where he continued to reside until his death, at the age of one hundred and one years, seven months and six days. He cleared a farm in the wilderness, which was the

home of his son John Bickford, through life. John Bickford was born on this farm. His life was one of peaceinl industry, and he was for many years an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Maria Colby, who was also born in Danville, and who died June 28, 1868, at the age of sixty-six years. He lived to be seventy-seven years old, passing away Novem- ber 13, 1870. Their son, whose name heads this article, conferred honor upon a worthy name.

George Harrison Bickford was educated in his native town, laying the foundation in the district school, and, being of studious mind and quick perception, was rapidly advanced. He graduated from Philips Academy at Danville at the age of twenty-three years, having in the meantime as- sisted in the labors of the home farm during the intervals of study. At the age of nineteen years he dedicated his life to the service of God, and pursued his studies with the view of preparing himself for the Christian ministry. After two years at the Newbury (now Montpelier) Semi- nary, he pursued an advanced college course for two vears at the same institution, but was forced by ill health to forego further study. He began preaching at the age of twenty-four years, and joined the conference in 1859. His first charge was at East St. johnsbury, and he subsequently labored in his Master's cause at St. Johnsbury, Marshfield, Groton, Lyndon and Barton. While stationed at the last named place, he was grad- ually compelled by disease to lay aside his labors, and finally died, but as long as he had strength to lift his voice in discourse or songs of praise and rejoicing, he continued to do so. His demise was the result of derangement of the digestive appara- tus, and he passed gradually away, performing all his duties until February before his death, and he continued to preach once a day for some time after that, relinquishing public services only when he was unable to stand in the pulpit. A contemp- orary said of him: "In this death, the Vermont conference has lost one of its best men ;- one of the best in personal devotion, one of the best in varied talents adapting him to his work, and one of the best in usefulness." He was buried at Danville July 13, 1869. A talented preacher, Mr. Bickford was in demand outside of his own con- ference, and received calls from a church in Iowa and in the city of Chicago.

G. Yb. Bickford.

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

August 19, 1858, Mr. Bickford was married to Miss Abigail B. Giffin, who was born July 7, 1833, in Sutton, Vermont, and reared in Marlow, New Hampshire. Her parents were Reuben and Eliza- beth (Sawyer) Giffin, both natives of New Hamp- shire, the former born in Marlow and a son of Patrick and Rachel (Hickey) Giffin, of north Ire- land, and of Scotch ancestry. Three children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Bickford. Elizabethı M., the eldest, graduated from Montpelier Sem- inary and was subsequently, for two years, art teacher and preceptress of that institution. In 1889 she married Dr. Herbert L. Gale, of Barre, Vermont, and died in Barton, Vermont, October 28, 1894, aged thirty years. The second, Her- bert J. Bickford, is a prominent attorney of New York, being a member of the firm of Evarts, Sher- man & Tracy, formerly Evarts, Choate & Beeman, of 52 Wall street. The third, George H. Bick- ford, is the subject of a sketch in this work. In 1886 Mrs. Bickford was married to Joseph Owen, who was born in Glover, Vermont, and was for many years a prominent citizen of Barton, Ver- mont, where he died April 23, 1900, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-two years. He was a faith- ful member of the Methodist church.

The following tribute to the memory of Rev. George H. Bickford was written shortly after his death by Rev. William A. Robinson, pastor of the Congregational church at Barton: "The death of Rev. George H. Bickford, of this village, though not an event unexpected, is felt most deeply by all who knew him. It is fitting that we should here refer to this afflicting dispensation front the point of our personal relations with him and our personal affliction in his death. Others will, doubtless, speak for his church, whose loss is so great for his brethren in the ministry of his own denomination, who mourn for a brother loved and tried, and may, perhaps, more properly refer to the bereavement borne with such Christian strength and fortitude by her who is left with her tender children to the care of Him who is the God of the widow and the fatherless. For all these, our sympathy is strong, because we, too, are touched with a peculiar and personal sorrow. It is impossible that two, cordially co-operating in the work of the Master in any village, should fail to be bound together by ties whose strength death only reveals. But the circumstances attending

Brother Bickford's entrance upon his ministry here were such that a more than ordinary order was given to the attachment we felt for him, and which ever seemed fully reciprocated on his part. For several weeks, while his church edifice was being repaired and beautified, our congregations met together, while the pastors alternated in the supply of the pulpit. In this way we soon learned his spirit, and felt his power as an earnest and able preacher of the gospel. Like every other soul that knows, in any good measure, the heighth and breadth of Christ's love and Christ's truth, our brother lived and loved, and preached as a Christian rather than a sectarian. For this we. loved him. For this he has as sincere mourners. in the church to which we are minister as in his own. The singleness of purpose with which he preached Christ and Him crucified forbade his - ever forgetting the essential oneness of the body of Christ. His own heart experience of the vital realities of the gospel, attested by his walk and conversation, as well as by his most peaceful and triumphant death, so opened his heart to all who tried to walk by the same rule, that his intercourse with them was genial and fraternal in a rare de- gree. Though weighed down with physical in- firmities and suffering, he so exercised his minis- try here, even to the last, that this whole com- munity recognized his worth and admired his. spirit. Amid the precious memories which we cherish and which we hope may quicken our faith and our devotion in the Master's work, we mm11st gratefully, tearfully, embalm that of our true friend and beloved brother, Rev. George H. Bickford."

GEORGE HAMILTON BICKFORD.

George Hamilton Bickford, a prominent busi- ness man of Hardwick, is among the leading granite manufacturers and dealers of the state. He was born October 10, 1868, in Barton, Ver- mont, a son of Rev. George H. Bickford, a well known minister of the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination, and whose biography appears above.

George H. Bickford acquired his elementary education in Keene, New Hampshire, after which he completed the full course at the Montpelier Methodist Seminary, being there well fitted for college. Entering then Wesleyan University, at

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Middletown, Connecticut, he was graduated with the class of 1891, ranking second in a large class of students, and receiving special honors in Eng- lish literature and history. The following year he spent in Pennsylvania, being instructor at Haverford College, in English literature and political economy, and having charge of athletics. Entering then the New York office of Ginn & Company, publishers, he remained in their employ about two and one-half years, resigning his posi- tion in October, 1894. Coming to Vermont, Mr. Bickford became connected with the firm of Hol- den, Leonard & Company, woolen manufacturers. In 1806 this firm purchased the granite quarry at Woodbury, Vermont, one of the largest plants ·of the kind in the state, and organized for busi- ness under a charter as the Woodbury Granite Company, with John S. Holden as president, Charles W. Leonard as vice president and George H. Bickford as general manager and treasurer. Locating in Hardwick in 1898, Mr. Bickford at once began the erection of a large cutting plant, becoming head of the newly organized firm of Bickford, More & Company, but still retaining his connection with the former company. In 1902 the Woodbury Granite Company absorbed the firm of Bickford, More & Company, which employs about two hundred and fifty men in the Hardwick sheds, besides which it has a large amount of work done in New York city and in other parts of New England. The granite obtained from the Woodbury quarries is one of the finest grades known, being especially free from imper- fections of all kinds, and is in great demand for superior grades of work, a large amount of busi- ness being done at both the New York and Hard- wick offices. The members of this firm are also majority owners of the Hardwick & Woodbury Railroad, which runs from the quarries to Hard- wick, and connects with the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railway. This road operates a special mountain engine, with a much greater capacity than the ordinary engine, the quarries being located at the highest railroad point in the state. This firm quarries large blocks of granite for building purposes, making a specialty of vault and monumental work. Its pay roll, which is very large, is a great stimulus to the trade at Hardwick. In 1902 the Woodbury Granite Com- pany opened a quarry in Bethel, Vermont, where

the erection of a cutting plant is contemplated.

Mr. Bickford is treasurer of the above men- tioned railroad company, and a trustee of the Vermont Methodist Seminary of Montpelier. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge, at Bennington, Vermont. Mr. Bickford married, October 9, 1894, Alice A., eldest daugh- ter of John S. Holden, senior member of the firm of Holden, Leonard & Company, and they have one child, George Lloyd, born July 12, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Bickford are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hard- wick.

LEWIS PUTNAM.

The Putnam family of Vermont, which, through all the days beginning in the colonial times, has been famous in the history of New

LEWIS PUTNAM.

England, had one of its most typical representa- tives in the person of Lewis Putnam, who was

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

for half a century one of the most prominent and useful citizens of Brattleboro. He was de- scended from Adonijah Putnam of colonial times, who was born in Sutter, October 6, 1744, became a resident of Guilford, Vermont, where he died in 1791. His sons were John, Elijah, Asa, Lemuel, Jonah, Israel and Jared.

Lemuel, son of Adonijah, was born in Guil- ford, April 3, 1780, and died December 26, 1825. He married Tabitha Goodwin, who was born May 24, 1784, and died December 6, 1858. Their children were: Mary, born July 25, 1807, and died in 1858, and who married twice, first to George Brown, next to a Kidney; Sarah, born June 20, 1811, who became the wife of Richard Hathaway, and died August 21, 1837; Jonas, born February 22, 1814, and died May 19, 1891, married Cynthia Daniels; Lewis, the immediate subject of these memoirs ; Edwin, born March 18, 1820, and died June 21, 1884.

Lewis Putnam was the last survivor of the children of Lemuel and Tabitha (Goodwin) Put- nam. He was born in Guilford, Vermont, April 9, 1816. His boyhood years were passed in his native village, where he acquired his education in the common schools. While yet a youth he removed to Brattleboro, and lived in the home of Patty Fessenden, a sister of Governor Holbrook. Miss Fessenden for many years conducted the old Brattleboro Reporter, and became widely known as a writer in a day when newspaper pur- suits were deemed outside woman's sphere. It is presumable that this excellent woman left a salutary impression upon young Putnam, whom she regarded with sisterly interest, and that her influence aided him in his acquisition of knowl- edge. Mr. Putnam began his business life as a plumber and lead-pipe dealer, and he accumulated considerable means. He engaged in other busi- ness pursuits, and aided largely in the improve- ment of the village, one of his enterprises being the erection of the first three or four houses on the newly opened Prospect street. At a later day he became interested in a shoddy manu- factory, but this venture proved disastrous ; however, he was undismayed, and through judi- cious investments and energy he was enabled to repair his losses. He was conspicuous in com- munity affairs, and was at various times a lieu- tenant in the old militia organization, bailiff for

a number of years, and a trustee of the Cemetery Association. He was a man of marked person- ality and unblemished character. Devotional in his disposition, he inclined to spiritualism, and in his later years he made his summer residence at Lake Pleasant, and there attended the spiritual- ists' meetings. He possessed excellent intel- lectual powers, and was a ready speaker upon any occasion enlisting his attention, at times rising to real eloquence in advocacy of his views. He was kindly in every thought of his heart, and was a genial and sympathizing neighbor and friend. His death occurred September 22, 1895, in his home in Brattleboro, where his remains are interred in Prospect Hill cemetery.

Mr. Putnam was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united in 1840, was Miss Fannie Streeter, who died in 1847; she was the mother of one child, George, who died in in- fancy. In 1848 Mr. Putnam was married to Miss Lydia Ward, of Orange, Massachusetts, who died in 1886. Of the latter marriage were born two children, Wallace and Mary.

Wallace Putnam, only son of Lewis and Lydia (Ward) Putnam, is a leading musical in- strument manufacturer, head of W. W. Putnam & Company, reed organ manufacturers at Staun- ton, Virginia. He began as an employe with the Estey Organ Company, of Brattleboro, Vermont, where he learned the business thoroughly, and he was afterward a superintendent of the tuning department in the Bell Organ Factory, at Guelph, Ontario, Canada, from 1884 to 1892. He de- signed a portable organ, now famous as the "Little Giant Organ," and this led to the making of a full line of chapel and parlor organs, for which purpose the Staunton (Virginia) factories were erected. Miss Mary J. Putnam, only daughter of Lewis and Lydia (Ward) Putnam, makes her residence in the old family home- stcad at Brattleboro, Vermont, hallowed to her through its tender memories of her parents.

JOSEPH CLARK.

Joseph Clark, for many years a highly re- spected and influential citizen of Milton, Ver- mont, and the most prominent and enterprising man of affairs in the northern part of the state,

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

was born in 1795, in Bridport, Vermont, whither his father had removed from Connecticut, in which state the son passed his boyhood and re- ceived his education.

Mr. Clark was the eldest of nine children, and seems to have been sensible, at a very early age, of the responsibilities which devolved upon him, as he began to assist in the support of the family when hardly more than a boy. At the age of twenty he removed to Milton, Vermont, and engaged in the lumber business, clearing land, and cheerfully accepting all the hardships involved in the life of a lumberman more than eighty years ago. From the very beginning of his independent career he showed those traits of industry, perseverance and enterprise which were such potent factors in the great success which attended him in after life. In the course of time Mr. Clark enlarged the scope of his un- dertakings, building a number of grist and woolen mills, and becoming the most prominent factory owner in that region. His purchases of land were very extensive, comprising hundreds of acres in Vermont, whence great quantities of lumber were sent to Quebec in large rafts. One of his manufactures was that of spars for vessels, for which he found a ready market in New York city. Mr. Clark was also one of the railroad pioneers of Vermont, and in partnership with John Smith and Lawrence Brainard, built the Vermont & Canada Railroad from Essex Junc- tion to Rouses Point, New York; the Vermont Central Railroad was built earlier, and extended from Burlington to White River Junction. [Governor Paine acted in the capacity of presi- dent of this road, with Dr. John Peck as one of its directors.] After its failure Messrs. Smith, Clark & Brainard were made receivers. Later Mr. Smith died, and his son, Governor J. Greg- ory Smith, was appointed to take his place. Mr. Clark and Mr. J. G. Smith were the builders and owners of the Vermont Junction Railroad from Swanton, Vermont, to St. Johns, province of Quebec. Mr. Clark remained a director and1 receiver of these roads up to the time of his death, never allowing his advancing years to interfere with the discharge of the duties of his position. Every day his familiar figure was seen in the offices at St. Albans, Vermont, and never did he fail to attend a meeting of the directors or

receivers, even when, in order to do so he was obliged to take the journey to Boston, Massa- chusetts.

The financial interests of the state had a wider scope and greater vigor imparted to them by Mr. Clark's energetic administration of af- fairs. In conjunction with Dr. John Peek he organized the bank known as the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Burlington, and served as director of this institution until it went out of existence. In addition to these many diversi- fied interests, Mr. Clark was also an extensive dealer in real estate, a branch of business in which his efforts were attended with the same degree of success and benefit to himself and the community which marked all his other under- takings. To any one familiar with the many and great enterprises which absorbed the largest portion of Mr. Clark's attention in his daily life, it might seem that a man so occupied might justly consider himself absolved from all political du- ties, but this large-minded and publie-spirited eitzen viewed the matter in an entirely different light. From none of the responsibilities involved in his position as a leader in the community did he ever shrink. He was an active member of the Republican party, his fellow citizens testify- ing to their confidence in him by electing him three times to represent them in the senate, It was always one of the objects of his life to promote the interests of the community in which he resided. His interest in religious matters was very sincere and was practically manifested, he being the architect, in a financial sense, of no fewer than three churches in the town of Milton.

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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 18

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