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 86

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 86

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

and was chosen to fill the office of selectman for three years, and has been a member of the school board for two years.

On October 14, 1879, Mr. Bottum married Miss Ella J. Partch, who was born in Hinesburg, Vermont, February 25, 1858, a daughter of Nel- son Partch, who was engaged in agricultural pur- suits in his native town of Hinesburg nearly all his life; he married Miss Lucy A. Barker, and six children were born to them, four of whom are still living, namely: John W .; Ella J., wife of Julius O. Bottum ; Orson B., a resident of Ticon- deroga, New York; and Carrie, wife of William J. Nash, of New Haven, Vermont. Mr. Partch died in 1887, at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife's death occurred in 1885, in her fifty- ninth year. Mr. and Mrs. Bottum are the par- ents of one son, Carroll J., who was born in New Haven, Vermont, November 10, 1882; he assists his father in the work on the old homestead, which has been in the family for over a century, and which will pass down from generation to genera- tion.

CHARLES L. McGEE.

Charles L. McGee, a leading manufacturer and prominent man of affairs of Bristol, Vermont, belongs to a family which for more than a half century has been represented in this town. Jo- seph McGee, the father of Charles L. McGee, was born March 15, 1828, in St. Andrew, province of Quebec, Canada, a son of Frank and Pris- cilla (Young) McGee. The parents were na- titves of Canada. of French descent. When nineteen years old, Joseph McGee came with his parents to Middlebury, Vermont, and soon settled at Bristol, Vermont, where he is still living, having retired from business on ac- count of his advanced age. He married Maria Tart, born November 1, 1833, in Sheldon,, Ver- mont, daughter of Ambrose Tart, a very high- ly respetcted citizen of that place, a native of France, and his wife, Rhoda Freeman, also of French descent. Ambrose Tart left his native land at the age of nineteen years, and never again communicated with his relatives. Mr. and Mrs. McGee have three sons, all of whom are living : Charles, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Edgar, residing in Gardner, Massachusetts ; and William,

484

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

who is engaged in the marble business at Bristol. Mr. McGee's wife is still living to bear him com- pany in his old age.

Charles L. McGee, son of Joseph and Maria (Clark) McGee, was born March 13, 1851, in Bristol, Vermont, where he received his educa- tion and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a time, but, displaying at an early period the business ability which afterward char- acterized him in such marked degree, he under- took contracting, and as a result became engaged with the firm of Drake, Smith & Company, prom- inent manufacturers of the town. Mr. McGee's connection with the firm began in 1884; he speed- ily became foreman, in 1892 bought an interest in the firm, and is now general manager and part owner. Mr. McGee's ability and enterprising spirit have been of great service in gradually ex- tending and building up what is now the largest business of the kind in this section of the country. By temperament and previous experience he is admirably fitted to represent the practical ele- ment in the firm, and under his supervision the buildings have been remodeled and supplied with machinery according to the most improved meth- ods. Mr. McGee's position involves the employ- ment and discharge of the large working force of twenty-five hands, a duty which he is peculiarly fitted to perform by reason of his great personal popularity. He is the only manufacturer in the town who has maintained to the present time his connection with the firm by whom he was orig- inally employed.

In addition to his business as a manufacturer, Mr. McGee carries on an industry which he has undertaken solely as a matter of personal prefer- ence and individual taste. He takes a great in- terest in the raising of bees, of which he has no fewer than one hundred and fifty colonies, being the largest bee-keeper in this region. By his ef- forts the business has attained considerable pro- portions, being so flourishing as to keep two men constantly employed under Mr. McGee's direc- tion.

In politics Mr. McGee is a Republican, but the onerous nature of his duties as a manufacturer and man of affairs has caused him to return a steady refusal to all offers of official positions. He is an attendant of the Baptist church.

Mr. McGee married, August 13, 1870, Stella

Peckham, born May 6, 1854, in Winchendon, Massachusetts, a daughter of Stephen Peckham, a farmer of Bristol, Vermont, who is still living here, and whose family consists of four children : a son named Ernest, and three daughters : Katy, who married, first, Elijah Johnson, and, second, Oliver Braban, both of St. Regis Falls, New York; Stella, mentioned above; and Carrie, who is the wife of HI. C. Brown, of Bristol, Vermont. The mother of these is Olive ( Hasseltine) Peck- ham. Mrs. McGee attends the Baptist church with her husband, and is very active in the Sun- day-school. Mr. and Mrs. McGee have two daughters, Lena and Minnie. The former is the wife of Frederick Dickerman, cashier of the local bank, and the other married Richard S. Smith, of Bristol.

TIMOTHY PARKER REDFIELD. )

This distinguished jurist, who adorned the supreme bench of the state of Vermont for four- teen years, and whose name is imperishably writ- ten in the judicial and political annals of the com- monwealth, came from one of the most ancient and honored New England families. The found- er of the family in America was William Red- field, who came from England some time during the decade beginning in 1630, and he became one of the proprietors of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1642. By his wife Rebecca he was the father of James, who was born in Connecticut in 1646, and was a tanner by occupation. James married in May, 1669, at New Haven, Elizabeth Howe, born in 1645, a daughter of Jeremy Howe, who· was a son of Edward Howe, one of the first set- tlers of Lynn, Massachusetts. Their son Theoph- ilus, born in 1682, was a joiner by trade and prob- ably settled in Killingworth, Connecticut, soon: after he reached the years of manhood. Decem- ber 24, 1706, he married Priscilla Grinnell, then seventeen years of age, a daughter of Daniel and Lydia Grinnell. He died February 14, 1759, and his wife died January 12, 1770.

Peleg Redfield, fifth son of Theophilus and. Priscilla (Grinnell) Redfield, was born at Kill- ingworth, Connecticut, April 2, 1723. In 1756 he was appointed second lieutenant in the Tenth Company of the Connecticut Regiment. In 1758 he served as first lieutenant in the same regiment

The Lewis Publishing Co.

485

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

at Ticonderoga, and in the spring of 1759 was commissioned captain and took command of a campany of ninety men. He served throughout the French and Indian war, and died of smallpox on his journey home, near Stockbridge, Massa- chusetts, December 5, 1760. In 1744 he married Sarah Dudley, who was born April 20, 1723, a daughter of Ebenezer (Graves) Dudley, of Guil- ford, Connecticut, and great-granddaughter of John Alden and Priscilla (Mullens) Alden. Be- riah, eldest son of Captain Peleg and Sarah (Dud- ley) Redfield, was born November 21, 1744, at Killingworth. He removed to Richmond, Massa- chusetts, where he became an extensive farmer. November 5, 1770, he married Dorothy Stevens, of Killingworth, born January 30, 1752, a daugh- ter of Thomas Stevens. In the spring of 1816 he removed to Seneca county, New York, where he died June 4, 1819.

Peleg Redfield, son of Beriah Redfield, was born June 24, 1777, at Killingworth, Connecticut. He studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Samuel Ware, of Conway, Massachusetts, and entered upon practice at Weathersfield, Ver- mont. Here he was married April 5, 1803, to Hannah Parker, born in Westford, Massachu- setts, in November, 1785, eldest child of Isaac Parker, a well-to-do merchant of the place. In February, 1806, Dr. Redfield moved with his fam- ily to Coventry, Vermont on the northern border of the state, then an outpost of civilization, and here amid the hardships and perils of frontier life he reared a family of six sons and six daugh- ters. His practice there became extensive and ar- duous. His journeys to the scattered cabins in which his patients resided were performed mainly on horseback, but not unfrequently he was obliged to tread his way through the forests on foot. He was a man of vigorous mind and great force of character, and was held in high esteem, not only for professional skill, but for his business quali- ties. He was appointed town clerk in 1806, and held the office nineteen years; was town treas- urer in 1807, 1825 and 1826; selectman in 1807, 1815, 1818 and 1819, and represented the town of Coventry in the general assembly of Vermont for nine successive years from 1812 to 1820. In poli- tics he was old-school Federalist, and was decid- edly positive in his convictions. He died at Cov- entry, November 8, 1848, aged seventy-four years.

His wife, Hannah (Parker) Redfield, the mother of Timothy P., was a remarkable woman. She faithfully performed her material duties in rearing and training her large family. She also proved herself a worthy helpmeet to her husband in establishing their new home on the hillside of Coventry, and was ever its presiding genius, to whom the husband and children always turned for cheer and inspiration. Possessed of strong character and remarkable intellectual ability, throughout her long life she was a great reader of the best literature of the time. In the current topics and events of the day she always took a keen interest. Her conversational powers were fine and charming. Separated to a great extent by her lot in life from the refinements and social influence of education and refined society, yet such were her attainments, her sterling worth and native sense that she would have adorned the best society and won admiration for her charming qualities and inherent worth. From her both Timothy P. and Isaac F. inherited the character- istics and mental qualities which, with their in- dustry, brought them well-deserved eminence.

Timothy Parker Redfield, fourth son of Dr. Peleg and Hannah (Parker) Redfield, was born in Coventry, Vermont, November 3, 1812. His was the ordinary experinece of Vermont boys born and brought up on the farms in that day, an experience admirably adapted to develop the in- dustry, self-reliance and independence since so characteristic of the man, and so peculiar to his class. After the usual academic preparation he matriculated at Dartmouth College, where he ranked with the first in his class, and was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and he graduated with high honors in the class of 1836.

Immediately after graduation Mr. Redfield commenced the study of law in the office of his brother, the Hon. Isaac F. Redfield, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Orleans county in 1838. Be- ginning the practice of his profession in Iras- burg, he continued it in that place up to the time of his removal to Montpelier in 1848. He made his entry into public office as a member of the state legislature in 1839, and in 1848 he repre- sented Orleans county in the state senate. Sub- sequently he was for several years a member of the state board of education. From 1848 to 1870 he was numbered with the most active, able and

486

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

efficient lawyers in Vermont, and in the latter year was elected judge of the supreme court. Suc- cessive elections retained him in the same digni- fied and influential office for many years.

Judge Redfield's elevation to the supreme ju- diciary of the state was an invaluable testimony to hiis intellectual and moral worth. He "has al- ways been a Democrat in politics, but his fitness for the position was so generally acknowledged that he was elected to the place by a legislature overwhelmingly Republican, and against numer- ous competitors. His dignified judicial bearing and acknowledged impartiality made him at once a general favorite with the public, the bar and his associates. His fame may and will justly rest upon his judicial life."

Had Judge Redfield's political affiliations been with the Republican party, he would in all proba- bility have worthily filled a scat in the senate of the United States. That he did not was not the fault of his ability, of his patriotism, of his moral excellency, but was the fault-or rather result, of his conscientious devotion to the principles and policy of a party which in Vermont is in a per- petual minority. At the time of Senator Mor- rill's first election to the national senate, Judge Redfield received sixteen votes in the legislature as the candidate of the Democrats. At Mr. Mor- rill's second election Judge Redfield received eleven votes. Although the acknowledged peer of his successful competitor, his party associati- ons precluded every hope of election.

After Judge Redfield's elevation to the su- preme bench of Vermont he made numerous de- cisions which have passed into the category of le- gal standards. Among them was the noted case, "State ex rel. Page v. Smith et al.," better known as the "Quo Warranto Case." In this suit he gave an elaborate and exhaustive decision, that now occupies ten pages of the Forty-eighth Ver- month reports.

No opinion of Judge Redfield's ever acquired notoriety or redounded so much to his credit as the opinion of the court, written by him, in the case of James R. Langdon et al., against the Ver- mont and Canada Railroad Company et al., in 1882. This suit was one branch of the famous Vermont Central Railroad litigation, which has been in the courts of the state for over twenty- five years. In the Langdon case, among other

principles involved, was the question whether a receiver's debt should take precedence of recorded antecedent mortgages as a lien upon the property, and if it did, whether such a lien could be en- forced by strict foreclosure. The questions were novel, and many millions of dollars depended up- on the result. The controversy was all the more einbittered by reason of the different construc- tion which was given by counsel to an opinion of the court delivered in 1877 upon the same sub- ject.

The masterly way in which Judge Redfield explained the opinion of 1877, and the exact and precise method in which he demonstrated, both on principle and authority, that a receiver's debt did constitute a first lien upon the property man- aged, and that such lien could be enforced by strict foreclosure, won for his opinion comments of universal admiration. The best evidence that these comments were just is found in the fact that since the delivery of the opinion there seems to be absolute submission to its verdict. It is a strong judicial exposition of the law of the case which cannot be answered. This opinion has gone far beyond the boundaries of Vermont, and some of the best legal minds of the country pronounce it a model of judicial learning and of logical reas- oning, and an exact enunciation of difficult and novel questions of law.

"Judge Redfield" (says his biographer, in the "Vermont Historical Magazine") "is an excel- lent scholar; and while his bearing is reserved and dignified, such as becomes his position, yet in social life he is one of the most charming of companions. His reminiscences of the old bar and his fund of anecdotes are the delight of those who enjoy his friendship, and will be long remem- bered by those who come after him. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and a devoted Christian, not only in profession, but also in prac- tice. In short, Judge Redfield is a model in all that constitutes a conscientious Chirstian gen- tleman, and an able, upright, impartial judge. To speak this of his record is but the just meed of praise to acknowledge worth, and to keep the memory of such men green is but to strengthen and stimulate public virtue."

Judge Redfield was married February 6, 1840, to Miss Helen W. Grannis, of Stanstead, province of Quebec. She was the daughter of William and

Herrisburgh, Ut., Laura 219120

Bear 1

Doctor

On page 487, Vol. 1, Biographical Vermont, (Carleton).

The publisher made an error in printing my full name under the portrait of my father, Albert Chapman.

Will you kindly take the trouble to erase or blot out the name Charles which will leave the record correct, the portrait was taken on his 50th birthday.

Thanking you in advance for correcting a most distressing error, I am

Very truly yours,

487

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Nancy Melinda (Dustin) Grannis, and her mother was a daughter of Moody Dustin, of Revolution- ary fame, figuring in the annals of the day as sec- ond lientenant in Captain Head's company, Col- onel Joseph Cilley's regiment, November 8, 1776, and as captain on March 5, 1778. Four children, of whom the remains of three sleep in the Green Mountain cemetery at Montpelier, were the is- sue of this union. The only surviving child, Alice, is the wife of Andrew J. Phillips, and for- merly resided at Chicago, Illinois. Two children were born to them, Helen, who died at the age of fifteen years; and Timothy Redfield, who sur- vives. Judge Redfield died in Chicago, March 27, 1888.

CHARLES ALBERT CHAPMAN.

Charles Albert Chapman was born in the vil- lage of Forestdale, Rutland county, Vermont, on the 22d of August, 1852, being a son of Albert Chapman, who was born in Weybridge, this state, on the 18th of April, 1823. The latter's father was Wightman Chapman, who was born in Norwich, Vermont, on the 15th of March, 1786. The original American progenitor of the family, William Chapman, emigrated hither from England in 1639, taking up his residence in the colony of Connecticut, whence his descendants have become disseminated throughout the most diverse sections of the Union. Erastus Chapman, born August 25, 1760, at Norwich, Connecticut, married Polly Huntington at Norwich, Vermont, June 1, 1785. She was born August 10, 1765, in Windham, Connecticut. Wightman Chapman was their son. Erastus was a son of Simon Chap- man, his second wife, Alice Rouse. They were married April 5, 1758. Simon Chapman, born April 22, 1723, was a son of Joseph Chapman, born in 1667, and his wife, Mary Wentworth, to whom he was married June 10, 1708.

Wightman Chapman was a blacksmith by trade and also owned and operated a fine farm in Weybridge, while he was associated with his brother in the operation of a forge and store in Lincoln. They also owned and operated a line of canal packets between Vergennes and Buf- falo. He lived to the venerable age of eighty- two years and was a man of influence in the com- munity, where he ever commanded unqualified

confidence and esteem. He was incumbent of the office of high bailiff for a number of years, and also held other positions of public trust and re- sponsibility. His son Albert was reared in Wey- bridge, receiving such educational advantages as were afforded in the local schools of the per- iod. He devoted practically his entire life to

ALBERT CHAPMAN.

stock-breeding, and gained recognition as one of the most extensive sheep-breeders in the state, giving his attention to the raising of the best types and to the improvement of the grades, thus contributing in a large degree to the advance- ment of the sheep industry in the state, while his judgment in regard to matters pertaining to this line of enterprise was recognized as authorita- tive. He was for many years secretary of the Vermont Sheep Breeders' Association, and his works are authority on the introduction and im- provement of Merino sheep in the United States. He extended the scope of his enterprises into

488

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

other sections of the country, shipping extensive- ly. While a mere boy, he drove one thousand sheep to the state of Kentucky, where he dis- posed of them. Just before the Civil war he operated a farm in Maryland, but was compelled to leave on account of his politi- cal sentiments. He was a man of fine mentality, sterling integrity and distinguished ability as a business man, and through his well directed ef- forts he not only promoted individual prosperity but also did much to further the industrial prog- ress of his native state. From its establishment until his death he was president of the National Association of Sheep Registers, and was also for many years secretary of the National Wool Grow- ers' Association. He enjoyed a particularly wide acquaintanceship throughout New England and other sections of the Union, and was a man whose genial nature and upright life gained to him the respect and friendship of all with whom he came in contact. His death occurred in Middlebury on the 22d of October, 1893, at which time he had attained the psalmist's span of three score years and ten. His political support was given to the Republican party, and though he never sought the lionors or emoluments of public office, he was chosen to serve in various local positions of trust, including that of justice of the peace. Frater- nally he was prominently identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having been past grand of his lodge at the time of his demise. August 27, 1851, in St. Mark's church, Warren, Rhode Island, Albert Chapman was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Grace Mulchaney, who was born July 25, 1824, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and who died on the 2d of Decem- ber, 1892, in her sixty-ninth year. Five children were born of this union, of whom three are living at the present time, namely: Charles A., the immediate subject of this sketch; John W., who is now a missionary in Alaska; and William M., who is engaged in business in Romeo, Michigan, where he is a deputy sheriff.

Charles A. Chapman passed his boyhood days in the various cities where his father temporarily resided, receiving his early education in the pub- lic schools and in an excellent private school, after which he completed a thorough course of study in the academy at Middlebury. After leaving school Mr. Chapman became bookkeeper for a

woolen mill in Middlebury, later being identified with the paper manufactory at that place, and finally accepting a position in a hardwere estab- lishment at Port Henry, New York. From that place he went to Vergennes, where he was em- ployed by the firm of W. R. Bixby & Son in the same business. Thence, after a period of years, he returned to Middlebury, where he was en- gaged in the same line until 1876, when he went as a traveling representative of the Medina Man- ufacturing Company of Medina, New York, in whose interests he traveled through the eastern states and as far west as Nebraska, visiting many of the states of the middle west, the south and the east. He proved an able and valued sales- man, continuing in the employ of this concern for a period of four years, at the expiration of which he resigned, for the purpose of returning to his native county and associating himself with his father in the sheep business, the stock being reg- istered and of the highest standard, as has al- ready been intimated. In 1890 he located upon his present farm, in Ferrisburg, the same com- prising one hundred acres. Though he carries on general agricultural operations Mr. Chapman gives his special attention to the breeding and raising of high-grade Merino sheep. The finest types of registered sheep are to be found on his estate, and from his fine flocks shipments are not only made into the most diverse sections of the Union, but he also ships to Australia, Mexi- co, Africa and South America. In addition to the raising of registered Merino sheep he also breeds and handles gentlemen's high-grade driv- ing horses. He is known as one of the most pro- gressive, liberal and public-spirited citizens of the county and as one of its thoroughly repre- sentative business men.

In politics Mr. Chapman gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and he is at the present time auditor of the town, while he is also serving as moderator. His religious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal church, and fraternally he has advanced to high degree in the time-honored order of Freemasonry, being a member of Dor- chester Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons ; Middlebury Council No. 14, Royal and Select Masons; Mt. Calvary Commandery No. I, Knights Templar, at Middlebury; and Ver- mont Consistory, A. A. S. R., in Bur-

489

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

"lington, of which he is grand chancellor, and has attained the thirty-second degree. He has held various offices in the different bodies, serving as worshipful master of his lodge, as high priest of his chapter, and has also been an officer in the commandery. He is a devoted mem- ber of this great fraternity, whose noble teachings he fully appreciates.

On the 26th of February, 1884, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage to Miss Josepha B. Smith, who was born in Ferrisburg, a daughter of Da- vid Smith, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, and who was one of the influential farmers and honored citizens of Ferrisburg at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of four children, namely : Faith Saf- ford, Harriet Jeannette, William Edward and John Roger, all at home.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 86

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