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 116

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 116

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

C. Belden, Faq., and later of Hon. Henry C. Bates. Mr. Mas is now associated with Robert W. Simonds.

Formerly a member of the Republican party, he withdrew his allegiance in 1884, being a pro- nounced opponent of the doctrines of the pro- tectionists, and is now a strong Cleveland Demo- crat of the independent type, who believes in principle rather than party.

During the war he made an attempt to enlist in the Seventeenth Regiment Vermont Volun- teers, but was rejected. A second effort was more successful, and he was enrolled in the Twenty-sixth Regiment, New York Cavalry, under Colonel Ferris Jacobs. He received a commission from Governor Fenton as first lieu- tenant and regimental commissary, but was not present at any battle of the war.

Mr. May has also knelt at the shrine of Free- masonry, having taken the degrees of blue lodge, chapter and temple, and he is a member of Chamberlain Post No I, G. A. R.

A modest and unassuming man, notwith- standing his liberal and advanced view of the present aspect of public affairs, he has never sought for political promotion, but was the can- didate for auditor of accounts on the Democratic ticket in 1890 and 1892, and is a member of the Democratic state committee for Caledonia county.

Mr. May was in 1893 appointed bank ex- aminer in Vermont by President Cleveland, and served five years, and is at present director of the state prison and house of correction.

Mr. May was married December 12, 1872, to Miss Eunice A. S., daughter of Sumner W. and Rosette (Eastman) Arnold. Three chil- dren have been born of this marriage: Florence, Joanna Rosette and Beatrice Sophia May.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS BRADBURY.

Charles A. Bradbury, a retired naval officer, now residing in Vergennes, is a native of that city, where he was born March 1, 1849. His first ancestor in this country was Thomas Brad- bury, who was baptized in Wicken-Bonaut, Essex county, England, February 28, 1610-II, and be- longed to the eighth generation, according to records preserved in that country. As early as 1634 he visited the coast of Maine, as agent of

Sir Ferdinando Gorges, proprietor of the prov- ince of Maine, and came to Massachusetts in 1637, and settled in Salisbury in 1638. His wife, Mary, was among those condemned during the so-called "witch" persecution, but escaped exe- cution.

The second generation included Wymond Bradbury, born April 1, 1637, who lived in Salis- bury, and married Sarah, daughter of Robert and Sarah Pike. He died April 7, 1669, on the Island of Nevis, West Indies.

Wymond (3), son of Wymond (2) and Sarah Bradbury, born May 13, 1669, married Maria Cotton, born in January, 1671-72, daughter of Rev. John Cotton, Jr., first president of Harvard College, and his wife, Johanna. John Cotton, Jr., was a son of John and Sarah Cotton. Wy- mond Bradbury died April 17, 1734, at York, Maine.

Theophilus (4), son of Wymond and Maria Bradbury, was born July 8, 1706, and died Feb- ruary 3, 1764. August 4, 1730, he married Ann Woodman, who was born July 23, 1708, and died July 12, 1743. He resided in Newbury, Massa- chusetts, and was a prominent citizen.

Theophilus (5), son of Theophilus and Ann Bradbury was born November 13, 1739, in New- bury, Massachusetts. He graduated from Har- vard College in 1757, and settled in the practice of law at Falmouth, Maine. He returned to Newbury in 1779, and was elected a member of the first federal Congress from the Essex dis- trict. In 1797 he was appointed a judge of the Massachusetts supreme court, and occupied this position at his death, September 6, 1803. His wife, Sally Jones, bore him eight children. One of these, Francis Bradbury, was an early settler at Vergennes, Vermont, where he was a large merchant. Through him, his brother, Charles Bradbury, became interested in the town and ultimately died there, at the home of his son, mentioned below.

Charles Bradbury (6) was born in 1775, at Portland, Maine, and spent the greater part of his life in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. His last days were passed among his children, and he died July II, 1853, at Vergennes. He and his wife, Eleonora Cumming, were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Charles W., Mary Kent, Eleo-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

nora Cumming, Caroline Keith, George, Harriet M. and Thomas.

Charles William Bradbury (7) was born March 26, 1811, in Boston, where he was reared and educated. Early in life he went to sea, in command of his own vessels, and made many voyages, sailing to European ports and to the East Indes and China. In order to care for his father's interests here, he took up his abode in Vergennes, where he operated a grist and flouring mill for some years. For a short time subsequently, he resided in Chicago, Illinois, whence he returned to Vergenns. He was very active in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and was grand master of the jurisdiction of Vermont in 1849. In 1863 he became an employe of the United States government, in the treasury department, and, after some years' residence in Washington, removed to Boston, where his death occurred February 8, 1881, near the close of his seventieth year. His wife, Eleanor F. Bradley, born Sep- tember 19, 1825, in Fairfield, Vermont, was a daughter of Jephtha Bradley, a native of the same town. The last named resided in St. Al- bans many years, and was auditor of the state at the time of his death. Mrs. Bradbury passed away May 22, 1891, at the age of sixty-five years. She was the mother of six children, five of whom grew to maturity and three are now living, namely: William C., Charles A. and George W. Bradbury.

William C. Bradbury was educated in Ver- gennes, and followed mercantile pursuits there and in Philadelphia, Washington and Boston. He followed the sea several years, in the merchant marine, and is now an invalid, residing in New Hampshire.

George Winslow was reared in Vergennes, where he attended public and private schools. He has been engaged in commercial employment in Vergennes, in Michigan, Chicago and Boston, where he now resides.

Charles A. Bradbury attended the public schools of his native city until his sixteenth year, when he entered the United States Naval Acad- emy at Annapolis, from which he was grad- uated in his twentieth year. Entering at once upon active duty, he performed sea and shore service until his retirement, with the rank of lieutenant, in September, 1896, and has since

maintained his home in Vergennes. In 1893 he was married to Lucy C. Lilley, of Washington, D. C., where her father, Frederick B. Lilley, has been employed in the national treasury depart- ment for several years past. Lieutenant Brad- bury is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of Dorchester Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M., of Vergennes.

GEORGE BRIGGS.

George Briggs, a leading lawyer and financier of Brandon, Vermont, is descended from a fam- ilf of Massachusetts origin. His great-grand- father, Ebenezer Briggs, was a captain in Colonel Israel Fearring's regiment during the Revolu- tionary war, and afterwards became a Baptist clergyman at Middleboro, Massachusetts. His son was called Ebenezer second. He left several children, among whom was Levi, who was born in Middleboro, Massachusetts, September 14, 1771, and died in 1836, at the home of his son, Ebenezer Nelson Briggs, in Brandon, Vermont. Levi Briggs married Betsy Nelson, and they were the parents of four children : Ebenezer Nel- son, Levi, Sumner and Henry.

Ebenezer Nelson Briggs, eldest son of Levi and Betsy (Nelson) Briggs, was born at Mid- dleboro, Massachusetts, November 1, 1801. In his early life his parents removed to Salisbury, Vermont, where he was educated in the public schools. He studied law with Gordon Newell, at Pittsford, Vermont, and was admitted to the bar in 1823. He first practiced at Salisbury, and afterwards moved to Brandon, where he prac- ticed law and was a prominent citizen of that town until his death. He was attorney for the Rutland Railroad for many years, and also vice president of the Brandon Bank. He represented his town in the house, and was speaker of that body, and was also a member of the state senate. In politics he was a Whig, and on the dissolu- tion of that party he became a Republican. He was three times married. His first wife was Abigail Miles, and they were the parents of the following children, all born in Salisbury, Ver- mont : Sumner J., born April 14, 1828 ; Ellen E., who married Lorenzo Bixby, born April 10, 1830; G. Newell, born in 1832; and Charles W. Briggs, born October 15, 1835. Mr. Briggs's wife died

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

in 1836, and in 1837 he married Louisa With- erell, widow of Mr. Hutchins, of Montpelier, who died August 5, 1851. They were the parents of the following children : Edward D., born in 1838, who died in infancy ; Jennie Louisa, who became the wife of Hon. Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, the gov- ernor of Vermont from 1886 to 1888, was born February 4, 1841, and died June 1, 1866; George, the subject of this sketch; and Frank, who was born September 7, 1845, and died in March, 1893. After the death of his second wife he mar- ried Adaline Young. They had no children. Mr. Briggs died January 26, 1871.

George Briggs, third child and second son of Ebenezer N. and Louisa (Witherell) Briggs, was born April 26, 1844, in Brandon, Vermont. He was educated in the high schools of his native place, at the Vermont Episcopal Institute of Bur- lington, and Hobart College, Geneva, New York, graduating from the last named institution in 1866 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1869 received that of Master of Arts. He read law in the office of ex-Senator George F. Ed- munds, in Burlington, and at the end of a year entered the office of his father and Governor E. J. Ormsbee, who were law associates for many years and until the death of Ebenezer N. Briggs. George Briggs attended a course of lectures at the Albany Law School, and was admitted to practice in the Rutland county court in Septem- ber, 1868. He was associated in practice with his father and Mr. Ormsbee until the death of the former, whom he succeeded in the partner- ship, the style of the firm remainng the same. The firm is now probably the oldest law firm in the state, having been in existence for thirty-six years, and it has remained unchanged thirty-three years. The firm conducts a large general practice. Mr. Briggs has in charge the real estate and city loan business of the National Life Insurance Com- pany of Montpelier, and his transactions are largely in the west, looking after the real estate and city loans of that company. His office for this business is in Montpelier, while his law office is in Brandon. Since 1876 he has been a director in the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and is now, with a single exception, the oldest member of the board. Since 1889 he has been a director in the National Life Insurance Company, was formerly a director of the Rutland Savings

Bank, and is one of the trustees of the Rutland Trust Company. He held the offices of town clerk, clerk of the village school district, and clerk of the fire district front 1868 to 1894. In 1880 he represented his town in the assembly, and in 1888 was state senator from Rutland county.

Mr. Briggs is a member of the Vermont Bar Association. He belongs to several associations of the Protestant Episcopal church, is a member of the standing committee, one of the trustees of the diocese of Vermont, and also of a fund for the support of the bishop of Vermont. He was a delegate to the general conventions held at Washington in 1898 and in San Francisco in 1901.

Mr. Briggs married, September 15, 1868, Sarah F., daughter of Theodoras Platt, and of this marriage were born three children : William R., who is engaged in the real estate business in Chicago; George L., who is in the photograph engraving business in the same city; and Jennie P., who is the wife of the Rev. George W. Dav- enport, an Episcopal clergyman of Danbury, Connecticut, formerly of New York city. The last named are the parents of three children, Eleanor, Willard and George W. Davenport. Mrs. Briggs died September 4, 1876, and Mr. Briggs married, October 6, 1881, Anna S., daughter of Julius E. and Catherine M. Higgins, of Brandon, Vermont, and to them were born two children: Catherine M. and Florence D. Briggs.

DAVID G. CRANE.

The family of which David G. Crane, of Bur- lington, Vermont, is a representative, is one of the oldest in the annals of New Hampshire. The earliest native ancestor was Henry A. Crane (I), born in England, January 30, 1640, who came to America with his parents during the reign of Charles I, and settled in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1648. He was one of ten children. From him the line of descent is through Stephen (2) ; Ben- jamin (3), born December 17, 1692; and Joseph (4), born February 28, 1724. Of these an- cestors above named, little is known, and au- thentic information begins with Joseph, Jr. (5), the paternal grandfather of David G. Crane.

David G. Franc

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Joseph Crane, Jr., was born August 4, 1757, in Milton, Massachusetts, where he was reared and acquired his education. He married Deliv- erance Mills, a native of the same village with himself. About 1782, when about twenty-five years of age, he removed to Washington, New Hampshire, where he passed the remainder of his life, and where he died June 30, 1841, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His widow survived him, and died August 17, 1845. They were the genuine pioneer type, of strong char- acter, persistent industry, and living lives marked with all the domestic virtues. In religon they were Baptists.

Among their children was Ziba, born in Wash- ington, New Hampshire, November 19, 1796. He was reared on the family homestead and be- gan his education in the neighborhood schools. He then learned blacksmithing, and followed his trade until he was forty-eight years of age, when he bought a farm upon which he made his home. He was a Baptist, and took an active part in church affairs, at different times occupying vari- ous official positions. He married Roxanna Proc- tor, who was born in Windsor, Vermont, March 12, 1801, and who died April 27, 1844, aged fifty- three years, after bearing him four children, of whom are now living three-Roxanna, widow of Henry Smith ; Willard; and David G. Crane. The father of these children later married for his sec- ond wife Eunice Boutelle, who is now living in New Hampshire. He exceeded his father in longevity, living until October 21, 1885, and dying at the age of eighty-nine years.

David G., the youngest child of Ziba and Roxanna (Proctor) Crane, was born in East Washington, New Hampshire, August 7, 1834. He was reared and began his education in his native village, and subsequently completed an academical course in Tubbs Union Academy un- der Professor Sanborn, and educator of wide re- pute. After leaving school, and when twenty-two years of age, he came to Burlington, April 21, 1856, and engaged in the lumber business, enter- ing the employ of Lawrence Barnes. Under this masterly manager he acquired a broad knowl- edge of the trade which served him to good purpose at a later day. In 1858, being then twenty-four years old, he formed a business asso- ciation with his brother Willard, who was four

years his senior, and' this connection has been pleasantly and profitably maintained to the pres- ent day.

For the first few years of his membership in the firm of W. & D. G. Crane, David G. Crane was steadily engaged at the bench in the manufacture of packing boxes, and, as the busi- ness expanded, they came to require the services of two hundred and fifty men, and its manage- ment became so exacting as to require the major share of his attention. The firm is famed as one of the oldest and most successful manufacturing plants in Vermont, and its fieid covers a wide range of territory. For forty-five years past it has conducted an extensive lumber business in Burlington, and the members of the firm have also extended their activities into various kindred lines, including large lumber works in Muskegon, Michigan, and in Natick, Massachusetts.

Mr. Crane was one of the incorporators of the Lakeside Shoe Company, whose large fac- tory was destroyed by fire in 1902. He was also one of the organizers of and is a director in the Vermont Shade Roller Company, operating a large factory in Vergennes, Vermont, with a branch factory and office in Burlington, and is vice president and managing director of the Bur- lington Venetian Blind Company. A man of broad business ability, he is known as a most successful and enterprising manager, and the various interests with which he is connected form an important part of the business life of his community, and afford employment to several hundred workmen.

Mr. Crane is a member of the Baptist church, and is numbered among its most active support- ers; for many years he has served upon the finance committee, and he was a member of the committee to which was committed the enlarging of the house of worship. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and has re- ceived fourteen degrees in the Scottish Rite.

Mr. Crane was married March II, 1858, to Miss Sarah Zottman, a native of Burlington, who was born in 1837, and died in 1890. Two chil- dren, Clarence G. and Howard, were born of this marriage. Clarence G. Crane, born February 10. 1859, is now foreman of the lumber yard now operated by his father and uncle. He married Miss Johanna Apoll, who was born in Michigan,

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

and to them have been born four children, Ray D., Howard, Fred and Sarah. Howard Crane, born September 24, 1800, is engaged as book- keeper for the firm of W. & D. G. Crane. He married Miss Minerva L. Walker, and to them has been born a son, Harold Eastman.

DR. ASHBEL. ARZY DEAN.

Dr. Ashbel A. Dean was a man of note and acknowledged ability, occupying during his life a position of prominence and influence both in the business and official world. His grandfather, and namesake, Ashbel A. Dean, was a pioneer of Monkton, and the family was long identified with the interests of that town and surrounding com- munity.

Dr. Dean, oldest of the three children of his parents, was born in Monkton, Addison county, Vermont, February 6, 1857. His education was received at the New Haven Academy, supple- mented by an academical course at Burlington College and followed by attendance in the medi- cal department of the New York University, where he was graduated in the class of 1878. Immediately thereafter he located at Bristol, Ver- mont, and entered upon the practice of his pro- fession, which he kept up during the following twelve years. In 1890 he abandoned regular professional work and was engaged in the drug business for five years, after which failing health compelled him to retire permanently from active business and this retirement continued until his death, which occurred July 5, 1899. Dr. Dean was a Republican in politics and one of the local leaders of his party. He held all the minor offices, represented the town in the legislature, and at the time of his death held the position of senator. He was often a delegate to the various conven- tions, and for some years held the office of town treasurer. He was quite prominent in Free- masonry, holding degrees in the blue lodge, chap- ter, council and commandery, and was often hon- ored by election to the offices of the different bodies.

May 26, 1880, Dr. Dean was married to Miss Lillian, daughter of James Wills, a native and respected citizen of this town. The last named was a carpenter by trade, and in business at Bristol for many years, selling sash, doors and

blinds. He married Elizabeth Higgin, a native of Rupert, in Bennington county, and by her had three children, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Dean; Nellie M., now Mrs. Marshall Butterfield; and Mabel, wife of Harry Dunshee, mentioned in a sketch appearing elsewhere.

Dr. Dean is survived by his widow, who is one of the honored residents of Bristol and con- nected by descent with old and esteemed familes of the county. She has an only son, whose name is Leon, and her parents make their home in her hospitable residence at Bristol.

CHARLES T. WALTER.

Charles T. Walter, editor and manager of the St. Johnsbury Republican, is a native of the state, descended from one of the oldest familes, his earliest American ancestors having come from England to Connecticut in early colonial days. His great-grandfather, Augustus Walter, shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war, removed from Connecticut to Vermont and was one of the first settlers on the tract now occupied by the town of Burke, clearing the land and making a productive farm. Here were born his son Por- ter, and his grandson, Augustus P., and his great-grandson, Charles T. Walter. In its vari- ous generations, the members of the family have been known as industrious, frugal and of strict integrity.

Augustus P. Walter was born in 1832 and died in 1871. He was educated in the common schools and at Newbury Seminary. He was a farmer and also a teacher, and was famous in his day in the latter occupation, teaching numer- ous terms of school with much success. It is of interest to note that his capabilities as an edu- cator seem to have been inherited by his youngest son, Herbert E. Walter, who, having graduated from Bates College in 1892, and from Brown Col- lege with the degree of Master of Arts in 1893, studied for two years in Germany, and is now a successful teacher of biology in the public schools of Chicago, Illinois. Augustus P. Walter mar- ried Betsey A. Brockway, who was born in Sut- ton, Vermont, in 1839, and is yet living. She descended from a family noted for its thrift and broadmindedness.

Their son, Charles T. Walter, was born in

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

1863. After beginning his education in the pub- lic schools at attended Lyndon Institute and Bates College, and graduated from the latter ·institu- tion in 1885, receiving from it the degree of Master of Arts in 1888. He gave early evidence of inclination and talent for the profession which he adopted for his life work. While fitting for

college he conducted a meritorious little journal, The Mercury, himself doing all the editorial and mechanical work necessary to its publication. During his college days he was one of the editors of the Bates Student, a monthly published in the interest of the institution, and he also performed creditable work as a local reporter on the Lew- iston (Maine) Daily Journal.

In 1885, at the founding of the St. Johnsbury Republican, Mr. Walter was made the business manager, and from that time to the present he has been almost continuously connected with that paper. In 1898, when the Republican Publish- ing Company was incorporated, Mr. Walter be- came president of that company, as well as editor and manager of the paper. Under his con- duct The Republican has been made a model journal, exhibiting fine editorial ability, and is recognized as reliable and widely influential, hav- ing built up a circulation larger than that of any other newspaper in eastern Vermont. Mr. Wal- ter holds to lofty ideals, never lowering the tone of his journal to meet commercial ends, but gov- erning his editorial conduct by a healthy senti- mentalism which regards the moral interests of the state and community as superior to merely material ends.

Mr. Walter has ever steadfastly adhered to the Republican party, and has acted with various political organizations and has frequently served as a delegate in various state and local conven- tions. With his wife he is a member of the First Congregational church of Lyndon, which he serves as a trustee, and of whose Sunday- school he was superintendent for several years.

Mr. Walter was married June 9, 1886, to Miss Mabel S. Hall, an accomplished lady, ener- getic in advancing church and social interests. She is a daughter of Dudley P. Hall, deceased, who was a large lumber manufacturer, well and favorably known throughout Vermont and Mich- igan. He was a man of strong character and broad liberality, and was active in promoting

public interests, particularly along educational lines. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter: Dorothy Charlotte, Elizabeth Gregory and Edward Hall Walter, respectively fourteen, twelve and four years old.

HORATIO CLAYTON SIMMONS.

Horatio C. Simmons, a leading manufacturer of North Bennington, Vermont, proprietor of a factory situated at 38 Main street, numbers among his immediate ancestors men of strong character and business ability. George Simmons, his grand- father, was born in England in 1750, and was

HORATIO CLAYTON SIMMONS.

captain of a vessel sailing between England and America. In 1800 he was shipwrecked, going down with his vessel, at the age of fifty. By his wife. Laura, he had two children.

George W. Simmons, son of George and Laura Simmons, was born in New York, and re-

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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 116

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