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 4

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 4

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a potent factor in making his section of the state strongly Democratic. But he came to the parting of the ways. The firing upon the flag at Fort Sumter aroused his patriotism, and, regardless of long associations, he severed the political affili- ations of a lifetime on the moment. He had con- sented to the utmost verge of concession under the constitution to retain the southern states in harmonious relation with the Union, but when that Union was attacked he ceased to be a partisan and aligned himself with that party which was pledged to its maintenance, and against that which was temporizing, if not antagonistic to what seemed to be the only method for preserving the Union. He had hoped for the obliteration of party lines in the great crisis, and that the en- tire north should unite for the preservation of nationality. This was not to be, and he became identified with the Republican party, and he re- ceived warm welcome to its ranks. As a member of the state senate in 1861, he was a leader in de- vising and supporting measures for the support of the government, and his labors found fruit in the regiments of Vermont patriots which were organized for war service, and in their arming and equipment. In the following year ( 1862) his services and influence were recognized in his nomination for lieutenant governor, and he was elected three times successively to that position. On the expiration of his third term he was elected governor in 1865 by a majority of 16.714, and in 1866 he was re-elected by the largely in- creased majority of 22,822. He proved a most energetic and broadminded executive officer. and his administration was adorned by a monumental work, the establishment of the State Reform School,. which grew out of a recommendation which he had made in his first message to the legislature.

His power with his fellows was due not only to his great ability, but to his commanding per- sonality. He had a fine presence in his splendidly proportioned frame, rising to a height of full six feet. His face was at once intellectual and benev- olent ; his eye was of magnetic quality, and his voice was capable of all modulation from that of soft persuasion to that of resonant denunciation of what was morally wrong. He had an effective command of language, and his knowledge of the Scriptures and of classic English was encyclo-

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

pedie. To this ample mental equipment was added a profound acquaintance with the thoughts and mental processes of men. His panegyrist ( Hon. B. F. Fifield) epitomized his powers in the fol- lowing pregnant sentences: "When in his best mood, he played upon the strings of men's hearts with the facility that a skilled musician plays upon the strings of a guitar, and made them respond to emotions of laughter, anger, sympathy or sor- row, whenever he pleased, and as best suited the purpose of his case."

In his personal life Mr. Dillingham was a sin- cere Christian. He was an influential layman in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the first lay delegate from the Vermont conference to the quadrennial general conference in Brook- lyn, in 1872, in which body he took a high posi- tion. He lived for fifteen years after his retire- ment from the law, passing his days in serene repose, yet keeping well in touch with men and events, and exercising an influence for good throughout the community. He died at Water- bury, July 26, 1891.

Governor Dillingham was twice married. His first wife was Sarah Partridge Carpenter, eld- est daughter of his intimate personal friend and law preceptor and associate, Hon. Dan Carpen- ter : the marriage occurred October 4, 1827, and Mrs. Dillingham died September 20, 1831. Of this marriage were born two children, Eliza Jane, born October 22, 1828; and Ellen S., born No- vember 22, 1830, and who died December 15, 1875, the wife of Joshua F. Lamson. Governor Dillingham's second wife was Julia, a younger sister of his first wife, who was born at Water- bury, Vermont, December 3, 1812, and whom he married September 5, 1832. Of this marriage were born five children, Caroline; Charles ; Ed- win; William Paul, whose sketch follows; and Frank Dillingham.

Caroline, born February 21, 1834, was mar- ried November 27, 1855, to Hon. Matt. H. Car- penter, a distinguished lawyer and statesman of Wisconsin.

Colonel Charles Dillingham was born in Wa- terbury, February 18, 1837. He was among the first in the state to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops at the outbreak of the Civil war, and in May, 1861, recruited Company D, of the Second Regiment, and he served in the Army of

the Potomac until the organization of the Eighth Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, of which he was major, later being lieutenant colonel. He participated in the capture of New Orleans and also of Port Hudson. For a score of years fol- lowing the war he was in business in New Or- leans, Louisiana, whence he removed to Hous- ton, Texas, where for twelve years he was re- ceiver and president of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, and he is now president of the South Texas National Bank of Houston. He married, in November, 1863, Fannie M. Cutter, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they became the parents of two children.

Major Edwin Dillingham was born in Water- bury, May 13, 1839. He acquired an excellent academical education, and took up the study of law when nineteen years of age in the office of his brother-in-law, Hon. Matt H. Carpenter, in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. After a few months he en- tered the Poughkeepsie (New York) Law School, from which he was graduated in the autumn of 1859, shortly before attaining his majority. He was subsequently a student under the preceptor- ship of his father, and in September, 1860, he was admitted to the Washington county bar, and it was said of him that, though the youngest, he was one of its most promising members. He be- came law partner of his father, but in July, 1862, he left his office to recruit a company for war service. This body became Company B, Tenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, of which he was unanimously chosen captain. Soon after taking the field he was assigned to duty as assistant in- spector general on the staff of Brigadier General Morris, commanding First Brigade, Third Di- vision, Third Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was aide-de-camp to the officer named in the battle of Locust Grove, November 27, 1863, and while bearing an order to his own regiment his horse was shot under him and he was taken pris- oner. He was incarcerated in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, until the following March, when he was paroled, and afterwards exchanged. Returning to his regiment he was promoted to major, June 17, 1864. At the famous battle of Winchester, September 4, 1864, he was wounded in the thigh by a twenty-pound cannon shot, and died two hours afterward, and this sad event was thus written of by a comrade: "While the fight

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

was still raging up over the hill, he died, and this was the end of a beautiful, harmonious life. Young, handsome, brilliant, brave amid trials, cheerful amid discouragements, upright, and with that kindness of heart which characterized the true gentleman, blended with firmness and energy as a commander, he was ever respected by all of his command and loved by all of his com- panions.

'A fairer and lovelier gentleman The spacious world cannot again afford.'

We long shall miss him in our camp."

Frank Dillingham was born in Waterbury, Vermont, December 9, 1848. He is now ( 1902) United States consul in Auckland, New Zealand. He married Miss Minnie Laura Sneath, of San Francisco, June 3, 1882.

HON. WILLIAM PAUL DILLINGHAM.

Hon. William Paul Dillingham, a distin- guished lawyer, whose life of signal usefulness in public affairs has found recognition in his election to the United States senate as successor to the eminent statesman, Hon. Justin S. Morrill, was the third son of Governor Paul and Julia (Carpenter) Dillingham, and was born in Water- bury, Vermont, December 12, 1843. He began his education in the common schools of his native village, and his instruction was supplemented by a liberal English and classical course in Newbury Seminary and the Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, New Hampshire. He read law under the masterly tutorship of his brother-in-law, Hon. Matt H. Carpenter, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his father, Governor Paul Dillingham, at Waterbury, Vermont. He was admitted to the bar at the September term of the Washington county court, in 1867, when twenty-four years of age, and immediately entered into partnership with his father, as a member of the firm of P. Dil- lingham & Son, and this association was main- tained until the retirement of the former named. For some years afterward the junior Dillingham practiced alone. In 1890 he formed a partner- ship with Hon. Hiram A. Huse, late state li- brarian of Vermont, under the firm name of Dillingham & Huse. In 1892 Mr. Fred A. How-

land was admitted to the firm, when the style was changed to that of Dillingham, Huse & Howland.

At the bar Mr. Dillingham commanded the confidence and admiration of his colleagues and of the bench. To fine literary abilities and deep knowledge of law, he added a fine presence and consummate strength as a speaker. A master of his case, he develops it in a masterly way, in rap- id and energetic delivery, yet ever with felicity of form and clearness of enunciation. He is at his best as an advocate before a jury, and is noted for his capability of conveying his mean- ing in such terms as to be incapable of miscon- struction. In 1872 and again in 1874 he was elected state's attorney for Washington county, and in that position he acquitted himself most creditably and served the people most usefully. During his terms of office the criminal docket was unusually lengthy, and his duties were unusu- ally arduous. Two causes celebre, which at- tracted public attention throughout the state, and in which he obtained convictions against skillful defenses, were the trial of Magoon for the mur- der of Streeter, and that of Miles for the Barre bank robbery.

Outside the line of his profession Mr. Dil- lingham began his public career in 1866, when he was appointed secretary of civil and military affairs, to succeed Charles M. Gay, who removed from the state, and he was called to the same posi- tion during the administration of Governor Asahel Peck, 1874-76. He represented Water- bury in the legislature in 1876 and again in 1884. and was senator from Washington county in 1878 and again in 1880. During his legislative terms he was a leader in the Republican ranks, and much important legislation of the period was of his authorship. When the new tax law of 1882 was enacted, he was appointed commissioner of state taxes, and he held that office for six years. In 1888 he was the Republican candidate for gov- ernor, and was elected by the largest majority ever given in the state for a candidate for that high office. His administration was marked by ability and conscientious devotion to public inter- ests.

During the presidential campaign in which his gubernatorial candidacy occurred, Governor Dil- lingham performed most effective work as a speaker for Harrison and Morton, and the splen-

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

did result in the state was largely attributable to his fervent effort. In October, 1900, he was elected United States senator to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. Justin S. Mor- rill, and in 1902 he was elected for a full term. No more eloquent tribute to his character and capabilities could have been paid him than his suc- cession to that eminent statesman who, after twelve years' service as congressman, was an hon- ored senator for the unexampled term of thirty- four years, and until his death. Mr. Dillingham did not enter the august body to which he was called as a stranger to its leaders. In many cam- paigns and national conventions of his party he had rendered signal service, and he was placed npon some of the most important committees, those of transportation routes to the seaboard, of the District of Columbia, of Indian depreda- tions, of postoffices and post roads, of privileges and elections, of territories, and of that first named he was made chairman.

In religion Senator Dillingham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church ; he was a lay delegate from Vermont to the general conference of the church in Omaha, in 1893, and he is presi- (lent of the board of trustees of the Vermont Methodist Seminary. On December 24, 1874, Senator Dillingham was married to Miss Mary E. Shipman, a daughter of the Rev. Isaiah H. and Charlotte R. Shipman, of Lisbon, New Hampshire. She died April 25, 1895, leaving one child, Paul Shipman Dillingham. Paul Shipman Dillingham was born October 27, 1878. at Waterbury, Vermont. He was afforded a most liberal education. Beginning in the public schools, he was fitted for college at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, entered Dartmouth College, where he remained two years, after which he completed the junior and senior courses in Columbia University. He chose a business career, and now occupies a position with the Na- tional Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, Vermont.

SENECA HASELTON.

Seneca Haselton, of Burlington, a prominent Vermont jurist and lawyer, belongs, on the pater- nal side, to a family which has been for several generations honorably represented in the state,

and is a lineal descendant, through his mother, of John Eliot, "the Apostle to the Indians," the story of whose long and beneficent life, devoted to the welfare of the "red men," will always live in the pages of our colonial history.

David Haselton, grandfather of Seneca Haselton, passed his life as a farmer in West- ford, Vermont. The fact that he was known as "Captain Haselton" seems to indicate that ho had had at some period in his life a military career. lle married Hannah Mooer, a descendant of Abraham Mooer, and was the father of a numer- ous family.

Amos Haselton, son of David and Hannah (Moocr) Haschon, was born in Westford, Ver- mont, and graduated from the University of Ver- mont in the class of 1829, after which he entered the ministry of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, in which he labored as a preacher for the remainder of his life, being a highly esteemed member of the Methodist con- ference. The name of his wife was Amelia Frink. The Rev. Mr. Haselton died in 1857.

Seneca Haselton, son of the Rev. Amos and Amelia (Frink) Haselton, was born February 26, 1848, in Westford. Vermont. His early edu- cation was obtained in the public schools of Jer- icho and Underhill, and the academies of Under- hill and Barre. He then entered the classical de- partment of the University of Virginia, from which he graduated with high honors in 1871. During his college course he taught several terms in Barre, Shelburne, Richmond and Waterbury, and for a year after his graduation from the university he occupied the position of associate principal of Barre Academy. In 1873 he began the study of law in the office of Wales & Taft, at Burlington, but soon after accepted the chair of instructor of mathematics in the University of Michigan, at the same time pursuing his pro- fessional studies in the law department of that institution. In April, 1875, he graduated and was admitted to the bar, after which he returned to Burlington, where he attained a very high rank as a general practitioner.

Judge Haselton is a strong adherent of the Democratic party, and has always taken an active and leading part in both city and state politics. For many successive terms he was city judge. and in 1886 represented Burlington in the legis-

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

lature, serving on the judiciary committee. In 1888 he was appointed a member of the state examining committee on admission to the Ver- mont bar, and the following year served as chair- man of the same. Two years later he was chosen mayor of the city of Burlington, to which po- sition he has been twice re-elected. His term of office was characterized by exceptional prosperity on the part of the city. A school building of rare beauty was erected, and an important modifi- cation of the system of the city determined upon. An electric railway was secured through a con- tract which makes the enterprise especially ad- vantageous to the business interests of Burling- ton.

In 1894 Judge Haselton received the appoint- ment of United States minister to Venezuela, proving himself equal to the discharge of the duties of the position at that peculiarly trying period. From July, 1900, until April, 1902, Judge Haselton was reporter of decisions of the supreme court. Later he was appointed judge, and, April 3, judge of the supreme court.

CHARLES A. THOMAS.

Charles A. Thomas, a leading farmer and highly respected citizen of Monkton, Vermont, belongs to a family which has been for more than a century represented in the state. John Thomas, his great-grandfather, was born about 1760, in Connecticut, whence he emigrated to Vermont, being one of the first settlers in the town of Monkton, in the section now known as Barnumtown. His wife's name was Rebecca Carter.

John Thomas, Jr., son of John and Rebecca Thomas, was born November 30, 1791, in Con- necticut, and came with his parents to Vermont. In 1814 he established himself on the farm in the eastern part of the town, which is now in the possession of his descendants, and built the house in which they are now living. Here he spent the remainder of his life, and died October 3, 1843. He married Bolina Smith, a native of Monkton.

George Thomas, son of John, Jr., and Bolina Thomas, was born August 25, 1817, on the home- stead in Monkton, Vermont, where he received

his education in the common schools and followed the occupation of a farmer, being the owner of one of the largest farms in this vicinity. January 1, 1840, he married, first, Caroline Barnum, a native of Moukton, daughter of John and Abigail Barnum. She died March 2, 1842, leaving a son, George R. Thomas, now a resident of Monkton. The father married, second, July 17, 1849, Mary A. Holmes, who was born in 1823 in the northern part of the town, a daughter of Jonathan Holmes, who came from Dutchess county, New York, in 1797. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas con- sisted of three children, two of whom are living. Mrs. Thomas survived her husband and died September 16, 1901, at the age of seventy-eight. Mr. Thomas died December 14, 1886.

Charles Arthur Thomas, son of George and Mary A. (Holmes) Thomas, was born March 23, 1853, on the homestead in Monkton, Vermont, where he passed his early years, receiving his education in the common schools of the town, and assisting his father on the farm. In jointure with his brother he became the owner of the fine estate of three hundred acres on the death of his father, and erected the commodious new buildings, including the creamery. The brothers keep fifty cows and twenty-five head of other cattle.

In politics Mr. Thomas is a Republican, and takes an active part in town affairs, having served as selectman for a number of years, and filled the office of lister for some years. He was audi- tor for three years, and in 1900 represented the town in the state legislature, serving on the general committee. He is a very popular man in the community, foremost in every enterprise connected with the improvement of the town.

Andrew Hoimes Thomas was born April 13. 1855, and he lived all his life on the parental homestead. December 5, 1889, he married Oc- tavia Roscoe, a native of Starksboro, and descend- ant of an old Monkton family. She died Janu- ary 14. 1895, leaving a daughter, Arletty Bolina. Mr. Thomas was married March 13. 1901, to Mary E. Harris, of Charlotte, daughter of James A. and Anna ( Hawes) Harris, natives of Halifax, Vermont, and Brattleboro, respectively. Mrs. Thomas was born January 2, 1860, in Hali- fax, Vermont.

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HON. SAMUEL E. PINGREE.

The Hon. Samuel E. Pingree, ex-governor of the state of Vermont, is a representative of one of the oldest families of New England, the mem- bers of which, in the different generations, have been prominent in colonial, revolutionary and na- tional annais. Moses Pengry (1), the founder of the family in America, came from England in the earlier half of the seventeenth century and settled in Massachusetts. It will be seen that the original spelling of the name differed from that employed by the present representatives of the family, some of whom have retained the orig- inal termination. The first information which we have of Moses Pengry is contained in "a deed to him of real estate, dated the twelfth day of the first month, 1641." It is probable that his arrival in the colony had taken place several years prior to that time. He married Abigail, the daughter of Robert Clement. It is said of him in Felt's "History of Ipswich," that "he set up salt- works here in 1652; was selectman, and often in town business; was deputy to the general court in 1665 ; and was deacon of the First church. He lived long and usefully on earth, as one preparing for a heritage in heaven,"

Aaron Pengry (2), third child of Moses and Abigail (Clement) Pengry, was born in 1652, and married Ann Pickard, of Rowley. No other details of his life have reached us. He died Sep- tember 14, 1714.

Aaron Pengry (3), son of Aaron and Ann (Pickard) Pengry, was born in 1683, and mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Pearson, of Rowley. She died in 1736, and in 1740 Aaron Pengry married, as his second wife, a widow named Martha Clemens, of Middleton. He died in 1770, aged eighty-seven years.

Stephen Pengry (4), second child of Aaron and Elizabeth (Pearson) Pengry, was born Jan- uary 22, 1712, in New Stile. He married twice, having three children by the first wife, and seven by the second. He died October 21, 1794.

William Pengry (5), youngest child of Ste- phen and his second wife, was born March 15, 1771, in Rowley, Massachusetts. The Pengry Genealogy tells us that "he went to Salisbury, New Hampshire, in 1783, to live with his broth- er Aquila, and to learn the clothier's trade."

Ile was twice married ; held the offices of captain, selectman, and justice of the peace, and was often called upon to act as arbitrator. After working for some years at his trade he became a farmer, and enjoyed the reputation of unusual physical strength. He died January 24, 1846.

Stephen Pingry (G), second child of William l'engry, was born April 7, 1795, in Salisbury, New Hampshire. The exchange of e for i in the family name would seem to have been a purely arbitrary alteration. Stephen Pingry was thrice married. "He succeeded his father in the busi- ness of carding wool and dressing cloth, and afterward went into the lumbering business. He also carried on farming, and owned at the time of his death about seven hundred acres of land, besides a considerable amount of bank and rail- road stocks, with no debts of any kind. He was an energetic man, of decided opinions, and ex- erted great influence in his town, Salisbury, New Hampshire, where he lived during his whole life. He held the offices of selectman and justice of the peace, and twice represented his town in the leg- islature." As a business man he was very suc- cessful, became wealthy, and his public and official life, as a whole, extended over a period of thirty or forty years. He was the father of four sons : Benjamin; William; Samuel E., mentioned at. length hereinafter; and Stephen M. Mr. Pingry died February 6, 1870.

Samuel E. Pingree (7), son of Stephen and Judith (True) Pingry, was born August 2, 1832, in Salisbury, New Hampshire. He and his broth- ers subjected Pingry patronymic to further modi- fication, by changing the orthography of the last syllable, so that it assumed the form of Pingree, which it now bears. After the usual preliminary studies, pursued in the academies at Andover, New Hampshire, and McIndoe Falls, Vermont, Samuel E. entered Dartmouth College, graduat- ing from that institution in the class of 1857. Having selected the law as a profession, he studied in the office of his cousin, the Hon. A. P. Hunton, of Bethel, and was admitted to the bar of Windsor county at the December term of 1859. Soon afterward he opened an office at Hart- ford, and at once commenced to build up an ex- cellent legal reputation.

Just at this juncture occurred the outbreak of the Civil war, immediately followed by Presi-

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dent Lincoln's patriotic call to arms for the de- fense of the nation. To this Mr. Pingree prompt- ly responded, throwing aside the gown of the legist for the uniform of the soldier, and exchang- ing the dialectics of the forum for the stern logic of the sword. Assisting to raise Company F of the Third Vermont Volunteers, he himself enlisted as a private, and was chosen to the first lieu- tenancy of the company. In August, 1861, he was promoted to the captaincy ; and on the 27th of September, 1862, was commissioned as major of the regiment "for meritorious conduct." His next promotion was to the lieutenant colonelcy, on the 15th of January, 1863.

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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 4

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