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 117

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 117

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

conved his education in Charleston, South Caro- lina. As a boy he was living in New Orleans at the time when General Jackson fortified it, and helped, no doubt, to his inexpressible pride and delight, to build the earth works which were to defend the city from the enemy. His exultation must have been great, indeed, when the enemy came and were repulsed with almost no loss to the American side. It is possible that what he saw at this time of "Old Hickory" helped to make him the ardent Democrat which he became in after life. At the age of twenty-eight he came to the north, invented street and coach lamps, and settled in Troy, New, and later in Benning- ton, Vermont, where he opened a tinware store, which he conducted until his death, which took place in 1861, when he was sixty-one years old. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest merchants in the town. He married Abi- gail Pettis Wills, born in Franklyn, Con- necticut, daughter of Herman Wills, a pioneer, who was born in the last named place and died there at the age of seventy-five. Mrs. Simmons belonged to one of the oldest families in her native place. Her brother was mayor of Nor- wich, Connecticut, was nominated for governor of the state, and came within six votes of being elected. Her mother, Mary McLean, born in Edinburg, was a direct descendant of the laird of Dumbarton castle, had a family of four chil- dren, and was a member of the Presbyterian church; the date of her death is unknown. Mrs. Simmons had ten children, all of whom died with the exception of Horatio; their names were: George, Hiram, James, Frederick, Mary, Maria, Alice, Margaret, Carrie and Horatio. Mrs. Simmons was a member of the Baptist church, and died at the age of seventy-three years.

Horatio C. Simmons, son of George W. and Abigail Pettis (Wills) Simmons, was born Aug- ust 13, 1857, in the house which is now his resi- dence. He was educated in the graded schools, and learned the tinsmith's trade. From 1879, the tin and heating business which his brother had conducted with their father for twenty-five years. was changed to the steam heating, and subse- quently to the boiler manufacturing business. This business he managed for ten years, and then in- vented the boiler known as the Simmons steam

boiler and hot water heater, the manufacture of which has aggregated to this date (1902) more than two thousand. The state of Massachusetts gave indisputable evidence through its officials of its approval of Mr. Simmons's device, by in- corporating it in the plans of the most improved methods of heating public buildings; these plans were sent to the Paris Exposition, and were awarded the Grand Prix. He also manufactures all heating apparatus of the latest style and meth- ods, and has the largest business of the kind in this section of the country. He has a working force of twenty-five men in his establishment, and sends goods to all parts of the United States.

In politics Mr. Simmons is a Democrat, but is not partisan, looking more to the merits of the candidate than to the party he represents. He is school and corporation trustee, member of the Tucker Lodge, F. & A. M., and holds office therein. It may not be improper to state in this connection that Mr. Simmons's father was made an Odd Fellow in 1824. Mr. Simmons is the holder of diplomas awarded to him on occasions when his goods have been exhibited in exhibitions of manufactured articles. Mr. Simmons owns a block in North Adams, Massachusetts, which is one of the finest in that place.

Mr. Simmons married, in 1880, Mattie El- nora Galusha, daughter of Richmond Galusha, of Shaftsbury, Vermont, who was born there and was a very successful farmer, dying at the age of seventy years ; his wife, also a native of Shafts- bury, and still living, was the mother of six chil- dren, five of whom are living, all being farmers of Shaftsbury. Mrs. Simmons is a direct de- scendant of Governor Galusha, of Vermont, and comes of a family which has been resident in the state since 1715. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are: Carrie, who lives with her par- ents ; William; Alice E., who died at the age of eight years; Bernard; Herman; and Frederick. The family of Mr. Simmons has been well repre- sented among government officials, one of his maternal uncles, William Wills, having been gov- ernor of Louisiana. His brother, George H., served as probate judge and selectman, and was in the secret service of the special treasury depart- ment, New York city.

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

FULLER C. SMITH.

Fuller C. Smith, of St. Albans, Vermont, was born in St. Armand, province of Quebec, Febru- ary 16, 1862, and traces his ancestry back to the Rev. Henry Smith, who was a clergyman in England, and later he, with most of his congrega- tion, came to Watertown, Massachusetts. The early records are not positively clear as to the exact date at which the Rev. Henry Smith as- sumed charge of the parish, whether in 1636 or 1637; it is, however, certain that he was one of the earliest settled pastors of that section of the state, and undoubtedly took an active part in the founding of the church. His other pastorates were at Windsor and Hartford, Connecticut, af- terwards becoming the first settled minister at Wethersfield, Connecticut. His first pastorate is graphically described in a readable book pub- lished in 1901 by the Century Company of New York under the title "Colonial Days and Ways." His death occurred in the latter named city prob- ably about 1648. His son, Samuel Smith, had in turn a son by the name of Ebenezer Smith, who was the great-great-great-grandfather of Fuller C. Smith.

Nathaniel Smith, great-great-grandfather of Fuller C. Smith, was born at Suffield, Connecti- cut, March 3, 1701-02. His entire life was spent in the town of his birth, where he was looked upon as a man of exemplary character. He mar- ried Miss Mercy Smith, and seven children were born to them. His death occurred in the town of Suffield, Connecticut, in 1776.

Nathaniel Smith, Jr., great-grandfather of Fuller C. Smith, was born at Suffield, Connecti- cut, May 22, 1729, and acquired an excellent education in the common schools. For many years he was engaged in the occupation of teach- ing school in his native town, where he resided until 1776, when he removed to Rupert, Vermont, later to Pawlet, Vermont, where he remained until 1799, and after a three years' residence in Orwell, Vermont, he took up his residence with his son, Homer Smith, at St. Armand, Canada East. He was twice married, his first wife hav- ing been Sarah McCartee, who became the mother of nine children; her death occurred in 1778. Mr. Smith chose for his second wife Sarah Douglass, daughter of Domini and Mary Douglass, of New

Milford, Connecticut, and six children were born of this union ; she passed away in 1789, survived by her husband, who died at the residence of his son, Homer Smith, October 19, 1821.

Homer D. Smith, grandfather of Fuller C. Smith, was born at Pawlet, Vermont, August 21, 1782, was reared upon his father's farm, but early in life took an active interest in religious matters, and was licensed and ordained a minis- ter of the gospel at the age of forty years. In 1802 he removed to St. Armand, province of Quebec, where he faithfully performed his pas- toral duties, and at the same time cultivated a large tract of land, which is still the property of his lineal descendants. His first wife was Caro- line Bush, daughter of Stephen Bush, of Orwell, Vermont, who died April 28, 1832, survived by her husband and five children. Mr. Smith was then united in marriage to Abigail Ayres, by whom he had one child. His death occurred October 12, 1837.

Harvey D. Smith, father of Fuller C. Smith, was born in St. Armand. province of Quebec, November 28, 1819, and after obtaining a prac- tical education in the common schools devoted his attention to farming on the old homestead until 1871, when he located in Enosburg Falls, Ver- mont. Here he purchased a flour and grain busi- ness, which he conducted for many years. While a resident of Canada Mr. Smith was one of the most extensive agriculturists of the section. July 24, 1842, he married Eliza Ann Carpenter, who was born at St. Armand, Canada East, February 22, 1821, a daughter of David Fuller Carpenter, who was born at Hanover, New Hampshire, June 30, 1785. Mr. Carpenter was a prominent agriculturist of that town, and married Lucy Joy, who was born at Plainfield, New Hampshire, June 21, 1788 ; they were married at St. Armand, Canada East, August 17, 1808. Mr. Carpenter died December 17, 1860, his wife having passed away November 30, 1830.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, four of whom are now living: Florence L., of Enosburg Falls, Vermont; Avery James, who resides on the old homestead in Canada East; Minnie C., wife of M. C. Cramton, of Enosburg Falls, Vermont ; and Fuller C. Smith. Homer D. Smith, the eldest son, died December 4, 1864. Mr. Smith died March II, 1898, at

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

the age of seventy eight years, and his wife's & A . M., of St. Albans, Champlain Chapter No. death occurred May 1, 1890.

Fuller C. Smith received his carly education in the public schools of his native town and Enosburg Falls, Vermont, and this was supple- mented by a thorough course in Brigham Acad- emy at Bakersfield, Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1882. He chose law as his pro- fession, and, having pursued his studies on that subject with Edson, Cross and Start, of St. Al- bans, Vermont, the latter named being now a judge of the supreme court, he was admitted, to the bar October 29, 1885. The same year he removed to Vergennes, Vermont, where he formed a partnership with Frederick E. Wood- bridge, ex-congressman from that district. In 1888 he removed to St. Albans, Vermont, where he carried on newspaper work in connection with the practice of his profession, having an editorial connection with the Vermont Sentry, a weekly newspaper. In April, 1890, he received the ap- pointment of deputy collector and cashier of United States customs under Collector G. G. Benedict, during President Harrison's adminis- tration, with headquarters at St. Albans, Ver- mont; this position he retained until October, 1893. The following year he was appointed clerk of the Vermont board of railroad commis- sioners, and was the incumbent of that office until December, 1898. Mr. Smith took an active part in securing the adoption of a city charter for the village of St. Albans, he being chairman of the committee on legislation of the board of trade that succeeded in securing the passage of the act of incorporation by the general assembly in 1896. He was elected the first mayor of the new city of St. Albans, March 2, 1897, and he was re-elected to that office again the following year. In 1902 he was appointed by Governor John G. Mccullough to the positon of state ral- road commissioner for a term of six years, also acting in the capacity of chairman of that body. He has served as delegate to a large number of conventions, takes an active part in political mat- ters, and during his administration of the munici- pal affairs of St. Albans commanded the respect and confidence of the people outside of party lines. He is a member of the executive commit- tee of the Republican League of the state of Ver- mont, a member of Franklin Lodge No. 4, F.

I, and Lafayette Commandery No. 3, having held office in the various bodies. He is also a member of the State Bar Association, trustee of the public library, director in the Franklin County Savings Bank and Trust Company, president of the St. Albans board of trade, and a trustee of the St. Albans Hospital.

On June 17, 1886, Mr. Smith married Mattie D. Boutell, who was born in Bakersfield, Ver- mont, a daughter of Josephus and Harriet Bou- tell. Mr. Boutell was one of the leading agricul- turists of Franklin county ; he successfully oper- ated a farm for many years, after which he retired to the village, where his death occurred March 9, 1902, his widow surviving him. Mrs. Smith has three sisters, namely: Ruth, wife of S. K. Burt, of Enosburg Falls, Vermont; Lois, wife of Marvin J. Brown, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Sybil, wife of Warren S. Soule, of Bakers- field, Vermont.

NELSON W. COOK.

Nelson W. Cook was born in Mount Holly, Vermont, August 23, 1832. He is the seventh in descent from Gregory Cooke, his Puritan ances- tor, who, with his three brothers, George, Jos- eph and Stephen, came early to New England from Stannaway, county of Essex, England, and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They at once assumed very prominent positions in the community, both in civil and military affairs, and were among the most distinguished citizens in the colony. George Cooke was selectman of Cambridge three years, deputy or representative five years, and speaker of the house in 1645. In 1645 he was elected one of the reserve commis- sioners of the United Colonies. He was appointed in 1637 captain of the Cambridge militia ; became a member of the artillery company in 1638, and its captain in 1643, and when a similar company was incorporated in Middlesex on May 14, 1645, he was placed at the head of it. He was one of the commissioners and commander in chief of the military expedition sent to Rhode Island in 1643. He returned to England in 1646, became a colonel in Cromwell's army, and was "reported slain in the wars of Ireland in the year 1652." President Dunster, of Harvard College, and Jos-

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eph Cooke were administrators of his estate. Jos- eph Cooke was selectman of Cambridge ten years, from 1635 to 1645; town clerk six years, from 1635 to 1641; local magistrate from 1648 to 1657; and representative six years, from 1636 to J641 ; he was also an officer in the militia, and when George embarked for England he was his successor in command. Stephen Cooke was se- lectman in Mendon in 1674, 1680 and 1681. He was a commissioner of highways for the same years, and one of a committee to settle the first minister in that town. He removed to Water- town, and in the church records of that town Rev. John Bailey says: "I did in the name of the church admit Deacon Stephen Cooke to full com- munion, he being a member of the church in Mendon." He was one of the original members and a deacon of the second, or Rev. Samuel An- giers', church of Watertown.

Gregory Cooke, of Cambridge, Massachu- setts, in 1665, bought of Abraham Williams his mansion house and about six acres of land, and in 1672 Jeremiah Dummer, of Boston, conveyed to him one hundred and twelve acres more; this place was the home of some of his descendants to about the time of the Revolution. It was prob- ably occupied by his son Stephen, and Colonel Phineas Cook was the last of the name who possessed it. Gregory Cooke was, in 1667, se- lectman and constable of Cambridge. He had a grant of land in Mendon, and was selectman of that town in 1668-69. He was a commissioner for laying out highways the same years-also one of a committee for settling the first minister in that town. He returned to Cambridge, and was again elected selectman in 1678-79 and 1681 ; in 1674 he was grand juror.

Samuel Cook, son of Thaddeus, was born in Preston, Connecticut, on May 18, 1765. He mar- ried, January 1, 1791, Sally Chamberlain, of Wethersfield, Vermont, a daughter of Oliver Chamberlain. She was born in Windsor, Con- necticut, December 19, 1766, and died May 24, 1861, aged ninety-five years. He died September 25, 1852. Chauncey Cook was the fourth son of Samuel. He was born in Mount Holly, Ver- mont, April 22, 1800. He married, in Mount Holly, September 26, 1826, Ruby Wheeler, who was born in Newport, New Hampshire, February 2, 1804. In addition to the work of cultivating a

large farm, he bought butter, cheese and cattle for market, going to Boston ten or twelve times a year. He was engaged in the business for fif- teen years. While on one journey to Boston (about 1846) he exhibited, in an affray with highway robbers at Tewksbury, Massachusetts, a natural shrewdness and coolness, which it is not too much to say have been inherited by his descendants in Mount Holly. About ten o'clock in the evening of which we speak, and while he was yet a mile from his destination for the night, two men sprang from the woods through which he was traveling, one seizing the horses' heads, while the other mounted the wagon, and with presented pistol demanded the vic- tim's money. The latter jumped down and ran in the direction of the tavern which was his destination for the night, but was so rapidly pursued by the robbers, who also fired several shots at him, that he gave him- self up. Among the things which they rifled from his pockets was a letter, which he requested to be left with him, as well as a memorandum book. They complied with the request and fled into the woods with the pocketbook. The letter contained five hundred dollars which Mr. Cook was conveying for a neighbor in Mount Holly to a Boston merchant. The robbers, Thomas Burns and John Galager, were arrested, ex- amined and held for trial, being confined in jail at Lowell for several months. At the trial they were successfully defended by a young lawyer who has now a national reputation, General Ben- jamin F. Butler.

When the Rutland & Burlington Railroad was completed Mr. Cook was the first station agent at Mount Holly, and was succeeded by his son, Aaron, the present incumbent. These two have held the office thirty-six years. Mr. Cook was. assessor in 1829 and selectman in 1832, 1833, 1834 and 1837; was appointed by the governor justice of the peace in 1836. He was elected representative in 1838-39. He was grand juror several years, also auditor, and in later years was elected justice of the peace, but never qualified by taking the oath of office. He had five children that lived, and seven that died in infancy. The names of those who lived to maturity are as follows: Carlos, born May 19, 1829, died in Boston, Massachusetts, July 14, 1884; Rosana,

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

born March 20, 1830, married Austin Constan- time, November 1, 18to, and died in East Wal- lingford, January 22, 1865 ; Chauncey Langdon, born August 23, 1832 ; Nelson Wyatt, born Aug- ust 23, 1832; and Aaron Wheeler, born August 11, 1837. Chauncey Cook died March 31, 1865.

Nelson Wyatt Cook is the third son of Chaun- cey. His boyhood days were spent in working upon his father's farm summers and attending the district school at Mechanicsville winters until he was nineteen years of age, when he went to Massachusetts and worked eight months on a farm in Waltham. He returned home and went to school the following winter. The next spring (1852) he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and entered Comer's Commercial College. After completing his business education he engaged himself as clerk in the produce and fruit store of John Sanderson, in whose employ he con- tinued several years. He then established him- self as commission merchant for the sale of pro- duce, and was also interested in real estate, and a trader in notes, stocks and bonds. While re- siding in Boston he was a member of the fol- lowing societies: The Mercantile Library Asso- ciation ; the Young Men's Christian Union, and the Parker Fraternity. He soon became a sub- scriber for Mr. Garrison's Liberator, and a con- stant reader of the numerous tracts and other literature issued from the Gibraltar of liberty on Cornhill-the reading of which had its influence upon his mind. He early joined the New Eng- land Anti-Slavery Society, and continued one of its" active members until the war of the re- bellion freed the slaves.

At the rendition of the fugitive slave, An- thony Burns, from Boston, Mr. Cook was one of those who made the attempt to rescue him from the authorities. An indignation meeting was held at Faneuil Hall, and Wendell Phillips and Theodore Parker were the principal speak- ers. Mr. Parker, in his speech, used the follow- ing language: "Americans have been called cow- ards, and the sons of cowards. Sons of cowards we are not, cowards we are, if one poor, help- less, defenseless black man leaves the soil of Massachusetts as an unprotected, unrescued vic- tim of oppression." After these words had been spoken the rescuers rushed from the hall and were soon at the entrance of the court house where

Burns was confined; the crack of pistols were heard and the booming of a timber against the door, which gave way; and there on the portal is a dead man. At the siglit the rescuers hesi- tate, and the opportunity for rescue is lost. Dur- ing the exciting times in the winter previous to the firing by the rebels on Fort Sumter, the mayor of Boston, Joseph M. Wightman, and other city officials, attempted to break up an anti-slav- ery convention in Tremont Temple. Mr. Cook was one of those who held "the fort" until after the evening session, and was among those who accompanied Wendell Phillips home, protecting him from the violence of the mob until he was safe in his house on Essex street. He was a member of one of the first Republican clubs or- ganized in Massachusetts, and was present at the meeting in Faneuil Hall when the Republican party in Massachusetts was organized and named.

In 1872 Mr. Cook retired from active busi- ness, and the following year, June 10, 1873, he sailed in the steamship Malta from Boston for Europe, spending the summer months in London and Paris and returning in the autumn. In April, 1874, he again went abroad, visiting nearly all the capitals in Europe and many places and objects of interest. He sailed the third time for Europe in February, 1875, and he spent every succeeding summer in traveling abroad and re- turning in every autumn until 1879.

He was married to Mary Alma Kinersley, daughter of Dr. Edward Baker, of London, Eng- land, on July 8, 1879, by the Rev. John M. Les- ter at St. Peter's church, Eaton Square, London. Mrs. Cook was born in New York city, February 21, 1854, and lived there until she was three years of age, when she returned with her parents to England. Dr. Baker commenced practice as a surgeon in the English navy, and a great por- tion of the time he was with the fleet stationed at the West Indies and North America, and when he arrived at New York he decided to establish himself in practice here. Dr. Baker, after prac- ticing his profession about four years in New York city, returned to London, England, where he now resides.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook came to America in Aug- ust, 1879, and returned to England again in March, 1881, living in London the following sum- mer. In 1882 Mr. 'Cook erected an elegant resi-

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Rav. to L Foutbriand.

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

dence in Mount Holly, where he has since resided. He has a family of three children : George Chaun- cey, born April 14, 1880; Emma May, born Sep- tember 21, 1881; and Rosana Alma, born April 13, 1884.

REV. CHARLES L. PONTBRIAND.

Leon Napoleon Pontbriand, father of the Rev. Charles L. Pontbriand, is a son of Edward Pontbriand, and his birth occurred at Berthier, Canada, whence his parents removed to the United States when he was only six months of age. He acquired his education in the public schools of this country, and when he attained the age of fifteen years and nine months, he enlisted in the Third New York Cavalry, and served during the last year of the Civil war. Subsequently he be- came one of the active and influential citizens of Vergennes, Vermont, and in this city his mar- riage to Flavia Labossiere, a native of Vergennes, was solemnized.

Father Pontbriand was born at Vergennes, Vermont June 16 1870 and he was a pupil of the graded schools of that city until he was fourteen years old. His aptitude and industry are indi- cated by the fact that he was then qualified to enter St. Joseph's College at Burlington, Ver- mont, where he continued his studies from 1884 to 1889. The following five years were spent at the Grand Seminary at Montreal, Canada, in which in stitution he was ordained a priest in December, 1894, the ceremony being performed at St. James Cathedral by his Grace, Archbishop Fabre.

The first nine months after his ordination he served in the capacity of secretary to the bishop of Burlington, Vermont, and on September 29, 1895, was installed in charge of the parishes of Highgate, Hyde Park and Bakersfield, Vermont, where he continued until his removal to Lyndon- ville, Vermont, June 16, 1900, the day which completed the thirtieth year of his age. He is the third resident priest at this place, and now ministers to a congregation of some five hundred souls, representing one hundred families, many of whom are the influential and intelligent citi- zens of the town. Father Pontbriand is a man of more than ordinary ability, an able and eloquent speaker, has a warm heart and deep convictions,

and is in every sense of the word a loving friend to every member of the parish. In addition to the regular duties of his church he has been placed in charge of missions at Wells River, Bradford, Groton and Lanesboro. He is well informed on all questions of national politics, in which he takes an intelligent interest, but his time is too fully occupied with the spiritual needs of his many parishioners to allow him to take active interest in party politics.

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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 117

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