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 17
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Mr. Beckwith passed away April 14, 1900, and thus his city lost one of its most valued and honored residents. He was a Republican and took an active part in political matters. He served as town auditor for many years, also served on the school board for a long period, and no public trust reposed in him was ever betrayed to even the slightest degree. He was recognized as one of the most prominent and influential men of the town, was a man of sound judgment and pro- gressive spirit and gave his aid and co-operation to all measures for the general good. He be- longed to the Congregational church, was gen- erous in its support and active in its work and was an extensive reader who kept in touch with the advanced thought and with the progress of
the world and the trend of public events. In his home locality he was known as a devoted hus- band and father and a faithful friend, and in business circles his word was considered as good as his bond.
WILLIAM H. BLISS.
Vermont is comparatively a small state, but the industry, intelligence, energy and self-reli- ance of her sturdy sons for many years after the adoption of the federal constitution gave them an influence, out of proportion to their numbers, in the development and legislation of each new com- monwealth admitted to the Union. The Green Mountain state has thus proved the caliber of its sons in the most diverse sections of our repub- lic, while she has yet never failed to maintain her local prestige, and among those who to-day aid materially in upholding the high standard of her bench and bar is Judge Bliss, of Middlebury, Addison county, to whom this sketch is dedi- cated. His knowledge of the law is compre- hensive, his application of its principles exact and his experience has been wide and varied in the various branches of jurisprudence. He is a man of strong mentality and scholarly ability, and be- fore judge or jury his arguments have ever been forceful, logical and convincing, and he has been identified with much of the important litigation in the courts of his section of the state. In a profession that depends upon intellectual prow- ess, distinction can be won only by individual effort, and the eminent position which Judge Bliss occupies at the Vermont bar indicates the labor and diligence that have been brought to bear in the attaining of such precedence. Aside from his personal eligibility for consideration in a work of this nature he is farther worthy of rep- resentation on these pages by reason of being a member of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Vermont, with whose annals the name has been identified for nearly a century and a quarter, as will duly transpire in this context. William Henry Bliss is a native of Windsor county, Vermont, having been born in the town of Royalton, on the 5th of October, 1847, a son of Charles William Bliss, who devoted the greater portion of his mature life to agricultural pur- suits, though in his early manhood he was for
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Some time a successful teacher in the south, has ing been a man of fine mentality and sterling char acter, ever commanding uniform confidence and esteem, and having been called upon to serve in various offices of local trust and responsi bility. He was born on the old family home stead, in Royalton, on the 14th of September. 1815, and there his death occurred on the ist of January, 186,8, in the fullness of years and well earned honors. In politics he originally gave his support to the old-line Whig party, but at the organization of the Republican party he trans- ferred his allegiance thereto and ever afterward remained a stanch advocate of its cause. For several years he held the office of selectman of Royalton, while his tenure of the respective of- fices of justice of the peace and lister of his town covered a long term of years, while he was an acknowledged leader in public thought and ac- tion in the community. His religious faith was that of the Congregational church, of which both he and his wife were prominent and active mem- bers.
In the year 1843 was solemnized the marri- age of Charles William Bliss to Miss Henri- etta Whitney, who was born in 1823, being a daughter of Aaron Whitney, who was a promi- nent and influential farmer at Whitney Hill (named in his honor), in the town of Tun- bridge, Orange county, where he held various local offices, his death there occurring when he had attained the age of sixty-four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Parker, survived him, her death occurring at the age of seventy-five years. They became the parents of four sons and five daughters, all of whom are now deceased except the youngest daughter, Ellen, who is the widow of Elizur Howe, of Tun- bridge. Charles William and Henrietta (Whitney) Bliss became the parents of three children, name- ly : Willis W., who was a farmer of his native county, where he met his death in 1888, at the age of forty-two years, his death resulting from exposure in the fearful blizzard which swept this section in March of that year. He was also asso- ciated with his uncle, Carlos Whitney, as a mem- ber of the firm of Whitney & Bliss, dealers in groceries and meats in West Fairlee, this state. He is survived by his widow and one son. The second in order of birth of the children of Charles
William Buss was William H., the immediate subject of this sketch. Daniel W., the youngest, resides on the old Bliss homestead in Royalton, which has been in the possession of the family since 1780, and is one of the progressive and suc- ful farmers of the locality. He is married and has one son. The mother of Judge Bliss died in January, 1890.
The paternal grandfather of Judge Bliss was John Bliss, who was born in Rehoboth, Massa- chusetts, a son of Thomas Bliss. As a young man John Bliss removed from Rehoboth to Ver- mont, settling on a farm at Royalton, and there making his home until his death, at the age of eighty-four years. This is the farm that has been in the possession of the family since 1780, and which shows that John Bliss was one of the early settlers in that locality. At Royalton he married Rebecca, a daughter of John Hutchin- son, one of the pioneers of that locality, and one who was taken prisoner at the burning of the town by the Indians in 1780, being held in cap- tivity for about a year. He lived to the age of ninety-six years, his death occurring in Royal- ton in 1847. Rebecca (Hutchinson) Bliss died in the year 1849, at the age of seventy-two years, and we here enter a brief record concerning her children : Calvin P., who was a graduate of Mid- dlebury College, passed a portion of his mature life as a teacher in Augusta, Georgia, subsequent- ly returned to Vermont and lived in Randolph the remainder of his life; Charles William, the father of our subject, has been specifically mentioned above; John H. remained a resident of Royal- ton until 1892, since which time he has made his home with his daughter in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, he being the only one of the immediate family now living; Emily became the wife of Othniel Dunham, of Bethel, Windsor county and died at Hancock at the age of about eighty years; Sarah A., who became the wife of Isaac Brown, of the same locality, died at the age of eighty-one years ; Mary L., who became the wife of Nathan Parker, of Bethel, died at the age of sixty years ; and Jane, the wife of Ira Holt, of Pittsfield, this county, died at the age of fifty- six.
William H. Bliss, subject of this sketch, was fitted for college in Royalton Academy. In 1867 he matriculated in the University of Vermont,
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where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1871 as a Bachelor of Arts. He determined to prepare himself for the legal profession and his success in later years has fully justified his choice of vocation and proved his peculiar fit- ness for the same. He read law under the pre- ceptorship of Thomas C. Greene, a leading mem- ber of the bar of Providence, Rhode Island, and was duly admitted to the bar of that state in Oc- tober, 1873. There he continued in practice with his preceptor for the ensuing three years, at the expiration of which he located in Rochester, Vermont, where he continued in practice until February, 1886, at which time he took up his residence in Middlebury, where he established himself in the active work of his profession, and gained prestige as an able and discriminat- ing advocate and counsellor. In 1894 Judge Bliss removed to Burlington, where he was in practice for three years, during the greater por- tion of which time he was associated with Hon. E. R. Hard, a prominent member of the bar of the state. In June, 1897, Judge Bliss returned to Middlebury, which has ever since continued to be his home and professional headquarters. In 1890 he was elected to the office of state's attorney of Addison county, and in 1895 he was admitted to practice in the United States supreme court, and, as has been well said, "He stands high among the most accomplished lawyers in the state, while by his genial disposition, his faithfulness to his obligations, his readiness to aid in any good work, and his nobility of charac- ter, he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him." In 1899 he was appointed judge of the court of probate and insolvency for the district of Addison, and he has ever since con- tinued in tenure of this important and exacting office : has also been law agent of Middlebury during the greater portion of his residence here.
In politics Judge Bliss has given his support to the Republican party, though he has ever been independent in his attitude and has the courage of his convictions at all times, not being guided by strict partisan lines. In 1896 he differed from his party on the financial issue and gave his sup- port to William J. Bryan for the presidency ; since that time he has continued to vote the Re- publican ticket, his faith in the basic principles of the party never having been in the least
alienated. The Judge has been prominently con- cerned in many of the most important cases liti- gated in the courts, and his efforts have been such as to further his prestige and brighten his pro- fessional fame. While incumbent of the office of state's attorney he prosecuted Alphonse Cha- quette, who was convicted of murder in the second degree ; later also assisted in the prose- cution of Frederick Eastwood, in 1899-1900. who was tried for the murder of Frank Fenn, of Middlebury, and who was convicted of murder in the first degree. Judge Bliss tried this case as prosecutor and his strength in the field of crimi- nal law was decisively shown in this cause celebre, the accused having been sentenced to death by the supreme court of the state. In 1895-6 Judge Bliss defended in the case of the state versus Edward Hodgson, charged with the illegal sale of liquor, the case being eventually carried to the supreme court of the United States. to test the constitutionality of the Vermont liquor law.
Judge Bliss is a man of fine literary taste and appreciation, being an omnivorous reader and graceful writer, both in prose and verse. In 1879 he was poet at the annual reunion of the alumni of the University of Vermont, and was also poet of his class, that of 1871. He has written many poems and has been frequently called upon for public addresses aside from those pertaining to politics or profession. As a cam- paign orator he has shown marked force and has made most effective speeches in favor of the cause in which he is enlisted. During the cam- paign of 1896 he made speeches on twenty-eight consecutive nights, excepting Sundays. He is now engaged in the compilation of a valuable and interesting work, known as "Vermont Illus- trated," which is soon to be published by the American Publishing Company, and which will prove a most desirable acquisition to the stand- ard literature pertaining to his native common- wealth, since it covers its history from the earliest epoch to the time of its admission to statehood. He also assisted in the preparation of Joseph Battell's Morgan Horse, a work of care- ful research and investigation, in the compilation of which ten years were demanded.
On the 9th of September. 1874, Judge Bliss was united in marriage to Miss Maria J. Mitchell,
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daughter of Peter T. W. and Maria ( Swan) Mitchell, of Providence, Rhode Island. She was born in Providence on the 10th of April, 18.47, being one of three children, of whom the only survivor is her brother, Samuel J., a resident of Kansas. Mrs. Bliss was summoned into eternal rest on the 13th of October, 1899, at the age of fifty two years, having had no children. She was a woman of gracious presence and gentie refine- ment, and her loss was deeply felt by an ex- ceptionally wide circle of devoted friends. She was a consistent member of the Congregational church, exemplifying her fatith in thought, word and deed.
WILLIAM BARTLEFF VINTON.
William Bartleff Vinton, junior member of the firm of William H. Vinton & Son, paper manufacturers at Brattleboro, was born in this town, December 25, 1862. He is of French Hu- guenot ancestry, the name having, perhaps, been derived from the French word "Vin" meaning wine, compounded with "tenant," signifying to hold or keep. John Vinton (1), the progenitor of the American family of Vinton, was born in Eng- land in 1620, being the son, or grandson, prob- ably of a Huguenot exiled from France on account of religious persecutions during the sixteenth century. The date of his arrival in America is not definitely known, but he was residing in Lynn, Masachusetts, in 1648. His son, John Vinton (2), a worker in iron, was a resident of Malden, Massachusetts. The line was continued through one of his eight children, John Vinton (3), who was a man of great business energy and activity, and accumulated a large property, as shown by the records in the court house at East Cambridge, Massachusetts, where more than thir- ty deeds, dated between 1700 and 1727, bear his name as grantor or grantee. He was a lieuten- ant in the training band in 1720, a captain in 1723, and a representative to the general court in 1734. He died at Dudley in 1760, aged eighty- two years. His son, John Vinton (4), the suc- ceeding ancestor, was born in Woburn, Massa- chusetts, but settled permanently in Stoneham, Massachusetts, where he was an extensive land- holder. His son, John Vinton (5), the next in line of descent, born in 1732, was proprietor of a
tavern in South Reading, Massachusetts, for many years, and carried on a successful business, accumulating considerable wealth. Of the chil- dren born to him and his wife Lydia, Timothy continned the line of descent. Timothy Vinton (6), of South Reading, married Brucy Mcleod, by whom he had two children, namely : Timothy, born in 1801, died in infancy ; and Timothy sec- ond, born in 1803. Timothy Vinton (7), born January 5, 1803, settled first in Shirley, then Leominster, and subsequently becoming a resi- dent of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, thence to Pep- perell. From there he came to Brattleboro, Ver- mont, where he was engaged in the manufacture of paper until his death, January .4, 1890. Tim- othy Vinton was one of the most prominent mem- bers of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
TIMOTHY VINTON.
holding all of the chairs up to that of grand mas- ter of the state. In November, 1828, he married Caroline Woodcock, who was born in Newton, Massachusetts, April 2, 1804, a daughter of Na-
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than and Elizabeth ( Perry ) Woodcock. The children born of their union were as follows: Sarah Elizabeth, Caroline Augusta, John Frank- lin, William Henry, and George Edgar.
William Henry Vinton (8), the next in line of descent, was born in Fitchburg, Massachu- setts, November 7, 1836, and lived there until eight years old, when he came with his parents to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he was educated and has since resided. He learned the trade of a paper manufacturer from his father, whom he subsequently succeeded in business, and has since continued the manufacture of blotting and stereo- type paper, the products of his factory being widely and favorably known. He takes a genu- ine interest in all matters pertaining to the prog- ress and welfare of his town, of which he was at one time first bailiff, and in which he is now serv- ing his sixth year as selectman, having been chairman of the board during the entire period. Fraternally he is one of the charter members of Brattleboro Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs, and has taken all the degrees up to and including the Scottish Rite degree. Of his union with Emma Amelia, daughter of Ed- ward Samuel, one child was born, William B., the subject of this sketch.
William B. Vinton (9) was born December 25, 1862, in Brattleboro, and was educated in the public schools of this town. He began his active career as a clerk in a grocery store, remaining a few years in that employment. In 1882, prior to attaining his majority, he entered his grandfa- ther's paper mill with a view to becoming thor- oughly acquainted with the business, and grad- ually worked his way through the different de- partments, and upon the death of the senior mem- ber of the firm, in 1891, became associated with his father in the business under the firm name of William H. Vinton & Son. This firm, as mentioned above, is carrying on a successful business, and is an important factor in the in- dustrial interests of the place.
Mr. Vinton is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Brattleboro Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is past master ; to Fort Dummer Chapter No. 12, R. A. M .; to Connecticut Valley Council No. 16, R. & S. M .; to Beauseant Commandery No. 7, K. T .; to Ver- mont Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and to Mount
Sinai Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a member of Wantastiquet Lodge, I. O.O. F. Mr. Vinton married, May 19, 1896, Lilly E., daugh- ter of Samuel and Mary (Walker) Brown, of Brattleboro, and they have two children, Beatrice Emma and William Howard.
WILLIAM H. COBB.
William H. Cobb is one of the honored veter- ans of the Civil war, one of the valued officials of Addison county and one of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of his locality. The family have long been residents of the Green Mountain state, and the paternal grandfather of our subject, Eliphalet Cobb, was one of the first settlers of New Haven, this state, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. He was a native of Con- necticut, and during the Revolutionary war served as a drum major in the colonial army. By his wife Lucy, also a native of Connecticut, he became the father of seven children, as fol- lows: Eliphalet, Alonzo, Harvey, Eleanor, Milo, Sally and Rossie. The mother of this family was called to her final rest when she had reached the ninety-second milestone on the journey of life, passing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was long a worthy and consistent member.
Harvey Cobb, son of Eliphalet, was born in New Haven, Vermont, in which town he was reared and educated. Many years of his life were spent in his native place, but subsequently he became a resident of Bristol and Huntington, and his death occurred July 12, 1883, at the home of our subject in Middlebury, when he had reached the age of eighty-five years. He, too, was a representative of the noble art of hus- bandry, and in the localities in which he made his home he was honored and loved by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. For his wife he chose Amanda Bryant, who was born in the Empire state and was a daughter of William Bryant, who was a farmer by occupation and spent his entire life in Warrensburg, New York. He married Miss Kate Parker, and they became the parents of the following children: Roswell; Esther, who reached the remarkable age of one hundred and two years; Eunice: Aurilla :
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Amanda, the mother of W. H. Cobb; Betsy Smead ; and Carolina, who has reached the age of eighty seven years and is the only surviving member of the family. The mother of this family died at the age of ninety years. The union of Harvey and Amanda (Bryant ) Cobb was blessed with the following chilldren : Caro- line, Mary E. and Julia, deceased; William H., the subject of this review; Edson, who served as a member of Company F. Ninth Vermont Infantry, in the Civil war, and is now deceased ; and George W., who is engaged in the hotel business at Brandon. Mrs. Cobb passed to her final rest at the age of eighty-three years, and she was long a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William H. Cobb was born in New Haven, Vermont, January 17, 1838, and spent the early years of his life in that town, Bristol and Starks- boro, remaining for nine years in the last named place. In the schools of that town and Hunting- ton he received his elementary education, which was supplemented by a course in a select school and academy. . When the country became in- volved in civil war he nobly responded to the call for aid, and on the 2d of August, 1862, became a member of Company D, Tenth Vermont In- fantry, and was made a corporal, serving for a time in the Third Army Corps and subsequently was connected with the Sixth Army Corps. Among the many important engagements in which he participated during his career as a soldier, may be mentioned those of Brandy Sta- tion, the Wilderness, Petersburg, Weldon Rail- road, second Petersburg, and he was with Sheri- dan until the close of the war. During his mili- tary service he saw much hard fighting, and in the spring of 1865 he received an honorable dis- charge, in consequence of disability. Returning to his home in Huntington, he again took up the quiet duties of the farm, which he continued until 1868, and in that year came to Middlebury. He had previously learned the carpenter's trade, and prior to entering the army had followed that vocation for a period of sixteen years. In 1872 Mr. Cobb was appointed to the position of jailer, which he has ever since continued to fill, during which time he has served under five sheriffs : Isaac M. Tripp, who is now residing in the west ; N. T. Dunshee, a merchant of Bristol; Howard
Clark, deceased ; Kent W. Merritt, of Shoreham ; and Thad M. Chapman, the present incumbent of the office. Since assuming the duties of that position Mr. Cobb has had as high as twenty- three prisoners under his charge at one time. In 1872 he was made the deputy sheriff of Addi- son county, in which he is now the oldest in point of service in the county and one of the oldest in the state. He assisted in the capture of Shaw, who killed Deputy Sheriff Hoffman, at White River Junction, and in recognition of his bravery displayed in that terrible encounter, he was presented with a rifle. In addition to the position which he is filling so satisfactorily, he is also engaged in agriculture, in which he is meeting with a well merited degree of success.
The marriage of Mr. Cobb was celebrated in 1861, when Miss Fidelia E. Landon became his wife. She is a native daughter of Middlebury, where her father, Edwin P. Landon, was for a time engaged in farming, and after residing in various places returned to Middlebury, where his death occurred. Mr. Landon became the father of the following children: Charles E., who re- sides at Middlebury and is now eighty-one years of age; Fidelia E., the wife of our subject ; Mar- tha E., the deceased wife of James M. Holden, of Middlebury ; and Electa, who became the wife of Allen C. Greenslit.
In September, 1899, Frederick Eastwood at- tempted the murder of his wife and her entire family, and succeded in killing one person, be- sides injuring two others. After shooting him- seif in a vain attempt at suicide, and finding escape from the pursuit of officers impossible, he went to the jail at 2:10 A. M., and asked the protection of Mrs. Cobb, who was then alone in the building. She took his revolver and locked him up, after which she secured medical atten- tion for her prisoner. Thus she proved herself a brave and faithful coadjutor of her husband.
Mr. Cobb gives his political support to the Republican party, and has many times been sought by his fellow citizens to accept political perferment, but has steadily refused to do so. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Masonic order, Union Lodge No 2, of Middle- bury, and has held the office of high priest in Potter Chapter No. 14; is a member of Middle- bury Council No. 14, R. & S. M., has held office
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in Mt. Calvary Commandry No. I, and is a mem- ber of the grand chapter of Burlington. He is one of the oldest members of the fraternity in the state, having joined North Star Lodge No. 12, of Richmond, Vermont, in 1863, and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has held all the offices a number of times and is the oldest past commander in Mid- dlebury. He is one of the charter members of the Grand Army Post here, and of the four original members he alone survives. His re- ligious views are indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is an active worker. He has traveled over many portions of the United States, thus gaining that knowledge which travel alone can bring. He is widely known and popular in the county where he has resided for so many years, and his friends are almost as many as his acquaintances.
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