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 93
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127
he conducts his business. He keeps about fifteen horses constantly on hand for livery service.
Mr. Landon is a Republican in politics, and he has been honored by his townsmen by being elected to fill various offices of trust and responsibility ; he represented the town in the state legislature for the year 1898, and has served as a delegate in the state and county conventions. He is a member of the Libanus Lodge, F. & A. M., of Bristol, and his family are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bristol.
In 1859 Mr. Landon was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Gardiner, who was born in Stock- port, New York, daughter of the Rev. Simeon S. Gardiner, who preached the gospel for many years in both New York and Vermont, in which latter state he was well and favorably known. His wife was Miss Margaret Caroline Van Dusen, and two children were born to them: Melissa. now the wife of Fred Landon, and Henry, who is a resident of Bristol, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Landon have three children living, having lost two by death. Mattie, the eldest, resides in Monkton. Ellsworth conducts a tail- oring business in Chicago, Illinois. Henry is associated in business with his father. Lulu C., the third, died April 23, 1902, while the wife of Charles F. Rockwood, of Burlington, Vermont. Gardiner, the fourth, died at the age of thirteen years.
ORVILLE HALE RICHARDSON.
The Hon. Orville Hale Richardson, of Mont- pelier, Vermont, is a representative of a family whose origin is of greater antiquity than can be claimed by but few in New England. Amos Richardson, the founder of the American branch of the family, came from England in the earliest period of the Massachusetts Bay colony, and found a home in the town of Boston when that stronghold of Puritanism was in its most prim- itive state. It is not improbable that his arrival took place about the time when the settlement was at the height of its orthodox indignation against the heresis of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, who numbered among her friends and sympathiz- ers "young Sir Harry Vane," then the governor of the colony, and John Underhill, the famous
OH Richardson
525
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
Indian fighter, whose signal services as a soldier of the colony are commemorated in the verses of Whittier. It is known for a certainty that in 1640 Amos Richardson was a resident of Boston, the site of the house being on what is now Wash- ington street, just north of the Old South church. In 1866 he removed to Stonington, Connecticut, where he was elected representative in the gen- eral court, and also acted as the agent of Gov- ernor Winthrop for New England. No other details of his life have reached us, but it is evi- dent from these facts that he was a man of high standing in the community. Among his de- scendants, those named in the following gener- ations have been especially prominent in the an- nals of New England.
Ira Richardson, Sr., son of Lemuel Richard- son, was born January 23, 1788, in Massachu- setts, and removed early in life to the town of Waitsfield, Washington county, Vermont, where he was one of the pioneers, following for many years the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Richard- son was largely instrumental in the building up of the town, of which he was one of the most influential citizens. He was a man whose ability and integrity commanded the respect and confi- dence of his neighbors, and caused him to be elected to most of the offices in their gift. Mr. Richardson married Rachel Durkee, who was born October 27, 1795. He died in the town of Fayston, December 16, 1844, in the fifty-seventh year of his age.
Ira Richardson, Jr., son of Ira, Sr., and Ra- chel (Durkee) Richardson, was born October 6, 1816, in Waitsfield, Vermont, and received his education in the common schools of his native town, where, after leaving school, he found em- ployment in a store. Later, Mr. Richardson en- gaged, on his own account, in the manufacture of lumber, in which he was very successful, being also a dealer in merchandise and conducting a tannery. This business, which grew to large proportions and included very extensive dealings, was managed by Mr. Richardson with consum- mate ability, joined to knowledge theoretical and practical and enforced by strict attention to de- tails. Politically Mr. Richardson was in his early life a Whig, but joined the Republican party at the time of its organization, remaining ever after one of its most ardent supporters. He was very
active in public affairs, and his townsmen testi- fied to the honor in which they held him by electing him to various offices of trust and re- sponsibility. In 1856 and again in 1866 he rep- resented the town of Waitsfield in the state legis- lature, and also represented Washington
county
in
the
state
senate.
In
1868
and 1869 he served as assistant judge for Washintgon county. The manner in which he fulfilled the duties of these offices more than justified the high estimate formed of his abilities and the high regard felt for his character by his fellow citizens. Mr. Richardson was an ac- tive member of the Methodist church, foremost in every benevolent enterprise, and ever ready to aid, to the utmost of his power, all charitable as- sociations and projects.
Mr. Richardson married, April 6, 1843. Har- riet, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Camp- bell) Chapman, of Fayston, in which town Har- riet was born, January 6, 1818. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson were the parents of the following named children : a son, born August 28, 1844, who died in infancy; Calvin Clinton, born, as were all the other children, in Waitsfield. Ver- mont, October 6, 1845, now residing in Minne- apolis, Minnesota; Ira Edward, born March 7, 1848; also residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Clarence Milton, born November 20, 1849, a resi- dent of Waitsfield, Vermont : Orville Hale. men- tioned at length hereinafter; Meriden Lee, born September 6, 1854, now living in Waitsfield, Ver- mont; and Harriet Elizabeth, born March 7, 1857, died September 20, 1861. Mr. Richardson died December 17, 1877, deeply and sincerely regretted, not only by his family and near friends, but by the whole community, to which he had so long given the example of an honorable and fearless citizen, faithful in the discharge of every duty and ever foremost in all enterprises having for their object the advancement of the public welfare. His character, as a business man, a pub- lic official and a member of society, was such as to command in the highest degree the affection and veneration of all who were brought within the circle of his influence. Mrs. Richardson sur- vived her husband several years. dying August 8, 1882, in the sixty-fifth year of her age.
Orville Hale Richardon, son of Ira. Jr., and Harriet (Chapman) Richardson, was born July
526
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
7, 1852, in the town of Waitsfield, Washington county, Vermont, and received his education in the public schools of his native town. At the age of nineteen he began his business career by trans- ferring freight from Waitsfield to Middlesex by team, following this occupation for about three years. At the end of that time he engaged in the lumber business, conducting it for six years in his native town, and then removing to the town of Warren, Vermont, where for three years he pursued the same calling, transferring his business at the expiration of the last named period to Middlesex, in the same state. In this town he successfuly conducted his business until October, 1895, when he formed a partnerhip with S. D. Allen, under the firm name of Allen & Richardson, and engaged in the lumber busi- ness in the city of Barre. In January, 1902, the partnership was dissolved, and on April 4, of that year, Mr. Richardson purchased Brown's mills, situated on Dog river, two miles from the city of Montpelier, on the Northfield road, in the town of Berlin. Here he engaged extensively in the manufacture of lumber, the product of his mills being about eighteen thousand feet per day, which he disposes of both at wholesale and retail. Dur- ing these years, in the course of which Mr. Richardson several times transferred his business from one place to another, he resided for three years and a half at Middlesex, and then settled in the city of Montpelier, where he has since made his home.
In politics Mr. Richardson is a Republican, and in 1896 and 1897 was elected alderman of the second ward of the city of Montpelier, the citizens of which chose him, September 2, 1902, to represent them in the state legislature. In the session of that year he served on the committee of ways and means and the committee on manu- factures. He is a member of Vermont Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., at Montpelier.
Mr. Richardson married, March 13, 1877, Alice M. Wilder, born August 1, 1856, in the town of Waitsfield, Washington county, Vermont, daughter of Captain Orcas C. and Mary Eliz- abeth (Holden) Wilder. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ardson are the parents of one child: Carolyn Mary, born May 16, 1878, in Fayston, Vermont, educated at the Montpelier Seminary, at Montpe- lier, and at the Goddard Seminary, in Barre, Ver-
mont. Mr. Richardson is a competent business man, manifesting in the unassuming but thor- ough manner in which he discharges his duties as an official and a citizen, traits of character which have been conspicuous in generations of liis an- cestors.
FRED GRANT HASKINS.
Fred Grant Haskins, the popular and reliable postmaster of Bristol, Vermont, was born in that town, September 3, 1864, a grandson of Henry Haskins, who was born August 24, 1798, in Con- necticut and received his education in the common schools of his native town; later he removed to New Hampshire, where he remained for a short period of time and previous to 1840, located in Mooretown, Vermont. After the great flood at that place, he settled in Bristol, Ver- mont, where he spent the remainder of his life, except the last year, which was passed in Lincoln. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Ursula Chapman, born in Lyme, New Hamp- shire, November 11, 1803, and eight children were born to them, four of whom are now living : Selinda, widow of Aaron Moody, of Lincoln, Ver- mont, was born August 23, 1825; Elias M., born November 10, 1837, is now a resident of Zion City, Illinois; Joseph is mentioned below ; and Alvira, born May 15, 1836, is now the wife of Charles Dale, of Mooretown, Vermont. The father of these children died May 1, 1877, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away April 13, 1876, at the age of seventy-two years. All save one of their children grew to ma- turity. William, born December 20, 1823, died August 20, 1867, leaving a son, Charles. The others died unmarried.
Joseph Haskins, son of Henry Haskins, was born in Bristol, Vermont, March 25, 1841. He acquired his literary education in the common schools of the village, and after completing his studies, learned the trade of house-painter, which he followed for a number of years. Sub- sequently he entered the employ of the Bristol Manufacturing Company, in the capacity of fore- man of the finishing department, and this posi- tion he has retained for thirty-five years. He was married July 3, 1859, to Miss Marietta Tucker, born in Warren, Vermont, November 3, 1839,
527
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
daughter of James Davis and Roxana (Herrick) Tucker. Four children were born of this union, two of whom are still living: Josephine Olive, born May 17, 1860, of Bristol, Vermont; and Fred Grant Haskins. The mother of these chil- dren passed away February 8, 1903. She was a faithful and zealous member of the Baptist church of Bristol.
Fred Grant Haskins, only son of Joseph and Marietta Haskins, obtained his preliminary edu- cation in the common schools of Bristol, and this was supplemented by a course of study in the local academy. After attaining young manhood he was employed for three years in the finishing de- partment of the Bristol Manufacturing Com- pany, the following four years he was engaged in the dry-goods trade with N. F. Dunshee. He then removed to Waltham, Massachusetts, and entered the furnishing goods department of a large emporium, where he remained as sales- man for two years, after which he returned to Bristol and again entered the employ of Mr. Dunshee, where he remained for three years. In 1893 Mr. Haskins went to Chicago, during the progress of the World's Fair, and was employed there in the capacity of salesman in a tailoring establishment for eight months. He then returned to Mr. Dunshee's store in Bris- tol and remained with him until April 1, 1898, when he secured his present posi- tion of postmaster through the influence of Mr. Dunshee, his former employer. Mr. Has- kins served in this capacity for four years and performed the duties of his office in so creditable a manner that at the expiration of his term he was re-appointed to serve a second term, which will expire in the year 1906. He has one clerk to assist him in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Haskins is a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has held the office of financial secretary of Bristol Lodge, No. 36, of that order. For a num- ber of years he acted as first assistant foreman of the local hose company, and during two years he served as foreman ; he has also been a member of the Postmasters' Association of New England since it was first organized, in 1901.
On August 10, 1890, Mr. Haskins was mar- ried at Waltham, Massachusetts, to Miss Minnie
Fuller, who was born August 10, 1866, in De Kalb, Illinois, daughter of William Fuller, a native of Essex county, New York, who began life when a very young man in the west and be- came a successful farmer and extensive stock- raiser. He was also the owner of a large amount of real estate. His wife, Eleanor Campbell, is a native of Buffalo, New York, and now resides at De Kalb, Illinois. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Haskins are: Rae F., born March 29, 1891, and Effie I., born August 28, 1892. The family are faithful and consistent members and attendants of the Baptist church of Bristol, and take an active part in all the work connected with it.
J. JULIAN DUMAS.
J. Julian Dumas, engaged as a broker in the general insurance business in Bristol, Vermont, was born April 21, 1840, in Waitsfield, Washing- ton county, Vermont. Morris Dumas, grand- father of Julian Dumas, was the son of a native Frenchman, who emigrated to Canada. He was born in Canada and after acquiring an education in the common schools was engaged as a general laborer and cooper for a number of years. In 1838 he settled in Waitsfield, Vermont, and by his honorable and upright character easily won the confidence and respect with all whom he came in contact. He married Miss Charlotte Butigie, who was born in Canada; they reared a large family of children, only two of whom are living at the present time: Edmond, of Waterbury Center, Vermont, and Elizabeth, wife of John Carpenter. The father of these children died in Burlington, at the extreme old age of eighty- four years, and his wife died in her eighty-fifth year, at Waitsfield.
Julian Dumas, father of J. Julian Dumas, was born in Chamberlain, Canada, where he was reared and received his education. In 1836 he located in Waitsfield, Vermont, where he fol- lowed his trade of cabinet-maker and joiner for a number of years; being an experienced and skilled workman, he commanded good wages, and was enabled, in ISSo, to retire from the active du- ties of life. He then removed to Bristol, Vermont, where he spent the remainder of his days. He married Miss Adelaide Rousseau, who was born
528
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
in Canada, and the following named children were born to them: Adelaide, residing in Toronto, Canada; J. Julian, of Bristol, Vermont ; Emily, of Waitsfield, Vermont, married John Barber ; Addie, wife of Eaton A. Heath, a resident of Warren, Vermont; Leon, of Springfield, Massa- chusetts; Serena, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Cassimer, of Rochester, New York; George, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Romaine, of Bowmansville, Ontario. Mr. Dumas died Feb- ruary 9, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife's death occurred in 1877 in her sixty-third year.
Joseph Julian Dumas, eldest son of Julian and Adelaide Dumas, attended the common schools of Waitsfield, and after completing, his studies he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, with his father as preceptor. In 1855 he removed to Vergennes, Vermont, and from September, 1855, to October, 1858, he worked at his trade; he then resided for a short period of time in Caven- dish, Waitsfield and Warren, where he was en- gaged as a joiner. In November, 1859, he lo- cated in Bristol, where he worked at his trade of cabinet-maker until December 23, of the same year, when he went to St. Johns, province of Quebec, Canada; where he learned the French language, remaining there until May 6, 1862. He then returned to Waitsfield. Vermont, and for a few months was engaged in the joiner business, and on August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Vermont Regiment, under the com- mand of General Stanton : he participated in the battle of Gettysburg, and after serving his coun- try for eleven months was honorably discharged July 21, 1863. He returned to Waitsfield, Ver- mont, where he remained until August 10, 1863, when he located in Boston, Massachusetts, and was engaged with the Chickering Sons' Piano Company until January 18, 1869 ; he had a con- tract for the work and engaged the serv- ices of twenty-nine men. In April. 1876, Mr. Dumas returned to Bristol and was actively connected with the Bristol Manufacturing Com- pany until May 1, 1880; one year of this time he was in complete charge of the machinery de- partment. He then went to New York city, where he was engaged in making piano cases for the firm of Baer Brothers; he acted in the ca- pacity of superintendent of the factory, having
charge on an average of one hundred and sixty- five men. He remained there until May, 1882, when he returned to Bristol, Vermont, and en- gaged in the builders' supply trade, which he con- ducted until July, 1888, when his health failed, and the following year he disposed of his business. He then entered into the insurance business and later became a broker of general insurance; he represents the Phoenix and Hartford Fire In- surance Company, the Continental of New York, the Boston, Pennsylvania, Traders of Chicago, State Mutual and Union Mutual of Vermont, Travelers Accident of Hartford, and also the United States Fidelity & Guarantee Company of Baltimore, American Fidelity Company of Montpelier, Vermont, and a number of other companies. Mr. Dumas was the first commis- sioned insurance agent in Bristol, Vermont. He is vice president of the Addison and Chit- tenden Counties Underwriters' Association, and was elected the first treasurer of the village of Bristol upon its incorporation in 1903. Po- litically Mr. Dumas is a Republican, and fra- ternally he is a prominent member of the Masonic order, being a member of Libanus Lodge No. 47, A. F. & A. M., of Bristol, in which he has held the office of chaplain for a number of years ; he is a member of Gifford Chapter No. 23. R. A. M., has held all the offices and served as high priest for three years: a member of Munsill Council No. 15, R. & S. M., and has held the office of deputy master ; a member of Mt. Calvary Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar, and also of Bristol Lodge No. 36, I. O. O. F. March 17, 1863, Mr. Dumas was initiated into Franklin Lodge No. 23, of Boston. He held the office of treasurer for three years in the local lodge, and served as past grand at the institution of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah. He was formerly connected with Massasoit Encamp- ment of Boston, was a charter member of Boston Encampment and later a charter member of Bristol Encampment No. 31, I. O. O. F. ; and has acted as treasurer of the latter named encamp- ment since its organization. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, be- ing one of the oldest members in this section ; was mustered in Post Severance of Boston, Mas- sachusetts, in 1866, and later joined Walter C. Dunton Post No. 110 of Bristol.
529
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
On October 12, 1870, Mr. Dumas married Miss Emma I. Tenney, daughter of Sylvanus Tenney, of Northfield, Vermont, and one child, Evelyn Dumas, was born to them. The latter resides at home and has been engaged for the past eight years as a teacher in the schools of Bristol, Vermont. Mrs. Dumas died January 14, 1882, at the age of thirty-two years, and on May 16, 1883, Mr. Dumas contracted an alliance with Miss Sarah M. Taggart, born in Charlotte, Vermont, daughter of John and Betsey M. Tag- gart. John Taggart was born in Ferrisburg, Ver- mont, February 14, 1819, a son of John Taggart, who followed the occupation of farming all his life, and died in the year 1825. John Taggart, Sr., married Melora Prindle. Betsey M. Taggart is a daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Hemenway) Skiff. The latter was a daughter of Asa Hemen- way, who was born in Massachusetts, and his wife, Sally Nicholson. John Taggart, Jr., learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he pur- sued successfully for over twenty years. In April, 1856, he purchased a farm in Charlotte, which he operated for the remainder of his life. He married Miss Betsey M. Skiff, born in Bridport, Vermont, November 26, 1822, a daughter of Benjamin H. Skiff, who followed agricultural pursuits in Connecticut, and who died at the age of forty years. Mr. Taggart died in 1901, at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Dumas, previous to her marriage with J. Julian Dumas, was en- gaged in teaching school for sixteen years. All the family are faithful and zealous members of the Baptist church at Bristol, Vermont, in which Mr. Dumas acts in the capacity of deacon.
LESTER A. BRYANT.
Lester Andrews Bryant, a successful agri- culturist of Lincoln, Vermont, was born in Wor- cester, Vermont, June 21, 1839, a son of Israel and Olive (Andrews) Bryant, the former named having been born in Duxbury, Vermont, where he received his education and later removed to Middlesex, where he engaged in the production of a general line of garden products. He re- mained there for many years and finally located in Lincoln, Vermont, where he spent the last fourteen years of his life. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Olive Andrews, who was born in
Calais, Vermont, a daughter of Joseph Andrews, who was a prominent farmer in Calais all his life. Five children were born of this union, namely: Irene, wife of S. M. Carpenter, of Chelsea, Vermont ; Lester A .; Mary E .; Lewis W., a resident of Templeton, Massachusetts ; and Lucy Ann, now deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lincoln, Ver- mont.
Lester A. Bryant, oldest son of Israel and Olive Bryant, spent his early years in the town of Worcester, where he acquired his education in the common schools. His mother died when he was only eleven years of age, and he remained in the town of Worcester until he attained his thirteenth year, when he removed to Tunbridge and engaged in agricultural pursuits until he reached his majority. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted as a private in Company D, Twelfth Regiment, Second Army Corps, and served his country for nine months. He par- ticipated in the battle of Gettysburg, and was honorably discharged from the service in 1863. He then went west, where he engaged in farming for four years ; he spent the following two years in White River Junction, engaged in the livery stable and hotel business. In 1869 he located in Lincoln, Vermont, where he purchased a farm which consisted of one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which he devoted to general farm- ing, meeting with a large measure of success in this undertaking.
Mr. Bryant is a staunch and firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party and has served as delegate to a number of conventions, both county and state ; for two years he served as selectman, and for fifteen years held the position of lister, a longer period than it was ever held by any other man. He was also clerk of the board for a number of years, and his name appeared on the Mccullough ticket. in 1900, as a candidate for representative, when he polled a large num- ber of votes. He is a prominent member of Gar- field Post No. 62. G. A. R., of Lincoln, where he has held the office of commander, and at the present time is acting in the capacity of adjutant.
In 1869 Mr. Bryant was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Delphy, born in New Haven, Vermont, a daughter of Mitchell Delphy, a suc-
34
530
THE STATE OF VERMONT.
cessful farmer of Lincoln, Vermont, where his death occurred about 1880. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bryant, of whom two grew up: Angie L., who is employed as a teacher : and Frederick H., who was graduated from a law school, and is now practicing in Ma- lone, New York.
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.