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 130

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 130

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Daniel Arms was married first to Esther, daughter of Ebenezer Smead, and for his second wife wedded Mrs. Mary (Hitchcock) Taylor. The children born of his two marriages were as follows: Submit, Daniel, Ebenezer, Moses, Esther, Aaron, Martha, Abner, Moses, Seth and Consider.

Daniel Arms, of the third generation, suc- ceeded to the ownership of the home farm in Deerfield, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. He wedded Mary, daughter of John Stebbins, and they be- came the parents of eight children : Submit, Dan- iel, Mary, Aaron, Esther, Thomas, Experience and Martha.

Aaron Arms, of the fourth generation, a life .. long farmer of Deerfield, inherited the ancestral homestead. He married Lucy Tyler, daughter of Christopher Tyler, of Boston, Massachusetts, and the children born of this union were as follows : Christopher Tyler (1), Christopher Tyler (2), Mary (I), Mary (2), Lucy Sophia. Aaron, Ralph, Sophia and Martha.

Ralph Arms, born in 1791, succeeded to a part of the old homestead, and spent his entire life in Deerfield, being a successful farmer. In 1816 he married Caroline, daughter of Thomas Bard- well. She died August 16. 1855, and he survived for two years, dying August 3, 1857. Of their union eight children were born: Otis Bardwell, born November 15, 1816; John, born May 24, 1819; Caroline Sophia, who was born October 10, 1820, married Samuel Guild, June 9, 1858, and died November 1, 1876; Daniel, born Febru- ary 2, 1823; Abigail Foster, who was born Sep-

tember 17, 1825, and was marired April 2, 1847, to Francis M. Ball; Aaron, born August 22, 1829, and was married December 25, 1855, to Mary J. Towns, of Keene, New Hampshire; Edward, who was born October 1, 1832, and died March 16, 1843; and Mary Ann Jackson, who was born September 16, 1836, and was mar- ried April 17, 1856, to Frederick M. Willson, of Bellows Falls, Vermont.

Otis Bardwell Arms was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, November 15, 1816, and removing to Bellows Falls, New York, in 1840, he followed the blacksmith's trade for several years. In 1861 he bought a third interest in the Bellows Falls grist mill, and in 1869, in company with his two brothers, John and Aaron, he embarked in the hardware business, continuing until 1872, when he began the manufacture of paper, becoming a member of the Rockingham Paper Company, with which he was identified until its dissolution. He died September 8, 1886. In 1842 he married Sarah N. Watkins, of Walpole, New Hampshire, by whom he had two children : Edward and Liz- zie S. The latter became the wife of Henry F. King, and died June 12, 1902, leaving two chil- dren, Gertrude Arms King and Henry Otis King.

Edward Arms was reared and educated in Bel- lows Falls. After leaving school he served as a clerk in his father's hardware store, and later was in his employ in the flour and grain business. He was subsequently engaged for a number of years in paper manufacturing, being first identi- fied with the firm of Moore & Arms, which later became Moore, Arms & Thompson, continuing with that firm until 1890 and carrying on an ex- cellent business. From that time until his death, January 1, 1900, Mr. Arms was engaged in the milling business, operating extensive flour mills as senior member of the firm of Arms & Kid- der, in Kansas City, Missouri. By prudent man- agement and wise business foresight he contrib- uted to the development of his native town, of which he was a substantial factor. He was a man of sterling integrity and genuine worth, his death being a recognized loss to the community as well as to his immediate family and friends. In politics he was a Republican, and was a con- sistent member and generous supporter of the Congregational church of Bellows Falls.

On the 14th of May, 1872, Mr. Arms wedded

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Mary Josephine, daughter of Sheriff Ralph J. Holt, of Keene, New Hampshire, who was born in Alstead, that state, in 1812, a son of David Holt, and after receiving his education in his na- tive town taught school for a number of years. In 1846 he settled in Keene, New Hampshire, where he became an honored and influential citi- zen. In 1854 he was appointed deputy sheriff and served in that capacity until 1876, when he was appointed sheriff of Cheshire county. In 1878 he had the distinction of being the first sheriff elected by the people under the constitu- tion, but on the expiration of his term of office he was ineligible for re-election on account of the age limit, but was elected deputy sheriff. and served with ability and fidelity until his death, August 21, 1891. He possessed much tact, was well versed in law, and was held in high regard by the courts as well as the bar. Personally Mr. Holt was a pleasant, genial man to meet, kind-hearted and obliging. In 1882 he served as alderman in Keene. His wife, whose maiden name was Sally Ann Towns, was de- scended from William Towns, who received and settled a grant of land in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1640, removing to Topsfield in 1651, where he bought a tract of land. He was the father of Rebecca Nourse and Mary Esty, who were hanged as witches in 1692, at the time of the strange delusion known in history as the Salem witch- craft. Nehemiah Towns fought in the battle of White Plains. Mrs. Holt was descended from William Towns through two lines: the ancestry being traced from William to Edmund, William. Jeremiah, Nehemiah, John and Sally Ann Towns ; in the other branch of the family the line comes down from William through three Jacobs, Joshua, and Lucy, to Sally Ann Towns. Mrs. Holt was also a descendant of Seth Heaton, one of the three original settlers and grantees of Keene, New Hampshire, the line being through Samuel, Nancy Heaton, Sally Ann Towns, who became Mrs. Holt. She survived her husband, dying April 8, 1902, aged eighty-two years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Arms was born one child, Caroline Holt Arms, whose birth occurred Octo- ber 21, 1878, and who was graduated from Smith College with the class of 1901. Mrs. Arms is a woman of culture and active in social circles.

EDWARD H. HORTON.

Edward H. Horton, of Burlington, Vermont, belongs to a family which has been, for three generations, represented in the state. George W. Horton, grandfather of Edward H. Horton, was born in 1805, in Chase, New York, and in early life went to Winooski, where he received his education. He studied medicine, and de- voted himself through life to the practice of his profession, being one of the earliest physicians in Winooski. His services were in great demand, his professional abilities and personal character being held in high esteem. He married Eliza A. Beach, born in 1807, in Ballston Springs, New York. Their family consisted of four children : Edward, who died in Dubuque, Iowa; George W., who died in 1901, in Colchester, Vermont ; Harvey Van Ness ; and Charles Wesley, who was killed by falling from a train. Dr. Horton died in 1872, at the age of sixty-seven, and his wife passed away ten years later, being then seventy- five years old.

Harvey Van Ness Horton, son of George W. and Eliza A. (Beach) Horton, was born in April, 1838, in Winooski, Vermont, where he was edu- cated in the common schools, and for twenty or twenty-five years followed the profession of teaching. Subsequently he was employed as a clerk in the office of Charles La Fauntain and Francis La Clair, holding this position for fifteen years. In 1878-79-80 he again became a teacher, and is now engaged in the coal and insurance business. In 1881 he was elected town clerk, and relinquished that office when his successor, C. G. Allard, qualified. Mr. Horton was the incum- bent of the office for twenty-two years, and dur- ing that time was a faithful and painstaking offi- cial, paying the utmost attention to the thousand details of the office and working for the interest of his constituents at all times. He has been actively interested in the affairs of the town and city for a quarter of a century, and has held nearly all the responsible offices in the gift of the voters. He was town treasurer for four years ; town superintendent of schools for fifteen years; selectman for three years; principal of Winooski graded schools for three years, and village trustee for five years. He was also village

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clerk for many years, and revised and published the charter of the village in the eighties. Mr. Horton was employed to look up the title deeds of the land which is now occupied by the govern- ment post at Fort Ethan Allen, a most arduous task, requiring exhaustive research. He has been repeatedly urged by both political parties to rep- resent the town in the state legislature, but has always refused the honor. He married Emily A. Wardwell, born in 1839, in Winooski, Vermont, daughter of William G. and Elizabeth P. (Smith) Wardwell. The former named, born in 1805, in Andover, was a merchant and millwright, who died in 1871, at the age of sixty-six. His wife was born in 1807, in New Hampshire. Their family consisted of seven children : George, who died in 1863; William, now living in Michigan; Elizabeth, who is a resident of Chicago; Emily A., mentioned above as the wife of Harvey Van Ness Horton; Lorenzo P., now living in Wi- nooski; Zac, who died in 1892; and Frederick, who died in 1884. Mrs. Wardwell, the mother of these children, died at the age of fifty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Horton were the parents of two children : Edward H., mentioned at length here- inafter, and Benjamin E., who died young.

Edward H. Horton, son of Harvey Van Ness and Emily A. (Wardwell) Horton, was born October 13, 1863, in Winooski, Vermont, and re- ceived his education in the common schools of his native place, after which, for the three years 1881, 1882 and 1883, he was employed as clerk and bookkeeper by Francis La Clair. He was then elected assistant town clerk, and has held, in the course of time, all other town offices.

He was the first president of the village, but on the expiration of his term refused re- election. He held for ten years the office of con- stable and tax collector, and in 1892 was appoint- ed deputy collector of customs. At the expira- tion of five years of service he was again elected to his former position of town clerk, which he held until 1902, when he resigned in order to accept the office of sheriff of Chittenden county. For a number of years he was associated with his father in the insurance and coal business.

In politics he is a staunch Democrat, and since his twenty-first year has served as delegate to both county and state conventions. By reason of his unquestioned integrity he has had the support

of both parties, and in his election to the shriev- alty carried a strong Republican county by four- teen hundred majority, being the first Democratic sheriff the county has had in fifty years. He is a member of Franklin Lodge No. 4, F. & A. M., of St. Albans, and belongs to Green Mountain Lodge No. 1, I. O. O. F., of Burlington, in which he has held all offices. He is past grand noble of the State Patriarchs Militant, and also a member of the grand encampment. He attends the Meth- odist Episcopal church, but the members of his family belong to the Protestant Episcopal com- munion.

Mr. Horton married, in 1886, Jennie L. Jubell, born in 1865, in Winooski, daughter of Frank Jubell, who is in the foundry business in Wi- nooski. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Jubell con- sisted of six children: Frank; Minnie, who mar- ried Harry Weston; Jennie L., mentioned above as the wife of Edward H. Horton; Abby, who married, in 1882, Homer Barton, deceased; Nel- lie, who became the wife of A. S. Chapman ; and Eugene, who resides with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Horton are the parents of three children: George Harvey, Edward E. and Cranford W.

DENNIS A. DICKENSON.

The above honored name is one familiar in the communities of Fayetteville and Willianis- ville, in which latter village the gentleman rep- resented by it is now a resident, having removed there from his farm on the highway between the two villages in 1900, and on which farm he had re- sided for a period of some fifty years. The traveler passing through the two villages cannot fail to especially notice the commodious farm mansion which stands on a commanding height surrounded by ample barns and out-buildings, and backed by a broad stretch of meadow extending to the river. The farm contains three hundred and forty acres of land, of which sixty is in a high state of cultivation. The residence is handsomely finished in cherry and chestnut, all of the ma- terials having been cut upon the farm. It contains fourteen rooms, and the home is supplied with pure and never-failing spring water. Upon the place is a good sugar orchard of four hundred and fifty trees, and is provided with modern equipment for the manufacture of that product.

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A fine orchard set out by Mr. Dickenson is a feature of the farm.

Dennis Dickenson is an excellent type of a thrifty and energetic farmer of the old school. He is naturally conservative, but provides all needed improvements and is a good financier. At the age of fourscore he is still hale, active and healthy, and, though he has retired from the active, rugged life of the farm, he is still able to attend to his business interests. Mr. Dickenson came to the town at the age of seven years, with the family of his father, David Dickenson, and has lived here ever since, enjoying the respect of the entire community. As he grew to man- hood he was apprenticed to the trade of wheel- wright and carpenter, at which he worked for a number of years in connection with agricultural pursuits. He married Mary C., daughter of Cap- tain Aaron Robinson, in 1845, and two years later they came to the paternal farm home of his wife, where they resided during half a century of happy wedded life. She died in 1900. They had two children, Aaron C., located in Colorado, and Imo- gene, wife of Dr. P. P. White, of Williamsville. During his residence in the community Mr. Dick- enson took great interest in the public life, serv- ing for a period of thirty-three successive years as justice of the peace. For that period, also, he served as town clerk.

Mr. Dickenson is the son of David Dickenson and Rachel Knight. Grandfather Dickenson was named Abram, his wife's name being Betsy, and their children were William, Betsy, Jane, Sally and David. The parents of our immediate subject reared Arteus, Joel, Maria and Dennis.

Mr. Dennis A. Dickenson is a gentleman who commands the confidence of the entire commun- ity, and is now in his old age enjoying a well earned rest from the hard labors of his early life. Having been prominently identified with the life of this community for so long a period. and his associations with that life having been of such an honorable character, he is to-day able to command the good offices of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances.

JAMES HENRY TALBOT.

James Henry Talbot, one of the prominent and progressive merchants of Northfield, Ver- mont, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, Aug-

ust 25, 1854, a son of Richard John and Frances Mary Talbot. Richard John Talbot was a son of James Talbot, who followed the occupation of a tailor. Richard John was born in Ireland in 1829, and after attending the district school 'learned the trade of tailoring, and worked at that vocation for some time. In 1851 or 1852 he came to this country, and settled in Boston, Massa- chusetts, where he followed his trade for some years, after which he removed to Athol, Massa- chusetts, and established a business which he conducted successfully for twenty-seven years. He was an honest, industrious and capable man, and was honored and respected by all who came in contact with him.

Mr. Talbot was united in marriage to Miss Frances Mary Whitaker, in Stockbridge, England, that being her birthplace. Five children were born to them, four of whom lived to years of maturity : James Henry, Emma Martha, Katherine Mar- garet, Richard John and Frances Mary Talbot. All the family were consistent members of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Talbot died in 1893.

James Henry Talbot acquired his early edu- cation in the public schools, and later was taught by private tutors. After completing his educa- tion he learned the tailoring trade with his father. He remained in his employ until 1876, when he engaged in the merchant tailoring business in Athol, Massachusetts, remaining there until 1886, when he located in Northfield, Vermont. He was employed for about a year as a cutter for George B. Denny, and he then established a tailoring business on his own account, and by dint of thrift, perseverance and good manage- ment has met with a well merited degree of success. Mr. Talbot acts in the capacity of superintendent of the electric light plant. and has also been treasurer of the Northfield Telephone Company since its organization.

Mr. Talbot's affiliations are with the Demo- cratic party, and he has served as a member of the school board since 1891, and for four years held the position of village clerk. He was one of the first members of the board of trustees of the Northfield Public Library, and he now acts as their treasurer. It was due mainly to his efforts that the board of trade was organized in the town. Mr. Talbot is a prominent member

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and acts as president of the Governor Payne Club, and he also acts in the same capacity for the Conversational Club. He is also an active member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. The family are devout members of the Catholic church.

On August 29, 1876, Mr. Talbot married Miss Mary Ryan, born in Warwick, Massachusetts, a daughter of John and Mary Ryan, both natives of Ireland. Four children have been born to them: Frances Mary, a graduate of the North- field high school, and she has been engaged as a teacher in the Northfield grammar school,, and is now the wife of John O'Brien, a mer- chant of Ludlow, Vermont; George Everett, a graduate of the Lawrence University, now engaged as a civil engineer in New York city, married Miss Elizabeth Boyd; Kather- ine Louisa, a graduate of the Northfield high school, after which she taught school for two years, is now the wife of Frank L. Aldrich, a civil engineer of Waltham, Massachusetts, and they have one child, Evelyn Louisa Aldrich; Minnie Theresa, a graduate of the Northfield high school, and employed at the present time as a teacher.

JAMES W. MARSH, M. D.

Dr. James W. Marsh, of Manchester, Ver- mont, whose conspicuously useful professional career has extended over much more than a third of a century, is a native of the state, descended from an old and honored New England family of the Colonial times. His American ancestor, George Marsh, emigrated from Hingham, Nor- folk county, England, in 1635, and landed at Charlestown, Massachusetts, in June of that year. His son John was born in England, August 19, 1663, and he was the father of Ephraim, who was born in this country, April 2, 1710, and was father of Ephraim, born April 2, 1738.

Ephraim Marsh, son of Ephraim last named, was born July 23, 1775. He was a farmer, and passed the greater portion of his life in Cabot, Vermont, where he died at the age of seventy- two years. He was an exemplary Christian, and a member of the Congregational church for up- wards of sixty years. He married a Walbridge, a woman of great strength of character, and noted

as a fine mathematician, and of this marriage were born nine children.

Hiram Marsh, son of Ephraim Marsh last named, was born in Cabot, Vermont. He was a fine mechanic and possessed of artistic talent. For some years he drew and printed all the maps for his section of the country. He subsequently purchased a farm at Cabot, whereon he passed the remainder of his life, and where he died, April 28, 1845. He was a Whig in politics. He married Amelia E. Davis, who was born in South Reading, Vermont, February 8, 1820. With her husband she was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. She died December 22, 1886, at the age of sixty-one years.

James W. Marsh, son of Hiram and Amelia (Davis) Marsh, was born October 15, 1839, in Reading, Windsor county, Vermont. He there attended the public schools, and when ten years old went to Peru, Bennington county, where he entered the high school, and after completing his course attended academies in Lawrence, Massa- chusetts, and Woodstock, Vermont. He began his professional studies in the Physio-Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he grad- uated in 1862, and afterwards pursued a course in the Eclectic College in the same city. He then went to New York city, and there attended the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where he was afforded unusual opportunities for witnessing treatment and operations in all classes of diseases and injuries. He completed his medical educa- tion in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Eclectic College. He then located in Peru, Vermont, where he practiced his profession for a period of four years. For two years afterwards he practiced in Londonderry, Vermont, thence returning to Peru, where he remained four years. In 1874 he located in East Dorset, and remained there until 1880, when he found his present location at Manchester Center, where he has been actively engaged in his professional duties. While his- practice has covered the entire field of medical science, he has given particular attention to sur- gery, and he is known over a wide region of coun- try as most successful in the removal of tumors and excrescences. Standing high in his profes- sion, he is a well regarded member of various medical bodies, the State Eclectic Society, of which he has been president, the New England

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Eclectic Society, and other. He has at various times written papers upon professional topics, which have been presented before the bodies named, and have been given to the public through their published proceedings and the medical press. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; has served as secretary of West River Lodge No. 57, F. & A. M., of Londonderry, Vermont, and for forty years past has been affiliated with Adoni- ram Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M., of Manchester. He is also a member of the auxiliary order, the Eastern Star, in which he has held official posi- tions. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party.

Dr. Marsh was married in 1863 to Miss Louise Arnold, who was born in Londonderry, Ver- mont, a daughter of Dr. Jeremiah Arnold, who was in his day a physician of considerable repu- tation. Mrs. Marsh died February 12, 1881, hav- ing borne to her husband three children, of whom there is now living but one, who was educated in the public schools of Manchester Center, and be- came the wife of George E. Reed, a prosperous farmer of the town named, and to them was born one child, Helen Isadore Reed.

FREDERICK W. WARD.

Frederick W. Ward, a leading man of affairs of Burlington, Vermont, belongs to an old and highly respected New England family. Samuel Ward, his great-great-grandfather, was born in 1714, in Middletown, Connecticut, whence he re- moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Isaac Ward, son of Samuel Ward, was born in 1757, in Pitts- field, Massachusetts, and probably died there. Isaac Ward, son of Isaac Ward, was born No- vember 3, 1794, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he was a very successful farmer, following that occupation all his life. He married Nancy Flanagan, born in 1796, in Pittsfield, Massachu- setts, and was the father of a large family, among them two sons : Charles F., mentioned at length hereinafter; and H. D., who resided in North Adams, Massachusetts. Mrs. Ward died in 1835, at the age of thirty-nine, and her husband sur- vived her many years, dying in 1870, at his home in Pittsfield, at the age of seventy-six.

Charles F. Ward, son of Isaac and Nancy

(Flanagan) Ward, was born October 8, 1818, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he received his education, after which he went to Hartford, Connecticut, where he learned the trade of tailor. After remaining for a time in Hartford, he went to Burlington, Vermont, where he worked as a journeyman, subsequently engaging in business with Milton G. Rathbun. In this enterprise he was very successful, the partnership continuing for many years. In 1852 he became one of the incorporators of the Burlington Savings Bank. This institution had been established in 1847, but at the end of five years its deposits were so small that the incorporators each placed them in their individual safes for a few months at a time. From the date of Mr. Ward's connection with the bank the business of the institution steadily in- creased, until in 1868 they paid a five per cent interest and declared a twenty per cent dividend. For further facts in regard to this institution, see sketch of C. P. Smith, elsewhere in this work. It is to-day the largest savings bank in the New England states. In 1862 Mr. Ward was elected treasurer, and later vice president, which office he held at the time of his death. In 1870 he sold out his clothing business, thenceforth devoting his entire time to his large banking interests, in which he was assisted by his eldest son, until the death of the latter in 1872. Mr. Ward was active in benevolent and charitable work, and was one of the trustees of the Home for Destitute Chil- dren. He was a member of the Protestant Episco- pal church. Mr. Ward married Jeanette Wood, born in 1830, in Westford, and was the father of three children, two of whom are living : Fred- erick W., mentioned at length hereinafter; and Henry L., now treasurer of the Burlington Trust Company. Mrs. Ward died in 1896, and the death of Mr. Ward occurred March 28, 1900, at which time he was the oldest bank officer in the state.

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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 130

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