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 52

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 52

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DANIEL KELLOGG.

Hon. Daniel Kellogg, deceased, for many years an eminent lawyer and judge of the state of Vermont, was born at Amherst, Massachusetts, February 10, 1791. After acquiring his educa- tion in the common schools of his native town he entered Williams College, from which he was graduated in 1810. Shortly after his graduation he pursued a course of reading in the law office ·of General Martin Field, of Newfane, and in 1814 began the practice of his profession at Rocking- ham. For a number of years he acted as state's . attorney for Windham county and judge of pro- bate for the district of Westminster, secretary to the old governor and council of Vermont during the administrations of Governor Butler and Gov- ernor Van Ness, United States district attorney

for the state of Vermont twelve years during the administrations of General Jackson and Mr. Van Buren, adjutant and inspector general of the state, represented the town of Rockingham in the general assembly, and for two years was state sen- ator for Windham county. In 1843 he was chosen president of the state constitutional con- vention, and was judge of the superior court of the state from 1845 to 1852.

At the time Judge Kellogg was elected an as- sistant justice of the supreme court he was in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice in the judicial district for which he was chosen. Although at the time he was open and undisguised in his de- votion to the Democracy, and had accepted the po- sition of United States district attorney for the state, yet his fidelity in the discharge of his of- ficial duties, discretion and sterling honesty, his learning and ability as a lawyer, all conspired to secure an election from his political opponents, being the first Democrat to be elected to that posi- tion in the state of Vermont. His personal popu- larity was so great in his judicial district that he secured an almost unanimous vote from the mem- bers of the general assembly representing the dis- trict for which he was chosen, and although a large majority of the members were radically op- posed to his political opinions, yet they candidly supported him for an office which has always been regarded as the highest and most honorable in the state. In his department he was kind and courteous toward his professional brethren and judicial associates. During an extensive practice of more than fifty years his fidelity to his clients was never questioned ; his social, political and business relations were characterized by great frankness and sincerity, and his whole life was distinguished by the most perfect integrity. He was a careful and laborious student, precise and painstaking in the preparation of his cases, and his examination and presentation of authorities and indicated great industry and research.

Although Judge Kellogg was one of the most decided and influential Democrats in the state, yet he heartily disapproved of the action of the ad- ministration in the Kansas outrages, and also its inaction near the commencement of the late Civil war. When that awful strife was fully inaugur- ated he said: "I know of no other way but to stand by the old flag, come what may; all else

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is with me of secondary consideration ; my party, my church may perish, but save my country."

Judge Kellogg was married three times, his first wife having been Jane McAfee, of Rocking- ham, his second wife, Merab Ann Bradley, daugh- ter of William C. Bradley, and his third wife, Miranda M. Adlis, daughter of Asa Aldis, of St. Albans, Vermont. They removed to Brattleboro, Vermont, and both the Judge and his wife con- tributed greatly to the welfare and attractions of that town. To the Episcopal Society, then strug- gling to obtain a foothold and a church building, their influence and material aid was indispensa- ble and will ever be gratefully remembered. They purchased the estate of Hon. John Phelps on High street, and erected a handsome residence. Mrs. Kellogg, by the exercise of her taste and culture, intellectual attainments and instructive conversa- tion, rendered her home one of the most attrac- tive in the city. In her early life she was a pupil in the Troy Seminary, under the preceptorship of Mrs. Emma Willard, and graduated with high honors from that institution, which at that time had a reputation unexcelled in this country. The following named children were born of the first marriage: Henry, born August 23, 1823, grad- uated at Williams College in 1843, engaged in the study of law with Hon. William C. Bradley, of Westminster, Vermont; he was drowned while bathing in the Connecticut river, June 18, 1844; and George B., born in November, 1825, studied law with Hon. Asa Keyes, of Brattleboro, Ver- mont ; he commenced the practice of his profes- sion in Rockingham in 1846, and removing to Brattleboro in 1855, was appointed postmaster in 1861, state's attorney for Windham county three years, adjutant and inspector general for the state from 1854 to 1859, and represented the town of Brattleboro in the general assembly two years ; he was active in the recruiting of the Vermont Cavalry Regiment and was appointed lieutenant colonel of it during the Rebellion, at the conclu- sion of which he was honorably discharged and resumed the practice of his profession in St. Louis, where he died in November, 1875. Of the children born of the second marriage, were : Sarah B., born in August, 1831, married in No- vember, 1855, Henry A. Willard, of Washington, District of Columbia, where she . now resides ;

Daniel, born April 9, 1834, served as postmaster at Brattleboro, Vermont, from 1862 to July, 1868, and was united in marriage, May 2, 1861, to Miss Margaret W. May, of Brattleboro, Vermont.

ELMER JAMES BULLOCK.

Elmer J. Bullock, of Readsboro, is a well known business man, actively identified with the development of the mercantile, manufacturing and mining interests of this town. He was born July 21, 1849, in Whitingham, Vermont, a son

ELMER JAMES BULLOCK.

of James Bullock and grandson of Nathaniel Bullock, Jr. His great-grandfather, Nathaniel Bullock, Sr., was born in Connecticut, but spent his last years in Royalston, Massachusetts, be- ing among the pioneer settlers of that town. He was an industrious farmer, deeply religious, and an active member of the Baptist church.

Nathaniel Bullock, Jr., was born in Royals-

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ton, Massachusetts, and grew to manhood on the ancestral homestead, where he was engaged in farming for many years, also working at the shoemaker's trade a part of the time. He sub- sequently moved from there to Readsboro, com- ing with his wife and four children on an ox sled, locating on the farm now known as the Bradley Stowe farm. Two years later, his wife having died, he went to South Shaftsbury, Ver- mont, where he followed his trade for two years, then moved to Monroe, Massachusetts, where he followed farming for a while. Coming from there to Readsboro, he kept a hotel a few years, then married again and settled on North Hill, where he resided until his death, at the age of eighty years. He married, first, a Miss Ballou, who was a relative of President Garfield's mother. She bore him two sons and two daughters, one son being James, the father of Elmer J. Bullock. He married, second, Mrs. Esther Bailey.

James Bullock was born in Royalston, Massachusetts, and lived with his father in various Vermont towns during his earlier days, also spending a few years in Monroe, Massachu- setts, and coming from there to Readsboro. Starting in business for himself in this town, he built a store whech he managed a few years. Disposing of that property, he was associated for some years with Michael Sanford, in the conduct of a general store and the postoffice, in which he was succeeded by his son when the

afterwards settling as a farmer in Rowe, Massa- clinsetts, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. Both he and his wife were active and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Elmer J. Bullock was educated in the con- mon schools of Readsboro, attending until four- teen years of age, when, on account of his fine penmanship, he entered the store in which his father had previously been employed, and was there engaged as clerk and assistant in the post- office until the store changed hands as above noted.

For four years he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business in North Adams, Massachusetts, giving it up to take charge of his father's affairs. He subsequently bought back the old store in which he first started in busi- ness, continuing as a merchant until 1889, when he was burned out, but soon after built the block known as the Bullock block. He was afterwards active in causing the establishment of the Reads- boro Chair Company, serving as its treasurer and subsequently for four years as its manager. He then resumed his former mercantile business, continuing.it successfully until 1898. In the latter year he erected a mill for general wood working, which he continues to operate, and has since been interested also in local mining properties.

Mr. Bullock is a Republican in politics, and latter was fourteen years of age. The latter was . a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging subsequently engaged in business at Greenfield to Jacksonville Lodge, F. & A. M. He has served as school director, was first president of the village corporation, and was influential in. having the co-operative creamery, of which he was president for awhile, located there. He is- a talented musician, for ten years being leader of the brass band. He is a member of the Baptist church, and sings in the choir. He has also sung, without remuneration, for funerals during the last thirty-five years. Mr. Bullock married, first, in 1869, Fannie E. Carpenter, daughter of George Carpenter, a farmer and hotel-keeper in Reads- boro. He married, second, May 29, 1890, Laura L. Drury, who was born in Richmond, Vermont, daughter of Samuel Drury, a butcher in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock have two chil- dren, Minnie Drury and James Elmer Bullock. and Wilmington. In 1870 father and son erected a store in Readsboro, which was conducted un- der the firm name of James Bullock & Son. They carried on a substantial mercantile trade for twelve years, being the first merchants in town to win conspicuous financial success. In 1882 Mr. Bullock went to Charlemont, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in general merchandis- ing until his death, in December, 1885. He served as justice of the peace for a number of terms. He married Cynthia L. Baker, who was born in Readsboro, a daughter of Calvin and Cynthia (Walker) Baker, the former of whom came from Massachusetts to Readsboro, where he worked at his trade of a cabinet-maker for awhile, then moved to Hawley, Massachusetts,

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FRED LESLIE LAIRD.

Mr. Laird, who is an attorney at law in Mont- pelier, Vermont, was born at Plainfield, Vermont, September 26, 1860, a son of the late Henry Sperry Laird and Van Lora S. Laird. His paternal grandfather, John Laird, a farmer at Woodbury, Vermont, was twice married. Joseph the only child by his first wife, is deceased. He married for his second wife Eliza Davis, who bore him twelve children, namely : Henry Sperry, Loren, James, John, Lemuel, Cynthia, Lucretia, Hattie, Eliza, Sarah, Mary and Dorothy. Henry Sperry Laird was born in Woodbury, Vermont, July 19, 1831, and died August 2, 1899, in Marshfield, Vermont. As a young man he en- gaged in the lumber business at Plainfield, Ver- mont, remaining there until 1869, when he re- moved to Marshfield, where he owned and oper- ated an extensive business in the manufacturing of lumber, being one of the leading business men of the place for many years. He served his townsmen in various offices of trust and respon- sibility, and was a representative from the town of Marshfield to the state legislature in 1886. In 1858 he married Van Lora Dwinell, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Dwinell of Marshfield, and a granddaughter of William and Ruth Dwinell, who, in the early part of the nineteenth century, came to Marshfield, Vermont, from New Hamp- shire. Four children were born of this union : Harry L., a farmer and lumber dealer of Marsh- field ; Fred Leslie ; Hattie, who died at the age of eleven months; and a boy who died in infancy.

Fred Leslie Laird received his diploma from the Montpelier Seminary in 1880, and was grad- 11ated from Dartmouth College with the class of 1884. He subsequently studied law with Joseph A. Wing, of Montpelier, for one year, and then served, in 1885-86, as deputy county clerk for Washington county. The following year he con- tinued his studies in the office of S. C. Shurtliff, of Montpelier, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1887. Since that time Mr. Laird has been engaged in the practice of his chosen profes- sion in Montpelier. He has served in many of- ficial capacities, and in 1900-01-02 was a member of the munipical board of aldermen, representing ward four. In politics he is a Republican.

On November 19, 1888, Mr. Laird was mar- 19

ried to Nelly Cox, of Randolph, Maine, a daugh- ter of Barnett A. and Victoria L. (Bailey) Cox. Of their union five children have been born : Al- bert Cox, Henry Sperry, Frederick Leslie, Jr., James Tyler and Joseph De Boer.

JONAS ELI GOODENOUGH.

Jonas Eli Goodenough, of Montpelier, was born in Berlin, Vermont, October 22, 1860, a son of Alonzo Edgar Goodenough. He comes of patriotic pioneer stock, being a descendant in the fifth generation from Joseph Goodenough, one of the first settlers of Berlin, Vermont, and a Revol- utionary soldier, the line of descent being as fol- lows : Joseph, Jonas, Jonas, Alonzo Edgar, Jonas Eli

Joseph Goodenough (I), the first of the family of whom we have any definite record, served in the French and Indian war as paymaster in the Brit- ish army. At the breaking out of the Revolution- ary war, he held the rank of second lieutenant in the colonial army. At the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, he took a prominent part, being first lieutenant of the Sudbury ( Massachusetts) Company. From July 1, 1778, until May 31, 1779, he was sergeant of a company detailed to guard a magazine at Sudbury. In 1798, in com- pany with his son Jonas, he came to Vermont, lo- cating in the town of Berlin, where he purchased from John Taplin five hundred acres of what was then known as the "Governor's Right." Clearing a small space in the timber, he built a log house, then returned to his home in Sudbury. In the winter of 1799, shortly after the death of his wife, with his son Jonas, and the latter's wife and child, he started for their frontier home, ar- riving in Berlin about the middle of March. In the rude log cabin which he had previously reared, he spent the remainder of his life. His sons, Jesse and William, also removed to Berlin, settling on the original purchase of land.

Jonas Goodenough (2) a native of Sudbury, Massachusetts, was engaged in farming and lum- bering in his new home in the wilderness, and also did a good deal of teaming, hauling freight from Boston to Montreal. He was successful in his labors, and accumulated a good property for those days. He married Betsey Rice, of Sudbury, and they became the parents of the following

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named children : Jonas ; Jesse ; Abigail, who mar- ried Allen Doten ; and Charles.

Jonas Goodenough (3) was born in Sudbury, Masachusetts, December 20, 1795. He was edu- cated at the old academy in Montpelier, being fitted for college, after which he taught in the district schools for twenty-five winters, during the summer seasons being engaged in farming. Ile also owned and operated a sawmill, carrying on an extensive business as a lumber manufac- turer. He was active and influential in local af- fairs, serving as selectman and justice of the peace. He lived to a good old age, dying Decem- ber 23, 1882. He married Lucy Doten, daughter of Isaac and Abigail ( Le Baron) Doten, of Pom- fret, Vermont. She was born October 18, 1801. The name of Doten was originally spelled Doty, and the line of descent is as follows: Edward Doty, (1), who came to America in the May- flower, and who married Faith Clarke; John Doty (2), who married Elizabeth Cook; John Doty (3), who married Mehitabel Nelson ; John Doten (4), who changed the family name from Doty to Doten, and who married Lydiah Dun- ham : Edward Doten (5), who married Johannah Whiting : Isaac Doten (6), who married Abigail Le Baron.

The children of Jonas and Lucy (Doten) Goodenough were Alonzo Edgar; Melissa, who married Hiram Carleton ; Byron ; and Annette, who married, first, Sidney Marsh, and second, Oliver Drake, of Hartford, Connecticut. Jonas Godenough married for his second wife Relief Bailey, from which union no child was born.

Alonzo Edgar Goodenough (4) was born in Berlin, Vermont, August 14, 1823, being reared on the ancestral homestead, and obtaining his ed- ucation in the district school. At the age of eigh- teen years he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed in Montpelier, Barton and Johnson, Vermont. Retiring from his trade in 1859, he re- turned to the old home farm, on which he was afterwards engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, May 24, 1874. He married, first, in June, 1856, Elizabeth Roulston, of New Haven, Conecticut, a daughter of Andrew and Eunice (Skinner) Roulston, who emigrated to this coun- try from Ireland. She died January 31, 1871, having borne him five children : Marion Eunice, wife of Charles F. Chase, of Concord, New

Hampshire ; Jonas Eli, the subject of this sketch ; Edgar Alonzo; Charles, who died at the age of three years; and John F. Of his subsequent minion with Caroline Rowell, one child was born, Lucy, who lived but two and one-half years.

Jonas Eli Goodenough (5) acquired his early education in the district school, afterwards at- tending the Montpelier Union school. He subse- (miently studied dentistry, which he practiced three years, being later employed as a teacher in the public schools. He entered the Montpelier postoffice as clerk in 1884, was made assitant postmaster in 1888, and in 1892 was appointed postmaster by President Harrison, a position which he retained from August 1, 1892, until September 1, 1894. In December, 1894, he ac- cepted a position in the office of the National Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, with which he has since been associated. During the ses- sion of the state legislature of 1894, Mr. Good- enough was assistant sergeant-at-arms. Politi- cally he is a Republican, and fraternally is prom- inently identified with the Masonic fraternity, having attained to the Scottish Rite degrees and the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Goodenough married, February 18, 1890, Eliza Holden, of Middlesex, Vermont, a daughter of James and Catherine (Bruce) Holden.

ALBERT L. BINGHAM, M. D.

Dr. Albert L. Bingham, a general practitioner of Williston, Vermont, was born on the Bingham homestead in Binghamville, Franklin county, Vermont, on the 26th of June, 1853.

The first American ancestor was Thomas Bingham, of Sheffield, England, who emigrated to Norwich, Connecticut, about 1660. He mar- ried Mary Rudd, by whom he became the father of eleven children. Of these, the eighth, Sam- uel, was twice married, lived to be the father of twelve children and died in 1760. Lemuel, son of Samuel Bingham, was born in 1713 ; mar- ried Hannah Perkins in 1737, six children being the result of their union and he died in 1788. Elias, youngest child of Samuel Bingham, was born in Windham, Connecticut, and married Vashti Elderkin in 1776. She died in 1804, after having borne ten children to her husband. He was subsequently twice married and outlived all

ALBing hou MT.

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his wives, dying in 1829. Elias Bingham, Jr., was born in the same town as his father, July 22, 1779. He married for his third wife, Martha Robinson, of Stowe, Vermont, April 6, 1805, eleven children being the fruit of their marriage.

Benjamin F. Bingham, the sixth child of Cap- tain Elias, Jr., and the father of Albert L., was born May 30, 1819, and was reared on the farm which was purchased from the selectmen of the town by his father in 1809, the latter having come to this state from Windham, Connecticut. The only compensation that was required for this tract of land was that they perpetually pay to the town the small sum of twelve cents per acre annually, and to build and operate a saw or grist mill on the premises, and the old mill is still in operation. Benjamin F. acquired his education in the public schools of that time, and after com- pleting his studies, pursued the occupation of farming on the old homestead, which is still owned by his family. Politically, he was an ardent supporter of the Republican party and held various local offices in addition to being chosen to represent the town in the state legisla- ture of 1872. Mr. Bingham was united in mar- riage September 13, 1841, to Miss Alice Smedley, a daughter of Joseph and Deliverance (Fowler) Smedley, the former being the son of a revolu- tionary soldier. Five children were born of this union, namely : Charles W., now a merchant of Buffalo, New York: Marcellus A., the present probate judge of Chittenden county ; Albert L., of this review ; Lucia A., the widow of Robert Stuart, of Williston, and George C., manager of the Buffalo department of the American Ag- ricultural Chemical Company. The father of these children died December 16, 1888, and his wife passed away on the 9th of January, 1890.

Dr. Albert L. Bingham attended the normal school in Johnson and was later prepared for col- lege at the New Hampton Institute in Fairfax. . He subsequently entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, in which he com- pleted the studies in 1875, and later took a post- graduate course in the medical department of the University of New York, graduating in that institution in 1880. Immediately after his grad- uation in the University of Vermont, he began the practice of his profession at Williston, where he has since enjoyed an extensive and lucrative

patronage. He has attained a high position in the medical fraternity, as he has given his thought and effort to perfecting himself in his chosen calling, and he is actively associated with the county and state medical societies.

Although his time is fully occupied with his professional duties, he takes an active interest in the political affairs of the town, where he has repeatedly held the various local offices and was chosen as its representative in the state legis- lature of 1888. Fraternally he is a prominent member of the Masonic order, being past master of North Star Lodge, No. 12, also a member of Waterbury Chapter, Waterbury Council, Bur- lington Commandery and Mt. Sinai Temple, No- bles of the Mystic Shrine. On the 26th of Sep- tember, 1879, Dr. Bingham was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie Welch, who was born in Williston, Vermont, a daughter of the late Dr. A. C. and Abigail (Chittenden) Welch and a di- rect descendant of Governor Thomas Chitten- den.

ALBERT OREN CUMMINS.

The deserved reward of a well spent life is an honored retirement from business in which to en- joy the fruits of former toil. To-day, after a use- ful and beneficial career, Albert Oren Cummins is quietly living at his pleasant home in Mont- pelier, Vermont, surrounded by the comfort that earnest labor has brought him. He was born in that city on the 3d of August, 1829, and is a worthy representative of an old and highly re- spected New England family, tracing his ances- try back to Isaac Cummins, who was probably born in England in 1601, and was among the early colonists that settled at Salem, Massachu- setts ; his death occurred in 1677. In his family were four children, namely: John, born in 1630: Isaac, Jr., Elizabeth and Ann.

Isaac Cummins, Jr .. was born in 1633. and was married November 27, 1659, to Mary An- drews, by whom he had several children, but the three eldest died in infancy. In order of birth they were Isaac, born September 15, 1664; John. born June 7, 1666; Thomas, June 27, 1670; Mary. February 16. 1671 or 2: Rebecca, April 1, 1674: Abigail; and Steben, February 27, 1680. The last named was killed by the Indians in July 1706.

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John Cummins, of this family, was born in Topsfield, Massachusetts, and died between May 8, and July 16, 1722. He married Susannah Towne, a daughter of Joseph Towne, and to them were born the following children : Joseph, who is mentioned below ; Joli, who was baptized July 17, 1692; Isaac, born December 25, 1695; David born April 15, 1698; Mary, born May 15, 1700; Susannah, born June 3, 1701; Stephen, born August 3, 1706; Samuel, born February 14, 1708; and Rebecca, who was baptized November I, I713.

Joseph Cummins, son of John, was born in Topsfield, Masachusetts, January 26, 1689, and died of smallpox on the 24th of December, 1729. He was married May 22, 1712, to Abigail Este, whose grandmother Mary was executed for be- ing a witch. Abigail's death occurred January 10, 1730, as the result of the same dread disease which caused her husband's death. They had children : Joseph, born July 27, 1713 ; Jacob, May 12, 1717; Abigail, December 16, 1721; Daniel, December 4, 1724; Moses, October 9, 1726.

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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 52

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