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 61

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 61

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has held all the offices ; to the Grand Lodge, which he has served as grand master; and also was representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is an active member of the A. L. Pike Post, G. A. R., in which he has filled all of the offices, and for several years served as commander, be- sides which he was at one time on the staff of General Peck as deputy commander. He like- wise belongs to the Deerfield Valley Medical As- sociation, in which he has refused all offices, al- though he was elected its president. He is a Universalist in his religious views.

Dr. Perry married, first, April 27, 1869, Ida B. Cutler, who was born in Wallingford, daugh- ter of Edward A. and Electa M. Cutler. Mr. Cutler was a well known hotel-keeper, and after his death Mrs. Cutler, who had become familiar with the business, purchased the Sadawga Spring House at Whitingham, and managed it success- fully until her death. Mrs. Ida B. Perry died at the age of forty-nine years, leaving four children, namely: Carl S., Grace A., Forest C. and Ed- ward A. Perry. Carl S. Perry is a business man of Clarksburg, Massachusetts, and the remaining children reside at Readsboro. Dr. Perry mar- ried, second, October 16, 1901, Daisy E. Dunn, a native of Rowe, Massachusetts.

EDGAR VALENTINE TRULL, M. D.

Edgar V. Trull, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Manchester, has been in active prac- tice in this village for a quarter of a century. He was born in Cohoes, New York, August 26, 1854, a son of the late Stephen V. Trull. John Trull, the Doctor's paternal grandfather, spent his early life in Cambridge, a part of the town of Jackson, New York, and there subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits. He thereafter purchased a farm in Illinois, and carried on his chosen occu- pation most successfully for several years; then returned east. and spent the declining years of his life with his son, Stephen V. Trull, at Cohoes, New York, dying there at the age of seventy-six years. He was much interested in state and na- tional affairs, and was widely known as a political speaker of note. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Valentine, was born in Adams, New York, and died aged seventy-five years. She was a member of the Baptist church. Five children

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were born of their marriage, namely: Rebecca, who died at the age of fifty-eight years, was a Abigail, Samuel, Stephen V. and Ezra.

Stephen V. Trull was born in Jackson, New York, and there grew to man's estate, receiving a common school education. He located first in Troy, New York, where he worked for awhile in an axe factory, then removed to Cohoes, New York, continuing his employment as an axe-maker there for a time. Subsequently turning his atten- tion to railway work, he accepted the contract for raising all the bridges on the Erie canal between Albany and Buffalo, New York. He also built the Way lock at West Troy, New York, after- ward having charge of the construction of a sec- tion of the railroad between Mechnicsville and Schuylerville, New York. Going then to South Brighton, Framingham, he took the contract to build a dam for the Boston water works. Return- ing to New York at the expiration of two years, he superintended the building of the double track on that part of the New York Central Railway lying between Albany and Schenectady. Settling then in Amsterdam, New York, Mr. Trull opened a stone yard, and for many years carried on an extensive business, having much of the city street contract work, continuing his residence there tin- til his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was an earnest Republican in his political affilia- tions, and while living in Troy, New York, served as one of the three capitol police commissioners appointed by the governor. He was also quar- termaster of the Thirtieth New York .Regiment, which he raised in Cohoes, New York, under Gov- ernor Morgan. Fraternally he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Inde- pendent Order of Red Men.

Stephen V. Trull married Allison Drysdale, who was born in Troy, New York, a daughter of John Drysdale, a prominent citizen of Cohoes. Mr. Drysdale was born and reared in Scotland, and there married Isabella Bellmain, a native of that country. Soon after their marriage the young couple emigrated to America, locating in Cohoes, New York, where Mr. Drysdale estab- lished a wheelwright's shop, in which he did con- siderable state work, and in later life was super- intendent of streets of the city of Cohoes. Five children blessed their union, namely: John ; George; Allison, who became the wife of Ste- phen V. Trull ; Jane ; and Isabella. Mrs. Drysdale

member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Trull became the parents of six children, four of whom grew to years of maturity, three of them now living, namely: Edgar V., the special subject of this sketch : Elmer, of Amster- dam, New York ; and Elsie, wife of William Gra- ham, of West Troy, New Yrok.

Edgar V. Trull received his preliminary edu- cation in the public schools of Cohoes, after his graduation from the high school working with his father for a year. Deciding then upon a pro- fessional career, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Billings, afterward attending lectures at the medical department of the Union University, Albany, New York, from which he was graduated in 1875. Dr. Trull began the practice of his pro- fession in New Scotland, New York, a year later settling in Cohoes, New York, where he remained two years, during which time he was police sur- geon. Coming then to Manchester, Vermont, he has continued here since, and to-day controls a large local practice. and has a firmly established reputation as a skillful and progressive physi- cian. The Doctor has written much on medical topics, and is a member of both the State Medical and the Bennington County Medical Societies. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Congregational church.

On October 30, 1877, Dr. Trull married Miss Katherine Efner, a daughter of John Efner, a life-long resident of Middleburg, Schoharie coun- ty, New York. Mrs. Trull was born in Mid- dleburg, New York, and died in Manchester, Ver- mont, at the early age of thirty years. Of the three children born of their union, but one is now living, Bertha E. Trull. The Doctor married, sec- ond, October II, 1887, Harriet A. Purdy.

JAMES K. FULLERTON.

Among the representative citizens of Water- bury, Vermont, is numbered James K. Fullerton, who is now so efficiently serving as clerk of the town. A native of Washington county, he was born in Berlin on the 2d of January, 1837, and be- longs to an old and highly respected family of this state. His paternal grandfather, Edward Fuller- ton, was a native of England, and on his emigra- tion to America in 1786 settled in Vermont, where

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he continued to make his home throughout life, in all the relations of life he has been found true his occupation being that of farming. In his to every trust reposed in him. younger years he served as major in the state mi- In 1863 Mr. Fullerton was united in marriage with Sophia Burnham, a daughter of Judge Arial Burnham, and to them have been born four chil- dren, as follows : James Burnham, Henry 11., 1.ema S. and Dean S. litia. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary McCollough, who was born in the north of Ire- land, and came to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century, locating in Ver- mont. By this union were born the following children : Edward, Horatio, John, Calvin, Han- JOHN STEDMAN HOLDEN. son, Sophia and Mary. The father of this family died about 1850, at the advanced age of ninety- nine years and six months, and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-seven years.

Horatio Fullerton, the father of our subject, was born in Northfield, Washington county, Ver- mont, in 1799, and was reared upon a 'farm. Throughout life he continued a resident of his na- tive county, living first in Berlin and later in Waitsfield. He married Miss Sophia Jeffords, a daughter of Moses Jeffords, and they became the parents of six children, namely : Mary Ann, de- ceased ; Henry, a resident of Montpelier ; Caro- line ; George H., of Waitsfield ; James K., of this review ; and Calvin F. After a useful and well spent life the father died in 1886, and his wife departed this life in 1881.

On the home farm James K. Fullerton passed the days of his boyhood and youth, and received a good practical education in the district and high schools. On starting out in life for himself he first engaged in clerking in a store in Waitsfield, and later had charge of a store in Brookfield, Ver- mont, for three years. In 1864 he removed to Waterbury and accepted the position of cashier in the Waterbury National Bank, which he held for five years. At the end of that period he em- barked in the dry-goods business at Waterbury as a member of the firm of Richardson & Fullerton, which connection continued for fifteen years. Mr. Fullerton was next engaged in the fire and life insurance and also the real estate business, which he carried on for some time with good success. In 1895 he was elected town clerk and has since filled that office ; he served as town treasurer for fifteen years. His political support is given the men and measures of the Republican party, and he takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics. His official duties have always been most faithfully and satisfactorily performed, and

John S. Holden, who resides in Bennington, claims Massachusetts as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Charlton, on the 9th of May, 1845. His father, Lewis Holden, was a native of Barre, Massachusetts, in which place the grandfather and great-grandfather, both bearing the name of Nathan, were also born, reared, and resided there for many years. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation and married Experi- ence Clark, by whom he had eleven children, all of whom reached years of maturity, while three are still living, namely: Parker, a resident of Wor- cester, Massachusetts ; Harriet, the wife of Mil- ton Stone, of Barre; and Mary, the wife of Amos Pike, of Worcester. The parents both died when forty-seven years of age.

Lewis Holden was reared in the old home in Barre, and to the public school system of that place was indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. Throughout his entire life he was engaged in business as a shoe manufacturer and in farming. He was united in marriage to Eliza A. Howlett, who was born in Woodstock. Connecticut .. Her father. John Howlett, was al- so a native of Woodstock and was a shoemaker by trade ; his death occurred in Charlton, Massa- chusetts, when he had attained the very advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife, Mrs. Bet- sey Howlett, passed away at the age of forty-one years. They were the parents of four children. namely : Caroline, wife of Charles Bosworth : Rosella, wife of Charles French ; Ira ; and Mrs. Holden. To Mr. and Mrs .. Lewis Holden were born eight children : Charles L., a resident of Pal- mer, Massachusetts; Julia, now deceased, who married George L. Rockwell, of Hartford, Con- necticut ; Henry P., who was with his brother. John S. for a number of years, and who passed away in April, 1900; John S .; Gilbert, who has

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also departed this life; Daniel F., who lives in Palmer, Massachusetts ; Elizabeth A., the wife of Frank B. Pope, of Bennington ; and Anna, who became the wife of Edward E. Hart, of Benning- ton. The father of this family was called to his final rest at Charlton, in 1863, but the mother is still living (1902) at the ripe old age of eighty- five years, making her home in Bennington with her daughter, Mrs. F. B. Pope, as did her hus- band. Mrs. Holden holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and her life has ever been in harmony with its teachings and princi- ples.

John S. Holden spent the early years of his life in Charlton, Massachusetts, and pursued his education in the common schools and in Nichols Academy, Dudley, Massachusetts. Later he at- tended Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Massa- chusetts, and was fitted for a business career by a course in Eastman's Business College at Pough- keepsie, New York. Subsequently he went to Hartford, Connecticut, and while in that city served on the police force for three years, being the youngest man ever appointed to the position in that city up to that time. He afterward em- barked in general merchandising in Palmer, Mas- sachusetts, operating three stores in connection with his brother, Henry P. Holden. He was next engaged in the operation of an oil refinery on the Miller farm, in Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, which he conducted for a number of years, and then sold out to the Standard Oil Company. His next venture was the building and operating of a woolen mill at Palmer, Massachusetts. In this enterprise he was associated with his brother Henry P., and with the aid of a superintendent they operated their mill for seven years, on the expiration of which period our subject sold his interest to his brother Henry P. and to Superin- tendent Fuller. In the meantime he had become financially interested in a wire mill which em- ployed three hundred operatives, and was the largest industrial concern of Palmer, Massachu- setts, but in 1892 he disposed of his stock in that business.

In 1889 Mr. Holden, in connection with Char- les W. Leonard, bought the mills known as the Bennington Woolen Mills, and operated them up to 182 11nder the name of John S. Holden Man- ufacturing Company, and in 1892 Arthur J. Hol-

den, son of Mr. John S. Holden, was taken into the partnership, which has since been known as Holden, Leonard & Company ; they employ three hundred and fifty men. The company also oper- ates the Oneko Woolen Mills at New Bedford, Massachusetts, where they employ three hundred operatives. In 1897 Mr. Holden, in connection with Mr. Leonard, purchased the Woodbury Granite Company, became president of the com- pany, was also a member of the directorate and the largest stockholder. The Hardwick & Wood- bury Railroad was also purchased by Messrs. Holden & Leonard, Mr. Holden serving as president of the company. In 1890 he removed to Bennington and purchased the John V. Hall House. Mr. Holden is of resourceful business ability, forms his plans readily, is determined in their execution and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

In 1868 the marriage of Mr. Holden and Miss Jennie E. Goodell, a daughter of Cyrus Goodell, of Hartford, Connecticut, was celebrated. Cy- rus Goodell was born in Glastonbury, that state, and was in the insurance business for many years but died in 1872 at the age of seventy-one years. His wife bore the maiden name of Almira Burr. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut, as was her father, James Burr, who was a very promi- nent and influential citizen there. Alfred E. Burr, one of the early proprietors of the Hartford Times, was a brother of Almira Burr. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodell were born three children. of whom Mrs. Holden alone survives. Mr. and Mrs. Holden have five children : Arthur J. Hol- den ; Alice H., wife of George H. Bickford, of Hardwick, Vermont; Lula J. : Florence E., wife of Theodore L. Thomas of New York: and Clarence L., a student. In his political views Mr. Holden is a Republican, staunch and earnest in his advocacy of the principles of the party. For four years he was a trustee of Bennington vil- lage and its president for one year : he is also the president of the Bennington County Bank, and since 1800 has been one of its directors. He and his family are prominent and active members and workers in the Congregational church. For a number of years he has been one of its trustees, and both his son and daughter are teachers in the Sunday-school. Fraternally he is a member of Mt. Anthony Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma-

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sons. Mr. Holden has attained a due measure of prosperity in the affairs of life, and his influence has ever been exerted for good.

JAMES SMITH PIERSON.

Vermont has had her heroes in the great struggle for freedom and right, upon land and water, in some of the greatest battle of modern times. She has had her orators in legislative halls and her statesmen in the Senate and Congress of the nation, who have reflected honor and glory upon the state. To each and all praise should be given, but it has remained for one of her sons, James Smith Pierson, to carve for himself a niche in the temple of fame ; in the line of inven- tions, unsurpassed, if, in fact, equalled by any man of modern times.

He came of that rugged ancestry for which Vermont has been ever famous, his forefathers having been pioneers of the town of Shelburne, who suffered the privations and hardships inci- dent to that life. Here they made a clearing in the primeval forests, and by incessant toil and thrift rose to a place in advance of their neigh- bors. They located upon a tract of land where the Webb farm now stands, a large part of which they at one time owned; they erected a log cabin, which was in time succeeded by a stone house, the first of its kind in this section. Some member of the family had learned the art of carpet-mak- ing, and the floors of the dwelling were later cov- ered with these, which at that time were consid- ered great luxuries and rare curiosities, and which people drove miles from all directions to see.

Here the father of James S. Pierson, Smith F., was born August 29, 1802 ; he followed the voca- tion of a farmer, and was a man who was very highly respected by all who knew him, and died aged eighty-two years. His wife, who was Miss Lydia B. Tabor, was born in Shelburne, Vermont, her family, like her husband's, being pioneers of that town; she died at the age of seventy-six years.

James Smith Pierson, son of the parents named, was born in Shelburne, December 8, 1840. After attending the public schools of Burlington until he was seventeen years of age, he went to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he found employment as a clerk in his brother's store for a

few months. He then returned to Burlington, where he was occupied in learning the trade of a machinist until 1862, when he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company C, Twelfth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, but was discharged on account of sickness before his term of service expired. For nearly five years, owing to discase contracted while in the army, the state of his health prevented any active employment. He next removed to the city of New York and gave his attention to the development of Professor Lowe's invention of water gas, the success of which is due largely to the improvements he invented and perfected in the apparatus for manufacturing the gas, which is now universally used in America and has re- duced the cost of gas millions of dollars per year. He was for several years engaged in constructing gas works in seventy of the largest cities in this country, and for two years was general super- intendent of the United Gas Improvement Com- pany of Philadelphia, the largest gas corporation in the world ; he received a salary of ten thousand dollars per year. After accumulating a fortune he returned to Burlington, where he purchased his father's farm, and substantially improved it. He also became interested in the gas works, which he practically rebuilt, and to which he added his attachments. He took an active interest in the management of this plant up to the time of his death. He was a director in the Burlington and Waterbury (Connecticut) Gaslight Companies, and president of the latter, also a director in the Burlington Electric Light Company, and had official connection with various other gas com- panies.

Had Mr. Pierson lived, the extent to which his inventive faculties might have demonstrated themselves, is almost incomprehensible. He held the patent on an invention for placing telegraph wires underground, which has been used exten- sively throughout the world. He also patented what is now known as the. "chute" coal wagon, used in all the large cities throughout the Union. He also patented a machine for stamping and cutting soap, and had a number of others in progress. He constantly studied the best works upon mechanism, and was a deep thinker.

Mr. Pierson was an adherent of the Republican party, but never sought or held any office. He belonged to several social organizations in the city

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of Burlington and attended the Protestant Epis- copal church. His death occurred April 10, 1898. He married, December 7, 1872, Lucille, daughter of James and Elenor (Pelletreau) Blake, of Brooklyn, New York. They adopted a daughter, Constance. Mrs. Pierson's father, James Blake, was a very prominent silk (Corticelli) manufac- turer and died at the age of sixty-three years. Her mother, who had seven children, died at the age of sixty-four years.

HON. HENRY R. START.

Judge Henry R. Start, of the supreme bench of Vermont, and a resident of Bakersfield, in that state, traces his descent from Captain Moses Start, who emigrated to Vermont in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and was an active and prominent figure in the town of Bakersfield. He married Margaret Gould, and was the father of a large family.

Simeon Gould Start, son of Captain Moses and Margaret (Gould) Start, was born July 28, 1805, in Bakersfield, Vermont, and spent his youth on the farm, his education being obtained in the district schools and supplemented by a wide fund of general information in his later years. His early life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and a clerkship in a country store. He early in- vested his modest savings in a farm in Bakers- field, which he conducted successfully until 1865, when he removed into the village, and during the last few years of his life he was chiefly engaged in the public affairs of the town. He was for- merly a Democrat, but during the Civil war acted with the Republican party, and after 1872 was an independent in his political views. Honestly dis- charging the duties of many town offices, he was the principal trial justice of the peace for more than a quarter of a century. He represented the town in the legislature of 1872, and was ever con- sidered a man of marked and original personality.

Mr. Start married, October 2, 1833, Mary Sophia, daughter of Comfort and Sophia (Corse) Barnes. Of this marriage there were born: Rolo N .; Orza G., who is assistant judge of the Frank- lin county court ; Charles M., who was formerly attorney general of Minnesota, and is now chief justice of that state; Lorenzo B .: Merritt L .: Henry R., mentioned at length hereinafter; and

Ella S., deceased. Mrs. Start died April 22, 1862, and on April 10, 1865, Mr. Start married Mrs. Betsey Perkins, who is still living, at the age of ninety-three. In 1893, at the age of eighty- eight, Mr. Start closed his long life of activity and usefulness.

Henry R. Start, son of Simeon Gould and Mary Sophia ( Barnes) Start, was born December 28, 1845, at Bakersfield, Vermont. He was edu- cated in the comnion schools of his native town, and in the Bakersfield and Barre academies. At this time the Union was in the throes of the great civil strife, and his patriotic blood was stirred by the call to arms. Although under twenty years of age, he enlisted in Company A, Third Regi- ment, Vermont Volunteers, and was discharged in July, 1865.

Returning to Franklin county, he began the study of law with M. R. Tyler, and was admitted to the bar at St. Albans, Vermont, at the April term of the county court in 1867. He immediately began practice in Bakersfield, and, while retain- ing his residence in that town, formed a partner- ship with A. P. Cross, of St. Albans, the firm be- ing under the name of Cross & Start, and estab- lishing a large practice. From 1876 to 1878 Judge Start was state's attorney for Franklin county. In 1890 he was elected to the judgeship of the supreme court, being accorded the almost unprecedented tribute of an election without op- position. His experience in the trial of cases had given him a wide range of knowledge which especially fitted him for the position he was called upon to fill, and until the present time (1903) he has discharged the duties of the office in a manner so thoroughly creditable to himself and so entirely satisfactory to the people of the state. as to need no further comment here.

In 1880 Judge Start was elected a senator from Franklin county, and served on the judici- ary committee and as chairman of the joint stand- ing committee on the reform school. From 1880 to 1888 he was one of the trustees of the Vermont Reform School, and was, the last named year, one of the presidential electors who cast the vote of Vermont for Harrison and Morton. In 1890 he was elected representative from Bakersfield, and at the beginning of the session of that year was chosen speaker of the house of representa- tives. He has always taken an active part and in-

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Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol I, Part 61

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