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 99
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In politics Mr. Dubuc has given his support to the Republican party from the time of attaining his legal majority, and during the long years of his residence in Shelburne he has manifested a lively interest in all that concerns the well being of the community, being thoroughly public-spirit- ed in his attitude. He was incumbent of the office of school director for a period of four years and is a member of the board of education at the pre- sent time. His interests in the cause of education has been vital and has been exerted in, a most helpful way. For seven years he was treasurer of the Shelburne free library. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and his re- ligious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared and of which he is a com- municant. He has been one of the most active workers and liberal supporters of St. Catherine's church, donating the land on which the church cemetery is located and personally collecting the funds for the building of the church. The family are all prominent in the church work, and the daughter of our subject has been the capable in- cumbent of the position of organist in the same for the past seven years.
On the 15th of January, 1871, Mr. Dubuc was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Potvin, who was born in Vergennes, Vermont, but who was
reared and educated in Burlington. Of this union were born eleven children, concerning whom the following is the record of the seven who survive : John is head clerk in the largest shoe store in Plattsburg, New York; Annie remains at the parental home; Frank, who was graduated in the business college at Burlington, is now assisting his father in business ; Catherine, who was gradu- ated in the local high school, as a member of the class of 1902, was honored with the position of valedictorian of her class and is now a student of the Burlington Business College; and Jerome, Adella and Ralph are attending the public schools. The eldest daughter is the one who holds the posi- tion of organist in the church, as has been pre- viously noted, and she also has charge of the Shelburne Free Library.
HOMER IRISH.
Homer Irish is a native of Shelburne, where he was born on the 9th of June, 1827. so that he now is numbered among the venerable citizens of the town, though his mental and physical vigor re- main unimpaired by the lapse of years and he is still actively concerned in practical business, though he has laid aside the more onerous duties and finds ample opportunity to enjoy the rewards of his years of earnest and consecutive endeavor. He is a son of Enoch Irish, who was born No- vember 1, 1798, in Hinesburg, and who was a son of Benjamin Irish, a native of New Hamp- shire, whence he removed to Vermont in the early days and became one of the sterling pioneers of Chittenden county. He took up a tract of land. reclaiming the same and developing a good farm, and he here continues to be identified with agri- cultural pursuits until his death. at the age of seventy years. His wife's name was Naomi, and their son, Enoch, was reared to maturity on the paternal homestead, in Shelburne, and his early educational advantages were such as were to be had in the somewhat primitive schools of the place and period, the major portion of his scho- lastic training having been received in the school at Hinesburg. Growing up on the farm and early becoming familiar with all the details of this great basic industry, he continued to be engaged in farming throughout his long and useful life. at- taining a due measure of success and being known
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
as a man whose integrity in all the relations of life was beyond cavil. He spent practically his entire life on a farm two miles from the present residence of his son, and there he died October 15, 1856, at the age of fifty-seven years. lle was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his wife, while his political support was given to the Republican party. His wife, whose maiden name Lucia Mills, was born June 28, 1806, in Shelburne, being a daughter of Samuel Mills, who was born in Canada, whence lie came to Shelburne, where he passed the residue of his life, being eighty years of age at the time of his death. He was twice married and of the first union were born three daughters, and four sons, Lucia Mills (Irish) being one of the daughters, Enoch and Lucy ( Mills) Irish became the par- ents of five children, and of the number the sub- ject of this sketch is now. the only survivor. His mother passed away December 6, 1882, at the age of seventy-six years.
Homer Irish remained on the paternal home- stead in Shelburne until he had attained the age of fifteen years, and his early education was re- ceived in the public schools of the locality. At the age noted he entered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, becoming an expert work- man and continuing to devote his attention to the trade as his vocation for a period of nearly forty years, within which time he was concerned in the erection of many fine buildings in this section. He was known as one who lived up to the very let- ter of every contract into which he entered and as one who ever handled his work with expedition and marked ability,-this implying public confi- dence and regard and a representative supporting patronage. As a contractor he built many houses in Shelburne and in the city of Burlington, and his own residence, which is one of the pleasant homes of the town, was erected by him in 1852. That its construction was of the most substantial and thorough order is evident from the fact that it remains practically unimpaired, after the lapse of a full half century. He made by hand all the sash, doors and window frames utilized in the building, and this work was done after regular working hours devoted to the service of others. The old homestead is endeared and hallowed to him by the grateful associations and memories of the past, and'has been his place of residence con-
secutively from the time of its completion, fifty years ago, such improvements having been made from time to time as the demands and exigencies required. Mr. Irish is the owner of a tract of sixty acres, which he has developed into one of the most productive and best improved farms in this locality, all of the buildings on the place hav- ing been erected by him, while he also personally set ont his fine orchard of five hundred trees, all now well matured.
Mr. Irish originally gave his political support to the old-line Whig party, but at the time of the organization of the Republican party, as the avowed opponent of secession and the institution of slavery, he identified himself therewith, and has ever since been one of the stanch advocates of its principles and policies. He has kept well in- formed on the issues of the day and thus being at all times able to defend his position and give a reason for his convictions. He is a man of broad information, and during the long years of his active business life he did not neglect his read- ing and personal application, through which he most effectively supplemented the somewhat lim- ited educational advantages which were his in his youthful days. He has been one of the world's noble army of workers and has made his life count for good, so that as the shadows of his days begin to lengthen his retrospective view can not but afford him due measure of satisfaction, in that he has been true to himself, sincere and honorable in his intercourse with his fellow men and kindly and helpful in all the walks of life. He held the office of road surveyor for two years, was for a number of years a member of the school board, and in past years was frequently a delegate to various conventions of his party. For thirty years Mr. Irish has been affiliated with the time honored order of Free & Accepted Masons, being a member of Friendship Lodge No. 24, in which he has held various official positions and in which he is one of the oldest and most honored members. His son is likewise a member of the same lodge, in which he has passed various official chairs. Mr. Irish has been a devoted and consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, and in the same his wife was a faithful and zealous worker until the close of her life.
On the Ist of January, 1852, Mr. Irish was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Patience Pierce,
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
who was born in Hinesburg, on the 15th of Sep- tember, 1830, being a daughter of Chauncey and Mahala (Conger) Pierce, the former of whom was one of the successful and honored farmers of this county until the time of his death. He and his wife became the parents of four sons and four daughters, of whom three of the sons are living at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Irish became the parents of three children, of whom only one is living, Wallace W., who has charge of his father's farm and who is one of the progressive and honored citizens of Shelburne, where he was born on the 24th of July, 1858. He married Miss Ruth Anna Minckler, of Grand Isle, Vermont, and they have one son, Leo P., having lost their first born, Homer D., at the age of thirteen months. The two deceased children of our sub- ject are Wesley M., who passed away at the age of fifteen years ; and Emma, who died at the age of four and one-half years. The great loss and bereavement of Mr. Irish's life was that involved in the death of his cherished and devoted wife, who had been to him a true helpmeet, her death occurring on the 10th of January, 1898. She was a woman of gentle and sympathetic nature, the noblest attributes of character, and one who gained the love of all who came within the sphere of her gracious influence. . The infinite life gained a new glory when death set its seal upon her mor- tal lips.
WILLIAM J. SHERIDAN.
The agricultural development of Chittenden county has been such as to reflect credit on the state, and the advancement of the great basic in- dustry has been insured through the interposi- tion of a progressive, intelligent and worthy class of citizens, both in the past and the present gener- ations. The opulent agricultural resources of the county have an able representative in the sub- ject of this review, who has been a life-long resi- dent of this section of the state and who is to-day accounted one of the representative and influential farmers of Shelburne.
William James Sheridan was born on a farm adjoining that which is his present place of abode, in Shelburne, Chittenden county, the date of his nativity having been March 17, 1858. In the agnatic line he comes of stanch old Irish stock,
and in his personality abide those sterling traits which have ever made the true type of the race count for the best citizenship, conserving ad- vancement through alert mentality, independence, consecutive application and inflexible integrity of purpose. His father, James Sheridan, was a native of county Meath, Ireland, born near Drog- heda, in 1800, being a son of Michael Sheridan, who passed his entire life in the Emerald Isle, having been a prosperous farmer and gardener. James Sheridan was reared and educated in the fair land of his birth, where he remained until 1845, having in the meanwhile taken unto him- self a wife. In the year noted he emigrated to America, where he believed superior opportunities were afforded for the attaining of success through individual effort, and he made his way to Ver- mont soon after his arrival, taking up his resi- dence in Johnson, Lamoille county, where he re- mained a short time and then came to Shelburne, in 1846, and here engaged in farming, in the em- ploy of Henry Morse, with whom he remained for a period of eleven years. He then purchased an acre of land, to which he subsequently added until he possessed forty-six acres, lying contiguous to that now owned and operated by his son. He applied himself with marked ability and energy and was prospered in his efforts, placing his en- tire estate under a high state of cultivation. He was a man of expedients, ever alert to take ad- vantage of opportunities presented and having marked business sagacity. Thus he not only car- ried on his farming enterprise most successfully, but for many years he also conducted a very pros- perous business in handling apples, potatoes and other farm produce upon a quite extensive scale, finding a market principally in the city of Burling- ton, and gaining a high reputation as a reliable and progressive business man. He continued to make his home in Shelburne until his death. in 1872, at the age of seventy-two years, being held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.
Prior to his emigration to America James Sheridan was united in marriage to Miss Anna McDermott, who was born in Ireland, a daughter of Luke McDermott, who there passed his entire life, engaged in farming. Of this union were born seven children. namely: James. Jr .. who is a resident of the city of Chicago, Illinois ; May, who is the widow of Franklin Priest. of that city ;
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
Ama, who is the widow of O. B. Allen, of Pan- ton, Vermont ; William J., the immediate sub- ject of this sketch ; Ellen, who became the wife of Benjamin Allen, of Panton, and who is now. deceased; Kate, who died at the age of eleven years ; and Harry, who died at the age of six months. The devoted and honored mother lived to attain the age of sixty-five years, her death occurring July 23, 1890.
William J. Sheridan passed his boyhood days on the parental homestead in Shelburne, receiving his early educational training in the district schools and supplementing the same by a course of study in the academy at Shelburne. He con- tinued to be associated with his father in the op- eration of the home farm until he had attained the age of nineteen years, when he went to Chicago, where he secured employment in the office of a leading lawyer of that city, his duties being the collecting of rents and attending to various de- tails of his employer's private business. He was thus engaged for two years, at the expiration of which he returned to Shelburne and was there- after associated with his father in business until the death of the latter. He then took charge of the old homestead, where he remained until 1894, when he took up his residence on his present fine farm, which comprises one hundred and four acres and upon which he has made excellent im- provements of a permanent nature, including the modern buildings which add so materially to the attractiveness and value of the place. Here Mr. Sheridan is successfully engaged in diversified farming and also conducts a dairying business, his efforts being directed with that energy and discrimination which entail the maximum re- turns and insure the fullest measure of prosperity.
Keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day and known as a man of well defined and independent views, Mr. Sheridan has naturally taken an active interest in public af- fairs of a local nature, while his political proclivi- ties are indicated in the stanch support which he accords to the Republican party. In 1892 he was elected to the office of road commissioner and so effective was his administration in the improving and proper maintaining of the public highways during his first term of office that he was chosen as his own successor at the expiration of the same and, by successive re-elections, has been consec-
ntively in tenure of this position to the present time,-representing a period of eleven years. This fact indicates beyond peradventure the pop- ular appreciation of his efforts in the connection. l11 1801 Mr. Sheridan was elected a member of the board of selectmen, serving one term and de- clining the nomination in 1892, while in 1900 he was honored by his party with the nomination for representative in the state legislature, but met the defeat which attended the party ticket in the county. Ile has also served as a member of the school board, as collector of taxes in the district, and has been frequently called upon to serve as a member of the jury. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
On the 24th of June, 1894, Mr. Sheridan was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Garry, who was born in Charlotte, this county, the daughter of Zebulon Garry, one of the representative farmers of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan have three children,-James William, Henry Robert and Stanley P.
ALEXANDER GORDON.
The magnificent natural resources of Ver- mont, in its wealth of superior granite, have af- forded a peculiarly attractive field to those of Scotland who have in their own land worked their own excellent stone, and these artisans, of whom Alexander Gordon, of Barre, is an ex- ample, have contributed largely to the develop- ment of the industry in their adopted country.
Alexander Gordon was born November 15, 1856, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, of which his parents, John and Jane ( Norrie) Gordon, were also natives; his father was born in the year 1800. The son Alexander received his education in the schools of his native parish, and was reared in the "auld kirk." At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to a stone-cutter, and when he had reached the years of manhood he was an expert mechanic. He continued in employment at his trade until 1881, when, at the age of twen- ty-four years, he sailed for America, landing in New York city. He had come with the expecta- tion of finding more remunerative employment, and he at once went to Quincy, Massachusetts, and readily found employment in one of the ex- tensive granite yards there. Shortly afterward he removed to Westerly, Rhode Island, where he
alexander Fordow
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
followed his trade until 1883, when he made a permanent location in Barre, Vermont, and here he began stone-cutting upon his own account. June I, the same year, he formed a partnership with Charles Marr, under the firm name of Marr & Gordon, and shortly afterward William Marr was also added to the firm, the name remaining unchanged. The works operated by these gentle- men have long been noted for the excellence of their product, the material for which is drawn from their own two quarries. The polishing mill is located at South Barre and is operated by water power, and the sheds and cutting department are in the city of Barre. Every department of the work is conducted under the personal supervis- ion of the proprietors, whose reputation for su- periority of product, in quality of material and workmanship, is unexcelled in all the granite re- gions, while in extent the business of the firm ranks with the first of the city. The work in- cludes ail descriptions of monuments, mauso- leums, vaults and other cemetery work, and finds ready markets wherever the widely extended commerce of the city reaches.
Making his business the object of his close attention, Mr. Gordon also manifests a deep in- terest in the welfare of his home city, and affords his aid to every means designed to promote its advancement. He is deeply interested in educa- tional affairs, and has been for six years a member of the school committee, and is the chairman of that body. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church; of Clan Gordon, No. 12, of the Scottish Clans, of Barre, and of Granite Lodge, F. and A. M., of the same city. In his political affiliations, he is a Republican.
Mr. Gordon was married in June, 1885, to Miss Lizzie A. Jeffrey, a daughter of Alexander Jeffrey. The children born of this marriage were Grace E., born in Barre, April 12, 1886, who died at the age of nine months ; and Arthur A., born in Barre, January 21, 1888. The mother of these children died in February, 1888, surviving her youngest child only about a month. In March, 1892, Mr. Gordon was married to Miss Henrietta Kennedy, who was born in Scotland at Aberdeen- shire. The children born of this marriage, all in Barre, were Harold J., December 23, 1892; Edith May, August 10, 1894; and Helena Henrietta, September 28, 1901.
WILLIAM I. BRADLEY.
As a native son of Vermont and a representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of the Green Mountain commonwealth, Mr. Bradley is well entitled to consideration in a compilation which has to do with those who have aided in the founding and building of a great and prosper- ous state, while such is his personal integrity of character and such his standing as one of the progressive and successful farmers of the town of Charlotte, Chittenden county, that this epito- me of his personal and ancestral history is all the more germane. The name which he bears has been identified with the annals of American his- tory from the colonial epoch and has ever stood for the highest order of citizenship and the most inflexible loyalty, typifying strong and noble man- hood and gentle and gracious womanhood, as one generation has followed another on the stage of life's activities.
William Irving Bradley, whose fine farm home is located near Baptist Corners, Charlotte township, was born in Huntington, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 13th of August, 1849, a son of Norman W. Bradley, who was a native of the same town, where his birth occurred on the 13th of May, 1816. The latter was a son of Bunyan Bradley, who was born in Williston, Chittenden county, this state, on the 23d of Jan- uary, 1789, a son of Stillman Bradley, who was the original ancestor of the Vermont line and who was born in Guilford, Connecticut, in 1763, that also having been the birthplace and life res- idence of his father, Stephen Bradley, so that it at once becomes evident that the name has been linked with New England history for many gen- erations, the lineage being of stanch English ex- traction. Stillman Bradley removed from Con- necticut to Sunderland, and thence to Williston, Vermont, becoming one of the sterling pioneers of that locality, where he passed the residue of his long and useful life. There was reared and educated his son Bunyan, and he eventually re- moved to Huntington, becoming one of its earliest settlers. He took up his residence there in the year ISII, locating on a tract of heavily timbered land in the veritable wilderness and there, by energy, close application and assiduous toil, he developed a good farm. He was a man
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THE STATE OF VERMONT.
of noble character, ever striving to aid and up- lift his fellow men, and he was one of the first local preachers of the Methodist Episcopal church in that locality, his license to preach having been issued by Bishop Heading, in 1838, and this inter- esting historical document being now in posses- sion of the subject of this review. Grandfather Bradley continued to devote his attention to agri- cultural pursuits on his homestead until he was called from the scenes of life's activities, in 1870, at the venerable age of eighty-one years, while his memory is revered by all who knew him or have had cognizance of his worthy and useful life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rhoda Joslin, was born in Huntington, being a daughter of one of its pioneer citizens, Zebediah Joslin, who was born in Killingly, Connecticut, and who was a valiant soldier in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution. Of this union were born five children, of whom the survivor is Emily, who is the wife of Gerritt Smith Casterline, of Belmont. Allegany county, New York. Rhoda (Joslin) Bradley survived her honored husband by about three years, passing away in 1873, at the age of seventy-nine years, secure in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose work she had been to her husband a devoted coadjutor during the long years of their ideal married life. The latter was uncompromisingly opposed to the institution of human slavery and was a zealous abolitionist during the crucial epoch leading up to the war of the Rebellion.
Norman W. Bradley was reared to years of maturity on the old homestead farm in Hunting- ton, his educational privileges being such as were afforded in the somewhat primitive schools of the pioneer days, and there he continued to be iden- tified with agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he came to Charlotte and took up his abode on the farm now owned and conducted by his son. Here he orignally purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres, becoming one of the successful and influential farmers of the county and here maintaining that high standard of personal in- tegrity and honor which has ever characterized the name. Here he passed the residue of his sin- cere and worthy life, passing away April 23, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Repub- lican party from the time when it was organized,
as the uncompromising foe of slavery and se- cession, and he ever took an active interst in public affairs, having been called upon to serve in various offices, whose duties he discharged with that mature judgment and discrimination which were essential characteristics of the man. Thus he served on the board of selectman, as lister and was for a number of years incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, in which capacity he ad- judicated minor troubles between his neighbors with such judgment and impartiality as to com- mend his course to both parties concerned and to gain the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the community. Fraternally he was identified with the Free and Accepted Mason, having a deep appreciation of the noble teachings of this time-honored organization. His wife, whose maiden name was Annie Stafford, was born Jan- uary 24, 1824, in Wallingford, Vermont, a daughter of Ormon Stafford, who was likewise born in that place, a son of Stuteley Stafford, who .
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