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 42

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 42

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On the 9th of August, 1853, Mr. Mattison was united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. Stickle, a daughter of William P. and Catherine (Sharts) Stickle, of Hillsdale, New York, and to them were born five children, namely: Katherine A., now the wife of Charles F. Chapin, of Waterbury, Connecticut ; Frederick L .; May V., widow of the late George A. Bruce, of South Shaftsbury, Ver- mont ; William R., deceased ; and Clayton S. Mat- tison. Some time after his marriage Mr. Matti- son removed to Hillsdale, New York, but in 1861 returned to Shaftsbury and entered the employ of the Eagle Square Company. He gave much time to the study of square-making and the improve- ment of the machinery. The company with

which he was connected carried on business as a partnership concern until 1864, when it was in- corporated, and three years later Mr. Mattison was elected secretary and treasurer, being pro- moted to the position of vice president in 1883. In 1880 the plant of the company was destroyed by fire, and he was entrusted with the responsible task of erecting the new buildings and providing them with improved machinery. In this he was very successful, and the company has since been more prosperous than ever before. He was a man of good business and executive ability, whose keen discrimination and sound judgment were shown in his capable management of what is to-day a leading industrial concern of Shaftsbury.

Politically Mr. Mattison was originally an old- line Whig and subsequently a Republican from the formation of that party, and was its candidate for many official positions of honor and trust both in Shaftsbury and Hillsdale. In 1872 he repre- sented his town in the state legislature, and was interested in all matters pertaining to the manu- facturing interests of the commonwealth. Six years subsequently he was chosen state senator from Bennington county, and while in the upper house was a member of several important com- mittees. In 1858 Mr. Mattison had the misfor- tune to lose the sight of his right eye by accident, which disqualified him for service in the Civil war, but his patriotism and loyalty to country were always above question, and were manifested in many different ways. He always took a lively interest in the upbuilding and progress of his na- tive town, to whose material welfare he was so large a contributor.

EDWARD WALBRIDGE.

Among the old and honored families of Ben- nington, Vermont, probably none stand higher in public esteem than the Walbridge family, which has a worthy representative in the subject of this sketch, who now occupies the old homestead of his great-grandfather, General Walbridge, the house having been erected in 1786. He was born August 13, 1831, on a farm on the opposite side of the river, and in this neighborhood he has made his home throughout life, being prominently iden- tified with its agricultural interests. His paternal grandfather, Stebbins Walbridge, married Betsy

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Denio, who was born in Greenfield, October 30, 1769, and was a daughter of Seth C. Denio, whose birth occurred in 1736.

Stebbins D. Walbridge, the father of our subject, married Harriet C. Hicks, also a native of Bennington and a daughter of James and Thedde (Kellogg) Hicks, whose home was in Bennington Center, where both died, and who reared a large family, namely: Charles, Uhle, James, John, Emma, Betsy, Margaret, Mary Ann and Harriet C. Our subject's maternal great- grandfather, John Hicks, was a prominent figure in Revolutionary times and assisted in throwing the tea into Boston harbor. Later he was killed in the battle of Lexington.

Edward Walbridge spent his boyhood and youth on his father's homestead farm and was educated in the common schools of the neighbor- hood. In the meantime gold had been discovered on the Pacific slope and in 1853 he went to Cali- fornia, landing in San Francisco, whence he went up the Fraser river, where he was engaged in the express business. Returning to the Green Moun- tain state in 1859, he took up his residence upon the old home farm and has since given his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, owning and operat- ing a fine farm of ninety acres located in a part of the town formerly known as Walbridgeville. The Walbridge homestead, now occupied by Mr. Edward Walbridge and his family, is the house erected by General Walbridge in 1786. Near its site was once a thriving village, containing paper, grist, woolen and iron mills, and here were manu- factured the first steel squares ever made.

On the 28th of January, 1862, Mr. Walbridge was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sears, a daughter of Benjamin R. and Betsy (Robinson) Sears. Her father was a native of Bennington and a son of Jared Sears, and her maternal grand- father was Colonel Robinson. Her mother died at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Ben- jamin R. Sears was a prominent contractor and builder, who erected many churches and dwell- ings in Hoosick Falls and Bennington, and at the latter place also built the Soldiers' Home. He built the Hunt, now Holden & Leonard, mill, and had general supervision of the erection of all the buildings of that concern, aggregating a cost of six hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. He also took a very active and prominent part in

public affairs, serving as selectman and repre- sentative to the state legislature, and was one of those who, with George Robinson, started the project to build the Bennington battle monument. After a useful and well spent life, he passed away in 1887 at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Wal- bridge died in 1882, leaving one child, Harriet Hicks Walbridge, who was then only twelve years old, but who now presides with grace and dignity over her father's home, and is a very popular young lady, having a host of friends.

In his political affiliations Mr. Walbridge is a Democrat, and as a public-spirited and progres- sive citizen has taken a commendable interest in public affairs. He has acceptably filled the offices of assessor and justice of the peace, and never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. He and his daughter attend the Congregational church at Bennington Center, and occupy a prominent position in social circles.

DORRANCE G. BARNEY.

Dorrance G. Barney, a prosperous farmer of East Arlington, was born in the house he now oc- cupies, October 19, 1839, a son of Nathan F. Barney, who was born and lived and died in this same house. The first one of this name to reach American soil was Jacob Barney, who came from England to Salem, Massachustts, in 1634. Jacob Barney, Jr., married Ann Wilt in 1660. Joseph, son of the latter, was born March 9, 1673, and his son, Daniel, was born in 1697, and is said to have represented Rehoboth in the general court of Massachusetts for eighteen years. Daniel's four sons were Daniel, Constant, David and Be- niah. Constant Barney was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and there grew to man's estate. He served as a soldier in the Revolution, being in the battle of Ticonderoga. He came to Arling- ton, Vermont, as a pioneer, and located on the flat near Chiselville. He had the following chil- dren : Anna, born August 1, 1754; Molly, Au- gust 2, 1756; Urana, August 30, 1758 ; Jeffrey A., August 31, 1760; Constant, born August 14. 1762, died January 12, 1791 ; Hannah, born Au- gust 29, 1764; Daniel, born June 17. 1766: Reu- ben, the next in line of descent; Asa, born Sep-

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tember 14, 1770; and Job, boru February 10, 1773.

Reuben Barney, grandfather of Dorrance G., was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, June 4, 1768, and died at East Arlington, Vermont, in 1844. Coming to this town as a young man, he bought a tract of heavily timbered land, and clear- ing a space erected the house now occupied by Mr. Barney, moving into it in 1792. He was a suc- cessful farmer, a citizen of influence, active in public affairs, and served many years as justice of the peace, being familiarly known as "Squire" Barney. He married Molly Hard, who was born September 25, 1773, in New Milford, Connec- ticut, and died January 28, 1845, in East Arling- ton. She was a daughter of Zadoc Hard, who' came from New Milford to East Arlington at an early period of its settlement. The Hard family were Episcopalians, but Reuben Barney and his family were members of the Baptist church. They reared a family of eleven children, namely : Almy, Sally, Lyman W., Zadoc H., Chloe H., Job B., Reuben B., Mary Ann, Mortimer F., Na- than F. and Lucy B.

Nathan F. Barney was born April 13, 1813, and died August 19, 1889. Succeeding to the oc- cupation in which he was reared, he resided on the old homestead during his entire life, being profitably engaged in general farming and lum- bering, in addition to which he was engaged to some extent in manufacturing and speculating. He was a Democrat in politics, and took an intelli- gent interest in local affairs, serving as selectman and as lister. He married Fanny Canfield, a na- tive of Arlington, Vermont, and a daughter of Enos Canfield and a Miss Beers, who were the parents of eight children: Bingham; Louis ; Charlotte; Maria; Sarah, now Mrs. McCauley ; Fanny, who became Mrs. Barney ; Phoebe; and Enos. Mr. Canfield and his family were prom- inent members of the Episcopal church, in the building of which he was very active, even the children taking such a deep interest in its erec- tion that they went without butter on their bread that the money thus saved might help pay ex- penscs ; Fanny was then a girl of sixteen years. Of the union of Nathan F. and Fanny (Canfield) Barney, two children were born, Reuben and Dorrance G. The mother died January 15, 1890, aged seventy-five years.

Reuben Barney, the ckler son, was graduated from the Albany Medical College, after which he was one of the house physicians of Bellevue Hos- pital, New York city, for one year. He served for one year as a surgeon in the army during the Civil war, and subsequently located in Schenec- tady county, New York, going thence to Chilli- cothe, Missouri, where he is now one of the lead- ing physicians. He married Martha Prindle, by whom he has four children, naniely : Reuben, a physician of Chillicothe, Missouri; Percy C., a civil engineer, employed in the Boston navy yard ; Mortimer, a physician, practicing with his father ; and Hawley, a physician in San Francisco, Cali- fornia. Dr. Rcuben Barney is a thirty-second de- gree Mason, and his wife is at the head of a chapter of the Eastern Star.

Dorrance G. Barney was educated in the com- mon schools of Arlington, and at Burr and Bur- ton Seminary, living beneath the parental roof- tree until 1866. Starting then in business as a manufacturer of brush-maker's supplies, he con- tinued until his mill was burned in 1882. Lo- cating then in Arlington, he continued in the same occupation there until 1885, when that mill, too, was burned. Nothing daunted, however, he pur- chased another mill, which he operated success- fully until 1890, when he sold out his manufactur- ing interests. Since that time Mr. Barney has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits on the ancestral homestead, and makes a specialty of dairying and lumbering, keeping a fine grade of Jersey cattle. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and has rendered the town good serv- ice as selectman, auditor and lister. He and his family arc members of the Episcopal church.

Mr. Barney married, in 1864, Mary Vaughn. Her father, George Vaughn, a native of Shafts- bury, Vermont, came to Arlington in 1847 and resided here until his death in 1900, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. He was a Dem- ocrat, and held the offices of lister and select- man. He married Emily Parker, who was born in Sandgate, Vermont, a daughter of George Parker, who spent his last years in Arlington, dying when eighty years of age; George Parker and his wife Alice were the parents of ten chil- dren, namely: Ann; Lucetta ; Celia ; Alvira : Emily, who married George Vaughn; Hannah ; Jane ; Alanson ; Washington ; and George ; Mrs.

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Parker died at the age of fourscore years, and both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of the union of George and Emily (Parker) Vaughn, four chil- dren were born: Curnel, deceased; Parker, de- ceased ; Evelyn ; and Mary, wife of Mr. Barney.

Mr. and Mrs. Barney have two children, George M. and Fannie. George M. Barney is engaged in the insurance business in Portland, Maine, and is also general agent for the Travel- ers' Insurance Company of Hartford, Connect- icut. He is a very able business man, and presi- dent of the board of underwriters of life insurance of Portland ; and is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to the various organizations from the blue lodge to the temple of the Mystic Shrine. He married Lou Dunkin, a daughter of Cap- tain A. A. Dunkin, a schooner captain, lost in the same storm with The City of Portland dur- ing the great blizzard of 1888. Fannie Barney is the wife of James Dalgliesh, a florist in Wash- ington, District of Columbia. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

SAMUEL FRANKLIN EMERSON.

Samuel Franklin Emerson, a prominent edu- cator, member of the faculty of the University of Vermont, a resident of Burlington, Vermont, is a descendant of one of the oldest and most honored families of New England, in which the clerical element has largely predom- inated. The ancestor who brought this name to shores of the new world, was Thomas Emerson, of Sedgefield parish, county Durham, England, who was a passenger on the ship Elizabeth Ann in 1635, and settled at Ipswich, Massachusetts, in the Bay colony. He was a man of considerable property and before long became a landed pro- prietor, for the Ipswich deeds record the transfer for a farm of one hunder and twenty acres, the Turkeyshore farm, to Thomas Emerson, in 1638. In 1646, he was one of the "seven men" entrusted with the fiscal and prudential affairs of the set- tlement. The family coat of arms was: Per fessi indentes vert and or a bend engrailed argent chevron with three lions passant of the first ; bezanti crest: A demi lion rampant vert bezanti grasping a battle-axe gules headed argent. Thomas Emerson's wife's first name

was Elizabeth, and he was the father of seven children. He died at Ipswich, Massachusetts, May 1, 1666, bequeathing his property to his heirs in a curious document of quaint phrase- ology and extreme minuteness of detail, which is still preserved in the archives of Salem, Massachusetts.

Joseph Emerson, third child of Thomas and Elizabeth Emerson, was born in England, in 1620. Where his education was received is not stated, but it is possible that he may have been one of the first students of the infant university of Harvard. He was a clergyman of the Puritan order. In 1648 he became a freeman of Ipswich, and in the same year we find him preaching at York, Maine. He was a resident of Wells and is on record as "paying submission to Massa- chusetts," for which, we read, he "suffered at the hands of the Maine magistrates." He seems to have been a man of the determined disposi- tion which we should look for in a c'ergyman of the seventeenth century in Puritan New Eng- land, for his name appears on a petition to Crom- well, asking him to confirm the jurisdiction of Massachusetts over Wells. It may readily be taken for granted that the home government, as administered by Cromwell, found in the Rev. Joseph Emerson one of its most vigorous sup- porters. On December 1, 1669, he settled in Meriden, Massachusetts, but after the destruc- tion of the place by the Indians, he retired to Concord, where he died January 3. 1680. Mr. Emerson married Elizabeth Woodmansey. of Boston, and after her death he took for his sec- ond wife, Elizabeth Bulkeley, daughter of Rev. Peter Bulkeley, of Concord, Massachusetts, and they had seven children.

Peter Emerson, third child of Joseph . Emer- son and Elizabeth (Bulkeley) Emerson, was born at Meriden, Massachusetts, in 1673. He seems to have been possessed of considerable real estate, for his name appears frequently in trans- fers of property. He married. November II. 1696, Anne Brown, daughter of Captain John and Anna (Fish) Brown, of Reading. Massachu- setts ; he removed to the last named place, where he died in 1749. He had ten children.

Brown Emerson, fourth child of Peter and Anne (Brown) Emerson, was born April 16. 1704, at Reading, Massachusetts. He married,

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January 17. 1725. Sarah Townsend, of the same place, and he died there in 1774, having a family of ten children.

Jolm Emerson, sixth child of Brown and Sarah (Townsend) Emerson, was born, or bap- tized, April 5, 1739; the record is undecided as to which of the events took place on this date, but as in those days baptisms were usually sol- emnized at a very early age, the uncertainty is hardly material. He married Katherine Eaton, and their family consisted of eleven children. They resided at South Reading and Ashby, now New Ipswich and Hancock, New Hamp- shire, and Reading, Vermont.

Brown Emerson, seventh child of John and Katherine (Eaton) Emerson, was born at Ashby, Massachusetts, January 8, 1778. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1802, studied for the ministry, and in 1805 was settled at Salem, Massachusetts, as assistant of Dr. Daniel Hop- kins, pastor of the South Congregational church. Here he remained until his death, a period of sixty-seven years, his pastorate probably being one of the oldest on record. The fact that he held this position for nearly three quarters of a century, a period during which political and religious questions were powerfully agitating the whole country, affords abundant proof of the statement that he was a man of a high order of physical and intellectual vigor. In 1835 Dart- mouth College conferred upon him the degree of D. D. Dr. Emerson married, October 29, 1806, Mary Hopkins, daughter of Dr. Daniel Hopkins, and became the father of ten children. He closed his long and useful life, July 25, 1872.

Edward Brown Emerson, third child of Brown and Mary (Hopkins) Emerson, was born February 10, 1812. The traits of character which he early displayed were such that he was educated with the ministry in view, and at thir- teen he was fitted for college. He was educated at Dartmouth, graduating in 1832, and went immediately to Central Seminary, where he grad- uated in 1835. His health preventing him from entering the foreign mission field, he went as a home missionary to Maine and then went to the west, after which he settled at South Canaan, Connecticut ; Norwich, Vermont ; Heath, Massa- chusetts; and Monroe, Connecticut. As his record shows, Mr. Emerson possessed an in-

domitable spirit which physical weakness was unable to subdue, and when incapacitated for pastoral duties, he opened a school for boys at Stratford, Connecticut, where he died, January 17, 1888. Mr. Emerson was a man of deep re- ligious character and great mental activity. He married, May 10, 1841, Ann Lummus, of Salem, Massachusetts, and six children were born 1? them.

Samuel Franklin Emerson, fourth child of Edward Brown and Ann (Lummus) Emerson, was born at Norwich, Vermont, August 26, 1850. He graduated from Yale College in the class of 1872, taught at Stratford, Connecticut, for three years and graduated from Union Theo- logical Seminary in 1878. This was followed by two years of study in Tulbingen and Berlin, Ger- many, as fellow of Union Theological Seminary. He was appointed to the professorship of Greek in the University of Vermont, 1881; received the degree of Ph. D. from Amherst in 1885, and was transferred to the chair of history and sociology in 1889, which he still occupies. He has filled the pulpits of a number of churches in this sec- tion of the state, and has delivered lectures on ecclesiastical subjects, in the state and beyond its boundaries.

He married in New York, December 28, 1881, Mary Brayton Hitchcock, born in Brunswick, Maine, daughter of Dr. Roswell Dwight and Elizabeth Anthony (Brayton) Hitchcock. Dr. Hitchcock was born in East Machias, Maine, graduated from Amherst and Andover Seminary, and occupied the chair of apologetics at Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine, where his daugh- ter, Mary Brayton, was born in the house occu- pied by the poet Longfellow. Dr. Hitchcock accepted a call to the professorship of church history in Union Theological Seminary, New York, and became president of the seminary in 1881. Of Dr. Hitchcock's high place as a scholar and pulpit orator it is needless to speak. On his mother's side, Dr. Hitchcock was related to Longfellow. On her mother's side Mrs. Emerson was related to the Brayton who founded the cot- ton industry in Fall River. One of her brothers was a graduate of Annapolis Naval Academy, and at one time served with Admiral Dewey; and another brother is a lawyer of New York city. Samuel Franklin and Mary Brayton

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(Hitchcock) Emerson have three children, all born in New York city: R. Dwight Hitchcock, born January 24, 1884, and will graduate from the University of Vermont in 1904; Margaret Longfellow, born April 25, 1886; and Mary Brayton, born February 1, 1894.

The predominant clerical element in the Emerson family is notably represented by Dr. Brown Emerson, of Salem, Massachusetts, his two brothers, Reuben and Noah, and his_ two sons, Edward Brown and Daniel Hopkins, all being clergymen. His daughter, Catherine, married a clergyman, and among his grandchil- dren are seven clergymen, including grand- daughters married to clergymen.

HARRY THAYER CUSHMAN.

Prominent in public affairs of Bennington, now serving as municipial judge, Harry T. Cush- man has left the impress of his individuality up- on public life. He is a man of marked force of character, of superior ability in the line of his chosen profession, and the distinguished posi- tion to which he has. attained is the result of merit, learning and laudable endeavor.

Judge Cushman was born in Bennington, May 6, 1866, his parents being the late J. Halsey and Martha Louise (Thayer) Cushman. His father, J. Halsey Cushman, was a native of the Empire state, but when a young man came to Benning- ton and received part of his education here. He followed the printer's trade, and later took up the study of law under the preceptorship of John L. Stark. After his admission to the bar he con- tinued to engage actively in the practice of law until the Civil war was inaugurated, when feel- ing that his chief duty was to his country, he en- listed in the Fourth Vermont Regiment, Volun- teer infantry, of which he subsequently served as quartermaster. When hostilities had ended and the preservation of the Union had been won through the valor of the northern troops, Mr. Cushman returned to Bennington, and when he had recovered from ill health, brought on by the hardships and rigor of war, he once more re- sumed his law practice. He also became identi- fied with journalistic interests and was editor of the Bennington Banner until 1877. In his politi- cal views he was a staunch Republican, and was

a ready and convincing speaker, who many times made political addresses in support of his party and its principles. He also attended its conven- tions, and exerted considerable influence in the district in which he resided, but he never sought the honors or emoluments of public office, his relations being a freewill offering to his party. Socially he was identified with Mount Anthony Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He married Martha Louise Thayer, a native of Bennington and a daughter of Nelson Thayer, who attained his education in this city and spent the greater part of his life here. In early years he fol- lowed farming, and at one time was the owner of a brickmaking plant, winning success in his undertakings, but in the latter years of his life he lived in retirement, passing away at the age of ninety years. His wife bore the maiden name of Lucretia Elwell, and was born "over the moun- tains." By her marriage she became the mother of the following children: Edward, who was a lieutenant in the Union army and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Caroline, who became the wife of William Riddell; Oscar; Ruell H .; Emeline, who became Mrs. Gould; Mrs. Mary J. Hamlin; Mrs. Nellie Hughes; Corinna, the wife of James B. Mecham; Dexter J .; Mrs. Cushman ; and one who died in childhood. All of the family were members of the Congrega- tional church, and the grandmother of our sub- ject lived to the very advanced age of ninety years. The parents of Judge Cushman were also consistent Christian people, and belonged to the Congregational church. His father died in 1877, and his mother passed away in March, 1898, at the age of seventy-one yars.

Judge Cushman was their only child, and in the graded schools of Bennington, Vermont, he acquired his literary education, entering upon his business life as a grocery clerk. Before a year had passed, however, he became an oprator in the Bennington telephone exchange and was soon promoted to the position of superintendent, holding that position until the closing of the ex- change. For a few months he was also in the office of the Bennington Banner, but, wishing to make the practice of law his life work. in 1887 he began studying under William B. Shel- don. For three years he continued his reading. and was then admitted to the practice of law in

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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 42

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