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 II, Part 115

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1044

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 II > Part 115

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Mr. Woodward was for many years a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Sons of Temperance. At the age of fourteen years he united with the Congregational church at Keene, the pastor of the church being, at that time, the well known Dr. Barstow. After Mr. Wood- ward's removal to Woodstock he became a mem- ber of the Congregational church in that village, in which, to the close of his life, he took an active part and interest, exercising the influence com- manded by his high character and efficient serv- ices.

Mr. Woodward married, May 3, 1827, at Millbury, Lydia Learned, a woman of great en- ergy and strength of character, who, during their married life of half a century, was ever the sym- pathizing and inspiring sharer of his joys and sorrows. During the Civil war one of their sons

entered the army, and rose to the rank of major, while another, William Herrick, a graduate of Yale, was for a time assistant editor of a New Haven, Connecticut, paper. One of their daugh- ters, Elizabeth Wilson, became, as mentioned above, the wife of Liberty Bates Marble, and the other, Frances, was a very successful teacher of vocal music. The death of Mrs. Woodward took place June 27, 1877, after a long and painful ill- ness which she endured with the utmost unselfish fortitude. This bereavement, which was the greatest affliction of Mr. Woodward's life, added to his pecuniary troubles, unconsciously wore upon him, and it was soon apparent that his strong constitution was gradually breaking down. His interest in public affairs continued almost un- abated as long as consciousness retained its hold upon his mental faculties, and his friendship and love toward his kinsfolk and neighbors suffered no diminuition. At length, surrounded by the surviving members of his family, he passed away on the morning of May 1, 1879, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years. His funeral, which took place from his residence in the afternoon of May 4, was very largely attended by his friends in Woodstock and the neighboring towns. The services were conducted by the Rev. L. W. Hicks of the Congregational church, who paid in his address a fittting tribute to the many estimable and enduring qualities of his deceased parish- ioner. The interment took place amid the impos- ing and mournful rites of the Masonic institution. The following extracts from an obituary article which appeared in one of the Woodstock papers soon after the death of Mr. Woodward, are val- table as showing the feeling with which he was regarded in the place of which he had been so long a resident :

"Of the work he accomplished among us no feature was more characteristic than its perfect thoroughness. The products of his looms were always held in high estimation. 'His name on a piece of goods,' said a New York merchant, 'is worth to any one a fortune.' And what was true of work done in his mill was true of anything he undertook. When his new grist and saw mills were built it was said they had no equal for com- pleteness of equipment and excellence of work in our state. It was simply his own downright honesty and integrity of character carried into

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every department of life and business over which he had the control. * * In all good word and work, in all objects. of benevolence, in all that would tend to elevate and improve our community and the larger brotherhood of the world, his heart and hand were open; and many there are who have had occasion to rejoice over his liberality and bounty."

DARWIN PEARL KINGSLEY.

Darwin Pearl Kingsley, of New York city, was born in Alburg, Grand Isle county, Ver- mont, May 5, 1857, son of Hiram Pearl and Ce- cilia Permilla (LaDue) Kingsley. The family in the direct line is of English descent. A Kings- ley, or Kinsley, as the name was sometimes spelled, was among the first settlers in Grand Isle county, and his descendants have lived in that country for upward of a hundred years. On the mother's side the great-grandfather of Dar- win P. Kingsley came to America from Lyons, France, at a date not definitely known.

Darwin Pearl Kingsley received his early edu- cation in the district school, and began teaching in the common schools at sixteen years of age. Determining to gain a liberal education, he fitted for college at the Barre (Vermont) Academy un- der Doctor J. S. Spaulding of honored memory. He entered the University of Vermont and grad- uated therefrom with high rank as a scholar, in the class of 1881. Shortly after leaving college, he went west and engaged in journalism in the state of Colorado. His force and independence of character speedily gave him prominence in politics and public affairs. He was chosen a delegate to represent the Republicans of Colorado in the Republican national convention of 1884; and in 1886 was elected state auditor and insur- ance commissioner of the state of Colorado. His ability in that office attracted the attention of in- surance men all over the country, and after two years' incumbency of the auditorship, he was offered the position of Boston manager for the great New York Life Insurance Company, which is one of the three largest life insurance com- panies in the United States, and one of the twelve largest financial corporations in the world, hav- ing on its books policies to the amount of over one thousand six hundred million dollars, and

having assets of over two hundred and fifty mil- lion dollars. After holding the position for over three years he was promoted to the general super- intendency of agencies of the New York Life, in New York city. From this he was advanced in 1898 to be a trustee and third vice president of the company, which responsible position he now holds. With the eminent ability and success that have marked his entire public and business career, his courtesy, cultivated tastes and fine personal traits of character combine to win for him the respect and esteem of all who know him.

He is a member of the board of trustees of his alma mater, the University of Vermont; a director in the Louisville & Nashville Railroad ; a member of the Union League, University and Merchants' Club of New York: and of the St. Andrew's Golf Club of New York.

He married, June 19, 1884, Miss Mary M. Mitchell, who died in 1890. One son, Walton Pearl Kingsley, born in 1886, was the issue of this union. December 3, 1895, Mr. Kingsley married Miss Josephine I. McCall, daughter of Hon. John A. McCall, president of the New York Life In- surance Company. Three children have been born to them: Hope, born in November, 1897; Darwin P., Jr., born June 15, 1899; and John McCall, born February 28, 1903.

CURTIS N. SHATTUCK.

Curtis N. Shattuck, a highly respected and prosperous agriculturist of Monkton, Vermont, was born in that town July 16, 1841, a descendant of a family that have made their home in this section of the state since the early part of the nineteenth century. Nathaniel Shattuck, grand- father of Curtis. N. Shattuck, was born in 1768, in Hollis, New Hampshire, where his boyhood days were passed in attendance at the village school and assisting his father in the work upon the farm. When he attained young manhood, he removed to the town of Hinesborough, being among the earliest settlers of that section of the state. He afterwards moved to Monkton. Ver- mont, where he gave his attention to general farming, and in addition operated a grist mill. By dint of industry, economy and perseverance he accumulated a competence, and he was able to enjoy in his later years the rest which he so

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faithfully carned. He died April 6, 1843, aged seventy four years and ten months.

Charles Shattuck, father of Curtis N. Shat- tuck, was born August 7, 1801, in Monkton, Ver- mont, and died April 9, 1886, aged eighty-five years. After acquiring his education in the dis- trict school he followed the occupation of farmer, and having the characteristics of unbend- ing integrity, unabating energy and an industry that never flagged, he soon became one of the most successful farmers in the town. He mar- ried Miss Hannah Curtis. She was a daughter of Gidson and Rebekah (Hardy) Curtis, who were born, respectively, in Woodbury, Connecti- cut, October 14, 1769, and in Hollis, New Hamp- shire, September 10, 1770. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were the parents of the following named chil- dren, all of whom were born in Essex, Ver- mont: Sally, born November 29, 1793; Olive, born October 14, 1795; Lucy, born February 24, 1798; Truman, born February 24, 1800; Han- nah, born January II, 1802 ; David H., born April 22, 1804; Amos H., born April 5, 1806; Martha, born April 22, 1808; Persy, born October 6, 1810; and Polly, born December 7, 1812. Mr. Curtis died April 9, 1886, aged eighty-five years, and his wife died at the age of eighty-four years. Hannah, mother of Curtis N. Shattuck, died De- cember 2, 1883, at the age of eighty-one years.

Curtis N. Shattuck, only living child of Charles and Hannah (Curtis) Shattuck, was reared upon the old homestead, and attended the district school, where he obtained an excellent education. After completing his studies he as- sisted his father for many years in the work upon the farm, and in this way became familiar with all the details of that occupation. Subsequently he purchased a farm on his own account, which consisted of three hundred acres, on which he erected substantial buildings and made other im- provements, so that now it is considered one of the best cultivated farms in that section of Ad- dison county. Mr. Shattuck is one of the rep- resentative and influential men of the town, and he takes a keen interest in all matters that per- tain to its welfare and advancement. In politics he is an adherent of the principles of the Repub- lican party, and lends his support to all measures advocated by it.

February 22, 1864, Mr. Shattuck was united

in marriage to Miss Martha Denio, who was born September 24, 1843, in New York state, a daughter of the Rev. William Denio, who was a minister of the Baptist denomination and preached the gospel for many years in the town of Monkton, Vermont. Mrs. Shattuck was one of eight children born to the Rev. William Denio, six of whom are now residing in the west. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis N. Shattuck, namely: Lena, wife of Charles Dean, of Arapahoe, Nebraska, and had one child, Rex Harrington ; Wilder G., who married, March 16, 1893, Ruba Parch, and to whom were born Pauline, Burnice and Fred Shattuck; Bertha, wife of George Smith, has two children, Vena and Caroline; Jennie, who married Ernest Parch, of Hinesburg, October 31, 1900, and they have one child, Erma Parch; William, now a promi- nent farmer of Monkton, Vermont; Daisy E., who married Edward I. Ray, March 8, 1900.

JOHN ALEXANDER SHELDON.

John A. Sheldon, a prominent business man of Rutland, Vermont, and also a veteran of the Civil war, is a direct descendant, through his paternal ancestry, of Ensign John Sheldon, of Deerfield, Massachusetts, who erected the "Old Indian House" there, and through his maternal ancestry he is descended from the Somervilles of Scotland.

Isaac Sheldon (I) was the great-great-great- great-great-great-grandfather of John A. Shel- don, came from Dorchester, England, in 1634, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. Isaac Sheldon (2), son of Isaac (I), was born in Eng- land in 1629, coming with his father to Wind- sor, Connecticut. He married Mary Woodford, who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Blott) Woodford, of Hartford, Connecticut. He removed to Northampton, Massachusetts, and was a leading man in town affairs, being selectman in 1656.

Ensign John Sheldon (3), the son of Isaac (2), was born in 1658. He married Hannah, a daughter of John and Mary (Munson) Steb- bins, of Hartford, Connecticut, and moved to Deerfield, Massachusetts. He was a landlord, and took a leading part in the affairs of the plantation, was on the first board of selectmen ;

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ensign in the first military company : captain in 1707 ; deacon in the church, and was the builder of the old historic "Indian House," whose scarred and battered door is the center of interest at "Memorial Hall," in Deerfield.

Ebenezer Sheldon (4), the son of Ensign John, was born in 1691. He was captured by the Indians, at the time of the Deerfield massa- cre in 1704, being thirteen years of age, and with his sister Mary came back after being redeemed by his father, and resided in the old Indian House, and the general court granted him and his sister Mary three hundred acres of land for entertaining the Indians with whom they became acquainted during their captivity, on their fre- quent visits after the peace. He married "Thank- ful," a daughter of Elder John and Abigail (Ford) Strong, of Northampton, Massachusetts, and they removed to Bernardston, Massachu- setts, in 1744, and built the Sheldon Fort there. He was a lieutenant in 1747, and had four sons in the service under him. He was a deacon and a leading man in civil and military affairs for many years, and is still spoken of as the old Indian fighter. He died April 12, 1774, and was buried in Bernardston, Massachusetts.

Captain Amasa Sheldon (5), the great-great- grandfather of John A. Sheldon, was the son of Ebenezer Sheldon, and was born in 1726. He was a soldier in the old French war, sergeant in charge of Sheldon fort, 1758-1759; captain and selectman. He married Sarah, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Belding) Bardwell. He died in March, 1808, and was buried in Bernard- ston, Massachusetts.

Amasa Sheldon, the great-grandfather of John A. Sheldon, was born in 1748, and was a son of Captain Amasa and Sarah (Bardwell) Sheldon, and on July 25, 1771, he was united in marriage to Miss Sybil Holton, a daughter of John Holton, of Northfield, Massachusetts, who was a descendant in the third generation of Deacon William Holton, the English immigrant, who settled in Massachusetts in 1634, and after- ward became one of the first settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Sheldon died in the town of Rockingham, Vermont. He was a Revolutionary soldier.

Medad' Sheldon, grandfather of John A. Sheldon, was born December 16, 1776, at

Bernardston, Massachusetts, and after completing his studies he learned the trade of blacksmith. In addition to this vocation he was engaged in farming in Rutland, Vermont, from 1808 to 1825, when he removed to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he successfully conducted agricul- tural pursuits and also a manufacturing business until his removal, some years later, to Troy, New York. His death occurred July 27, 1846, at the house of his son-in-law, George Redington, of Waddington, New York, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at that place. He mar- ried Lucy Bass, a daughter of Lieutenant Obadiah Bass, who was the son of Captain Obadiah Bass (both served in the Revolutionary war), and was a direct descendant of John Bass, who was descended from the Aldens of May- flower fame. Medad Sheldon was the father of eleven children. He was one of the selectmen of Rutland, Vermont, and was a justice of the peace for many years.

Charles Sheldon, father of John A. Sheldon, was born July 24, 1813, in Rutland, Vermont, and received such education as the district school could impart in the course of several win- ter sessions. When twelve years of age he re- moved to Waddington, New York, and the fol- lowing two years he worked on the paternal farm. He then essayed to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker, but finding it incongenial and dis- tasteful, he transferred his attention to service in a country store. At the age of sixteen he re- moved to Montreal and embarked in the steam- boat business, which he prosecuted with such success as to become master of the boat in the course of two years. In this command he con- tinued for about five years, and in March, 1835, being then only twenty-three years old, he located in Troy, New York, and entered the lumber busi- ness, in which he was very successful; in 184I he removed to New York city, where he con- tinued in the same line of trade with similar results until 1850. In that year he transferred his activities to another field of operation, and, settling in Rutland, his birthplace, he engaged in the marble business in the firm of D. Morgan, Jr., & Company, subsequently being admitted to partnership, when the title was changed to Shel- don, Morgan & Company. The firm at this time employed twenty-five men, but its operations were

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temporarily suspended in 1856, and again in 1866, in consequence of the destruction of the works by fire. After each conflagration they erected a more commodious mill, the last one, a twenty-four gang mill, being in active operation right weeks after the fire; in 1874 another twenty-four gang mill was added, and since then new mills have been erected, and they yield an annual product to the value of half a million dollars. The tamarack swamp in which they are located has been transformed into a hive of in- dustry, and one hundred and forty tenements have been erected for homes for the five hundred and fifty workmen and their families. The work of the Sheldon company is scattered all over the United States, and in every year, except two, of business operation since 1850 the magnitude of trade has been gradually augmented.

In 1857 Mr. Sheldon purchased the interest of Mr. Morgan, and the firm was reorganized under the name of Sheldon & Slason; in 1865 he bought the share of Dr. Lorenzo Sheldon and associated his own sons, John A. and Charles H., with himself in partnership. In 1881 Mr. Slason sold out his interest, and William K. Sheldon, another son, was taken into the firm, which then went under the style of Sheldon & Sons, the title that it still bears. In political affairs Mr. Sheldon was an ardent and active Whig, but declined any official position. On June 30, 1838, Mr. Sheldon married Miss Janet Reid, daughter of John and Janet (Somerville) Reid, and seven sons and one daughter were born to them. Mrs. Sheldon died in February, 1859, and subse- quently Mr. Sheldon married Miss Harriette Reddington, daughter of George Reddington, of St. Lawrence county, New York.

John A. Sheldon, son of Charles and Janet Somerville (Reid) Sheldon, was born in Troy, New York, August 14, 1839. His early educa- tion was obtained in a private school in New York city, which he attended for three years ; he was then a student in Sand Lake Academy, Sand Lake, New York, and subsequently prepared for college at the Williamstown Academy, Williams- town, Massachusetts. Ill health and his weak constitution prevented the consummation of his long cherished purpose to enter college, and in 1854 he returned to Rutland, Vermont, now West Rutland, and entered the store of Sheldon, Mor-

gan & Slason as a clerk. By his perseverance and close application to duty he was soon pro- moted to the position of bookkeeper, continuing to act in that capacity until the outbreak of the Civil war. Being at that time a sergeant in a militia company, known as the Rutland Light Guard, of which General W. Y. W. Ripley was captain, he enlisted, as did nearly every member of the company, and it became Company K, First Vermont Infantry, Sergeant Sheldon be- coming second sergeant of the company. On May 2, [861, the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States for three months and was ordered to Fortress Monroe. In this vicinity, and at Newport News, he served out the time of his enlistment and participated in the battle of Big Bethel. He then returned home and resumed his clerical position for a short period of time, after which he again enlisted and became captain of Company C, Tenth Vermont Volunteers, having also served on the staff of General Ulysses S. Grant, and in 1865 he re- tired from the service of the United States.

After his return from the war Mr. Sheldon purchased an interest in the marble business and became a member of the firm of Sheldon & Sla- son, which soon changed its name to Sheldon & Sons, and still later conducted business under the style of the Sheldon Marble Company, Mr. Shel- don acting in the capacity of treasurer. Politi- cally Mr. Sheldon is a firm advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and for three years served as selectman of Rutland; was a trustee of the village for two years and president of the board for one year. Upon the incorpora- tion of the city of Rutland, he was chosen a member of the board of aldermen, and after serving in that capacity for two years he was elected to the responsible position of mayor of Rutland, which position he held for one year. In 1876 Mr. Sheldon represented the city of Rut- land in the Vermont legislature, and was senior aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Horace Fairbanks with the rank of colonel during his term of office. On April 20, 1897, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Rutland, and was reap- pointed January 14, 1902.

On December 20, 1866, Mr. Sheldon married Miss Caroline A. Eastman, who was born in New York city, April 24, 1846, and the following

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named children have been born to them: I. Charles Alexander, born October 17, 1867, is now in business in New York city. 2. Augustus East- man, born June 25, 1869, who married Louise Craik, a direct descendant of Dr. Craik, cousin and physician to General George Washington; they reside in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. 3. Mary Hat- field, born March 31, 1871, married E. W. Keck, of New York city, and they are the parents of a daughter Mary. 4. Frances Marion, born February 1, 1873, married T. F. Marston, son of the late Isaac Marston, who was chief justice of Michigan; of her marriage were born Helen, Sheldon, Marion and Thomas F. Marston, Jr. 5. John Somerville, born February 4, 1875, is engaged in the beet sugar industry in Saginaw, Michigan. 6. Carolyn Pearl was born Novem- ber 9, 1876. 7. Archie McDaniels Sheldon was born April 23, 1885.

ELISHA MAY.

Elisha May, one of the leading attorneys of St. Johnsbury, carries in his veins the blood of worthy sires, who were among the first in re- claiming New England from the wilderness, re- placing savagery with civilization. John May (1), born in 1590, at Mayfield, Sussex, England, according to tradition, was the owner of a ship, The James, which sailed as early as 1635 between London and the New England coast. About 1640 he settled in that part of Roxbury, Massa- chusetts, known as Jamaica Plain, was a member of Eliot's church, and was made a freeman in I64I. The name of his first wife is unknown, and his second wife is mentioned in his will as Sarah. The former died June 18, 1651, and the latter May 4, 1670, He died April 28, 1670, four days after making his will, in which are mentioned house and lands and carpenter's tools.

John May (2), born in 1631, in England, died September II, 1671. He married Sarah (Brewer) Bruce, daughter of Daniell and Joanna Brewer, the Christian name of her first husband being now unknown. They had four sons and four daughters. He added to his father's estate, and left lands and also carpenter's tools. He was admitted freeman in 1660.

Elisha May (3) was born March 20, 1668-9, 42 X

lived in Roxbury until about 1695, when he re- moved to Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Benjamin May (4), born 1705-6, had two sons and a daughter. The name of his wife is unknown, as is also the date of his death.

Benjamin May (5), born in 1741, died in 1835. He married Hopestill Dexter, and had twelve children. He first bore the christian name of Clark, but the time when he changed it is not known. He lived some time in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, and afterward at Royal- ston, Massachusetts, whence he removed to West Concord, Vermont, where he died. His wife was a native of Rhode Island, and it is said by one authority that some of his children were born at Keene, New Hampshire, and all of them be- fore his settlement in Vermont. Tradition has it that he served in the Revolutionary wat. Of a social disposition, with a gift for humor and rhyming, he retained his faculties until a year before his death, at the advanced age of ninety- four years.

Elisha May (6), born in 1772, died Novem- ber IO, 1841. He was a farmer in Concord. Ver- mont, and died without warning, while standing in cheerful conversation with a friend. He mar- ried Polly, daughter of Amos and Mary (Lamb) Underwood, of Concord. They had two sons, Dennis and Preston.

Preston May (7), born November 3, 1809, in Concord, died February 4, 1865, in the same town. He married Sophia Stevens Grout, daughter of Theophilus and Johanna (Willard) Grout, of Kirby, Caledonia county, Vermont, a descendant of Dutch ancestors who settled in New York in the seventeenth century. He is spoken of as an upright, energetic, "stirring Yankee man," and was a farmer and cattle broker.

ELISHA MAY, of St. Johnsbury, son of Pres- ton and Sophia Stevens (Grout) May, was born in Concord, Vermont, December 12, 1842. He was educated at the common schools and at St. Johnsbury Academy. After his preliminary studies he read law with Jonathan Ross, Esq., at St. Johnsbury, and was admitted to the bar at the December term in Caledonia county in 1867. The following year he served as assist- ant clerk in the house of representatives under John H. Flagg. At one time a partner of Henry

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Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol II, Part 115

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1044