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 54

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 54

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Mr. Wells was for several years prominently connected with the Vermont National Guard. He enlisted in Company E, First Regiment, July 7, 1886, and less than a fortnight later, July 18, 1886, he was commissioned first lieutenant. Jan- uary 6, 1887, he was promoted to the captaincy, and served in that capacity until May 2. 1892, when he resigned, greatly to the regret of the con- pany and regimental officers. During the more than five years of his commanding the company, he brought it up to a splendid efficiency, and

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under his leadership it was awarded three out of four prizes for superiority in drill, in competitive exhibition in which all the troops in the state participated. He has attained a high rank in the Masonic order, holding membership in Granite Lodge, in which he passed all the stations, and is now a past master : Granite Chapter, R. A. M., in which he has served as principal sojourner ; St. Aldemar Commandery, K. T .; Gamaliel Washburn Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth de- gree : Princess of Jerusalem, sixteenth degree ; and Ruth Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. In religion he inclines to Universalism, and at- tends and is liberal in his support of the church of that sect. In politics he is a Republican, and lias frequently served in local and state conven- tions of his party.

Captain Wells was married at South Wood- bury, Vermont, April 19, 1881, to Miss Nellie Farnsworth, a daughter of Nathaniel and Lu- cinda (Batchelder ) Farnsworth. Her father served throughout the entire Civil war, in Com- pany H. Fourth Vermont Volunteer Regiment, rising to the rank of sergeant, and his service ex- tending from July, 1861, to June, 1865, after the restoration of peace. He died in 1873 from dis- ease contracted during his military service. To Captain and Mrs. Wells were born, in Barre, three children. Marjorie Irene, born March 25, 1884, and died January 3, 1898: Stanley Heath, born May 28. 1889, and died April 24, 1890; and Mary Lucinda, the only one now living, who was born August 19, 1891.

MATTHEW M. GORDON.

This well known attorney of Barre, Vermont, is one of the younger members of the Washington county bar, but his prominence is by no means measured by his years ; on the contrary he has won a reputation which many an older practi- tioner might well envy. Prominence at the bar comes through merit alone, and the high position which he has already attained attests his super- iority.

Mr. Gordon was born in East Clifton, Can- ada, on the 4th of April, 1870, and is a son of worthy Scotch-Irish parents, William and Eliza (Hamilton) Gordon. The father was born in Ireland in 1829, and when a young man emigrated

to Hamilton, Canada. In early life he served a seven years' apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, and after thoroughly mastering that occu- pation, followed it quite successfully until about fifty years of age, when he turned his attention to farming. He was married in Canada in 1851 to Miss Eliza Hamilton, a daughter of James Ham- ilton, who came to the new world from the north of Ireland, and settled in Canada. By this union were born thirteen children, of whom twelve reached years of maturity. They were Elizabetlı, who died in childhood; James, now deceased ; John H. ; George A .; Thomas, deceased; Mary Elizabeth, deceased ; Archibald, deceased ; Joseph ; Matthew M. and Margaret, twins; Hannah Bell, deceased ; Henry J. ; and Wesley A. The father died in 1898, but the mother is still living at the present writing in 1903.

Matthew M. Gordon was educated in the Montpelier Seminary and the Syracuse University at Syracuse, New York, graduating from the law department of the latter institution in 1898. The following year he was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Barre, Vermont, where he has since built up a large and lucrative practice, which is constantly increasing. He has met with excel- lent success in his chosen profession, and is ac- counted one of the best lawyers of his county. On the 25th of July, 1900, Mr. Gordon married Miss Nora A. Cutler, of Bethel, Vermont. She- is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past chief patriarch of the encampment, the Rebekahs, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Royal Arcanum and the Clan Gordon. His political support is given the- men and measures of the Republican party, and he- takes quite an active interest in public affairs.

ALLAND G. FAY.

Alland G. Fay, judge of the city court, at Barre, Vermont, is a prominent member of the legal fraternity. He was born in Brookfield, Ver- mont, December 4, 1856, a son of Gardner Fay. His paternal grandfather, Henry Fay, was born. October 5, 1805, and died in 1886. He was a cooper by trade, carrying on a prosperous busi- ness in Calais, Vermont, for many years, also

FRANKLIN BLACKMER.

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owning and operating a sawmill most success- fully. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophronia Bancroft, was born in Calais, Ver- mont, August 22, 1808. Two sons and two daughters were born of their union, namely : Willard, Gardner, Sarah and Theresa.

Gardner Fay was born October 4, 1829, in Calais, Vermont, and there learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed in Orange county, in Brookfield, and Wililamstown, until the break- ing out of the Civil war. Enlisting Au- gust 1, 1862, n Company I, Tenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, he served with his reg- iment in the Army of the Potomac, and was in constant active service until he was killed on the field of battle, November 27, 1863, at Orange Grove, Vermont. He married Cath- erine M. Sancry, by whom he had three sons, namely : Alland G., the subject of this sketch; Frank I., born October I, 1859, is a watchmaker and jeweler at Willimantic, Connecticut ; and Willard E., born December 8, 1861, a blacksmith in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. The mother married for her second husband E. H. Aller, and died December 18, 1892.

Alland G. Fay completed his elementary ed- ucation at Goddard Seminary in Barre, after which he studied law in the office of Heath & Carleton at Montpelier, remaining with them from 1881 until his admission to the bar, in Oc- tober, 1884. Establishing himself as a lawyer in Plainfield, Vermont, he remained there three years. In 1887 he located in Montpelier as a partner of the late Charles H. Heath, with whom he was associated until Mr. Heath's death, in July, 1889. From January 1, 1890, until Decem- ber, 1892, Mr. Fay was in partnership with George W. Wing, in Montpelier, then settled in Lancaster, New Hampshire, where he was in ac- tive practice until August, 1895. Returning then to Vermont, he settled in Barre, where he has built up a fine practice. On December 1, 1900, he was appointed to his present position as judge of the city court. While yet a student he served as assistant county clerk for Washington county, and in 1886 was assistant secretary of the sen- ate. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is broad and liberal in his religious views, being a member of the Universalist church. Judge Fay married, December 15, 1886, Carrie B. Cree,

who was born in Montpelier, Vermont, May 13, 1861, a daughter of Luther and Mary P. ( Brad- ley) Cree.

ANNIE (HULING) BLACKMER.

Mrs. Annie (Huling) Blackmer, widow of the late Franklin Blackmer, was born in Shafts- bury, Vermont, a daughter of Daniel Huling. She

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S. H. BLACKMER.

comes of substantial colonial stock, her paternal. ancestors having lived in Providence, Rhode Island, where her grandfather and her great- grandfather and her great-great-grandfather, each named Alexander Huling, were born and reared. One Alexander Huling, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, came to Bennington, Vermont, on· August 16, 1777, the day of the famous battle- fought here, witnessed the engagement and set- tled here permanently, dying at the age of seven- ty-nine years. He and his wife were both mem- bers of the Baptist church. Daniel Huling, a

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life-long resident of Shaftsbury, Vermont, was a man of considerable prominence in the town, be- ing for many years actively identified with its best interests, and filling most satisfactorily the various town offices within the gift of his fellow citizens. He had nine children, of whom but three survive, namely: Columbus, of North Bennington; Mrs. Blackmer, and Milo, also of North Bennington. Both parents belonged to the Universalist church.

Annie Huling married, August 13, 1861, Franklin Blackmer, who was born in Benning- ton Center, September 28, 1823. He came of New England stock, being a descendant in the fourth generation from Samuel Blackmer, the line being continued through Samuel, Samuel, and Franklin. The first Samuel Blackmer spent his entire life in Providence, Rhode Island. Sam- uel Blackmer, the father of Franklin, was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits during his earlier life, but was afterwards county clerk and probate judge for a quarter of a century.

Franklin Blackmer spent his entire life in Bennington Center, where he carried on an exten- sive mercantile business until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmer became the parents of three children, of whom but one is now living, Samuel H. Blackmer, who has succeeded to the business established by his father, and is now carrying on an extensive and lucrative trade in this locality. He married Fannie A. Abbott; who was born in Bennington, daughter of Lyman Ab- bott, and they have one child, Samuel Howard Blackmer.

HORATIO SETH JOHNSON.

Horatio Seth Johnson, a prosperous and pro- gressive farmer and one of the largest land- holders of Williston, is a fine representative of the native-born citizens of this town, the date of birth being October 22, 1841. He is of Eng- lish ancestry, the immigrant from which he is descended, having come from England to Amer- ica in colonial times, settling on that part of the coast of Maine that is now occupied by the city of Bath. After enduring the privations and hardships that beset the early settlers of this country, one of his sons sailed away in search of a more desirable location just after the colonial

war broke out ; later he settled in Windham, Con- nectient, but he never returned home, not even to visit the grave of his father, or to claim his share of the parental estate. His name was Jo- siah Johnson, and the line was continued through his son David Johnson, who married Joanna Palmertree. The next in line of descent was their son, Dan Johnson, who married Mary Wood, and located in Williston, Vermont, as one of the orig- inal proprietors of the town. He took up a tract of land that was in its primitive condition, and by energetic persistence wrested a farm from the forest. His son, Nathan Johnson, the grand- father of Horatio S., was one of the first chil- dren born of white parents in Williston, his birth occurring in 1789 on September 24.

Nathan Johnson succeeded to the occupation in which he was reared, becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of the town and a citizen of much influence, aiding all movements for ad- vancing the welfare of the place and continuing it actively until his death, February 3, 1867. He was a devout church member, in politics being at first an old-line Whig and later a Republican. He married Polly Bennett, who was born March 22, 1789, and died November 22, 1861. Five children blessed their union, as follows : William, born August 16, 1815; Dan, father of Horatio S .; John, born October 30, 1819; Mary, born October 5, 1823, died February 1, 1901; and Myron, born September 1, 1826.

Dan Johnson, a life-long resident of Willis- ton, was born December 26, 1817, and died No- vember 19, 1887. Reared on a farm, educated in the district schools, he became a tiller of the soil by occupation, and settled permanently on the homestead now owned by Horatio S. A man of good ability and sound judgment, he was held in high respect, and as a public-spirited citizen, was called upon to fill the various offices within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He was a steadfast Republican in politics, and a member of the Universalist church. He married in 1839, Sarah A. Marshall, who was born July 30, 1821, a daughter of Louis and Nancy (Mead) Mar- shali. She survived him, passing away April 29, 1901. Of the children born of their union, the following is the record: Horatio S., the special subject of this sketch; Nathan, born February 13, 1844, fought during the Civil war in the

Moustio & Johnson

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First Vermont Cavalry, was wounded and left in the rebel lines, but recovered and died January 4, 1870; Henry Marshall, born March 21, 1847, resides in Sigourney, Iowa; Leonard A., born September 4, 1848, is a resident of Richmond, Vermont; William Bennett, born November 3, 1849, lives at Essex Junction, Vermont ; Sarah Jane, born December 29, 1850, married Alfred Read, of Essex Junction ; Luella Nancy, who was born April 18, 1855, married George Perry, of Battle Creek, Michigan, and died January 5, 1879 ; and Marcia, born May 26, 1862, died Jan- uary 13, 1891.

Horatio S. Johnson grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving his early education in the common schools, later attending the Williston Academy under the late Joseph Cilley. After leaving school he spent two years in California, then settled on the old Marshall homestead in Williston, where he has since been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning about fourteen hundred acres of land and making a specialty of dairying. He has always taken an intelligent interest in public matters, and has served with ability and credit in the various town offices. In 1894 he represented his town in the state legislature, serving on the commit-' tee on claims, and was largely instrumental in securing an appropriation to erect the magnifi- cent monument which marks the resting place of Governor Thomas Chittenden, the first governor of Vermont. Politically he is a Republican, and is a member of the Universalist church of Wil- liston.

On June 28, 1864, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Alice C. McEwen, who was born at Hinesburg, Vermont, February 25, 1845, the daughter of Augustus McEwen. To this union three children have been born, two of whom died in infancy, and the remaining one, Belle Augusta, was born April 8, 1887. The McEwen family, which is thus closely connected with the John- sons, has a long history, and it would be especially interesting at this point.

Robert McEwen came from Dundee, Scot- land, and in early life attached himself to the sect known from their leader as the "Cameronians," being historically the Covenanters. At the age of eighteen in 1679, he was engaged in a battle with the king, and in 1685 many of the persecuted

Christians, being in bonds and imprisonment, were sent on board a ship of war of fifty guns by the Scotch government for the purpose of colonizing the Isthmus of Darien. The com- mander of the ship died a few days after they had been at sea, and the passengers brought the ship toward New York, and ran her ashore near Amboy, New Jersey. These facts are de- tailed in the following passage in Robert Mc- Ewen's account book : "On June 18, 1679, I was in one engagement in Scotland at Bothwell's Bridge, I then being the age of eighteen years. The fifth day of September, 1685, we set sail from Scotland to come to America, we landed at Am- boy, New Jersey, the 18th of February. I came to Stratford, in New England, 1686. June 30, 1695, I was married to Sarah Wilcoxson in Strat- ford." Tradition has it that, after being landed at Amboy, eleven of the passengers, having heard of the freedom of the people in Connecticut, came- on foot to Stratford. Robert McEwen died in 1740, aged seventy-eight years. A slightly dif- ferent account of this first American ancestor of the McEwen family is that the vessel encoun- tered a heavy gale, and the poor and half-starved exiles on board had all they could do to keep the- hulk afloat, finally being compelled to run it aground at Amboy, where they formed a settle- ment, calling it Perth from their place of embarka- tion in Scotland. Robert McEwen was a tailor by trade, and was one of the early settlers of Strat- ford, Connecticut. His book of accounts of work done and charges made and other items, is a small' parchment-covered quarto, and is still in exist- ence and in the possession of a descendant, Rob- ert McEwen. Seven children were born of his marriage to Sarah Wilcoxson.

George, one of these children, married Eliz- abeth Beardsley, and in 1742 he removed to New Milford, Connecticut, where in the following year he took part in organizing the first Episco- pal church of that town, and during the remain- der of his life was zealous in its upbuilding and the extension of its zone of influence. He died January 18, 1786, in the eighty-fourth year of his life, and his tombstone is still to be seen in the old cemetery of the place. His wife lived to be eighty-eight years old, dying on December 16, 1792. They probably had several children, but the line of descent comes through John, some-

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of whose descendants still reside in New Mil- ford, Connecticut. On April 29. 1754, hie was married to Elizabeth Hill, and they had six chil- dren.

George MeEwen, the son of John, located in Hinesburg, Vermont. On November 12, 1783, he married Mercy Wright, of Shaftsbury, Ver- mont. and in the following summer he built a cabin on his land in Hinesburg. To this rude dwelling, in the next February, he moved his family from Shaftsbury, conveying his property .on a sled drawn by a yoke of oxen, and driving .two cows and a horse. Their pilgrimage was difficult on account of the depth of the snow and the lack of roads, but they arrived on the 26th of the month, and, as an illustration of their rough life at first, they took their meals for a few days on the cover of a wash tub. In the summer of 1785 he built a log house, in which they lived till July 19, 1797, when their two-story brick house, the first constructed of that material in the town, was completed. George McEwen attended closely to his affairs, but he also served his fellow citizens several years as proprietor's clerk, and afterwards as town clerk. He died of an epidemic on February 27, 1813, and left behind him six sons and three daughters, all of whom are now dead, although numerous descendants are living in Chittenden county, Vermont, and St. Lawrence county, New York. His wife died in Hinesburg, Vermont, December 26, 1847, aged eighty-three years. She had been the only phy- sician in Hinesburg before the advent of her suc- cessor in William B. Marsh, and when Hine Meecham came into light on April 1, 1785- the first white child of the town, being named from that circumstance Hine-Mrs. George Mc- Ewen acted as midwife and was drawn to the scene of this birth on a hand-sled. She was the mother of nine children, whose names are James, Charles, Augustus, Carleton, Ransom, George, Caroline, Rebecca and Mercy Morenda. Augus- tus and Carleton both served in the war of 1812.

Augustus was born December 17, 1788, and on February 5, 1812, married Phebe Ray, to whom were born seven children. Phebe McEwen died on November 2, 1840, and on April 27, 1842, Mr. McEwen was married to Bolina Palmer, of whose children Ellen married Curtis Andrews; .Alice C. married Horatio S. Johnson; Anne E.

was the next in order of birth ; Kate A. married Noble D. Partch, and Maude 1. died June 16, 1803. The father of these children died De- cemiber 31, 1872, and the mother, January 18, 1800.

WILLIAM ANDERSON BOYCE.

Wilham Anderson Boyce, a prominent and prosperous attorney at law of Barre, Vermont, was born in Newbury, Vermont, December 3, 1839. He is a great-grandson of Captain Wil- liam Boyce, who was a resident of Newburyport, Massachusetts, where in 1760 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Anderson, and the fol- lowing named children were born to them : Hugh, Joseph, James, Sarah, Robert, William, Labella Margaret, Samuel and John Boyce.

James Boyce, grandfather of William A. Boyce, was born in Newburyport, Masachusetts, March 22, 1768. He received his education in the district school, and when he attained the age of seventeen years he located in Newbury, Ver- mont, where he married Miss Abigail Hazel- tine, and ten children were born of this union, Richard Titcomb Boyce being the fourth in order of birth.

Richard Titcomb Boyce, son of James and Abigail Boyce, was born in Newbury, Vermont, June 24, 1808, was a farmer, united in marriage at Topsham, Vermont, December 2, 1830, with Joanna Banfield of Corinth, Vermont. Eleven children were born to them, viz: Allen R., Car- oline, Elizabeth A., Mary A., James M., William A., Osmon B., J. Wesley, Martha J., Caroline A. and George P. Mr. Boyce lived in Newbury until the spring of 1843, when he moved with his family to Guildhall, Vermont. He lived in Guild- hall until the spring of 1854, then moved to Granby, Vermont. He enlisted as a private sol- died in the war of the rebellion and was at the battle of Gettysburg in Colonel Redfield Proc- ter's regiment. After his return from the war, most of his later years were spent at the home of his daughter Mary A., in Stark, New Hamp- shire. For many years his love of fishing and hunting could only be excelled by a veritable "Isaac Walton" or a "Davy Crockett." After a few months of sickness he died at the home of his son Allen R. Boyce, at West Burke, Vermont,

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October 5, 1896. His wife, Joanna (Banfield) Boyce, was born in Corinth, Vermont, October I, 1808. She was a noble Christian woman, a de- voted wife and mother, beloved by all who knew her, and her children could but "rise up and call her blessed." She left her earthly abode for a better home August 2, 1865.

William Anderson Boyce, third son of Rich- ard T. and Joanna Boyce, acquired his early edu- cation in the common schools of Newbury, Ver- mont, and later pursued a course of study in the Barre Academy. He was reared upon his fath- er's farm, and after attaining young manhood, was engaged as a teacher in the public schools of the state for several years; in this undertaking he met with marked success, as he had all the characteristics which were essential for this posi- tion. He was also appointed to fill the respons- ible position of principal of the Cabot high school for two years. Having decided to engage in the profession of law, he entered the office of L. C. Wheelock, where he pursued a course of study, and later he was in the office of E. E. French, where he completed his studies. He was ad- mitted to the Washington county bar at the March term in 1869, and shortly after this he opened an office in Barre, Vermont, and at once engaged in the active practice of his chosen pro- fession. Business increased to such an extent that in January, 1875, his brother O. B., Boyce was admitted into partnership, and the firm con- ducted an extensive and lucrative business in Washington and Orange counties until the firm was dissolved in 1895, owing to the death of O. B. Boyce. In connection with the law, Mr. Boyce has conducted a large insurance business, and he has also been extensively and successfully engaged in real estate transactions. He has acted in the capacity of director and vice president of the Barre Savings Bank and Trust Company, and he did much to assist in procuring for Barre her present railroad advantages. Mr. Boyce has been well trained in the school of experience, is strong in his convictions, self-reliant, tenacious of his own rights as well as the rights of others ; he has never used intoxicating liquors, and his efforts have always been directed to promoting the cause of temperance ; he has never used to- bacco in any form, as his robust physique and healthful countenance may well attest.

Mr. Boyce is a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party ; his sterling worth and pronounced ability led to his selection for official honors, and he has served as assessor and town treasurer, justice of the peace, and was appointed to serve as judge of Barre city court for two years; he was chosen to represent the town of Barre in the state legislature for the years 1872 and 1873. He has always been particularly inter- ested in the cause of education, and for several years has acted in the capacity of superintendent of schools in Barre, Vermont. Mr. Boyce is a member of Hiawatha Lodge No. 20, I. O. O. F., and was representative to the Grand Lodge of Vermont for two years. He is also an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist church, and has acted as superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty years. He was chosen to act as a member of the Methodist general conference held in New York city in May, 1888.

CAPTAIN JOHN LUTHER MOSELEY.

Captain John Luther Moseley, of Northfield, Vermont, is now living a retired life in the enjoy- ment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves by reason of his industrious efforts of former years. Accomplishment and progress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled our subject to rise from the ranks of the many and stand among the successful few.

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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 54

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