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 58

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 58

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On December 23, 1863, Mr. Daggett married Miss Sarah E. Hamblin, daughter of M. B. Hamblin, of East Montpelier. Her death oc- curred October 22, 1885. Mr. Daggett was united in marriage, April 29, 1892, to Miss Mary F. Dudley, born in Brighton, Massachusetts ; she was brought to Woodbury, Vermont, when an infant and placed in the charge of her uncle, Mr. Joel W. Celley, who reared and educated her. She was the daughter of Francis and Susan (Celley) Dudley, the former named being a son of Samuel Dudley and a descendant of Governor Thomas Dudley.

ANDREW E. DENNY.

As the river whose deep and steady current, winding among fair landscapes, past blossom- ing fields and through busy towns, blessing mil- lions of people, and enhancing the wealth of nations, affords little of that wild and romantic scenery which startles the traveler or delights the artist ; so those lives which contribute most

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Geo Dagelly

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toward the improvement of a state and the well- being of a people are seldom the ones which fur- nish the most brilliant passages for the pen of the historian or biographer. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career of the business or professional man fighting the everyday battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sensational chapter, but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and immortal lessons in the life of the man who without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity and, toiling on through the work-a-day years of a long career, finds that he has won not only wealth, but also something far greater and higher-the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life placed him in contact.

Although Mr. Denny is now largely living retired, he is still an active factor in financial circles, being the president of the Northfield Savings Bank, of Northfield, Vermont. He was born in the town of Northfield, in what is now South Northfield, August 4, 1832, and is of English lineage, tracing his ancestry back to Thomas and Grace (Cook) Denny, natives of that land. Their son Edward Denny was born in Cowles, England, and became the founder of the family in the new world. His son, Colonel Samuel Denny, of Leicester, Massachusetts, was born on the 22d of April, 1731, and died in the old Bay state September 20, 1817. He married Elizabeth Henshaw on the 29th of September, 1757. A most distinguished and influential cit- izen, he served as a lieutenant colonel at the battle of Lexington and participated in many other important engagements of the Revolution- ary war. In 1778 he was chosen as a repre- sentative to the general court and was a mem- ber of the convention to ratify the constitution of the United States in 1788. His name figures prominently on the pages of American history and well may the family be proud of so dis- tinguished an ancestry. Daniel Denny, the grandfather of Andrew E. Denny, was born in Leicester, Massachusetts, January 7, 1764. He served as collector of taxes and held a num- ber of town offices. Emigrating to Vermont, he became one of the early settlers of North-

field and took an active part in the pioneer de- velopment and progress of that place. He mar- ried Betsey Spooner, a native of Hartland, Vermont, whose father was the first lieutenant governor of the Green Mountain state. Their children were Paul S., born in 1792; Aseneth, born in 1794; Adolphus, in 1796; Amassa, in 1798; Sarah, in 1800; Samuel, in 1803; Harriet, in 1805; Eliza, in 1807, and Joseph, in 1810. The father of this family died in 1821.

Samuel Denny, the father of our subject, was born in Northfield, Vermont, September 3, 1803 and was reared upon the old home farm, while in the common schools he acquired his educa- tion and afterward engaged in teaching for many years, being one of the successful educators of this part of the state. He was also prominent in public affairs and filled a number of town offices. For many years he was justice of the peace, and his rulings were strictly fair and im- partial. His public career is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong. He was always true to his duty, whether it was of a public or private nature, and his genuine worth won him the regard of all with whom he was associated. In his political views he was an old-line Whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the Republican party, remaining one of its stal- wart supporters until his death, which occurred in 1874. He was united in marriage with Pru- dence Ellis, a daughter of Jabez and Prudence (Mack) Ellis, the former a native of Lenox, Massachusetts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Denny were consistent and faithful members of the Congre- gational church, in which he long served as a deacon, and for many years was also superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. His wife was also active in religious work, and her long life, covering ninety years, was in harmony with Christian principles. She was called to her final rest in 1898. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children: Harriet Elizabeth, the widow of L. B. Whittemore ; Andrew Ellis, whose name introduces this record; Addison Ward, who was a wholesale dry goods merchant of Boston, but is now deceased ; Leland H., who died in childhood; George B., of Montpelier : Amassa Miles, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Prudence Isabelle, who died at the age of thirteen years.

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Andrew E. Denny spent the days of his boy- hood and youth upon his father's farm, re- maining there until twenty years of age. During that period he became familiar with all depart- ments of farm work, and he also pursued his education during that time in the district schools and in Thetford Academy. When a young man of twenty years, he went to California, at- tracted by the discovery of gold upon the Pacific slope. Journeying by way of the Nicaragua route, thirty-six days had passed from the time when he sailed from New York until he arrived at San Francisco. In the Golden state he fol- lowed mining and ranching for five years, and on the expiration of that period returned to his native town, where for eight years he carried on agricultural pursuits. He then came to the village of Northfield and for thirty-three years was an active factor in mercantile circles here, owning and controlling a large store, whose . liberal patronage proved a profitable source of income. Although he has retired from active business interests he is still a factor in the man- agement and control of some of the important enterprises, including the woolen mills at Goulds- ville. He has also served as a trustee and the vice president of the Northfield Savings Bank, and is now its president. This is one of the leading financial institutions in this part of the state, and the fact that at its head stands a man of such well known reliability and business probity as Mr. Denny, is an indication that the bank is one well worthy of public patronage.

On the 6th of June, 1861, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Denny and Miss Annette Ashley Ainsworth, of Northfield, a daughter of Henry and Fannie (Jones) Ainsworth, who had form- erly resided in Claremont, New Hampshire. By this marriage there has been born one son, Ad- dison Orcutt, who is now engaged in business in Boston. He married Hattie Fay, of that city, and they have two children: Mildred Wood and Evelyn Whittemore.

Mr. Denny exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Re- publican party, and has served as selectman of the village and also as trustee. He is one of the leading and influential members of the party in this portion of the state, and his fellow towns- men, recognizing his worth and ability, have

called him to represent them in the state leg- islature, where he served in 1870-71 and 1874-5. He is numbered among the most prominent and honored men in this portion of the Green Monn- tain state, and his influence has been of no re- stricted order, for in political circles his opin- ions have carried weight and aided in moulding the public policy. He is a man of genial and social nature, 'and one who is most appreciative of the qualities which go to make up the sum of human happiness. A man of strong individ- uality and indubitable probity, one who has at- tained to a due measure of success in the affairs of life, and whose influence has ever been exerted in the direction of the good, the true and the beau- tiful, this honored gentleman assuredly demands representation in this volume.

HENRY LYMAN KENYON.

Henry Lyman Kenyon, an honored veteran of the Civil war, and the present town clerk and treasurer of Northfield, Vermont, is a man whose worth and ability have gained for him success, honor and public confidence. He enjoys the well earned distinction of being what the public calls a "self-made man," and an analyza- tion of his character reveals the fact that enter- prise, well directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essential features in his success.

A native of the Green Mountain state, Mr. Kenyon was born in Bennington county, May 23, 1839, and when a child was adopted by Jesse W. and Orpha (Soper) Kenyon. He was reared upon a farm and his boyhood was passed in hard work with a short respite during the win- ter season in which to attend the district schools. On attaining his majority, his capital consisted of a strong heart, a pair of willing hands and the determination to succeed.

Coming to Northfield, Mr. Kenyon obtained a situation in a marble shop, but shortly after- ward the Civil war broke out and he was one of the first to respond to his country's call for aid in putting down the rebellion. On the 2nd of May, 1861, he enlisted for three months in Company F, First Vermont Volunteer In- fantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he served at New- port News until his term of enlistment expired. He then returned to Dorset, Ver-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

mont, but on the 28th of August, 1862, he re-enlisted for nine months, this time becom- ing a member of Company C, Fourteenth Ver- mont Volunteer Infantry. With his regiment he aided in the defense of Washington, D. C., and served as regimental clerk until mustered out of service June 30, 1863. For a third time he entered the army, September 3, 1864, enlist- ing at Arlington, in Company E, Fifth Ver- mont Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg and Cedar Creek, and for a part of the time was detailed as clerk at the Vermont brigade headquarters. The war having ended and his services being no longer needed, he was finally discharged June 19, 1865, and returned home with a war record of which he may be justly proud.

Mr. Kenyon was married January 20, 1864, to Miss Mary E. Hill, a daughter of Alvah and Sarah (Hall) Hill, and two children blessed this union, namely: Sadie E., who was born May 17, 1865, and died August 2, 1895, and Helen M., who was born March 20, 1870, and was married September 24, 1901, to Willard D. Allen, of St. Albans, Vermont. The wife and mother departed this life February 15, 1889.

In 1866 Mr. Kenyon settled in Northfield, where he engaged in clerking in a store for a time, and then embarked in mercantile business on his own account as a member of the firm of Kenyon & Emerson. Subsequently the firm was changed to Kenyon & Newell and still later it became Kenyon & Soper. Mr. Kenyon contin- ued to engage in merchandising quite success- fully until 1885, when he was appointed post- master of Northfield, and for the following five years devoted his attention to the duties of that office. In 1892 he was elected town clerk and is still filling that position in a most creditable and acceptable manner, at the same time serving as town treasurer.

Fraternally Mr. Kenyon is an honored mem- ber of De Witt Clinton Lodge No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been secretary for twenty-three years and is past commander of Boynton Post, G. A. R. In 1890 he ably rep- resented the town of Northfield in the state leg- islature. He is widely and favorably known and is justly regarded as one of the representative and prominent men of his community.

MRS. SOPHRONIA HULING.

Mrs. Sophronia (Chase) Huling was born in Whitingham, Vermont, December 3, 1821, and comes of old New England families. Her paternal grandfather was Abraham Chase, who married Betsey Rich, who belonged to a very prominent family of Rhode Island. Their son, Samuel Chase, was also a native of Whiting- ham, Vermont, born March 5, 1799. After ar- riving at years of maturity, he married Betsey Clement, of Whitingham, who was born in Dracut, Massachusetts, near Lowell. She was one of a large family, including four pairs of twins, David and Daniel being the eldest, then followed Betsey and Richard, Charles and Clarissa and Frederick and Fannie. All lived to mature years, were married and had families of their own, with the exception of Richard, who died when only a few weeks old.

To Samuel and Betsey (Clement) Chase were born: Charles Chase, the. eldest, January 24, 1820, died January 27, 1826; Sophronia, De- cember 3, 1821, the subject of this review ; Freeman Barber (deceased), born July 7, 1824, was for a number of years a resident of Benning- ton; Abigail. January 19, 1828, was mar- ried July 8, 1848, to Elijah Fillmore, but both are now deceased, they had four children : Millard, who married Veda Eyler; Eldora, the wife of William J. Randall, now deceased ; Mar- shall P., who wedded Mary C. Ellsworth and resides in California, and one who died in in- fancy. Samuel P., born June 15, 1832, is living in Marshalltown, Iowa; has two sons. one of whom, Horace, is married and resides in Woonsocket, Long Island, where he is superin- tendent of a large force of mechanics and has one son, Arthur, now sixteen years of age; Miner Chase, the second child of S. P. Chase, engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Allerton, Iowa, is married and has three chil- dren : Mabel, Maud and Irene. Perham Chase, the youngest member of the family of Samuel and Betsey Chase, now living in Marshalltown. Iowa, was married December 30, 1858. to Huldah E. Craig.

Sophronia (Chase) Huling was married on the 28th of January, 1840, to Daniel Huling, Jr., of Bennington, a son of Daniel Huling, Sr , of

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this place. Both father and son were agricul- turalists. Daniel Huling, Jr., was active, pro- gressive and successful in business affairs and was also prominent in political circles. He held many offices of trust in his native town, and was esteemed and honored by all who knew him, be- cause of his upright life and the influence he exerted in behalf of all measures for the gen- eral good. He has one surviving sister, Mrs. Annie Blackmer, of Bennington Center, who has one son, Huling Blackmer, who is a member of the firm of Chandler & Blackmer, of that place.

To Mr. and Mrs. Huling were born five children: Sophronia M., born September 24, 1842, and who died in childhood; Edward C., who was born October 26, 1844, and is now liv- ing in Chicago; Henrietta, (Mrs. Starrett, of Chicago), who was born February 26, 1847, and has been twice married; Melissa, who was born February 19, 1849, and is the wife of C. H. Mason, of Bennington ; Catherine, who was born May 29, 1852, and died June 26, 1866. There are several grandchildren, born to the only son of Mrs. Huling, namely, Walter, Edward B., Clarence and Gertrude, the nast named the wife of George Gaylord, of Chicago, the marriage having taken place in October, 190I.

Daniel Huling died November 15, 1876, at the age of fifty-seven years, his birth having oc- curred on the 10th of April, 1819. He passed away at the old family homestead in Bennington, where Mrs. Huling is still living, at the age of eighty years.

SIDNEY H. WESTON.

Sidney Hervey Weston, of Winooski, Ver- mont, a prominent member of the honorable class of self-made men, was born in Chesterfield, Essex county, New York, December 16, 1824, and was the son of Harvey and Matilda ( Mace) Weston. His boyhood was destitute of educational ad- vantages, and was spent in assisting in the culti- vation of an unimproved farm, but at the age of twenty years he purchased his time of his father. and went to Waltham, Vermont; later he went home and then went to Mr. Scilly's select school at Underhill and supported himself while attending the school. After attaining his majority he went to New York, with some money which he had

saved, but shortly after went to Essex, Vermont, where he bought a farm at Butler Corner, im- proved it, bought another farm, raised cattle and sheep and went into the butcher business also. Shortly after he purchased the old hotel, of which he became proprietor, at the same time keeping a livery stable. He purchased a part of his pres- ent farm, which he has since added to until he possesses an estate of five hundred acres in the town of Colchester, and also a large number of acres in South Burlington, Vermont, besides hav- ing sold the government a part of the land on which Fort Ethan Allan now stands. He owns twenty-two hundred acres of land. He bought the Burlington Lime Company for fourteen thousand dollars, and the Penniman & Noyce lime business for seven thousand dollars, consoli- dated them and now owns and runs them suc- cessfully. Agricultural pursuits, however, have not occupied all his time. Among other com- mercial enterprises he has been extensively en- gaged in the meat, grocery, ice and lumber busi- ness, being one of the organizers of the Winooski Lumber Company and now its owner. He has large interests in lumber, iron and hotel property and mercantile business in New York. He early became interested in the Winooski Savings Bank, and in 1878 was made president, which office he has since held. He incorporated the Winooski Aqueduct Company, which supplies Winooski with water. In politics he is a Republican, and his fellow citizens have paid him the compliment of sending him two consecutive terms to represent them in the state legislature. Mr. Weston is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which, as well as to its building fund, he has contributed liberally, in addition to giving his services, for many years, as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. He is a member of Webster Lodge, F. & A. M.

Mr. Weston married, in 1847, Philinda Ford, daughter of Warren Ford, of Essex, Vermont. Their children are: Warren F., born February 4, 1849, was in business with his father, died in November, 1892: Matilda, born April 15, 1851, married George F. Tobey, of the firm of To- bey & Catlin, of Winooski, Vermont; Hervey S., born March 12, 1857, was a wholesale dealer in provisions, also owned the ice business in Winooski, died January 9. 1892; Ina M., born

SH Weston

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THE STATE OF VERMONT. 325

November 5, 1860, married George B. Catlin, of the firm of Tobey & Catlin; and Clarence G., born October 26, 1863, is employed by his father. Mrs. Weston died April 28, 1887, and Mr. Weston married, December 30, 1890, Mrs. Har- riet Bartram, daughter of Joseph Fairbanks, of Sheldon, Vermont.

HENRY STEBBINS WALBRIDGE.

Henry Stebbins Walbridge, manufacturer of stereoscopes at North Bennington, was born No- vember 13, 1829, at Bennington, on one of the ancestral properties located across the river from the North Bennington road. A brief history of the Walbridge family may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of J. Edward Walbridge. Mr. Walbridge lived on the paren- tal farm until eight years of age, then spent an equal number of years with his grandparents, who lived near, attending in the mean- time the common schools of North Bennington. The following five years he was engaged in mackerel fishing, afterwards being employed in general farming until 1861. Embarking then in the manufac- turing business, he carried on wagon-making for several years, at the same time being employed to some extent in grinding lenses. In 1876 Mr. Walbridge began making the entire stereoscope, and has since built up an extensive trade, employing at the present time twenty-five men, and as head of the H. S. Walbridge Company owning and operating two finely equipped factories, in which the latest improved machinery is used. He manufactures a superior line of stereoscopes, which are sold in all parts of the Union, and in the leading cities of foreign countries, his orders from Lon-

don, Liverpool, Stuttgart, Amsterdam, Paris, and Australia being very large. He is one of the oldest established manufacturers of this locality, and has obtained many patents on his manufac- tures. He is president of the company with which he is identified, while his son, Herbert S. Wal- bridge, is secretary and treasurer. Politically he is a Republican, but has persistently refused all official honors. He belongs to the Methodist

HENRY STEBBINS WALBRIDGE.

Episcopal church, of which he has been steward many years.

Mr. Walbridge married. December 25, 1854.

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Maria Woodward, a daughter of Arnold and Jane ( Rogers) Woodward, formerly of Guilford, but later of Woodford, Vermont, where both parents spent their declining years, Mr. Wood- ward dying at the age of eighty-five years, and his wife at the age of threescore and ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Walbridge have four children: J. Edward, a sketch of whom may be found else- where in this biographical work; Herbert S., in partnership with his father, married Rose Buck- man, by whom he has one child, Henrietta ; Flora L., wife of Rev. W. L. Bailey, resides in Colo- rado: and Effie M., wife of Walter R. White, a hotel proprietor and mill-owner at North Ben- nington, has four children, Ralph, Wells G., Les- lie and Edward.

JEROME BONAPARTE PARMENTER.

The practical creator of the Troy Daily Press and its publisher and editor for many years was the gentleman whose name is the cap- tion for these memoirs. He was born in 1839 in Pittstown, near Johnsonville, in Renssalaer county, New York, and died at his home in Bennington, Vermont, April 27, 1891. The Troy Daily Press was established by Hawley Broth- ers in 1867, but it was not until the following year, when it was purchased by Mr. Parmenter and Charles C. Clark, that it obtained recogni- tion as a valuable and -progressive journal. The editorial leaders, which for a long time were principally from Colonel Parmenter's pen, were scholarly and vigorous, attracted wide interest and favorable comment and were generally of a character to mould and influence public senti- ment. Mr. Clark's death occurred February 12, 1873, and Colonel Parmenter subsequently be- came the owner of the establishment, and his sole proprietorship continued until April 1, 1883, when George E. Eaton, who died January 17, 1891, purchased an interest therein. This part- nership continued until the formation of the Troy Press Company, in which Messrs. Par- menter and Eaton then had a controlling interest. In December, 1889, the holdings of both of these gentlemen in the concern were disposed of, and Colonel Parmenter's connection with the Press ceased.

Jerome Bonaparte Parmenter was the young-

est son of Dr. Aziel F. Parmenter. The family's descent is traced from Jehan Parmentier, a dis- tinguished navigator, who was born in Dieppe, France, in 1694. Jacques Parmentier, a painter of celebrity, who was called to England in 1676 to decorate Montague House (afterward the British Museum), was a descendant of Jehan Robert Parmentier, the founder of the American family, and settled in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1648. Ilis son, Benjamin, in 1716 removed to Newport, Rhode Island; he became the fa- ther of a son also named Benjamin, who was the father of John Newton Parmenter. Dr. Aziel Parmenter, the second son of the last-named, graduated from a Massachusetts medical col- lege, was a successful teacher for some years, married in 1820 and eventually located near Johnsonville, where his children were born.

Jerome B. Parmenter received his initial schooling under most favorable auspices-at home under the preceptorship of his cultured father. He was graduated from Union College in 1857, one of the youngest men who ever re- ceived a diploma from that time-honored institu- tion. Immediately thereafter he entered upon the study of law with his brothers, Roswell A. and Franklin J. Parmenter. He had just begun his practice when the call to arms summoned the patriotic young men to enlist in defense of the imperiled Union. He became a captain in the One Hundred and Sixty-Ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, a regiment in which Colonel Parmenter proved a brave and capable officer. Disabled during the siege of Charleston by the concussion produced by the explosion of a shell while he was acting colonel of the regiment, he was sent to the Beaufort, South Carolina, hos- pital. His injury proved permanent, necessi- tating his retirement from the service in De- cember, 1863, when he resigned his commission. Returning to Troy in 1864, he resumed the prac- tice of law in association with his brothers until his newspaper connection was formed as above set forth. Colonel Parmenter married Miss Emma Stewart, of Bennington, Vermont, and he made his residence in that village for some years prior to his decease. His son, Edward, born in 1869, resides in Bennington. He mar- ried in July, 1891, Bessie A., daughter of Ernest Amador, late of North Adams, Massachusetts,

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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 58

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