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 81
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He was a believer in the great industry of Vermont farming, and had a large area of land under cultivation, located on the road from the village to St. Albans Bay. His business life de- manded all his time, and he found no opportunity to mingle actively in politics, but he always mani-
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fested a loyal allegiance to the principles of the Republican party ; was in the senate in 1899, and served on committee on railroads. He was a member of the St. Luke's Episcopal Society, and contributed generously to its support. Mr. Foss was a member of the Englesby Lodge and of the several Masonic bodies, and had attained to the thirty-third degree in that fraternity. He pos- sessed a genial, social nature, and enjoyed the quiet entertainment of a few friends at his hand- some and hospitable home, where his widow now resides in St. Albans.
Mr. Foss married, November 15, 1855, Ellen A., daughter of John V. and Laura Barron, who died in April, 1871. For his second wife he wedded, September 18, 1874, Mrs. Sophia H. (Chester) Locklin, widow of H. H. Locklin, and daughter of Jolin and Mary Chester, natives of England and residents of Dudswell, province of Quebec. Of this union there is one son, James Barron Foss, born August 17, 1876, who, with Hortense H. Locklin, daughter of Mrs. Foss, constitute the family.
COLONEL CHARLES C. GILMORE.
Among those citizens of Swanton, Vermont, who, during an unusually active business career, have been important factors in the development of the financial and commercial interests of the city, stands prominently Charles C. Gilmore, who was born in Georgia, Vermont, January 28, 1859, the third son of Dennis and Nancy ( Fairbanks) Gilmore.
Dennis Gilmore, father of Charles C. Gilmore, one of the oldest business men of the town of St. Albans, Vermont, was born' in Cambridge, Ver- mont, October 18, 1823, the son of James Gil- more, who was of Irish descent. James Gilmore learned his trade of blacksmith and scythe-maker at Millbury, Massachusetts, a suburb of Wor- cester, after which he took up his residence in Cambridge, Vermont, working at his trade for a few years. He then settled in St. Albans and sub- sequently removed to Georgia, Vermont, where he followed the trade of general blacksmith, meeting with such excellent financial results that after a certain number of years he was enabled to live a retired life in St. Albans. He was united in marriage to Betsy Collins, born in Craftsbury,
Vermont, where her father was the first settled Congregational minister, and where he preached for many years ; he was the father of several chil- dren, among them Robert, a physician of Bruns- wick, Vermont, and Samuel, a general practi- tioner of Danville, Vermont. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, two of whom are still living, namely: Miranda, wife of Hiram Cushman, a resident of Georgia, Vermont : and Dennis Gilmore. James Gilmore died at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife died in the sixty-eighth year of her age.
Dennis Gilmore spent the early years of his life in Georgia, Vermont, was educated there and followed his father's trade, that of blacksmith and scythe-maker, until the year 1864, when he came to St. Albans and established his present business, a livery, feed and sale stable, which he has conducted very successfully ever since, owing to the fact that he is a man of strict integrity. straightforward business principles, and of amiable disposition. At the present time (1903) he has attained the age of eighty years, but is still enjoying the best of health and acts much younger than many men of fifty years. He mar- ried, January 5, 1853, Miss Nancy A. Fairbanks. who was born in Georgia, Vermont, and of the six children born to them, the following named are still living : Maria, wife of E. F. Bradford. of Boston, Massachusetts, and they have one child, Alice G. Bradford ; Charles C. ; and Arthur W. Gilmore, a resident of St. Albans. Mrs. Gil- more traces her ancestry back to the year 1633. when Jonathan and Richard Ffayerbanke came to this country from Sowerby, near Halifax, on the west border of Yorkshire, England. Richard was the inn-keeper and served in the capacity of first postmaster of Boston, Massachusetts. and Jonathan, the progenitor of the American branch of the family, erected a house in Dedham, Massa- chusetts, in 1636, which, with the additions made later, is still standing. George, the second son of Jonathan, was born in England and accom- panied his father to this country ; he resided for some years in Dedham, and in 1657 removed to Sherburn, where he became a prominent citizen and served as selectman. Eliezur, the fourth child of George, was born in 1655 and was promin- ently identified with the commercial interests of Sherburn. His youngest child was "Captain"
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Eleasur, born in 1690, and his eleventh child, born in 1734, was known in the history of Sherburn as "Deacon" Ebenezer; in 1783 he removed to Brimfield, Massachusetts. Joseph, second son of Deacon Fairbanks, was born in Sherburn in 1763, later removed to Brimfield, where he purchased a small tract of land, and in 1790 married Phoebe Paddock, of Holland, Massachusetts, and the fol- lowing named children were born to them: Erastus, born October 28, 1792; Thaddeus, born January 17, 1796: and Joseph Paddock, born No. vember 26, 1806. Phoebe Paddock's ancestors came to America with Governor Carver, and mar- ried into the family of Governor Bradford. Her brother, Judge Ephriam Paddock, and others of the family became honored and prominent cit- izens of Vermont.
Colonel Gilmore graduated from the St. Ai- bans high school. He then graduated from East- man's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, and upon his return to St. Albans was for a time engaged with his father in the livery business. He finally turned his attention to the mercantile trade, and was employed as a clerk in the "blue" store at St. Albans, which carried on the clothing trade, where he remained one year. He then located in Swanton and for the following two years was engaged in the clothing store of H. A. Collins in that village. About this time he formed a copartnership with his brother, the late Frank Gilmore, under the style of Charles C. Gil- more & Company, and opened a store for the sale of clothing in Swanton. This firm continued in business for two years, and at the expiration of this period of time Colonel Gilmore disposed of his interest to his brother. About this time a sus- pender, known as the Atwood suspender, had been patented, and Mr. Gilmore at once made arrangements to form a stock company to manu- facture this article. Chiefly through his efforts the Atwood Suspender Company was formed, and he became secretary and manager of the cor- poration, in which capacity he still acts. The goods manufactured by the company have been introduced all over the country, shipments being made to every state in the Union, and the ca- pacity of the plant has been increased over twelve hundred per cent. since its incorporation. Po- litically Colonel Gilmore is an adherent of the Republican party and has held many town offices.
He was the first selectman of the town, and is still serving in that capacity; was county com- missioner for four years; in 1900 represented the town in the state legislature, serving as chairman of the game and fisheries committee and also chainnan of the l'an-American committee; he acted as aide-de-camp on Governor Fuller's staff, ranking as colonel, and has always taken an active part and interest in all political matters. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, being a member of Swanton Lodge No. 14, and has held all the Masonic orders up to the con- sistory of the Scottish Rite, in which he has attained to the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine; has held all the offices, in- cluding master, of the subordinate lodge, and has served as district deputy master under the Grand Lodge and eminent commander of La Fayette Commandery of St. Albans, Vermont.
Colonel Gilmore was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Sprague, daughter of Major M. E. and Margaret (Bullard) Sprague, who are natives of Weybridge, Addison county, Vermont. their children are: Marion Sprague Gilmore, born November 4, 1887; and Ruth Fairbanks Gilmore, born November 22, 1895. Mrs. Gil- more is one of three children, the other surviving member of the family being Grant M. Sprague, a resident of Lima, Ohio.
HON. PARLEY STARR.
Parley Starr, whose life was one of great ac- tivity and usefulness, and whose work was so worthily performed that he fully earned the honor in which he was held in his town, county and state, was a descendant in the eighth generation from Dr. Comfort Starr, who was a resident of Ashford, county of Kent, England, whence he sailed to America in the ship Hercules, of Sand- wich, in 1634-5. He settled in New Town (Cam- bridge), Massachusetts, and his name appears frequently on the Plymouth colony records. Sep- tember 27, 1642, he was deputy from Duxbury to the general court to provide forces for war against the Indians. The family were identified with patriotic and educational interests from the earliest history of the country. Comfort Starr, Jr., was one of the founders and charter board
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of fellows of Harvard College. Another descend- ant married into the Bunker family, of Charles- town, and shared in the fight for the homestead on Bunker Hill. James Starr is seventh on the list of names of those who constituted the Bos- ton Tea Party.
John Starr, one of the sons of Dr. Comfort Starr, was born in England. His name first ap- pears in the Plymouth colony records, and in the list of males in Duxbury, as early as 1645. In 1653 and for three years following, he was on the grand jury of the colony, and in 1649-50, he was surveyor of highways. An original deed now hanging in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Mas- sachusetts, was signed two hundred and forty- eight years ago (in 1655), by John Starr, dis- posing of his house and lands in Duxbury, it being the property bought by his father in 1638 from Jonathan Brewster. This ancient in- strument also bears the signature of Captain Myles Standish as witness. John Starr removed to Boston, where his death occurred in 1703 or 1704. His wife was Martha Bunker, of Charles- town, Massachusetts. Her father owned the memorable hill that bears his name, forever sa- cred in the annals of American independence. The descendants of John Starr's granddaughter Martha Starr, who was baptized June 22, 1729, aged one week, in the Brattle Street church, Boston, have the punch bowl out of which the "Mohawks" drank on the evening they destroyed the tea in Boston harbor. They were evidently sterling patriots, for their son Peter and his cousin William Starr, were sentenced, Septem- ber 2, 1775, to seventy-five days' imprisonment for having fire-arms concealed in their home, and were released by order of General Gage.
Comfort Starr, son of John Starr, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1661 or 1662. He was married to Miss Mary Stone, a daughter of Si- mon and Mary (Whipple) Stone, of Watertown, Massachusetts.
Their son Comfort Starr was born in 1696, and became a large landowner in the north part of Killingly, Connecticut, where he was promi- nently identified with both town and church af- fairs. He was twice married. His first wife, name unknown. bore him a son, Comfort Starr, who was born in 1731, in Thompson, Connecti- cut, where he became owner of a large tract of
land which he subsequently sold, receiving his pay in continental money which through depre- ciation, became almost wortliless, and, thus re- duced, he went to Vermont where, April 17, 1777, he purchased a tract of land in Guilford, Wind- ham county, and in 1780 brought his family from Connecticut and settled there. He was one of the most active patriots of the Revolutionary period. In 1775 he was captain of the first militia company in Guilford that marched to Westminster to break up an English court. In 1779 Captain Starr was, by order of the general assembly, re- quired to perform certain service, and in its per- formance journeyed to Arlington to see Governor Thomas Chittenden. He made two trips of fifty- five miles, taking his course from marked trees, as there were no public highways. In the office of secretary of state at Montpelier, the manu- script records contain the receipts of Captain Starr for payments made to him for this and other services the same year, in 1780 and in 1781. Captain Starr married Miss Judith Cooper, of Thompson, Connecticut. His death took place in 1812.
Comfort Starr, son of Comfort and Judith Starr, was born May 30, 1766, in Thompson, Connecticut, and was young when his parents went to Guilford, Vermont. In 1795 he bought a farm and settled in Colchester, Vermont, where he died about 1800. He married Miss Hannah Thurber, of Guilford, and their son Parley Starr, the father of our subject, was born May 9, 1789, in Guilford. He became a farmer in Colchester, whence he removed to Milton, Vermont, and lived there for forty years, a well known and highly respected citizen. In religion he was a Camp- bellite. He married Miss Jemima Coon, born January 30, 1763, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Crandall) Coon, from Rhode Island. Their children were: Patty Matilda, who died young. Parley, referred to at length hereinafter. James Timothy, who lived in Williston and Charlestown, Massachusetts, where he was warden of the state prison; he afterwards re- moved to Hudson, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where he prospered in business : he subsequently lived in River Falls, and he died in Waukesha, Wisconsin, May 28, 1902, aged eighty-six. Ed- win Comfort, who was a tanner and afterwards a merchant in Jacksonville, Vermont, where he
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died in 1884. Lucina Betsey, yet living, who became the second wife of Foster G. Crown (died April 24, 1883), a prosperous farmer of Whitingham, Vermont ; his first wife was her sis- ter Hannah Dorcas, who died July 7, 1854. Mary, who married Joseph W. Morse, a farmer of Whitingham.
Parley Starr, second child and eldest son of Parley and Jemima (Coon) Starr, was born in Colchester, Vermont, August 30, 1813, but his early life was spent, in Milton. His early edu- cation was limited, owing to the meagre school advantages of his day. A man of strong natural gifts, he compensated for what was wanting by reading such works as he could command, and acquired a fund of knowledge which was ample for all the needs of an enterprising man of affairs. When he reached the age of twenty-one, he left home to make his own way in the world. He labored the first summer at Granville for twelve dollars a month. In the fall he returned to Mil- ton, where he engaged in chopping wood during the winter. In May following he made his way to Guilford, where he found employment in the tannery of Houghton & Hunt for four months, at a wage of fourteen dollars a month. He worked for a year longer for the same wages, and then for another year at two hundred and fifty dollars. At the end of about four years, having learned the tanner's trade, he went to Jacksonville, where he purchased a small tannery of Daniel Dean, and this was his introduction to a business career which was destined to be con- spicuously successful to himself and of marked advantage to the communty. The business de- veloped largely under his management, and in time reached a degree of prosperity which gave it rank among the most important industries of the county, and for many years it was a leading factor in the growth and prosperity of the thriv- ing village of Jacksonville. During this time Parley Starr had direct connection with leading- houses in the leather trade in Boston and other cities, and was held in universal esteem because of his integrity, enterprise, diligence and foresight. But although his business grew to be profitable to an unusual degree, it was not conducted on any selfish and contracted basis. He realized his duty to the community, and met it fully and constantly. He took an active interest
in public affairs, and as his means increased, lic became a benefactor to the community, and was looked upon as a father and helper as few men have ever been. Such was the confidence reposed in him that widows and other people of limited means entrusted to him their funds and depended on him for advice in their affairs, and such trusts were always fulfilled with perfect fidelity.
During all his active career in Jacksonville, Parley Starr was a potent factor in the social, religious and educational interests of the town. Himself an carnest believer in the Universalist faith, he gave liberally to the support of that de- nomination, and was an officer in the church, but to other societies he extended a helping hand also, and it is remembered that he was the largest single contributor to the fund for building the Methodist church. Among his individual gifts for the public good were a bell for the Univer- salist church and another for the public school building.
Trusted and honored in public life, he was known in private as a cordial, earnest friend, while in his family relations, which were of the happiest kind, he was a devoted and indulgent husband and father. He was an entertaining con- versationalist, and his genial bearing was but the natural expression of the large and open heart which dwelt within.
Parley Starr represented the town of Whit- tingham in the legislature of 1852, 1856 and 1872, and was a member of the state senate in 1859 and 1860, in the latter year taking an active part in behalf of the Civil war measures. His conduct was so sagacious that he was pronounced, by even political opponents, to be "one of the most solid men in that body." He was for eleven years a justice of the peace, and for twenty-four years the town auditor, besides holding other town offices. He was for seventeen years a director in the Brattleboro Bank, under the state system, and for six years a trustee of the Windham Provident Institution. In 1862 he opened a recruiting of- fice for volunteers, and was appointed state agent to look after and provide for the families of sol- diers.
When the changed business conditions which followed the war began to be felt, one of the tendencies being the absorption of the tanning industry by a few large corporations, Parley
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Starr closed his business in Jacksonville, and in November, 1873, removed with his family to Brattleboro. As a prominent and useful citizen, as a promoter of all worthy enterprises, and as a firm friend and a large-hearted, genial man, to be depended upon in every relation of life, his record in Brattleboro was the same as in Jack- sonville. He was president of the Brattleboro Savings Bank for the years 1874 and 1875, and was elected a member of the board of selectmen in 1876. In 1875, at the urgent solicitation of business men of influence and responsibility, he undertook the organization of the People's Na- tional Bank, a work which was successfully com- pleted in October of that year, when the new bank received its charter. Mr. Starr was the first president of the bank, and held the place until failing health compelled his resignation in January, 1886. From the first, the new institu- tion entered upon a career of solid and lasting prosperity. Its policy was duly conservative, and yet it was managed on a basis which was broad and generous towards all classes of customers. Said Parley Starr to a friend, "This is the Peo- ple's Bank, and its business is to accommodate the people ; when a farmer from the country, or some other man of limited means, needs a loan of twenty-five dollars, he needs it just as much as a large business man needs as many hundreds or thousands, and he ought to have it if he can give proper security. It is our policy to accommo- date the small customers as well as the large ones." This was a sincere expression from Par- ley Starr's heart, and it is this policy, consist- ently adhered to, which gave the People's Bank its strong hold upon the public, and laid the foundations for its continued and increased pros- perity.
Parley Starr married, May 17, 1840, at Whitingham, Miss Clarissa Blanchard, a grand- daughter of John Blanchard and Moses Clement, both of whom marched in response to the alarm at Lexington, April 19, 1775. She was as active in good works as was her husband, and as ardently patriotic, and at the time of the Civil war, was president of the Soldiers' Aid Society, which was organized for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers in the Union hospitals.
The following children were born to them : John Parley, who died at the age of five years.
Alta Clarissa, who became the wife of Dr. Noah Cressy, of Rowe, Massachusetts ; he died August 31, 1902, at Hartford, Connecticut. A daughter, who died in infancy. Alice Hannah, who married William A. Faulkner, of Whitingham, Ver- mont ; she died March 31, 1891, at Brookline, Massachusetts. Annette Envella, who became the wife of Duane H. Clement, of Brooklyn, New York. Arthur Parley, who is engaged in business in Chicago; he married Miss Florence Murray, of Tama, Iowa.
Parley Starr suffered a stroke of paralysis in 1883, and from that time he steadily declined. His death occurred November 12, 1889. While the sad event was not unexpected, it cast a pecu- liar gloom over the community. On the day and during the hour of the funeral, business was suspended, and all classes united in paying honor to his memory. The local press gave voice to the feeling of all when it testified to the great use- fulness of his life, and pronounced the fact that there was no better type of the good citizen- good in all the broad meaning of the word.
S. C. HILL, M. D.
Dr. S. C. Hill, actively engaged in the prac- tice of medicine and surgery in Winooski, Ver- mont, was born December 24, 1876, at Johnson. Vermont, a son of Seth C. and Mary J. Hill. Warren Hill, grandfather of Dr. Hill, was born in the state of Connecticut in 1812, and after at- taining young manhood he removed to Eden, Vermont, where for many years he was engaged in the occupation of farming : subsequently he located in Enosburg, Vermont, where the last fifteen years of his life were spent upon a farm. Mr. Hill was married twice; by his first wife the following named children were born: Isaiah : Eliza, wife of Mr. Lillerson, of Underhill. Ver- mont ; Chester, deceased; Alma, wife of Mr. Peck, of Wyoming, Iowa ; Seth C. : and Rolin, a resident of Brooklyn, New York. The mother of these children died at the age of thirty-six years, after which Mr. Hill was united in mar riage to Miss Hall, and four sons were born to them, two of whom died in childhood, and the other two, Sidney and Charles, now reside on the old farm in Eden, Vermont ; their mother, who has attained the age of eighty years. also
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resides with them on the old homestead. Mr. Hill died in the eighty-second year of his age.
Seth C. Hill, father of Dr. Hill, was born in 1845, at Enosburg, Vermont, and was a pupil in the common schools of that town until he reached the age of twelve years, when he removed to Eden, Vermont, where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company A, Eighth Vermont Regiment, and shortly afterwards was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant, which The retained until his discharge at the close of the the war. He participated in over sixty battles and skirmishes, in one of which he was severely wounded by the bursting of a shell, and he also had three horses shot from under him ; his three brothers, who enlisted as soldiers at the same time, escaped without any serious injury, al- though serving during the entire period. After the termination of the war Mr. Hill returned to Hyde Park, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1868, when he took up his residence in Johnson, Vermont, and by industriously pur- suing the same vocation he was enabled to ac- cumulate a competence, which he is now enjoy- ing, having retired from the active duties of life. Mr. Hill is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being the organizer of the Sons of Veterans Camp, called the S. C. Hill Post in his honor, he being the commander of the same and an active participant in all mat- ters that pertain to its welfare. In his political affiliations Mr. Hill is a Republican, and has served in many of the local town offices. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Peck, born in 1848, at Elmore, Vermont, a daughter of Jerry and Lucia (Day) Peck, of Sharon, Ver- mont, members of a very prominent family of that section of the state. Five children were born of this union, namely: Willmer, a resident of Red Wing, Minnesota, and engaged as a teacher of wood-carving in the Minnesota State Training School; Elmer E., an officer in the State Industrial School at Vergennes, Vermont, and who acted in the capacity of first sergeant in Company M. First Vermont Regiment, during the Spanish-American war ; Dr. S. C. : Mary Bell, engaged in the occupation of teaching in South Burlington, Vermont; and Delmer J., who re- sides at home with his father. The mother of
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