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 124

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 124

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Mr. Hatch has been called to various positions of honor and trust. He served for two years as road commissioner, for four years as selectman, and had the honor of being the only man selected from Addison county to serve upon the jury in the United States court, a position which he filled with credit to himself and to the satisfac- tion of the bench for three terms. He is a Re- publican in politics, and has frequently sat as delegate in the conventions of his party.

In 1864 Mr. Hatch was united in marriage to Miss Ann E. Matthews, who was a native of Panton, Vermont. Seven children were born to them, six of whom are still living. Nellie G., wife of Adelbert Barnard, now deceased; Cora L .; Warren M., who married Jennie Hanks, and to whom was born one child, Gladys; May I., wife of H. S. Varney, who is engaged in the mercantile trade; Charles G., employed as a ticket agent; Smith B., deceased; Candance P. Hatch.

CHARLES T. FAIRFIELD.

Charles T. Fairfield, publisher of The Rutland Evening News and The Rutland Weekly News, is a native of Hillsdale, Michigan, his birth hav- ing occurred in that city in 1866. He is a repre- sentative of an old family of Rutland county, Vermont, who, during the eighteenth and early in the nineteenth centuries, were pioneers of Pittsford. His great-great-grandfather, great- grandfather, and grandfather all moved to that locality about 1786. The latter, Micaiah Fair- field, was one of the earliest graduates of Mid- dlebury College, receiving his diploma from that institution in 1809. About 1812 he went into Virginia as a home missionary and as the ad- vance guard of the principles of abolition of slavery.

Charles T. Fairfield is a son of Edmund B. Fairfield, who was president of Hillsdale College, lieutenant-governor of Michigan, chancellor of Nebraska State University, and United States consul to Lyons, France. He is cousin of General "Stonewall" Jackson, C. S. A. Charles T. Fairfield enjoyed the educational privi- leges afforded by Oberlin College, from which institution he was graduated in 1887 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts, and thus was well qualified to take up the duties and cares of busi- ness life. From 1887, the year of his graduation, to 1897, he was the publisher of the Eaton Rapids (Michigan) Journal; from 1897 to 1899 he pub- lished the North Adams (Massachusetts) Even- ing Transcript, and in the latter named year he established the Evening News and the Weekly News in the city of Rutland, Vermont, and since that date has successfully conducted both enter- prises. With his thorough training, true journal- istic instinct and broad knowledge of affairs, he reflects honor upon his profession, and both the daily and weekly papers of which he is publisher are the exponents of the highest interests of the community and of the state.

On December 19, 1888, Mr. Fairfield married Anna W. Whitcomb, of Illinois, and two chil- dren, a son and daughter, have been born of this union.

FRANKLIN ALLEN GOSS.

As one reviews the history of the locality and looks into the past to see who were prominent in the early development, he will find that through a long period the name of Goss has been closely connected with the progress and advancement of this section of the state. The line of descent is traced to John Goss, who was married at Hollis, New Hampshire, July 30, 1728, to Mehitable Bailey, and his third son, John Goss, who was born in 1739, served as a captain during the Revolutionary war in General Stark's brigade, being present at the battle of Bunker Hill. His death occurred on the 28th of September, 1777. The latter's son, Samuel Goss, was born on the 29th of November, 1775, in Hollis, New Hamp- shire, and was the founder of the Vermont Watchman, in Montpelier, Vermont, spending nearly his entire life in that city, where his death occurred August 19, 1866, at the age of ninety

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years. He was a representative business man of his locality and was well and favorably known. He married Mary French at Hardwick, Vermont, June 12, 3803.

His son, Benjamin F. Goss, was born on the 28th of October, 1806, in Montpelier, where he was reared to mature years and received his education. He first embarked in the dry goods business, thus continuing until 1859, when he engaged in mining in Forestdale, near Brandon, Vermont, and later at Vergennes and Monkton, taking out mineral paints and porcelain clay, and doing a successful business. He continued in that line until his life's labors were ended in death, May 10, 1878. He became very promi- nent in the public affairs in the localities in which he resided, having held all the town offices and represented Vergennes in the legislature. In ad- dition to his other business interests he was also connected with the Waterbury National Bank as a director. For his wife Mr. Goss chose Mary J. Witherell, who was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on the 20th of October, 1814, and died on the 24th of February, 1897, at Vergennes. She was a daughter of Elijah and Lucretia (Bailey) Witherell, of Montpelier, where the former was engaged in the tanning business. To this union were born four children, only two of whom sur- vive, Jennie, now Mrs. Henry J. Talbot, of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Franklin A.

Franklin A. Goss received his education in the Phillips Andover Academy, and later matricu- lated in Amherst College, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1871. With this excellent foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of his life work, he entered a stock-brokerage establishment in Boston, where he was employed for a year. He was next associated with C. J. Gleason, of Montpelier, as head of the firm of Goss & Glea- son, miners and shippers of kaolin at Monkton, Vermont. In 1864 he came to Vergennes to re- side, and is still president of the Vermont Kaolin Company, operating at Monkton. The National Bank of Vergennes, with which he is connected, was organized in 1830, and he is now serving as vice president of the institution. He was one of the organizers and is now treasurer of the Ver- gennes Electric Company of Vergennes, is also trustee of the Congregational church, an incor- 45 ×

porated body, and for eighteen years has been a member of the local school board.

In 1873 Mr. Goss was married to Miss Ruth C. Keeler, whose father, Charles D. Keeler, was connected with the tanning business for fifty years in this city, where his death occurred when he had reached the age of eighty years. He was a native of Connecticut, born in Kent, January IO, 1810, and was brought in his mother's arms to Vermont when an infant. His father, David Keeler, returned to Connecticut to settle up his tanning business, and died at Kent before the close of 1810, being then a little over thirty years old. His wife, Ruth (born Berry) Keller, subse- quently married a Mr. Rogers. She died Septem- ber 29, 1838, at the age of fifty-four years. Charles D. Keeler was apprenticed to a tanner in Vergennes, and in time came into possession of the tannery, which he successfully operated, as above noted. He filled most of the town offices, was an industrious business man and held the confidence of the community. He was long a deacon of the Congregational church. His wife, Elizabeth A. Painter, was a native of Vergennes, born May 1, 1819, and died March 26, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Goss have had five chil- dren, namely: Mary E., the wife of H. K. Bacon, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont; F. Ruth, the wife of J. W. Barnes, Jr., of Troy New York; Frank Keller, who is employed in the home office of the National Insurance Company of Mont- pelier, Vermont ; Genevive and Kenneth, at home. Mr. Goss is widely and favorably known in the city where he has so long made his home, and his friends are almost as many as his acquaintances.

GENERAL EDWARD LOUIS BATES.

General Edward Louis Bates, favorably known throughout the state as a most capable lawyer, and for his connection with the military establishment and with various leading literary, benevolent and commercial organizations, is a representative of an old and honored New Eng- land family. His parents were William and Melissa (Scribner) Bates.

William Bates was of English descent, and was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, Jan- uary 15. 1807, son of Joseph and Mary (Parker) Bates. He acquired his education in the public

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schools, and during his carly manhood was a farmer by occupation. At a later day he became connected with a stoneware pottery, and was placed in charge of the kilns. After a successful business career he retired to his home, when fifty years of age. He married Melissa Scribner, who was born in Andover, New Hampshire, Septem- ber 26, 1821, a daughter of Josiah and Hannah (Roberts) Scribner. Her father was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary war, and bore a useful and honorable part in that great struggle. To William Bates were born four chil- dren, of whom three are now living, Elizabeth, who is the widow of George B. Moody, late of Pasadena, California; Edward L., who is re- ferred to at length hereinafter; and Robert P., who resides in Chicago, Illinois. The father of this family died January 26, 1893, and his widow is yet living in Bennington, Vermont.

Edward Louis Bates, eldest son of the parents before named, was born in Bennington, Jan- uary 24, 1859. He began his education in the common schools of his native town, and com- pleted an advanced course in Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, New Hampshire. De- termined upon the law as his profession, he en- tered upon a course of study under the preceptor- ship of Gardner & Harmon, of Bennington. Af- ter a period of two years thus occupied, he en- tered the office of Hon. John V. Hall, county clerk and insurance agent, with whom he re- mained for six years. He was appointed deputy county clerk on February 16, 1880, and served in that capacity until June 8, 1882, when he was admitted to the bar, and he resigned his official position in order to enter upon practice in part- nership with Hon. J. K. Batchelder, of Arling- ton. During this and the succeeding year he also discharged the duties of village clerk. Amply prepared for the duties of his profession, recog- nition was soon accorded him, and two years later, in September, 1884, he was elected state's attorney, and he acquitted himself so creditably in that position that he was re-elected in 1886, extending his period of service to December, 1888. Little more than two years later he was called to a place of greater prominence and use- fulness, being appointed special prosecutor of criminal offenses by Governor Levi K. Fuller, and served for a term of two years, ending Oc-

tober 1, 1894. In September, 1896, he was again elected state's attorney for a term of two years. Meantime, in 1893, he had been elected corpora- tion attorney, a position which he has occupied to the present time. Whether in his large per- sonal practice or in official positions in the line of his profession, he long ago established a splen- did reputation as an indefatigable, resourceful lawyer, scrupulously careful in the preparation of his cases, peculiarly clear and forceful in their presentation, and earnest and convincing in his pleas before court or jury. A peculiar signifi- cant token of appreciation of his professional ability came to him when, after serving for two years as aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel upon the staff of Governor Fuller, he was, in October, 1894, elected by the legislature to the position of judge advocate general of the National Guards of Vermont, and at the expiration of his two years' term he was re-elected to that high office, thus serving for four years as the highest exponent of the law governing the military estab- lishment of the commonwealth.

It would be difficult to bound the abilities of General Bates in his relation to the state and community. An ardent Republican, he is one of the most efficient members of the executive com- mittee of the Vermont Republican League, and takes an active part in state anl local conventions. Deeply interested in perpetuating the fair fame of his native state, and possessing fine literary tastes, he is a deeply interested member of the Bennington Historical Society, of which he was secretary for ten years, and of the Bennington Battle Monument Association, and he is an hon- orary member of Custer Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He is prominent in the Masonic order, a member of Mount Anthony Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M .; Bennington Chapter, R. A. M .; and Taft Commandery, K. T., in which he is past eminent commander; of Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Troy, New York ; a member of Tucker Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Mohican Tribe, I. O. R. M .; Rutland Lodge, B. P. O. E .; of the Vermont Fish and Game League, and an hon- orary member of the Bennington fire department. In commercial lines he is a director and the sec- retary of the Bennington & Hoosick Valley Rail- way Company, and a director in the Denison (Texas) Land and Loan Company.

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Mr. Bates has been twice married. In May, 1882, he wedded Miss Jennie M. Rockwood, the daughter of Buell and Mary E. Rockwood, but in 1884 she was called to her final rest. . On the 17th of May, 1887, Mr. Bates was again mar- ried, his second union being with Estella, the daughter of Perry W. and Lucy Eldred, of Hoosick, New York. They have two children : Beulah Bell, who was born March 19, 1889; and William Leroy, born February 14, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Bates and family are members of the First Baptist church of Bennington.

DR. EBENEZER MARVIN.

One of the most distinguished descendants of Mathew Marvin, one of the first twelve settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, was a grandson of Ebenezer Marvin, who was one of the most ac- complished physicians of his day, and a man who rendered useful service to the state as a soldier, legislator and jurist.

Ebenezer Marvin was born in Wilton, Con- necticut, in April, 1741. His earliest years were devoted to farming, but this he soon relinquished for reasons which were of infinite credit to him. A son had suffered long from a malady which baffled the medical skill of the physicians of the day. The father, out of his extreme solicitude for the young man, read such medical works as were accessible, in the vain hope of recognizing the disease and finding a remedy. In this he was unsuccessful, and death claimed its victim. But his own affliction, and the conviction that other fathers were made mourners like himself for want ·of adequate medical knowledge, led him to en- gage in the study of medicine with the purpose «of devoting himself to the relief of suffering hu- manity. How he acquired his knowledge of the healing art we cannot learn. There were no medical schools, and it is presumable that he was in large degree self-educated by means of books and intercourse with practitioners. The attain- ments of those who, in all probability, were in a -measure his instructors, must have been humble enough. Certainly none was able to save his son to him, and it is equally certain that he soon sur- passed in professional skill the greater number of those who had been practitioners before him.

An ardent patriot, he was a leader in his

neighborhood in the stirring times of the Revolu- tionary period, and when war actually began he became captain of a company of volunteers which marched to the aid of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold at Ticonderoga. He was subsequently a surgeon in the Continental army, with which he served until it moved southward after the capture of Burgoyne. He then located in Lansingburg, where he became busily engaged in practice, and was widely known and warmly appreciated.

His sympathies, however, were with the set- tlers of the New Hampshire Grants in the erection of a local government, and he determined to cast his lot with the young state of Vermont. Ac- cordingly, in 1781, he removed thither, locating at Tinmouth, in Rutland county, which was even then a settlement of some note. Engaging in the practice of his profession, he soon became favor- ably known through a large scope of territory, and his duties soon taxed his utmost endeavor. His travels took him at times as far south as Arlington, and northward as far as Burlington. There were few, if any, who were so depended upon in grave illnesses as was he, and his journey- ings, which were of necessity almost altogether on horseback, proved too severe exertion, vigor- ous as was his constitution.

In 1794, when he was somewhat more than fifty years of age, he removed to Huntsburg, now Franklin, where, and in the adjoining town of Berkshire, he had acquired considerable real es- tate, and this was soon increased by a special grant of the state which conveyed to him what was known as Marvin's Grove, now a part of the town of Highgate. Here he confined his profes- sional practice almost entirely to the immediate neighborhood.

He had not been long in Tinmouth when his abilities found due recognition, and he was ush- ered into a new field of usefulness. He was soon made judge of the county court of Rutland coun- ty, and for several years was its chief judge. For more than twenty years he was a member of the executive committee of the state, and he took a prominent part in framing the second constitu- tion of the commonwealth. In 1794 he was elected chief judge of Chittenden county, which then included Huntsburg, and all the territory which was afterwards comprised in Franklin county. When the latter named county was or-

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ganized, he was elected its chief judge, and he held this position until about 1804. His entire judicial service in the three counties aggregated nearly twenty years.

The remainder of his life was passed in pleas- ant retirement, with the exception of one year (1808-09), when he once more presided over the court of Franklin county, and this closed his judicial career. While possessing no preliminary legal education, he was quick to acquire needed knowledge, and his acquired attainments, with his natural judicial bent of mind, enabled him to acquit himself with great capability and to gain for himself a high place in the estimation of the people. In religion he was an Episcopalian, and politically he was a Federalist of the Washing- tonian school.

Dr. Marvin died in Franklin, Vermont, in November, 1820, in the eightieth year of his age. His widow, Sarah Adams, who was a woman of rare intuition and ready wit, survived him, and died in December, 1834, at the residence of their daughter, Mrs. Minerva Royce, at East Berk- shire, Vermont.

FRANK H. CRANDALL.

Frank H. Crandall, one of the representative citizens of Burlington, Vermont, is a descendant of Gideon Crandall, who was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, February 25, 1762, and participated as a soldier during the Revolutionary war in Captain Christopher Dyers' company, and also with Colonel John Toppan's regiment, from May, 1779, to March 15, 1780. In 1787, after the ter- mination of the war, he removed to Vermont, and took up his residence in Royalton. It was not until the year 1832 that he applied for a pension, which was immediately granted to him, he being then seventy years of age. In 1784 he married Miss Esther Rix, and the following named children were born to them: Shubel, born December 27, 1785, and died January 10, 1877; Gideon, born April 19, 1787, died April 1, 1860; Eunice, born October 6, 1788, died March 2, 1871 and married David Williams ; Esther, born March 2, 1790, died April 10, 1816; Joseph, born November 7, 1791, died August 28, 1856, married Abigal Tuller of Hartford, Vermont; Ruby, born April 7, 1793, died October 28, 1807; Thomas,

born December 7, 1794 died in 1870, and married Serepta Smith, of Hartford, Vermont ; Betsy, born April 27, 1796, died September 11, 1874, and married Parly Perrin, of Potsdam, New York; Fanny, born April 29, 1798, died December 13, 1867 ; Lois, born November 3, 1799, died March 10, 1882; Clarrissa, born April 11, 1801, died February 10, 1808; Tracy, born August 7, 1802, died August 31, 1874; Hiram, born December 3, 1804, died January 28, 1899; and Solomon, born October 11, 1807, died March 15, 1891. The father of these children died April 10, 1841, and his wife died February 24, 1840.

Dr. Hiram Crandall, father of Frank H. Cran- dall, was born in Royalton, Vermont, December 3, 1804. He acquired his early education in the public schools of his native town, and later he attended the medical department of the Water- ville College, Maine, from which he was grad- .uated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He commenced the practice of his profession at Stockbridge, Vermont, in 1832; later he located in Gaysville, Vermont, where he built up a large practice; he remained there until 1865, when he settled in Burlington, Vermont, where for fifteen years he enjoyed a lucrative practice, living re- tired up to his death.

Dr. Crandall was married three times, his first wife having been Miss Green; he then mar- ried May Adeline (Waters) Smith, and three children were born to them: Charles and Frank, who died in childhood, and Edward Rix, born August 13, 1845, at present engaged in the drug business at Winooski, Vermont. Dr. Crandall married for his third wife, May 14, 1861, Miss Harriet Marvin, born in Franklin, Vermont, April 5, 1821, a daughter of Elihu and Thankful (Barnard) Marvin, and a granddaughter of the late Judge Ebenezer Marvin. One son has been born to them, Frank H. Crandall. Dr. Crandall was a prominent member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

Frank H. Crandall, son of Dr. Hiram and Harriet Crandall, was born in Gaysville, Ver- mont, October 13, 1862. He attended the public schools of Burlington, Vermont, and subsequently was a student in the engineering department of the University of Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1886. In 1888 he assumed the responsible position of manager of the Burling-

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ton water works, and he has acted in that capacity up to the present time. He also served one year as president of the N. E. Water Works Associa- tion, being elected to that position in 1901.

Politically Mr. Crandall is an adherent of the Republican party, in which he takes a keen inter- est. He is a member of the Ethan Allen Club, and also a member of the Episcopal church of Burlington, Vermont. On June 7, 1890, Mr. Crandall married Miss Emma Mary Porter Eady, born in Leicestershire, England, a daughter of Samuel and Emma Eady, who were natives of England, and settled in this country in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Crandall are the parents of one child, Cleo Nora Crandall.

CHARLES E. TOBIAS.

Charles E. Tobias, an enterprising citizen of Grand Isle, Vermont, who served with gallantry and suffered great hardships as a soldier during the Civil war, was born January 7, 1843, in the village where he now resides. His parents were James and Julia (Montpelier) Tobias. The father was born March 10, 1810, in Dutchess county, New York, where he was reared and educated in the common schools. His parents re- moved to Vermont, where he built vessels which he sailed on Lake Champlain. He afterwards cultivated a farm. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and master of his lodge. He died at the age of seventy years, long surviving his wife, who was born in the state of New York, and who bore him two children, Charles E. and Julia. James Tobias was a son of James and Mary (Bloodgood) Tobias. The father was born in Dutchess county, New York, in December, 1775. He spent his early years in his native village, and came as a pioneer to Grand Isle, Ver- mont, where he opened up a farm upon which he built a log cabin, which was replaced before long by a comfortable dwelling, where he died at the age of fifty-four years.

Charles E. Tobias, son of James and Julia (Montpelier) Tobias, received his education in the public schools in his native village. He was but nineteen years old when the Civil war was fairly in progress, and he had not yet found a permanent occupation. His patriotic spirit im- pelled him, however, to join the hosts of young

men who were forming regiments of volunteers for the defence of the Union. In 1862 he en- listed in Company K, Eleventh Regiment, Ver- mont Volunteers, from which he was subsequently transferred to the heavy artillery of the Sixth Corps. The first heavy engagement in which he participated was that at Spottsylvania Court House. He also bore a part in the bloody battle at Cold Harbor where his company and regiment lost twenty-five men and four hundred men, re- spectively, in about twenty minutes. He was also engaged in the desperately fought battles about Petersburg, Virginia, where (on June 23, 1864) he was taken prisoner. He was first taken to Richmond, where he was incarcerated in the Pemberton building ; then to the horrible prison- pen on Belle Island, in the James river ; thence, in turn, to Danville and Macon. He was then sent to endure the fearful suffering at Anderson- ville, whence he was removed to Millen and then to Savannah, Georgia, where he was finally ex- changed, June 23, 1865, his rank then being that of corporal. During this awful period of five months, he suffered from want of food and cloth- ing and from exposure in the filthy and tentless prison camps to such a degree that his indomit- able pluck alone preserved his life, while his health was permanently impaired. It was his sad fortune while a prisoner to witness the death of a brother, who was fellow prisoner with him, and who wasted away with starvation. Tobias' service is officially exhibited in a testimonial from the adjutant general of the state of Vermont, in which are recited the facts in his military career, with commendation of his courage upon the field of battle and his fortitude in enduring the hard- ships of prison.

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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 124

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