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 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127
182
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
Woodward, of Woodford, this county, and they have four children : James Edward ; Herbert S., a resident of North Bennington ; Flora Letitia, the wife of Rev. William L. Bailey, of Colorado ; and Effie M., the wife of Walter R. White, of North Bennington. Henry S. Walbridge was for a number of years engaged in the carriage busi- ness, but in 1870 came to North Bennington, where he established himself in the manufactur- ing of stereoscopes, in which he has ever since successfully continued operations.
James E. Walbridge passed his carly years in North Bennington, in whose public schools he received his educational training. At the age of sixteen years he became associated with his fa- ther in business and remained with him in charge of the manufacturing of stereoscope lens, of which the younger man was the projector, while his father conducted carriage manufacturing. At the age of twenty-one he secured control of the carriage business which had been conducted by his father, and conducted the same for several years, finally disposing of the business to some of his employes. He then, in' 1883, came to Ben- nington, where he had previously opened for his brother a small general store, and to this he gave his personal attention until the following year, when he purchased his present large and sub- stantial business block, which has a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of seventy-five feet, com- prising a large double store and being three stor- ies in height. In connection with his now exten- sive business operations, Mr. Walbridge not only utilizes this large building but also four ware- houses, his stock and business being the largest of the sort in the state. The house handles fur- niture, stoves, ranges, lamps, crockery, glass- ware, tinware, etc., and in connection Mr. Wal- bridge conducts an undertaking business, his equipments being of the best in every particular and including two fine hearses. The establish- ment draws its trade from a wide radius of coun- try, and the enormous volume of business speaks in no equivocal way of the executive ability of our subject and his upright and honorable meth- ods.
Mr. Walbridge gives allegiance to the Repub- lican party and takes a proper interest in public affairs of a local nature, though he has never sought the honors of political office. He served
as a member of the school board in Bennington for a period of four years. Fraternally he has completed the circle of the York Rite degrees in Freemasonry, and has held the official chairs in the lodge, chapter, council and commandery, while he is also a member of both the lodge and canton of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a charter member of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Foresters of America. Ilis beautiful residence, which he erected in 1893, is one of the finest homes in the city, being located so as to command a magnificent view of the sur- rounding country. He has also erected in Ben- nington three other dwelling houses.
In North Bennington, on the 3rd of October, 1876, Mr. Walbridge was united in marriage to Miss Idella J. Blood, who is a native of Grafton, Vermont, and the daughter of David S. and Mary (Farnham) Blood. Of this union seven chil- dren have been born, namely: Fanny M., a suc- cessful and popular teacher in the public schools of Bennington, she having been graduated in Bishop Hopkins' Hall, an excellent institution in Burlington : Florence A., also a successful teach- er, and who is a graduate of the normal school at North Adams, Massachusetts; Edith V., a Poultney, Vermont, graduate and now teaching : Mary, Edna, Henry B., and Harriet Elizabeth.
WILLARD CRANE.
Willard Crane, an enterprising and success- ful lumber dealer and also manufacturer of Bur- lington, Vermont, was born in Washington, New Hampshire, May 9, 1830, a son of Ziba and Rox- anna ( Proctor) Crane. The origin of the family is not definitely known, but it is thought that the American branch was founded by emigrants from Suffolk, England, who located in Milton, Massa- chusetts, about the year 1648. Joseph Crane, grandfather of Willard Crane, was born in Mil- ton, New Hampshire, in 1758, and removed from there to Washington, New Hampshire, in 1782 or 1783. He was then twenty-five years of age, and he at once set about to clear up a tract of land; the country at that time was nothing but a wilderness. He spent the remainder of his life there and died at the age of eighty-five years.
Ziba Crane, father of Willard Crane, was
willard Crane
8
183
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
born November 19, 1796, at Washington, New Hampshire, and was one of eight children. He obtained the limited education that was afforded by the village school, and after completing his studies learned the trade of blacksmith, which he worked at for many years, and in addition he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. In 1845 he pur- chased a farm of his own, and his diligent atten- tion to his work insured him good crops; his profits were judiciously invested so that he was able to spend his last days in comfort and plenty. He was generous and sympathetic, made friends easily, and he justly deserved the high regard in which he was uniformly held. He married Rox- anna Proctor, who was born in Washington, New Hampshire, August 15, 1800. Four children were born to them, three of whom are now living : Roxanna M. married Henry Smith, of East Washington, New Hampshire; Willard; David G. There is one half-sister, Mrs. Fletcher. The mother of these children was the first wife of Mr. Crane; her death occurred April 27, 1844; she was an earnest and consistent member of the Bap- tist church. Mr. Crane's death occurred Octo- ber 21. 1885, when he had attained the age of eighty-nine years.
Willard Crane spent his boyhood and youth in a manner similar to most boys. The common schools afforded him his early educational priv- ileges, and later he found it possible to attend an academy for a few years. He then entered upon his business career, and receiving some temporary assistance from his father he began the manufac- ture of lumber in his native town, but his busi- ness ability soon brought him to the notice of Lawrence Barnes, then a resident of Nashua, New Hampshire, with whom he arranged to exe- cute some important commissions, first in Nashua, then in New York city, in Three Rivers, prov- ince of Quebec, and lastly in Burlington. In the fall of 1858 he resumed business on his own ac- count. entering into partnership with his younger brother, David G. Crane, in the control of a lum- ber yard, which they have conducted up to the present time (1903). The success which has at- tended their efforts has come to them through energy, determination and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles. The firm of W. & D. G. Crane is now one of the oldest in Burlington ; in
connection with their yards in the latter named city, they were interested for several years in the wholesale lumber establishment of W. G. Wat- son & Company, of Muskegon, Michigan, and in the retail lumber business of O. Woods & Co., of Natick, Massachusetts. As his financial re- sources have increased Mr. Crane has made judi- cions investments in other directions, and is now a representative of many important enterprises, including the Queen Anne Screen Company, the Burlington Venetian Blind Company, and the Vermont Shade Roller Company, for which he acts in the capacity of president. He also occu- pies the presidency of the Lang & Goodhue Manu- facturing Company, manufacturers of water works and other heavy iron work, and he had an interest in the Burlington Shoe Company, which was burnt out in 1902. His identification with the financial institutions of Burlington covers a period of over fifteen years' service as a trustee of the Burlington Savings Bank, and he is also a member of the directorate of the Vermont Elec- tric Company, which supplies Burlington with both power and light. He has sold out his inter- est in the latter named corporation to parties who took possession January 1, 1903. Mr. Crane is a business man of prominence, and his masterful ability, keen discrimination and sound judgment are manifest in the successful conduct of his varied interests. He is a worthy example of the public-spirited American citizen, who, while promoting his individual prosperity, is not un- mindful of the public good, having a deep and abiding interest in his fellow men, and his sup- port is withheld from no measure or movement which he believes will prove of public benefit. In his political adherency he is a Democrat, but the honors or emoluments of public office have never allured him from the paths of business. He is a zealous and active member of the First Baptist church of Burlington, and in 1886 was one of the members of the board of trustees of the Ver- mont Academy at Saxtons River, which is con- ducted by the Baptist denomination of Vermont. He has served for twenty-one years on the Baptist state board, and for a number of these years he was connected with General' Estey, of Brattle- boro, Vermont.
On November 5. 1856, Mr. Crane was married to Miss Harriet P. Miller, of Lempster, New
184
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
Hampshire, a daughter of Aaron and Melissa ( Wilder) Miller. Aaron Miller was born in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, June 12, 1800; he spent his entire life in that section of the state and was prominently identified with the business and political affairs of the town. He married Melissa Wilder, who was born in Sullivan, New Hampshire, a daughter of Either and Phoebe ( Merrill) Wilder, the latter named having been born in Bath, Maine; she reared a family of six children, all of whom are now deceased.
Melissa ( Wilder) Miller, mother of Mrs. Crane, had a family of eight children, two of whom are still living. J. Wesley and Mrs. Crane ; Mrs. Miller died in the year 1849, at the age of forty-eight years. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crane are: Arthur G., born May 5, 1858 ; he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Richardson, and their two children are: Ver- non H., born June 21, 1882; and May Harriet, born March 5, 1803. Stella H., born March 23, 1866, is now the wife of R. A. Arms ; their two children are: Merton Hinsdale, born April 15, 1894: and Willard Crane Arms, born February 6, 1826.
EMORY GOLDSMITH HOOKER, M. D.
Emory Goldsmith Hooker, M. D., deceased, late of Waterbury, was a well known and pros- perous physician. He was born in Cabot, Ver- mont, February 19, 1839, a son of Liberty Holmes Hooker. His paternal grandfather, Parker Hooker, was born and reared in Connecticut. Removing from there to Vermont, he became a pioneer settler of Peacham, where he redeemed a homestead from the wilderness, and was after- wards engaged in agriculutral purusits during the remainder of his active career. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Blanchard.
Liberty Holmes Hooker was born in Peacham, Vermont, but spent a large part of his life in Cabot, being engaged in general farming and lumbering. He married Eunice E. Blake, whose father, Enoch J. Blake, migrated to Vermont from Moultonboro, New Hampshire. Of the large family of children born of their union, ten grew to years of maturity, as follows: Lorenzo K., Flora Ann, Orman V., Emory G., Sanford
O., Fannie, Amos 1., Albert O., Lyman S. and Mary.
Emory G. Hooker completed his early educa- tion in the Barre Academy, afterwards studied medicine with Doctor Clark at Montpelier, then attended lectures at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and was graduated from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city with the class of 1865. Being well equipped professionally, Dr. Hooker established himself as a physician in Waitsfield, Vermont, where he re- mained sixteen years. In 1880 he settled in Wat- erbury, where his medical knowledge and skill was recognized and appreciated by all, his prac- tice having been extensive and lucrative. Po- litically he was a Republican ; professionally he belonged to the Vermont State Medical Society ; and fraternally was a member of Winooski Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, which he had served as master four years ; also of the chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of which he had been high priest ; was district deputy worshipful master of Dis- trict No. 5 ; was a member of Mount Zion Com- mandery, Knights Templars; and of Vermont Consistory, thirty-second degree, being one of the most active and prominent Masons of the county.
On December 28, 1865, Doctor Hooker mar- ried Catherine L. Kneeland, daughter of Henry Kneeland, of Waterbury. Of their union two children have been born, namely: Harold Olin, who died at the age of six and one-half years ; and Jessie Mary, who married B. F. Atherton, . by whom she has one child, Beatrice Hooker. Dr. Hooker died August 13, 1902, having had a long and honorable career.
ALBERT C. SPAULDING.
Albert Clark Spaulding, an influential citizen and prominent man of affairs in Burlington, Ver- mont, is descended from an old Massachusetts family, the members of which have, in the dif- ferent generations, occupied leading positions in the community. The date of the founding of the family on American soil was 1619, when Edward Spaulding came from England and settled in Vir- ginia, but subsequently he removed to the Ber- muda Islands, and about 1634 took up his abode in Braintree, Massachusetts. The line of descent is traced through his son Andrew, who was born
185
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
in 1652, to Andrew Spaulding, whose birth oc- curred in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, in 1678, and the latter's son, James, was born in that town in 1714. The next in the line of descent is James Spaulding, Jr., who was born in Westford, Mass- achusetts, in 1748, and he served as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, participating in the battle of Lexington. His son, Captain Jona- than Spaulding, became the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and was born in Ashby of the old Bay state on the Ioth of August, 1770, and in 1819 he joined the company of sturdy pio- neers who prepared the way for civilization in what was then the wilderness of Vermont, where, after his labors had met with merited success, he died in the town of Jericho. Hosea Spaulding, a son of Jonathan, was born December 27, 1794, in Ashby, Massachusetts, and followed the occupa- tion of a saddler, in which he was so successful as to be able during the latter years of his life to retire from business. He married Lucy Kidder, who was born in Ashby, Massachusetts, in 1796, and they became the parents of three children. Mr. Spaulding died at the age of eighty years, and his wife survived almost to the limit of a century, passing away at the age of ninety-three years. He was actively engaged in business in Jericho, Vermont, to which town he had removed after his marriage and prior to 1820, until the time of his death, and during that time accum- ulated a modest fortune, filled all of the offices in the town and was regarded as one of the leading men of his community.
Cyrus M. Spaulding, the youngest child of Hosea and Lucy (Kidder) Spaulding, was born in Jericho, Vermont, in 1827, and in that town he received his education, after which he dis- played his taste for a commercial career by em- ploying the limited facilities for such a life which the time and his place of abode afforded him. As ' a country merchant and dealer in general produce his enterprise was such that after a time he re- moved to Burlington, and he became very active in the financial affairs of the town, becoming one of the organizers of three of the banks, the First National Bank, the Howard National Bank and the Burlington Trust Company. In the last named institution, as well as in the First National Bank, he was a director, while of the Howard Na- tional Bank he was vice-president, and was the
first president of the Burlington Trust Company. He was a director in the Baldwin Refrigerator Company, and had business interests in Massa- chusetts, being in partnership with W. P. Clark, a produce merchant in Lawrence, that state. Nor were his commercial connections confined to New England, for he was also extensively engaged in a number of western enterprises. During the lat- ter years of his life Mr. Spaulding made his home in Burlington, having sold his business to his son, Albert C., and during the entire period of his resi- dence in this city he was a most prominent figure in business and financial circles. He was united in marriage to Abbie Gould, who was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, being a daughter of Daniel Gould, a miller of Winooski, this state. In their family were three children: Albert C., the immediate subject of this review ; Helen M., who became the wife of H. E. Percival, of Bur- lington ; and Ernest J., who is engaged in busi- ness with his brother. The family attended the College Street church. Mr. Spaulding died on the 8th of May, 1900, at the age of seventy-three years, having been actively engaged in business for more than half a century, but his widow is still living and now makes her home with her son Albert C. It is a significant fact and one well worthy of being called to the attention of those whose time is much absorbed by the demands of business, that the arduous nature of Mr. Spauld- ing's occupations, both as a merchant and finan- cier, never caused him to become unmindful of the political duties of a citizen. He always took a keen interest in public affairs, and cheerfully assumed the responsibilities which his standing in the community necessarily involved. His fel- low citizens manifested their appreciation of this trait in Mr. Spaulding's character by sending him, in 1876, to represent them in the state sen- ate. In all respects, politically, commercially and socially, his whole career was that of an honor- able and public-spirited citizen.
Albert Clark Spaulding, a son of Cyrus M. and Abbie (Gould) Spaulding, was born on the Toth of June, 1850, in Jericho, Vermont, where he received his education, after which he engaged in business with his father. in course of time suc- ceeding him as the head of the firm. In 1886 he removed to Burlington, where, in company with John Van Sicklen, he bought out the business of
186
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
Van Sicklen, Seymour & Company, later re- organized under the name of Spaulding, Kimball & Company, the oldest firm engaged in the whole- sale grocery business and the one having the most extensive connections throughout the state of Vermont. So great is Mr. Spaulding's energy that the demands of this business, absorbing as they are, do not furnish sufficient occupation for it, and various other large interests share the benefit of the impetus imparted by his ability and enthusiasm. He is prominent in financial circles, being a director of the Howard National Bank, the Baldwin Refrigerator Company and the Rut- land Railroad. In addition to filling these posi- tions he also discharges the duties of treasurer of the Lake George Steamboat Company and the Lake Champlain Transportation Company. His versatility is no less remarkable than his energy, which is shown not only in the many different di- rections in which his abilities are exerted, but by the fact that he finds time, amid all the cares which devolve upon him by reason of the oner- ous nature of his duties, to take an interest in agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of a large farm in Essex. Vermont, over the management of which he presides with all the ability, energy and enthusiasm which are so characteristically dis- played in his other vocations.
Mr. Spaulding was married on the 17th of February, 1874, to Emma J. Douglass, a daugh- ter of Milo Douglass, of Jericho, Vermont, but now a resident of Essex Junction. They are the parents of one son, Frank Douglass, who is a stu- dent at Princeton College and will graduate with the class of 1905. In politics Mr. Spaulding is a Republican, and gives a due portion of his atten- tion to public affairs, but has always firmly re- sisted the solicitations of his friends to accept office. He is a member of the Algonquin and Ethan Allen Clubs, also of McDonough Lodge, F. & A. M., of Jericho, and the Knights of Pyth- ias of Burlington.
FRANK ELLIOTT DAVIS.
Frank E. Davis, station agent at Whitingham and general baggage agent of the Hoosac Tun- nel & Wilmington Railroad. and postmaster at Davis Bridge, is a native of Whitingham, born May 22, 1848, and a son of Freeborn Garrettson
and Sarah ( Brown) Davis. He comes of pioneer stock, his great-grandfather, Nathaniel Davis, having been an carly settler of this section of Ver- mont, and the original owner of the land now oc- cupied by Frank E. Davis, it having been in the family for four generations.
Ebenezer Davis, the grandfather of Frank E., was an itinerant preacher of the Methodist denomination, having an extensive circuit ride
FRANK ELLIOTT DAVIS.
throughout southern Vermont, and in the north- western part of Massachusetts, going as far as Leyden. He died at the age of ninety-two years, loved and respected by all. His first wife, Hannah Dalrymple, bore him seven children, most of whom lived to a good old age. His second wife, Dorothy Adams, lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-one years ; she had no chil- dren.
Freeborn G. Davis spent his entire life of seventy-six years in Whitingham, carrying on general farming on the ancestral homestead. He
187
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
was a staunch Republican in his political re- lations, and served as selectman for a number of terms. He married Sarah Brown, a daughter of Amos and Mary (Tarble) Brown, who reared a large family of children, of whom but one is now living, Elliott, a resident of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; Amos Brown, who lived to the ven- erable age of ninety-five years, was one of the leading farmers of Whitingham, and a citizen of prominence, serving as selectman, justice of the peace, and as a representative to the state legislature. Sarah (Brown) Davis died when but thirty-five years old, leaving but one child, Frank E. Mr. Davis subsequently married for his second wife Charlotte Hurd, of Bennington, Vermont, who died at the age of eighty-one years, leaving one child, Sylvester Davis, of Charlemont, Massachusetts.
Frank E. Davis grew to manhood on the old homestead, remaining there until of age. Em- barking in business on his own account in 1869, he was a general merchant in Readsboro for two years, then disposed of his store and went to Turners Falls, Massachusetts, where he was a photographer for eighteen months. Return- ing to Whitingham, he assisted in the manage- ment of the home farm until his health began to fail, when he entered the employ of E. J. Bull- ock, and for two and one half years assisted in the conduct of the latter's mercantile busi- ness at Readsboro. He subsequently had charge of a hotel at Sadawga for one season, after which he accepted his present position with the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railway Company, be- coming station agent, baggage master, express agent, and telegraph operator. He was ap- pointed postmaster by President Mckinley, dur- ing his first administration.
Mr. Davis is a Republican of the stalwart type, and has rendered his town valuable service in many offices of importance. He was lister three years, being chairman of the board one year : was selectman eleven consecutive years, several times being unanimously elected to the office, and serving as chairman of that board ; was a member of the school board six years, be- ing chairman three years ; was superintendent of schools a number of terms; was a trustee of the public library three years ; and a justice of the peace eight years. Fraternally he belongs to Ris-
ley Lodge. formerly the Deerfield Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he was secretary three years; to the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Honor : to the Good Templars; and to the local Grange. He is an active member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee and steward.
Mr. Davis married, August 21, 1874, Ida Bul- lard, who was born in North Adams, Massa- chusetts, a daughter of J. Bullard, formerly an overseer in a cotton mill in that city, but who, since the death of his wife, Olive (Sweet) Bul- lard, has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Davis, the only survivor of his three children. Mrs. Davis was graduated from the Westfield Nor- mal School, and subsequently taught school several terms, first in North Adams, and later in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children : Rockwell, Sara and Elliott. Rockwell Davis, in business at Wilming- ton, Vermont, married Etta Thayer, of Charle- mont, Massachusetts. Sara Davis married Ernest Faulkner, who was killed by the explosion of a locomotive boiler on the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad; she has one child, Ernest- tine Faulkner. Elliott Davis, the youngest child, now twenty years of age, is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits on the ancestral homestead, carrying on his father's farm most successfully.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.