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 59
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JEROME B. PARMENTER.
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now of Paterson, New Jersey ; they have a son, Ray Edward Parmenter, born January 26, 1897.
Colonel Parmenter did something more than formulate interesting articles and express opin- ons. He was accounted the most correct writer of English of the capable journalists of New York. His literary culture was thorough. He loved good books, good deeds, good pictures and incidentally it may be mentioned that one of his favorite pastimes was the use of the artist's brush, and there is in the possession of the members of his family a number of pictures of creation which attest his artistic skill and taste. The strength and virility of his political articles gave to many the impression that he was a com- bative man. This was not the fact. His was a gentle, sympathetic nature. He was ardent and impulsive, and his impulses always led him in the direction of generosity. He had a cath- olic benevolence and was tolerant of anything except meanness. There was a seeming reserve in his manner that induced some to think him cold and distant. Those who knew him best can bear testimony that this view wronged the man. His friends knew he was warm and genial and that his soul was filled with poetry, and that his heart sorrowed over all the misfortunes of his fellow creatures.
EDWIN PORTER, M. D.
The world has little use for the misanthrope. The universal truth of brotherhood is widely recognized, also that he serves God best who serves his fellow men. There is no profession or line of business that calls for greater self-sac- rifice or more devoted attention than the medical profession, and the successful physician is he who through love of his fellow men gives his time and attention to the relief of human suffer- ing. Dr. Porter has long been one of the ablest representatives of his noble calling, having suc- cessfully engaged in practice at Northfield, Ver- mont, for almost half a century.
He was born at that place, April 24, 1826, a son of Benjamin and Sophia (Fullerton) Por- ter. The birth of his father occurred at what was known as Vallentown, Connecticut, in 1788, and his paternal grandfather, Rev. Mathias Por- ter, was also a native of that state. The latter
was a graduate of Brown University, and as a minister of the Congregational church, engaged in preaching in Connecticut for some years, but finally, in 1790, removed to Plainfield, New Hampshire, where he passed the remanider of his life, dying there at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife was eighty-eight years at the time of her death. This worthy couple had a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, namely: Isaac, who was a graduate of Brown University and a physician in New Hampshire and Massachusetts through- out his active business life; Benjamin, the father of our subject; John, a prominent physician of Duxbury, Massachusetts; Jabez, a farmer of New Hampshire; William, a teacher, who died at the early age of thirty years; and Phoebe. who became the wife of Rev. Mr. Walker, of Massachusetts.
Dr. Benjamin Porter was educated at Leb- anon (New Hampshire) Academy, and in early life taught school for a time. He studied medi- cine with his brother Isaac, and later attended lectures at Hanover, New Hampshire, in Dart- mouth College. Coming to Northfield, Vermont, in 1816, he at once opened an office and was not long in building up a large and lucrative prac- tice, which he enjoyed throughout life. In early days he had to take many long drives over very rough roads in visiting his patients. He was an old-line Whig in politics, and for a number of years had charge of what was known as the sur- plus money for the state. In addition to his professional duties, he dealt largely in real es- tate, and was one of the most successful and prosperous men of the community. He was also an active and prominent member of the Congre- gational church and a liberal contributor to its support, while fraternally he was connected with the Masonic order. After a long, useful and well spent life, he passed away in 1876, hon- ored and respected by all who knew him. His wife had died in 1863, at the age of sixty-two years. She was a daughter of Edward Fuller- ton, who came to Northfield from Newfane and lived to the extreme old age of ninety-nine years and six months. Dr. and Mrs. Porter were the parents of four children, namely: Elizabeth, born in 1823, became the wife of Dr. J. B. Smith, of Brookfield, Vermont: Edward and
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Edwin were twins, and the former, who was en- gaged in mercantile business in California for thirty years, is now living retired in that state; Benjamin F., born in 1833, is a real estate broker of California.
Dr. Edwin Porter attended the University of Vermont and after leaving that institution, stud- ied medicine with his father until he entered Hanover Medical College, where he received his degree of M. D. Since then he has engaged in active practice at Northfield, and has met with marked success in his chosen calling. Prosperity has attended his well-directed efforts and he is now one of the largest real estate owners in the place.
In 1867 Dr. Porter was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Carpenter, a daughter of Judge Heman Carpenter, of Northfield, and born in Middlesex; in 1891 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife. Politi- cally, the Doctor has always been identified with the Democratic party, and socially, he was for many years a member of the Conversational Club, and served as its president. He is also a member of the Vermont Medical Society. Wherever he goes he wins friends and has the happy faculty of having ability to retain them. His popularity has made him a great favorite in all circles.
W. E. HUNTLEY.
William E. Huntley, after passing many years of his life in the cultivation of the soil, is now living in pleasant retirement in Essex Center, Vermont. He was born in Duxbury, Vermont, July 16, 1827, a son of the Rev. Isiah and Eunice (Corse) Huntley. The former named was born in Marlowe, New Hampshire, in 1787, and re- moved with his parents to Vermont in the early part of the nineteenth century. Early in life he became the minister of the Freewill Baptist church, and later of the Baptist church, and he continued to preach in Vermont for more than half a century, in Chittenden county, Fairfax, Col- chester, Westford, Essex and Jericho. In 1852 he represented the town of Essex in the legisla- ture. Four of his brothers were also ministers of the gospel; Calvin was a Freewill Baptist, Nathan was a Methodist. Leland was a Baptist,
Isialı was a Baptist, and Allen was a Christian; Selden, the other brother, was a blacksmith by occupation. Mr. Huntley was united in marriage to Miss Eunice Corse, who was born in Green- field, Massachusetts, and removed to Vermont about the same time that her husband's family settled there. Mr. Huntley died at the age of nearly eighty-three years, and his wife died at the age of fifty-seven years.
W. E. Huntley, son of the Rev. Isiah and Eunice Huntley, acquired his education in the Jericho Academy. During the summer months he worked for two years upon a farm ; after com- pleting his studies he taught school for six win- ters, and subsequently he learned the trade of carpenter. Some years later he purchased a farm in Westford, which he cultivated for seven years. In the early part of 1859 he removed to Essex, where he pursued the occupation of farm- ing so successfully that he was enabled to retire in later life with an ample competence and enjoy some of the fruits of his labor. Owing to his industry, good management and economy, he was able to contribute very liberally to the cause of missions. In the year 1884 he gave his first sub- scription to the missionary societies, and in the course of eighteen years he had contributed thirty-five thousand three hundred dollars. In this way he was permitted to advance the cause of Christianity.
In 1850 Mr. Huntley was united in marriage to Miss Eunice R. Williams, a daughter of Ed- mund Williams, of Essex Center. Two children have been born to them, namely: Eva A. and Ella M. Huntley. Ella M. is now the wife of Frank Biglow, and they reside on the farm pre- sented to them by Mr. Huntley ; they have two children, Lucy Rachael Biglow and Grace Hunt- ley Biglow. Mrs. Huntley died in 1877, and Mr. Huntley, in September, 1897, was united in mar- riage to Miss Adell A. Osgood.
JOHN H. WINCH, M. D.
John H. Winch, M. D., a well known and prosperous physician of Northfield, was born in this town, July 30, 1855, a son of Deacon William Winch. Deacon Caleb Winch, his paternal grand- father, spent his early life in Troy, New Hamp- shire. In 1826 he settled in Northfield, Vermont,
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where he was actively engaged in general farm- ing until his death, in 1848. He was for many years a deacon in the Congregational church, and in his political relations was first an old-line Whig, later becoming a Republican. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Farrar, survived. him a short time.
Deacon William Winch was born in Troy, New Hampshire, in 1819, but was reared and educated in Northfield, Vermont. He was a farmer by occupation, for several years having charge of the estate of Governor Paine. He was a deacon in the Congregational church, serving faithfully for more than forty years, holding the office from the time he was first chosen until his death, in 1884. In 1844 he married Lydia Nye, who survived him, dying in 1896. She was a daughter of John F. and Orelia (Catlin) Nye, the former of whom, a soldier in the war of 1812, spent the greater part of his life in Barre and Northfield, Vermont, coming to this state from New York. Deacon and Mrs. Winch were the parents of seven children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: Rev. George W., a Congregational minister at Hol- yoke, Massachusetts; C. M., a farmer in Barre ; Susan E., wife of H. G. Carpenter, of Chelsea, Vermont ; Wallace F., who died at the age of twenty-two years; John H., the subject of this sketch; and Samuel W., a blacksmith at North- field.
John H. Winch was educated at the North- field high school and at the University of Ver- mont, being graduated from the medical depart- ment of the latter institution with the class of 1880. Dr. Winch at once settled as a practi- tioner in Northfield, meeting with such success in his professional labors that he has remained here since, having a large and remunerative prac- tice. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, has been for eight years a member of the local school board, and represented Northfield in the state leg- islature in 1896 and 1897. He is a member of the Vermont State Medical Society, and of Northfield Lodge, I. O. O. F. He attends the Congrega- tional church, of which he is a valued member.
The Doctor married, November 10, 1880, Ella Sylvester. a daughter of Seneca Munroe and Amanda (Holden) Sylvester. Mr. Sylvester was born in Barre, Vermont, about 1828, and died in
1870. Doctor and Mrs. Winch have one child, Cecil S., born in 1888. This year (1902) Cecil S. is sergeant at arms in the legislature at Mont- pelier, in the session of 1902. Dr. Winch is a member of the Washington County Medical So- ciety. He is also a member of the Republican county committee and chairman of the Republican town committee.
JOEL H. GATES.
Joel H. Gates, president of the Howard Na- tional Bank and of the Burlington Cotton Mills of Burlington, Vermont, is a descendant of Thomas Gates, who was born in the county of Essex, England, in 1327, and the family history is traced in England through ten generations down to Stephen Gates, of Hingham, Norfolk county, England, who came to this country in 1638 on the ship Diligent, and settled in Hingham. Massachusetts.
Thomas Gates, grandfather of Joel H. Gates. was a lineal descendant of Stephen Gates, of Hingham, Massachusetts, fifthı generation. Thomas Gates was born at Stow, Massachusetts, June 5, 1755. He spent the early years of his life in his native state, and when a young man re- sponded to the Lexington alarm, and from it en- listed into the army before Boston, and partici- pated in the siege of that city which occurred in 1775. On June 4, 1778, Mr. Gates married Miss Lydia Hale, of Stow, Massachusetts, and the fol- lowing named children were born to them: Levi, Betsey, Sally, Stephen, Hannah, Mary, Jonathan and Lydia. All the these children were born at Stow, Massachusetts. Mr. Gates died February 14, 1833, and his wife passed away June 17, 1817.
Stephen Gates, father of Joel H. Gates, was the second son born to Thomas and Lydia Gates. He spent the early years of his life in Stow. Massachusetts, where he acquired a common school education. After attaining young man- hood he removed to Townsend, Vermont, and after remaining there a few years removed to Royalston, Massachusetts, where he pursued the occupation of farming for the remainder of his life. On September 26. ISTI, Mr. Gates married Miss Lodema Prentice, of Townshend, Vermont. where she died June 9, 1815. Two children were born of this marriage, Sophia and Wealthy. Mr.
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Gates married, November 23, 1820, for his sec- ond wife, Miss Comfort Graves, of North Lev- erett, Massachusetts, and to them were born five children : Charles W .; Stephen ; Lodema ; Joel, HI. ; and Laura M .. who resides with her brother Joel H. Gates. The father of these children died at Royalston, Massachusetts, October 19, 1847, and. his wife's death occurred at Burlington, Ver- mont, March 25, 1877. Both Mr. Gates and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Baptist church of Royalston, Massachusetts.
Joel H. Gates, youngest son of Stephen and Comfort Gates, was born in Royalston, Massa- chusetts, November 22, 1831. He attended the common schools of that town and remained under the parental roof until he attained the age of six- teen years. He located in Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1851, when he and his brother Stephen com- menced the manufacture of furniture, remaining there until 1858, when they removed to Burling- ton, and continued the furniture business until 1880. This undertaking was successful from the beginning, and the business steadily increased from year to year ; for a number of years they had a large warehouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they employed a large number of hands finishing and shipping their goods to all sections of the United States. Mr. Gates resided in Phil- adelphia from 1860 to 1865, and was engaged in the supervision of this extensive trade. In 1880 the furniture business was given up, and their mills changed to the manufacture of cotton goods, and later, in 1888, a stock company was.organized to continue the business, Mr. Gates acting in the capacity of president of the company. The mills employ about three hundred hands, and are now in successful operation. In 1870 Mr. Gates, in connection with a number of prominent citizens, organized the Howard National Bank, and was appointed one of its first directors ; in 1892 he was elected vice president, and in 1894 was chosen to fill the responsible position of president, the du- ties of which he has performed thoroughly and faithfully up to the present time. Mr. Gates is the only survivor of the original incorporators of the bank, which is one of the most flourishing na- tional banks in the state of Vermont. In 1902 they erected the granite building on the corner of College and Church streets, which is one of the finest bank edifices in northern Vermont. Mr.
Gates personally supervised the entire construc- tion of the building until its completion. This was characteristic of the habits of a lifetime of hard work and frugality which have brought their own reward, as Mr. Gates is to-day one of the largest property owners in the city of Burling- ton, Vermont, and also one of its most prominent and successful business men. The courteous and kindly manner of Mr. Gates has won for him the uniform regard of all whom he has met in busi- ness or social life.
Mr. Gates has been twice married. November 22, 1855, he married Miss Catherine J. Goodell, of Orange, Massachusetts, and the following named children were born to them: Arthur, Clarence L., Minnie L., Stephen J. and Katie M. Gates. The mother of these children died De- cember 23, 1892, at Burlington, Vermont, and Mr. Gates married for his second wife Mrs. Ed- wina L. Sanborn, of Waterbury, Vermont.
NORMAN MARTIN PUFFER.
Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Bennington is the subject of this sketch, Colonel Norman M. Puffer. His life history most happily illustrates what may be obtained by faithful and continued effort in de- votion to an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the elements leading to his success, and his connection with industrial inter- ests has been of decided advantage to this por- tion of the state, promoting its material welfare in no small degree. He is a partner in and the treasurer of the Bennington Knitting Company, and has advanced to this creditable position in the business world entirely through his own efforts.
Colonel Puffer is of German lineage on the paternal side, and of English descent on the ma- ternal side. Samuel T. Puffer, born October 3, 1765, and died October 5, 1842, married Joanna Eames, born November 3, 1766, and died No- vember 27, 1820; both were natives of Connecti- cut. They were the parents of thirteen children, Joanna, Phineas, Aaron, James, Luther, Sophia, Elijah, Clarissa, Elijah II., Martin, Windsor, Mary Ann and Samuel. Martin, of this family, was born May 2, 1802, in Connecticut, where he was reared and learned the machinist's trade, which he followed throughout his entire life. He
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married Mary Ann Follett, and in 1830 removed with his family to Bennington, where he died at the age of fifty-two years. He was a member of the militia, serving with the rank of lieutenant, and in 1840 he was commissioned captain, and was well known throughout his portion of the state as an accomplished officer. His wife, who was born in 1809, long survived him, and died in 1892 at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Both were members of the Universalist church in early life, but later united with the Methodist denomination. Mrs. Puffer was born in Paw- tucket, Rhode Island, and by her marriage be- came the mother of six children, five of whom are yet living: Norman M., referred to at length hereinafter ; Maria, widow of George Raymond, formerly of Bennington and latterly of Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Clarissa, the wife of Henry Tifft, of Hoosick Falls, New York; Charlotte, who married C. E. Green, of New York city ; Wales W., deceased; and Alfred E., of Des Moines, Iowa.
Norman M. Puffer, of the before named fam- ily, was born May 4, 1847, in Bennington, Ver- mont. He acquired his education in the common schools and was but a boy whose studies were unfinished when he laid his books aside and en- listed in his country's service to quell the rebellion. He was only fourteen years old when he enlisted in the Second Regiment of Vermont Volunteers, in 1861, being among the first in the state to offer his services to the government. He became a drummer boy and served with the regimental band until it was disbanded by order of Congress. He re-enlisted in June, 1862, as a musician in Company E, Tenth Vermont Infantry, with which he remained almost throughout the war, and he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, September 30, 1864, a veteran of only seventeen years of age. He was mustered out June 29, 1865. The historian of his regiment says that he was one of the best drummers in the Army of the Po- tomac, and that he was always brave and ever ready to do his duty. His brother Wales was also a member of the regimental band, and his brother Alfred served in the navy until the close of the war. Norman M. Puffer was present at the surrender of General Lee, and also took part in the grand review in Washington, which fol- lowed the surrender of the southern troops at Ap-
pomattox-this being the most splendid military pageant ever witnessed on the western hemis- phere, continuing two days. The drum which was given him at the beginning of the war he carried until 1863, when a new one was furnished him. He then sent the old one home by a comrade, but it never reached its destination and was lost sight of for thirty-five years. In 1898 it was found at a camp fire display which was being held in Pitts- field, Massachusetts, by a Grand Army post. A drummer of that post, when on a parade at the National Grand Army encampment in Washing- ton, in 1892, broke his drum and purchased for two dollars in a pawn shop the drum which had belonged to Puffer. The instrument was retained by the Grand Army post of Pittsfield until the re- union mentioned, when Colonel Puffer's name and address were discovered on the inside of the drum, and he recovered it. It is still in his posses- sion, a prized relic of the times when he followed the starry banner of the nation upon southern battlefields.
In 1872 Colonel Puffer entered the employ of the Valentine Knitting Company, and through faithfulness and capability won promotion from time to time until he was made superintendent of the finishing department. In 1884 he became a member of the firm, and in 1887 was elected treas- urer of the company, in which capacity he has since served. The house manufactures men's, women's and children's underwear on an exten- sive scale, employing eighty skilled operatives in the factory, and the product is shipped to all parts of the country. The house is widely known for its reliability and the excellence of the workman- ship, and not a little of its success and enviable reputation is attributable to the efforts of the treasurer. He is also a director of the Benning- ton County National Bank.
Colonel Puffer is one of the most prominent Grand Army men in the state. In 1873 he as- sisted in organizing Custer Post, and in 1889 Sixth Corps Post No. 112, and has several times occupied the position of post commander and was commander of the Department of. Ver- mont in 1896-7. He has been many times a dele- gate to state and national encampments, and his collection of badges worn on such occasions is re- markably large and complete. He has also per- formed staff duty for General W. G. Veazey and
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General J. G. B. Adams in the capacity of aide-de- camp. He is also quite prominent in the order of Odd Fellows, with which he has been identified since 1872: he has occupied all the chairs in Stark Lodge No. 9; in 1883 he became a member of Bennington Canton, of which he was the first captain ; he afterwards organized the regiment, and he was elected its colonel in 1885, and served in that capacity by successive re-elections until 1890; in 1890 he was elected grand patriarch of the grand encampment; and grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1891, in St. Louis, and in 1892 in Portland, Oregon. In the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with Mount Anthony Lodge No. 13, Temple Chapter No. 8, and Taft Commandery No. 8. He is also a mem- ber of the order of Red Men, and has served as senior sagamore and in other of the highest of- ficial positions. In politics he is a Republican. His efforts in behalf of all these interests which enter into the best life of a progressive and well ordered community, have been continuous and energetic, and he has ever been a prime leader in all worthy movements. He has frequently served as a village trustee, and as village president in 1898.
On November 27, 1873, Colonel Puffer was united in marriage with Olive F. Blackmer, a daughter of Warren and Betsy (Mattison) Black- mer. Her father was a native of Bennington, Vermont, born November 23, 1810, and died April 8, 1889. He was a son of Jason and Hul- dah (Wright) Blackmer, the former a native of Bennington, born April 24, 1770, and died March 9. 1849. and his wife a native of Deerfield, Massa- chusetts. Jason Blackmer was a son of Samuel, born in 1740, and died April 5, 1813, by his mar- riage with Abigail Bronson, born in 1740, and died September 4, 1834. Samuel was the only child of one Blackmer, who came from Taunton, Massachusetts, and located in what was then a trackless wilderness, but is now the site of the beautiful village of Bennington. Warren and Betsy (Mattison) Blackmer were the parents of nine children, Holland, Elmer, Dennis M., Anna Eliza, Barbara C., Marion L., Olive F., Effie C., and one who died in infancy. Of these, Dennis M., Marion L. and Olive F. are now living. Olive F., who is the wife of Colonel Puffer, takes an act- ive and helpful interest in the Woman's Relief
Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Re- public, and in 1901 she served as president of the Department of Vermont. She has also held high official position in the order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Puffer is a zealous and devoted attendant of the Congregational church of Bennington. Col- onel and Mrs. Puffer have a living son, Louis Blackmer Puffer, born July 24, 1886, who is a student in the Bennington high school. Two chil- dren are deceased, Florence, who died September II, 1875, and Warren B., who died December 13, 1883, aged seven years.
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