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 73

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 73

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guished ancestry he holds membership in a num- ber of patriotic organizations; the Bennington Battle Monument and Historical Association, Vermont Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Vermont Society of Colonial Wars. He is also an honorary member of Cus- ter Post, G. A. R., of Bennington. He delights in literature and kindred avocations, and is the possessor of a valuable collection of curios, among them many rare and ancient coins which he gathered while traveling in Syria, Asia Minor and Africa.

On October 7, 1887, Dr. Putnam was mar- ried to Miss Anna Sherwood Hawks, a member of one of the most highly respected families of Brooklyn, New York. Her father, who died in that city at the age of fifty-four, was a member of the firm of Knowlson & Company, bankers and brokers in Wall Street ; her mother, who was Miss Annie Sherwood, is widely known as a writer of much ability, being the author of the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour," and of many others ; she now makes her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Putnam. The members of the Putnam family are highly regarded for their excellent traits of character and their usefulness in the community, and their home is the center of many pleasant gatherings.

GEORGE SAMUEL RUSSELL.

For many years George S. Russell has been identified with the agricultural interests of Ad- dison county, and he now makes his home in Middlebury. His birth occurred in Shelburne, this state, on the 21st of February, 1846. being a son of Harry Russell, also a native of that place, his birth there occurring in September, 1812. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Russell, claimed Hinesburg as the place of his nativity, and his father, Charles Russell, came to the Green Mountain state from Connecticut. being one of the first settlers of Hinesburg. In com- pensation for the service which he rendered in surveying the town, he was given a tract of land, and he finally became the owner of six hundred acres. Thomas Russell also followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation, and in Sheburne, this state, he owned one hundred acres, which he continued to cultivate until his

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life's labors were ended in death in 1816. His wife bore the maiden name of Azuba Rogers, and was a native of Connecticut. She bore her hus- band four children, and her death occurred in Malone, New York, at the age of eighty years, passing away in the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which she was long a faithful member.

Harry Russell spent his entire life in the place of his nativity, where lie was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and his death, which oc- curred at the age of eighty-three years, was oc- casioned by his being thrown from a wagon. He held many of the town offices and was a man of much influence in his community. He mar- ried Maroa Reed, who left two children at her death, Joshua C., the elder, born in 1836, died in Shelburne in 1878, and Imogene Maroa married Egbert B. Wilmot and died in May, 1898, in Orange, New Jersey. For his second wife, Mr. Russell chose Sarah Miner, a native of Shel- burne where her father, Samuel Miner, was num- bered among the early settlers, the latter's fa- ther, Roswell Miner, having come to this state from Connecticut in 1794. The Miner family was planted in America by Thomas Miner, who came from England in 1630 with Governor John Winthrop. Landing at Salem, he settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, removing later to Stonington, Connecticut, where he died in 1690, at the age of eighty-three years. Roswell Miner. who settled in Shelburne was his grand- son. The line has been traced to Sir Henry Miner, of Mendippi Hills, Somersetshire, Eng- land, who died there in 1359.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miner became the pa- rents of a number of children, but only one is now living, Mrs. Ira Russell, of Burlington, Ver- mont. Samuel Miner's widow drew a pension for his services in the war of 1812. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rus- sell, four are now living, George S., of this re- view : Henry W., of Hinesburg; Noble M., a resident of Red Rock, California; and Edmond A., on the old home farm in Shelburne. The mother departed this life at the age of fifty-two years. in January, 1869.

George S. Russell was reared and received his elementary education in the schools of Shel- burne, afterward pursuing his studies at Essex

Center, and subsequently entered Shelburne Academy. At the age of twenty-three years he located on the farm which he still owns, in the town of New Haven, which consists of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and fertile land, and in addition, he also owns another tract of one hundred and forty-seven acres. Until 1901 lie engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and is recognized as one of the leading agricul- turists of this part of the county. At the pres- ent time he makes his home in Middlebury, a part of the time, but retains a place of abode on the farm, which is located on the main road from Vergennes to Middlebury, being distant six miles from the latter place. In 1869 Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Amanda C. Carter, who was born in Monkton, Vermont, in which place her father, Harry W. Carter, was also born. He was a son of Solomon Carter, a native of Connecticut, born in October, 1785. The last named was a son of Solomon Carter, with whom he came from Connecticut to Vermont before 1800. Solomon Carter, Jr., was called to his final rest at the age of eighty-two years, July 10, 1868. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Laura Peck, was born in New Haven, Vermont, and was a daughter of William Peck, whose history will be found in that of Warren Peck, in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Carter became the parents of six children, four of whom grew to maturity, but all are now de- ceased and the mother's death occurred at the age of forty years. Harry W. Carter, the father of Mrs. Russell, was reared on a farm in New Ha- ven, and after reaching his twenty-first year, re- turned to Monkton, where he continued to reside for the succeeding twenty-five years. His last days were spent in his home in New Haven, where he died March 23, 1888, at the age of seventy-five years. He was married to Eliza Beers, a native of Ferrisburg, where her father, Elnathan Beers, was a prominent farmer, he hav- ing come to this state from Connecticut, and his death occurred at the age of eighty-seven years. Her mother, who was in her maidenhood, Sally Capron, was a native of Rhode Island, and she became the mother of five children, but of this number Mrs. Caroline Collins is the only sur- vivor, and she resides in Monkton, having reached the age of ninety-six years. Her mother

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passed away at the age of eighty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had one child, Mrs. Rus- sell, and the mother was called to her final rest March 8, 1888, at the age of sixty-eight years. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Russell has been blessed with one son, Leroy C., who was born May 23, 1874. He is a graduate of the Mid- dlebury College, taught school three years in New York towns, pursued the study of law in Burlington, and is now engaged in practice at Middlebury. He married May Rockwell, of Ashtabula, Ohio, and they have one child, George L. Mr. George S. Russell gives his political sup- port to the Republican party, and he has served as chairman of the board of selectmen, as a jus- tice of the peace and in 1894 was called upon to represent his town in the legislature. His re- ligious preference is indicated by his member- ship in the Congregational church, of which his wife and son are also members.

LEON H. GILLETTE, M. D.

Dr. Leon H. Gillette, a skilfull and prosperous physician of Wilmington, Vermont, is a native of the state, born in Whitingham, March 15, 1869. He comes of honored pioneer stock, being a di- rect descendant of one of the early settlers of the town of Wilmington, in the following direct line.

Timothy Gillette (1), with his sister Milly, moved from Connecticut and settled in Wilming- ton in the year 1784, taking up land in the north- west part of the town and clearing the same for a farm. Of his marriage with Lydia Waters five children were born: Oliver, who lived to old age and died unmarried ; Deborah, who also lived to old age and died unmarried; Timothy, Jr., wlio married Beulah Fitch ; Sylvia, who died unmarried; and Lydia, who married Samuel Negus, Jr.

Timothy, Jr. (2), and his wife were the par- ents of four children, Fitch, Waters, Calista, El- liott. Fitch married Melinda Yeaw, who lived but a short time : later he married Sarepta Yeaw, a sister of the first wife; one child was born of this union, who died in infancy, the wife passing to her rest a few years later, while Fitch lived to the ripe old age of eighty years and died March 4, 1880. Calista died at eighteen years of age,

unmarried. Elliott died in early manhood, un- married.

Waters Gillette (3) was born and reared in Wilmington. After securing all the education furnished by public schools of the time and hav- ing decided upon a professional career, he read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Pulsifer, and completed his professional education at the old State Medical College at Castleton, from which he was graduated in 1831, and he located in Wilmington as a first field of labor. June 28, 1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Brit- tania Whitney, of Marlboro, Vermont. They re- moved to Readsboro, Vermont, in 1834, where

LEON H. GILLETTE, M. D.

Dr. Gillette continued in his professional work until 1840, being prominent in public affairs, and representing the town in the legislature of 1838. In 1840 he removed to Whitingham, where he labored as an active practitioner until his retire- ment from active pursuits in 1881, completing a full half century of active practice. He was a

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very successful physician, caring for an extensive patronage and having a remarkably large terri- tory to cover, making his visits on horseback. Hle was held in high esteem throughout the coun- ty, served them three times in the state legisla- ture from Whitingham, and held various town offices of honor and trust. He died July 7, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-one years, and his wife died September 8, 1885, at the age of sev- enty-two years. She was a woman greatly re- spected by a large circle of friends.

Dr. Waters and Brittania ( Whitney) Gillette were the parents of nine children : Calista D., born June 16, 1833 ; she was married October 17, 1855. to John W. Sawyer, of Whitingham, who survives her, and she died in 1876. Barnicia, born January 13, 1835, died August 30, 1854, aged nineteen years, unmarried. Henry O., born December 18, 1836; he was married to Miss Sophronia Reed October 29, 1863, and died De- cember 19, 1877, aged forty-one years. Sabrina A., born May 28, 1839. died November 29, 1862, aged twenty-three years, unmarried. Elliott F., born June 12, 1841 ; he was married October 16, 1867, to Miss Luana Newell, and they are the parents of two children, Edith and Charlie, living at Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Winslow W., born October 22, 1843, died September 28, 1845, aged two years. Abigail M., born Sep- tember 2. 1845 ; married, October 16, 1867, the late Chester B. Newell, of Whitingham; she is still living at Wollaston, Massachusetts; they were parents of four children, Baxter, Myrtie, Infant and Cherry. Ransom W., born Novem- ber 27, 1847 ; he was married to Eliza Read, of Heath, Massachusetts, who died in 1893, and they were the parents of four children, Edgar, Grace, wife of Arthur Summer, of Heath, Blanche, and Nellie, who died April 19, 1901. Cora B., born January 18, 1850; she was mar- ried January 1, 1873, to the late John T. Gould, of North Adams. They were the parents of two children, Ethel and Spurr, both of whom are de- ceased.

Henry O. Gillette (4), third child and eldest son of Dr. Waters and Brittania ( Whitney) Gil- lette, was born and reared and acquired his aca- demical education in Whitingham and at the Gil- lette homestead in that town. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death at the

age of forty-one years, December 19, 1877. He served in the Civil war as lieutenant of Company F, Sixteenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, and fought gallantly at the battle of Gettysburg. He was a staunch Republican in politics, served in various town offices, and represented the town in the legislature in 1876. He was a member of Jacksonville Lodge, F. & A. M., and was identified with the Universalist church and was one of its generous supporters. Hle married Sophronia Read, October 29, 1863. She was born in Heath, Massachusetts, a daughter of John and Jane (Burrington) Read, who reared the following named children: Sophronia; Lizzie, deceased; Benjamin, of Northampton, Massachusetts ; Frederic : Eliza, wife of R. W. Gillette, deceased ; Nellie, wife of Edwin B. Hale, of Bernardston, Massachusetts. John Read, who was a farmer, died at the age of seventy-six years, in 1893 ; his widow is now living (1903). Both were identi- fied with the Universalist church.

Henry O. Gillette and Sophronia ( Read ) Gil- lette were the parents of six children, five of whom came to years of maturity and four of whom are still living: Wallace L., of Turner's Falls ; Leon H .; John R., of Whitingham, who married Miss Blanche Goodnow, of Whitingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Goodnow, and they have one daughter, Leah, aged ten months ; Henry O., Jr., also of Turner's Falls, Massachu- setts ; and Herbert, who was reared on the home farm, subsequently engaged in real estate busi- ness in the west, later became assistant secretary ot state of South Dakota, and died at the age of thirty-six years. . The widowed mother of this family makes her home at Turner's Falls.

Leon H. Gillette (5), third son in the family last named, received the rudiments of his educa- tion in Whitingham and was fitted for college at Powers' Institute, Bernardston, Massachusetts. He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in the class of 1891. The following four years Dr. Gillette was located in Whitingham, and then removed to Wilming- ton, where he has built up a lucrative practice. He is identified with the more prominent medical and fraternal organizations of the vicinity, being a member of the State Medical Society; the Windham County Medical Society, of whose board of censors he is a member ; and the Ameri-

MYRON A. READ.

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can Medical Association. He is a member of Ridgley Lodge, No. 16, I. O. O. F., of Jackson- ville, Vermont.

Dr. Gillette was married to Miss Fannie Per- sens, October 30, 1890. She was born in Ber- nardston, Massachusetts, a daughter of Edgar and Ellen (Clough) Persens, now residents of Leominster, Massachusetts, both of whom were identified with the Unitarian church. Mrs. Gil- lette was one of a family of seven children, of whom six are living: Oler Persens, of West Fitchburg, Massachusetts, who married Miss Carrie Ingram ; Charles, of Maynard, Massachu- setts, who married Fannic Bardwell; Addie, who married J. W. Litch, of Lowell, Massachusetts ; Nellie, who married Frederic Strong, of South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts ; and Cora, who mar- ried Ernest Rumery, of Winchendon, Massachu- setts. Dr. and Mrs. Gillette are the parents of six children, Waters, Corrinne, Gertrude, Mar- garet, Cleon and Linwood. The parents are sup- porters of the Universalist church.

RUTH READ.

On what was once known as the Hawley farm, a large and valuable tract of land near the village of Shelburne, resides a lady who has long been conspicuously identified with the agri- cultural interests of her community. She is now the most prominent representative of a widely known and influential family who came originally from Lincolnshire, England, and who have for generations been active in the industrial, social and political life of Vermont. Some of them rose to positions of great prominence and influence, while others in a less conspicuous way were factors in the development of their respective communities. Miss Ruth herself has constituted one of the strongest links in this genealogical line and is widely known for her strength of character, business ability and interesting personal traits. She manages with marked skill the extensive es- tate inherited from her late lamented father and shows that she has inherited the strong qualities for which that honored gentleman was noted during his lifetime. With a certainty that any details concerning an old family like this will prove entertaining, an effort will now be made to

present in outline the salient features of the his- tory of Miss Read's more immediate ancestors.

Joshua Read, grandfather of Miss Ruth, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, February 28, 1762, a son of Amasa Read. Joshua Read came from Mansfield, Connecticut, as far back as 1785, and was one of the earliest pioneers of this part of Vermont. He located on a tract of two hun- dred acres of land adjoining that now occupied by his granddaughter and erected one of the first farm houses in the town. Miss Read cherishes and preserves the original deed given by Ethan Allen to Joshua Read, bearing date June 30, 1785. Most of this land is still held by Miss Ruth Read. He spent most of his life on this place and died April 30, 1846, at the residence of one of his sons, after reaching the ripe old age of eighty-four years. He held the office of justice of the peace for a good many years and was a good business man. He married Orphena Hurlburt, a native of Connecticut, born November 5, 1766, and by her had ten children, of whom six grew to maturity, but all arc long since dead, the mother herself passing away December 28, 1812. Her sister was the wifc of Remember Baker, distinguished in the early history of Vermont. The Hulburts were of Welsh origin. Joshua Read was married a second time, to Ruth Steward, who is now also numbered with the dead. He was a man of enterprise and industry, accumulated val- uable real estate and for many years was a lead- ing citizen of the town, where he filled offices of trust. He was a member and deacon in the Con- gregational church.

Myron Alanson Read, son of Joshua and fa- ther of Miss Ruth, was born on his father's farm in Shelburne and received his principal education in the academy at Burlington. In 1830 he pur- chased the farm now owned by his daughter and began that business carcer which is so remarkable for what he did and the methods pursued in its accomplishment. His beginning was quite mod- est, as he was only able at first to buy about twenty-five acres of land, but this was steadily increased from time to time by that industry and persistence so characteristic of the typical New Englander until at length he found himself pos- sessed of a fine estate of three hundred acres. He devoted his place to general farming. but raised a great deal of stock of different kinds

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and managed his affairs with such skill that all the departments were made to show profit in the long run. He was a member of the Republican party in Vermont, and advocated its principles with great earnestness during the formation of that great organization. He held various town offices at different times, such as lister and se- lectinan, filling the latter office far many years with the good judgment which always char- acterized the management of his own affairs. He joined the Masonic fraternity carly in life and during all the subsequent years was devoted to the principles and active in the interests of that ancient and honorable order. He was also much interested in whatever might benefit agriculture, that noble calling to which he had devoted his own life, and his zeal made him a very useful member of the Grange, of which he was a charter member, as well as other farmers' associations. He had three brothers and two sisters, all older than himself, and each of them filled their parts in the various walks of life in such a way as to reflect credit upon the family. The most dis- tinguished was Almon H. Read, who studied law and practiced his profession with marked suc- cess in Montrose, Pennsylvania. He became quite conspicuous in politics, was a member of the legislature and at the time of his death was a member of Congress from his district. Joshua, a younger brother, was a farmer and died in Shelburne at the comparatively carly age of thirty-five years. Orphena, eldest of the sisters, became the wife of Jonathan Lyon, and ended her earthly pilgrimage as long ago as 1828. Ralph, third of the brothers, was a farmer in Shelburne all his adult life, filled the office of justice of the peace many years, and died in the '70s when sev- enty-five years old. He was the father of seven children, two of whom, Dr. Henry Hurlburt and Miss Cornelia, are now living in Shelburne, on the paternal estate. Clarissa, the youngest daughter, married Samuel Whitney and died some years ago in Lebanon, Illinois. Myron A. Read married Julia, daughter of Elhanan W. Spear, one of the early settlers of Shelburne. The last named was prominent in business as a farmer and owner of a shoe shop and tannery, and rep- resented the town in the legislature. He mar- ried Louisa Saxton, who died at the early age of nineteen years, after giving birth to an only

dangliter, who became the wife of Myron A. Read. Of the latter's five children, the four now living are Cassius, of New York city; Giles, of Rincon. New Mexico; Clayton, of Burlington, Vermont; and Miss Ruth, the immediate subject of this sketch. Orpha L., the fourth child, died September 11, 1896, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was a person of intelligence and refinement, and a fine musician. Naturally of a retiring dis- position, she was prevented by ill health from tak- ing a very active part in the management of af- fairs. Both parents are now dead, the mother having passed away January 13, 1843, at the age of thirty-five, and the father on September 25, 1891, when cighty-five years old. They were pious members of the Episcopal church and ex- emplary Christians, who taught morality and re- ligion both by precept and example.

Ruth Anna Julia Read, youngest of the chil- dren, was born on her father's farm in Shelburne and there spent the happy days of her girlhood amid the delightful home surroundings and un- der the care of the most affectionate of parents. She was given an excellent education in the com- mon schools and the Female Seminary at Bur- lington, after which she taught school for some years with flattering success at different places. Eventually she deemed it her duty to return home and take care of her father in his old age and by her filial attentions well repaid this venerable par- ent for the care bestowed upon herself in the days of her youth. Since his death she has been managing her patrimonial estate with an energy and business ability that would have delighted him who instilled into her mind those lessons of economy and thrift that ever accompanied his own operations. Besides general farming, Miss Read devotes much attention to dairying, that de- partment of agriculture so suitable for women, and has one of the neatest establishments of the kind in all the country around. In fact, her products enjoy an enviable local fame, and there is no greater treat for her friends than to partake of the milk and butter of this well conducted manufactory of those indispensible table necessi- ties. She keeps about eighteen cows of the best grades for dairying purposes, employing two men in the summer season to look after outdoor work, and it is safe to say that no other farm of similar size in Vermont is better managed than

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that presided over by this worthy daughter of an honored ancestry. Miss Read is chairman of the board of trustees of the Shelburne Free Library, and is otherwise interested in the progress of the community.

DOUGLASS HENRY DYER.

The Dyer family of Vermont, honored in all its generations by its members, who have lived lives of the most exemplary personal conduct and of great usefulness to their fellows, owes its foundation to William and Mary Dyre (the original spelling), who were residents of Boston, Mas- sachusetts, but fifteen years after the coming of the "Mayflower." This couple were presumably cousins, whose parents came in that famous vessel. They became obnoxious on account of their religious sentiments, and William Dyre was driven out of the Massachusetts colony to the new settlement formed by Roger Williams, and was one of those who purchased Rhode Island. His wife, a minister in the Society of Friends, was ar- rested in Boston and sent to prison and condemned to death by hanging, but was reprieved after the noose had been put about her neck. In 1660 she was again summoned to court in Boston, charged with being a Quaker, and was executed upon the gallows. Her husband, who had not em- braced her religious faith, occupied various public positions.

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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 73

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